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

Chapter 396 What if he plays dirty tricks? We won't be able to get away easily.

Su Hanze ignored his sarcasm and got up to leave. As he walked out of the teahouse, the night breeze made him squint slightly. He lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and his mind raced. Chen Jiu's appearance had disrupted his plans, but it had also given him an opportunity. If he could utilize Chen Jiu's resources, the tobacco factory's plan might be much more efficient. However, he also knew that cooperating with someone like Chen Jiu was tantamount to seeking help from a tiger.

Over the next few days, Su Hanze began preparations in earnest. He sent Jimmy to contact the dockyard and factory, while he himself went to the mountainous area where the supplier was located. It was a remote little village, surrounded by rolling hills, with tobacco fields appearing and disappearing in the morning mist. The supplier was a man named Old Wang, in his fifties, with dark skin and a shrewdness typical of people from the mountains.

"Boss Su, this shipment is quite large. Are you really going to buy it all?" Old Wang handed him a hand-rolled cigarette, his smile somewhat sly.

Su Hanze took the cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag. The pungent smell made him frown. "I'll take them all. I might want more in the future."

Old Wang raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "Looks like you're really planning something big. Okay, I'll prepare the goods for you, but we'll have to discuss the price."

Su Hanze didn't waste any words and directly gave a number. Old Wang was stunned for a moment, then slapped his thigh: "Great! Just for your boldness, I'll definitely prepare all the goods for you."

Having finalized the deal for the goods, Su Hanze didn't linger and rushed back to Sham Shui Po that very night. It was already past midnight when he arrived at his lodgings. He had just sat down when his phone rang; it was Xiao Dao.

"Sangze, I heard you're going to meet Chen Jiu?" Xiaodao's tone was somewhat mocking. "You're getting bolder and bolder."

Su Hanze snorted coldly: "The news spreads pretty fast."

Xiao Dao chuckled: "You know Sham Shui Po has no secrets. Chen Jiu is not someone to be trifled with. Are you really planning to cooperate with him?"

"It's not decided yet." Su Hanze exhaled a puff of smoke. "But how will you know if you don't try?"

Xiao Dao was silent for a while, then his tone became unusually serious: "Sang Ze, let me give you a piece of advice: Chen Jiu is a ruthless and heartless man. If you really get involved with him, be careful that you won't even have bones left."

Su Hanze didn't reply and hung up the phone directly. He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, but the name Chen Jiu kept replaying in his mind. He had never met this person, yet he was already a household name in the deep waters of society. The upcoming meeting would be a crucial step in his game.

A few days later, Huang Gou arranged a meeting between Su Hanze and Chen Jiu at the old teahouse in Kowloon Walled City. This time, Su Hanze brought Ah Qiang and another subordinate with him into the teahouse. Chen Jiu was already waiting there, dressed in a black suit, exuding a calm yet imposing aura. He was in his early forties, with a shallow scar on his face, and his eyes were so sharp they seemed to pierce through people's hearts.

"Mr. Su, it's an honor to meet you." Chen Jiu stood up, extended his hand, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

Su Hanze shook his hand, sat down, and said directly, "I heard you want to cooperate."

Chen Jiu laughed heartily, picked up his teacup, and said, "Great idea. I like people like you. That's right, I want to work with you to build a tobacco factory and produce opium. You get the goods, I'll handle the distribution. If we join forces, the business in Sham Shui Po will be ours."

Su Hanze narrowed his eyes and stared at Chen Jiu: "What's your approach?"

Chen Jiu put down his teacup, leaned back in his chair, and said slowly, "Official connections, transportation channels, and protection. You can't do without these when you open a factory. I can give you these things, and you give me your goods; we each get what we need."

Su Hanze remained silent for a moment, his mind racing. Chen Jiu's offer was indeed tempting, but his intuition told him that this man was far from simple. Cooperation might allow the tobacco factory to take shape quickly, but it could also plunge him into an even bigger vortex.

"I'll think about it," Su Hanze finally said, his voice calm.

Chen Jiu nodded, a meaningful smile playing on his lips: "Alright, I'll wait for your news. But, Boss Su, time waits for no one. In Sham Shui Po, if you're even a step behind, you'll miss out on the business."

Su Hanze said nothing more and got up to leave. As he walked out of the teahouse, he lit a cigarette, and the Kowloon Walled City looked even more sinister under the night sky.

Su Hanze stepped out of the teahouse in Kowloon Walled City. The neon lights on the street flickered eerily in his eyes. The night air was oppressive, as if it wanted to shroud the entire city's sins. Walking through the winding alleys, his pace was unhurried, but his heart was a turbulent sea. Although his meeting with Chen Jiu had seemed calm on the surface, he knew that the man was not so easy to deal with.

Chen Jiu, a name that had long circulated in the Sham Shui Po underworld, was a familiar face, yet Su Hanze had never actually met him in person. Chen Jiu wasn't the typical nouveau riche, nor did he resemble an old-school gangster. His demeanor was far too calm and mature, like a businessman, even possessing a calculating ruthlessness. Under that cold, hard gaze, Su Hanze felt more insignificant than ever before. He knew all too well that cooperation was not an easy path. Even if Chen Jiu's terms seemed perfect, every deal carried risk, and every collaboration could be a transaction.

He wasn't in a hurry to make a decision. The meeting a few days later might determine his future, but he needed to first clarify all the vested interests. Right now, his biggest task was to ensure the smooth establishment of his tobacco factory, not only for immediate profits but also for long-term planning. Acquiring those tobacco leaves from Old Wang in the mountains was just the first step. Every subsequent deal, every step, could become crucial to his future.

The next day, Su Hanze maintained his low profile. Instead of immediately replying to Chen Jiu, he summoned his subordinate A-Qiang and several trusted former subordinates to discuss the next steps. He knew he couldn't complete such a massive project on his own; he needed to find suitable partners, especially those who could provide a stable supply chain.

“Sangze,” A-Qiang said in a low voice, “our tobacco leaves this time are of good quality. But if we want to really make it work, we need to find some professional people to manage it.” He looked at Su Hanze with a hint of expectation in his eyes.

Su Hanze nodded. "Find someone, preferably someone familiar with tobacco production and processing. Also, has the deal been finalized with Jimmy's factory?"

Ah Qiang nodded. "The dock's factory is all set up, just waiting for your goods to arrive. There's no problem with the surrounding security; we have plenty of people here, so we can handle it anytime." "That's good." Su Hanze pondered for a moment, then added, "Don't forget to contact my friends on the mainland and see if there are any other resources we can mobilize."

After hearing this, A-Qiang understood immediately and said, "I understand."

Over the next few days, Su Hanze devoted almost all his energy to the factory's preparations. The factory he chose was not far from the dock, with convenient transportation, and was originally an abandoned warehouse. After simple cleaning and renovation, the tobacco storage space, processing area, and supporting facilities were set up one by one. Everything proceeded smoothly and according to plan. However, he knew that this alone was not enough; the key was still funding and connections, especially regarding his cooperation with Chen Jiu.

Sometimes, Su Hanze would sit in the factory's open space, a cigarette in his hand, taking a deep drag, his gaze piercing through the distant smoke, pondering the future. Behind every tobacco leaf lay his ambition. And behind every transaction lay untold conspiracies and risks.

A few days later, Su Hanze decided to see Chen Jiu again. This time, he didn't bring his men, but went to Chen Jiu's private club alone. Chen Jiu's club was located in a secluded corner of Sham Shui Po. It looked unremarkable from the outside, but once inside, one could feel the exquisite and luxurious atmosphere. Chen Jiu was dressed in a black suit as always, sitting on the sofa, seemingly having been waiting for a long time.

"Mr. Su, please have a seat." Chen Jiu smiled without revealing his true feelings.

Su Hanze didn't sit down immediately, but stood quietly to the side, looking around. "This place is quite interesting," he said casually.

Chen Jiu did not respond, but smiled slightly, picked up the teacup on the table, and looked deep in thought.

“I’ve thought about it,” Su Hanze finally spoke, his tone calm. “Your terms are indeed very tempting. But I also understand that cooperation isn’t a simple matter. Since we both understand that business involves both profit and risk, I have to see if it’s worth taking the gamble.”

Chen Jiu didn't say much, only nodded slightly. "You came to me, which means you've made a decision. In that case, let's cooperate. However, before we cooperate, there are some things I need to make clear." His tone suddenly turned cold and hard. "Boss Su, I don't like playing dirty tricks. I prefer direct, straightforward cooperation. If you feel it's not suitable, that's fine, we can go our separate ways."

Su Hanze narrowed his eyes slightly. "I know what you mean. You're worried that I won't dare to provide enough goods, that I'll find other partners, right?"

“That’s right.” Chen Jiu finally put down his teacup and gave a cold smile. “But you have to know that the world of Deep Waters is not one that just anyone can break into. If you want to gain a foothold here, you need to have enough determination and resources.”

“I know.” Su Hanze finally sat down, his eyes firm. “So, I came to see you today to discuss cooperation, not to negotiate.”

A hint of approval flashed in Chen Jiu's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "Cooperation must follow rules, Boss Su. I hope you understand that risks are unavoidable, but if you're willing to take them, then please be prepared."

"I know." Su Hanze looked at Chen Jiu quietly, but he had already made up his mind.

When Su Hanze walked out of Chen Jiu's club, it was already dark. The streets of Sham Shui Po were still bustling, the cries of street vendors, the flashing neon lights, and the distant honking of car horns intertwined to create a unique atmosphere of everyday life. He lit a cigarette, slowly exhaling a puff of white smoke, his gaze wandering through the streets and alleys, as if searching for something, or perhaps simply sensing the pulse of the city.

He didn't rush back to the factory, but strolled slowly along the street. The night breeze was cool, carrying a hint of sea salt. Su Hanze's mind replayed his conversation with Chen Jiu; each sentence was like a move on a chessboard, cautious yet fraught with hidden danger. Chen Jiu's attitude was clear: cooperation was possible, but only on the condition that Su Hanze showed sufficient sincerity—not just in the goods, but also in his determination in this business. Su Hanze understood that this wasn't a simple transaction, but a gamble; the outcome wasn't just about money, but also about his foothold in Sham Shui Po.

He stopped and leaned against the door of a closed shop, his cigarette glowing faintly in the darkness. He thought of his years on the mainland, those days of struggling on the streets. Back then, he was just a small-time hoodlum, relying on a bit of cleverness and ruthlessness to survive. Later, he seized the opportunity in the tobacco business and climbed step by step to where he was today. But he also knew that Sham Shui Po was not the mainland he knew; the people and things here were much more complicated, and a slight misstep could lead to utter ruin.

"Boss Su, what are you doing standing here? Aren't you afraid of catching a cold?" A familiar voice came from behind, interrupting Su Hanze's thoughts. He turned around and saw A-Qiang standing not far away, holding a bag of roast goose he had just bought, smiling carefree.

"How did you find me?" Su Hanze stubbed out his cigarette, his tone slightly mocking.

"Hey, you always smell like smoke wherever you go, it's hard to miss you." A-Qiang walked over and handed the roast goose to Su Hanze. "Here, have a taste, this place is pretty good."

Su Hanze took the roast goose, casually tore off a piece and stuffed it into his mouth. The greasy aroma spread on his tongue, relaxing his tense nerves slightly. "So, what do you want?"

Ah Qiang grinned. "It's nothing serious. I just heard from the brothers that you went to Chen Jiu's place alone today. I figured I should at least come and check on you, just in case you get tricked."

Upon hearing this, Su Hanze couldn't help but chuckle, "You're quite the caring guy."

"Hey, my concern for you isn't for nothing." Ah Qiang scratched his head, his tone becoming more serious. "Seriously, boss, Chen Jiu is a tough guy. What did you talk to him about today? Was it reliable?"

Su Hanze didn't answer immediately, but instead tore off another piece of roast goose and chewed slowly. Ah Qiang's concerns weren't unfounded; Chen Jiu's reputation in Sham Shui Po wasn't just empty talk. That guy had a group of loyal brothers under his command, and his business network was extremely extensive, from dock freight to street protection money—there was almost nowhere he couldn't get involved in. Cooperating with someone like that was indeed like borrowing a tiger's skin.

"The talks went well," Su Hanze finally spoke, his tone calm. "He's willing to cooperate, but the terms need to be negotiated gradually. I've already arranged the goods; a batch will be delivered from the mainland in the next couple of days. As for the rest, it depends on whether Chen Jiu dares to accept them."

Ah Qiang nodded, but there was still some worry between his brows. "Boss, we don't know anyone here. Do we really want to be tied to Chen Jiu? What if he plays dirty tricks? We won't be able to get away easily."

(End of this chapter)