At nine in the evening, Yang Dong had already arranged a large hotel. He brought Wan Yunting, Niu Qiuling, Meng Hu, Di She, and their group to a private room at the hotel to enjoy local specialty dishes.
“Brother Dong, since we’re in your territory, why don’t you take us out to play?” Wan Yunting said with a smile to Yang Dong, who was sitting to his right, while eating.
Yang Dong picked up his wine glass, clinked it with Wan Yunting’s, took a sip, and said with a smile, “Since you’re here in Ruili, of course, we’ll go gambling on stones!”
“Gambling on stones? That’s something new.”
Wan Yunting smiled. He mainly wanted to find an opportunity to go out and connect with the police’s contact person here!
“After dinner, I’ll take you to the biggest stone gambling market here. Perhaps you’ll have good luck, Brother Wan, and cut an exquisite piece of jade,” Yang Dong said with a smile.
“Alright, then let’s go try our luck,” Wan Yunting said with a smile.
Meng Hu and Di She naturally had no objections. After they finished eating, Yang Dong and Ji Jing, along with Kong Lian, drove Wan Yunting and Niu Qiuling, Meng Hu and Di She, and their group towards Ruili’s Delong Jewelry Street…
In a conference room at the Ruili Police Station, several uniformed police officers were seated.
“Zhicheng, has the informant from Huadu City contacted you?”
The middle-aged man sitting in the office chair was the head of the Ruili Police Station. His name was Lu Zhongnian, and he was also the person in charge of the Chinese police in the joint operation with Thailand and Myanmar to launch a lightning raid against the Golden Triangle for drug eradication!
“Qiuling just sent me a message saying they are on their way to Delong Jewelry Street.”
The speaker was a young man in his late twenties, wearing a leather jacket and casual clothes. He had a sturdy build and handsome features, with a crew cut. He said to Lu Zhongnian, “I’ll go over and connect with them shortly!”
“Yes, this matter is entrusted to you.” Lu Zhongnian nodded. Zhong Zhicheng was considered the most outstanding anti-drug police officer on their side. Moreover, his father was also the head of the anti-drug general team, so their family were all heroes fighting against drug traffickers.
Therefore, Zhong Zhicheng exuded a hint of arrogance. He couldn’t understand and said, “I don’t understand why Huadu City would send someone completely unrelated and have Qiuling cooperate with him as an undercover agent?”
Lu Zhongnian explained, “They are currently investigating information on Leng Shao, the biggest drug lord in Southeast Asia, and at the same time, clearing the drug trafficking routes in Huadu City and investigating the drug transaction fair organized by Peng Ka, as well as information on drug lords from other regions in our country. That’s why they sent an undercover agent to infiltrate!”
Zhong Zhicheng was somewhat disdainful. “We can investigate all of these. Their doing this is just an unnecessary step.”
Lu Zhongnian smiled and said, “Regarding the person named Wan Yunting sent by Huadu City this time, Old Pang said he is very capable and might be able to help us then.”
Zhong Zhicheng sneered disdainfully, “What capability can someone who has served seven years in prison have? At most, he only had connections with those hoodlums in prison.”
“Alright, alright, I know you’re worried about Qiuling!” Lu Zhongnian gave him a glare, knowing that before Niu Qiuling was sent to Huadu City, Zhong Zhicheng had pursued her.
Therefore, Zhong Zhicheng was very displeased when he heard that Niu Qiuling and the person named Wan Yunting were posing as a couple for their undercover mission.
He felt that the Huadu police were just causing trouble for them. Even if undercover agents were needed, finding someone from their own anti-drug police force would make it easier to carry out the mission in the Golden Triangle.
After all, the local police had been dealing with drug traffickers for many years and were familiar with some of the terrain in the Golden Triangle, which was much better than that Wan Yunting, who knew nothing and had been to prison.
“By the way, have you contacted Niu Jinwu?” Lu Zhongnian suddenly asked.
“Not yet.”
Zhong Zhicheng shook his head and said, “The last time he contacted me, he said he might have to cut off contact for ten days. Perhaps he encountered some problems, which is why he hasn’t contacted us!”
Lu Zhongnian nodded and said, “Currently, only Niu Jinwu has infiltrated the Peng Ka drug trafficking group’s forces. So, you need to find a way to contact him as soon as possible to help with our upcoming three-nation joint operation!”
“Understood.”
Zhong Zhicheng nodded and looked at his watch. “Then I’ll head over to Delong Jewelry Street now to connect with Qiuling and the others.”
“Okay, go ahead. Remember to cooperate with them well,” Lu Zhongnian instructed.
“Don’t worry, Director Lu.”
Saying this, Zhong Zhicheng nodded to the others and turned to leave the police station. He drove his car directly towards Delong Jewelry Street.
Delong Jewelry Street was the stone gambling trading market in Ruili. Large and small shops were crowded along several streets. Although it was already eleven o’clock, the area was still brightly lit, and the streets were bustling with activity.
In front of every shop, there were tables filled with all sorts of dazzling stones, some opaque and some with exposed surfaces, of varying sizes, attracting tourists from all over the country, or people involved in the jade business to gamble on stones for fun.
The saying “one cut can lead to poverty, one cut can lead to wealth, one cut can lead to rags!”
This was the classic saying of stone gambling in Ruili, Yunnan. As this saying went, this scene could unfold in every jewelry shop on Delong Jewelry Street.
It was somewhat better for the locals, but for tourists who knew nothing and were deceived, they often saw them being ruined and losing everything.
Gambling on stones was much more thrilling than playing in casinos. If someone who didn’t understand the business became addicted to stone gambling, it was a very terrifying thing.
At this moment, Wan Yunting and Niu Qiuling, Meng Hu and Di She with their five subordinates, were led by Yang Dong, Ji Jing, and Kong Lian to Delong Jewelry Street, walking along the streets lined with jewelry shops on both sides.
It was already past eleven o’clock at night, but it was still crowded and lively. People who were “red-eyed” from gambling were shouting loudly. If it weren’t for the special patrol teams stationed on the streets, those who had lost their minds from gambling would have started fighting with the merchants.
“How is it, Brother Wan? How do you feel about our local stone gambling atmosphere?” Yang Dong asked with a smile, turning back to Wan Yunting.
“This stone gambling looks even more exciting than playing in a casino.”
Wan Yunting’s eyes were shining, and he was rubbing his hands, looking eager. “Brother Dong, quickly take me to play! Let’s see how lucky I am tonight.”
“Alright, I’ll take you to play at the Jade Color Pavilion ahead.”
Yang Dong pointed forward and smiled. “Most of these small shops use schemes to trick tourists who don’t understand. But the stones and jades from Jade Color Pavilion are generally genuine and valuable. However, their prices are higher than other shops, but their opaque stones can yield good results!”
“Haha, we’re not short of money, it’s just for fun. Let’s go!” Wan Yunting said heartily.
Thus, Yang Dong and his group, along with Wan Yunting and Meng Hu and the others, walked thirty to forty steps and finally arrived in front of the entrance of a shop decorated with ancient style pavilions. Looking at its footprint and the triple-wide entrance, with a plaque hanging on the beam inscribed with “Jade Color Pavilion,” it was indeed the most powerful jewelry shop on Delong Jewelry Street.
“This Jade Color Pavilion is operated by our most famous Jade Color Jewelry Group, which is also a top-tier group in the jewelry industry, with financial strength incomparable to ours. Therefore, the jade shops under their umbrella emphasize integrity,” Yang Dong introduced the Jade Color Jewelry Group to Wan Yunting and the others while standing at the shop entrance.
“Alright, Brother Dong, stop with the nonsense. Quickly take us inside to broaden our horizons.”
Wan Yunting waved his hand impatiently and led Niu Qiuling into the shop first. Yang Dong, Meng Hu, and the others smiled and followed them in…