Volume One, Chapter Two: A Horse Cannot Grow Fat Without Grazing at Night

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A battered tricycle was parked at the entrance of the hotel. Confirming that the tricycle had come to pick me up, I hurriedly called Ah Long. The situation made me anxious. It was already three in the morning, and Ah Long was still having fun at the KTV. When the call connected, all I could hear was pounding music. I had no choice but to hang up, and as I was editing a message to send him, his call came through.

“Bro, I was just playing in the party room,” he said.

“Ah Long, where exactly is your company? Why do we have to leave in the middle of the night? There’s a tricycle here to pick me up—it doesn’t feel safe,” I voiced my concerns.

Ah Long was silent for a few seconds before he spoke. “Dongzi, let me be honest with you. My company isn’t actually in Pu’er, but across the river in Myanmar, just outside Pu’er.”

Myanmar?

I was instantly shocked, but before I could ask anything, Ah Long continued, “The reason the company isn’t in China but here in Myanmar is because the business we’re in isn’t legal back home. Take gambling, for example—it’s completely forbidden in the country, but here it’s legal.”

“But don’t worry. We grew up together—I’d never hurt you.”

“You’re at the border now, you haven’t crossed yet. Think carefully about whether you want to do this. If you do, don’t ask too many questions—just follow the arrangements of the person picking you up. You’ll be with me soon. If you don’t want to, head back now. I won’t blame you.”

“Take your time to decide. I’ll wait for you outside for ten minutes!”

After hanging up, I told the impatient driver to wait a moment, then stepped aside to light a cigarette and think.

All my doubts were suddenly answered. Ah Long had told me earlier that if I joined him, making thirty to fifty thousand a month would be no problem, and I’d wondered what kind of work could be that profitable.

Now it was clear—it couldn’t be anything legitimate.

I’d read online that the road to fast money is written in the criminal code. That was certainly true; otherwise, Ah Long couldn’t have gone from nothing to driving luxury cars and wearing designer clothes in just a year.

I didn’t want to break the law—I didn’t want to end up in jail and ruin my life. Yet, thinking about my current situation, I felt torn.

I was no longer young, and I still owed over two hundred thousand. If I didn’t seize the chance to make money quickly and pay off my debts, it would be nearly impossible to find a girlfriend in this harsh, practical world.

Just as I was thinking, Ah Long called again, asking if I was worried about getting into trouble.

I admitted that I was. He chuckled and said, “Look at me, have I run into trouble?”

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“Honestly, I’ve been developing here for over a year, and nothing has happened.”

“Do you know why the company is based abroad? Because the authorities back home have no jurisdiction here. The police can’t enforce their laws in this place.”

“You can’t get rich without taking risks. If you want to strike it rich, you need guts.”

I didn’t say anything, but I could feel temptation stirring inside me, because I knew Ah Long was right.

These days, if you want to get rich overnight, there are only two ways—win the lottery, or skirt the edge of the law.

If you want to make money, you can’t be timid.

While I was mulling it over, Ah Long added, “Dongzi, you’re already at the border. If you turn back now, the whole trip will have been for nothing. I suggest you come over and take a look. If it suits you, stay. If not, I’ll arrange for you to go home.”

Hearing this, and thinking of how my parents’ hair had turned white since my failed business venture, and how the pressure of debt had kept me awake at night, lost and unsure of the road ahead, I felt that I might as well go and see. If it was suitable, I’d stay, work a few months, pay off my debts, and then leave.

Since I was going abroad, I figured I’d need a passport, so I told Ah Long I didn’t have one and asked if I needed to go back and get it. He said it wasn’t necessary—just follow the person picking me up.

After I hung up, I got into the motorized tricycle.

The tricycle ride lasted about half an hour, then I switched to a two-wheeled motorcycle.

The motorcycle sped into the forest, weaving swiftly along narrow paths no more than a few dozen centimeters wide, with a cliff on one side. I sat there, terrified that I might fall off into the ravine below.

Fortunately, the driver seemed used to transporting people like this, riding with impressive steadiness.

After about an hour, the motorcycle stopped at the edge of a river, where two inflatable rafts were shuttling people back and forth under the beams of flashlights.

Seeing this, I understood why Ah Long had said I didn’t need a passport. Clearly, I was about to cross into Myanmar by sneaking across the border.

On reflection, I felt this was actually better—slipping in and out without a trace. If I used a passport, there would be a record.

After crossing the river on a raft, I messaged Ah Long to say I’d made it. He replied, telling me to wait, that someone would come pick me up soon.

After waiting about ten minutes, an Alphard pulled up, and the driver asked if I was Dong. I said yes, and he tipped his chin toward the car, signaling me to get in.

I’m a bit shy around strangers, so after getting in, I didn’t chat with the driver and just played on my phone.

Just before dawn, we finally arrived at our destination.

The driver told me the place was called Mengbo County.

Though called a county, it felt no bigger than my hometown’s township—a couple of roads running through the whole place, buildings clustered along either side, and beyond that, nothing but wasteland.

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The place was clearly under development, with many high-rises going up and dust and dirt swirling in the air.

Mango and papaya trees were planted along both sides of the road.

The locals were easy to spot—their skin was very dark.

Before coming, I’d worried that I wouldn’t be able to get used to the food, or that cultural differences would make communication difficult. But as soon as I arrived, I was surprised to find the place looked just like home—every shop along the street had a Chinese sign.

The car finally stopped outside a cluster of prefab buildings, fenced in with corrugated metal. After a brief phone call, Ah Long quickly came out to greet me.

“Come on, come on, let’s get your things inside and rest for a bit!” Ah Long said cheerfully, putting his arm around me as we walked toward the entrance.

At the entrance sat a local man in a green military uniform, an AK resting across his knees, staring at me with a fierce and watchful gaze that sent chills down my spine.

After Ah Long cheerfully told him I was his brother, the man finally looked away.

Inside, Ah Long pointed to a row of prefab rooms. “These are our dorms for now. The new ones are being built, and we’ll move in when they’re done. Conditions are a bit rough, so bear with it for now.”

I nodded. He led me to a room deeper in. As soon as he pushed open the door, a wave of stench hit me. The floor was littered with trash, and three of the four bunk beds were already occupied.

The environment made me uncomfortable.

The people in the beds glanced up at me, then buried their heads and went back to sleep. Ah Long helped me set up my bedding on the empty bed.

“You’ve been traveling all night—get some sleep. Today you don’t have to do anything, just rest. Once you’re recovered, I’ll take you out to have some fun tonight!”

“If you need anything, just let me know.”

“I didn’t sleep last night either, so I’m going to get some rest myself!”

After giving these instructions, Ah Long left. I couldn’t sleep—the dorm was too smelly—so after sitting a while, I went outside for some air.

Just as I was about to walk around, I suddenly heard a low groaning. Listening carefully, I realized it was coming from a pit not far away.

Curious, I walked over.

One look, and my scalp went numb.