Song Heping pulled out a tissue and wiped his nose, saying, "I guess someone's missing me."
"Missing you?" the cook laughed. "Do you have a girlfriend?"
Song Heping shook his head: "No."
With his previous financial situation, how could he possibly have a girlfriend?
Before coming here to make a fortune, he had been so poor that a thief would leave his house in tears.
Now, he actually had some money.
But the thought of returning home gave him a headache.
He was afraid something might go wrong.
It seemed better to use a different identity for this line of work.
Once he was truly done with this line, he could switch back to his real identity and go back to live a good life with a good girl.
He certainly couldn't let anyone know how he made his money.
This was something he couldn't tell anyone.
He had it all figured out already.
If someone asked what he was doing abroad,
he'd say he was in trade.
International trade.
It sounded very impressive.
"Right, you and Yousuf talked for such a long time tonight, what did you talk about?" the cook inquired about the earlier matter.
Song Heping had no intention of hiding it, so he recounted the whole story about Yousuf's uncle being attacked and the desire for "Musician" Defense to provide bodyguard services.
"That was his uncle?"
The cook was very surprised.
"Had I known, I would've helped out."
Then he added, "You didn't agree to it, did you? Just in Baghdad alone, there are thousands of low-level officials, two bodyguards per person is tens of thousands of people. Even if we expanded recruitment, we couldn't possibly hire that many hands in a short time, not to mention that the United Security Council doesn't pay much, don't touch such a foolish thing!"
"We can't not do it..."
Song Heping pondered for a moment and said, "I've thought about it for a long time, and I feel we should take the job."
"Are you crazy?!"
The cook was so startled he almost hit the brakes.
"If you take this order, we'll go bankrupt!"
Song Heping said, "If we don't take it, will Yousuf still work with us? Fine, even if he's willing to continue making money with us, but think about it, all his connections are with officials of his same level. We couldn't have gotten those arms and such a large warehouse without more than just him involved, I'm sure the money earned doesn't just go into his pocket."
"Yeah! We don't owe him money!" the cook said. "What does it matter to us if he has to share the loot with others?!"
Song Heping said, "Does it matter?! If all the low-level officials in Yousuf's network die, do you think we can still get arms?"
The cook was stunned.
This aspect of the relationship was something he had not considered.
But upon reflection, it seemed he wasn't wrong.
Last night, Yousuf's blowing up at the United Security Council big wig for bodyguards wasn't just because of personal connections with those officials, but because if it kept going like this, with people in the network dying, how could they continue to make money?
But for the top brass of the United Security Council or Temporary Management Committee, the lives of Yousuf and his ilk meant nothing.
If a low-level official died, they simply promoted another. There was a plethora of people wanting those positions, like leeks growing another shoot after being cut, no big deal.
"But we simply can't afford such a large order! Look at why big companies like Blackwater International and AAFES don't take it. They're not stupid! Taking the contract means no profits, and we would lose money. Moreover, we've only got about two hundred thousand US dollars in working capital left."
"No, no, no..."
Song Heping said thoughtfully, "I'm hatching a big plan... If it works out, not only will we not lose money, do you believe we'll even make a fortune, and be so flush by the end of the year that our hands will be too soft to count the money?"
Hearing there was money to be made, the cook's eyes lit up.
"Are you bluffing?"
"No." Song Heping said. "I'll settle this matter tomorrow night, and then we can talk."
In order to keep the appointment, Song Heping stayed an extra day in Baghdad.
The next evening, he drove out of the Green Zone and headed to Yusuf's house alone.
The atmosphere was completely different from the last family gathering.
This time, the gathering was arranged by Yusuf in the backyard.
The food was still so abundant, with all the local delicacies of Illiguo basically present.
Yusuf led Song Heping into the backyard.
As soon as he entered, he was startled.
Three long tables, each about seven to eight meters in length, were placed side by side in the large backyard, with people sitting on both sides.
This formation...
Anyone unaware would think it was a wedding or a birthday banquet.
"Are all these..."
Song Heping asked Yusuf in surprise.
"They are all my good brothers! They all work and hold positions in the temporary government and various committees. Come on, let me introduce you..."
For the next ten minutes or so, Yusuf dragged Song Heping around the three long tables, introducing him to each person in turn.
There was a deep meaning in Yusuf's words as he made the introductions.
For instance, after mentioning someone's name, he would certainly clarify in which department they worked, their position, and the specific area of work they managed.
After circling the tables three times, Song Heping suddenly felt that almost all the small department heads within the entire Baghdad Temporary Management Committee were present.
From the Temporary Management Committee office to the accounting manager of the reconstruction project committee, to the finance official in the United Security Council responsible for allocating police funds, even someone from customs was there...
"Come on, let's all drink a bowl of tea together to celebrate our friendship!"
Under Yusuf's lead, everyone stood up.
Each person put a small pinch of salt into their tea.
Song Heping followed suit.
Then everyone drank the tea, and Yusuf took the initiative to break off a piece of bread and handed it to Song Heping, then broke off a piece for himself, while the others did the same.
Everyone lifted their pieces of bread and ate together, as if carrying out some sacred ritual...
After the ritual, Yusuf finally said, "We have an old tradition here, that those who have shared bread and salt under the same roof are brothers."
This damn...
Song Heping thought to himself, this Yusuf is even better at making connections than I am.
Just by drinking a bowl of tea, adding a pinch of salt, and eating a piece of bread, we're now brothers?
This Arabic custom of swearing brotherhood really is simple, direct, and to the point...
Suddenly, he felt as if he had been pulled into a grand ceremony of sworn brotherhood.
Before he could recover from the shock,
The small manager from the Temporary Management Committee office closest to him grabbed Song Heping's sleeve, and to his surprise, started to sob...
A grown man, sobbing right there...
Song Heping was immediately thrown into confusion.
The man sobbed as he recounted a terrifying near-death experience from just over a month ago, not forgetting to add that he was the sole support for his family, with an eighty-year-old mother and a breastfeeding baby daughter.
As he spoke with passion, he opened his clothes to show Song Heping the startling scars that resembled centipedes, pleading with Song Heping, his new 'brother,' to take on their security contract to ensure their safety.
Other attendees also gathered around, like villagers blocking the road to lodge complaints, each sharing their own moments of life and death.
"Alright, alright."
Song Heping had to raise his voice and lift his arms to calm everyone down.
"Quiet down, everyone, quiet down, listen to me first!"
After more than ten seconds, the area finally quieted down.
He looked around and then announced loudly, "Alright, since my brothers are in trouble, of course, I cannot stand idly by. This job, I, 'Musician' Defense, will take it!"