720 Pain Was not the Worst Thing (1/2)
They just did whatever they wanted and were eccentric and unreasonable. They had bullied a lot of people around them, but nobody dared to complain.
”Dengzhou's economics has developed rapidly in the last few years, especially the real estate market,” Li Chengwei said. ”The government has made huge compensations to demolish old apartments. However, not everyone wants to move out of an old unit and accept the compensation. Hong Nan and Hong Wen used to help the local government to make those people move out of their old units. They made a lot of money by doing that. They even started to build up their own business in transportation, money lending, and debt collection. They knew people in the local government as well as from the gangs. I also heard one of their cousins is a senior public servant in Beijing.”
Not everything Li Chengwei said was new to Wang Yao.
”Of the two brothers, Hong Wen is a lunatic, and Hong Nan is a psychopath,” Li Chengwei added.
”Really?” Wang Yao asked.
”I heard from many people that Hong Wen is crazy,” Li Chengwei said. ”He becomes very violent when he is mad. Hong Nan is a weird person, and he is very moody. On one occasion, he had a guy's limbs chopped because the guy spat at him on the street.”
”How ridiculous,” Wang Yao said.
”Yeah, so no one in Dengzhou dares to complain about them. By the way, Hao, have they offended you?” Li Chengwei asked.
”Yes,” Hao said.
”Well, you've got to be careful,” Li Chengwei said. ”But, I think you'll be fine. After all, you are in Dao and with Mr. Sun, who is one of the most powerful people in Dao.”
”Yeah, and I won't involve you in this,” Hao said.
”That's fine. I'm not afraid of them,” Li Chengwei said. ”If you hadn't saved me years ago, I would have already been stabbed to death.”
”Where is their company?” Hao asked.
”In Fushan district,” Li Chengwei said.
”Dr. Wang?” Hao turned his head to look at Wang Yao.
”Let's go and have a look there,” Wang Yao said.
”OK, take us there,” Hao said.
”Sure,” Li Chengwei said.
”Wait, shall we change to a car? Your vehicle will attract too much attention.” Wang Yao pointed to the BMW X5 parked outside.
”Yeah, OK,” Li Chengwei said.
He drove Wang Yao and Hao to Fushan district that night.
”Dengzhou has changed a lot in recent years,” Hao said.
”Yes, I guess you haven't been here for a long time,” Li Chengwei said.
”Yes,” Hao said.
Although Dengzhou was very close to Dao, Hao had not had a chance to visit Dengzhou. He passed the place several times.
”Are you from Dengzhou?” Wang Yao asked.
”My grandma is from Dengzhou,” Hao said. ”I lived here for over 10 years when I was young. I'm sort of half from Dengzhou.”
In fact, he used to be a gangster in Dengzhou and gained some reputation. He eventually met Sun Zhengrong by chance and was highly regarded by him. Therefore, he decided to work for Sun Zhengrong, which had made it difficult to return to Dengzhou.
The car stopped outside a building about 40 minutes later. There was a sign on the gate of the building. It said Wen Nan Trading Company.
The building was four stories tall. Outside the building there was a big yard that was used as a car park. The lights were still on inside the building. Wang Yao and Hao could vaguely hear people talking inside.
”Wait here. I'll go inside to take a look,” Wang Yao said.
”Shall I go with you?” Hao asked.
”No need. I'll be fine,” Wang Yao said.
Li Chengwei pulled the car over. Wang Yao got out of the car. With one hop, he was right next to the building.
”Oh my god! Hao, I think I might have a problem with my vision!” Li Chengwei rubbed his eyes hard. By the time he looked through the window of the car again, Wang Yao was out of his sight. He wondered if Wang Yao was a supernatural being.
”No, Dr. Wang is a Kung Fu master,” Hao said.
He was not too surprised about Wang Yao's move since he had witnessed Wang Yao's astonishing Kung Fu skills when he was in the village. At that critical moment when he and Sun Zhengrong's men were almost killed by their enemies, Wang Yao saved them. It was just too easy for him to beat their enemies. Like what that old guy Huang said, Wang Yao was a living god on earth.
The wall outside the building was dozens of feet tall. For Wang Yao, it was nothing. He hopped over the wall easily and landed without any sound.
Woof! There was a wolf dog in the yard who sensed Wang Yao. He barked to alert people in the building.
”Shush!” Wang Yao went in front of the dog and stared at it.
”Whoo!” The dog mumbled softly and then lied on the ground on his stomach with his tail down. It was as if Wang Yao was a fierce tiger from the forest.
”Hey, what's the noise outside?” a man in the office asked.
There were four half naked men in the office. They were playing mahjong. One of them looked through the window.
”Is there a visitor?” the man asked.
”Who would come this time of the day? Did the dog stop barking?” his co-worker asked.
”Hmm, you are right,” the man said.
”Maybe it was just a rat,” his co-worker said.
Wang Yao walked into the building from the front entrance by himself.
Crack! It was the sound of the door opening.
”Two circle,” a man said.
”Hey, did you hear someone opening the front door?” one of the four men asked.
”No,” his co-worker said.
”I'll go to take a look. Hey, don't sneak peek my blocks,” the man said.
The light on the ceiling was still on in the lobby of the ground level. The glass door to the lobby was shut. It was completely dark outside. No one was in the lobby.