Chapter 2 Chapter two

The little guy they called Qiao Zai with the swollen face had arrived early, leaning against the warm stone wall and watching the slowly turning water wheel.The surface of the waterwheel is covered with moss, and the water droplets fall slowly, shining green in the sun.Behind the waterwheel, you can see the Savings Bank, which looks like bitter gingerbread. The building is famous for its exquisite architectural style and the plump geraniums beside the steps at the entrance, becoming the protagonist of the landscape postcard.It is not like a bank, but like a villa of a millionaire who grows melons and grows rich.It is said that this is the most beautiful bank in all Provence, and it just goes with the prettiest town of L'lsle sur la Sorgue.According to Qiao Zai's gossip, there is a way to sneak into the bank, and there is a passage to enter.He lit a cigarette and looked for familiar faces in the Sunday morning market crowd.

Near the end of autumn, at the end of September, the beautiful weather has driven people to the streets. Strong, thoughtful housewives carry full vegetable baskets; Arabs buy their lunches at the chicken stalls; With tanned cheeks and bright holiday attire, he walked through the crowd.They moved slowly, clogging the sidewalk and spilling out into the street.Cars attempting to cross town end up in angry, honking bullshoes.This, Joe Tsai thought, might be a problem.He took the last puff of his cigarette, tucking the butt into the crook of his hand, an old prison trick. The man he was waiting for was slowly crossing the street with a half-eaten croissant in his hand, and his belly was more spectacular than ever.Although he hasn't lost any weight since then, it's obvious that he's had a great time since that time!

Hello!General! The man waved the croissant in his hand, hi!Joe Tsai!Are you OK? They shook hands, stood looking at each other and smiled. how many years?two years? Not only that!The big man smiled and said: You still haven't gained any flesh!He took a bite of the croissant, and wiped the golden crumbs off his beard with the back of his hand. Joey noticed that his hands hadn't done any hard work in years, unlike his own scarred fingers and rough, calloused fingers. palm. Walk!Shall we just stand like this all day?The general patted Qiao Zai on the back, come on!I buy you something to drink.

Qiao Zai said: Wait, let me show you something first.He took the general's arm and walked towards the stone wall.look here!He looked down at the water running below.the other side. On the other side of the bank, the top of the stone arch was nowhere to be seen, three feet from the surface.The stones were dry and clean, and obviously the waterwheel hadn't been pumped this high for years. The general looked at the arch, threw the last mouthful of croissant into the water, and watched the two teals fight for food.He replied: How is it?Maybe some idiot misplaced the door a hundred years ago.

you think so?Qiao Zai blinked and tapped his nose.Maybe not.That's why I'm looking for you.let's go!Let's go have a drink! On their way into the city center, they exchanged life since they were released from Baumette (Note: A prison in Marseille.).They had been unusually close to another gang, all hapless prisoners.Joe Tsai's wife had left him while he was in a kiln and eloped north with a Pernod salesman.Now he lives in several houses in Cavillon and works hard for a plasterer who restores old houses.It's a job for a young man who needs to sell his labor, and he's not getting any younger.But what else could he do other than buy lottery tickets every week and hope God would never turn his back on him again?

The general couldn't help feeling a sense of sympathy, born of a sense of relief that someone else was worse off than you.The general was obviously much luckier.Not only did his wife not run away, but her mother-in-law died, and she left enough money for him to buy Cheval-Brown, a small pizza restaurant.Although this kind of life cannot be said to be comfortable and pleasant, it is also stable, not to mention that this business has food and drink.When he described his life, he smiled and patted his slightly protruding belly.Life isn't always what you want it to be.If it weren't for his wife's money grabbing, there's really nothing to complain about!

They sat down at a table in the shade of the hanging trees outside the Café de France opposite the old church. any drinks?The general took off his sunglasses and beckoned the waiter over. The anisette is ready!Anything but Perno! Qiao Zai looked around and moved his chair closer to the general.I'm going to tell you why I'm looking for you.He spoke in a low voice, his eyes flicked to the crowd around him, and whenever someone passed by their table, he lowered his voice. My boss has an old friend who used to be a cop until something went wrong and he was kicked out.Now he works in the security industry, selling security systems to people who have a second home here.These people are not short of money, and they are very nervous when they hear that their empty houses are broken into every winter.Every time my boss would tell the landlord who hired us that there were more robbers than bakers in Vaucluse!Then he will recommend his partner.As long as the homeowner installs a security system, my boss earns a commission.Qiao Zai nodded with his thumb and index finger, as if counting money.

The waiter delivered the drinks, and Qiao Zai watched him walk into the cafe before he started talking again. A few days ago, it was called Shang.That guy from Louie, came to our site and laughed like he heard the funniest joke of his life, and I happened to be working on the roof and they were talking right below me.I overheard all their conversations. Could it be the story of Parisians and drag queens and postmen? Joey lit a cigarette and blew it at a dog that was looking for sugar under the table.It's humorous, but they're not telling jokes.Listen to me: they just installed security system cameras, sensor strips on the floor, metal detectors on the doors and related equipment at the Savings Bank.It was installed by a large company in Lyon.It cost millions.

The general was confused.It was always a pleasure to hear that the bank had to spend millions of francs, but what he heard at the funeral made him laugh harder.What's there?Did the bank skip the check? Joe Tsai grinned and shook his finger.Better than this!For safety reasons, they moved the safe room to the back of the bank.A five-centimeter-thick iron railing was installed on the door, and there were three locks. Qiao Zai paused for a while to enhance the effect.But no electric eye.not even one. Oh really? Why?Because customers don't like being caught on TV in the bank manager's office when they go to the safe to count their bills.

The general shrugged.It's normal, isn't it? But the best part was that Joey took a sip of his anisette, looked at the other tables, and leaned forward, and the best part was that the safe room happened to be above the old sewer.impartial. The old river sewer? It's the arch we just looked at, that's the exit of the sewer.It was only twenty or twenty-five meters up to the ground floor where the safe was.With just a little dynamite, you can enter the room from the floor. It's amazing!Then you dance wildly on the sensor bar until the note arrives! Qiao Zai shook his head, then smiled.He was immersing himself in the pleasure.No, this is another interesting place.There is no sensor strip there at all.No wiring was installed on the floor at all.They thought the door was solid enough.Yet.Louie couldn't believe it.

The general tugged at his beard unconsciously.His wife said his habit made him look off balance.As far as he knew, Sog Island was a wealthy town with many antique dealers, most of whom traded in cash.It's not a waste of hours to go through a safe.He was beginning to feel a little interest.He must admit that he was highly interested.This thrill is usually the feeling he has when planning an action.Planning and planning is his skill.That's why others call him the general, because he can use his head. Qiao Zai looked at the general like a cuckoo waiting for a bug, his eyes were bright and dark on his thin and dark face.How about it?how do you feel? How do we know this is all true?The whole thing sounds incredible.The general looked around for the waiter.We'd better have another drink. Joe Tsai smiled.Like the general, he was a hopeless pessimist, always finding problems for himself.However, the general did not say no. When the crowd gradually dispersed and they went home to have lunch, the two continued to chat and chat. The whole square seemed extremely quiet, except for the resounding bells of the church.