Chapter 247: Personal Vendettas
Chen Shi said, “I’d never go to such a place! And were you caught for soliciting prostitution a few days ago, making me take the blame?”
Wang Daji patted Chen Shi’s shoulder, laughing, “Come on, man. We have certain needs, right? That day was just bad luck. I was just about to get it on when the cops burst in. I was so frustrated. Today, I’m going to let off some steam. No way I’ll be that unlucky again!”
“Can’t you be a bit more sensible? Stop getting into trouble everywhere!”
“Hey, Officer Song, you stole my identity, remember? Why should I listen to you? It’s my business if I want to kill or set fires!”
Chen Shi sighed, “I’ll give you money. Just leave Long’an.”
“Is that why you wanted to meet today? How much?”
“Fifty thousand.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“Five hundred thousand.”
“Add another zero, and I might consider it.”
“Five hundred thousand is all I have. Take it or leave it.”
“Haha!” Wang Daji laughed, slapping Chen Shi’s shoulder. “Officer Song, I really admired you when I was starting out. Now you’ve become me, and it feels like a dream, like I’ve become a detective. I don’t need your money. I made quite a bit selling drugs in the Golden Triangle these past years. Once I settle things here, I’m heading back.”
“What!?”
“Haha, look at your face! I’m just messing with you. Actually, I’ve been in Hunan collecting debts. By the way, you’re Chen Shi, and I’m Chen Shi. It’s a bit confusing, right? Call me by this name.” Wang Daji pulled out an ID card with his picture but the name Wang Daji.
Chen Shi raised an eyebrow, “You have two IDs and you used mine when you got caught for soliciting?”
“Of course, I wouldn’t use my real name for something so embarrassing… Right, Wang Daji is my real name now. I’ve had some troubles in the past; both the cops and the mob are after me.”
Chen Shi rubbed his aching forehead. What kind of person is this?
Wang Daji, brimming with excitement, said, “Come on, let’s go to Fortune House. The girls there are hot.”
“Get lost, I need to pick up my kid!”
“Oh, you have a kid? Your kid is my kid. Let’s go together!”
“Give me a contact number. I’ll find you later.”
“No need. Be at Fortune House at 8 PM. Don’t be late!” With that, Wang Daji left.
Chen Shi called after him, “Damn it, stop right there!” But Wang Daji was already gone.
Chen Shi went to pick up Tao Yueyue from school. Seeing his worried face, Tao Yueyue asked, “Uncle Chen, did you have a fight with Aunt Lin?”
“It’s more serious than that.”
“Oh… If it’s something you can’t talk about, I won’t ask.”
“Good girl! Yueyue, never lie. One lie often leads to countless others.”
“You adults always mess up and then lecture kids, right?”
“I never see you as just a kid.”
“Can I have junk food tonight?”
“No!”
Tao Yueyue made a funny face.
Chen Shi took Tao Yueyue home and warned her not to go out at night. Since learning that Zhou Xiao was back, Chen Shi had installed security systems and alarms at both his and Lin Dongxue’s places, just in case.
He drove to Fortune House Health Club. The street was filled with neon lights and nightlife spots. Chen Shi looked at the surveillance cameras on the wall and chose not to enter the building. He waited in the shadows for Wang Daji.
It was 8:30 PM when Wang Daji finally arrived with a bag. He smiled, “Am I on time?”
“Right on time, except for Beijing Time,” Chen Shi mocked.
“Here, change into these clothes.” Wang Daji pulled out a jacket identical to his from the bag.
“What are you up to?”
“Are you changing or not?”
“No!”
“Fine, I’ll go rob a convenience store, let the cameras catch my face, and see who the cops arrest.”
Chen Shi was exasperated and reluctantly changed into the clothes. Wang Daji stood next to him, shoulder to shoulder, smiling, “Not bad. We even look like brothers.”
“I really want to kill you.”
“Officer Song would never do such a thing, right? By the way, are you still a cop?”
Chen Shi showed his ID. Wang Daji exclaimed, “Criminal consultant, impressive! Looks like you’re still in the game. Did you catch the guy who framed you? I have some leads.”
Wang Daji’s flippant demeanor made it hard to tell if he was lying. Chen Shi suspiciously asked, “Really?”
“Really. If you cooperate with me, I’ll tell you. After I finish my business here, I’ll leave Long’an. I promise not to cause you any trouble.”
“I warn you, no crimes.”
“Sure, sure. Wait here; I need to meet someone upstairs.”
Wang Daji went upstairs. After waiting through three cigarettes, Wang Daji suddenly ran out, face smeared with blood, shouting, “Hit that bastard!” He darted into an alley.
Chen Shi saw two men chasing him. One was skinny with a dragon tattoo on his bare chest, the other was chubby with a tiger tattoo on his chest, both in bathrobes.
Seeing Chen Shi, they looked shocked. Chen Shi punched the skinny man in the nose, knocking him down.
The chubby man charged at Chen Shi, who jumped off the wall and kicked him in the chest. The man staggered and fell.
Not intending to let them get back up, Chen Shi grabbed the chubby man’s gold chain, choking him from behind, and threatened, “Try me again!”
The skinny man kneeled, begging, “Brother Chen, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have touched your wife.”
What!?
Chen Shi was startled but maintained his fierce facade, “If I see you in Long’an again, I’ll beat you up each time. Get lost!”
The two men scrambled away, the chubby one shouting, “You’ll pay for this!”
As a crowd gathered, Chen Shi turned into the alley, where Wang Daji was hiding behind a trash can, laughing with a tissue stuffed in his nose. “Nice moves, Officer Song. Quick thinking! Impressive!”
“Why did you provoke them? Those two looked dangerous.”
“Me? Provoke them?” Wang Daji fumed, “Do you know why I returned to Long’an? Half a month ago, I saw a video online. My girl was with someone else, and that skinny guy was the one. I was furious. If I hadn’t calmed down on the way, I would have killed him today!”
“Your wife?”
“No, just a woman.”
“Why did they do that?”
“Three years ago, I cut off one of their boss’s fingers. He swore to cut off all ten of mine. I went into hiding, and since they couldn’t find me, they messed with my woman. What scum!”
Wang Daji’s eyes glinted with malice. He stood up, “Come on, bro, let’s find my woman!”