Holding the money and the food from Hunan, China, the two bodyguards were moved to tears.
Both bodyguards came from very poor backgrounds. Before working for Ace, they often couldn't get enough to eat or wear warm clothes. Even after becoming formal employees, they were still frequently beaten and scolded.
They stayed on purely for the sake of survival, acting as tools and low-level bodyguards.
High-level bodyguards who worked for big shots earned good salaries and frequented upscale places.
I, a mere pawn, giving them so much, naturally moved them to tears.
I comforted them for a while, discarded my hospital gown, and left the shabby single hospital room with my travel bag.
Their job of supervising me was done, and they were picked up by a van sent by Ace...
Ace was considerate enough to arrange a business car to take me back to the KK compound.
A few lackeys helped load all the snacks, filling the entire back seat and trunk.
I had no choice but to give them 100 yuan to take a taxi back.
I then followed the driver, setting off for the KK compound.
Along the way, looking through the car window at the rundown streets and shops with Chinese signs, I felt a mix of emotions.
I wished so much that this was the road home...
But I knew that my hometown and I had already gone our separate ways.
We would only drift further apart, perhaps never to return...
The road home would be sealed in my memory!
An hour later, the business car slowly drove into the suffocating KK compound.
Outside the five-meter-high electric fence, Karen border guards in green uniforms patrolled.
There was a checkpoint every 100 meters, with many off-road vehicles and motorcycles parked around. It was nearly impossible for strangers to get in or out unnoticed.
"Screech."
The business car stopped in front of the dormitory building in Area C.
"Hey, we're here."
The driver, speaking with a local accent, turned his head and said to me.
"Thank you, brother, for your hard work."
I took 200 yuan and a pack of Furongwang cigarettes from my shirt pocket and handed them to him.
"You're welcome, you're welcome. Which floor do you live on? I'll help you move your stuff."
The driver, seeing the money and cigarettes, smiled broadly and pocketed them without hesitation.
"No need to trouble yourself, brother. Go ahead and take a stroll. I'll have my brother help me."
I smiled, jumped out of the car with my travel bag, and headed up.
Ace had called his bodyguard yesterday and told me my dorm was on the fifth floor of Building C, Room 501.
The building had six floors. Was putting me on the fifth floor to prevent me from running away?
He also said this was a high-class dorm in the compound, with a single room, complete bathroom facilities, 24-hour hot water, and even a TV for entertainment.
As long as there was hot water, I didn't care about the rest. A hot shower had been a luxury in northern Myanmar.
At this time, it was noon break, so there weren't many people around.
After jumping out of the car, I had no idea where to find someone to help move my stuff.
But these things weren't too much for me to handle. It was a good chance to stretch my muscles.
Just as I rolled up my sleeves to move the liquor and cigarettes upstairs, a tall figure suddenly rushed down the stairs.
"Bro, it's really you! I'm so glad you're back! I thought you were dead, sob!"
Ba Yi hugged me tightly and started wailing.
The driver stood awkwardly nearby, grinning.
"Hey, stop crying. You're going to make me deaf."
I pushed the weeping Ba Yi away and squeezed his arm.
Seeing him jumping around, missing no parts, I was very happy.
His presence here meant he had scored big and moved into the high-class dorm.
That was good news. I had a companion now.
"Bro, where did you go? Why didn't Spanner Bro know your whereabouts? Do you know how I've survived these past two weeks?"
Ba Yi rubbed his red eyes and continued pitifully.
"Shut up, or I'll slap you."
I raised my hand, scaring him into jumping back several steps.
Shaking his head, he stopped talking.
"Open the trunk and move the stuff to 501."
I rolled up my sleeves, slung the black travel bag over my shoulder, and coldly ordered.
"I'll move it. Why are you so bossy, acting like a lord..."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing, nothing, I'm moving!"
Ba Yi mumbled, then opened the trunk and froze in place.
Stunned.
"Bro, isn't this nice of me? I got all this from Professor Ace."
I put my hand on his shoulder and said with a grin.
"Bro, you're amazing!"
Ba Yi was as excited as a kid, drooling over the snacks.
"Big brother, try some snacks from China and Hunan. It's boring waiting anyway."
I opened the box, took out sunflower seeds, peanuts, spicy strips, and other snacks, and handed them to the driver.
"Thank you, thank you, Chinese friend."
He was overjoyed and started eating right away...
In Myanmar, ordinary people couldn't afford these things. With a monthly salary of 300 yuan, they struggled to make ends meet, let alone buy imported snacks from China.
With his strength, Ba Yi quickly moved all the food into the 501 dorm.
Looking at the clean, well-equipped new dorm, I was filled with mixed emotions.
If Sister Chunyan were still alive, she would be living in this high-class dorm too, and we could plan our escape together...
"Bro, bro! What are you thinking about?"
Ba Yi waved his hand in front of my face, then reached for my travel bag.
"Don't touch it!"
I pushed him away so hard that he fell to the floor.
"..." Ba Yi sat on the floor, looking at me in confusion and panic.
"...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to push you.
I was thinking of someone, and I got lost in thought.
So, I couldn't control my emotions."
I came to my senses, pulled him up, and apologized sincerely.
For a moment, I had mistaken him for Hei Zi, who had tried to steal the small bag Chen Weiqiang gave me when I wasn't looking.
That bag contained the medicine that could save Sister Chunyan's life!
How could he steal it with a clear conscience!
Damn him. I would never forgive him!
"Bro, are you okay?" Ba Yi asked nervously, keeping his distance from the travel bag.
"I'm fine. Don't worry. This bag contains life-saving stuff. Don't touch it, and don't tell anyone. I'm afraid it might bring you trouble."
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
The dead were gone; the living had to stay strong.
After calming myself, I quickly shoved the travel bag under the bed and blocked it with cardboard boxes.
"I know, I won't say anything. I'll do whatever you say.
Bro, I live in 503, so we can be together."
Ba Yi put away his innocent and stupid look, whispering.
"Okay, take whatever you like from these boxes. Don't be shy."
I pointed at the pile of boxes and told him to help himself.
Knowing he loved snacks, I had brought plenty back to the compound.