Chapter 10: Pulling People Or Pulling Livestock?
Duomen nodded knowingly: “So you can see so much stuff in the newspaper. It seems I should also buy some newspapers to read when there’s nothing going on.”
He raised another question: “However, what does what you just said have to do with Ono Shiota and our affairs?”
“Of course it does.” Cao Weida bared his teeth, revealing a sly smile. “Ono Shiota is at least a major. Just from how fluently he speaks Chinese, you know he’s definitely an intellectual.”
“The little devil’s internal situation is actually somewhat similar to our Kuomintang. A person from a humble family background basically can’t reach the position of major in his forties.”
“At the police station, with one telephone call, he could get the Gendarmerie Headquarters to release someone, which is enough to show the other’s network of connections.”
“For someone like him who has knowledge and background, do you think he can’t see Japan’s current predicament?”
“In the clear knowledge that Japan is going to suffer defeat in war, how do you think he will choose?”
“Will he fight to the death for that so-called Emperor of the Great Japanese Empire, or make a fortune hand over fist and return to the homeland after the defeat in war to be a carefree rich man?”
“If it were me, definitely the latter.” Duomen said without hesitation. This didn’t even need thinking; hesitating one more second would be disrespecting his own intelligence.
“So, he’s thinking the same way, even a bit eager.” Cao Weida snapped his fingers and chuckled:
“You didn’t see how urgent he was at the time to hope that my ‘friend’ would have more.”
“Let me put it this way: as long as he can withstand it, as long as there’s money to make, he absolutely won’t let go of such an opportunity.”
“As long as we do a few more deals in business, then it won’t be about whether he wants us to take the blame; it’ll be about whether he wants such good partners to die.”
“With you saying it like this, I get the picture. I didn’t expect that while mixing around, Master Duo like me could mix into an opportunity to get rich.” Duomen laughed until his eyes were almost squinted into slits. Cao Weida’s words had completely dispelled his concerns.
He knew who had brought all this about, and he understood the rules very well. “I’ll go contact right away. When the business is done, we’ll split three-seven, me three you seven.”
“Master Duo, you’re being too polite with me.”
“This isn’t about being polite or not. Friendship is friendship, rules are rules. Everything has to have rules; rules can’t be broken.” Duomen’s attitude was very firm.
“If you don’t take me along, forget three percent; I won’t make a dime. If you don’t want it, then I’d rather not do this business.”
Seeing him like this, Cao Weida smiled wryly. “Master Duo, this… alright, since you’ve said so, if I don’t accept, it’d be petty of me.”
“However, the split ratio is too high. Fifty-fifty. You’re generous, but I can’t be stingy.”
Seeing Duomen seem about to refuse, Cao Weida immediately stopped him. “It’s settled then. If you’re still polite with me, Master Duo, then you’re really treating me like an outsider.”
Duomen opened his mouth, but ultimately couldn’t outstubborn Cao Weida. He nodded and said: “Alright, consider it me taking advantage of a man like you. Let’s do it this way.”
“Noon, Quanjude, my treat. You can’t refuse this, right?”
“No way, I’ll definitely remember this meal, but not today. We’ll do it after we make money. I have something to do later.”
“Alright.”
At this time, the wonton arrived.
Wonton is a noodle dish. In these times, although it’s not unavailable, the price is really not cheap.
But the taste is indeed good. Sprinkle on some sesame oil, cilantro, and a bit of vinegar—that flavor is simply amazing.
After eating, the two stood up. Duomen wanted to pay, but the wonton stall boss refused.
“Master Duo, Master Cao, this meal is free, consider it showing respect to you two.”
“Take it when I tell you to. Do I lack your trifles?” Cao Weida pulled a silver dollar from his pocket and flicked it over, his attitude arrogantly overbearing:
“Look at these broken bowls you served us. You expect me to use them? Get two good bowls later. When we come to eat in the future, use those good bowls, and carefully scald them back and forth several times for me.”
The wonton stall boss hurriedly caught the money and cupped his hands in thanks: “Thanks for the reward, Master Cao!”
Watching the two men’s departing backs, the wonton stall boss couldn’t help but sigh,
“Master Duo and Master Cao are both good people. Only in our area do those who don’t do business not have to worry about extortion.”
Cao Weida, already gone, didn’t know he had suddenly been labeled a good person. He parted ways with Duomen at the intersection.
With a way to make money, Duomen naturally wanted to earn some quickly too.
Cao Weida stood at the intersection and beckoned to a rickshaw by the roadside.
The rickshaw puller, wearing worn and patched coarse cloth clothes, body hunched, probing forward and back like a shrimp when pulling the cart, stooped and bent-backed with a somewhat hunched image, an old felt hat on his head, cloth shoes exposing his toes, saw him and hurried over with a smiling face,
“Boss, greetings.”
Cao Weida was wearing a black uniform. Though people might call him black-skin buddy or stinky-footed patrol behind his back, to the common folk, they didn’t dare call him that to his face.
“Mm.” Cao Weida gave a light hum, comfortably sat in the cart, gave the address, and after the puller shouted “Boss, sit tight,” he swiftly dashed off.
Cao Weida sat comfortably, but soon he couldn’t stay comfortable.
It was fine at first. When trotting, this puller would often press down the handlebar first, then release it after running, letting the rickshaw glide forward by inertia until raising the handlebar high.
Cao Weida only felt his center of gravity shift back, his body tilting backward, with a feeling of being laid flat, as if he might flip over face-up at any moment.
After several times like this, Cao Weida’s face turned green.
“Stop!” Cao Weida hurriedly called to stop, fuming inside.
He had ridden rickshaws more than once or twice. Which good rickshaw puller drives like this?!
Is this pulling a passenger or hauling livestock?!
“Boss, what do you need?” The puller stopped immediately and turned his weather-beaten face to look at Cao Weida obsequiously.
Cao Weida got out of the cart with an unhappy face. “I’m saying, is this how you pull a cart? You really think I’m livestock!?”
“Several times I nearly fell out of the cart onto the ground! What’s your name!”
“Boss, sorry, sorry. I’m Wen San’er. Please calm down…”
“Wait, what’s your name?”
“Wen San’er.” Wen San carefully watched Cao Weida. “Have you heard my name, boss?”
Heard it?
Way too familiar!
This guy is practically a metaphysics master!!
Combining the other’s image and way of pulling the cart, a drama title instantly flashed in his mind—《Wolf Smoke Beiping》!
In the drama, this guy is formidable. Anyone who bullied him or beat him ended up killed.
Even those with a good relationship with him didn’t meet a good end in the end, while he lived comfortably.
Before transmigration, he had been very disdainful, with the most common phrase on his lips being “believe in science.”
But after transmigrating, he had no choice but to believe and didn’t dare not to.
If he fully believed in science, why the hell did he transmigrate!
Alright, better not offend this guy. Best not even to be recognized, lest he get done in!
He quickly pulled out two dimes in silver dollars, tossed them over, said “No change needed,” and immediately slipped away.
Wen San: “????”
So, why did this stinky-footed patrol make me stop?
Looking at the two dimes in his hand, Wen San grinned again, his doubts instantly thrown to the winds.
“Gotta say, this black-skin buddy is pretty rich. Must’ve fleeced the locals plenty.”
What Wen San said about him behind his back, Cao Weida didn’t know and didn’t want to know. He only knew to stay far away from this plague god.
He even muttered inwardly: With this crappy cart-pulling skill, no wonder he always gets beaten.
After walking one intersection, he hailed another rickshaw. This time it was normal. Though the road wasn’t smooth, the cart was surprisingly steady.
After arriving at the destination, Cao Weida generously tossed over five dimes in silver dollars. “The rest is yours,” amid the puller’s profuse thanks.
Cao Weida paused again. “Master, if you’re not in a hurry, wait a bit. I’ll be right out.”
The puller nodded hurriedly. “Go ahead, sir. I’m not in a hurry.”
Rickshaws don’t always have fares. Most of the time you wait a long time without guaranteed passengers.
Even running all day, he might not earn five dimes. Today, even just pulling this one sir would be profit.
“Alright, just wait a moment.”
He had just reached the door when Little Ear’s people spotted him and hurried over to greet:
“Master Cao, you’re here. Big Brother is resting. Please sit inside the room first. I’ll go call Big Brother. Biaozi, tea! Good tea!”
“Thanks, brother.” Cao Weida wasn’t polite, walked into the hall, and sipped the handed tea carefully.
Soon, Little Ear came in rapidly, eye gunk still in the corner of his eyes, and cupped his hands.
“Master Cao.”
“What master this and that. We’re all buddies.” Cao Weida set down the teacup and waved. “I’ve kept your matter in mind. Early this morning I went to use connections for you.”
“Now, there’s news. I came to give you a heads-up first thing. If nothing unexpected, your brother Sun Dahu can come out before noon.”
“Really?!” Little Ear was overjoyed. Though he’d always hoped to smoothly rescue Sun Dahu, he hadn’t expected it to be so smooth!
This unexpected good news came too suddenly!
Cao Weida smiled. “I’m not talking empty. To smoothly rescue Sun Dahu, I still need to go to the Gendarmerie Headquarters once; it needs some bribe there too.”
“Moreover, word from above: if any more ‘brothers’ get invited over, as long as the ‘explanation’ is in place, the ‘misunderstanding’ can be cleared.”
“Master Lian, you…”
“What master this and that. Didn’t I say we’re buddies!” Little Ear hurriedly corrected, his heartbeat involuntarily speeding up.
He wasn’t dumb; no dumb person could reach his status. He naturally understood Cao Weida’s words.
Precisely because he understood, he was so excited he could hardly breathe.
The little devils never played fair; countless were grabbed for no reason!
If this relationship could ‘clear misunderstandings,’ it would be a broad road to riches!
With this relationship, Cao Weida’s weight in his mind soared instantly.
Cao Weida wasn’t polite either. “Brother, if you have any ‘friends’ in this regard, tell me. I’ll help you clear the ‘misunderstanding’.”
