After escaping from the hospital, I took a taxi straight to Lao Tie's home. After we bought stones together, Lao Tie broke up with his wife. I pretended not to know, but I understood perfectly that Lao Tie wasn't that kind of person.
It was a bit late. I knocked on the door, and the fat woman opened it. Her eyes were still red and swollen, looking like she had been crying.
"Sister-in-law, I'm Lao Tie's friend, Tang Nan. He must have mentioned me, right?"
The fat woman nodded and asked timidly, "Is something wrong?"
"Have the police been here these past few days?"
"They've been here a few times, asking about Chang Tie. They said my useless husband is a con artist. Is that possible? His leg is bad, how could he be a con artist?"
Lao Tie did a good job here. No one could have trained this woman to fool the police in such a short time. All he could do was not tell her anything. I asked him seriously, "Where is Lao Tie?"
"I don't know."
This answer was within my expectations. I thought for a moment and asked earnestly, "Can you tell me how you met Lao Tie?"
The fat woman nodded. Her name was Zhang Cuihua. She was from a nearby village, a high school graduate who worked in an electronics factory. Perhaps because of her weight, she wasn't favored by her superiors and was always assigned tough and tiring work.
Zhang Cuihua didn't care. She threw herself into it with gusto. Recently, the electronics factory had introduced some screen protectors for Nokia phones. These were originally intended as temporary protective tools for the screen manufacturers. However, someone developed a malicious intent towards these protectors, stole many of them, and sold them on the market. Later, the supervisor discovered this and couldn't find the thief. So, Zhang Cuihua was made the scapegoat.
Faced with some evidence, Zhang Cuihua couldn't explain herself. As she left the police station, she heard that the police might detain her. She was completely dazed. Thus, walking on the street like a lost soul, Zhang Cuihua was hit by a speeding car as she crossed an intersection. She hit her head, blood gushing out, and she fell unconscious.
The driver who hit her was terrified, thinking he had killed someone, and fled the scene.
Zhang Cuihua said that if Lao Tie, who was working as a cleaner, hadn't saved her that day, she might have died. Because the police were still investigating the theft, Zhang Cuihua didn't want her parents to come over at that time and stayed in the hospital alone. During this period, Lao Tie brought her meals daily. After learning about the false accusation against Zhang Cuihua, he even helped her devise a plan to find the real thief.
Through their time together, Zhang Cuihua learned that Lao Tie was a talented man who had become a cleaner due to an accident. She also discovered that Lao Tie was actually around her age, and the age of thirty on his ID card was also fake.
It was Zhang Cuihua who asked to be with Lao Tie. She said they should team up to live life, but in reality, Zhang Cuihua truly loved Lao Tie. Although their life was meager and they lived in a rented shanty, she would still be moved to tears by Lao Tie's small romantic gestures. She hoped Lao Tie would marry her, and they would spend their lives as husband and wife.
After hearing their story, I felt happy for Lao Tie. Regardless of what he had been through, he had found someone who loved him in this life.
I looked at Zhang Cuihua, wondering if Lao Tie would really give up such a relationship. When I was with Lao Tie, I saw their genuine affection when he brought out small gifts, so I believed Lao Tie wouldn't abandon this woman. That's why I came here immediately after escaping the hospital. After so many years of acquaintance, I understood Lao Tie very well; he wasn't someone who would casually give up on a relationship.
"Sister-in-law, when Lao Tie left, what did he say? Did he break up with you?"
"Break up? No, he told me he was going away for a while to find his real name."
"And you didn't ask further?"
"I always knew in my heart that my husband has a story. If he doesn't say it, I won't ask."
I sighed. Still no clue. I stood up to say goodbye to Zhang Cuihua. She walked me to the door and asked earnestly, "Is my husband really a con artist?"
I looked at her swollen eyes. "Who said that?"
"The police came to investigate a few days ago. Today they told me they confirmed his identity. He is the wanted murderer Tie Zhishan, and he defrauded two hundred million here."
This must be why Zhang Cuihua was crying. This was all true, but I didn't want to say it myself. I smiled slightly, "I believe Lao Tie will come back to find you. You can ask him yourself."
"Yes, by the way, your name is Tang Nan, right?"
"Yes, why do you ask?"
"I remember my husband saying he left a bottle of national liquor at the lamb tripe restaurant. That bottle isn't finished. When you come, he wanted me to tell you to take it away."
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Zhang Cuihua's face looked embarrassed. "I forgot."
Without even saying goodbye, I rushed to the lamb tripe restaurant. Two hundred million yuan in fraud, and the police thought Lao Tie had long since fled. But I didn't think so. Lao Tie, afraid of being looked down upon, was abandoned by 'Logical Paradox' in a Shanxi coal mine, left to die in disgrace. After escaping, wouldn't Lao Tie seek revenge? I had thought of this earlier, so I decided to use it to help Lao Tie achieve merit. As long as I could provide evidence that Jin Bengui was a gambler in 'Logical Paradox,' that would be enough. I just hoped he wouldn't kill anyone again.
So, with the last glimmer of hope, I went to the lamb tripe restaurant and finished the bottle of national liquor that day. There was no issue with the liquor. I asked the owner and found out that Lao Tie had given the owner several hundred yuan and left a letter for me at this small restaurant, where even the police wouldn't pay attention.
Dear Tang Nan,
My good brother, when you appeared before me, I understood something I had pondered for a long time and couldn't figure out: some things are truly destined. When we boarded the train to Ruili together, an extraordinary destiny began. After the suicide incident, I was driven out of my hometown by the spitting of my neighbors. At that time, I stayed alone in Beijing, my heart filled with hatred for you. I wanted to live a life to prove myself, but I was crushed by the realities of life. Do you know that once you suffocate in life, your destiny is bound to be twisted? That's what happened to me. After being deceived by Bi Dawang, I completely lost myself.
At that time, I was so jealous of you. I wanted to take away everything you had and took the wrong path. Unfortunately, I realized it too late. In Xi'an, I always believed I could become a strategist in 'Logical Paradox' through my own abilities. But after experiencing so much, especially those dark days in the coal mine, I finally understood a truth: a person can rely on themselves, or on their brothers, but relying on an organization is the most foolish choice.
Fate brought us back together. I saw your ambition and my opportunity. I understand you as well as I understand myself. In the end, you will inevitably persuade me to atone for my sins by earning merit. And I will watch you descend into darkness, fighting to the death against those strategists hidden in the deepest shadows with your own strength. I believe you will win, but I don't wish for it. When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back at you. Similarly, when you drive out darkness in an absolute dark world, you are actually being contaminated by darkness. I don't want you to end up like me, with no way out.
I will be watching you. When you escape the police's grasp, that will be when I sever your connection with 'Logical Paradox.'
Your brother for life, Tie Zhishan
At the end of the letter, Lao Tie left me an address in a remote suburb of this district. I quickly took a taxi there. The suburban night was somewhat peaceful. The address was lit up. It was a small courtyard with a bungalow inside and a surrounding wall. A Mercedes-Benz was parked outside the courtyard. The luxurious car was out of place with this small courtyard. Through the lit window, I could vaguely see two people inside.
I guessed one was Lao Tie, and the other might be Jin Bengui, lured there by Lao Tie.
From the letter Lao Tie left me, I could feel his murderous intent towards Jin Bengui. He understood my purpose in finding him was to continue fighting 'Logical Paradox,' but he still insisted on severing my connection with 'Logical Paradox' in his own way. I could understand that Lao Tie must have realized the danger of this organization and didn't want me to continue taking risks. I, on the other hand, could not allow Lao Tie to commit murder again.
The door was bolted from the inside. I kicked it with my foot, but it didn't budge. Looking at the large iron gate and estimating its height, I took a few steps back, preparing to sprint and jump over. Just then, I felt an inexplicable tremor in my heart.
Before I could react, I heard a loud boom, and the small house instantly turned into ruins. The large iron gate was blown open by the shockwave, and part of the wall collapsed. I was close, so I fell heavily to the ground. I vaguely heard dog barking and crying, my ears ringing, and I felt dizzy. I touched my ear and it was bleeding. I saw someone running towards me. I wanted to call for help, but as soon as I opened my mouth, the world went black, and I knew nothing more.