All the words I had wanted to say to persuade them to stay were swallowed back. Without further hesitation, I simply nodded and said, "Okay!"
I understand wood.
I really understand now.
From the sorrow in his eyes, I knew the pain hidden in the heart of this quiet, unassuming man.
It was the pain of shattered faith. He had aspired to be a doctor since childhood, determined to pursue this noble profession, but reality had battered him and left him disheartened.
Wood was an idealist. Unfortunately…
When the others learned of Mu Tou's decision, they were all quite surprised. Qiao Qiao and A Ze tried to persuade him to stay, but they couldn't change his mind. And Mu Tou never told his story to anyone else again.
As for me, I didn't say anything more.
Perhaps because of these things, the world has lost a "Dr. Mu" but gained a "blockhead".
Part Three: The Pinnacle, Chapter 129: Hypocrisy
The weather was nice, the sea breeze was gentle, and the sun was shining brightly, but the sea wasn't as blue as I had imagined. This was Old Fox Joe's yacht; we stopped about eighty nautical miles from the mouth of the Yangtze River. Tu checked the GPS: "This is it."
I leaned back in my chair, resting with my eyes closed, and only spoke when I heard Tu's words: "Be careful. We were ambushed last time, so don't trip over the same stone a second time."
Tu smiled and said, "Visibility at sea is very high. Unless the other side has a large fleet, it will be difficult to intercept them at sea. After all, they are not an army."
I chuckled and said, "That's true, but it never hurts to be careful."
I still have more than twenty strong black men on my ship, all mercenaries brought from Africa... I have a selfish motive. I don't intend to return these mercenaries to Kunta.
If possible, I plan to report them as "killed in action" to the authorities afterward and keep them around for future use. After all, they are a group of professional soldiers who have been tested by war. Although their military skills are far inferior to those of the regular armies of powerful countries, these African native hunters, all of them black, are top-notch in terms of physical fitness!
Moreover, these people are quite willing to stay. They have food and drink here, and they can work for me in this glamorous world. If they do well, they can earn several thousand dollars a month... It's much better than fighting with guns in that godforsaken little African country, risking their lives in the jungle. In the warlord era, bullets fly everywhere, and human life is cheap as dirt. Isn't that much better?
To avoid war, receive money, leave that awful place in Africa, and enjoy significantly better treatment—who would refuse such an offer?
Especially for some soldiers who had no wives, children, or families to care for in Africa, I had my men take extra "care" of them. If there was an opportunity, I suggested they stay; at worst, I could just pay some compensation to the soldiers later. This kind of force, which doesn't cost much, can sometimes be very useful.
A Black man placed a silver tray in front of me and poured me a drink. He didn't say anything. I nodded to him and then gestured... The quality of these mercenaries was impeccable, but unfortunately, the language barrier was a major problem. Many of them didn't speak English; the previous group of mercenaries, luckily, had a translator who spoke the local dialect of G country to successfully command them.
"*%?...%!" Tu whispered, and the black man immediately nodded. He turned and left, then gathered his men, guns in hand, on guard.
"Tu, there's no need to be so fierce." I smiled. "But if you have time, you can teach them English... After all, you're the only one around me who truly understands their language." Actually, my little scheme was that I hoped Tu would have the opportunity to train these guys... Thinking about Tu's super skills, if these guys could learn even a tenth of his level, having dozens of such subordinates around would make my future life much easier.
The look in Tu's eyes told me he had seen through my little scheme. He neither agreed nor refused. He simply glanced at the time and said calmly, "Boss, they seem to be arriving soon."
After he finished speaking, he pointed to the distance.
A small black dot appeared on the sea to the southeast. The dot gradually expanded on the horizon. I took the binoculars from my subordinate and looked at it. It was a small motorboat with fishing nets and a mast, dressed up like a fishing boat.
“It’s them.” I put down my binoculars and then smiled at Tu, “Let the lads get ready.”
On the back of our yacht, eight or nine Black men, already dressed in diving suits, were ready. At my command, they all jumped into the water, carrying oxygen tanks, and submerged...
Ten minutes later, the boat approached us. The other side waved a flag, and we communicated with flag signals and exchanged secret signals. Then the other side stopped the engine, and the two boats stopped side by side. We then crossed the river with two sampans.
On that fishing boat, there were a dozen or so men looking at us warily. They were all dressed in fishermen's clothes and had rubber waterproof suits on their bodies, but they were holding guns in their hands, and each of them looked fierce.
With a thick cigar between my fingers, I laughed when I saw this scene and said, "Luo Kaishan, Boss Luo, we're here to talk business, there's no need to be so tense."
"Hahaha..." A loud, boisterous laugh came from the other ship. A man wearing a cotton-padded coat strode out. He was extremely tall and imposing, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, and was very imposing. In particular, his full beard gave him a look reminiscent of people from the northern frontier. However, he spoke with a standard Sichuan accent: "I know how capable you are, Brother Chen, but I didn't expect you to bring this bunch of black kids."
I stood on the deck, with Tu Jingjing standing quietly behind me. On either side were a dozen or so black mercenaries, all holding guns. The two sides faced each other across the sampan, which was less than two meters apart.
"Please come over here, Boss Luo. I've prepared vodka and caviar." I smiled slightly.
"Hahahaha..." Luo Kaishan laughed loudly, but said, "What's so good about the Russians' wine and caviar? I have some top-quality live fish here. I'll make some to go with the wine. They'll be very fresh! Please come over and talk, Brother Chen. Let's drink and talk."
silence……
We stared at each other for a long time, neither of us seeming comfortable enough to easily board the other's boat.
snort……
I sneered, "Boss Luo, with such strong winds at sea, we can't just shout at each other from this distance."
Luo Kaishan squinted and said, "Brother Chen, I know how capable you are. I can't afford your vodka and caviar, so let me treat you to a drink."
"Alright!" I suddenly waved my hand in agreement and laughed loudly, "Since Boss Luo is unwilling to do me the honor of coming, then I have no choice but to trouble you, my little brother!"
Having said that, I didn't hesitate any longer and strode towards the sampan. Luo Kaishan was quite surprised to see me come across the boat so readily, and his eyes revealed a hint of admiration for my courage.
I walked onto their ship, with only Tu closely following me; the rest of my men stood by the side. Luo Kaishan paused for a moment, then immediately reacted, laughed, and said, "Alright, it's windy here, let's go inside the cabin to talk." He then reached out to take my hand.
I gently shook off the offer. I smiled and said, "The wind is just right, it's cool and refreshing. Why don't we set up a table with some food and drinks on the deck? We can eat and talk, enjoy the sea view, and feel the sea breeze—that would be wonderful!"
"Okay!" Luo Kaishan nodded immediately. Since I'd already boldly boarded his ship, he couldn't be too stingy. Within minutes, a table was moved onto the deck, and the two of us sat facing each other. Soon, a table was laden with dishes and two bottles of wine.
The fish was very fresh sea fish, but the other dishes were not so good, mostly canned goods. The two bottles of liquor, however, were genuine Moutai. We toasted each other first, downing them in one gulp, before Luo Kaishan laughed and said, "Brother Chen, seeing is believing. Everyone says your Fifth Master is incredibly brave; today I, Luo, have witnessed it firsthand!"
"You're joking... I'm actually quite timid. But I know Boss Luo is here to make friends with me, and Boss Luo is a man of his word, so naturally he wouldn't lie to a kid like me. Since we're friends, what do I have to worry about?" I smiled slightly.
Luo Kaishan's face stiffened, then he said, "Brother Chen, you're right. I misspoke and should be punished!"
After saying that, he poured himself a drink.
To be honest, drinking on the deck was really uncomfortable; the sea breeze was blowing and it was a bit chilly. More importantly, there were a bunch of men standing around, all holding guns and glaring at me, making the drink tasteless. But since I was on someone else's turf, I mustered up the courage to board his ship to intimidate him. But if I actually went into the cabin with him… I wasn't that foolish. Showing bravado doesn't mean being brainless.
Seeing that I remained calm amidst the crowd, Luo Kaishan's eyes showed even more admiration. He put down his wine glass and said seriously, "Brother, although we have never met, I have long admired your name."
"I've heard a lot about Boss Luo."
"You're too kind! My little reputation is nothing more than the brothers' flattery." Luo Kaishan shook his head and said, "But you, brother, have been making waves lately. Quite a few people have fallen victim to you recently. At least Lei Hu turns pale just mentioning your name now. Haha!"
"Here he comes," I thought to myself, putting down my wine glass, looking at him, and saying nothing.
"Originally, there was some misunderstanding between Brother Chen and us. It would be somewhat awkward for me, Luo, to meet with you at this critical juncture, and it might cause some controversy among the brothers in the gang. However, for the sake of the lives of many brothers from both sides, I have no choice but to put these things aside and sit down with you to talk." Luo Kaishan said with a righteous expression, then sighed, "Recently, you've really put that old bastard Lei Hu in a terrible position."
"That's a personal grudge, just between Lei Hu and me. It has nothing to do with the harmony between our two families." I laughed and said, "I don't think Boss Luo has much of a relationship with Lei Hu, does he? If Boss Luo wants to stand up for Lei Hu, then just punish me. Boss Luo, I'll naturally give you some face."
"Alright!" Luo Kaishan was taken aback by my quick reply, but seized the opportunity to slap the table and laughed, "Since Brother Chen is so straightforward, I won't beat around the bush! Lei Hu has offended you, I'll arrange for him to come and apologize to you another day. We'll all drink together, and any conflicts can be settled in the wine. Speaking of which, we're both from the same circle, and you used to make a living under that name. If we fight like this, it'll only make us a laughingstock!"
"Oh." I picked up my wine glass, partially obscuring my face, and said calmly, "Brothers killing each other... I don't know what Boss Luo means... Hmm, in our circle, how should such a crime as fratricide be punished?"
"..." Luo Kaishan's expression froze, and his face darkened: "Brother, you..."
"Face and relationships, I'll give you what's due. But personal matters are personal, and public matters are public. We're all here to make a living with our brothers, and we have many eyes watching us! If we lose our rules, our brothers won't be able to make a living with their men anymore. Today, I, Chen Yang, have come all the way to the sea to enjoy the breeze and meet with you, Boss Luo, which is enough to show my sincerity. So, Boss Luo, whatever punishment you give me, I'll accept it. But the matter of Lei Hu will be handled officially!"
"..." Luo Kaishan remained silent.
"Betraying brothers, turning against one another, three cuts and six holes! Killing my brothers, a life for a life! This rule wasn't set by me, Chen Yang." I said coldly, "Regarding Lei Hu's matter, Boss Luo, we can discuss how you want me to take responsibility afterwards. But until this matter is resolved, my wine... hehe! I can't enjoy it for even a day!" With that, I slammed my wine glass heavily on the table.
Wow!
The people around immediately tensed up and raised their guns. I sneered, "What's wrong? Is Boss Luo trying to stand up for Lei Hu?"
"Put it down." Luo Kaishan said in a deep voice, "No manners!"
Then he stared at me and said, "So, brother, you're determined to fight Thunderfox to the bitter end?"
"Hmph! What a pretentious act!" I sneered inwardly. This guy said "fight Thunder Fox to the end," not "fight us to the end." So, although his question sounded tough, he'd already distanced himself from the conflict. A cunning character indeed. And… don't be fooled by his seemingly conciliatory tone. He'd actually be hoping I and Thunder Fox would fight to the death! If I were to stop fighting now, he'd probably be the first to object!
"Not bad." I replied casually, looking at the chopsticks in my hand.
"What if... I really have to help Lei Hu resolve this grudge?" Luo Kaishan sighed. "Brother, as his older brother, I also have my difficulties! After all, we're brothers in the same gang, and I can't just sit idly by!"
Hmm, this is a hint that I should state my terms.
I curled my lip and chuckled, "Boss Luo, I've heard about your character. Now that the previous Boss Liu has passed away, the position of leader, based on seniority and prestige, should rightfully belong to you. It's just that that old fox Lei Hu is cunning and despicable, using all sorts of tricks to snatch it away. Now he's committed such an unforgivable crime. Boss Luo, with your lifelong reputation, why should you sacrifice it for him..."
"Sigh..." The guy sighed, his face full of helplessness, yet he seemed to be a man of great loyalty and righteousness. "After all, he was a brother for many years. Even if he did something wrong, I could only help him bear the consequences. But, alas, now that the Big Circle has come to this, I feel I've let down the deceased Boss Liu..." He shook his head and sighed repeatedly as he said this. His facial expressions were incredibly lifelike, and he put on quite a show. If someone didn't know him well, they would probably be fooled by his act.
"A real man should distinguish between public and private matters." Ignoring his act, I said calmly, "Brother Luo, you're really clueless! Lei Hu brought this on, yet you expect the entire Big Circle to take the blame? What kind of logic is that? Besides, I may have been ruthless and my methods a bit excessive, but I was only targeting Lei Hu, not the entire Big Circle. Come to think of it, if it weren't for Lei Hu's tricks, we'd probably still be family!"
“But…” Luo Kaishan sighed, “But Lei Hu is, after all, the leader of the Big Circle now…”
"Hmph! This kind of trash doesn't deserve to sit in this position!" I sneered. "The leader of a gang should naturally be a suitable person! A guy like Lei Hu, who has no talent, no virtue, and no ambition, sitting in this position would only ruin the livelihood of the Big Circle brothers!" I said, lowering my voice and slowly adding, "I think Boss Luo's reputation is very suitable for leading the Big Circle. If the Big Circle can be led by Boss Luo, I, Xiao Wu, will be the first to congratulate them!"
A glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes; I knew that was exactly what he was waiting for.
But he still had to put on an act, and he seemed a little hesitant: "I... sigh, I'm getting old, and besides... Brother Wang Shanhu is doing very well now, and many of Boss Liu's men have joined his ranks. I think it would be good if Brother Shanhu became the boss in the future."
This is just saying one thing and meaning another. I smiled. It seems I still need to offer a little something. I whispered, "Well... let me say something I shouldn't... Wang Shanhu is experienced enough, but his courage and magnanimity are a bit lacking compared to you, brother. If you, Boss Luo, are willing to stand up for justice and quell this internal strife, I'll be the first to stand up and support you in leading everyone to get rich! Besides... I don't think Brother Shanhu would compete with you for land, Boss Luo."
"Oh? You..." Hearing me say that, Luo Kaishan couldn't help but be a little more tempted.
I leaned back in my chair and chuckled, “I heard that Stone recently led a group of men to work with Mountain Tiger. But as you probably know, Stone and I had a friendship back in Canada.”
Luo Kaishan glanced at me, and the meaning in his eyes was clear: I knew it was you who was behind this!
However, the act of saving face still had to be performed perfectly: "This matter is no small thing, I need to go back and discuss it properly... But, if it can quell the internal strife within the Big Circle and prevent the brothers from fighting amongst themselves, I, Luo Kaishan, will risk my old bones to stand up and do something for the brothers, even if it's my life's work... Um, die... die..."
He didn't seem to be very well-read. He said half a sentence, then trailed off, and I suppressed a laugh. But I quickly interjected, "To die for one's cause! What a spirit, Boss Luo!"
"Yes, that's right, that's the principle! To devote oneself to the cause until death!" His face was already a little flushed, but fortunately, his thick beard made it less noticeable.
However, this guy had managed to survive in the underworld this long, so his skin was naturally incredibly thick. After a moment's hesitation, he calmed down and said, "And another thing, brother, you know how you've been lately. You've been so manipulative, turning your hand to make things up as you please! These methods have really hurt us brothers. The recent business losses have left us struggling to make ends meet! Brother Wang Shanhu has a capable assistant like Shi Tou to help him, but here I am..." He finished speaking, his eyes darting around, but he deliberately stopped talking while looking at me.
This means: you've provided Wang Shanhu with Stone's gang as backup. You should at least offer me something in return, right? Talking without doing anything and expecting me to help you take down Lei Hu isn't going to be that easy.
I smiled, picked up my glass, pointed to the distant sea, and said with a faint smile, "After this is done, I'll still be able to take charge of the market across the sea. From now on, I'll ask Boss Luo to take good care of it. It concerns the livelihoods of many brothers in the Big Circle... I'll have to rely on Boss Luo's hard work."
Upon hearing my implication that I would hand over the North American market to him in the future, Luo Kaishan's face immediately flushed with excitement. He coughed forcefully to suppress his excitement, but his voice was a little hoarse: "Brother... are you just making empty promises to amuse your old brother?"
"As you know, brother, I've never been very interested in the drug business, not in the past, and not in the future. What's the point of me controlling this market? I can't just let those guys in South America profit from it, can I?"
Before I could finish speaking, Luo Kaishan snorted, "What about Wang Shanhu?"
I didn't answer him, but simply said, "Stone and I have been friends for a long time. He's a stubborn guy. He's only helping Wang Shanhu because he can't stand Lei Hu's actions. Once Lei Hu's matter is settled, those who should be neutral will remain neutral... Do you really think the men Liu Laoda left behind will obediently listen to that lynx?" After saying that, I picked up a glass of wine, drank it all in one gulp, and whispered, "Good wine!" My words made it clear: Stone and his men are only helping Wang Shanhu fight Lei Hu. Once Lei Hu is defeated, they won't obey Wang Shanhu anymore... With Lei Hu down, Luo Kaishan's power is the greatest. Are you worried about not being able to control Wang Shanhu?
"..." Luo Kaishan's eyes were filled with complex emotions. He stared at me hesitantly for a long time, clearly struggling internally. Finally, he slapped his thigh: "Chen Yang, how can I possibly believe you!"
Holding my wine glass, I said slowly, "When I was a child, I heard a neighbor from next door say something. That neighbor was in his forties at the time, and he was an honest man who never stole, robbed, gambled, or frequented brothels... He said: 'A little gambling is fun, but too much gambling is harmful.'"
When I suddenly changed the subject, Luo Kaishan looked at me blankly, not knowing what I meant.
I chuckled and continued, "Then, I met someone who told me: 'How many opportunities does a person get in their lifetime? Sometimes, you just have to gamble! If you lose, you're miserable; if you win, you're a superstar!'"
At this point, I looked into Luo Kaishan's eyes and said, "Oh, those words were said by an old gambler I know. Hmm... do you know what happened to the people who told me those two sentences?"
"……What?"
"My neighbor spent his whole life as a low-level clerk, then retired and lived a meager life on his pension. Every morning he tended to his plants, every afternoon he went to the market to buy groceries, and every night he went to bed promptly around eight o'clock." I smiled. "But that old gambler, one time he bet everything he had, and he actually won! He became rich overnight. He drank the best wine, played with the most beautiful women, drove the most expensive cars, and lived in the biggest houses! He enjoyed himself to the fullest for a few years, and then he died before he was forty."
"..." Luo Kaishan was silent for a while, thought for a long time, and then suddenly said, "Good! Well said!"