Chapter 37

Liu Handong still sought out the person he trusted the most first. Although he hadn't confessed his feelings yet, Ma Ling was already considered his girlfriend. On the phone, she heard him talk about the three-wheeler being seized and destroyed, and scolded him: "Don't you know the city is cracking down on unlicensed three-wheelers? You're just asking for trouble! What do you plan to do now? I have thirteen thousand in my card, you can use it."

"I don't need that much. I was thinking, does your Baozou E Clan have any old motorcycle engines or something? I want to borrow them to build a motorcycle myself." Liu Handong was deeply moved. Ma Ling had only been working for a short time, and her savings were definitely not much. She was willing to help him with all her savings, and this gesture was priceless.

"Of course, we have them. But just an engine won't be enough. I have an idea. Go to the auto parts market, you'll be surprised," Ma Ling said with a smile.

Following Ma Ling's arrangement, Liu Handong first went to the Baozou E Clan club. In the warehouse, he picked out a scrapped Yamaha 125 motorcycle engine and the remains of two motorcycles. Then he went to the auto parts market to buy a bunch of wires, light bulbs, motorcycle disc brakes, and other parts. Finally, he went to the adjacent material market to buy some iron pipes, iron sheets, and plastic boards. All these things were transported to the Baichi Auto Repair Shop on Iron Slag Street for assembly.

With Chen Baichi's assistance, Liu Handong pieced together a three-wheeler. After adding some gasoline to the tank and starting the engine, it roared to life. Despite being over ten years old, it was still a Japanese import, and the sound was quite impressive.

Liu Handong took the vehicle for a spin around the street. The exhaust pipe, without a muffler, emitted a deafening roar. The rusty, peculiar three-wheeler looked like something from a post-apocalyptic world, drawing curious glances from passersby.

The vehicle's performance was good. Liu Handong painted it red and welded a fully enclosed cargo compartment. He didn't plan to keep it; it was custom-made for Wang Zhigang.

By midnight, the vehicle was finally completed. The paint was still wet, so it was temporarily parked in Chen Baichi's backyard. Liu Handong went home to sleep, feeling relieved that the motorcycle issue was resolved. He slept soundly until the next morning, when his phone woke him up. It was a message from Ma Ling, asking him to come to the bus company and to dress nicely.

Liu Handong immediately got up, changed into new clothes, and hurriedly took the 520 bus to the bus company. Ma Ling kept sending messages to check on his whereabouts. Finally, he arrived at the terminal, where Ma Ling was already waiting. She pulled him into the captain's office.

The captain was a middle-aged man in his forties, with a stubbly beard and a tall build. He shook hands with Liu Handong, asked a few simple questions, and then said, "I heard from Sister Li that you're good at repairing vehicles. How about you start working in the maintenance department? The base salary is 1,400 yuan per month, plus bonuses and overtime. We're a government unit, very formal."

Ma Ling winked at Liu Handong, hinting that he should accept the offer.

"Sure, thank you, Captain," Liu Handong said.

"Go get started. I'll inform the company's HR department and have you sign a contract," the captain said, then left. Ma Ling took Liu Handong to the maintenance workshop, introduced him to the workers, and instructed him to work hard before heading off to work.

The colleagues were very friendly. The team leader gave him a blue canvas work uniform. Before starting work, he watched the masters at their tasks. Liu Handong was very humble and low-key, offering cigarettes to everyone, not boasting, and diligently learning from the masters.

After about half an hour, an unfamiliar man approached and nodded at Liu Handong, saying, "Come with me."

Liu Handong thought it was a superior and followed him to the back of the building. The man coldly said, "Stay away from Ma Ling."

"Why?" Liu Handong was immediately angry but still kept his composure.

"Ma Ling is my girlfriend. She had a falling out with me, and you took advantage of the situation. Be sensible and leave, don't be a third wheel," the man continued.

Liu Handong sneered, "Who are you? Ma Ling's boyfriend? You're dreaming in broad daylight."

The man got angry, "Let me tell you the truth. Ma Ling is already mine. We've been to bed together, and she's had an abortion for me. Even if you get her, she's second-hand."

"Slap!" A crisp slap left five clear finger marks on the man's left cheek. His mouth tasted sweet, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, along with a broken tooth.

"Someone's hitting me!" The man turned and ran, shouting as he went. The colleagues came out to watch, and soon the leadership was alerted.

Ten minutes later, Liu Handong stood before the captain.

"You started the fight and swelled Bian Xiangqiang's face, right?" the captain said.

"Yes," Liu Handong didn't bother to defend himself. He guessed that Bian Xiangqiang was one of Ma Ling's suitors, who, unable to win her, had slandered her. Such a person deserved a beating.

The captain said, "The company has strict rules against fighting. You can go home for now. We'll reconsider the contract."

"It's my own fault. Don't trouble yourself. I'll leave. Thank you, Captain, and thank Sister Li for me," Liu Handong said.

And just like that, Liu Handong was fired after working for half an hour.

...

At the Criminal Investigation Division of the Public Security Bureau, Wang Xing was chatting with Wan Xudong.

"The Gu family is in a terrible state. Almost overnight, both sons are gone. How can they go on living?" Wang Xing said.

"White-haired people sending off black-haired people, it's truly tragic. But it was inevitable. Gu Changjun played too big a game. If he didn't die, who would?" Wan Xudong agreed.

Wang Xing blinked, "Old Wan, there's something in your words. What really happened to Gu Changjun? Is the bureau not investigating in secret?"

Wan Xudong said, "The forensic doctor examined him. He died of a heart attack."

Wang Xing said, "So the线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索线索