It was understandable for Li Mantang and his group to kneel before Yang Jian, as he had rescued their children from abroad, expending significant manpower and money, and facing immense risks where he could have easily lost his life.
However, Yang Jian, along with Feng Wu and San Pang, were baffled as to why these strangers were kneeling.
"Elder, please stand up and speak. I don't know you. Why are you kneeling?"
Yang Jian helped up an elder who looked to be over seventy.
Tears streamed down the old man's face. "Mr. Yang, I am Wan Quan's grandfather. My grandson went out with San Pang, took all the money from home, and then tricked several other relatives' children. His mother was so distraught that she lost her sanity and jumped into the river, dying. His father also fell ill.
I heard you rescued San Pang and came specifically to beg for your help. Can you save my grandson too? Name your price. Let Wan Quan come back and work for you to repay the debt. He emptied our home, and we truly have no money."
Hearing the old man's words, Yang Jian finally understood that these people were all family members of those who had been scammed and taken to northern Myanmar, with San Pang being the source.
"Everyone, please stand up. Tell me your situations. Biao Biao, Feng Wu, prepare paper and pens. Record everything they say."
Yang Jian felt a headache coming on. He had thought that rescuing San Pang and the others would be the end of it, and then he would provide them with some financial compensation, alleviating his guilt.
But he hadn't expected San Pang to have implicated so many people, making them all indirectly connected to him. Thinking about San Pang's experiences in the Wa village, Wan Quan and the others would have suffered even more, and some might have already perished.
These parents were desperate, otherwise, they wouldn't be kneeling before a young man in his early twenties at such an advanced age.
Feng Wu immediately instructed the security guards to escort them to the office for questioning and registration.
Yang Jian, along with Lu Yao who had just arrived, helped Wan Quan's grandfather into the office and arranged a sofa chair for him.
"Jian Ge, what's going on? Why is such an elderly person kneeling before you?"
Lu Yao had just arrived for her school break. Before she even got out of the car, she saw the elder kneeling.
"They are all family members of children who were scammed and taken to northern Myanmar. They heard that San Pang was rescued by me and have come to beg me to save their children."
Yang Jian helplessly recounted the story of rescuing San Pang. He had been staying in Yang Li Village since his return, preparing for the establishment of the Li Jian Group with Jiang Bin, so he hadn't communicated much with Lu Yao.
"How could this be so tragic? Jian Ge, do you have a chance of rescuing them?"
Kind-hearted Lu Yao, although she had always been against Yang Jian going to northern Myanmar, felt anxious for Wan Quan and the others upon hearing their tragic experiences.
Yang Jian gave a wry smile. "How can I be sure? I've heard that hundreds of thousands of people have been scammed and taken to northern Myanmar. They are controlled by various factions and scam companies. How easy is it to find these few individuals?
Even if we find them, it will be very difficult to rescue them. These people have been resold countless times. To redeem them, not only will it cost a lot of money, but the scam companies must also be willing to let them go."
"Is there no hope at all? If they can't be rescued, will they stay in that place forever?"
"It's not entirely without hope. Brother Fan has already apprehended that horse gang leader. We can start tracing Wan Quan's whereabouts through him, and then perhaps use military connections to follow the trail and find a few. But to find everyone, I truly have no confidence."
"Let's save whoever we can. Since you're investing there, it's not like you can withdraw in a year or two."
"You don't object to me going there anymore?"
Lu Yao pouted. "If I object, will you not go? Besides, Yang Fan and the others have roped you in; you can't refuse. It's a good opportunity to use the paper mill platform to rescue as many people like Wan Quan as possible."
"Yaoyao, thank you for your understanding."
"What else can I do if I don't understand? It's just that it's too chaotic over there, and I'm worried about your safety."
"It's alright. I'm investing there through legitimate channels and am protected by the local military. On the underworld side, I have Brother Fan. My safety there won't be an issue. Moreover, Brother Fan will be operating the paper mill, so I don't need to stay there long-term. Visiting twice a year will suffice."
Hearing this, Lu Yao felt much more at ease. She wished Yang Jian would stay home with her, but a man ultimately had to build a career outside.
After Feng Wu and the others finished their registration, it turned out that eighteen people had been scammed, including seven girls and eleven boys, all under the age of thirty.
"Mr. Yang, we beg you. My daughter is only nineteen. She's our only child. If anything happens to her, my wife and I won't be able to live."
"Mr. Yang, my son just got married not long ago. His wife is pregnant and due soon. If he doesn't come back, his wife and child might not make it. Please, you must bring him back."
"Please, Mr. Yang, my daughter graduated from college and was preparing for the civil service examination, but she was also scammed and taken there. If she doesn't return, her life will be ruined."
After the registration, the parents gathered around Yang Jian again, pouring out their woes.
Lu Yao couldn't bear to hear such tragic stories and was on the verge of tears.
Yang Jian had no choice but to make a statement at this point; otherwise, the parents wouldn't leave easily.
"Dear uncles and aunts, please don't worry. I have already prepared to invest and set up a factory in northern Myanmar. The contract has been signed, and the investment funds have been transferred. Therefore, I have ample time and convenient conditions to search for your children's whereabouts.
However, this task is not easy. Northern Myanmar is vast, and tens of thousands of people have been scammed and taken there. It's not easy to find them among such a large number.
Furthermore, the scam companies there are protected by the local government. Even if we find them, it will require a significant price.
Therefore, you must give me time. As long as my investment there remains, I will continue searching for them, striving to bring them all back without leaving anyone behind."
Yang Jian dared not promise how long it would take to find the people, to avoid raising their hopes too high only to be met with greater disappointment, as some children might have already passed away.
A middle-aged man took out ten thousand yuan. "Mr. Yang, finding people abroad costs money. This is my wages from the last job. I'm giving it all to you. If it's not enough, I'll continue working next year, and all my earnings will be yours. Please, you must find my son. I beg you."
Yang Jian pushed the money back. "Uncle, to be honest, finding them will indeed require a substantial amount of money. This is because they are repeatedly resold in northern Myanmar, and the price doubles with each resale. After I find them, I will have to pay a large sum to redeem each of them.
This amount will be at least two to three hundred thousand yuan or more, which you cannot afford. Your ten or twenty thousand yuan won't solve the problem either. Your children were scammed and taken to northern Myanmar, likely draining all your savings. Therefore, I don't intend to take your money.
I will cover these expenses. If your children become successful after returning, then remember to repay me."
As soon as he said this, the parents started to kneel again, but thankfully, there were many security guards present who stopped them.