108: Chapter 107 Take Me With You 108: Chapter 107 Take Me With You Before Gao Yang could answer, Mrs.
John Smith’s eyes lit up as if she thought of something, and then, excitedly, she said, “You’re from Huaxia, did John’s boss find you?”
The burly man who had been kicked down was still groaning, and the onlookers were pointing at Gao Yang.
In such a situation, it was impossible to speak, so Gao Yang smiled at Mrs.
Smith and said, “Can we talk somewhere else?
It’s not very convenient here.”
Mrs.
Smith nodded repeatedly and said, “Of course, please follow me.”
After casting a puzzled glance at Gao Yang, the young man who had been rescued turned and went to the young girl’s side, his expression resolute as he said, “Come with me, or you’ll get killed.
At least don’t see your father again until he calms down.”
The girl hesitated for a moment and then, obediently standing up while being pulled by the boy’s hand, the young man said, “Wait a moment, I need to find my baseball.”
After glancing around on the ground, the young man picked up a baseball that was already yellowing, stuffed it into his pocket, and then immediately approached Mrs.
Smith and said, “Mom, let’s go back.”
Mrs.
Smith looked worriedly at the burly man still lying on the ground and then at the young girl being led by the boy, sighed without saying anything, but made a gesturing motion and started heading toward her home.
Mrs.
Smith and her son lived in a corrugated iron shed, which was divided into two areas by a curtain.
Although it was small, it was neatly kept and could at least be called a home.
After asking Gao Yang and Yelena to sit on the only two broken chairs available, Mrs.
Smith said awkwardly, “I’m sorry, our home is very humble.
May I ask why you are looking for me?”
After thinking for a while, Gao Yang said gravely, “I am Mr.
Smith’s friend, and although I only spoke with him a few times, he indirectly saved my life.
Yes, I was also a passenger on that crashed plane, and I was sitting right next to Mr.
Smith.”
Mrs.
Smith covered her mouth in shock and said, wide-eyed and tongue-tied, “My God, there really is a survivor, and you must be the only one who was missing.
I remember your father’s name; he believed steadfastly that you were not dead.
Thank God, you really are alive.
Oh, God, your family must be so, so happy.”
As she spoke, tears streamed down Mrs.
Smith’s face.
Gao Yang stood up, embraced her gently, and then said solemnly, “I’m sorry to have reminded you of such sad memories.
My purpose in coming here was to return Mr.
Smith’s personal effects to you.
When the plane crashed, I took the knife he had on him.
Mr.
Smith’s knife saved me many times, and I think it’s time I returned it to you.
I’m sorry, I wanted to save Mr.
Smith too, but he had already suffered a misfortune.”
Mrs.
Smith nodded, sobbing and saying, “I understand, he wasn’t in a state to survive.
Thank you for trying to save him, but it was all God’s will.
I apologize for my lack of composure.”
Gao Yang took out the hunting knife from the bag Yelena was holding and solemnly presented it to Mrs.
Smith, saying, “I am sorry that the knife has some marks left on it from my use, and I hope you won’t mind.”
After Mrs.
Smith took the knife and looked at it, tears flowed again as she sobbed, “Yes, this is John’s knife, ordered from a craftsman in the United States.
I am glad it could be of help to you.
Really, I think John would also be happy knowing his knife helped you survive.”
Gao Yang nodded and said, “If it’s convenient for you, I would like to visit Mr.
Smith’s grave to thank him in person.”
Mrs.
Smith sighed and said, “I’m sorry, his grave is in Ethiopia.
We couldn’t afford to bring his body back, and no one would pay for us.”
Although disappointed, Gao Yang wasn’t too surprised.
Seeing Mrs.
Smith’s circumstances, he knew that without help from others, she wouldn’t have the means to transport a body from Ethiopia back to South Africa.
Gao Yang took out all the US Dollars that he had brought and said gravely, “I can see that you’re in a tough situation, and though it’s not much, please take this money.
I mean no offense by it.
I just want to do something for Mr.
Smith.
Also, if there’s anything you need help with, please let me know, and I’ll do my best to assist you.”
Mrs.
Smith shook her head at Gao Yang and said, “No, thank you, I can’t accept your money.
I understand your kind intentions, but John was always willing to help his friends.
Out of respect for him, I can’t take your money, but I must say thank you.
You are a good person.”
As Gao Yang held the money, he felt it wouldn’t be right to force it on Mrs.
Smith, but he couldn’t just take the money back either.
If he had not known their situation, perhaps he could have let it go, but having seen Mrs.
Smith’s dire circumstances with his own eyes, he really couldn’t just walk away.
While Gao Yang was at a loss with the situation, Mrs.
Smith’s son suddenly spoke up, “Hello, sir.
My name is Frey, and this is my girlfriend, Ella.
My mother and I are very grateful for your kindness, but some money won’t change our situation.
You seem like a wealthy person, and I am asking you very presumptuously, can you give me a job?
As long as I have a job, I can change the life of my mother and myself.
I can do anything, anything at all!”
Frey seemed to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, and his girlfriend looked even younger, probably around fifteen or sixteen, still very youthful, and dressed in very worn clothes.
She didn’t look particularly beautiful but wasn’t unattractive either.
However, a large bruise on her forehead made her appear pitiable.
Gao Yang thought for a moment and sighed, “I’m sorry, I can’t offer you a job.”
Frey looked very disappointed.
He shook his head and sighed without saying anything else.
Gao Yang hesitated and said, “As a white person, isn’t it supposed to be easy to find a job in South Africa?
I know there have been big changes since the end of apartheid, but still, it can’t be that hard to find a job, can it?”
Mrs.
Smith bitterly smiled and said, “John and I were both employees of the South African government; he was a university professor, and I worked in a government office.
However, John used to be a militia member.
He had been involved in capturing terrorists, so he was quickly fired after the end of apartheid and couldn’t find any work.
After I was fired, I couldn’t find any work either.
After John’s death, we could no longer afford our rent and had to move here.
In today’s South Africa, all the job opportunities are in the hands of black people.
They won’t give Frey any position.
In fact, all the white people living here are in the same situation.
We have no choice but to gather here and live by doing odd jobs and begging.”
Frey spoke indignantly, “Those black people can’t even use computers, yet the government still only gives jobs to them.
They’ve made a mess of this country.
If my dad had money, we would have left this country long ago.”
Gao Yang sighed and said, “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to discuss the policies of the South African government, but I can give you some money to leave this country.
As for a job, I am unable to provide one.”
Frey looked up at Gao Yang and asked, “You seem to be very rich.
Can you tell me what you do for work?”
Gao Yang thought for a while before eventually saying, “I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you that.”
Frey said, “Sir, I want to take my mom and my girlfriend away from here.
As long as we can leave, it doesn’t matter where we go.
I swear I will return the money to you.”
Gao Yang immediately nodded and said, “That’s no problem.
I can give you whatever amount you need, as long as I have it.”
Mrs.
Smith looked hesitant, but eventually sighed and said, “Frey, you only have a middle-school education.
You won’t be able to find a good job, and you’ll have to take care of me and Ella.
Where can we go?”
After finishing, Mrs.
Smith gave Gao Yang an apologetic smile and said, “Thank you for your kind offer.
If possible, I hope you can support Frey in leaving.
However, I can’t ask for more.
Ella and I can wait for him to earn money and then leave.”
Frey became a bit agitated and said, “Mom, if I go, Ella will get beaten to death by her dad.
Didn’t you see what Ella went through today?
As long as I’m willing to work hard, I can surely provide for us.
And I will repay this gentleman.”
After saying that, Frey suddenly felt something was amiss.
He smiled awkwardly and said to Gao Yang, “Sorry, both my mom and I are too excited.
We don’t even know your name.”
Gao Yang gave an awkward smile.
He hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell the truth.
“Sorry, my name is Gao Yang, but please don’t mention to anyone that I came to see you.
I’m a bit troubled in Huaxia, and you may deal with Huaxia people in the future, so please keep my visit a secret,” he said.
Frey’s eyes lit up.
He looked at Gao Yang and said, “I understand.
You’re a criminal; that’s why you have so much money.
Sir, I don’t care what you do for work.
I can be your best assistant.
Trust me, no matter what you do, please give me a job.
I swear on my father’s name, I will be loyal to you!”
Mrs.
Smith turned pale and said sternly, “Frey, what are you saying?”
Gao Yang said awkwardly, “Sorry, the work I do may seem like a crime, or maybe it really is a crime, depending on the country’s laws.
And it’s very dangerous.
Well, it’s better to tell you, I am a mercenary.”
Frey immediately said, “Being a mercenary isn’t a crime but it can earn a lot of money.
Damn, why didn’t I think of that before?
Sir, please take me in urgently.
I can do anything for you!”
Mrs.
Smith said sharply, “Frey, you’re only seventeen.
You should find a job.
Being a mercenary is not for you!”
Frey turned to his mother, spreading his hands with a bitter smile, “Mom, don’t you know that I’ve worked for drug offenders?
Don’t you know I shot two drug dealers fighting over territory for them?
You know, they only gave me a thousand Rand for such things, just because I’m white, and because they knew I needed that thousand Rand.
You also know that without that thousand Rand, Ella would have been killed.
Moreover, Ella’s dad beat her again today.
If we don’t find a way to leave, Ella will eventually be killed, and you and I, that bastard won’t let us go.
So, I think the profession of a mercenary suits me best.”
Mrs.
Smith couldn’t hold back anymore and burst into tears, while Ella hugged Frey and also began to sob.
Yelena sighed and said to Gao Yang, “Maybe you should give him a chance.”