I had no idea what was happening inside, so I picked up the phone and asked Wen Siqiang. Wen Siqiang replied breathlessly, "Didn't you ask me to distract them? I set off their firecrackers, and now the scene is chaotic. Those few people are probably fine. I'm running out with the crowd now."
I told him I was outside the door. Since things were in disarray inside, we could leave.
I ran to our car and sure enough, I saw Wen Siqiang running over, shouting as he ran, "Go!"
I got into the car, and Wen Siqiang started the engine and quickly drove away from there.
The crackling sounds behind us were still ringing out, with thick smoke billowing, and the danger of explosion was present at any moment.
Places that gamble on stones usually have firecrackers for celebrating when high-quality goods are found. Our base also has a place for firecrackers. What happened today is a reminder to me. I'll deal with the firecrackers immediately upon returning, lest the Crown Prince sends people to imitate this tomorrow.
Although he had no proof that we were behind today's incident, he would definitely blame me. He would surely make a move tomorrow, and the firecracker storage was the easiest target to attack.
I called Brother Bao and told him I couldn't attend the welcome reception because I had to return to prepare for defending against the Crown Prince. Our base has many buildings and a large area, making defense more difficult than at Kang Gong's company.
I asked Wen Siqiang to drive to the winery. Our firecrackers were stored in a temporary room next to the main venue, which was easier to find than the Crown Prince's place.
On the way, I called the security captain and told him to increase patrols at several raw stone warehouses and prevent any suspicious personnel from approaching.
All the clubs were closed for the next few days, and all staff and security personnel were concentrated here, totaling three hundred people.
The car drove into the yard, and I told him to drive to the main venue. We had to deal with the firecrackers first.
On the way, Wen Siqiang told me that when I called him to cause a commotion at the Crown Prince's place to distract them, he thought about it and realized only this would cause a big enough disturbance. Fortunately, he knew where the firecrackers were stored. So, amidst the chaos, he ran to the place where the firecrackers were kept. He dared not light them directly in the warehouse for fear of being caught in the explosion. So, he secretly moved a lot of them out and put them in the space between two buildings. He then lit a fire, and explosions instantly erupted, successfully throwing the entire venue into complete disarray.
As soon as I got out of the car, the Crown Prince's call arrived. He yelled hoarsely, "You're ruthless, Li! Wait and see tomorrow!"
I said, "Although I don't know what you're talking about, I will definitely be waiting for you tomorrow. That stone was claimed by you. Money for goods, don't make me look down on you!"
Crown Prince: "Go to hell with your stone! I want your life! Wait for me to take it!"
I said, "You've wanted my life for more than a day or two. Come and get it if you have the guts. I'll be ready anytime!"
The Crown Prince had thrown down the gauntlet. Whether I wanted to or not, I had to accept it.
I called Brother Qing and told him about the situation at Kang Gong's place today, and also about the Crown Prince's call just now. It seemed a fierce battle was unavoidable tomorrow, and I needed Brother Qing to mobilize people from the other side.
Brother Qing said he understood and would dispatch a hundred people with special forces backgrounds first thing tomorrow morning.
With these hundred people, I felt much more at ease.
At this moment, the security captain saw me standing there and ran over to ask if I had any instructions.
I told him to send a few people to move some of the safes used to store raw stones and place them next to the stage.
The cabinets for storing raw stones were like large wardrobes at home. Unless one started a big fire to heat the iron plates red-hot, no matter how capable you were, you couldn't ignite the firecrackers stored inside.
The firecrackers had to be set off, of course, under safe conditions.