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

Chapter 369 The goods must be transferred on schedule

Ajiu didn't answer, but stared at the woman in the teahouse, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He said in a low voice, "Her name is Lin Wanqing, and she is Tang Jingshan's lover."

"A lover?" Xia Xue raised an eyebrow, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Someone like Tang Jingshan has a lover?"

“Don’t underestimate her,” Ajiu said coldly. “Lin Wanqing is not simple. She is not only Tang Jingshan’s mistress, but also his right-hand woman. Many of Tang Jingshan’s businesses are managed by her behind the scenes.”

Su Hanze narrowed his eyes, his gaze returning to the woman's retreating figure. Lin Wanqing sat opposite Tang Jingshan, the two conversing in hushed tones, occasionally punctuated by soft laughter. Her movements were elegant, seemingly oblivious to her surroundings, yet Su Hanze sensed a subtle wariness emanating from her demeanor.

"Does she know we're looking for Tang Jingshan?" Su Hanze asked in a low voice.

“I don’t know.” Ajiu shook her head. “But she definitely knows about Shen Changqing. Shen Changqing is dead. Tang Jingshan is probably looking for her tonight to discuss countermeasures.”

Xia Xue frowned, lowering her voice even further: "So what do we do now? Charge in and arrest them?"

“No.” Su Hanze shook his head. “There are too many people and too many eyes in the teahouse. If we go in now, we will only expose ourselves.”

"So we're just going to wait?" Xia Xue's tone was tinged with impatience. "We can't just waste the whole night here."

“It won’t take long,” Ajiu said coldly. “After Tang Jingshan and Lin Wanqing finish their talk, they will leave. We’ll follow them and find an opportunity to strike.”

Su Hanze nodded, his gaze still fixed on the teahouse. He knew Ajiu was right, but a vague unease lingered in his heart. Lin Wanqing's appearance had complicated the situation even further. Unlike Shen Changqing, she wasn't easy to deal with; her calmness and caution were even more unpredictable than Tang Jingshan's.

The conversation in the teahouse lasted for nearly half an hour. Lin Wanqing finally stood up, nodded to Tang Jingshan, and then turned to leave. Tang Jingshan did not get up immediately. Instead, he lit a cigarette, took a few slow puffs, and then stood up and walked out of the teahouse.

"Let's go," Ajiu said in a low voice, pushing open the door and going downstairs first.

Su Hanze and Xia Xue followed closely behind, the three of them quickly leaving the inn and keeping a distance behind Tang Jingshan. The streets were even more deserted under the cover of night, with only the faint light of a few streetlights casting long shadows of them. Tang Jingshan did not turn around, his steps steady, seemingly completely unaware of being followed.

"Where did he go?" Xia Xue asked in a low voice.

"I don't know," Ajiu said coldly. "Just follow along."

They followed Tang Jingshan through several alleys to a secluded dock. This dock was much smaller than the previous one, with only a few dilapidated boats moored along the shore. Garbage floated on the water, emitting a foul stench. Tang Jingshan stopped, stood by the dock, lit a cigarette, and gazed at the distant sea.

"Is he waiting for someone?" Xia Xue frowned and asked in a low voice.

“Possibly.” Su Hanze nodded, glancing around. “But this place is too remote; it doesn’t seem like a place for a transaction.”

Ah Jiu squatted behind a pile of wooden crates by the dock, staring sharply at Tang Jingshan: "Stop guessing, just look."

A few minutes later, a small boat slowly approached from a distance. On the boat was only an old man rowing, wearing a tattered straw raincoat and a bamboo hat. After the boat docked, Tang Jingshan stepped forward, whispered a few words to the old man, and then took out a cloth bag from his pocket and handed it to him.

"What is he doing?" Xia Xue asked in a low voice, her tone tinged with doubt.

“A deal,” Ajiu said coldly, “but not goods, it’s information.”

"News?" Su Hanze frowned. "What news?"

Ajiu didn't answer, only staring at the small boat. The old man on the boat took the cloth bag, nodded, and then poled away. Tang Jingshan stood by the dock, finished his last puff of cigarette, threw the butt into the water, and turned to walk towards another alley.

"Keep up," Su Hanze said in a low voice, pulling Xia Xue along as they quickly followed.

Ajiu walked at the front, her movements as light as a cat's. They followed Tang Jingshan through several alleys until they arrived at a dilapidated mansion. The mansion's gate was tightly closed, with a rusty iron plaque hanging on it bearing the words "Tang Family." The mansion was surrounded by weeds, and piles of broken wood lay in the corners, indicating that it had been abandoned for a long time.

"Is this Tang Jingshan's home?" Xia Xue asked in a low voice, her tone tinged with surprise.

“It’s not home, it’s a hiding place,” Ajiu said coldly. “He never sleeps in the same place for more than three days.”

Su Hanze nodded, his gaze sweeping across the windows of the mansion. It was pitch black inside, without a single light, but he could faintly hear whispers coming from within. He whispered to Ajiu, "There are people inside."

Ah Jiu nodded, took out a small knife from his pocket, and lightly scratched the door lock a few times. The lock made a slight click, and the door was pushed open a crack. Ah Jiu gestured for them to follow, and then went inside first.

A damp, musty smell permeated the mansion, and a thick layer of dust covered the floor, indicating it hadn't been cleaned in a long time. Su Hanze and Xia Xue cautiously followed Ajiu through a narrow corridor to a tightly closed door. The whispers coming from behind the door were clearer, sounding like two people arguing about something.

“…Shen Changqing is dead, our plan has to be changed.” A deep voice said, with a hint of anxiety in its tone.

"Change? How can we change it?" another voice retorted coldly. "Everyone outside is watching us. What do you expect me to do?"

"It's Tang Jingshan," Xia Xue said in a low voice, her hand already gripping the dagger tightly.

Su Hanze nodded, signaling her to be quiet. He pressed his ear against the door, listening intently to the conversation inside. Another voice sounded somewhat familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.

"Lin Wanqing, don't forget, Shen Changqing is your man." Tang Jingshan's voice was low and tinged with anger. "He's dead, you have to give me an explanation."

"My man?" Lin Wanqing sneered, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Tang Jingshan, don't play dumb. You're the one who brought Shen Changqing in, and now that he's dead, you want to shift the blame onto me?"

"Enough!" Tang Jingshan hissed. "Now is not the time to argue. Shen Changqing is dead, but the goods are still in our hands. We need to get rid of them quickly."

"Deal with?" Lin Wanqing's voice carried a hint of disdain. "Do you think anyone would dare to take this shipment now? Everyone outside is watching us—the police, gangs, and those guys who seem to have appeared out of nowhere."

Su Hanze and Xia Xue exchanged a glance, both looking shocked. Lin Wanqing's words confirmed their suspicions; this shipment involved a much larger network of interests.

"What should we do?" Xia Xue asked in a low voice, her tone tinged with urgency.

"Wait," Su Hanze said in a low voice, "Let them finish speaking."

Ajiu stood behind them, his eyes cold, seemingly unconcerned about the argument inside. His hand gripped the hilt of his knife, ready to act at any moment. "The goods can't stay here," Tang Jingshan's voice rang out again. "I'll arrange for them to be moved first thing tomorrow morning. You'd better cooperate, Lin Wanqing."

"Cooperate?" Lin Wanqing sneered. "Tang Jingshan, don't forget, we are partners, not you who calls the shots."

"Alright!" Tang Jingshan's voice carried a hint of impatience. "See you at the dock tomorrow night. We'll talk about profit sharing after the cargo leaves."

A moment of silence followed, then the sound of footsteps, as if someone was moving. Su Hanze gestured for Xia Xue and Ajiu to step back, and the three quickly hid in a corner of the corridor. The door opened, and Lin Wanqing stepped out, her face still veiled, her steps elegant yet wary. She didn't turn around, walking straight out of the mansion.

"With her, or with Tang Jingshan?" Xia Xue asked in a low voice.

“Tang Jingshan,” Ajiu said coldly, “is the one in charge.”

Su Hanze nodded, indicating that they should remain where they were. After Lin Wanqing left, the mansion fell silent, save for Tang Jingshan's low curses. A few minutes later, he too emerged and headed in another direction.

"Let's go," Su Hanze said in a low voice, and the three of them quickly followed.

The streets of Macau were deserted and eerie under the cover of night. Tang Jingshan's figure appeared particularly lonely in the dim streetlights. He walked quickly, as if in a hurry to get somewhere. Su Hanze, Xia Xue, and Ajiu followed at a distance, trying not to make a sound.

They followed Tang Jingshan to a secluded dock, even more dilapidated than the previous one, with only a few wrecked boats moored along the shore. Tang Jingshan stood by the dock, lit a cigarette, and gazed at the distant sea, as if waiting for someone.

"Who are you waiting for this time?" Xia Xue frowned and asked in a low voice.

"Don't make a sound," Su Hanze said in a low voice, his gaze fixed on Tang Jingshan.

A few minutes later, a small boat approached from a distance. On board stood a man in a long black robe, his face obscured by sunglasses. After the boat docked, the man walked onto the pier, whispered a few words to Tang Jingshan, and then handed him an envelope.

"What is this?" Xia Xue asked in a low voice, her tone tinged with curiosity.

"It might be an account book," Su Hanze frowned, "or something else important."

Tang Jingshan took the envelope, nodded, and then turned to leave. The man in sunglasses boarded the ship again and quickly disappeared into the night.

"Follow me," Ajiu said in a low voice, and took the lead in chasing after Tang Jingshan.

They followed Tang Jingshan back to an inconspicuous little building not far from the dock. A worn-out sign hung at the entrance, reading "Shunfa Trading Company." Tang Jingshan pushed open the door and went inside, where they could faintly hear whispers.

"Another hiding place?" Xia Xue frowned and asked in a low voice.

"Maybe." Su Hanze nodded. "Let's go in and take a look."

The three quietly approached the building and found a half-open back door. Ajiu gently pushed the door open, gesturing for them to follow. A faint smell of tobacco mixed with a musty odor filled the building, making them feel somewhat uncomfortable. They walked through a narrow corridor and came to a tightly closed door. The sounds coming from behind the door were clearer, like several men arguing about something.

“…The goods can’t be kept any longer; the police are already watching.” A rough, hoarse voice said.

"The police?" Tang Jingshan's voice carried a hint of disdain. "They dare to touch me?"

"Don't be careless." Another voice was deep. "Shen Changqing is dead, and people outside are saying that you did it."

"Hmph." Tang Jingshan sneered, "Shen Changqing asked for his own death, it's not my fault."

Su Hanze and Xia Xue exchanged a glance, both looking shocked. Tang Jingshan's tone was cold, as if he didn't care at all about Shen Changqing's death.

"What do we do now?" Xia Xue asked in a low voice.

"Wait," Su Hanze said in a low voice, "Let them finish speaking."

The whispers continued in the room. Su Hanze and Xia Xue held their breath, trying not to make a sound. Ajiu stood closer, his eyes scanning for every movement, his hand still tightly gripping the sharp knife. The air was thick with the smell of tobacco and mildew, making it feel like another world.

“Tang Jingshan, do you know that Shen Changqing’s death will bring us trouble?” A hoarse voice rang out again. “People outside have already begun to suspect you.”

"Suspicion?" Tang Jingshan's voice remained cold. "They dare to suspect me?" He paused, his tone seemingly tinged with contempt. "Shen Changqing is dead. Do you think I can tell who killed him from his corpse?"

“But now… someone has already started investigating. Shen Changqing has more than one thing on his record.” The man whispered a reminder. “You know, the Tang family isn’t so easy to deal with.”

Tang Jingshan sneered, "The Tang family? Who can fight me? In this city, besides me, who else can shake the Tang family?" His words were full of confidence, but they also revealed a hint of unease.

"But Shen Changqing's matter is no longer something you can control," the hoarse voice reminded him again.

"Enough." Tang Jingshan's tone grew even colder. "I've already said that Shen Changqing's death is actually to our advantage. No one outside dares to take that shipment, but we can handle it ourselves. Tonight's plan remains unchanged; the goods will be moved first thing tomorrow morning."

“Tang Jingshan, everyone outside is watching you. What if…” another voice said in a low voice.

"I've already said, who dares to touch me outside?" Tang Jingshan's voice suddenly became unusually sharp. "Even if someone tries to cause trouble, there's only one outcome!"

The atmosphere inside the room suddenly became tense, and after a few seconds, there was a moment of silence.

"Aren't you afraid of death?" the hoarse voice finally spoke. "Are you sure this arrangement will be foolproof?"

Tang Jingshan was silent for a moment, then let out a cold laugh. "Afraid of death? I've lived for so many years, what storms haven't I weathered? Shen Changqing is dead, so be it. Anyone who dares to touch me, give me the chance and I'll make them regret it." After he finished speaking, his tone suddenly turned cold. "But don't forget, tonight's plan cannot go wrong in the slightest. The goods must be transferred on schedule, there's nothing more to discuss."

Just then, footsteps sounded in the room, as if several people were about to leave. Su Hanze became alert and quietly gestured for Xia Xue and A Jiu to take a step back. The three of them crouched down and hid in a corner. The door opened slightly, and the group quietly slipped out, followed by a hushed conversation.

(End of this chapter)