Chapter 170: The

And at this moment,

on this very same night,

Mao Xiang Yang, relying on orders dispatched by his superiors, met with those comrades in the New Territories.

In a private room at a restaurant,

the atmosphere was lively.

Delicacies from land and sea, fine wines and dishes, were all laid out on the table.

One by one, dressed in Zhongshan suits, they greeted Mao Xiang Yang with enthusiasm.

"Comrade Xiang Yang, welcome to Hong Kong Island."

"Comrade Xiang Yang, now that you've arrived, we have a sense of confidence."

One after another, they expressed their closeness to Mao Xiang Yang.

Don't let Mao Xiang Yang's fierce appearance fool you; he was actually meticulous, a man skilled in both the pen and the sword. At this moment, his attitude was like that of a novice, full of low-key humility:

"Mr. Liu, everyone, you are all too kind. I have only come to see this world of Hong Kong Island, and I will need to rely on everyone's guidance in the future."

After three rounds of drinks, many felt that this man should be easy to win over, so the atmosphere relaxed quite a bit.

They circled around the topic of how to win over the local gentry and celebrities to secure votes.

Mao Xiang Yang listened the whole time, occasionally throwing in a complimentary remark.

The atmosphere was lively.

After the banquet dispersed, someone tentatively invited Mao Xiang Yang to a nightclub to continue the night.

"This is the way of Hong Kong Island..."

"Since Comrade Xiang Yang has come to Hong Kong Island, you must immerse yourself in the game and experience this detestable capitalist life properly."

Mao Xiang Yang shook his head directly and cupped his hands in thanks.

"I cannot hold my liquor well; I can only go this far for today."

Soon, Mao Xiang Yang parted ways with everyone.

He got into a red taxi by himself.

Song Zihao: "Sir, where are you going?"

Having finished the case involving Brother Four, Song Zihao had nothing to do, so he went back to being a taxi driver. Being a driver allowed him to feel a sense of joy.

Mao Xiang Yang: "To the Regent Hotel."

Song Zihao: "Alright, sit tight."

Soon, the red taxi started up and headed toward the Regent Hotel... next door to the Regent Hotel.

Mao Xiang Yang looked out the window; the neon lights, not particularly prosperous, made him feel like a stranger. Just like the people from the Leftist faction he had just met, they made him feel like a stranger.

The Leftist faction on Hong Kong Island he had imagined were people struggling for ideals, full of passion and lofty aspirations, but those just now... sigh, they left him a bit disappointed.

They seemed to have become detached from the masses, possessing a sense of putting on airs.

Perhaps, this is the real Hong Kong Island?

Does one side of the land nurture one side of the people?

Song Zihao looked at Mao Xiang Yang through the rearview mirror: "This gentleman, you must be from the North, right?"

Mao Xiang Yang: "???"

"How did you recognize it?"

"It's simple. Your state, everything about you is so out of place, and then there's your accent... it's a bit like a friend of mine."

"Oh? You have friends from the North?"

Song Zihao counted them off, Following Xiao Fu and Gao Gang: "I have two."

Upon hearing this, Mao Xiang Yang instantly felt a sense of closeness and developed a good impression of Song Zihao.

He couldn't help but ask: "Living here, are you happy?"

Song Zihao laughed: "It looks like you, brother, are very much an official person... As for whether I'm happy, I guess it's alright."

If it were when he had just returned to Hong Kong Island, he certainly wasn't happy; he felt very bitter. His brother was crippled, his younger brother hated him, and he hadn't been able to see his father for the last time. It felt quite miserable.

As for now...

Everything was developing for the better. The grudge was avenged, Brother Four was protected, and especially Ah Jie, who no longer hated him but understood him. At the same time, Ah Jie's wife, Jackie, was due in these few days; soon he would have one more niece.

Song Zihao was very happy now.

"Then those two friends you mentioned earlier, are they happy?"

"Them..."

Song Zihao thought about Following Xiao Fu and Gao Gang; apart from being single, they seemed quite happy.

"They are doing quite well now."

The Regent Hotel was very close, and they arrived in no time.

"We're here, sir."

Mao Xiang Yang had originally intended to get out of the car, but suddenly he looked at Song Zihao... and couldn't help but sit back down.

"This gentleman, I wonder if you have any free time? May I treat you to a late-night snack? I would like to understand Hong Kong Island better."

"Sure!"

Song Zihao's personality was straightforward and loyal; he liked making friends. Having seen countless people, he could tell Mao Xiang Yang was a decent person and was willing to make this friend.

"Let's go, I know a late-night snack stall that's pretty good..."

Soon, the red taxi turned and headed toward a place in Yuen Long, New Territories.

"My name is Hao, what is my brother's name?"

"You are older than me, I'll call you Brother Hao, you can just call me Xiang Yang."

"Alright, hahaha~~~"

Song Zihao was very happy to have made a new friend.

The car soon passed a factory—the Five Star Garment Factory.

The huge sign at the entrance instantly caught Mao Xiang Yang's attention.

"Five Star?"

This was too easy to make Mao Xiang Yang's imagination run wild.

"Brother Hao, do you know the situation with this garment factory?"

"Five Star Garment Factory?"

"Yes."

"I know it."

Song Zihao certainly knew; after all, when this factory was acquired, it was a complete mess, and Song Zihao had been dragged over by Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu to be a beast of burden... no, that's not right, he had participated in the management.

It could be said that most of the management framework was built by Song Zihao.

"What's wrong?"

"Why is it called Five Star Garment Factory?"

"I don't know, maybe the boss likes it."

"Where is the boss from?"

"The boss? From the Hong Kong Island district."

If it were anyone else, Song Zihao would have said "Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu from Causeway Bay" directly, but for someone from the North, Song Zihao deliberately hid it; after all, he had a rock-solid relationship with Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu.

Mao Xiang Yang: "Oh... I wonder if I could meet this boss when I have time."

"We're here." Song Zihao didn't answer, but drove to a night market, which was already very lively.

"The seafood claypot porridge here is not bad, and the grilled oysters..."

Finding a place to park, a parking attendant walked over.

"Parking?"

"10 dollars."

Song Zihao threw 30 Hong Kong dollars to the parking attendant and then led Mao Xiang Yang into the late-night snack stall.

Inside the stall, table after table of diners were already enjoying their late-night snacks. Some were lowering their heads to savor the delicacies in their bowls, while others were chatting and laughing with companions; the whole atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant.

"What was the meaning of giving money just now?" Mao Xiang Yang asked.

"That's a parking attendant," Song Zihao said, giving a rough introduction to what a parking attendant's profession was. "Usually, only more prosperous neighborhoods have them; 10 Hong Kong dollars is considered cheap."

"To think there's such a profession..." Mao Xiang Yang felt it was strange. "But this parking attendant doesn't look like a good person."

Song Zihao said: "They are from the triad."

Mao Xiang Yang was surprised: "Doesn't that make them gangsters?"

Song Zihao laughed: "You've just arrived on Hong Kong Island and aren't familiar with things. Most of these basic industries have intricate ties with the triad. It's just a job, don't have too many prejudices."

Soon, the two ordered a large pot of claypot porridge, shrimp, oysters, crab, and ordered a turtle...

After 20-plus minutes, the claypot porridge was brought out.

The porridge was Teochew style, with rice that had a bit of texture, added with the fresh sweetness of seafood, topped with green onions and white pepper...

Scooped into a bowl, take a sip, wow, beautiful!

While eating, Song Zihao talked about the origins of the triads here.

"Across all of Hong Kong Island, there are dozens of triads, big and small, with 400,000 to 500,000 gangsters, and the families behind them involve over a million people, occupying one-fourth or one-fifth of Hong Kong Island's population."

"Therefore, you cannot look at the triads with a strict gaze."

"There are still many good people within the triads."

Mao Xiang Yang was surprised.

Song Zihao said: "I have a friend who used to be a triad leader, with hundreds of subordinates, majestic and awe-inspiring... later something happened, and he spent a few years in prison... he suddenly realized the truth in prison, and now he works as a restaurant waiter, just wanting to live a simple and honest life..."

"Tell me, does he count as a good person?"

"I suppose so."

Song Zihao took a sip of porridge and said: "Look at me, do I look like a good person?"

Mao Xiang Yang laughed: "It's not that you look like one, you are a good person." Song Zihao laughed: "Actually, when I was in Taiwan, I made some mistakes and went to prison..."

Mao Xiang Yang: "............"

Good heavens, there's a bad person right beside me, and I couldn't even recognize him.

Song Zihao said: "People easily make mistakes because they are young, and then they receive punishment. Once they realize the truth, they start to turn over a new leaf... tell me, is this a good person or a bad person?"

Mao Xiang Yang didn't know how to answer for a moment.

Song Zihao pointed at the parking attendant not far away: "Like him, although he is from the triad, it's possible he has never committed any mistakes; he just focuses on being a parking attendant and earning money for himself... he is a triad person, tell me, does he count as a good person?"

Mao Xiang Yang nodded this time: "If he hasn't committed any mistakes, then he is a good person."

Song Zihao: "But he is a triad person."

Mao Xiang Yang pondered for a moment.

He cupped his hands to Song Zihao: "Thank you for the reminder, Brother Hao."

He was a person who was quite straightforward in this regard, believing that wrong is wrong, but he had no way to refute Song Zihao's words.

!.

Song Zihao: "You're welcome, we're all friends... on Hong Kong Island, you have to look at problems with a developmental perspective; you can't rigidly think that because he is a triad gangster, he is a bad person."

He let out a breath in his heart.

Song Zihao realized that this Mao Xiang Yang was definitely someone from the high-level officialdom, so he deliberately guided him, all for the sake of Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu's special identity.

After all, there were only a few years left before returning home, and Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu's identity might have problems in the future, so this could be considered doing Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu a small favor.

At this time,

two people walked over from the street.

Gao Jin, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, and Tan Meili, wearing a professional suit with panda eyes.

Such handsome men and beautiful women coming to the late-night snack stall instantly attracted quite a bit of attention.

Several tables of diners called out respectfully:

"Brother Jin!" *n

Gao Jin nodded slightly.

As soon as Gao Jin arrived, the shop owner ran over enthusiastically: "Brother Jin, you have time to eat late-night snacks today..."

Gao Jin nodded coolly: "Meili, what do you want to eat? You order..."

Tan Meili nodded: "Alright."

At this moment, Gao Jin's gaze swept over, saw Song Zihao, and was stunned for a moment.

He walked over.

"Brother Hao, why are you eating late-night snacks here too..."

"Ah Jin... I'm eating with a friend."

Gao Jin looked at Mao Xiang Yang and smiled as he shook hands:

"Hello!"

"Hello!"

Mao Xiang Yang shook hands with Gao Jin, and he felt that the person in front of him gave him a dangerous feeling.

An expert!

Sure enough, Brother Hao really has many friends, and they don't seem to have low status.

Mao Xiang Yang couldn't help but have a thought arise: Could he ask Brother Hao to help find Li Changjiang?

He acted as soon as he thought of it.

Mao Xiang Yang said: "Brother Hao, I wonder if you are well-informed here on Hong Kong Island?"

Song Zihao thought of Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu and nodded: "I suppose I am well-informed."

Mao Xiang Yang said: "As for me, one of the purposes of my visit this time is to catch someone... named Li Changjiang..."

"Hmm???"

Not far away, Gao Jin's ears pricked up sharply.

Li Changjiang?

Isn't this Ah Jiang?

Yesterday, Brother Zu had also told him to keep an eye out for anyone coming to Hong Kong Island to catch Li Changjiang; he didn't expect to run into it today.

Gao Jin was happy; this was too coincidental.

Beside him, Tan Meili saw Gao Jin, who had been cool for several days, suddenly smile, and was a bit confused: "???"

Song Zihao patted his chest: "Alright, I'll keep an eye out for you."

Mao Xiang Yang: "There is one more thing I would like to ask Brother Hao... I wonder if Brother Hao knows, or is aware... if there is such a person who is very popular with the people, that is, someone who is close to the masses and has prestige?"

"Ah?"

Song Zihao was stunned for a moment.

Isn't this talking about Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu?

It's simply tailor-made!

Song Zihao coughed: "I would like to ask, why are you asking this?"

Mao Xiang Yang shook his head: "I'm sorry, due to work reasons, it's not convenient to disclose."

Song Zihao thought for a moment and decided to play it safe: "I'm not sure, you might need to look for it slowly."

Mao Xiang Yang could see that Song Zihao was hiding something, but he didn't blame Song Zihao; after all, he was the one who wasn't being honest first. He picked up his teacup: "Thank you, Brother Hao!"

Brother Hao clinked glasses: "You're welcome."

Just at this moment, ring ring ring~~~

Song Zihao's mobile phone rang.

"What? She's going to give birth?"

Song Zihao stood up abruptly, incomparably pleasantly surprised; Jackie was finally going to give birth.

"I'll be there right away... which hospital?"

Song Zijie: "Queen Elizabeth Hospital... but it shouldn't be that fast, at least a few hours later, you can come over tomorrow morning."

Song Zihao: "No, no, no, I'm going over now, hahaha~~~~"

Song Zihao was so happy he was jumping up and down, having lost the composure of the man who once dominated the scene.

He said to Mao Xiang Yang at an extremely fast speed: "I'm sorry, my niece is about to be born, I can't accompany you for late-night snacks anymore... bye-bye~~~~"

Mao Xiang Yang caught the festive spirit and hurriedly congratulated him: "Congratulations, congratulations!"

"Thanks." Song Zihao took out 200 Hong Kong dollars and placed it on the table, then said to Gao Jin: "Ah Jin, I'm leaving first."

Gao Jin smiled: "Congratulations."

Song Zihao jumped and skipped as he ran to drive, so happy he was about to fly.

Mao Xiang Yang quickly drank a few mouthfuls of porridge, then paid the bill, cupped his hands to Gao Jin, and also left.

Tonight, it could be considered a harvest.

He returned to the Regent Hotel.

"This handsome guy, do you want a girl? There are Northern girls, there are locals..."

"Get lost!"

I, Mao Xiang Yang, am full of righteousness; do you think I'm a pervert!

The next day,

Mao Xiang Yang left the dirty hotel room; having slept for one night, he really didn't want to sleep in there anymore.

Everywhere were disgusting and degenerate things.

He came downstairs, bought a newspaper, then ordered breakfast, sat down, and read the newspaper while eating.

"Hmm?"

The first news item on the second page of the newspaper caught Mao Xiang Yang's attention.

"Republican Party's Mr. Ni shakes hands with Causeway Bay's Uncrowned King Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu, aiming at the Eastern District Legislative Councilor"

The words "Legislative Councilor" instantly attracted Mao Xiang Yang's attention.

He began to read the news carefully.

"As everyone knows, Mr. Ni established the Republican Party precisely for this direct election of councilors..."

"And Mr. Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu, Guan, is the Uncrowned King of Causeway Bay, holding at least ten thousand votes in his hands..."

In the news, it detailed the Republican Party and Ni Ming, and also spent a few sentences describing Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu's massive approval rating in Causeway Bay.

"Our newspaper's reporter analysis believes: Whoever gets Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu, gets Causeway Bay! If the Republican Party really gains Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu's support this time, the 2 candidate qualifications for the Eastern District will inevitably fall into the hands of the Republican Party."

When Mao Xiang Yang saw this, his eyes lit up.

Doesn't this Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu fit his "unity" standard perfectly?

Causeway Bay,

"Damn it..."

"These paparazzi, do they have to have such a keen sense of smell!"

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu was sipping milk tea, looking at the newspaper, with a confused face.

He had only finished talking with the Republican Party people yesterday, and today he was already in the newspaper.

"Is it a coincidence?"

"Or did those guys from the Republican Party set me up?"

Subconsciously, he thought it was the Republican Party playing tricks.

And on Ni Ming's side of the Republican Party, they also saw the newspaper, with a face full of astonishment.

They had the same thought as Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu.

"How is it so coincidental?"

"Did Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu expose it? Could it be that he is building momentum for himself? Hinting that he is qualified to run for councilor?"

Ni Ming frowned.

(End of chapter)