In the cultural circle of Southeast Asia, one country stands out. Laos, with its small land area of only 236,800 square kilometers, is home to nearly 100,000 Chinese Hunanese.

In Laos, Hunan cuisine restaurants, dot almost every street, particularly snack bars in Shaoyang. Additionally, hardware stores, and motorcycle shops, of various sizes are widespread. Almost all these shop owners are fellow compatriots from Hunan.

In the early days, Hunan people, not only established a firm foothold in Laos, with their pioneering spirit of hard work, and daring ventures, but also achieved significant prosperity.

Their wealth is the envy of many. After accumulating wealth in life, it seems we've entered a safe zone.

However, we often overlook that, wealth can not only empower people, to change the world but also sow the seeds of ambitious expansion, in their hearts.

When it comes to wealth, people always unknowingly blur the boundaries, between black and white.

Through this case, we seem to be able to see, the black and white paths, of Chinese businessmen in Southeast Asia.

This case is adapted from real events. The case information comes from Overseaschina and Xiaoxiang Morning Herald. The characters in the article are all pseudonyms.

1 Sudden death in daily life

2018 marks the 24th year of Hu Liang, a businessman from Shaodong, doing business in Laos. Two years ago, he became a Lao citizen. On May 18, at the age of 42, he had just been elected as the president, of the Hunan Chamber of Commerce in Laos. At this time, he was already holding multiple jobs and was accustomed to "squeezing" himself in his daily life.

Due to his busy and irregular schedule, Hu Liang sleeps in the bedroom next to his wife's, when he returns home at night. When she gets up early the next day, she does so quietly, allowing her hard-working husband, to rest a little longer.

However, on August 12, an ordinary midsummer weekend, no one, including Hu Liang himself, anticipated that the day would take a tragic turn. By mid-morning, Hu Liang was nowhere to be found. Concerned, his wife went to the second-floor bedroom to check on him. To her shock, she discovered the door wide open, and her husband had been seriously injured, lying in a pool of blood with multiple stab wounds. Concurrently, they realized the home safe had been breached, and a substantial amount of cash was missing...

Everything happened so suddenly; the scene in front of her made her feel like she had fallen into an ice cave! Her husband's clothes were stained with blood, indicating a tragic situation. Despite the evident severity, the surroundings remained as quiet as usual. Hu Liang's wife unconsciously stumbled forward two steps, before finally letting out a scream.

On the way to rush Hu Liang to Vientiane Mahoso Hospital for rescue, there seemed to be a glimmer of hope. While the overall medical level in Laos isn't high, the conditions at Mahoso Hospital are relatively good. However, upon the patient's arrival, before treatment could commence, the doctor regretfully informed them that, the deceased had been dead for about 3 hours!

3 hours, how is that possible? The family members were in disbelief because they did not hear any calls, or anything strange during this period! In that independent villa near Vientiane International Airport, not only did Hu Liang's wife and mother live, but also three veterans hired from Yunnan as bodyguards. Reflecting on the events three hours ago, one of the bodyguards accompanied Hu's mother for a walk, while two remained behind to guard. It's hard to imagine, how the perpetrators, managed to sneak into the home, to commit crimes!

In a previous interview, Hu Liang once described Laos this way: "The environment here is quiet, the social order is relatively good, the Lao people are gentle, and they are not impatient or hasty when things happen. They are good partners for us. I like it here very much." However, it was also in the place he loved that Hu Liang suffered a fatal disaster. What exactly caused such a tragedy?

Please stay tuned for the next issue: "Detective" of "Qingqiao Safety"

2 Robbery? Murder?

"Mr. Hu Liang was attacked, and killed by unidentified persons at home." As soon as this news came out, it spread quickly among the Chinese community in Laos, like a bolt from the blue, and the Chinese and overseas Chinese around the world were shocked!

Just a glance at Hu Liang's rich resume will tell us, that such a sensational social impact is no accident.

Hu Liang held various significant positions. He served as the fifth president of the Hunan Chamber of Commerce in Laos, a member of the Laos-China Friendship Association, an overseas member of the Hunan Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, the chairman of the Vientiane Charity Federation, and the chairman of a multinational company.

Since the establishment of the Lao Hunan Chamber of Commerce, he has been dedicated, to deepening the friendship between China and Laos. His efforts, aimed at benefiting hundreds of thousands of Hunan businessmen in Laos, have transformed him from a business leader, into a "philanthropist" for Chinese Laos.

In the eyes of Chinese businessmen in Laos, Hu Liang has always been a "good big brother," passionate about public welfare. While his career continues to develop, he has never forgotten his original intention and has not hesitated to give back. Despite dropping out of high school, due to poor family conditions, his talent, diligence, and studious nature shone through. He quickly learned to speak the local language, soon after arriving in Laos, often volunteering to translate, for fellow Chinese businessmen. Moreover, he maintained a strong connection with people in his hometown. Colleagues recall that, when a Chinese shop in Laos was burned down, President Hu immediately extended a helping hand. His meticulous, and personal approach to everything he does, has earned him everyone's love.

After the incident, nearly 20 overseas Chinese federations, and chambers of commerce, at home and abroad, sent messages of condolences to his family, and strongly requested the Lao police, to find the murderer and uncover the truth. The Chinese Embassy also attached great importance to the case, prompting immediate intervention by the local police in Laos for the investigation.

By immediately sealing off the crime scene, investigating thoroughly, and collecting evidence, the police quickly grasped some clues.

According to forensic identification, Hu Liang was stabbed in the left back, by someone else with a single knife, causing heart rupture and massive bleeding, leading to his death at around 7 a.m. The investigation revealed, that the windows and doors, of the rooms at the scene, were undamaged. The last phone conversation between Liu Fang, secretary-general of the Lao Hunan Chamber of Commerce, and Hu Liang occurred at 6:23 a.m. on that day. Once the time of the crime was deduced, the police immediately reviewed all surveillance footage around the villa area and conducted investigations one by one. Finally, at 7:15 a.m. that day, two suspicious men were discovered in the area.

These two individuals are likely to be connected to this case! Are they the key suspects? If so, how did they enter the villa to commit the crime?

On the surface, this appears to be a case of robbery and murder. However, considering the many rooms in the villa, it's noteworthy that, except for the bedroom where Hu Liang was killed, there was no property lost elsewhere. Furthermore, given Hu Liang's extensive involvement, in the business world and complex interpersonal relationships, he may have unintentionally offended people. Hence, the police do not rule out the possibility, that this was a deliberate murder.

Unfortunately, despite the Lao police's prompt investigation, there has been no breakthrough in the case, due to relatively backward technical means and equipment.

The family members were grieved and depressed. At the memorial service held in Vientiane, people from all walks of life came to express their condolences. To ensure the deceased could rest in peace, the family urged everyone to lend a helping hand, by providing clues and offering a reward of 1.5 million yuan to find the murderer. Simultaneously, they actively cooperated with the Chinese embassy and consulate, reaching out to seek assistance, from the Chinese police.

After receiving the case report, on August 17, an overseas working group, comprising three-level police forces from the Hunan Provincial Public Security Department, Shaoyang City Public Security Bureau, and Shaodong County Public Security Bureau, flew to Vientiane, Laos, to assist the local police in investigating and solving the case.

Upon learning the news, Hu Liang's family finally breathed a sigh of relief and became more confident in catching the murderer.

The situation remains grim:

By the time the Chinese rushed to the scene, five days had passed since the incident, and the best evidence-gathering period, to solve the case, had been missed. Many valuable clues, had disappeared or were disappearing. The Chinese and Lao police, also faced difficulties, such as poor language communication, different law enforcement environments, and a lack of resources and means.

At this time, in the eyes of the task force, the key breakthrough has not yet appeared. Where will it be? Are there any blind spots in the existing clues?

Please stay tuned for the next issue: "Detective" of "Qingqiao Safety"

Chapter 3 Reel silk from cocoons and follow the trace

Laos has a tropical or subtropical monsoon climate, experiencing the rainy season from May to October. It becomes sultry and hot during rainfall, and scorching when it doesn't rain. The Hunan task force faces challenges, in independently investigating the case. They are unfamiliar with the area and have to adapt to such an investigative environment. Fortunately, the Lao government, public security, and the people have done their best, to assist in solving the case. Additionally, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Hunan Provincial Public Security Department, have provided strong technical and information support.

After continuous efforts, by the police from both countries and through reasoning and analysis, the police finally became aware of some details:

First of all, the villa where Hu Liang lives is not far from Vientiane International Airport. Because it is a high-end residence, the occupancy rate in the villa area is not high. There are vacant houses opposite, and the surrounding environment is relatively quiet. If the suspect takes advantage of this condition, to visit the spot in advance, and wait for the opportunity to commit the crime, it is possible to avoid being noticed.

Secondly, the distance between the villas, is wide enough for large and small cars to pass, and there are usually few pedestrians. The two suspicious men, discovered by the Lao police in the early stage, have become the only targets, that can be traced and searched. Accordingly, the police shifted the focus of evidence collection, to the top of the villa wall, and immediately found clues to climb over the wall. Through comparison with the crime scene, it was initially inferred, that the suspect entered and exited the villa, by climbing over the wall.

In addition, to further obtain the suspects' movement trajectory after leaving, the police expanded the scope of the investigation. By retrieving the surveillance footage, of the main traffic sections in the area, they aimed to identify the means of transportation, that the suspect may have used. The police tracked, eliminated, spliced, and compared their escape direction and path. It was soon discovered, that the two men and a black motorcycle without a license plate, appearing in the surveillance, became the breakthrough in solving the case!

According to the investigation, after leaving the crime scene, the two suspects went to a store about 100 meters away, picked up the motorcycle parked outside the store, and rode to Sikhai Market.

The terrain in most Southeast Asian countries, is mainly mountainous, with narrow, uneven, and steep roads. Whether it is a car or an electric vehicle, it is not as easy to navigate as a motorcycle. Therefore, Laos, like Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and other countries, relies heavily on motorcycles, as the primary means of transportation. Consequently, motorcycle management in Laos is very strict, requiring individuals to possess complete licenses before hitting the road. Discovery of an unlicensed motorcycle can result in penalties such as seizure and fines.

However, the motorcycle used by the suspects to commit the crime was not only a second-hand vehicle but also had its license plate broken off. This made it impossible to evade detection, under the strict traffic management system.

The two suspects rode unlicensed motorcycles to Sikhai Market, then took many twists and turns, before entering Phonsomboun Village, Sikhottabong district, Vientiane City. Subsequently, the two abandoned their motorcycles, in an open space next to a residence and fled.

On August 21, the motorcycle was found by the Lao police. The investigation revealed that the vehicle was purchased by two Chinese individuals, at a second-hand car shop, in Nongdeng Village on July 17. Following the clues, the police located the Chinese chef, who had introduced the two suspects, to buy the vehicle. Through the Chinese chef, they continued to trace the leads and identified a Chinese waiter, who had been emotionally entangled, with one of the suspects.

At this point, the police have identified the suspects' identity information as natives of Hunan, China.

The police from both countries intensified the investigation and found that the suspect had left Laos, and returned to China.

The investigation process is proceeding at a rapid pace. On August 29, Hunan police arrested the two men, who fled in Shaodong County and Xinshao County. After investigation, the two men were Guo Xiang, 44, and Lin Changyu, 34, who were the direct murderers of Hu Liang. Based on the confession, Hunan police captured the third suspect involved, Li Rongqun, in the province the next day.

During the confession process, the suspects were evasive about their relationship with Hu Liang, and their confessions were also inconsistent, deepening the police's suspicion of their motive for committing the crime. It was learned that there was no grievance, between these three people and the victim Hu Liang, but they went to great lengths to plan the murder, even scheming for as long as a year!

What kind of cruel truth is hidden behind this? In other words, who was the person who truly wanted to kill Hu Liang?

Please stay tuned for the next issue: "Detective" of "Qingqiao Safety"

4 Shocking truth

Due to the arrest of the direct suspect, the situation on the day of the crime has a clearer context:

At 4 a.m. on August 12, Guo Xiang and Lin Changyu, lurked in an unoccupied empty house, opposite Hu Liang's residence. Taking advantage of the lax security, they donned masks and gloves, disguised themselves, climbed over the wall, entered the villa, and concealed themselves behind a small room in the villa.

At about 7 a.m. that day, the two entered Hu Liang's bedroom, on the second floor of the villa, through the side door. First, they controlled Hu Liang and forced him to reveal the password of the safe. After that, they stabbed Hu Liang three times in the back, including one in the middle of the heart.

After committing the crime, they fled the scene with Laotian kip, Thai baht, and Chinese RMB (equivalent to a total of about 720,000 yuan in RMB), which they snatched from the safe. They then hid the stolen goods, two knives, and two pistols in Phonsomboun Village, Sikhottabong district, Vientiane City.

On August 31, Hunan police learned through interrogation, that Guo Xiang and Lin Changyu, were hired by fellow villagers, to kill Hu Liang, for 2 million yuan, and the middleman in charge, was Li Rongqun. The real mastermind behind Hu Liang's murder turned out to be Wang Jing'an, a friend from Shaodong, who had known Hu Liang for many years, and worked together in Laos doing business!

Wang Jing'an was dissatisfied with Hu Liang due to business disputes. Consequently, he teamed up with Huang Zhigao and, through Li Rongqun, paid to bring idle individuals, Guo Xiang and Lin Changyu back to China, to hire them to go to Laos and kill Hu Liang.

On September 2, based on information provided by the Hunan police, the Lao police arrested Wang Jing'an and Huang Zhigao, who were suspected of hiring murderers, at an apartment in San Jiang Market, Vientiane City. They also seized stolen goods and murder weapons in Phonsomboun Village and arrested the suspects. All the money taken from the safe was returned to the victim's family.

Until now, the truth remains shocking.

Wang Jing'an and Hu Liang, both ventured into Laos in the same year, to seek their livelihoods. Coming from the same hometown, they supported each other in business, fostering a strong relationship. An insider disclosed, "The two accumulated their wealth through similar means, engaging in similar business activities. Despite the competition, no one could have anticipated, that he would resort to hiring a murderer!"

Hu Liang's wife suddenly remembered that, right after the incident, at Hu Liang's memorial service, Wang Jing'an came to express condolences, and generously offered a significant "favor money" of 5,000 yuan.

On that day, as there was no progress in the case, the atmosphere weighed heavily. Hu Liang's wife had no intention of entertaining him; her tears flowed involuntarily, and she was in a state of panic. When she saw Wang Jing'an, an old acquaintance, especially hearing comforting words, for a moment, she felt a weak support in her heart.

She didn't know where the confidence came from, but she placed great expectations, on these acquaintances and friends, who came to express condolences and called on everyone to actively provide clues, to help solve the case. "Wang Jing'an looked calm at that time, and there was no abnormality..." Hu Liang's wife shuddered when recalling this.

The murderer was right in front of her, but she couldn't recognize him at all. His disguise was almost flawless! During these days, how did Wang Jing'an scrutinize every move of their family? And why did he harbor such intense malice towards her husband?

Wang Jing'an and Hu Liang, are both Chinese businessmen, who have been conducting business in Laos for many years. To comprehend the grudges and entanglements between them, one must delve into the changes in their long history of association, which resulted in the rupture of their former friendship, compelling one to take drastic measures. Perhaps, this cannot avoid the topic of "Shao merchants."

Through the history, of the legendary Shao merchants' fortune in Laos, it seems possible, to sort out the motives, hidden under the surface of this murder case.

Please stay tuned for the next issue: "Detective" of "Qingqiao Safety"

Chapter 5

Legendary Shao merchants, and friends turn against each other

According to information, from the Hunan Chamber of Commerce in Laos, there are currently around 200,000 overseas Chinese residents, engaged in long-term business activities in Laos, with the majority being of Hunanese origin.

As early as the 1980s, a significant influx of Hunanese businessmen, ventured into Laos from Yunnan, marking the beginning of the "100,000 Hunan businessmen entering Laos" narrative. The majority of these people hailed from Shaodong and Shaoyang counties. Scattered across Laos, they engaged in various industries, including hardware, motorcycles, clothing, bags, mobile phones, and more, working diligently, and contributing to almost every sector in the country.

During that period, the Shao merchants earned their initial success, by traversing the streets and setting up stalls to sell goods. They were incredibly industrious, indifferent to the scale of their business, willing to sell even if they had just one item, and undeterred by meager profits, displaying remarkable resilience.

To explore emerging markets, pioneers always have to pay a huge price, and behind the cost, is a steady stream of wealth returns. Most of the Shao merchants, who went to Laos to "dig for gold," found their way to prosperity. The elders led the younger generations, fellow villagers led fellow villagers, and Shao merchants spread all over Laos. A vivid way of putting it is, walking on the streets of Laos, as long as you can speak the Hunan dialect, you will not get lost.

From 1991 to 1996, Laos' economy experienced rapid growth, with the national economy expanding, at an average annual rate of 7%. Shao merchants seized the opportunity of the times, essentially monopolizing the hardware, mobile phone, and motorcycle markets in Laos, establishing a strong presence in the country. Subsequently, their business territory extended to all aspects of local social life.

In 1994, Hu Liang, who hadn't completed high school due to family reasons, left school. Hearing that many fellow villagers from Shaodong were going to Laos for business, Hu Liang, guided by his fellow villagers, went to Laos with only 300 yuan in his pocket. Starting from setting up street stalls, to venturing into department store wholesale, transitioning from the wire and cable business to diversifying into fields like road and bridge construction, decoration, hotel services, and financial investment, after years of hard work and accumulation, Hu Liang developed his company into a multinational enterprise.

At around the same time, Wang Jing'an, who had been released from prison for theft, also arrived in Laos. Initially, he earned a living as a middleman for casinos and later crossed paths with Hu Liang. Both working diligently in a foreign country, the two shared a strong enthusiasm for assisting fellow villagers, fostering a close relationship. Wang Jing'an is several years older than Hu Liang, and on regular days, Hu Liang addresses him as his elder brother. They even went on to jointly establish a company.

Despite their differing personalities—Hu Liang being more calm, while Wang Jing'an's nature is somewhat carefree,—both are courageous and well-connected in society. As their business prospered, the two found many overlaps, including ventures into roads, bridges, infrastructure, and more. Over time, increasing competition led to numerous conflicts between them.

Hu Liang's success triggered deep jealousy and dissatisfaction in Wang Jing'an. The Lao Hunan Chamber of Commerce was founded in 2008, and both were founding members, earning the title of "elders." However, in 2017, Wang Jing'an withdrew from the Chamber of commerce.

In recent years, the relationship between the two has been particularly strained. Due to his excessive greed for substantial profits, Wang Jing'an couldn't surpass Hu Liang in his business endeavors. He believed that he had offered significant help to Hu Liang, even introducing him to other merchants. However, he felt the other party was ungrateful, attributing all his business failures to Hu Liang, and harboring a deep grudge against him.

The seeds of hostility and hatred took root in Wang Jing'an's heart, and the situation became increasingly intense. Wang Jing'an also had another significant worry,—fearing that Hu Liang might disclose the shameful things, he had done in the past to the authorities.

By this point, a terrible idea had taken shape, in Wang Jing'an's mind and needed urgent implementation. The complexity of the real situation made him hesitate. This hesitation led Wang Jing'an to plan not just one, but two murders, with a full year between them!

Please stay tuned for the next issue: "Detective" of "Qingqiao Safety"

Chapter 6

Transnational law enforcement safeguarding security

In the enduring mix of competition and collaboration, the contradiction between Wang Jingan and Hu Liang has gradually deepened, and their fragile relationship is on the verge of collapse. At this critical juncture, the expected triggering incident occurred.

In June 2017, Wang Jing'an withdrew 10 million yuan from the business partnership with Hu Liang. Despite Hu Liang's repeated calls for repayment, Wang did not return the money. By July 2017, Wang Jing'an had finally conceived the idea of killing Hu Liang. At that time, the hired killers, Guo Xiang and Lin Changyu, had already arrived in Laos, but later abandoned the plan, due to Wang Jing'an's fear, leading to a temporary suspension of the crime.

By June 2018, after a year of planning, Wang Jing'an was fully prepared and determined to "get rid of Hu." He hired two killers again to come to Laos. To understand Hu Liang's daily routine, they rented a small hotel a few kilometers away from Hu Liang's home in July. They spent a month making meticulous preparations, visiting the vacant house opposite the villa, where Hu Liang lived many times. The day before their visas expired, they carried out the crime and fled back to China.

In this way, the tragedy unfolded. Wang Jing'an believed he had "won," but the price he paid, included the loss of everything, including conscience and humanity.

To ensure the smooth resolution of the case, the Hunan Provincial Public Security Department, through the Ministry of Public Security, requested the transfer of the two main suspects, Wang Jing'an and Huang Zhigao, involved in the case from Laos. On November 2, the two were escorted back to China.

This case represents an efficient, direct, and successful joint operation, between the police of China and Laos, to combat transnational crime. The public security organs have facilitated international law enforcement and security cooperation, effectively safeguarding the safety of lives and property, of overseas Chinese and Chinese people. Additionally, the operation has successfully deterred the arrogance, of serious transnational violent crimes.

If we go back in time to the 1990s, when Hu Liang and Wang Jing'an first met, before the tragedy unfolded, we might realize, that all the consequences could have been avoided.

Wang Jing'an's biggest inner demons were the haggling over profit and loss, coupled with jealousy towards his friends' "success." These twisted psychological factors gradually engulfed his rationality as a normal person.

Everyone has his strong and weak points. It's crucial for a person to realistically assess their strengths and weaknesses, to find an appropriate position for themselves.

Hu Liang's lack of careful consideration in choosing friends and partners, along with an inability to address hostile behavior, ultimately contributed to his unfortunate demise. The story underscores the importance of being discerning in forming connections. It suggests that treating everyone as a confidant, without due caution, exposes individuals to potential dangers, making them susceptible to risky situations. Moreover, it advocates for associations with sincere and kind individuals, to cultivate genuine friendships, emphasizing mutual support for collective growth. This also serves as a reminder to overseas Chinese in Laos, to heighten their safety awareness, reinforce preventive measures, and foster a secure and harmonious environment, conducive to long-term and healthy development.

From November 6 to 7, 2018, Hu Liang's wife, accompanied by relatives, returned to Hunan from Laos and presented a banner of thanks to the Hunan Provincial Public Security Department and Shaodong County Public Security Bureau. The solution to the case was a great relief to her and her family.

"My only wish now is to let our children grow up healthily and have a little more sunshine in their hearts,” she said. "Hu Liang loved children very much during his lifetime. What he wanted to do most in recent years was to open an international school in Laos, because many people around us are like us and often travel between here and home for their children to study."

This wish can only be realized by those who come after.