Hong Kong Film: Short mules have no future, I am in charge of Hong Kong

Chapter 349 Until the matter of the goods is thoroughly investigated, no one will have an easy time!

The next morning, the Saigon Jade Festival was bustling with activity. The streets and alleys of the South Market were packed with people, the shouts of vendors, the haggling and arguments mingling together, the air thick with the smell of sweat and the crisp sound of jade being struck. Su Hanze, dressed in a gray short-sleeved shirt and a straw hat, his face smeared with ash, looked every bit like a traveling jade dealer. He sat behind his stall, a few pieces of low-grade jade laid out in front of him, a string of yellow jade beads in his hand, which he slowly turned around, his gaze occasionally sweeping towards Boss Chen's stall not far away.

Mr. Chen's stall was in the center of the market, under a large awning. Seven or eight burly men in black stood around it, each with bulging pockets. Mr. Chen himself sat inside the awning, a cup of tea in his hand, chatting with several buyers with a smile. On the table were several cut pieces of jade, dazzlingly green. Su Hanze narrowed his eyes, noticing several wooden crates in the corner of the awning, identical to those at the Hong Kong Island pier.

Old Liang mingled in the crowd, pretending to be a buyer looking at jade, and whispered to Su Hanze, "Master Su, the box is over there, it's probably the goods. There's a foreigner with Boss Chen, he looks like Smith from last night."

Su Hanze nodded, his gaze fixed on the foreigners in the stall. Smith, dressed in a white suit and wearing a wide-brimmed hat, was speaking quietly to Boss Chen, his eyes occasionally sweeping across the market. Su Hanze lowered his straw hat and whispered, "Old Liang, keep an eye on him, don't let him get away."

Old Liang responded and mingled back into the crowd. Su Hanze picked up a piece of jade and pretended to haggle with a buyer next to him, but his eyes never left Boss Chen's stall. After a while, a fat man in a gray Tang suit came over, holding a folding fan, and approached Su Hanze's stall with a smile: "Boss, how much is this piece of jade?"

Su Hanze looked up and saw it was Ahua. He lowered his voice: "Stop talking nonsense, what are you eyeing?"

Ahua fanned himself with a folding fan and said in a low voice, "Boss Chen just told Smith that the goods will be delivered out of the city tonight, to the lower reaches of the Mekong River, where someone will take over."

"Downstream?" Su Hanze's finger paused on the yellow jade bead. "Who will take over?"

“I didn’t hear clearly.” Ahua shook his head. “However, Smith mentioned a name, something like ‘Mr. Li’.”

“Mr. Li?” Su Hanze narrowed his eyes, his mind racing. In Saigon’s jade trade, there weren’t many big shots with the surname Li, and even fewer who could get Boss Chen to personally deliver goods. He whispered, “Ahua, investigate this Mr. Li. I need to know his background before tonight.”

Ahua nodded, snapped his fan shut, and blended into the crowd. Su Hanze continued fiddling with the jade in his hands, his gaze fixed on Boss Chen. Boss Chen was chatting and laughing with a local Vietnamese businessman, while Smith stood to the side, his face not looking too good, as if he was getting impatient.

Around noon, the market was even more crowded, and it was as hot as a sauna. Su Hanze wiped his sweat, lit a Yuxi cigarette, and pretended to rest, but actually observed his surroundings. Next to Boss Chen's stall, several burly men in black began moving boxes and loading them onto a truck parked beside the market. Su Hanze squinted and muttered to himself, "They're about to move..."

Just as he was about to get up, a rough, hoarse voice came from behind him: "Boss, this jade is quite nice, how much?"

Su Hanze turned around and saw a short, stout middle-aged man wearing a floral shirt and a gold chain around his neck, smiling with a shrewd grin. Su Hanze suppressed his wariness and smiled: "Fifty Vietnamese dong, the fair price."

"Fifty?" The fat man frowned and leaned closer. "Boss, this jade doesn't look worth much. How about thirty?"

Just as Su Hanze was about to speak, he caught a glimpse of two young men standing behind the fat man, their eyes gleaming at him with a strange look. He sneered and said in a low voice, "Thirty? Brother, you've cut the price a bit too much."

The fat man chuckled and leaned closer: "Boss, don't rush, let's talk business slowly." He paused, then lowered his voice, "Mr. Su, Saigon isn't Hong Kong. If you wander around recklessly, you might not make it back alive."

Su Hanze paused, his gaze turning cold: "Brother, you've mistaken me for someone else. I'm just a jade seller."

The fat man chuckled, his gold chain jingling: "Whether you've made a mistake or not, Mr. Su knows for sure. Boss Chen asked me to pass on a message: the Jade Festival is a lively affair, so mind your own business."

Su Hanze exhaled a puff of smoke, his tone calm: "Boss Chen? Ha, he's meddling in other people's business. Go back and tell him that I haven't finished investigating the goods."

The fat man's expression changed, and he was about to speak again when a shout suddenly came from the other end of the market: "Thief! Someone's stealing jade!" The crowd immediately erupted into chaos, with vendors and buyers jostling together. The fat man cursed in Vietnamese and hurriedly left with two young men. Su Hanze narrowed his eyes, noticing that Boss Chen's truck had already driven out of the market, with Smith following beside it, quietly making a phone call.

Old Liang squeezed through and whispered, "Master Su, the goods have left; they're heading downstream on the Mekong River."

Su Hanze nodded and stubbed out his cigarette: "Let's go, follow me."

They mingled in the crowd, left the market, and followed the truck at a distance. Saigon's streets were narrow and chaotic; the truck drove slowly, winding its way down the Mekong River. Su Hanze and Lao Liang, on their rented motorcycles, kept their distance, avoiding the eyes and ears of Boss Chen's men. Ahua followed behind, waving his fan like a leisurely tourist.

As dusk fell, the truck stopped in front of a warehouse by the river, the only sound the gentle lapping of the water. Su Hanze stopped his motorcycle and hid in the reeds by the river, his eyes fixed on the warehouse. Several burly men in black unloaded boxes from the truck and carried them into the warehouse. Smith stood at the door, lit a cigarette, and looked on warily.

Old Liang said in a low voice, "Master Su, there are quite a few guards at the warehouse. We probably can't force our way in."

"Don't force your way in." Su Hanze narrowed his eyes. "Old Liang, you and Ahua go to the other side of the river and find a high spot to keep watch. Give me a signal when the goods are handed over."

Old Liang nodded and pulled Ahua away. Su Hanze hugged the reeds, slowly approaching the warehouse. Night deepened, the fog on the river grew heavier, and the warehouse lights flickered like will-o'-the-wisps. Su Hanze found a broken window, climbed inside, and landed in a corner piled with junk.

The warehouse was piled high with wooden crates, and the air was thick with the smell of sawdust and paint. Su Hanze held his breath as he heard low voices coming from not far away.

"...The goods are here, thirty yuan, I've checked them." It was Boss Chen's voice, tinged with impatience.

"Thirty dollars?" Another voice was shrill, with a Cantonese accent. "Boss Chen, James said fifty dollars. Are you trying to rip me off?"

"Trying to cheat you?" Boss Chen sneered. "Mr. Li, the goods were twenty dollars short on the way from Hong Kong Island to Sai Kung. Go ask James, don't come to me."

“James?” Mr. Li’s voice turned cold. “Mr. Chen, don’t try to blackmail me with James. I need to inspect all of this shipment before I pay you.” Su Hanze narrowed his eyes, hiding behind the wooden crate, his gaze sweeping in the direction of the conversation. Mr. Chen stood in the center of the warehouse, holding a piece of jade. Beside him stood a tall, thin middle-aged man in a black long robe, his eyes sharp, who resembled Mr. Li. Smith stood to the side, smoking, without saying a word.

"Inspect the goods?" Mr. Chen tossed the jade back into the box. "Mr. Li, don't you trust me?"

“It’s not that I don’t trust him.” Mr. Li smiled, but his tone was cold. “Saigon is a mixed bag, I have to be careful.”

Smith finally spoke, his voice low: "Mr. Li, Mr. James personally arranged the delivery, and the quality is fine. Where's the money?"

Mr. Li glanced at Smith, clapped his hands, and two of his men carried in an iron box, which, when opened, revealed a box full of cash. Boss Chen's eyes lit up, and he nodded, saying, "Okay, check it."

Several of his men began counting the jade in the box. Su Hanze hid in the shadows, his eyes fixed on the iron box. Thirty pieces of jade in exchange for a box of cash—that was a big deal. But why was James going through all this trouble? And who was Mr. Li? He tapped his fingers on the yellow jade bead, about to look at it again, when a low whistle suddenly came from outside the window.

Su Hanze was startled, knowing it was Lao Liang's signal. He quickly retreated to the window and climbed out. In the reeds, Lao Liang and Ahua were crouching there, their faces tense. Lao Liang whispered, "Master Su, a boat has come downstream, looks like it's picking up cargo."

"A boat?" Su Hanze narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping across the river. Sure enough, a small cargo ship slowly approached the shore, with several men in black standing on board, moving swiftly. Boss Chen and Mr. Li emerged from the warehouse, Smith following behind, and walked towards the boat.

Su Hanze asked in a low voice, "Ahua, whose boat is this?"

Ahua shook his head and waved his fan: "I don't know. There are many boats in Saigon, and even more smuggled goods. For Boss Chen to personally deliver the goods, he must be someone important."

Su Hanze remained silent, his gaze fixed on the ship. The cargo containers were loaded onto the ship, and Smith and Mr. Li exchanged a few words in hushed tones before dispersing. Boss Chen stood on the shore, lit a cigarette, and smiled like a cunning old fox.

Old Liang whispered, "Master Su, the goods are leaving, what do we do?"

"Follow them." Su Hanze stood up, his gaze turning cold. "I want to see who gets this shipment."

Night fell like ink spilled on the Mekong River. The deep rumble of the cargo ship's engine, mingled with the rhythm of the waves lapping against the shore, faded into the distance. Su Hanze crouched in the reeds, using the dim light from the river to watch the ship's silhouette. The stern light flickered like a ghostly eye, appearing and disappearing in the mist. He exhaled and whispered to Lao Liang, "Is the motorcycle ready?"

Old Liang nodded and lowered his voice: "Stop at the intersection, Ahua, keep an eye on things. Master Su, this boat isn't moving fast, probably to avoid attracting attention. We need to be careful not to run into Boss Chen's spies."

Su Hanze hummed in agreement, his gaze sweeping towards the shore. Boss Chen had already left with his men, leaving only a few burly men in black loitering around the warehouse, seemingly staying behind to clean up the mess. He patted Lao Liang on the shoulder: "Come on, don't let the boat drift too far."

The three of them quietly retreated back to the intersection. Ahua was leaning against his motorcycle, slowly waving his fan. When he saw them coming, he whispered, "The boat is heading south, probably towards Jin'ou. Su, should we give chase?"

"Chase them." Su Hanze jumped into the car, his voice as cold as river water. "Old Liang, you lead the way. Ahua, stay close, don't fall behind."

The motorcycle engine was deliberately kept quiet as the three men walked along the dirt road by the riverbank, watching the cargo ship from afar. Saigon's night roads were narrow and muddy, lined with dense banana groves, occasionally broken by the barking of stray dogs. Su Hanze squinted, the wind whipping across his face, his mind replaying the conversation in the warehouse. James, Mr. Li, thirty pieces of jade, a box of cash… Behind this deal, the waters ran deep, and he sensed something was amiss.

"Master Su," Old Liang's voice came from ahead, slightly out of breath, "if this ship really is going to Jin'ou, it'll probably have to go out to sea. We don't have a boat, how can we follow?"

Su Hanze frowned but didn't answer. Cayau is the mouth of the Mekong River, with many docks and a diverse fleet of ships; it's commonplace for smuggled goods to travel that route. But why did James choose Saigon for the transaction? Wasn't he more comfortable using the docks on Hong Kong Island? And then there's Mr. Li, with his Cantonese accent and defiant tone, as if he'd seen it all. Su Hanze tapped his fingers on the handlebars and said softly, "Follow him for now, we'll talk when the boat docks."

The road ahead became increasingly remote, and the fog on the river grew thicker, making the lights of the cargo ships almost invisible. Ahua suddenly slowed down, closed his fan, and whispered, "Master Su, there's movement ahead."

Su Hanze looked up and, using the dim light of his motorcycle, saw a black sedan parked by the roadside in the distance. The headlights were off, but the engine sound could be faintly heard. He gestured for Lao Liang to stop, and the three of them pushed the motorcycle into the roadside bushes and crouched down. Two figures stood beside the sedan, one tall and thin, the other short and stocky, whispering something.

"...The cargo ship has already passed by and should arrive in Jin'ou before dawn." The tall, thin man's voice was deep and had a slight foreign accent. "Mr. Li said that once the money is in hand, we should leave immediately and not leave any loose ends."

"Hmph, Mr. Li?" The short, stocky man scoffed. "He certainly knows how to pick a bargain. Boss Chen has been running around doing all this work; wasn't it him who got the goods? Why should Mr. Li take the lion's share?"

"Enough with the nonsense." The tall, thin man's tone turned cold. "Mr. James's intention is that the goods will arrive safely, and the money will be paid in full. As for Mr. Chen, someone will take care of things."

Su Hanze, hiding in the bushes, frowned even more deeply. James had been mentioned again. Who exactly was this guy? He'd been in Hong Kong's jade industry for over a decade, dealing with bosses big and small, but this James was like a shadow, never showing his face. He whispered to Lao Liang, "Make a note of what these two look like, and check them out later."

Old Liang nodded, squinting at the two men. The tall, thin man next to the car lit a cigarette, the light illuminating half his face. His nose was high like a European's, and his eyes were deep-set, like someone from Smith's group. The short, stocky man had his back to them, so his face wasn't clear, but he wore a thick gold chain around his neck, just like Boss Chen.

The car drove off quickly, its engine noise disappearing into the night. Su Hanze stood up and said in a low voice, "The ship is almost at the dock; we have to get there before they deliver the goods."

The three got back into the car, bypassed the banana grove, and took a shortcut towards Jin'ou. The road along the riverbank grew narrower and narrower, and the motorcycle was so bumpy it hurt their bones. As he drove, Ahua muttered to himself, "Master Su, this business is murky. Do we really want to get involved? Boss Chen is a ruthless man."

Su Hanze sneered: "He's ruthless, but I'm even more ruthless. Until the matter of the goods is clarified, no one will get away with this."

(End of this chapter)