Chapter Four: A Ledger Without Numbers

They crawled through the seawall and emerged in the predawn fish market. Jibai ordered five identical seafood congees to five addresses, then paid five riders he knew to wear his spare raincoats. Ten minutes later, six scooters scattered from six alleys. The pursuing cars hesitated, then split five ways. “You used my money for decoys?” Yanci asked. “Partnership expenses.” Jibai tossed him a helmet. “Reimburse me.” They hid in Jibai's rented room. Its twenty square meters allowed only one person to pass between bed and clothes rack. At the door, Yanci saw the leaking ceiling, collection notices, and chipped mug. For the first time, poverty became more than the figure 1,864,000. “Get a hotel if it's too small.” “Boqian controls the hotels.”