Chapter 256
William's hands were pale from soaking in the icy water. The cracks from his frostbite oozed blood, mingling with the muddy water from the potato peels, staining the basin a murky red.
"Hurry up! Finish this basket before noon!" Old Hu urged in a hushed voice, his eyes darting nervously toward the door.
William clenched his jaw and sped up. Today was the mine owner's son's wedding, so the laborers were given sprouted potatoes—a rare treat compared to the usual rock-hard cornbread and pickled vegetables.
A sharp hiss escaped his lips as the peeling knife sliced into his frostbitten skin. Blood welled up instantly. He quickly hid his hand beneath his apron, terrified of being seen by the overseer. Last month, a worker had been beaten to death and thrown into a废弃矿井 for slowing down due to an injured hand.
The kitchen door suddenly flew open with a kick. William flinched, nearly knocking over the potato basin.
"It's just Hank!" Old Hu sighed in relief, scrambling to greet him with fawning deference.
Hank "Tiger" Han swaggered in, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his leather jacket splattered with dried blood. He glanced at William's ghostly pale hands before tossing half a tube of ointment from his pocket. "Use this. Don't get blood in the food."
William bowed his head in thanks, his nails digging into his palms. This was the same beast who had lured him into that van with promises of high-paying work, only to sell him into this hellish black-market mine.
"We've got VIP guests today," Hank exhaled a smoke ring. "Go unload the groceries from the car."
William followed him into the courtyard. Three SUVs were parked outside, and several heavily made-up women were touching up their makeup in the rearview mirrors. When they spotted him, they burst into exaggerated giggles.
"Oh my, what a pretty boy!"
"Hey there, handsome, come have a drink with me tonight~"
William kept his head down and quickened his pace, but a woman in a red dress blocked his path. Her crimson-lacquered nails grazed his chin. "Playing hard to get? I'll pay you—"
"Get off!" William shoved her away violently. The woman shrieked as she stumbled back, her high heels slipping on a stray vegetable leaf and sending her crashing to the ground.
Hank roared with laughter and clapped William on the shoulder. "Feisty! Reminds me of my younger days." He leaned in close, his breath reeking of alcohol and tobacco. "But... don't forget who's keeping you alive."
William's clenched fists slowly relaxed. He bent to help the woman up, but she slapped his hand away.
"Stop pretending to be noble!" she spat as she scrambled to her feet, then suddenly lowered her voice. "Three a.m. tomorrow. The abandoned shaft." With a final glare, she strutted off, swaying her hips.
William froze. He recognized that voice—it was the female journalist who had been brought in last month. She had pretended to be Hank's mistress, but he never thought she'd still be alive...
"Daydreaming?" Hank kicked him. "Move those crates, now!"
William mechanically lifted the vegetable crate. Sweat and blood dripped from his fingertips, blooming into dark red flowers on the ground.