Chapter 30 Thief Lao Xiao
Lao Xiao took a sip of his wine and said, "We're all different kinds of people. You make a living with your mouth, and I make a living with my hands. Aren't we in the same industry?"
I smiled slightly and said, "I understand."
He had a complicated expression, and after a long while he said, "I once had a glorious time. People in the martial arts world called me 'Xiao Niu' and had the reputation of 'the master thief'."
I leaned forward. This lean man was a master thief. It was hard to tell. But when I saw his long, thin fingers, I was convinced.
I clasped my fists and said, "I see. I apologize for my disrespect."
Lao Xiao drank a few mouthfuls of wine and got so excited that he began to tell me about his little-known career as a thief.
Lao Xiao said that in the early 1990s, others earned more than 100 yuan a month, but he could earn hundreds or even thousands of yuan just by going out for a few days.
Since he is rich, he is generous when pursuing women. He won the most beautiful girl in "February Flower Barber Shop" and also the most beautiful and outstanding girl in those streets.
He has no occupation and no one knows his occupation.
He said he took on small jobs and carried a few baskets, and everyone on the street believed him. He helped anyone who had a problem. Why was he able to help people? Because he had money.
I interrupted, "Does it really mean that others don't know your profession?"
Lao Xiao nodded seriously. "I've never made a mistake, so others don't know. I have three principles: I don't do it in this city, I don't do it to disabled people, and I don't do it to women with children."
I picked up the tea and said, "Even thieves have their own code of conduct. Drink."
He took another sip of his wine and said, "I think I've done my best for my wife. She always wore the latest fashions, rode a stylish boat-shaped motorcycle, and spent money lavishly. Besides working in the barber shop, she'd also play mahjong. She was just pretty, wasn't she? She didn't have any other special skills, but she lived such a happy life. She should be content, right?"
I nodded.
He spread his hands and said, "Three years after we got married, I went out to get some money. Do you know how much I got?"
I leaned forward and asked, "How much?"
"A password box."
I couldn't close my mouth.
He picked up the bottle and poured the wine, which flowed like an old man's urine. He rang the bell and the waiter came in. He said, "Another bottle."
I advised, "Can you drink? It's not good to get drunk."
He smiled and said, "No problem, I'm also known as the God of Wine."
The waiter brought the wine, he poured a glass, took a big sip and then continued:
"That was on the Beijing-Guangzhou line. The jargon we used for running that line was 'killing the fat guy.'"
"Yes, there was no high-speed rail at that time, so most people took the train, and the Beijing-Guangzhou line was the most crowded."
Lao Xiao said proudly: "There are a lot of fat guys online. There are two types of fat guys: one is the real businessman, and the other is the businessman's mistress.
Once, I had my eye on a woman. You know, women like that usually travel in soft sleeper compartments. So, I often booked soft sleeper tickets on the Beijing-Guangzhou line. I didn't always succeed, but every time I got one, it counted.
After I set my sights on her, I started wearing a top hat and tinted glasses. This became my style. Back then, I was always dressed in a suit and tie or a long gown. I always looked like someone from a wealthy family.
He was lost in memories: "That day, I checked into a soft sleeper, packed up, and came out, wandering around outside. On the one hand, I was looking for an opportunity to strike, and on the other hand, I didn't want her to leave any impression.
By the time the train passed Changsha, it was already midnight and everyone was asleep. When we reached Yueyang Station, I took action and transferred her safe to my accomplice, who picked it up in Yueyang. I didn't get off the train until Wuhan.
"You have an accomplice?"
"Yes. I'm in charge of the work on the train, and my accomplices are spread across the various stations on the Beijing-Guangzhou line. Wherever we get the goods, we pass them on to our accomplices at that station. The people who actually receive the goods and I each take 40%, and the other people guarding the stations take 20%."
"You didn't get off the bus until Wuhan in order to prevent the case from being solved because you didn't get off midway, right?"
Lao Xiao slapped his thigh and said, "Yes, because she had to get off in Zhengzhou." It was already daybreak. I was carrying a small bag, and when I got off, I deliberately said 'goodbye' to them.
After getting off the bus, I threw my glasses, hat, beard, and coat into the Yangtze River. Then I reunited with my accomplice at the agreed location. We split the money and quickly went our separate ways. He went north, I went south.
Then, I waited outside for news, not daring to go home. At that time, there were only newspapers, and I read them every day. There was no news or information at all.”
"She didn't report it?"
"I don't know. Is this woman's money clean? I heard that some women steal money. They live with fat men for a while, take the opportunity, steal a safe and leave.
You know, how many of these women would tell each other their real names? Where they live? As for ID cards, there are people everywhere who can make them for you.”
"If you say so, maybe she stole it too?"
Lao Xiao looked at me and said word by word, "She must have stolen it, because there's nothing in the box except the money. If it wasn't stolen, common sense would have meant we'd have packed some personal belongings in it, like putting something more valuable in there with the money."
I think Lao Xiao’s analysis is correct.
Lao Xiao continued, "It was inconvenient for me to carry so much money every day, and I didn't dare to deposit it in the bank. So, I stayed out for ten days, and when nothing happened, I caught the bus home. It was already two in the morning when I got home."
I love my wife very much. In the middle of winter, I didn't disturb her and opened the door myself, but the door was locked.
You say I am just pretending to lock anything. I opened the living room door in a few seconds, then the bedroom door, but it was also locked. Now, I have a bad feeling.
I almost guessed the ending, but I couldn't help but ask:
"What happened?"
I looked at Lao Xiao.
Lao Xiao looked disgusted: "My wife cheated on me. That wild man was very alert. When I opened the door, he got up, walked down the balcony and slipped away from the second floor along the sewer pipe. My wife knew I was back and was scared to death."
I said coldly, "Don't be afraid. Put on some clothes first and don't catch a cold. We'll settle the bill later."
"Ah? You're pretty calm."
"After so many years of being out there, how could I not be calm? I stole someone's things and didn't leave until I got out of the car at the stop. My mental toughness has been trained.
I really wanted to beat her up, force her to reveal the man, and then chop the pervert to pieces. Later, I figured it out. This woman wasn't my destined wife; she was bought with money. So, without a word, I divorced her.
I have to admire Lao Xiao for his manliness.
"Is the girl now born to my wife later?"
Lao Xiao's eyes moistened. "Yes. This child was quite lively when she was little. When she was about twelve, I once failed and was imprisoned for five years. After I came out, the child had changed, but my wife hadn't. So, I am still very grateful to my current wife."
So that's how it is. As expected, he encountered setbacks in middle age.
"You know, I can't go back to my old job. I'm afraid it will ruin my children, and my wife will be laid off. So, I opened a teahouse in Xicheng District, which is too far from here. It's called Dahongpao Teahouse."
I asked, “How’s business?”
He said helplessly: "Neither dead nor alive."
At this moment, my cell phone rang, and a very cold voice said, "Mr. Wan, please come out for a moment. I'll be waiting for you in the lobby."
"Who are you?"
The call suddenly hung up.
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