Courtyard House: Railway Police at the Start

Chapter 15: The Entangling Person

The sun rises in the east, and the first rays of dawn appear.

Andong Station has become lively, with shouts and calls from people holding up signs to pick up passengers forming a concerto.

After the group put down their luggage at the guesthouse, Lu Zhang instructed them as he left, "Go have breakfast first. If you're tired after eating, come back to the guesthouse to rest. If you're going out to buy things, hurry up. You lead the team and keep an eye on things. We need to regroup and return to the team before 3 p.m.

People like Tang Zhenghong don't have to pay for staying in guesthouses, but if they want to take a bath or get a scrub, they have to find a bathhouse themselves and pay for it.

"Captain, aren't you coming with us for breakfast?"

"Don't worry about me, I'm going to catch up with my colleagues from the Andong Public Security Bureau."

Without the captain's serious face, Tang Zhenghong and the others were like birds released from their cages, free to roam.

Zou Yishui and Huo Chong had explored Andong many times, and they skillfully led Tang Zhenghong through the streets and alleys.

"Brothers, what's the plan? I'm at your service. What kind of delicious food do you have in Anton? I'll treat you two to thank you for taking care of me."

Zou Yishui scooped up a basin of water, washed himself haphazardly, dried himself with a towel, and patted his face comfortably: "Save your two coins. If anyone's going to treat, it'll be me, the older brother, treating. It's not your turn. Let's go find a place to fill our stomachs first, then go to the bathhouse for a nice soak, and then head to the morning market over here. They sell Yalu River carp, which can still be stored this season. We can take a few back with us."

He then pulled out a piece of paper with a list of things to bring this time: "See? These are all things you need to help bring. Of course, we can't do this for nothing. Add a dollar or two when you issue the receipt as a tip, no one can say anything about it, but we can't be too ostentatious, understand?"

Tang Zhenghong was surprised to find that there were already influencers selling products online these days, and nodded to indicate that he understood.

"Hey, that hits the nail on the head. But it's fine between us guys in private, but we can't say things like that outside."

Steel rolling mill.

"March, that's the price. Only my brother is honest enough to buy a used one. Otherwise, you should keep this bicycle for yourself. These days, who wants to buy a used one when they can afford it? It's like marrying a wife—would you want to marry a second-hand one?"

Ma Qi chuckled nonchalantly: "Of course I'm happy to, Xu Xiang. You know how it is. This secondhand one saves a lot of steps. She knows to change positions as soon as you pat her butt. Other things require getting used to, which is so boring."

Xu Damao was amused. If there weren't so many people in the factory, he would have definitely had a good chat with them.

"I know you're in a hurry for money, so I didn't offer any random price. This is my last offer, 68 yuan, as a treat for you to have a drink. If it still doesn't work out, then forget it. I'll try to persuade my brother to buy a new one later."

March really needs money. When he was on a winning streak, a bicycle was nothing to him. But now, he's truly in dire straits. The debtors are pressing him for repayment, and he's still a long way from his paycheck. He has no choice but to grit his teeth and sell it.

"70, I'm giving you face. In the past, I wouldn't even bother to argue over such a small amount of money."

"Okay, let's get this straight: you can only pay me after the registration is complete."

Bicycles also need to be registered and licensed, and the registration must be changed when they are sold secondhand.

March glared at me, looking displeased: "I may be a scoundrel, but I paid for this bicycle myself; it's brand new, I didn't steal it from somewhere. You can rest assured about that."

"Okay, I'll ride the bike back first. Consider this twenty yuan a deposit. We'll settle the balance when the owner comes back and completes the formalities, is that alright?"

March looked suspicious: "Let me make this clear first, this deposit is non-refundable. If you end up with a car stuck in your hands, don't blame me for being ruthless."

"Don't worry about that. My brother isn't that kind of person. He won't put me in a difficult position and ruin things if he asks me to help him find out how to handle this."

"Tch, I don't really trust the people in your compound anyway, you know what's going on."

After paying the deposit, Xu Damao rode his bicycle back to the courtyard.

Yan Bugui had no classes in the afternoon, so he sneaked away and is now fiddling with his broken fishing rod.

Besides Xu Damao, no one else in the compound has a bicycle. Since the steel mill isn't far away and nobody needs one for long trips, buying a bicycle would be a waste.

"Uncle, you're leaving early again? Planning to go fishing?"

Yan Bugui was waiting for the reward Xu Damao had promised after the last meeting in the institute, so he wasn't angry.

"Hey, Da Mao's back. I don't have classes this afternoon, so this doesn't count as leaving early."

Suddenly his eyes narrowed, he dropped his fishing rod, ran forward, grabbed the handlebars, and looked the bike up and down, asking, "Wow, I just noticed, you changed to a bicycle? Are you projectionists in high demand?"

"You guessed wrong, this bicycle belongs to Ren Zhenghong. How about it, Uncle San, not bad condition, right?"

"Zhenghong's? I've never heard of him buying a bicycle. This is really nice, a Forever brand, it looks almost new."

Hearing Yan Bugui's praise, Xu Damao said smugly, "Before Zheng Hong left, he asked me to find him an old bicycle, saying it would be convenient to go back to Hongxingzhuang. Here I am, I bought it for seventy yuan. Tell me, was it worth it?"

"Seventy? That's a great deal! You haven't been riding it for very long, the tires look brand new."

"Of course, Brother Zheng Hong really has to thank me this time. He really hit the jackpot. He's only ridden that bicycle for less than a year. It's just that he was short of money and in a hurry to sell it. Otherwise, he really wouldn't have come across such a good thing."

Yan Bugui carefully touched the car, clearly tempted. His eyes darted around and he said, "Da Mao, how about we give this car to Third Uncle first? I'll add two mao."

Everyone in the courtyard knew Yan Bugui's personality. Xu Damao asked skeptically, "Third Uncle, would you really be willing to buy a bicycle?"

"Sigh, I can manage to buy it if I grit my teeth and squeeze it out. Then I won't have to walk to the fishing spot anymore, which would have taken an hour to get there and back. How about it, Da Mao? Anyway, Zheng Hong isn't home, so you can sell it to me first. I'll go back inside and get the money for you. I'll pay you fifty dollars and two cents upfront, and I'll pay you back the rest when I get my salary this month."

There are too many anglers at Shichahai, and the fish are all very clever, so it's hard to find a good spot. With a bicycle, he can go to places like the Yongding River.

"That won't do. I promised Zheng Hong first, and he's already paid in full."

Tang Zhenghong didn't give Xu Damao a single cent, but Xu Damao was thinking of currying favor with him. He knew he would need Tang Zhenghong's help to bring back local specialties from other places to help him advance his career. Besides, it was not worth it for Old Man Yan to be so stingy with just two cents. He even had to pay twenty yuan out of his own pocket first. Where could he go to complain about this?

Yan Bugui thought the money wasn't enough, so he gritted his teeth and stomped his foot: "Add another three mao, that's five mao now, Da Mao."

Xu Damao almost collapsed. He had just thought that Yan Bugui was going to make a tough decision and offer a price that would even tempt him. No wonder he was the third uncle in the courtyard.

"If that doesn't work, but if you really want to buy it, I'll keep an eye out for you later. I'm heading back now."

After saying that, Xu Damao quickly slipped away. Yan Bugui was sometimes more clingy than a woman, and he couldn't stand the other's nagging.