Early in the morning, Brother Gang and Xiao Mao appeared on a road next to the passenger transport station, dragging the suitcase containing Liu Bei’s corpse.
San Jiang Kou’s passenger transport station and train station were built diagonally across from each other, with a shared large plaza between them. To the west of the plaza was a street lined with various chaotic shops and small hotels. Privately operated long-distance buses also regularly solicited customers in several open spaces behind that street. To the south of the plaza was a bus terminal, and the entire area formed a hub connecting San Jiang Kou to other cities. Like most areas near stations, this place was filled with flowing crowds day and night, and the environment was complex.
To the south of this area was a high, protruding elevated section with a road on top. At this moment, Brother Gang and Xiao Mao were crouching at the edge of this road, hiding behind planter boxes and carefully observing the station situation below.
Looking at the endless stream of people near the bus terminal in the distance, Brother Gang and Xiao Mao’s tense mood relaxed slightly. With so many pedestrians and vehicles, their two unremarkable figures shouldn’t be noticed by anyone.
“In a bit we’ll take the suitcase and go down those stairs,” Brother Gang pointed to a flight of stairs beside them. The stairs were about seven or eight meters high, and walking down would lead to the road below. “We’ll walk straight to the bus station, get on a bus to Dong Qian Lake Station. After getting off, we’ll go to the mountains beside Dong Qian Lake, find a deserted place, dig a big pit, and bury the entire suitcase. Remember, when we get to the bus station, don’t be nervous. We need to keep a low profile and not let anyone notice us.”
“Understood!” Xiao Mao immediately agreed, then suddenly thought of something. “Brother Gang, very few people go to Dong Qian Lake early in the morning. If we get on the bus now, after a few stops there’ll probably only be the two of us left on the bus.”
Brother Gang’s brows furrowed. He thought that while many people came from the suburbs to the city early in the morning, very few went from the city to the suburbs—something he hadn’t considered before.
“How about we wait a bit longer, until nine o’clock. By then many elderly men and women living near Dong Qian Lake will have finished buying groceries and shopping, and will take the bus back.”
Brother Gang looked at his watch. It was already eight-fifteen. Waiting another half hour or so wasn’t difficult. For safety’s sake, better to wait.
The two continued crouching in place waiting for a while, when they heard a conversation from the road below.
“Brother Chao, that car was valuable—just abandoning it like that?”
“That car was stolen, and we killed the person. If we keep driving that car, something will happen sooner or later—more loss than gain.”
“Do you think that person’s corpse will be discovered?”
“Discovery is just a matter of time. By then we won’t be in San Jiang Kou anymore. With the limited capabilities of the San Jiang Kou police, they won’t be able to find us.—Like this, you wait here for me. I’ll go nearby to find an unlicensed car to hire. In a bit we’ll get in the car together, and once we’re out of San Jiang Kou we’ll be completely safe.”
After Fang Chao left, Liu Zhi set down the suitcase containing one million US dollars by his feet, pulled out a rice ball, leaned against the wall eating the rice ball while patiently waiting, completely unaware of the two heads quietly peeking out from between the planter boxes above.
“Brother Gang, these two have blood on their hands,” Xiao Mao said in a low voice.
Brother Gang nodded, squinted his eyes in thought for a moment, then moved close to Xiao Mao’s ear and said: “Then let’s add one more death to their count.”
Xiao Mao chuckled. The two men retreated a few steps in tacit understanding before standing up, picked up their suitcase, and walked down the stairs to the road below. Brother Gang in front, Xiao Mao behind—the two pretended to be travelers in a hurry. When passing by Liu Zhi, they stopped. Brother Gang put on an honest smile toward Liu Zhi: “Big brother, can I ask, is there a cheap small hotel nearby?”
As soon as Liu Zhi saw strangers approaching him, he immediately became vigilant. But seeing these two men’s sleazy appearance and that they were dragging a suitcase, they definitely weren’t plainclothes police—no plainclothes officer would drag a suitcase when making an arrest—so he lowered his guard. He originally didn’t want to bother with them, but then remembered Fang Chao’s warning to keep a low profile when out, avoid trouble, and not offend people, so he answered them patiently: “I don’t know. I’m also from out of town.”
Brother Gang sighed: “Hotels in Zhejiang are all too expensive, can’t afford them. We’ve looked around and can’t find anything cheap.”
“You should go look somewhere else. Be careful of shady establishments near the station.”
“You’re right, big brother.” Brother Gang pulled out a cigarette and offered it to Liu Zhi. “Thanks, big brother.”
Liu Zhi declined: “No need, no need.”
Brother Gang enthusiastically extended it: “Big brother, please take it.”
Liu Zhi stepped back slightly and refused: “I don’t smoke, thank you.”
Brother Gang glanced at Xiao Mao from the corner of his eye and put the cigarette away: “Alright then, thanks big brother, goodbye!”
Liu Zhi watched the two leave, an ominous premonition rising in his heart. He looked around but couldn’t pinpoint what it was, so he could only continue eating his rice ball.
After a few minutes, Fang Chao jogged back to their spot and said in a low voice: “We can’t leave today. The police are doing inspections—the whole area around the station is under control.”
“Zhou Rong reported us to the police?”
Fang Chao frowned and pondered for a moment: “Not sure. Logically, since I took Zhou Rong’s USB drive, he wouldn’t dare report to the police. However, he’s the wealthiest person here, and there must be many San Jiang Kou officials who took bribes on that USB drive. Maybe they’re colluding with the police, and even if the USB drive falls into police hands, the police will return it to him.”
“Then what do we do?”
“Cars and trains definitely won’t work. Let’s go back first, and I’ll think of another way.”
The two returned the way they came. Liu Zhi picked up the suitcase but stopped after just two steps, blurting out: “Something’s wrong!” He looked at the case in shock. It was the same black suitcase, with the same brand and design—even the front and back looked completely identical—except the size was one size larger, and when lifted it was incredibly heavy, probably a hundred pounds! Liu Zhi’s eyes slowly widened, his expression changing dramatically. After a few seconds, he cried out in alarm: “Those damn sons of bitches!”
Fang Chao stared at him with a grave expression, also looking at the suitcase.
“The suitcase was switched by two bastards!”
Fang Chao instantly pounced on the suitcase to examine it. This was originally a suitcase from the same batch that Zhu Yifei had bought and modified. The one containing the US dollars and the one containing the cultural relics were completely identical except for being one size different—no wonder neither of them noticed at first. Fang Chao’s entire face instantly turned deathly pale, while Liu Zhi, his face flushed red, recounted the incident of the two bastards asking him for directions.
Fang Chao clenched his fists tightly, his bulging eyes glaring fiercely at Liu Zhi. He forcefully controlled his fists and said coldly: “That kind of street thug routine—are you a pig-brained idiot to fall for that!”
“I… Brother Chao, it’s all my fault. You can kill me, and I’d accept it willingly!” Liu Zhi was so angry at having the hard-earned US dollars switched by two small-time thieves that he wanted to kill himself. He raised his hand and slapped himself across the face several times until both cheeks were red and blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
“Enough! What good would killing you do!” Fang Chao knocked his hand away, took several deep breaths to clear his head a bit. At this point, no amount of blame would help—the only option was to find a way to locate the small-time thieves who switched the cases.
Fang Chao lifted the suitcase, feeling the weight inside, and said in a low voice: “Come on, take the suitcase back to the hotel first. Let’s see if there are any clues about these two inside, and then we’ll get our money back!”