The floating restaurant served an array of traditional Burmese dishes and Indian-style curries. The flavors, however, didn't quite suit my palate, so I barely touched the food. In stark contrast, Wang Gui and Zhao Kui devoured their meals like ravenous wolves, leaving nothing behind.
After the meal, we prepared to leave. This private gambling event had been organized by Myanmar's so-called "Jade King." Yet, to my disappointment, I never caught a glimpse of this elusive figure. He remained secluded in his exclusive circle, mingling with the wealthy elite. Meanwhile, people like Boss Wei and I were confined to the banquet hall, betting on jade stones without the privilege of entering their rarified world.
What does it mean to possess a fortune in the billions?
I couldn't fathom it. Even earning ten million feels like scaling an unscalable mountain—let alone billions. Still, jade gambling is inherently unpredictable. Who knows? Perhaps one day, I might chance upon a rough stone that reveals a fortune worth billions. But such a dream feels too distant, too ephemeral for me to dare dwell on.
We left the floating restaurant and took a leisurely stroll along the riverside instead of heading off immediately. The scenery around Inya Lake was utterly captivating. This area, known for its uninterrupted power supply, was dotted with opulent mansions, marking it as a haven for the city's elite.
After a while, Kun Sang announced his intention to return to Muse to prepare funds by selling off his warehouse inventory. He aimed to make a decisive play at the upcoming public auction. With that, he departed, leaving Boss Wei to drive me back to Chinatown. Before parting, Wei asked when I planned to return. I told him that this was my first proper trip abroad, so I intended to stay a little longer to explore.
Boss Wei nodded in understanding and assured me that I could let him know when I was ready to leave, and we would fly back together.
As his car disappeared into the distance, I made my way into the lively streets of Yangon's Chinatown. The night was vibrant, teeming with vendors and traders of diverse backgrounds—Pakistanis, Indians, and Chinese—all busily plying their trades. The streets thronged with people moving ceaselessly. I observed with amusement how most cyclists were Indians, Chinese dominated the restaurant scene, and Pakistanis ran the retail shops. The unique cultural dynamic was intriguing.
Returning to the barbecue stall, I found Qian Lao Wu clutching a knife, embroiled in a heated argument with an Indian man flanked by a dozen companions. Each held some kind of makeshift weapon. Though I couldn't grasp the specifics of their quarrel, I stepped forward to intervene. Zhao Kui emerged from the house, handing steel rods to Wang Gui.
Confronted by our readiness to escalate, the Indians muttered a few parting insults before retreating.
Once they were gone, I asked, "What happened?"
Qian Lao Wu, still fuming, replied, "Those bastards claimed my barbecue smoke was bothering them and demanded I pack up my stall. I'll smoke them out first, the damn fools!"
I glanced at the barbecue stall and then at the nearby buildings. There was no way the smoke could have reached them—it was clear they were just looking for trouble.
Inside, I said, "I'm hungry. Fix me a skewer."
Qian Lao Wu nodded and instructed one of his men to prepare the food. We sat down, and he handed me a beer, grumbling, "They scared off all my customers…"
I chuckled and said, "Back in Ruili, you lived in luxury, but here you're grilling barbecue. Is it worth it?"
He took a swig of his beer and shrugged. "Worth it or not, it's just a front. I need to gather a crew and build my influence. A barbecue stall attracts no suspicion. I'd planned to open a nightclub, but I didn't have the funds. Damn it, land prices in Yangon are higher than in Beijing—over a million per square meter! With only seven million, all I could afford was a small self-built house here in Chinatown. So, how much did you win this time?"
I took a sip of beer and grabbed a skewer. One bite revealed the strong curry flavor, and I tossed it aside, annoyed. "Around seven million for me. Boss Wei's group, though, made over a hundred million."
Qian Lao Wu stared at me in disbelief. "What the hell? How come you made so little while they raked in so much?"
"I lacked the capital," I replied bitterly. "All I could do was watch."
A sour mix of frustration and resentment churned within me. Without sufficient funds, I was helpless to do more than spectate. But next time, I vowed, I'd pool every last resource with Qian Guang and take a bold risk at the auction.
At that moment, Xiao Mi came downstairs, her attire neatly arranged, and her phone in hand. "Qian Guang called, asking about you. What should I tell him?"
I exchanged glances with Xiao Mi and then with Qian Lao Wu. Taking another swig of beer, I said, "Tell him the truth."
Xiao Mi frowned slightly, then began typing a message. A few moments later, she sat beside me and said, "Old Wu has arrived in Myanmar. It seems he's cut off from Qian Guang's influence now. This could be an opportunity to develop our own power."
I looked at her. "How do we develop it?"
"Guns," she replied simply.
I furrowed my brow. I knew that Qian Lao Wu had previously attempted to purchase weapons, but Qian Guang had prevented him from doing so. Now, it seemed as if the stakes were higher.
I turned my gaze to Qian Lao Wu, uncertain. He wasn't someone I could fully trust, but neither could I rely on Qian Guang anymore. Xiao Mi, on the other hand, was driven by a thirst for revenge, and that alone made her unpredictable.
"Zhao Fei, you promised me a house," Xiao Mi said abruptly, her gaze sharp as she looked at me. "I don't want the house anymore. Just give me the money."
I took a long drink from my beer, feeling the cool bitterness slide down my throat. I glanced at Qian Lao Wu, then replied, "What's your plan?"
"First, we get a batch of weapons, establish a foothold here, and then we'll start doing business," Qian Lao Wu said, his voice low and steady.
"What kind of business?" I asked.
He frowned. "I haven't figured that part out yet…"
I couldn't help but laugh. "You don't have a solid plan, and yet you want to start something big? You're going to get yourself killed. You can't even handle a bunch of Indians properly."
Qian Lao Wu's temper flared. "Are you going to help me or not? Those Indian assholes don't scare me. I'm in this to build something substantial."
Xiao Mi tugged at my sleeve, her voice urgent. "Zhao Fei, you promised me. You said you'd keep me alive. You promised me you'd help me. Now's the time to fulfill that promise."
I looked at her, the desperation in her eyes clear. I swallowed hard, feeling a knot in my stomach. Then, I took another swig of beer, wiped my mouth, and said, "How much do you need?"
Qian Lao Wu immediately grinned. "I've talked to a Russian. They have the goods—Russian-made weapons. I need thirty assault rifles, ten handguns. The total is five million."
I narrowed my eyes, a surge of unease rising within me. I picked up my phone and dialed Boss Wei.
"Zhao Fei, my brother! What's up?" Boss Wei's voice was light and cheerful, but I could hear the faint sound of water running and women's laughter in the background.
I clenched my jaw, irritation creeping in. Damn it, he was in a luxury neighborhood, enjoying himself, while I was stuck in this rundown place surrounded by flies and vendors. He owes me a lot, but I can barely get a response when I need something.
I forced a smile. "Wei Lao, can you transfer my fourteen million over? I'm broke at the moment…"
"Zhao Fei, you're in Yangon, don't worry about money. You're on vacation, right? You don't need to spend much. I'm a little busy right now."
In the background, the laughter grew louder, and I could hear the faint sound of a woman calling his name. It was clear what was on his mind. My patience snapped.
I smiled through gritted teeth. "Wei Lao, I want to enjoy myself too. I came here with a woman, and if I don't spend some money, I'll have to buy her a gift. You can't just have fun while leaving me in the lurch, can you? Besides, I just want my own money back. It'll only take a few minutes, so could you make time for that?"
The sound of impatient voices in the background grew louder. I clenched my fist. The gall of this guy. He can't even spare a minute for me.
Wei Lao's voice grew more irritable. "Fine, fine. I'll transfer it. Just wait a bit."
The line went dead. I stared at the phone in my hand, letting out a weary laugh. Xiao Mi glanced at me, her expression unreadable.
"See? This is people for you," she said, shaking her head. "When you're making money for them, they treat you like a king. But when you need something, they can't be bothered. Trusting others is never as reliable as trusting yourself."
I raised my beer bottle, drained it in one go, and then set it down with a thud. Wang Gui grabbed my arm. "Fei Ge, it's not worth getting upset over other people."
I looked at the empty bottle and then back at Xiao Mi. I gritted my teeth. Before, Boss Wei had been all smiles when I helped him win, but now, when I asked for my own money, he acts like it's a huge inconvenience. This kind of behavior—it really stings.
Qian Lao Wu broke the silence. "You always give those stones to Wei Lao to sell, right? Why don't you sell them yourself?"
I frowned, tapping my fingers on the table. Wang Gui, who understood my meaning, immediately lit a cigarette for me. I took a deep drag, the smoke stinging my lungs. "He's a businessman. He knows how to deal with these things. We don't. We don't run a jade store. Plus, we need the funds fast. That's why we give it to him. He handles things quickly, and we get cash to gamble again."
Qian Lao Wu grunted. "Then why not just open a jade store? I'll stick to the jade business right here."
I chuckled softly, but didn't respond. I was still waiting for the money to come through. Checking my phone, I saw that there was no transfer yet.
"Once the money arrives tomorrow, I'll handle it," I said, feeling a mix of exhaustion and frustration. "I'm tired now."
I stood up and walked upstairs, into my room. I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. My phone buzzed, but there was still no transfer. I smiled bitterly. It seemed like I'd have to wait until he was done with his women before he'd remember me.
It stung, but I couldn't change anything.
At that moment, the door opened, and Xiao Mi walked in, her face illuminated by the dim light. She sat beside the bed and looked at me thoughtfully. "Don't blame others for looking down on you," she said softly. "If you want people to take you seriously, you first have to build up enough strength. Only then will they always center their attention on you, no matter the time."
I turned to face her, pulling her into my arms. I knew she was right. I felt lost, disappointed, and bitter. The gap between what was promised and the reality was crushing me. People who had been so eager to flatter me before, now barely acknowledged my existence.
Xiao Mi ran her fingers through my hair. "We will succeed," she murmured.
I closed my eyes and nodded. Yes, we will. When the time comes, I'll make everyone revolve around me.