Downstairs was a bit noisy, and Wen Siqiang wanted to pull me out for a smoke. I bought a pack of Yunyan cigarettes at the bar and walked out with them. When I reached the door, I gave him one and said, "Smoke mine."
He didn't take it and told me, "Your cigarettes are too mild, no kick. You smoke yours, I'll smoke mine."
This further confirmed my suspicion: his cigarettes had something extra.
From now on, I need to keep a pack of cigarettes in my pocket and not accept others' casually. If I really can't refuse, I'll say I'm not used to them and use my own to deflect.
At this moment, Xiao Li also ran out and asked me for a cigarette. Wen Siqiang tried to give her one, but she pushed it back, saying, "I can't smoke your cigarettes." It seemed Wen Siqiang's cigarettes were an open secret, just not one I knew.
Wen Siqiang, feeling awkward, stuffed his cigarette back into his pocket.
After Xiao Li took a few puffs, the manager inside called her to the room. Xiao Li quickly took another puff, threw it away, and ran inside.
Seeing Xiao Li leave, Wen Siqiang asked me, "Scared?"
I asked, "Scared of what?"
He said, "You really don't know?"
I asked, "Know what? I work for money, what's the use of knowing so much?"
Wen Siqiang said, "That's good too, it's better not to know," and then fell silent.
Mr. Song had told me to act like I knew as little as possible in front of them so I could shirk responsibility later.
Even Manager Chen hadn't said anything. Why was you, Wen Siqiang, playing these petty tricks? Were you trying to die!
Wen Siqiang's cigarette burned all the way to the filter, and he still reluctantly threw it away, only discarding it when it burned to the filter.
Wen Siqiang and I entered the lobby one after another. The three of them were not there. I sat down at the bar and ordered a drink, watching people dance on the dance floor.
The bar girl who was with Wen Siqiang yesterday came over. She walked up to Wen Siqiang, who was standing to the side, holding two glasses of wine. She gave Wen Siqiang one and they exchanged a look. Wen Siqiang seemed a little afraid to look her directly in the eye and quickly took a sip of his drink. I heard the bar girl whisper to him, "You have to take me back today. I haven't had a customer in days, and if I don't get any business soon, I won't even be able to afford food."
It turned out the young lady wanted to hook up with him and was even eagerly buying him drinks. It seemed difficult to refuse.
Wen Siqiang quickly pulled her over to a chair in the back, likely afraid I would overhear and laugh at him.
I didn't want to get involved in his mess. It seemed a bit late to back out now; this woman had him hooked.
Suddenly, I saw the Burmese man who sold me the stones coming in from the entrance. He saw me drinking there and also came over. I ordered him a drink and treated him.
I said, "Ang Ki, do you want to dance today or take a young lady home?"
Ang Ki asked, "Can I take someone?"
I said, "If you have money, you can. Without money, who would go with you?"
Ang Ki said, "I have money, but you have to introduce me. Many girls don't go out with us Burmese."
I said, "Some of you are unruly and have ruined your reputation, so it's normal that they don't go out with you. Who would risk their life for money? Don't you think?"
He nodded and told me, "I have a place to stay, not far from here. I'm not a bad person, can you introduce me to one?"
I said, "I know you're not a bad person, but you can't mistreat them. Pay what you should, don't renege."
Ang Ki said, "Don't worry, I won't."
I got up and walked over to Wen Siqiang. I told him, "I'm introducing this lady to some business. You don't have any objections, do you?"
Wen Siqiang looked at me and said, "No objections, of course not. Isn't that why we come here, to do business?"
I said, "Okay, you two discuss the price. If he tries to renege, I'll pay for him. You accompany my Burmese friend today."
The woman seemed a bit reluctant when she saw he was Burmese. I said, "I've already vouched for him, what are you afraid of? Am I going to run away?"
She hesitated, then went over to talk to the Burmese man. After a few words, she turned to look at Wen Siqiang. Wen Siqiang nodded at her, and she left with the Burmese man.
Wen Siqiang breathed a sigh of relief, "My god, you saved me. This guy was clinging to me like a leech."
I smiled, "Flirting depends on where you are. Flirting here can cost you whatever money you have."
Wen Siqiang scratched his head, "I dare not anymore. This guy is too fierce; he won't give up without taking a pound of flesh."
Wen Siqiang habitually took out his cigarette and was about to offer me one again. I quickly stopped him and said I'd rather have a drink. Come to think of it, it's quite nice to get used to drinking foreign liquor.
I said I was drinking, but in reality, I was just trying to avoid his cigarettes. I went over and ordered a glass of soda water, sipping it slowly as if I were drinking alcohol.
I don't know what this place will become after today. Tomorrow, we're scheduled to pick up the goods at ten in the evening. I expect the Burmese man will arrive at the club around that time. As long as our goods are in order, the Burmese man will get his money, and then he'll signal Xiaohong to go up.
If the operation here doesn't start in time, Xiaohong might not escape this ordeal.
I'm truly worried for Xiaohong.
Just then, three men, looking shifty, came over. They whispered something to the manager as if being very careful, and the manager took them up in the elevator.
Regular customers are usually escorted by receptionists. It's rare for guests to be taken up by the manager.
Moreover, their eyes darted around as they walked over; they didn't look like customers, nor did they look like they were there for business. They were furtive, as if they were up to something illicit.
So, they could only be here to pick up goods.
Judging by their demeanor and how they looked at people, they seemed like gamblers.
Although I've never been to a casino, I've seen people like them. There are many underground black casinos in the rough stone trading street, and I often see such people coming and going.
These people live in reverse, day and night, never seeing the sun. Add in a few puffs, and they come out like this.
A pale face, wandering eyes, and a furtive demeanor.
Sure enough, after a while, a few men came down with handbags clutched under their arms, heads bowed, and left in a car.
Last time, President Liu gave me the package in his office. These people coming today are almost certainly here to pick up goods, which means this is a drug stash point. Whether the entire stash is here or only part of it, I'll only know tomorrow after picking up the goods and receiving instructions.
I ordered another glass of soda water. Perhaps I ate too much salt for dinner, and I was a bit thirsty.
Later, I realized it was about the cured meat. Wang Xin's cured meat stir-fried with celery was so delicious that I ate a few extra pieces, hence the constant thirst.
Wen Siqiang was just milling around idly. But no matter how idle he was, he didn't dare to flirt with the bar girls again. If he got entangled with another one, I wouldn't be able to find the Burmese man to help him out of the situation, and he'd have to pay.
Finally, when the three of them came down, I called out to the loitering Wen Siqiang, and we headed back.
Upon returning to the inn, after we had freshened up, I told Xiaohong, "The Burmese man is coming tomorrow. Tomorrow, you don't need to take orders. He'll specifically ask for you to go up."
Xiaohong was stunned for a moment and didn't say anything. I didn't know how to explain it to her, but I had to tell her. As I said before, if she really didn't want to go, I would take all the responsibility; she wouldn't have to do anything she didn't want to do.
But she remained silent, and I didn't know what she was thinking. I didn't even know how to help her.