There was silence on the phone for a while, and then a voice burst out, "Fuck!"
There was a crackling sound over there, which sounded like mahjong. Chen Mingsheng said, "In Liu Wei's chess and card club?"
"No, you—" Wu Jianshan didn't seem to have reacted yet, he moved the stool, came to the side, and said, "Jiang Ming, is it really you?"
Chen Mingsheng took a deep breath and said, "Is it me that you can't tell?"
"You—fuck!" Wu Jianshan cursed again, "You're really not dead, I always thought they were wrong."
Chen Mingsheng said: "I'm not dead, you seem to be very displeased."
"Get out!" Wu Jianshan said, "Why did you hide before you died! Just wait, I'll call Brother Bai."
"Wait." Chen Mingsheng said, "Where are you now?"
Wu Jianshan said, "This is Liu Wei."
Chen Mingsheng said, "Then I'll go there now."
"Don't!" Wu Jianshan said, "What are you doing here, playing mahjong, just wait, I'll give you news soon."
After Wu Jianshan finished speaking, he hung up the phone without waiting for Chen Mingsheng to speak.
The driver glanced at Chen Mingsheng from the rearview mirror and said, "Where are you going?"
Chen Mingsheng said, "Let's drive to the city center first."
The driver pressed the meter and turned around.
Chen Mingsheng hadn't been here for more than a year, but now that he got off the plane, he didn't feel the slightest sense of strangeness, as if he just went out for a stroll.
There are trees planted on both sides of the road, which are still dense and full of vitality. Unlike over there, there are no green leaves now.
Perhaps, Chen Mingsheng thought, the only change this time is that he can compare. No matter what he sees or thinks of, he will unconsciously compare it with that side.
Chen Mingsheng put his arm on the frame of the car window, he couldn't help thinking about Yang Zhao.
What is she doing, it's already midnight, is she asleep
Did she call him... No, she probably didn't. Although the calling card had been broken and he had no way of judging, he still knew that Yang Zhao would not call him.
Because he told her not to contact her, and Yang Zhao would never break his promise.
Chen Mingsheng thought of Yang Zhao's last hug, and felt very depressed. He took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, took out one, and lit it.
Now, he told himself, was not the time to think about it.
When passing by an intersection, Chen Mingsheng's cell phone rang again, and he answered the call, it was Wu Jianshan.
"Ah Ming, brother Bai asked me to tell you, you go to Cuihu Hotel first tonight, and he will meet you in Mingdu tomorrow."
Chen Mingsheng said, "Is he in Kunming now?"
"Yes."
Chen Mingsheng said, "That's good."
"Oh, that's right." Wu Jianshan said, "He asked me to ask you if you still use your original bank account."
Chen Mingsheng glanced sideways at his travel bag. Before getting off the plane, Lao Xu gave him something, and there were the original mobile phone card and passbook in it.
This passbook is backed up in the police force.
Chen Mingsheng turned his eyes lightly and said, "No need, I'll give you a new account number, you can remember it."
"Okay, tell me."
Chen Mingsheng reported a series of new numbers, Wu Jianshan wrote them down and said, "Then I will give this number to Brother Bai."
Chen Mingsheng said, "Yes."
Putting down the phone, Chen Mingsheng said to the taxi driver, "Master, please go to Cuihu Hotel."
When we arrived at the hotel, it was already midnight.
Chen Mingsheng got out of the car with his bag in his hand, and walked into the hotel on crutches.
Green Lake Hotel is considered a good hotel in Kunming. Chen Mingsheng entered the lobby and came to the front desk.
There were two men on the night shift at the front desk. When they saw Chen Mingsheng, they said, "Sir, what do you need?"
Chen Mingsheng raised his head and glanced at the sign on the wall behind, showing the room price for tonight. He said, "Big bed room, is there any more?"
"Mr. Yes." The front desk clerk clicked on the computer products for a while, and said, "There are three big bed rooms."
Chen Mingsheng nodded, "Open one for me."
"OK, just a second."
The attitude of the waiter is very good, and the room is arranged quickly.
Chen Mingsheng took out a card and swiped it for a week. When the waiter asked him to sign, he looked at the more than 5,000 consumption records and didn't know what to think.
The room is spacious and clean, and there is a fruit plate on the table.
Chen Mingsheng dropped his bag and fell on the bed.
After a day of tossing, his head was a little heavy.
Chen Mingsheng turned over from the bed, and in a daze, he seemed to hear Yang Zhao's voice, in a flat tone, saying in his ear, "Remember to take a bath next time."
Chen Mingsheng turned over suddenly from the bed.
The room was empty, the tea table, TV, counter, and the glass vase on the small table were all safely in place.
Chen Mingsheng rubbed his face and got out of bed.
He was too lazy to reach for the crutches, so he put on his slippers, jumped a few times on one leg, and went to the bathroom.
He adjusted the water temperature to the coolest and washed his face.
Chen Mingsheng supported the sink and looked up into the mirror.
This man looks a little dark.
It's no wonder that Yang Zhao said he was like an old man.
Chen Mingsheng remembered that when he was at Yang Zhao's house, she said he looked good when he smiled. Chen Mingsheng tried to smile in the mirror, and then quickly turned his eyes away to stop making trouble.
He went back to the house and sorted out the items in the travel bag.
Two mobile phones, four bank cards, and one passbook.
Chen Mingsheng shook out two coats, a pair of trousers, a vest, a pair of underpants, and other scattered things and piled them on the bed.
The first thing he picked up was a silver savings card.
It was given to him by Yang Zhao before he left. The card looked very new, as if it had never been touched. He turned the card over and saw a small tape on the back, with six numbers written on it, 863942, without any rules at all, and Chen Mingsheng didn't know what it meant. But he still wrote down the string of numbers, then tore off the tape, and put the card in the innermost layer of the travel bag.
Then he took out another mobile phone and made a call.
When Lao Xu answered the phone, he was a little confused, apparently woken up from his sleep.
Chen Mingsheng said, "I'm here."
Old Xu: "Nonsense."
Chen Mingsheng laughed and said, "Are you asleep?"
Old Xu said it again sleepily, "... nonsense."
"Baiji will come to see me tomorrow."
"Hmm... um—?" Old Xu's voice turned a corner on the phone, and went from being flat to straight up. "Already connected?"
"Contacted."
"Where are you now?"
"Green Lake Hotel."
"..."
Chen Mingsheng leaned on the head of the bed and said, "What's wrong."
"Brat..."
Chen Mingsheng smiled and said, "Is the hard seat comfortable?"
He almost heard the sound of old Xu grinding his teeth through the phone. Chen Mingsheng stopped when he saw it, and said, "Okay, I won't tell you anymore. You can rest. I will contact you when I see Baiji tomorrow."
"Mingsheng." Old Xu said in a calm voice on the other end of the phone, "Remember, concentrate."
Chen Mingsheng said, "Don't worry."
When he hung up the phone, Chen Mingsheng glanced at his watch. He really wanted to call Yang Zhaoye, but it was already two o'clock, and he didn't want to disturb her rest.
Finally, Chen Mingsheng tidied up his things, threw his bag into the corner, and lay down on the bed to sleep.
After less than six hours of sleep, Chen Mingsheng woke up.
While he was having breakfast at the hotel, the phone rang.
It's Wu Jianshan.
"Hey, Jiang Ming, are you awake?"
"En." Chen Mingsheng took a bite of the steamed bun and said, "Brother Bai is here."
"It's almost there." Wu Jianshan said, "Come here directly."
"good."
This bar in Mingdu is owned by Baiji's wife Han Juan. It is located on Renmin East Road, Panlong District.
This is an underground bar. Chen Mingsheng pushed open the door of the bar and looked at the narrow stairs going all the way down. He held his cane in his hand and propped himself on the side wall to go down step by step.
Walking to the bottom, Chen Mingsheng saw that there were only two or three cleaning people in the bar hall. Mingdu Bar was open from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am, and there were no customers.
Chen Mingsheng walked inside with a cane.
The sweeping waiter saw him, looked him up and down, and said, "It's closed now, come tonight."
Chen Mingsheng looked down at the road and ignored him.
The waiter frowned and said, "I don't understand, I said now—"
"Brother Ming?" The bartender who was wiping glasses at the bar raised his head and stretched his neck to look this way, "Brother Ming!?" He recognized Chen Mingsheng, put the glass aside, and rushed over.
"Brother Ming is really you." He slapped the sweeping waiter on the head, "Damn it, you dare to shout at anyone, do you want to do it?"
The waiter obviously didn't realize that chasing a cripple was so much work, so he quickly lowered his head, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
The bartender smiled at Chen Mingsheng and said, "He's new."
Chen Mingsheng seemed to have a good relationship with this bartender. He patted his shoulder and said, "Ah Yan, long time no see."
When Ah Yan was called out like that, his eyes almost turned red. He was like a vicious dog and hugged Chen Mingsheng. Chen Mingsheng was almost knocked down by him. He supported him with one hand and said, "What are you doing?"
"Brother Ming!" Ah Yan howled, "They all said you were dead, so I knew you must be fine!"
Chen Mingsheng smiled and said, "How do you know that?"
"You are so lucky!" Ah Yan said, looking down at Chen Mingsheng's legs, and said, "Brother Ming, was it that time..."
Anyway, Bai Ji didn't arrive, and Chen Mingsheng was also idle when he was idle. He let go of his crutches, sat down on a sofa near him, and took a cigarette. Ah Yan was quick, and directly took out the lighter and lit it for Chen Mingsheng.
"Brother Ming, where have you been this year?"
Chen Mingsheng: "What are you asking?" He took a puff of cigarette and said, "I've been away for a year, how is it here?"
"Brother Ming." Ah Yan moved a stool over, turned to look at the waiter who was still watching, and cursed, "Go work over there!"
The waiter shrank his neck and left quickly.
Ah Yan turned his head, and whispered to Chen Mingsheng: "Brother Ming, you have been away for a year, and Liu Wei is in vain."
Chen Mingsheng said, "Really."
"Of course it is." Ah Yan said, "Now that you are back, this is him." As Ah Yan said, he stretched out his little finger with a look of disdain.
Chen Mingsheng sneered and blew on him.
At this time, there was a sound from the door. Chen Mingsheng turned his head and heard the sound of the door opening. Then there was the sound of unhurried footsteps, descending from the top of the stairs bit by bit.
When Chen Mingsheng saw a pair of white sneakers, he lowered his head and stubbed out the cigarette.
When he raised his head again, Bai Ji had already descended into the hall.
Bai Ji is forty-eight years old this year, with a medium build. His appearance is very gentle, and he even wears a pair of glasses. From the appearance, he doesn't look like a criminal at all, but more like a university teacher. He doesn't like formal clothes, he wears casual clothes every day, and he likes to wear white sneakers the most.
Bai Ji was followed by two or three people. Chen Mingsheng recognized Wu Jianshan, Liu Wei, and one he had never seen before.
As soon as Bai Ji came down, he saw Chen Mingsheng.
Chen Mingsheng stood up from the sofa and said, "Brother Bai."
Bai Ji's eyes were behind the silver glasses frame, with a little refinement, he looked Chen Mingsheng up and down, and then said clearly to the people behind him, "If you see it, let me tell you."
Wu Jianshan also saw Chen Mingsheng, and his eyes fell on Chen Mingsheng's lap.
"Jiang Ming, you..."
Bai Ji raised one hand, and Wu Jianshan closed his mouth.
"Come on, don't stand outside, let's go in." Bai Ji took the lead and entered the inner room. Chen Mingsheng followed him on crutches, and Wu Jianshan and others also followed into the house. Chen Mingsheng accidentally glanced at Liu Wei, Liu Wei rushed to him
The last person to enter the room closed the door behind his back.
"Turn on the light." Bai Ji said.
Chen Mingsheng entered the room and turned on the light. The room was very spacious, with several sofas in the middle and a table next to it. Bai Ji sat on the sofa, Liu Wei came over and asked, "Brother Bai, what would you like to eat?"
Bai Ji shook his shoulders and said, "Hot pot, it's been a bit cloudy these days, eat some hot pot to recharge your yang energy."
Liu Wei smiled and said, "Okay." He went outside to ask someone to prepare, and when he passed Chen Mingsheng, he glanced at Chen Mingsheng's legs calmly.
"Come on, Ah Ming." Bai Ji patted the seat beside him, and Chen Mingsheng sat down. Wu Jianshan and another person sat across from the sofa.
Bai Ji took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, took out two, and handed one to Chen Mingsheng.
"Thank you, Brother Bai." Chen Mingsheng took the cigarette, took out his lighter, and lit Baiji's cigarette first.
Bai Ji took a sip, and lay down on the sofa relaxedly, his eyes just met Wu Jianshan who was opposite him, with a slight smile behind his silver-rimmed glasses.
"What did I say?" Bai Ji flicked his cigarette and said, "I'll tell you, if he doesn't come out, there must be something wrong." The "he" Bai Ji was talking about was Chen Mingsheng, no surprise.
Bai Ji turned his head. He was thin, with his head tilted so slightly, the contours on his cheeks were particularly obvious.
"Ah Ming," Bai Ji said flatly, "You don't want to come back?"
Chen Mingsheng shook his head and said, "No." He looked at the ground in front of him, which was covered with a dark red carpet. "Brother Bai, I feel... a little tired."
"Tsk." Bai Ji turned his head quickly, sneered, and said, "I'm tired, you're tired when you're young." He tapped Chen Mingsheng's arm with his finger, leaned down, and said, "I just earned it." A few dollars, and you'll be tired." After he finished speaking, he grinned beside Chen Mingsheng, and Chen Mingsheng also lowered his head and smiled.
Bai Ji leaned back and said, "Ah Ming, it's just a lack of legs. What are you afraid of?" He looked at Chen Mingsheng and said slowly, "Do you not believe me?"
Bai Ji's eyes looked a little cold, Chen Mingsheng looked up, then lowered his head, and said, "No, Brother Bai, I believe you."
Bai Ji raised his hand, picked up the corner of Chen Mingsheng's clothes, looked inside and out, frowned and said, "Look at what you've made yourself into."
Chen Mingsheng lowered his head and did not speak.
Wu Jianshan said: "Jiang Ming, your matter is a bit out of place, no matter what, you have to tell us. It's nothing to leave without saying a word."
Chen Mingsheng nodded, "It's my fault."
"Ah Ming." Bai Ji smoked lightly and said, "How long have you been with me?"
Chen Mingsheng gritted his teeth unconsciously and said, "It's been eight years."
Bai Ji also seemed to be attracted by this long period of time. He looked at the slowly rising smoke, as if recalling it.
After a while, there was a knock on the door, and Wu Jianshan said something to come in. Two waiters outside pushed a small cart, and the small cart was filled with ingredients for hot pot.
Bai Ji lowered his hands, extinguished the cigarette in the ashtray, and said, "Come, come, let's eat first."