Chapter 33

The two exchanged glances. What the fat man said made sense, and six hundred thousand wasn’t a small amount.

“Alright, but we want cash.”
“No problem lah. I’ll let my client take a look at the goods. When it’s time, you bring the chips, I bring the money, and we’ll trade.”
“Leave a phone number. I’ll send you the meeting place then.”

Lei Yu left her number and a few chips before leaving with Cao Yang.

After they left, Fatty Qi said goodbye to the tall skinny man and drove off.

He went to a company office to meet its boss, showing him the chip.

The boss’s eyes lit up with delight.
“Old Qi, where’d you get this?”
Fatty Qi grinned. “Boss Li, don’t worry about that. Just tell me how much you can pay.”
“How many do you have?”
“Not much, just six thousand.”
“And how much do you want?”
“Not much, one thousand per chip. Six million for the lot.”

Boss Li smiled and shook his head.

“What, you think it’s too expensive? This stuff can’t be produced domestically, and it’s restricted from export to China overseas. It’s hot property. I came to you first because we’re close, you know.”

“Old Qi, it’s not that the price is too high. The problem is the source. This thing is too hot.”

“Boss Li, when has this stuff ever had a clean source? It all comes through Hong Kong and gets smuggled back in.”

“That’s exactly it. A few days ago, the coast guard in Shen City caught two smugglers carrying these chips. One got away. I figure what you’ve got is from that one who escaped.”

“So what? It’s all dirty anyway—who cares who it belonged to!”

Boss Li lit a cigarette, smiling. “Old Qi, you don’t realize how serious this is. I don’t know who the final buyer is, but those smugglers belonged to the Yihe Society. And right now, Yihe is hunting for the one who ran off.”

“You know what the Yihe Society is like. Offend them, and you’re as good as dead. No one can save you.”

At the mention of Yihe, Fatty Qi’s face grew uncertain.

He didn’t want to offend them, but he also didn’t want to give up millions in profit.

“Boss Li, what do you suggest?”
“Yihe is powerful, sure. But if we do this quietly, maybe they won’t find out. Here’s my offer: sell me the goods for two million. I’ll use the rest to pull strings and buy us some peace.”
“Two million? You joking? At least five million!”
Boss Li shook his head. “Two million. Take the profit and be content.”

He didn’t know how much Old Qi had paid for the goods, but he guessed it wasn’t high. A smuggler wouldn’t know the value—probably sold it cheap.

“Boss Li, you’ve got no sincerity.” Fatty Qi stood to leave.

At the door, Boss Li made no move to stop him, just sat there smiling.

“Boss Li, you won’t tip off the Yihe Society, will you?”
“Hahaha, Old Qi, we’ve known each other for years. Just because this deal didn’t work out doesn’t mean I’d betray you.”

Old Qi nodded and left.

Ten seconds later, he popped his big head back through the door.
“Old Qi, still something?” Boss Li was brewing tea.
Fatty Qi smirked. “Just worried that the moment I leave, you’ll start snitching.”
“No, no. I’ve got no dealings with Yihe anyway.”

——

Fatty Qi fell into deep thought. He hadn’t expected Boss Li to reject the deal, much less that the goods were tied to the Yihe Society.

He knew exactly what kind of organization Yihe was—much more powerful than local gangs. Crossing them only meant disaster.

But letting a fortune slip through his fingers was hard to swallow. Millions in profit! If Boss Li wouldn’t buy, surely someone else would.

Now he had two choices:
One, contact Yihe’s Dongguan branch and report the goods, earning favor.
Two, go ahead with the sale, but change tactics—not paying the sixty thousand to those two kids, but having them eliminated instead.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to pay. He feared that if he did, and Yihe caught them later, they’d spill his name and bring trouble.

With that thought, he dialed a number. Soon, a van pulled up, and five or six tattooed men got out.

——

Cao Yang and Lei Yu knew nothing of this. They were in good spirits.

Cao Yang went back to fetch the chips, telling Lei Yu to wait for his message.

But Lei Yu didn’t trust him. It was tens of thousands at stake. What if he ran off with it? So she insisted on going with him.

They returned to the shop. After getting the goods, they didn’t know what to do next.

Fatty Qi had said he’d send the time and place, but nothing came.

Lei Yu sat in the shop, and Li Yan kept glaring at her and tossing sarcastic remarks.

Lei Yu didn’t like Li Yan either. If Cao Yang hadn’t been there, the two women would’ve fought already.

“I’m going home!” Lei Yu finally had enough, telling Cao Yang she was leaving.

“Yeah, get lost! But don’t think you’re taking the goods!” Li Yan pointed at the bag in her hands—the chips.

“These are my brother’s. What’s it to you?”
“Ha! Your brother promised half to my brother. And now you want to take everything? No way!”
“When it’s sold, I’ll give him his share!”

Lei Yu left as she spoke.

Li Yan yanked her back, demanding she leave the chips behind.

The two women started pulling at each other again, about to fight. Cao Yang rushed between them.

“Come on, we’re all on the same side. Stop it!”

Li Yan grabbed his ear. “You idiot! Don’t you have a brain? This stuff is worth a fortune. If she runs off with it, where’s your share?”

Cao Yang glanced at Lei Yu. “Sister Yu isn’t that kind of person.”

“You dumbass!” Li Yan fumed. How could he trust someone he barely knew over money this big? Even relatives couldn’t be trusted with that, and yet he trusted some vixen.

“If she wants to leave, fine. But the goods stay. You can get your share once the money comes in!”

“And what if I insist on taking it?” Lei Yu shot back, glaring. She couldn’t understand why this woman hated her so much—they had just met, yet she was hostile from the start.

Just as the argument heated up, Fatty Qi finally called.

He gave Lei Yu the transaction address, telling them to come quickly, sounding busy and saying he had to head to Hong Kong tomorrow.

Cao Yang finally relaxed, politely said goodbye to Li Yan, and caught a taxi to the meeting place.