chsdbacks Chapter 217 Local Bully
Chapter 217 Local Bully
The roar of the three-wheeled motorcycle, like the panting of a dying beast, echoed incessantly on the rugged, bumpy dirt road. In the back of the vehicle, Nie Lingfeng and Chen Duo swayed involuntarily from side to side and bounced up and down with every pothole and gravel. Sunlight filtering through the gaps in the tarpaulin was sliced into countless shimmering golden beams by the swirling dust. The air was thick with the smells of earth, gasoline, and the humid, sultry scent of decaying vegetation emanating from the dense, almost overwhelming rainforest flank the road.
Ah Long's driving skills were quite adept. On this muddy path that could hardly be called a "road," he weaved left and right, avoiding the deepest potholes and the most slippery steep slopes, and his speed was surprisingly not slow. As he drove, he also shouted at the top of his lungs, trying to drown out the engine noise and "get closer" to Nie Lingfeng.
"Boss Lin! You're from the mainland, right? Judging by your build, you're not one of those people who suffer hardship here! Bringing your sister to this poor, remote place to find your brother, that's really... loyal and righteous!" Ah Long's voice was broken by the wind. "But don't worry, when you get to Mengla, just look for me, Ah Long, and you won't regret it! My cousin is a favorite of Boss Yan Ben, managing half of the jade gambling business at 'Benlong Pavilion'! With his introduction, Boss Yan Ben will definitely give you face!"
Nie Lingfeng merely responded with perfunctory "uh-huhs" and "ahs," his sharp gaze sweeping over the rapidly receding scenery on both sides of the road. The rainforest grew denser, the light dimmer, and the road narrower and more rugged. Some sections were even carved out of the cliff edge, with a sheer, moss-covered rock face on one side and a bottomless, mist-shrouded valley on the other, from which came the thunderous roar of water—whether a river or a waterfall, it was unclear. This terrain was truly impregnable, no wonder it had become a lawless, no-man's-land.
Chen Duo was initially curious about the rainforest scenery outside the window, but the long, bumpy ride and the sweltering heat made her listless. Clutching her panda plushie, she rested her face against Nie Lingfeng's arm, her bright green eyes listlessly watching the flickering light and shadows outside the tarpaulin, her lips slightly pouting, seemingly battling motion sickness and boredom. Occasionally, when they passed a relatively open area with views of distant mountains and terraced fields, her eyes would light up briefly, but were quickly swallowed up by the next bump and the even denser jungle. (๑•́ ₃ •̀๑)
After about an hour and a half of bumpy travel, just when Chen Duo felt like she was about to fall apart and Nie Lingfeng was starting to consider whether he should use his internal energy to help her stabilize herself, the view ahead suddenly opened up.
The rainforest receded to both sides, revealing a relatively flat valley surrounded by mountains. Within the valley, buildings of varying heights and ages were densely packed, following the contours of the land. Most were simple bamboo and wood stilted houses, but there were also many three- or four-story "Western-style" buildings constructed of red brick and cement, with distinctly modern styles, their exteriors covered in gaudy tiles and adorned with all sorts of garish signs. Further away, closer to the center of the valley, several high-end hotels and entertainment complexes stood out starkly against the surrounding dilapidated landscape, their glass curtain walls and neon lights creating an incongruous yet strangely harmonious blend.
This is Mengla Town. Chaotic, poor, and backward, yet a distorted prosperity and desire flicker in its corners.
In addition to the dampness of the rainforest, there was a complex and indescribable atmosphere in the air—a mixture of cheap perfume and sweat, the fumes from street food stalls, the faint stench of garbage heaps, and a more subtle, invisible "field" that was a mixture of blood, greed, despair, and madness.
The three-wheeled motorcycle drove into the town along a slightly smoother dirt road. The streets were even narrower and more chaotic, crammed with all sorts of stalls and shops. Stalls selling jadeite rough that was hard to tell was genuine or fake, dried wild animals, all kinds of strange herbs, and even openly displayed gun parts and illegal drugs were everywhere. Pedestrians thronged shoulder to shoulder, their skin colors, languages, and clothing a motley crew. There were local mountain people in traditional sarongs carrying bamboo baskets; there were thugs in floral shirts, smoking and with fierce eyes; there were foreigners with headscarves, hurrying along, their origins unknown; and there were also a few like Nie Lingfeng and his group, clearly tourists or businessmen from the mainland, their faces mostly showing tension, curiosity, and wariness.
Ah Long's driving skills came in handy here. He skillfully weaved through the crowded and chaotic flow of people and vehicles, making several turns before finally stopping in front of a rather impressive three-story building.
The building was clearly newly constructed, its exterior walls covered in tacky gold and red tiles. Two crudely carved but imposing dragon-shaped stone pillars (more accurately, Southeast Asian-style "Naga" stone carvings, with serpentine bodies, multiple heads, and a menacing appearance) stood at the entrance, requiring two people to encircle them. This was precisely the "Dragon Pavilion" described by Azan Ki. Two burly men, wearing black tank tops that revealed their bulging muscles and menacing tattoos, stood guard at the entrance, vigilantly scanning passersby.
"Boss Lin, we're here! This is Boss Yan Ben's 'Benlong Pavilion'! Please wait a moment, I'll go in and tell my cousin!" Ah Long turned off the engine, jumped out of the car, bowed and scraped to Nie Lingfeng, and then quickly ran to the entrance. He whispered a few words to one of the burly men and pointed in Nie Lingfeng's direction. The burly man glanced at Nie Lingfeng and Chen Duo, nodded, and turned to go inside.
Soon, a man in his thirties, wearing a flashy Hawaiian shirt, with slicked-back hair, a thick gold chain around his neck, and several jade rings on his fingers, emerged following the burly man. He must be Ah Long's cousin.
"Oh my! Welcome, welcome! Mr. Lin from the mainland, right? It's an honor to meet you!" My cousin started with a string of business pleasantries, his face beaming with smiles, but his eyes scanned Nie Lingfeng and Chen Duo like a scanner, quickly assessing their "value." "That kid, Ah Long, why didn't you say so sooner! Making our distinguished guests bump around in this beat-up car all the way is truly a sin! Please come in! Boss Yan Ben happens to be free today!"
He warmly welcomed Nie Lingfeng and Chen Duo inside, while Ah Long wisely refrained from following them. He simply waved to Nie Lingfeng, making a "call me if you need anything" gesture, then started his three-wheeled motorcycle and sped away.
The interior of "Benlong Pavilion" was even more "luxurious" than the exterior, exuding a nouveau riche ostentatious air. The spacious hall was decorated in a glittering, opulent style, with crystal chandeliers, marble floors, and walls covered with various indistinguishable genuine or fake calligraphy and paintings of tigers descending a mountain. In the center of the hall, dozens of long tables were piled high with jadeite rough stones of all sizes and shapes. Many customers were examining the stones closely with powerful flashlights and magnifying glasses, the air thick with tense whispers and the rustling sound of stones rubbing together. This was clearly a jade gambling den.
My cousin led them directly upstairs to the second floor, through a quiet corridor covered with thick carpets, to a heavy, solid wood door studded with copper nails. Two bodyguards stood at the door.
My cousin knocked on the door, and a deep, hoarse voice with a strong western Yunnan accent came from inside: "Come in."
Pushing open the door, one enters a more refined, even "elegant," office. Rosewood furniture, antique shelves, a tea set, and genuine calligraphy and paintings by famous artists hanging on the walls (this time they appear authentic) fill the air with a faint scent of sandalwood and cigars. A short, stout man in his fifties, dressed in a dark purple silk Tang suit, with a slightly balding head, a ruddy complexion, and small but piercingly sharp eyes, as alert and agile as a mouse, sits behind a large rosewood desk, toying with two glossy walnuts. His gaze, almost tangible, is fixed on Nie Lingfeng and Chen Duo who have just entered.
This is Yan Ben, the de facto "local tyrant" of Mengla Town.
"Brother Yanben, this is Boss Lin from the mainland, and his sister. They are... friends introduced by Chairman Feng." The cousin introduced them respectfully, emphasizing the words "Chairman Feng".
Yan Ben narrowed his small eyes slightly, and the walnut in his hand stopped turning. He looked Nie Lingfeng up and down a few times, then glanced at Chen Duo, who was standing quietly beside Nie Lingfeng, holding a doll and with her head slightly lowered. A smile, typical of businessmen but devoid of warmth in his eyes, appeared on his face.
"Oh? A friend of Chairman Feng? My apologies!" Yan Ben stood up, walked around the desk, and warmly extended his hand. "Boss Lin, it's a pleasure to meet you! How is Chairman Feng in health? It's been a while!"
Nie Lingfeng reached out and shook hands with him, feeling the other's thick, damp palm, but with a strong grip. He also gave a perfectly measured smile, tinged with a hint of restraint and respect: "Boss Yanben, hello. Chairman Feng is in good health, thank you for your concern. I apologize for this intrusion."
"Not at all! Chairman Feng's friends are my friends too!" Yan Ben laughed heartily, gesturing for them to sit down, then waved to his cousin, "A-Chang, go brew a pot of good tea, the best 'Lao Ban Zhang'!"
My cousin, A-Chang, quickly agreed and went out.
"Boss Lin, what brings you to Mengla this time...?" Yan Ben sat back down in the main seat and asked casually, but his small eyes were fixed on Nie Lingfeng's face.
Nie Lingfeng sighed, a worried look on his face. He took out the "Missing Person Notice" from his pocket and handed it over with both hands: "To be honest, Boss Yanben, the main reason I came here is to find my older brother. He came here more than a month ago to collect medicinal herbs, saying he would be back in half a month, but we haven't heard from him since. We've been asking around, and we heard that he might have ended up in Mengla... We really have no other choice, so we swallowed our pride and asked you for help through Chairman Feng's connections to inquire about his whereabouts."
Yan Ben took the missing person poster, pretending to examine it carefully, his brows furrowing. "Lin Shan... Hmm, that name sounds familiar. About a month ago, there seemed to be a medicinal herb merchant from the mainland who bought a batch of goods in town... But I haven't seen him much since." He put down the poster, looked at Nie Lingfeng, and said with a troubled expression, "Boss Lin, you know how it is in Mengla. There are all sorts of people coming and going every day. If someone really wants to hide, or... if something 'accident' happens to them, it's not easy to find them."
This statement was perfectly watertight; it neither said that it wouldn't help nor that it could help, and it also pointed out the possibility of an "unexpected" situation.
"I understand, Boss Yanben. I'm sorry to have put you in such a difficult position." Nie Lingfeng's expression grew even more somber. "We really had no other choice. Our eldest brother is the pillar of our family; if anything were to happen to him..." He said, glancing at Chen Duo beside him. Chen Duo also lowered her head cooperatively, twisting the hem of her clothes with her small hands, her eyes slightly reddening, looking like she was about to cry, a pitiful sight indeed. Although there were no tears, her worried and frightened expression was acted very naturally. (｡•́︿•̀｡)
Yan Ben's gaze lingered on Chen Duo for a moment, a barely perceptible glint of assessment mixed with something else... indescribable, flashed in his eyes. He pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "The Lin siblings' deep affection is truly touching. Well then, since you were introduced by Chairman Feng, I, Yan Ben, will certainly help you with this. A-Chang!"
Just then, A-Chang brought in the brewed tea.
"Ah Chang, give the order to the brothers to keep an eye out for any mainland medicinal herb merchant named Lin Shan who was active in town a little over a month ago. Where did he go afterward, and who did he contact? Report any news immediately," Yan Ben instructed.
"Yes, boss!" Ah Chang replied quickly.
"Thank you so much, Boss Yanben!" Nie Lingfeng quickly stood up, looking extremely grateful.