Wang Kaixuan

Hu Ming had just finished packing when he heard the announcement: "Attention, passengers. The train will soon arrive at the next station, the Capital Station. Passengers getting off at the Capital Station, please prepare your luggage and disembark on either side."

"Attention, passengers. The train will soon arrive at the next station, the Capital Station. Passengers getting off at the Capital Station, please prepare your luggage and disembark on either side."

"Attention, passengers. The train will soon arrive—"

"Damn, we're there?"

As the train's arrival announcement played over and over, Hu Bayi tossed his cigarette butt into the ashtray and returned to the carriage.

"Come on, let's go. We're about to get off."

"Seriously, I wonder how Fatty's doing."

Old Hu had called Fatty, and Fatty had been very welcoming toward him and Hu Ming.

But Old Hu didn't think Fatty was doing all that well.

Looking at Old Hu, Hu Ming could tell what was on his mind.

"Don't worry. The three of us are back together, so we're bound to make something of ourselves. Trust me." Hu Ming put an arm around Hu Bayi's shoulders as he spoke.

Hu Bayi said, "Yeah. Growing up, you were always the one with the ideas. You were a lot smarter than Fatty and me."

Seeing how confident Hu Ming was, Old Hu felt much more at ease.

Maybe Mingzi was right. The three of them would make a real success of themselves...

The Capital's train station was bustling with people. "Excuse me, coming through. Make way."

Fatty squeezed through the crowd, searching for Hu Ming and Old Hu.

"This is strange. The train's already here, so why haven't those two gotten off yet?" Wang Kaixuan said, pressing himself against the carriage windows and peering into each one.

Meanwhile, Hu Ming and Old Hu got off the train and spotted someone leaning against a carriage window in the distance.

"Mingzi, look. Isn't that Fatty?"

Following Old Hu's gaze, Hu Ming saw a fat man leaning against the train window, straining to see inside.

Every so often, Fatty would lower his head and mutter to himself.

Hu Ming said, "Old Hu, judging by the looks of him, that damn fatty's lost a lot of weight."

Hu Bayi sighed. "I reckon Fatty's been through a lot these past few years."

"Maybe. Come on, let's go see." Hu Ming and Hu Bayi quickened their pace. Before long, they arrived in front of Wang Kaixuan, one after the other.

Hu Ming greeted him. "Hello!"

"And you are?" Fatty Wang looked at Hu Ming and Hu Bayi, both wearing sunglasses, and didn't recognize them at first.

Just then, Old Hu suddenly shouted, "Heavenly King Suppresses the Tiger!"

Heavenly King Suppresses the Tiger? The phrase seemed familiar to Fatty, so he answered without thinking.

"Pagoda Suppresses the River Demon!"

Hu Bayi continued, "Fatty, why's your face red?"

"Because I'm worried I'll never find a wife."

"Then why's it white now?"

"I just married a tigress, and she scared me half to death," Fatty replied.

Hu Ming hadn't expected them to still remember their old code words after all these years apart. Fatty had answered perfectly.

"Ha! Not bad, Fatty. Looks like you've been doing well."

When Hu Ming and Hu Bayi took off their sunglasses, Fatty was even more excited.

"Old Hu!"

"Little Mingzi!"

In an instant, the three of them embraced. Hu Bayi laughed and said, "You damn fatty! Bet you didn't expect us to come back!"

"Yeah, it's good you're back! It's good you're back!" Fatty was so excited he nearly cried, and his feelings were genuine.

"Listen, Mingzi, Old Hu—it's been more than ten years. We've finally reunited!"

"Come on, get in my car. I'm treating you to a meal! Let's go for hotpot!" Fatty declared grandly.

"You have a car?" Hu Bayi exclaimed. Then he said, "You damn fatty, you bought a car?"

"Yeah, just bought it. It's brand-new."

"Hey!"

"Mingzi, come on, let's go have a look!" Hu Bayi said, unable to wait.

It looked like Fatty Wang really was doing pretty well.

Soon, Fatty led them to a little three-wheeled vehicle.

Hu Ming thought, Just as I expected.

Hu Bayi couldn't help exclaiming, "Fatty, this is the car you were talking about? I thought you'd made a fortune and bought a four-wheeler. Damn, it turns out to be this thing. You got my hopes up for nothing."

Wang Fatty protested, "Old Hu, you can't blame me. You never asked what kind of car I bought." Then he turned to Hu Ming. "Mingzi, don't you agree?"

Hu Ming put his luggage on the back of the vehicle and said to Hu Bayi, "Old Hu, something's better than nothing. Hurry up and put your luggage on Fatty's car."

Hu Bayi replied, "Fair enough." Then he climbed onto Fatty's vehicle with Hu Ming.

Fatty said, "Hold on tight. Let's head back first, then we'll go get hotpot."

Sitting behind Fatty, Hu Bayi said, "Hey, you damn fatty. On the phone, you were going on about wanting to deal with someone. What happened? Did somebody bully you?"

"Since Mingzi and I are here today, you'd better tell us the whole story. We'll get justice for you."

As soon as Old Hu said that, Hu Ming knew what it was about.

With memories of his previous life, Hu Ming knew it had to do with Big Gold Tooth.

Hearing Old Hu's question, Fatty sighed. "Ah, don't get me started. A few days ago, they impounded my vehicle, and I needed money to get it back. Then Big Gold Tooth from Panjiayuan showed up and said he wanted to buy the jade I had. He offered me three hundred yuan.

"That bastard told me it was the highest price I could get. He also haggled with me for days until I finally gave in. I figured, if I hadn't needed the money so badly, I wouldn't have sold it.

"Then, after I sold the jade to Big Gold Tooth, I asked around and found out the bastard was going to turn around and sell it for three thousand. Tell me, how could I put up with that?

"I think that bastard Big Gold Tooth flat-out cheated me! He swindled me out of my jade."

The angrier Fatty got, the more he trembled. Hu Ming thought, That jade Fatty has is the key to unlocking the Western Regions Jingjue Royal City. We can't do without it. And even if there's a rule that a deal is final once made, Big Gold Tooth took something from my brother. He'd better give it back, or I'll break all three of his legs.

Hu Ming spoke up, looking at Hu Bayi. "Old Hu, even though the antique trade has a 'buyer beware, seller beware' rule, we can't just let that damn fatty get cheated and forget about it."