Chapter 223 Will You Take it or Not?
It's before 5 o'clock in the afternoon and there weren't many people at the food market. When Ayue drove to the gate of the market, it was empty.
I asked Mr. Cai to get off the car to buy several big black plastic bags, while I and Ayue stayed in the car.
When Mr. Cai came back, I took out 15 wads of dollar bills and put them in a plastic bag. Then I tied the bag and put a big plastic bag outside it. What's inside the bag can't be seen from the outside. It only looks heavy.
I didn't hurry to get off the bus. Instead, I asked Ayue to pull the car into the parking space on the side of the road and sat in the car waiting.
About ten minutes later, a car pulled up to the side of the road and a fat man got out and looked around.
"Let's go. Leave Nacha alone after you get off the car." I said to Ayue and Mr. Cai.
"OK." Ayue and Mr. Cai nodded and said. They then thrust their loaded guns into their waists and pushed open the door to get out.
With the plastic bag on my hand, I got out of the car and walked to the market. I glanced over my shoulder at Nacha.
Nacha saw us quickly and I gently lifted the black plastic bag and walked into the market without looking back.
This is to keep what we do from being seen, or even tracked and photographed, so that Nacha will not be reported.
Nacha is a smart guy and he should know what to do.
After walking into the market, I walked to the most remote row of stalls and took my time in front of a fruit stall to pick out the nice-looking Thai mangosteen.
Not long after, I saw Nacha in the same row of stalls where I was. He was also holding a black plastic bag, about the same size as mine, which is full of heavy things.
I put down the mangosteen and turned to walk toward him, looking around for any suspicious people.
Ayue and Mr. Cai are more professional. One of them looked behind and to the left, the other squinted slightly to the right and ahead.
"Tom, there is no suspicious people." Ayue said a moment later.
"OK."I said.
Then I walked up to Nacha.
We passed by each other without saying hello. At the same time, he took the black plastic bag from my hand, and I took the black plastic bag from his hand.
"Tom, nice to meet you." Nacha said in an apparently excited voice. Then, without looking back, he went to a fruit stand to pick fruit.
I didn't respond because we were already far away.
There were not many people in the market, and the stands around are above our waist, shielding others from seeing me exchange bags with Nacha.
I'm sure no one around noticed that we had changed the bags.
Even if Shaoping Gong sent someone to follow me and even if they knew we had changed the bags, they couldn't photograph it.
In other words, if Shaoping is resentful and he wants to report Nacha for taking bribes, he could find no evidence.
After skirting another row of stalls, I opened the plastic bag. Looking down, I saw a large bunch of yellow bananas, looking very attractive.
"Let's buy some jackfruit and mangosteen. I like them." I said to Ayue and Mr. Cai casually. Then I stopped in front of a fruit stand.
Because of the climate, there are many kinds of fruits in Thailand all year round.
Before I came to Thailand, I had only heard of mangosteen but never eaten it. Before I was imprisoned, the price of mangosteen is expensive in Shenghai. It costs at least five or six yuan and even ten yuan a jin. I couldn't afford to eat it. I also didn't eat it during the three years in prison.
After I came to Thailand, Wendy bought mangosteen when we went shopping. It's the first time I eat it. As a result, after tasting it, I fell in love with this smooth, sour, sweet and fragrant fruit.
I love the fragrant and sweet taste of it.
Besides, Wendy likes it very much. She said it's a white, expensive and beautiful fruit. The reason why she said it's white is that the pulp is white, while she said it's beautiful is because the combination of its carpels looks beautiful.
As for it's expensive...it's just because of its price. Of course the imported ones from Thailand are expensive, but domestically grown ones are much cheaper, which cost just a few yuan a jin.
I bought a jackfruit of about twenty jin and let Ayue carry it. Then I bought more than ten jin mangosteen and took them on my hand. Mr. Cai carried the bananas that Nacha had given us.
After taking the fruit out of the market and putting them into the car, we returned to the market and started to buy some food.
I bought a lot of meet, including shrimp, crabs, octopus, beef, mutton and chops.
Because it's a good day and it's time to celebrate.
Of course, I won't cook them at home with Ayue and Mr. Cai. It seems a little awkward for three men to make dinner and we can't finish all these food.
I was going to take the food to Bansha's bar. There is a kitchen in his bar and his chefs will help me cook them. We can drink while we wait to eat.
After putting all the food into the trunk and getting into the car, I took a look at bag. There are still dollar bills in it.
"Ayue, Mr. Cai, just take twenty thousand dollars as your reward." I said.
I took two wads of money in each hand and handed them to Ayue and Mr. Cai, who were sitting in the front.
Mr. Cai waved his hand hurriedly and said, "Tom, we can't take the money. Keep it for yourself."
"Yes." Ayue said, "Tom, you don't need to give money to us. Mingqiang Du pays us and we can get bonus when we go out for work. We are not short of money. Just keep it yourself."
"Cut the crap. Just take it. Don't worry, I have talked with Mingqiang. He said you can take the money and he will not punish you." I said.
"Tome, we can't take it."
"Really?"
"Er..."
"If you don't take it, you can go back to Mingqiang's side. There is no need for you to follow me." I said.
"Tom, that's not what we meant. We...ah..." Mr. Cai sighed helplessly and then met Ayue in the eyes.
Soon they both nodded slightly and took a wad of money at the same time.
"In that case, will take ten thousand dollars. Thank you, Tom."
"Don't mention it. Take twenty thousand dollars." I said.
"No, Tom, we can't take another ten thousand dollars."
"You're so wordy...." I said.
"Tom, we know one thing, that is, always remember who you are. Honesty makes us live longer. So, Tom, put away the rest money." Mr. Cai said.
After hearing that, I didn't insist asking them to take another ten thousand dollars. With a sigh, I put away the remaining twenty thousand dollars.
What Mr. Cai said is right. We should remember who we are. We should be sure of what we should take, what we shouldn't take and how much we should take.
They are professional in doing their job.
After I put the money away, I called Bansha. I knew he was in the bar and I asked Ayue to drive there.
Chapter 224 I Buried Him
On the way to the bar, I chatted casually with Ayue and Mr. Cai. "When you started working for Mingqiang Du?" I couldn't help but ask finally.
After hearing what I asked, Ayue, who is talkative, became silent. Mr. Cai, on the other hand, smiled calmly and said, "Tom, I, Ayue and several other brothers come from the Triangle Region."
"Oh?" I said in surprise. There are indeed many Chinese in that place. Several routed troops fled there after the war of liberation. They have been there for decades and they've been around for two or three generations.
Mingqiang's father is one of them. He is a military officer. He didn't want to grow drugs with those officers in the Triangle Region and took his men to the north of Thailand.
According to Mingqiang, there were more than 20 people who followed his father to the north, but they were hunted down and intercepted by complex forces in that region. In the end, only seven men survived to enter Thailand and were accepted by the local government.
It was because Mingqiang's father has the help of the seven men who had life or death experience that he was able to build a great business and eventually build a wealthy family.
But, because of this, there are several small families in the big family. After each of the men who followed Mingqiang's father get married and started their career, their descendants, without exception, devoted to the family business.
Over the years, it's inevitable that the younger generation of those seven men would have some disputes. Although no major incidents like internal strife have occurred, factionalism is becoming increasingly apparent. Except for kinship, there are a certain number of men recruited in each small family.
Of the seven men, only two are still alive. Thanks to their credit, seniority and lineages over the years, the two old men enjoyed great power and prestige in the family. They are almost as powerful as the new master of the family.
Moreover, both men are the biggest obstacle for Mingqiang to transform the business mode of the family.
In other words, both patriarchs opposed Mingqiang's decision to follow the righteous path.
One of them has been on Minghao Du's side. He gave both overt and covert support to Minghao. The other didn't like Minghao's behavior style nor supported Mingqiang's decision. He is a middle-of-the-roader.
What Mingqiang's doing now is trying to get the support of different factions with the family. At present, his approval rating is slightly higher that Minghao's. According to the overall strength of the team, his is stronger than Minghao's.
Now Mingqiang is trying to get the support of the middle-of-the-roader. If he can succeed, his strength can far outshine Minghao and he will not afraid of Minghao making troubles again.
Although Mingqiang is at the helm, the strength decides how much say people in their line of work have.
If he has no strong men or the absolute support of other small families, he would have been a figurehead or killed.
Mr. Cai turned around and saw that I was lost in thought. "Tom, what's wrong with you?" He asked.
My mind was pulled back. I smiled and said, "Nothing. You said you, Ayue and several other men come from Triangle Region. Did Mingqiang go there and take you here?" I asked.
Mr. Cai shook his head and said, "No, but you can say so. I, Ayue and several other men are orphans. You know, there is a lot of unrest and deaths. Our families were killed in factional fighting or turf wars. Mingqiang's father arranged for someone to adopt Chinese orphans there and then send those orphans to Chiang Rai. I was sent to Chiang Rai when I was six. I grew up with Ayue and several other men. When I was 16, Mingqiang asked us if we are willing to work for him. Those who are willing stay and those who are unwilling can leave. Mingqiang is ten years older than I am, and he was already taking over the family business. I knew what business the family is doing, and I have already prepared for it, so I followed Mingqiang without hesitation."
"Me too, but I was only about ten at that moment." Ayue said.
I was somewhat surprised. Mingqiang didn't tell me about these things. "That is to say, Mingqiang's father adopted orphans and raised them, and then these orphans became the most loyal followers of the family." I said.
"The reason that the Third Master adopted orphans is not to make them be his men." Mr. Cai shook his head and said, "The orphans he had adopted are the descendants of his former comrades-in-arms. In other words, he was raising children for his comrades who had died. There are many people who don't want to stay at Du family when they are grown up. The Third Master and Mingqiang didn't embarrass them. Instead, they gave them the freedom to make a living by themselves. They even gave them some money as travelling and living expenses. Several of them works in the government units and one even becomes a lawyer. By the way, I forgot to mention that the Third Master and Mingqiang send all the children they adopted to school. And even they don't ask those who leave Du family when they grow up to give the money for schooling back to them."
"Most of these people are very grateful. Those who earn money by working outside will give Third Master and Mingqiang some cash or gifts every holiday. Even those who work in the government units don't feel ashamed to talk their relationship with Du family. Of course, there are some ungrateful people. There has been no news from them since they left. A few years ago, one gave the secrets of Du family to the rival for money. Because of that, Du family lost two men and ship's goods." Mr. Cai said added.
When Mr. Cai said that, he snorted and shook his head.
"What happened to that man later?" I asked curiously.
Mr. Cai didn't answer, but turned to look at Ayue, who's driving.
"I buried him," Ayue said calmly, "We were good friends when we were little and so I buried him myself."
My heart suddenly became a little heavy.
Burying someone is no picnic, not physically, but mentally. Especially to bury the friend played with in childhood.
"Tom, in fact, Du family has never done anything offensive to God and reason," Mr. Cai said suddenly, "Except for what Minghao did these years."
"Du family only sells goods. It never touches the illegal things in the Triangle Region."
I couldn't help but said, "But that's also illegal."
After saying that, I was regretted. It's inappropriate to say that in front of Mr. Cai and Ayue."
In their hearts, Du family may already be their real family.
From what Mingqiang's father, also known as Third Master, did to the orphans, I know he is a very loyal and even righteous man.
Not everyone is willing to spend a large sum of money to adopt a group of orphans, send them to school, and let them to make their own choices when they grow up.
Mingqiang, who inherited his father's character, is doing the same things.
Chapter 225 Compensation from the Gongs
Mingqiang had never told me this before. When I first saw him in the prison, I thought he was a head of the underworld.
I never thought this aspect of him.
Perhaps that is why Mr. Cai likes to watch The Godfather.
In his eyes, Mingqiang's father was just like his Godfather, and Mingqiang was Godfather II, who he was following at the moment.
But I did say something true. No matter what the nature of Mingqiang and his father, and how many good things they had done, their family's businesses were illegal.
And I knew what they were reselling. At that complicated area, except for the drugs planted in the Triangle Area, weapons were the most profitable goods.
Of course, some consumer products such as cars and appliances were also their businesses, although not making big profits for them.
Reselling was a felony.
I thought Mr. Cai and Ayue would be dissatisfied with what I said. However, they looked quite calm, without any special action or expression.
Mr. Cai only gave me a faint smile and said, " You are right, Tom. We all know these businesses are illegal. But these businesses have lasted for decades of years, and are what this family of hundreds of persons are relying on. We are not able to stop them by willing."
"Mingqiang is slowly leading us to the right way, and we are willing to follow him. No one wants to be in high risk, like tying one's head to his waist belt. I believe he can do it. He has just made a deal with you, hasn't he?"
I nodded and also smiled, "Yes, he should have this capability. At that time, you will not have to hide the guns under the seats."
"Haha...like what you have said, Tom, we have done a lot of works on the two seats."
"They can be used to hide some other things in the future."
At the time of our chatting, Ayue stopped the car at the door of Kela Bar. From the car window, we could see a few young men with bare arms drinking together in the bar.
After getting off the car, I asked these young men to come out to move goods.
They all knew me and hurried to the car after hearing me.
Not for a while, those fruits and vegetables and ingredients were moved to the bar. I carried alone a plastic bag containing 0.15 million dollars and another travelling bag containing the rest 0.18 million dollars was carried by Mr. Cai. Considering we would stay at Bansha's bar for some time, we took the money out of the car for safety.
As soon as we entered the bar, Bansha go out from a room with a big smile. He gave a namaste to Mr. Cai, Ayue and me respectively.
"Why are you sending so many foods to me,Tom? I have everything here."
"We are going to have a celebration later. I fear your bar has not prepared enough, and I happened to pass by a food market. So I bought these foods."
"Celebrate what?" Bansha was a little puzzled.
"Look at this." I smiled and stuffed the plastic bag to him.
Bansha touched the bag to feel what is in it, and after feeling those stacks of things, he gawked, "Is this..., Tom?"
"Yes, you guess it. Let's talk in the room. By the way, let the cooks cook some food for me. I didn't have lunch today as I had my breakfast too late. I'm hungry now."
"No problem."
Bansha's face was full of suspicion and expectation. He held that bag to the door of the kitchen quickly to told the cooks.
Soon after that, he took Mr. Cai, Ayue and me to the biggest room of the few private rooms in his bar.
Upon the door closed, he opened the bag immediately and stared at the money in it.
He was deeply shocked by these stacks of dollars, although he had ever received hundreds of Thai Baht from Wenhuai Cao and Zhengwen Gong.
"What do you mean, Tom?" he frowned and asked after recovering from the shock.
I took out the cigarette case and gave him a cigarette. Then I said with a smile, ' This is what the Gongs compensate us."
"This is given by the Gongs?" Bansha felt more confused, "How will the Gongs give compensation to us...no, they just give to you."
"Yes, they gave me a lot, too. This 0.15 million US dollars is what I asked them to give you. Zhengrong Gong could not be caught that night without you.
Bansha blinked, "But why would they give money?"
"Because they want to make Zhengrong Gong out. They asked many people and found that I was the only one could help them. So they had to give the money. Speaking of it, the Gongs have spent more than 10 millions RMB this time. Perhaps even more."
"Do you mean that they gave you money because they asked you do things for them, and you asked them for another piece of money for me?" Bansha still frowned.
"Exactly."
"How can this go?" Bansha shook his head hastily, "Tom, this is what you should get for doing things for them. You have experienced a lot of fights and risks. I can't take your money."
"Don't worry, I have also got the part of mine, which is more than yours. This part is what I specially asked for you."
"But..."
"Not another word. I remember you didn't hesitate receiving the money from Wenhuai Cao and Zhengwen Gong. Why are you so sentimental now?"
"No, I'm not sentimental, because you are different from them, and..."
"OK, OK. I told you this is for you, so it is for you. Stop saying more and put this money away quickly."
Then I didn't put attention on him and went to sit at the sofa with the other two persons.
After being entangled for a while, Bansha finally thanked me seriously and took the money to the outside, saying to save the money in the safe.
After thinking for a moment, I took out my phone and called Mingqiang, asking if he was in Chiangmai and wanted to have a meal with us.
Coincidentally, Mingqiang was right in Chiangmai. Due to cooperation affairs with Tong'an, he frequently ran between Chiangmai and Chiang Rai these days. He would live in Chiangmai for two or three days and went back to Chiang Rai, and would went to Chiangmai again a few days later. These two places were near to each other, so he didn't need to drive long.
Hearing that I got Shaoping Gong's money and would celebrate it at Bansha's bar, Mingqiang unhesitatingly said he would come soon, as he was also wanting to have someone to eat with him at that time.
About 10 minutes later, Mingqiang arrived at the bar with three of his followers, who I had also seen before. Especially one of them had been in prison with Mingqiang and had fought intensively with me in the prison.
Bansha hung a plate of "Break" on the door of the bar. Except for Mingqiang and me and the persons coming with us, only few of his followers were permitted to enter the bar.
In addition, he dedicatedly found some beautiful young women to the bar. Two Ethnic Chinese women, two foreign women and more than 20 local Thai women.
All the women had a pretty face and a good figure. Among them, there were two women who I had seen a few times before and had actively seduced me. One was pure and shy and the other was sexy and hot.