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

Chapter 356 I want to find a different way to survive!
“That means he doesn’t just come on Wednesdays.” Su Hanze put down his teacup, stood up, and said, “Let’s go check out the back alley.”

The two walked around to the back alley of Jin Cui Lou. The alley was so narrow that only one cart could pass at a time, and there were broken wooden boxes and garbage piled up on both sides. Sure enough, two people were standing at the end of the alley, one smoking a cigarette and the other fiddling with a lighter in his hand. Su Hanze and Ahua pretended to be passing by, pulling their hats down low, and did not stop walking.

"See that guy in the suit? He has calluses on his fingers, like he handles a gun a lot."

"Should we..." Ahua gestured.

"Don't act rashly." Su Hanze shook his head. "Let's figure out Yang Zijun's methods first. We'll come back tonight."

At seven o'clock in the evening, Queen's Road was still bustling, and the lights of the Golden Jade Pavilion shone like a palace. Su Hanze and Ahua changed into inconspicuous short-sleeved shirts and mingled in the crowd on the street. Old Liang didn't come; Su Hanze had assigned him to keep an eye on Old Ghost to prevent that guy from causing any more trouble.

"Master Su, you're here," Ahua said in a low voice, gesturing towards the street corner.

Yang Zijun reappeared, still wearing the same Zhongshan suit, this time with a woman in her thirties, dressed in a cheongsam. She had a cool and elegant demeanor and was holding his arm, like his wife. Behind them were three men, one of whom was the man in the suit they had seen in the alley earlier that day.

"There are quite a few people." Su Hanze frowned. "Who is that woman?"

“Never seen him before.” Ahua shook his head. “He doesn’t seem like a local. His accent sounds like he’s from Shanghai.”

“Shanghai…” Su Hanze murmured, the image of Miss Wen flashing through his mind, “Another one from the north.”

Yang Zijun and the woman entered Jin Cui Lou. The three bodyguards didn't follow; they stood at the entrance smoking and chatting. Su Hanze gave Ahua a wink, and the two of them went around to the back alley. There were still the same two doormen in the alley, but this time there was another person, wearing a gray long robe, standing at the alley entrance with his back to them, making a phone call.

"...Yes, he arrived promptly at seven o'clock, without bringing any extra people." The man lowered his voice, speaking in English. "He'll be here until nine tonight, then head to the dock. Are your men ready?"

Su Hanze and Ahua exchanged a glance and quietly retreated outside the alley.

"Master Su, who is this guy talking to?" Ahua asked in a low voice.

“James’s man,” Su Hanze sneered. “It seems Yang Zijun is not just a lawyer; he has someone watching him from behind.”

"So, should we still do something?" Ahua asked anxiously. "This is getting weirder and weirder."

"Move." Su Hanze's eyes showed LGBTQ...
System: Hanze exhaled a puff of smoke and said in a low voice, "Yang Zijun is no ordinary lawyer; he has a big fish behind him. James wants him to disappear, which means he knows too much. We need to figure out what he knows before deciding how to act."

Ahua nodded and lowered his voice, "What about Old Ghost? He was at the teahouse tonight. James didn't touch him, which means he's still useful. Do we really have to trust James and hand Old Ghost over?"

“Old Ghost’s life is worthless, but he’s a key figure.” Su Hanze narrowed his eyes. “He knows more than we think. The fact that he dared to show up so openly at the teahouse tonight shows that he’s not afraid of James, at least not now. We have to get him to talk.”

"How do we get him to talk?" Ahua frowned. "He's playing both sides now; who knows if he'll turn against us again?"

“He will say it,” Su Hanze said coldly, “because he’s afraid of dying. If we give him a way out, he’ll naturally choose the one that saves his life.”

The rain was still falling, and the puddles in the alley reflected the dim yellow light. Su Hanze lit a new cigarette, his gaze piercing through the rain to the signboard of Jin Cui Lou in the distance. "Let's go back tonight. Lao Liang, keep an eye on Lao Gui. We'll meet again tomorrow morning. As for Yang Zijun's matter, we'll take it slow. If James wants to play, we'll play along."

The next morning, the streets of Kowloon were still bustling. Su Hanze changed into a gray long gown, put on a felt hat, and stood discreetly in a teahouse opposite Jin Cui Lou, holding a bowl of tea, but his eyes never left the other side of the street. Ah Hua walked over from the street corner, holding a newspaper, and approached him.

“Master Su, we’ve checked the back alley. There are two gatekeepers, one in a short shirt and the other in a suit, both carrying weapons on their waists,” Ahua said in a low voice. “The alley behind Jin Cui Lou leads directly to the dock. The terrain is simple, but it’s not a good place to make a move.”

Su Hanze nodded, his gaze sweeping over the black Ford sedan parked in front of Jin Cui Lou. The driver leaned against the car, smoking, his eyes occasionally scanning the street. "Yang Zijun has quite a few people around him. James didn't mention any of that in the address he gave us, which means he wants us to run into a wall."

"Are we really going to take action against him?" Ahua asked.

"Let's see who he is first." Su Hanze took out the photo and glanced at it. "James said he's investigating an old case. What kind of case could make him so anxious?"

"How about I go to the dock and ask?" Ahua suggested. "I know a few brothers, maybe I can get some information out of them."

"Don't rush." ​​Su Hanze waved his hand. "News travels fast at the docks. James will know as soon as you speak. Let's keep an eye on Yang Zijun first, and deal with the others slowly."

At seven o'clock in the evening, Jin Cui Lou was brightly lit. Su Hanze and Ahua changed into short-sleeved shirts and mingled in the crowd. Lao Liang didn't come; he was assigned to keep an eye on Lao Gui. Yang Zijun appeared on time, still wearing his Zhongshan suit, accompanied by a woman in a cheongsam, with a cold and elegant demeanor, seemingly from Shanghai. Behind them were three men, one of whom was the man in a suit they had seen in the back alley.

"There are quite a few people." Su Hanze frowned. "Who is that woman?"

"Never seen him before," Ahua shook his head. "His accent sounds like someone from Shanghai."

“Another one from the north.” Su Hanze narrowed his eyes, Miss Wen flashing through his mind.

Yang Zijun and the woman entered the teahouse, while the three bodyguards stayed at the entrance smoking. Su Hanze winked at Ahua, and the two of them went around to the back alley. The same two doormen were still there, but now there was a man in a gray long robe, his back to them, making a phone call.

"...He arrived promptly at seven o'clock, without bringing any extra people," the man said in a low voice in English. "He'll stay until nine tonight, then head to the pier. Are your men ready?"

Su Hanze and Ahua retreated to the outside of the alley.

"Who is he talking to?" Ahua asked.

“James’s man,” Su Hanze sneered. “Yang Zijun is no simple man; he has someone watching him.”

"Are you still not going to do anything?" Ahua asked anxiously.

"Let's move," Su Hanze said in a low voice, "but not tonight. Let's find out Yang Zijun's background first, and then decide how to make our move."

The two returned to the small tavern in Kowloon and found a corner to sit down. Old Liang was already there waiting, looking rather unwell.

“Old Gui ran away.” As soon as Lao Liang spoke, Su Hanze frowned. “I was keeping an eye on him last night. He slipped away from the printing factory in the middle of the night and went to a dilapidated house near the dock. I guess he’s hiding there.”

"He dares to run?" Ahua's eyes widened. "Isn't he afraid of James?"

“He’s afraid, but he’s even more afraid of us.” Old Liang smiled bitterly. “He knows we want his life. Last night at the teahouse, he deliberately showed up, wanting James to think he was still useful.”

"Where did he go?" Su Hanze asked.

“There was an old house by the dock, so dilapidated it looked like a haunted house,” Lao Liang said. “I didn’t dare get too close, but I saw him meet with a man in black, acting all suspicious.”

"A man in black?" Su Hanze frowned. "Male or female?"

“I couldn’t see clearly, he was wearing a hat.” Old Liang shook his head. “But the man walked very lightly, like he had some training.” “Old Gui is looking for a new backer.” Su Hanze sneered. “He’s selling himself to both sides, and now he wants to find another way.”

"Then what do we do?" Ahua asked. "Should we just go to the docks and arrest him?"

“No way.” Su Hanze shook his head. “The docks are James’s territory. Going there would be suicide. We have to lure Old Ghost out.”

"How do we attract it?" Old Liang asked.

“Give him a little treat.” Su Hanze exhaled a puff of smoke. “What does Old Ghost want most? His life. Let’s spread the word that we don’t want him to die, as long as he hands over James’s shipping manifest.”

"Invoice?" Ahua was taken aback. "Don't we already know where the goods are?"

“Knowing is one thing, but we need to have the evidence in our hands,” Su Hanze said coldly. “Old Ghost has James’s ledgers, with invoices, routes, and buyers all in them. If he’s willing to hand them over, we can turn the tables on James.”

"What about Yang Zijun?" Lao Liang asked.

“Yang Zijun, don’t rush.” Su Hanze waved his hand. “He’s bait. James wants to use him to test us. Let’s keep Lao Gui calm first, and then we can find out what’s going on with Yang Zijun.”

The next day, Su Hanze had Lao Liang spread the word that they were willing to negotiate with Lao Gui; if he handed over the account books, they would spare his life. The news spread quickly through a few thugs at the docks. That evening, Lao Gui indeed took the bait, sending someone a note to arrange a meeting at an inconspicuous noodle stall in Sai Wan.

The noodle stall was located on a secluded street, surrounded by low wooden houses, and the air was filled with the salty smell of the sea. Su Hanze and Ahua arrived early and chose a table against the wall. Lao Gui arrived late, wearing a worn-out cotton-padded coat with his hat pulled low, and ordered a bowl of beef offal noodles as soon as he sat down.

“You’ve got some nerve,” Su Hanze stared at him. “You dared to run away right under my nose.”

"Master Su, I have no choice," Old Ghost said in a low, hoarse voice. "James wants me dead, and you all want me dead. If I don't run, how can I live?"

"Even if you run away, you won't survive," Ahua sneered. "You betrayed us, who do you want to betray now?"

“I didn’t sell you out.” Old Ghost looked up, his eyes red as if he hadn’t slept. “James forced me. If I didn’t tell, he would kill my whole family.”

"Where's the ledger?" Su Hanze had no time to listen to his nonsense. "Give it to me, and I'll save your life."

Old Gui licked his lips, pulled an oilcloth bag from his pocket, and pushed it onto the table. "The ledger is here, but I want you to swear you won't touch me."

Su Hanze took the oilcloth bundle, opened it, and found a crumpled ledger inside, densely filled with notes on the quantity, time, and location of goods. He flipped through a few pages, his eyes darkening. "These are James's goods?"

“He got it all from Japan,” the old man said in a low voice. “Opium, weapons, and other stuff. All his connections in Hong Kong are here.”

"Why give it to us?" Ahua frowned. "Aren't you afraid James will kill you?"

"He's already trying to kill me." Old Ghost smiled bitterly. "I'm giving you this in hopes of finding another way to live. Master Su, if you can really protect me, I can tell you something else."

"What is it?" Su Hanze asked.

“Yang Zijun,” Old Ghost lowered his voice, “is not investigating an ordinary old case, but a business deal James made in Shanghai five years ago. Someone died in that deal, and James doesn’t want it to be brought up again.”

"What kind of business?" Su Hanze frowned.

"Arms," ​​Old Ghost said. "Five years ago, James got a batch of guns from Japan and sold them to the Green Gang in Shanghai. The deal went wrong, and many people died. Yang Zijun is now investigating this matter for the families of the deceased."

"How much did he find out?" Su Hanze asked.

“Quite a few.” Old Ghost licked his lips. “He has witnesses, and copies of several pages of ledgers. James is in a hurry to get rid of him because he’s afraid he’ll expose all of this.”

Su Hanze nodded and put the ledger in his pocket. "Don't go anywhere tonight, stay here. I'll have someone pick you up tomorrow."

Old Gui nodded, picked up his bowl of noodles, and began to eat. Su Hanze and Ahua left the noodle stall and turned into a dark alley.

"Master Su, is this ledger reliable?" Ahua asked.

"It's probably true," Su Hanze said in a low voice. "Old Gui wouldn't dare to fool us with a fake. He's really afraid of dying now."

"What about Yang Zijun?" Ahua asked. "Should we really take action against him?"

"Let's find out the truth first," Su Hanze said coldly. "Yang Zijun has powerful backers. James wants to use him to test us, so we have to use him to bite James back."

"How do you bite it?" Ahua asked.

"Find his witness." Su Hanze exhaled a puff of smoke. "Old Gui said Yang Zijun has a witness. We need to find that person first and see how much he knows."

Over the next few days, Su Hanze had Lao Liang and Ahua act separately. Lao Liang continued to keep an eye on Lao Gui to ensure he didn't escape. Ahua went to the pier and Queen's Road area to inquire about Yang Zijun's background. Su Hanze himself returned to his base in Kowloon and reviewed the ledgers Lao Gui had given him. The records in the ledgers were shockingly detailed; every transaction of James's goods from Japan to Hong Kong was recorded with the date and buyer, even the ship name and pier number were clearly written down.

"James has really messed up this time," Su Hanze muttered to himself. "With so much cargo, if he crashes, the whole Hong Kong scene will be in chaos."

On the third night, Ah-Hua brought back news that Yang Zi-Jun's witness was a dockworker named Ah-Fu, in his fifties, who had personally witnessed James's cargo ship unloading cargo years ago. Ah-Fu was now hiding in a dilapidated house in Yau Ma Tei, afraid of being found by James's men.

“Take me to see him,” Su Hanze decided immediately. “We’ll go tonight.”

The dilapidated house in Yau Ma Tei was hidden in a dead-end alley, surrounded by rotten planks and rusty iron sheets. Su Hanze and Ahua crept over in the dark, knocked three times, and a gaunt old man opened the door, his eyes wary.

"Are you Afu?" Su Hanze asked.

"Who are you?" the old man asked in a hoarse voice, clutching a kitchen knife in his hand.

“Yang Zijun’s friend,” Su Hanze said in a low voice, “He sent us to find you.”

Afu hesitated for a moment, then put down his knife and let the two men into the house. The house smelled musty, and contained only a wooden bed and a broken table. Afu sat down, lit a cigarette, and said, “Attorney Yang told me not to say anything, but since you’ve come, I’ll tell you. Five years ago, I was working at the docks and I saw James’s ship unload a pile of wooden crates, all filled with guns. On the night of the deal, a group of people came, the negotiations broke down, and a gunfight ensued. Seven or eight people died.”

"How did you survive?" Ahua asked.

(End of this chapter)