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

Chapter 354 Never see James again!

"Go!" Su Hanze shouted, leading Lao Liang and Ahua out of the old temple. It was already dark outside, the village pitch black, with only Scarface Qiang's men still chasing them. Su Hanze led the two into the dense forest, using the shadows of the trees for cover, running for more than half a mile before stopping to catch their breath.

"Master Su..." Ahua was panting like a bellows, "What...what do we do? Smith and Scarface Qiang are here!"

"Good that you're here." Su Hanze sneered and lit a cigarette. "The fact that James's men and Boss Chen's men ran into each other means that they're not united about the goods either."

"Inside?" Old Liang coughed up blood and whispered, "Master Su, I overheard something in the cellar. James doesn't just have hideouts in Saigon; he has connections in Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Burma. Opium is his lifeblood; jade is just a cover."

“A cover-up…” Su Hanze narrowed his eyes. “Old Liang, what else did you hear?”

“Smith mentioned someone called ‘Old Ghost,’” Old Liang said in a low voice. “He said he was James’s informant in Hong Kong, in charge of the docks. The Vietnamese who robbed the goods last night were also hired by Old Ghost.”

"Old Ghost?" Su Hanze frowned. "An informant in Hong Kong...who is this guy?"

"I don't know." Old Liang shook his head. "Smith only mentioned a name and nothing else."

Su Hanze remained silent, his mind racing. James, Smith, Li Guangsheng, Boss Chen, the Vietnamese, Old Ghost… these people were like an increasingly dense net, yet he couldn't quite grasp their center. He exhaled a puff of smoke and whispered, “Back to Saigon, find Old Huang, and dig up some more information.”

"Master Su, going back to Saigon?" Ahua's eyes widened. "Scarface Qiang and Smith are both there. Aren't we just sending ourselves to our deaths if we go back?"

"Going to our deaths?" Su Hanze sneered. "Ahua, James's net is here. If we don't go back, the line will break. Let's go!"

Under the cover of night, the three took a roundabout route back to Saigon. The lights in the dock area were still dim, the teahouses were closed, and Old Huang was nowhere to be found. Su Hanze led the two into a small inn and found a corner to sit down. There weren't many people in the inn, only a few dockworkers drinking and muttering curses about Boss Chen and Smith.

"Master Su, the sack is still at the teahouse," Ahua whispered. "What about the opium and jade?"

"Never mind that for now." Su Hanze frowned. "Old Liang, what did you find out when you investigated Li Guangsheng at the dock?"

Old Liang took a breath and said in a low voice, "Li Guangsheng is from Chaozhou. Ten years ago, he was in the jade business in Hong Kong, but he lost everything and came to Sai Kung. The people at the dock said that his business only turned around after he got in touch with James. However, he is terrified of James and never dares to ask too many questions about the goods."

"Afraid of James?" Su Hanze narrowed his eyes. "Li Guangsheng is afraid, but Smith isn't. Just who is James?"

"I don't know." Old Liang shook his head. "Master Su, James is like a ghost. Nobody has ever seen him. The people at the docks say he never shows his face and leaves all the cargo matters to Smith and Li Guangsheng."

Su Hanze didn't speak, lit a cigarette, and glanced around the inn. Several workers in a corner were still cursing, mentioning "Old Ghost" and "Vietnamese." He frowned and whispered to Ahua, "Go find one of the workers and ask him about Old Ghost."

Ahua nodded, picked up his glass of wine, and leaned over to the workers, pretending to chat casually: "Brothers, why is things at the dock so chaotic lately?"

"Chaos?" A worker spat. "It's all because of Boss Chen and Smith's gang! They stole our goods and still dare to call us useless!"

"Robbery?" Ahua waved his fan. "I heard it was the Vietnamese who did it last night?"

"Vietnamese?" The worker glared at him, then lowered his voice. "Brother, why are you asking this? Don't pry into dockworks!"

"Don't get me wrong!" Ahua quickly laughed. "I'm just curious. I heard there's this guy called Old Ghost, he's pretty powerful?"

"Old Ghost?" The worker's expression changed. He looked around and whispered, "Brother, don't talk nonsense. Old Ghost is from Hong Kong Island. Nobody knows what he looks like. I heard he has connections with James. He's in charge of the cargo at the docks."

"Watching?" Ahua's eyes lit up. "Then where is he?"

"Who knows!" the worker waved his hand. "Old Ghost comes and goes without a trace. Last night's robbery was probably related to him. Brother, let me give you a piece of advice: don't mess with him, or you'll get yourself killed!"

Ahua smiled and nodded, then returned to Su Hanze's side and recounted everything she had heard. Su Hanze narrowed his eyes, his fingers tapping faster on Huang Yuzhu's paper: "Old Ghost, Hong Kong Island, James... this line is getting more and more interesting."

"Master Su, what should we do next?" Old Liang asked in a low voice.

“Find Old Ghost.” Su Hanze sneered. “James is well hidden, and Old Ghost is his informant. If we find Old Ghost, James will have to show up.”

"But where is Old Ghost?" Ahua frowned. "Nobody at the docks knows what he looks like!"

"Don't know?" Su Hanze exhaled a puff of smoke. "Then force him to come out. Tomorrow morning, go to the dock and have a chat with Boss Chen."

"Boss Chen?" Old Liang was taken aback. "Master Su, he doesn't get along with James, would he really talk about it?"

"Whether he agrees or not, we'll have to try," Su Hanze sneered. "Boss Chen's goods were stolen, he's even more anxious than we are. Let's go!"

The three left the inn. As the night deepened, the intermittent whistles of ships at the dock seemed to remind them that the situation in Saigon was becoming increasingly dangerous.

In the early hours of the morning in Saigon, a light drizzle fell, casting long shadows of the harbor lights on the water. A few dim streetlights and a row of patrolling police officers were reflected in the puddles along the streets.

Su Hanze stood in the shadow of a dilapidated warehouse, the cigarette butt glinting faintly. Ahua huddled beside him, shivering, and whispered, "Master Su, are we really going to find Boss Chen? Once the rain stops, everyone at the docks will definitely come out."

"Good thing the rain stopped," Su Hanze said calmly. "As soon as it's light, Boss Chen will know whose goods he lost."

What if he refuses to see us?

"Then let him know that if he doesn't see us, he'll lose even more."

Ahua swallowed hard and didn't say anything more.

As dawn broke, the rain didn't stop; instead, it poured down even harder. The dock area was filled with the damp, fishy smell of the sea. Several tugboats were loading and unloading cargo near the warehouses, and a few porters wearing straw hats hurried by. No one noticed the three people hiding in the corner.

Old Liang clutched his stomach, his face pale: "Master Su, maybe I shouldn't go up. My health... I'm afraid I'll be a burden."

"You stay here," Su Hanze nodded. "Watch the way back. Ahua, come with me."

The two men walked along the narrow path beside the dock to a closed warehouse. Two thugs dressed in black stood at the entrance, leaning against the wall and smoking.

Su Hanze stepped forward, cupped his hands and smiled: "Brothers, please inform him that Su Hanze requests an audience with Boss Chen."

"Su Hanze?" A man in black frowned. "What do you want with Boss Chen?"

"Let's help him find some of his lost items," Su Hanze said with a smile.

The two exchanged a glance, one turned and went inside, while the other stayed at the door to keep watch.

A short while later, a hoarse cough came from inside, the door opened a crack, and the thugs beckoned to them.

Ahua whispered, "Really?"

"of course."

Inside the warehouse, there were boxes of jade wooden crates and burlap sacks woven with straw ropes, and the air smelled of damp camphor.

Mr. Chen sat in his office on the second floor, wearing a silk robe, with a thin cigar in his mouth, looking down at the scene with a cold expression.

“Mr. Su,” Mr. Chen exhaled a puff of smoke, his voice calm, “you know how to pick your timing.”

“Boss Chen, the goods from last night…” Su Hanze looked up at him, “were probably hijacked by James’s men.”

"James?" Boss Chen raised an eyebrow. "How did you know?"

"I saw Smith's men and Vietnamese people in the cellar. They were all from James's network."

Mr. Chen remained noncommittal, slowly taking a drag of his cigarette. "Mr. Chen," Su Hanze said, walking slowly up the stairs, Ahua following closely behind, "let's get straight to the point. Of that shipment you lost, the opium belonged to James, and the jade was yours, right?"

Mr. Chen narrowed his eyes. "You know quite a lot."

“Unfortunately, I don’t know where Lao Gui is.” Su Hanze stopped in front of him, his eyes neither humble nor arrogant. “I only know that the people who robbed the goods last night were Vietnamese people hired by Lao Gui.”

After a moment of silence, Boss Chen suddenly laughed, "Old Ghost is James's man. You're coming to me for what he did?"

"I'm looking for you because you hate him more than James does," Su Hanze said calmly. "He used your goods to plug James's loopholes. Can you tolerate that?"

Mr. Chen flicked his cigarette ash, his gaze deep and unfathomable. "You want me to help you?"

“No.” Su Hanze shook his head. “I want you to spread the word—Old Ghost is going to sell his next batch of goods at the Red Light Wharf.”

Boss Chen stared at him for a while, then nodded, "Okay, I'll put it in."

Su Hanze turned to leave, but Boss Chen suddenly said, "Mr. Su, James is not someone you can afford to offend."

“I can’t afford to offend him, and I don’t want to.” Su Hanze said without turning his head. “But he messed with my brother, so he has to pay for it.”

Back at the inn, Lao Liang was still leaning against the bed, catching his breath. Hearing that Boss Chen had given in, he managed to sit up straight: "Master Su, the Red Light Wharf is a bad place. The water police patrol it closely. If we really take action... the risk is too great."

“It’s because there are so many marine police that Old Ghost was able to show up,” Su Hanze said in a deep voice. “Once he shows up, we can catch up with him.”

Ahua leaned closer and whispered, "Master Su, do you think Old Ghost will go in person? He's been hiding so well..."

“This shipment is quite large.” Su Hanze lit a cigarette. “If he doesn’t show up, James won’t let him come back alive.”

The three of them didn't sleep all night, and arrived at the Red Light Pier at dawn the next day. This pier was left behind after the old naval port was abandoned. It was full of broken ships and rusty cranes, overgrown with weeds, but it was a good place for smuggling and sorting goods.

The rain stopped, but the sky was overcast, as if shrouded in smoke.

Su Hanze and Ahua changed into coarse cloth clothes and crouched behind a stranded wooden boat. Old Liang stayed on a high place to keep watch.

After Chenshi (7-9 AM), the dock gradually became lively. Several small boats docked, and people disembarked one after another, all wearing straw hats to cover their faces completely. Su Hanze stared at the group and whispered, "Watch out for that small boat with the blue background and yellow flag."

Ahua glanced at them and nodded: "The few who came down look like Vietnamese."

“It’s not just similar, it is.” Su Hanze narrowed his eyes.

Half an hour later, a black sedan pulled up on the shore. The driver got out, opened an umbrella, and helped a man in a gray suit, gloves, sunglasses, and a top hat out of the back seat. The man was tall and thin, and walked expressionlessly to the side of the boat.

Ahua whispered, "This is... Old Ghost?"

“Very likely.” Su Hanze stared at him and said in a low voice, “Remember the route he took, and don’t act rashly.”

The man whispered a few words to the people on the boat, then turned and went into the abandoned warehouse next to the dock, where two men in black stood guard at the door.

“The opportunity has arrived.” Su Hanze stood up. “Ahua, go around to the other side and block the back door.”

"it is good."

He then hugged the wall and went around to the side window of the warehouse. He heard whispers and the sound of glass banging inside. Su Hanze took out a wire, slowly pried open the window, flipped over, and nimbly jumped inside.

The warehouse was dimly lit. Old Gui stood by the window with his back to him, holding a list in his hand, with several wooden crates stacked to the side. Su Hanze approached quietly, and just as he was about to get close, the man suddenly turned around, and a dagger whistled through the air!

Su Hanze turned to the side, grabbed him and pressed him against the wooden box, holding a dagger to his neck.

“Old ghost,” he sneered, “we’ve met before.”

Old Ghost said coldly, "Su Hanze, you've got some nerve."

"It's because James is so bold that he raised someone like you." Su Hanze kicked him to the ground. "Where's the merchandise?"

"You have no share of the smuggled goods."

Where is the goods?

“You wouldn’t dare kill me.” The old man spat out a mouthful of blood. “If you kill me, you’ll never see James again.”

"You think you're important?" Su Hanze pressed his hand against his chest and said coldly, "You're just a cloth to cover someone else's face; you have to be changed when you get dirty."

"You can't kill me." The old ghost's face was deathly pale. "I... I can take you to see him."

"Take me?"

"Tonight... Shuiwan Teahouse, the room by the window on the second floor."

"Will LeBron James appear?"

"If he doesn't show up, I'll die."

Su Hanze thought for a moment, nodded, tied up the old ghost, and stuffed a rag into his mouth.

Ahua rushed in: "Master Su, someone's here outside!"

"Let's go!" Su Hanze pulled Lao Gui up, and the three of them quickly retreated to the back door, crawled out through an old sewer, and didn't stop until they were far away from the dock.

Night fell again.

The Shuiwan Teahouse was brightly lit, with customers scattered in twos and threes, their laughter and the clatter of mahjong tiles mingling together. Su Hanze, Ahua, and Lao Liang mingled among the patrons and sat in a corner on the first floor. The private room by the window on the second floor was dimly lit, its door ajar.

Ahua asked, "Are you really coming?"

"Wait," Su Hanze said, uttering only one word.

They kept their eyes fixed on that private room. An hour later, three figures entered through the back door of the teahouse and went straight up to the second floor.

The third figure was tall and imposing, wearing a gray wool trench coat and sunglasses, with Smith following behind him.

Su Hanze squinted and exhaled a puff of smoke.

“Here I am,” he said.

"He's here." Su Hanze's voice was extremely low, as if he were talking to himself. As soon as the person stepped into the second floor, the noisy mahjong sounds in the teahouse seemed to be cut off by something. Su Hanze's heart tightened suddenly, and his fingertips unconsciously rubbed the cigarette box.

Ahua whispered, "Shall we move?"

"Don't move." Su Hanze stared intently at the half-open door of the private room. "Let's see how he makes his move."

Old Liang huddled in his seat, his face pale, tapping his fingers on the table. "Where's that old ghost now? Can we really trust him?"

(End of this chapter)