Fists can't cross Tianjin

Chapter 19 Hidden Dragons and Crouching Tigers

HQ area, material recycling station.

This was a huge courtyard, surrounded by a red brick wall more than two meters high, topped with a barbed wire fence. Piles of scrap metal, tattered burlap sacks, and old newspapers filled the courtyard, emitting a strange stench of musty, machine oil, and rust under the winter sun.

At the entrance to the courtyard, several grass-green Jiefang brand trucks were parked, and a few porters in blue overalls were huffing and puffing as they loaded scrap metal onto them.

This is the distribution center for scrap materials in the entire HQ district, and also the base camp of the tabby cat.

In the late 1970s, recycling stations were incredibly lucrative businesses.

That was the transitional period between a planned economy and a market economy. Scrap metals were not just garbage, but also in high demand as means of production. Scrap copper, scrap aluminum, copper wire, even toothpaste tubes—as long as you had a way to get them out, you could resell them for several times the profit.

Hua Mao was able to maintain his position as deputy stationmaster not only because of his smooth-talking skills, but also because of the group of brave and daring brothers under his command who could keep the local thugs in check.

At this moment, in the innermost red brick and tile house, the stove fire was burning brightly, and the iron chimney was glowing red-hot, making a "crackling" sound.

The tabby cat sat behind the peeling paint on the desk, twirling two shiny lion's head walnuts in its hands, its face revealing neither joy nor anger.

He was wearing a military officer's overcoat, the collar open to reveal a white shirt underneath, and even a flashy red tie. In those days, being able to wear a military officer's overcoat meant not only being rich, but also having connections; it was a symbol of status, the ultimate skin of the hardcore gangsters.

Opposite him stood two timid young men, who were Gangzi's "Buddha" (pickpockets).

"Gangzi has disappeared."

The tabby cat's voice was soft, with a unique hoarseness, like a broken gong grinding on the ground, making one's teeth ache to listen to. "It's been two whole days. No sign of them, neither alive nor dead. And the three thousand yuan payment for the goods is gone too."

The two thugs exchanged a glance, neither daring to utter a sound.

"Master Cat, we really don't know where Brother Gang went."

One of the young men, with dyed yellow hair, stammered, his teeth chattering, "The day before yesterday... the day before yesterday, Brother Gang said he had some personal business to take care of and told us to 'work' at the train station ourselves, and then... and then I never saw him again."

"Personal matters?"

The tabby cat stopped picking walnuts and made a crisp "crack" sound.

He leaned forward slightly, staring at the two of them. "What private matter could be more important than three thousand dollars?"

The three thousand yuan was used to collect a deposit for a batch of scarce commodities—copper ingots. In an era when even households with ten thousand yuan were rare, three thousand yuan was a huge sum of money, enough to buy a small courtyard in Tianjin, or to drive someone to take risks and flee for their life.

If he loses this money, not only will the deal fall through, but he also won't be able to explain it to that "old man" upstairs.

He initially thought that Gangzi had gone out on business.

But after two days, they still couldn't find Gangzi. They sent their men to search Gangzi's place, but he had no money. They also asked around at the girls he frequented, but they still couldn't find him.

Therefore, the tabby cat had a vague feeling that something was wrong.

"Master Cat, I...I remember now!"

The other short man, as if grasping at a straw, hurriedly raised his head, his face filled with terror. "The day before yesterday... the day before yesterday, Brother Gang was supposed to take us to the train station to 'do work,' but halfway there, Brother Erga rushed over to find Brother Gang, and the two of them whispered for a long time. Later, Brother Gang told us to go first, saying he was going to help Brother Erga with some personal matters, and then... and then I never saw him again."

"Ergaizi?"

The tabby cat frowned slightly.

Erga was his childhood friend and most loyal follower. Although the boy wasn't very capable and was timid, he was obedient and had no ulterior motives towards him.

"Alright, get lost."

The tabby cat waved its paw, as if shooing away flies, "Be smarter next time, don't be like a headless fly."

"Hey! Thank you, Cat Master!"

The two thugs, feeling as if they had been granted a pardon, bowed and scraped as they retreated, afraid of displeasing the man if they were too slow.

"Go and call Erga Zi here," the tabby cat said calmly.

The person standing at the door turned and went out.

A moment later, the curtain was lifted and Ergazi walked in.

His face was pale and his eyes were darting around, clearly indicating that he knew about Gangzi's disappearance and was feeling uneasy.

"Brother, you were looking for me?"

Erga rubbed his hands together and forced a fawning smile.

"sit."

The tabby cat pointed to the chair opposite and casually tossed a "Hengda" cigarette over.

Erga Zi accepted the cigarette with a flattered expression, but dared not sit down. He only had half of his buttocks touching the edge of the chair. He took out a match and lit it for the cat first, and then lit it for himself.

"Erga, how many years have we known each other?" Hua Mao asked casually, exhaling a smoke ring.

"It's been almost...almost twenty years, hasn't it?" Ergazi said with a forced smile.

"Yes, it's been twenty years."

The cat sighed, then its eyes suddenly sharpened as it stared intently at Ergaizi. "Since we've been brothers for twenty years, tell me the truth. Where did Gangzi go?"

Erga Zi's hand trembled, and the ash from his cigarette fell onto his pants, burning him and making him shudder.

"Brother, I...I don't know..." Ergazi's eyes darted around.

"Those two kids already said it."

The tabby cat interrupted him, its tone still calm but carrying an undeniable air of authority: "You're the one who called Gangzi away. Gangzi had three thousand yuan of public funds in his hands, and now he's gone, and the money's gone too. If this gets reported, I can't protect you either."

Upon hearing "three thousand yuan," Ergaizi's face turned deathly pale.

He certainly knew the importance of that money. It was money that could cost a person their life.

"And just now, the phone rang over there."

The tabby cat, its eyes fixed on the flickering flame on the cigarette butt, continued, "Bartel is coming back."

Upon hearing the name "Bater," Ergazi's pupils contracted sharply, and his whole body trembled violently, a fear that came from the depths of his bones, as if he had heard the name of a devil.

Batel, meaning "hero" in Mongolian. But in the eyes of these thugs, he was a living devil, a nightmare.

That Mongolian man, over two meters tall, possessed terrifying wrestling skills and superhuman strength. It was said he had once torn wolves apart with his bare hands on the grasslands, and after arriving in Tianjin, he earned a formidable reputation with his iron fists. If a mad dog is a man-eating dog, then Batel was a man-eating tiger. Moreover, he was the captain of an Inner Mongolian transport team, with his own backing, and he wasn't afraid even of a tabby cat.

"He will be returning to Tianjin in less than two weeks."

Looking into Erga's fearful eyes, the cat said, "You know what his relationship with Gangzi is... Tell me, who will Batel take his anger out on then?"

Ergazi knelt down with a thud.

"Brother, I...I really didn't expect things to escalate this much..." Ergazi said, his voice trembling with tears. "I really didn't take the money!"

"to be honest."

The cat toyed with the walnut in its hand. "As long as you weren't involved in running away with the money, I won't make things difficult for you, considering we've been brothers for so many years."

Erga swallowed hard; he was genuinely terrified.

"Brother, actually... actually I wanted to ask my second senior brother to help me get revenge."

Ergazi lowered his head and spilled everything out like beans from a bamboo tube: "A few days ago, I was bullied by a tricycle driver near the train station. That guy was a hothead and didn't follow the rules. I couldn't swallow this, so I went to Gangzi, hoping he could take some men to teach that driver a lesson, and... and maybe extort some money from him."

"A tricycle driver?" The tabby cat frowned slightly.

He knew Gangzi well; he was skilled in martial arts, having practiced for seven or eight years, and ordinary three or five strong men couldn't get close to him. Could a poor tricycle driver really keep him quiet for two days?

"What's the name of that tricycle driver? Where does he live?"

Erga Zi looked bewildered and shook his head: "Brother, this... I really don't know."

"Snapped!"

The tabby cat was amused and slammed its paw on the table, making the teacup lid bounce around. "You idiot! You don't even know their name or where they live, and you're going to seek revenge? Are you stupid? Did a donkey kick your brain, or did a door squeeze it?"

Ergaizi shrank back in fright, and said in a tearful voice, "Brother, I really don't know... That night I drank some cat urine, and in a moment of impulse..."

"How dare you say that?" The cat pointed at Erga's nose, trembling with anger and disappointment.

"No...no, brother, I have a lead! I have a lead!"

Erga was sweating profusely, afraid that Huamao would really get angry, so he quickly spilled the beans, "That kid may be unregistered, but he's registered at the vehicle dealership! He pulls a rickshaw, and... and my guys and I all recognize that face! And that vehicle, it's an old-fashioned rickshaw that's been modified, with red ribbons wrapped around the handlebars, very easy to spot! Anyone who sees it on the street will definitely recognize it!"

Upon hearing this, the tabby cat narrowed its eyes and started spinning the walnut in its hand again.

"The drivers at the car rental company... I recognize their faces... I recognize their cars..."

The tabby cat pondered for a moment, then nodded thoughtfully.

Gangzi is an old hand at this. Since Ergazi can provide physical characteristics and vehicle information, finding this person shouldn't be difficult.

Gangzi went to find this "driver" and then disappeared; there's been no news of him since...

What does this show? It shows that the driver was not only skilled, but also a cunning double-crosser!

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the gray sky outside.

How could a driver whose name you don't even know make Gangzi disappear without a trace?

Tianjin is a place where hidden talents abound.

"Mad dog."

The tabby cat meowed.

"Big Brother." Mad Dog, who had been silent all along, walked over.

"Ergazi said he could recognize that face and that car."

A glint of malice flashed in the tabby cat's eyes. "Then you take Ergaizi and go to all the car dealerships and checkpoints. Since you're going to be a courier, you need a place to hide. Even if he's a rat that's crawled into a mouse hole, you still have to drag him out for me."

"Understood." Mad Dog grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "As long as you're in Tianjin, you can't escape."

The tabby cat turned to Ergaizi, its tone softening slightly: "Alright, stop trembling. These next few days, you'll follow Mad Dog, showing him the way and helping him recognize faces. As long as we find the person and get the money back, this matter will be over."

"Thank you, brother! Thank you, brother!" Ergaizi nodded repeatedly, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon.

The tabby cat looked at the snow scene outside the window and crackled as it played with the walnuts in its hand.

"No matter who you are, if you've swallowed my money, you have to give it back to me."