After passing the port, I found a public phone and called Wen Siqiang to pick me up.
Wen Siqiang was at the Grand World. Upon hearing I was back, he informed the front desk manager. I then heard Qian Fugui's voice, saying he wanted to come along too.
I said, since there wasn't much time, he could come, and we could all go to the Grand World later.
I was anxious to hear news from the elder, unsure if he was still in the provincial capital or had returned to Ruili. I also needed to find out if there were any leads on Brother Hui. My mind was filled with things to discuss with the elder.
These past few days without a mobile phone, I had almost gotten used to it. But now that I was back, not having a mobile phone felt like being blind and deaf.
Technology had brought us convenience, but it had also made us overly reliant.
We stood by the phone booth, and taxis kept asking where we were going. I shook my head, saying I was waiting for someone. A taxi driver asked if I wanted him to wait with us. I changed my answer, saying I was waiting for a car, our own car. The driver muttered something about me being sick and drove away unhappily.
I didn't think I was wrong. Waiting for a car was also waiting for someone, as every car was driven by a person.
At that time, I couldn't imagine that years later, self-driving cars would actually appear, where you just send your location and wait, and the car would pick you up at the precise spot, automatically open the door, greet you, remind you to buckle up, tell you to sit tight, and then slowly drive you to your destination.
What seemed so ordinary now would have been science fiction to talk about in the nineties.
So, saying I was waiting for a car instead of waiting for someone was indeed a mistake.
After a while, Wen Siqiang's car arrived. They both got out and opened the two doors for us to get in.
Qian Fugui was extremely excited to see me. It was his former workplace, and he had feelings for it no matter what.
I told him that Wang Dong was dead, and Chen Liben had killed him.
Qian Fugui asked in surprise, "No way, Chen Liben and Wang Dong were very close when Chen Liben was the general's aide. How could he have killed him?"
I said, "It's a long story. Let's just say Wang Dong asked me for two hundred thousand yuan, claiming it was to help me spy on Chen Liben's factory. Instead, he sent two assassins to kill me. It was Wu Guodong who saved me. Wu Guodong saw through Wang Dong's identity; he was Chen Liben's mole by the general's side. Seizing this opportunity, he took him down. When Chen Liben heard that the assassination attempt on me had been foiled and Wang Dong had been captured, he rushed over, afraid that Wang Dong would confess and implicate him. Without allowing Wang Dong to defend himself, he promptly had him shot."
Qian Fugui was startled by the story and then asked, "That's it?"
I said, "Of course not. Wang Dong was Chen Liben's man. His role as a mole by the general's side was to seize the opportunity to eliminate the general and let Chen Liben take over. The attacks we suffered before and Wang Dong's deception, leading us to the poppy field camp, were all Chen Liben's idea. Wu Guodong had no idea about any of this. Moreover, when Chen Liben confronted me earlier, wanting to take me away, it was the general who adamantly stopped him, preventing him from succeeding. The general suspected that Chen Liben wouldn't give up and arranged for us to return early."
I said, "It's a good thing you arrived here early. If you were still with the guards, you would have temporarily lost your freedom and been confined by the general in a remote mountain."
Qian Fugui stuck out his tongue. Although there was no longer a problem, the feeling of being monitored and isolated was not pleasant. Who would want to lose their freedom?
I asked him, "Within your guard unit, who was closest to Wang Dong?"
He replied, "There were three people who were close to him. One was from his village, named Goudan. The other two always tried to curry favor with him; one was his relative, also surnamed Wang, and the other was surnamed Zhang. These few people were always scheming with him, whispering about some bad ideas."
I said, "It's fortunate that these people have been locked up, otherwise it would have truly become a big problem."
I asked Wen Siqiang, "Qiangzi, is there any news from the elder?"
Wen Siqiang said, "The elder called earlier today and asked if you had returned. I said no. He said he had something important to tell you when you got back. He left a number with me and told you to call it when you returned."
I grunted. Since the elder said it was important, it must mean there had been some progress.
The car first drove to the hotel. I asked Wen Siqiang to take the divine doctor up to rest first, and then we would head to the Grand World.
I then asked Qian Fugui if he had seen Wu Laosan and what his impression of him was.
Qian Fugui said, "I only saw him once. He was dressed gaudily. The general scolded him severely, as if he had caused trouble somewhere outside."
That made sense. His father and son had actually been laying a trap all along, creating a false impression for the outside world that he had a good-for-nothing son, making everyone know that the powerful General Wu was weak on the inside and had no successor.
Undoubtedly, he had succeeded. Wu Jiasan had set a perfect image of a decadent young man for everyone. Coupled with Wu Guodong's critical illness, the downfall of the Wu family dynasty was only a matter of time.
Qian Fugui was just a low-ranking guard and didn't know many things. He only thought Wang Dong was forming a gang and didn't realize he was actually Chen Liben's man.
The car drove to the Grand World. There were quite a few people in the first-floor lobby. Some people were slumped at the bar drinking, and many stood by the dance floor. I walked over and saw a seductive girl dancing in the center of the dance floor.
The crowd let out cheers, and some whistled.
I asked Wen Siqiang what was going on. He said this was a new project launched by the Grand World. They had specifically invited resident singers and dancers to perform, focusing on shows, and the response had been quite good.
I saw more than ten tables occupied by people on the other side of the dance floor.
After the dance, the host came on stage to interact with everyone.
The host was a young man who was witty and humorous, eliciting laughter and cheers from the audience.
This was truly a good idea. It was much more effective than just drinking and dancing.
Next, a young man with a guitar came up and sat in the center of the dance floor, playing a melancholic tune and singing a sorrowful song.
"Wine and coffee,"
"I just need a cup."
"Thinking of the past,"
"Drank a second cup."
"Knowing love is like flowing water,"
"Who cares who it flows to."
"I want wine and coffee,"
"Cup after cup."
"I am not drunk,"
"My heart is just broken."
"Blooming flower buds,"
"Why are you also shedding tears?"
"If you also have a broken heart,"
"I'll have a drink with you."
"I want wine and coffee,"
"Cup after cup."
This was originally a song sung by a female, but it was surprisingly beautiful when sung by a male voice.
He repeated it again, and I was completely captivated, even feeling a sense of sadness.
Music is truly a magical thing. Its melodies can make people cry or laugh, bring joy, and also plunge them into despair.
Humanity is fortunate to have music, which adds color to our lives and fills our existence with poetry.