Chapter Seventeen: The Cost Always Falls on the Customer

“Brother Can said it! If your performance doesn't meet the standard, you get another week of grace. But if you still fail, you’ll lose something on your body!”
Hearing this, those who’d just been singled out by Brother Six relaxed a little.
But suddenly, he changed his tone, “As for those who haven’t closed a single deal…”
At this, Brother Six gave a signal to his henchmen.
Immediately, seven or eight of the workers were forcibly dragged from their seats, including Big Zhuang and Second Zhuang—those who’d been locked in the water cell with me last time. The older man from the Northwest, Xie Yixiang, who was from their village, seemed about to intervene, but after Yellow Hair shot him a glare, he retreated, crestfallen.
For a moment, those dragged out faces turned deathly pale. Some threw punches and kicked, desperately resisting, while others were so terrified they lost control, soiling themselves and the floor. The stench filled the entire workroom.
“Damn it! Filthy pigs! You think this is your toilet?”
Security Captain Yellow Hair cursed furiously, swinging his stun baton straight at the victim’s groin.
Though I was far away, I heard the sharp crack. I guessed the poor man’s manhood was probably ruined for life.
Brother Six, seeing this, immediately pointed at Yellow Hair and scolded, “Damn it! Who told you to hit like that? If you aim there, someone could die! If a pig dies, he’s worthless!”
Yellow Hair quickly stopped, squatted to check the victim’s condition, felt his pulse, flipped his eyelids, then finally shook his head at Brother Six in resignation.
Brother Six sighed heavily, “Forget it, just be more careful next time. Carry him away!”
And so, the workers who hadn’t closed any deals were forcibly dragged away by the henchmen. Brother Six waved his hand, signaling the rest of us could go for lunch.
On the way to the cafeteria, 2050 suddenly slapped me hard on the back. She glanced around, then leaned in and asked, “Well? Did you finish what I asked you to do?”
I, just as wary, checked the surroundings, then pointed toward the basement, “See? Down there is the morgue. And…”
“And what…?” She blinked, puzzled.
“There’s also a huge transportation hub beneath it!”
Now, the basement entrance was surrounded by dozens of henchmen; usually only a few guarded it. Clearly, my actions below had stirred things up, turning the place upside down.
“What about the money we agreed on…”
I probed.
“Thirty thousand! You won’t get a cent less!”
She rolled her eyes at me.
“Hiss… But what about your own performance?”
“Relax! My performance is always through the roof!”

She suddenly flashed a mischievous smile.
“Have you ever heard the saying, ‘The wool comes from the sheep’s back’?”
I frowned in confusion, still unable to figure out what she was up to.
2050 leaned in and whispered, “I majored in computer science! Back in high school, I hacked the academic office’s computers to steal exam questions! Does that make sense to you?”
“You…”
I was shocked—so that’s how it worked!
“So, big sister, how much performance have you racked up this month?” I asked tentatively, but her answer startled me. 2050 held up a finger.
“Fifty thousand?”
I frowned. She shook her head.
“Five hundred thousand?!”
2050 walked away proudly under my amazed gaze.
Then someone slapped my back again.
“Who the hell is it this time!”
Annoyed, I turned around. It was Xie Yixiang.
“Do you… need something?”
He hesitated for ages before finally speaking quietly, “Brother, could you… lend me some money?”
Borrow money?
Here?
Seeing my confusion, he explained, “My brothers have no performance, I want to help them out, so the bosses might give them a bit more time.”
“Your brothers?”
“Yes, yes! The ones who were locked in the water cell with us—Big Zhuang and Second Zhuang! Brother, I think I heard you closed a five hundred thousand deal just now! Can you lend me some of your commission?”
I was speechless. If I could really close such a huge deal, I wouldn’t have to play all these games—I’d just ask Brother Six for a little grace.
“Hiss…”
I frowned. The commission for two people is ten percent, that’s twenty thousand. If I wanted, I could easily cover Big Zhuang and Second Zhuang’s assessment from last month.

Although there were no restrictions on such deals in the compound, people are selfish. Even in a law-abiding society, lending a few thousand is a big decision, let alone here—and twenty thousand is nearly all I have!
“A few thousand would help! Just to get Brother Six to give them a few more days!”
“Five thousand! Or even three thousand if you can!”
Xie Yixiang started making polite bows.
As I pondered, I caught sight of another guy out of the corner of my eye.
2044—he was on the second floor of the cafeteria, peeking at me with half his head sticking out.
Great, he was looking for a chance to catch me in the act and report me.
A plan flashed through my mind.
“Old Xie, didn’t you say you used to be a pickpocket?”
“Yes!” Xie Yixiang immediately lowered his voice, wary of the topic. “Got caught stealing a bag—did three years!”
“Here’s the deal. Five thousand, if you help me with something.”
I whispered a few words in Xie Yixiang’s ear.
He listened, frowned at first, then nodded excitedly, “Good kid! I’ve wanted to mess with that bastard for ages! Let’s teach him a lesson!”
After lunch, I returned to my room, took out a pile of scattered parts from under my pillow, and began assembling my gear.
As the AK gradually took shape, I was almost too excited to contain myself, but seeing the empty magazine slot, I cursed yesterday’s Russian—he just had to remove my magazine!
Then I took out the Huawei MATE60 I’d gotten from a henchman.
Without a charger, the phone had been off all this time. I carefully pressed the power button.
I pressed my finger firmly over the speaker, to keep the startup sound from playing aloud.
A trick I learned in high school, sneaking a phone, though my sister still caught me in the end…
Thinking of my sister, I quickly logged into my V account, opened the contact labeled “Sis,” but after much hesitation, I refrained from messaging her. I couldn’t be sure if the henchmen’s phones were monitored by the compound in real time.