Chapter 1567: Work Together Then
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“So you harmed those people who came looking for the mine?” Li Du asked.
Maung Kyaw Zin said impatiently, “I already said. I did not kill them. I told them that the mountain is very dangerous, the mountain G.o.ds would punish…”
“But it’s still you who killed them,” Li Du said, “And it was you who used those pots and grill to cause their deaths. If it were not for the fact that someone coincidentally broke the grill and pots today, we would have died, right?”
Maung Kyaw Zin was stunned. Then he said, “If someone wanted to destroy your hometown, harm your tribe and loved ones, what would you do?”
Li Du said sincerely, “I would lay out the facts and talk reasonably. I would try to understand the rationale behind their actions. I would try to influence them with logic. I would try to awaken their conscience…”
Hearing that, Maung Kyaw Zin was stunned.
Li Du could not help but laugh and said, “Just kidding. I would kill them directly.”
Maung Kyaw Zin hmphed and then asked, “Where is the statue of the mountain G.o.d? Can you help me contact that explorer? That sculpture is my family heirloom.”
Li Du said, “The pots and grill on the mountain are also your heirlooms. Why did you throw them out?”
Maung Kyaw Zin asked, “How did you know that I don’t want them anymore?”
Having asked that question, he grew silent. Then he looked confused.
After taking in his expression, Li Du quickly understood the meaning of that sentence. “D*mn, you knew that the pots and grill could attract those weird ants? You wanted to let the ants kill us?!”
Maung Kyaw Zin pointed at him and said, “Don’t be angry. I gave you guys a choice. I have warned you many times and even urged you guys not to look for the jade mine on the mountain. Isn’t life more important than the jade mine?”
“If it were you, what would you do? If they really found the jade mine on the Dena Mountain, do you know what our town would turn into? What would become of our loved ones? I have to stop that from happening! That’s too scary!”
Li Du understood now. It was no wonder that that man had not called the cops when he realized that they were looking for the jade mine. He was afraid that the government would find out that he had been withholding the information on the mine.
If it were just private groups coming to mine, he had a way to stop them. However, if it escalated to the higher government officials, he would be helpless.
Maung Kyaw Zin continued, “Also, didn’t you guys turn out fine? The pot was damaged and you guys didn’t eat the food that was cooked in it. The ants would not bite you guys. As long as you don’t go provoke the ants, you’ll be fine. Like now.”
Li Du understood now. He asked, “What’s with the copper pot? It can attract the ants. If we eat food cooked in it, will it cause the ants to attack?”
Maung Kyaw Zin nodded. “Yes, I don’t know what the reason is, but it’s just that way. These ants are very strange. I have learned farming and biology in your country. I even chose to specialize in entomology. With regard to these ants, I did not find any information.”
Li Du pointed to the bottle and asked again, “I saw that the ants were contained in the bottle. How did they turn into droplets?”
Maung Kyaw Zin said, “I’m not sure about the details, but the formic acid of these ants is invincible, very terribly acidic, with some poison. I’m guessing that the queen ant has tremendous control over the worker ants. By releasing certain pheromone or through other means, she subdues the workers.
“Hence, when the worker ant goes out of the pheromone’s range of control, it would release the formic acid and kill themselves and members of their own species. This will corrode their corpses too.”
Li Du’s doubts had been fundamentally resolved. Everything was clear about Maung Kyaw Zin. All he wanted to do was bring home the jade heirloom of his family.
Seeing that he was very desperate, Li Du asked, “Is there some secret related to the jade sculpture? Why do you want it back so much?”
Maung Kyaw Zin laughed bitterly. “What secret is there? I just want to take it back and leave it as an heirloom for the next generation. The copper grill and pot have been destroyed. I’m a prisoner in my family. I have to compensate for it with something.”
Li Du thought for a while and said, “If you want the jade sculpture back, I’m afraid it’s not going to be easy. You should know the value of that jade sculpture, right?”
Maung Kyaw Zin instantly looked put out. “Yes, it is very valuable. A thousand gold bars cannot be enough to exchange for it.”
Li Du said, “That’s right. That friend of mine resides in the States. Let’s not talk about whether he would be willing to let go of his prized possession. Even if he were, what could you offer to trade for it? Cash? Do you have so much money?”
Maung Kyaw Zin became more depressed. He shook his head. “No, I don’t,” he sighed
Li Du patted his shoulder and said, “You need a long-term plan for this. Let me see if I have a way to help you get the jade sculpture back. Honestly, it’s not that you have no money. You are on a treasure mountain…”
“No way!” Maung Kyaw Zin jumped in. “I know you’re talking about the jade mine. I definitely can’t let the mine be revealed. Otherwise, Wooku Town will be wrecked, and so would its people!”
“In Myanmar, jade mines only bring disaster for the people. Unless I become a leader in the country, I will definitely have no way of controlling the jade mine. You won’t either.”
He was worried that Li Du would start to mine on the jade mountain. Hence, he cautioned him.
Li Du nodded and said, “That’s right. I do not have a way to control the jade mine either. However, now your copper pot and grill have been destroyed. In the future, when someone comes to dig in the mine, will you have a way of stopping them?”
That made Maung Kyaw Zin extremely upset. He covered his face and shook his head. “No, d*mn, I would have no way to do that now!”
Seeing how troubled he was, Li Du sat down at the table. Then he took his time to say, “Actually, there is a way.”
Maung Kyaw Zin looked up at him and asked, “What way?”
Li Du said, “Dena Mountain is not huge. You can contract the place, including the town. Then it will be private territory and you can stop other people from going up the mountain.”
Maung Kyaw Zin shook his head and said, “I’ve thought about that. But to contract it would cost a lot of money, at least a billion.”
Of course, he was referring to Burmese Kyat. Based on the exchange rate, one to two billion Kyat would be around 500,000 to one million RMB. It was not too exorbitant.
Li Du said, “Look, how about working together with us? I will provide the money. You will contract the Dena Mountain. Then, plant trees to protect it.”
“And after that? You want to mine for jade, right?” Maung Kyaw Zin laughed coldly.
Li Du said, “I’m not dumb. Just as you said, if it is discovered that there is a jade mine here, the government would confiscate the entire mountain. If I start to mine here, what good would it do me?”
“Then what do you want?” Maung Kyaw Zin was confused.
Li Du said, “I do want to mine. However, I’m not looking for jade. I swear, I will definitely not leave with a piece of rock. You can watch me at work. I’m just looking for something.”
“If you agree to my terms, other than providing you money to contract the mountain, I will even invest in a basic facility for the town every year. This year, I can build a small school. Next year, a hospital. In the future, every year, I will invest in the town’s development. How about that?”