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

Chapter 373 Taking the Opportunity to Disrupt Tang Jingshan's Scheme
“Interesting.” Su Hanze stuffed the paper back into his pocket and picked up his teacup. “Tang Jingshan is coming tonight. We need to let him know that this batch of goods is not just a simple matter of being lost.”

"What are you planning to do?" Xia Xue asked.

"Let him confront Lao Li first." Su Hanze smiled. "Lao Li is a thorn in Tang Jingshan's side now. If we just give them a little push, they'll start fighting each other."

At nine o'clock in the evening, the roast meat shop in Yau Ma Tei wasn't crowded, with only a few regulars having a late-night snack. Su Hanze, Ajiu, and Xia Xue sat in a booth by the window, several plates of roast meat and a bottle of baijiu on the table. Su Hanze sipped his tea, his eyes occasionally glancing towards the door. Ajiu twirled a knife under the table, while Xia Xue stared out the window, muttering, "Tang Jingshan wouldn't really dare to come alone, would he?"

“He won’t come alone.” Su Hanze put down his teacup. “But he won’t bring too many people either. What he’s most afraid of right now is the news getting out.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the door of the roast meat shop was pushed open, and a middle-aged man in a black Tang suit walked in, followed by two bodyguards. The man was in his fifties, with gray hair, but his eyes were as sharp as knives. He glanced around the shop and walked straight towards Su Hanze's booth.

"Sang Ze." Tang Jingshan sat down, his tone calm. "Long time no see."

"Mr. Tang," Su Hanze smiled and poured him a cup of tea, "I heard you recently lost something and were quite worried?"

Tang Jingshan took the teacup, but didn't drink it. He placed it on the table and stared at Su Hanze: "Sangze, you spent two years in the Netherlands, and you come back and give me such a big gift. Isn't that a bit stingy?"

"A gift?" Su Hanze raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Tang, I don't understand what you mean. I just heard you lost some goods and was kindly helping you look for them."

"Looking for them?" Tang Jingshan sneered. "Where is that batch of goods now?"

“It’s in my hands.” Su Hanze took the packet of opium out of his pocket and gently placed it on the table. “Master Tang, you recognize this, right?”

Tang Jingshan's face instantly darkened. The two bodyguards beside him took a step forward, their hands already reaching for their waists. Ajiu glanced at them coldly, the knife in her hand spinning even faster under the table.

"Don't get agitated." Su Hanze waved his hand and smiled. "Mr. Tang, let's be frank. This batch of goods is worth ten million. If you want to take it back, simple, just give me a reason."

"Reason?" Tang Jingshan narrowed his eyes. "Sang Ze, are you trying to negotiate with me?"

“It’s not about negotiating terms.” Su Hanze picked up his teacup and said slowly, “I just want to know who was behind this shipment. Mr. Tang, you’ve been in Macau for so many years, you’ve got all sorts of connections. If the goods are lost, someone has to take responsibility, right?”

Tang Jingshan remained silent for a moment, his eyes scanning Su Hanze's face before finally sneering, "You suspect Old Li?"

“I didn’t say that.” Su Hanze shrugged. “But Mr. Tang, you know in your heart that Old Li is loyal, but sometimes his hands aren’t so clean.”

Tang Jingshan's face darkened further. He lowered his head and thought for a moment, then looked up at Su Hanze: "Sangze, what do you want?"

“Simple.” Su Hanze smiled. “I can return this batch of goods to you, but I want Lao Li.”

"Old Li?" Tang Jingshan frowned. "Do you have a grudge against him?"

“There’s a bit of a past issue.” Su Hanze didn’t explain much. “Mr. Tang, think about it. The goods are in my hands. If you don’t give me an explanation, things could get complicated.”

Tang Jingshan was silent for a moment, then picked up his teacup, took a sip, and slowly said, "Okay, tomorrow night, the usual place at the dock, I'll give you Old Li."

"Great." Su Hanze smiled and raised his glass. "Mr. Tang, it's been a pleasure doing business with you."

Tang Jingshan didn't say anything more, got up and left, with two bodyguards following closely behind. Xia Xue watched their retreating figures and whispered, "Do you really believe he'll hand over Old Li?"

"Believe?" Su Hanze sneered. "He's in a hurry to get the goods back, so he'll say anything. But there's definitely going to be a good show at the docks tomorrow night."

"How so?" Ajiu asked.

“Old Li isn’t stupid.” Su Hanze lit a cigarette. “If he knew Tang Jingshan suspected him, he would probably strike first. We just need to sit back and wait for the show.”

As night fell, Yau Ma Tei gradually quieted down. The lights from the roast meat shops shone dimly, and only a few drunkards staggered along the street. Su Hanze, Ajiu, and Xia Xue came out of the shop and walked back along the narrow alley. Su Hanze, a cigarette dangling from his lips, walked at a leisurely pace, his mind preoccupied with Tang Jingshan's words. Ajiu, hands in her pockets, whispered, "Sangze, do you really think Tang Jingshan will hand over Old Li? That old guy is as slippery as an eel; he won't take the bait so easily."

"Take the bait?" Su Hanze exhaled a puff of smoke, a cold smile creeping onto his lips. "Even if he doesn't take the bait, he'll still bite. The goods are more important to him than his own life. Old Li is just a scapegoat now. Whether he hands them over or not, he has to stir up trouble first."

Xia Xue followed behind, frowning as she said, "But if you show him the opium tonight, aren't you afraid he'll send someone to rob it? Tang Jingshan is ruthless; he might already have people watching us."

“Keep an eye on him.” Su Hanze glanced at her. “If he really dares to make a move, the chaos at the dock last night will be enough to give him a hard time. Right now, what he fears most is not us, but that there are treacherous people among his own people.”

"A ghost?" Xia Xue was taken aback. "Who else do you suspect?"

“Anyone could be involved.” Su Hanze stopped and stubbed out his cigarette. “Old Li, Abiao, even Old Huang, who knows what they’re up to behind the scenes. We have the goods now, which means we hold their lifeline in our hands. Xia Xue, tomorrow you go and stake out near Tang Jingshan’s villa again and see if there’s any new activity. Ajiu, you keep an eye on Old Li, don’t let him get away.”

"Run?" Ah Jiu sneered. "If he dares to run, I'll be the first to chop off his feet."

"Don't rush to chop him up." Su Hanze patted Ajiu's shoulder. "He's still useful. We need to make him fight with Tang Jingshan so we don't have to do it ourselves."

Xia Xue snorted: "You've got a clever plan, but what if Tang Jingshan doesn't play by your rules? He's got connections in Macau, and everyone in the police and underworld gives him a lot of face."

"Face?" Su Hanze sneered. "Face is reserved for the living. He's lost the goods and his trusted aides are causing trouble, so he doesn't have much face left. If we just give him a push, he'll fall into chaos on his own."

The three split up, with Su Hanze returning alone to a small rented hotel. The room was cramped, moldy in the corners, and filled with a damp smell. He lay on the hard bed, staring at the ceiling, but his mind was preoccupied with something else—growing tobacco. This idea had surfaced after his return from the Netherlands. Tang Jingshan's opium business, while highly profitable, was extremely risky; the police and underworld were watching closely. Su Hanze didn't want to spend his life living on the edge; he wanted to forge his own path, and tobacco farming might be a solution. There was plenty of wasteland on the small islands near Macau, and the climate was suitable. If he found the right approach, it wasn't impossible to give it a try.

The next morning, Su Hanze got up early, changed into an inconspicuous gray cloth shirt, put on a tattered straw hat, and went to a wasteland on the outskirts of Macau. He had heard Old Huang mention that this land used to be a fishing village, but the villagers moved away, and the land became wasteland. Su Hanze squatted by the edge of the field, grabbed a handful of soil, and smelled it. The soil was soft and had a slightly salty sea breeze. He stood up, looked around, and saw no one, except for a few seabirds circling in the distance. "Hey, Su Hanze, what are you doing here?" a rough, hoarse voice came from behind him.

Su Hanze turned his head and saw Lao Huang walking over with a hoe, a hint of doubt on his face. Su Hanze smiled and patted the mud off his hands: "Brother Huang, come and take a look at the land. I heard this plot has been abandoned for quite a while, it's a real pity."

"Looking for land?" Old Huang frowned, looking him up and down. "You don't actually want to farm, do you? Sangze, you spent two years in the Netherlands, and now you're coming back to be a farmer?"

"What's wrong with being a farmer?" Su Hanze lit a cigarette and handed it to Old Huang. "Growing something is better than living in constant fear at the docks. Don't you think so?"

Old Huang took the cigarette, took a puff, squinted, and said, "Don't play dumb with me. I heard about your meeting with Master Tang last night. You actually dared to take out that bag of opium and wave it around, you've got some nerve."

"I wouldn't dare come back if I didn't have the guts." Su Hanze smiled. "Brother Huang, what did Master Tang say about the message you gave me last night?"

"What else can I say?" Old Huang spat. "He was so angry he almost overturned the table and said he was going to skin Old Li alive. But he also suspected you, thinking you couldn't have done this alone, there must be someone behind you."

"Someone?" Su Hanze raised an eyebrow. "Who does he suspect?"

"Who else could it be?" Old Huang lowered his voice. "A Biao from the Fujian gang. He held a meeting last night and specifically asked Old Li to investigate A Biao, saying that if he couldn't find anything, Old Li would have to take the blame himself."

After listening, Su Hanze's lips curled up slightly: "Interesting. Brother Huang, do you think Lao Li will honestly investigate?"

"Investigate?" Old Huang sneered. "Old Li is as slippery as an eel. He's probably busy finding a way out for himself right now. The incident at the dock last night is most likely related to him."

"Oh?" Su Hanze narrowed his eyes. "Brother Huang, do you know anything about this?"

"I don't know much." Old Huang waved his hand. "But I heard that Old Li has been getting quite close to Ah Biao lately and has been doing some side jobs behind Master Tang's back. I don't know the specifics. If you really want to know, go ask Ah Fei, the guy who sells roast goose at the dock. He's very familiar with Old Li's henchmen."

"Ah Fei?" Su Hanze nodded and stubbed out his cigarette. "Thanks for the reminder, Brother Huang."

"A reminder is a reminder," Old Huang glared at him. "Sang Ze, don't drag me into this. I don't want to get involved in this."

"Don't worry." Su Hanze patted Lao Huang on the shoulder. "You just need to take care of your fish stall, I'll handle the rest."

Old Huang didn't say anything more, turned around, picked up his hoe, and left. Su Hanze watched his retreating figure, narrowed his eyes, and plotted his next move. He had originally just wanted to try planting tobacco, but now it seemed that this wasteland might have other uses. Tang Jingshan's goods were lost, and Old Li and Abiao were secretly making trouble; this chaos was the perfect opportunity for him to strike.

Around noon, Su Hanze returned to the roast meat shop in Yau Ma Tei. Ah Jiu and Xia Xue were already waiting for him, with a plate of roast goose and a pot of tea on the table. As soon as Xia Xue saw him, she frowned and asked, "Where did you go this morning? We've been waiting here for ages."

"Let's go look at a piece of land." Su Hanze sat down, picked up his teacup and took a sip. "There's a piece of wasteland on the outskirts of Macau. I'd like to try planting something there."

"Grow things?" Xia Xue's eyes widened. "Su Hanze, are you out of your mind? Farming? Do you think you're some kind of country bumpkin?"

"What are you laughing at?" Su Hanze glanced at her. "What's wrong with farming? Tang Jingshan's goods are grown from the ground, aren't they? It's better for us to grow our own than to take them from him."

"Rob?" Ajiu sneered, "You were challenging Master Tang to his face last night, and today you're thinking about farming and retiring? Sangze, your mind works way too fast."

"Retirement?" Su Hanze scoffed. "Farming is a business, much more reliable than you taking a knife to kill people. Ah Jiu, how's your investigation going?"

“I’ve got a lead.” Ah Jiu pulled a slip of paper from his pocket and handed it to Su Hanze. “I contacted one of my second uncle’s old friends and dug up some old grudges against Lao Li. Two years ago, he embezzled HK$300,000 in payments from the Fujian gang in Kowloon Walled City and then pinned it on my second uncle. Ah Biao has held a grudge about this ever since. I guess he deliberately caused the chaos at the dock last night to make Lao Li take the blame.”

"Three hundred thousand?" Su Hanze took the note and glanced at it. "Old Li's got quite the appetite. Any news from Abiao?"

“Ah Biao recently opened a new gambling den in Yau Ma Tei,” Ah Jiu continued. “On the surface, it’s a business run by the Fujian gang, but behind the scenes, Lao Li has invested a lot of money. The two have been in cahoots for a long time. Last night’s incident was probably Ah Biao’s attempt to disrupt Tang Jingshan’s scheme and drag Lao Li into it.”

"Interesting." Su Hanze stuffed the note back into his pocket. "Xia Xue, what about you over there?"

“Several groups of people came to the vicinity of Tang Jingshan’s villa today,” Xia Xue said in a low voice. “There were some of Lao Li’s henchmen, and a few unfamiliar faces, probably people Tang Jingshan brought from Hong Kong. It seems he’s really in a hurry; he even sent people to search the docks this morning, but they couldn’t find the goods.”

“It’s normal that we can’t find it.” Su Hanze smiled. “Xia Xue, keep an eye on things and see who else Tang Jingshan called. Ajiu, go to the dock and find that Fatty who sells roast goose, try to get some information out of him and see what Old Li has been up to lately.”

“Ah Fei?” Ah Jiu frowned. “That guy’s mouth is as slippery as oil. It’s hard to get anything out of him.”

“It’s difficult, but we have to get it.” Su Hanze picked up his teacup. “He’s familiar with Old Li’s henchmen, so he must know something.”

“Okay.” Ajiu nodded and got up to leave.

"Wait a minute," Su Hanze called out to him. "Don't ask directly. Find an excuse, like you want to buy some seafood, so he'll think you're here to discuss business."

"Understood." Ajiu smiled and turned to leave.

Xia Xue frowned as she watched Ajiu's retreating figure and said, "Sang Ze, are you really planning to plant tobacco? This stuff isn't something you can just plant casually. The police are keeping a close eye on things, and how much do you even know about farming?"

“If you don’t understand, you can learn.” Su Hanze shrugged. “Macau has plenty of land, and the cops are well-fed by Tang Jingshan. As long as we keep a low profile, no one will cause trouble.”

"You wish," Xia Xue rolled her eyes. "Growing tobacco requires finding a place, finding people, and you have to watch out for the eyes of the underworld. You really have a lot of trouble to worry about."

(End of this chapter)