Chapter Forty-Seven: The Cowardly Fat Man

Ma Tianxiong returned to the private room, sitting imposingly on the genuine leather sofa. He leisurely lit a fine cigarette and waited with calm anticipation for the others to arrive. Soon, a chubby man wearing a tattered down jacket and broken black-rimmed glasses, his face mottled with bruises, was dragged in by several henchmen.

One of the men whispered a few words in Ma Tianxiong’s ear, presenting a Type 64 pistol to him as if offering a treasure, then folded his arms and stood behind Ma Tianxiong, coldly watching the unconscious fat man.

Ma Tianxiong gave a subtle signal, and one of his men immediately grabbed the fat man, splashed water onto his face, and finally roused him with a groan.

Drenched by the cold water, the fat man awoke from his stupor. Seeing himself surrounded by several burly men and a figure who seemed to be the boss sitting on the sofa, staring at him coldly, he shouted and tried to scramble up, but his limbs failed him and he landed back on the floor, asking, “Who are you people? What do you want?”

Brother Ma squinted, sizing up the fat man before him. Judging by his movements, he didn’t seem like a formidable character. How did he manage to wander in here alone? According to the earlier report, this fool had actually injured one of his men, but now, looking at him, he hardly seemed capable of such a thing.

Before the fat man could finish his words, a slap landed across his face. “Damn it, who do you think you are, speaking in front of Brother Ma?”

A dark red handprint appeared on his chubby cheek. The fat man seemed to settle down, clutching his face and trembling, not daring to move.

Ma Tianxiong waved his hand, signaling his men to stop. He pulled out the Type 64 pistol that had just been handed to him and toyed with it in his hand, asking casually, “Where did you get this gun?”

“I found it,” the fat man mumbled, his speech muffled by his hand, the slap evidently painful.

With a sharp smack, the back of the fat man’s head was struck again, making him duck. “Before you speak, you call Brother Ma.”

“Brother Ma, I found the gun,” the fat man replied, one hand still on his face, the other shielding his head, trembling as he spoke.

“Oh really?” Ma Tianxiong examined the pistol closely. “Who is Old Fourth Feng to you?”

At this question, a fleeting panic flashed in the fat man’s eyes. He replied, “Brother Ma, I don’t know any Old Fourth Feng.”

“Is that so?” Ma Tianxiong’s eyes gleamed. The fat man’s little gestures were completely transparent to him. He said coolly, “Beat him until he tells the truth.”

Before the fists could fall, the fat man panicked, sobbing and sniffling. “Don’t hit me, Brother Ma! I’ll tell you everything you want to know.” He looked every bit the frightened peasant.

The men glanced at Brother Ma, saw his signal to stop, and backed off resentfully. The fat man clutched his head and wailed, then cautiously opened his eyes, only to see the black muzzle of the gun pressed against his forehead, Ma Tianxiong’s nose almost touching his.

Ma Tianxiong held the gun to the fat man’s head, his other hand slapping the soft cheeks, squatting down to ask, “Listen, we’re all civilized people here. There’s no need for violence. Answer my questions truthfully, and I won’t trouble you. But the moment you lie, I may know you, but the gun in my hand doesn’t.”

The fat man knelt, his face pale, barely daring to breathe, as if terrified of angering Brother Ma. His neck stiff, he replied, “Brother Ma, the gun was lent to me by Brother Feng.”

“Still trying to deceive me, fatty?” Ma Tianxiong said calmly, flicking off the pistol’s safety.

The fat man dared not move. Seeing Brother Ma unlock the safety, evidently ready to kill, he quickly pleaded, “Brother Ma, I swear I’m telling the truth! If I lie, blow my brains out.” Sweat beads formed on his brow.

“Old Fourth Feng is naturally timid. He treasures this gun and never uses it. Why would he lend it to you?” Ma Tianxiong, satisfied with his intimidation, sat back on the sofa, still aiming the pistol at the fat man’s head.

“Brother Feng killed several police officers and took their submachine guns. He didn’t care about this pistol anymore. He wanted to drink, so he sent me out. He lent me this gun for self-defense.” When the muzzle shifted away, the fat man finally relaxed, kneeling and rubbing his neck.

Ma Tianxiong asked, “Apart from you, who else is at Old Fourth Feng’s place?”

The fat man replied, “Brother Ma, besides me, there’s a guy called Blondie. They each have a submachine gun, and there are a few women.” As he spoke, a lewd expression crossed his face, clearly remembering those women.

At this, Brother Ma understood most of the situation. Earlier, one of his men had come over from Old Fourth Feng’s crew and was familiar with their setup. What the fat man said matched what that man had told him, so it was likely true. Brother Ma wasn’t much interested in the two submachine guns; their ammo would be gone in a burst, and in this desolate place with no supplies or backup, pistols were more practical. But those women piqued his curiosity. Before the disaster, Brother Ma changed beauties daily; now, hiding in this shabby bar, he was sick of seeing the same faces every day.

“What’s your name?” Ma Tianxiong pondered for a moment, shaking his head. Those women were surely ruined by Old Fourth Feng and his cronies; there was no point sacrificing more men for them. The fat man before him, though, seemed to offer more entertainment value than the bespectacled one from earlier.

“Brother Ma, my name is Zhao Qiang,” the fat man quickly bowed his head, nearly touching the floor, and in that position, Ma Tianxiong failed to notice the cold glint in Zhao Qiang’s eyes.

“Someone!” Ma Tianxiong called out, striking a commanding pose. A henchman hurried over, bowing and awaiting orders. Ma Tianxiong pointed to the fat man and said coolly, “Take Brother Qiang downstairs, let him get familiar with the place. See that he’s well fed and looked after; don’t let him lose weight. Tomorrow night, we’ll make sure Brother Qiang is properly entertained. Don’t say I neglect my guests.”

The henchmen instantly grew excited. Brother Ma’s meaning was clear. The woman tossed in yesterday hadn’t even started before the boss left, leaving everyone craving more. Now, another entertainment was planned for tomorrow night. They cheerfully helped the bewildered Zhao Qiang to his feet and led him out.