dmims Chapter 11: The Road to Power
Chapter 11: The Road to Power
Seeing that Song Zhaowen was so cooperative.
Uncle Fu finally smiled and waved his hand: "Ah Xiang, explain the background of those three Vietnamese brothers to them. Oh, and also, about Changdao, I heard that a guy called Dapu Hei and Liansheng Caoxie should know about the Vietnamese gang's hideout."
Uncle Xiang pulled a thin brown paper bag from under the coffee table and tossed it into Song Zhaowen's arms.
"There are photos of those Vietnamese guys inside. They're ruthless, and they're likely carrying weapons, not just knives. Be careful."
Song Zhaowen squeezed the paper bag, not opening it immediately: "Understood, Uncle Fu. Let's prepare and get started as soon as possible."
"Not as soon as possible," Uncle Fu closed his eyes again, "it's immediately. Hong Tai won't wait for you. Get the goods back to prove your qualifications, and only then can the gang protect you from the storm."
"I understand. Then, esteemed masters, we shall proceed as we are."
Song Zhaowen and Xiao Zhuoxiao stood up, the plastic stool legs scraping against the cement floor with a screeching sound. Without another word, they nodded slightly to their uncles and elders, then turned and walked towards the warehouse's iron gate.
As Song Zhaowen's figure walked away into the distance.
Big-Chee Guangcai said to Uncle Fu, "Uncle Fu, what if these two bastards complete their mission? The triad will really stand up for them."
Fu took a sip of hot tea: "Ah Guang, you've been too busy with your own business these past few years. If all gangs were as selfish as you, the Zhengxing brand would fall apart in a few years, or even after I'm gone. I think that Ah Wen is loyal, skilled, and daring. Let's test him with the Vietnamese gang. If he's really talented, it'll be a blessing for Zhengxing. Who knows, in a few years, we old folks might still need these young people to help us."
Uncle Xiang added with a smile, "In the popular parlance in the city, this is called angel investment."
-----------------
Xiao Zhuoxiao's steps were a little unsteady. It wasn't until he turned two alleyways that he suddenly leaned against a telephone pole covered with signs that read "Cures Gonorrhea" and "Rich Women Seeking Men."
"Damn it, I was drenched in sweat inside. Facing those uncles was more nerve-wracking than facing Hong Tai and his gang of bastards." He unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. "Awen, are we really going to take on the Vietnamese gang? Even Yuan..."
Ah Yuan was a top member of the triad, and despite his sharp skills, he still fell to the Vietnamese.
Song Zhaowen didn't lean against the wall. He looked up at the sliver of gray sky above and opened the brown paper bag. Inside were a few blurry photos and some handwritten addresses.
"If we don't go, what are we supposed to do? Wait for Hongtai's men to find us, or wait for the gang to hand us over? We have no other choice." Song Zhaowen's voice was calm as he ran his finger across the three men in the photo, their faces fierce and their shirts bare, revealing hideous tattoos: "Ah Zha, Tony, Ah Hu... So they're wolves who survived the battlefield. No wonder they're so ruthless."
He stuffed the documents back into the paper bag and looked at Xiao Zhuoxiao: "Besides, this is an opportunity. Don't you want to rise to the top?"
Just as a soldier who doesn't want to be a general isn't a good soldier, which person in the underworld doesn't want to rise to the top?
But I'm sorry!
There are far more monks than porridge. Out of hundreds of thousands of gangsters in Hong Kong, there are fewer than a few hundred well-known gang leaders. The ratio is comparable to that of taking the civil service exam.
As the saying goes, "One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand soldiers."
They either need to make money for the gang or act as a scapegoat to help the gang resolve disputes, but not everyone has a smart brain or strong enough skills. For ordinary thugs, it's as difficult as climbing to heaven to stand out.
Xiao Zhuoxiao wiped his face: "Damn, let's take a gamble. But what about Awen? He's a veteran, and he probably has guns."
"By the way, do you still have that damn Prince Tai's pistol? Give it to me."
Xiao Zhuoxiao pulled open his collar, revealing a large black star pinned to his waist.
"There are only five bullets in the gun, is that enough?"
"That's definitely enough. One pill per person and there are two left over."
"Wow, you think you're a sharpshooter?"
"Almost there, enough talk, get to work." The cockroach's wide-angle and tracking perspective was like a radar. Although he hadn't handled a gun many times before, Song Zhaowen was confident that he could take one out of thirty meters with a single shot.
Song Zhaowen carefully put away the paper bag: "First, send your sister to a more secure place, whether it's a distant relative or in the countryside, so that neither the gang nor Hongtai can touch her."
"Then we went to Cheung Chau to find a gangster in Tai Po. This guy was a local bigwig in Cheung Chau, he was in the Wo Luen Shing gang, and his nickname was 'King of Smuggling.' The Vietnamese guys who wanted to sell their goods must have gone to Tai Po gangsters. We asked him to get some information."
"Ah Wen, since you're so opinionated, you get to decide."
The two didn't linger any longer and went to an old tenement building unit. Xiao Zhuoxiao's younger sister, Afang, was huddled on the sofa, her face still pale. She only relaxed slightly when she saw her brother.
"Ah Fang, pack your things, you're going to stay in Yuen Long with your aunt for a few days." Xiao Zhuoxiao tried to keep his tone relaxed: "I'll go with your brother Ah Wen to do some errands, and we'll pick you up when we're done."
Afang was very sensible and didn't ask any more questions. She just nodded with red eyes and silently went back to her room to pack a few clothes.
However, as the two were leaving, Karen told Song Zhaowen, "Awen, be careful."
Standing to the side, Xiao Zhuoxiao was speechless. Had his younger sister forgotten about her older brother?
After entrusting Karen with their needs, the two rushed to the Central Ferry Pier and boarded the last ferry to Cheung Chau. At that time, Cheung Chau was still largely undeveloped and was considered a rural town, with only a few passengers on board.
At that time, although Tai Po Hei had not yet become one of the eight hall masters of Wo Luen Shing, he was still considered a senior figure, and it was easy to find out where he was in Cheung Chau.
The nights in Cheung Chau are much quieter than those on Hong Kong Island. The sea breeze carries the distinctive salty smell of the fishing port, blowing through the narrow alleys. The "gang" of Tai Po Hei is located on the ground floor of an old two-story tenement building by the sea. A faded sign for "Fishing Gear Wholesale" hangs outside. The roller shutter door is half-closed, and dim yellow light and the clatter of mahjong tiles shine through from inside.
Before Song Zhaowen and Xiao Zhuoxiao could get close, two henchmen squatting and smoking at the door immediately stood up alertly and blocked their way.
"Hey, don't trespass into private areas."
"Looking for someone."
"Looking for someone? You two look unfamiliar. Who are you looking for?" One of the henchmen squinted at him, his tone unfriendly.
"Looking for Brother Hei, a brother from Zhengxing. I have something I'd like to ask him." Song Zhaowen said calmly.
"Zhengxing's?" The henchman sneered. "Blackie isn't familiar with Zhengxing, so tell me what's going on."
Xiao Zhuoxiao wanted to step forward to argue, but Song Zhaowen stopped him. Song Zhaowen took out two banknotes from his pocket and stuffed them into the henchman's hand: "Do me a favor, it'll only take a few words."
The henchman squeezed the banknotes, his expression softening slightly, but he still shook his head: "Brother Hei's not on a winning streak tonight, he's in a bad mood, and doesn't want to see outsiders. You guys go back."
Before the words were finished, a loud "bang" came from inside, like someone slamming their hand on the table, followed by a gruff voice cursing, "Damn it, another shot! Are we cursed tonight?!"
Song Zhaowen's eyes flickered slightly, and he suddenly raised his voice, calling out to the inside, "Brother Hei, this is Song Zhaowen from Zhengxing. I have a business deal I'd like to discuss with you."
The sound of mahjong tiles falling inside suddenly stopped.
A moment later, the roller shutter door was pulled open with a whoosh. A short, stocky middle-aged man stood in the doorway, wearing a floral shirt, with slightly balding hair and a fierce look in his eyes; he was none other than the Tai Po gangster. Behind him stood three or four other men, all with unfriendly expressions.