Detective: From the Police Academy

Chapter 549 The couple, of one mind!

Ho Tung's timber mill is 30 kilometers from Valais and 50 kilometers from Myawaddy.

He was the only force in the surrounding area. This region was mountainous and densely forested, and a small number of ethnic minorities from Myanmar lived nearby.

Myanmar has one of the most complex ethnic structures in the world, with more than 100 officially recognized ethnic groups, mainly distributed in high-altitude and conflict-prone areas.

The core ethnic minorities can be categorized into several groups, including the Karen, Shan, Rakhine, and Kachin.

The Rohingya people lived around the forests surrounding the timber mill. This ethnic group suffered terrible atrocities and their living conditions were very difficult.

This ethnic group was stripped of their citizenship and became the world's largest stateless group.

He Dong's timber mill was able to hire them and provide them with a livelihood, and these people were very grateful to He Dong.

However, Ho Tung could only hire a small number of Rohingya people, after all, he couldn't afford to break ties with other ethnic groups.

Due to various reasons, including the supporters of various armed groups, the situation in Myanmar is very complex, and the armed conflict has not been able to be quelled, nor has complete peace been achieved.

Armed personnel patrol the area around the lumber mill at all times, on guard against any armed forces that might try to take advantage of it.

He Dong's timber mill belongs to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Of course, people from DKBA and KNU also participate in the timber mill's business, but they all hold shares in the name of a certain leader.

At this moment, Luo Rui and his group were gathered around the campfire, eating mutton. He Dong said, "The biggest armed leader of DKBA here is a guardian general named Kundu. He has more than 300 armed men under his command."

He controls the roads surrounding the lumber mill and also has law enforcement power in Valais, making him essentially the local tyrant.

Kun had clashed with drug kingpin Hao Fan before and had always wanted to take him down, but he never had the chance.

Furthermore, Kundu also has shares in our timber factory, and we give him dividends every year, which can be considered a protection fee.

Fang Yonghui gnawed on a roasted lamb leg, took a sip of his ice-cold drink, and asked, "Is the timber business really that profitable?"

A Chinese man sitting next to He Dong nodded. His name was Qiu Wenhe. He was only a little over 1.6 meters tall, but he was very agile. He was He Dong's deputy and the number two person in the lumber mill.

"It's very profitable. Myanmar mainly produces hardwoods, and it's also a major area for illegal logging. Of course, it can't compare to mining."

We mainly harvest teak, rosewood, black rosewood, and golden teak. Not only us, but KNU and DKBA also have their own logging operations, and most of this timber is exported to our country.

Luo Rui nodded, took a sip of his ice-cold beer, and looked at the Rohingya people standing in the distance. They were sitting on logs, eating their meals.

The food was good, with meat, rice, and ice-cold beer, which shows that He Dong really treated them well.

Moreover, Luo Rui did not see He Dong using child labor. Of course there were children, but they were just helping out around the lumber mill and did not do heavy physical labor.

These children all knew some Chinese. When asked, it turned out that the old accountant from the lumber mill had taught them.

The old accountant, Jiang Zhongjun, was also from Sichuan Province. He sat opposite Luo Rui. He was in his seventies and was the only one sitting in the recliner, slowly fanning his face with a palm-leaf fan.

The campfire flickered in his eyes, which were fixed slightly on Luo Rui.

Luo Rui nodded to him, and the old man nodded slightly.

Jiang Feng asked, "How many people are there here?"

He Dong replied, "Including us Chinese, there are more than two hundred people in total."

Fang Yonghui gave a thumbs up: "Awesome! If they were all armed, Boss He could become a mountain king."

He Dong shook his head: "I would like to, but the conditions don't allow it, and my dad doesn't agree either. So each of us Chinese is equipped with a rifle and a pistol. The rocket launcher we used to take down the DKBA today was something you secretly got for me."

"That's the fighting strength of a platoon?"

Qiu Wenhe nodded: "Yes, mainly to guard against bandits in the surrounding mountains."

Jiang Feng asked, "What about DKBA? What if they attack?"

He Dong shook his head: "I just said that we give Kun a share of the profits every year, so he won't send it."

"What if they change people? What if Kun steps down, or dies, and someone else comes in? What then?"

"Then just pay again. It doesn't matter who comes; nobody's going to turn down money."

"No." Luo Rui put down his beer can and said, "You saved us, aren't you afraid they'll attack?"

“You need to see who we killed. Today we killed Khun Du’s mortal enemy. Although Khun Du is the Great Protector General, there is another man named Jaba on the DKBA side. This man is the actual controller of the first half of the road from Valai to Myawaddy. He has always been ambitious and is at odds with Khun Du. Today we killed one of his men.”

"Then aren't you afraid of Jabba?"

He Dong spread his hands: "As long as Jaba is afraid of Kundu, I am not afraid of him. Anyway, it's hard to explain in a short time. This exclave in northern Myanmar is too complicated."

But don't worry, you're absolutely safe here with me. My dad will notify me in advance of any disturbances. Even if someone breaks in from the outside, the Rohingya people living outside the mountains will warn us.

Luo Rui nodded: "Thank you, I'm sorry to bother you."

He Dong threw the lamb bone he had finished eating on the ground, and two German Shepherds immediately ran over, biting their tails and carrying the bone away.

He Dong laughed and said, "These are my two dogs. They're very fierce; they've killed people before."

Fang Yonghui looked at them and said slowly, "This reminds me of the small herdsmen in Shahe County."

Luo Rui smiled and asked, "How is Xiao Mu?"

“I visited it last Spring Festival. It was Director Li Nong who took me there. They ate better food than I did every day. Xiao Mu is almost retired and getting old.”

Luo Rui nodded and looked at He Dong: "Do you have a satellite phone? Can I borrow it?"

“Yes, I’ll take you there.” He Dong wiped his hands with a towel and stood up.

The lumber mill was filled with wooden huts that weren't waxed, so the wooden walls were severely damaged by insects.

The Chinese and Rohingya people live separately, with a three-meter-high barbed wire fence erected on the slope.

The Chinese occupied the high ground, which overlooked the entire lumber mill. This made management easier, allowed for a quick response in case of danger, and provided a barrier against barbed wire.

Undoubtedly, He Dong and his team did a very good job in terms of security.

But He Dong has a carefree personality, and his deputy Qiu Wenhe is somewhat sinister; neither of them are the kind of people who can plan for the big picture.

It was obvious that the person who actually managed the timber mill was the old accountant, Jiang Zhongjun.

He manages all the financial matters of the timber mill, including its accounts and cash flow. If he is not the owner, then who is?

Luo Rui didn't know much about this person, so taking advantage of the opportunity to be alone with He Dong, he asked, "Uncle Jiang, is this person rather introverted?"

He Dong wasn't completely stupid; he could understand what Luo Rui meant.

He shrugged: "He's just an old-fashioned guy. My dad put him in charge of me. He's a distant relative of the He family in Sichuan Province. He was here before my dad put me in charge of this place. Ever since we started this timber factory, he's been in charge of the money. If I want to use money, I have to ask him for it."

"You have to listen to the experience of the older generation, or you'll suffer the consequences."

He Dong nodded: "My dad said the same thing."

Arriving at He Dong's residence, he pushed open the door and asked, "By the way, Mr. Luo, I'll say it again: if you need any help, just let me know. Don't be shy. I really want to be your friend."

“Okay, I’ll consider it.” Luo Rui nodded. A moment later, Luo Rui used He Dong’s satellite phone to dial Mo Wanqiu’s number.

As soon as the call connected, an impatient voice came through: "Whose side is it this time? The government army? KNU? Or DKBA? I've told you so many times, money isn't so easy to get. Bring the person back to me safely. Five hundred million US dollars, not a penny less. If you can't bring the person back, or if there's no news, get the hell out of here!"

Luo Rui sighed and said, "Wanqiu, it's me."

Then, there was silence on the other end of the phone.

The long silence made Luo Rui's heart pound.

"You...you still know to call back?"

Luo Rui licked his lips and said with a wry smile, "Our satellite phone was lost on NH85 highway, so we haven't been able to contact you."

"Where are you now?"

“The timber mill on the outskirts of Valais, near the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.”

Mo Wanqiu was startled: "How did you get so far? There were so many checkpoints along the way, how did you get past them?"

"It's a long story, please listen to me..."

"Then stop talking!" Mo Wanqiu immediately interrupted him: "Tell me the coordinates, and I'll send someone to pick you up."

"No, I don't plan to go back now..."

Mo Wanqiu fell silent, then let out a roar: "Luo Rui, you motherfucker, do you think you're something special? I haven't slept for several nights in my search for you, and I've spent a fortune on you. Do you know how I've been these past few days?"

Luo Rui gritted his teeth: "I'm sorry, but I have to complete the task assigned to me by the Party and the people."

He had intended to say something witty, hoping to appease Mo Wanqiu, but instead he was met with endless anger.

"Get out! I don't want to see you again! I'm remarrying! I'll have my lawyer come over in an armed helicopter right now. You sign the divorce papers, the daughter is mine, all the property is mine, and you get out of here, get as far away as you can!"

Luo Rui sighed helplessly and said very solemnly, "Wife, I am a policeman. We agreed that this would be the last time. After completing this final mission, I will come back and resign, absolutely."

Mo Wanqiu had never heard him call her that before, and her anger immediately subsided.

She remained silent for a long time before finally asking, "Then tell me, how can I help you?"

Luo Rui raised an eyebrow; this hurdle was finally over.

Early the next morning.

Luo Rui woke up from his bed in the cabin. He hadn't had a good night's sleep in the last ten days or so.

Fang Yonghui and Jiang Feng were the same; the two slept in the same room, snoring loudly. One would wake me up, and the other would wake the other up a little while later.

They didn't go out to wash up until 10 a.m.

This forest is high and dense, stretching as far as the eye can see. Even in the subtropical climate, it feels very humid and hot.

The sentry post was located diagonally below the row of wooden houses, at the same height as the houses. Fang Yonghui and Jiang Feng looked at the two armed men inside the sentry post.

They were all Chinese, with binoculars around their necks and long guns slung across their shoulders.

Upon seeing Fang Yonghui and his companion's gaze, the two Chinese men smiled. They felt a mix of trepidation and warmth towards their compatriots, especially since they were so close to home.

One of the young Chinese men asked loudly, "I saw you yesterday, where are you from?"

“Yangon,” Fang Yonghui replied.

"No, I'm asking where your hometown is?"

Fang Yonghui said, "Shahe County, Linjiang City, Haidong Province."

A young Chinese man asked, "I'm from Qin Province. Have you ever been to Qin Province?"

"I've been there a few times."

"Is it fun?"

"It's quite fun. It's an ancient capital of six dynasties, so there are many historical sites."

The young Chinese man said to his companion, "Look, everyone says our Shaanxi province is good, but you from Sichuan province always disagree with me."

"Don't talk nonsense and delay my patrol," the young man from Sichuan Province said with a laugh.

The young man from Qin Province waved to Fang Yonghui and shouted, "My name is Zhang Bing. Welcome! I'll have a drink with you when I change shifts."

Fang Yonghui nodded: "My name is Chu Yang, I'll be waiting for you."

"Okay."

Jiang Feng glanced at Fang Yonghui and frowned, saying, "Have you no shame? He genuinely wanted to be your friend, why did you lie to him? It really proves the old saying that Chinese people only lie to other Chinese people."

Fang Yonghui chuckled and said, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Besides, we're on a mission, so we can't reveal our identities too much."

"'Chu Yang'—I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before. Did you make it up?"

"Yes, there is no such person. I made that up."

Fang Yonghui said somewhat guiltily, as they passed He Dong's wooden house, the door was suddenly pushed open, and a pale face appeared before them.

This startled Fang Yonghui and Jiang Feng. He Dong, with a face mask on, blinked and greeted them: "Good morning, let's go downstairs for breakfast in a bit."

Fang Yonghui asked, "No, applying a face mask so early in the morning? Does it even work?"

"Yes, I use it once in the morning and once at night. It makes me feel very energetic. I still have some in my room. Do you want to try it?"

Fang Yonghui quickly shook his head. No wonder this guy's face is so tender. Anyone would be startled if they saw a chimpanzee with a face mask on its face.

"By the way, where is our CEO, Mr. Luo?"

He Dongxian raised his chin as he looked down at the timber factory below: "He's wandering around down there, next to the Rohingya's dormitories."

Where did he go?

"See for yourself."

Fang Yonghui and Jiang Feng walked a few steps forward, around the corner of the factory buildings below, and saw Luo Rui playing football with a group of Rohingya children in an open space below.

These children have dark skin, but are dressed very cleanly, with bright eyes, and are kicking a soccer ball barefoot around them.

Luo Rui didn't look down on them. In order to be like them, he even took off his shoes, which was a manifestation of equality and immediately drew applause and cheers from the adults watching.

Jiang Feng frowned: "President Luo, you wouldn't be thinking of developing the Rohingya into an armed force, would you?"

Fang Yonghui nodded: "It's hard to say. After all, Mr. Mo is so rich, more than Myanmar's annual GDP. He has guns and men, so it's not impossible. We have this tradition."

Upon hearing this, He Dong ripped off his face mask and exclaimed excitedly, "If that's really the case, that would be so exciting! The largest Chinese armed group in Myanmar, awesome!"

(End of this chapter)