Chapter 442 - 388: Being Followed?

Greed, like a giant python emerging from the abyss, always seeks to drag people into the depths of sin.

Brother Dabiao was not a good person.

But in the end, he gave up his evil thoughts.

It wasn't kindness that led him to give up.

He was no saint.

He just felt that the person before him was not to be messed with.

In the end, he still took out the note, hesitating as he passed it over.

Song Heping snatched the IOU from his hand, glanced at it then handed it to Lao Gao, "Is this the one?"

Lao Gao looked at it, his hands trembling, feeling as if he were in a dream.

Song Heping seemed to have fallen from the sky, suddenly appearing.

He had never imagined that his old classmate would be the one to reach out and pull him back from the brink of the abyss when he was at his lowest.

"Yes, that's the one."

Looking at the familiar signature, looking at the bright red fingerprint, Lao Gao still felt like he was dreaming.

"Alright, we're even now."

Song Heping turned to Brother Dabiao, "You can go now."

With the money in place, Brother Dabiao was in good spirits.

He stood up and, surrounded by his lackeys, left the office. Amidst a chorus of "Boss" and fawning laughter, showing his teeth but not his eyes, he ordered his men to book several tables at the city's most luxurious Manlouxiang Hotel that evening for a proper celebration.

Watching Brother Dabiao's retreating figure disappear outside the door, and then surveying the chaos around him, Lao Gao's gaze finally settled on his old classmate, Song Heping. He collapsed to the ground once again, clutching Song's legs, crying his eyes out.

He wanted to say something.

He wanted to explain why he had fallen so low.

He wanted to say he wasn't lazy, nor was he not trying hard enough; he was just unlucky.

He wanted to say he would work like an ox or a horse to repay the money.

He wanted to say…

There was too much he wanted to say.

In the end, it all turned into a man's tears, melted into a simple sentence.

"Heping... I... I'm in such a tough spot..."

"Enough, there's gold beneath a man's knees; get up quick!"

Song Heping lifted Lao Gao from the floor like one might lift a chicken.

What was there to explain?

Who, with hair on his head, would choose to be a leper?

Over the years, Song Heping had his fair share of ups and downs while abroad, facing all kinds of lows.

Two years ago, standing by the roadside outside Illigo City, when he saw Ah Guan already burned to a skeleton in the driver's seat, Tan Pudgy blown up into a tree by an IED, looking at the generator set carrying all his possessions that was bombed into a mess of holes, wasn't his despair akin to Lao Gao's today?

When Song Heping walked Lao Gao out of the company and locked the front door, Xu Pudgy slinked over from the side.

"Is it settled!?"

He hardly believed his own eyes.

"I saw Brother Dabiao and his crew leave, and I was just about to go up and see what was happening."

"It's all taken care of." Song Heping said, "Let's go, find a place for us old classmates to sit, have a meal."

Lao Gao stood to the side, overly timid, bowing his head like a cock spared from the chopping block, not daring to make a sound.

Xu Pudgy, on the other hand, was excited, "Great! Let's go back to our county town, to the Garbage Pig's food stall, eat some roasted goose! It's on me!"

Garbage Pig was the owner of a food stall in the county town. Because his surname was Zhu and he was fat, his food stall had been a roadside stand for many years. Located in a less desirable part of the Old Town, many people criticized the hygiene, but it remained popular because it was tasty and affordable, customers never ceased, and no one seemed to care much about cleanliness.

Back in their high school days, Garbage Pig's was the most upscale place they could afford and profoundly desired.

Two hours later, at the Garbage Pig's food stall in the county town.

The three found a corner spot to sit down, surrounded by the greasy-aproned owner with a greasy menu to take their orders.

After ordering seven or eight dishes, Xu Pudgy pulled out a bottle of Wuliangye he'd brought from home.

"This bottle of liquor was given to me last year when I saved quite a bit of money helping someone buy a good car. Good thing I kept it, so today, I guess I'm offering Buddha a borrowed flower."

As he spoke, he poured three glasses.

"Heping, you really made it big overseas!"

Xu Pudgy was the first to take a sip, uttering a soulful exclamation.

Song Heping had learned of the two million that saved Lao Gao.

Song Heping mumbled, "My boss has money; it's all his money."

Those words were not wrong.

Currently, the US Army was his company's biggest client, his boss, and the money indeed came from the US Army—the world's number one in military spending, definitely wealthy.

Lao Gao, worriedly said, "Heping, you didn't embezzle public funds, did you?"

Song Heping reassured him, "Don't worry. Oh, by the way, there's a project that's just come up, do you want to take it on? I think it's quite suited for you."

"How much is the contract for?" Lao Gao asked.

Song Heping countered, "Now that you've paid off Brother Dabiao, how much do you still owe the bank?"

"Actually, there's still about ten million in the bank, and they've seized my company's equipment, machinery, and the hotel. With the legal process of auctioning them, the hole can be filled. If worse comes to worst, I'll just start over," Lao Gao said. "The real pressure in my heart is the high-interest loans. I thought I could recover some of the construction funds from other provinces before last week, enough to cover the gap. To my surprise, not only did I fail to retrieve the money, but the moment I returned, they cornered me in my company..."

Thinking of this, Lao Gao then remembered those two million.

So dark, truly dark!

"It's just... they caused you to lose so much money, but actually, they don't dare do anything to me, it's just intimidation. Without your involvement, they can't touch me."

Xu Pudgy, who was listening on the side, couldn't help but interject, "You're talking nonsense. Brother Dabiao's crew is the darkest. Everyone in An City knows that. You're not afraid to die, but what about your wife and children?"

Song Heping inquired with interest, "Is Brother Dabiao really that powerful? I hadn't heard of him before I joined the military."

Xu Pudgy explained, "He rose to power after you were in the military. It's said that Dabiao went to Macau when he was young and started as a worker in a gambling house. After making some money, he came back here, cleaned up his act, and opened an entertainment city. Actually, I've heard he runs an underground casino and also lends money at high interest rates. Quite a few bosses have fallen into his hands..."

Song Heping nodded, feeling more informed.

"Alright, enough about him. Lao Gao, would you be interested and capable of undertaking a contract in South America, constructing a large military academy and a one-kilometer-long airplane runway plus five simple hangars?"

Upon hearing this, Lao Gao, who was holding a glass of liquor, became so shocked that he couldn't even bring the glass to his lips.

"Heping, you're not joking with me, are you? South America? Building a military academy?"

"That's right, Venezuela, constructing a military academy. If you dare to take it on and have the capability, I'll have the general planning and blueprints sent over from overseas. You can then estimate the construction costs."

"Is it a government project?"

Lao Gao looked quite uneasy.

The reason for his fear was due to the government project he'd worked on in another region. Collections for such projects were very uncertain—sometimes quick, and other times suddenly dried up, requiring waiting. The worst was during leadership changes or even disputes that could occur.

Song Heping reassured him, "It's not a government project, it's a private military academy. I know the owner; he asked me to find a construction team back here because the construction period is extremely tight. The military in Venezuela could handle the construction equipment, but I need an experienced construction team that can complete the work within three months."

"Three months?" Lao Gao hesitated, "For a large military academy, that's not possible."

Song Heping inquired, "How about just the airplane runway for now? One kilometer long, plus at least two hangars?"

Lao Gao laughed, "Ah, a one-kilometer runway? That's simple, no problem, and the hangars are no issue either."

Song Heping continued, "The military academy will expand gradually, but the initial investment is ten million US dollars. Are you willing to take the contract?"

Ten million US dollars, which is about eighty million RMB.

That's not a small sum!

"I'll take it!"

Without a second thought, Lao Gao practically screamed on the spot.

"But... I don't have the money..."

"Don't worry about money. I'll handle it. It's not an advance-payment project. The owner is generous. When entering the site, you'll get the first installment for purchasing materials. If there are any difficulties, the client can coordinate to solve them. Just focus on the construction and building, and the client wants it done quickly!"

"Money makes things easier!" Lao Gao said, "I'll take it! Such projects are hard to find even with a lantern! Just give me some startup funds, and I'll immediately settle the workers' unpaid salaries. I have over two hundred skilled workers under me, and once there, I can hire some local laborers. Not to mention a month, I can secure the runway within two months!"

"Good!"

Song Heping stated, "You start preparing tomorrow. How much do you need to resolve the issue of unpaid wages?"

"500,000!" Lao Gao said.

Song Heping downed his glass of Wuliangye, "Okay, I'll arrange it. Lao Gao, this is your only chance to turn things around, cherish it well."

"Old classmate..." Lao Gao's lips trembled with emotion, "What good deeds did I do in my past life to have met you? This is more than timely aid... you're giving me a new lease on life!"

Song Heping cut him off, "Enough, I don't like to hear such grateful talk. I just need someone who can get the job done. I must remind you, Lao Gao, if you take this on, you need to do it well without causing any trouble. The client is no ordinary person; it's a PMC company."

"PMC company?"

"Hmm, also known as a Defense Company. It operates military contracts in Illigo, with a few hundred mercenaries under them. If you don't do the job well, they really might shoot you..."

These words sent a chill down Lao Gao's spine, leaving him feeling completely deflated.

Seeing that he was frightened, Song Heping teased, "What? Got cold feet? If you're scared, don't take the contract."

"I'll take it!"

Lao Gao tilted his head back and drained his glass. A flush rose to his cheeks.

"Mercenaries aren't so frightening! Three months, I'll definitely get it done!"

By midnight, Song Heping had taken a taxi back to the hotel in the city center.

He couldn't return home just yet. The house in the village was completed, but he hadn't moved in yet, and he didn't even have the keys on him.

He planned to call his brother and sister tomorrow to ask them to come home during the holiday to handle the housewarming, which wasn't a hassle. Money could make the arrangements, and he only needed to issue invitations in the village. He didn't have many close friends here. Not wanting to disturb his comrades, some retired, some still serving; in his line of work, everyone was wary of causing trouble for others.

His hotel was the most luxurious in An City, called the Galaxy Hotel. Song Heping wasn't interested in its luxury but chose it because the rooms had internet cables, which he needed for online access.

After checking in at the front desk and heading to his room, Song Heping habitually checked every corner of the room before walking to the window and slightly lifting a corner to observe the scene below.

Inspecting surroundings had almost become an occupational habit for him.

Soon enough, he noticed something unusual.

A black SUV, Mitsubishi-made, was parked in the hotel's parking lot.

Song Heping retrieved a compact telescope from his backpack and peered down at the car.

When the license plate came into view, Song Heping's brows knitted together slightly.

He realized he might be under surveillance.

This car, he had seen it four times already today, at different locations, including near Lao Gao's company, the trashy pork rib stall, and when he took a ride back after dinner with his old classmates. The car had followed all the way here.

And now, coincidentally, there it was in the Galaxy Hotel's parking lot again.

"Could it be the domestic security departments?"

He muttered to himself within his heart.

If that was the case, it might complicate matters.