The elevator ascended slowly, but my mind was racing. This man was a tough nut to crack; if I couldn't handle him, I'd end up with broken teeth.
Reaching the door, I had A'gan wait outside while A'li stayed with me. I stood at the doorway and let him in.
The senior nodded to him and said, "You chat with Sheng Hao for a while. I have official business to attend to."
This was all according to our plan. I would probe him first, and the senior would step in at the critical moment to make the final decision.
I motioned for A'gan to sit on the sofa. Qian Fugui brought us water and then also went outside.
It was just the two of us in the room, and the silence became a bit awkward for a moment.
I said, "Brother A'gan, you've been with Brother Hui for a long time, haven't you?"
A'gan replied, "Yes, eight years."
I continued, "So long, it goes without saying your bond with Brother Hui is deep. This time, we're helping Brother Hui, so we must work together to accomplish this task."
A'gan said, "I'm grateful for Brother Hui's kindness. I will definitely do my best in my duties."
I responded, "Our duties, inside and out, are our own business. It's not about doing our best, it's about putting in the effort!"
A'gan blushed slightly, feeling like his words had been too formal.
I asked, "Can you tell me a bit about yourself? Where are you from? Who do you have back home?"
A'gan said, "I'm from the north. When I was young, my family sent me to the Shaolin Temple to learn martial arts. Later, someone brought me here and introduced me to Brother Hui, and I've been with him ever since. I have parents and a younger sister."
He paused when he mentioned his sister, his expression darkening slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. It was a fleeting moment, but I caught it.
Without showing any reaction, I continued to listen. "My family is poor. We live in a mud-brick house. My family wanted me to make something of myself, so they sent me to the Shaolin Temple, hoping I'd learn some skills and change our family's fate. But I haven't lived up to their expectations. I haven't achieved anything significant, and my family hasn't benefited at all."
I asked, "You must be doing well with Brother Hui. Why haven't you helped your family?"
A'gan replied, "It's not that I haven't, but there's simply not enough extra to give them."
I said, "Really? I don't want to pry about your income, but I don't think it's too little."
A'gan explained, "It's indeed not small, but it's not in our hands. Eighty percent of our stipends must be used to buy shares, leaving only enough for living expenses. After smoking and drinking, there's practically nothing left."
So that's how it was. What shares? It was just a disguised way of not paying salaries. Such a black-hearted scheme.
I didn't voice my opinion and continued to observe him.
He said, "Brother Hui says it's for our own good, that we'll all be bosses in the future, and our shares will grow, giving us enough dividends. But I've been here for eight years, and I haven't seen any dividends yet. However, Brother Hui said that if I complete this task, I'll officially become a shareholder and receive a dividend by the end of the year."
Another empty promise, just to make him work for them.
I asked, "You mentioned you have a younger sister. How old is she? Is she still in school or working?"
His expression darkened again. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Please don't laugh at me, but she dropped out of school very early. Because I wasn't contributing to the family, she went out to work. Who knew she would encounter bad people who abducted her to the coast? I heard from someone that she's doing 'that'."
He then began to cry.
I remained silent, letting him vent.
After a while of sobbing, he stopped.
I asked, "Do you know which city or place your sister is in?"
A'gan replied, "A fellow villager came to me recently and told me the city and address. I wrote it down in a notebook. Do you have a way to help me find her? I'm not free to do so myself; I have the will but not the means!"
I said, "Give me the address later. I have friends on the coast. As long as the address is accurate, I'll find a way to rescue her."
Upon hearing this, A'gan stood up and was about to kneel.
I quickly got up and supported him, pressing him back onto the sofa.
I said, "This is a big matter, and I will definitely help you. Focus on your work, and leave your sister's matter to me."
He heard me and tried to get up again. I quickly signaled him to stay seated.
He asked, "How can I thank you?"
I replied, "The task isn't done yet, so there's no need for thanks. We can talk about gratitude after it's completed."
A'gan said, "Knowing you'll help me has brought me immense relief. You have no idea how my heart has been aching as if being cut by a knife since I learned about this. I cry secretly whenever I'm alone. I already feel guilty towards my family, and with my sister's situation, I feel it's my fault. If I had contributed even a little to the family, she'd still be in school, going to college and getting a respectable job. How could she have ended up like this? Who else is to blame but me?"
I said, "What's done is done. Blaming anyone is meaningless. Our priority is to rescue her and help her lead a normal life."
He nodded and said, "Mr. Sheng, whatever you need me to do, I will do it even if it means risking my life."
I replied, "There's nothing specific you need to do. Just focus on your own tasks. I just wanted to ask, what do you think your outcome will be following Brother Hui?"
A'gan looked at me hesitantly. I met his gaze with an encouraging look, urging him to speak freely. "I can't see a future, none of us can. We do his dirty work every day; can there be a good outcome? Honestly, I've wanted to leave for a long time, but I can't bear to give up eight years of wages. The more I stay, the deeper I get entangled, and the harder it is to break free."
I asked, "If you were given a chance to escape this predicament, would you take it?"
He looked even more puzzled. "Aren't you cooperating with them?"
I replied, "Don't worry about the details for now. Just answer my question."
He said, "Of course, I would. I dream of leaving him."
I said, "You don't need to know too much. Tomorrow, all you need to do is deliver the goods to the location I tell you. This is your task. We are not exchanging anything; whether you complete it or not, I will help you find your sister."
A'gan stood up and bowed deeply to me. Grasping my hand, he said, "You are our family's benefactor, our savior. As long as our family can be reunited, I am willing to go through fire and water for you. Rest assured, there is only one answer for this task: completion!"
I said, "Good. You will follow my instructions. No matter who questions you, do not answer directly. Just deliver to the designated location."
A'gan assured me, "The person is present, and the goods are present. If the person is absent, the goods are still present. Rest assured."
I said, "I'll give you a pager. Turn it on only after you receive the goods tomorrow. I will transmit the address to you."
A'gan took the pager, opened it, and tested it. The signal was normal. He then turned it off and carefully put it in his pocket.
I instructed him to keep it hidden well and to only turn it on when he confirmed no one was around. After memorizing the information, he should destroy the device, leaving no trace.
A'gan nodded. "Understood."
I opened the door, and we both returned to our professional demeanor. He walked out with a stern expression, and his subordinate, who had accompanied him, quickly followed him toward the stairwell.