Hong Kong Film: Short mules have no future, I am in charge of Hong Kong

Chapter 202: Testing the bottom line

"Easy to let you go?" Qiu San sneered, pressing the cigarette butt into the ashtray, his eyes as sharp as a knife, "In Wan Chai, you can be afraid of anyone, but you can't be afraid of the wrong person. Tell those bosses, if they dare to look at Su Hanze again, I will let them know what true regret is."

"I understand." A Bin nodded, then said hesitantly, "Brother Qiu, the situation in Bar Street is already chaotic, and the brothers are under a lot of pressure. If we spend more energy on these people, will it distract our attention from Su Hanze?"

Qiu San didn't take his eyes off the map. His fingers tapped the table lightly, and his voice was calm and almost cruel: "Abin, everything Su Hanze does now is to find our flaws. He doesn't want to win, but to wait for us to mess up first. As long as we can keep calm, the more anxious he is, the faster he will die."

Abin was silent for a while, finally nodded, turned and left.

The office was quiet again. Qiu San sat alone at the table, staring at the mark on the map, his eyes as deep as the night. He knew that Su Hanze's move was harassment on the surface, but in fact it was to undermine his reputation. He had to make a bigger move to get back at him.

A few days later, Qiu San's people stepped up patrols on Bar Street and even stationed people outside several key venues. Although this move temporarily reassured many bosses, it also caused Su Hanze's people to start probing more frequently. Although each probing was quickly resolved by Qiu San's people, the tension between the two sides was getting stronger and stronger.

Late at night, in the basement of Shengrong Hall, several of Su Hanze's men were tied up and thrown on the ground, with obvious bruises on their faces. A Bin stood aside, holding a list found on these people, with a cold expression.

"Third Brother Qiu, these people broke into our place last night to cause trouble and were caught by the brothers." A Bin handed over the list, "They have the contact information of several bar street owners. It seems that Su Hanze's people are backing them and letting them harass these bosses."

Qiu San took the list, glanced at it casually, and then threw it back on the table. He looked up at the people kneeling on the ground and said coldly, "Su Hanze asked you to do it?"

Those people lowered their heads and trembled, but no one dared to answer.

"I'm asking you a question!" Abin took a step forward and kicked one of them in the chest. The other person screamed and fell to the ground, gasping for breath.

"It's... it's Su Hanze!" One person finally couldn't help but speak, with obvious fear in his voice, "He said that as long as we can mess up your place, he will protect us!"

"Protect you?" Qiu San sneered, his eyes cold, "What can he protect you from? Can he protect your lives, or your debts?"

The man raised his head tremblingly, but met Qiu San's knife-like gaze. He was so frightened that he dared not speak anymore.

"Throw them out." Qiu San waved his hand, his tone calm, "Tell them to pass a message to Su Hanze: If he wants to play, let him come in person, don't let these worthless little brothers come to die."

"Yes." Abin immediately arranged for people to drag them away.

When the news reached Su Hanze, his face turned terribly gloomy. He sat on the top floor of the Dynasty Nightclub, staring at the lights outside the window like an eagle. His subordinate A Kuan stood aside and whispered, "Brother Ze, Qiu San's people acted very quickly, and the people we sent out didn't get any advantage at all."

"You are too stupid to take advantage of me." Su Hanze said coldly, with obvious impatience in his voice, "Can you touch Qiu San's place casually? Those people you sent are looking for death if they go there."

"But..." Ah Kuan hesitated for a moment, but still mustered up the courage to say, "Brother Ze, Qiu San is guarding so tightly now. If we don't make some big moves, I'm afraid the people in Wan Chai will think that we are retreating."

Su Hanze's eyes suddenly turned cold. He slowly stood up and walked in front of A Kuan. His voice was low and dangerous: "Back off? Do you think I'm the kind of person who would back off?"

"No! Absolutely not!" Ah Kuan waved his hands quickly, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

Su Hanze sneered, his tone full of murderous intent: "No matter how tightly Qiu San defends now, he is just defending. How long can he defend? As long as we continue to put pressure on him, one day he will not be able to hold on. And that day will be our chance."

A Kuan lowered his head and dared not speak any more.

"Spread my words." Su Hanze turned around and walked back to the table, slowly sitting down. "Don't let any of the places on Bar Street go. But remember, we are not going to smash them, but to let those bosses know that if they follow Qiu San, they will only die faster."

Qiu San leaned back in his chair, the cigarette in his hand was half burned, the ash hanging down, but no one dared to step forward to remind him. His eyes fell on the window, the scattered lights on the street flickered in the middle of the night, like the crisis hidden in the dark in Wan Chai. He took a puff of cigarette and exhaled slowly. The smoke filled the dimly lit office, like an invisible barrier, hiding his thoughts deeper.

"Third Brother Qiu, those bosses just sent me another message. Several of them have wavered." A Bin stood in front of the table, speaking in a low voice, as if he was afraid of disturbing an important moment. In his hand was a list with the names of several key places on Bar Street and their contact information. "Su Hanze's people got smarter this time. They didn't threaten directly, but started to tempt us with benefits, saying that following them would keep their business and get more territory."

"Benefits?" Qiu San's voice was low and cold, "Su Hanze thinks that his methods can support the rules of Wan Chai?"

"They really put a lot of thought into it." Abin sighed, with a bit of helplessness in his tone, "These bosses are not very loyal people. They usually follow us because we can protect their business. Now that Su Hanze's people are shaken, they immediately become wavering."

Qiu San tapped the tabletop lightly, making a rhythmic sound. He did not look away from the window, but his tone was calmer than usual: "Abin, do you think these people are worth our time to protect?"

A Bin was stunned for a moment, then whispered: "Brother Qiu, what you mean is..."

"If we want to keep Wan Chai's business stable, we can't rely on protection, but on letting them know who the real owner is." Qiu San stood up, walked to the table, and tapped a few names on the list. "Since these people have begun to waver, let them know what will happen if they follow the wrong person."

"But if these people really side with Su Hanze, then..." Before Abin could finish his words, Qiu San raised his hand to stop him.

"Turn to Su Hanze?" Qiu San sneered, with a hint of disdain in his tone, "What do they think Su Hanze can bring to them? It's just a worse situation. Abin, spread my words and tell these bosses that they can choose, but they only have one chance. If they make the wrong choice, don't blame me for being ruthless." "Understood." Abin nodded, then turned and left.

Qiu San stood alone in the office, his eyes looking out the window again. He knew that Su Hanze's actions seemed fierce, but in fact they were full of temptation and hesitation. They were waiting for Qiu San to make a mistake, and what Qiu San had to do was to take advantage of every temptation from Su Hanze and completely reverse the situation.

A few days later, several places on Bar Street suddenly returned to peace. Those bosses who were ready to make a move seemed to have received a warning and began to behave themselves and no longer contacted Su Hanze's people privately. At the same time, Qiu San's people stepped up patrols and firmly blocked all possible loopholes.

"Brother Qiu, the deterrent effect this time is very good. Those bosses have started to behave themselves." A Bin said excitedly, "They even took the initiative to contact our people and said that they would do business according to the rules and would not mess around again."

Qiu San sat on the chair with a faint smile on his face: "They don't make trouble because they know that if they continue to make trouble, there will be no way out."

"But, Su Hanze's people have also started to restrain themselves." Abin continued, with a hint of worry in his tone, "They have rarely taken the initiative to provoke recently. Instead, it seems like they are planning something big."

"They are restraining themselves because they know that acting rashly at this time will only accelerate their own failure." Qiu San slowly stood up and walked to the window, his voice low and firm, "But they can't restrain themselves forever. Bin, keep a close eye on their every move, especially the movements near the bar street. As long as they make the slightest move, we must react immediately."

"I understand. I'll arrange it right away." Abin nodded and left immediately.

The office returned to silence. Qiu San stood alone in front of the window, his eyes deep, his fingers tapping the window frame lightly.

This game has entered the most critical stage. If he is not careful, the whole situation may collapse. What he needs to do is to seize the initiative and end this game completely before his opponent makes a move.

Wan Chai was still brightly lit at night, but beneath the bustling appearance, there were countless undercurrents. Qiu San's footsteps echoed in the empty corridor, and each step was firm and steady.

Qiu San stood on the second-floor terrace of Shengrong Hall, holding a half-burned cigarette in his hand, his eyes piercing through the night sky and falling on the distant streets of Wan Chai. The streets were lit by flashing neon lights and cars were flowing, as if everything was calm and normal.

But this calm was only an appearance, the real storm was brewing in the dark. The cigarette between his fingers trembled in the wind, and the burnt ash gently fell to the ground. He did not raise his hand to flick it, but just stared at the subtle changes, as if he was examining the smallest move in a chess game.

A Bin's footsteps came from behind. He walked very fast, but slowed down when he reached the terrace door, as if he was afraid of disturbing Qiu San's thoughts. After he stopped, he said softly: "Brother Qiu San, I just received news that Su Hanze's people went to a place on Bar Street last night and talked with the boss there for a long time. Although no substantial cooperation was reached, I heard that they left a message saying that if we continue to follow us, sooner or later we will lose our lives to do business."

Qiu San did not respond immediately. He put out the cigarette in his hand on the handrail of the terrace, then turned around and looked at A Bin. His eyes were as calm as water, but they revealed an indescribable pressure. His voice was low: "What did the boss say?"

"The boss said he didn't dare and said he would continue to follow the rules, but... I heard from his subordinates that his attitude was perfunctory and he probably had other plans in mind." A Bin's tone was filled with a hint of anger, "These people are really fence-sitters. They go whichever way the wind blows."

"People who are afraid of death are most likely to be caught by Su Hanze." Qiu San walked back to the terrace and sat on a rattan chair beside him. He picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip. His eyes fell on A Bin. "It's true that they are afraid of death, but they are afraid of the wrong person. We can't blame them for that."

"What you mean is..." Abin asked tentatively.

"Give him another chance." Qiu San put down his teacup and said calmly, "Let the brothers go meet the boss and ask him directly whether he wants to follow us or Su Hanze. Let him make a clear choice."

"What if he is still hesitant?" Abin asked with a frown.

"Hesitation?" Qiu San sneered, his eyes sharp, "Then leave him no choice. Wan Chai's business cannot be built by hesitation. If he doesn't even have this little courage, don't blame us for being ruthless."

A Bin nodded: "Understood, I will arrange it right away."

Qiu San leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and listened to the sound of A Bin's footsteps fading away. His fingers tapped the armrests lightly, but he had already begun to think about the next step in the game in his mind.

Su Hanze is now trying to disintegrate his inner circle, using fear and interests to sow discord among his camp. Although this method is not clever, once it succeeds, it will be enough to make the situation completely out of control. He must respond faster and more fiercely to stabilize the situation again.

A few days later, the owner of the bar street took the initiative to contact Qiu San's people. He said that he had "thought it through" and was willing to continue to do business according to the rules and would never contact Su Hanze's people again. When the news came back to Qiu San's ears, he did not show too much surprise, but just said lightly: "Keep an eye on him. Tell me the first time there is any movement in the future."

Ah Bin nodded in agreement, and then brought up another matter: "Third Brother Qiu, there has been some movement at the East Pier recently. Su Hanze's people sent a few small leaders over there to try to win over the cargo owners. Most of these cargo owners are still waiting and watching, but some have begun to demand more protection from us."

"Increase the stakes?" Qiu San raised his eyebrows, a barely perceptible sneer appeared on his face, "Do they think we are not stable enough?"

"That's about it." Abin sighed. "These cargo owners are like this. When everything is going smoothly, they want to praise us to the sky. Once there is a little trouble, they start to test the bottom line."

"You can test them," Qiu San said in a low voice. "But the bottom line is that you only have one chance. Tell them that we can increase the price, but it depends on whether they are sincere. If they are not sincere, don't blame us for not recognizing their goods."

A Bin hesitated for a moment, but still nodded and said, "I understand. I'll arrange for someone to talk to him."

(End of this chapter)