1
At 2:30 p.m. on May 21, 1995, Berlin time, the Beijing - Frankfurt flight landed smoothly and punctually at the airport. At the customs inspection exit of the Frankfurt Airport hall, people were gathering in twos and threes to greet their relatives and friends. Wearing a white windbreaker, Rui Xiaodan stood not far from the crowd, quietly watching the passengers coming out in sequence.
Xiao Yawen walked over among the other passengers. She carried no luggage, just a small handbag, which made it seem that she wasn't here for a trip to Frankfurt but rather for a casual stroll in a Beijing supermarket.
Xiao Yawen had an exquisitely beautiful face, making it difficult to guess her age. It was as if she were a painstakingly crafted masterpiece by a master oil painter. Dressed in a luxurious professional women's suit, her eyes sparkled with intelligence and confidence, radiating an air of shrewdness typical of white-collar women.
Rui Xiaodan took a few steps forward and affectionately called out, "Yawen!" to Xiao Yawen, who was looking around as she walked.
Hearing this, Xiao Yawen quickened her pace and excitedly shouted back, "Xiaodan!"
The two hugged each other excitedly. Then, Xiao Yawen said, "I have to tell you right away that I can only stay for a few hours. I must catch the 8 p.m. flight back because I have to be in Beijing tomorrow. I came all this way to see you, at my own expense."
Rui Xiaodan looked at her in amazement and asked, puzzled, "Are you crazy? What can't be said over the phone? Why go to so much trouble?"
Xiao Yawen replied, "On the phone, I was afraid you'd brush me off with just a few words. Considering the round-trip fare and all the hassle, you won't have the heart to refuse me. Meanwhile, if I wait until you finish your home leave and then go to the ancient city to find you, it'll be too late."
Rui Xiaodan hesitated briefly and instinctively said, "If someone asked you to intercede for a case in the ancient city, don't even mention it. I don't have the nerve, the guts, or the power."
Xiao Yawen said, "Why do you always suspect others of having ulterior motives?"
As they talked, the two walked out of the hall and made their way to the parking lot, then got into a white lady's car. Rui Xiaodan drove towards the "Zizhuyuan" small hotel on the south bank of the Rhine.
Once in the car, Xiao Yawen said with a smile, "Your hug just now wasn't sincere. It was perfunctory."
Rui Xiaodan also laughed and said, "You were being so mysterious, making me guess. How could I be sincere?"
Xiao Yawen buckled her seatbelt, tidied her hair, and said, "Xiaodan, we've known each other since our days at the Police University..."
Rui Xiaodan interrupted, "Skip the build-up. Just say what you have to say."
Xiao Yawen said, "No, it's better to lay some groundwork."
Rui Xiaodan said, "Fine, we're best friends."
Xiao Yawen said, "With that, I feel more at ease."
Rui Xiaodan said, "Young mistress, hurry up and say what you have to say. You're so sharp. I really can't figure out what you need my help with."
Xiao Yawen waved her hand and said, "Don't rush. There's still time, as long as I don't miss my flight. This isn't something that can be explained all at once. We need to talk it over slowly while having coffee."
Rui Xiaodan grew even more bewildered.
2
Frankfurt is not only a transportation hub in Europe and the center of German finance and technology, but also a renowned tourist destination. Goethe's former residence, St. Paul's Church, the Old Opera House... all these give the city diverse charms. The south bank of the Main River has long been famous for its eating, drinking, and dancing. Those small hotels with unrestrained and varied styles dot the banks of the Rhine, adding a touch of romance.
Neither of them was unfamiliar with this city. Xiao Yawen often went to Berlin on business and would drop by Frankfurt to visit Rui Xiaodan's mother whenever she had the time. Rui Xiaodan, on the other hand, had spent nine years in this former capital of the German Empire.
The "Zizhuyuan Hotel" run by Rui Xiaodan's mother was located on the south bank of the Main River. It was a small Chinese restaurant. The open-air bar in front of the store covered an area of over 20 square meters. Some of the round tables under the sun umbrellas were empty, while at others, guests were sitting, drinking, and chatting.
Rui Xiaodan parked the car in the parking space of the "Zizhuyuan Hotel". Hearing the sound, Rui Xiaodan's mother came out to greet them.
Rui Xiaodan's mother, Zhang Huimin, was in her fifties. She was a capable and refined woman. There were wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, and her kind gaze carried a tinge of loneliness.
Before getting out of the car, Xiao Yawen affectionately called out, "Aunt Zhang, hello!"
Rui's mother replied warmly, "You must be tired from the journey. Come inside and have a rest."
Rui Xiaodan closed the car door and said to her mother, "Mom, Yawen has to catch the 8 p.m. flight back and can only stay for a few hours. Table No. 5 is empty. Yawen and I need to talk about something. Please bring us something to drink."
After giving instructions to the waiter, Rui's mother asked Xiao Yawen, "You've come such a long way. Why are you leaving so soon?"
Rui Xiaodan said, "Mom, it's okay. That's just how she wants it."
Xiao Yawen said, "Aunt Zhang, I'm coming to Berlin next month. I might not have time to visit you. I'm telling you in advance. Please don't take it amiss."
Rui's mother said, "You're all busy. Don't worry about me."
Xiao Yawen went to the washroom to wash her face and touched up her makeup. Then she walked to Table No. 5, placed her bag on the table, and sat down opposite Rui Xiaodan. On the table were not only two cups of coffee, but also two glasses of the classic Frankfurt "apple wine" and two servings of the world-famous Frankfurt sausages.
Xiao Yawen lowered her head and took a sniff, saying in an intoxicated voice, "Ah, what a lovely atmosphere!"
Rui Xiaodan said, "Now that we have food and drinks, start from the very beginning." As she spoke, she took out a cigarette and a lighter from her handbag, lit one. Her movements were skillful and natural, clearly showing that she had been smoking for some time.
Xiao Yawen asked in surprise, "When did you learn to smoke?"
Rui Xiaodan said, "Last year, when I was undercover as a hostess for over a month, I picked it up."
Xiao Yawen said with a mischievous grin, "Didn't you learn anything else?"
Rui Xiaodan burst out laughing and said, "You're so vulgar."
Xiao Yawen laughed heartily. After laughing, she got down to business and said, "My boss gave me an errand. He wants me to rent a house in a place far from Beijing, where there are no acquaintances to disturb him. He wants some peace and quiet. After thinking it over, I think the ancient city is quite suitable. You're very discreet and can look after things."
Rui Xiaodan said, "Peace and quiet? Hiding from what? The police or enemies?"
Xiao Yawen said, "By coming to you, it already implies a political review and guarantee." Then she took out a copy of an ID card and a resume from her bag and handed them over, saying, "This is the information about this person."
Rui Xiaodan quickly glanced at the copy of the ID card and then looked at the resume:
Ding Yuanying, male, born in 1959, from Chengdu, with a Beijing hukou. He was admitted to Tsinghua University in 1978, studied at the Humboldt University of Berlin in 1979, obtained a master's degree in economics in 1985, and started working at the Berlin H.N.S. International Financial Investment Company in the same year. In 1989, he worked at the Beijing Tongda Securities Company. He got married in Beijing in February 1990 and divorced in August of the same year. In 1991, he led a dissipated life. In March 1992, he worked as a researcher of economic development strategies at the "World Economic Weekly" in Berlin and resigned in January 1994. In June 1994, he founded a personal private equity fund in Beijing, and the fund was about to be dissolved in May 1995. This person has no religious beliefs, loves audio equipment, owns a house in Berlin, and has permanent residency in Germany.
After reading it, Rui Xiaodan asked, "What does 'led a dissipated life' mean?"
Xiao Yawen said, "Drinking, womanizing, the whole hedonistic lifestyle."
Rui Xiaodan said indifferently, "You graduated from the Police University too. Are you vouching for such a person? Of course, a hedonistic lifestyle isn't illegal. It's just a lifestyle with certain connotations."
Xiao Yawen said, "I don't need to defend him, nor did I say he was a good person. But if we follow your logic, you're also from the Police University and you're a criminal police officer. Do you think women smoking also has certain connotations?"
Rui Xiaodan said, "Sophistry."
Xiao Yawen smiled and said, "Consider it sophistry then."
Rui Xiaodan asked suspiciously, "Renting a house in the ancient city, is it that simple?"
Xiao Yawen said, "If it were that simple, I wouldn't come to you. I could rent a house in any city around Beijing. I just said, you're discreet and can look after things."
Rui Xiaodan asked, "What does 'discreet' mean? What What does 'look after things' mean?"
Xiao Yawen thought for a while and said, "Well... With you interrogating me like this, it's really hard to explain."
Rui Xiaodan smiled and said, "It's okay. Take your time. I can understand."
Xiao Yawen said, "Originally, I rented a house in Tianjin, but then I suddenly felt something was wrong. I found that the private equity fund had actually ceased operations. To be precise, it had entered the liquidation process, which means it's about to break up, that is, everyone will go their separate ways. I worked as an assistant for President Ding for a year. Whether it was lucky or fate, anyway, I've never met anyone like him. Rather, he's not an ordinary person..."
Rui Xiaodan interrupted Xiao Yawen's words disdainfully and said, "If not an ordinary person, what is he?"
Xiao Yawen said, "A devil, a ghost, whatever. Just not a human."
Rui Xiaodan couldn't help smiling and said, "How so?"
Xiao Yawen took a small sip of coffee, slowly turned the cup, and said calmly, "I've met people who can make money, those with high status, thinkers, and the learned... I think, more or less, directly or indirectly, I've seen them all. But they're all human, doing human things. Ding Yuanying is different. His thinking is upside down compared to normal people. He talks like a ghost, does ghostly things, acts contrarily, but still makes sense. A lay Buddhist in Berlin said he was a top-notch hooligan."
Rui Xiaodan said, "A top-notch hooligan is still a hooligan, isn't it?"
Xiao Yawen said, "That's right."
Rui Xiaodan said, "Okay, whether he's a devil or a hooligan, what do you want to achieve by having someone take care of him?"
Xiao Yawen said, "I can't let this connection break. There has to be something that still ties us together. It's only natural for you to play the host in the ancient city. You're not in an employment relationship, so any care you give is a personal favor. After I finish this errand, I won't have any contact with him. But you and I are friends. If you take care of him, the favor will be counted on my account. Taking care of him is helping me."
Rui Xiaodan understood a bit and said, "In short, this person is useful to you. You want to keep in contact with him after the private equity fund is dissolved and gradually become friends."
Xiao Yawen gently shook her head and said faintly, "Friends? Impossible. Knowing him, being an acquaintance, being able to talk, that's already good enough. We're not the same kind of people. Why should we be friends?"
Rui Xiaodan said, "What's the point of just knowing someone? There must be something more."
Xiao Yawen said, "Knowing this person is like opening a window. You can see different things, hear different voices, and it can make you think and become enlightened. That's enough. There are many other things, like opportunities and help. I'm not sure. This may not seem important to ordinary people, but I know this person is important."
Rui Xiaodan picked up the copy of the ID card again, took a puff of her cigarette, exhaled slowly, and said with a smile, "This person has made you even savvier. You can even squeeze something out of this kind of thing."
Xiao Yawen said, "But I've squeezed myself dry first. With this whole thing, the prepaid rent in Tianjin and the round-trip air ticket this time cost me over 20,000 yuan, all out of my own pocket. It's really a case of suffering in silence. This has to be natural. If he senses any deliberate intention, I'll lose face."
Rui Xiaodan stared into Xiao Yawen's eyes for a long time without speaking, as if deciphering a code. After pondering, she stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray and said like an off-site commentator, "Sophisticated."
Xiao Yawen smiled as if seeing through everything and said, "I know what you're thinking."
Rui Xiaodan asked, "What?"
Xiao Yawen said, "You're thinking that white-collar workers are so savvy. Full of motives, very considerate. Not just for show. This so-called care is actually a disguised form of flattery. You even get a bodyguard, and you don't even give me a chance to refuse."
Rui Xiaodan couldn't help but laugh out loud and said, "You're not human anymore."
Xiao Yawen said, "You're discreet, appropriate, and natural. We're friends. Just be my errand girl this time. Actually, if I had any other way, I wouldn't come to you. One of the things I'm most afraid of is getting involved with you."
Rui Xiaodan asked, puzzled, "Why?"
Xiao Yawen said with a bit of praise and jealousy, "Before you came, I was quite something in a crowd. With you here, I become the foil. Look at your face. It doesn't seem like it was born of flesh and blood. It's like a masterpiece of nature. And look at your figure, slender waist, long legs, full breasts, and shapely buttocks, plus that cold and elegant temperament. Which woman would want to stand next to you?"
Rui Xiaodan laughed and said, "The words are a bit vulgar. The flattery is overdone, but I still like to hear it."
Xiao Yawen said, "The date for the liquidation and dividend distribution of the private equity fund has been set. It's on June 15 in Berlin. Calculating like this, there's about a month left. There's not much time to rent a house and decorate it."
Rui Xiaodan thought for a while and said, "I haven't visited my mom for three years. I have to finish my vacation before going back. You know how hard it is to get leave from the criminal police team. How about this? I'll call Ouyang Xue. Let her handle the house. She can contact you directly by phone for the details. I'll take care of the rest."
Xiao Yawen picked up her glass and said, "Then I'll thank you first. I'll drink this glass. All my feelings are in this wine." Then she drank it all in one go.
Rui Xiaodan picked up her glass and said, "No, I can't take the 'thank you'. I'll drink this too. We're even."
Xiao Yawen snatched the glass from Rui Xiaodan and said, "You'd better not drink. You have to drive. It's rare for us to meet abroad. We have to take some commemorative photos. There's still time. Let's go take pictures."
Rui Xiaodan picked up her coffee and said, "Then I'll use coffee instead of wine. We'still even."
Xiao Yawen looked at Rui Xiaodan carefully for a moment and said, "Xiaodan, whether it's redundant or not, and no matter what you think, as a friend, I have to give you some advice."
Rui Xiaodan said, "Go ahead."
Xiao Yawen said, "When you think someone is very special, don't have any romantic ideas about them. Once you do, it's like opening the door to hell. There's no other result except torturing yourself. No woman can stand this kind of 'not human' person. His wife divorced him after only half a year, saying he wasn't human. You may not take my words seriously, but if it really happens, it's your own fault. Don't blame me for not warning you."
Rui Xiaodan said, "If you're not at ease, don't leave it to me."
Xiao Yawen said, "I knew you'd think so, but you're wrong. There's no romantic meaning at all. If I had designs on him, I wouldn't leave him with you. That would be like throwing meat to a wolf."
Rui Xiaodan smiled disdainfully at the "wolf" metaphor.
Xiao Yawen said, "Okay, back to the main topic. Let's go take pictures."
So, Rui Xiaodan got up and went into the hotel to get the camera. Xiao Yawen then dragged Rui's mother out, and the three of them took pictures merrily with the "Zizhuyuan Hotel" as the backdrop, mostly photos of Rui Xiaodan and Xiao Yawen together.
After taking the pictures, Xiao Yawen said to Rui's mother, "Aunt Zhang, Xiaodan and I are going to take some more pictures elsewhere. We'll have dinner outside because we won't have time to warm the seats before leaving. I'm saying goodbye to you now. I'll come to see you next time."
Rui's mother nodded and said, "You haven't even had time to warm the seats before leaving. What a pity."
Rui Xiaodan went to drive the car again. Xiao Yawen sat comfortably in the passenger seat and waved goodbye to Rui's mother. Rui's mother watched the car drive away, then shook her head and went back into the hotel.
3
Frankfurt is a city of immigrants. People of different skin colors and ethnic groups can be seen here, and there are also quite a few Chinese among them. Shops with Chinese signs can often be spotted. The two of them chatted merrily along the way, leisurely looking at the streets and scenery outside the car window. The blue sky, the gentle sunlight, the pigeons rising and falling, and the exotic buildings seemed to be intoxicating.
When Rui Xiaodan stopped at a red light at an intersection, she asked, "What is a private equity fund? Is it illegal?"
Xiao Yawen said, "There's no relevant legislation yet, so how could it be illegal? As far as I understand, a private equity fund is unregistered private asset management on behalf of clients, similar to a trust. All the funds raised by President Ding came from Germany, but they were completely targeted at the Chinese stock market. To put it simply, it's your capital and my brains, and we make money together in the stock market, with a guaranteed profit."
Rui Xiaodan said disdainfully, "How can there be a business that guarantees profits?"
Xiao Yawen said, "Do you think it's easy to use German people's money? The losses are borne by the business risk guarantor, having nothing to do with the investors."
When the green light came on, Rui Xiaodan drove through the intersection with the traffic flow and asked again, "Isn't the guarantor afraid of losing money?"
Xiao Yawen said, "Of course they're afraid. Everyone is. The guarantor only provides a guarantee when they're sure you won't make them lose money. It all depends on whether the guarantor has confidence in your ability. But for the investors, it's indeed a guaranteed profit."
Rui Xiaodan said, "If it's such a good thing, how amount did you invest?"
Xiao Yawen said, "The entry threshold is 30 million yuan. Can we afford that? Actually, I did have this thought, thinking that I could secretly buy some shares, but I couldn't bear the psychological pressure. It's beyond my moral bottom line."
The car drove to a street not far from the pedestrian street, and Rui Xiaodan found a parking space and parked.
They walked along the pedestrian street all the way to the Römerberg. Along the way, they kept asking passers-by to take pictures for them. At the Römerberg, they asked an elderly German man who was drinking coffee under a sun umbrella to take pictures for them. This gray-haired German gentleman might be a photography enthusiast. He enthusiastically and proudly chose several characteristic backgrounds and took more than ten group photos for them. Then he happily went back to savor his now-cold cup of coffee.
From the Römerberg, they came to the Main River Bridge. By this time, the setting sun was shining obliquely, and the golden-red glow was like a layer of gossamer on the tranquil water surface. After taking a few group photos, they walked and chatted along the bridge. Rui Xiaodan carried her bag in her left hand and put her right hand in the pocket of her windbreaker. The wind from the water blew the hem of her windbreaker and tousled her flowing hair.
Xiao Yawen asked, "You've already got your lawyer's practicing certificate. What are your plans next?"
Rui Xiaodan said, "I'm just preparing for re-employment while I'm still on the job."
Xiao Yawen said with a sigh, "Not many girls from our class are still working as police officers. Even fewer can stick it out in the criminal police team. Women really aren't cut out for criminal police work. Their physical strength and thinking can't keep up. In the end, even being a vase in a police uniform, you're not bright enough. How long do you plan to hold on? Do you dare to stay until you're 30?"
Rui Xiaodan said, "I don't dare. It's very difficult to get approval for studying abroad when you're 30. I plan to work for another two years, then go to the University of Frankfurt to get a degree. Living and eating here are cost-effective. I'll come back to China to be a lawyer in the future. I don't have any other skills except for the law, so I can only make a living in the legal field. Actually, I'm not confident about being a lawyer either. There are plenty of lawyers who struggle to earn a living. Let's just take it one step at a time."
Xiao Yawen smiled and said, "Being a lawyer is great. You can make money just by talking."
Rui Xiaodan said, "With the average mental faculties of a woman, she can't become a big-shot lawyer. It'd be good enough just to fill her stomach. What about you? What are your plans after the private equity fund is dissolved?"
A trace of melancholy flashed through Xiao Yawen's eyes, and she said, "I'll still be struggling to make a living in Beijing. I have neither the ability nor the capital. What else can I do except work? I'll save money by living frugally and see if there will be any opportunities in the future."
...
Rui Xiaodan accompanied Xiao Yawen to visit the scenic spots near the Römerberg for the whole afternoon. They used up three rolls of film for taking pictures, had dinner together, and then arrived at the Frankfurt Airport an hour early.
The airport hall was brightly lit. After Xiao Yawen checked in, she said goodbye to Rui Xiaodan at the entrance.
At the last moment of saying goodbye, Rui Xiaodan looked into Xiao Yawen's eyes sincerely and said, "Yawen, I'm a police officer. I hope there won't be any unpleasantness between us."
Xiao Yawen thought for a moment and said, "Legally, there's no problem with my guarantee. I don't know how to explain this person. I can only tell you this: with my intelligence, I can't understand this kind of person."
Xiao Yawen smiled apologetically, waved her hand gently, and said goodbye.