After walking for about two to three minutes, the outline of the airport finally appeared ahead. The car behind did not accelerate further to catch up.
Presumably, they knew it wouldn't be easy to make a move at the airport and voluntarily gave up.
The car stopped at the entrance of the departure hall. We got out and thanked the driver again, telling him to be careful on his way back. The driver said he would take a small road back and not the original route.
We then waved goodbye to him.
We arrived at Zhongmian Street at 5:30 in the afternoon.
I asked Wen Siqiang to wait in the car, saying I would call him if there were any special circumstances.
It would be much more convenient if I bought Wen Siqiang a mobile phone.
When I entered the house, Bo Gang was still sitting in his usual spot. He was wearing traditional Burmese attire and a headscarf, his bulky frame filling the rattan chair.
Looking at him like this, he hardly seemed like a killer, but rather an old man from a foreign land.
Unfortunately, he was not an ordinary foreign elder; his mind was filled with murder, robbery, money, and profit.
He looked up at me and said, "That bastard Kang Gong is incredibly well-connected. We've all been set up. He donated so much and became a hero of Myanmar overnight, while we ended up neither here nor there, burdened with the notoriety of incompetence. Now they've stripped me of my military authority, leaving me as just an advisor to a government department. Damn it, if I start a guerrilla war and shake the heavens, let's see if they still ignore me!"
Bo Gang was indeed a man of the masses, solving problems impulsively without thinking. Although we were using him this time, if he had handled it well, the benefits he could have reaped would have lasted a lifetime. How did he mess it up like this?
I looked at him and asked, "What are your plans?"
Bo Gang replied, "What plans do I have? We need to start our business quickly. I need a large sum of money to assemble an army, and you have to provide it!"
What kind of logic is this? He forms an army, and I have to provide for him. This is naked bandit logic.
I said, "Now that Kang Gong is back, will he let me off? He's watching my every move. If we get involved in this now, it's a dead end!"
Bo Gang retorted, "This is all I have. Am I supposed to let it rot instead of cashing in? I don't care. Find a way to get rid of it, or you won't get to keep your life, nor the lives of your wives and concubines."
This is extortion, and he always brings them up. They are my weakness, my Achilles' heel, hitting the mark every time.
I said, "It's not easy anyway. I'll give you a suggestion. The raw stone business here is very good now, and there's a huge demand for finished products domestically. As long as you can get the raw stones, I'll help you sell as many as you have, even for free, without taking a penny.
Bo Gang scoffed, "Raw stones? Where am I supposed to find raw stones? Unless I steal them!"
Raw stones are a business, a trade that requires investment. Yet, he directly suggests stealing.
I gave a bitter smile. Dealing with this kind of person, there's no reasoning to be had.
Bo Gang continued, "I need to go back. You hurry up with what I asked. Someone will contact you in the next couple of days!"
I replied, "You also need to consider what I said. You're there, you must have channels to get the stones. As long as the quality is good, this money is not a problem. Why take the path of a bandit when you have a clear road ahead?"
He said, "I'll think about it. In any case, help me make money as soon as possible!"
With that, he got up, and I quickly took my leave. Dealing with such a person is like adding blood to the tip of a blade; the sooner I leave, the better.
I went out and got into the car, telling Wen Siqiang, "Back to the Grand World."
Wen Siqiang didn't say a word and started driving.
Sitting in the car, I felt troubled. The Crown Prince's situation hasn't been resolved yet. His father's release could have alleviated some of Bo Gang's pressure, but now it's just escalated, making it suffocating.
I need to find a breakthrough to break this chain of predicaments, otherwise, the three of them will be like a winch, slowly strangling me to death.
When I returned to my office, Lan Ya asked, "Not going well? You look so serious."
I replied, "Yes. Bo Gang has drugs, and he needs us to launder them, or he'll threaten my family! I suggested he supply us with raw stones, which would be mutually beneficial and legal. Guess what he said? He said he doesn't have raw stones, unless he steals them! Raw stones are a business, acquired through trade, and he wants to get them by force!"
Lan Ya remarked, "This Bo Gang is ultimately a menace. We should discuss it with Brother Bao. It's best to eliminate him, otherwise, he'll drive us to a dead end."
I agreed, "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 Bao, asking him to come over to discuss how to get rid of Bo Gang.
Just then, Wen Siqiang came in and said that all the people we recruited for training had arrived and asked if we should start.
I told Lan Ya that I would go to the training class first and would talk to Brother Bao when he arrived.
We had selected thirty people in total, primarily for security and service, divided into two teams. Two private rooms were cleared for their training.
They gathered in one room waiting for me, and would be separated for classes later.
I went to talk to them about the precautions for the new company's opening and the rules for receiving guests. I saw Xiao Hong among the service staff; she was in charge of this group.
A team leader was also chosen for the security team, an old employee from the Grand World named San Zi. He was tall and broad-shouldered, dark-skinned, and knew some martial arts.
I instructed them to split into two groups, with one group moving to another room.
The remaining security team members would have a simpler training. A mat was placed in the middle of the room, and they would pair up for sparring. Those eliminated would wait, and the winners would advance to the next round.
Those eliminated in the first round would be subject to intensive training by the team leader for ten days. After ten days, a second competition would be held, and the bottom five would be eliminated.
Elimination did not mean dismissal; they would only be assigned to ordinary positions, with the winning candidates taking over the important roles.
The female staff would primarily undergo etiquette and Mandarin training. I specifically found an etiquette teacher from the training company to instruct them.
At this moment, my phone rang. Lan Ya said Brother Bao had arrived at the office.
I hurried over to meet Brother Bao.
Brother Bao had likely been briefed by Lan Ya on the situation, and his expression was as grave as mine. He must also have felt the seriousness of the matter; this Bo Gang was putting immense pressure on us.
Brother Bao stated, "We will meet with Qing Ge tomorrow to discuss Bo Gang in detail. If we want to deal with him, we must first find his stronghold. I heard from Qing Ge that he hasn't returned to that waterfront villa in Yangon since the last confrontation. He likely has a base of operations on the border. Qing Ge has already arranged for informants to scout his activity locations there. Once we figure it out, we should eradicate him completely! Unlike Kang Gong, who couldn't be killed, creating another enemy. If we can't kill Bo Gang in one go, we will be the ones to die."
I nodded. Yes, if we can't kill him in one go, our lives would be on a countdown.
Bo Gang came from a guerrilla background and had experience in jungle warfare. The mountainous terrain of Myanmar is rugged, with difficult terrain and poor transportation. He can defend when retreating and attack when advancing, which is very disadvantageous for us. To fight him, we must exert a hundredfold effort; we can only win, never lose!