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

Chapter 397 We must be careful; every step must be taken with utmost care.
Su Hanze patted A-Qiang on the shoulder and smiled, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Chen Jiu is a smart man, and smart men don't easily break off relations. What we need to do now is to keep him calm and make him think that our goods are worth the price."

Hearing this, Ah Qiang felt a little relieved, but he still couldn't help but mutter, "I hope you're right, boss."

Over the next few days, Su Hanze's factory officially began operations. The first batch of tobacco leaves from the dock had arrived, and workers were busy in the processing area, sorting, cutting, and drying the leaves—everything was in perfect order. Su Hanze would walk around the factory several times a day, checking the details of each process. He wasn't one to do everything himself, but he knew that at this point, there was no room for carelessness. The factory was his trump card, and also his bargaining chip in negotiations with Chen Jiu.

However, things didn't go entirely according to his plan. On the third day of the factory's operation, an unexpected message reached Su Hanze's ears—someone at the dock was inquiring about his goods.

"Whose people are they?" Su Hanze asked A-Qiang, frowning as he sat in the factory office.

"I don't know." A-Qiang shook his head. "I heard it was a few guys with accents from out of town who were loitering around the docks, asking all sorts of questions. They showed up as soon as our goods arrived, so it's probably not a coincidence."

Su Hanze lit a cigarette, squinted, and pondered for a moment. "Keep an eye on them and see what they're up to. Don't make any rash moves; we can't alert them yet."

Ah Qiang responded and turned to arrange the men. Su Hanze leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the ashtray on the table. He had long anticipated that things at the docks wouldn't be peaceful, but he hadn't expected someone to be watching so quickly. He had a vague feeling that this matter might be related to Chen Jiu, but he had no concrete evidence.

That evening, Su Hanze received a call from Chen Jiu. The voice on the other end was as steady as ever, "Boss Su, I heard things are going well at your factory? Has the goods arrived?"

Su Hanze sneered, "Boss Chen is quite well-informed. The goods have arrived, but things seem to be a bit unsettled at the docks."

"Oh?" Chen Jiu's tone was slightly mocking. "How exactly is it not peaceful? Mr. Su, why don't you tell me?"

"It's nothing, just some shady characters loitering around the docks, asking all sorts of questions." Su Hanze paused deliberately, observing the other person's reaction. "Boss Chen, do you think someone might be trying to cause me trouble?"

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by Chen Jiu's laughter, "Boss Su, what you said is quite interesting. Sham Shui Po is a mixed bag, so it's not surprising that there's some trouble at the docks. Don't worry, as long as we cooperate well, I'll naturally take care of these little things for you."

"I hope so," Su Hanze replied casually, and hung up the phone.

He put down his phone, lit a new cigarette, and his gaze deepened. Chen Jiu's words sounded impeccable, but Su Hanze wasn't a fool. He knew this cooperation had only just begun; the real contest was yet to come.

A few days later, the situation at the dock seemed to have calmed down, and the strangers inquiring about the goods no longer appeared. Su Hanze, however, did not let his guard down. He instructed A-Qiang to increase patrols around the dock and factory, and contacted his friends on the mainland to confirm the shipping time for the next batch of goods. Meanwhile, he began preparing for his second meeting with Chen Jiu. This time, he intended to bring some "sincerity."

The meeting was arranged at an unassuming tea restaurant in the old town of Sham Shui Po. The restaurant's decor was somewhat dated, with wooden tables bearing the marks of time, and the air was filled with the aroma of milk tea and fried eggs. Su Hanze arrived early, ordered an iced lemon tea, and sat by the window, quietly waiting for Chen Jiu.

Chen Jiu arrived as promised, still dressed in a black suit, followed by two subordinates. After sitting down, he waved his hand, signaling his men to stand guard at the door, before looking at Su Hanze and smiling, "Mr. Su, the place you chose is quite tasteful."

"The usual place, I feel safe eating here." Su Hanze pushed the menu in front of him. "What would you like to order, Mr. Chen?"

Chen Jiu waved his hand, "No need, I'll just have a glass of water. Let's get down to business."

Su Hanze nodded, took a document from his briefcase, and pushed it in front of Chen Jiu. "This is the list of the first batch of goods. The quality and quantity are all here. Take a look. If there are no problems, we can talk about the next step."

Chen Jiu took the document, flipped through a few pages, and his expression gradually became serious. "The goods are good, and the quantity is sufficient. However, Mr. Su, you know what I value most."

"Tell me about it." Su Hanze picked up his lemon tea, took a sip, and spoke calmly.

"Trust." Chen Jiu closed the file and looked directly at Su Hanze. "In business, goods are inanimate, but people are alive. Without trust, even the best goods are useless."

Su Hanze smiled. "Mr. Chen has a point. However, trust is a two-way street. If you want my trust, I have to see your sincerity first."

After hearing this, Chen Jiu remained silent for a moment, then took out a business card from his suit pocket and gently placed it on the table. "This is the contact information of a friend of mine. He has some connections at the docks. If you encounter any problems with your goods in the future, contact him; he can help you out."

Su Hanze picked up the business card, glanced at it, and saw only a name and phone number, without any title. He calmly put the card into his pocket and nodded, "Thank you, Mr. Chen."

"Don't thank me yet." Chen Jiu's tone suddenly turned cold. "Boss Su, I'm giving you this in the hope that our cooperation will be smoother. But I also have to remind you that Sham Shui Po is a very complicated place. There are some people you can't afford to offend, and there are some things you'd better not get involved in."

Su Hanze didn't respond immediately, but simply looked at Chen Jiu quietly. Their gazes met in the air, as if testing each other's limits. Finally, Su Hanze smiled, "Don't worry, Mr. Chen, I always know how to conduct myself."

The meeting didn't last long; half an hour later, Chen Jiu left the tea restaurant with his men. Su Hanze sat alone by the window, lighting another cigarette. He watched the bustling crowds outside, but his mind was preoccupied with something else—the business card Chen Jiu had given him.

He vaguely sensed that there was more to this business card than met the eye. Chen Jiu wouldn't introduce him to a "friend" for no reason, especially someone with connections at the docks. Su Hanze stubbed out his cigarette and decided to send someone to investigate this person's background first. In the following days, the factory operated more smoothly, and the second batch of tobacco arrived on schedule. Su Hanze began to shift his focus to expanding sales channels. He knew that while the Sham Shui Po market was large, the competition was fierce. Chen Jiu's influence could help him open some doors, but relying solely on Chen Jiu was clearly insufficient. He needed more connections and more resources.

So he began frequenting various venues in Sham Shui Po, from street bars to upscale private clubs, trying to make contact with more influential people. In each conversation, he carefully probed the other person's bottom line, while also observing the forces hidden in the shadows.

One evening, Su Hanze unexpectedly encountered a man named Lao Dao at a bar called "Night Fragrance". Lao Dao was a middle-aged man in his fifties with gray hair and a scar that ran from his forehead to his chin, making him look somewhat frightening. However, his tone of voice was unusually gentle, carrying a relaxing and approachable quality.

"Mr. Su, I've heard so much about you." Old Dao, holding a glass of whiskey, took the initiative to sit in the booth next to Su Hanze. "I heard you set up a factory at the docks, and business is booming."

Su Hanze smiled, raised his glass and clinked it with his, "Brother Lao Dao, you flatter me. I'm just a small fry, how can I compare to your reputation here?"

Old Dao chuckled and waved his hand. "Reputations are all empty words; business is what matters. So, Mr. Su, is there something you want to discuss with me today?"

Su Hanze didn't answer immediately. Instead, he lit a cigarette and slowly exhaled a puff of smoke. He knew that Lao Dao held a high position in Sham Shui Po, owning not only his own establishments but also numerous shady businesses. Getting in touch with Lao Dao would definitely benefit his business.

"Brother Lao Dao is indeed straightforward," Su Hanze smiled. "I won't beat around the bush either. My goods are having a bit of trouble at the dock, and I'd like to find someone influential to help me out. I wonder if Brother Lao Dao would be interested?"

Upon hearing this, Lao Dao narrowed his eyes, swirled his wine glass, and said, "Boss Su, are you testing me? I've heard a bit about what's going on at the docks. Your goods come from a big source, but there are also quite a few people eyeing you. You've come to me because you want me to help you sort out your troubles, or because you want me to get involved in your business?"

Su Hanze smiled slightly, "Brother Lao Dao, you've misunderstood. I just want to make a friend. We can talk about business later."

Old Dao stared at Su Hanze for a while, then suddenly burst into laughter. "Good, you've got guts! I like your kind of guy. Alright, I can help you inquire about the docks. But, Mr. Su, let me make this clear: my help won't be for nothing."

“Of course.” Su Hanze nodded, raised his glass, and said, “Brother Lao Dao, this is a toast to you.”

After the two clinked glasses, Lao Dao's tone became more casual. "Boss Su, I think you're a shrewd man. Sham Shui Po may seem calm on the surface, but there are undercurrents beneath. I know a little about your collaboration with Chen Jiu. Let me remind you, that guy is no pushover."

Su Hanze smiled but didn't reply, simply taking a sip of his drink. Old Dao's words, though blunt, had a wake-up call. While the cooperation with Chen Jiu was finalized, the risks behind it were far greater than he had imagined. Old Dao's appearance might be a new opportunity, or it could be a new trap.

Meanwhile, a new problem arose at the docks. Late one night, A-Qiang rushed to Su Hanze, his face grave. "Boss, something's happened at the docks. One of our shipments has been tampered with."

Su Hanze frowned. "What's going on?"

"I don't know the specifics yet." A-Qiang wiped the sweat from his forehead. "But I had someone investigate, and they found that some defective products were mixed in with the goods. The quality was ridiculously poor. Luckily, we found it early, otherwise, if this batch of goods had been sent out, our reputation would have been ruined."

Su Hanze lit a cigarette, his gaze turning icy. "Find out who did it. Whoever it is, I will settle this score with them."

Su Hanze sat in his office leather chair, his fingers lightly tapping the desk. The ashtray in front of him was overflowing with cigarette butts. Outside the window, the night in Sham Shui Po was deep, the neon lights flashing in the distance, reflecting on his cold, stern face. Ah Qiang's report had cast a shadow over his heart. The tampering with this shipment was no accident. Someone was behind it all, and this person clearly knew everything about his business.

"Boss, I've already sent people to keep an eye on the docks," Ah Qiang said in a low voice, standing to the side. "But those guys are very clean; they didn't leave any obvious traces. The substandard goods were cleverly mixed in; if our people hadn't checked so carefully, we wouldn't have been able to find them at all."

Su Hanze exhaled a puff of smoke, his gaze deep and serious. "Have you found any clues?"

Ah Qiang hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "Not for now. But I heard from people at the docks that there's a new face hanging around here lately, like he's from out of town, with a few people, and he's acting suspiciously. I've already sent the brothers to investigate."

Su Hanze nodded, signaling Ah Qiang to keep an eye on things. He stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the bustling crowds on the street. Sham Shui Po was never a quiet place; behind every street and every lamplight, there might be hidden dangers. He knew that someone was pulling the strings behind this, and that person's goal was far more than just damaging his reputation.

"Qiang, you go ahead and get busy." Su Hanze waved his hand. "Keep a close eye on the cargo at the dock these next few days, make sure there are no more mistakes. Also, send someone to keep an eye on Lao Dao and see who he's been hanging around with lately."

Ah Qiang responded and turned to leave. Only Su Hanze remained in the office. He lit another cigarette, his mind racing through recent events. Chen Jiu's business card, Lao Dao's sudden appearance, the tampering with the cargo at the dock… these seemingly unrelated clues vaguely pointed to a larger scheme. He had to be careful; every step he took had to be perfect.

Over the next few days, Su Hanze appeared outwardly busy, and the factory's operations were not significantly affected. He personally supervised the arrival of the new batch of tobacco leaves and implemented stricter inspection procedures to ensure that similar problems would not recur. However, he knew in his heart that this was only a temporary solution. The real trouble was still lurking in the shadows.

Meanwhile, he began to subtly approach Lao Dao. The two met again at the "Night Fragrance" bar. This time, Lao Dao brought several of his men, each with sharp eyes, like wolves ready to pounce at any moment. Su Hanze, on the other hand, only brought A Qiang, appearing much more low-key.

(End of this chapter)