Finding Brother Mao's whereabouts, Yang Jian immediately met with Lin Nan, hoping to apprehend Brother Mao and Bao Guo through legal means and then force Brother Mao to reveal San Pang's location.
The two sat at a window seat in "Savoring Time" and ordered a pot of Tieguanyin.
"Brother Nan, Wu Laizi must have called you. What are your police plans?"
Yang Jian got straight to the point, knowing that Wu Laizi was a police informant and that they must have been in contact.
Lin Nan took a sip of tea. "Wu Laizi called me. He only said he saw Mao Zi, who rented him a place and involved him in drug trafficking. But so far, he doesn't know Mao Zi's exact location, nor has he actually trafficked drugs across the border. What plans can I possibly have?"
"Then you should at least send people over. Once Wu Laizi provides evidence of their drug trafficking, immediately arrest them."
Lin Nan shook his head. "You're oversimplifying it. If they don't make a move for half a year, our officers would have to stay there for half a year? Current case-handling funds are tight, and long-term business trips out of town are a huge expense.
"More importantly, I suspect there's an inside informant for Mao Zi in the anti-drug squad. If we send people over, it's likely to tip them off. Not only will we fail to catch Mao Zi, but Wu Laizi will also be in great danger."
"Then what should we do? Do we have to wait until Mao Zi is caught with drugs to arrest him?"
"Now, we can only wait for Wu Laizi to complete a transaction, understand their patterns, and then formulate an arrest plan. Once we make a move, we need to uproot the entire domestic transaction chain."
Yang Jian thought for a moment and said, "Brother Nan, I can't wait any longer. I haven't dared to return to Yang Li Village for some time. San Pang's parents cry every time they see me. I also heard that the number of people they've scammed is still increasing. I want to go there myself."
"Where are you going? To Dalou Town to catch Mao Zi? That won't do. Your actions will ruin our plan."
"Then I'll go to northern Myanmar. Once Wu Laizi and Brother Mao cross the border, I'll apprehend him in northern Myanmar and force him to reveal San Pang's whereabouts."
Lin Nan stared at him, mouth agape. "Are you feverish? To even have such a thought! Don't think you're invincible just because you know some martial arts. Northern Myanmar is a place where warlords are rampant and firearms are widespread. Even the embassy's influence doesn't reach there. Going there would be suicide, and you might even be sold and have your kidneys harvested."
Yang Jian said softly, "Brother Nan, to be honest, I have friends there, and they have considerable influence. They've also been helping me search for San Pang. However, the situation there is too complex, and without any leads, finding someone is too difficult."
Lin Nan's spirits lifted. "Really? You have such friends? Are they reliable?"
"Absolutely reliable. Otherwise, I wouldn't dare to go. Do you think I'm really not afraid of death?"
"If that's the case, I don't object to you going. It will be easier to gather evidence of Mao Zi's drug trafficking, and the probability of finding San Pang will be higher. However, will Yaoyao agree? After all, there's a significant risk going there."
"I'll go back and talk to her."
"I'll arrange for two skilled police officers to accompany you for support there. But I still need to report this to the chief."
"Alright, I'll await your news."
With the police involved, Yang Jian felt more confident about going.
After Lin Nan left, Yang Jian sat alone in the booth, contemplating for a long time how to persuade Lu Yao. Lu Yao was very content with their current life. She didn't ask Yang Jian to earn much money, as long as he stayed away from the underworld and spent his days with her and their child.
Going to northern Myanmar to rescue San Pang was an extremely risky endeavor, and Lu Yao would absolutely not agree.
But San Pang couldn't be left to his fate. Thinking of his parents' despairing eyes, Yang Jian couldn't forgive himself. San Pang had stayed by Brother Mao's side to help him, and Brother Mao had likely discovered his betrayal and sold him to northern Myanmar.
He decided to contact Yang Fan first. After much deliberation, Yang Jian dialed his number.
"Xiao Yang, I'm sorry. I've sent people to search all the casinos and scam companies in the entire northern Myanmar region, but we haven't found anyone named San Pang."
As soon as the call connected, Yang Fan expressed his apologies.
"Brother Fan, it's not your fault. I've found Brother Mao. He's in Dalou Town on the Sino-Myanmar border."
"Is that so? Then I'll send people to capture him. However, Dalou Town has a large population. Do you know his specific address?"
"Brother Fan, Brother Mao is involved in drug trafficking. I've already arranged for someone to get close to him. I want to come over and catch him abroad."
"That's a good idea. Come over, and we brothers can have a good reunion."
"How should I come? Where should I enter northern Myanmar from?"
"If you enter as a tourist, there are time restrictions. Why don't you also sneak in from Dalou Town? I'll send someone to pick you up. You can stay as long as you want then."
"Okay, I'll call you when I arrive in Dalou."
With Yang Fan's reception on the other side, Yang Jian believed the risk was not significant and that he could persuade Lu Yao upon his return.
It wasn't appropriate to try and persuade Lu Yao in front of their child, as it might lead to an argument and affect him. Yang Jian specifically waited at the entrance of the experimental middle school for Lu Yao to finish work.
"Oh, Brother Jian, what's the occasion today? You've actually come to pick me up from school?"
Without anyone to bother him, driving to school was a bit ostentatious, especially since even the principal didn't have a car. Lu Yao now rode a scooter to and from work. As soon as she walked out of the school gate, she saw Yang Jian.
"Yaoyao, leave the scooter at school. Let's have some alone time today and have dinner outside. I've already informed my sister."
"Is today a special occasion?"
"No, there's something very important I need to discuss with you, and it's not suitable to talk about it at home."
"Alright then, let's go for hot pot."
Lu Yao pushed her scooter back into the campus, then got into Yang Jian's car. They went to a newly opened Sichuan restaurant and ordered a spicy hot pot.
"Brother Jian, I haven't had hot pot in a long time and have been wanting to come. You're so thoughtful today."
Lu Yao liked spicy food, but their son couldn't eat it, so she had to eat bland meals with him every day.
"We can bring Zheng Zheng to eat split-pot hot pot in the future, so as not to stifle your pursuit of delicious food."
Yang Jian thoughtfully prepared her dipping sauce.
"No good deed goes unpunished. You're acting a bit strange today. Tell me, what important matter do you need to discuss?"
"Yaoyao, do you remember San Pang?"
"Yes, I do. He's the classmate you grew up with, wearing open crotch pants, and also from Yang Li Village. What happened to him? Oh, right, he didn't seem to come to our wedding."
"He was scammed and taken to northern Myanmar. It's been over half a year, and his family has been completely ruined to save his life."
Yang Jian recounted the process of Brother Mao scamming San Pang.
"How could this Brother Mao be so wicked? San Pang was his disciple, and even a relative. What can be done?"
Lu Yao was shocked. She had never heard of such a thing happening to someone familiar to them.
"I plan to go to northern Myanmar to rescue him."
"No, I don't agree."
Before Yang Jian could explain his reasons, Lu Yao's objection was resolute. Going to northern Myanmar was even riskier than running a casino. How could she possibly let him go?