"Hey! You old..." Su Tang had been in a bad mood lately and felt insulted. If it weren't for Xiao Ao stopping her, she would have blurted out "old man."
"Got a temper? Good, but you know, even that brat Ping An, if he came here, would have to bow and greet me obediently!" Well, it seemed this old man had quite a background.
Were there many people in the whole river province who didn't respect their master? Upon hearing the old man's boastful words, Su Tang's eyes darted, and she immediately changed her tone.
"Uncle, I'm in a hurry, really, it's to save someone!" Su Tang feigned urgency, her words stumbling.
"Acting! Keep acting. Your master used to scare me with the police back then. You're good, though, knowing to go soft on me." The old man tossed his head, refusing to be sidetracked.
"You!" Facing such an unyielding person, Su Tang felt a bit helpless.
"Let me do it." Zhang Xiao Ao gently nudged Su Tang, signaling her to ask.
"Uncle, the eagle tattooed on your arm is so majestic, just like the ones on our grasslands. But why would someone like you tattoo a female eagle?" Zhang Xiao Ao asked with apparent sincerity.
"Oh ho, someone who knows their stuff." The old man was pleased. He took Zhang Xiao Ao's hand and said, "Tell me, how did you know I tattooed a female eagle?"
"I've shot them before, I can tell. You can tell from the wings, it's too simple," Zhang Xiao Ao replied.
"So, what do you need me for?" The old man, seemingly satisfied with Zhang Xiao Ao's truthful answer, finally spoke.
"We're looking for someone with a tattoo of a copper coin on their neck, and who also has buck teeth," Su Tang blurted out.
The old man didn't answer immediately. Instead, he went behind his studio and brought back a stencil, asking, "Is it like this one?"
"We haven't seen it, we've only heard about it," Su Tang said, looking at the stencil and shaking her head.
"Have you heard of the 'Qian Bang'?" The old man put away the stencil and suddenly asked.
Qian Bang? Su Tang and Zhang Xiao Ao had never heard of it, and even Da Shu, Lao Yuan, and Lao Fang shook their heads in confusion.
"In the 1980s, some members of the mine security team in the Hecuan coal mine formed gangs, fighting for territory and acting like bosses. They claimed everything was for money, so they gave their illegal organization the name 'Qian Bang'," the old man explained. "Because this 'Qian Bang' always operated in the mining area and rarely came to the city, many city dwellers didn't know about it. Moreover, the 'Qian Bang' was cracked down by the government in the early 1990s under the name 'gangster organization.' The few remaining low-level members gradually disappeared as the coal mines gradually ceased production."
"You mean, that person might be from the 'Qian Bang'? But where can we find someone from the 'Qian Bang' now?" Lao Yuan said.
"Back then, everyone who joined the 'Qian Bang' had to get a coin tattooed on their neck. The bosses had ingots, and those below them had copper coins. They all got their tattoos from me back then," the old man said. "It's not that hard to find them. Yesterday, someone helped me recall for a long time. The description was similar to yours, and they also had buck teeth."
"Who? Is there any surveillance?" Su Tang's vigilance immediately kicked in upon hearing this.
"I don't have surveillance in my shop, but the person who came to me, I can describe her to you – hmm, it was a woman, not short, quite pretty, wearing a mask," the old man said. "She asked similar questions to yours. I told her about a 'Qian Bang' boss I knew who was still alive."
"Uncle, you just told her when she asked? Why didn't you tell me?" Su Tang said indignantly.
"That girl said her mother was wronged by the person you're looking for when she was young, and later gave birth to that girl. She came to find her relative, so why wouldn't I tell her?" the old man retorted.
"Never mind, Uncle, just tell us. Who did you tell that woman about? How can we find him?" Su Tang asked urgently.
"Are you really looking for someone? Or did Ping An send you to bother me for no reason?" the old man suddenly asked. "That person has been following that brat Ping An for years, his name is Gao Da. Oh, he's running a steamed bun shop now. I heard he's had a second bloom in the past two years. If that woman finds him, wouldn't it embarrass Gao Da? And now you're here asking me again, are you sure it's not arranged by Ping An?"
Gao Da?
Gao Da!
It was too familiar. Among those who doted on Su Tang, he was definitely one of them. But he was a former boss of the 'Qian Bang'? It was unbelievable!
"When I chatted with Brother Gao Da before, he said he worked as a security guard at the mine after retiring from the army, and he knew a bunch of good brothers. Their skills were no worse than our brothers on Flower Street. I thought he was bragging back then," Da Shu suddenly said. "I never thought this old brother had such a side to him. He's one of us."
Su Tang was very familiar with Gao Da's situation. If he didn't want to talk about his past disreputable aspects, he wouldn't engage in illicit relationships. If someone was also inquiring about the whereabouts of that driver, it must be the other party's people – could it be they wanted to silence him?
"Oh no, Grandpa Gao Da is in danger!" Realizing this, Su Tang quickly took out her phone to call, but Gao Da's phone went unanswered.
"Let's go to the steamed bun shop!" Su Tang suddenly felt her legs go weak. That group of people wasn't to be trifled with. If her thoughts were correct, it would be trouble beyond her ability to handle.
The car sped madly towards the steamed bun shop. No one spoke in the car, only Ping An's voice came from Su Tang's phone.
"Didn't you go to investigate Diana? Why are you asking about Gao Da again?"
"Gao Da is from the 'Qian Bang,' I've known that for a long time."
"Gao Da has other matters these days, I've arranged for him to leave. Don't worry about this for now."
"Yes, I know what you're thinking. Han Shi didn't just tell you that intel; I know it too. I can't believe you even went to find that old bastard 'Master' Sun. Alright, stop chasing, go do something else. Gao Da has Hei Dou with him, he's safe – remember, don't spread any information about Gao Da's situation."
At the critical moment, it was Gao Da again!
For some reason, hearing his master's words, Su Tang didn't feel relieved.
Who was that woman who suddenly appeared and inquired about Gao Da?
The security guards in the mining area? Weren't most of them later placed in that company?
Thinking this, Su Tang gritted her teeth and made a decision – should she listen to her master, or follow her own will?
"Forget it!" Su Tang suddenly said to Da Shu, "We're not going to the steamed bun shop. Gao Da is on a mission. Let's go to the wind power company; I need to find someone."
"Find someone?" Da Shu glanced at Su Tang and asked, "Could it be?"
"It's her!" Su Tang shivered almost imperceptibly.
Inside the administrative building of the wind power company, a young girl in standard work attire was receiving one-on-one training.
"That's all for today's lesson. Ms. Yang, I recall you have to report to the police station tomorrow, right? What about tomorrow's lesson?" the teacher asked politely after finishing the class.
"The only downside of parole is this; I have to report every week. With my current identity, can I even run abroad? It'll be due in two more years..." In the sunlight, Yang Jiao, with her long hair, stood up and stretched lazily, saying casually, "I heard, I heard that Su Tang from your school has been in a lot of trouble recently?"
"Indeed, I am her math teacher. That girl is genuinely good at studying, but she doesn't cherish it. Recently, she's been fighting and investigating cases, and ended up being treated as a murderer, staying at the police station for several days. What can a child like her investigate?" the teacher who was teaching her said with a hint of flattery.
"How do you know she can't investigate cases?" Yang Jiao narrowed her eyes at the teacher, lit a cigarette, and said, "Watch your words from now on. She's my only friend."
The teacher withdrew. Yang Jiao, who had just turned nineteen, now controlled the vast wind power company. Under the guidance of her adoptive mother, who was serving a life sentence, the company had truly flourished in the past two years. However, now that she truly possessed wealth and status, Yang Jiao actually missed her past days and the people from then, like Su Tang.
"Ms. Yang, there's a guest in the reception department downstairs who specifically asked to see you," the secretary suddenly interrupted Yang Jiao's reminiscing.
"Who has such a big tone?" Yang Jiao asked.
"She said she's... she's your grandmother, named Su Tang!" the secretary replied tremblingly.
"Crack!" A glass cup on the corner of the desk suddenly shattered on the floor.
"You! Go bring her up, and call a few security guards!" Yang Jiao's lips curled upwards, showing a hint of excitement.
Two years. You damn Su Tang finally came to find me first! Yang Jiao thought with satisfaction.
In the large conference room, Yang Jiao sat in the center seat, with a line of security guards standing behind her.
The door opened, and Su Tang entered with the three older brothers and Zhang Xiao Ao.
"No matter what happens, you are not allowed to come up!" Su Tang glanced at Yang Jiao seated in front, her eyes turning red.
"No matter what happens, don't come up!" Yang Jiao gritted her teeth and said fiercely to those behind her.
There's a saying, isn't there? Ah yes, enemies meeting, eyes blazing with hatred.
And so, the two former best friends, without a word, rolled up their sleeves and started fighting.
Tsk tsk, although Yang Jiao was two years older than Su Tang and stronger, she couldn't match Su Tang's height, and she had learned a few moves from her aunt. So, as soon as they met, she was at a disadvantage. With a single shoulder throw, Su Tang was easily thrown to the ground.
"Your lipstick is nice, but your face is too square. Bright red doesn't suit you! Use pink next time!" Su Tang said as she hit, her mouth not stopping.
Yang Jiao took a blow first, then scrambled up, lowered her head, and charged at Su Tang, knocking her dizzy.
"Ouch, your little body has developed, your bra is nice. From afar, you have breasts now too?" Yang Jiao, taking advantage of Su Tang falling, didn't forget to grab Su Tang's crucial chest area.
What else was there to say? Let's keep fighting!
And so, the two beautiful women, in the spacious conference room, went back and forth, enjoying themselves immensely.
Finally, an hour later, both exhausted, one sat on the ground holding a mirror to look at the scratches on her face, the other sat on a chair rubbing her chest to catch her breath.
"Still fighting?" Yang Jiao spoke first.
"Let's talk about business first, then we'll fight!" Su Tang said stubbornly.