After the car arrived at the Maple Forest Evening Grand Hotel parking lot, Yang Wei still gripped the steering wheel, hesitating to turn off the engine. Sitting in the car, he lit a cigarette, his heart wavering.

Back in the day, the Four Brothers of San Jiang Kou were so prominent. Which middle school male student didn’t know their names? When students got into group fights, as long as someone brought up the four words “Mei Lin Yang Xie,” it could settle a dispute. Now society had long since changed. Only fools would still talk about fighting and killing. The four brothers had also fallen apart individually. Fourth Brother Xie Shaobing had been hit by a car and killed while fleeing. Big Brother Mei Dong was mixing quite well in Macau, but didn’t dare return to San Jiang Kou. That left Lin Kai and him skirting the edges of the law, doing loan collection work. Lending money was already a gray business. Now Lin Kai was dead. He had forced urine down Fang Guoqing’s throat, causing a protest march. In one stroke, the Public Security wanted to deal with him severely. If he didn’t cooperate with the Public Security, once the police dug up all his dirty affairs, he couldn’t escape several years of prison.

Helping the Public Security lure Mei Dong back—whether considering sentiment or interests, Yang Wei couldn’t bring himself to do it. But Director Zhang had already made it clear: if Mei Dong couldn’t be caught and brought back, Yang Wei would still have to be arrested and brought back. He was in his thirties or forties, had a family and home. Facing this dilemma, Yang Wei felt he should sacrifice his brother instead.

He stubbed out the cigarette, pressed the car’s ignition button to turn it off, got out of the car, and walked toward the hotel.

Today, the phone call he received was from Mei Dong’s underling. The underling said Brother Dong was calling him to meet at Maple Forest Evening Hotel. Yang Wei immediately reported this intelligence to Song Xing. Song Xing didn’t send anyone to contact him directly, but instead instructed him through WeChat on what to do next. Song Xing also told him not to be nervous—most likely it wasn’t Mei Dong himself coming, but rather a subordinate sent. Just stay steady, handle it, and don’t arouse suspicion.

He arrived at the hotel lobby, sat down on a sofa to the side, took out his phone, and dialed the underling’s number. After picking up, the underling told him to wait a moment.

Meanwhile, the police were also watching all this in real-time through the hotel’s surveillance cameras.

After a while, a young man in his twenties came out from the hotel elevator, arrived at the lobby rest area. The two glanced at each other a few times. The young man approached and very politely asked: “Are you Yang Wei?”

A plump middle-aged woman sitting by the sofa looked up at them.

Yang Wei nodded: “Yes, I’m Yang Wei.”

The woman turned her head away, thinking how nowadays men who admitted in broad daylight to being impotent were really quite candid. What these two men were meeting here to do was also crystal clear.

Sure enough, the young man immediately said eagerly: “Let’s go upstairs to the room.”

The woman snorted disdainfully in her heart. With the corner of her eye, she watched these two men walk into the elevator.

The young man swiped the elevator card. They went to the eighth floor and entered one of the rooms. Inside was another man with a cold expression. As soon as they met, he extended his hand to block: “Take out your phone.”

“What are you doing?” Yang Wei’s eyes widened, dissatisfaction appearing on his face.

The cold-faced man remained unmoved. The polite younger brother who had led the way smiled and explained: “Brother Yang, Brother Dong’s identity is special now. The two of us are responsible for his safety. If something happens, neither of us will have face to continue in this line. You’re his brother, we hope you’ll understand. We’re doing this for Brother Dong’s good. Please don’t make things difficult for us subordinates.”

One cold and one warm, these two stared at him, but didn’t give him any opportunity to object at all. He pressed his lips together and had to take out his phone and hand it over, thinking that all contact with the Public Security had already been deleted, so there shouldn’t be any problem. The cold-faced man took the phone, then borrowed Yang Wei’s finger to unlock the password, then checked the information inside in front of him. The enthusiastic younger brother on the side repeatedly apologized to him. After flipping through it for several minutes, finding no abnormalities, the cold-faced man turned off the phone and put it in his pocket, telling him it would be returned when he left. Then the cold-faced man searched Yang Wei’s entire body up and down. Only then did the two relax.

Afterward, the young man began probing small talk: “Brother Yang, exactly how did Brother Lin Kai die?”

“Ah, I don’t know either. The police are still investigating. They won’t reveal specific details. What I know is that Lin Kai’s body was discovered in an empty lot, and his car couldn’t be found either.”

“I heard the police also detained you for a day yesterday?”

Yang Wei was startled, knowing Mei Dong had long since learned about everything through his own channels. Song Xing had instructed him not to lie on Mei Dong’s side. Except for cooperating with the police, everything else should be told to the other party honestly, otherwise it would be easy to have flaws. Yang Wei drank some water, sighed angrily: “I almost couldn’t get out after being detained by these thieving police!”

“What happened exactly?” The young man inquired with considerable concern.

“A few days ago after Lin Kai disappeared—we didn’t know he was dead yet—before he disappeared, he was collecting a debt from Fang Guoqing. Brother Dong knows him. Collecting debt from Fang Guoqing. I thought he pressed Fang Guoqing too hard, and Fang Guoqing got someone to deal with Lin Kai. So I went after Fang Guoqing, forced urine into his mouth, trying to make him reveal Lin Kai’s whereabouts. Who knew after I left, Fang Guoqing’s whole family along with workers marched on the street, saying they were oppressed by organized crime. The matter blew up, so the police arrested me. Later Lin Kai’s body was discovered, it became a murder case, so they released me.”

The young man asked with a smile: “But the matter with Fang Guoqing’s side wasn’t settled yet. How did the police release you?”

“Because I gave money! A full three hundred thousand!” Yang Wei said straightforwardly.

“Who did you give money to?”

“Wang Ruijun, the Criminal Investigation Team captain handling this matter. After I was arrested, I quickly used connections to stuff three hundred thousand to him. Otherwise how could I get out so easily? He also said because my case hadn’t been reported to the Procuratorate for approval of arrest yet, he could get me out. If it had been reported to the Procuratorate the next day, no matter how much money I spent, I couldn’t get out.”

These words were naturally taught to him by the police. The police discussed that if Mei Dong had inquired about the situation beforehand, he would inevitably know Yang Wei was arrested by the police then released. Only being released on the same day of arrest could make Mei Dong believe it. Otherwise, if they dragged it out a few days before releasing him, Mei Dong would inquire about the nature of this case, know that once it went to higher levels no amount of money could get him out. Mei Dong would definitely suspect he had become an informant to get out of the police station. The reason for releasing Yang Wei—giving money to the police was the best explanation. But who should he say he gave money to? Zhang Yi’ang personally named him. Wang Ruijun’s character setup was quite suitable. Wang Ruijun raised his hand on the spot and swore, repeatedly stating his position—he had never accepted dirty money. But the script the leader wrote, how could he change it?

The young man nodded. With his knowledge, this reason was very realistic. He thought if Yang Wei were an informant, the Public Security’s script would generally write that some higher-level leader accepted dirty money, not that the supervising leader accepted dirty money.

Yang Wei sighed again: “But I’m also worried in my heart. I came out nominally on bail. If the police continue secretly tracking and investigating me, that would be troublesome. Like me coming here today, I’m worried what if I’m being followed? I don’t matter, I’m just afraid of implicating Brother Dong.”

The young man smiled confidently: “You don’t need to worry about that. There are no police following you.”

At that moment, the phone in the room suddenly rang. The young man instantly put away his smile and made eye contact with Yang Wei, then walked to the telephone and picked it up. A female voice came from inside: “Sir, would you like a massage?”

“Your hotel has massage?”

“We’re on the third floor, the spa center. You can come down to experience it.”

“Oh, no need, thank you.”

After hanging up, the young man chatted idly with him for over ten more minutes, walked into the bathroom, took out his phone and made a call. After a few minutes, he returned to the room and asked: “Brother Yang, come with me to see Brother Dong.”

“Where is Brother Dong?”

“You’ll know when you go.”

After speaking, the cold-faced man walked out the door first, went outside to observe for a while, then came back and knocked on the door three times before leaving first.

Only then did the young man take Yang Wei out. They didn’t take the elevator but walked down the fire escape stairs to the tenth floor, came to a room, and knocked on the door three times. After the door opened, the young man withdrew and entered the adjacent room. Yang Wei entered and saw a man wearing a vest smoking a cigar. Seeing him, the man revealed a familiar smile.

“Wei-zi!” Mei Dong stood up, spread his arms and walked forward, giving Yang Wei a big hug.

“Brother Dong…” Yang Wei looked at him somewhat unfamiliarly.

Mei Dong explained with a smile: “I had plastic surgery a few years ago. It’s quite different from the past. At first even I could barely recognize myself, let alone you. Slowly, you get used to seeing it. How about it, this surgery makes me even more handsome than before, right? Hahaha.”

Although the face was completely different from the Mei Dong in his memory, the voice was still as familiar as in the past. Mei Dong was still like the big brother, warmly greeting him. After so many years apart, the brotherhood was still burning hot. Mei Dong had always been loyal. Thinking about how he was going to betray his big brother, Yang Wei couldn’t help feeling even more ashamed of himself.

“What’s wrong with you?” Mei Dong noticed his emotions were off and also lowered his voice.

Yang Wei could only bow his head and explain: “So many things have happened recently, and Lin Kai is dead. I don’t want to stay in San Jiang Kou anymore either.”

“That’s fine. After Kai’s funeral is done, come to Macau with me. Although I can’t compare to the big bosses there, bringing a few brothers to earn a living is no problem. If you’re really determined to leave, come with me first, then I’ll arrange for your family to come over together later.”

“But once we leave, it’ll be hard to come back in the future.”

“Brother, mixing it up outside isn’t easy, but it’s not as hard as you think either. Take me for example—I know the Public Security is after me. As soon as you told me something happened to Kai, I came immediately. You didn’t expect me to come so fast, did you?”

“Mm… right, how did you come so fast?”

“I was already in Hangzhou these past few days handling some business. So yesterday as soon as I got your call, I hurried over.”

“But… but you’re wanted by the police… how did you return to the country?”

Mei Dong waved his large hand holding the cigar, looking very pleased with himself: “That’s a secret. But since we’re brothers, telling you is fine. I entered through official channels, completely legitimate.”

“Huh?” Yang Wei hadn’t seen much of the world and didn’t know these methods.

“I have some business on the mainland, but if I enter myself, I’ll definitely be arrested. But sometimes I can’t solve things if I don’t come myself. Later I heard from a friend about a method. I found a brother on the mainland. I spent big money on plastic surgery to look like him. Modern plastic surgery technology is really advanced. As long as you’re willing to spend money, you can’t tell from the ID photo at all. Every time I need to enter the country, I have him cross the border to Macau first and stay in Macau. I use his documents to enter the country, finish my business, then go back and exchange back with him. Every year the money spent on this is quite substantial.”

“I see.” Yang Wei heard Mei Dong reveal this deception secret so completely to him. His heart felt even more guilty. Looking at Mei Dong’s eyes, he appeared increasingly uncomfortable.

“Do you have other worries?” Mei Dong’s expression gradually darkened. He read from this subordinate’s expression the abnormality of hiding something from him.

“No… nothing.”

Mei Dong’s eyes watched him. One hand rested on his shoulder, saying solemnly: “We’re brothers. You called me, I came, because I’ve always felt brothers are most important! Tell me the truth. You calling me here—was it the Public Security’s idea?”

“No… no.” Yang Wei immediately panicked. Mei Dong’s pair of eyes saw everything, slowly clenching his teeth.

At that moment, the phone in the room suddenly rang. Mei Dong looked at him warily, hesitated a moment, stood up, and picked up the phone on the desk.

“Hello, sir, do you need a massage?” The voice of spa club manager Zhou Qi came through.

Mei Dong didn’t answer anything and directly hung up the phone.

Just as he was about to hang up the phone, Yang Wei suddenly said: “Brother Dong, it’s good to relax.”

Mei Dong slammed down the phone, immediately showing a fierce look in his eyes: “What did you just call me?”

Yang Wei looked at him fearfully: “Br… Brother Dong.”

“Screw you, you dog! I treat you as a brother, and you’re going to sell me out!” He grabbed the ashtray and threw it at him.

Yang Wei dodged while crying and shouting: “Brother Dong, run quickly! I was also forced into this.”

Mei Dong gritted his teeth and kicked him down to the ground, his fists fiercely pounding his head several times. Seeing his pitiful appearance, he sighed heavily, grabbed his coat and bag, opened the door, and left.

After leaving, Mei Dong walked to the adjacent room and knocked twice. After the two subordinates came out, he said a few words in a low voice. The three came to the stairwell passage without surveillance. He threw his coat and vest to the cold-faced man to wear. The cold-faced man threw his own clothes to Mei Dong to change into. Then the cold-faced man walked out of the stairwell passage and quickly walked toward the elevator. Mei Dong and his follower went down the stairs. Just as they reached the fifth floor, they heard urgent footsteps rushing up from below. Mei Dong gave the follower a look. The follower nodded forcefully, said “Brother Dong, take care,” and the follower deliberately made very loud footsteps fleeing upstairs. Mei Dong flashed out to the outside of the stairwell passage. A few seconds later, he saw Song Xing leading three plainclothes officers chasing the subordinate upstairs.

After they left, Mei Dong quickly flashed downstairs, following the stairs all the way to the underground parking lot. He knew that since the police had set up to catch him, the outside of the hotel must also be full of police. Whether walking or getting a car, he couldn’t get out. He looked around and saw a pile of hotel trash cans in a corner opposite, with a garbage truck parked beside them. He smiled slightly, a plan forming in his mind.

At this time, only Zhang Yi’ang, one police officer, was in the hotel’s underground parking lot. Wang Ruijun and others were deployed outside the hotel. Song Xing was upstairs catching people. He sat alone in a civilian vehicle, commanding all parties’ actions in real-time. Zhang Yi’ang saw a man walk out of the stairwell. Mei Dong had already undergone plastic surgery—his appearance was completely different from the wanted poster. Zhang Yi’ang originally hadn’t paid attention, but seeing this cleanly dressed man look around before heading straight toward that pile of trash cans, he couldn’t help quietly observing him. He saw the man walk to the back of the garbage truck, look around in all directions, then nimbly climb into the transport container behind the garbage truck and hide.

Zhang Yi’ang immediately realized this person was one of the criminals. He quickly got out of the car, jogging with small steps to the back of the garbage truck.

Mei Dong heard the rapidly approaching footsteps and knew someone was coming abnormally. So he took out a dagger from his pocket, gripped it firmly in his hand, concentrating fully on guarding against the approaching person.

The person outside had already slowed their footsteps. The footsteps were very light, approaching this direction. Mei Dong’s palm secretly exerted force, ready to strike directly if the situation wasn’t right. Suddenly, it went dark in front of him. He saw the lid of the garbage transport container flip completely down, then heard the sound of the latch bolt locking down.

Zhang Yi’ang dusted off his hands, effortlessly locking Mei Dong firmly in the garbage transport container.

More than ten minutes later, Song Xing and several other detectives escorted two subordinates to the underground parking lot to meet with Zhang Yi’ang. Song Xing’s face had scraped skin, and his body was covered in dust. He said during the arrest someone had kicked him down the stairs. Of course those two subordinates had more injuries on their faces—presumably they were beaten back by Song Xing later.

Song Xing looked dejected: “Mei Dong ran away. These two bastards won’t confess where he went.” He turned and slapped the cold-faced man on the head. “Where exactly is your boss hiding? If you don’t say, watch how I beat you!”

The cold-faced man spat bloody saliva, looking ready to die: “I don’t know. My boss never came to San Jiang Kou at all.”

“Director, Yang Wei said Mei Dong was just here. He had plastic surgery, so Yang Wei didn’t recognize him at first. I think he might still be hiding in the hotel. Captain Wang is mobilizing people to seal off the hotel. We must not let him escape!”

“Plastic surgery?” Zhang Yi’ang thought it through and understood. “Then the one I caught is most likely Mei Dong!”

“What! Director, you caught Mei Dong?”

Zhang Yi’ang walked over and patted the garbage truck: “I locked the person inside. —Hey, you in there, are you Mei Dong?”

Mei Dong heard the conversation outside crystal clear. Both subordinates were caught. Outside was full of police. Now even if he said I’m not Mei Dong, I’m Messi, he couldn’t escape. A dejected voice came from the transport container: “I’m Mei Dong.”

When the two subordinates heard this voice, their expressions immediately changed. When the police saw this expression, they knew the person locked inside was definitely Mei Dong. A pile of detectives trying to catch Mei Dong let him run away. Song Xing was even beaten black and blue by the other’s subordinate. But Director Zhang barehanded and fighting alone captured Mei Dong, threw him into a garbage container, and locked him up. In an instant, this big news spread throughout all the WeChat groups inside San Jiang Kou Public Security Bureau. Police throughout the city were filled with respectful awe.