Chapter 22: Buying Guns

Wang Guodong also laughed and said, "Not everyone is like you, brother — most tourists are pretty stingy, after all it's hard-earned money. Forget that, let's talk about you. So, this trip to Bangkok — business or pleasure? Anything I can help you with?"

"Help is putting it too strongly, but there is something I'd like your assistance with, brother: I came to Bangkok this time intending to buy a few guns to take back and play with. Do you have any connections?"

"Buy guns to take back and play with?" Wang Guodong paused, then said, "Brother, you might not know this, but guns bought here — you can't take them back with you."

"I know — can't get them through customs, and smuggling boats are too risky. I'm clear on all that. But don't worry, brother, I've already arranged things with someone — a friend on a cargo ship. Bringing a few guns back won't be a problem."

Only then did Wang Guodong catch on: "Looks like you're dead set on this, brother. The goods aren't even bought yet and you've already cleared the route. Calling me out today — this is waiting for the rice to go into the pot, huh?"

"Yeah, everything's ready — just missing Brother Guodong, the east wind."

Wang Guodong nodded. "Actually, buying guns here is pretty easy, as long as you have Thai nationality. Civil servants even get discounts. The key is getting them out. Since you've got a route, brother, let's go check out some private workshops first — more convenient there, they don't even check ID, just pay and you're good."

"No workshops. This trip, your brother here is buying guns for collecting and admiring — I can't stand the sight of that junk."

Wang Guodong smiled apologetically and tapped his head. "My mistake, my mistake. With your wealth, brother, of course you'd only play with the good stuff. In that case, let me first take you to a shop I know to test some guns. Afterwards I'll contact a local — this guy has a gun license. For the gun shops on Khao San Road, you still need a local to show his face as a front."

"No rush, no rush — it's high noon, let's eat first."

That afternoon, Cao Chuan and the other man drove the SUV rented from the hotel and set up camp right on Bangkok's most famous gun-shop street, knocking off at dusk.

The second day was the same — Cao Chuan just threw cash around and tested guns in the shops. He really went all out these two days, firing every kind of pistol and rifle he could, using up over a thousand rounds of bullets alone, spending tens of thousands of yuan, his whole body aching, his shoulder red and swollen, reeking of gunpowder smoke.

But the payoff was considerable. Guns he'd only ever seen before on forums — this time he blasted through every single one of them. What you learn online is shallow in the end; only after actually firing live rounds did he know which guns felt right and which were just for show.

At half past one in the afternoon on the fourth day, the two of them arrived at the entrance of a gun shop on Khao San Road.

Sitting in the SUV rented from the hotel, Cao Chuan took a bag from the back seat and placed it in Wang Guodong's arms. "I won't go in — no need for your friend to see me. Inside is one hundred fifty thousand yuan, definitely enough. Don't get the gun models wrong — military issue. Thanks for your trouble, Brother Guodong."

Wang Guodong opened the bag and looked, then closed the zipper and sighed. "Rich people really are generous — spending a hundred fifty thousand on a few guns."

After saying this, Wang Guodong pushed the door open and got out, standing by the roadside and lighting a cigarette.

Cao Chuan leaned back in his seat and watched silently. Twenty minutes later, a Thai man wearing a floral shirt got out of a taxi. The man walked up to the shop entrance, saw Wang Guodong, and greeted him warmly. Wang Guodong also had a face full of smiles — he chatted and laughed with this skinny Thai man, and the two of them pulled the door open and walked into the gun shop as they talked.

The cash register was right at the shop entrance. Cao Chuan peered in through the glass window and saw the two of them talking with the owner. After a while, the owner brought out a calculator, gesturing and starting to argue with Wang Guodong about something.

About ten-odd minutes passed before the two seemed to reach an agreement. The skinny Thai man started filling out forms at the counter. After finishing the forms, the Thai man went off to a corner to drink iced tea. Wang Guodong followed him over, took a stack of cash from the bag, and handed it over. The Thai man put the money away, gave him a warm hug, then pressed his palms together in a wai and strode off.

Wang Guodong returned to the counter and began pulling money out of the bag.

After the owner finished counting the money, he led Wang Guodong toward the back of the gun shop. Cao Chuan knew that was the storehouse. Another half hour passed before Wang Guodong came out carrying two large cases.

Cao Chuan hurriedly reclined the seat and opened the rear door. Wang Guodong put the cases into the car, turned around, and went back to get more goods. After four round trips, the operation was finally over.

Pulling the door shut and getting into the car, Wang Guodong said, "All the goods are here. Brother, check them over."

Cao Chuan nodded and began opening the cases and inspecting them one by one. Wang Guodong reported the expenses from the side: "Two K17 Assault Rifles, full tactical accessory kits, military issue, capable of three-round burst — forty-seven thousand per set, two sets total ninety-four thousand."

Cao Chuan inspected the guns as he said, "Not expensive. Even the Americans don't dare buy these in bulk — one gun barrel costs as much as an M16. In North America, the civilian version bare gun is over two thousand dollars. Accessories cost more than the gun itself — a full kit runs at least five thousand. Converted to yuan, that's over thirty thousand. This is the military version — the owner's taking a risk selling it. Forty-seven thousand isn't expensive."

Wang Guodong lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and then said, "Good that you know the market. The owner originally wanted even more — it was my friend who came through. He's with the Thai Tourism Bureau, even more formidable than the cops. The owner had no choice; after haggling, he agreed to sell."

Cao Chuan nodded. "Thanks for your trouble, Brother Guodong."

Wang Guodong continued, "Two Beretta 9s, full accessory kits — six thousand each. One case each of two types of bullets, nine hundred rounds per case — two thousand eight hundred per case. Lastly, the grenade rounds — fewer of these, only twenty rounds."

Cao Chuan nodded. "Twenty rounds is just enough for me and my friends to play with once. Forget it, let's leave it at that for now."

Wang Guodong nodded. "As long as you rich folks have fun, that's all that matters."

Cao Chuan inspected the K17 in his hands, filled with delight.

Although online reviews of this gun were very high — all kinds of praise like fully modular design, the perfect combination of accuracy and firepower, and so on — to the old him, none of that had much meaning. It was only after personally testing it these past two days that he quickly came to fully approve of this gun.

Among all the guns he'd fired these past few days, this was the only rifle he liked the moment he used it — smooth, accurate, felt right no matter how he handled it, completely free of the awkwardness other guns had. It had that little something, like when friends work together with a tacit understanding.

"Fine gun, truly a fine gun — my forum buddies did not deceive me. Just a bit pricey, but doesn't matter — your bro has money. Perfection always comes at a cost." A certain someone thought to himself as he inspected the parts on the gun's body.

Once he finished checking the goods in the car, Wang Guodong handed over the bag. "There's still over twenty thousand left inside."

Cao Chuan pushed the bag right back. "Whatever's left in here — it's all for your trouble. Brother Guodong, you're not going to stand on ceremony with me, are you?"

Wang Guodong let out a hearty laugh. "Cao Zong, you really are generous. Then I won't stand on ceremony. Ah, this bit of money — I'd have to pull who knows how many customers to earn it back. No wonder so many people go into shady trades. The arms business really does make money."

Cao Chuan smiled and patted Wang Guodong on the shoulder. "Brother, I have a feeling I'll be coming to you for help again sooner or later. If you're interested, Brother Guodong, you could develop in this direction too. How much money can you really make running a bar?"

Watching Wang Guodong's thoughtful expression, Cao Chuan added, "We grew up in the same courtyard. Some things — it's best that you know and I know. Makes it easier to deal with each other in the future. Don't you agree, Brother Guodong?"

Wang Guodong caught on immediately and hurriedly said, "Don't worry, brother — I understand. No third person will ever know about today's business."

Cao Chuan nodded with satisfaction. The two parted ways there, and the SUV turned around and headed back to the hotel.