Chapter 269

Hearing Xiao Wu say this, Old Xie immediately laughed and said: "Ah, Xiao Wu brother, what are you saying? I was just joking with Mr. Zhao."

I didn't expect Mr. Zhao to be so quick.

Everyone, harmony is most important.

Now that harmony is most important, damn it, they think I'm jealous.

Since harmony is most important, I'll just say it straight: we're different from you, and we could never become friends. Don't scheme against us or have other ideas. From now on, you stay on your boat, we stay on ours, and we won't interact.

Everyone is the same,

all guilty.

I can let you go today.

Here, out of respect for Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu, if they cause trouble again, don't say I wasn't warned.

Xiao Wu said: "Don't worry, Jianqiang. If they cause trouble again, I'll send them straight back to their hometown in the Northeast. Keeping them here just brings disaster."

Upon hearing this, Old Xie,

he said: "Don't worry, we're all roughly the same—whether you're from the underworld or the legitimate side, we're all capable people."

Don't look down on us, and we won't look down on you.

If anyone has business, we'll do it together.

We will never harass you again.

After Old Xie said that,

I put down my dagger, and Shi Yong also put down a stool.

Xiao Wu said: "Then let's serve the dishes and drink again."

I waved my hand and said: "No drinking, just settle things openly. From now on, if we have any matters, we'll contact each other through Xiao Wu."

Kong Xiangju will continue staying here to learn the thousand techniques.

Xiao Wu, in a few days have Kong Xiangju proactively contact Kong Shi, so he gives up.

We'll arrange other things for him.

Xiao Wu nodded,

"Don't worry, I'll take care of this."

After a few days, I'll find a place to dock, take him ashore to make a call. Jianqiang, sorry about today.

"Forget it, we've known each other so long, we don't care about this small matter. Xiao Wu, let Kong Xiangju stay with you and treat him well—he'll be useful to us later." I arranged.

"Okay, Jianqiang, I got it. From today onward, let Kong Xiangju share a room with me." Xiao Wu said.

"Alright, Shi Yong, let's go." I said to Shi Yong.

Shi Yong walked ahead, I walked backward behind him, fearing those Northeasterners might suddenly attack us.

Know that they are all inhuman evildoers.

Shi Yong and I slowly retreated from the cabin.

They didn't come forward.

We reached outside the cabin. I saw Kong Xiangju standing at the side of the boat, shivering. Our earlier clash frightened him badly.

This kid has no guts at all.

I walked over,

and said to Kong Xiangju: "Xiangju, it's fine now. Go back; I've already told Xiao Wu that from now on you'll eat and live with him. Don't worry, you won't suffer anymore."

Upon hearing me say this, Kong Xiangju immediately burst into tears, moved.

"Thank you, Uncle Zhao, thank you, Uncle Zhao."

I patted Kong Xiangju's shoulder,

then returned to the boat together with Shi Yong.

Xiao Fang and Shen Honghong were both frightened, their souls not yet settled.

Shangguan Zhuren also sighed: "Ah, I never expected those Northeasterners to be so hateful."

I said: "Shangguan Zhuren, we have no choice but to drift here and be with them."

"Otherwise, how could we have met these people?"

"Yeah, there's nothing we can do. Xiao Fang, Shen Honghong, don't be afraid—if we four big men can't protect you, that would be embarrassing." Shangguan Zhuren laughed.

"Yeah, with me Shi Yong here, they wouldn't dare even glance at you." Shi Yong thumped his chest again.

Shen Honghong and Xiao Fang both laughed.

I told Xiao Long: "Have the boat captain pull out the planks between the two boats."

Also, keep about 20 meters away from their boat. We'll try to avoid contact with them. If anything comes up, I'll contact Xiao Wu to handle it. This will reduce trouble.

Xiao Long agreed and went out to arrange with the boat captain.

Shangguan Zhuren said: "It's getting late; everyone's tired after a day, rest early."

Xiao Fang and Shen Honghong returned to their own rooms.

Shi Yong also went into the room with Shangguan Zhuren.

I pushed open the door and walked in—hey, don't say it, the boat's decoration is nice.

All solid wood furnishings. Each room has two small beds.

At the head of the bed there's still a small window, through which you can see outside via the glass.

I lay down on the bed without taking off my clothes,

as soon as I lay down, I felt the boat's sway.

It was that kind of surge, like ocean waves.

You could still hear the wind on the lake surface loud, because there was nothing blocking the lake surface.

The northwest wind was blowing wildly over the lake.

If this room didn't have heating from the air conditioner, anyone sleeping inside would freeze to death.

I suddenly remembered that Chief Niu had asked me over the phone to look into Secretary Li; could he also know that I have connections with Secretary Li?

Yes, Secretary Li is a trusted person in Kong Shi; he should know some inside information.

I took out another phone, checked the time, and it was just past nine in the evening.

I had already memorized Secretary Li's phone number.

I sent a text message to contact Secretary Li.

I wrote: "Secretary Li, is it convenient, Jianqiang?"

Then I sent it.

After sending it, I took out a cigarette from my pocket,

I lit it and took a puff; I didn't know if Secretary Li would reply to my message, so I could only give it a try, hit or miss.

At that moment, Xiao Long came back from outside.

Xiao Long rubbed his hands and said, "Grandpa, it's really cold outside; the northwest wind has picked up—I expect the lake will freeze over tomorrow."

I said, "If it freezes, that'll be bad—our boat won't be able to move. We'll just have to stay here and not move."

Xiao Long said, "The boat captain said that if it's thin ice it's fine—modern boats have steel hulls and aren't afraid of collisions; but if it's thick ice, then the boat truly can't move."

Just as I was about to say something, my phone's text message notification sounded.

I picked up the phone and looked,

and saw that Secretary Li had replied to the message,

"Convenient." Only these two words.

I quickly replied to Secretary Li's message,

"Secretary Li, I want to inquire about LM's information."

I deliberately wrote Li Ming in English.

I believed Secretary Li would understand.

After sending it, I held the phone, waiting for a reply.

Time slipped away second by second.

My heart rose to my throat; this was my last hope.

The information about Li Ming and his brothers—these are all the resources I can use.

I hoped Secretary Li would know and reply to me.

I stared at the phone, my eyes unblinking.

Xiao Long stood beside me, watching my appearance,

"Grandpa, what are you staring at that old-person's phone for? It's not a smartphone—there's no news to read."

I said to Xiao Long, "Xiao Long, you don't know—there's an important matter here; I'm trying to find out where your father is being detained."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Long immediately said, "Really, Grandpa. I asked them where they detained my father."

I said, "Wait a moment; the reply hasn't come yet."

Xiao Long handed me another cigarette, which I took and started smoking.

After about ten minutes or so, my phone rang.

I hurriedly opened it and saw it read: "Zaocheng Old City." The detailed address was unknown.

Li Ming and his brothers are detained in Zaocheng Lao Cheng Qu, but Secretary Li doesn't know the exact address.

At that moment I jumped up from the bed,

"Xiao Long, your father is being detained in Zaocheng Lao Cheng Qu."