Permutations and Combinations 06

After inquiring with Little Mustache about the address of the rumored "Divine Calculator," Old Ma set off on his journey.

Awang was utterly baffled; he had never heard of such a person in his own town. Did this person even exist?

By midday, the two began to chatter aimlessly, picking up random topics as Old Ma had no precise destination and had taken a convoluted route. The fuel gauge had been on red for quite some time. Awang decided to stop by Ah Ren’s auto repair shop first, hoping to score some free gasoline, and to pick up his wife to ask if she had ever heard of the "Divine Calculator" from their hometown.

When they arrived at the repair shop around one in the afternoon, the workers had just finished lunch and were napping indoors. Awang told Old Ma to wait in the car and quietly slipped into the shop. Inside, his son, Abi, was fiddling with some tools as toys, but Awang paid him no mind and went straight to wake his wife, who was also napping.

After topping up some fuel, Awang called her to the car. Before he could explain the whole situation, he started the engine and sped straight toward their home.

Old Ma saw Ah Xiu get in and quickly called her “Sister-in-law” repeatedly, which made her feel quite pleased. She insisted on getting out to change clothes before heading home.

Once home, Ah Xiu hurriedly prepared a meal. After rummaging through the fridge, all they could find to eat were soybean paste and scallions. A bottle of baijiu had been recently bought from the grocery store. Piecing these together, she made a humble but hearty dish—the renowned classic of scallions dipped in soybean paste. There were also some leafy vegetables on the plate, though no one quite knew what they were.

Though Awang and Ah Xiu felt a bit embarrassed by the modest offering, Old Ma found it heartwarming. After sharing a few drinks, Awang finally recounted the true purpose of Old Ma’s visit.

Meanwhile, back at the repair shop, snoring filled the air. Ah Ren had been woken from his nap by the urgent need to relieve himself. Squinting through sleepy eyes, he noticed the clock in his office read just past two in the afternoon. Stepping outside, a wave of heat washed over him. Leaving the air-conditioned office was a shock; his body shivered involuntarily.

After finishing, Ah Ren casually patted the front of his jeans dry and peeked outside. The shop was still empty; judging by experience, there would be no work today. But since employees were on duty, he was obliged to pay them a basic wage. So, he woke the workers and sent them home early, appearing considerate as a boss while saving on wages.

As most people left, Ah Ren noticed his silly nephew, Abi, still tinkering with a couple of wrenches. However, his wife, Ah Xiu, was nowhere to be seen. The scorching summer sun baked the asphalt road outside. Suddenly, Ah Ren thought of grilled meat and a droplet of saliva fell from his mouth, evaporating instantly with a sizzling sound. He cursed under his breath, “Damn it, why haven’t these tires burst from the heat yet?” He spat toward the blazing sun and turned back to his office, just then recalling something.

“Dummy, where’s your mom?”

“Went home dressed pretty!” Abi giggled and turned back to his wrenches.

Ah Ren was puzzled. Usually, she went home in her worn repair uniforms. She’d only worn those few shabby clothes once at their wedding; there was no way she’d change into such clothes just to go home.

Was it for Awang? Impossible. At this hour, taxis were busy. Even Awang, a cowardly man, would never be able to make money and dress up to impress anyone.

Wiping the tobacco-flavored saliva from his mouth, a bold suspicion struck Ah Ren’s mind: Could Ah Xiu be seeing someone behind Awang’s back? This sudden thought thrilled him, wiping away all sleepiness. He quickly tested his phone’s video and audio functions, leaving the shop and Abi behind, and hurried toward Awang’s home. The scorching asphalt and blinding sun didn’t deter him; Ah Ren looked excited, like a child who had just spotted a toy he was about to claim.