Han Li Was Here

Five or six minutes later, Fang Bai saw three people walking toward him. One of them was the driver.

He walked in front, followed by two middle-aged men. One of them pushed a wooden wheelbarrow that seemed to be carrying repair tools.

Seeing this, Fang Bai figured they were unlikely to cause trouble and let out a breath of relief. He got out of the truck and waited for Zhang Guoping to come over.

"How did it go?"

"They said they could fix it. Let them take a look first." After speaking calmly, Zhang Guoping glanced at the two men behind him and muttered, "Damn it, we got ripped off!"

Fang Bai felt a flare of anger at that, but all he could do was comfort him quietly. "Nothing we can do about it. If they can fix it, let them fix it."

The two spoke quietly, then fell silent once the other two men came over.

Zhang Guoping led them to the punctured tire and explained the situation to the bald man who was not pushing the cart.

After explaining, he still tried to bargain. "Boss, this tire's punctured. It costs fifty yuan to fix it?"

"That's the price. Didn't we agree on it already? Changing the inner tube is a hassle, and this is a heavy truck. We came all this way too. If you think it's expensive, find another shop." The bald man sounded a little impatient.

"Fine, then replace it. But once it's done, you need to give me a receipt, or I can't get reimbursed."

"I can't read, so I can't write one," the bald man refused.

"Fine, then fix it."

Zhang Guoping naturally had a way to get the repair fee reimbursed. Tire repairs left traces, so Fang Bai could simply help write a note. He guessed the man was lying about being illiterate; he just did not want to leave any evidence behind.

Fang Bai stood to the side, observing the bald man and his companion. There was a tattoo on the bald man's arm, an eagle's head. But it had been done badly—the beak was too straight, and its eyes had no spirit. It looked more like a rooster without a comb.

Heh, a rooster without a comb had no majesty left. What was the difference between it and a eunuch chicken?

At that thought, Fang Bai nearly laughed, but he managed to hold it in.

The other man looked utterly ordinary and acted submissively around the bald man, seemingly just a lackey.

Listening to their conversation, Fang Bai was startled by the price they charged for repairs. No wonder Zhang Guoping said they had been ripped off.

Damn it, fifty yuan was no small amount. They really had the nerve to ask for that much.

But there was nothing they could do. Those men had decided there were no repair shops nearby. If they did not use them, the driver would have to repair it himself, and fixing a tire was a real hassle.

Fang Bai smiled as he offered the bald man a cigarette and shook his hand, probing into what the man was thinking.

So it really was true. The Triangle Nails had been thrown out by the bald man.

What a heartless bastard.

But there was nothing they could do. Fang Bai and the others could only swallow the loss, even if it was not Fang Bai's money being spent.

When the bald man saw this young man greeting him so warmly and even offering him a cigarette, he felt much friendlier toward him.

The truck could be repaired properly.

But the money would still be collected in full.

More than half an hour later, the tire had been repaired and replaced. After Zhang Guoping checked that there were no problems, he paid the bald man. Fang Bai also confirmed that the inner tube had been patched properly.

The two started the truck and left. Once they were more than a hundred meters away from the bald man, Fang Bai said meaningfully to Zhang Guoping, "Brother Zhang, their repair shop isn't far from here, is it?"

"Two or three kilometers, I guess."

"By the roadside?"

"Yeah."

"Let's stop there."

Fang Bai gave a cold laugh. In fact, even if he had not asked Zhang Guoping, he had already learned the location of their repair shop from the bald man, along with a few things he should not have known.

Zhang Guoping froze for a moment, then seemed to understand. He smiled as well. "What are you planning to do?"

"You went there just now. There shouldn't be anyone in the shop, right?"

"No one. There isn't anyone around either. Don't tell me you want to..."

Fang Bai cut off his guess. "Don't overthink it. Just drive there first."

A few minutes later, the truck stopped by the roadside a dozen meters behind the repair shop. Fang Bai looked around and confirmed that no one was passing by. Only the occasional vehicle drove past.

The repair shop was a crude structure built from asbestos sheets and wooden boards, covering several dozen square meters. Outside stood a sign that read: "Baldy Qiang Repair Station."

Looking farther back, the view behind them extended only about a hundred meters before being blocked by dense green trees.

After observing the area, Fang Bai felt at ease.

"Brother Zhang, wait for me. I'll be back in five minutes at most. It'll take them at least ten minutes to push that cart back." Fang Bai took two plastic bags from the truck. They had originally been meant for fruit.

After jumping down, he jogged toward the repair shop.

Zhang Guoping had only been guessing at first, but when he saw Fang Bai actually run toward the shop, he could not help laughing. "Damn, this kid's sly!"

He could not guess what Fang Bai was going inside to do, but it definitely would not be anything good for the bald man.

Fang Bai had been observing the surroundings earlier because he was afraid Guangtou Qiang would return too quickly and see their truck parked outside his shop.

But under the current circumstances, how could he see it? Those two were probably strolling back at a leisurely pace.

Fang Bai reached the shop entrance and saw that the crude wooden door had been locked with an iron chain.

However, after giving it a tug, he found that a person could squeeze through the gap between the door and its frame.

Fang Bai put on the plastic bags, not wanting to leave behind any fingerprints.

As for shoeprints, there were too many around already. He could not worry about that.

Would a Bandit who had spent three years in prison and only been out for one really dare call the police?

Fang Bai squeezed inside. After entering the room, he went to the bed, took out a clay jar from beneath it, and poured out everything inside. There were roughly two or three hundred yuan.

This was all Guangtou Qiang's money. Fang Bai did not hesitate and took all of it.

He planned to use it all for good deeds. He could not possibly tell Zhang Guoping, nor would he compensate him with it.

If he told Zhang Guoping, would that not be the same as admitting that he had "taken" the money?

Besides, this was unexpected wealth earned through his real skills.

Fang Bai put the jar back where it had been and swept his gaze around the room. In one corner, he saw a rooster with its legs tied together. Guangtou Qiang had bought it from the market that morning, so Fang Bai took it as well.

When he reached the door, he thought for a moment. If they came back and found the chicken gone, they would probably realize a thief had broken in.

Or perhaps Guangtou Qiang would discover the money missing soon after he went to put it in the jar.

Fang Bai went back and used a stone to write several words in the dirt beside the bed: Han Li Was Here!

There was a roll of toilet paper by the bed. On the spot where the chicken had been, there was a pile of chicken droppings. Fang Bai came up with an idea. He poked the paper into the droppings, picked it up with two sticks, and stuffed it back into the jar.

"Ah, isn't this a little disgusting?"

"Seems like it's nothing much. I just wonder what Guangtou Qiang's expression will be when he reaches into the jar for money and pulls out a wad of soggy paper. Hahaha..."

After finishing, Fang Bai went to the door and peered outside through the crack several times. Once he confirmed there were no pedestrians, he quickly squeezed out and left the repair shop.

When Guangtou Qiang had thrown the rooster to the ground earlier, it had been frightened into spraying out a pile of droppings.

It had been lying comfortably that morning, then discovered it had changed owners and was being carried again. It squawked unhappily twice, but Fang Bai clamped its beak shut with his hand, leaving it unable to make another sound.

Zhang Guoping had been watching the repair shop from inside the truck. He saw Fang Bai squeeze in, then squeeze back out less than two minutes later.

Except now, he had a chicken in his hand!

That was it?

Still, Zhang Guoping could not help bursting into laughter and waved him over.

Fang Bai climbed straight into the passenger seat with the chicken, tossed it beneath the seat, and calmly said to Zhang Guoping, "Let's drive away first."

The truck started again. After they had driven a kilometer, Fang Bai finally said, "Brother Zhang, I picked up a chicken by the roadside. Take it home tonight and build yourself up."

And if Zhang Guoping accepted the chicken, he would become an "accomplice."

No, they were eliminating harm for the people.

Hearing that, Zhang Guoping could not help laughing. Fang Bai's words were too funny—picked it up by the roadside.

With a mischievous grin, he asked, "You don't want it?"

"My family lives in the countryside. We don't lack chickens. If you don't want it, I'll throw it away."

"Haha, what a waste that would be. I'll take it home and stir-fry it tonight. Give myself a proper boost." Zhang Guoping laughed. Fang Bai had helped him vent his anger, and stealing back a chicken was not bad either.

No, it had been picked up by the roadside. Fang Bai had just said so, and he had seen it too.

Zhang Guoping felt that Fang Bai was a pretty good person—bold, loyal, and not greedy for small gains. He was someone worth getting to know deeply.

The two drove happily toward Wen City. By a little after five in the afternoon, they finally arrived in Wen City.