Those who had been in Rongmen for a long time, as Uncle Tuo had once said, always carried their ID cards and bank cards on them twenty-four hours a day.
This was a form of occupational hazard.
Because those who were accustomed to being thieves lacked a sense of security.
They felt that only by carrying important items close to them would they be safe.
Therefore, it was actually very simple to control this Mingwen.
I extended my hand, opened it, and placed it before Mingwen's eyes. I said, "If you want me to spare you and let you go, it's not impossible! But..."
"Based on your past conduct, I think it's necessary to state things clearly upfront."
"I don't lack money! What I lack is one thing!"
"Do me a favor, and our past grievances will be settled!"
"But before the task is completed, you must hand over all your important belongings to me as collateral!"
Upon hearing this, Mingwen froze completely.
Ignoring his stunned silence, I said coldly, "You don't need to play any more tricks!"
"Either go to jail and serve your sentence as atonement, or do me a favor, and once it's done, we'll go our separate ways on the open road!"
"Choose one of the two, you decide!"
Seeing that my hand was still on the call button, and without much time to think, Mingwen replied in a deep voice, "I choose the second option."
"Alright then!"
Nodding slightly, I beckoned to Mingwen and said, "Take out all your most important things, like your bank card, ID card, and any other items you have."
"Let me state upfront, I know exactly where people can hide things on their person."
"If you try to play any tricks during this process, then I'm sorry..."
"I'll send you directly to the police station, and the police will reward you with a pair of silver bracelets!"
Despite his extreme reluctance, Mingwen eventually took out a pile of things from his person.
Several cash bills, a wallet, a keychain, a mobile phone, and a copper coin.
I didn't touch any of these money that originally belonged to me. I only took out the ID card, bank card, and that copper coin from the wallet.
From the way Mingwen took out the items just now, although this separately taken-out copper coin seemed very important, I had once heard Uncle Tuo tell a story.
He said that some masters from Rongmen (i.e., experts) would deliberately place unimportant items on their person.
The purpose was so that one day, if they accidentally fell into the hands of people from the underworld, they could use this deception to confuse the other party and secure a chance of survival for themselves.
If you walk by the river often, you can't avoid getting your shoes wet!
How deep and murky this river of the underworld is, ordinary people probably can't see clearly.
Enemies who were drawing swords against each other one moment could be sitting together the next, toasting and calling each other brothers, all relying on glib talk and countless escape methods.
If I hadn't received Uncle Tuo's guidance, perhaps tonight, there would have been a very high probability that I would have been completely fooled by this Mingwen!
Whether his dexterity was top-notch in Rongmen, I'm not sure.
But his cunning, and his ability to discern locations by sound and to dodge and weave... was truly amazing!
Therefore, one must deal with such people like striking a snake, hitting its seven inches directly, and seizing it firmly!
Seeing that I had taken away three items at once, Mingwen's expression changed slightly, and he said, "Brother, aren't you being a bit too harsh by taking my ID card?"
"What if you use my ID card to do something bad? Will the police come after you or me?"
Ignoring Mingwen, I put the items away, gave him my phone number, and then replied coldly, "Alright, you can go."
"When you get back, remember to wait for my call."
Upon hearing this, Mingwen's face immediately fell: "Isn't this going too far, brother?"
"You don't specify a time limit, nor do you reveal what needs to be done. I have to wait by the phone for your call when I get back?"
"If you don't call me for a year, do I have to wait for you eagerly for a year?"
"Heh heh!"
After a cold laugh, I replied, "The time limit will be one month! As for the task... it will definitely be something you're best at!"
"Within a month, if I don't contact you, with your skills, it shouldn't be difficult for you to find me with people!"
Hearing this, Mingwen also smiled: "Heh heh! Alright! You're amazing! I guess I didn't keep my eyes open when I left home today, and I've completely fallen into your trap!"
"Since you've given me a way out, I naturally can't be ungrateful! I... will wait for your call!"
"I'm saying this in advance, you must return those three items to me after the task is completed!"
"Okay! No problem!" I agreed immediately, "As long as the task is done, we'll be even!"
"From now on, we'll go our separate ways!"
Hearing me say this, Mingwen readily replied, "Alright! I'll remember that!"
"As the old saying goes, we get to know each other through fighting! If there's a chance later, I must invite you to sit down and have a drink!"
Before he finished speaking, Mingwen turned and left without looking back, then quickly disappeared into the boundless night.
Heh heh! A drink? A drink to send me off, more like!
I knew very well that Mingwen's words just now were merely a temporary measure of feigned politeness.
After tonight, I'm afraid the feud between him and me will be completely cemented.
But I'm not afraid!
For underworld figures like Mingwen who don't play by the rules, prison is their final destination!
Once I've used him, I'll send him to jail to eat prison food!
Actually, I had given Mingwen a chance just now.
If he had voluntarily returned the eight thousand yuan to me, I wouldn't have done this.
Unfortunately, not only did this scoundrel have no intention of returning the money, but he also used words to threaten and intimidate me indirectly.
Letting such a person go is harming myself!
Extorting two thousand yuan shamelessly, and stealing eight thousand yuan forcefully, my money... is not so easily taken!!!
.........
After returning to my residence, everything was as usual.
There were no lights on downstairs or upstairs.
It seemed that Xu Peiyu hadn't dared to move and was still hiding in my room.
When I went upstairs... sure enough!
The room door was in the same state as when I left!
Xu Peiyu was still lying on my bed, curled up in the quilt.
The moment she heard footsteps, I saw her shaking even more violently from under the quilt.
Seeing this, to avoid startling her again, I called out softly, "Sister Peiyu, it's me!"
"........."
Although Xu Peiyu didn't respond, I could clearly see that she under the quilt seemed to have slowly stopped shaking.
After a while, Xu Peiyu poked her head out from under the quilt and stammered, "Th-th-the thief... has he left?"
I couldn't see the expression on Xu Peiyu's face clearly, but I could hear the chattering of her teeth as she spoke.