Chapter 4 (19) Cracks in Cooperation

  When Zhu Mei'er went downstairs, she had a sense of collapse, perhaps with a tragic sadness like the fallen flowers and the flowing water without emotion. A woman was stubbornly supporting this small empire, in which she had the highest power to kill or spare. Such a woman is admired by many people, yet she is also so lonely and sad. But since she was 16 years old, when that bastard blew "your eyes" in front of her, Zhu Mei'er's fate had already been decided, no matter how hard she struggled, just like today's sunset being shrouded in mist and falling into darkness...

  Zhu Meier walked past the corridor mirror, stopped and looked at the stunning beauty in the mirror, carefully staring into her eyes. Who can wipe away the mist from her eyes and let those bright and beautiful eyes see the light of day again?

  Zhu Meier suddenly felt a little resentful towards herself. If it wasn't for this beautiful appearance, she wouldn't have met him. If she hadn't met him, she wouldn't have escaped to here. But... if she hadn't escaped to here, how would she have seen Peng Haoming?

  Zhu Meier looked at herself in the mirror with a complicated mood, is it still possible to fight against the fate's trickery?

  "Mei Jie, Mei Jie, are you there?" The sound of Lin Chao Kun's voice came from the stairs, interrupting Zhu Mei Er's chaotic thoughts.

  "What's wrong?" Zhu Meier adjusted her emotions and responded coldly.

  "What you entrusted has been done." Lin Chaokun replied respectfully.

  "I understand." Zhu Meier responded with a sentence, walking down the stairs. Wang Licheng saw Zhu Meier and immediately stood up straight with his hands hanging down, not daring to breathe loudly along with Cong Zai.

  "Let them prepare too." Zhu Meier said to Lin Chaokun, ignoring Wang Licheng, and left first with the mercenaries.

  "What... are we supposed to prepare?" Wang Licheng said to Lin Chaokun after seeing Zhu Meier walk away.

  "Get your life ready." Lin Chaokun replied stiffly and left them in the villa.

  Wang Licheng's heart suddenly sank, his forehead sweating profusely, and he felt a pang of regret. The money hadn't been earned, but his life was now in someone else's hands - the feeling was indeed unbearable. If only he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have run away with Wang Licheng to this godforsaken place; being caught by the police back home would have been a better fate!

  "Is Liu Zi your person?" Lin Chaokun saw Wang Licheng's trembling appearance, and the grievance he received from Zhu Meier immediately shifted to him, and he came up with a sentence that was neither clear nor ambiguous.

  "What? Liu Zi? He... he..." Wang Licheng originally wanted to deny it, but if he was found out, that would be even more troublesome. After weighing the pros and cons, he decided to tell the truth: "He's my man."

  "King Licheng, how can Zhu Jie trust you so much? What have you done?" Lin Chaokun snorted, and King Licheng trembled: "Liu Zi... he was caught by the police?"

  "In two days, you'll know." Lin Chaokun felt that for now, it's better not to let him know too much, but more importantly, seeing Wang Licheng's timid and uncertain expression, always wondering what would happen next, gave him a sense of satisfaction. Although he only needed one sentence to set him free, he wouldn't do so.

  Zhu Meier seemed to be treating herself the same way, and Lin Chaokun felt a wave of sorrow in his heart! He looked at Wang Licheng and Cong Zai with disgust, and when he went out, he said harshly to the hired soldiers at the door: "If they want to run, kill them without mercy!"

  "Yes sir!" The mercenary replied, pulling the bolt back with a clang, which really gave Wang Licheng and Cong Zai another fright.

  "Brother Sheng... what's going on? What should we do?" Cong Zai asked Wang Licheng with a tear-stained face.

  "I'll go ask Peng Haoming." Wang Licheng also had no idea at this time.

  "He can't even protect himself, let's think of a way to escape!" Wang Licheng slapped him in the face, "Where are you going to run? There are real guns and mercenaries all around us!"

  "It's better to be beaten to death than to wait for death here..." Cong Zai muttered, crying with a swollen cheek.

  "How can you die? You won't die." Peng Haoming appeared at the corner of the stairs, looking at them performing below, and said lightly.

  Peng Haoming's words undoubtedly gave Wang Licheng and Cong Zai a shot in the arm, and Wang Licheng eagerly asked: "Brother Ming, what did Zhu Jie talk to you about?"

  "Don't worry, she won't kill us. Just wait patiently for arrangements to be made for you." Peng Haoming said as he went downstairs.

  Wang Licheng wanted to ask more questions, but Peng Haoming seemed not to care about him. He walked to the door and instructed the mercenaries outside in English: "I'm hungry, get me something to eat, 70% cooked beef, a strawberry jam toast, hot, fast, and a bottle of red wine, thank you."

  Peng Haoming's order was simple and direct, as if these mercenaries were his own men. The mercenaries looked at Peng Haoming in surprise, and he added another sentence: "Hurry up! Thank you!"

  The mercenary reluctantly picked up the intercom and repeated what Peng Haoming wanted, and soon the servant brought a tray of food to the villa, even adding a roasted chicken.

  Weng guessed downstairs just in time, and had a meal with Peng Haoming. However, Peng Haoming didn't mean to invite Wang Licheng, so Wang Licheng and Cong Zai felt a bit awkward. His stomach growled and he said to Peng Haoming: "Brother Ming, can you also help us order one?"

  Peng Haoming savored the chicken wings, nodding his mouth towards the door, meaning he would take care of it himself.

  Wang Licheng also walked to the front door, but his English was really too poor. He stuttered and said in broken Chinese mixed with English: "I want a... roasted chicken... and roast duck... what's the work of roast duck? And is there wine? And... rice... buns are okay too... food, food, uand? I'm hungry, hurry up! Thank you!"

  The mercenaries at the door looked at Wang Licheng in confusion, not understanding what he was trying to say after a long time. The impatient mercenary pushed Wang Licheng into the villa: "Shut up! Get the hell out of here!"

  Wang Licheng started to feel sorry for his English teacher, thinking that at a critical moment, not speaking a foreign language could be life-saving, or at least fill his stomach. He looked at Peng Haoming with embarrassment as he ate quickly and contentedly. Peng Haoming slowly said, "When asking for help, call me Brother Ming, but behind my back, you call me Peng Haoming. Wang Licheng, things aren't done this way."

  "Ming Ge... Ming Ge, I was wrong." Wang Licheng also knew how to behave himself, and he deeply understood the principle that one had to bow their head when under someone else's roof.

  "It's good to lean on a big tree for shade, Wang Licheng, you'd better find one." Wang Licheng pushed the remaining half of the roasted chicken over, and the extremely hungry Cong Zai was still very clever at this time, quickly taking it.

  Wang Licheng ate while pondering Peng Haoming's words - was this Peng Haoming already in cahoots with Zhu Meier? But then he thought about dumping himself? No way! Absolutely can't let them dump him! Once he loses his usefulness, the outcome for him will absolutely not be good!

  At this moment, Wang Licheng wants to hold onto Peng Haoming's thigh tightly. No matter what he and Zhu Meier discussed, at least Zhu Meier's attitude towards the two of them is like chalk and cheese. Seeking benefits and avoiding harm is human nature. Wang Licheng feels that he needs to find an opportunity to talk to Peng Haoming before he sets out to do things for Zhu Meier.

  At night, Peng Haoming was still sitting in front of the window sill, looking at the night sky among the mountains. The door was knocked, mixed with Wang Licheng's voice: "Brother Ming, are you there?"

  "Come on in." Peng Haoming probably knew what he was going to do.

  "Brother Ming, aren't you sleeping so late?" Small talk was unavoidable, even though it was still quite early by the clock.

  "It's still early, take a seat." Peng Haoming also said politely.

  "Ming Ge, what kind of medicine is this Black Widow actually selling?" Wang Licheng asked straightforwardly, seeing that Peng Haoming's mood seemed not bad.

  "How would I know?" Peng Haoming spread his hands.

  "A few days ago when she came to me alone, she asked me to help her with something." Wang Licheng said with a hint of mystery, leaning in towards Peng Haoming: "Just now, the middleman mentioned to me that Sixzi is my person."

  "Oh? Then how did you answer?" Peng Haoming also found it a bit strange.

  Seeing Peng Haoming's interest piqued, Wang Licheng continued: "They told me not to tell you, but I thought about it and since Brother Ming said we're all in this together, of course we should be open and honest."

  Peng Haoming sneered inwardly, thinking that if he weren't a lifesaving straw, Wang Licheng wouldn't be so eager.

  "What did she say to you?" Peng Haoming continued to ask.

  "Hey, without saying much, I was asked to deliver a batch of goods and then wait. Wang Licheng sighed and hesitantly asked: "Ming Ge, do you think there's something fishy going on behind this?"

  "Didn't you tell me where to pick up the goods? Who's receiving them?" Peng Haoming's interest was now genuinely piqued.

  "I really didn't say that." Wang Licheng shook his head, looking like he wasn't trying to deceive Peng Haoming: "I'm also puzzled, logically speaking, if I were to deliver the goods, they should have given me a contact person or something. Moreover, I lost so much of her merchandise, and yet she didn't ask any questions, just told me to deliver... I just can't figure out this matter, Brother Ming, what did you discuss with her when you talked?"

  This made Peng Haoming somewhat difficult to answer, Zhu Meier and himself had not discussed anything in particular, as for letting himself help bring that chemist, Peng Haoming felt it was unnecessary to let Wang Licheng know, so he evaded saying: "I just talked with her about the channel."

  "Did she agree?" Wang Licheng was somewhat skeptical.

  "I'm saying that the channels under your control haven't been fully utilized yet. If they were, making one or two hundred million a year wouldn't be a problem. Think about it, a woman like her, hiding in these mountains for what? Isn't it all about money? As long as there's enough profit to be made, she won't hesitate." Peng Haoming continued to ramble on, following his own train of thought.

  "That's right, that's right, who in this world doesn't live for money." Wang Licheng chuckled, but secretly cursed in his heart. This Peng Haoming was bragging too much and didn't care about his audience. Relying on himself to sell one or two billion a year... unless Wang Licheng was the Monkey King, he couldn't possibly produce that much.

  Wang Licheng's channels are not non-existent, but none of them can be considered good channels. It is possible to take risks and get a few hundred million yuan in goods per year, one or two billion... At least Wang Licheng doesn't dare think about it now.

  "What? You're telling me that your channels are very wide?" Peng Haoming took a look at Wang Licheng's expression and knew he didn't have such great abilities, so he decided to scare him: "I've vouched for you, if you can't do it, we'll die together!"

  "This... Ming Ge, you know, something big just happened, I need some time to sort out the channels..." Wang Licheng couldn't say he didn't have the ability, for now, he just had to save his life. Later things would work out when they came to it! In a moment of inspiration, he changed the subject: "Speaking of which, Hei Guafu is really beautiful."

  "What's your idea?" Peng Haoming said with a smile.

  "Ming Ge, I think she seems to have a thing for you. Why don't we find an opportunity... to trick her out? Hmm? Ming Ge, with your skills, it shouldn't be difficult." Wang Licheng came up with a despicable idea, and when people are desperate to save their lives, all sorts of strange thoughts can emerge.

  Peng Haoming was speechless with laughter, this Wang Licheng really opened up his mind, and he could think of such absurd things. He turned the topic back: "Wang Licheng, let's not talk about how much you can do in a year, I've spent a lot of effort to persuade Sister Zhu for you, and the goods you lost will be deducted from future profits. To put it another way, I've invested a lot of money in you, 35 million yuan guarantee deposit, if you have any tricks, I'll be the first to let you go."

  "I was just joking, Brother Ming, don't mind it, rest assured, I, Wang Licheng, won't let you down." Wang Licheng quickly changed the subject when he saw Peng Haoming getting a bit annoyed.

  "It's best this way, I think you won't forget our share ratio?" Peng Haoming didn't want to continue the conversation with him.

  "Remember, remember, I'm three and you're seven."

  "Even close brothers should settle accounts clearly. We are brothers, but business is business. I don't want us to become enemies in the future." Peng Haoming followed up with this sentence.

  "That's for sure, but Zhu Jie said I should deliver the goods..."

  "I have to make Zhu sister think that we still have some use value... This is the opportunity I've fought for you." Although Peng Hao Ming didn't know why Zhu Mei Er was doing this, but after making it up like this, it seemed to be the case.

  "Brother Ming! You should have said so earlier, I've been worried for so long!" Wang Licheng thought about it and felt that Peng Haoming was right. At least Peng Haoming had brought 35 million over, while he himself had only brought his life, which didn't even have any utilitarian value to offer to Zhu Meier's family.

  "Are you two having a good chat?" Lin Chaokun was standing at the door of the house, but he didn't know when he had arrived.

  "Come in and sit down." Peng Haoming seemed to think it was very normal.

  "Take him away." Lin Chaokun ignored Peng Haoming's courtesy, waved his hand, and two mercenaries came in, pointed at Wang Licheng, and Wang Licheng immediately stood up and followed them out the door.

  "My little brother, you'd better watch out, he's cost me a lot of money." Peng Haoming said this, and the words made Wang Licheng feel at ease.

  "You may not understand your situation yet, Mei Jie sometimes gets confused, but I'm not confused." Lin Chaokun threw out a sentence in a calm tone.

  "I have a cooperative relationship with Mei Jie, you have an employment relationship with Mei Jie, I think there is still a big difference between us." Peng Haoming also calmly retorted.

  "Well then, I wish you a pleasant cooperation with Mei Jie." Lin Chaokun did not want to conflict with Peng Haoming for the time being.

  "No need to see me off!" Peng Haoming made a gesture, indicating that there was no need to send him off.

  Lin Chaokun's words reminded Peng Haoming that he was not just a simple middleman on the surface, but had an unclear and complicated relationship with Zhu Meier. Now, Lin Chaokun has already regarded himself as an enemy...

  Peng Haoming sat back in the chair by the window, looking out at the scenery outside. He was just a person who wanted to make a lot of money quietly and peacefully, so how did he get dragged into this complicated whirlpool?

  A wave of drowsiness came over him, Peng Haoming locked the door, lay down on the bed and fell fast asleep...

  A patch of grass, Peng Haoming struggled to crawl forward. He looked back at his feet in confusion, they were perfectly fine and attached to his body, but somehow had no strength. After a moment's thought, he continued to crawl forward, when suddenly someone appeared beside him. A man stood with his head bowed, staring at Peng Haoming without saying a word. Peng Haoming lifted his head, but couldn't see the man's face clearly, only sensing his scorn.

  Peng Haoming looked around again, and in the rain mist, a residual sun slowly fell on the mountain line over there, just like what he saw in front of the window today. He was confused and raised his head to look at the person beside him, and was startled. It was clearly Zhu Meier! Zhu Meier had a gentle expression, stretched out her hand towards him, Peng Haoming didn't know what happened, wanted to pull out his gun, but the handgun on his waist couldn't be pulled out...

  Peng Haoming woke up from his nightmare again, drenched in sweat. He looked at the clock and saw that it was 1 o'clock midnight...