Chapter Ten: A Secret Plot Between Two

“Which mission hasn’t been tricky?”
Grandma Liu tugged at the corner of her mouth, turned around, and took a bottle of unmarked wine from the rack. She pulled out the cork, held it to her nose, and inhaled deeply, a hint of rapture on her face.

At last, she fetched two crystal goblets from the cabinet beneath, wiped them briefly with a soft cotton cloth, and poured out two half-glasses of golden liquid.

“Give it a try. This is part of my private collection—Shaoxing yellow wine from 1968. It had solidified into wine paste, so I went all the way to Chinatown to find an old friend and blended it with a cask of authentic yellow wine.

You’re always so lucky, girl. Every time you visit me, you happen upon the best treats!”

Grandma Liu smiled as she put away the bottle, then picked up one of the glasses and took a delicate sip, satisfaction lighting her features.

Liang Bing’s expression barely changed, but her gaze grew more focused. She lifted her glass, examined the contents meticulously, and then took a cautious sip. She held the wine in her mouth for a long moment before slowly swallowing.

Both women exhaled deeply—an ineffable sense of contentment lingering between them.

Liang Bing nodded, her words succinct: “Excellent wine.”

“You’re my kind of girl—you know how to appreciate life. Unlike that brute before, Daniu, who treated my treasures like cattle chewing peonies, squandering what he didn’t understand.”

Grandma Liu shook her head, then seemed to grow a bit spirited.

“Girl, you know, this time the identity we’ve landed in does come with a few advantages. I suspect the train gave us some perks because we completed a mission before!”

Seeing the old lady brush off the topic, Liang Bing didn’t press further about Daniu.

She was about to speak when she abruptly closed her mouth. At that moment, a commotion erupted at the center of the bar. Amid the chorus of exclamations, an American GI stumbled across the floor, landing right at Liang Bing’s feet.

Before Liang Bing could step back, the soldier scrambled to his feet. His face was flushed and his gaze unfocused—clearly drunk.

He cursed under his breath, pointing at a burly man with a woman in his arms. “What’s wrong with a little touch, huh? I haven’t seen a woman in three years, just craving a bit of softness! You dare hit me? I’ll put you on the floor tonight!”

With that, the soldier angrily threw off his jacket, stripped to the waist, and lunged forward.

Liang Bing said flatly, “So this is the so-called perk you mentioned?”

Grandma Liu patted her forehead, evidently unaccustomed to such swift comeuppance. She beckoned to a corner of the bar, and two burly men immediately stood up.

They strode over, seized the drunken GI on either side, and dragged him out onto the lawn, ignoring his slurred protests. Through the window, the crowd watched as the American soldier, still unwilling to give up, tried to rise and retaliate. Though he might have been formidable, in his current state his limbs flailed feebly, and he nearly toppled over himself.

The two bouncers, initially intent on doling out a lesson, exchanged glances and simply took up posts at the door. One nodded to Grandma Liu and casually shut the bar’s entrance.

No one seemed surprised—such incidents were evidently commonplace. As soon as it passed, the atmosphere resumed its former merriment. The woman who had been harassed, seeing her companion’s bravery, became even more animated, dancing provocatively and drawing a chorus of whistles from the lecherous onlookers.

“See? Nothing to it,” Grandma Liu remarked indifferently. She took a fruit platter from beneath the bar and set it before Liang Bing.

“My current identity—I came to America long ago, have lived here over sixty years, and even married into the Irish mob. My husband died thirty years ago, and I’ve been running this little tavern since, raising my son alone. The boy’s no saint, but he’s made a name for himself in the Irish gang, so the bar’s been running quite steadily.”

Liang Bing nodded. “Looks like you’re not in any trouble. Need any money?”

“Why, do you have a lot?”

“No. Right now, I’m a senior manager at a cosmetics company. My husband’s a lawyer—and a scoundrel. Our marriage fell apart years ago, but we stayed together for financial reasons. Lately, it seems he’s racked up a huge debt and dipped into my savings without telling me. So at the moment, I’m bankrupt.”

Liang Bing recounted her situation in a level tone. “It’s nothing, really. My husband’s persistent meddling is just an annoyance. And with no leads on the mission, I was thinking of raising some cash to spread around and buy a few informants. It might yield some results.”

Grandma Liu nodded. “That’s a sound idea. The mission requirements are so vague, and at my age, I know little about movies to begin with. I muddled through three worlds already, and it still feels surreal. Truthfully, I’m already quite old. I do worry about my children, but they’ve built lives of their own. Rather than be a lonely old woman, I’d rather travel through these fantastical worlds, playing all kinds of roles. That suits me better. As for the missions, I don’t force it—if I complete one, great; if not, it’s no big deal.”

Liang Bing nodded. “I understand your view, but these worlds are dangerous. Take the last time, in Biohazard—if we hadn’t fought our way out of Raccoon City, we’d have been vaporized by the nukes.”

Grandma Liu sighed. “True. Danger lurks everywhere—there’s no safe haven. That’s why I think running a tavern in New York is rather fun!”

She shook her head, returning to the matter at hand. “But enough about me. Tell me, how can I help you?”

Liang Bing’s slender fingers rested on her goblet, her nails gleaming in the light.

“My current husband was once a successful lawyer, so a few years back he took out a hefty life insurance policy. In the event of accidental death, the payout is five million dollars. And because of his legal background, the insurance company would process the claim swiftly—within seven to ten business days, the funds would be in my hands. As far as I know, the Tuxedo universe doesn’t have any widespread cataclysms, so we have plenty of time to proceed step by step. Two weeks for five million dollars seems fair.”

Grandma Liu didn’t hesitate. “Easy enough. There’s a cement truck parked in my backyard. Give me the time and place, and I’ll handle it for you.”

Liang Bing nodded.