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

Chapter 375: Have they found Liang Bin?
“If you were truly aware of this, we wouldn’t have had to clean up the mess.” Su Hanze turned and left. “Follow me.”

They quickly left the dock. The streets were deserted, with only the occasional drunkard staggering past a corner. Xia Xue had driven a van ahead of them and parked it by the embankment. The group quickly got in. The atmosphere inside was incredibly tense; no one spoke, except for A-Jiu's rapid tapping of his hands on his knees.

The car drove to an old warehouse halfway up the mountain. This was Su Hanze's former hideout, a secluded spot where no one checked. As soon as the door opened, dust rushed out, and Old Li wrinkled his nose: "Are you telling me to hide in a pigsty?"

"Do you deserve to go anywhere else?" Su Hanze glanced at him. "Just make do for two days."

Old Li clicked his tongue and said nothing more. He knew that arguing back was pointless; being alive was more valuable than anything else.

Su Hanze handed him over to the old dog guarding the warehouse, gave him a few more instructions, and then left with Xia Xue and Ajiu.

Inside the car, Su Hanze lit a cigarette and leaned back in his seat.

“He wasn’t lying,” Ajiu said. “I could see from his eyes that he was really anxious.”

“He may be anxious, but a cornered dog will jump over the wall. Keep an eye on him.” Su Hanze finished speaking and flicked his cigarette butt out the car window. “Tomorrow’s plans can’t go wrong.”

“I remember that shop in Mong Kok. It used to be a radio shop,” Xia Xue said. “It went out of business a few years ago. Later, it became a mahjong parlor, but then nobody took care of it. I’ll go find Liang Bin; he has connections.”

“Let Liang Bin handle it.” Su Hanze nodded. “He used to have some connections with the police station, so he can stall for time.”

Ah Jiu pondered for a moment, "So, what do you plan to do with the accounts in the safe?"

"I'm not in a hurry," Su Hanze said in a low voice. "Let's wait until Abiao makes a fool of himself first, and then we can slowly unravel the mystery."

The next morning, Xia Xue took her people to Mong Kok early in the morning. The shop was indeed dilapidated, the lock rusted red, and several vendors sat by the roadside drinking tea. Xia Xue made an excuse, saying her former boss had sent her to clear out some things. After exchanging a few words with the neighbors and becoming familiar with them, she opened the door and went inside.

The room was empty, covered in dust, except for the dusty safe in the corner, which remained intact. Xia Xue crouched down and carefully entered the six-digit number that Lao Li had written down.

With a click, the cabinet door slowly opened.

Ah Biao's name appeared prominently on a transfer record. The document was short, but it was full of valuable information: account information, transfer amount, time, and even the name of the contact person in Macau were clearly listed.

Xia Xue glanced at it, her expression grave. She quickly had the items packed into a brown paper bag and prepared to leave.

But as soon as the roller shutter door was opened, two men in leather jackets appeared at the door.

"What are you doing?" one of them asked, his eyes wary.

Xia Xue smiled and said, "It's my own place, so I'm just settling some old scores."

"This shop isn't yours, is it?" another man asked, staring at the brown paper bag. "What's in the bag?"

"Are you a cop?" Xia Xue raised an eyebrow, her voice turning colder.

“Never mind whether I’m a cop or not.” The man took a step forward. “We’re from this street. You’re a stranger, but when you’re out in the game, you have to say hello.”

Xia Xue gritted her teeth slightly, her back already tensing up.

“I know Master Hong,” she said softly. “You really want to see what’s in my bag?”

The two exchanged a glance and ultimately backed down.

"Then hurry up and pack your things." They muttered to themselves, then turned and left.

Xia Xue locked the door while dialing Su Hanze's number.

"Sangze, I got it. But someone's got their eye on me."

“Okay. Leave immediately, don’t go back the way you came. Take a detour and go to the old station in Hung Hom.” Su Hanze’s tone was calm, but his voice was even lower. “I’ll come pick you up.”

He hung up the phone, got up, took out his gun, and checked the magazine.

"Where to?" Ajiu asked.

"Kill the chicken to scare the monkey," Su Hanze sneered.

The car wound its way through the narrow streets, the night deep and the streetlights dim, like a silent warning. Su Hanze felt calm, yet an inexplicable sense of oppression lingered. The old Hung Hom station had long been abandoned, neglected for years. The surrounding buildings, of varying heights, were mostly industrial relics from the late 20th century, like a forgotten history. Su Hanze knew this place held many secrets, especially some untold transactions.

The car stopped in front of a side road. Su Hanze got out and walked directly to an inconspicuous warehouse. There was no one around, the air was heavy, and even the wind seemed unusually still. He took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and the smoke rose into the air, swirling before disappearing into the night.

Xia Xue was already waiting there, her expression still cold and stern. "This is quite a problem," she said, glancing at Su Hanze. "Those two are not simple."

"Simple is boring." Su Hanze sneered, stepping into the warehouse. "Where are the men you brought?"

“Everyone’s waiting outside, ready to leave at any time.” Xia Xue shook her head. “That Master Hong you mentioned, he probably won’t be completely silent.”

"Does he dare to make a move?" Su Hanze said casually. "The message we sent to Abiao and Tang Jingshan this time will keep them digesting it for a while."

They entered the warehouse, which was empty except for a few boxes of discarded machinery and expired goods piled up in heaps. Su Hanze knew in his heart that the entanglement between A Biao, Tang Jingshan, and Lao Li had long been a time bomb, just waiting to explode.

"Don't worry," Xia Xue said in a low voice, "I'll deal with those two. A Biao won't dare to say anything for now."

“I know,” Su Hanze nodded. “They’ll either wait or make their move. We all need to be prepared.”

Night had fallen, and the warehouse lights seemed particularly cold and desolate. Suddenly, a series of heavy, rhythmic footsteps sounded outside. Su Hanze turned around and saw Ajiu walking out of the darkness, her expression grave.

"Ah Jiu?" Su Hanze raised an eyebrow. "Any news?"

“Yes,” Ajiu said. “Old Li’s accounts are fine. The money in A Biao’s hands was indeed money laundering. The money was transferred to casinos in Macau, then laundered through Tang Jingshan’s channels, and ended up in his and the Fujian Gang’s accounts.” “The Fujian Gang?” A glint of light flashed in Su Hanze’s eyes. “They were involved too? That’s interesting.”

“Yes,” Ajiu continued, “This money happened two years ago. Tang Jingshan probably doesn’t know about it, but he must have noticed that Lao Li and Abiao had a private deal. What happened last night was probably Abiao’s way of getting the Fujian gang involved through Lao Li’s mistake, so as to distract Tang Jingshan.”

"Ah Biao is indeed ruthless." Su Hanze sneered. "He is also quite clever, but once things get too big, no one can escape unscathed."

“However, it seems that Tang Jingshan hasn’t completely given up,” Ajiu said. “I followed a few of his men tonight and heard that he sent people to investigate the whereabouts of that shipment. It seems he wants to take matters into his own hands.”

“Tang Jingshan is getting anxious,” Su Hanze said in a deep voice. “His anxiety is the perfect opportunity for us to make our move. We can’t miss the materials that Lao Li has. Xia Xue, go find Liang Bin tomorrow and give him those accounts. His methods are safer than our direct action.”

"Understood." Xia Xue nodded.

"Ajiu, go keep an eye on Abiao and see what new moves he makes," Su Hanze instructed. "If he tries to turn things around through Tang Jingshan's connections, we can't let him succeed."

“Okay.” Ajiu said as she tidied her gear. “I’ll go first and wait for your news.”

Su Hanze watched Ajiu's departing figure, took a deep drag of his cigarette, and stared into the distant darkness. Hung Hom, seemingly deserted, was teeming with secret deals and countless undercurrents. Every move could be the starting point of the next storm.

Xia Xue, standing to the side, suddenly said, "Sang Ze, Tang Jingshan won't let this opportunity slip by easily. What are you planning to do next?"

“If he really dares to make a move, we’ll go with the flow,” Su Hanze said casually. “However, I have a better idea.”

A hint of doubt flashed in Xia Xue's eyes: "What method?"

“When he thought we had fallen into a trap, it was actually us who planted the biggest landmine for him.” Su Hanze’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Tang Jingshan is anxious now, and A Biao is anxious too. We need to give them a choice. If they choose wrong, the consequences will be severe.”

"You really intend to let them kill each other?" Xia Xue asked, somewhat surprised.

“This is the most effective way.” Su Hanze sneered. “When you don’t know which side you’re on, any decision can be a gamble. I’m going to push them into this gamble and see how long they can last.”

As dawn broke, Su Hanze drove towards the wasteland on the outskirts of the city. Outside the car window, morning mist filled the air, and the trees along the roadside appeared and disappeared in the fog, like guardians of some unknown place. The car drove along the narrow country road, the ground uneven, and the car bumped from time to time. Su Hanze leaned back in the seat, his mind calculating the day's events.

He knew that growing tobacco was no simple matter, especially in a complex place like Macau. Successfully growing tobacco here required not only good land but also trustworthy people, who were likely also targets for others. Tang Jingshan, A Biao, and Lao Li all had their own plans, and a slight misstep could draw them into the mess.

However, Su Hanze had his own ideas. This wasteland wasn't just for growing tobacco. He had always felt that if he could take control of this place, he could not only solve his current funding problems but also accumulate enough resources for himself and his men.

The car stopped in front of a simple courtyard. Ah-zai was already waiting outside the courtyard, holding a shovel and looking somewhat anxious.

"Brother Sangze, you're here!" Ah Zai greeted him as soon as the car stopped, looking somewhat worried. "You looked at that plot of land this morning, right? I've cleaned up that corner as you instructed."

Su Hanze got out of the car and patted Azai on the shoulder: "Alright, don't rush. Let's see how the geology is, whether the soil is suitable for growing tobacco. For our land to succeed, not only does it need good soil, but it also needs enough water."

Ah-zai nodded and led Su Hanze to the edge of the field. From a distance, the soil of the wasteland was somewhat loose, but still quite fertile. Some grass roots could be seen pulled up, revealing the moist soil underneath.

“The soil is good, and the water source is not bad either.” Su Hanze squatted down and rubbed the soil between his fingers. “However, this land needs to be tilled again. Also, we need to be careful of earthworms and some pests, and not let them affect the planting.”

"Understood, Brother Sangze." Ah Zai nodded hurriedly. "I've prepared the tools. I'll start working right away as soon as you say it's okay."

"Don't rush." ​​Su Hanze stood up, looked around, and asked thoughtfully, "Are you familiar with this area?"

Ah-zai hesitated for a moment: "This area is the land of several villages. Most of the people in the villages make a living by growing vegetables and raising chickens. The nearest village is about ten minutes away."

"Are there many people in the village?" Su Hanze continued to ask.

"Yes, there are about two hundred people, all ordinary people with no special background," Ah-zai replied.

Su Hanze nodded: "In that case, it's not a big problem. However, if we're going to plant tobacco on a large scale, someone will definitely want this land. Do you have a way to keep an eye on it? Make sure no one outside knows about it."

Ah-zai smiled and said, "Brother Sangze, don't worry about this. I know all the villages around here, so there won't be any problems."

Su Hanze pondered for a moment: "Alright, let's get started then. However, if we want to expand this land, we need a few reliable people to help us. I'll go find some people first, and then come back to assist you."

“Okay, I’ll wait for you,” Ah Zai said, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes. “If we succeed this time, we won’t have to worry about money.”

Su Hanze nodded, said nothing more, and got into the car. The car drove back into the city, and he already had a few candidates in mind. To expand tobacco cultivation, the most important thing was someone who could control the entire supply chain—not only must the tobacco be grown well, but the sales channels must also be smooth. While Tang Jingshan, Abiao, and others had influence, Su Hanze valued local power players even more.

"Xia Xue, have you found Liang Bin?" After driving for a while, Su Hanze took out his pager and dialed Xia Xue's number.

"Found him." Xia Xue's voice came from the other end of the number. "Although Liang Bin is cautious, he's always very interested in money. How do you plan to talk to him?"

“No need to rush,” Su Hanze said in a deep voice. “I have some new plans. Let’s find some locals to cooperate with first and get it started. We’ll talk to Liang Bin later when things are more stable.”

"Understood." Xia Xue's tone was calm. "So, who are you planning to talk to?"

“I have an idea, let’s go see Boss Huang first,” Su Hanze said.

"Boss Huang?" Xia Xue was slightly taken aback. "You mean Boss Huang from Yau Ma Tei?"

“Yes.” Su Hanze nodded. “Boss Huang has a lot of connections in Macau and is relatively low-key. Although he’s not exactly clean, he’s very shrewd in business. If we can get him to work with us on this, it will be much more efficient.”

"Okay." Xia Xue didn't say anything more and hung up the number.

Su Hanze already had a plan in mind. Boss Huang had considerable influence in Macau, and cooperating with him could effectively avoid some troubles. Moreover, Boss Huang had a group of helpers familiar with the land industry who could provide assistance in planting and management.

(End of this chapter)