Chapter 249: Only By Being Feared Can There Be Progress

Chen Changsheng handed him the torn fish meat and said, “I remember hearing you say before that you wanted to be a smart person who is ruthless.”

Gou’er bit his lip and said, “Yes…”

But when he said that ‘yes,’ it made people feel a bit guilty.

Chen Changsheng asked, “Since you want to be ruthless and smart, then why care so much about others? In a big situation like this, with disasters happening all the time and people acting like dead bodies walking, how to protect yourself is probably what a smart person should think about.”

Gou’er opened his mouth but said nothing. He didn’t think Chen Changsheng’s words were wrong. In fact, they made very good sense.

Gou’er lowered his head and said, “I just think these things are wrong.”

Chen Changsheng said, “In the eyes of most people, they think it should always be like this.”

“Why?”

Gou’er looked up and asked, “Why is living such a deadly life right?”

Chen Changsheng said, “I heard you say your hometown was hit by floods, and that’s why you came here?”

“Yes…”

“It’s like how you felt when facing the floods: fierce and rapid waters rushing down. Did you ever think about blocking the big water in front of you?”

Gou’er opened his mouth but said nothing. He shook his head and said, “How could anyone stop it!”

“So that’s how most people think.”

Chen Changsheng said, “Looking back, over countless years, when people stumbled and faced the flood-like force of history, they found they had no strength to fight back. Then they gave up and ended up drowned away.”

Gou’er’s lips parted slightly. He thought hard, as if finding something key.

“It’s the thought!”

Gou’er cried out, “It’s the thought, right? The thought to live on! The thought to resist!”

Chen Changsheng just smiled and said, “Eat the fish now.”

Gou’er suddenly got it. He felt the thumping beat inside his chest, and he seemed to find his own path. So he was all excited and couldn’t hold back.

Chen Changsheng looked at him and said, “I thought you would become a Killing Talent. Never imagined you’d still be a Buddha.”

Gou’er was stunned for a moment and asked, “What is a Killing Talent? What is a Buddha?”

Chen Changsheng just shook his head without explaining.

Gou’er looked at this person. Only then did he realize the man was unusual. If he could stay by his side, he likely could learn great skills.

He went back and worked as usual after that.

Autumn left, and winter came. A cold wind killed many people. The leaders brought a few thicker clothes—though still thin in many spots—at least they were one more thing to help people live.

Below the City Platform, every day was like dead silence.

Maybe they also realized that getting through this winter would be very hard.

Gou’er didn’t turn his eyes to those who came early to the City Platform, but rather to those who came in fresh.

He acted as a leader, guiding them to get used to the work there.

“This place is like this: people die everyday; everyday people fight to the death over Dry Cake. Wanting to change things is hard, really hard.”

“Maybe over time, you could even become like them—eyes dead, seeming to be alive but actually already dead.”

Gou’er warned them, “Don’t forget the old days. Don’t turn into them. And don’t die while still alive.”

Even if they didn’t fully understand, they still nodded.

As the person guiding them, some new people who came alone often went to Gou’er for help.

Gou’er wasn’t stingy. If someone had their food stolen, he would steal it back for them. If things were missing, he would share his own Dry Cake.

“Big brother, you’re a good person.”

Someone said that to him, but Gou’er just shook his head.

“I’m not a good person. I only hope you all can be like me. Only then can this place come back to life.”

Over time, Gou’er built much respect among the group. Many people were willing to follow him. This was also because he sorted out fights at the City Platform in an eager way. He earned praise from the leaders above. But it only meant an extra two pieces of Dry Cake and one more thin clothing. The work they had to do still needed to be done.

Later on, when Gou’er saw someone stealing Dry Cake, he stepped forward to stop it.

“What business is it of yours!!”

The one who couldn’t steal the Dry Cake yelled angrily, “Stop pretending to be good here! When my stuff was stolen, no one helped me then! You fake-nice dog, get lost!”

Gou’er was suddenly quiet. He didn’t handle the matter anymore. He just lowered his head and left.

After night came, he went back to the forest lake again.

Gou’er thought since over a month had passed, that person might not be there anymore. But when he arrived, he saw the one sitting by the ground, grilling fish.

There were two fishes grilling.

Chen Changsheng looked at him and asked, “What trouble came up again?”

Gou’er sat on the ground and shook his head, saying, “It wasn’t a big deal.”

He had given hope of living to many people, but he had also made many people hate him.

Gou’er told Chen Changsheng about what happened that afternoon.

After listening, Chen Changsheng looked at him and said, “In times like these, setting rules is the best way. Since the leaders above you won’t manage it, why don’t you step in?”

Gou’er was stunned for a moment and said, “How?”

“You need to make others fear you,” Chen Changsheng said.

But Gou’er quickly shook his head and said, “No, no! If I do that, isn’t it just bullying? How am I different from those leaders who push everyone around?”

“This isn’t bullying.”

Chen Changsheng said, “It depends on how you do it. To keep others in line, sometimes you only need strong power.”

Gou’er clicked his tongue and thought hard for a while.

“I’ll try.”

Chen Changsheng nodded slightly, then handed him the grilled fish.

“Eat.”

Gou’er took it in his hand and asked, “Do you eat two fishes every day?”

“One.”

“Then why grill two today?”

Chen Changsheng smiled and said, “I just caught one more fish by chance today.”

“That’s good luck I came,” Gou’er said.

Chen Changsheng nodded and said, “Exactly.”

Chen Changsheng told Gou’er the method.

On the way back, Gou’er thought over many things. In the next few days, he kept thinking about it too. But he just couldn’t decide yet.

When he saw people fighting over Dry Cake, he grew afraid. Before, he would have rushed forward, but now he started backing off.

Until one day, he still stood by and watched coldly.

The person pressed down to the ground, struggling hard, suddenly shouted out.

“Come help me! Why do you help others but not me? Why, why!!”

Gou’er froze. His hand holding the Dry Cake even shook.

He didn’t understand what he’d done wrong.

Why would others see his help as something they automatically deserved?

Wasn’t it good to hold on to kindness a bit more?

Must he really do as Chen Changsheng said…

That making others fear him was the only way to change how things were?

Gou’er’s gaze turned panicky. He couldn’t figure it out. He was truly lost.