Chapter 2796: An Important Gift

At three in the morning, Zhou Andong and his team were on their way back to the capital when a container ship slowly entered Zhoushan Port, proceeding smoothly all the way to the dock. The driver stepped out of the vehicle holding a file folder and handed it directly to the customs officer.

The customs officer took the file folder, opened it, and upon seeing the documents and the red seal inside, his expression immediately turned stern. He then solemnly returned the documents to the driver, raised his arm, and gestured for clearance.

The driver got back in the car and drove to the pier. At that moment, a cargo ship was being loaded. The driver again stepped out with the file folder and handed it to the on-site dispatcher.

"Leader!" the driver said politely: "My cargo is special—it should be loaded last and placed on top."

The dispatcher appeared to be in his early thirties, having worked for seven or eight years. This was the first time someone had approached him with such a request. Mostly, when people ask him to do something, they just talk big without offering anything— not even a pack of cigarettes—and then act like he's not worth anything.

So, the dispatcher's face darkened instantly, and he snapped impatiently: "Get out of the way—can't you see I'm busy?"

The driver didn't get angry. He held up the file folder in front of the dispatcher: "Comrade, take a look."

"Get lost!" the dispatcher frowned: "Don't interfere with my work, or I'll call security."

The driver raised an eyebrow, the smile fading from his face as his voice turned icy: "I advise you to look. Otherwise, if something really goes wrong with the cargo, you won't be able to handle it."

The dispatcher snorted coldly, about to speak, but seeing the driver's icy expression, his eye twitched. He swallowed his words unwillingly, reluctantly took the file folder, and opened it.

When he pulled out the document and saw the large red seal, his pupils contracted sharply. He quickly shoved the document back into the folder: "Comrade, rest assured—I'll load your cargo last."

"Thank you!" the driver said, turning back with the file folder: "I'll wait in the car."

Time passed slowly, and a faint light appeared in the east. Within just over ten minutes, the gray sky fully brightened. At that moment, the last container hanging from the crane was steadily lowered onto the cargo ship.

The driver didn't leave. He waited until daylight fully broke, the cargo ship's horn sounded, and it slowly pulled away from the port before giving a faint smile, turning around, and getting back into his car to drive off.

…………

Zhou Andong didn't get up until after ten in the morning. Today was Sunday, and Jianfan and Xiaoyuer were still at home, since they had only just arrived before dawn and hadn't woken up yet.

Zhou Andong patted Qiuqiu's shoulder and said weakly: "Wife, wake up."

Qiuqiu opened her eyes, yawned, and blinked sleepily: "What time is it?"

"Past ten." Zhou Andong propped himself up, leaned against the headboard, and lit a cigarette: "Have you booked the flight to Guangdong Province for tomorrow?"

Qiuqiu snuggled closer, her face pressed against Zhou Andong's chest: "Didn't you say you'd book it?"

"Really?" Zhou Andong scratched his head: "I forgot—you book it."

"Sure!" Qiuqiu replied lazily: "Are you still going to the factory today?"

Zhou Andong reached over, picked up the ashtray from the nightstand, and moved it aside: "I still have a few things to arrange—I need to go to the factory."

Qiuqiu rubbed her head against Zhou Andong's chest: "It's already this late—why aren't you getting up yet?"

"I'm getting up now." Zhou Andong took two puffs of his cigarette, then pressed the remaining half into the ashtray: "You get up—I'll get dressed."

Qiuqiu lifted her head and lay back on the pillow: "I'll sleep a little longer."

Zhou Andong laughed: "Sleep? In a bit, your daughter's going to come knock on the door."

"No way!" Qiuqiu muttered: "It's Sunday, and it's already past ten—she hasn't come over yet. She's probably playing with her aunt."

"Fine, keep sleeping." Zhou Andong got dressed, washed up, and left without calling Chu Bing or eating breakfast.

Everything he brought back last night was placed in the safe. When he has time, he'll invite those old cricket experts over to examine them—figure out their origins and value—so he can have a clear idea in mind.

This matter can't be delayed, because although he trusts those old experts, they're all elderly and could pass away at any time. If that happens, who would he turn to for authentication? As for those so-called experts, he doesn't think highly of them at all.

When Zhou Andong arrived at his office, the afternoon shift bell rang just on time.

Dong Tang Wenjuan poured Zhou Andong a cup of tea: "Factory director, at 9:30 a. m., Yuan Dongfang from Xiangjiang Autumn East called. He didn't say what it was about—just asked you to call him back."

"Okay!" Zhou Andong nodded: "I know."

Dong Tang Wenjuan left, and Zhou Andong picked up his tea cup and took a sip. Since nothing urgent had come up, and Yuan Wanqi wouldn't call him unless it was important—but he wasn't at the factory and hadn't called home—it probably wasn't urgent. Or perhaps it was important, but not time-sensitive.

Thinking this, Zhou Andong picked up the phone and dialed Yuan Wanqi's office. Soon, her voice came through the receiver.

"Boss!"

Zhou Andong smiled: "Ms. Yuan, you called me this morning—is there something important?"

"Yes, very important." Yuan Wanqi's tone turned serious: "You're getting married in October, and Alice is currently negotiating an acquisition with the Vale and BHP Billiton. If she comes to mainland China to attend your wedding, it could affect the negotiations. So, she sent you a gift. But this gift is quite special—customs will need your help to clear it, or there could be trouble."

Zhou Andong asked curiously: "What kind of gift? Do you know?"

"I don't know what it is!" Yuan Wanqi said seriously: "But Alice said you must personally go to the port to receive the cargo—absolutely no publicity. Once it's exposed, it could cause serious trouble."

Zhou Andong's eyes narrowed: "Which port? Which ship? When is it arriving?"

"Zhu Hai Port, arriving on the 15th of this month." Yuan Wanqi's voice came again: "I'll fax you the pickup documents shortly."

"Okay!"

Zhou Andong replied: Since it's Zhu Hai Port, that's manageable—he's currently in a passionate affair with someone from Qiong Province, and it's just a matter of one sentence from Squad Leader Zhou.

"How's the situation in Mexico?"

Yuan Wanqi said energetically: "According to intelligence analysis, the likelihood of an economic crisis in Mexico is increasing. Also, there's movement on Wall Street—short sellers are quietly entering the market."

Zhou Andong laughed: "How's our setup going?"

Yuan Wanqi said solemnly: "It's been completed for half a month now—just waiting for the east wind to rise, then a thousand sails will set out together."