Chapter 16

"This won't do!"

Before anyone else could react, Ceng Hongbing, the Northeastern man who had been following behind the reporter mother and daughter the whole way, helping and supporting them along, spoke up directly.

He wanted to use his stammering English to explain.

"Mr. Guide, that thing..."

His English was truly too poor; unable to speak smoothly, he simply turned his head to the female reporter and said, "Little sis, your English is good, you tell him, in our country there is freedom of faith.

Just Christian churches alone, we have over 30,000 domestically.

Even in my hometown city there are two churches, quite large ones at that! If we said that, wouldn't that be slandering our own hometown?"

The female reporter glanced at him: "Brother Ceng, what do you mean slander?

Compared to America, what freedom does the hometown have? Western freedom of speech, Western democracy, Western religious freedom, does the hometown have them?

Moreover, the method the Guide spoke of is just to make our path entering the country of America a bit smoother.

It's just acting for the occasion!

Don't you understand acting?

Having come to the free world, the backward past, what should be discarded must be discarded!"

If they were still on the road, the female reporter would not use this tone to speak to Ceng Hongbing, because all along the way it was he who took care of the mother and daughter pair, otherwise they might not even have made it here! They might have perished in the tropical rainforest! After all, in that kind of environment, let alone a mother and daughter pair, even a normal grown man could possibly be exhausted to death in there.

But with this Northeastern man's help, and others dragging them along a bit, plus their luck was indeed not bad, that's why they managed to get out of the tropical rainforest smoothly.

Therefore, knowing their own mother-daughter inadequacies, they relied heavily on this Northeastern man, after all who knows what they'd encounter on the rest of the road, having someone to depend on was always good.

But now they've already arrived at the US-Mexico border, one step away from entering America, at this time Northeastern man Ceng Hongbing's role was no longer a reliance, his role wasn't big anymore.

To prevent this Northeastern man from still clinging to her mother and daughter after entering the free country, the female reporter felt she should change her attitude toward him now.

One must say her words still had quite an impact on Ceng Hongbing, he was a bit unable to believe this was spoken by a woman who had been so refined and cultivated all along the journey: "What nonsense? First not to mention, us doing this thing, saying these words is slandering the hometown.

Let's speak facts and reason.

Just take freedom of speech.

Damn it, if you'd said this to me a few years earlier, I'd have believed it! But these two years, what's the situation online? We haven't not seen it! Speaking of freedom of speech, the hometown is much stronger than America!

Besides, if it wasn't for that tea thing in the hometown causing a famine, owing relatives and friends millions.

I wouldn't have bothered to run over here to do some foreign labor! For a bit of foreign labor, slander the hometown, would I still be able to go home after? This thing I dare not do, I'm afraid I'd get my legs broken if I went home!"

Unexpectedly, after he finished this long speech, the female reporter didn't even acknowledge him, directly pulling her daughter into the store to look for Bibles and crosses.

Ceng Hongbing didn't go in, Chen Yaozu also didn't go in.

But everyone else went in.

For the few Black people, this was no big deal.

But for the eleven or twelve Eastern people, they seemed to have no hesitation either.

The only one resisting was Ceng Hongbing alone.

Northeasterners, sometimes are comparatively upright.

As for Chen Yaozu, he never moved from the start.

"Brother, you're not going?"

This time he didn't call him Zu!

Northeasterners like to call people by the last character of their name, feels familiar.

But now Ceng Hongbing looked back at the surrounding people, even though they were all Eastern people, he no longer felt familiarity, instead felt strangeness.

And a bit surprised, why didn't Chen Yaozu go along to buy things, could it be the Guides had prepared for him in advance?

"I'm also not too good at cursing!"

Chen Yaozu replied with a smile, extending his hand: "Walked for a month, let's get to know each other again, I'm Chen Yaozu, from Guangdong Province."

These words made Ceng Hongbing a bit surprised, because this kind of self-introduction, they'd already had one over a month ago before departure.

And this past month plus, they'd become familiar with each other.

There was simply no need to do this kind of self-introduction again.

Thinking of that previous sentence just now, suddenly he understood, turns out Chen Yaozu acknowledged him as a person because he was unwilling to say the hometown lacks freedom of faith.

He smiled, his originally somewhat apprehensive heart, surprisingly settled a bit.

"Ceng Hongbing, from the Northeast.

The past two years my wife did some investment, behind my back borrowed from relatives and friends 100-plus, result this thing collapsed.

Now my marriage is divorced too, and I'm saddled with 100-plus of famine! Finally scraped together some money, wanted to run to America to desperately work a few years, see if I can pay back relatives and friends' debts.

But to pay back this money, go curse and insult, this thing I can't do!"

Not hiding anything, Ceng Hongbing didn't know if not cursing he could pass the border police's interrogation and whether he'd be deported, so his heart was a bit apprehensive.

Since Chen Yaozu was the same as him, he simply vented the apprehension in his heart with his own words.

"No problem! I don't need to buy a Bible and cross, because the Guide arranged it for me.

I'll talk to him, have him arrange for you too! But it might cost money, much more expensive than buying a Bible and cross and saying a few slandering words!"

"Really?"

The apprehension in Ceng Hongbing's eyes instantly faded, he excitedly raised his head to look at this calm and composed young man before him.

Chen Yaozu nodded: "Might need to spend some money!"

"Spend money then spend money, as long as we can cross!"

That's right!

For the others, sending them to the US-Mexico border and telling them how to clear customs was already completing this Guide job.

But for Chen Yaozu's side, because he helped Antonio and them solve a life-and-death problem, Antonio had to escort him to the end.

America's border immigration prison, if you really want to cross, is actually still very easy.

Buying the Bible and cross was quick; after all, there were only two items. After everyone had come out, Antonio, who had gone to the toilet, also returned.

"At the US-Mexico Border, the Mexican Border Guard patrols and checks every vehicle heading to America.

These people are not paid Mexican salaries, but American salaries.

So they will inspect every vehicle very seriously. If you are caught, they will send you back to Honduras.

At that time, if you want to try crossing the border again, you can only ride from Honduras again, all the way here, and try again.

Among the people I brought last time, there was an unlucky guy who was also an Eastern person.

He tried seven times in a row, was sent back to Honduras six times in a row, and only succeeded on the seventh time by hiding under a car seat and evading inspection to pass the US border.

So, whether you can get across depends on you yourselves! Next, the key points."

Antonio said very seriously: "After crossing, do not tear your passports. Many of you may have believed internet rumors and plan to tear your passports once across the border.

People like that can only stay in the immigration prison until you say which country you are from, and then be deported back.

You must keep your passports safe, so that you can have an identity.

Because you ran thousands of miles to America, you are actually here to work. Without a passport, you cannot move an inch; you can't even leave Texas. Once across the border, as long as you successfully cross the border, immediately call America's police emergency number.

Then stay right there and wait for the police to arrive.

The police will take you to the immigration prison to verify your identity, but will not drive you away.

Generally, if there is no problem, they will detain you for 1~6 months, and then release you. At that time, you will be illegal entry residents with legal procedures.

Then spend several thousand US dollars to find a lawyer, who can help you process a work permit.

Only with a work permit can you work normally; otherwise, within America, without a work permit you can't even register an account to deliver takeout.

Let alone find other jobs.

Remember, do not tear your passports; that is an internet rumor!"

After this long speech finished, immediately Cindy and the other two Guides went around collecting their smuggling fees.

Reaching this step, this deal counted as completed! As for whether these people ultimately could enter the Freedom Country, the Spiritual Motherland in their hearts, that was not his responsibility.

Actually, he just now didn't tell the truth. There was indeed one who crossed the border after seven consecutive attempts; that was good luck.

There were quite a few people who were caught ten-plus times, dozens of times, sent back to Honduras, rode back each time only to be caught again, and exhausted all their savings and funds, yet still couldn't cross this border line — there are plenty of such people.

Mexico isn't a good place either; when you run out of money, you will discover this place actually...

But what does that have to do with him, Antonio?

Now Antonio only had one last task left: to arrange Chen Yaozu.

"Mr. Chen, next it's your turn to be arranged for border crossing! Of course, you will also enter the immigration prison, but it's just going through the motions.

You definitely won't stay inside long; please rest assured on this point!"

Seeing the smuggling fees collected in full, Antonio was very satisfied with this trip's smoothness. Nearly 20 people, each four to eight thousand dollars in smuggling fees, plus the rebates he collected at every stop along the way.

One trip a month earning twenty-plus thousand dollars, and it was the easiest time.

One word: satisfying!

If only every time could be this smooth!

He smiled and said to Chen Yaozu, preparing to take him for border crossing arrangements.

"I'll arrange someone to take you across the border first!"

"Okay!"

Chen Yaozu nodded, but then spoke up to ask: "Antonio, I also want to ask, can I add a person? That Ceng, he suits my temperament well. If it's convenient to add a person, just name the price directly!"

Antonio was startled hearing this. He knew what Chen Yaozu meant. If it was just crossing the border, there was no need to find him.

Sneak across a few more times and you'll get across; some even climb walls and climb across.

So crossing the border is sometimes very easy, although sometimes also very hard, but there's no need to specially tell him.

Since Wizard spoke up, it's definitely because after crossing, entering the immigration prison, the problem is whether they can pass the asylum interview.

Antonio glanced at that Ceng who had just walked over and was standing behind Chen, and nodded.

"Add five thousand dollars!

Since Mr. Chen spoke up, on account of his face, I'll count the border crossing as free for you.

But you also have to enter the immigration prison and go through the motions!

This requires 5000 US dollars, which can let you smoothly pass the asylum interview after going through the motions, and obtain legal illegal entry resident status.

Actually, if you don't have this 5000 US dollars, buy a Bible and cross, and just speak according to the script.

You'll just stay in the immigration prison a few weeks and come out.

Because the immigration prison is quite small, it can't hold many people.

Recently there are many immigrants, so there will be quick transfer.

So usually in a few weeks you can come out.

After entering America, there are still many places to spend money! You consider it?"

Antonio has connections, but this kind of connection cannot be done on a large scale.

So he doesn't dare do large batches; one or two is fine.

The other point is also indeed as he said; it's completely unnecessary. There are too many illegal entrants, the immigration prison is too small.

The detained immigrants simply can't stay very long.

So there's really no need to spend this five or six thousand US dollars.

And five or six thousand US dollars is a discount price; it's a friendship price where he, Antonio, doesn't make money, on account of Wizard Chen's face.

For anyone else, it would cost no less than ten thousand US dollars.

5000 dollars, for Ceng Hongbing who was already heavily in debt and came with his whole family, was indeed quite a lot.

After all, converted to hometown RMB, that would be over 30,000.

But after he glanced at Chen Yaozu, he agreed without another word: "5000 dollars it is, 5000 dollars!"

Antonio nodded: "You probably don't have that much cash on you, you can swipe your card at this store, just give the credit card receipt to Cindy and it's done!"

Ceng Hongbing was also straightforward, he went directly inside to swipe, and came out with a receipt.

Cindy collected the final payment, looking at that Eastern Wizard with a somewhat complex expression, and recalling the countless times along the way the other party refused her intimacy.

Sigh! Reserved Eastern men, truly do not know romance! Old Mexico's Border Patrol, they earn American wages, 500 dollars a month.

This money in America, might not even rent a basement on the West Coast in Los Angeles or the East Coast in New York, can only afford a 25 dollar a night basement laundry room hallway bunk, and still have to chip in extra.

But here in Old Mexico, 500 dollars a month can live very well, you must know the current average salary of ordinary Old Mexicans is around 300 to 500 dollars.

But experienced people all know, average wages are mostly pulled up by high income groups, actually ordinary Old Mexicans' take-home pay doesn't reach 300 dollars.

36-year-old Lucas is the Squad Leader, manages twenty-plus people, can take 600 dollars a month.

His responsibility is a US-Mexico Border checkpoint, and the twenty kilometers of fence walls beside the checkpoint, not letting a single illegal entry person enter America from his jurisdictional range.

However, when he saw from afar an Ecuadorian driving a car, he knew today's luck was not bad! "Antonio, long time no see, I thought you fell into the Panama Canal!"

Antonio laughed and stepped forward to give him a hug: "No, partner, the Sea God Poseidon rejects the likes of me!

I thought, this trip I wouldn't run into you, would have to wait for the night shift change!

Since I see you now, I'll treat you and your subordinates to a good drink of Tequila! Come back later and catch up!"

Finished speaking, Antonio fished out a thick roll of 10-dollar US bills from his pocket, stuffed it into the other's pocket.

Lucas roughly estimated the thickness of this roll of US dollars, then laughed revealing a mouthful of big white teeth.

"Alright! I feel my team members need a cup of coffee!!"

Finished speaking, he actually really called his subordinates to abandon the checkpoint posts and go inside to rest.

During this period it was as if he hadn't seen those two Eastern faces in Antonio's car at all.

Cindy expressionlessly started the vehicle, passed the checkpoint, pulling the three people in the car beginning to enter US territory.

(Chapter End)