...
Around 12 o'clock, Cao Jinbo, whom Cao Xue hadn't seen for some time, arrived at Jiulongju just as Cao Xue had said... He was carrying a brown leather bag that looked quite expensive, and Cao Xue was following behind him. His face was not good, as if he was scolding Cao Xue.
Cao Xue remained silent, and the two of them arrived at my place one after the other.
I smiled and said to Cao Jinbo, "It's such a small matter, and I'm really sorry to trouble you to make the trip yourself, Mr. Cao."
Cao Jinbo looked around and then replied, "It seems you've done a good job here... This place has never been this lively since the houses were handed over!"
"That's all thanks to you, Mr. Cao."
Cao Jinbo smiled, then instructed Cao Xue to buy him cigarettes; he probably had something to say to me privately.
...
Cao Jinbo sat in the recliner I usually sit in and said to me, "You're really something, kid; tell me, how did you bribe Cao Xue to do things for you? ... This nephew of mine, not just anyone can get him to do anything."
I smiled and said, "I'll give him whatever he needs."
"That's called catering to their preferences!"
“Cao Xue is a smart man. He knows that if this matter is handled well, no one will suffer losses.”
Cao Jinbo shifted his sitting position and asked, "Why does your voice sound sarcastic?... So you're saying I'm the only one who's not smart enough to change the lock on this side, huh?"
"I dare not think like that... For people like us who come from out of town, if we want to make some money, we really have to do things according to your mood, Mr. Cao... I realized this too late, otherwise I wouldn't have taken so many detours!"
Cao Jinbo laughed first, then replied, "The way you're talking makes you sound like a wronged little wife... You're one of the more courageous young men I know. Such a trivial matter shouldn't be such a big deal..."
"It's a trivial matter for you, but it's a complete disaster for me... Mr. Cao, next time you do something like this, could you please give me a heads-up beforehand? Luckily, I have a strong heart, otherwise you would be here today with a wreath to pay your respects!"
While I was half-joking and half-seriously talking, Cao Jinbo's expression suddenly turned serious. He said, "I've squeezed out all my time here, so I won't beat around the bush with you... We've become friends through a fight... I think you're a talented guy, so I'm asking you, can you put all our past grievances behind you and do things for me... I, Cao Jinbo, won't treat you unfairly."
I stared at Cao Jinbo in utter surprise… I had initially thought he was there to make things difficult for me, but I never dreamed he would make such a request… I knew he was a powerful figure in Dali, but…
I don't think I'm the same kind of person as him!
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