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

Chapter 398 If you don't choose to cooperate, you might not even have a way to survive.
"Boss Su, I heard you haven't been having the best of luck lately." Old Dao got straight to the point as soon as he sat down, a meaningful smile on his face. "I've heard about what happened at the docks. Tsk tsk, someone dared to tamper with your goods, they've got some nerve."

Su Hanze smiled, picked up his wine glass and swirled it, "Brother Lao Dao is well-informed. But this little thing isn't enough to keep me up at night."

Old Dao laughed heartily, slapped the table, and said, "You've got guts! I like your composure. So, Mr. Su, how do you plan to handle this? What help do you need?"

Su Hanze didn't answer immediately. Instead, he lit a cigarette and slowly exhaled a puff of smoke. He observed Lao Dao's expression, trying to catch a clue. Lao Dao's enthusiasm came too quickly and too directly, making him vaguely feel that something was wrong. But he didn't show it, only saying lightly, "I appreciate Brother Lao Dao's kindness. I can handle this myself, but I'll still need your help with business matters in the future."

Old Dao squinted, stared at Su Hanze for a while, and suddenly burst into laughter, "Good, Boss Su is indeed a wise man! Alright, I won't get involved in this matter. But don't worry, if there's any trouble at the docks, I'll be the first to tell you."

The two chatted for a while longer, shifting the topic from business to the underworld landscape of Sham Shui Po. Old Dao seemed to intentionally or unintentionally mention some of Chen Jiu's past, such as his early brawls with another group at the docks, and the backgrounds of several of his trusted henchmen. Su Hanze listened calmly, his mind racing as he analyzed the information. There seemed to be some subtle connection between Chen Jiu and Old Dao, but he couldn't quite grasp it yet.

A few days later, Ah Qiang brought back new information. The new face loitering near the pier had finally been investigated. His name was Li Biao, nicknamed "Mad Dog," a ruthless character from the mainland. It was said that he had offended someone in his hometown and was forced to flee to Hong Kong, where he sought refuge with a man known as "Master Hong." This Master Hong was the number one figure in the Sham Shui Po underworld, with more power than Chen Jiu and Lao Dao.

"Master Hong?" Su Hanze frowned and lit a cigarette. "Why would he suddenly get involved in my affairs?"

Ah Qiang shook his head. "I don't know the specifics. But I heard that Li Biao is a ruthless man. Hong Ye sent him to the dock, probably to test your mettle."

Su Hanze sneered, "Test me? Then let them try."

He knew that Master Hong's appearance had complicated the situation further. Chen Jiu and Lao Dao might just be pawns on the surface, while Master Hong was the real figurehead. He decided to hold back for now and figure out Master Hong's intentions first.

Over the next few days, Su Hanze began to intentionally or unintentionally release false information to test the reactions of all parties. He had A-Qiang spread the word that the factory's next batch of goods would arrive at the port ahead of schedule, while secretly strengthening security at the dock. At the same time, he personally went to Chen Jiu's territory, ostensibly to discuss cooperation details, but actually to see Chen Jiu's reaction.

Chen Jiu was as enthusiastic as ever, patting his chest and guaranteeing that he would help Su Hanze resolve the dock troubles. But Su Hanze noticed a fleeting, almost imperceptible tension in his eyes. As he left, Chen Jiu deliberately gave him a bottle of fine foreign liquor, saying it was a "gift for making friends." Su Hanze smiled and accepted the liquor, but he became even more wary.

A few days later, late one night, Su Hanze received a call from A-Qiang. The caller's voice was urgent: "Boss, something's happened at the docks! Our cargo has been hijacked!"

Su Hanze stood up abruptly, his voice as cold as ice, "Robbery? Who did it?"

"It's still unclear!" A-Qiang gasped for breath. "When I arrived with my men, the truck had already been pried open, and the cargo was gone! All that was left at the scene was a knife with the character 'Hong' engraved on the handle."

Su Hanze's eyes darkened. He stubbed out his cigarette and said slowly, "Fine, very well. Boss Hong is going to go head-to-head with me."

He hung up the phone, lit another cigarette, and his mind raced. Master Hung's move was clearly a declaration of war. But he didn't intend to retaliate immediately. The underworld of Sham Shui Po was never one where brute force alone could secure a foothold. He needed time, and he needed more leverage.

In the following days, Su Hanze began to keep a low profile, outwardly appearing caught off guard by the robbery, but in reality, he had already begun to secretly plan. He sent A-Qiang to contact some small-time traders with connections at the docks, trying to find out Hong Ye's movements indirectly. At the same time, he proactively invited Lao Dao, ostensibly to drink with him, but actually to test whether he was colluding with Hong Ye.

Old Dao was as cheerful as ever, patting his chest and promising to help Su Hanze find out the truth about the robbery. But Su Hanze noticed that his words always carried a hint of ambiguity, as if he was deliberately dodging the question. This made Su Hanze even more certain that there was definitely some connection between Old Dao and Master Hong.

Meanwhile, rumors began circulating on the streets of Sham Shui Po about Su Hanze. Some said he had offended Boss Hung and his business was failing; others said he had fallen out with Chen Jiu and would soon be kicked out of the docks. Although these rumors lacked concrete evidence, they put invisible pressure on Su Hanze's business. Some clients who were originally planning to cooperate began to hesitate, and several even canceled their orders.

Su Hanze sat in his office, listening to A-Qiang's report, his face expressionless. He lit a cigarette and slowly exhaled a puff of smoke. "Who spread the rumors?"

Ah Qiang frowned. "It's hard to say. But I heard that some people at Ye Lai Xiang are spreading these rumors, as if they're deliberately targeting us."

Su Hanze sneered, "Night-blooming jasmine? It seems Old Dao is busier than I thought."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the night view of Sham Shui Po. The neon lights flickered in the darkness, like pairs of peering eyes. He knew that Boss Hung's move was more than just a robbery. It was forcing him to back down, forcing him to reveal a weakness in this game.

But Su Hanze wasn't the type to give up easily. He stubbed out his cigarette and dialed a number. When the other end answered, he only said four words: "I need to see Boss Hong."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then a deep voice came through: "Mr. Su, Master Hong isn't someone you can just meet casually. Are you sure you want to go this route?"

Su Hanze smiled, his tone calm yet firm, "Tell Master Hong that I have a business deal I'd like to discuss with him."

After hanging up the phone, Su Hanze lit another cigarette. He knew that once this move was made, there was no turning back. But in the underworld of Sham Shui Po, retreating was never his style.

A few days later, Su Hanze finally received a reply from Boss Hong. The man arranged to meet him at a secluded dock warehouse late at night. Upon hearing this, A-Qiang's face darkened. "Boss, this place is too remote. Boss Hong is ruthless; we need to be careful."

Su Hanze nodded. "I know. Take a few men and keep an eye on things secretly. If anything changes, act immediately."

In the dead of night, the air in the dockside warehouse was thick with the briny smell of the sea. Su Hanze walked into the warehouse alone, followed by A-Qiang and several of his men. The warehouse was dimly lit, with only a single chandelier swaying overhead, casting dappled shadows.

Master Hong was already waiting there. He was an old man in his sixties, with gray hair, wearing a gray Tang suit, looking like an ordinary old man. But his eyes revealed a chilling sharpness. Standing beside him was Li Biao, his eyes fierce, like a wolf ready to pounce at any moment. "Boss Su, you've got guts," Master Hong said, his voice hoarse but carrying an invisible pressure, "You dare to come see me alone, aren't you afraid I'll leave you here?"

Su Hanze smiled and lit a cigarette. "Mr. Hong, you're too kind. Businessmen believe in making money through harmony. I'm here to discuss a business deal with you."

Hong Ye narrowed his eyes, stared at Su Hanze for a while, and suddenly laughed, "Good, interesting. So, what do you want to talk about?"

Su Hanze exhaled a puff of smoke and slowly said, "You've taken my goods. I won't ask why, nor will I pursue the matter. But I think, with such a large sum of money, Master Hong wouldn't be doing this just for that little bit of merchandise, would he?"

Master Hong laughed and clapped his hands. "Boss Su is indeed a shrewd man. To tell you the truth, I did touch your goods. But this was just a formality. I heard you're doing well in Sham Shui Po, and I wanted to see just how much you're worth."

Su Hanze nodded. "I've received your message. Now, I want to know, Mr. Hong, what exactly do you want?"

After a moment of silence, Boss Hong's gaze deepened. "Boss Su, Sham Shui Po is a big place, but it's also chaotic. If you want to gain a foothold here, Chen Jiu and Lao Dao alone won't be enough. I can give you the resources you want, but on the condition that you show me some sincerity."

Su Hanze narrowed his eyes. "What sincerity?"

Master Hong smiled and held up one finger. "Your factory, give me 30%."

Su Hanze's eyes turned cold, but he didn't answer immediately, only slowly exhaling a puff of smoke. The atmosphere in the warehouse became heavy, as if the air itself had solidified. A-Qiang and Li Biao both placed their hands on their waists, ready to act at any moment.

“Mr. Hong, you have quite the appetite.” Su Hanze finally spoke, his tone calm but with a hint of coldness. “I can’t afford 30%. But I can give you 10%, plus priority for a new shipping route at the dock.”

Hong stared at him for a while, then suddenly burst into laughter, “Good! Boss Su, you have guts! One thing at a time, but I need to see the contract for the shipping route.”

Su Hanze nodded. "No problem. The contract will be delivered to you tomorrow."

The two chatted for a while longer, and the atmosphere gradually eased. As he left the warehouse, Su Hanze lit his last cigarette, his gaze fixed on the distant sea.

Su Hanze's footsteps echoed in the empty night of the dock. The sea breeze, carrying a salty, fishy smell, stung his face slightly. Ah Qiang and his men followed closely behind, the three of them silent. Although the deal with Boss Hong seemed to have been agreed upon, Su Hanze still felt uneasy. He knew Boss Hong; the old hand of Sham Shui Po, he wasn't so easy to deal with. Behind every transaction, every cooperation, there might be an unexpected trap.

"Boss, are you alright?" A-Qiang asked in a low voice, seemingly sensing Su Hanze's worries.

Su Hanze didn't turn around, still staring at the dim sea ahead. "It's nothing, I just feel that things went a little too smoothly today."

"Smoothly?" Ah Qiang raised an eyebrow. "You mean Hong Ye's 30% requirement?"

“Yes.” Su Hanze stopped and turned to look at A-Qiang. “Master Hong is a cunning man. Thirty percent is nothing, but if he doesn’t get what he wants, he will definitely do something else. We have to be careful.”

Ah Qiang nodded, a dismissive smile playing on his lips. "Don't worry, boss. Although Master Hong is ruthless, we're prepared. He won't dare to make any rash moves."

Su Hanze said nothing more and walked straight to his car parked by the dock. The headlights illuminated the road ahead, seemingly dispelling the fog in his mind as well. On the way back, he kept thinking about Master Hong's proposal, especially the priority given to the new shipping route. This request, seemingly insignificant, was actually full of profound implications. If he agreed, he would undoubtedly tie his resources even more tightly, allowing Master Hong to establish a more solid control.

Before dawn, Su Hanze had already returned to his residence. The light inside was dim, and Ah Qiang was already sitting at the table, waiting for him to return to discuss the next steps in their plan. Although it was quiet outside, the underworld of Sham Shui Po was already seething with undercurrents. Every move would stir up waves of trouble.

"Boss, what should we do about Master Hong's matter?" Ah Qiang asked, looking somewhat nervous.

"Proceed according to the original plan." Su Hanze turned around and said coldly, "I've agreed to 10%. As for the route, prepare the contract first and send it over tomorrow."

Ah Qiang nodded. "Understood, boss. Are you planning to keep Master Hong calm, or..."

"Stay calm," Su Hanze interrupted A-Qiang. "Right now, the most crucial thing is to get the tobacco factory up and running as quickly as possible. Boss Hong and Chen Jiu are both strong backers. Even if it's just 30%, I have to grit my teeth and give it to them. Otherwise, by the time we've truly established ourselves, it might be too late to turn things around."

Ah Qiang was silent for a while, then said, "Master Hong can indeed provide us with a lot of resources, including ships and cargo channels in the waters near Hong Kong, which can help us expand our business. But, isn't 30% a bit too much? I always feel that he's not just after your goods."

“Yes.” A cold glint flashed in Su Hanze’s eyes. “Master Hong is a cunning old fox. Thirty percent is nothing. The key is that he wants to use this cooperation to firmly bind me to his chessboard. Besides, the matter in Sham Shui Po is no longer just my business. Master Hong has his methods, and Chen Jiu has his ways. If I don’t choose to cooperate, I’m afraid I won’t even have a way to survive.”

Ah-Qiang nodded thoughtfully, knowing that Su Han-ze's words were not unfounded; the underworld of Sham Shui Po was no longer as simple as it used to be.

(End of this chapter)