Chapter 3 third chapter

For a while, dating places like The Old Place swept the country, spreading like the plague, popping up like mushrooms after rain.Nightclubs sprang up to do afternoon business, catering to women over thirty or forty looking for a little romance.There are some women who have come up with a wall because of being coquettishly hidden by the golden house.Some married women think that they are deceiving their husbands, but in fact they are deceiving themselves.They all pretended to be shopping at the mall, occasionally stopping for a drink. This business has brought back life to nightclubs, and in some places, the business revenue in the afternoon is more than that in the evening.But the good times didn't last long, and the men who gradually frequented there made the environment too complicated.The complex environment has attracted other men and women to gather with special intentions, so the noble and wealthy customers stop, and the vicious circle makes the business plummet again, and most of the places have to close their doors.

The few surviving ones also established strict rules that female guests not accompanied by men are not allowed to entertain, and those at different tables are not allowed to dance. Ling Kee's old place is still open.As far as I know there are no regulations to restrict guest behavior.This is very interesting. Because the Superior Building is on the edge of the commercial center, it is very difficult to find a parking space.There was an urban parking lot a street away, and I was about to drive there when I saw an opportunity.A taxi drove away from the entrance of the building, and I saw a painted no-parking zone in front of the building.This area is reserved for cars, passengers and goods, as well as for taxis.I saw an empty space in front of the delineation area and a large Cadillac parked on the side of the road, just big enough for my small car to squeeze into.I figured I wouldn't stay long, and figured that luxury car must belong to some tycoon.I backed the company car and squeezed it between the line drawing and the RV.Exiting the car, I noticed that my rear bumper was almost touching the bumper of the larger car.Cadillac can't get out, I have to leave first.

The elevator took me to the old place with a very light and intoxicating perfume smell, thick carpets, dim lights, dreamlike music, fast-moving and well-trained servants, and a mysterious and safe atmosphere.It's a reassuring place. I'd like a whiskey and soda.The wine was served in a thick glazed glass, and I couldn't see how weak it was.Even if Ling Bimei buys the wine at twenty yuan a bottle, according to the selling price he charges customers and the amount of wine he gives to customers, his profit is still very considerable. There's a good band here and quite a few girls.The few men who sat loose were sent by a fat-faced office worker, who probably slipped out after lunch and didn't go back.There is another expressionless face with temples on both sides and a contracted abdomen, trying to compare himself to a star.But there are no young people here.The younger generation doesn't deserve to go with the price list here.

A voice floated gently over my shoulder.Habitual but seductive.Cigarettes, cigars? I looked back and my eyes were like eating a cup of ice cream.She was about twenty-two or twenty-three years old.The skirt stops two or three inches above the knee, and a pitifully small bib hangs in the front. The top is made of good material, with small lace lapels, a large V-shaped cut on the front chest, and a traditional wooden vending tray attached by a belt. , which contained cigarettes, cigars and chewing gum. I paid two cents for Xu Jiaoya's expenses and bought a pack of cigarettes.I thought in my mind that I could explain to my customers in the future that the purpose of buying such expensive cigarettes is to connect with each other so as to get news.It's actually paying for the ice cream that my eyes eat.

She has light gray dreamy eyes.She smiled worldly and said: Thank you.On the one hand, she looked at the man looking at her thigh with a detached and socially experienced eye. She didn't leave, waiting to light my cigarette with a lighter. Thanks.I said. happy to. I quite like the sound of her voice, but she just said those words and walked away. I took a closer look at this place, wondering if Mrs. Kou might be here.Didn't see any that matched her description.The women here are not simple, and they have to be quite confident in their sexiness to wander here.The anemic and haggard won't get much here.

It's better to go home and take a nap if you stay any longer.I handle cases for only ten yuan a day.In this case, the client should not be asked to pay too much for handling the case.I walked to the office to answer the phone. Baisha is not there.I gave Ai Qian very careful instructions: I am at the old place of Lingji, and I am looking for a woman.look at your watch.After waiting for seven minutes, call here to ask if Mrs. Kou Ailei is there and ask her to answer the phone.If people here don't know her, ask them to call her, saying it's urgent.They start calling and you hang up.

What else can I order? there is none left. Do you have anything to say to Baisha? Just tell her I'm here. Yes, you take care of yourself. Don't overwork yourself either. I walk back to the table.Servants hovered nearby, suggesting that I hadn't drunk fast enough, so I drank it quickly and called for another. The wine took almost seven minutes to arrive. I look around.The head servant summoned one of his subordinates and said something to him. The man nodded and walked towards a table smoothly.A man and a woman occupy the table.The servant said something to the guest.Woman apologizes to man and leaves table.

I didn't quite believe it at first.Then I saw the way she walked as she walked towards the phone, and knew she was the one I was looking for.She leans slightly to one side when she walks.It's not a limp, and the legs are fine, but the back is a little stiff in a certain position. Her appearance was suddenly different from what Xu Jiaoya had described.She is not a weak woman who is putting on airs, anemic and weak.On the contrary, she is a woman among women, and she knows it herself.Wool suits hug your curves.The chin was raised to a handsome angle that was neither humble nor overbearing.The whole body is full of independence and self-confidence.Men stare when she walks by, proving me right.

As she was about to reach the phone, I turned to look at the man she had been at the table with.He was a tall man with all the healthy masculine symbols of a marble statue.He was well dressed, like a bank teller, warm, neat, and well-fitting.He's also confident, but never over the top.He was in his early fifties.The current look is a bit like an amateur actor playing American Butler. Two minutes later, Mrs. Cole returned to the table.The man he was with stood up and seated her with a careful, no-smile attitude.He himself sat back in his original position and talked in a low voice. From the looks on their faces they might be discussing Treasury bonds.

I stood up again, wandered to the phone booth and contacted the office again.Bu Aiqian told me that Bai Sha had returned, and I asked Bai Sha to call. Hello.Baisha said: Where did you go? In the old place of Lingji. It's still there! Yes. It's quite a freehand way to handle the case.She said angrily: Sitting with music and beauties drinking wine paid for Shut up, I interjected: Listen, Mrs. Alley is here with a gentleman.I don't think they'll be here long.I want to know who this man is.I want you to wait for them outside this door and follow them. Aren't you using the company car?

You can use your personal car. OK. I said: Mrs. Kou is about twenty-eight years old.About one hundred and twenty pounds.Five feet four inches or four and a half inches.Black woolen suit, a large black straw hat with red trim.Red crocodile leather shoes and bag. The man with her, about fifty-two years old, five feet ten inches, one hundred and seventy to one hundred and seventy-five pounds, double-breasted blue-gray suit with very thin white diagonal stripes, long nose, long chin, expression Not much, dark blue tie with red curving pattern, eyeballs gray or light blue, so far away you can't see clearly. That woman, you can tell when she walks, she shakes her thighs from the buttocks, and every time she steps out her right leg, her left back becomes a little stiff.You have to be very careful to see it from behind, but if you pay attention, you can definitely see it. Bai Sha calmed down a little and said: Okay, don't worry.If you can find them, we've made some progress.I'll come right away.Do you want me to go in and wait inside? Don't, it's too obvious to stand up and leave with them.Besides, she didn't receive a call just now, so she might have become suspicious. OK, leave it to me. I went back and sat down again.I felt that the servant was paying attention to me. Cigarettes, cigars? Voice and smile on my shoulders.I turned to see her legs.Haha, I said: I just bought a pack, remember?Can it be pumped so fast? She lowered her upper body forward, leaned over and said in a low voice: Buy another pack, you seem to appreciate the scenery in front of you, I have something to tell you. I was about to say a few words about eating tofu and politely decline her promotion.Suddenly seeing the look in her eyes and her expression, I reached into my pocket and took out a quarter, saying: This transaction is very reasonable. She put a pack of cigarettes on the table, moved close to me to get the coins, and said without moving her lips: Get out! I raised my eyebrows at her in puzzlement. She made a tolerant smile, as if I had said something outrageous.Slowly picked up the pack of cigarettes, tore off one corner with experience, took out a cigarette, brought it to my lips, and said softly: "Are you Lay Downer?"Bring the lighter over. This time I really didn't have to raise my eyebrows, my two eyebrows raised by themselves.You and I ask: how do you know? Don't be so stupid, use your brain, don't you have a brain? She lit the lighter, put the lighter close to my cigarette, and said: Can I go now? don't go. She said: It’s okay if you don’t leave, let’s move around!Get any woman to dance, you look like a pole in a telephone yard. This reminds me.It suddenly dawned on me that single men don't go to this kind of place just for a couple of drinks.But I still worry about how this cigarette girl will know my name.For eighteen months I had been a rookie in the Southwest Pacific.I've never been famous anywhere before. The band starts playing.I picked a young cheerful girl two tables away who was a little bit strutting as I walked past. dance?I asked. She looked up at me with a look of arrogance and pretended surprise, and said: You are too sudden, aren't you? I looked into her eyes and said: Yes, a little bit. She laughed, I like reckless men.She stood up and reached out to me. We skipped half the dance floor without a word.She said: I think you are not the kind of man I imagined. What do you mean? Sitting there, frowning at the wine glass, very sad, not sociable. That's right, you can't fit in a group. No, I have studied you.oh!I admit that I noticed you. Notice what am I doing wrong? It just shouldn't be admitted. I said nothing more, and we danced for a while.She smiled again and said: Actually, I was right all along, you are sad and out of gregarious. I said: let's talk about you, who are those two people with you? friend. good friend? She said: The three of us often travel together, and we share similar interests. get married? Well no sir. divorced? Yes. We danced again and she said: You rarely come here. is very little. I have never seen you, and I am very strange to you, you are not like a man who comes to this kind of place. What kind of man comes here? Most are not good stuff.Occasionally, I will see one or two of a little interest.That's like fishing for the moon in a sea.Look, I'm confessing myself again. You like to dance, and by chance you'll find a suitable partner here, don't you? That's about it. The music stopped, and I took her to the table, and she said tenderly: If I knew your name, I would introduce you to my friends. I never tell people names. Why? I'm not the kind of person you like to introduce to your friends. Why? I said: I have a wife and three children who are starving.I can't support my wife because I spend my afternoons in places like this.I want to change my past mistakes time and time again, but my nature is always hard to change.Every time I see a pretty face like you on the street, I follow you to see where you go.If you ever come to a place like this, I'll come along and spend every penny I have in my pocket, just to give you a dance. We have walked back to her table.She laughed and said loudly: Ladies, I think this is Mr. X, it's very interesting. The two ladies looked up at me with interesting eyes. The servant head stood beside me and said: Excuse me, sir. Did you violate any rules here?I asked. No such words, sir.It's the manager who wants me to greet you and please move to the office for a few minutes.is important. Ok, I like how it turned out!Said the girl who danced with me. The servant head said nothing, committed to my elbow. I smiled to the three young girls: It doesn't matter, I'll be back.Immediately, he followed the guide through the hall, passed a curtained door frame, and came to a reception room.The other door had a sign engraved with Private Office, and the servant led me through without even knocking. He said: Mr. Lai is here, sir.He backed away and closed the door behind him. The man sitting behind the large polished walnut desk turned his eyes to me from among some papers.I saw his dark eyes, his resolute, powerful personality exuding vitality. A smile appeared on his face.After pushing the swivel chair, he stood up and walked around the table. He wasn't particularly tall or fat, but he was thick all over.The chest is thick, the head and neck are thick, the body is straight and the same thickness up and down, without much curve.The clothes are custom-made, and it can be seen that they are the best tailors. Not only is the workmanship good, but the tailoring makes his body look good.The hair is very neat, showing the result of careful and hard work by the barber.Not a single hair in sight is out of place. Hello, Mr. Lai, my surname is Ling, and I am the boss here. We shake hands. He looked me up and down carefully and said: Please sit down and have a cigar? no thank you.I smoke cigarettes. He opened a moisture-proof box from the table and said: Choose any brand you like. No thanks, I have a pack in my pocket that I want to get out sooner. I fumbled into my pocket.I found it best not to let him know about the second pack of cigarettes under the circumstances. Well, sit wherever you want, you're welcome.Would you like a drink? I just had two glasses of your whiskey and soda. He laughed and said: I asked if I would like a glass of real wine. Whiskey and soda.I said. He picked up the phone, pressed a button and said: Two whiskeys and soda, my own brand. He put down the phone and said: I think you just came back from the South Pacific? Can I ask, how do you know? He seemed quite happy: you can ask, you can ask. It means that there is no answer, so I have to say: I have been away from the country for a long time.Your business started after I left and I never came. So I pay special attention to the purpose of your visit today. But how do you know who I am? He said: All right, all right.Both of us can be said to be down-to-earth people. so what? put you in my place.In order to maintain this place, sometimes the eyes have to be opened a little wider.Always have to eat. certainly. To make money; of course the customer comes first.why are they hereWhat do they want?What can they get?What are their concerns?What are they afraid of?obviously.Mr. Lai, as long as you put yourself in my place and think about it, you will fully understand.Of course I will get a report of the private investigator who came without informing. Yes, I see, do you know all the private investigators? Of course not.Only know people who are smart enough to cause trouble. How to distinguish the law. I do not separate them, they separate themselves. I do not quite understand what you mean. Private detectives are like any other profession.Those who cannot compete with others will naturally be eliminated.The only thing that can maintain the business is that there is a lot of business, and the people and the company are not well-known.If there are really two hits, not only the business is good, but also attracts attention, everyone in the circle will discuss it.I know this kind of people. Kudos to you. Don't be so humble.Before you enlisted in the Navy, you built up a pretty good reputation as a small guy with a lot of guts and brains; often playing the no-limits game with a daring approach to work, prioritizing the interests of the customer.I have carefully studied your experience.I may ask you for help when I need it. And of course, your partner, Ke Baisha.Outstanding, isn't it? I asked: How long have you known her? I honestly never wasted time on her until you joined her squad and organized partnerships.Betha is of course also one of the very few detective agencies on my list that only do a small housekeeping business.So not of interest to myself.She handles routine business in a conventional way, and you handle routine things in a special way after you come.Once the case is in your hands, you can't hold back. You know me too well.I said. He nodded calmly, as if agreeing to a certainty: I know you too well. Why are you being invited today? There was a knock on the door. Come in.Ling Bimei said. I noticed a slight movement on the right side of his body and heard a very soft click.The door opened of its own accord, and a servant came in carrying a silver tray with a bottle of Scotch whiskey of a good brand, glasses, ice cubes, and a bottle of pressed soda water. The servant put the tray on the corner of the table and went out without a word.Ling Bimei poured a lot of wine into two glasses, put ice cubes in it, squeezed in soda water, and gave me a glass. respect you.He said. respect you.I answer. We each took a sip, Ling Bimei returned to her seat, shook the swivel chair, smiled and said: I don't think I need to talk any more. You mean, don't want me here? Very correct. What can you do to me? His eyes hardened, the smile was still on his face: many, many ways. I am very interested.It may be an excuse that the tables are all reserved, there are no vacancies, or that the servants are not waiting on me.I don't see a better, more useful way. He smiled and said: Have you noticed, Mr. Lai, those who talk harshly don't do much. I nod. If I'm going to do it, I won't tell you first.Why come here for a special case? I laughed and said: I just walked in.Looking for some social activities. Obviously, Ling Bimei smiled and said: I hope you think of the reactions of my customers.If a customer points to you and says: Look, this is Lai Tangnuo from the Curry's Private Detective Agency. They specialize in divorce cases.I believe that most of the customers here will suddenly remember that there is something urgent to do, and run away. I said: I didn't think of this possibility. You might as well think about it now. Each of us sips wine from our glasses. Ok I think about it now.I said. I don't know if Mrs. Kou and her flower guardian have left here.I don't know if Ke Baisha has kept up with them.I'm also thinking that Ling Bimei hates private detectives, maybe because the sale of this building is being negotiated. Don't worry too much about this little thing.Ling Bimei said: Add some wine? He reached out for my glass with his left hand, held the bottle of whiskey in his right, poured the amber liquid into my glass, and added soda. I've been wondering how this could have happened in the first place, it's unlikely, but it happened.My eyes inadvertently looked down and saw his expensive watch.It was a very large watch, and only a thick man like him could wear it.The second hand is very large, and it jumps and jumps when it walks. It is a very punctual watch. The time on the watch is half past four. I secretly estimated that it could not be that late.I want to look at my watch, but I feel that it is not right for the time being. Ling Bimei also added some wine to her glass.Smiling at me through the top of the cup, I think we know each other pretty well. Of course, I told him: this is very important. I looked around the office unnoticed. There is a clock on top of the filing cabinet.A very ordinary electric clock, framed by a tinned nautical wheel. I waited for Ling Bimei to lose sight of me, and turned my head to look at the hands of the clock in a hurry. The time is four thirty-two. I said: There must be many difficulties in maintaining such a place. Of course it is impossible to eat meat alone.He admits. I think you also know quite a few customers here. Regulars only know regulars. Having trouble drinking? not much. I have a client who wants to sue someone for a car accident.Do you know what a good lawyer is? Is it the case you are working on now? I just smiled and answered. sorry. Are there any good car accident lawyers you know?I asked. No. If you want to come to this city, there should be better ones. should. I said: good wine, I also appreciate your hospitality.I don't think you want me to go back to my table. It's okay, Mr. Lai, as you like.Have fun and take it easy.Hope you have a good time.When it's time to leave, forget about the bill.Just get up and go.There will be no bill for you either.Just one thing, don't come again! He held me back with booze and talk.Now that the wine is drunk, the talk is over.He also allowed me to go back to the old place.So why was he so eager to ask me to leave for a few minutes?Most likely Mrs. Kou and the man had already left. I drank the rest of the wine in one gulp, stood up, and held out my hand: Nice to meet you.I said. Thank you, please feel free, Lai.play with it.I also wish you good luck no matter what case you are handling now.Please also remember to do it elsewhere, not here. He bowed and escorted me out of the office. I went back to the lobby of the old place. I don't have to look at it at all, just to prove that I'm right. Mrs. Cole and the man with her in the double-breasted blue suit who couldn't smile had left. I look at my watch. The time is three forty-five. Didn't see my cigarette girl, so I asked one of the servants: Is the cigarette guy there? Yes, sir, right now. A girl came up to me, thighs, apron, wooden plate, but it wasn't her. I bought another pack of cigarettes and asked: Where is the other one? Billy?Oh, she left work an hour early today.Let me replace her. My girlfriend kept looking at me two tables away.I walked over, didn't ask to dance, just chatted for a while.I told them they were going to be arrested for failing to support their wife and children and I was trying to post bail and wondered if they could help. I see them interested but overwhelmed.The servant came again, told the ladies Boss Ling's compliments, and asked the ladies if they would like to move to my table, and said that even their table would not be charged, and the boss would treat them.Asked if we wanted a bottle of champagne. The ladies stared, thinking they saw or heard something.One said: "My God, you must be the Duke of Windsor." They all laughed. I smiled and said to the servant: Thank Boss Ling for me, I am grateful for his kindness, I have almost drunk today.Maybe you can bring some wine for my friend, anyway, the boss treats me, I really have to go first. Yes, sir, there is no bill. Mr. Ling has taken care of it. I get it, but small bills are always required. He thought about it, a little embarrassed, but said firmly: Please don't mind, it's best not to. I nod.Bow to three transfixed girls.out of the hall. I took my hat back in the cloakroom, and the cloakroom girl happily accepted my twenty-cent bill. I took the elevator downstairs and walked towards the company car as unobtrusively as possible.I was wrong about the owner of the Cadillac Grand Touring.Not only did he drive away, but he must have pushed my company car all the way forward in low gear to make room for it, and then drove away.My car is now parked right in front of the building entrance.There is a taxi now at the old Cadillac's location. A cab driver with a battered nose and cauliflower ears came up to me.He asked: your car? Yes. Take it away soon. Others pushed it over, but I didn't stop here. he growled rudely.I've heard this kind of reason too much, and it's worthless.If you park the car here, I have no choice but to ask the customer to leave it there. At least one yuan less is given to me, and I want you to pay for it. He held out his hand. I ignored his outstretched hand: You said you lost one yuan? yes. I reached out to open the door of the company car: I'm sorry, man, I'll subsidize you. That's pretty much it. I said: I am a tax officer in charge of income tax.When you file your tax return, you can deduct one yuan yourself and say that I agree.I start the engine. He wanted to shout, but when he saw my eyes, he hesitated. I slammed the door shut and drove away. At four twenty-three, I returned to the office.