Chapter 179: Escape

I don't know when I fell asleep.

Perhaps my body was too tired.

When I woke up, I found myself lying on the bed fully clothed, without any covers.

It's almost entering October, and the morning weather is quite cool.

I was woken up by the cold.

I rubbed my eyes,

looking at this unfamiliar room,

the room was very quiet.

I got off the bed,

and stretched.

Twelve hours have already passed, and I don't know how the company is doing now.

I need to get news from outside.

I took out my newly bought phone, found the SIM card and installed it.

Then I turned it on.

After thinking for a while, I wondered who I should call.

I realized that calling anyone now could bring disaster to them.

Calling Li Ming won't work, and calling Shi Jinhe also won't work.

What about calling Ya Li,

Ya Li is what kind of person? I still can't figure her out now.

I'm even more worried that I won't get the truth from Ya Li's mouth.

After thinking for a while, I still couldn't find a suitable person.

Since I fled yesterday, I haven't eaten or drunk anything.

I've only been smoking.

Cigarette butts litter the ground.

I'm somewhat thirsty and also somewhat hungry.

I went to the kitchen, turned on the tap, and gulped down some cool water.

Then I washed my face, and I felt much more awake.

I'm staying here because no one has discovered me,

but I need to know outside information and also ensure basic living needs.

I need to eat; otherwise I'll starve to death.

Yesterday I was still a chairman with no worries about food and clothing,

but today I've become a fugitive worried about food and shelter.

I rummaged through the kitchen,

but found nothing to eat.

Last night, Shi Yong left in a hurry and didn't buy any food.

Now I don't know how Shi Yong is doing in Shanghu; with Xiao Wu there, hiding a person is no big deal. Otherwise, I would also go to Shanghu.

I thought to myself.

Yesterday I really should have gone with Shi Yong; staying alone in Lanling is pointless.

In Shanghu there's Xiao Wu and the others, but it's already arranged.

I thought to myself.

I'm too hungry; I must eat.

I opened the room's door, put on sunglasses and a hat.

Coming out of the room, since it's an old residential area,

most of the residents are tenants.

I went downstairs and soon arrived at a street,

beside the street there is a stall selling tofu pudding.

I ordered a bowl of tofu pudding and a bit of youbing, then sat down to eat.

At that moment, the two old men beside me were chatting,

"Do you know? Da Heng Group has run into trouble. I heard their chairman is involved in black-market activities, and the city wants to arrest him."

"I also heard that they didn't catch the chairman; he fled, and they arrested his son instead. Alas, Da Heng Group originated from our Lanling. I never imagined their company would be involved in black deeds—how many lives does that Chairman Zhao have on his hands? If caught, he'll be executed." said the other old man.

I, listening nearby, was terrified.

I hurriedly gulped down the tofu pudding and ate the youbing.

I took out money to pay the boss.

While settling the bill, the boss glanced at me several times.

I quickly lowered my head.

I took my change and quickly left.

Because my leg is injured and I can't run, I can only walk briskly.

I'm afraid of others' gazes; if anyone looks at me a few more times, I feel they'll recognize me.

Because my exposure is too high, who doesn't know Chairman Zhao Jianqiang of Da Heng Group?

I quickly returned to the room,

I was nervous and broke out in a sweat.

After eating a bit, I felt much better.

From the news I just heard on the street,

Kong Shi is using the crackdown on black societies as an excuse to arrest us. This is even more troublesome; our kind of real estate company will definitely be involved in these matters.

Such as demolition and land requisition, etc.; many places are shady.

Moreover, they said I have several lives on my back, which is tantamount to wanting to kill me.

Damn, it's too vicious. But I can't fight back; their mouths are much bigger than ours.

Also, Sun Dajun was arrested; didn't Niu Ju protect him?

What on earth is going on?

I can't figure it out.

I was in the room, pacing back and forth.

I'm like a rat crossing the street; even going out for a meal makes me break out in a sweat.

What can I do? Staying in Lanling surely isn't a long-term solution; sooner or later someone will find out.

I really regret not leaving with Shi Yong.

I wanted to call Shi Yong to come pick me up, but now it's a critical period; if anyone checks the roads, neither of us could escape.

I've become a trapped beast.

Since I've run out of cigarettes, I'm even more anxious.

All the cigarette butts on the ground have been smoked.

Back then, I should have bought two packs of cigarettes when I was out.

Now I want to go out to buy, but I'm afraid someone will recognize me.

I became even more irritable.

I wandered around the house for a long time, but still had no good ideas.

It seems I can't escape this calamity this time.

I sat down on a stool in the room, feeling very pessimistic.

I don't know how long I sat there,

My stomach quickly grew hungry.

Damn, I never knew what hunger was before. This morning I just ate a piece of fried dough and some tofu pudding, but it felt like I hadn't eaten at all.

My stomach growled again.

I patted my stomach,

"Let you shout, let you shout."

I let out a loud shout in anger.

But after patting it, I felt even hungrier.

This feeling of hunger is unbearable for me.

At that moment I took out my phone and glanced at it,

The time was already almost two in the afternoon.

I've been on the run for almost 24 hours.

Hungry, hungry, I must eat.

This time I go downstairs, I'll definitely buy more instant noodles and sausages.

I thought to myself.

It would be better if I could stay hidden in the house longer.

Just before leaving, I deliberately dressed up a bit.

I actually found the old clothes left by the former landlord in the cabinet,

Regardless of whether they fit, I put them on first.

I deliberately smeared dust on my face to look like a migrant worker.

I continued wearing my sunglasses as I went out.

I cautiously watched the people outside,

Then I walked like a thief, glancing at people.

After leaving the compound, I found a small eatery and ordered a soup dish to eat.

I finally ate my fill.

Then I went to the supermarket and bought a pack of cigarettes, as well as instant noodles and sausages, etc.

I originally wanted to buy more cigarettes, but I didn't have enough money on me.

I didn't have much cash on me.

Normally, Shi Yong handles the expenses.

This is still what Shi Yong left me yesterday.

I grabbed the instant noodles and sausages and hurried back to the room, locking the door tightly,

then I caught my breath.

I'm always afraid someone outside is following me.

With this box of instant noodles and sausages, I don't need to go downstairs for now.

Just like that, I endured another three days here.

During these three days I didn't make a single phone call, and I know nothing about outside news.

I discovered that if a person is alive but does not understand outside information and does not communicate with outsiders.

Being alive is like being dead.

It truly has no meaning at all.

I want to quickly understand the company's affairs; without me in the company, it will descend into chaos.

Now I regret my escape again.

I should bravely face it, give everyone an image—I am the company's chairman, daring to face all kinds of challenges.

How could I just run away with a stack?

Really annoying.

This self-blame fills my heart.

It leaves me nowhere to place my soul.

When I am most irritated, I bang my head against the wall,

It makes a thumping sound, and I want to bang my head until it bleeds; even if I die here from it, I would feel relieved.

But no matter how long I bang the wall, it doesn't solve the problem.

It merely lets the body feel pain.

I am powerless to sit in the room,

wanting to find a cigarette to smoke, I discover the cigarettes are gone again.

It has been four days since I escaped.

No one has contacted me,

I have not contacted anyone either.

Have I really been forgotten by the world.