360: Chapter 354: Adorning On 360: Chapter 354: Adorning On Xiangjiang, Shun Tak Centre, Hong Kong-Macau Pier.
“Beep beep beep…” A few honks sounded from afar.
Just a few minutes later, a hydrofoil ferry began to slowly enter the harbor.
Although it was already past nine o’clock in the evening, the connection between Xiangjiang and the Hao River was very close, with passenger ferries running between them until before midnight.
However, after six o’clock in the evening, the ferry schedule changed from every half hour to every hour.
“That darn Hao River, a merciless place that devours without spitting out bones.
Just got my paycheck and in less than two hours of playing there, my pockets are empty again!”
“Merely losing this month’s salary, you’re still considered lucky.
I borrowed two hundred thousand yuan from a finance company, and it’s all lost over there.”
“During the day, I had actually won over one hundred thousand yuan.
Riding on my good streak, I wanted to win a bit more, but in the end, if not for the casino offering me a ferry ticket, I wouldn’t have been able to return to this side of Xiangjiang!”
…
As the ferry docked steadily, most of the passengers appeared listless, complaining to their companions while walking towards the pier.
These guys, when they went from Xiangjiang to the Hao River, were all robust and spirited, like generals marching to battle.
But now, upon their return, they had completely changed, resembling frostbitten eggplants, obviously wilted!
Of course, among those returning from the Hao River, there certainly were some who had won money, but they were merely a very small minority.
Bai Xiaohang and Tian Mingjian, carrying a travel bag, blended in with the crowd.
“Brother Jian, where are we headed?
Directly back to the hotel?”
“Definitely back to the hotel.
Otherwise, where could we go?”
“That’s not what I meant.
I just wanted to ask Brother Jian if you’d like to grab some late-night food before returning?”
…
Talking as they walked, the two seemed relaxed and at ease.
This time, their trip to the Hao River had gone very smoothly.
They found Buck Teeth Zhu, explained the situation to him, and he didn’t hesitate after hearing that it was an order from Chen Hai; he didn’t even take money for it and directly arranged for several pieces to be brought over and handed to Tian Mingjian and Bai Xiaohang.
However, because they came on short notice, Buck Teeth Zhu was only able to provide them with Black Star for the time being.
Long guns like the AK type weren’t out of Zhu’s reach but would require some time to arrange.
Black Star would do; it was good enough to make do with.
After a brief discussion, Tian Mingjian and Bai Xiaohang didn’t fuss over the matter.
Originally, the two of them should have been able to return by four or five o’clock in the afternoon.
The reason they delayed until now was mainly that they couldn’t resist Buck Teeth Zhu’s generous hospitality, and after having dinner there, they finally started their journey back.
Having just had dinner not long ago, Bai Xiaohang wasn’t hungry—the so-called late-night snack was just his excuse for wanting to hang around outside a bit longer.
Since Tian Mingjian opposed the idea, Bai Xiaohang shrugged his shoulders, chuckled, and didn’t continue to press the matter.
Near the exit of the pier, the two hailed a taxi and sped off in the direction of the Regent Hotel.
“Something’s off, Xiaohang, have you noticed the white van about thirty meters behind us?”
“That vehicle, from the moment we got into the taxi at the pier exit, seems to have been following us!”
Sitting in the taxi, after just ten to twenty minutes of driving, Tian Mingjian had already sensed something was amiss.
He spoke in a grave tone, leaning over to Bai Xiaohang’s ear and whispering.
“That vehicle?
The van with the license plate HK-XXX?”
“Brother Jian, can you really be certain it’s been following us the whole way?”
“Perhaps, it’s just a coincidence, and the van’s destination happens to be along our route?”
The normally nonchalant Bai Xiaohang, upon hearing Tian Mingjian’s whisper, immediately sat up straight.
Using the rearview mirror to spot the van Tian Mingjian mentioned, he whispered back with a look of suspicion.
“Is it a coincidence?
Or is it actually tracking us?
We’ll know the answer by testing it out.”
With a slight frown, Tian Mingjian glanced at the taxi driver who was focused on driving ahead.
The radio was on all the time, and both he and Bai Xiaohang kept their voices very low as they spoke.
The driver up front showed no signs of anything unusual.
It seemed that he was completely unaware of the conversation between Tian Mingjian and Bai Xiaohang.
“Driver, at the intersection ahead, make a U-turn and then head back the way we came,” Tian Mingjian directed the taxi driver after a moment of thought.
“What are you Mainland fellas up to?”
“Weren’t we going to the Regent Hotel?
If you have me drive back, won’t that take us further away?”
The taxi driver complained grumpily and dissatisfied.
Bai Xiaohang and Tian Mingjian, both speaking standard Mandarin, were immediately identified as Mainlanders by the streetwise taxi driver.
These days, to many in Xiangjiang, the Mainland was synonymous with the countryside.
The taxi driver clearly had some prejudices against Mainlanders like Tian Mingjian and Bai Xiaohang.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have kept calling them “Mainland brats” in such an impolite manner.
“Just drive back the way we came, we’re paying you, aren’t we?
Less yapping, more driving!” Bai Xiaohang was obviously displeased with the taxi driver’s words.
Rolling his eyes, he retorted with a curse of his own and clenched his fists, making them crack in a threatening gesture.
“Forget it, Xiaohang.
Why make a fuss with a driver?” Tian Mingjian was much more straightforward compared to Bai Xiaohang.
He took out a Xiangjiang banknote with a face value of one thousand yuan and tossed it onto the empty front passenger seat.
“No problems, just to drive back, it’s a minor matter.
I’ll make a U-turn at the junction ahead; we’ll be on our way!”
Seeing the banknote, the taxi driver’s disgruntled face immediately turned into a beaming smile, sycophantic now.
He collected the money and with one hand on the steering wheel, skillfully navigated the taxi through the traffic with twists and turns.
Reaching the junction ahead, the taxi made a tail spin and had its head turned around, entering the right lane of Great Path.
In Xiangjiang, the vehicles are left-hand drive, and traffic also keeps to the left.
Great Path is a four-lane road separated by a fence in the middle.
After making the U-turn, the taxi carrying Bai Xiaohang and Tian Mingjian was on this side of the fence, while the van they deemed suspicious was on the other side.
The van would have to make a sudden U-turn at the junction ahead like the taxi did, to join the lane on this side of the fence.
Using the rearview mirror, Tian Mingjian and Bai Xiaohang constantly monitored the van’s movements.
When they saw that the van had also turned around and followed them, their suspicions were now confirmed beyond doubt.
“Are they really tailing us?
Can’t even run an errand without encountering bandits?”
“I’ve been too idle for a while now; I’m itching for some action.
Perfect, let’s have some fun.”
“Brother Jian, cover me.
Let’s get out now and finish them off!”
Bai Xiaohang, a naturally fierce person, not only showed no concern when he confirmed that the van was indeed following them but was instead excited.
While speaking, he casually opened the travel bag at his feet, took out two Black Star pistols, handed one to Tian Mingjian, and tucked the other into his waistband.
“We’re in the middle of a bustling street, are you crazy to start a fight here?”
Tian Mingjian was somewhat speechless and rolled his eyes at Bai Xiaohang.
Of course, he still took the Black Star pistol.
“Driver, you should be familiar with this area!”
“Any abandoned factories or construction sites around here, just drop us off there!” Tian Mingjian paused before instructing the taxi driver sitting in front.
“Sure, no problem.
I know just the place; we’ll be there in ten minutes at most!”
The taxi driver responded eagerly.
One thousand yuan was enough to hire his taxi for half a day.
Just to drop the two passengers at a nearby abandoned factory he knew?
Of course, he was more than willing to do that.
Though he said ten minutes, it only took about eight minutes before the taxi driver had dropped off Bai Xiaohang and Tian Mingjian.
As one would expect, an abandoned factory was quite secluded.
The surrounding walls were dilapidated, and rust-streaked containers were scattered around.
Stepping out of the car, Tian Mingjian and Bai Xiaohang surveyed the surroundings.
“Here we are, let’s go inside!” Satisfied with the environment, Tian Mingjian gestured, and he and Bai Xiaohang walked into the abandoned factory one after the other.
The taxi had just started to leave when the van that had been following them screeched to a halt in front of it.
Six or seven people got out of the van.
“Brother Hao, should we get rid of this taxi driver?”
In terms of approach, Ye Shihuan was much more ruthless than Zhang Zihao.
He had just disembarked from the van, his gun and those of his men were already aimed at the taxi driver, who had not yet had the chance to drive away.
“Forget it, let him go.”
“He’s just a driver trying to make a living.
We’re in it for the money, and if possible, we should avoid unnecessary killings.”
Sighing lightly, Zhang Zihao shook his head at Ye Shihuan.
“Thank you for your mercy, sirs.
I’m from the Hunheji, I know the rules of the streets.”
“Tonight, I wasn’t here, didn’t see or hear anything!”
The taxi driver, who was initially quite stunned, quickly thanked them profusely.
Putting his taxi in reverse, he backed away for some distance, then turned and drove off, disappearing into the night.