They were helping the Vietnase n leave when the shop owner ca out and started shouting at them.
He was probably upset that they had made a ss of his shop and damaged so things, and was demanding compensation.
Gu’er took out so US Dollars and gave them to the owner. The owner initially thought it wasn’t enough, but when Dingzi simply stood there and stared at him, he grumbled a few words resentfully and fell silent.
Gu’er didn’t think she had underpaid him, either. ’This shop is in a remote location, and Vietnase are always coming here to cause trouble for the Chinese, like they’re collecting protection money. The owner must know about it, but he never says or does anything. He’s lucky to get any compensation at all.’
’Sigh... We didn’t manage to buy a single thing today, and we’re out several hundred dollars. Now we have to take these guys to the hospital. What rotten luck.’
The four of them finally managed to get the Vietnase n to a hospital.
While the doctors rushed to provide ergency treatnt, Gu’er and the others went to pay the hospital fees.
After paying the fees, Gu’er and the others sat outside to wait.
"This is ridiculous. We beat them up, and now we have to take them to the hospital."
Qu Shui grumbled.
’He’s right, this is ridiculous. We beat them up, and now we’re taking them to the hospital. But if we hadn’t fought back, we would have been the ones getting beaten. We fought them, only for them to be nearly killed by another group of Vietnase, and then we’re the ones who brought them here. Ultimately, we just couldn’t watch them die in front of us. A life is a life, after all.’
’Still,’ Gu’er thought, ’we did save them. Even if we can’t get them to work for us, they owe us their lives. They probably won’t try to rob us again.’
"They used to be soldiers. They ca here because they couldn’t survive back ho," Dingzi said. "They’re ruthless, but they have a code. They’ll keep their word."
He didn’t like the Vietnase, but as a forr soldier himself, he would never stoop to robbing people. He admired their fighting spirit. He understood n like them, which was why he had chosen to save them.
Gu’er nodded. She understood. Perhaps Dingzi saw a kindred spirit in them.
"What did you say to them earlier, Brother Dingzi?"
Gu’er was quite curious.
Dingzi was silent for a mont.
"I told them that from now on, they are to stay away from any place we are. It doesn’t matter if I’m with you or not—if they see you or Li Zhi, they are absolutely forbidden from making a move. He finally agreed."
It was rare for Dingzi to say so much at once. He didn’t tell them the whole story, though. The man had asked if he was a forr soldier, and Dingzi had said yes. It was only then that the man had agreed, saying he admired his skills. Dingzi didn’t feel the need to ntion all that.
Gu’er and Li Zhi exchanged a look. It was more or less what they had figured.
They waited for a long ti. Only after the doctor finished surgery and told them that the n were seriously injured and would need to be hospitalized for a while—but that they were in good shape and their lives were not in danger—did Gu’er and the others finally leave.
"I’ll cover today’s expenses,"
Dingzi offered on the way back.
"Brother Dingzi, we’re a team."
Gu’er said, and Dingzi looked at her.
"Yeah, we’re a team. What nonsense are you talking?"
Li Zhi added, wincing. The corner of his lip was split, and he had a couple of bruises on his face and several more on his body. A few spots still ached dully, but he knew it was nothing serious.
Dingzi nodded without saying anything more, but he took their words to heart. From now on, in this business, the three of them were a team.
That night, Gu’er lay in bed, unable to sleep. The day’s events had left a deep impression on her.
’You could make money here, there were opportunities, but it was also dangerous. If Dingzi hadn’t been there today, even with both her and Li Zhi, they definitely would have gotten the worst of it.’
’A mighty dragon can’t crush a local snake. We’re outsiders trying to do business here. Incidents like this will happen again. While we’re making money, we have to be able to guarantee our safety.’
’Besides, Gu’er rembered that in just a few years—three or four, maybe—the Soviet Union would collapse. Russia would be established, and the two years during the transition would be utter chaos. The Ruble would beco worthless, and robberies would be rampant. Gu’er couldn’t even imagine what that era would be like.’
’That ant she had to make as much money as possible over the next few years and establish a shop here. Then, when the collapse ca, she could stop if she had to and shift her focus back to China.’
’If these Vietnase could be put to use, she should use them. Having them around would save a lot of trouble.’
’But she couldn’t force them. If it didn’t work out, she’d just have to hire people in the future.’
’And before the Soviet Union collapsed, they absolutely could not be left holding Rubles, or they’d be wiped out.’
As these thoughts ran through her mind, Gu’er slowly drifted off to sleep.
The next day, after heading out, they made a trip to the hospital. They bought so food and went to check on the Vietnase n.
The Vietnase n were all conscious. In the room, their leader and one other man were lying in bed, while a third was looking after them. They watched Gu’er’s group approach but didn’t say anything.
"Let them rest. Let’s go, we still have to buy our goods."
Seeing that they were all right, Gu’er didn’t want to stay any longer.
Li Zhi and Dingzi nodded.
Just as they reached the door, one of the n suddenly called out. When Gu’er and the others turned around, he spoke a long stream of words, his expression grave.
Gu’er looked at Dingzi, as she had no idea what the man was saying.
Dingzi replied with a few words. The Vietnase leader spoke again, and Dingzi nodded at him as the two conversed.
After finishing his conversation with the Vietnase man, Dingzi turned to Gu’er and Li Zhi. "He said he agrees. From now on, he can work for us."
Gu’er raised an eyebrow. ’But didn’t he refuse the other day? He said he’d rather die than agree. Why the change of heart?’
"He said his na is Ruan Huang Wen Bin. He said that we didn’t take advantage of them when they were in trouble. Instead, we saved them and even paid their hospital bills. He says we’re honorable people, and he’s willing to be our friend."
Dingzi translated for the two of them.
Gu’er understood. That day, instead of forcing the issue, they had taken them to the hospital and paid their bills. That had earned them the n’s respect.
"But," Dingzi continued, "he said they don’t want to be tied down. They’ll help us, but they don’t want us managing their day-to-day lives. They can guarantee our safety here, and they can also help us procure and sell goods."
Dingzi relayed their conditions.
"That’s fine."
Gu’er nodded. ’That’s perfectly fine. It’s not like we’d be micromanaging them anyway. I can’t stay here all the ti, so it’s better if they’re independent.’
Li Zhi nodded as well. He also understood what winning over these Vietnase n ant. It was like gaining a whole crew of enforcers.
Seeing that they both agreed, Dingzi turned back to talk with the Vietnase man.
A mont later, Dingzi turned back to them. "It’s settled."
"Let’s go."
Gu’er felt a weight lift from her shoulders. Even though she had spent so money, she had gained a few capable n. She felt it was well worth the price.
But just as they took a step to leave, the other Vietnase man in the bed called out to them.
————————————
User Comments
0 comments from readers