Special Forces Medic-Chapter 609 - 572: A Wise Man Submits to Circumstances
Hua Qingyi glanced at Xiao Lin, then took over the conversation. "Your primary contact Lin Zhifang is already detained in Dragon Soul, and your main connection Wang Zhanting has publicly announced that he will no longer interfere with anyone or anything in the Wang Family, completely severing ties. As for Wang Zhantian, he might still help you, but under such circumstances, who do you think will still extend a helping hand to you?"
"Impossible, just yesterday they still..." A careless slip of the tongue was swallowed back.
"Oh, there was contact even yesterday? Does this mean our respectful Minister Wang is also involved? Young Master Hua, you can proceed with the Wang Family’s case now, it’s a good chance to take them all down, no need to leave anything behind."
"That’s exactly my intention."
"Wait a minute!" Hearing the seamless back-and-forth between the two, Wang Canghai completely lost his composure. If the Wang Family falls, those in the underworld won’t pay him any mind; they would reach out to him like robbers or thieves. "Let me think."
Xiao Lin politely handed over a good cigarette, walked up to Wang Canghai, and patted him on the shoulder.
"A wise person recognizes the times, you Wang Family folks should know best what kind of person Fatty Wang is. Standing at the top, does he care about you all underground making money for him?
Think carefully, Wang Zhantian is Fatty Wang’s father, deeply displeased over his son’s death, would he still back you up? Although the Wang Family is now just an empty shell, feeding those old men is more than enough. If we really investigate seriously, just look at Wang Zhanting’s daily expenses and the properties in his hands.
His civil servant salary isn’t even enough to renovate a bathroom in his house, even without embezzlement or bribery involved, you know the sources of the money are questionable." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
"No matter what, the Wang Family is in business, it’s only rightful for uncles and nephews to give money to the family." It seems Wang Canghai had a good impression of Wang Zhanting, otherwise, he wouldn’t have said such a thing. Xiao Lin exchanged a glance with Hua Qingyi; dealing with Wang Zhanting would be much easier than with Wang Zhantian.
"That’s true in personal terms, but from a public perspective, it’s easy to accuse you of bribery. Is your Wang Family’s business methods that clean?" Xiao Lin chuckled twice as he said this. "These things are known between us; should we bring them to light now?"
"Haha!" Wang Canghai didn’t mind Xiao Lin’s sharpness, exhaling a puff of smoke. Compared to the earlier tension and panic, he was much calmer now, resembling an experienced underworld boss, slowing down everyone’s rhythm.
Xiao Lin was aware of this but was not in a hurry. He calmly watched Wang Canghai; what comes too easily offers a lack of security. "Though I’m a branch of the Wang Family, like you said, having them as my backing, that’s all. Nothing more than that, I suppose you two are well-prepared. Our Elder made his fortune in the dark; everyone knows that, and there’s nothing wrong with following the old path since we, the younger generation, didn’t get education. What’s wrong with that?"
"I’m not interested in the path you take. Wang Zhantian secretly contacting the Italian Mafia is no fabrication, then where did your contraband drugs come from? If you claim no connection with the Wang Family, trying to take it all on your own, I won’t oppose. Discuss it publicly or privately, your choice."
"Italian Mafia?" Wang Canghai exclaimed, his level of surprise arousing Xiao Lin’s suspicion.
Fatty Wang’s destination was Italy, and the Elder had connections with the Mafia early on, a channel known to few outside, understood by only a few within the Wang Family. It seems Wang Zhanting and his brothers weren’t that concerned with financial paths, and thinking of this, he couldn’t help a cold snort in his heart.
"Why are you so surprised?" Xiao Lin retorted. "Didn’t you know? Tsk tsk, what a pity."
"Don’t sow discord."
"Heh, it seems Mr. Wang has made up his mind. Your loyalty to the Wang Family makes me look at you differently, but that’s all. You seem smart but are no more than a fool." Xiao Lin clapped his hands, losing interest to continue. "You may leave."
"What?" Wang Canghai looked at Xiao Lin, puzzled, unsure of the truth in his words.
"Don’t understand Chinese? You may leave."
"Then..."
"Now, even if you want to do business, I’m not interested anymore, leave!" Xiao Lin signaled Hua Qingyi to open the door and escort Wang Canghai out.
As the door opened, with a thud, a figure suddenly collapsed at Hua Qingyi’s feet, this unexpected turn of events stunned the three in the room.
"What are you doing here?" Hua Qingyi lifted the guesthouse owner off the ground like picking up a chick. After kindly tidying up his clothes, he spoke slowly, "Were you eavesdropping?"
"No, no, no!" The owner frantically shook his hands. "I wasn’t trying to listen, I just happened to come up about a billing issue and didn’t expect you guys to be having a conversation inside, so I..."
"...just stood outside the door." Hua Qingyi finished his sentence for him, her beautiful eyes darting over the owner’s face.
"Please don’t look at me like that, it’s making me feel uneasy. I really didn’t hear anything, nothing." The owner felt flustered under her gaze; being made to blush by a handsome man at his age was a first.
"You came just in time, could you help us take that person out?" Hua Qingyi pointed to Wang Canghai sitting on the stool. "To downstairs."
Wang Canghai jumped up from the stool—it was them letting him go, not him trying to escape. "You’re the one letting me go, I’m not running away." Before leaving, he made sure to repeat to Xiao Lin, afraid he might change his mind.
Xiao Lin simply curled his lips at him with a subdued expression. His dark eyes seemed to see right through him, and even without speaking, his mere presence was terrifying. Wang Canghai couldn’t spare any more thoughts, getting out of here was already difficult enough.
"Time to start the action." Xiao Lin mouthed to Hua Qingyi, who understood his cue clearly. "Tell the owner we need a new room. This one is filthy."
Dan Qing returned to the guesthouse at six in the evening, carrying a lot of stuff, fully loaded, you could say. Hua Qingyi was at a loss for words, pointing to a long milky-white object she had bought—it seemed the woman actually bought it!
He looked wistfully at the culprit, Xiao Lin just smiled silently. To soothe Hua Qingyi’s bruised ego, he added, "Normal men sometimes need a boost, extra energy benefits everyone. If you won’t drink it, I will."
Upon hearing this, Dan Qing’s face turned red immediately. She went to the front desk, hoping to borrow the kitchen. Although it wasn’t allowed, the instant Hua Qingyi looked at her, she agreed.
The guesthouse was clean and tidy, and very quiet. The meals were edible; they had dined in far worse places. But Dan Qing still wanted to cook personally for them. Knowing the special nature of their identities, she didn’t want them to miss out on a good meal when it was within her ability to provide one.
"Bro, having Dan Qing around is really nice."
"You’ve already let her win over your stomach," Xiao Lin teased Hua Qingyi and sat at the dining table. It started to rain lightly outside once more, truly a streak of gloomy weather recently. He peered out the window, where from the guesthouse dining area, he could see the police station at the corner of the street, a figure standing at the entrance with hands behind his back—it seemed like Director Zhao.
"Boss!" Xiao Lin called to the owner who was reading a newspaper at the counter. "Come over for a seat, have a little drink with us, and taste her cooking."
"Oh, how can I possibly deserve this!" said the guesthouse owner, who easily forgot things and didn’t mention a word of the earlier incident either to Hua Qingyi.
"We’re staying here for some time, and will have to borrow the kitchen, so it’s only right to invite you for a meal." Xiao Lin passed him a cigarette.
"Oh, then how long are you staying? The weekend is coming, and I have regulars reserving rooms." Hearing these guests would be staying longer made him anxious.
"From what you’re saying, business here must be good." Dan Qing had brought out the first dish, and she really looked like a chef in her kitchen attire.
"This color is several times better than what our family chef can make." The owner didn’t hesitate to try a bite. "Genuinely delicious." He suddenly left the table, came back with a bottle of aged yellow wine from under the counter. "We Chinese drink this; I’ll go warm it up, can’t enjoy it cold."
The guesthouse owner was fond of a drink, and on meeting someone like Hua Qingyi, who never gets drunk, it was his misfortune. Xiao Lin doesn’t touch alcohol at all, no matter how the owner tried to persuade him. In the end, it was a brotherly drink-off with the pretty man, exchanging cups without many words, just plain drinking.
"Boss, how long have you been running this place? Your decor looks pretty new." Xiao Lin gestured for Dan Qing to join them, but she waved him off and headed upstairs. She was perceptive, and despite Xiao Lin not explaining, with her experience she understood the nature of this meal. She preferred not to get involved.
"Really? I just had it remodeled; the old setup couldn’t be used anymore. Plus, young people today love trendy styles. If I don’t change, how could I compete with the hotel across the street?" With wine, the dialogue flowed more freely. The owner looked tipsy, but it seemed he could still drink a bit more. (To be continued. If you like this story, you’re welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
