Trafford's Trading Club

“Thanks for sending me here.”

At Luo Qiu’s home yard’s back door, Dazhe stopped and shook his head, letting Luo Qiu stop accompanying him.

At this time, Luo Qiu took out a key instead and gave it to Dazhe, “Take this one. The next time you are back, don’t climb the wall.”

Dazhe was taken aback, surprised, “You give it to me? Do you really believe in someone like me?”

Seeing that Dazhe did not immediately take it, Luo Qiu inserted the key into the lock of the back door, and then walked out straight from the back door, “I’ll see if I can help over there.”

The key was just there. He could grasp it with his hand.

Dazhe was silent for a moment, and finally took the key away. He closed the door carefully when he left.

…

Dazhe already made an appointment with Big Head today.

“This Xiao Yucheng has not looked for me since yesterday. I heard his nanny say that he still stays in the house and hasn’t gone out… Brother Zhe, aren’t you overly sensitive?” Big Head said while he ate the fried noodles at the food stall at the next village entrance.

“Big Head, how long have you been with Xiao Yucheng?”

“Um… more than three years?” Big Head thought for a moment. “Almost four years. This world is not easy to mingle in. Brother Zhe, those first few years when you were in jail, the country and the government all started to crack down on illegal activities… Since the incident of Sang Kun, the old uncles of the past have had a hard time. Now, the glory of the past is over. You have to follow the procedures for everything. Those who are officials are even more sinister than us. But, we have no choice. To survive, we can only rely on these people. These days, those like Xiao Yucheng, who have networking with officials and can get formal licenses, will do well. We are just runners.”

“Let’s not talk about these.” Dazhe shook his head.

He was not wholly out of touch with the outside world, and the situation in the current society was evident in his head, “Big Head, can you tell me what is Xiao Yucheng’s intention when he looked for me this time?”

“What else? It’s about the demolition of a project in the South District. A boss looked for Xiao Yucheng and let him take care of it.”

Big Head lowered his voice and said, “Isn’t it to find someone to scare those who don’t want to sign? There are a few households in the Southern District who are particularly stubborn. This Xiao Yucheng intends to find someone to play some tricks. Of course, for now, they are not going to kill anyone, but to use snakes, mice, or something, and then set something on fire… You do understand, right?”

“Arson? Does he dare to do this now?” Dazhe sneered. “Xiao Yucheng told me that he could get me out in about a year.”

“You don’t know!” Big Head secretly said. “I heard from the nanny in Xiao Yucheng’s family… Hehe, my girl said this is what she overheard… She heard his eldest brother-in-law is the police district chief who is recently transferred here last year! If Xiao Yucheng wants to fish someone [1], as long as it is not a capital crime, he can fish the person out! Besides, if he can fish one out, it proves that he has the ability. Well, I’m not surprised that he said that he can get you out early. After all, he has this ability. When the rumors are out, there will be more big bosses looking for him to work.”

“I really don’t know this.” Dazhe frowned, wondering what he was thinking.

“Anyway, since the new district chief took office, Xiao Yucheng’s courage has grown immensely.” Big Head shrugged and said. “Otherwise, do you think you will still be asked to take the blame for all those child’s play, such as drunk driving, quarreling, and hurting people like previously?”

“I want to go to a place,” said Dazhe sternly.

“Oh, okay, I have no work anyway. Where do you want to go?”

“Go to the nursing home.” Dazhe sighed. “Go and visit the elder, Lord Jin.”

…

“President Xiao, what do you want to eat for lunch? I’ll go buy it now.”

Xiao Yucheng sat on the sofa of his villa…having just woken up. It was only past nine o’clock. Faced with this question from the babysitter at home, Xiao Yucheng said calmly, “No, I will have lunch at noon. Go ahead with your work.”

The babysitter nodded.

At this moment, Xiao Yucheng’s phone rang. Xiao Yucheng took a look, then stood up. He took the phone, walked out of the living room, the courtyard outside the villa, and closed the living room’s glass door before answering.

“Is everything done?” Xiao Yucheng asked immediately.

On the other side of the phone, “I’m sorry, President Xiao. Some buddies lost their way… I’m in Village Dafeng right now, and I’m rushing back.”

Xiao Yucheng was taken aback, “Lost their way? How can they get lost?”

“This…we don’t know this. Last night, we clearly drove to the road to the village. This route is not wrong. But, something seems amiss when we drove around. We went around for a long time, and finally, it’s dawn. To hell with it! I took a detour to Village Dafeng.”

“Do you eat shit?” Xiao Yucheng cursed. “Village Dafeng is in the North District, while Village Luo is in the West District. You can go around even though separated by so many hills? And why do you only tell me now?”

“Yes, yes, it is our bad. President Xiao, don’t be angry! We are afraid that you are not awake, afraid of waking you up… But, we are going back there now. It’s now broad daylight. Surely, we won’t be lost!”

“Don’t… you don’t! Please don’t mess around. Ah!” said Xiao Yucheng solemnly. “If you want to go, go at night. It’s broad daylight. Are you looking for trouble?”

“Got it, got it!”

Xiao Yucheng hung up his phone and began to look at his yard – This kind of industry was through hard work. In this dog eat dog society, those who were compassionate would find it hard to climb up – The reason why he could rise to where he was now was his ruthless means apart from some connections.

Xiao Yucheng felt vaguely uneasy these days. He inexplicably remembered the look when Dazhe stared at him, like a purebred Tibetan mastiff, giving him a chill from the bottom of his heart.

In front of Dazhe, his toughness was like a sandcastle, which was instantly destroyed. Under Dazhe’s sullen gaze, Xiao Yucheng felt like an impotent man.

His self-esteem built up over the years was thwarted, making Xiao Yucheng feel even more uncomfortable.

Times were different, but he was still frightened by such an outdated and over-the-hill little bastard for a whole day. Was that not a joke if this were known to the outside?

At this time, Xiao Yucheng did not think of anything else at all. Just like a proud tiger with its tail trampled on, he wanted to establish his authority and teach this Dazhe, who did not know what was good for him a profound lesson. Let Dazhe know that he, Xiao Yucheng let him work out of his pity and respect for Dazhe.

As for the South District case, it was not that only Dazhe could do the job. But, at this moment, Xiao Yucheng had a twisted wish to make Dazhe submit to him. He wanted Dazhe to become weak and in pain. He wanted Dazhe to finish this task no matter how hard Dazhe struggled… Finally, he would dispose Dazhe like an expendable chess piece without a thought or a care.

When he thought of this, Xiao Yucheng was delighted… He liked the wonderful feeling of being able to manipulate other people’s lives.

Just then, the phone rang again. Xiao Yucheng glanced at the name on the caller ID and frowned subconsciously.

“Why is this old guy looking for me…?”

Xiao Yucheng murmured, but he still got on the phone, “Hey! Old man Lord Jin! What’s so special today that you call me? Just pass the word, and I will be over to visit you at once!”

“Little Xiao, it’s like this. There is one thing…”

…

It was described as a nursing home, but it was not any ordinary home. Instead, it was a place where you could only enter at a high price. Every resident here had their own independent space – much like a small residence villa.

Big Head sat a little nervously now, but Dazhe sitting next to him seemed much more relaxed.

At this time, an old man with white hair and in strong spirit walked in from outside the guest courtyard, smiled, and said, “Dazhe.”

Dazhe stood up quickly and walked in front of the old man, helped him sit down, ” Lord Jin, what seems to be the matter?”

“I have spoken to this Xiao Yucheng.” The old man… Lord Jin said calmly. “I will come out and give you a reconciliation banquet. It’s tonight. You guys have a good chat.”

“Lord Jin, thank you.” Dazhe seemed relieved.

“Why are you so polite with me, this old man?” Jin Ye smiled and said. “I can still pull this old face a bit. If it is before, will this little brat Xiao Yucheng dare to ask me to arrange for reconciliation banquet?”

“True!” Big Head quickly said. “Back then, Lord Jin, everyone was afraid of your reputation!”

“This Big Head.” Jin Ye pointed to Big Head and shook his head, amused. “You don’t have any other skills. This boot-licking broken mouth of yours won’t work either. I really don’t know how you can get to where you are now.”

Big Head scratched his head awkwardly.

Lord Jin suddenly looked at Dazhe and said, “Dazhe, come with me to the temple. I have something to talk to you alone. Big Head, you go buy some food and come back at noon. Make something delicious here.”

“Okay!” Big Head quickly stood up. “I’m going now!”

…

There was a Guanyin statue in the center of the Buddha hall. The light blue futon in front of the Buddha’s prayer altar looked unusually simple. The incense burner was burning with sandalwood.

“Lord Jin, what’s the matter?”

After coming in, Lord Jin did not say anything. He just asked Dazhe to add incense to Guanyin Statue on the prayer altar, saying that he should be sincere.

“Dazhe, have you encountered something recently?” Lord Jin asked with a solemn look at Dazhe at this time.

Dazhe was taken aback and hesitated, “Lord Jin, I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

“I’m talking about the… sinister entity that is entangled with you.” Jin Ye sighed, and the Buddha beads bracelet held in his hand kept turning.

[1] fish someone – Beijing idiom means to get someone out of prison