Chapter 28: Would your uncle ever lie to you?

After hanging up the phone, Old Wan picked up his wine bowl and gave Yang Mi a grin. "Come on, little Yang, it’s rare to have you here. Keep your uncle company for another round."

Yang Mi shook her head vigorously. The wine was fragrant and went down smoothly, but it certainly had a kick. By now, her vision of Old Wan was starting to blur at the edges.

"Who was that on the phone?"

"Nothing, just a young sister from my hometown. She’s coming over to visit for a couple of days. I’m paying for it out of my own pocket, so it won’t interfere with my official duties."

Yang Mi was already tipsy, and since Old Wan had spoken in his thick hometown dialect, she hadn't really caught what he said. She didn't think much of it.

She pinned up her hair, raised her porcelain bowl with a spirited air, and shouted, "You old geezer, you aren’t trying to get me drunk because you’ve got some ulterior motive, are you?"

"Certainly not!" Old Wan glared at her, lecturing, "You’re young and picking up bad habits. I’ve spent my whole life doing revolutionary work; do you think I’d stoop to that kind of nonsense? It’s just that we happened to run into each other today, otherwise, I’d be stuck in this room drinking in solitude again."

Yang Mi stared at Old Wan, a sudden ache in her heart. Given the current situation, Liu Haizhu hadn't made any breakthrough progress yet, and Old Wan being cooped up here was a matter of necessity. Seeing the gray hair at his temples, her eyes reddened slightly. She raised her bowl and clinked it heavily against his. "Drink up. If you really can’t stand being alone, I’ll have the vice squad send someone over for you."

Old Wan glared. "You have no manners! If you talk nonsense again, I’ll kick you out!"

Yang Mi laughed and drained her bowl in one gulp.

...

That afternoon, the little girl was taken to her lessons by the Filipino maid. Liu Haizhu crept toward Ying Si’s door like a thief, whispering, "Ying Si... Ying Si..."

Hearing no response from inside, he steeled his nerves.

...

Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Le headquarters.

"Bentley Tiger" Han Bin pressed forward aggressively. "Ah Nan, I’m asking you, do you think you’re so hot because you’re in Causeway Bay? Do you think you’re something special? Are you trying to force me to declare war on you from Kwai Tsing and Tuen Mun? The leaders of all eleven Hong Le branches are here today! I’ll ask you one thing: Are you still a member of Hong Le or not?! Damn it! We’re all brothers in the same sect; did you get my permission to beat up my brother?"

Han Bin pounded on the table, his eyes locked onto "Handsome" Nan.

...

Hearing this, Ah Nan slowly raised his head, a murderous glint in his eyes. He said coldly, "Are you looking to die?"

"Boom!"

"You traitor, I’m going to chop you to pieces!" Dinosaur slammed his fist on the table, jumped up, and reached for his blade!

Just as Dinosaur rose, he was pulled back by Prince, who sat beside him, smiling as he advised, "Haha, that’s just how Ah Nan is, little dragon. Don't lower yourself to his level; Mr. Chiang is still here!"

...

The Hong Le headquarters was located in the bustling district of Tsim Sha Tsui. With such a massive organization, managing the people was no easy task.

Chiang Tin-sang, who had been silent at the head of the table, finally shrugged and said with a smile, "Everyone sit down, let’s talk this out. Hong Kong is about to return to the motherland; we need to look forward. Why are you all so hot-tempered? We are all family in Hong Le; harmony is the most important thing."

Han Bin looked up, feeling aggrieved. "Mr. Chiang, you say that yourself. You were the one who ordered Dinosaur to handle the mission, right? Ah Nan’s actions are a betrayal of his own brotherhood. I say we should open the incense hall and let the elders decide on the 'three knives and six holes' punishment."

Chiang Tin-sang looked at the "Bentley Tiger" with a half-smile, a hint of gloom hidden in his eyes. "Han Bin, that’s a bit extreme."

He then turned to Ah Nan and curled the corner of his mouth. "If you like her, why don't you just go and take her? Isn't it better to just get it done?"

Seeing that "Handsome" Nan remained cold and expressionless, Mr. Chiang added, "Ah Nan, go ahead and do it. I’ll handle Camel for you."

Ah Nan remained as frozen as ever, only giving a slight nod. "My business, I’ll handle it myself."

...

Seeing Mr. Chiang openly playing favorites, Han Bin sat there, his eyes burning with rage, his expression as dark as a thunderstorm.

But, as if looking for trouble, Dinosaur stood up again. "Mr. Chiang, that kid from the mainland, the one called Liu Haizhu! I almost chopped him to death in Portland Street last time; he won't be recovering for at least half a year. That silly girl has no one around her now. This time, I’ll definitely bring her back and finish her off!"

"Swish!"

"Handsome" Nan turned his head, his gaze icy, looking at him as if he were already a dead man.

...

Chiang Tin-sang rested his hand lightly on Ah Nan’s shoulder and shook his head slightly, then looked back to the other side with a pleasant expression. "Dinosaur, just... sit down for now."

Dinosaur looked like he wanted to snap, but Chiang Tin-sang pointed his cigar at him with his thumb and forefinger, and the former dared not mutter another word.

...

Chiang Tin-sang had followed his father, Chiang Chun, from Taiwan to carve out this territory at a young age, and he relished this feeling of commanding others.

Because of this, when he spoke, he habitually tilted his chin upward; it was a marvelous sensation. What was the big deal? Wasn't the underworld just about fighting and killing? As long as Hong Le remained under his control and brought in vast sums of money every month, these things were trifles. After all, certain power-hungry figures in Taiwan still required significant resource support, and that was what truly mattered.

At this moment, Chan Yiu suddenly looked up, glancing at Mr. Chiang inadvertently. He seemed hesitant, with words on the tip of his tongue, but he never spoke them.

Chiang Tin-sang did not notice Chan Yiu’s unusual behavior.

He pointed toward Han Bin, smiling. "Brother Dinosaur is truly a model for Hong Le—brave and loyal. But, so much time has passed, what’s the point of finding her now? It’s a pity that the backup files were destroyed by that girl. A real pity."

Hearing the dragon head praise him, Dinosaur’s anger flared even more. His chest heaved violently as he glared at "Handsome" Nan and cursed, "It’s all your fault, you piece of trash!"

At these words, Pheasant and Tai Tin-Yee glared over; one word from Brother Nan, and they would have torn that beast at the table apart!

Mr. Chiang pressed his hand down with a smile, signaling with his eyes for Dinosaur to shut up. If Ah Nan really made a move, ten Dinosaurs wouldn't be enough to handle him.

Then, Chiang Tin-sang turned his focus to the group. "Since all the district heads are here, let’s talk about the situation in Tsuen Wan."

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

"Understood, Mr. Chiang."

As soon as Chiang Tin-sang spoke, everyone nodded in succession.

...

Half an hour later, Han Bin and his party left in a huff, while Chan Yiu lingered behind the crowd and secretly called out to Fat Man Lai. The two disappeared into a separate room for a long, private conversation.

...

Ahead loomed a skyscraper piercing the clouds. Liu Haizhu peered around guiltily, then darted inside like a thief.

At the corner of the building's entrance, Lok Ying Si followed with a faint smile.