What use a huge car like that?
Hank just worked in a shady bar
and was by no means well off.
But he told me of the 'big man'
who was 'something in government'.
Apparently, now that the "three
Years of difficulty" were over
there were a few such dodgy men
who, afraid to show their wealth
in the 'upper circles', frequented
bars and clubs that were... erm...
shall we say, "under the radar"?

One such was the evil Yen Hang,
who had a vicious reputation.
Hank described him as 'duō yí' at best!
Yen Hang visited The Dog and Duck
on numerous occasions - wearing
what Hank thought was an obvious
disguise - a slicked brown-hair
wig which didn't completely hide
his real jet black hair showing
at the back of his neck.


One boozy evening, Yen Hang had become
very enebriated and disclosed
to Hank across a Baijiu wetted bar
that he had this car he had bought
with some ill-gotten gains from
financing black market trades,
and the like, 'wink, wink'. 
He had had to hide the car away
on his parents not too distant farm.
But now the government were 
sending youths to work in the countryside, 
the car was a serious liability and
he sinply needed to get rid.

If there is one thing that Hank is
it is 'sharp' and he immediately
saw an opportunity to spring the car
from its rural wooden prison
and into his own hands. But how?
Yen Hang was drunk but was no fool.

Hank set the ground by telling Yen Hang
that he would be interested in
buying such a car, but was not wealthy.
Yen Hang said nothing more, and left
soon after their conversation.

It was about two weeks later that
Yen Hang came into the pub again.
Hank was talking to Yue at the time
but Yen Hang rushed to the bar
red faced and obviously agitated.
Hank recognised him immediately
even though he was not wearing
the brown wig he usually wore.
He interrupted Hank and Yue's
conversation and pleaded with Hank
to follow him to the toilet block
at the back of the bar area.
There he handed an envelope to Hank
explaining that the car's papers,
it's key, and the address of his 
parent's farm were inside it. 
'You will pay me later...' he said, 
and rushed off, only to be accosted 
by two soldiers as he reached
the Pub's entrance doors and they
immediately grabbed him and 
bundled him into a waiting black car.

That was how Hank acquired
the old, but unmarked, Dongfeng CA71.
I thought he could never have
bought that car on his bar earnings!
Hank wasn't worried, he doesn't
believe he will see Yen Hang again.

Bliss said to me that she worries

about her brother, "I think one day

Yen Hang will want Hank to do

him a favour of some kind, Wrick!"

I can't blame her for worrying,

and in turn I worry about her.

© Griffonner 2026