Chapter Eleven: Is the Money Safe?

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“Want to hear a story?” Saoirse lay on the bed, grinning at Qiu Fengyu, showing no hint of sorrow from her beating. She actually seemed in good spirits.

“No.” Qiu Fengyu refused her without hesitation. Listen to a story? Trying to stir my sympathy? Not a chance. Damn it, women are never up to any good. After carrying Saoirse to the bed, Qiu Fengyu was ready to leave.

Saoirse put a hint of pleading in her voice. “My leg’s injured. Feels like the bone’s broken.”

“You should get a doctor.” Qiu Fengyu paused in spite of himself. Damn this sympathy—he really should’ve hardened his heart and walked out. Once he left this room, he wouldn’t have to worry about this whore ever again.

“David managed to save up ten thousand dollars this year from collecting protection money in town. He wanted to use that to buy me out. But those bastards wouldn’t agree, and they beat him up. Of course… David fought back and injured one of them—Peter, that bastard, that small-time boss…”

Qiu Fengyu closed his eyes, making it hard to tell if he was listening or dozing.

Saoirse kept talking to herself. “I wanted to use the ten thousand dollars you gave me to ransom him. Otherwise, they’ll kill David. But… they took the money and still wouldn’t let him go. They want me to keep working for them… Those bastards… But I’m not afraid anymore. If they kill David, then… I’ll go to him…”

“Finished?” Qiu Fengyu opened his eyes and looked at her.

“It’s not a pleasant story, and the ending isn’t good. But you still listened, so I think I should thank you. I just wanted someone to know, so our deaths wouldn’t be in vain. David is a good man. He didn’t collect much protection money these years; he just didn’t want me to keep doing this… I love him. I always have.” Saoirse spoke with a smile, without any trace of sorrow in her voice.

“So you’re ready to die?” Qiu Fengyu asked.

“No, I want to live!” Saoirse smiled. “You’re a good man. Don’t worry… I’ll pay you back twelve thousand dollars.”

As long as she remembered to pay him back, that was enough. Qiu Fengyu nodded, feeling he really should leave now—this woman was a trap. Anyone planning to pay back money wasn’t thinking about dying. With that thought, Qiu Fengyu didn’t hesitate any longer. He stood up. “I should go. Good luck, Saoirse.”

“Goodbye, Mr. Qiu!” Saoirse replied with a smile.

Once outside, Qiu Fengyu felt he needed a drink at the bar—he was feeling a bit down.

“Your vodka.” Hill set a glass in front of Qiu Fengyu. “Heard the news? David Birkin’s finished this time. Those Russians still haven’t let him go. Usually, that means David Birkin doesn’t have long to live.”

“I think you’re like a crow—nothing but bad news comes out of your mouth!” Qiu Fengyu downed the drink in one gulp.

“Don’t you think that’s good news? You and David don’t get along. You should be happy he’s in trouble!”

“Shut your crow’s mouth. Compared to you, David’s much better!” Qiu Fengyu snorted dismissively.

“I agree with that. I’d rather be worse than him than be a good man. Being good costs too much these days.” Unexpectedly, Brekin agreed with Qiu Fengyu. “I know why the Russian mob’s after David—it’s because of that whore. He fell in love with her.”

With a loud thud, Brekin’s head suddenly slammed into the bar, making a huge noise. Then he clutched his forehead and collapsed to the ground.

Qiu Fengyu straightened his clothes and calmly left the bar. That bastard was only stirring up his thoughts. Damn bastard. He should have broken his nose with a punch, not just made him bang his forehead.

Everyone in the bar stared in shock as Qiu Fengyu walked away. Then Brekin crawled back up from behind the counter, holding his swollen, bloody forehead.

“Should we call the police?” a staff member asked nearby.

“Call the police? No, no need. That bastard’s a good man!” Brekin laughed toward the direction Qiu Fengyu had left, as if getting beaten up made him happy.

At home, Qiu Fengyu went straight to bed. He didn’t think about anything, just slept soundly until morning. Then, at dawn, he was woken by a knocking at the door. When he went downstairs to open it, he found Deputy Sheriff Coffin fully armed, standing at the door.

“So, are you here to arrest me this time? Did that guy call the cops?” Qiu Fengyu shrugged at Officer Coffin. “I knew he didn’t have the guts to be a man.”

“Brekin, you mean? I should be happy you beat him up—he deserved it. If I could, I’d have done it myself long ago.” Officer Coffin’s words pleased Qiu Fengyu.

“So are you here for some noodles?”

Coffin shook her head and looked at Qiu Fengyu. “Someone told me you were at Saoirse’s place last night. Her leg’s broken, but she disappeared after you left—not long after, in fact. I know you have an alibi—you were beating up Brekin when Saoirse was taken.”

“Someone reported it?”

“Yes, her friends—the same thugs you beat up that night. They scraped together some money to give Saoirse, but they couldn’t find her. The place was a mess. I don’t know if she’ll survive in her condition…” Coffin sounded sad; this was something she couldn’t do anything about.

“They wanted Saoirse to pay them…” Qiu Fengyu said slowly. “My ten thousand dollars…”

“What?” Officer Coffin looked at him.

“Nothing. I mean, my ten thousand dollars… By the way, I need to buy some supplies tomorrow. Are you going to Paso? Can I get a ride?”

“No. You can hitch a ride—there are always people going to Paso.”

“All right, then. Goodbye, Officer Coffin. Thanks for telling me.” Qiu Fengyu nodded at her, then went upstairs to change.

His twenty bowls of noodles sold quickly, as usual, and by twelve thirty, he’d finished up, packed a backpack, and set out for Paso.

He hitched a ride from someone in town heading to Paso—the driver turned out to be Father Ace Graham from the church, a bearded man in his fifties wearing clerical garb.

“So… if we go see God together, what do you think He’ll say to us?” After a long, silent stretch, Qiu Fengyu felt the need to break the silence.

“Do you think you’re worthy of meeting God?” The priest paused, then replied instantly.

Qiu Fengyu was momentarily stunned, then gave an awkward laugh. “Turns out priests have a sense of humor. I like that.”

“I heard you like Saoirse. That’s good. She came to the church to confess yesterday—her leg was broken. I think she’s a girl who deserves God’s mercy,” Father Ace Graham said.

Qiu Fengyu cleared his throat. “Well, if… we really have nothing else to talk about, maybe we shouldn’t talk at all.”

“Perhaps you’re right,” said the priest.

And so, they continued in silence to Paso, where the priest dropped Qiu Fengyu on a street and drove off, leaving Qiu Fengyu wandering around with his backpack.

Paso’s bars were busy even during the day, just like in Abilene. People loved to crowd into bars, drinking and rambling nonsense.

But this bar was clearly different—full of prostitutes and men out for pleasure. Even in daylight, it was lively and packed, men and women each seeking what they wanted.

As soon as Qiu Fengyu entered, two tattooed young toughs approached him. One looked him over and said, “Hey, buddy, this is members only.”

“I know, I know. That’s why I brought my membership card.” Qiu Fengyu pulled a wad of cash from his pocket and waved it in the air. “This is my membership card, right?”

The other tough hesitated, then nodded. “What kind of girl do you want? I’ll find one for you.”

“I’ll find one myself. I promise… I won’t cause any trouble.” Qiu Fengyu raised his hands.

“You’d better remember that. Don’t cause trouble here!” the tough warned, then stepped aside to let Qiu Fengyu look for a girl himself.

But in a flash, he vanished. In the blink of an eye, Qiu Fengyu seemed to disappear. The two toughs looked at each other in confusion and searched the place, but couldn’t find him. The music was loud, the lights dim.

“Damn Asian, made fools of us—he must’ve left,” one of them muttered.

It was just a minor episode; the two of them didn’t care whether that man had come or gone. They went back to watching every customer closely.

Upstairs, at the door to a room, Qiu Fengyu gently pushed it open and heard laughter inside. As the door swung wide, he saw a group of Russian mob bosses laughing and drinking in the huge room.

“Hey, did you take a wrong turn?” someone suddenly called out to Qiu Fengyu at the door.

“No, man, I… just wanted to check if my money’s still safe.” Qiu Fengyu smiled calmly and nodded to him.