Chapter 256: Do You Want That Service?
Zhang Yang didn't tell her the answer, then walked out.
With the Spring Festival approaching, most companies, factories, and institutions had already begun their holidays. The great tide of people returning home had started. But for Zhang Yang, there was basically no holiday to take.
First, over at Qiao Xier's side, the production schedule for Nanxing One was unbelievably tight. Nearly all personnel, including newly hired employees, were working overtime at full force, trying to meet production goals before year-end.
Of course, Zhang Yang wasn't someone who didn't understand human sentiment. The Spring Festival was the most traditional festival for Chinese people, a time for family reunion. What Tang Qiqi told him about those left-behind elderly had pierced him deeply. As the company's boss, he naturally couldn't allow his employees' elderly family members to spend the New Year alone.
So after issuing generous year-end bonuses, aside from the voluntary staff who stayed and had no family concerns, most employees were sent home—those living nearby were provided company shuttles, and those far away had round-trip train or plane tickets purchased for them. If they wished, the company even prepared tickets for their family members.
After employees went on holiday, there were only a few days left until the Spring Festival. Among the ladies in the villa, only Yang Jing, Tian Tian, and Xu Dantong and Xu Danying were returning home for the New Year. The others—aside from Qiao Xier who was undecided—were staying at the villa, ensuring it would be lively.
Xu Danlu and Gao Qi had long prepared a huge pile of New Year goods, quietly waiting for New Year's Eve.
Zhang Yang had also prepared the supplies for Tujia Village in Shangyan City and Wu Village in Gaodeng City, planning to go on the 27th and 28th to fulfill Tang Qiqi's wish.
But just as he was preparing to set off, he received a strange phone call early in the morning on the 27th.
Zhang Yang originally wanted to hang up immediately, but the caller ID looked unusual—full of eights. A seriously impressive number.
He answered, and the other party spoke.
"Are you Zhang Yang?" A lazy voice, as if a man who had just crawled out of a woman's breasts after whoring—weak and airy.
"Who are you?"
"Who I am isn't important. Someone told me to find you. Do you require special services?" The other party deliberately acted mysterious, even pretending to be cute.
Zhang Yang, who was drinking water, immediately sprayed it out. "What the hell—it's this early in the morning and you're asking me if I want special services?"
I've got plenty of beauties here—what damn special service would I need?
Zhang Yang didn't hesitate and hung up.
But a moment later, the call came again. This time the guy scolded him right away: "Damn it, do you know who I am? When has Laozi ever personally called someone? Pisses me off. You want special service—oh… no, isn't it you brat who wants that… that thing?"
"What thing?" Zhang Yang was certain this was a scammer and was ready to hang up again. Suddenly the guy on the phone shouted, "Gun—guns! Damn it, don't hang up on Laozi!"
"Guns?"
"Nonsense. Didn't you want to buy two sniper rifles? What else did you think I meant?"
"You're selling guns?" Zhang Yang asked suspiciously.
"Yeah, yeah. What, you think I sell sex? Listen carefully, I'll say it once. Ten o'clock sharp this morning. Tumen Alley, Zhongshan Road. Wait for my call."
"Wait—how do you know I want to buy… that?"
"Why ask so much? Bring the money."
"How much?"
"Use your judgment." The guy sounded extremely impatient.
"What the hell does that mean? 'Use your judgment'?" Zhang Yang was speechless. 'Is this how people sell guns? Could you at least act serious?'
Maybe realizing Zhang Yang had a point, the guy corrected himself. "Fine, give me fifty thousand."
"Can I pay by card?" Fifty thousand.
It wasn't a huge amount, but Zhang Yang didn't usually carry 50k in cash. Gao Qi did, but she was on duty at the rehab center. He didn't want to bother her.
He could only go to the bank. But checking the time, the bank wasn't open yet. So he wondered if card payment was possible.
Thud! Zhang Yang heard a sound like someone falling on their butt on the other end, with banging noises. "Damn it—this is an arms deal, not buying clothes! Some clothes shops even require cash. You expect me to bring a POS machine for you?"
Zhang Yang had no choice. Early in the morning, he rushed to the bank, withdrew 50,000 yuan in cash, stuffed it into his bag, then drove to Zhongshan Road. But the crowd was insane—he couldn't park anywhere. Finally he parked at Huichen Grand Hotel and walked ten minutes to Tumen Alley.
Zhang Yang wasn't stupid. This gun seller was probably introduced by that bastard Ao Tian; otherwise, how would he know Zhang Yang wanted exactly two guns?
As for where the guns came from, Zhang Yang didn't care. As long as someone sold them.
Arriving at Tumen Alley, Zhang Yang called the seller. The guy answered and immediately cursed: "Damn it, didn't I tell you to wait for me to call? Why'd you call first?"
"Sir." Zhang Yang checked the time. It was already 10:05. He wasn't punctual, but this bastard was worse—hadn't he said ten sharp? Zhang Yang's time was precious; he still had to go to Shangyan City today. "Didn't you say ten o'clock sharp?"
"Yeah yeah, nag nag nag."
The guy hung up. After seven or eight minutes, Zhang Yang's phone rang again.
"Hey, where are you?" The lazy voice returned.
"Tumen Alley."
"Oh, Tumen Alley's huge. Which shop?"
Zhang Yang nearly fainted. 'Does this sound like an arms dealer to you?'
Asking which shop he was in?
'YOU picked this location! At least act like the ones on TV—dark alleys, quiet nights, a secret exchange. Why choose the busiest area in Meining and then not even know the exact spot? Absurd!'
But for the sake of the two guns, Zhang Yang endured. He looked at the storefront in front of him—an old century-old eatery called Huang He Ji—and told the lazy arms dealer.
The other party simply said, "Wait for me…"
And Zhang Yang waited—over ten minutes. Even walking Tumen Alley three times shouldn't take that long.
"Hey, you're the one buying guns?" While Zhang Yang was searching around, a man carrying a suitcase and wearing a black jacket appeared.
The guy looked somewhat handsome—but also undeniably sleazy—and he stood behind Zhang Yang with a grin, one hand resting casually on Zhang Yang's shoulder.
And the voice—was exactly the lazy one from the phone.
Zhang Yang's heart tightened. His skills were extremely sharp, yet no one had ever approached him this silently—much less touched him. If this guy were a killer…
He would already be dead.
Fortunately, the man didn't seem intent on killing him. But shouting about buying guns in broad daylight in a crowded area—wasn't that just as dangerous?
Zhang Yang turned around, wishing he could immediately slap his hand over this guy's mouth.
"Well? Are you?" the guy asked impatiently.
Zhang Yang glanced around. Thankfully no one was paying attention; even if they did, they'd probably assume these were two lunatics. Who would believe someone actually bought guns this way?
"Hmm? Did Ao Tian send you?" Zhang Yang lowered his voice.
"Ao Tian? You mean that pretentious Xia brat? Don't know him."
"You don't know him, then why are you selling me—" Zhang Yang poked the suitcase. His eyelids twitched. "—that thing?"
"Nonsense. Someone introduced you. Why ask so much?" The lazy man put the suitcase on the ground.
It looked heavy. He shook his arm afterward, clearly sore. "Did you bring the money?"
"Yes."
"Cash for goods!"
"Wait. How do I know what's in the suitcase is what I want?" Zhang Yang was speechless.
'Who sells guns like this? For all he knew, the suitcase was full of bricks.'
"You can open it if you want."
Zhang Yang looked at the heavy crowds around him. 'Open a gun case here? Are you insane?' He frowned and asked, "What's your name?"
"Hey hey, don't you know the rules? Who asks an arms dealer's name? What if you report me? I'd be finished."
Zhang Yang was even more speechless. 'Why would I report you when I'm the one buying guns?'
'And you won't tell me your name, yet you expect me not to verify with Ao Tian?'
"Never mind. If you won't tell me your name, the deal's off." Zhang Yang thought—fifty thousand was small, but being scammed into buying a suitcase of bricks would be humiliating.
"Fine, fine! I'll tell you. My surname is Wang. Call me Handsome Wang."
Zhang Yang stared at him, still finding him suspicious. He stepped aside and called Ao Tian.
Ao Tian was clearly still asleep. He answered impatiently, "What is it? It's almost New Year, can't a man sleep?"
"Do you know someone called Handsome Wang?"
"No."
He answered decisively.
"Damn it, I almost fell for it. Some guy calling himself Handsome Wang—" Zhang Yang lowered his voice. "—said he was selling me two guns. I'm gonna curse him out and tell him to scram."
"Hey—wait! Selling guns? Handsome Wang… damn it—Wang Xiao—oh shit, today's the day he's selling you the guns? Damn that bastard… Alright, I get it. Handle it yourself. I don't know anything." Ao Tian's tone became urgent and annoyed—apparently, he actually did know this Wang.
And the gun sale was legit.
"By the way, it's year-end. I've heard a lot of whispers—rats are coming out. Be careful." Before hanging up, Ao Tian grumbled and cursed.
"Damn it, he delayed the delivery by seven days—bastard…"