Bo Gang called, saying he would come with officials from the Myanmar Ministry of Commerce. He specifically instructed me to host them with high-level treatment, promising to introduce me to them personally and clear any future investment hurdles in Myanmar.
If Bo Gang was telling the truth, this was a good opportunity. Having government backing in Myanmar would be very useful, especially since Bo Gang had some military connections, offering many avenues for leverage.
Yesterday, I had only booked rooms for him and his entourage. Now that he had invited officials from the Ministry of Commerce, which was undeniably good news, I immediately notified Jing Lei to book more rooms. Regardless of what Qing Ge thought, anyone Bo Gang brought would be hosted to the highest standard.
Qing Ge, his wife A Xiang, and their four subordinates had booked three rooms: one suite and two standard rooms. The guests from Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong, numbering nearly twenty, were staying at a business hotel near the winery. Although it wasn't star-rated, its standard was not low, and its proximity was convenient.
This was a deliberate arrangement on my part. They were our main clients, and I wanted to ensure they spent more time at the raw stone base.
According to our agreement, Crown Prince was supposed to close his trade fair. However, whether he would honor his commitment was anyone's guess.
Crown Prince was an unpredictable character. If he truly went ahead with it, we would have no way to interfere. We were not law enforcement agencies and had no right to intervene in his actions.
Just then, my phone rang again. It was Wen Siqiang, saying he had been discharged from the hospital and would be arriving at the winery shortly.
To be honest, I desperately needed him by my side now, but I couldn't voice it, as his injuries were quite severe.
At this moment, I saw the "Demoness" step out of a taxi. Upon seeing me standing at the entrance, she seemed to want to avoid me, lowering her head and preparing to go upstairs.
I said, "Come here. I have something to ask you."
Seeing she couldn't escape, she had no choice but to approach me.
I asked, "Zhou Yingying, has Principal Sun mentioned my father's affairs again recently?"
The Demoness paused, then replied, "He's always wanted to bring your father down. However, I haven't cooperated with him, so no action has been taken."
I asked, "Have you told him in the past few days that we are busy with the raw stone base?"
Zhou Yingying: "He asked what you were busy with, and I told him about preparing the raw stone base. He didn't say anything and hasn't brought up the matter again."
I asked, "Why did you come so early in the morning?"
Zhou Yingying: "It's about what happened yesterday. I truly didn't know. After I went back, I felt I should explain to you, Big Brother. I don't want you to misunderstand me."
I asked, "How can you be so sure? What if you knew them?"
Zhou Yingying: "Absolutely impossible. Let alone knowing them, I've never even heard of them."
We arrived at Sino-Myanmar Street at half past five in the afternoon.
I told Wen Siqiang to wait in the car and that I would call him if there was a special situation.
I really needed to buy Wen Siqiang a mobile phone; it would make things much easier.
When I entered the room, Bo Gang was still sitting in his usual spot. He was wearing traditional Myanmar attire and a headscarf, his bulky frame filling the rattan chair.
Looking at him like this, he didn't resemble a murderous demon at all; he was clearly an elderly foreigner.
It was a pity he wasn't just an ordinary elderly foreigner; his mind was filled with killing, robbery, money, and profit.
He looked up at me and said, "That bastard Kong Gong is too influential. We were all played. He donated so much and became a hero of Myanmar overnight. Meanwhile, we are stuck between a rock and a hard place, branded as incompetent. Now they've even stripped me of my military command, leaving me just an advisor to government departments. Damn it, if I start playing guerilla warfare in the future and stir up trouble, let's see if they still ignore me!"
Bo Gang was indeed a rough character, solving problems with impulse rather than thought. Although we were using him this time, if he had managed it well, the benefits he would have received would have lasted a lifetime. How did it all go wrong?
I looked at him and asked, "What are your plans?"
Bo Gang: "What plans can I have? We need to start our business quickly. I need a large sum of money to organize the army here. You have to solve it for me!"
What kind of logic was this? He was organizing an army, and I was supposed to solve it for him. This was naked bandit logic.
I said, "Now that Kong Gong is back, will he let me off? He's watching my every move like a hawk. If we touch this now, it's a dead end!"
Bo Gang: "I only have this thing in my hands. Am I supposed to let it rot? I don't care. Find a way to get it done for me, or you won't get to keep your life, nor the lives of your wives and concubines."
This was essentially holding me hostage. And he always brought them up; they were my soft spot, my Achilles' heel, always hitting the mark.
I said, "It's not easy to handle. I have an idea for you. The raw stone business is very good here right now, and there's huge demand for finished products domestically. As long as you can get the raw stones, I'll help you sell as many as you can, even for free. I won't take a cent from you."
Bo Gang: "Raw stones? Where am I supposed to find raw stones? Unless I rob for them!"
Raw stones were a business, a trade that required investment. And here he was, directly talking about robbery.
I gave a wry smile. Dealing with people like him made no sense.
Bo Gang: "I need to go back. Get moving on what I said. Someone will contact you in the next couple of days!"
I said, "You also need to consider what I said. You're over there, so you definitely have channels to get stones. As long as the quality is good, this amount of money is not a problem at all. You have a sunny road ahead of you, why take the risk of beheading by taking a narrow, winding path?"
He said, "I'll think about it. In any case, help me make money as soon as possible!"
With that, he stood up. I quickly bid farewell. Dealing with people like him was like walking on a knife's edge; the sooner I left, the better.
I walked out and got into the car. I told Wen Siqiang, "Let's go back to the Grand World."
Wen Siqiang didn't say a word and drove off.
Sitting in the car, I felt a bit troubled. The issue with Crown Prince was still unresolved. His father's return could have eased some of Bo Gang's pressure, but now, it was as if layers of demands were being piled on, making it hard to breathe.
I needed to find a breakthrough point to unravel this tangled situation. Otherwise, the three of them would be like a winch, slowly crushing me to death.
I returned to my office. Lan Ya asked, "Not going well? You look quite solemn."
I said, "Yes, Bo Gang has illegal goods, and he needs us to cash them out, or he'll go after my family! I suggested he supply us with raw stones, which would kill two birds with one stone and be legal. Guess what he said? He said he doesn't have raw stones unless he robs for them! Raw stones are a business, obtained through buying and selling, yet he wants to acquire them through gun violence!"
Lan Ya: "Bo Gang is ultimately a menace. We should discuss this with Brother Leopard and preferably get rid of him, or he'll push us to a dead end."
I said, "Yes, I was thinking the same thing on the way. We must find a way to get rid of him!"
Lan Ya picked up the phone and called Brother Leopard, asking him to come over to discuss how to eliminate Bo Gang.
Just then, Wen Siqiang came in and said that the people we summoned for training had all arrived and asked if I wanted to start.
I told Lan Ya that I would go to the training class first and that she should inform me when Brother Leopard arrived.
We had selected thirty people, mainly for security and service, divided into two teams. Two private rooms had been prepared for their training.
They were gathered in one room waiting for me, and they would be split into separate classes shortly.
I went over and gave them some instructions regarding the opening of the new company and the etiquette for receiving guests. I saw Xiao Hong among the service staff; she was in charge of this group.
The security team also had a leader chosen, an old employee from the Grand World named San Zi. He was burly, dark-skinned, and knew some martial arts.
I had them split into two groups, with one group moving to another room.
The remaining security team's training was simpler. A mat was placed in the middle of the room. They would pair up for sparring matches. Those eliminated would wait, and the winners would advance to the next round.
Those eliminated in the first round would be put under the team leader for intensive training over ten days. After ten days, another competition would be held.