Three years ago, he had met this young woman at the airport. At that time, this lady had a gentle smile and kind eyes. Although she naturally showed a natural pride and nobility, because of a very insignificant matter, she had condescended to wait for him, who was wearing thin clothes, to give her a West Woods military windbreaker and a small card. Three years later, after only a few phone calls and then meeting again, the eyes that should have been unfamiliar became familiar because of that very enchanting sense of intimacy.
So Xu Le was a little touched. He had always thought that taking care of little watermelon on the spaceship escaping from Donglin was a small matter. It was not easy for the head of the West Woods Zhong family to treat a small person like him like this. This kind of kind attitude made him remember it to this day. His dark-colored Xilin military windbreaker had long since been riddled with holes during the assassination incident at Linhai Gymnasium. However, he had kept that incomparably old card, which in the end played the role of a great killing weapon.
"You mean … Lady Tai is still not willing to let go?" Xu Le looked at Madame Zhong under the oil painting and asked, puzzled.
"Probably other than Lin Banshan and that little lunatic of the Li family, no one in the Federation knows what the old man and Lady Tai talked about that day in Linyuan."
Madame Zhong sat on the sofa, her hands gently placed in front of her stomach. She looked at Xu Le with a smile and said, "But this is a matter of face. Since you can come out of Qingcheng safely, it means that Mo Chou has made concessions in front of the old man. You have the old man's face, so your safety won't be a big problem. Besides, Madame won't do this kind of thing. After all, with her status and tactics, it would be undignified and undignified for her to deal with you. "
Xu Le understood why West Woods was so vigilant and even played a little trick of entering the tiger's den since Lady Tai wouldn't deal with him for the time being.
"But we, the West Woods, have interfered in this matter. Even if Lady Tai didn't do anything and just watched coldly from the sidelines, if she had the evidence … and found out that the West Woods had spoiled her plans, it would mean that my husband and I owe her an explanation and a favor."
"We from the West Woods don't want to owe her a favor." Madam Zhong smiled slightly. Her smile seemed somewhat helpless as she said, "The favor between the seven great families is too great. We can't easily owe them."
For the Zhong family in the West Woods, the annual budget review by the Parliament at the beginning of spring was the most troublesome thing. The West Woods Region, which had been through many wars, required the Federation Management Committee to review the aid budget and energy quota. The Tiger of the West Woods and his wife never cared about ordinary favors or explanations in society. However, Lady Tai, who lived in seclusion among the mountains and lakes, could influence many people in the Parliament with just a wave of her sleeves. For the Zhong family, this kind of favor was too big and a headache.
Xu Le understood this sentence and couldn't help but fall silent. He had only made a phone call to the Zhong family in the West Woods, whom he didn't know and had no relationship with, but they had helped him so much and caused so much trouble. He was in the middle of it, so even if he wanted to make up for it, it seemed that he couldn't do much.
"I owe you and Commander Zhong a big favor." He was not used to speaking in such a tone of authority in the Federation, but just like in the past, as long as he said something, he would definitely admit it. This was what it meant to be true to one's word.
Madam Zhong had studied Xu Le's file more than once, so she knew the true nature of this young man. She understood that although this sentence seemed normal, it actually carried some weight. She couldn't help but smile and say, "I don't think there's a chance for you to return this favor."
Xu Le's cheeks were slightly hot. He knew that Madam Zhong was not mocking him, but stating a fact. The only family in the Federation with military power among the seven thousand generations of the Federation's seven great families might have some scruples in the capital ring, but in the West Woods, they were like local tyrants or separatist warlords. No matter what kind of trouble such a family encountered, they did not seem to need his help to solve it. If they encountered trouble that they could not solve, he would have no ability to help.
"I'm very grateful for your willingness to help me, although I don't really understand the specific reason." He looked at Madam Zhong sincerely.
Madam Zhong looked at him calmly. After a moment of silence, she replied, "Not all help has a hidden purpose. Although I am very optimistic about your future in the army, before you went to assassinate Macklin, there was no such future, and there was no need for investment. So, this is not an investment."
Xu Le listened quietly.
Madam Zhong smiled and sighed softly. Her amiable and warm face glowed faintly. She said slowly, "Many people are in awe of the old man behind you, although no one, including me, knows the real relationship between you and the old man. But even more people are afraid of your methods. I think that little old man from the Iron Calculator family would definitely not dare to face you alone, because … the mentality you have shown is too dangerous. "
Xu Le thought to himself in a self-deprecating manner. He was not a cold-blooded killer.
"But there are also many people who like you, such as the president." Madam Zhong smiled and said, "Including my tiger, so you don't have to feel any psychological pressure."
Xu Le thought of the things he had heard before. When President Pabre decided to pardon him, he had encountered countless resistance. But Commander Zhong, who had always been at odds with President Pabre in the West Woods, stood on the president's side and supported the pardon. Thinking of this, his gratitude to the Zhong family in the West Woods grew stronger. He did not know what to say, so he bowed seriously to express his gratitude.
"Fireworks and I are now living in Xixia State. The New Year's Eve holiday is coming soon. If you have time, you are welcome to be a guest," Madam Zhong said with a smile.
Xu Le was slightly stunned. The image of a little girl wearing a white dress and holding a doll bathed in the starlight naturally appeared in his mind. He had not seen her for three years. He did not know how the little girl who did not like to eat and liked to skip home had grown.
…
…
The black car drove steadily and silently away from the Windy Slope Club like a ghost. This was a car specially made by the Tai family. The security personnel in the club already knew that this black car with a license plate had been given to a friend by the family's crown prince, so they did not check it carefully.
Behind them, two dark green military vehicles were following them at a distance. Xu Le narrowed his eyes and glanced through the rear view screen. He felt a little strange, but he did not order them to leave. After all, he was not sure if Lady Tai was willing to give up. With these brave experts following them, the safety of the two of them was more guaranteed.
Nominally, it was a holiday, but after leaving the training base, the Seventh Combat Group of Whitewater Company did not disband. Instead, they were divided into two groups and followed Xu Le closely, like special agents of the Special Task Force to protect important people. Xu Le was not used to this arrangement. He thought, "The Seventh Combat Group is going to be Jian Shui'er's bodyguards soon. Why are these people protecting me?" However, he understood that this should be an order from the Ministry of National Defense, or even the old man in Feicheng City. Even if he wanted to get rid of these people, it would be very difficult.
In addition, during the training base and the exercise, he gradually got along well with more than a dozen men of the Seventh Combat Group. Everyone deliberately avoided the knife he stabbed Bai Yulan at the wedding, so they were somewhat used to each other's existence.
The black car drove past Hawking Avenue and went around to the second highway out of the city. Lan Xiaolong, who was in the military vehicle behind them, reported, "Everything is normal, no one is following us."
Xu Le narrowed his eyes slightly. It seemed that Mochou finally admitted the current situation. At this time, he did not need to worry that Lady Tai would find evidence of the involvement of the Zhong family in the West Woods. Thinking of this, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. A trace of absolute joy appeared on his face, and he said, "I told you, who would care about small people like us? Brother Wei, your courage has become too small."
"Those people in the military vehicle are all your men. They look like real soldiers. You are not a small person now."
Accompanied by an unusually complicated voice, a pale and thin young man sat in the passenger seat. He looked at the radar system in front of him with a somewhat uneasy expression. He carefully touched the interior of the car, shook his head and sighed, "I haven't seen you for three years. It seems that you are doing well in the capital ring. Just now, the lady took me to the club. When I was at my best in the East Woods, I have never seen such a lively place."
Xu Le turned his head and glanced at him. He found that his best friend had become a lot calmer than before because of the year in prison. Only the haggard and tired face that did not fit his age was still the same.
Three years ago, Li Wei was the leader of the orphan gang in the East Woods region's Hexi district. Every night, he would fight for territory with the taser made by Xu Le with the other poor people. He would compete with the other poor people and yearn for those glamorous nightclub girls.
Three years ago, Xu Le was just an apprentice in a repair shop. Using the craftsmanship that his uncle taught him, he helped Li Wei make weapons that were suitable for him. At the same time, he patiently advised Li Wei to be careful, be kind to others, and not kill too many people.
When the two of them met again three years later, many things had changed.
…
…
The black car stopped next to a rice cake stall in the Wangdu district. After Xu Le and Li Wei got off the car, they walked to the stall and asked for some snacks. Then, they sat down at a small table on the sidewalk. Two dark green military vehicles were parked not far away. The men of Group 7 did not get off the car. Instead, they vigilantly observed the surroundings.
The two friends, who had not seen each other for a long time, met again. They did not know what to say to break the silence. After all, the two of them had experienced too many things, especially Xu Le. Li Wei looked at his ordinary face and the two military vehicles behind him with a complicated gaze. Although he did not know what Xu Le was doing, he could feel that Xu Le had put a lot of distance between them.
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