Chapter 834 - 6: Ronald Loy

The car quickly drove away, and Ronald, who had lost everything, sat by the roadside, burying his head between his knees.

The laughter of those gang members seemed to still echo in his mind.

And last night's storm, the lightning and thunder that darted through the clouds, the broken tree branch lying on the road, and the helplessness of waking up to find his daughter missing, all flashed before him again and again.

Ronald felt as if he had fallen into a nightmare from which he would never wake, not knowing when he could return to reality.

He thought maybe he was cursed by the Devil—ever since being fired, divorcing his wife, and now this, nothing had gone smoothly.

...

After much contemplation, Ronald ultimately blamed everything on his careless driving.

Deep in self-reproach, he failed to notice a tall vagrant approaching from the other side of the street, bypassing him and entering the adjacent shop.

...

Soon, Chen Zhou came out carrying a handful of coins, a bottle of the suicide soda sold for 10 cents in workers' bars, and four loaves of bread wrapped in newspaper.

He pretended to casually walk up beside Ronald, bending down to pat Ronald on the shoulder.

"Hey brother, what happened?"

Upon hearing the strangely accented English, Ronald, lost in memories, lifted his head.

In the dim light, he saw a tall, shabby vagrant.

The man's appearance was unlike either Black or White, his skin dark, somewhat resembling Indians yet not entirely the same.

Ronald thought he looked very much like a laborer from China who had crossed the ocean, but he'd heard all the yellow-skinned folks were in San Francisco, and they were supposed to be short and skinny—not like this stout man, whom he'd never seen before.

Glancing at the cheap items in the man's hands, he thought this was yet another beggar type.

Although he doubted this man could help him, out of courtesy, Ronald wiped the tear stains from his face and forced a smile, telling the other he was fine.

Chen Zhou knew perfectly well what had happened to Ronald; seeing him still cling to his pride and suffer, he couldn't decide whether to sigh at how "dignity" ruined people or lament that social class had erected an insurmountable barrier between the middle and lower classes.

Just now, he had wanted to directly toss the carved wooden board by this driver's side. Since he'd already greeted him, he couldn't just hand over the board—that would confirm he'd met the driver's daughter and was involved in what happened before and after the accident.

Pausing for a moment, seeing the driver clearly didn't wish to converse too much, Chen Zhou made up his mind.

"Sir, can you do me a favor? I lost my wallet; I need you to help me check in at the hotel. I'll pay you 50 cents for your trouble."

50 cents meant nothing to Ronald, but now he was broke—even his car had been stolen.

The police station had closed for the day; he'd need to register his identity again at the Stonehaven bank to access his funds. Before then, he had to survive.

He had eaten nothing for almost a full day and night—he couldn't truthfully say he wasn't hungry. Disdaining the meager payment, and despite suspecting the sudden appearance of this vagrant, Ronald decided to take a chance.

Eyeing the bread and soda in Chen Zhou's hands, he stood up.

"Alright, do you want a hotel or a motel?"

"A motel is fine. It's cheaper there."

Chen Zhou gave an awkward smile, as if he were truly a down-and-out traveler.

Just judging by his appearance, no one would imagine he had taken more than a dozen lives, that even Fine-toothed Giant Bear and Mammoth—those prehistoric beasts—had perished at his hands.

...

When he went in to buy things just now, Chen Zhou made some inquiries.

The best inn in town was at the center, costing 3 US Dollars a night; to stay there, you needed to be white and look respectable, wearing a suit or uniform—even deposit could be waived.

As for people of color, they had to go to inns that accepted colored guests; Blacks also had to present an "employer's letter of introduction" to prove they weren't fugitives or vagrants.

In the film "Green Book," Chen Zhou had learned how tough it was for people of color to travel during the worst periods of racial discrimination.

He just hadn't expected to face this problem himself one day.

To check in legally and without suspicion, having a white person as guarantor seemed a good option.

Chen Zhou wasn't going to go to the cheapest inn, where you used public toilets and a night cost only 1 US Dollar—those places were full of all sorts, and he lacked sufficient ability to protect himself. Better to stay somewhere safer and more proper.

...

Led by Ronald, Chen Zhou hunched his shoulders and walked with his head down toward the motel.

Perhaps feeling the atmosphere had grown tense, halfway there Ronald suddenly asked Chen Zhou if he'd seen a little girl—about eight or nine years old—wandering around town without parents.

Chen Zhou hesitated, at first thinking the driver was testing him. But then, realizing Ronald couldn't possibly be so suspicious, he gave his answer.

He told Ronald that this morning, near the church on the edge of town, he had seen a little girl holding a stuffed animal; she seemed to have arrived with a pickup truck.

But after that pickup drove off, the girl vanished as well.

Hearing this, Ronald became especially agitated.

He peppered Chen Zhou with questions, urging him to describe her clothing and appearance.

Chen Zhou had seen the girl with his own eyes—and had even spent some time with her in the truck—how could he forget these details? The description he gave matched perfectly with the features of Ronald's daughter.