"Did we agree too easily just now?"
On the way back, the chef couldn't help expressing his concerns.
"We had no choice," Song Heping said. "Sometimes, making a choice is like facing a decision on the battlefield, where if both paths are terrible, all you can do is choose the one that seems relatively less terrible to take."
The chef curled his lip, saying, "Sounds quite reasonable."
Then, wiping his mouth, he added, "The liquor and cigars tonight were really good. One of these days, I've also got to get myself a box of those Habanos 30th Anniversary editions."
Song Heping teased, "What, feeling like enjoying life now?"
The chef replied, "Of course, why else would I be risking my neck to make money?"
He patted the side of the car door, filled with emotion, and said, "Today I'm buying an armored vehicle, and in a few years, I'll be buying a private jet!"
Watching the chef's contented expression, Song Heping joked, "Got any model in mind? Gulfstream?"
"I wouldn't buy a Gulfstream; that's an American thing," the chef declared.
Song Heping asked in surprise, "But you bought a Lincoln, and that's American too."
The chef replied, "I'm talking about things that fly. I don't trust the Americans. I've been eyeing a new private jet recently, and if I have the money, I'll buy it."
Song Heping asked, "Which one?"
"The Legacy 600 executive jet," the chef answered. "I like this jet, it's made in Brazil, seats more than a dozen people, and it isn't too expensive. When I get one, I'll definitely take you for a ride."
Song Heping couldn't help but burst into laughter.
After he finished laughing, he asked the chef, "How much does it cost?"
The chef replied, "With all the paperwork done, it's more than twenty million US dollars. But it's quite expensive to operate, costing over two million US dollars a year."
Song Heping said, "Then you'd better earn well."
The chef suddenly asked out of curiosity, "Heping, you're quite wealthy now too; why don't we see you spending?"
"I spend money," Song Heping said. "Tomorrow, I'm going to Harvey's store to see if there's anything good, buy something for myself."
The chef was taken aback, "Buying weapons?"
Song Heping admitted, "Yes, I have a particular interest in weapons."
The chef said, "That's all you want?"
Song Heping thought for a moment and then said, "Right, you just reminded me, I nearly forgot, I plan to take advantage of these days off to visit my homeland."
"Going back to China?" said the chef. "Do you want me to come with you?"
Song Heping said with distaste, "Forget it. This time I'll probably have to use a fake identity to return, and even I'm not sure about it. Wouldn't your presence draw even more attention?"
Finally, he added, "I'll probably stay for about half a month. In the meantime, keep an eye on the business here for me. It doesn't seem like there will be any trouble for now, right?"
"You go back without worries; I've got things covered here," the chef said.
"That's all I need to hear," said Song Heping.
The two men chatted on and off, quickly making it back to the company.
The following two days were indeed as uneventful as Song Heping had predicted, with nothing major occurring within the company.
During this period, Song Heping took a trip to the oil field to inspect the operations there.
Due to the relationship with Avanti, and the fact that the Kurdish Armed were currently focused on seizing power in the Temporary Management Committee at the Northern Border.
Although the Kurdish's subordinate group, the Freedom Alliance Armed, had been annihilated by Song Heping, they lacked the strength to deal with him, nor did they want to provoke a star of misfortune by tangling with someone capable of infiltrating and wiping out an armed organization headquarters overnight. A defense company like that must be made of tough stuff.
The Kurdish Armed might talk tough most of the time, but they also knew how to act according to the person they were dealing with.
Right now, both the CIA and the Temporary Management Committee were attempting to win them over to form a coalition government, and the Kurds' own aim to achieve autonomous governance would be equivalent to having their own territory, a dream they had harbored for many years, and nothing could be more important than that.
The affairs with the "Musician" Defense Company, on the other hand, were trickier to address openly, as Song Heping's company worked for the American energy magnates, and offending them would be tantamount to offending the United States itself, bringing no benefits whatsoever.
Song Heping also visited the water supply station and took the opportunity to meet Haymour in Yijibai Village.
Having received a considerable amount of gold, along with being a local bigwig, he was currently the most powerful tribal leader in the western region, second to none in influence.
While having tea with the old man, he also said that his tribe planned to use their newfound wealth to support some of their own clan members in running for office in the temporary government, to secure positions and continue to grow their influence.
Song Heping couldn't help but marvel at the old man's foresight.
Haymour was the wealth of the Yijibai Tribe, and as long as the old man was around, the tribe would not decline.
With the Yijibai Tribe's support for the water station, there naturally was no danger. The militants who used to attack the water pipes and the water station seemed to have disappeared. Whether it was Song Heping's extermination of the Salafi Armed that had served as a warning or the old Haymour's prestige that kept things in check was unclear. After all, these things were hard to count.
Even Song Heping once entertained the thought that not all of the militants who had been attacking the water station might have been from the Salafi Armed. It's possible that some from the Yijibai Tribe had also been involved.
Song Heping didn't want to dwell on these matters.
Because they were meaningless.
He didn't do things without meaning.
The current state of Illiguo was that of a war-torn land, just like the chaotic times of ancient China. In such a place, power ruled, winners were kings and losers were bandits. Whoever could secure a position in the aftermath of Sadam's fall and gain the attention of the Americans and the Temporary Management Committee would be able to ascend to the political stage of the interim government.
The cards had been reshuffled, and deals had to be redealt. Only the dealer had changed, nothing else was different.
It had nothing to do with democracy, nor with freedom.