Chapter 185: Living at Shangguan Zhuren's Home

Seeing my worried look,

Shangguan Zhuren burst out laughing,

Then he said, "Jianqiang, you forgot what I do for a living? I'm a former reconnaissance officer; criminal investigation, interrogation, surveillance, disguise, reconnaissance—these are my specialties.

I only need three months to make you reborn,

to remake you into a person named Zhou Fuhai.

Why have Xiao Fang alter your ID age to forty-five, making you a resident of Sijiucheng,

I just want you to become extraordinary."

After hearing Shangguan Zhuren's words, I understood,

Back when we dealt with Bai Lang, Shangguan Zhuren once gave me a bag full of professional equipment.

It seems Shangguan Zhuren is an expert in this area.

Otherwise he wouldn't hold that position in Zaocheng, specifically tasked with inspecting officials' duties.

These officials have intelligence many times higher than ordinary civilians,

to specially inspect them, one can imagine that without special skills it simply wouldn't work.

I said to Shangguan Zhuren, "Three months—isn't that too long?"

Shangguan Zhuren waved his hand and said, "A three-month crash course; ideally it takes over half a year to be called a professional.

Jianqiang, I understand your feelings, but revenge isn't something that can be done overnight; besides, you know better than I who our enemies are.

They all hold positions and wield enormous power.

A slight mistake on our part would mean total defeat.

Some things simply cannot be rushed,

They now wish you would jump out and duel them directly.

Is it possible? You escaped with such ease, yet to let him catch you again so easily,

what meaning would your escape have? It would have been better to let them catch you then, making you look like a hero.

Since you've escaped, you must learn to endure and to survive."

Shangguan Zhuren's words flowed into my heart like a warm current,

He was right,

I'm now too impatient, wanting to jump straight into revenge mode,

swiftly knocking Niu Ju, Kong Shi, Zhang Zong, and Liu Shiru to the ground,

letting me rub them.

Is that possible.

My current identity is that of a fugitive,

no one would believe anything I say,

I might even lose my life. Forget about rubbing others—I can only let others rub me.

I said to Shangguan Zhuren, "Okay, Shangguan Zhuren, I'll follow your arrangements."

"It's getting late, you're tired after a day. Xiao Fang, tidy up a bit.

Jianqiang, you'll live here from now on. Usually it's just me here; Xiao Fang doesn't come back often.

This place is good—it's at the urban-rural fringe, with a mixed population and high mobility; big shots don't know each other. You don't have to worry about anything.

"No one comes here for inspections." Shangguan Zhuren said.

"Okay, Shangguan Zhuren, you should rest early too." I said and stood up.

I then followed Xiao Fang to another room.

The bedding inside had already been prepared.

Xiao Fang laughed, "Chairman Zhao, the only downside of living here is that the toilet is outside; you have to go out to use it."

Xiao Fang pointed to an annex in the southwest corner of the house and said.

I said, "Thank you, Xiao Fang; just having a place to stay is already good. Thanks to you and Shangguan Zhuren,

without your protection, I might truly not know where to flee."

Xiao Fang said, "No need for formalities—quickly write a letter; I'll take it to Lanling tomorrow and deliver it to Du County."

I said, "I'll write it like this: entrust Xiao Fang as my authorized representative to fully handle the affairs of Qi He Kuang, then conduct specific negotiations, with Xiao Fang responsible for contacting Hainan's Manager Xiao Feng.

As long as Du County sees my writing, he'll trust you."

Xiao Fang asked me, "Chairman Zhao, is Du County reliable?"

I said, "He should be reliable; he has a bad relationship with Kong Shi. Shangguan Zhuren also knows this—if he weren't reliable, he wouldn't have let you go."

Xiao Fang nodded.

I then sealed the finished letter with my stamp, handed it to Xiao Fang, and had her go to Lanling tomorrow to find Du County, inquiring about the situation there.

Xiao Fang took the letter I wrote and left.

I then lay alone on the bed, and I didn't turn on the light.

I was thinking about my worries,

For now I am temporarily safe.

I also don't know how others are, and I dare not contact them.

How is Shi Yong in Shanghu, and what's the situation with Li Ming—I have no way to find out.

Things happened too suddenly,

I never imagined in my dreams that they would do this.

I must take revenge,

We must make them pay their debts in blood; don't think I, Zhaoerhai, am easy to bully.

It's good to toy with.

Hmph, I will make them all perish, each one paying the price.

Director Shangguan analyzed it for me; the only feasible thing right now is the Qi He Mine matter. The rest is hopeless.

What Director Qi? He just wants to take advantage again to make a profit.

And Ya Li, this woman is too hateful, repeatedly acting to deceive me.

She partnered with Niu Ju and the Bank Manager, cheating me out of so much money.

People, one cannot be too naive, nor too kind.

Otherwise, one will always be bullied.

I haven't seen Zhou Wei for a long time; I don't know if her body has changed.

Qian Niang can't reach me; she must be worried.

But I dare not contact anyone now.

Now is not the time to act.

I have gone into hiding, waiting for the right moment to fiercely bite those who deceived me and take their lives.

Slowly I fell asleep.

These past days, I haven't gotten a single good night's sleep; each day I've spent in self-blame and unease.

When I lived in Lanling, whenever someone went upstairs, I would become alert.

Afraid someone would suddenly burst in to arrest me.

Now I am finally unafraid; I can sleep a peaceful sleep.

It seems being a fugitive is not easy.

First, one must get past the psychological barrier.

Only someone like Shi Yong is suitable.

The next morning, I was awakened by the sound of a rooster.

How many years have I not heard a rooster crow?

I got up from the room,

I took a look; the room is simply furnished—just a bed and a desk.

The desk holds my toiletries.

The faucet is outside, so I took my toiletries outside to brush my teeth and wash my face.

I had just stepped outside when I saw Director Shangguan practicing Tai Chi, each move performed very beautifully.

I stood there watching for a long time, until Director Shangguan finished his routine.

Director Shangguan looked at me and smiled, saying, "Jianqiang, you're up—how's your rest?"

I said, "Very well, Director Shangguan, I haven't had a peaceful sleep these past days."

Your Tai Chi is not bad.

It has great presence.

Hehe, this Tai Chi is good; you should find time to practice it—it strengthens the body, especially suitable for older people.

Practicing Tai Chi can also slow one's temper.

I used to have a hot temper.

At the slightest thing, I would easily get anxious and angry.

Through practicing Tai Chi, I realized many things don't need rushing; they should be done slowly.

Sometimes we just move too hastily.

Going slower has its benefits.

Yes, Director Shangguan makes sense; I've been developing too hastily these past years, always wanting to earn big money, more money, to make a bigger name for myself.

That's how things ended up like this. If I had been a bit slower, not developing this way, I could have taken all the good land in Zaocheng into my own hands.

Sigh, letting others become jealous.

I'll learn Tai Chi from you in a moment.