The demoness helped me deal with the big beggar, certainly not out of any good intentions. She was just using me to serve her, to be her lackey, and to keep me from getting impulsive and ruining her plans.
She harbored no good will towards me, and I didn't wish for any.
I told Wen Siqiang, "Keep a close eye on things for me. It'd be best if you could gather some evidence."
I gave him five hundred yuan. I figured the kid was either addicted to gambling or drugs. He'd gone through the nearly two thousand he'd snatched from me last time in half a day.
He didn't stand on ceremony, taking the money and leaving.
Once people have greed, their weaknesses are exposed, making them easy to exploit.
I went upstairs and opened the door to my room, and was startled. Xiao Hong was dancing in the center of the room, her back to me, dancing with abandon. She didn't even hear me come in.
Afraid of startling her, I coughed outside the door. She stopped, saw it was me, and happily ran over, asking if I'd eaten lunch.
The Chinese way of greeting is always "Have you eaten?" No matter the occasion, it's always that phrase. Of course, you can't ask that in a public restroom; you'd get hit.
I later analyzed that perhaps it's because we humans have struggled with hunger for thousands of years. Being able to eat, to be full, is the greatest happiness. So this greeting also carries our thousands of years of culture.
I asked her if she had eaten. She said she hadn't, having come straight here as soon as she got up, and had waited for me for several hours.
I hadn't expected her to come. Otherwise, I would have bought food on the way back. I said, "Let me take you out to eat, or you'll starve."
She followed me out, and we found a rice noodle shop where she ate a bowl of rice noodles. I said, "Since we're out, do you want to buy anything? Clothes, shoes, daily necessities, anything. I'll buy them for you."
She said, "I want to buy a longer coat. It's a bit cool at night. But I have my own money, I don't need you to buy it."
I said, "Just pick out the clothes, don't worry about anything else."
She couldn't refuse me and went with me to the commercial street.
She looked in several places, but either they were too expensive or didn't fit. I told her not to look at the price, just find something suitable. She wouldn't listen, insisting on finding something both cheap and suitable. As a result, we ran halfway down the street without finding anything.
Finally, we saw a suitable trench coat. The moment she saw the tag, she turned to leave. I called out to her, then firmly held her and made her try it on. It fit well, slimming her figure. Wearing it with high heels elevated her entire look by more than a notch. She walked a few steps in it nearby, attracting many sideways glances, but she quickly took it off, saying, "It's too expensive, let's forget it." She then walked forward.
Ignoring her, I had the sales assistant package it for me, paid, and then chased after her with the bag.
She complained, "It's so expensive, I can only wear it a few times, and I have to put it away for a year. It's not worth it."
I said, "Even if you wear it once, it's enough. Nice clothes can give women confidence. Listen to me, let's go buy a few more casual outfits. We'll change our whole wardrobe."
She seemed to take what I said to heart. Later, when buying things, she wasn't as stingy and happily picked out several items.
We returned to the room laden with bags. Xiao Hong happily unpacked her new clothes, trying them on repeatedly and walking around the room for me to see.
I lay on the bed, quietly watching her.
Xiao Hong had a small, round face with delicate features, large eyes, a small pout, a nose that was round but not flat, and tight skin that looked rosy even without makeup.
She was of medium height, slightly taller than average for girls, taller than Xiao Li and Xiao Lian. It was just that she had a baby face that made her seem younger.
In fact, she was older than both of them by months.
I watched her constantly change outfits, like a model on a runway.
Perhaps she got tired. She took off her clothes and walked over to me, curling up beside me like a kitten, nuzzling into my embrace.
I had to lie down and hold her. I stroked her small nose and plump ears. She was ticklish and shook her head, telling me to stop. I didn't release her, and she giggled. Her laughter was sweet, like a shy girl's.
At this moment, she was her true self, returned to her actual age.
I felt a vibration at my waist and quickly reached for my pager. It was from an unfamiliar number. I told Xiao Hong to rest for a while, and that I was going to make a call.
Xiao Hong nodded obediently. I helped her cover herself with the blanket and got up to go downstairs to find a phone booth.
I dialed the number. It was from Manager Chen. He said Old Myanmar would arrive the day after tomorrow and that I had to ensure Xiao Hong made no mistakes. If I embarrassed Old Myanmar again, Xiao Hong and I would face severe consequences.
I quickly assured him on the phone, repeatedly emphasizing that there would be no problems. Manager Chen then hung up.
The day after tomorrow. That meant they might be making the transaction then. So we could take action the day after tomorrow and catch them all! However, I had no idea where they would conduct the transaction or how. If they finished their transaction outside and returned without the stolen goods as evidence, it would all be for naught.
When Old Myanmar arrived wasn't the point. It wasn't the point that he wanted Xiao Hong to show up. The key was the transaction site!
Old Myanmar had many ways to cross the border. Drug transactions rarely used main roads or went through security checks. The border was long, with continuous mountains, hills, and rivers. Border residents on both sides had pre-existing relationships, even intermarriage. There were many country paths they could use to come over.
I called Lan Ya and asked where she was.
She said she was at the Grand World and asked what I needed. I told her Old Myanmar would arrive the day after tomorrow and that they should be prepared.
She said she understood and asked me to try and find out where they would be transacting in the next two days.
We were speaking in code that only we could understand. Although I didn't know if anyone was listening, it was better to be careful.
After the call, I bought some fruit and went back up. If Xiao Hong wanted to stay with me tonight, I'd let her come back with me. I couldn't let anything happen to her these next two days. Old Myanmar had specifically asked to see her; she was the key player.
I felt I had wronged Xiao Hong. She trusted me so much, yet I was using her, and in a very dangerous situation.
If Xiao Hong wanted to back out, I wouldn't say a word. I would gladly bear all the danger myself. But I couldn't replace her; only she could get close to that person.
When I returned, I saw Xiao Hong already fast asleep. A smile played on her lips; she must have been having a good dream to have such an innocent and pure smile.
I couldn't bear to wake her. The work tonight wasn't easy. Not only would I be plied with drinks, but if I encountered unreasonable people, there would be all sorts of humiliation. They were all inexperienced young girls. To suffer these things at such a young age was indeed a bit cruel.
The sky was beginning to darken. I had no choice but to wake her; it was almost time to go.
Xiao Hong was groggy from sleep. Seeing me sitting at the head of the bed, she crawled over and slept with her head on my lap until she finally woke up a while later. I said, "Wash up, eat something, and it will be time."
She obediently got out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash up. I took out the fruit and arranged it on the bedside table, waiting for her to eat.