Huang Jie nodded, confirmed the target location with Lao Pi again, then handed Lao Pi two cigarettes. Lao Pi hung one on his ear and put the other in his mouth. Huang Jie held up the lighter and lit it for Lao Pi.

It seemed that Huang Jie often dealt with people like Lao Pi and knew how to communicate with them.

Lao Pi took a deep drag of the cigarette, letting the smoke linger in his lungs for at least two seconds before reluctantly exhaling: "Brother, let me think about it!"

Lao Pi smoked his cigarette, propping his head as if in deep thought, seemingly considering whether to take on this job.

Fatty quickly pulled Huang Jie to the side, his back to Lao Pi, and quietly asked, "What's the situation? Is this old fart reliable?"

Huang Jie reassured Fatty, "Brother Shi, don't worry. Lao Pi just wants more money. Don't worry, I know this guy's tricks very well. And don't worry, Brother Shi, Lao Pi has been doing this for over ten years and knows all the routes well. He'll definitely get you there."

Sure enough, after Lao Pi finished the cigarette Huang Jie gave him, he immediately changed his expression, which now held a hint of caution and restraint: "Aiya, Little Wang (Huang), I can run it, but the cost and wear and tear are a bit high, you know."

Huang Jie had already anticipated Lao Pi's words. He took out two packs of cigarettes from his pocket and stuffed them into Lao Pi's hands. Then he took out a roll of US dollars he had gotten from Dodge, estimated to be about twenty bills, and handed them to Lao Pi.

Lao Pi was overjoyed when he saw the money. His expression instantly changed from cautious and serious to flattering. He grinned, revealing his yellow teeth, and respectfully took the banknotes, chuckling, "Wang (Huang) boss, you see, I can't make change for American dollars."

Huang Jie naturally knew what Lao Pi was thinking. He quietly said to Lao Pi, "This money was given by the American boss. You don't need to make change. The travel expenses and their food, drink, and lodging are all in there."

"Good! Good!"

Lao Pi agreed readily, thinking he had met a god of wealth and had to take on this job no matter what.

"You've been running this people-smuggling business for so many years, you know the rules. I don't think I need to say more. Remember, don't publicize it, and don't reveal the bosses' whereabouts to anyone, otherwise, your head..."

Huang Jie made a cutting motion across his throat, his expression very serious.

Lao Pi swallowed. Indeed, he had been dealing with the Z organization for many years and knew that Huang Jie was not joking. Although he didn't know what kind of background Huang Jie's "boss" had, they were completely different from the people he usually helped smuggle.

Huang Jie wanted to say something to us, but he knew we were anxious to get on the road, so he didn't say much. He just said in a hurry, "Listen to Lao Pi on the road. He has experience..."

...

Lao Huang's car was an old and broken minivan. Before getting in, I exchanged glances with Dodge and Fatty, expressing our doubts about the car.

If we were riding in this broken minivan, twenty US dollars was too much, even two was too much.

Dodge and Fatty also looked unpleasant, but since we were already on the pirate ship, we couldn't say anything.

Lao Pi was truly an old hand. He saw our embarrassment and immediately put on a flattering look: "Don't mind it, bosses. This is to avoid attention and prevent being checked. Many people here drive these broken minivans to make a living. No one cares."

We got into the car with some misgivings. The car smelled of urine and smoke, almost driving us out.

Before driving, Lao Pi instructed:

"The pretty lady should sit in the back. Foreigners are easily suspected and attract inspection."

Joey and Jennifer consciously sat in the back seats, and Dodge also consciously went next to Joey and Jennifer.

"There are hats and masks in the back. Foreign bosses, put them on. It will be troublesome if we run into an inspection."

Lao Pi pointed to a small box placed under the back seats, signaling them to open it.

Joey and Jennifer opened the box, and a stench of sweat assaulted their nostrils, almost making them throw the whole box out.

Joey covered her nose and pulled out a hat and a mask from the box, questioning Lao Pi, "How many people have worn these hats and masks? Don't you have new ones?"

Faced with the question, Lao Pi smiled apologetically, "Aiyo, aiyo, pretty lady, it's a small business, how can I change them so often?"

Joey, Jennifer, and Dodge protested, not wanting to wear these secondhand hats and masks, but under Lao Pi's strong demands and threats, they reluctantly put on the sweat-stained and sweat-smelling hats (the three of them put at least five or six layers of paper towels inside the hats). As for the masks, they refused to wear them no matter what. In the end, Lao Pi told them to lower the brims of their hats to cover their faces, which was barely passable.

...

Lao Pi was a first-class chain smoker, and his cigarette never left his hand the whole way.

The minivan first drove into a vast wasteland, then turned left and right, and somehow arrived at a small town, or rather, a village.

Lao Pi drove the car near a big market, then slowed down.