Xu Haijun wanted to borrow money and would pay interest, and there were people here to witness it. Li Long had no objections. He went over to the Jeep, took out his backpack, pulled out the shoulder bag containing his money, and counted out two thousand yuan for Xu Haijun.
"You carry that much money around with you? I thought I'd have to ride my bicycle to the county seat with you to get it." Xu Haijun was a little surprised. "Aren't you afraid it'll get stolen, leaving so much in the car?"
"What is there to be afraid of? There's a gun in the car." After handing Xu Haijun the money, Li Long fastened his shoulder bag, put it inside his backpack, and returned it to the car.
He really did keep a Type 56 Semiautomatic Rifle in the Jeep. Although public security had improved tremendously since the crackdown, that didn't rule out someone taking a desperate risk. After all, he was something of a celebrity now, and he had money. Even people in Beiting had started scheming against him. Who could be sure nobody in Ma County would give him trouble?
It was better to be careful.
As for carrying money, after everything he had experienced, Li Long felt it was better to bring more when he went out. There was his last trip to Beiting, for instance, when he had snapped up someone else's fritillaria, and this trip to see Chen Hongjun and leave him money.
There were plenty of opportunities. What a loss it would be if he came across one but had no money on hand.
As for safety while pursuing those opportunities, he wasn't worried either. With a Type 56 in hand, even if seven or eight ordinary people came at him, he figured