Chapter 120

Hua Mao was quite annoyed recently. He didn’t know what offense he had committed that he was being watched by a policeman.

This young policeman was from the police station, a new face, had just graduated from the police academy, and had been sent over. It wasn’t clear what was wrong with this policeman or in what way he didn’t get along with Hua Mao. He had his eyes on Hua Mao and would often come and give him a hard time. When he saw Hua Mao, he would either check his ID or “understand the situation.” At first, he would investigate when Hua Mao was leading a group of gangsters to do things, or when some public security rectifiers came for routine inspection to catch some fighters. But later, this policeman would run to Hua Mao’s place whether he had business or not, to his Internet cafes and arcades. Among the people who messed around at these places, who liked to see the police? It was clearly to hurt his business.

“Your ID.”

The policeman ran into Hua Mao in the middle of the streets again.

“I say, Officer, you can memorize my number, right? You still want to see something that you look at twenty or thirty times a month?”

Hua Mao rolled his eyes to the sky. Ever since this young policeman came, he had to pull out his ID several times a day. This policeman could make a hole from looking at it, and he still wanted to see it!

“Your ID.”

The young policeman repeated, his eyes looking at him from under the police cap.

Hua Mao impatiently took out his ID from the back pocket of his jeans. The young policeman took it seriously and looked at it carefully.

“Officer, if you like it so much, I’ll give it to you for free.”

Hua Mao stuck out his leg, looking sideways provocatively. The gangsters following behind him were all scowling coldly at this young policeman. As though not seeing them, the young policeman returned the ID to Hua Mao.

“Chen Zhiqiang, don’t be late to class at 7PM.”

Ever since Hua Mao was released from reeducation through labor, he still had to participate in reformation through labor classes at the police station.

The young policeman finished speaking and left.

Hua Mao held his ID in his hand. He turned around and watched him leave. Hua Mao wanted to kick this ID onto the policeman’s bottom, and see if he would have to worry about it every day like this!

“Fuck, what’s wrong with the cop? Staring at us all day!”

The group of gangsters all scolded.

“Da Ge, give him a lesson. The criminal police brigade haven’t even done anything to us. Who does a neighborhood police like him think he is?”

“Newcomers are all like that! He wants to fucking establish his power, bah!”

Hua Mao spat.

“Let’s go!”

That night, Hua Mao really went to class. He immediately saw the young policeman standing in front of the “classroom,” holding a roster. Hua Mao walked in with a swaying step, specifically walking to the first row, right in front of the young policeman standing there, and smiled pleasantly.

“Officer Gu, I’m here.”

The young policeman glanced at him and didn’t speak. He checked off in front of the words, Chen Zhiqiang, on the roster.

“Officer Gu, are you free after studying?”

Hua Mao propped his hand on the table, his voice sweet, smiling as he looked at the young policeman.

“What’s the matter?” The young policeman looked up and glanced at him.

“Why don’t you go on a date with me?”

With a roar, the room full of reformers all laughed, with lasciviousness and indecency in their laughter.

“Be serious!” The old policeman next to them slapped the table, shouting loudly. “Chen Zhiqiang, behave! Sit down!”

“The people love the People’s Police. I just love our people’s police. What’s the matter?”

Hua Mao said with a sharp voice. Laughter filled the room again.

Hua Mao looked at the young policeman who appeared embarrassed and sneered in his heart. He sat down as though nothing had happened, crossed his legs, and crossed his arms. Seeing the young policeman’s eyes sweep over towards him from under the police cap, Hua Mao even raised his eyebrows and gave him a wink.

The first time Hua Mao saw this young policeman, he even had sexual fantasies for a while.

That day, they were fighting with Old Man Mei’s people at a place by the river. They were all caught by the police and locked up in the police station. In these years, there were already fewer and fewer bosses like Hua Mao who would still personally come out to fight and kill. Now, they were all after money. In the past, whoever had knives and guns were the best. Right now, whoever had money was the best. Hua Mao had a large territory and places in Jiangbei. Naturally, there were newcomers who came to fight for money and profit. Hua Mao’s Internet café now already had two floors and occupied the best piece of territory outside Jiangbei High School. Old Man Mei had been after it for a long time. He used money to please Hua Mao, wanting a piece of the pie. He also wanted to open an Internet café nearby. As a result, both sides had a falling out, and in the end, they still fought.

However, the fight that day had just started when it was stopped by a police car. This was also completely different from the 90s of the past. In Jianghu fights of the past, whoever called the police was practically a great humiliation. Even if they died or were disabled, they would fight each other and get it over with, but the gangsters today were all after money and profit. Who wouldn’t take their own lives seriously? Some coward was afraid and secretly reported to the police station, and now they were stopped on the spot.

Hua Mao had originally run away, but a policeman twisted the arm of Little Thorn, who was under his leadership, and caught him. Little Thorn was fifteen or sixteen and still underage. It was his first time in this situation. His legs became weak, and he was caught before he ran two steps. That policeman twisted Little Thorn’s arm and sent him to the police car. Hua Mao rushed up and punched and kicked the policeman. The young policeman was unprepared and was punched several times by Hua Mao. Hua Mao pulled Little Thorn and pushed him away: “Run!” If Little Thorn entered the police station, he may have to go into the juvenile detention center. Hua Mao had experienced that before.

Little Thorn ran away. The policeman came to arrest Hua Mao, and Hua Mao did not resist. He obediently allowed him to seize his arm and pin it behind him. The policeman was also a little surprised. When Hua Mao turned around and saw the young policeman use one hand to hold his wrists as his other hand shook out the handcuffs, he said, “You don’t need to handcuff me. I won’t run away.”

The policeman ignored him and acted quickly. Hua Mao also gave him advice: “Handcuff from below. It will be comfortable for me, and you can save some work.”

The young policeman looked at him and didn’t say anything. He tightened his grip, and Hua Mao bared his teeth: Fuck, he was quite strong!

At the police station, the chief chatted with Hua Mao.

“Hua Mao, you’re here again. Do you like my office this much?”

The chief was familiar with Hua Mao, too familiar. He didn’t know how many times he had been caught and locked up. Hua Mao was the leader of the big gangsters in this area. There was also a strange “affection” between the police and gangsters. It was because they had been caught and locked up often, and had become old acquaintances.

“Wang Suo, gave me a cigarette!”

This Wang Suo was an old man in his fifties. These years, he had often taught Hua Mao earnestly. Before him, Hua Mao acted as he did with elders in his own family, casually.

“You ran here to act as a master?”

Wang Suo scolded, but he still gave Hua Mao a cigarette. Hua Mao raised his handcuffed hands and lit the cigarette and smoked, completely unconcerned. He went through the motions and answered the questions absentmindedly. Hua Mao was a veteran in dealing with these situations. With a few words, he could baffle the police so that they had no idea what to do. Hua Mao said, “No matter how many times you ask, it’s only this small matter. I’ve told you all of it, fighting and breaking societal order. If you’re going to lock me up, then do it. I will definitely cooperate.”

Wang Suo said, “Hua Mao, you’re not young anymore. You’re almost in your thirties this year, right? Is it enjoyable to be a gangster like this? Without mentioning things in the distance, just speaking of your Da Ge Fang Yu. I know better than you what kind of person he was before. What is he doing right now? After leaving prison, he earns his own living, does legitimate business, and is a big boss. His business is booming. The public security bureau was watching it and investigated it, but there was no problem at all! Then look at you. If I remember correctly, he is still your Da Ge. Why can he walk the proper path, while you are still in this mud and messing around? Why can’t you learn from him?”

When Wang Suo said these words, Hua Mao didn’t speak. Hearing Fang Yu’s name, Hua Mao was a little lost in thought. When Wang Suo finished speaking, Hua Mao smiled and said, “My Da Ge is my Da Ge, and I am me. He has his way of life, and I have mine. Wang Suo, everyone has their own ambition.”