They continued to stand guard without suspicion.
After some time, the old man returned with the requested tea.
"Tu Siauya, this is the famous local Liong-kim tea," he said.
"Mmm... it smells wonderful..." replied Tu Liong loudly.
Suddenly, he bent down and whispered to the old man, "Have you thought it over?"
The old man leaned his head closer to Tu Liong and said, "You mentioned you would give me a hundred foreign coins. What must I do?"
It seemed the old man had taken the bait.
"You only need to deliver a message. After that, you can take the hundred foreign coins."
"Is it that simple?"
"You are very old. I wouldn't play tricks on you."
"Alright, I'll deliver your message."
"Can you come and go from this place easily?"
"Of course. I am the errand boy responsible for managing the supplies in this house. They wouldn't restrict my movements."
"Good. Listen carefully, I am Tu. Go to the east, four blocks of multistory houses, a luxury residential complex near ten small alleys. At the Leng family's residence, find Wie Siauya and tell him about my situation here. That will be enough."
The old man thought for a moment, then asked, "Who will give me the money?"
Tu Liong paused for a moment. This old man was clever...
"Take the money from Wie Siauya. If he doesn't give it, don't say anything to him. If you go, I assure you, you won't be shortchanged."
The old man looked at Tu Liong with a skeptical expression before walking out.
Their whispered conversation had lasted quite a while. Tu Liong hoped the guards outside weren't suspicious.
Tu Liong had carefully inspected everything. The guards were all rough men. They had very simple minds and only followed orders. Other than that, they probably didn't care about anything else. If they had been suspicious, they would have come in and driven out the old man from the start.
Now, Tu Liong was forced to wait anxiously. There was nothing else he could do but wait... and wait... and wait... until he eventually fell asleep.
When he awoke, it was very quiet around him. He couldn't be sure how long he had been asleep, but he was certain Wie Kie-hong wouldn't come. There were two reasons: first, the old man didn't deliver the message as expected; second, even if Wie Kie-hong had received the message, he wouldn't dare come.
Tu Liong hoped the first possibility was the true one. When someone places great hope in another and that person disappoints them, it is a painful thing.
The oil in the room's candle was nearly exhausted, causing the flame to dim, casting a faint glow in the room.
Tu Liong sat up from his lying position and was startled to find someone seated on a bench in front of the table, asleep. Even though the person was sleeping with their head down, Tu Liong recognized him as Wie Kie-hong.
It turned out Wie Kie-hong hadn't disappointed him, but he couldn't help him escape, either. Let alone escape, he too was trapped in the room.
Why would Wie Ceng cause trouble for his own son?
Tu Liong approached and gently shook Wie Kie-hong's shoulder to wake him.
Wie Kie-hong quickly awakened. "Tu toako, you..."
"Kie-hong, how did this happen?"
"Didn't you send an old man to inform me?"
"Yes, and you surely gave him the foreign currency, right?"
"Yes! Didn't you instruct him to take the money from me?"
"Then he brought you here," Tu Liong suddenly felt disappointed.
"Hmm...!" Wie Kie-hong nodded enthusiastically.
"Then why are you waiting here?"
"My father's orders. He told me to accompany you."
"Your father! Did you see your father?" Tu Liong asked eagerly.
"No. Someone came to inform me."
"KIE-HONG!! Do you believe it?"
"Why shouldn't I? My father said he would meet me tomorrow morning."
Tu Liong simply lowered his head, shaking it.
Suddenly, he raised his head and called to Wie Kie-hong. "Kie-hong! Someone is using your father's name to deceive us. We've both fallen into a trap. This has nothing to do with your father... Kie-hong, when you came here, did you notice the situation outside?"
"I checked it out. It's heavily guarded outside."
"Ugh...! That means we can't escape. Kie-hong! I'm truly sorry. I've been trapped here, and yet, I've drawn you into the same trap."
"Tu toako! Suddenly, I understand something. It seems someone wants us to disappear. It seems when we're together, someone feels disadvantaged."
"Is that why you came here?"
"Exactly! You've been working so hard to find out about my father's whereabouts. I've just been hiding in my house, enjoying myself. I... I can't say anything. I should be ashamed."
"Wie Kie-hong, having a friend like you, I would die gladly, without regret."
"Tu toako, please don't say that."
They both fell silent. Suddenly, Wie Kie-hong lowered his voice. Half-whispering, he called to Tu Liong.
"When I came here, I examined all the guards closely. I didn't recognize a single face. It seems they all came from outside the city."
"Wie Kie-hong. Does your conclusion have any benefits?"
"I suspect this situation has nothing to do with Leng Souw-hiang. Nor with Cu Taiya."
"Oh...! Why do you make such a guess?"
"If this incident had any connection with either of them, they would certainly put someone trustworthy here. They wouldn't use guards they don't know. Isn't that right?"
"Wie Kie-hong! Actually, I don't believe this has anything to do with your father."
"Tu toako! Can you be certain?"
"Of course, I can."
"If it has nothing to do with my father, why wait until daylight? Besides, we can't escape from here."
"Wie Kie-hong, do you want to give it a try?"
"We should try it right now."
"I'm still a bit hesitant."
"Hesitant about what?"
"I'm worried my guess is wrong. If this is connected to your father, he would be disappointed. When you meet your father later, how will you explain it to him?"
Wie Kie-hong simply bowed his head, not saying a word.
At that moment, the old man who had brought the tea returned to the room.
"Tu Siauya! I have brought you tea," he said as he poured the tea, glancing at Tu Liong.
Tu Liong immediately leaned in closer, whispering almost inaudibly, "Do you have something to say?"
"Thank you for the hundred foreign coins. Does Tu Siauya have any other tasks for me?" It seemed the old man hoped for another hundred foreign coins.
"I want to ask you three questions. Later, I'll give you another hundred. But I don't have the money with me now. I will let you know where you can collect it."
"Alright! Please ask."
"Who owns this building?"
"I'm not sure who the owner is. But Bu Tiatcui, who lives in San-poa alley, comes here to chat with my master. He said he received orders from his master."
Tu Liong and Wie Kie-hong exchanged glances, showing no particular reaction. Tu Liong didn't ask further about this matter.
"How many guards are there here, and do they have weapons?"
"There are fourteen guards here in total. It seems three of them carry weapons. Two carry something strange... Tu Siauya! I've answered all three of your questions! But your questions are so easy, I feel I shouldn't take your money just like that."
Tu Liong continued his questioning.
"Have you heard of someone named Master Wie?"
The old man nodded. Tu Liong and Wie Kie-hong listened intently. The old man then pointed towards Wie Kie-hong. Their hopeful spirits vanished.
"It seems he hasn't heard of your father," Tu Liong said, then turned back to the old man to ask another question.
"When you talked with Bu Tiat-cui, did you hear the names Leng Souw-hiang or Cu Siau-thian?"
The old man appeared to be straining to recall. After some time, he said, "I haven't heard their names. I only heard the name Bu Tiat-cui."
---
**
Glossary of Terms:**
1. **Tu Siauya**: An honorific title used to address a young master or young gentleman.
2. **Liong-kim tea**: A type of local tea that is famous in the story's setting.
3. **Wie Siauya**: A character addressed as a young master, part of the Wie family.
4. **Tu toako**: A respectful term used to address an older brother or a senior male friend.
5. **Bu Tiat-cui**: A character mentioned in the story, associated with the events.
6. **Leng Souw-hiang**: A character or family name mentioned in the story.
7. **Cu Siau-thian**: Another character or family name mentioned in the story.