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

Chapter 348 That's Boss Chen's territory!
Thomson's face paled, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Su Hanze, if you dare touch me, James won't let you get away with it!"

“James?” Su Hanze sneered, pressing the dagger harder. “He’s busy counting money right now, he doesn’t have time for you. Tell me, who is the buyer of the goods?”

Thomson swallowed hard, his eyes darting around. "I...I don't know! Mr. James arranged the delivery; I was just responsible for delivering the ship!"

"Send a ship?" Su Hanze narrowed his eyes, the dagger slicing through Thomson's skin, a trickle of blood seeping out. "A ship from Southeast Asia, setting sail at dawn. Is there anything else you haven't said?"

Thomson's breathing quickened, and his voice trembled: "Mr. Su, I really didn't know! James only said that someone would take over the goods once they arrived in Vietnam!"

"Vietnam?" Su Hanze's eyes turned cold. "Boss Chen?"

Thomson remained silent, his eyes flickering as if in acquiescence. Su Hanze released his grip, sheathing the dagger, his tone icy: "Thomson, go back and tell James that he hasn't won this game yet."

He turned and left, disappearing into the shadows of the dock. Thomson slumped to the ground, touched the blood on his neck, cursed in a foreign language, hurriedly got up, and ran towards the ship's railing.

After Su Hanze returned to the wooden crate, Lao Liang was already waiting there, his face not looking too good: "Master Su, those were Zhou Sir's men at the dock just now. They were probably there to inspect the goods, and they got into a fight with James's men."

"Zhou Sir?" Su Hanze frowned, lighting a Yuxi cigarette. "His nose is even more sensitive than mine. Where's the goods?"

"It's still on the ship," Lao Liang said in a low voice. "However, Zhou Sir's men have probably already set their sights on the Nanxing."

Su Hanze exhaled a puff of smoke, his gaze sweeping over the cargo ship in the distance: "Vietnam, Mr. Chen... Lao Liang, arrange a ship, we're going to Vietnam tomorrow."

Old Liang was taken aback: "Master Su, going to Vietnam? What about Hong Kong Island..."

"Let Young Master Jin and Inspector Zhou stir up the muddy waters of Hong Kong." Su Hanze stubbed out his cigarette, his eyes darkening. "I need to find out the true nature of the goods in Vietnam."

The next morning, an inconspicuous small cargo ship departed from Hong Kong Island, heading towards Vietnam. Su Hanze stood on the deck, his trench coat fluttering in the sea breeze, holding a string of yellow jade beads in his hand, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. Old Liang approached and whispered, "Master Su, the schedule is set. We'll arrive in Saigon, Vietnam in three days. Our people have already contacted a local informant named Ahua, who deals in jade."

"Ahua?" Su Hanze narrowed his eyes. "Can he be relied upon?"

"Not bad." Old Liang nodded. "He's been in Saigon for over ten years and has some dealings with Boss Chen. He's well-informed."

Su Hanze remained silent, his gaze sweeping across the sea. Vietnam, Saigon, Boss Chen… what secrets does this batch of jade hold? Why did James send it to Southeast Asia? What role does Young Master Jin play in all of this? He tapped his fingers on the yellow jade bead, muttering to himself, “This game is getting more and more interesting.”

Three days later, the small cargo ship slowly docked at Saigon's pier. The sky over Saigon was overcast, the air thick with humidity and the sweet scent of coconut trees. The pier was bustling with activity, a cacophony of Vietnamese, Cantonese, and English, with merchants and sailors huddled together. Su Hanze, dressed in a white short-sleeved shirt and a straw hat, blended discreetly into the crowd. Old Liang followed behind, whispering, "Master Su, Ah Hua is waiting for us at the teahouse by the pier."

Su Hanze nodded and walked towards a bamboo-shaded teahouse by the dock. The teahouse was filled with smoke, and several local Vietnamese and Chinese customers were chatting and drinking tea around a table. In a corner, a tall, thin middle-aged man sat there, wearing a gray Tang suit, holding a folding fan, and smiling at Su Hanze.

"Mr. Su?" The middle-aged man stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "My name is Ahua. I have long admired your name."

Su Hanze sat down opposite him, lit a Yuxi cigarette, and said calmly, "Ahua, stop being so polite. How much do you know about Boss Chen's matter?"

Ahua smiled and gently waved his fan: "Mr. Su is straightforward. Boss Chen is a big shot in the Saigon jade industry. He has seven or eight factories under his control, specializing in high-end goods. In recent years, he has been doing very well in Vietnam, and even foreigners have to give him some face."

"Jade?" Su Hanze exhaled a puff of smoke. "He bought goods from Hong Kong?"

Ahua's eyes flickered, and he paused for a moment while fanning himself. "Mr. Su is well-informed. Boss Chen did indeed receive a batch of goods, which arrived yesterday. Thirty pieces of jade, all of them top-grade. However..." He lowered his voice, "He doesn't intend to sell this batch in Saigon."

"Not planning to sell?" Su Hanze narrowed his eyes. "Where to send it?"

Ahua shook his head and smiled, "I don't know about that. Boss Chen's connections are deep, even I can't figure them out. However, I heard that he's going to a manor by the Mekong River tomorrow to discuss business with someone."

"The manor?" Su Hanze tapped his finger on the yellow jade bead. "Who?"

"I don't know." Ahua shrugged. "Boss Chen is careful. The manor is heavily guarded. Not even a fly can get in."

Su Hanze didn't speak, his gaze lingering on Ahua's face for a moment, as if trying to extract something. Ahua felt a little uneasy under his gaze and gave a dry laugh: "Mr. Su, I've told you everything I know. Saigon is a dangerous place, you'd better be careful."

"Be careful?" Su Hanze sneered, stubbing out his cigarette. "Thanks for the reminder. Tomorrow, take me to the manor."

Ahua was taken aback, almost dropping his fan: "Mr. Su, that place is not easy to get into! Boss Chen's men are all armed!"

"Guys?" Su Hanze stood up, patted Ahua on the shoulder, "I've seen more guys than you've seen fans." He turned and left, leaving Ahua with a wry smile.

As night fell, Saigon's streets were brightly lit, and the shadows of coconut trees swayed on the pavement. Su Hanze stood by the pier, lit a Yuxi cigarette, and glanced towards the Mekong River in the distance. Old Liang approached and whispered, "Master Su, we've found out about the manor. Boss Chen has a private manor there, which he usually uses for business negotiations; the security is indeed tight."

“Strict?” Su Hanze exhaled a puff of smoke. “Even the strictest measures have loopholes. Let’s go take a look tomorrow night.”

Old Liang frowned: "Master Su, Boss Chen has deep roots in Saigon. We are unfamiliar with the area and may suffer losses."

"Suffer a loss?" Su Hanze sneered. "Old Liang, I won't stop until I draw the last card in this game."

The following evening, the air along the Mekong River was sweltering and humid, like a sauna. The distant sound of flowing water mingled with the croaking of frogs. Mr. Chen's estate was hidden deep within a coconut grove, its iron gates tightly shut, guarded by four burly men armed with guns. Su Hanze and Lao Liang hid in the shadows of the coconut palms, while Ahua squatted nearby, his face grim. "Mr. Su," he said, "this place is really dangerous. Mr. Chen's men are all ruthless criminals."

"A desperate fugitive?" Su Hanze lit a Yuxi cigarette, his gaze sweeping over the manor's walls. "Desperate fugitives are afraid of death too. Ahua, are you sure Boss Chen is here tonight?" "Yes." Ahua nodded. "My men saw him enter the manor this afternoon, carrying several boxes, probably those jade pieces."

Su Hanze didn't speak, his gaze fixed on the back gate of the manor. There were only two guards by the gate, the lighting was dim, as if they had been negligent. He whispered, "Old Liang, you and Ahua go to the front and give the signal to distract the guards. I'll go in through the back gate."

Old Liang was taken aback: "Master Su, it's too dangerous for you to be alone!"

“Danger?” Su Hanze sneered. “We can’t win this game without taking risks.” He patted Lao Liang on the shoulder, crouched down, and crept towards the back door.

Two guards at the back gate were smoking, their laughter mingling with their Vietnamese accents. Under the cover of darkness, Su Hanze approached silently, the dagger in his hand flashing coldly in the moonlight. He lunged forward, covering one guard's mouth with each hand; the dagger swiftly sliced ​​through, and both guards collapsed limply. He dragged the bodies aside, pushed open the back door, and slipped inside.

The manor was brightly lit, several cars were parked in the yard, and a few men in black patrolled back and forth. Su Hanze pressed himself against the wall and hid in the shadows of a storage room. The door was ajar, and low voices could be heard from inside.

"...The goods have been counted. Thirty yuan, all high-quality goods." A rough, hoarse voice, with a slight Vietnamese accent, said; it must be Boss Chen.

"Thirty dollars?" another voice asked, sounding somewhat disgruntled, with a foreign accent. "James said at least fifty dollars. Are you kidding me?"

"Playing you for a fool?" Boss Chen sneered. "Mr. Smith, the goods were transported from Hong Kong by your people. If they are missing, that's your problem, not mine."

Su Hanze narrowed his eyes. Smith? Another foreigner. He held his breath and continued listening.

“Mr. Chen, don’t try anything funny with me.” Smith’s voice turned cold. “The higher-ups are keeping a close eye on this shipment. If anything goes wrong, we’ll both be in deep trouble.”

"Above?" Mr. Chen's voice carried a hint of sarcasm. "Mr. Smith, who exactly is your master? James? Or someone even higher up?"

Smith remained silent, as if struck by a thorn in his side. Just then, a gunshot rang out from outside the manor, followed by shouts and footsteps. Su Hanze cursed under his breath, realizing that Lao Liang had given the signal too early. He quickly retreated into the shadows, preparing to evacuate.

The courtyard was in complete chaos. Boss Chen and Smith rushed out of the house, followed by several armed men. Su Hanze hid behind the storeroom, his eyes scanning the courtyard, and spotted a motorcycle parked in a corner. He crouched down, ran over, started the engine, and sped out of the manor amidst the confusion.

The night wind along the Mekong River was humid and hot, carrying the scents of earth and water plants. The sound of motorcycle engines gradually faded into the distance on the dirt road. Su Hanze stopped his motorcycle, leaned against a coconut tree, lit a Yuxi cigarette, and the smoke dispersed in the moonlight. He squinted, his gaze sweeping across the direction of the distant manor. The firelight and shouts had subsided, but the conversation between Boss Chen and the foreigner named Smith still echoed in his mind. Thirty pieces of jade, James, Smith, and "above"... the threads of this game were multiplying, yet none could be firmly grasped.

Old Liang and Ahua emerged from the coconut grove, their faces looking rather grim. Old Liang wiped his sweat and whispered, "Master Su, we gave the signal too early, and we almost got blocked by Boss Chen's men."

Su Hanze exhaled a puff of smoke, his tone calm: "It's alright. The bigger the mess, the less they'll care about us. How's the manor?"

"It's a complete mess." Ahua fanned himself with a folding fan and said with a wry smile, "Boss Chen led his men to the riverbank, but couldn't find anyone, so he smashed a car in anger. That foreigner, Smith, on the other hand, was calm and went back to his house and didn't come out."

“Smith…” Su Hanze tapped his fingers on Huang Yuzhu, “Ahua, who’s this guy?”

Ahua shook his head and waved his fan gently: "I don't know. There are foreigners everywhere in Saigon, and people with the surname Smith are a dime a dozen. Judging from his accent, he sounds like an American, but the way he spoke to Boss Chen doesn't sound like an ordinary businessman."

"Not a businessman?" Old Liang frowned. "Master Su, do you suspect he's one of James's men?"

“James?” Su Hanze sneered. “James is an old fox; his men don’t have such arrogance. Smith has someone else behind him.” He stubbed out his cigarette, his gaze darkening. “Ahua, are you sure the goods from the manor are those thirty pieces of jade?”

"Most likely." Ah-Hua nodded. "My men saw the boxes, and they look exactly like the ones at the Hong Kong Island pier. Boss Chen didn't have anyone move them tonight, so I guess he's planning something big tomorrow."

"Tomorrow..." Su Hanze muttered to himself, his gaze sweeping across the Mekong River. "Ahua, what's been happening in Saigon lately?"

Ahua paused, fanning himself. "Lively? Oh, tomorrow is the Saigon Jade Festival. The city's largest jade market is opening, and everyone in the industry will be there. A big shot like Boss Chen definitely won't be absent."

"Jade Festival?" Su Hanze narrowed his eyes, a smile playing on his lips. "Alright, let's go join the fun tomorrow."

Old Liang frowned: "Master Su, the jade festival is crowded and noisy. Boss Chen must have a lot of men under him. If we go there, I'm afraid..."

“The more people, the better.” Su Hanze patted Lao Liang on the shoulder. “Lao Liang, find some local clothes, we’ll disguise ourselves and go tomorrow. Ahua, arrange a stall, preferably near Boss Chen’s place.”

Ahua nearly dropped his fan: "Mr. Su, you want to set up a stall? That's Boss Chen's territory. If his men recognize you, you'll be in big trouble!"

“Recognize him?” Su Hanze sneered. “He’d have to have the eyes first.” He turned and got on his motorcycle. “Let’s go back to Saigon.”

Night deepened, and the lights in Saigon's streets flowed like a river. Su Hanze and Lao Liang returned to the small hotel by the pier. Ahua had arranged an inconspicuous room; the walls were peeling, and the air was thick with the smell of mildew. Su Hanze sat on the edge of the bed, lit a Yuxi cigarette, and his gaze fell on a Saigon map on the table. The jade festival was being held in the market in the south of the city, not far from the Mekong River. Boss Chen would most likely be there with his goods tomorrow.

Old Liang pulled out a set of Vietnamese local short shirts and straw hats from his bag and whispered, "Master Su, I've found the clothes. Tomorrow, you can dress up as a jade seller; I doubt anyone will give you a second glance."

Su Hanze nodded and took the clothes: "Old Liang, tomorrow you blend into the crowd and keep an eye on Boss Chen's movements. Ahua, how's the stall situation?"

“It’s all arranged.” Ahua pushed open the door and came in, holding a piece of paper in his hand. “There’s a small stall at the east end of the market, less than 20 meters from Boss Chen’s place. It sells some low-grade jade items, which will be perfect for keeping things under wraps.”

"Okay." Su Hanze exhaled a puff of smoke. "Tomorrow, keep your eyes open."

(End of this chapter)