Chapter 14: Thoughts on a Chaotic Society

  Several months later, at a dinner table, I once asked Xiao Ge, asking him why Li Kunzi dared to shoot and kill people, but was eventually subdued and became afraid. What's strange is that after Li Kunzi became afraid, why didn't Xiao Ge continue to smash the store?

  Xiao Ge smiled and said, "Little Fei, little brother is here to help big brother solve troubles, not find them. If I continued to bully Li Baozi at the time, he would have definitely played with my life, and if things went wrong, I would have died too, which would have been troublesome. Moreover, Li Baozi didn't even think of shooting people to death, if he really wanted to shoot someone dead, no matter how fast I chopped with a knife, I couldn't stop him at all, he was just intimidating. When people reach a certain status, they will be very fond of their own life, I am a small mixed-race person without any background, he is a well-known social big brother for many years, his assets are enough for his family to squander for generations, and fundamentally not on the same level as me. He didn't fight with me because he looked down on me, in the end, he wasn't afraid, but just wanted to find an excuse to leave this bloody world. I chopped him twice, and he exchanged it for a lifetime of stability in his second half, what a cost-effective deal!"

  I didn't quite understand what Xiaoge said at the time, and I continued to ask: "Li Baozi's black lottery business is so profitable, how can he bear to give it up?"

  "This is also what I admire most about Li Baozi, he can control his desires very well, which is also the key to his successful retirement. People, when they don't have money, want to mix with society, and when they have money, they want to quit the underworld, haha, but how many people can be like Li Baozi, who can retire after achieving success?" Xiong Ge seemed to be talking about Li Baozi, but also seemed to be talking about himself.

  At that time, I thought about Ah Xiong's words for a long time. Many years later, when I also became the "big brother" in people's eyes, I finally understood the many hidden meanings behind his words. At that time, I was already beyond my control, but this is another story, let's not digress and get back to the main topic.

  I followed Fei Ge to a small private hospital on the outskirts of the city, and helped them into the hospital, with Xu Ge having already called ahead, there was a doctor waiting for us in the lobby.

  Several nurses and doctors pushed the three injured young men into the operating room. Xiaoge smiled at me and said slowly, "Xiaofei, I didn't misjudge you. You guys are quite good, much better than those who charge 200 yuan per person. Although you couldn't help me, I appreciate your kindness!"

  "No way, I've got to charge 300 yuan for the appearance fee, we're not in the same league!" I joked.

  "Haha, interesting! Slowly, I'll find out what kind of person Zhang Xu is, no need for me to say it myself!" Xiong Ge said, putting his arm around my neck.

  "I've never admired anyone, but you, Xiaoge, are absolutely one!" I said seriously.

  "Heh heh, I know, Xiao Fei, do you have something to attend to later?" Xiong Ge suddenly remembered something, patted his head and said slowly.

  Although I really wanted to go to the flower shop, I shook my head and said, "Nothing's wrong, what's up?"

  "Go help me wipe the car, there are some bloodstains inside. Let them use a rag to wipe it clean, don't use water to flush it out, and don't mess with the things in the car. It doesn't matter if it takes more time!" Xugong said somewhat seriously.

  My head is spinning, I'm speechless. I think to myself, "Sir, your car doesn't need any more cleaning, don't touch anything inside, it can't get any messier than this, right?"

  "Zhang Xu, hurry up and get stitched inside!" a doctor shouted.

  "Go ahead, there's money in the glove compartment of the co-pilot room. Just swipe it and come back to stop at the door for me. It may take some time here, contact me by phone if something comes up!" Xuguo said, limping into the operating room.

  I drove this broken-down car, wandering around everywhere, and finally found a repair shop. I slowly stopped the car at the entrance, just as I was about to get out, when the boss sitting at the door drinking tea shouted: "Get lost! We don't accept scrap metal here!"

  My face was flushed with embarrassment, earlier I had helped Ah-hsiao and his friends, and my clothes were stained with blood. I took off my outer garment in the car, steeled myself and got out of the car, saying: "I'm here to wash cars!"

  "What?!" Everyone stared at me as if I were an alien.

  "I'm here to wash the car!" I said calmly.

  "Little brother, I'll give you some advice. Walk a hundred meters forward and there's a scrap metal collection station. Sell this car and you can drink for a month. Just by listening to the sound, I know it's a miracle if this car can even start up. Who knows when it might explode? What's the point of repairing it?" This boss is also a weirdo, talks too much nonsense.

  "You're telling me that you have business but aren't doing it, are you afraid I won't pay?!" I said with some displeasure and a slightly sharp tone.

  "You see I'm doing this for your own good, but you're still not happy, fine, swipe once and it's 100!"

  "What's wrong with you? Are you trying to rob me?"

  "Little brother, I'll wash your car for you. At least ten kilograms of mud will be washed off. This price is already very favorable!"

  "I'll give you 200, you wipe off the bloodstains inside, remember not to mess up the things inside, okay?"

  "Go on, you'll be fine!"

  I took out 200 yuan from the glove compartment of the car and handed it to him. Then, I leaned against the car, lit a cigarette, and thought about today's fight. I felt quite emotional, as before I had always thought that being in the underworld was just about fighting, being tougher than others, although it was a bit dangerous, but not life-threatening.

  But what I saw and heard today completely negated this idea. It turns out that although the surface of society is bright and beautiful, and making money is extremely fast, possibly in a year's time, it can be comparable to the results of your hard work in a certain industry for ten years.

  But the risk is also growing exponentially, and with one misstep, you'll be greeted by an abyss of thousands of feet. Big Brother's phone call, no matter what you're doing, whether sleeping, eating, or rolling around in bed with your wife, you have to obediently pick up the machete and go out to fight. It's possible that before leaving the house, you were still a living being, but maybe the next second, you'll be lying in the morgue.

  There's a saying: "You're just bragging, but you never know when you might accidentally get it right!"

  People in a chaotic society are like those who overdraw their own lives, betting on the future and career with their lives. If they succeed, they will be admired by all, but if they fail, they will end up dead on the streets, their bodies shattered to pieces.

  Although at that time I was a little afraid of this road in my heart, the hot blood of youth was heavier. Under my calm appearance, there was an uneasy heart, which is also the reason why I gradually walked on this path.

  I later kept thinking back on it and I probably had the idea of wanting to go out into society and mix around a bit from that day on.

  Before long, the car was washed and I stopped it at the hospital entrance. I found that Xiao Ge wasn't there, his friend said he went to see Hei Ge. I handed over the keys to them, picked up the coat in the car, and suddenly thought of something.

  "Damn, I forgot! I'm done for... Didn't go to kick the ball tonight, Mr. Cao De Shuang is going to kill me!" As soon as I thought of this, a chill ran down my spine, and I hailed a taxi, rushing to school at top speed.

  PS: Some people may feel that this chapter is a bit tedious, but I don't think so. I'm not writing this book as a fantasy, but as a bloody account of my experiences in the Jianghu world. I want to write out the process of change within me, and that inner struggle is very important. There won't be anyone who wants to mix with society and rush to their death immediately. I hope everyone will like this writing style, and savor it carefully - this book won't disappoint you.