I didn't agree with Jiang Qingbo's point of view, but I wasn't stupid enough to contradict or lecture him at this time.
So, there was a moment of silence between us.
"Number Two, from the minute you strapped yourself with explosives and saved me, I, Old Scarface, have truly treated you as a younger brother. That's why I'm letting you know things Liang Chuang never knew after all these years."
"If you're scared, let these things rot in your stomach. If you're willing to help your older brother out, I'll handle Liang Chuang, and in the future, you and I, brothers together, will make enough money and fly far away."
I sighed secretly in my heart.
People, you really shouldn't fuck around and cross industries blindly. Jiang Qingbo was doing just fine as a society Big Brother; why the hell did he have to go into drug trafficking?
Look at Xu Biao, how professional he is. He never plays the jianghu or society game. Jiang Qingbo crosses over to touch drugs, yet still wants to play the society Big Brother game.
Brotherly love? Isn't that just asking for death?
I had previously wanted to pull out of this because behind Jiang Qingbo and Xu Biao was a complete criminal syndicate, far beyond what I could touch.
But calming down and thinking about it now, I could only smile bitterly.
Just like hustling in the underworld, once the bow is drawn, there is no turning back.
Even if Jiang Qingbo was willing to let me go, would Xu Biao allow it? Would the drug syndicate behind them allow it?
At this point, I could only pray that Sir Niu would be capable enough and not get crushed to death by this sky-shattering case.
I reached out and grasped Jiang Qingbo's hand, speaking with deep sincerity, "Big Brother, when I, Chu Lao Er, came out to hustle, the first Big Brother I followed didn't treat me as a brother. But you treat me as a brother. From now on, the same words apply: as long as you ask, Big Brother, I will definitely handle it for you."
Was Jiang Qingbo stupid? No. If he were stupid, he wouldn't have survived unscathed until today.
It was the trust I bought with my life; I couldn't blame him for not suspecting me.
Even if he thought until his head exploded, he wouldn't guess that I was a mole for the yamen.
If only me, him, and Xu Biao were left, I imagine he'd whisper to me: Number Two, I suspect Xu Biao is a mole planted by the yamen.
Hearing my answer, a flash of joy crossed Jiang Qingbo's brow. "Who's outside? Did Wang Han come?"
I nodded. "He's here. I was afraid too many people would disturb your rest, so I told them to wait outside."
"Call him in. I have something to say."
I agreed, opened the door, and said to Wang Han, "Wang Han, Big Brother is calling you in."
Wang Han was just in his early twenties, but his complexion was dark and ruddy, making him look older than his years.
"Wang Han, from now on, Chu Shanhe is your Second Brother. When I'm not around, tell the brothers to listen to him." Jiang Qingbo pointed at me and spoke calmly to Wang Han.
Wang Han looked stunned, but he recovered quickly. "Alright, got it. Big Brother, Second Brother."
Jiang Qingbo's second sentence made Wang Han freeze on the spot.
"Liang Chuang seems to be recuperating downstairs, right? Take a few brothers and send him back to have a chat with his parents."
Wang Han stared wide-eyed at Jiang Qingbo, seemingly doubting his own ears.
Jiang Qingbo's gaze was just like the first time I saw him—a pool of quiet, deep water, hiding whatever lay beneath.
Wang Han's breathing grew heavier. "Big Brother, when do we do it?"
"Now. I think he misses his parents too."
After agreeing, Wang Han gave me a deep look, then turned and left.
It's normal for new people to rise by a Big Brother's side; after all, in the jianghu and society, the rear waves push the front waves.
But it's rare to see the front waves smashed dead on the beach like this.
honestly speaking, Liang Chuang's death had something to do with me, but not too much.
From beginning to end, I only dropped one hint about him in front of Jiang Qingbo.
Just as Jiang Qingbo said, he ruined himself with that mouth of his.
And even worse, he knew too much.
Even if he didn't know the true purpose of Jiang Qingbo's overseas casinos, he knew about Xu Biao and he knew Jiang Qingbo had casinos outside.
Most damning of all, he abandoned Jiang Qingbo and ran at the critical moment.
People are selfish. I can be disloyal, but you can't.
I can be immoral, but you can't. Not only can't you, but you also have to accept moral kidnapping.
Liang Chuang, your mom didn't name you well in Chinese. She didn't use the Liang for "pillar" (Dongliang), but the Liang for "sorghum" (Gaoliang).
Your life ends here.
I helped Jiang Qingbo to the window. Liang Chuang was being dragged by Wang Han and his men, arms held tight, and stuffed into a car.
At the last moment before the car door closed, Liang Chuang looked up at Jiang Qingbo with a face full of despair.
Liang Chuang's parents were both dead. Jiang Qingbo sending him to have a chat with his parents meant sending him to die.
I didn't have a shred of sympathy for Liang Chuang. Perhaps when he told me where the guns were and I went alone to save Jiang Qingbo, I was already a dead man in his heart.
He never thought I'd come back alive, and he certainly never thought Jiang Qingbo could be rescued by me.
Jiang Qingbo let out a cold laugh. "Number Two, a person in power doesn't have to handle business, but he must handle people—make people work for him."
"If I don't handle Liang Chuang to death today, the next time I'm in danger, Wang Han and the others will probably be the first to run."
I smiled silently, my voice calm. "Big Brother, why say all this? I wouldn't think what you're doing is wrong."
Jiang Qingbo patted my shoulder, signaling me to help him back to bed. After lying down, he groaned in pain.
"Number Two, in a few days, Xu Biao will come in. We need to meet with some friends from the interior. It's time to split the money."
In the nineties Southwest, the concept of money laundering wasn't widespread, and banking services weren't as developed as they are now. Many business people ran around with cash.
Drug traffickers like them certainly didn't dare put money in the bank.
After distributing drugs in the interior, they would divide the spoils periodically.
This was what I could surmise. As for deeper meanings, I couldn't guess.
I asked tentatively, "Is this the 'important guest entering the border' that Liang Chuang mentioned before?"
Jiang Qingbo nodded. "That's right. Although I've established myself in Lincang as a society Big Brother all these years and have my own connections in the government without being targeted by the constables..."
"But we still have to be cautious, cautious, and more cautious. Liang Chuang is gone, and I'm seriously injured; I won't be well for ten days or half a month. You arrange it."
My whole body shuddered. Jiang Qingbo, you are really stretching your neck out for me to chop!
"Big Brother, I haven't done this before. How should I arrange it?"
Jiang Qingbo smiled faintly. "No need to arrange much. You go pick up Xu Biao, then go to Kuncheng to pick up the friends from the interior. Take them to Kayin State; I have a casino there."
I was a bit puzzled. "Why not let Xu Biao go directly to Kayin State? Why come to the interior first?"
Jiang Qingbo sneered. "There's a fundamental difference between my friends from the interior and Xu Biao. The outside is his territory. If we all go outside in a swarm, what if he finds another channel, stops cooperating, and just swallows us whole?"
"When the time comes, my friends from the interior and I will keep Xu Biao company in Lincang. You, along with that Little Scarface and the men of the interior friends, will split the money in Kayin State, and then send him back."
I took a deep breath. Jiang Qingbo was a cautious man.
The first time he met me, he didn't say much and sent people straight to Liu Xiang Town to check my background.
After I started following him, I only had contact with his clean-water teahouse and never touched his real business.
Unfortunately, it seemed Heaven really wanted him destroyed. After I traded my life for his, he trusted me unconditionally.
Jiang Qingbo, just accept your fate!
To handle you, I've gambled with this life of mine several times. Since I didn't play myself to death, don't cry injustice when I play you to death!