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墨書 Inktalez
Looking up at the three-ton vehicle, Shi Tian wondered if it could handle the African terrain without getting stuck in the mud. However, there was no time to ponder the car; he needed to find something to eat quickly. Without cash in hand, he would have to endure hunger.
He glanced at the two Maasai in the yard and gestured for them to help him connect. Most Chinese people held a negative impression of Africans, and even Shi Tian harbored some biases. They were often seen as lazy, deceitful, engaging in everything from petty theft to highway robbery—whatever was outlined in the Criminal Law seemed to be their domain.
Yet, Shi Tian had no prejudice against the Maasai. For many Chinese who came to Africa, it was hard to avoid them. Not only the Chinese, but also foreigners who stayed in the region relied on the Maasai for protection, hiring them as bodyguards for their safety. The Maasai had keen eyesight, were strong and agile, and most importantly, they were loyal. When trouble arose, they would step up—a rarity in Africa.
Initially, Shi Tian thought about asking Shi Ye to send him some money. But why bother? He wasn’t broke! In such a developed city, he could easily find an ATM to withdraw cash.
After moving his belongings into the house, he opened his location app to confirm where he was. Oyster Bay—this was a wealthy area of Dar es Salaam, not far from his own embassy; safety shouldn’t be a significant concern.
With some money now in hand—ten thousand Tanzanian Shillings—he decided to find a place to eat. The Tanzanian Shilling wasn’t worth much; ten thousand was less than thirty Renminbi. Calculating it out, that was under three thousand Renminbi. He wondered what the local cost of living was like; surely it would be enough for a meal!
Stuffing the cash into his pocket and grabbing his keys, he headed downstairs where the two bodyguards immediately approached him.
Reinforcement! With no command of English, he resorted to sign language combined with the only Swahili word he learned from Shi Ye.
They understood him; one of the Maasai with long hair dashed off and returned with a pot. Lifting the lid revealed a thick porridge made from cornmeal and water.
“Boss, reinforcement!” he exclaimed in authentic Shandong dialect, nearly causing Shi Tian to burst out laughing.
After all that commotion, he still hadn’t found the right language code!
The guy was enthusiastic; this pot of cornmeal must have been their lunch, and it was generous of him to offer it up. However, Shi Tian couldn’t bring himself to eat it.
“Let’s not fuss over this; we’ll go out for a meal instead. It’s our first meeting—I’ll treat you both to a feast! Go prepare!”
With two more people joining them, ten thousand didn’t feel secure enough; he decided to withdraw another ten thousand. After all, treating someone for a meal only to find himself unable to pay would be quite embarrassing!
“Going out to eat? Thank you, Boss!” They jumped up in excitement and dashed toward the backyard while Shi Tian quickly went upstairs again to withdraw another ten thousand shillings.
They stepped outside, where two people were already waiting by the door. Armed with sticks and knives hanging from their waists, the scene felt a bit excessive.
As Shi Tian got into the car, the door swung open, but before he could reach it, a powerful SUV bumped him back. Si Yan Zai had arrived—how dare he show up after leaving Shi Tian waiting at the airport for over an hour? Shi Tian had been worried about how to find him!
He planned to take his time, fishing for the big fish, and once he located Si Yan Zai's hideout, he would slowly torment him.
"Xiao Tian, why did you come back alone? Simba, did you go to pick up Xiao Tian?" Before Shi Tian could speak, A Heng was already trying to shift the blame.
"Xiao Tian, welcome to Africa! I've arranged everything for your arrival. Let's get you settled!" A Heng smiled at Shi Tian as he opened the car door.
What did this mean? Did Shi Ye and Air Force each send someone to pick him up? Was that even possible? They had come together; could this be a mix-up?
"Thanks for your trouble, Heng Ge. Sorry for the expense today!" Shi Tian said as he quickly hopped into the car, deciding to observe the situation for now.
As they drove out, Shi Tian cautiously asked, "Heng Ge, where's my passport? I feel uneasy without it!"
If he could get his passport back, it would likely mean there was no mix-up. If not, well, he would make sure to eat them out of house and home later!
Shi Tianyi spoke up, and A Heng chuckled helplessly; it seemed their act was wearing thin.
"Ye Ge is worried you might run off, so he asked me to hold onto your passport. Don't blame me; it's what Ye Ge instructed!" A Heng explained with a shrug.
It seemed that getting his passport back was going to be difficult for now.
"Heng Ge, do you know why Ye Ge brought me to Africa?" With the passport situation confirmed, Shi Tian continued probing.
He had thought about it all the way here but couldn't figure out why Shi Ye had brought him along.
Building a branch factory? That was possible, but there was no need for such trouble. If it were just about that, Shi Ye would have mentioned it—at least he would have waited until after the factory was set up before bringing him over.
"I heard from Ye Ge that it's to give you a lesson in hardship and gratitude. Beyond that, I'm not sure," A Heng replied.
Hardship and gratitude? What kind of hardship was there here? Just then, an ominous feeling washed over Shi Tian; something was about to go wrong!
"Heng Ge, let's stop by the bank first. I need to withdraw some cash."
He had come here in such a rush that he hadn’t brought any cash with him—not even enough for a meal! As he pulled out his wallet, Shi Tian felt a wave of anxiety.
What hardship and gratitude? Was Shi Ye planning to make him survive in the wilderness? He needed to withdraw some money quickly; he didn't believe that Shi Ye wouldn't have a backup plan.
How could one truly appreciate hardship? Not having money for cornmeal was true hardship! He certainly didn’t want to eat cornmeal; it was better to think of something sweet first!
"I heard from Ye Ge that your silver card seems to have been frozen after three incorrect password attempts. You can only deposit money now," A Heng said as he rubbed his nose awkwardly.
What kind of trouble has Shi Tian gotten into that Shi Ye would treat him this way? His passport has been confiscated, his funds cut off—Shi Tian is really in a dire situation!
Damn it, I can’t go back! He instinctively muttered, glancing at the three people in the car. I need to find a way to get some money from A Heng!
The two from Marseille are out of the question; their monthly budget is only a thousand bucks. Even if I manage to squeeze every last cent from them, I’m not sure it would be enough to fill up the gas tank.
Heng Ge, let’s buy some ingredients and spices to cook for ourselves. Eating out is pretty expensive, right?
I’ll tell you, I’m a professional chef. My master is a state banquet-level cook. You buy the ingredients and spices, and I’ll handle the cooking. You’re in for a treat today!
Shi Tian planned to cook, first winning over A Heng’s stomach, and then his wallet.
In Africa, no one with less than ten thousand in assets would come here. Since A Heng came to pick him up, he definitely isn’t from the bottom tier. Conservatively estimating, A Heng has at least thirty thousand; if he pulls out two months’ worth of expenses from his pocket and saves a bit, that should cover a year’s living costs!
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