Jing Lei gripped my arm tightly. I told her, "They're after me. Take Shi Tou and go back first. I'll go see what kind of trouble this is."
Just then, Ang Chai walked over and spoke a few sentences in Burmese to the others. Then he told me, "They say they'll let you go if you just go meet someone and deliver a message. They won't make trouble for you, but they say your friend can't leave; she has to wait in my shop."
I glanced at these men. They all looked like desperados. If they started a fight here, I might not come out on top. Besides, their territory was just across the road. If they caused trouble and ran back there, I'd have no recourse.
Whether they were men or ghosts, I decided to go see.
I told Ang Kai, "Please keep an eye on my girlfriend. I'm going with them."
Those men exchanged glances. Two stayed behind to guard, while the other two took me out.
They didn't lead me to the other side of the main road, but took me to a hotel on our side.
They didn't go upstairs but walked through the lobby and entered a small courtyard from a rear door. In the courtyard stood a detached three-story building. At the entrance to the first floor, two men spoke something in Burmese to the closed door. Seeing the door opened from the inside, those two men let me in.
A man was sitting on the sofa in the first-floor living room. He looked up at me as I approached and said, "Old friend, we meet again."
Only then did I see clearly that this man in a suit was Bo Gang!
The last time I saw him, he was wearing a military uniform and cap, which is why I didn't recognize him immediately. Da Feng Novel Network.
I gave an awkward smile. The dangerous events of yesterday were still vivid in my mind. I hadn't expected him to arrive here so quickly.
It seemed he hadn't given up on chasing Qing Ge, and had moved so fast to find us.
Or perhaps his people had been with us all along, which was why they found me so accurately.
The thought sent a shiver down my spine!
Bo Gang asked, "What, you're not welcome?"
I truly didn't know how to face him. If I could, I'd rather never see him again.
I stared at him blankly, and after a long pause, I finally said, "We have no enmity, why are you fixated on me?"
Bo Gang: "We had no enmity before, but starting from yesterday, we do. You know this better than I. If my men hadn't come to my rescue, I might have become a dead man at your hands long ago. Don't tell me you had no intention to kill; I don't believe it!"
He continued, "Do you think I enjoy fighting and killing? I like money, status! But Ah Qing wouldn't let it go. I had already gone legitimate, yet he still clung to me, finding people in the army to go after me. So I had no choice but to use you to lure him out. Who knew you would foil the plan? Not only did I fail to eliminate him, but I also caused the general who helped me to lose his position. Can you blame me for not letting you go? I know Ah Bao is his subordinate, and now his financier. If you are restrained, he loses half an arm. Therefore, since I can't touch him over there, I have to start with you!"
What kind of logic was this? Picking on the soft to get to the hard, like a strike from below?
I said, "We're not pushovers either. Do you dare to confront us openly here? If you do, we'll meet you any time!"
Bo Gang: "I dare not confront you openly, but I can resort to kidnapping and assassination. If I can find you, I can find all of you! This time, direct confrontation is even more terrifying. I don't need to explain the consequences, do I?"
I felt sweat breaking out on my back. To be honest, I hadn't felt fear facing gunfire and artillery yesterday, but Bo Gang's words sent chills down to my bones.
I said, "What do you want?"
Kidnapping and assassination were just means. What I wanted to know was his objective.
Bo Gang: "You're not old, but quite clever. Of course, I have my goals. As I said, I want to expand my own influence. But, you know, in our old Burma, nothing can be done without money. So, I want you to help me make money, enough money!"
I said, "Aren't you being a bit too ambitious? You want us to help you make money just like that? As the saying goes, 'Harmonious business earns money,' but you come to do business with us at gunpoint. What's the difference between that and robbing us?"
Bo Gang: "Of course, I want to do business with you harmoniously. And I'll deliver the goods right to your doorstep. Where else can you find such a deal?"
I had already guessed some of what he meant by "business." Dealing with our neighbors in Myanmar usually involved two things: jade and drugs. He definitely wasn't talking about jade. He used to be a guerrilla fighter and that was his trade. He could only be talking about drugs.
I said, "Brother Bao is now transitioning into the rough stone business. If you want to supply rough stones, I can help you mention it. Otherwise, forget it; we don't do that."
Bo Gang's expression turned extremely grim. He said coldly, "This is not something you can decide whether to do or not. I said I would deliver the goods to you, and I will. Someone will contact you then! Remember, don't try any tricks with me. As I said, if I can find you, I can find anyone, including your family!"
After he finished speaking, he had his subordinate take out my phone and dial his. He memorized my number and then returned the phone to me, saying, "Keep your phone on 24 hours a day. Someone will contact you. Have cash ready; it will be cash on delivery!" Then he waved his hand. Two men each grabbed an arm and made me leave.
Jing Lei saw me return and anxiously asked, "Did they do anything to you?"
I feigned calmness. "Aren't I alright? It's nothing, let's go back."
I said goodbye to the Ang Kai brothers and got into the car.
In the car, I told Jing Lei, "Check if we're being followed. Take a few detours, then go see Brother Bao."
She nodded and started the car, driving towards the city.
We drove, stopping and starting. We got out at scenic spots and wandered around, repeatedly confirming no one was following us. Back in the car, I called Lan Ya and asked her to arrange a meeting with Brother Bao at the clubhouse.
Actually, they had my phone number, so tailing me now was meaningless. I was just being cautious because they had scared me. Only by confirming we weren't being followed could I truly relax.
Lan Ya said she understood. I told Jing Lei to drive towards the Grand World.
Jing Lei didn't ask why they had sought me out. If I didn't say, she wouldn't ask.
Jing Lei said, "I was just on the phone with a Hong Kong merchant. He said he's interested in this piece of stone. He said there's no need to send photos; he'll come himself."
Earlier, our estimated prices were based on the market rates in Ruili. If this rough stone were in Hong Kong, it would be a different story entirely. After all, Hong Kong was one of the "Asian Tigers" back then, and the prices of luxury goods were outrageously high.
I said, "I'll handle the outside matters. You focus on the business. If you can't manage something, tell me."
Jing Lei nodded. She was naturally gifted in business. At best, I was a speculator; I knew nothing about management.