...
Sure enough, the phone rang again after dawn the next day. This time it was Lei Laosi. He said with a fake smile, "Brother Xiao, how did you sleep last night?"
I laughed and said, "That's not good."
Lei Laosi was probably not used to talking to people like this, so he simply spoke frankly: "Mr. Gu told me everything that happened yesterday. Although there were some things I couldn't ask, I got the gist of it. He's interested in something you have. It's not like he's taking it for free. Why don't you just give it to him? You can negotiate the price at most."
I interrupted him and asked, "How much money did they give you?"
Lei Laosi paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "Alright, you're a straightforward person. Then I won't say anything more. It is indeed a lot of money. Isn't that what we do in this world for? Besides, since they've come to me for help, we in this world can't just refuse them outright."
I said, "Boss Lei, things aren't as simple as you think. I advise you not to get involved. Getting pissed on is one thing, but getting sulfuric acid on you is more than just a matter of reputation. Some money you can't take." I knew that Lei Lao Si's gang wasn't really guilty of any major crimes; he just bullied others because of his numbers. He was nothing like the drug and arms smuggling gangs in Hong Kong and New York. Now, he's only focused on the money and has blindly rushed in, which will inevitably lead to trouble. This time, Gu Debai didn't just offend the wrong person; he offended the wrong god. Even if He Tian Dou didn't target him, Li He and Fei San Kou were not to be underestimated. My warning to Lei Lao Si wasn't out of kindness; I just didn't want to cause unnecessary trouble.
Lei Laosi said coldly, "Are you lecturing me?"
I sensed his unfriendly tone and spread my hands, saying, "I wouldn't dare, I was just saying."
Lei Laosi said, "In terms of age, my son is not much younger than you. In terms of reputation, at this time last year, you, Xiaoqiang, were still unknown. What I mean by saying this is that I'm old and shameless, so you have to give me some face, right?"
I chuckled and said, "Then I'll call you senior. Since you've said so much, let me be clear: if what they want is with me, that's fine, but once it's in their hands—especially if they're foreigners—it becomes illegal."
Lei Laosi asked curiously, "What exactly is that?"
I said, "Antiques!"
Lei Laosi scoffed and said, "I thought it was something else, all mysterious. You collect antiques for money, don't you?"
That's right, this Lei Laosi is obsessed with money. I chuckled and said, "I can't say any more. Anyway, I've said everything I was supposed to. Mr. Lei, you can figure it out yourself."
Lei Laosi finally snapped, "You, surnamed Xiao, to put it nicely, I'm asking you to give me face; to put it honestly, you owe me a favor. I haven't settled the score with you for the time you ruined my place because I didn't want to bully you since you're just a kid. Do you think I'm afraid of you? Anyway, I've already taken the money this time. They made it clear: if things go smoothly, this is my commission; if not, this is your life-saving money!"
I sighed and hung up the phone. I suddenly realized that this Lei Laosi was shrewd and patient in small matters, but became incredibly short-sighted when it came to profit. Didn't he consider that a group of foreigners were paying a high price to hire someone of his status to work for them—what level of antiques must they be? I'd also be willing to sell those Yuan Shikai silver dollars from the Republic of China era (including fakes) to those foreigners at a high price, but is that the same thing?
Baozi didn't see He Tiandou when he left this morning; he's chatting with Xiang Yu now. Although He Tiandou has been causing me trouble, he has nothing to do with the group of five. Xiang Yu even has to thank him for helping him find Yu Ji. He Tiandou and Xiang Yu were talking about something, and they both laughed heartily. He and Liu Laoliu are completely different types of people. Liu Laoliu is the kind of old rascal you can kick twice and still not be satisfied, although he does help sometimes; but He Tiandou, who has troubled me for so long (though it might not be true), I can't hate him at all. He's a true gentleman; it seems he might have really grown up in the Western world. He possesses all the characteristics of a gentleman: calm, humble, knowledgeable, yet undeniably masculine.
After daybreak, He Tiandou went back to his place and got a nightgown. He came to me and said, "Xiaoqiang, it looks like you'll have to help me out again. What antiques do you still have?"
I asked in surprise, "What are you doing?"
He Tiandou shrugged and said, "I received a call when I got back. They kidnapped Kongkong'er and want me to bring another antique in exchange within 24 hours."
I laughed and said, "It seems you're not in a hurry at all."
He Tiandou said, "To be honest, I'm very anxious. Kongkong'er has been with me since she was little, and we have a very deep bond."
"...So you really intend to do as they say?"
There is no other way for the time being.
I said dejectedly, "Then figure out where they've tied him up, and I'll think of a way."
He Tiandou said, "I can't calculate anything that concerns myself."
I suddenly remembered something: "Last time we raided your villa in Chun Kong Mountain, you didn't actually escape, you just went into hiding?"
He Tiandou laughed and said, "Yes, I watched you smash up my secret room. I was just talking about it with Xiang Yu."
I was sweating profusely: "I was saying that when I was little, I always felt like someone was next to me when I peeked into the women's bathhouse. That must have been you—can you tell me your specific plan to save Kongkong'er? And how do you plan to get those things back?" I was starting to be a little uneasy about this deity. So that's all he knew how to do?
"Let's try to appease them with an antique first. If that doesn't work, I'll have to use my trump card!"
I asked excitedly, "What is it?"
He Tiandou said coldly, "Buy it with money!"
I was stunned.
He Tiandou said, "Do you think those mafia members collect antiques out of hobby? Isn't it all for money? —" This old He and Lei Laosi are really taught by the same master; even their logic is the same.
He Tiandou proudly said, "Actually, I'm very rich. If all else fails, I'll give up everything for the country. I can't let those treasures fall into other people's hands."
At this point, I was completely frantic. I thought I was fighting alongside God, but it turned out to be just a donkey from Guizhou—luckily, it was a very wealthy donkey from Guizhou.
I slumped into the sofa, saying weakly, "If you're really not joking, I really can't help you with this. But I don't need to hide it from you, the two most valuable things I have right now are the pearl that Li Shishi gave me and the armor that Hua Mulan wore."
He Tiandou, resting his chin on his hand, said, "Yes, they are indeed quite heavy. These two won't do, because if I need to buy them back later, it will be my money, and I can't just cheat myself out of my own money, can I?"
I:"……"
Chapter Fifty-Five: Seeking Help
Okay, now He Tiandou has revealed his trump card: buying it with money...
The current situation is that they throw away their own things and then buy them back with their own money—their divine way of thinking is truly beyond the comprehension of us mortals.
So when I took out the tiny pearl, the size of a small orange, that Li Shishi had given me, and the brand-new armor that Hua Mulan had worn, He Tiandou's eyes stung. He had to buy these back with his own money.
He Tiandou looked at the two treasures and said firmly, "Let's put them away. We can't afford them. If these two things appear, we'll be in even more trouble. Do you have a safe? If not, put them with me first."
I asked in surprise, "Where did you put it?"
He Tiandou said, "They just finished looting me, they definitely don't expect me to dare to put the things back."
I said disdainfully, "Is that all you know how to do? If it's so safe, why don't you go back to your place?"
He Tiandou showed no embarrassment and said, "Things will be different once people go back."
"So what do you suggest we do now?"