Chapter 25

Time: 6 PM.

Time: 6 PM.

Location: Peninsula Hotel.

Translation: "Location: Peninsula Hotel."

Gangdao Peninsula Hotel officially opened on December 11, 1928, and is the Gangdao hotel with the longest history and one of the earliest built hotels in Asia.

When translating, keep all numbers exactly as they appear; for dates, translate the surrounding Chinese characters but you may render the date in English format (e. g., 'December 11, 1928') as long as the numbers 1928, 12, and 11 remain unchanged.

Thus line 3 translation: "Gangdao Peninsula Hotel opened officially on December 11, 1928, and is the Gangdao hotel with the longest history and one of the earliest built hotels in Asia."

But we must keep 'Gangdao', 'Peninsula Hotel', and 'Asia'; the phrase translates to 'one of the earliest built hotels'.

Let's craft: "Gangdao Peninsula Hotel opened officially on December 11, 1928, and is the Gangdao hotel with the longest history and one of the earliest built hotels in Asia."

Check: we kept numbers exactly: 1928, 12, 11 appear as "December 11, 1928". The numbers are same.

The hotel is located at the southernmost tip of the Kowloon Peninsula, facing Victoria Harbour, enjoying a superior location.

Translation: "The hotel is located at the southern tip of the Kowloon Peninsula, facing Victoria Harbour, enjoying a superior geographical location."

We need to keep 'Kowloon Peninsula' and 'Victoria Harbour'.

Peninsula Hotel has hosted many royal family members and celebrities; it is a favored residence of the elite, known as the "Far East Lady".

Translation: "Peninsula Hotel has hosted many royal family members and celebrities, is a favored residence of celebrities, and is known as the 'Far East Lady'."

We need to keep the quotes around 'Far East Lady'.

The hotel has 300 spacious rooms, including 54 suites and 246 standard rooms, facilities include a Roman palace-style swimming pool and fitness club, and the underground mall mostly consists of brand-name stores.

Translation: "The hotel has 300 spacious rooms, including 54 suites and 246 standard rooms, facilities include a Roman palace-style swimming pool and fitness club, the underground mall mostly consists of brand stores."

We need to keep numbers: 300, 54, 246.

Peninsula Hotel has hosted former US President Nixon, and Queen Elizabeth II also designated it as her stay.

Translation: "Peninsula Hotel has hosted former US President Nixon, and Queen Elizabeth II also designated it as her stay."

We need to keep 'former US President Nixon' and 'Queen Elizabeth II'; these are real-world celebrities that we translate but are not in the glossary.

Peninsula Hotel is owned and operated by the English-Jewish Jiali Dao family; the Jiali Dao family also owns more than thirty percent of the shares of China Electric Power on the surface, but everyone knows that China Electric Power belongs to the Jiali Dao family.

Translation: "Peninsula Hotel is owned and operated by the English-Jewish Kadoorie family, and the Kadoorie family also holds more than thirty percent of the shares of China Electric Power on the surface, but everyone knows that China Electric Power belongs to the Kadoorie family."

But we must not translate the surname by meaning; we must use the pinyin 'Jiali Dao'. So we render the family as 'Jiali Dao Family', the power company as 'China Electric Power', and the descriptor as 'English-Jewish'.

Thus: "Peninsula Hotel is owned and operated by the English-Jewish Jiali Dao Family, and the Jiali Dao Family also holds more than thirty percent of the shares of China Electric Power on the surface, but everyone knows that China Electric Power belongs to the Jiali Dao Family."

We need to keep the percentage: it translates to 'more than thirty percent', keeping the number 30.

Here I specifically say this: the father of the current head of the Jiali Dao family, in order not to hand over China Electric Power to the little Japanese, personally blew up the power hub, and was directly killed by the little Japanese in the concentration camp.

Translation: "Here I specifically say this: the father of the current head of the Jiali Dao Family, in order not to hand over China Electric Power to the little Japanese, personally blew up the power hub, and was directly killed by the little Japanese in the concentration camp."

We need to keep 'little Japanese', 'concentration camp', 'power hub', 'Jiali Dao Family', 'China Electric Power', and 'the father of the current head'.

Later, the old home's Daya Bay Power Station also had shares of the Jiali Dao family; his family's background is very complicated! (The author really couldn't find more detailed information, so could only follow what could be found.)

Translation: "Later, the old home's Daya Bay Power Station also had shares of the Jiali Dao Family; his family's background is very complicated! (The author really couldn't find more detailed information, so could only follow what could be found.)"

We need to keep 'the old home's Daya Bay Power Station' and 'Jiali Dao Family'.

Today A Xing parked the car, Luo Tianhong sat in the passenger seat, and Li Xin sat in the back resting with eyes closed.

Translation: "Today A Xing parked the car, Luo Tianhong sat in the passenger seat, and Li Xin sat in the back resting with eyes closed."

We need to keep A Xing, Luo Tianhong, Li Xin; passenger seat; and resting with eyes closed.

Peninsula Hotel is an H-shaped building; after A Xing finishes parking and returns, the three of them walk to the hotel with one in front and two behind.

Translation: "Peninsula Hotel is an H-shaped building; after A Xing finishes parking and returns, the three of them walk to the hotel with one in front and two behind."

We need to keep Peninsula Hotel, A Xing; H-shaped building; and one in front and two behind.

The doorman at the entrance looked like someone whose family had just died, all white from head to toe, even his hat was white, looking ominous at a glance.

Translation: "The doorman at the entrance looked like someone whose family had just died, all white from head to toe, even his hat was white, looking ominous at a glance."

The doorman at the entrance looked like someone whose family had just died, all white from head to toe, even his hat was white, looking ominous at a glance.

But we need to keep the tone. We'll produce: "The doorman at the entrance looked like someone whose family had just died, all white from head to toe, even his hat was white, looking ominous at a glance."

Inauspicious!

Translation: "Unlucky!"

Li Xin is different: a pink shirt, white casual pants, white canvas shoes, a pair of flamboyant Ah Bing-style glasses, and an avant-garde crew cut that leaves no hair around.

Translation: "He, Li Xin, is different: a pink shirt, white casual pants, white canvas shoes, a pair of flamboyant Ah Bing-style glasses, and an avant-garde crew cut that leaves no hair around."

We need to keep Li Xin; a pink shirt; white casual pants; white canvas shoes; flamboyant Ah Bing-style glasses; and an avant-garde crew cut that leaves no hair around.

In this era, only a crow can match his avant-garde style; everyone else is terrible!

Translation: "In this era, only a crow can match his avant-garde style; everyone else is just terrible!"

We need to keep crow and terrible.

It's not that I look down on others; it's just that they don't have that aesthetic!

Translation: "It's not that I look down on others; it's just that they don't have that aesthetic!"

Damn, they wear suits as overcoats, just like Chen Yaoxing behind them!

Translation: "Damn, wearing suits as overcoats, just like Chen Yaoxing behind him."

We need to keep damn and Chen Yaoxing.

Tianhong's aesthetic is okay: a black windbreaker, a black vest underneath, black military trousers, plus a pair of black military boots.

Translation: "Tianhong's aesthetic is still fine: a black windbreaker, black inner vest, black military trousers, plus a pair of military boots."

We need to keep Tianhong.

Forget it! I'm not saying more!

Translation: "Forget it! I'm not saying anymore!"

Just like this, just these two little brothers who can go out; if we pick more, we can only come ourselves!

Translation: "Just leave it at that; with just these two followers who can go out, any further selection would have to be done by myself!"

We need to keep meaning.

Chen Yaoxing, who is useless, is sweating on his forehead!

Translation: "Chen Yaoxing, the good-for-nothing, is sweating on his forehead!"

No wonder he's like that; the status of Peninsula Hotel in Gangdao need not be elaborated—just one phrase, "everything and more" sums it up.

Translation: "No wonder he's like that; the status of Peninsula Hotel in Gangdao doesn't need elaboration—just one phrase, 'everything and more', sums it up."

We need to keep Peninsula Hotel, Gangdao; and translate the slang as 'everything and more'.

Those who can come here are all celebrities; at least they are famous actors or singers. People from the martial world aren't unable to come; they just feel uncomfortable.

Translation: "Those who can come here are all celebrities; at the very least, they are famous actors or singers. People from the jianghu aren't unable to come; they just feel uncomfortable."

People from the martial world aren't unable to come; they just feel uncomfortable.

Rough guys can't eat fine grain! It would be more comfortable to call a few brothers for a hot pot.

Translation: "A rough guy can't eat fine grain; it would be more comfortable to call a few brothers to have a hot pot!"

We need to keep rough guy, fine grain, and hot pot.

Arriving at the seat reserved by Boss Shao, Boss Shao and a thin middle-aged woman were already drinking coffee.

Translation: "Arriving at the seat reserved by Shao Lao Ban, Shao Lao Ban and a thin middle-aged woman were already drinking coffee."

We need to keep Shao Lao Ban.

Chen Yaoxing, being observant, pulled out the chair before the waiter, pulled the chair for his boss, waited for his boss to stand firm, then adjusted it to a comfortable position, waited for his boss to sit down, after finishing, he crossed his hands, placed them in front, and stood behind his boss.

Translation: "Chen Yaoxing, being very perceptive, hurried ahead of the waiter to pull out the chair for his Big Brother, waited for his Big Brother to stand firm, then adjusted it to a comfortable position, waited for his Big Brother to sit down, after which he crossed his hands, placed them in front, and stood behind his Big Brother."

We need to keep Big Brother and Chen Yaoxing.

Tianhong was more at ease: he pulled out a chair and sat down directly, picked up the toothpick on the table, and put it in his mouth.

Translation: "Tianhong was much more relaxed: he pulled out a chair and sat down directly, picked up the toothpick on the table, and threw it into his mouth."

We need to keep Tianhong.

Damn, he even nodded familiarly at Boss Shao!

Translation: "Damn, he even nodded familiarly at Shao Lao Ban!"

We need to keep damn and Shao Lao Ban.

This is Luo Tianhong: nothing can make him feel restrained; he doesn't even care about his life; there is nothing in this world that can make him feel afraid.

Translation: "This is Luo Tianhong; nothing can make him feel restrained, he doesn't even care about his life, there is nothing in this world that can make him feel afraid."

We need to keep Luo Tianhong.

If there is, then it's because his Big Brother is truly angry.

Otherwise, nothing else works.

This is also why Li Xin treats him as a brother; others might avoid him when they see him in danger, but Luo Tianhong won't.

He will only angrily stand in front of the Big Brother; before he can defeat his Big Brother, whoever moves against the Big Brother, he will take that person's life.

He's a pure martial arts fanatic and a fool!

After Li Xin sat down, he took out a Red Ten Thousand from his pocket, pulled one out and put it in his mouth, and Chen Yaoxing took out a lighter to light it for him.

He took a puff, passed it through his lungs, exhaled the smoke, then opened his mouth to say:

"Six Uncle, I, A Xin, have given what should be given and also given what shouldn't be given; now Shaw Brothers still appears in this matter, Six Uncle, are you bullying me, A Xin, because I'm a newcomer in the film industry?"

Shaw boss picked up his coffee, took a sip, didn't speak; the third party beside him, Fang Yihua, opened his mouth to continue:

"Youngster, everything must follow the rules, otherwise there's no future!"

Li Xin gave Shaw boss a playful look, also remained silent; the meaning was clear—was this your intention?

Shaw boss picked up a napkin, wiped the corner of his mouth, then said:

"I'll just call you A Xin; at my age, calling you A Xin is not excessive."

"You first had my company's theater manager removed, then through Jiang Tian Sheng you called me and arranged to meet here—are you here to confront me?"

Li Xin stood up, turned and was about to leave.

Damn, this old guy comes up with a reverse attack, trying to brush this off.

Then there's nothing to talk about; wanting to make him suffer a dumb loss, Shaw Lao Liu is also daydreaming!

Go dream about it; when we go back we'll start fighting, Damn, your Tseung Kwan O Film City doesn't want to start work.

Seeing that his usual methods for dealing with jianghu people didn't work, Shaw boss wondered: shouldn't jianghu people be timid in such an environment?

"Unexpectedly, this kid is a raw-rice eater!" He quickly stood up and said: "A Xin, young people just lack steadiness; hurry up and sit down to talk—any business is negotiated, not fought."

Li Xin turned back to sit down, mockingly watching Shaw Lao Liu's performance, but remained silent.

Shaw boss was also helpless; his eldest branch and children had settled in Singapore, and this theater manager was his close nephew Shaw Wai Chi.

It's impossible not to care about his life or death; if it were someone else, Shaw boss wouldn't care at all!

He wouldn't even accept big buns from the cafeteria; if the dishes had too much oil, he'd scold the cook for half an hour—could he possibly be willing to waste this money?

Now not spending this wasted money is not an option; what can he do?

He can only accept defeat!

He spoke with difficulty:

"A Xin, send the person back safely; from now on, your films will be shown in Shaw Brothers theaters with a 20% discount, and we'll consider this matter settled, okay?"

"No good!"

Li Xin blurted out two words.

We have already given you our utmost sincerity; what more do you want?

Um, Shao Lao Liu, in his anxiety, slipped into Shanghainese; Shao Lao Liu is from Ningbo but has lived in Shanghai for a long time.

Li Xin flicked ash into the ashtray and said, "Uncle Six, is your nephew worth only a 20% discount?"

Give me a straight answer: how can I get my nephew released? Don't make excessive demands; I just don't want to trouble others, which doesn't mean I have no way.

Shao Lao Liu spoke in a threatening tone.

Li Xin clapped his hands, mocking Shao Lao Liu as he said:

Are you referring to Deng Bo of Lian Sheng, or Deputy Commissioner of Police Smith?

If it's that foreigner Smith who makes a move, I can guarantee: if Smith acts today, tomorrow he'll lose control of a gravel truck, and your sons and daughters in Singapore will all die in car crashes!

If it's Old Ghost Deng who acts, give him face and call him Uncle Deng; deny him face, and I'll bury him!

Fang Yihua, who was beside Boss Shao, looked at Li Xin in terror.

I don't know what to say!

She had never seen a martial artist like this youngster before!

This is too fierce!

Li Xin reached his hand forward in front of Fang Yihua and said gently:

Miss Fang, hand over the recorder in your bag, or we'll both be in trouble!

With his fivefold physical prowess and enhanced hearing, he couldn't miss the sound of the machine rolling inside the bag.

Within a hundred meters, he could tell the cup size of any woman changing clothes in the opposite building.