Back in the shack, watching Zhu Li still asleep, I sat back down on my bed and pondered what Ni Li had told me earlier.
The person at the address she gave me was one of her husband's former partners. They had a business relationship for many years, and she considered him someone she could trust.
As for how Jin Zi had moved out, she only said one word: "Zhu..."
Hearing that word, I already understood what she was planning.
She wanted to use Zhu Li to get Jin Zi out.
However, she hadn't explained how to get Zhu Li to take Jin Zi out, so I figured I'd have to find a way myself.
Fatty pushed the door open and complained, "I almost got washed away by the water just going to the toilet."
"Where did you go to the toilet?"
"By the river."
"Are there still boats by the river now?"
"I think so. Don't all their boats stay by the river during the day?"
"I dropped something. Can you accompany me to get it?"
"What did you drop?" Fatty asked, looking puzzled.
I glanced at the sleeping Zhu Li and said, "Something a friend gave me..."
As I spoke, I pulled Fatty out of the shack.
"Master Xiang..."
I gave him a look: "Don't ask so many questions, just follow me."
When we got to the river, we found a wooden speedboat.
This kind of speedboat had a motor attached to the back, and by simply moving the motor, you could control the direction.
After getting on the speedboat and starting the motor, I told Fatty to shine the flashlight ahead, and we headed downstream.
Under the cover of the "roaring" motor, Fatty and I briefly explained the situation.
As for Jin Zi, I didn't mention her. I just said that Sister Gu asked me to take that box out.
Fatty, being as sharp as he was, guessed as soon as I said it: "Is it Jin Zi?"
"Yes."
"Master Xiang, are you planning to smuggle gold?" Fatty's eyes lit up. "How much can we get?"
"Let's get the thing out first."
"Okay!"
Fatty instantly became energized. When we reached the riverbank from that morning, it had been cleaned up thoroughly. The severed limbs and blood from the day were gone.
We arrived at the water mine shaft. I told Fatty to guard the top, and I jumped in myself.
The water mine shaft was about six or seven meters deep. Following the path in my memory, I quickly found the spot where the gold was kept.
The rusty tin box was heavy. It took all my strength to swim up with the tin box.
As soon as Fatty saw me come up, he took the tin box from my hands. He opened it and stared with glazed eyes.
"Don't dawdle, let's go back quickly," I said.
Fatty looked around and nodded.
It was already past one in the morning, and everyone was basically asleep.
When Fatty and I returned to the river mouth, we encountered two night watchmen. These two were Ghost Master's men. Seeing us, they didn't say anything and let us pass.
Carrying the tin box back to our lodging, I managed to get Zhu Li's car keys from him. Then, we went to where Zhu Li had parked the car and stuffed the tin box under the passenger seat.
After finishing all this, it was past four in the morning.
Back in the shack, Fatty and I didn't say much. We got into our respective beds and fell asleep.
The next day at noon, when we woke up, Zhu Li was already up. He had ordered a table of dishes, and we ate lunch in the shack.
During the meal, I asked him when we were leaving. Zhu Li replied, "Leaving for what?"
"To Jin Zi Mountain."
He smiled and said, "You can also go to Jin Zi Mountain from here. It's faster by speedboat."
"So, we're leaving directly from here?" Fatty asked.
Zhu Li nodded. "I've arranged everything for you. When Ah Shui is ready, you can leave anytime in the next couple of days."
I was stunned. If we weren't going out, how would I get the gold?
Fatty also realized this and kept giving me signals.
"Uncle Zhu, I want to go out for a bit to buy some things and call Brother Yang," I said, thinking quickly.
He hesitated and then said, "Then after we finish eating, I'll take you out. After you're done, I'll bring you back."
"Thank you, Uncle Zhu."
"It's nothing. But I'll have to inform Ah Gui about it later." Zhu Li seemed to remember something. "I forgot to ask you last night, but I heard you participated in the competition for the river section this time?"
I put on a look of helplessness and explained the situation. I said I didn't know what I did to offend Sister Gu, but she insisted on forcing me to participate in that "muddy water gold dredging."
He frowned slightly after listening. "Ah Gui is really something. Doesn't he know you're my guest? Why did he let you get involved?"
"It's not Ghost Master's fault. I myself..."
He sighed. "Stay away from that woman in the future. If you really want a woman, I'll take you out later."
"Uncle Zhu, I'm not in the mood for that..."
He smiled. "Alright, you guys eat first. I'm going to find Ah Gui."
After Zhu Li left, Fatty ate his meal absentmindedly, looking like he had something to say but couldn't bring himself to say it.
"If you have something to say, just say it," I said.
Fatty put down his bowl and asked, "Master Xiang, that box of gold must weigh at least several pounds, right?"
"It should be around ten pounds..."
"So much? How much is that worth?"
"Hard to say, maybe five or six million."
"Then aren't we rich this time?"
I gave Fatty a look. "Rich in your dreams. Let me tell you, don't even think about the gold. We won't get a single cent of it."
"Why?"
"What are we here for?"
"That doesn't conflict!" Fatty said. "Although we're here to find someone, earning some extra money can help subsidize our daily expenses..."
"Let me tell you, don't get any ideas about that gold. It's not that I'm stingy, but the situation here is very complicated. I'll explain it to you in detail when we get out."
Fatty pouted and reluctantly nodded.
Zhu Li returned an hour later, and then we got into his car.
I sat in the passenger seat, and Fatty sat in the back.
The car drove along a small road to the checkpoint. Seeing the guards there with their guns, it was impossible not to feel a bit nervous.
Fortunately, Zhu Li had enough influence. He stopped the car, distributed cigarettes, exchanged pleasantries, and then drove out.
Only when the car passed the checkpoint did I finally relax. Looking in the rearview mirror, I saw that Fatty was the same.
With so much gold of unknown origin, if it were discovered, trouble would surely ensue.
Zhu Li dropped us off at the entrance of the hotel. He said he had some business to attend to, and as soon as we got out of the car, he sped away.