We ran desperately for a long time, only stopping when we were sure no one could see us.
Senior: "This Brother Hui is indeed no ordinary person. We need to plan carefully to deal with him."
I said: "I feel it too, it's just a shame we didn't get rid of that Sun fellow."
Senior: "The Sun fellow is merely a pawn. Brother Hui is the key. Here's what you'll do: tomorrow, you'll go back and start planning to contact Wu Guodong. I'll stay here and probe Brother Hui's background further. I have a feeling Brother Hui is more than just a common gangster. Behind him is a vast network, and in this network, even Wu Guodong is likely an insignificant thread."
I said: "Is it that serious? Won't that Sun fellow become even more reckless?"
Senior: "It's very possible. They're playing a very big game. This game involves establishing a black channel for drugs from the triangular region into the mainland, and then spreading them to other areas."
I shuddered. How could I not have considered this? This might be why I never saw Principal Sun selling drugs in Ruili. He always presented himself as a teacher in Ruili, a law-abiding role model, with no connection to drugs.
That's what makes him terrifying; he uses his legitimate identity as a cover for his wicked deeds.
I said: "Senior, are you sure you'll be alright here alone? Should I have Qiangzi stay with you?"
Senior: "You all go back, don't worry about me. Keep a close eye on Wu Guodong's line; don't relax on any link."
I said: "Then my companion and I will stay near the airport. Will you stay in the city, or with us?"
Senior: "Don't mind me here. You go ahead. I have plenty of places to stay. I'll find you in Ruili after I finish my business here."
With that, he walked a few steps forward, hailed a taxi, and left.
The Senior seemed very familiar with the provincial capital, acting as if he were home. He walked off without any hesitation.
We also hailed a taxi and told the driver to find a hotel near the airport.
The driver acknowledged and drove off.
In the car, I called Jing Lei and asked her to book us return tickets for tomorrow, as early as possible.
She agreed and said she would let me know when it was done.
After a while, Jing Lei called back, saying there was a red-eye flight and asking if I wanted to take it.
I said yes, that would save us finding a place to stay.
I then told the driver to go to the departure hall.
Red-eye flights are those that depart after midnight. Fortunately, our flight was short, just a matter of boarding and landing, and we could get a good night's sleep upon our return.
The airport was in the suburbs, about thirty kilometers outside the city, in a desolate area.
There were no airport expressways back then. The road to the airport was a dedicated lane, four lanes in total, with no median strip, only a yellow line separating the directions. This road was newly built, with almost no traffic.
Our car was like a lonely little boat, its headlights cutting through the night sky, speeding towards an endless darkness.
Suddenly, several beams of pure white light appeared from behind. These were car headlights, which was normal. The road was for everyone, and it was natural to see other cars.
However, our car was already fast, and these cars were even faster, closing the distance.
I said to Wen Siqiang: "The cars behind us are acting strangely."
Wen Siqiang, in the passenger seat, asked the driver: "Can you press the accelerator any harder?"
The driver didn't reply but stomped on the pedal. The car's front lifted, and it shot forward.
However, the lights behind us seemed unaffected, sticking close behind.
If it were Brother Hui's people, their cars' performance would be far superior to a taxi's. Even flooring the accelerator wouldn't be enough to shake them off.
I looked ahead; the airport was still not in sight, only endless darkness.
I told the driver to be ready to stop at any moment. If we couldn't shake them, we shouldn't wait for them to force us to stop. Instead of letting them act, we might be trapped in the car.
Since we couldn't escape, it was better to stop voluntarily, let them pass, and then make a plan.
The cars were getting closer. I glanced at the speedometer; it was around 160 kilometers per hour. For this small-engine taxi, it was the limit, and being caught was a matter of seconds.
Based on the beams of light, there were two cars behind us, flanking us from left and right. They had already taken up half a lane, and a little more and they could use their front bumpers to block us.
I said: "Prepare to slow down!"
Hearing my command, the driver instantly let go of the accelerator. The car slowed down abruptly. The two cars on either side couldn't brake in time and whizzed past us.
I said: "Create some distance. When they turn around, we'll speed away. Wen Siqiang, get the cash ready and pay the driver first."
Wen Siqiang responded by taking out several thousand yuan in cash from his bag and handing it to the driver. The driver accepted it without hesitation and put it in his pocket.
As expected, the two cars ahead, seeing us slow down, quickly turned around and accelerated towards us.
I said: "Driver, please, find a gap and drive through!"
The driver, as usual, didn't speak but shifted into gear and sped forward.
This time, the two cars approached side-by-side, driving in the middle, making it difficult to squeeze through the gaps on either side.
I asked the driver: "Can you make it through?"
The driver said: "I'd have to drive against traffic, and there are trees on the right. It's too dangerous."
I said: "Driver, safety comes first. If you're not confident, we'll get out and fight."
He said: "I'll try. If I can't make it in the end, I'll give up."
I agreed, telling him to judge for himself.
We were fighting, but there was no need for the driver to risk his life with us.
The cars in front were like snakes, weaving towards us.
I closed my eyes, realizing that trying to break through from that direction was meaningless now. They had no intention of leaving us an opening.
There wasn't much distance left, only a matter of seconds. The two cars were already upon us.
Just as we were about to have a head-on collision, the driver suddenly yanked the steering wheel. Instead of going against traffic, he swerved past the greenery on the shoulder of the road.
The two cars were too fast to brake and disappeared into the darkness.
I said: "Driver, thank you first. Let's push forward with more speed. If they catch up again, we'll get out and fight."
The driver said: "Hold on tight. It's only about ten more kilometers. Just one foot on the accelerator. Once we reach the airport area, they won't dare."
I said: "Alright, we're holding on. You drive with confidence."
The driver, true to his word, accelerated and disappeared into the night.
I faintly saw the cars behind turn around and their lights grow larger.
Earlier, when the driver suggested driving against traffic, the other side was surely expecting it and had blocked that route tightly, thus becoming careless on this side.
That's what allowed the driver to seize the opportunity.
The driver was quick-witted and, at the critical moment, risked his life to drive past on the right.