Tianjin, starting with unorthodox methods to achieve immortality

One mile east of East Street is the headquarters of the dock gang.

It was called a residence, but it was actually just a two-courtyard house with a gate facing the street, where two lazy dogs would squat year-round.

The courtyard wall was made of blue bricks and was half a foot higher than the walls of ordinary houses. Broken glass was stuck on the top of the wall.

The shadow of the old locust tree in the courtyard obliquely covered half of the yard.

Two large vats stood in the corner, filled with goldfish. A layer of duckweed floated on the surface, with red and white fish swimming underneath. People who approached didn't even notice them.

Han Jinbao stood in the shadows, scattering fish food into the tank.

Several red and white goldfish floated to the surface, their mouths opening and closing, huddled together.

He stared at the fish for a long time without turning around.

"More than a dozen people have gone missing, and a group of people have been investigating for a month, but they still don't know who the killer is?"

San Lengzi behind him swallowed hard. "No, they all disappeared in the middle of the night. The next morning, the woman in Wang Mazi's house said that they hadn't returned all night."

"The brothers have gone through all the people Wang Mazi has offended, and now only the family in Willow Leaf Lane, whose house he threw a note at, hasn't dared to go to.

Which building in Liuye Lane?

"That gray building, with high walls and a kerosene lamp at the entrance," San Lengzi said with a troubled expression. "I heard it belongs to the inspection bureau."

Upon hearing the words "Inspection Bureau," Han Jinbao paused in his fish-feeding motion.

"The Inspection Bureau? Have you been able to find out who it is?"

"Cannot be found."

San Lengzi shook his head. "I knew he was a young man who lived alone and rarely went out. The neighbors couldn't say anything about him, they only knew that his surname was Chen."

Han Jinbao remained silent.

The goldfish flipped over in the tank, its tail flicking out a small splash of water.

"Just a dozen or so lives," Han Jinbao said slowly, his voice indifferent. "Normally, if someone dies, they're dead. It's not a big deal."

San Lengzi was stunned and didn't know how to reply.

Han Jinbao patted the fish food crumbs off his hands before turning his head.

The sun was shining obliquely, and he squinted his eyes into slits.

"But why did it have to be Wang Mazi who died? With that bastard dead, we're in big trouble."

Han Jinbao stood up, put his hands behind his back, and walked into the house. "He is actually the brother-in-law of Minister Sun of the Green Gang."

San Lengzi's foot stopped.

"This man caused trouble in the foreign concession and offended a big shot. Minister Sun couldn't control him, so he sent him here to lay low."

Han Jinbao stepped over the threshold, and his voice came from the main room, "We had agreed that I would stay here quietly for half a year, and then go back and do whatever I wanted."

San Lengzi stood in the courtyard, not daring to go in. "Then... what should we say to Minister Sun?"

"How should I put it?"

Han Jinbao sat down inside, picked up the teapot, and took a sip. "He's nowhere to be found, neither alive nor dead. How am I supposed to tell him?"

"Tell him that our dockworker gang of over a dozen people vanished overnight without a trace, without even a sound?"

He slammed the teapot on the table. "Do you think Minister Sun would believe me if I said that?"

San Lengzi opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.

"Go, find two people to keep an eye on that young man and see if he goes out these days, whether he buys groceries, or takes out the trash."

"Yes," San Lengzi replied, turning to leave.

"Wait, come back."

Han Jinbao came out of the main room and stood on the steps. He was backlit, so his face was not visible.

"Is Wang Mazi's lover still around?"

San Lengzi recalled for a moment, "Yes, that woman is still here, but something's not quite right."

"Something's not right?"

"He doesn't speak, and no matter what you ask, he just shakes his head or nods, like he's lost his soul."

"Take her with you; come see Minister Sun tonight."

"The latest plot developments regarding the Bureau of Investigation: Click to follow. We can't afford to mess with them, and neither can we afford to mess with the Green Gang..."

--------

The next day, Chen Mo stood on the steps of the courtyard, looking at the drizzling rain falling from the sky, and couldn't help but frown.

Buy a car, you absolutely must buy a car.

Once these thoughts arise, they're like rain, impossible to stop.

However, buying a car can't be rushed.

Helpless, he opened his umbrella, grabbed the long strip of cloth wrapped around his sword, and stepped into the rain.

The alley was damp, with puddles one after another.

Walk around the puddle, then walk another half mile to the alley entrance, and you'll reach the tram stop.

A few people were scattered on the platform, some wearing long gowns and others wearing shorts, all hunching their necks to avoid the rain.

An old woman selling cigarettes squatted under the shed, covering her cigarette boxes with an oilcloth, her shoulder half exposed, soaked through but she didn't move.

Chen Mo held the long strip of cloth upright against his lap, with the edge of the umbrella pulled low, and didn't look in that direction.

The tram rattled through the rain, its roof steaming and its windows fogged up.

The door opened, and a warm breeze carrying the scent of moisture and sweat rushed out.

He went upstairs and found a seat by the window, sitting down with a long strip of cloth held vertically between his legs.

The tram swayed and rattled westward.

Rain pattered against the car window, streaming down in streaks.

The street scene outside was blurred into a hazy gray mist. Occasionally, you could see pedestrians with umbrellas walking close to the wall, or a rickshaw speeding by, splashing mud and water all around.

When we arrived at the station, the rain had lessened and turned into a drizzle.

Chen Mo got out of the car and walked towards the Inspection Bureau, carrying the long strip of cloth.

The gray gatehouse of the inspection bureau is just ahead.

Several cars were parked at the entrance.

Three black cars, their sleek front ends glistening with raindrops that trickled down their paint.

Several uniformed men were standing next to the car, talking. When they saw him walking over, one of them glanced at him.

Chen Mo walked around it, intending to enter the main gate from the side.

"Beep"

A horn blared behind me, a rather jarring sound.

He didn't turn around, but moved aside.

A car sped past him, its wheels splashing through the puddles.

Chen Mo dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack.

The rear window was rolled down halfway, someone inside glanced back, and then rolled it back up.

"Damn!"

Chen Mo stood still, the edge of his umbrella pulled low, covering most of his face except for his chin.

"Chen Mo!"

Zhou Yuan ran up to him with an umbrella and glanced into the yard following his gaze.

"What's your background?" Chen Mo asked.

Zhou Yuan wiped the rain off his face with his sleeve. "The first team are all rich kids. Their families have connections, so they got jobs in the bureau. They always travel by car, and they never even touch the ground when it rains."

As he spoke, he glanced down at his wet trouser legs, then looked at Chen Mo's clean trouser legs, and chuckled, "You dodged quickly."

Chen Mo didn't reply, but just glanced into the courtyard again.

The two young men in the car had already gone inside the building, and the car was parked in the carport in the courtyard.

"From now on, when you see these cars, stay far away. Our team is on foot, we can't compare to them."

Zhou Yuan walked beside him, gritting his teeth while feeling a little envious, "When will I be able to drive one too? I'd rather never get married in my life."

"Don't rush, take your time."

Chen Mo gave him a strange look. Could this guy still be a culinary enthusiast?

How could someone make such a vicious oath?

He decided that once he bought the car, he would definitely borrow Zhou Yuan to drive it.

Author Flying Old Vinegar highly recommends: I hope you enjoy the story of "Tianjin, Starting with Unorthodox Methods to Achieve Immortality" on Cola Novels.