Chapter 37 (2/2)

“Don’t be so pessimistic,” Xu Ping chuckled. “There are just a bit more good people in this world. See, the two of us are alive and well.”

He Zhi sniffed. “I’m having a hard time telling if I’m a good person or not. Dealing with those criminals every day, sometimes I feel like I’m becoming one of those disgusting creatures. The police department is filled with bulls.h.i.+t, too. I only feel a bit relaxed when I’m with you.”

“And this is coming from the mouth of a deputy-captain-to-be?”

He Zhi shook his cigarette. “There’s never an end to promotions. There’s always someone above you and then another above that. People like me, we’re no different from the dogs kept by humans.”

Xu Ping shot a look at him. “Then what’s a civilian like me? You can let out steam with me, but you’d better go back to being your deputy captain. Your mom and dad are counting on you to make the ancestors proud.”

“Make my ancestors proud, yeah right.” He Zhi laughed. “That should be someone like you.”

Xu Ping fell quiet.

“If it wasn’t for that f.u.c.king b.a.s.t.a.r.d, you wouldn’t have gone to jail. You wouldn’t have gotten a record, and you would’ve gone to university! That f.u.c.ker! Now he’s having the time of his life with a wanted poster in his name. You went through so much in the slammer –”

“That’s enough.”

The two men sat in silence together.

Then He Zhi slowly put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I had a little too much tonight.”

Xu Ping nodded.

He stood up to pay, but He Zhi grabbed him. “It’s on me.”

Just as He Zhi pulled out his wallet, the bartender came over. “The boss said that it’s on the house for you two gentlemen.”

Puzzled, Xu Ping looked over at his friend.

Without flinching, He Zhi pushed his wallet back into his pocket.

“Tell your boss I said thanks.”

“Mr. Qin said Officer He is always welcome. We have a few other locations. You can use this VIP card whenever you come to our shops.”

He Zhi took a look at the card before stuffing it into his jacket pocket.

The two friends walked out of the bar.

“You know the owner?”

“Never even seen the guy.”

Xu Ping didn’t speak.

“A lot of stuff happens at these places, and they got their own men and their own business. They need favours from us when the s.h.i.+t hits the fan.”

Xu Ping nodded and made to say farewell and take the bus home.

“Ping-zi, I’m getting married.”

Shocked, Xu Ping swung around.

“What?! Since when did you have a girlfriend?!”

“Not my girlfriend.” He paused looking down at his shoe grinding out the cigarette b.u.t.t. “My brother-in-law introduced us. She’s the daughter of the department chief.”

Xu Ping stared at his friend.

“When is it?”

“October.”

“Remember to send me an invitation.”

“Yeah.”

The neon lights of the bars flashed and sparkled in the night. The toasty breeze was filled with dust.

A red taxi slowed to a stop beside them. Xu Ping waved to the driver, and the vehicle continued slowly along its way.

In the distance, bus no. 25 was driving towards the stop, full of pa.s.sengers returning home late.

“My ride’s here.”

He Zhi nodded.

“Give me a call if there’s anything. Don’t try to take it on all by yourself.”

Xu Ping laughed. “Don’t curse me! You do know what you do, right? I’m a law-abiding citizen. If I ever called you for help, then I’d really be in trouble.”

He Zhi chuckled along.

Xu Ping dug out his monthly pa.s.s and got on the bus while He Zhi stood by the bus stop.

Xu Ping stuck his head out the window. “All right. Hurry home. Don’t make your parents wait.”

He Zhi nodded but didn’t move.

After a moment’s consideration, Xu Ping stuck his head out again. “Da-Zhi!”

He Zhi looked up.

“It’s my birthday in a few days. Come out for dinner!”

The bus drove off. Xu Ping watched his friend wave good bye in the dark night.

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