I'm a Master in India

The so-called 'new friends' that Luca mentioned were mostly people Ron already knew.

As they stepped into Leopold's wide archway, Diran and Viraj waved familiarly.

“Ah ha, look, like-minded people don't need introductions at all; they naturally become friends,” Diran laughed, raising his glass.

“Before, Luca said he knew a厉害 (lì hài - awesome/capable) guy in Mumbai. I was wondering, 'Who the hell is that? Is he more厉害 (lì hài) than me?' Now I know, and I'm not even surprised,” Viraj still had that indifferent look.

“You guys know each other?” It was only then that Luca belatedly realized.

“These two guys come to the bar more often than the waiters show up for work; everyone here knows them.”

Everyone laughed, and Ron familiarly sat down at the marble table. Unlike the noise outside, the bar was full of guests, but it still felt like a quiet oasis.

Indeed, the bar hall was decorated with a completely new look. One wall displayed dozens of kinds of fruit: papaya, papaya, tomato, grapes, bananas, mangoes... a dazzling array.

Anyone who entered this small world made of lights, colors, and a large number of wooden strips was amazed by its faded but still gorgeous elegance.

“Surprised?” Viraj raised his eyebrows triumphantly. “It’s the tourist season; you know, the bar is also doing everything it can to attract customers.”

“Ron, you've fallen from grace. For a whole month, I haven't seen you at Leopold's!” Diran gasped exaggeratedly. “This is too crazy; you haven't even met our new friend. Right, Hella?”

“Yeah, hello, Ron, I often hear them talk about you.” Hella was a beautiful British girl, wearing a fine ivory brocade jacket over a loose brown satin pantsuit and long boots.

Her eyes were charming, direct, and confident, exuding sarcasm and mystery. This wasn't directed at Ron; she was like this to everyone.

“Hello, Hella, I feel very close to British people now. Just yesterday, I sent off a student tour group from Britain; they were polite and generous,” Ron said in a good mood, clinking glasses with her.

“The French are the most civilized and polite people in the world; Ron, you should go and solicit their business,” Diran interjected.

“Brother, when you guys create a Shakespeare from your villages and vineyards, maybe I'll agree with you,” Hella said in a low voice with a smile, half friendly and half superior.

“Madam, please don't misunderstand; I respect your Shakespeare,” Diran retorted, laughing heartily. “I like English because there's too much French in English.”

Everyone laughed again, and Hella told him to shut up in embarrassment. This guy definitely had a knack for offending people.

“Okay, let's talk about you, Ron. How did you meet Luca? And Kavia said you've been busy with a big deal lately! Bro, you're so serious; it makes us look incompetent,” Viraj was still interested in Ron's experiences.

“Luca was introduced to me by Mary and them; I helped him solve a little trouble at the time.”

“That's right; this guy's words are more effective than the police,” Luca agreed.

“What trouble? Why are you back again this time? I mean, back from Brazil,” Viraj asked with great interest; he was extremely fascinated by this kind of adventurous experience.

“Probably just the visa; I want to do business in Mumbai, so I can't do without a visa,” Luca spread his hands.

“Ron, do you also do visa business?” Hella suddenly interjected with interest.

“No, that's just an emergency measure. You know, I do tourist business,” Ron replied.

“I think we can cooperate; I know people in the Foreigners Regional Registration Office. You know what I mean; some foreigners staying in Mumbai sometimes encounter problems with visas or passports.”

Ron never expected that Hella, who looked intellectual and aloof, would actually have such connections.

Sure enough, Leopold's was a place for all kinds of talents! The title of 'everyone's a villain' was well-deserved.

“No problem. By the way, if anyone wants to exchange foreign currency, they can come to me; I guarantee a good price,” Ron handed out his business card.

“Hey, what about business? Luca, what kind of business are you doing in Mumbai this time?” Viraj interjected.

“Uh, it's about the medicine business.” After getting Ron's approval, Luca shrugged with a smile.

“Wow!” Everyone at the table looked at Ron and them in surprise.

People who can do medicine business in Mumbai are very capable. This requires connections in both the white and black worlds, involving several tricky and greedy officials and gangsters.

“Bro, you really surprised me!” Viraj patted Ron on the shoulder. “I just said you were serious.”

“That's a pretty bad word; 'serious' is the least welcome thing at Leopold's,” Ron's answer made everyone laugh again.

The people who came here were a mixed bag, and a large part of them were foreigners, and foreigners who stayed in Mumbai for a long time. Those who can avoid trouble with the police here are probably outlaws.

“Tell me, how did you get through customs? Last time I wanted to bring some marijuana, I was stopped by that damn official. After giving him half, he let me go,” Viraj cursed indignantly.

“Same as you, bribery,” Ron and Luca both laughed.

“Come on, have a drink!” Diran shouted empathetically; he raised the wine bottle and poured wine into the glass with a clatter, then raised his glass.

“To Mumbai, a good place that doesn't make people anxious! To the polite and willing-to-accept-bribes police; they accept bribes, not for law and order, but for order!”

“That's right, to bribery!” Viraj also joined in.

“Just to that!” Everyone drank the wine in their glasses, laughing and scolding.

Half an hour later, Ron, slightly drunk, and Luca, still excited, left the door of Leopold's bar; they still had things to talk about.

“Where are you staying now?”

“Still at Xiangtu's place; you know, the police rarely visit.”

“Okay, then let's go to the Indian Inn first,” Ron waved and stopped a car.

After arriving at the hotel in Xiangtu and drinking a cup of black tea, Ron slowly regained his energy.

He rarely got drunk, and he always tasted it a little, hoping that he could always use his brain anytime, anywhere.

“Tell me, how did you feel about going back to Brazil this time?”

“Yo, that was a memorable experience! I used to be just a street混混 (hùn hùn - hoodlum), but now someone actually says I'm a good person! Ron, you'll never know that feeling.

An old man, he's sick, the kind of incurable disease that needs to be taken medicine every day. But it's that kind of patented medicine, you know, the bully medicine from developed countries, and the annual dose costs more than 20,000 US dollars.

That's Brazil, not much better than India. No one can afford it; the old man was about to give up, and then guess what? I brought the medicine back, like an angel descending from heaven!”

“No one suspected our Indian medicine?” Ron was a little curious.

“Ha, just kidding! They're all about to die, who cares if the medicine works or not? Besides, Brazilians aren't so particular; considering the effects and side effects is what pampered Europeans and Americans do.”

“Then you became very popular there?”

“That's right!” Luca snapped his fingers. “For two whole months, I've been observing the effects of the medicine on patients. They said I was an angel sent by God, just because the price of getting medicine from me was less than one-twentieth of the original medicine.”

Saying that, Luca got up and pulled a suitcase from under the bed, his face mysterious and proud.

“Look what this is?”

PS: Don't worry about the manuscript issue; if there are not more than ten chapters, you can cut me!