Chapter 101: Rest

After hearing the price offered by Ah Liang, Long Maqi’s wife was very pleased, as the price was quite fair. Previously, some had inquired whether the plantation estate was for sale, but the offers were all low, as those buyers knew she was desperate for money. There is no secret that stays hidden forever; many plantation owners had learned about the circumstances of Long Maqi’s murder. These opportunists tried to drive the price down, thinking they could take advantage of her situation. However, they did not expect Ah Liang’s approach. On that very day, Long Maqi’s wife signed the contract with Ah Liang, who also transferred the money into her account the same day—in US dollars.

When Long Maqi’s wife received the extortion call this time, she did not report it to the police, though the authorities had taken notice of her actions. She was firmly against police involvement, arguing that since Long Maqi was killed under police protection, she had no faith in their competence. To pressure the police department, she even leveraged many of Long Maqi’s old connections. Previously, Long Maqi had used those ties to have the police arrest the extortionists; now, she was using them to prevent further police interference in the extortion case. Given the money involved and the fact that Long Maqi had indeed been killed under police watch, doubts about their capability were inevitable. Consequently, Long Maqi’s old contacts exerted pressure on the police bureau, forcing them to seek alternative solutions.

This time, Wei Hua chose to conduct the transaction at night. Long Maqi’s wife was driven by a chauffeur to the outskirts of Jakarta. By the time they arrived, night had fallen. Following a rudimentary road, the car reached the end of an abandoned railway bridge. According to Wei Hua’s instructions, Long Maqi’s wife and the driver threw the bag of money beneath the bridge, then drove back along the same route. Midway, they encountered police tailing them. The officers stopped the car, asked a few questions, and confirmed that the money had been handled as per the extortion demands. Resigned, they could only shake their heads. Tracking Long Maqi’s wife until nightfall made it clear they wouldn’t catch the culprits. Catching a group familiar with the terrain, agile, equipped with night-vision gear—even if the police had such equipment—would have been nearly impossible. Lacking such tools, the officers left frustrated and dejected.

The ransom amount this time was two million US dollars. Wei Hua, after a brief inspection confirming its authenticity, tossed the money aside. The first extortion plan had been executed flawlessly, but he still had second, third, and fourth phases to carry out until Ah Liang’s acquisition was complete. The entire plan from start to finish took over a month, now well into July. A few days later, Wei Hua met He Xiaoya, who had arrived in Indonesia. She informed him that the training camp had already begun training Lin Jihan, Yu Xiaomeng, Jiang Hua, and others. These individuals would need about a year to complete their training. Then, He Xiaoya discreetly asked if Wei Hua was behind the recent explosion. He remained silent but handed her the two million dollars, instructing her to smuggle it into Indonesia and, through legitimate channels, deliver it to Ah Liang as acquisition funds. Wei Hua then tasked He Xiaoya with gathering intelligence on Indonesian gangs as well as high-ranking officials in the government and military—detailed information was preferred.

Throughout July, Wei Hua conducted four extortion operations. Following Long Maqi’s precedent, subsequent victims cooperated and paid their ransoms quietly, disappearing from the ranks of Jakarta’s plantation owners; their estates became part of Ah Liang’s holdings. Soon, a rumor spread among Jakarta’s plantation owners: a group was specifically extorting these estates, seeking revenge for past injustices suffered there. The gossip grew wider and more believable, sowing panic among the owners—everyone except Ah Liang. To show he took the matter seriously, Ah Liang deliberately brought a few foreign bodyguards from the Snow Leopard Security Company in New York to make a show of force, subtly pressuring the other plantation owners.

In early August, Wei Hua conducted three more extortion attempts, all successful. This caused further panic among the remaining owners, sparking a wave of estate sales. Ah Liang easily acquired half of the plantations on Jakarta’s outskirts, while others were taken by a few newcomers who hadn’t been plantation owners before—some indifferent to the threat of extortion.

Seeing the situation, Wei Hua knew it was time to halt the extortion plans. Continuing to target new owners risked exposing the true purpose behind the plan. Many intelligent people were watching; if anyone connected Ah Liang to the extortions, it would spell trouble. Thus, Wei Hua ended the extortion efforts by late August.

After stopping, Wei Hua used his company’s cargo ship to smuggle himself back to Hong Kong. At home, he met briefly with Jessie before she hurried back to Mainland China. Snow Pool Electronics’ flat-screen color TVs sold well in Japan and had a large market across Southeast Asia. The Shenzhen production line needed expansion. Jessie recognized Mainland China as a highly promising market, especially since black-and-white TVs were selling briskly there. She was planning to add washing machine, refrigerator, and air conditioner production lines, keeping her very busy with little time for Wei Hua. Wei Hua was pleased she did not blame him but instead reflected on not spending enough time with him. Generously, he said he didn’t mind and then told Jessie he had important matters to attend to and wouldn’t be in contact for several months. She understood.

Wei Hua rested in Hong Kong for two weeks, during which he attended a banquet hosted by the Rong family. Most guests remained cautious toward this young tycoon who had recently appeared in Hong Kong, much to Wei Hua’s satisfaction—he preferred to keep a low profile. Two weeks later, He Xiaoya delivered the intelligence Wei Hua needed. She did not ask about his intentions, as her orders were to assist, not to spy. With the information in hand, Wei Hua smuggled himself back into Indonesia once more.

Apologies to everyone for the repetition—only realized it today. The missing part will be made up soon! Please continue your support!