Chapter 78 Li Hanzhou was arrested

Jiang Tianqi put down his teacup and tapped his finger lightly on the table: "Fang Che, you need evidence to back up your claims. You say someone instigated you, but who was it?"

"Young Master Jiang knows it."

“I don’t know.” Jiang Tianqi laughed. “Fang Che, I know you don’t like me. But everything needs evidence. You say I instigated people to cause trouble and drugged people, but where is the evidence? Just the statements of a few thugs? They can say it’s me today, and they can say it’s someone else tomorrow. This kind of testimony won’t go to court.”

Fang Che knew he was right.

This evidence is enough to cause trouble for Li Ruoxue, but it won't touch Jiang Tianqi.

"I'm not here to file a lawsuit today," Fang Che said. "I'm here to draw a line."

"Oh? What kind of line?"

“Portland Street is my territory.” Fang Che’s voice was calm but unquestionable. “The barbecue restaurant, the school, the courier service—these are all legitimate businesses. The neighbors rely on them to make a living, and the children rely on them to study. I can’t interfere if Young Master Jiang wants to do business in Hong Kong. But you can’t touch Portland Street.”

Jiang Tianqi raised an eyebrow: "What if we touched it?"

“Then let’s have some fun.” Fang Che laughed, his smile laced with ruthlessness. “Young Master Jiang, I know you’re rich and powerful, and I can’t beat you in business warfare. But remember this: the three thousand households on Portland Street are my eyes and ears. If you send people to cause trouble today, tomorrow all of Hong Kong will know that the heir of the Tung Sing Society bullies ordinary people.”

He paused, leaning forward: "Tell me, is this a good reputation? Your father, Jiang Kun, is doing business with warlords in Thailand. If he knew his son was engaging in these underhanded dealings in Hong Kong, wouldn't he feel ashamed?"

Jiang Tianqi's expression changed.

"Fang Che, are you threatening me?"

“It’s not a threat, it’s a reminder.” Fang Che leaned back in his chair. “Young Master Jiang, let’s keep to ourselves. You do your business in Tsim Sha Tsui, and I’ll run my shop on Portland Street. Peace and quiet is best for everyone.”

Jiang Tianqi stared at him for a long time, then suddenly laughed.

“Fang Che, I really underestimated you.” He shook his head. “Fine, Portland Street, I won’t touch it. But outside of Portland Street…”

"Once we leave Portland Street, it's up to each of us to rely on our own abilities," Fang Che replied.

"Alright!" Jiang Tianqi stood up and straightened his suit. "Mr. Fang, this tea was quite interesting. Until we meet again."

He left, his back still straight, but his steps were a little faster than when he came.

After Jiang Tianqi left, He Shirong finally breathed a sigh of relief: "Brother Fang, you really dared to say that. I almost thought he was going to turn on me."

“He wouldn’t.” Fang Che took a sip of tea. “He needs to maintain his dignity. Flipping a table is not something a ‘prince’ like him would do.”

"So what do we do next?"

"Wait." Fang Che looked out the window. "Wait for him to make his move."

But he knew in his heart that Jiang Tianqi would not give up.

Temporary concessions are often for the sake of bigger schemes.

And he must be prepared.

Bangkok, Thailand, late at night.

Li Hanzhou stood by the observation window on the second floor of the warehouse, watching the workers loading goods downstairs.

Three hundred boxes of "clothing" will be shipped to Hong Kong tomorrow morning.

According to the plan, only thirty boxes were genuine; the rest were for cover.

Police will conduct checks at the pier; genuine goods will be returned, while counterfeit goods will be confiscated.

But Li Hanzhou felt uneasy.

Everything went too smoothly.

Jiang Kun has been operating in Bangkok for twenty years, and his network of informants is extensive.

How could he not know about such a big move?

Ah Gui walked over, his face grave: "Brother Li, something has happened to General Songchai."

"explain."

“Songchai’s trusted adjutant was killed three days ago. His body was found in the Chao Phraya River and had the insignia of the Chiang family’s guards on his body.”

Li Hanzhou's eyes sharpened.

Did Jiang Kun kill Songchai's men?

“Also,” Ah Gui lowered his voice, “our informant at Jiang Kun’s warehouse went missing yesterday. This afternoon, we found him in the junkyard…part of his remains.”

Li Hanzhou clenched his fist.

Jiang Kun noticed and was cleaning up.

Where's the goods?

“It’s already loaded onto the truck, and we’ll leave tomorrow morning,” A-Gui said. “But I still have a bad feeling. Jiang Kun definitely knows we’re investigating him. This shipment… might be a trap.”

Li Hanzhou looked down at the cargo boxes and quickly thought.

If it's a trap, what would it be?

Counterfeit goods swapped out?

Or perhaps it wasn't clothing at all—

It's drugs.

The thought sent a chill down his spine.

If drugs are hidden in the shipment, and he cooperates with the police to intercept it, he will be caught red-handed and will be a drug dealer.

Even Stanley Ho couldn't protect him.

"Stop the car," Li Hanzhou suddenly said.

"What?"

"Have the convoy stop and open the boxes to inspect the goods." Li Hanzhou turned and went downstairs. "Open all the boxes."

Ah Gui hurriedly followed: "Brother Li, there's no time! The ship's schedule is set, and it has to leave tomorrow morning!"

"Then we won't make it!" Li Hanzhou's voice was cold. "Open the box, now!"

Inside the warehouse, the workers were ordered to stop.

The boxes were opened one by one. In front were neatly packaged "clothing"...

Shirt, belt, bag.

The problem occurred when I opened the twentieth box.

A worker pulled a black plastic bag from the bottom of the box; inside was white powder.

"Brother Li, this..."

Li Hanzhou walked over, dipped his finger in the water, and smelled it.

High-purity heroin.

His face darkened.

"Open them all, quick!"

Three hundred boxes, fifty boxes were opened, and drugs were found in thirty boxes.

It wasn't adulteration; it was whole boxes of drugs, disguised in clothing packaging.

“We’ve fallen for their trap.” Ah Gui’s voice trembled. “Jiang Kun has smuggled real drugs in. Once the police seize them, we’ll be the masterminds. He Hongsheng will be dragged down with us too…”

Li Hanzhou forced himself to calm down.

What time is it?

One o'clock in the morning.

"Five hours until departure," Li Hanzhou quickly ordered. "Pick out the problematic boxes and gather them in warehouse number three. Continue loading the rest onto the truck."

What should we do with these drugs?

Li Hanzhou looked at the white powder with icy eyes: "Dispose of it."

"Dispose of it? This is worth..."

"Deal with it! Immediately!"

Ah Gui dared not ask any more questions and directed the workers to move the boxes to warehouse number three.

Li Hanzhou took out his phone and dialed Zhou Wenxuan's number.

It rang for a long time before being answered.

"Li Hanzhou? What's the matter so late?"

“There’s something wrong with the goods,” Li Hanzhou said directly. “At least fifty of the three hundred boxes are drugs. Jiang Kun set a trap to make me take the blame.”

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone: "Where are you right now?"

"Bangkok Port Warehouse"

“Listen,” Zhou Wenxuan said sternly, “I’ve received intelligence that Jiang Kun has reported you to the Thai police for drug smuggling. They’re on their way to the pier and will be there in half an hour at most.”

Li Hanzhou's heart sank.

really.

“You have two choices,” Zhou Wenxuan said. “First, withdraw now and abandon the goods. Second, stay and cooperate with us in putting on a show.”

What play?

“Make Jiang Kun think he has succeeded,” Zhou Wenxuan said. “You need to be arrested, but only temporarily. I will use diplomatic channels to get you out, but that will take time. During this time, Jiang Kun will lower his guard, and then we can find more dirt on him.”

Li Hanzhou remained silent.

Being arrested means spending at least a week in a Thai prison.

What will happen in Hong Kong this week?

What should A-Che do?

"Time is running out," Zhou Wenxuan urged. "Choose one or two?"

Li Hanzhou looked at the busy workers in the warehouse, at the drugs, and thought of his father, Ruoyu, and Jiang Kun.

Finally, I thought of Fang Che.

The boy stood in the sunlight on Portland Street, smiling, and said, "Brother Li, I'll be waiting for you to come back."

“I choose option two,” Li Hanzhou said, “but there’s a condition.”

"explain."

"Protect A-Che." Li Hanzhou's voice was hoarse. "If Jiang Kun is going after me, he'll definitely go after him too. He can't be harmed."

“…Okay.” Zhou Wenxuan replied.

After hanging up the phone, Li Hanzhou said to A Gui, "Take the brothers and leave now."

"Brother Li, what about you?"

“I’ll stay,” Li Hanzhou said calmly. “Agui, you go back to Hong Kong and protect Ache. Tell him… I’ll be back later.”

"Brother Li!"

"That's an order. Let's go!"

Ah Gui gritted his teeth, turned around, and led his men to retreat through the back door.

Li Hanzhou stood alone in the warehouse, looking at the pile of drugs.

He lit a shirt on fire and threw it in.

Flames rose and black smoke billowed.

The sound of sirens grew louder as they approached.

Li Hanzhou walked to the warehouse entrance, watched the approaching police car, and lit a cigarette.

In the smoke, he thought of many things.

The death of his father, Ruoyu's tears, Li Ruoxue's obsession, and Fang Che... the boy who barged into his life.

“Ache,” he said softly, “wait for me to come back.”