Years: Salted fish life since going to the countryside.

Chapter 1652 Acquaintance
There are several ferries running between Hong Kong and Macau every day, carrying many people who dream of getting rich. These people are usually quite wealthy and have relatively flexible schedules.

Those who have little wealth and little time, but still want to make a lot of money, mostly gamble for a while in the underground casinos of Hong Kong's triads.

Some people like to go to mahjong parlors to play a few rounds, and as long as the amount is within a certain range, the parlor staff won't interfere.

Those who enjoy playing mahjong but lack the time or money to go to a mahjong parlor can still enjoy their game by setting up a table on the street.

There were quite a few people on the ship who wanted to make their fortune in Macau, so Han Li also heard some interesting news and complaints about the inaction of the Hong Kong government, saying that they all had to cross the sea to get rich.

The reason is that many people in Hong Kong enjoy playing cards, especially mahjong, which has a long history.

In the past, many people in Hong Kong made a living by running mahjong parlors and playing cards. Back then, there were many mahjong parlors on any street.

However, in 55, the Hong Kong government decided to implement a complete ban on gambling in Hong Kong.
The owners of these mahjong parlors got together and discussed the matter. They then established the "Hong Kong Mahjong Chamber of Commerce" and began lobbying and seeking connections to secure a place for their businesses to survive.

The owners of these mahjong parlors went through many connections and more than four months of effort before the Hong Kong government finally recognized the legalization of mahjong in 56.

However, in order to make money, those foreigners only issued 144 mahjong parlor licenses in the entire Hong Kong, based on the 144 tiles in a mahjong set. To get one, you had to keep raising the price.

Some of those who obtained mahjong parlor licenses only charge venue fees and service fees, while others take a commission (rake) based on a certain percentage.

In Hong Kong, water is considered wealth, and pumping water is considered taking a commission.

If you can't tell whether a mahjong parlor takes a commission or not, it doesn't matter. Just go in and take a look. On the mahjong table, is there a basin hanging there? This basin is commonly known as a water bag.

Those who hang basins (representing sales revenue) receive a commission, while those who don't hang basins don't receive a commission.

It is said that the best mahjong parlors in Hong Kong can make millions of dollars a day just from commissions, based on the calculation that they can take 0.5% of the winnings from each hand of mahjong.

These kinds of mahjong parlors have always been the primary target of Hong Kong's triads.

Whether it's a mahjong parlor that only charges a venue fee and service fee, or one that takes a cut, you have to pay money to enter.

Therefore, people in Hong Kong at the time gave those mahjong parlors a more elegant name: "mahjong schools," and going to play mahjong was referred to as "paying tuition."

Han Li listened to the complaints of the other people on the ship, as well as their boastful words about dominating the world in Haojiang. Soon it was time to disembark.

Han Li had already been to Haojiang twice, so he was quite familiar with how to find kind-hearted people to help him. Even if the locations and rules changed a bit, it would only take a little more time.

After disembarking, Han Li visited almost every gambling hall he was supposed to go to, exchanging about 100,000 yuan worth of chips at each one.

He would curse when he lost and cheer when he won. Occasionally, he would tip the waiter who brought him drinks, and at that time he would also take advantage of the situation.

During this period, Han Li lost more than he won. He would only leave each gambling hall after losing his last chip, and sometimes he would grumble and curse, behaving no different from the other customers.

Around 4 p.m., Han Li arrived at the pier looking somewhat dejected, bought a ticket, boarded a ship, and returned to Hong Kong.

Han Li arrived in Hong Kong a little after six o'clock. He originally planned to go straight home after getting his car, but when he got to the parking spot, took out his keys, and was about to open the door, someone came over and said something to him.

"Sir, do you still recognize me?"

The area around the dock was bustling with people, and Han Li initially didn't pay attention to those around him. However, when he heard someone speaking to him from not far away, he turned his head and looked in the direction of the voice, only to find that it was Mei Yanfang, whom he had met once before.

The last time Han Li saw Mei Yanfang was near the Tin Hau Temple Square in Temple Street. She was singing at a stall at the time. Han Li gave her a large bill, and she caught up with him and chatted briefly.

Anita Mui's style at that time was far inferior to what it is now. It seems that she had already won the first Hong Kong New Talent Singing Contest and signed with a record company.

However, Mei Yanfang has a really good memory. Even after a year, she can still recognize him. Han Li stopped opening the door, looked at her for a while, and then asked.

"You're the little girl who sang in Temple Street that day, Meimei."

When Mei Yanfang saw that the other person still recognized her, she took two steps over, extended her hand, and said with a smile.

"Sir, you have a very good memory. My name is Mei Yanfang."

Han Li put the car keys in his left hand, extended his right hand, shook hands lightly with the other person, and then said.

"My memory is just average. It's mainly because you're so beautiful, Miss Mei, and you sing so well. But you're even more beautiful now than before."

Mei Yanfang was not coy at all and was very free-spirited. Moreover, every woman likes to hear praise, and she laughed even more happily when Han Li said that.

“Sir, you can just call me Amei. However, I don’t know your honorable name yet.”

Han Li: "Hehe, sorry, Han Li, I am currently teaching at Hong Kong University."

Mei Yanfang: "I have always admired teachers since I was a child, and Hong Kong University is the best and most difficult university to get into in Hong Kong. It is really amazing that you can be a teacher there."

When the two got to this point in their conversation, Han Li decided to leave, so he spoke up.

"We're all just trying to make a living. Where are you headed, Amei? Do you want me to give you a ride?"

Han Li thought that Mei Yanfang, with her experience of traveling to various events since childhood, would be able to understand his explanation.

However, to Han Li's surprise, Mei Yanfang not only seemed not to understand, but also changed the subject.

"Mr. Han, last time I said I wanted to invite you for tea, you said you had to rush back to prepare your lessons. I wonder if you have time today?"

Han Li: "."

Although Han Li felt embarrassed to refuse her, he didn't formally find a place to sit down and drink tea with her. Instead, he went to the side and bought two cups of iced tea.

Mei Yanfang wasn't oblivious; she only said that because she hadn't gotten Han Li's phone number yet.

So after Han Li bought the herbal tea, the two chatted for a while, exchanged phone numbers, and then Mei Yanfang took the initiative to make an excuse to leave.

Because of this delay, Han Li didn't get home until almost 7:30.

While helping Han Li get his slippers and take off his coat, Chung Chu-hung mentioned that his student, Luo Yuze, had just called.
(End of this chapter)