Hong Kong film: The cop backs down, the ladies beg me to check his license.

He knew perfectly well that Fatty Lai was utterly unworthy of the North Point Hall Master position. Greyhound and Big Fei were both far superior to him. Greyhound was reliable and ruthless; Big Fei was loyal, prestigious, and a veteran Hung Hing member. This internal scum was a headache for Chiang Tin-sang; he didn't need to say a word.

Jiang Tiansheng changed the subject, looking at Ye Tian with a serious expression: "Tian, ​​I'm thinking of transferring you to headquarters. What do you think?"

Ye Tian shook his head directly, his tone sincere: "Mr. Jiang, thank you for thinking so highly of me. But Kun Ge and I have a life-or-death bond. I lost my parents when I was seven, and Kun Ge raised me by selling fish balls while scrimping and saving on food. To me, Kun Ge is like my own brother. I feel secure with him. I really don't care about positions or anything like that."

Jiang Tiansheng felt a little uneasy, unsure whether it was jealousy or something else. That bastard Liang Kun, he's really lucky.

In his view, Ye Tian hadn't read many books, but he was born for this job and had the talent to lead. The rise of the Mong Kok triad was at most three-tenths due to Brother Kun, and the remaining seven-tenths was all Ye Tian's ability.

He was genuinely envious, but he also knew that this bond, built up over a decade, couldn't be broken.

"Ah Tin, you've misunderstood." Chiang Tin-sang quickly explained, "I'm not trying to sabotage your Mong Kok organization. I genuinely want to ask for your help. If you come to headquarters, it will be easier for you to handle some... matters related to the organization's transformation."

Ye Tian looked up: "Transformation?"

Jiang Tiansheng leaned forward slightly, his tone serious: "You're smart, you know how to make money, and you know how to do things. In our line of work, you can't just rely on slashing and killing; you have to use your brain, otherwise you'll be a scoundrel your whole life."

Ye Tian smiled and said, "I just want to earn more money. You can't earn money without using your brain."

Chiang Tin-sang clapped his hands: "That's right! Hung Hing is not short of tough guys, but you are the first to have such a business mind."

Ye Tian waved his hand: "Mr. Jiang, you flatter me. Hung Hing is full of talented people. Brother Yao is your chief steward; he knows all the gang's accounts, and the income increases every year. Brother Yao deserves a lot of credit. Han Bin used to be known as 'Binny Tiger' in Hop To, a smuggling tycoon with a first-rate business mind. He's both literate and skilled in martial arts, and he manages Tsuen Wan flawlessly. Brother Kei is a veteran, wise in appearance, and has always taken care of the younger generation. Sister Thirteen is Hung Hing's only female leader; her heroic spirit is no less than a man's. Portland Street is firmly under her control..."

Jiang Tiansheng interrupted him, his tone a little urgent: "Tian, ​​I know you're humble, and I know that each of the twelve hall masters has their own abilities. But there's one thing you have to admit."

Ye Tian looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

Jiang Tiansheng said, word by word, "They're all experts at shady dealings. But when it comes to turning their businesses into legitimate ones, none of them are as good as you."

Ye Tian seemed lost in thought, then suddenly asked a completely unrelated question: "Mr. Jiang, would you like some tofu pudding?"

Jiang Tiansheng was taken aback: "Yes, I sometimes have a bowl in the morning."

"Sweet or salty?"

Jiang Tiansheng's eyes widened, as if he had heard something strange: "Tofu pudding... can be savory?"

Ye Tian sighed, looking a little regretful: "I like it salty, with braised sauce and some chopped cilantro, it's so nice."

Jiang Tiansheng immediately retorted, his tone leaving no room for argument: "Of course tofu pudding is sweet! Add sugar, and it's best to add some red beans or diced fruit. Drinking it hot is the perfect way to enjoy it."

Ye Tian said expressionlessly, "Salty is the orthodox, sweet is heresy."

Jiang Tiansheng glared at him: "Sweet is better! What kind of nonsense is this, salty!"

The two exchanged a few words before Jiang Tiansheng suddenly stopped, blinked, and asked, "Huh? Where were we?"

Ye Tian leaned back in his chair, his tone returning to its usual calm: "You said you wanted to corporatize Hung Hing."

Jiang Tiansheng realized what Ye Tian meant and looked at him, his eyes slowly clearing: "You used tofu pudding as an analogy...you mean to say that the reforms can't be implemented, right?"

Ye Tian put away his casual attitude and became serious: "Corporateization is a good thing, and it's the general trend. Clubs that don't change will be eliminated sooner or later."

"But this won't work with the current head of the hall."

Jiang Tiansheng frowned: "Why?"

Ye Tian slowly said, "How many of the leaders of Hung Hing have received much formal education? Graduating from primary school is considered good, and finishing junior high school is considered highly educated. Fat Lai is annoying, but at least he's a 'cultured person,' a proper high school graduate. Of course, he doesn't act like a cultured person at all."

Jiang Tiansheng was stunned; he had never thought of it from this perspective before.

"They can argue fiercely over whether to make tofu pudding sweet or savory, let alone a corporation that threatens their livelihoods and changes their rules?"

"The current generation of gang leaders have long been stuck in their ways. They've spent their whole lives in the underworld, believing in loyalty and relying on their fists. Ask them to learn company bylaws or read financial statements, and they won't learn, nor will they want to. Their skills and prestige don't lie in these areas."

"Unless the organization can gradually recruit a group of young people with a solid foundation and ambition, train them from scratch, and wait for them to take over."

"This has nothing to do with whether Ye Tian is willing to put in the effort or not."

"If you insist on pushing it, they won't dare to oppose you openly, but they will secretly comply while secretly hindering you, making things a half-baked mess and making it even worse."

"Mr. Jiang, it's not that I don't want to help, it's just that I really can't do anything right now."

Go to the Hung Hing headquarters to help Chiang Tin-sang reorganize the triad?

His lips twitched, but there was no real smile; it was more like a silent snort. He didn't have that kind of free time. Jiang Tiansheng wasn't Liang Kun after all; they didn't share the bond forged through years of street fighting. It wasn't worth taking on that thankless task for someone he didn't know.

That's a hot potato; whoever takes it will be in trouble. If they really followed Chiang Tin-sang's corporate approach, at least half of the twelve Hung Hing leaders would be gone. What kind of people are they? They've spent their whole lives on the streets, relying on their fists to settle scores and on loyalty to gather followers. Aside from fighting and collecting debts, what do they know about the rules and regulations of office life?

Jiang Tiansheng was talented and had a keen eye for things; he had foresight. Ye Tian vaguely knew that in a few years, Hong Kong's triads would probably shed their mask of machetes and tattoos, disappear into high-rise buildings, and cover up their shady dealings with suits and contracts. This was a different way of life, forced by the times.

But what does it have to do with him?

That's a problem that should give the police a headache.

Just then, a shadow fell over him, blocking the light in front of him.

The man was very tall, dressed in a crisp uniform with gleaming epaulets. He had a smile on his face, with two dimples at the corners of his mouth, giving him a look that was both stern and strangely approachable.

"Mr. Ye, I am Yuan Haoyun from the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau. May I speak to you privately?" His voice was not loud, and he was quite polite.

Ye Tian shrugged, his posture unchanged, still lazily slumped in the chair. "It's nothing inconvenient."

Yuan Haoyun's smile remained unchanged, and he stepped aside to gesture for him to proceed. "A walk on the beach? It's windy there, making it easier to talk."

He even went around to the other side of the car and opened the passenger door for Ye Tian. His movements were practiced and showed no particular emotion, just like greeting an ordinary citizen.

Ye Tian didn't say anything, but bent down and sat down.

After driving for about ten minutes, the car stopped at a deserted beach. The coastline stretched out into the distance in a winding path, the waves lapping against the black rocks with a muffled sound that had faded considerably by the time it reached us. The area was empty, save for the wind whipping sand across the ground.

On the way, Yuan Haoyun glanced at him in the rearview mirror several times, his curiosity barely concealed.

Ye Tian was getting a little annoyed by his gaze, so he spoke first: "Officer Yuan, can't you just say what you want to say? I have to go back and check the accounts later, and I haven't finished reading the book yet."

Yuan Haoyun seemed amused and turned to look at him. "Mr. Ye, I'm with the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau. Aren't you afraid of being seen by the underworld and having gossip if you come out with me like this?"

Ye Tian chuckled, a strange look in his eyes, as if he found the remark utterly ridiculous. "Who in this line of work hasn't ridden in one of your Organized Crime and Triad Bureau's cars? Which of those big shots with a name hasn't been in your interrogation room? Is this really such a fuss?"

He paused, glancing sideways at Yuan Haoyun: "Besides, doesn't your Organized Crime and Triad Bureau have a few 'acquaintances' you regularly deal with? Why, has no one ever asked you about this?"

Yuan Haoyun shook his head and admitted frankly, "No, not really. But... my colleagues generally assume that anyone who's willing to contact us privately is an 'informant'."