Finale, page 19
“The May Ling Wong from Wuhan, the wife of Wong Changxing?”
“Yes, they’ve formed a company with Ava’s sister-in-law, Amanda Yee, called the Three Sisters, which they’ve capitalized with two hundred million U.S.”
“Is May Ling cutting ties with Changxing?”
“No, she’ll retain her interest in their businesses, but she and Ava have decided to build their own empire.”
“That is very interesting,” Xu said.
Uncle sensed an opening to discuss the possibility of the Shanghai gang putting money into the Three Sisters, but decided it should be a separate conversation.
“But even with May’s involvement, there will be times when Ava will need the type of assistance that only my triad links could provide. You are the person I would like her to call on when I am gone,” said Uncle. “In my mind, and as strange as it might sound, I have thought of you almost as brother and sister. I know it is late to bring you together, but the timing never seemed right until now.”
Xu held his glass between his palms and stared at Uncle. “This has been a conversation filled with surprises,” he said finally.
“I know, and I apologize for that, but there were things I could only tell you face to face.”
“You never have to apologize to me, Uncle. You have done more for me than I can ever repay,” Xu said. “But as for Ava, is it really important to you that she and I develop a relationship?”
“It would bring me a sense of peace.”
Xu held his glass out to Uncle. “Then I will do whatever is necessary to make it happen.”
Uncle tapped the neck of his bottle against Xu’s glass. “You have made me very happy.”
“You haven’t mentioned what she knows about me.”
“I haven’t told her anything about you, so that will be my next move. Ava is travelling on business right now. I expect her back in Hong Kong in a few days, and then I’ll sit down with her and sing the song of Xu. When that’s done, I would appreciate it if you could come to Hong Kong to meet her in person.”
“I’d be glad to.” Xu nodded somberly. “It will also give me another chance to spend time with you. And speaking of time together, we don’t have to go to the factory tomorrow. If you prefer, you could come to the house, see Auntie Grace, and have a quiet dinner with us.”
“That’s very thoughtful, but truthfully I welcome the distraction the factory will offer,” Uncle said, and then yawned. “Sorry, the day is beginning to catch up to me.”
“I’ll get going,” Xu said, standing. “I’ll call you in the morning when I’m close to the hotel. I would like to leave for the factory around ten.”
“That works for me,” said Uncle, rising to his feet.
They walked to the door. Xu reached for the handle, then turned and put his arms around Uncle. The two men hugged. Neither of them spoke.
( 8 )
Within minutes of Xu leaving his suite, Uncle climbed into bed. He was mentally and physically drained, and barely had the energy to take off his clothes. But it was with an overwhelming sense of relief that he pulled the duvet up to his chin.
He had hoped, but not taken for granted, that Xu would be amenable to his proposals. The fact that he had agreed to both was satisfying beyond words, and Uncle fell into a deep sleep with a sense of calm that had been absent from his life since his diagnosis. He slept soundly, and would certainly have slept longer if his mobile phone hadn’t rung.
“Wei,” he answered.
“It’s Ava.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m at the airport in Hong Kong.”
“So soon?”
“Where are you?”
“I’m in Shanghai,” he said.
“How are you feeling?”
“Well enough. I think we will be here for another day at least. You did not have to rush back.”
“I didn’t come back for you,” she said, and then quickly added: “That’s not what I meant.”
“There’s no need to be concerned about my feelings,” he said. “But you sounded distressed in your message, and now again you seem upset. Has something happened?”
“May and I have a problem in Kota Kinabalu, in Borneo. And now Amanda has been caught up in it.”
“How?”
“She and one of our local partners in Borneo were attacked last night outside of a restaurant. They were beaten with baseball bats. We think it was premeditated,” said Ava.
“What motivated the attack?”
“It’s the money issue that Changxing alluded to when he called you, but it’s too complicated to explain over the phone.”
“Then you know who did it?”
“We think we know who was behind it, but we have no proof. I was hoping you could help get me some,” she said. “I think the attackers were hired to do the job, and you don’t just find men like that on the street, especially on short notice. So, if I wanted to hire someone in Kota Kinabalu for a job like that, who would I talk to?”
“I do not know.”
“Can you find out?”
“Perhaps,” Uncle said.
“All I need is a starting point — the name of someone who can point me in the right direction.”
“I will speak to some people. I will get you a name.”
“Thank you,” said Ava.
“So you are going to Kota Kinabalu?”
“I am. May is already there. Amanda and our staff need our support.”
Uncle had been lying down as he spoke to her, but now he sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. As self-sufficient as Ava could be, Kota Kinabalu did not seem to him to be a place where she and May should go it alone. “Ava, I am managing quite well here, and my hosts have been extremely supportive. Sonny has not been absolutely necessary —”
“I want Sonny to stay in Shanghai with you,” she interrupted, immediately picking up on his suggestion. “It would be more of a worry for me knowing that you are by yourself.”
“You might need help.”
“If I do, I’ll let you know. Right now, I just want to get things resolved, and then get back to Hong Kong in time for your return.”
Uncle sighed but knew there was no point in arguing with her. “Sonny is only a few hours away if you require him.”
“I know. Thank you.”
“I will get the information you want within the next hour. Leave your phone on,” he said.
“I don’t have to board for another hour and a half, so I’ll be here.”
Uncle started to call Xu, and then stopped. His throat was dry, and he needed to go to the bathroom. There was nothing to lose, he decided, in taking a few minutes to gather himself. After a trip to the bathroom, he drank a glass of water, put on some clothes, and made a cup of coffee. He wasn’t sure how the coffee would go down, so he took a careful sip and waited several seconds before taking another. When his stomach didn’t feel bothered, he carried the cup to the desk and phoned Xu.
“Is this Uncle?” Auntie Grace answered.
“Yes, I hope this isn’t too early to call,” he said.
“It’s almost eight. We’ve been up for ages,” she said. “Wait a moment while I get Xu.”
“Good morning, did you sleep well?” Xu asked when he came on the line.
“The best I have in some time.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Have you changed your mind about visiting the factory?”
“No, I’m calling because I need your help — or actually, Ava does,” Uncle said.
“I’d be pleased to help her however I can.”
“Well, she’s heading for Borneo this morning, to Kota Kinabalu, where they have made a business investment. Her partner, Amanda, and a local associate were attacked last night by some hired goons, and she wants to know who they work for. I was hoping you might have a name for me to give her.”
“Not offhand, but let me phone the Mountain Master in Kuala Lumpur. Unless I’m mistaken, Kota is in one of the Malaysian states in Borneo, so he should know something.”
“Thanks. Ava is at the airport in Hong Kong waiting for her flight.”
“So, in other words, I should call KL right away,” Xu said with a laugh.
“If you could, and I’m sorry for being so pushy.”
“I’ll do it as soon as we hang up,” said Xu.
Uncle stayed at the desk. There was a time when he had known every Mountain Master in Asia. Those days were now gone, as death and retirement had created a new cadre of leaders. Fortunately, most of them had heard of Uncle, so his ability to get help wasn’t too badly affected. But even when he was on top of his game, he had never heard the words Borneo and Mountain Master in the same sentence. Was it possible the triads didn’t have a presence in Kota Kinabalu?
He finished his coffee and called down for some congee from room service. As soon as he finished giving his order, his mobile rang.
“Wei,” he answered.
“The man Ava needs to talk to is called Wan,” Xu said quickly. “According to the Mountain Master in KL, Wan runs Kota Kinabalu.”
“Is he triad?”
“It’s not so easy to characterize. He has some kind of affiliation with 14K,” Xu said, naming one of the largest triad gangs in the world. “But it was emphasized that he is not officially 14K and operates in Kota independently.”
“What does ‘affiliation’ mean?”
“He buys drugs from them.”
“So there is a relationship?”
“Of course. What is more difficult is determining how it is valued.”
“By 14K?”
“No, by him,” Xu said.
“He is that independent?”
“Yes, but mainly because no one cares about a market as small as Kota Kinabalu. He can do what he wants there as long as he pays for his drugs on time.”
“Still . . .”
“My contact said that no one actually knows how to reach him. He calls them when he wants to place an order,” Xu said. “Although my contact was told by his 14K source that he conducts much of his business in person from the Fa Pang Restaurant in Kota’s downtown area. He’s there most nights.”
“That isn’t much to go on.”
“Wan runs a tight operation.”
“How large is his gang?”
“There are about thirty members. Not all of them are active, but the gang casts a wide shadow and can pull in other men as needed.”
“How wide?”
“In Borneo there are two Malaysian states, and each has their own operation. Wan is in Sabah state. The other is Sarawak and is run by a guy named Yeung. Wan and Yeung have a territorial agreement and a loose working relationship. They are both Hakka, though Wan has Sichuan roots and Yeung’s family is from Fujian.”
“I didn’t realize the Chinese presence was so strong in Borneo,” said Uncle.
“Me neither, but I was told the population is at least fifty percent Chinese and that Mandarin is commonly spoken.”
“That should make it easier for Ava.”
“Not necessarily. The KL Mountain Master stressed that Wan is very difficult to deal with.”
“After everything you have told me, that is no surprise. I will let her know. Thank you, Xu — this will be of great help to Ava. I’ll call her right away,” Uncle said. “Then I’ll meet you here at ten as planned.”
He reached for a notepad, quickly jotted down the key points, and called Ava.
“Uncle, that was fast. Did you manage to find out what I asked?”
“Some of it,” he said, and then relayed the information Xu had given him.
“In this day and age, how can someone be in business and not be available by phone?” she asked when he had finished.
“I don’t know. But Xu’s contact believed you could find Wan at the restaurant.”
“I guess that’s my only option.”
“Be careful.”
“As always.”
“And don’t hesitate to contact me if you need more help,” he said. “Remember, Sonny is only a short flight away.”
“Uncle, I’ll see you in Hong Kong in a couple of days. Please keep well,” she said.
Uncle had an uneasy feeling when Ava ended their call. He had never believed in premonitions, but there was something about the situation in Borneo that ate at him. Missing money, hired goons with baseball bats attacking women on the street, a difficult gangster with some tenuous ties to the triads, and a place he knew nothing about. It was a mixture that made him so uncomfortable that he considered sending Sonny to join Ava even without her consent. Before that thought went any further, there was a loud knock at the door. He opened it to room service with his congee.
The congee was just as good as that of Morning Blessings — but at four times the price, Uncle thought that was the least it should be. Still, it was good, the portion was large, and eating carefully he managed to finish it all in half an hour. When he was done, his thoughts returned to Ava, Borneo, and Sonny. After a few minutes he shook his head in frustration. There was no way, he decided, that he could send Sonny without her permission. It would only irritate her. Besides, it was too late in their relationship for him to begin acting like a worried grandfather.
( 9 )
They drove in two cars to Nantong. Uncle, Xu, and a driver went in the Mercedes, and they were followed by Sonny, Suen, and two forty-niners in a bmw 8 Series sedan. It was a 150-kilometre drive, and the plan was to arrive around noon in time for lunch at the factory.
“Did you give Ava the information about Wan?” Xu asked as they left the Peninsula in Shanghai.
“I did. And thank you again.”
“Hopefully she can use it to resolve whatever problem she has in Borneo.”
“Speaking of her business,” Uncle said, “I am confident the Three Sisters will be successful in whatever they do, but as substantial as their two hundred million start-up fund is, it does rather limit their operations.”
“What kind of operations are they planning?”
“So far, they’ve acquired a warehouse and logistics company in Shanghai. That’s a sector that May knows very well, and I know they want to expand their holdings in it. More money would make that happen faster . . .”
“Are you suggesting that I invest money in the Three Sisters?”
“It is something to consider.”
“As a partner?”
“No, I don’t think the women would agree to that, but you could structure something on a deal-by-deal basis that precludes ownership but gives you a return on profit that reflects what would have been your percentage of partnership,” said Uncle, and paused. “It is just an idea. I know you have an abundance of cash but few legitimate options to invest in. And I know the business arrangement I made with the Liu family in Shenzhen continues to provide the Fanling gang with returns that are not only consistent but legal. There are many advantages to being a silent partner with people you can trust.”
“Have you discussed this with Ava and May Ling?”
“No, I wanted to gauge your interest first.”
“It’s true that we need to diversify in ways that will put our money to productive use without raising our profile or offending the authorities. Investing discreetly in legitimate businesses has considerable appeal.”
“Then I will add that to my list of conversation topics when I speak to Ava in Hong Kong.”
They were on the G40 Shanghai–Xi’an Expressway heading north to the Yangtze River. Nantong sat on its northern shore, and they would be crossing the seven-kilometre-long Chongming–Qidong Yangtze River Bridge to get there. Uncle looked out the window at rows of apartment blocks interspersed with factories and the occasional flash of greenery.
“I’ve never been to Nantong, but I remember how excited your father was when he opened his first clothing factory there.”
“He copied what you were doing in Shenzhen, but it was a natural fit because Nantong was the leading textile manufacturer in China then. Textiles still form an important part of the city’s economy, but after the government allowed it to accept foreign investment, new industries began popping up. Our factory was originally built to make small household appliances.”
“What’s the population now?”
“More than seven million.”
“So finding good labour is not a problem?”
“That’s the least of our worries. Our biggest problem is keeping our engineering and industrial design staff motivated. We have a mixture of young university grads, and talent we’ve poached from Apple and Samsung. They are a creative bunch and are always pushing to go in new directions.”
“Like laptop computers?”
“Yes. I have little doubt we could make something almost as good as Apple, but I’m not convinced it will be profitable enough to justify the risk of infuriating the government. Apple has many friends in high places.”
“I’m looking forward to the presentation.”
Xu smiled. “I am as well. I’ve been kept in the dark until now.”
The factory was on the outskirts of Nantong, in an industrial park that seemed to spread to hundreds of acres. Despite his familiarity with industrial parks in places like Shenzhen, Uncle couldn’t remember seeing so many mammoth factories in one place. Some covered as much area as a city block, and there were buildings that were twenty storeys high. The signs on their walls identified a lot of textile manufacturers, but just as many were making appliances, bicycles, scooters, furniture, and unspecified electronics. When Xu’s driver brought the car to a stop outside of a four-storey red-brick building, Uncle saw the sign — Ai Electronics — and smiled. Ai had been Xu’s mother’s name.
