Chapter 197: Layout for the New World

At a certain open-air food stall in Kowloon, everyone got out of their cars one after another; popular stars like Zhou Runfa were dressed no differently from ordinary Hong Kong citizens.

The owner of the food stall was none other than Xing Shu, a retired Elder of Hung Hing.

Having spent his whole life showing off his strength, fighting, and negotiating, Xing Shu had nothing to do after retirement, so he had no choice but to put his remaining energy to use by leasing a plot of land in Kowloon to open an open-air food stall.

As soon as Chen Jiajun entered the door, he handed over a cigar and called out, "Xing Shu."

"Ada, you're here!"

Xing Shu was focused on cooking and was startled by Chen Jiajun: "Ada, you all go sit down first; I'll be ready in a moment. Once you're here, it's just like your own home—take whatever you want to drink."

Jing Kun pulled over a few crates of beer, while Da Fei, Lao E, and the others helped themselves to some snacks from the freezer.

"Hey, if you want to smoke, help yourselves."

Chen Jiajun took three cartons of cigarettes from under the food stall counter—one More, one Lucky Strike, and one Red Man—and tore them open, placing them on the table.

Behind him, the food stall was filled with rising smoke, a scene of true human vitality.

Zhang Guorong picked up a pack of Lucky Strike from the table without standing on ceremony at all.

In fact, those who were familiar with Chen Jiajun all knew that the Big Boss had no airs at all, and the Big Boss did not like others being formal with him.

Chen Jiajun sat with He Tianbao and He Tian'er on his left, and Zhu Baoyi on his right.

"The boiling water is here." Da Fei brought over a few pots of boiling water for everyone to wash their bowls and chopsticks.

"Come, everyone have a smoke, and eat some duck offal first."

Fearing that everyone was hungry after just finishing work, Xing Shu served a few plates of duck offal first, then pulled out a pack of Red Man and passed them around.

To be honest, if it weren't for Chen Jiajun treating, He Tian'er would never have come to such a place to eat; she picked up a piece of duck offal and put it into her mouth with slight hesitation, only to feel the fresh and salty taste of the brine instantly fill her mouth, and it became more fragrant the more she chewed.

"Uncle, how did you make this brined duck offal?" He Tian'er felt delighted.

"Not bad, right? I put a lot of effort into this brine!" Hearing someone praise his cooking, Xing Shu said with a face full of smiles.

"Uncle, you're so old, it must be very tiring to come out and run a stall; come, sit, sit, sit."

Zhou Runfa stood up to offer his seat to Xing Shu, who was wearing a white undershirt and glasses.

"It's not tiring at all. I know you, you're Fazai from *Shanghai Bund*, right? You sit, don't be formal."

Xing Shu smiled and waved his hand, continuing to busy himself in the Kitchen.

Zhou Runfa sighed: "At such an old age, still coming out to earn money—are his children really that unfilial?" As he spoke, he shook his head.

Chen Jiajun smiled and introduced: "Xing Shu used to be the Zha FIT Ren of the Hung Hing Kowloon branch, later he was a Hung Hing White Paper Fan, and now he's retired. Don't look at how he's dressed; he has several buildings in Kowloon collecting rent."

"Several buildings?"

Zhou Runfa was stunned; as a popular young actor, known to everyone in Hong Kong, he only had one apartment right now.

"That's right, Xing Shu's son works in the Gambling Hall of the Aoyu Group and gave Xing Shu a grandson. Xing Shu originally planned to retire and take care of his grandson, but he couldn't handle the child and had nothing to do, so he had no choice but to come out and set up a stall."

Jing Kun added a jab.

"Xing Shu's son, Wili, is known as the Little Gambling King of Macau; he works under Lao E and easily earns millions every month..." He Tianbao added.

"Several buildings collecting rent?"

"Earning millions a month?"

Wu Yusen, Xu Ke, Di Long, and the others were also scared witless...

They had thought Xing Shu was out running a stall at his age because his children were unfilial; they never expected Xing Shu was out doing poverty relief work.

Everyone ate the poverty-relief meal made by Xing Shu with tears in their eyes; they drank until midnight, and when some couldn't hold on and left, the three tables were combined into one. The Hung Hing Big Dipper and the son of the Gambling King drank together with the big stars, while Xing Shu held a bottle of beer and chatted with everyone.

He Tianbao's face was flushed from drinking, but he didn't feel any discomfort; instead, he was enjoying himself. He Tian'er was dozing off with her head on his thigh, and he didn't dare to make any big movements, just stroking He Tian'er's hair.

"Boss..."

Wu Yusen tugged at the corner of Chen Jiajun's clothes, bringing up the matter of wanting to spend money to buy the movie's theme song.

At this moment, Chen Jiajun, emboldened by the alcohol, waved his hand and said: "Buy what buy, even a movie theme song needs to be bought."

Wu Yusen widened his eyes.

"If it needs to be written, I'll write it; buy my ass."

"Who doesn't have a bit of musical talent?"

Wu Yusen was so angry he laughed, put down his wine glass, and encouraged him: "Fine, you do it."

He hadn't expected that Dalao Jun, who was usually so refined, would have such a personality after drinking and be so good at bragging; he was worthy of being a triad boss.

Heh heh, but after you finish bragging, the money that needs to be spent still has to be spent.

"Bring the guitar over." Chen Jiajun waved his hand, and Zhang Guorong hurriedly went to the car to fetch the guitar he carried with him.

Taking the guitar, Chen Jiajun strummed it a few times, drank a glass of wine, and sang in a magnetic, narrative voice:

"Light... light laughter, sending warmth to me."

"You inject powerful electricity of happiness into me."

"Light... light words, the long road is almost walked."

"Finally reaching a bright, sunny day."

"Sound after sound of cheers leaping up."

"Like the red sun firing golden arrows."

"..."

"A Jun, this song is your original, right?" He Tianbao picked up his wine glass and drank half of it.

Chen Jiajun had just finished singing a song and was also a bit thirsty, so he picked up his glass and finished it in one gulp: "The song is called 【Past Love】, let's give this song to Zhang Guorong to sing."

Plagiarism is the kind of thing where, once you've done it, you have no psychological burden at all.

"Many thanks, Big Boss." Zhang Guorong was full of joy and immediately stood up to offer a toast.

"Sit and drink, Leslie, don't be formal with me."

Chen Jiajun waved his hand: "There is another song that is very suitable as an interlude; I'll sing it for you all as well."

The crowd listened intently, and after clearing his throat, Chen Jiajun sang a cappella:

"Silently leaning against the window, gazing out, the rain is heavy and chaotic."

"Like a madman, full of inner turmoil, cursing in weariness."

In just two short lines, he sketched out a three-dimensional picture.

After finishing the two lines, Chen Jiajun continued to sing in a flat voice, as if a friend were whispering softly.

His precise enunciation echoed his earnest and focused expression.

His steady voice echoed his upright and sturdy figure.

It made one instantly understand the figure described in the lyrics—someone who had weathered storms but still stood proudly alone.

This song was undoubtedly a story about a man.

He Tian'er did not know when she had woken up; she leaned against He Tianbao's shoulder, looking at Chen Jiajun with dazed eyes, her heart intoxicated.

Yuen Long, Fanling Yanglaoyuan.

"Da D, Boss Chen doesn't have time to talk to you; he sent Jing Kun. You find a venue tomorrow, and remember, you must be perfectly polite."

Lei Juekun picked a time to make a phone call to Da D of Wo Ling Sheng.

"I know, Boss Lei. Tomorrow at noon at You Guqi Restaurant, don't worry about the etiquette!"

Da D was wearing a gray jacket with a floral shirt underneath, his right hand on his hip, his left hand holding a brick phone, and even in the dead of night, he was wearing tinted sunglasses.

Handing the brick phone to his top horse Zhang Mao, Da D walked into Fanling Yanglaoyuan.

Inside the nursing home, shadows were flickering; several Wo Ling Sheng bigwigs saw Da D and greeted him one after another:

"Brother D."

"Brother Da D."

"Brother D, you're still not asleep so late."

The Fanling Yanglaoyuan in the New Territories was the headquarters of Wo Ling Sheng. Many of Wo Ling Sheng's Elders and bigwigs were indigenous residents of the New Territories; for example, Deng Bo, the Headman of Wo Ling Sheng in the 70s, was an Uncle with quite a lot of prestige in Fanling.

It was precisely under the leadership of Deng Bo that Wo Ling Sheng was able to grow and strengthen.

At this time, Wo Ling Sheng Headman Chuiji, Deng Bo, Chuan Bao, Long Gen, and many other Uncle-generation Elders were still playing mahjong at the nursing home.

"Da D is here."

Chuan Bao said excitedly as he drew a tile, then he gently pushed the tiles over: "The seat luck is strong, sorry to the three of you, Clear Pong, 5 fan, 72 dollars each."

"Damn it."

"Self-drawn again."

Chuiji handed over the banknotes and looked at Da D, saying: "Da D, why did you come over so late?"

"I entrusted Boss Lei of Bar to be the middleman; tomorrow I'm going to negotiate with Jing Kun of Hong Hing..."

Da D took off his sunglasses and explained to the group.

As the most powerful and well-staffed member of Wo Ling Sheng in recent years, Da D relied on more than just having many people and much money; if he didn't have brains, he wouldn't have climbed to the position of Hall Master in Wo Ling Sheng.

Chuiji took out a pack of Red Man and distributed it to everyone, saying: "Do you want us to step in?"

Chuan Bao said arrogantly: "Since Hong Hing only sent a Jing Kun, Chuiji, you don't need to show up.

Da D, if the talk doesn't go well, then we fight. In Hong Kong Island we might not be able to beat Hong Hing, but in Tsuen Wan and the New Territories, are we afraid of him?"

Deng Bo stood up and sat behind the mahjong parlor's office desk, slowly brewing tea. Listening to their conversation, he couldn't help but frown.

Pouring the tea into the tea bowls, he made a gesture of invitation: "Everyone, please have tea."

After everyone had taken their tea cups, Deng Bo sipped his tea: "Better to provoke the King of Hell than to provoke Chen Jiajun."

A single sentence brought everyone's memories back to a year ago.

The two bloody cases in Macau.

The two major gang mobilizations in Hong Kong Island and Hong Kong.

The disintegration of Zhongxinyi, the fall of the Wang Bao gang, the extermination of the Jiang Family...

A person's shadow, a tree's name.

Seeing everyone silent, Deng Bo put down his tea bowl and said: "This year, Hong Hing just closed the furnace, but the fire hasn't gone out.

Dalao Jun is now a Justice of the Peace in Hong Kong, a famous philanthropist, and the Bar Group and Zhongba Group are listed companies, an officially recognized brand, paying taxes to the Hong Kong government every year, driving employment in Hong Kong, and serving the travel needs of Hong Kong citizens."

"We in Wo Ling Sheng, burglary, drug trafficking, collecting protection fees, and also tax evasion...

Do you think if we mobilize the gangs and slash people with Hong Hing, will the British Hong Kong government support Dalao Jun, or Wo Ling Sheng?"

"In doing things and being a person, your brain must be clear."

"If we really start fighting, then we will end up like Xiang Qian, the Dragon Head of the old Sun Yee On."

"Right now, the Lu Family in Tuen Mun, the Huo Family of the You Rong Group, and also Bao Jueshi, all have cooperation with Chen Jiajun, not to mention the He Family in Macau."

"Da D, I advise you to value harmony."

Da D frowned and drank the tea in one gulp: "Deng Bo, I know! I have a plan in mind."

"Da D, don't tell me you have a plan in mind now; you are impulsive when you do things. Just think, can you afford to provoke people like the Huo Family, the Lin Family, and the Bao Family?"

The Huo Family in Deng Bo's mouth naturally refers to Huo Yingnan. The Lin Family is the Lin Xishen family. The Bao Family is Bao Jueshi.

"If they let out a fart, there are plenty of people in all of Hong Kong who would go over to smell whether it's fragrant or stinking."

"If they put out the word that they want to kill your whole family, do you believe you'll have to go jump into the sea tomorrow!"

"The Chen Jiajun of today is the Huo Family, Bao Family, and Lin Family of the past."

Deng Bo exhorted him once again; he was somewhat uneasy.

Da D's brow relaxed, and he nodded heavily: "I know, I know! I—"

"Mm, you go back first." Deng Bo nodded with satisfaction.

The Wo Ling Sheng dare not tweak the tiger's whiskers of Hung Hing, but that does not mean other societies in the underworld dare not.

Book Recommendation: "Hong Kong Comprehensive: Fierce Cop, Mighty Dragon," it takes a very unique path, and the supporting characters are also chosen very well, sincerely recommended!

(End of this chapter)