Chapter 406

Upon entering the study, Qiu Gang'ao was dumbfounded.

Translation: After entering the study, Qiu Gang'ao was dumbfounded!

We need to keep exclamation mark. Ensure no extra words.

Xin Ge casually flipped through the report in front of Director Huang, who smiled and arranged the pages for him to read smoothly.

Translation: Xin Ge picked up Director Huang's report in front of him and flipped through it casually, while Director Huang smiled and arranged the order for him so Xin Ge could read it smoothly.

Xin Ge picked up the report in front of Director Huang and flipped through it casually; Director Huang, however, smiled and arranged the order for him so Xin Ge could read it smoothly.

We need to keep it as one line.

Can Xin Ge even casually browse this internal police confidential document?

Translation: Can Xin Ge also freely look through these internal confidential police documents?

Li Xin glanced over it, then clasped his hands toward Old Huang and said, 'Congratulations, boss, taking charge of a district—are you being posted to Kowloon?'

Translation: Li Xin gave a rough look, then clasped his hands toward Old Huang: "Congratulations, Big Brother, taking charge of a region—is this an appointment to Kowloon?"

We need to keep the quotes and punctuation.

Striking!

Translation: "Sharp!"

Old Huang patted his belly, gestured to Qiu Gang'ao, and said, 'Have a seat—since A Xin brought you here, you're not an outsider.'

Translation: Old Huang patted his big belly, pointed at Qiu Gang'ao: "You sit too; since A Xin brought you today, you're not an outsider."

'A Xin, after my promotion last year, I could be assigned to any of the six divisions: Hong Kong Island, East Kowloon, West Kowloon, New Territories North, New Territories South, or Marine Police.'

Translation: "A Xin, after my promotion last year, I could be transferred to the Gangdao District, East Kowloon District, West Kowloon District, New Territories North District, New Territories South District, Water Police District—these six districts for duty."

We need to keep the list.

'But you know, the Hong Kong Island Division offers no prospects—it's dominated by foreigners; the only interesting postings are in East and West Kowloon. Back then there were no good openings, so I just stayed in the O Record unit and didn't move.'

Translation: "But you also know, the Gangdao District has no opportunity—it's the foreigners' stronghold; the only somewhat interesting ones are East Kowloon and West Kowloon, and back then there were no good positions, so I just stayed in the O Unit without moving."

foreigners

'After the negotiations ended, the East Kowloon Division commander was sent back to his hometown; only then did I speak up to the big brother.'

Translation: "After the negotiations ended, the East Kowloon District Director was transferred back to his ancestral home, and then I finally spoke with the Big Brother."

'After the new year I'll be posted as chief of the East Kowloon Division; I want to get up to speed on the major cases there—after you've read these reports, what do you think?'

Translation: "After the New Year, I will be transferred to serve as director in the East Kowloon District; I want to familiarize myself with the major cases there—after you read these reports, what are your thoughts?"

Li Xin pulled out a report and said, 'All the others are ordinary violent cases; only this street thug is a bit arrogant—this damn guy, using robbery money to hire a lawyer, still swaggers out of court—I have to say I'm impressed.'

Translation: Li Xin pulled out a report: "All the others are normal violent cases; only this street loiterer is a bit arrogant—this damn fellow, taking robbery money to hire a lawyer, can even swagger out of court—I have to say I'm impressed!"

We need to keep the exclamation.

Old Huang nodded, smiled at Li Xin, and asked, 'Little brother, can you tolerate someone being this arrogant in front of you?'

Translation: Old Huang nodded, smiling at Li Xin and asked: "Little brother, does anyone dare to be this arrogant in front of you—can you tolerate it?"

Little brother

Li Xin set the report down and said, 'Old Huang, I understand; I'm in the process of acquiring Gangdao Electric, and Zhang Zihao still has some usefulness—now isn't the time.'

Translation: Li Xin put down the report: "Old Huang, I understand your meaning; I'm in the process of buying Gangdao Electric, Zhang Zihao still has some use, now is not the time."

Gangdao Electric

Upon hearing that, Old Huang asked, 'Is that cucumber giving you competition?'

Translation: Upon hearing that, Old Huang asked: "Is that cucumber competing with you?"

that cucumber

that cucumber

Thus line 【14】 translation: Old Huang heard and asked: "Is that cucumber competing with you?"

'That's right, this Old Bide has the HSBC taipan behind him; even with Alice's help, this isn't going smoothly.'

Translation: "Exactly, this old Bide has the backing of the HSBC taipan; even if Alice helps me, this isn't going smoothly."

HSBC taipan

Alice

Alice

Thus line 【15】: "Exactly, this Lao Bide has the HSBC taipan's backing; even if Alice helps me, this isn't going smoothly."

Just thinking about that cucumber makes Li Xin's teeth itch with hatred.

Translation: Whenever Li Xin thinks of that cucumber, his teeth itch with hatred.

his teeth itch

Land Holdings had just announced its intention to sell its Gangdao Electric shares when he reached out to Alice to facilitate the deal—only for the cucumber to intervene, and the negotiations remain unresolved to this day.

Translation: As soon as Sino Land hinted at selling its Gangdao Electric shares, he contacted Alice to make the connection, unexpectedly the cucumber interfered, and the negotiations have not been completed to this day.

Land Holdings just released news intending to sell Gangdao Electric shares, he then contacted Alice to make the connection, unexpectedly the cucumber got involved, and this matter has not been finalized in negotiations to this day.

We need to keep the meaning.

Swire Properties' 35% stake in Hongkong Electric was initially priced at 3.2 billion; Li Xin offered 2.8 billion, the two sides haggled at that price, but Huanggua offered 2.9 billion.

Li Xin isn't unable to raise the price, but he won't be made a fool of; don't even think about it.

Swire Properties was founded in 1889 by two British merchants, Jardine Matheson's Samson Keswick and Paul Chater, with a registered capital of five million Hong Kong dollars, making it the largest company in Gangdao at the time.

In the 1970s they acquired a dairy company, and through their stake in Maxim's Catering Holdings they entered the food industry.

In 1980, Huanggua tasted the sweetness of acquiring Hopewell Holdings, and once intended to fully acquire Swire Properties, but failed.

Now, due to financial problems, Swire Properties' parent company intends to sell part of its business to ease the financial crisis, which is why it has put the Hongkong Electric shares up for sale.

Old Huang tossed Zhang Zihao's report in front of Li Xin: 'Return it to me after you're done, or I'll lose face.'

Qiu Gangao was completely dumbfounded!

No, you two Big Brothers! Can we still play this like that?

Old Huang pointed at Qiu Gangao: 'Ah Ao, I'm very satisfied with your performance over the past year, but you have a shortcoming: you work too independently; this needs to change.'

'If we can use these scoundrels to give A Xin a little help, that's their greatest value; the case is right here, and whenever we solve it, it's still up to us to decide.'

'They haven't harmed ordinary citizens, so what's there to rush about?'

He pulled out a report and threw it at Qiu Gangao: 'Take a look at the amount stolen, then tell me your thoughts.'

After reading the report, Qiu Gangao asked in disbelief: 'Three robbers stole half a ton of gold jewelry and gold reserves from a gold shop?'

'That's impossible!'

'Never mind how they carried it away; even an ordinary gold shop couldn't possibly have that much gold reserve.'

Li Xin gave a hehe laugh and replied: 'You idiot! Can't figure it out, huh?'

'What's so surprising about that?'

'Let me tell you something, and you'll understand.'

'In the underworld, some Big Brothers' accounts go wrong and they can't explain to the gang, so they find a cannon fodder to stir up trouble; after that, the cannon fodder is useless and can be handed over to others to vent their anger.'

'After this cannon fodder dies, they dump all the bad debts on him; such a person is called a "debt-settling loser" in the underworld.'

Li Xin picked up the report, glanced at it twice: 'Isn't this obvious yet?'

'Either the shop manager made a mistake, or the gold shop owner wants to extort more compensation from the insurance company.'

'Check the gold shop owner's financial situation; if he has serious financial problems, those robbers could very well be his own hires.'

'He's falsifying the data, and the insurance company has to accept it, holding its nose.'

Li Xin then produced several reports on bank robbery cases: 'And there are these; do you really think robbers can steal that much from a bank?'

'They only stole a small portion; the extra amount is all the bank's bad debts—don't you think this kills two birds with one stone?'

'The robbers make a small fortune, the bank clears its bad debts, and everyone is happy!'

'This is also why bank employees cooperate so readily when encountering robbers; perhaps tellers with good acting skills can even earn a bonus afterward.'

Qiu Gangao asked foolishly: 'Brother Xin, in these robbery cases, who actually suffers a loss?'

Li Xin replied with a smile: 'No one suffers a loss; the bank and gold shop are robbed, but the insurance company pays out, and the insurance company's funds come from these customers.'

'These customers normally deposit money with the insurance company; if they run out, they can claim compensation—there's no problem at all.'

'Sometimes they even tacitly leak some confidential information on purpose, letting those robbers come and steal it.'

Qiu Gangao sighed: 'In effect, these robbers are just sipping the soup while having to carry the big pot—those big winnings have already been divided up, haven't they?'

'Then what do you think it is?'

Li Xin rolled his eyes and tossed the report onto the table.

Old Huang patted his big belly and advised: 'Ah Ao, learn more from your Brother Xin; if you had half his sharpness, you'd be a superintendent too!'

'Superintendent?'

Qiu Gangao widened his eyes and asked Li Xin in disbelief: 'Brother Xin, are you a police officer or a superintendent?'

Li Xin affectedly pulled out a certificate from his pocket and threw it into Qiu Gangao's hand.

'I, unworthy as I am, am indeed an O Bureau superintendent, and I also have a promotion document signed by the big boss, under the sole leadership of Director Huang.'

'Any more questions?'

'None……!'

What I saw and heard today completely overturned Qiu Gang'ao's worldview.

Lao Huang and Li Xin exchanged a smile, you idiot! Now we'll see if you have any insight!