After hearing Li Du’s words, the other party started to get serious. He said, “No, I told you the truth about me. My name is Zhong Da Pao. On the streets, people call me Brother Pao. That’s a fact.”
Hearing his words, Li Du could not help but turn serious too. “That’s really your name?”
What parents would name their child like that? Li Du was stunned.
Zhong Da Pao did not look surprised. He smiled. “My dad was a soldier in the artillery back in our country. At that time, when I was born, he was operating a new cannon. That’s why he named me like that, haha.”
Li Du shook his hand and said, “Brother Pao, hello. What do you want?”
Zhong Da Pao said, “I was hoping to treat you to tea. Then I have some things I would like to discuss with you if you’re interested.”
Li Du lost his smile and said, “I just walked out of a teahouse.”
Zhong Da Pao waved his hand dismissively. “Do you call that place you were at a teahouse? That’s a crook hub! Follow me, and I’ll take you to a legitimate one. You should not have to worry. After all, you have so many bodyguards.”
Li Du shook his head. “I’m not worried. It’s just that I don’t want to waste time. If you have something to say, you can tell me straight up.”
Zhong Da Pao said, “Alright, then I’ll get started. Little brother, you must be a jeweler. I know that there are a few good stones being displayed in some places. However, I do not have the eye for spotting them. I would like to work with you.”
Li Du smiled. “You should keep those words for someone else. I won’t do. First, I’m not here to bet on stones. Two, I’m no expert. I’m a newbie.”
Zhong Da Pai sighed regretfully and said, “It’s fine if you do not wish to work with me. However, you don’t have to me. That would be meaningless.”
“Why would people come to Hpakant but for the stones? Could they be here to travel? To this poor place? If they wanted to do some sightseeing, they would go to Ruili. That’s still the territory of China,” The bald middle-aged man who was standing by the side said unhappily.
It seemed as if that man knew Zhong Da Pao. Worried that his words would upset Li Du, Zhong Da Pao patted his shoulder and said, “Old Black, we can’t force these things. After all, we are the ones in need.”
Saying that, he turned to Li Du and said, “Little brother, your talent is truly impressive. However, I haven’t seen you before. It’s your first time here, right? In that case, you’d at least need a guide. Otherwise, your talent would be wasted!”
Li Du pushed Godanwei forward and said, “This is my guide.”
Zhong Da Pao glanced at him and said, “This fellow is from Dalaung, right? The Dalaung people now also dare to come to Hpakant for stones. Forgetting about the age-old curse? That would mean hands might be chopped off!”
Godanwei smiled and said, “Mr. Pao is right. I don’t deal with stones. When Mr. Li engaged me, he said that he’s not here to buy stones. Hence, I accepted the job.”
After Godanwei spoke, Zhong Da Pao laughed and said to Li Du, “Brother, it was unethical of you to do that.”
Li Du said, “I’m not here to buy stones. It is true. My destination is not here. I just dropped by for a look.”
The bald middle-aged man pursed his lips. “Who’d believe those words?”
Zhong Da Pao kicked him and said, “I do believe little brother. But if you don’t put your talent into action here, it would be such a pity.”
Li Du was curious. “How can you be so sure that I’m talented? I’m really a newbie!”
Zhong Da Pai laughed. “Six stones. You only looked at them briefly, touched them, and instantly knew their value. Besides, you managed to find the two real stones to show the cheaters. That means you have eyes that can see through stone. I have not seen many of those in my life!”
Li Du said, “I just got lucky.”
Zhong Da Pao shook his head. “If you say so. Nevertheless, we can really make some profit. With your talent and my information, we are a match made in heaven!”
Seeing that his words did not move Li Du, he gave him his business card and then left with the bald middle-aged man.
Li Du flipped the card and asked Godanwei, “Do you know this person?”
Godanwei nodded. “Heard of him. Mister Pao, Zhong Da Pao. He’s quite famous in Hpakant. He is really a soldier from your country. Not sure if he retired or escaped here. In any case, he is not a local.”
The entire journey was upslope. Li Du wanted to find a place to rest.
Godanwei was quite worried. “Mr. Li, if you don’t want to stay in Hpakant to buy stones, then let’s leave as soon as possible. Those scammers from before, it’s not good to trifle with them!”
Li Du said, “Let’s take a rest first. Although Hpakant is chaotic, there is still law in place, right? Let’s find the best hotel here. I don’t believe that the scammers would dare to cause trouble at such hotels.”
Godanwei agreed reluctantly and led them along the streets.
In a residential area, they found a hotel. It was a commonplace building that looked like it has been around for some time. If it was in China or America, it would not have scraped three stars.
There were some stalls at the entrance of the hotel. They were peddling fast food, snacks, clothes, and other items. However, there were no stalls selling stones. That was different from elsewhere.
Seeing that Li Du was curious, Godanwei started to explain, “The stones that these hawkers sell were brought out from the dump. There are just meant to trick foreigners.”
Their group was big and Li Du booked ten rooms. Each room cost 2,200 RMB, the price of a room in a five-star hotel in China.
The currency used was RMB. Perhaps it was because most of the visiting businessmen were Chinese, and the hotel was set up to cater to them.
As Li Du paid upfront for the rooms, a young man came out of the lift. After seeing the large group, the youth pursed his lips. He said, “Where did this big shot come from? So many foreigner bodyguards.”
Beside him, someone pulled on his arm.”Don’t cause trouble. Is this someone you think we can afford to offend?”
“I have nothing to lose but my life, and that’s not worth much. What’s there to be scared of?” the youth said nonchalantly.
Li Du did not wish to cause trouble either. The other party was just trying to sound smart. He was not worth paying attention to.
After handling the payment, he did not go upstairs but walked toward a few youths.
They suddenly looked defensive. Someone placed his hands on his hips and glared at Li Du.
Li Du did not look at them. After walking past them, he squatted at the door and asked, “How much does this popsicle cost?”
The seller of the popsicles was a young girl, no older than twelve or thirteen. She was squatting behind a machine that looked like a pressure cooker. That was a manual popsicle maker. It had been trending in the sixties and seventies back in China.
When Li Du was very young, those popsicle machines were a familiar sight. After seeing it, he got a rush of memories and wanted to reminisce about his childhood.
The little girl put a palm out and said in Chinese, “Five hundred dollars.”
Li Du was surprised. “So expensive?”
The little girl corrected, “Five hundred Kyat, or two-fifty RMB.”
Li Du regained his composure. However, that was still considered quite expensive. Nobody was eating those popsicles in China anymore, and the price was shocking.
After hearing Li Du’s words, the other party started to get serious. He said, “No, I told you the truth about me. My name is Zhong Da Pao. On the streets, people call me Brother Pao. That’s a fact.”
Hearing his words, Li Du could not help but turn serious too. “That’s really your name?”
What parents would name their child like that? Li Du was stunned.
Zhong Da Pao did not look surprised. He smiled. “My dad was a soldier in the artillery back in our country. At that time, when I was born, he was operating a new cannon. That’s why he named me like that, haha.”
Li Du shook his hand and said, “Brother Pao, hello. What do you want?”
Zhong Da Pao said, “I was hoping to treat you to tea. Then I have some things I would like to discuss with you if you’re interested.”
Li Du lost his smile and said, “I just walked out of a teahouse.”
Zhong Da Pao waved his hand dismissively. “Do you call that place you were at a teahouse? That’s a crook hub! Follow me, and I’ll take you to a legitimate one. You should not have to worry. After all, you have so many bodyguards.”
Li Du shook his head. “I’m not worried. It’s just that I don’t want to waste time. If you have something to say, you can tell me straight up.”
Zhong Da Pao said, “Alright, then I’ll get started. Little brother, you must be a jeweler. I know that there are a few good stones being displayed in some places. However, I do not have the eye for spotting them. I would like to work with you.”
Li Du smiled. “You should keep those words for someone else. I won’t do. First, I’m not here to bet on stones. Two, I’m no expert. I’m a newbie.”
Zhong Da Pai sighed regretfully and said, “It’s fine if you do not wish to work with me. However, you don’t have to me. That would be meaningless.”
“Why would people come to Hpakant but for the stones? Could they be here to travel? To this poor place? If they wanted to do some sightseeing, they would go to Ruili. That’s still the territory of China,” The bald middle-aged man who was standing by the side said unhappily.
It seemed as if that man knew Zhong Da Pao. Worried that his words would upset Li Du, Zhong Da Pao patted his shoulder and said, “Old Black, we can’t force these things. After all, we are the ones in need.”
Saying that, he turned to Li Du and said, “Little brother, your talent is truly impressive. However, I haven’t seen you before. It’s your first time here, right? In that case, you’d at least need a guide. Otherwise, your talent would be wasted!”
Li Du pushed Godanwei forward and said, “This is my guide.”
Zhong Da Pao glanced at him and said, “This fellow is from Dalaung, right? The Dalaung people now also dare to come to Hpakant for stones. Forgetting about the age-old curse? That would mean hands might be chopped off!”
Godanwei smiled and said, “Mr. Pao is right. I don’t deal with stones. When Mr. Li engaged me, he said that he’s not here to buy stones. Hence, I accepted the job.”
After Godanwei spoke, Zhong Da Pao laughed and said to Li Du, “Brother, it was unethical of you to do that.”
Li Du said, “I’m not here to buy stones. It is true. My destination is not here. I just dropped by for a look.”
The bald middle-aged man pursed his lips. “Who’d believe those words?”
Zhong Da Pao kicked him and said, “I do believe little brother. But if you don’t put your talent into action here, it would be such a pity.”
Li Du was curious. “How can you be so sure that I’m talented? I’m really a newbie!”
Zhong Da Pai laughed. “Six stones. You only looked at them briefly, touched them, and instantly knew their value. Besides, you managed to find the two real stones to show the cheaters. That means you have eyes that can see through stone. I have not seen many of those in my life!”
Li Du said, “I just got lucky.”
Zhong Da Pao shook his head. “If you say so. Nevertheless, we can really make some profit. With your talent and my information, we are a match made in heaven!”
Seeing that his words did not move Li Du, he gave him his business card and then left with the bald middle-aged man.
Li Du flipped the card and asked Godanwei, “Do you know this person?”
Godanwei nodded. “Heard of him. Mister Pao, Zhong Da Pao. He’s quite famous in Hpakant. He is really a soldier from your country. Not sure if he retired or escaped here. In any case, he is not a local.”
The entire journey was upslope. Li Du wanted to find a place to rest.
Godanwei was quite worried. “Mr. Li, if you don’t want to stay in Hpakant to buy stones, then let’s leave as soon as possible. Those scammers from before, it’s not good to trifle with them!”
Li Du said, “Let’s take a rest first. Although Hpakant is chaotic, there is still law in place, right? Let’s find the best hotel here. I don’t believe that the scammers would dare to cause trouble at such hotels.”
Godanwei agreed reluctantly and led them along the streets.
In a residential area, they found a hotel. It was a commonplace building that looked like it has been around for some time. If it was in China or America, it would not have scraped three stars.
There were some stalls at the entrance of the hotel. They were peddling fast food, snacks, clothes, and other items. However, there were no stalls selling stones. That was different from elsewhere.
Seeing that Li Du was curious, Godanwei started to explain, “The stones that these hawkers sell were brought out from the dump. There are just meant to trick foreigners.”
Their group was big and Li Du booked ten rooms. Each room cost 2,200 RMB, the price of a room in a five-star hotel in China.
The currency used was RMB. Perhaps it was because most of the visiting businessmen were Chinese, and the hotel was set up to cater to them.
As Li Du paid upfront for the rooms, a young man came out of the lift. After seeing the large group, the youth pursed his lips. He said, “Where did this big shot come from? So many foreigner bodyguards.”
Beside him, someone pulled on his arm.”Don’t cause trouble. Is this someone you think we can afford to offend?”
“I have nothing to lose but my life, and that’s not worth much. What’s there to be scared of?” the youth said nonchalantly.
Li Du did not wish to cause trouble either. The other party was just trying to sound smart. He was not worth paying attention to.
After handling the payment, he did not go upstairs but walked toward a few youths.
They suddenly looked defensive. Someone placed his hands on his hips and glared at Li Du.
Li Du did not look at them. After walking past them, he squatted at the door and asked, “How much does this popsicle cost?”
The seller of the popsicles was a young girl, no older than twelve or thirteen. She was squatting behind a machine that looked like a pressure cooker. That was a manual popsicle maker. It had been trending in the sixties and seventies back in China.
When Li Du was very young, those popsicle machines were a familiar sight. After seeing it, he got a rush of memories and wanted to reminisce about his childhood.
The little girl put a palm out and said in Chinese, “Five hundred dollars.”
Li Du was surprised. “So expensive?”
The little girl corrected, “Five hundred Kyat, or two-fifty RMB.”
Li Du regained his composure. However, that was still considered quite expensive. Nobody was eating those popsicles in China anymore, and the price was shocking.
