Realizing I had likely been set up by Gu Yuhe, I asked Camel to investigate the Orchid Gate while also getting Ai Xiaoqing's contact information.
Once Gu Yuhe's situation was confirmed, I immediately contacted Ai Xiaoqing via text message.
I didn't hide anything from Ai Xiaoqing, telling her the entire story of how Gu Yuhe found me.
In the last text message, I edited this passage for her:
People who walk the rivers and lakes can be full of evil when doing things for profit, but as long as it involves bottom lines and principles, they must leave a shred of righteousness in their bones!
The true meaning of this translated sentence was: I invited people from the Orchid Gate to do business according to the rules of the rivers and lakes, and when something went wrong, you pulled this stunt on me. Is the Orchid Gate a bit shameless?
Although it felt a bit like overreacting and unfairly smearing the entire Orchid Gate, I couldn't afford to care about that anymore if I wanted to turn the situation around.
Ai Xiaoqing, unable to hold back, replied, questioning my purpose in finding her. Was I using her to complain to the entire Orchid Gate, or did I have other intentions?
I only replied with four words.
Cooperation for mutual benefit!
I won't go into further detail about what happened next. The "golden cicada shedding its shell" plan for today's card game was my idea, and Ai Xiaoqing found the people impersonating officials and all the props.
I provided the brains, and she provided the muscle.
Of course, all the gambling stakes went to her.
It seemed like I had lost out, having worked for nothing for over a week, spending money on suits, watches, luxury cars, and contracts, only to end up making a wedding dress for someone else.
But in reality, I not only didn't lose, but I even gained.
It just wasn't cash I gained, but intangible favors.
Favors from Ai Xiaoqing!
If it weren't for me, and if Ai Xiaoqing had continued to play the long game to catch a big fish, it would have taken at least two to three months to get a million yuan from Jiang Jinshan.
But now, I had spent only a week meticulously planning everything, and then in one card game, I had tricked Jiang Jinshan out of nearly four million yuan in cash.
Tell me, wouldn't Ai Xiaoqing feel indebted to me and thank me?
...
After a drink, Ai Xiaoqing put down her glass and gave me a thumbs-up, saying, "The setup abilities of people from the Qianmen are truly unmatched, one word... brilliant!"
Hearing this, I waved my hands repeatedly and replied, "It's nothing, it's nothing! I just exploited human weaknesses."
"Hee hee hee..." After a bell-like laugh, Ai Xiaoqing stared at me intently and said, "Chen Xiang, are you indirectly insulting me?"
"No, no!" I hurriedly shook my head.
"Alright, I'm not teasing you anymore! Chen Xiang, I still want to thank you!"
"Thank you for your generosity, for letting me pick up so much money for free."
"Honestly, if you had let me slowly pick money out of Jiang Jinshan... about four million, I estimate it would have taken me a year or two!"
"I, Ai Xiaoqing, remember your favor!"
"I definitely won't take this money for nothing. In the future, if you ever need my help in Longxi, just ask."
Upon hearing this, I immediately thought to myself: This is what I was waiting for! I'll take this favor!
This time, I no longer made a pretense of refusing and instead refilled my empty glass and toasted Ai Xiaoqing alone.
"Sister Ai, I'll toast you!"
"Thank you!"
Clink...
After the crisp sound of glasses colliding, Ai Xiaoqing and I, with great tacit understanding, drained our drinks, neither of us pointing out the meaning of the toast.
For those familiar with the culture of drinking, they would know the hidden meaning behind our actions.
The rivers and lakes are never complicated; what's complicated are the veils between people in the rivers and lakes, and the hearts beneath those veils!
As long as you can truly understand the word "heart," whether in any industry, success will only be a matter of time.
Conversely, for those who cannot see through people's hearts, they can only earn a meager salary that barely sustains them, lingering at the very bottom of the rivers and lakes.
...
After eating and drinking their fill, Ai Xiaoqing led her helpers, who had been impersonating officials, away.
I, on the other hand, called Camel to come pick me up.
While Cheng Minglang couldn't accompany me these days, Camel and his apprentice naturally became my right-hand men!
When Camel and his apprentice arrived, I ordered some late-night snacks for them and asked the boss for a case of beer. The three of us continued to drink.
It's unclear how much time passed.
As night fell.
Camel drove slowly towards our residence. Because he had been drinking, he drove very slowly.
Looking at the brightly lit foot massage parlors and massage rooms along the road, I couldn't help but think of Han Jinlun again.
If he were still alive, after a night of success, good food, and drink, he would definitely pester me to take him out for some fun and relaxation.
Alas, now that he's gone, everything has changed...
Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. I rolled down the car window and took out a cigarette from my pocket to light it.
Just then, a car suddenly appeared behind us, swerving and accelerating, heading straight for our Tiger Head Benz.
Seeing this, Camel instinctively slammed on the brakes, but it was still too late.
Bang!
After a dull thud, the Tiger Head Benz, which had already braked, was rammed to a stop on the far right side of the road.
It can be said with certainty that although Camel had been drinking, he wasn't driving fast and was paying full attention the entire time. The responsibility for the collision definitely didn't lie with him, but with the car behind.
When I looked outside the window, the Iveco that had recklessly crashed into us had its engine hood slightly deformed.
Immediately after, five or six young men with dyed hair and lip and ear piercings got out of the car.
The group of menacing young men, after walking to the Tiger Head Benz, first looked around inside the car through the window, then knocked on the driver's side window.
"Brother, sorry for the bump... Yo, have you been drinking? Why is your face so red?"
Hearing this, I immediately realized: this was a premeditated collision.
Before drunk driving was strictly enforced, many people drove after drinking at night, especially luxury car owners who had to attend social events.
In the past two years, a new tactic has emerged in the realm of "碰瓷" (pèng cí - literally "touching porcelain," meaning staging accidents for compensation), specifically targeting luxury car owners who drive very slowly late at night.
Camel also realized something was wrong and said with a cold face, "What does it matter to you if I've been drinking? You hit my car, so you have to pay!"
Hearing this, the leader of the young men suddenly grinned sinisterly and said, "Heh heh~ Pay up? Alright!"
"I'll call the police right now and see how the traffic police assign responsibility!"