Chapter 1535 Stuck (1/2)

The bunch of them cheered as they continued their journey.

The happenings by the river had caused them to become excited. However, their excitement did not last long. That was because they had to start trekking up a mountain now. The mountain was very steep. After passing the mountain, however, the customs would be near.

There was a road in the mountains. Like all mountain roads, it was rugged and was even muddier after the rain.

Someone had prepared in advance for that. There were rocks of different sizes placed on the road. That helped make walking over the muddy patch easier. However, the path was very steep and they had to ride on it very carefully.

Such paths were uninteresting. Li Du had traveled far and wide for many years, and he had been to many places. Typically, mountains with poor road conditions would be accompanied by breathtaking scenery.

However, this mountain that they were on was full of nothing but rocks. In between the rocks, typically there would be some trees here and there. However, the trees of this mountain had been cut down. Such stone mountains were very ugly and Li Du lost his interest in it after a glance.

They could only ride up the mountain in a single file. The conditions of the road were poor and there were many sharp turns. Besides, there would be people coming down or up at the same time. Hence, they had to be careful. Otherwise, it would be a disaster if they collided with another car there.

After a close shave where two of their bikes skidded and almost caused an accident, they finally arrived at the peak of the mountain. The military police had set up a customs pass there and everyone lined up for inspection.

There were several machine guns resting on tripods on the ground. As the saying goes, ”One man can hold out against a thousand”.

After seeing Li Du's passport, the military officer frowned and said something in Burmese.

Zhong Da Pao answered in Burmese and Young Markelov translated, ”They are saying that we are foreigners with unknown backgrounds. We are not allowed to pass through.”

Li Du knew about that regulation. In order to combat the smuggling of jade and to maintain law and order, the Myanmar government once banned foreigners and even outsiders from entering various fields.

However, that was a regulation only in name. Without foreigners bringing in money, the stones in the field would not be able to become more expensive. Hence, for those people who had better connections, those regulations would not be upheld.

Previously, Li Du had also passed through many customs. Cole and Winston had made some connections for him and gave him a pass. There had been no customs to stop him so far. This was the first time the customs closed the door on him.

Zhong Da Pao knew the military officers. He passed a cigarette for them to share. Then, he started to pull some strings.

He was a local. Such an issue had never been a problem. However, now there was one. The military officers took his cigarette but continued to shake their heads, rejecting his request.

Liu Zi, who was very impulsive, was about to rush forward. Li Du jumped up and held him back. ”D*mn, Master Liu, you dare to make trouble here? They have guns!”

Liu Zi said, ”I am rash, but I'm no fool. Would I do this if I had no experience? I just wanted to go over to tell Brother Pao that there must be someone who is the mastermind behind this.”

Indeed, although the military officers did not allow Li Du and his men to pass through, they nodded after seeing Da Mao's passport. They waved him through.

Liu Zi stood atop a bunch of sandbags, looking around. Then he pointed at the road down the mountain and said, ”D*mn, brother Pao, we don't have to say more. It's the King of Hpakant's ploy.”

Li Du squeezed over for a look. He saw that there was a middle-aged man in a suit who was standing at a turn ahead. He was grinning.

Zhong Da Pao took his passport back and said with a pale face, ”Let's return.”

They went back the same way they came up. However, they did not go too far. They found a comfortable wide space and sat down.

Li Du went to buy some drinks and fruit. Needless to say, the things there were much more expensive. A pineapple cost two hundred RMB. That was akin to open robbery!

He was not lacking in money. Their journey there had caused them to become tired and thirsty. Hence, he couldn't bother to ask for a bargain. After buying a huge bunch of fruits, he went back to share with the rest.