Chapter 208: Scaring Lao Wai

Hearing Lao Wai say that, I really wanted to slap him twice.

But now I can only pretend not to know him.

I found a stool and sat down,

I want to chat with Lao Wai,

"Hearing you say, Zhao Jianqiang served time in prison, but after he came out he became the chairman of Da Heng Group, yet how come you're setting up a street stall?"

"My path is different from his; I studied longer in prison and learned more knowledge. When he got out, he had good opportunities—any normal person could get rich. By the time I got out, the era had changed."

"It's impossible for me to make money again using the knowledge I learned in prison."

"Damn, I've ruined my life in prison." Lao Wai cursed.

After hearing Lao Wai's words,

I almost laughed out loud; this Lao Wai is also a talent.

"Spending a long time in prison and learning a lot of knowledge—I've never heard of that before."

"Then after you got out, why didn't you look for Zhao Jianqiang? You owe him a favor; he should help you." I asked again.

"Damn, don't mention it—I went to look for him, got to the Da Heng Group gate, but the security wouldn't let me in. I didn't even get to see his face before they kicked me out the door."

"However, he's not doing well either; I heard the higher-ups are arresting him."

"I knew this kid was no good, always out there swindling and cheating. Sooner or later he'd end up inside, so I timely drew a line with him."

"What kind of person am I,"

"I certainly don't want to go back to prison."

"Actually, he's not as well off as I am with my street stall."

"Make money when you have it, sleep when you don't; one person eating enough keeps the whole family from starving." Lao Wai started boasting again.

Lao Wai truly has the Ah Q spirit.

I still wanted to talk to Lao Wai about something, when Shangguan Zhuren shouted from the kitchen: "The dishes are ready, serve this brother some meat."

So I went to the kitchen and got Lao Wai a big bowl of meat and half a bottle of wine, bringing it to him.

Lao Wai wasn't polite,

he directly started blowing into the wine bottle,

took a big gulp of wine, then picked up a piece of meat and started eating,

"This wine is not bad, costs seventy or eighty yuan a bottle. Brothers, you're generous."

Lao Wai ate with oil dripping from his mouth.

I hurried back to the kitchen and simply ate two steamed buns.

After eating, I had Lao Wai kept under watch in my room, lest he escape and cause trouble.

Lao Wai looked at my place—clean and comfortable.

He then said: "Brothers, I want to ask, what business are you buying rosemary for?"

I took a puff of cigarette,

"Why are you asking about this?"

"Brothers, if there's a good business, I also want to invest." Lao Wai looked at me and said.

"If you want to invest, you mean the rosemary should be free, given to us. You're not just making money from your street stall, are you?"

"Brothers, give me a cigarette to smoke, don't just keep it to yourselves. That's the idea, but after success we need to split the profits. Setting up a stall earns a few strings of cash—freeze to death in winter, roast in summer. Just bring me in on this; I'm resourceful and strategic, fond of planning from behind the scenes. All major affairs are under my control." Lao Wai said confidently.

"What we're doing is a capital offense; if you really want to join, if caught you'd be shot on the spot." I deliberately threatened Lao Wai.

After saying that, I threw him a cigarette.

Lao Wai took the cigarette, looking at me seriously,

I also looked at Lao Wai solemnly.

"Brothers, you're not joking, are you?"

"No." I said.

"Then forget it; I'm here to make money, not to risk my life. I'll count this as never having been said. Tomorrow we'll do cash on delivery, goods in hand, and each go our separate ways—we're not on the same path." Lao Wai finished speaking, then slumped in a chair and closed his eyes.

This Lao Wai is still afraid of death.

I really wanted to laugh inside, looking at Lao Wai with his eyes closed,

thinking to myself, the person before me is none other than Zhao Jianqiang, whom you've been mentioning all along; we haven't seen each other in over ten years. It's just that we can't recognize each other.

Lao Wai is still the same Lao Wai, but I am no longer the former me.

Thinking back, when we lived in Qi He, I used to drum up business for Lao Wai; this guy cheated at mahjong, got caught by Zhou Hailong, and they were going to chop off his hand.

He had no choice but to let me take the fall; for that, I smashed two wine bottles with my head in front of Zhou Hailong,

thus saving his hand from harm.

From then on I also got to know Zhou Hailong,

and followed Zhou Hailong onto another path.

Looking at Lao Wai, I thought to myself, do you still remember these things?

Also, in Lanling County, when he was running his street stall and got beaten by the sunglasses guy, I was the one who stepped in to save him.

Hmph, forget it, I don't remember those anymore.

Actually, people like Lao Wai represent many; folks only remember others' bad deeds, never recalling the good deeds others have done for them.

Because those good deeds are just what's expected.

I'm feeling some self-reproach—how can I stoop to the level of someone like Lao Wai? If I were like him,

then what meaning would there be to my life.

I might as well go set up a stall with him.

Gee, everyone has their own way of living.

Lao Wai has his own way of living; you can't force it on others, let them be grateful like me.

Actually, even if I'm grateful, what can I do? In the end I'm still schemed against.

Now I'm a fugitive, not even as free as Lao Wai; I dare not even say the name Zhao Jianqiang, nor dare to meet familiar people.

Just thinking about it is truly pitiful.

Lao Wai was snoring in the chair,

I was smoking beside him, thinking, I didn't dare to sleep.

I was afraid that if I fell asleep, Lao Wai would have some ulterior motive.

He might tamper with me, what if he suddenly runs away?

This guy has been studying in university for many years, very sly.

I was extremely tired, just walking lightly in the room, thinking about things.

My peripheral vision kept staring at Lao Wai.

Don't think Lao Wai's snoring means he's asleep; actually he's pretending.

Because I saw his eyes slightly open, looking at me not sleeping.

He had to close them again.

Ha ha, I thought in my heart, you old Lao Wai, trying to play tricks on me, I already wanted you to go ahead.

I suddenly remembered,

That time in Lanling County city, Lao Wai gave me some confusing incense, which he took out from his pocket.

100 grams isn't much; he probably wouldn't hide it on himself; waiting till tomorrow to get the confusing incense, is that a delaying tactic?

Because just now Lao Wai pretended to sleep, I'm becoming more suspicious of him.

I don't know what this guy is thinking; tomorrow he might take us to an unfamiliar place and then call many people.

Not only might we not get the confusing incense, but our money might also be schemed away by him.

At a street stall, he dares to openly rob using the confusing incense; what else wouldn't he do?

I stopped my steps,

Slowly sizing up Lao Wai who was snoring.

I'll strike first to gain the advantage.

I'll make you act.

I stood beside Lao Wai,

Suddenly I reached out and directly grabbed Lao Wai's neck,

Lao Wai instantly woke up,

"What are you doing, brothers? If you have something to say, say it nicely."

I smiled at Lao Wai,

"Lao Wai, quickly hand over the confusing incense, otherwise I'll kill you tonight. In the dead of night, I'll break you up and dispose of you."

After hearing my words, Lao Wai obviously shuddered in fear.

"Brothers, big brother, didn't we agree? Tomorrow we'll exchange money and goods hand to hand."

I coldly said to Lao Wai: 'You know too much, it's disadvantageous for us. I don't want you to leave alive.'

"I'm tight-lipped, don't, big brother. My own brother, I still want to live two more years; I've just started having a good life." Lao Wai burst into tears.