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

Chuanbao, Longgen, Guilaonen... all the elders, regardless of their expressions just now, obediently picked up their teacups and drank them down in one gulp.

Uncle Deng watched as everyone put down their teacups before speaking. His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable weight: "When I was young, I was just like you, having to listen to my uncles. Back then, I resented it, thinking, 'You old folks, you can't fight, you can't struggle, so what right do you have to boss me around? What right do you have to call the shots?'"

He paused, his gaze slowly sweeping over the crowd: "As I grew older, I gradually understood. It all comes down to two words: fairness."

"We're old, we can't fight anymore. What we have left is some experience, which is still somewhat useful. And what we have left is our passion for the club."

"The reason why Wo Luen Shing has lasted for a hundred years is not because any one person is the most capable fighter, but because of its rules. The rules passed down from our ancestors cannot be changed."

"Big D and Ah Le are talented, but they lack the qualifications. If they want to be selected, they should wait until the next election. If we make an exception for them today, even more people will demand the same tomorrow. We can't open this door. Once we do, it'll be like a riverbank collapsing—we can't stop it."

He looked at everyone: "Any objections?"

The elders all shook their heads.

Chuanbao was still unwilling to give up, muttering, "Uncle Deng, that makes sense... but this bragging is just too outrageous. Who would accept him as the boss?"

Uncle Deng smiled faintly, a hint of mockery in his smile: "Who hasn't been talked back to by their subordinates? Haven't you tried? Or have you never tried?"

Everyone lowered their heads again. Indeed, the power of the leader of the Wo Shing Society was not unlimited; often, it was necessary to balance the interests of various parties, and the elders had more influence. The leader's weakness was not necessarily a bad thing for the elders.

Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Uncle Deng slowly said, "There have been times when Wo Luen Shing has faced a generational gap in its hundred-year history. But with the rules in place, we've always managed to pull through. This time will be no different."

"Besides, it's not that we lack talent, it's just that the time hasn't come yet. Next term, you'll have your own headaches."

"Our structure with the Luen Shing is one of checks and balances: the elders, the nine branches, and the checks and balances among them. Sometimes, a weaker leader isn't necessarily a bad thing. Besides, we're here to keep an eye on things, so nothing serious will happen."

These words made many of the elders' brows relax and they nodded slightly. That makes sense.

Finally, Uncle Deng added earnestly, "What triads need most is balance. The worst thing is for one group to become too powerful. If one group is too powerful, and one person calls the shots, it's too dangerous. Without opponents, elections become meaningless. Over time, it easily becomes a family-run empire. And then..." He paused, his gaze distant, "Where do we old guys fit in?"

Chuanbao and the others were shocked and fell completely silent.

Uncle Deng said no more, slowly raised his right hand, and spoke in a clear and firm voice:

"I choose, blow chicken."

Longgen, Guilao En, and the others looked at each other and, almost without hesitation, raised their hands.

Chuanbao's expression changed, and after struggling for a few seconds, he finally sighed heavily, his arm feeling like it was filled with lead, and slowly and reluctantly raised it.

Under Uncle Deng's leadership, Wo Luen Shing elected a new leader for a territory consisting of only one nightclub.

---

When Chuan Bao relayed the results to Big D over the phone, he felt his face burning. Bragging? He'd be ashamed to admit he was the boss of the Lian Sheng Gang from now on!

On the other end of the phone, a low growl that sounded inhuman came from Big D, followed by a loud crash as things were smashed.

"Ye Tian was right! Even without spending any money, Chuiji will still get elected!" Big D's voice was manic and desperate, coming through the microphone, "Those old bastards... they never even considered making me the boss! Never! Ahhh!!"

Aunt Lei stood to the side, listening calmly to the despairing screams and shattering sounds coming from the phone, though a hint of seriousness lingered in her eyes. She waited until the commotion subsided before picking up her own phone and calmly dialing a number.

---

"Let's go! We can't stay here any longer, let's go to Causeway Bay!"

Big D was disheartened, or more accurately, terrified. He had completely given up on Wo Luen Shing, not only because he had no hope of becoming the leader, but also because he and Mrs. Lei realized that if they continued to stay in Wo Luen Shing, their lives would likely be in danger. The former was something Ye Tian had pointed out, and the latter was a conclusion Mrs. Lei had reached after careful analysis.

Big D was torn between disappointment and fear. Just a day ago, he was a powerful figure in Tsuen Wan, sought after by all sides; a day later, he was a "stray dog" seeking refuge, his future uncertain. This stark contrast left him feeling empty and panicked.

Lei's wife sat quietly beside him, looking at Da D's tense, almost expressionless profile from the side. After so many years of marriage, she could clearly sense the fear hidden beneath that face. In fact, not only Da D, but she herself felt a tightness in her chest. In this world, one always expects a day of danger, but when it truly comes to the possibility of being betrayed by one's own people, with one's life hanging by a thread, who wouldn't be afraid? This world, with its temptations, hasn't been enough for them yet.

They had to save themselves. Lei's mind raced, and the conclusion was clear and cruel: their only way out was through Hung Hing. Now, it all depended on Hung Hing's attitude. Otherwise, their days in Tsuen Wan might truly be numbered.

Tsuen Wan isn't too far from Causeway Bay; it's just a tunnel and a short drive away. Ye Tian didn't meet them at Hung Hing's branch, but waited at his own security company.

Upon seeing Big D, Ye Tian greeted him with a smile, mimicking his boss, Handsome Kun, by giving Big D a firm hug and patting him hard on the back.

Big D's emotions were slightly calmed by this enthusiastic gesture, but the dejection on his face was still obvious. "Tin, you were right." His voice was hoarse. "Chicken got elected. Without my support, that good-for-nothing actually got elected... Wo Shing, they really do choose the weak over the strong. I'm the strongest among the nine triads, so I'll never have a chance."

Ye Tian smiled, took out his cigar case, and handed one over. A hundred-dollar cigar is always the best opening line in social situations. "Big D, you should be happy," he said, cutting the cigar tip open.

Big D took the cigar blankly, without lighting it: "Happy?"

"I'm glad you jumped out of that fire pit so early." Ye Tian lit a cigar, took a puff, and slowly exhaled the smoke. "I heard that in Wo Shing Breasts, the one qualified to compete with you for the next term is Ah Lok from Jordan, right?"

Big D's face showed his usual contempt: "Ah Lok? He didn't even manage to take over Jordan's territory."

"That's right." Ye Tian nodded. "But to be honest, there's no one else besides him."

Big D chuckled wryly, "Yeah. If we both chose, those old guys would definitely pick him over me. They'd choose the weak over the strong."

Ye Tian chuckled, smoke escaping from the corner of his mouth: "Big D, you've already jumped ship from Wo Shing. Perfect, let's wait and see a good show."

Big D was taken aback: "A good show?"

"This is going to be a good show for Wo Luen Shing." Ye Tian flicked his cigarette ash. "Think about it, if you switch to Hung Hing, wouldn't Ah Lok become the most powerful of the nine branches of Wo Luen Shing? Given the character of those veterans, do you think they'll elect him next time?"

Big D frowned.

Lei's wife, who was standing next to her, pondered and said, "Ah Le seems kind on the surface, but inside... he's probably not that simple."

Ye Tian glanced approvingly at Lei Sao: "Sister-in-law, you're being too polite. What's so simple about it? He's just a hypocrite. Big D, you're straightforward, you put everything on the table. And Ah Le? He's a genuine Wo Luen Shing man."

Big D still didn't fully understand.

Lei's wife explained for him: "What Ah Tian means is that Ah Le's methods are the same as Uncle Deng's; they are cunning and calculating."

Ye Tian slapped his thigh: "That's right! Just think about it, an old fox and a young fox, the old one holding onto seniority and rules, the young one holding onto strength and ambition, what will happen when they hit it off? It'll definitely be a spectacular show."

Big D imagined the scene, and the anger he had been holding in suddenly dissipated somewhat, even replaced by a hint of schadenfreude: "It would be best if they fought like dogs, leaving a mess of fur!"

He paused, looked at Ye Tian, ​​and his tone became cautious, even carrying a hint of ingratiation that he himself didn't realize: "Tian, ​​my joining Hung Hing... hasn't changed, has it?"

He was genuinely scared. The Wo Shing Wo waters were too deep, filled with too many cunning old foxes; he couldn't outmaneuver them. Now, all he wanted was to get out of that den of intrigue as quickly as possible.

Ye Tian looked at him strangely: "Have you changed your mind about the terms we discussed before?"

Big D quickly shook his head: "No, no!"

"Any other questions?" Ye Tian laughed. "However, there are a few details to finalize regarding the transfer process. I've already called my boss, Brother Kun, and he's on his way."