Scenario:A man named Hsiao accepted a man named Joe out of kindness, and was accidentally involved in inexplicable trouble, and then a plot similar to that of the bankrupt lady unfolded.
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A man named Hsiao accepted a man named Joe out of kindness, and was accidentally involved in inexplicable trouble, and then a plot similar to that of the bankrupt lady unfolded.
Hsiao
offering him a place to stay and work. He is generous, naive, and compassionate. Hsiao experiences a series of misfortunes after helping Joe, including being robbed and having his bike stolen. His life becomes increasingly complicated when he is pursued by debt collectors and discovers that Joe has disappeared with his bike. Despite his struggles, Hsiao remains determined to make things right and seek redemption.
Joe
seeking help and shelter. He is secretive, troubled, and enigmatic. Joe works for a locksmith but steals food from a restaurant, hinting at deeper issues. His presence brings turmoil into Hsiao's life as debt collectors start looking for him after an accident involving a car window. Joe eventually leaves but takes Hsiao's prized possession with him, highlighting the significant impact he had on Hsiao's life.
Lin
patient, and understanding. Lin stands by Hsiao despite his misfortunes and the mysterious circumstances surrounding Joe. She helps Hsiao deal with the aftermath of the accident when debt collectors become involved, demonstrating her loyalty and willingness to be part of his life challenges. Her relationship with Hsiao is central to his sense of stability and comfort amidst the chaos he faces.
I never thought that one day I would be the bankrupt lady’s husband.
It all started with Joe.
Joe was a thin, quiet man who showed up at my doorstep one day.
He didn’t say much, but there was something about him that seemed trustworthy.
So I asked him to stay for dinner, and then I gave him a place to sleep.
The next day, I took Joe to the restaurant where my girlfriend, Lin, works.
I knew that the restaurant needed someone to help with food preparation, and I knew that Joe was looking for a job, so I brought him to meet the owner.
Joe was secretive, though, and he only revealed his identity bit by bit.
The first day we met, he only told me his name—Joe.
The second day, he told me that he was from Kaohsiung, and the third day, he told me that he would like to work in a locksmith shop.
I had no idea why he wanted to work there, but I guessed that it was because he had some experience with locks or with repairing cars after an accident.
I didn’t press him to tell me more.
Instead, I tried to help him out as much as I could.
I gave him a place to live and a job in the locksmith shop.
I took Joe to meet the owner of the locksmith shop, and after a while, Joe was able to get a job there.
I was happy that he had found a place to work, and I could tell that he was happy too.
Every time we met at the restaurant for dinner, he told me about what he learned at the locksmith shop.
Joe would sit in his usual corner table, and Lin would bring us our drinks.
He would always order a beer, and I would order a cup of coffee.
Joe would take a sip of his beer and then tell me about what he learned.
"I learned how to fix car windows today," Joe said one day.
He spoke in his usual hushed tone, as if there were other people around listening to our conversation.
"The boss taught me how to replace the glass."
I nodded my head.
"That sounds like useful knowledge," I said.
Joe smiled and took another sip of his beer.
"I also learned how to fix car locks," he said. "That’s good too," I said.
But something didn’t feel right.
I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but something about what Joe said didn’t feel true.
Maybe it was the way he spoke with such a serious expression, or maybe it was because I knew that Joe didn’t have any experience working with cars before.
But I didn’t want to press him for more information, so I just sat quietly and drank my coffee.
Lin came over to our table with our dinner plates, and she gave me a smile as she set them down in front of us.
"Enjoy your meal," she said before walking away.
But she didn’t go far.
She stopped at another table nearby and pretended to wipe it down with a dirty rag, but really she was listening to what Joe and I were talking about. Joe went on telling me about what he learned at the locksmith shop, but Lin stayed by her table listening for longer than usual.
Finally she went back into the kitchen to get more food for other customers, but Joe and I were almost done eating by then anyway.
When we finished, Lin brought us our bill on a tray with two fortune cookies on top of it.
"Thank you," Joe said as he picked up his cookie and cracked it open.
Lin gave him a smile before turning around and going back into the kitchen again.
I cracked open my own fortune cookie and pulled out the slip of paper inside that had my fortune written on it.
It read: "Good things will happen if you are patient."
I nodded my head as I read the words.
I could be patient.
I didn’t need to know every detail about Joe’s work at the locksmith shop, and I didn’t need to know why he had come to Taipei.
Joe got up from the table and excused himself to go to the bathroom, leaving me sitting alone at the table with the half-eaten plates of food in front of me.
The restaurant was quieter now, with only a few other customers still eating.
Lin came over with her tray again, but this time she had our check on it.
She placed it on the table in front of me and brushed her fingers against my hand as she did so.
Her touch was warm, and I could feel the softness of her skin against mine.
I looked up at her as she stood there, and our eyes met for a second before she looked away and went back into the kitchen again.
But even though she had only been touching my hand for a moment, I could tell that her touch was deliberate, not just an accident. Lin knew that something wasn’t right about Joe’s stories of working in a locksmith shop, and she was trying to tell me that without saying it out loud.
She glanced back at me from the kitchen doorway before going back inside, and I saw that she was looking past me toward the bathroom where Joe had gone.
