It was the same courtyard and the same broken door as last time, but this time, there was an addition: an electric mobility car for the elderly was parked in front.
Mu Zi hid behind the door, completely concealed in the shadow of the car and door. He peered through the crack, carefully observing the movements inside the yard.
The lights in the yard had just been turned on, casting a dim yellow glow. The boss, Ma Liu, and the third man were sitting around a round table, excitedly discussing their new prey.
The days were getting hotter, and even after sunset, it felt like being in a steamer.
Mu Zi wished he could turn into a steamed bun in that steamer, so he could eat himself and not suffer from hunger anymore.
Before he fainted from hunger, he had to resolve this matter quickly. Mu Zi had anxiously waited all day and finally, the moment had come when all three were gathered together.
He was waiting for their dinner, which he had aptly named "The Last Supper."
This meal would silently claim their lives – all three of them, not one less...
Mu Zi twirled the hair on his forehead, squinting at the large basket of crabs on the table, a cruel smile forming on his still youthful face.
Crabs... such delicious crabs. Mu Zi stared at them like the little match girl gazing at the tantalizing roast duck.
Wiping the drool from his mouth, Mu Zi's gaze hardened again.
End this matter... and start a new life as soon as possible. And these crabs were his bait!
He looked at the few tempting persimmons in his right hand with some regret. They were right there, just a bite away, and he wouldn't be hungry anymore.
But these delicious fruits, bought with his last bit of money, couldn't be eaten by him.
He could only give them away to his enemies for free. No, more accurately, to the thieving rats.
Thieving rats, that's what his mother used to call mice... Yes, rats, the most despicable and cunning thieves! Sneaky, biting indiscriminately with their vile fangs, trampling on others' hard work! In Mu Zi's eyes, these three men were just like crafty rats. Just look at the secluded place they lived, their sinister deeds, and their rat-like faces – weren't they just like thieving rats?
However, Mu Zi consoled himself by thinking that these persimmons were not just delicious but also poisonous – a tasty, rat-targeting poison...
Why haven't they started yet? Mu Zi wondered impatiently. Usually, they would have begun eating by now.
"Why don't we just call that old guy over for cards? He already lent us his car; it's clear he's ripe for the picking. Why not strike while the iron is hot?" asked the third man, fanning himself vigorously, curious about the boss's lack of action. Recently, they had successfully lured in a retired old man, a high-ranking retiree from some government body, apparently a lucrative target. The three rats had long been plotting, finally building a relationship with the old man and getting him addicted to drugs. It was their time to reap the benefits. Typically, they would befriend their prey, quickly becoming close friends, then get them hooked on drugs, which would rapidly drain their money into their pockets. Once the prey was impoverished, they would exploit their vulnerability during addiction to incite them into gambling, and from there, it was easy – three against one at the gambling table, quickly leading the prey into debt and desperation. Then, they would coerce the prey into borrowing money or deceiving friends and family until they were completely drained...
"You're still not calm enough," the boss slowly put down his newspaper and answered the third man, "Everything must be done step by step. Rushing will only backfire."
"Exactly, third brother. They say chefs are impatient, but you're even more so than me. Let's follow the boss's lead, step by step – it's safer that way," Ma Liu, shirtless and in shorts, chimed in.
"Whatever, as if you're the smartest…" the third man rolled his eyes dismissively at Ma Liu.
"At least I have hair," Ma Liu quipped, swinging his feet and glancing at the third man's bald head.
"You…"
The third man was about to retort when a truck's roar interrupted them. A large truck blared its horn as it sped past their door, making a loud clanging noise due to the potholes.
The boss glanced at his watch and said to Ma Liu, "Fatty's car is back. Get cooking, will you? What time is it?"
"Yeah, aren't you always bragging about your crab dish, saying even the mayor gives you a thumbs-up? Hurry up and cook!" the third man added.
"Okay!" Ma Liu cheerfully stood up, picking up the crabs from the table, "I'll cook the crabs. Third brother, get some cold beer. Let's have a good drink tonight, okay?" Saying this, he went into the kitchen.
Mentioning drinking, the third man's eyes lit up. He stood up promptly and joyfully agreed, "Alright!" Then, turning to the boss, he said, "Let's celebrate tonight, boss. We're going to make a big score this time, haha!"
The boss showed little emotion, simply nodding, "Go on. And bring back a pack of cigarettes."
"Sure thing!" the third man happily replied, heading towards the door.
Now… Mu Zi quickly moved, tossing the plastic bag with persimmons into the weeds by the roadside, then sprinted into the small alley on the right side of the door.
The third man, bulky, came out of the yard, stood at the door smoking a cigarette while tilting his head to look at the electric car.
A few seconds later, he crushed his cigarette underfoot and cheerfully opened the car door, getting inside. "Let's see how this electric car drives," he murmured excitedly, closing the door and turning on the headlights.
The bright headlights revealed the colorful plastic bag in the weeds. "Huh? What's that?"
He got out of the car, curious, walked over to the plastic bag, picked it up, and opened it to find tempting red persimmons.
"Why are there persimmons here... Ah, they must have fallen from Fatty's truck! Hehe…" He carried the bag back to the yard, exclaiming, "Boss, Fatty sent us a gift, haha, so many big persimmons!"
Watching the third man run into the yard with the persimmons, Mu Zi, hidden in the alley's shadows, breathed a sigh of relief.
So, is my plan half successful now?