Chapter 265: The mortar is in hand and the police are tracking it down
Chapter 265: The mortar is in hand and the police are tracking it down (Please subscribe!)
"Jingle Bell--"
"unity is strength!"
"unity is strength!"
"This power is iron!"
"This power is steel!"
After get off work, Li Kailang went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some seasonings and passed by the black market on the way.
"Hmm?" Li Kailang's eyes narrowed and he saw the flower pot that he had not seen for a long time.
"It used to be set up on Tuesdays, but today is Saturday, why is it set up again? Could something have happened?"
"However, this black market shop owned by Mr. Zhang has finally opened for business. It took almost two months to open. They have rested long enough." Li Kailang muttered to himself.
Seeing this, Li Kailang no longer felt like going shopping, so he went home to cook and go again in the evening.
On the other side, in a corner, Lao Zhang was squatting and chatting with someone.
"Old Zhang, what do you think of that upstart? We've been open for more than a month, why hasn't this guy come here yet?"
"Could he have been caught?" he asked doubtfully.
Lao Zhang slapped him and said, "Pfft, ptff, ptff, don't talk nonsense. We are relying on him now. Don't curse him. If something really happens, you will get the food."
"Well, forget it." The man's mouth twitched slightly. After thinking about the difficulty, he decided to follow his heart.
No wonder Li Kailang didn't see it. Throughout March, Li Kailang was busy completing tasks and purchasing food. He had no time to go to the black market. He went home to sleep after work every day.
There is no time to think about going to the black market, and Li Kailang doesn’t lack those things anyway.
Lao Zhang said unhappily, "Just wait and collect it when the time comes. I hope this big customer can see it, otherwise we will have a hard time this month."
After saying that, the two couldn't help but sigh.
As food is scarce as it is now, they are naturally also in need of it. They are not alone, they have elderly parents and young children to support, so naturally they have to find ways to get food.
But there wasn't much left for the five of them to split it all, and they didn't get much food from the black market either.
As for threatening people with guns and forcing purchases and sales, they still have professional ethics and would not do such things.
If they really do it, they will have to bear the consequences.
The companion continued, "Lao Zhang, how can those people be so poor? They only use their small amount of food to buy bullets. How can it be enough for us to share?"
Lao Zhang said unhappily, "Don't you see what time it is now? It's good enough if they can get some. If they have more, they would rather not have any bullets."
The companions wanted to exchange bullets for food for the "guests" they had, and they got some in return, but not much.
The guests have been replaced one after another. Each of them usually weighs just over 100 pounds. Now only Li Kailang has not changed.
Lao Zhang said helplessly: "Okay, there are too many people here, don't say anything, just wait, I hope that big customer can see it, now we can only rely on him."
"If he doesn't come, there's nothing we can do."
In the evening, Li Kailang arrived as promised.
Seeing the familiar figure coming towards him, Lao Zhang felt a little excited. He had waited for a long time and finally he came.
Lao Zhang couldn't help but say: "Comrade Lin, you are finally here. I have been waiting for you for a long time."
"Really? I'm so sorry!"
Li Kailang's eyes narrowed. From Lao Zhang's words, he knew that he wanted a favor from him.
That would be a change from offense to defense!
You can control the opponent and take the initiative in your hands.
Old Zhang had no idea and continued, "Comrade Lin, I have prepared everything you want, but this time we don't need money to trade, we can trade with grain, is that okay?"
After saying that, Lao Zhang looked at Li Kailang nervously, but his face was blocked by the cloak, so he couldn't see anything.
"Food? It seems that you are also short of food?" Li Kailang asked mysteriously.
"Haha." Lao Zhang just smiled and said nothing, but he also realized that he was a little anxious when speaking.
Li Kailang nodded and said, "Okay, food is food, but I don't need to tell you the price of food now."
"Okay!" Hearing Li Kailang's agreement, Lao Zhang was ecstatic. If Li Kailang hadn't been in front of him, he would have celebrated.
Li Kailang dared to agree to this, so he must have prepared a lot of food, otherwise he would not have such courage.
When the previous guests heard this, they refused without even thinking.
Lao Zhang quickly regained his composure: "Of course, we will trade at the current grain price. We have been friends for a long time, so a little less is fine."
Li Kailang nodded: "Since we are trading with grain, I wonder what good things you can come up with?"
Lao Zhang planned to follow the previous deal and said proudly: "Comrade Lin, what do you want, bullets or guns? I can provide both!"
"Haha!" Li Kailang couldn't help but laugh. Without waiting for Old Zhang to ask a question, he replied directly:
"Lao Zhang, you also know how many bullets and guns I bought from you. Do you think I am still short of bullets and guns?"
"Think about it carefully, do I really need those things?"
Hearing this, Lao Zhang thought about it for a moment. Indeed, there are pistols, assault rifles, and sniper rifles, and a lot of bullets. It should be about two or three thousand rounds, right?
Seeing this, Lao Zhang asked directly: "Then what do you want?"
"Mortar!"
Just three words made Lao Zhang shudder. He quickly shook his head and refused, "Impossible, absolutely impossible, Comrade Lin, how about you change one?"
Li Kailang also shook his head and said affirmatively: "I just want this, I don't need anything else, I'm not bad!"
Old Zhang still shook his head and refused.
Not far away, Lao Zhang's companions looked at Lao Zhang and shook their heads frantically, not knowing what he meant. Why was he like this just by saying a few words?
"Boss, what's wrong with Lao Zhang? Could it be that he is threatened by that nouveau riche?" said a companion nearby.
Seeing this, the boss shook his head and said, "I don't think so. The guy didn't even move his hands or take out his gun."
"That's what I think. The way Old Zhang is shaking his head, could it be that this kid has made some physical demands?"
"Irregular request? What kind of request can two grown men make?" The companions murmured to themselves, and they thought of each other, and suddenly goose bumps appeared all over their bodies.
"Yeah——" He couldn't help but let out a trembling sound, which immediately made others start to have wild thoughts.
"I didn't expect this kid to play so dirty! But for the sake of food, we have to sacrifice Lao Zhang."
"That's right!" Everyone couldn't help but nod in agreement. After all, the dead fellow was not me.
"Damn it, what are they thinking about?" Li Kailang frowned and looked towards the corner not far away.
It was clearly a serious discussion, but when it came to them, it became so dirty.
"Okay, Lao Zhang, I think you should think about it carefully. Why don't you work out a plan with your companions? Anyway, I don't lack things, but you lack food."
Hearing this, Lao Zhang was silent. The initiative now lay with Li Kailang. Just like him, Li Kailang, he had no shortage of things.
If there's nothing good enough to attract him, the worst that can happen is that he won't do it, but they can't.
Lao Zhang said, "Okay, I'll go back and ask. Please wait."
Li Kailang nodded: "Okay, then hurry up and give me a definite answer."
Lao Zhang turned around and went to look for his companions.
"Lao Zhang, how is it? What does he want?" Everyone couldn't wait to come forward and ask.
Lao Zhang briefly explained Li Kailang's requirements.
His companion Yuan Jue immediately retorted: "No, it's absolutely impossible. It's too dangerous to hand over such a dangerous weapon to that upstart. I won't agree to it."
Another companion, Ding Shou, retorted: "Why can't we agree to this? This kid has been asking for it since last year. What's the harm in giving it to him?"
"This guy has been doing business with us for so long, there's nothing to worry about."
"That won't work either!" Yuan Jue still objected, "Business is business, and personal relationships are personal relationships. What if this kid uses the mortar to do something bad?"
Hearing this, Ding Shou was silent for a moment, then retorted: "This kid has bought from us so many times, has anything ever happened? What is there to worry about?"
Now it was Yuan Jue's turn to remain silent. It was true that apart from the incident that occurred when they dealt with the enemy spies, in their eyes, that was not an incident.
Apart from that, nothing has happened, so there's really nothing to worry about.
But the two still tried to persuade each other, and when they failed, they started to fight.
"If I say no, I just can't!"
"I think it's OK!"
The two refused to give in to each other.
The others immediately separated them, and the boss said angrily: "Okay, stop fighting, what's going on?"
Yuan Jue asked: "Boss, what do you say we should do?"
The four of them looked at the boss at the same time. The boss lowered his head and thought for a moment, then said directly: "Lao Zhang, promise him that if he wants it, give it to him."
Just as "Boss" Yuan Jue was about to object, he was interrupted by the Boss.
"Yuan Jie, I know you're worried, but you don't have to think about yourself, but you have to think about everyone else. Everyone has elderly parents and young children, and they all lack food."
Hearing this, Yuan Jie remained silent. Not everyone is like him, thinking that if one person is full, the whole family will not be hungry.
"Okay, boss, I'll listen to you." Yuan Jie nodded helplessly.
"Lao Zhang, come on, I'll go with you to talk to him." The boss put on a cloak, disguised himself and left.
The two of them went to have a good chat with Li Kailang.
Li Kailang heard their conversation clearly, and he waited for them calmly with his head in his hands.
"Hello, Comrade Lin." The boss asked first.
Li Kailang said directly: "Hello, there is a result."
Listening to Li Kailang's calm words, it seemed that he had already been sure of this matter, and he was not even surprised to see him. It seemed that they had expected it.
Seeing this, the boss didn't pretend and said directly: "We can give Comrade Lin what he wants."
"But let me make it clear in advance. If you get caught, don't give us away if anything goes wrong. We won't admit it."
Li Kailang nodded: "Don't worry, I don't know who you are. I can't recognize you even if I recognize you. Besides, you don't know who I am, right?"
"Besides, I've been buying bullets and guns from you for more than half a year. Has anything happened to me?"
"If I want to run away, no one can catch me!"
Listening to Li Kailang's confident speech, the two did not think that he was arrogant. They had tried that time before, but they did not catch him. They did not know how Li Kailang disappeared under dozens of eyes.
Li Kailang brought the topic back: "You've said too much. I don't know how much this will cost. How much food will it cost?"
The eldest brother held up five fingers and said, "5 kilograms of grain, as long as it is grain, coarse grain or fine grain is fine."
"500 kilograms!" Li Kailang lowered his head in thought, pretending to be hesitant.
But this made the two of them tremble in their hearts. Would it be too much? Maybe Li Kailang couldn't give it out.
The two looked at each other, their eyes conveying: Do you want a little less?
It is better to have less than to part ways unhappily or fail to reach an agreement. At least you can get some food.
Before the two of them could speak, Li Kailang agreed: "Okay, I agree!"
"Huh? What did you say?" The two doubted their ears.
Li Kailang repeated: "I said, I promised, 500 kilograms is 500 kilograms!"
Hearing Li Kailang's confirmation, the two couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Li Kailang continued, "I can get the food, but with so much food coming in, I'm afraid you won't be able to receive it. How about trading somewhere else?"
"We really need to change places." The boss nodded.
Now everyone is scrambling for food. No matter whether Li Kailang sells it or not, they will just grab it first.
The boss asked back: "Where do you want to go?"
Li Kailang: "I, I can do anything. I just need a hidden place where no one can find me. You are familiar with this. I will not get involved. You can choose a place."
The boss joked: "You trust us so much, aren't you afraid that we will kill you to silence you?"
Li Kailang also responded jokingly: "Murder to silence someone? It's not certain who killed whom. Maybe it wasn't me who died?"
Seeing Li Kailang's confident answer, the two were surprised and began to be wary of Li Kailang.
The boss continued, "I was just joking. I think we should choose Shichahai. There aren't many people there at night, so it's convenient for trading and escaping."
Li Kailang thought about it and thought the place was good, so he agreed: "Okay, let's go there. When will the transaction be completed?"
The eldest brother said: "In order to avoid any more trouble, I think we should do it tomorrow night."
Li Kailang: "Okay, tomorrow. Oh, and prepare some shells for me. Don't just give me an empty shell without any shells."
"Don't worry, we've done business so many times, and you won't lose anything." Lao Zhang replied.
He really wanted to not give the shells just now. After all, an empty shell was really useless. But he just gave it.
"Okay, then I'll leave first." Li Kailang turned around and was about to leave.
Lao Zhang hurriedly called out, "Hey, Comrade Lin, wait a minute."
Li Kailang: "What? Is there anything else?"
Lao Zhang took out the bullets and said, "Since we are here, why don't you buy some bullets before you leave?"
Li Kailang thought about it and said, "Okay, let's have some."
After a while, Li Kailang bought a total of 500 bullets and left, and he would have 50 more kilograms of food for the next day.
After returning home, Li Kailang thought of ways to be on guard against them.
"Let's go fishing in Shichahai tomorrow and observe the situation at the same time. If you dare to say that you want to kill someone to silence him, you should be prepared to avoid making a mistake and getting caught."
But this time of exchanging food for artillery gave Li Kailang some inspiration.
"Since they are short of food and I have it, why not use the food to exchange for weapons? Since there is plenty of food anyway, maybe it wouldn't be a problem to build an arsenal."
After the planting space became larger, especially with one acre of land left as a warehouse, Li Kailang naturally had to make effective use of it.
It doesn't take up much space to put a container and brewing tools, and it's not impossible to use the remaining space to build an arsenal.
The next afternoon, after waking up, Li Kailang went to Shichahai to fish.
The frozen lake has thawed and it's time to go fishing.
When Li Kailang came, there were quite a few people, some came to fish, some came to cultivate their sentiments, and some came simply to prepare meat and have a snack.
"Fishing, fishing!" Li Kailang put down his tools and started fishing.
I haven't been fishing for a while, so my fishing skills are a bit rusty.
However, Li Kailang came here not only to fish, but also to take a look and guard against an ambush set by Lao Zhang.
On the other side, Lao Zhang also came to fish, also to guard against an ambush set by Li Kailang.
Both sides were on guard against each other, and with so many people around, it was difficult to take any action.
They waited until dark and everyone left. Li Kailang packed up and pretended to go back.
It was late at night when Li Kailang put on all his equipment, including a bulletproof vest, a Nagant M1895 revolver silencer pistol, and finally a dark cloak.
When they arrived not far from Shichahai, Li Kailang took out the cart, loaded five bags of grain weighing 5 kilograms, and then pulled the cart carefully.
"quack--"
"Chirp——"
Late at night in Shichahai, various animal calls can be heard.
Neither side specified the exact location, but it was impossible to indicate the location by speaking loudly, so the only option was to use electric lights.
"Click, click!" Li Kailang quickly turned the flashlight on and off.
Suddenly, there was a sound of lights turning on and off quickly not far away.
"Where is the person?" Lao Zhang pointed to the place where Li Kailang was turning on the light. The two were about a hundred meters apart, not far.
"Let's go and move the things over." The boss said, and everyone hurried over carrying their things.
Li Kailang saw the location of the lights and waited for them to come over.
After a while, the two sides met.
"Comrade Lin?"
"It's me, Lao Zhang?"
"it's me."
Both sides breathed a sigh of relief.
Lao Zhang and his companions looked at the bags of grain on the cart and felt very satisfied.
Li Kailang got straight to the point: "Five bags of food, each weighing 5 kilograms. I don't know what kind of food you like, so I packed some. Do you want to take a look?"
The boss said, "No need. We are old friends. We still have some trust. The thing you want is here. Do you want to check it?"
The eldest pointed to the box containing the mortars.
Li Kailang also said directly: "No need, we are already so familiar with each other."
"Okay, that's great!" The boss was delighted. "Since we trust each other so much, let's make a deal?"
"Agreed!" Li Kailang said affirmatively, "Everyone take your things."
Both sides walked towards each other, but remained wary of each other while moving.
Both parties deliberately kept a distance of 2 meters between them, with one hand unconsciously placed on the waist.
"Hey, what are you doing!" Suddenly, a scolding came from a distance.
Not far away, I saw several policemen pointing here.
"It was you who called the police?"
“No (no)!”
Lao Zhang and his five men directly pulled out their pistols, and Li Kailang pulled out his submachine gun. Both sides questioned each other first and also answered the questions first.
But this answer made both parties stunned.
Li Kailang: "Really, it wasn't you who called the police?"
Boss: "Nonsense, why should we call the police? There's no benefit."
"It looks like someone else reported it. Now is not the time to be so particular. Everyone, grab your things and run away as you can. Don't give me away if you get caught."
The boss sneered and replied unceremoniously: "You too, everyone run according to your ability."
After saying that, Li Kai ran away without saying anything else, picking up the box containing the mortar.
Lao Zhang and his five companions did the same, they carried the food and ran away.
But after all, they couldn't run fast with over 100 kilograms of food on their backs, so the boss said directly: "Let's run separately. When it's time to test our abilities, don't betray us if you get caught!"
The others didn't say anything, and when the eldest brother said to split up, they immediately separated.
"Stop! Don't run!" the police behind shouted, but whoever dared to stop at this time would lose the food.
Fortunately, there were only four policemen in number, and they were spread out, which put them at a disadvantage in a short time.
"One of you should go after the guy who's moving the boxes, and the rest of you should go after the guys who are carrying the food. They dare to resell the food at this time. They don't take us seriously."
After the distribution, the four people separated immediately.
"Chasing me? Comrade, you are still a little slow." Li Kailang muttered to himself, and then looked in the direction of Lao Zhang and the others, "I hope you won't be caught."
After saying this, Li Kailang immediately sped up, turned a corner, entered the planting space, and disappeared.
"Hey, where is the person?" The policeman scratched his head in confusion and looked at the surrounding environment. It was all roads, so no matter how fast he ran, he should have left a shadow.
"Forget it, never mind." The policeman chose a direction and rushed forward. "This kid is carrying boxes, so he can't run fast. He must be in front."
After the policeman's back disappeared, Li Kailang came out of the planting space and returned to the courtyard from the opposite direction.
It was not until he got home that Li Kailang breathed a sigh of relief and opened the box to check.
"Sure enough, Lao Zhang didn't lie. He brought the things."
Li Kailang looked at the mortar lying in the hay, with five shells still on it.
The mortar was covered with spots of rust, clearly showing its age.
"I finally got the stuff. Now I have highly lethal weapons and I don't have to worry about encountering danger anymore." Li Kailang murmured to himself.
Although Lao Zhang did not give an instruction manual, Li Kailang had received knowledge about firearms and knew how to operate it.
Li Kailang was doing better, but Lao Zhang was not. They were still fleeing in danger.
(End of this chapter)