I listened impassively as Ni Li recounted her story, constantly calculating whether Boss Gui would protect me if she framed me.
I wasn't too sure. After all, my acquaintance with Boss Gui was only through Zhu Li, and Zhu Li had a good relationship with Yang Han’s father.
Moreover, if this happened, I’d have no way to explain myself, and all the blame would fall on me.
Whether he reasoned it out or insisted on protecting me, I felt it was precarious.
"My man embezzled gold from several mine owners..."
Hearing this, my thoughts were pulled back, and I looked at Ni Li.
She said, "Greed made his courage grow... He thought he could manipulate everyone into his palm, but instead, he pushed himself off a cliff. He hid this batch of gold, but then he had an accident..."
Seeing her expression was a bit off, I couldn't help but ask, "You want me to help you smuggle out the gold, it's not because of him..."
"Exactly!" she laughed. "It seems you aren't entirely stupid... Many people are eyeing this gold. Do you think my current lover genuinely cares about me? He cares about the gold! It’s also because of this gold that no one here dares to mess with me."
"Since they know the gold is with you, why..."
"Why not interrogate me severely?" Ni Li chuckled. "Do you think they haven't tried?"
As she spoke, she gently pulled down the strap on her shoulder, turned around slowly, and revealed a back covered in shocking scars, the sight of which made one’s scalp tingle.
A moment later, she put her strap back on, turned, and looked at me, "They aren’t sure if the gold is in my possession. They all want to get their hands on it... If the direct approach doesn't work, they resort to indirect methods. How many times has that mine owner tried to get into my bed over the years? What tactics haven't they used on me? But I know very well that once I reveal where that batch of gold is, the only outcome awaiting me is… I’m not afraid of death, but I don’t want my daughter to die in this place before she’s seen the outside world. I don’t want her to live a life like mine."
At this moment, I noticed a glint of crystal in her eyes, and her expression softened.
"Then why do you think I can be trusted?"
"You?" she laughed. "When did I ever say you could be trusted?"
"Since you don't trust me, why ask me to smuggle gold for you?"
"As I said, everyone is greedy. I’m willing to give you seventy percent, and I think you won’t refuse."
I smiled and said, "Aren't you afraid I'll want a hundred percent?"
Her eyes turned cold. After a moment, she grinned, "Do you dare?"
For a moment, the atmosphere became silent. We both slowly smoked, the smoke rising continuously between us.
I took the last puff of my cigarette and dropped the butt into the teacup. "Meaning, I have no choice now?"
"What do you think?"
I sighed. "I can help you. I can also not take any benefits, but I have one condition."
"What condition?"
"During my time in Hekou, I don’t want to get into any more trouble. My purpose for coming here is not for the gold, and I’ll be leaving in a while. So, I don’t want to provoke anyone, nor do I want anyone to provoke me."
"That simple?"
I nodded. "Yes, that simple. Can you help me?"
She stubbed out her cigarette, crossed her arms, and I couldn’t tell what she was thinking.
"Are you sure you really don’t want the gold?"
"Certain."
I wasn’t particularly short of money now, and I knew very well that the gold was hot.
It sounded good now, that I could get seventy percent, but how long I would stay in the Philippines and whether I could find An Ying were still unknowns.
If I took this gold, who could guarantee that there wouldn’t be further trouble in the future?
As long as I didn't take this gold, even if there was trouble, it wouldn't push me into a desperate situation.
"You really are a strange person."
I smiled. "Why do you say that?"
"No one has ever said they don’t want gold..."
"Perhaps you just haven’t met one."
She said, "Alright, I promise you. As long as you are in Hekou, I guarantee no one will bother you."
"Fine," I nodded. "I assume you've already planned meticulously how to get the gold out? I won't ask too many questions. You just need to tell me what to do."
She laughed. "You are not only a smart person, but also an ungreedy smart person... A person like you will live longer than my husband."
"Thank you for the compliment. I’m just someone who doesn’t want trouble."
Just as I stood up to leave, the door was suddenly pushed open violently.
A middle-aged man in a floral shirt, with his chest bared and belly exposed, rushed in.
This man was about 1.7 meters tall, with dark skin and bulging muscles. One could tell at a glance that he was not to be trifled with.
Behind him were several followers, carrying machetes.
As soon as the man entered, he babbled something and stared at me with cold eyes.
Ni Li stood up, spoke to him, and then looked at me.
Without a doubt, I guessed that this man must be her lover.
"What are you still standing here for? Hurry up and leave!" Ni Li gave me a look and said.
I nodded and walked towards the door, but as I passed by the man, he grabbed my collar, looking furious, and cursed at me.
Ni Li quickly came to persuade him. After a while, he let me go, pointed to the door, and gestured for me to get out.
I didn't want any conflict with them. Even though I felt a bit displeased, I left obediently.
After returning to where I was staying, Fatty eagerly came up and asked, "Brother Xiang, how did it go?"
"How did what go?"
"That Sister Gu... hehehe..."
I waved my hand. "Don't mention it, I almost didn't make it back."
"Ah?" Fatty was taken aback.
I told him about that man blocking the door. Upon hearing this, Fatty became displeased. "Damn it! What? Bullying us because we have no one? Fatty is going to deal with him right now!"
"Can you stop causing trouble?" I said.
Xiao Shan came over and asked for details. After listening to my account, his brows furrowed. "Brother Xiang, I think you should stay away from Sister Gu in the future... The man you're talking about is the mine owner of Beihe, and he's a sworn enemy of Boss Gui. Boss Gui is currently negotiating river section matters with him..."
He hesitated and then said, "You guys stay put here. I'll go find Boss Gui."
With that, he pulled open the door and left in a hurry.