Whispers in the Winter Wind

A few minutes after they started eating, Xinyi glanced at the group and decided it was time to speak up.

"Alright, I've waited long enough. Catherine, jump in if I miss anything," Xinyi said, her words casual but purposeful. Catherine nodded silently, signaling she was ready to fill in the blanks.

Xinyi hesitated, her fingers pushing her food around on the plate as she worked through her thoughts. After a short pause, she finally began. "Hmm… where should I even start…"

She exhaled, the memory clearly pulling at her. "Okay, so, there was this thing that happened when I was younger. Back when I was still a huge bitch," she admitted, letting out a self-deprecating laugh that came with a mix of regret and amusement. "I wasn't directly involved or anything, but I did end up at that place during it. Anyway, it started with this group of wannabe gangsters showing up in that area — the slums, you know?"

She paused again, her brow creasing as if organizing how to explain it. "They started stirring up trouble. At first, it didn't seem like much, but then it got worse. They terrorized the people who lived there, and it spiraled out of control. The place got trashed — graffiti everywhere, garbage piling up. Most people there stopped leaving their homes. It was a mess, and no one really knew how to handle it."

"It also started to affect people outside that part of town. For a short while, they were causing trouble for everyone. But when my parents got back from one of their jobs, they heard about it and immediately took action," she said with a grin.

Xinyi raised her finger as if marking a list. "First, they sent out some of their staff to gather more information. Once they had it, they came up with their own plan. There's really just one big 'two,' though — they brought in people from outside the country. Most of them were ex-military, mainly from the USA and a few other places, to handle the problem."

Catherine chimed in, her tone steady. "Ex-marines, ex-CIA, and other professionals were hired by Lady Xinyi's parents to deal with it completely. Of course, nobody died, but let's just say a lot of those troublemakers and wannabe gangsters probably regret their choices. Some of them might even be dealing with long-term consequences after what happened. I didn't read all the details myself, but you can imagine why they haven't tried anything like that again."

"The ones you saw earlier were just some random new troublemakers that Fenling probably gathered up by force to try and keep that mess going. But really, they're nothing. He's just clinging to it for some reason," Xinyi said, exhaling hard through her nose.

"Why? Was he or a family member part of it?" Yunxue asked, trying to piece together why Fenling wanted to keep it alive.

Xinyi shrugged. "I've got no clue. Maybe Catherine or someone else knows. From what I've seen, though, he's wasting his time. His parents weren't involved; they're just regular folks working in the town. He didn't have any siblings, so it doesn't add up that way either."

"I heard from the older staff that he was obsessed with movies and TV shows about that kind of thing," Catherine said, stepping into the conversation. "Being a gang leader, running the streets — he probably thinks that spot is his, like he owns it or something. He's not ready to let it go or let anyone else take it over."

Xinyi blinked at her, surprised.

"Sounds dumb…he's risking his life for something so…pointless. He should quit while he can; otherwise, he's just asking to get hurt," Xinyi muttered, crossing her arms before turning back to her food. "Well, that's all there is to it. No big drama. Just some jerks doing stupid stuff, getting what they deserve, and now the place looks like that."

"Huh? Wait, that doesn't really explain what it's like now," Jingliu cut in, frowning. "If you did deal with them, why is it still in that state? Mostly empty and run-down?"

"It's not some big story or anything. It's just Fenling being an idiot. He drove people away. A few others thought they'd follow him, but more and more folks left until only the ones who couldn't leave stayed behind. Most people are just fed up with him. But since more people have started listening to him lately, it's got some folks worried."

"And why didn't anyone fix it?" Jingliu asked, leaning forward.

Xinyi shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe my parents already had plans to deal with it, so they let it stay like that until now."

After a stretch of silence, Yasushi asked, "So, are we — or whoever your parents hired — going to tear that place down and build something new? Are we talking about keeping the same houses but making them look better, or are we going full-on high-end apartments?"

Xinyi replied, "The same houses. They want this place to be the heart of the new quantum and AI stuff, but they don't want it to look like those creepy, plain cities you see in some movies. It'll just look a lot better, and they're planning to get rid of anything or anyone causing trouble."

Catherine added, "And anything that doesn't align with what Master Xingyu and Lady Yaqi have in mind will be dealt with accordingly. They want to make this area a safe place to live. No troublemakers. Though this is just my guess, I think they might even turn away people with a history of causing problems from moving in."

"Is that even allowed?" Jingliu asked, her tone carrying doubt as her question hung between them.

"She said it's just her speculation," Xinyi replied, tilting her head thoughtfully. "But considering how advanced AI and quantum tech are now, it's probably not too far-fetched. It might even make keeping track of someone's background easier before or during their move here. The authorities would probably have some way to stay informed and monitor them."

Yunxue frowned, looking uncomfortable. "That sounds... invasive." She paused, as if trying to wrap her mind around the implications. "The idea of being identified instantly and having all your details stored somewhere feels a little unsettling."

"They've likely implemented tight security for that," Xinyi reassured her. "Besides, we should trust our parents. They wouldn't support something dangerous or reckless." She straightened up slightly. "Anyway, we can't just sit here the whole day. Let's get back to work."

Yasushi pushed back his chair and stood, brushing imaginary dust off his hands. "Agreed. There's still plenty to do."

The group nodded in agreement, settling their bill before heading out. The conversation left them with a lot to think about, the possibilities and concerns swirling in their minds as they resumed their tasks.

+-+

Yasushi, along with a small group of others, helped carry equipment for the construction workers who were taking a break. The request had come politely as they passed through the area, and they agreed since they also needed to inspect the site.

"I really have to thank you, young man. Didn't think someone your age would be willing to pitch in like this," an older man said, walking beside Yasushi while holding a sandwich.

"It's better than staying inside all day doing nothing," Yasushi replied as he adjusted his grip on the load. "Besides, our parents asked us to help out. I'd feel bad just sitting around."

The older man chuckled, giving Yasushi a solid pat on the back. "Parents, huh? So, did they help fund this project or something? Maybe one of them's a site manager?" he asked as they reached the drop-off point, where Yasushi set the equipment down.

"Hmm? Ah, no, they're the ones funding and managing all this — the AI and quantum stuff," he said, then began walking again.

The older man stopped, staring for a moment before hurrying to catch up. "Wait, seriously? But why are you out here doing the labor? Most rich kids I've met act entitled and disconnected."

Yasushi chuckled lightly. "Well, my parents didn't start out wealthy. They worked hard to get where they are. I remember when we were just another middle-class family. Maybe that's why I try to stay grounded. Flashy stuff doesn't really suit me."

Reaching the same spot as before, Yasushi grabbed another load and began hauling it back. "I like being outdoors and doing this kind of work, but I know I'll be stuck in an office doing admin someday. Not exactly thrilled about that," he added, laughing again.

The older man joined in with the laughter but soon stopped, his eyes fixed ahead. "You know, not many from your generation want to do this kind of work. It's rare. Most who do were raised by parents like this. The rest? They're all chasing easier jobs, ones where they can stay home and still get paid a lot. Work like this has almost no takers anymore, so it's left to people like me and other older folks," he said, his voice carrying traces of weariness and irritation.

"Well, isn't it pretty clear why?" Yasushi replied, his tone casual but thoughtful. "Back then, these desk jobs were the dream because they were high-paying, and no one wanted to break their backs doing manual labor. Now it's flipped. Those jobs are crammed with applicants, and only the absolute best get hired. Meanwhile, people my age see physical work as pointless pain with no reward." He dropped his load at their destination, brushing his hands off as he spoke.

"Unnecessary pain? Hah! The kids today are just soft!" the older man barked with a sharp laugh, shaking his head as if the thought itself was absurd. "If young boys stay this pampered, they'll never grow into proper men!"

Yasushi clenched his jaw, wanting to argue back but deciding against it. He took a breath and spoke again, his tone steady. "Maybe, but those kinds of jobs are still necessary. Think about it — no one would have that smartphone you're carrying around, or all those new medical treatments saving lives, if not for the work they do. Hard labor matters, yes, but so does their work. One isn't more valuable than the other."

The older man blinked, caught off guard by the statement. Though reluctant, he nodded in acknowledgment. There was truth to what Yasushi said, and he couldn't deny it. Letting out a sigh, he shrugged in resignation.

"Fair enough. But don't let it get to you too much," Yasushi added, the edge in his voice softening. "Things are already shifting. My generation's starting to notice that physical labor jobs pay more now because of the shortage. Over time, it'll balance out. Whether people stick to those jobs or move on, though — that's up to them, and the ones before them to figure out."

The older man frowned, trying to make sense of the explanation.

"Wait, what do you mean by that?" the old man asked, his tone tinged with confusion.

"Plenty of reasons explain why people in my generation don't stick around in toxic workplaces," Yasushi replied. "How things are run, how bosses treat their staff, and whether they're willing to actually mentor us or just make things miserable. If the environment is bad — bad management, rude coworkers, or no support — and if we have the choice, we leave. Why put up with unnecessary nonsense when it's not worth it?"

He paused briefly before adding, "And before you call us lazy or say we lack work ethic, that's missing the point. Each generation is supposed to try to get rid of some of the worst parts of what came before. My generation just won't stick around for minimum wage if it means dealing with toxic nonsense. That's why we leave."

The older man seemed to have a lot to say but struggled to find words that landed. After a moment, he just huffed and said, "Well, they can't keep jumping between jobs forever. At some point, they'll need to pick something or risk becoming unemployable."

"I'm not going to argue with that," Yasushi replied, leaning back slightly before they got back into it.

The older man had already finished his lunch and joined Yasushi to assist with the tasks at hand. As they worked, the conversation between them grew more fluid, circling back to their earlier topic. The hours passed quietly, the pace of their efforts giving the day a natural flow.

Eventually, Yasushi's group wrapped up their work and began heading back toward Xinyi's home.

"That was a lot more than I thought we'd be doing. Didn't we spend the whole day there?" Yunxue asked, glancing around at the others.

"Well, there's plenty more for us to tackle this month, so don't start complaining too soon," Xinyi quipped, her tone light.

Yunxue let out a groan, exaggerated and loud, which only made Xinyi chuckle at her reaction.

+-+

Later that night, when the activity had slowed down, Yasushi sat outside on a chair, taking in the cool breeze of the evening. His attention was drawn to something in the distance. Narrowing his eyes, he realized it was the same young man he had encountered earlier — Fenling.

"What's he up to now?" Yasushi muttered, rising from his seat. He moved carefully toward Fenling, who was attempting to be inconspicuous as he worked on breaking into the property. Stopping a short distance away, Yasushi muttered under his breath, "Don't tell me he's trying to settle some score. This place is protected just like Jingliu's…"

As if on cue, a series of alarms blared loudly, and the area lit up with bright spotlights, all converging on Fenling. The young man froze in place, now fully exposed. Yasushi, also caught in the lights, became visible to Fenling.

"What the hell are you doing?" Yasushi called out, his tone sharp as he locked eyes with the intruder.

"The winner is the one who strikes first!" Fenling yelled, abandoning all pretense. He lunged at Yasushi, a desperate move to at least bring down one opponent after realizing his situation was hopeless.