Chapter 13 Chapter Thirteen

At dusk in the afternoon, I arrived at Luo Xiulan's apartment. She herself greeted me at the door of the apartment and put her soft jade hand in mine.Her eyes were as remarkably welcoming as a dog's tongue. She said: You must be wondering why I hired you. My work has always been colorful. I think you are easy to trust. Thanks. With her hand still in mine, she ushered me into the hall with the other.She was wearing a man-made fiber top and a pair of leather pants, which made her curves even more beautiful.The low-cut opening at the front of the chest invites a different fantasy against her olive skin.

She put her hand in mine, and stood beside me and said in a low voice: My friend is still here, wait until I send her away, we can talk again.Then she said loudly: Come in, come in. I go into the living room. A woman, hugging a cushion, reclined on the couch, her legs were curled on the sofa, covered with a blanket of bright colors, I couldn't see her face, I could see her dark hair and side cheeks. Please sit down, please sit down.Luo Xiulan said.My friend has a bit of a cold.She suffered a great injury.Jenny, dear, I want you to meet Tang Nuo.I told a good friend of yours. The body on the couch turned around and suddenly she sat up straight and the blanket covering her legs fell to the floor.A very beautiful thigh fell from the sofa, and the toes fell to the ground.Looking at me with angry eyes, Ge Zhenni spat out a series of poisonous words from her mouth.

When she poisoned me, this person was also there, and he probably has a hand in it.This man is her friend, and he cannot be trusted.I tell you, no Shut up!Luo Xiulan said to her. Mrs. Ge Zhenni really shut her mouth after she yelled. Luo Xiulan turned to me. I said: I did meet Mrs. Ge.I happened to be visiting her daughter.Where did Mrs. Ge eat a few pieces of poisoned candy.I was there too. Luo Xiulan stared at me with her big dark eyes.What are you doing with Donna?She asked each word in a flat voice, as if typing on a recording. I'm investigating the murder of Melobo. Why? Mostly to protect myself.The police knew that I was with Xia Heli when the body was found.They are least fond of private detectives who find dead bodies, especially private detectives who often find dead bodies.

Why are you looking for Gedona, she has doubts? I shrugged.I'm not here to chat about Zhang's parents and Li's family. You went to her to question her? It can be said like this. Does she know why you went? At least she knew that I was there to get news. Does she know your name? She thought I was a journalist. But how do you explain why you came to her? Because Melobe's crow is now in her custody.Based on this, I have a reason to advance to the crow, you know? oh. It's just a short word, but there are many meanings in it.She is laughing now.Her eyes looked at me now with caressing meaning again.

Guzheng began to speak rapidly in Spanish. Luo Xiulan turned to her and said in English: Oh, shut up!You turn me off.When you see something sweet, you're like a pig.If you eat sweets all the time, if you eat so much at one time, you will not be poisoned, who will be poisoned.I even think that what you have is sugar poisoning, and there is no other poison in sugar. Mrs. Ge said: I was really poisoned, I collapsed, and the police sent me to the hospital.They inserted a thick rubber tube into my stomach.I was really poisoned deeply. Well, but you're fine now.Stop pretending.I'm tired of it.You go and cook for us.

Mrs. Ge stood up obediently, folded the blanket carefully, and left the room quietly. Xiulan whispered to me: She is Spanish.They have their own set of tempers.You know South Americans.She was the wife of a mine manager whose husband died in a mine accident.That mine is also part of the heritage, and I am very interested in that mine. How long has she been in this country? Oh, she comes and goes.She'll be here for a while, and back to Columbia for a while.When she comes here, she likes to be a modern lady.But I know that once back in Colombia, she will work as a maid.She works hard and makes enough money to come here but we won't talk about her.We have other things to talk about.

What? She pointed to the couch, and she said: I have something confidential to tell you. I followed her to the edge of the couch and sat down.There was still body temperature on the sofa from Ge Zhenni sitting on it.Luo Xiulan sat next to me, she was close enough.I could feel the heat coming from her right leg through the leather trousers. She leaned over and held my hand. While stroking it, she said: They all say you are very capable. Say it, whatever other people like to say, just say it. You are very reliable in my eyes. I'm glad you think so. Is it right?she asked. I looked into her dark, romantic eyes.She was blood red, her thick lips that seemed to be dripping water were facing me, her face was so close to mine, and her chin was slightly sideways.

I said: Of course, I am very reliable. She laughed softly, the sound came from her throat, and it was so magnetic that it was refreshing.She lowered her eyelids.Her long lashes fell down on her olive skin, and she let out a long hiss and started playing with my fingers again. She said: My Uncle Heli is very, very close to me. I know this. She stopped, turned her face back and looked at me carefully: "It's because I kissed him, so you know." It is also one of the reasons. But I have kissed him since I was a child.He looks like really my uncle. But now that you have grown up, big girls can't mess around anymore.

She laughs, I want to kiss someone, I do.I never do half-doing anything, I like to do everything to the end. anything? There is nothing like this.I'm not a half girl. I can see this, and no one will say that you are half-baked. She's a little angry, what do you mean? What do you mean? It's very simple, I'm not not when I do one thing, I do it very well through and through. That's what I mean too. You may have other meanings. Don't worry, that's exactly what I mean. Her fingers are busy again, soft, warm, long and soothing, and when she pats the back of my hand, my heart skips a beat.

I am also very impulsive. I think you are very emotional.In a split second you can decide whether you like it or not. Exactly, I'm all about friendship at once.I usually decide to be friends with him with just one glance, or to ignore him at all.There is another kind, that is, I will like him very much. Decided at first glance? It was decided at first sight. What do you think of me?do you like me? She squeezed my hand until the nails were pressing into my flesh. We sat there for a while without saying anything.Then she suddenly said: Tang Nuo, how did you know that I gave money to Laupu?

I have no idea. But you asked. I would like to know. She reached into her jacket pocket, pulled out a rectangle of paper, and folded it in half.She gave it to me.It was a check that she had signed herself.The invoice date is one week ago.The person who received the money was Holup, and the check was issued to the bank for collection, and both banks endorsed, stamped the check as paid, and returned it to the drawer. She reached out to me again and I handed her the check back. Tang Nuo, why don't you speak. What can I say? Don't you want to know why I gave him money? Why is the reason for giving him money so important? He needs the money badly and there is nothing else he can do. I feel sorry for him.I didn't agree with him at first.He begged me to ask for an extra thousand dollars a month from the trust myself.In this way, the two trustees will definitely give him an extra one thousand yuan a month. You objected? Yes, I don't want to make Uncle Heli feel bad.But again I feel sorry for Raup.So I signed the check and gave it to him myself. Is it a loan? It's a gift. From the kitchen, Ge Zhenni shouted loudly: Where is that Chinese teapot? Xiulan said bluntly: I don't know.Don't bother us.If you can't find it, use something else. She turned to me, and said in a gentle tone: I have to speak quickly.Jenny is a curious gossip.Tang Nuo, I need your help. do what?And for what? I like Heli very much.I worry about him. What are you worried about? I have no idea.Perhaps a premonition of danger.I felt with every bone in my heart that he was in danger. What do you want me to do? I want you to follow him and protect him.you will, won't you? I'm not very good at protecting others. Oh, I believe you can, you can, you know where the danger is I mean you can see through everybody.You can quickly draw conclusions about people. What does this have to do with this matter? Do you know why Heli is dangerous? Why? She said: Do I have to name names? What's wrong? It's still a trust relationship.She said slowly: Some people can get benefits because they get rid of them. Are you saying that Melobe was killed because No, no, no. So why are you afraid? He is dead now. That is indisputable. What if another accident happens to Uncle Heli? Are you saying you're going to get a bunch of money? I?she asked, laughing mischievously again. But you will, won't you? Big black eyes look into my eyes.Yes, of course I will.This is unnecessary. So you mean Holup? I don't mean that.I want to protect Uncle Heli. This is not my profession. I will pay you.I have my own money. But how can I explain to him that you paid me to go You don't have to explain it.You simply work for him and he will pay you.In addition, I have to pay you.Uncle Heli thinks you are smart and capable.He wants you to be with him.Together twenty-four hours a day. What if I find out something Uncle Heli doesn't want me to know? She smiled and said: Tang Nuo, you know, do you have to say it? I said: Sometimes, some people, there will be some things that they don't like others to know.I also don't like being with him twenty-four hours a day, day and night.This is very inconvenient. The hand she had been stroking the back of my hand stopped suddenly.I know she is thinking about this sentence carefully.Then, calmly, with the same time interval between each word, she said as if she was asking her subordinates to type on a recording: Tang Nuo, please say it again. At this time, Ge Zhenni came out of the kitchen and pushed a cart for drinking tea. Xiulan looked at her with a very unhappy attitude, and then she immediately behaved like a standard host and poured tea for me and herself. Ge Zhenni is no longer uncomfortable at all, and she is not weak anymore.She seemed to be premised entirely on Luo Xiulan's comfort, and seemed ready to accept me as a friend.Xiulan sat next to me, very close.From time to time, he raised his long eyelashes and looked at me with a smile.Everyone will say she is very beautiful.In particular, she exudes femininity and vitality all over her body.No one with her could dream of maintaining a platonic hypocrite friendship with her.It's like someone who gets into a brand new sports car and doesn't just want to do a 35 mph spin on the highway.Her existence is not just for this. Ge Zhenni waited for the right moment, and she said to me: You must think that I am an unreasonable mother. Why? Come to think of it, my own daughter was going to poison me. I said: These have nothing to do with me. No, no, she said sincerely: you only say that because you are polite.I'm going to tell you a little bit from my side.I want you to know how I feel. Luo Xiulan said: Oh, forget it, Jenny.Tang Nuo is not interested in what you think of Donna. But when he saw my gaffe, he cursed at Donna for trying to poison me.That was downright stupid.I am sick.I'm nervous.I'm hysterical.I went to see Donna to talk to her again.I'm going to rebuild some relationships a little bit better.And then this happened, I don't think I actually thought about it.We impulsively a little of us from the south. I just nod. Luo Xiulan said: There is really no need, Jenny. Ge Zhenni never took her eyes off my face.Her eyes are bright and transparent, begging me to understand her.We Southern Spanish speakers, she said, put a lot of emphasis on family.We don't just pursue wealth like the race here.We pursue family harmony and friendship among friends.We give everything for peace of mind. This kind of sacrifice for family and friends is rare in North America.I've lived in both places, I know. I said: I only saw your daughter once.And that's business. So, you are not her friend? I had never seen her before. Maybe she mentioned me to you? No. I can't understand her, there is a big generation gap between us.She's more American, she's ambitious.She wants to achieve her ideal and nothing can stop her.Tell me, Sino Lai (Spanish word for Mr. Lai).Even if you can become an artist, but give up love, so what?Love is the most important part of life. Love your family, love your friends, and keep these things firmly in your heart is life. Without these, other achievements are false. In our country, the man who has friends is the man who has wealth.It is a poor man who has many pesos (the names of coins in Central and South American countries) and few friends.Are you clear? I said: I have never been to your country.I have only heard of it. Yes, this is our dogma.And now, my daughter, she betrayed me.I was thrown aside by her.I, I am her mother, does she trust me?No, she trusts her brushes, trusts her pictures.When you see her paintings, you can see her ambition.What is your heart?to succeed.success what?Hey shit!nothing.Give up family and friendship, what success can there be?What can be compared with love? You said she has no friends?I asked. With no friends, she casts them aside.She has only ambition.She reads and works, saying that this can increase intelligence.But intelligence is of no use without heart and zeal.Being successful without friends is like being in the desert, all you can see is your land, but there are no other human beings, what's the use of owning it?Who wants to own a deserted land? A lot of people over there in Palm Springs are pretty happy with themselves.I said. She looks hurt: you're kidding. Xiulan said: Of course, he will be joking, Jenny.All of us in the north are like this.We joke when we don't want to show our hearts.Tang Nuo didn't know anything.How about some more tea, Tang Nuo?One candy, some milk! The small jar of cheese slipped from her hand, hit the edge of the cart, and smashed to the ground.Come on, Jenny, get a mop and mop it. Jenny jumped up and walked into the kitchen. Bring me another crock of cheese.Xiulan called. She turned to me: Tang Nuo, I'm so sorry. No, you did it on purpose. Her eyes smile.A knowing smile.Nothing can escape your eyes, can it, Tang Nuo? I am silent. She said: You know, there is another thing that I urgently need to be able to do well.I believe you can handle it.She lowered her voice and went on quickly: Merobe probably had several safe deposit boxes.The safe deposit boxes may not have been rented under his real name.Can you find a group of people to search these banks? Ge Zhenni came out of the kitchen with a dishcloth in her hand. She dried the cheese with the cloth, and picked up the pieces of the cheese crock one by one. Xiulan said: "Get some more cheese for Mr. Lai." Luo Xiulan waited for Jenny to enter the kitchen, she said: I think Melobo still has several safe deposit boxes like this. Used to hold trust funds? I have no idea.I wish I knew too.You know I'd be interested. I said: You don't need to hire a private detective agency to find this kind of information.When someone dies, the state of California collects estate taxes.Renting a safe deposit box may save some inheritance tax, which the state government doesn't like very much.So state law is very strict on this matter.There are many laws and regulations that are specially used to deal with renting a safe deposit box and want to avoid paying taxes after death. you're laughing at me for being an idiot No, just telling you the truth, you don't have to worry about Melobe's dropbox. She leaned towards me, and she asked: Can you protect Uncle Heli? I don't know, I don't even think so. Why? Because I have other things to do. What's up? Business. But I am willing to pay you, and he will pay you in addition. I know, but most likely I won't be able to find the time. Are you refusing to do this? Ge Zhenni called out from the kitchen, saying that there was not much cheese left. Find a small tank and take it out.Xiulan said impatiently. She works for you?I asked. God, no!She is a friend.Sometimes she is so annoying. I said: Oh.Xiulan quickly picked up and said: Of course, you know it is so.I knew that in South America she worked as a maid, and I only took advantage of that.She is older than me and I know she likes to do things to help others.She is lonely by herself, and she likes to chat with people and ask people to understand her.She doesn't get on well with her daughter.I think it's Jenny's fault.But the daughter is not without fault.Donna spends all her time with her career and has no time to care about her mother. She must know Latin America to understand this feeling.In Jenny's words, family and friendship come first.Also before making money.I'm afraid of her now, and I'm also afraid of her tight entanglement.But, on the other hand, I personally like her and would do anything for her. Jenny came back into the room again, holding another small jar of cheese in her hand, and she also sat down.We chatted for two or three minutes, mostly innocuous.Then I told Xiulan that I must go.She kept me again, and found all kinds of reasons.She hoped that Jenny would leave on her own, leaving the two of us to chat.At one point I thought she'd say it and tell Jenny off, but she didn't. Maybe she was afraid I'd take the opportunity to slip away with Jenny. Xiulan escorted me to the door.She looked back to see that Ge Zhenni was still sitting in the living room, and she stepped out the door and looked up and down the aisle. I knew what she was going to do, and I stood firm. She came to me and threw herself into my arms like a piece of iron into a magnet.She put her left arm around my neck and ran her fingers through the hair on the back of my head. When I was dizzy, she said: You are so kind.Kiss me on the cheek.But immediately turned back into the room without saying a word. I heard the door slamming.