Hong Kong variety show: Hung Hing, are you contributing to society?

Inside the restaurant, glasses clinked and voices rang out.

The lingering excitement of the performative sparring match between Stephen Chow and Crow's henchman still lingered, adding a touch of江湖 (jianghu, the world of martial arts and chivalry) atmosphere to the banquet hosted by Lam Yiu-tung, the leader of the Hung Hing Mong Kok branch.

On the newly added tables, steaming dishes were served one after another, their aroma mingling with the scent of wine, filling the noisy air.

The crow was clearly quite satisfied with the unexpected friendship that had blossomed from the fight and with the strength that Lin Yaodong had displayed. The arrogance on his face had lessened considerably, replaced by the warmth of someone who had met a kindred spirit.

He picked up a full glass of baijiu, leaned towards Lin Yaodong in the main seat, and spoke in a loud voice:

"Brother Dong! It's a deal, okay? If you ever find a way to make money in the future, don't forget me, Dongxing Crow~~" He deliberately dragged out the last syllable, with a touch of half-serious intimacy typical of people in the underworld.

Lin Yaodong smiled and calmly picked up the wine glass in front of him.

His smile was gentle, but his eyes were deep, making it impossible to discern his true thoughts.

"Brother Crow, you're too kind. Here, let me toast you."

"Come on, Brother Dong, let me toast you!" Crow emphasized again, deliberately lowering his glass so that it lightly touched the rim of Lin Yaodong's glass, making a crisp sound.

"Definitely." Lin Yaodong's answer was brief and forceful. The two words were both a response to the toast and a vague promise about the way to make money.

The two tilted their heads back and drank the spicy liquid in their glasses in one gulp.

The wine glasses were placed on the table, and the atmosphere seemed to become more harmonious.

However, this newly warmed atmosphere was broken by the sound of the restaurant door opening again.

The heavy wooden door was pushed open, and light streamed in from outside, illuminating four figures.

The leader was in his thirties, wearing a perfectly tailored dark bespoke suit, made of exquisite fabric with meticulous attention to detail.

A pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, his eyes behind the lenses calm and sharp. He exuded a composed, scholarly air that seemed out of place in this noisy restaurant, yet he was by no means weak; rather, it was the demeanor of a successful person who deeply concealed his shrewdness and composure.

His pace was neither hurried nor slow, yet he possessed an invisible aura.

Half a step behind him was a young man in a casual suit, with a sharp look and dark skin.

Further behind were two burly, expressionless men wearing tight black shirts. Their eyes, sharp as hawks, scanned the entire area, their muscles subtly bulging beneath the fabric—undoubtedly professional bodyguards.

The group of four attracted a lot of attention as soon as they appeared.

Lin Yaodong put down his chopsticks, turned his gaze to the doorway, and his expression shifted slightly.

The bespectacled man at the head of the group, and the sharp-looking young man behind him, looked somewhat familiar, vaguely resembling some classic characters played by actors Francis Ng and Louis Koo. However, the genuine江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) aura emanating from these two was something that actors could not completely imitate.

"stop!"

Before the four could get close, several of Lin Yaodong's henchmen quickly stepped forward and blocked their path, their tone wary: "Who are you? Brother Dong has booked this place."

The bespectacled man did not answer directly, nor did he even look at the henchman blocking his way.

Instead, he slightly turned his head, his gaze passing over everyone else and landing directly on Lin Yaodong's face at the main table. A half-smile curled at the corner of his lips, and his voice, though calm, carried a subtle, almost imperceptible pressure: "Are all the Hung Hing people so 'rule-abiding' these days?"

"You're the rude one, showing up uninvited..." Lin Yaodong thought to himself, but remained outwardly calm.

He raised his hand and waved it lightly, signaling his underlings to step back.

The underlings immediately obeyed and made way.

At this moment, the crows nearby reacted quite strongly.

He seemed to recognize the newcomer, a hint of surprise and unease flashing across his face. He quickly buttoned up the collar of his shirt, which had been open, and didn't forget to roughly brush aside the signature yellow-dyed side bangs on his forehead, trying to make himself look more serious and respectable.

This contrasted sharply with his earlier carefree demeanor.

Lin Yaodong took in the crow's reaction and already had a guess in his mind, but he pretended not to know and asked in a low voice, "You know him?"

Upon hearing this, Crow looked at Lin Yaodong with even greater surprise, as if he had asked a very basic question: "Of course! Ni Yongxiao from the Ni family, you don't know him?"

His tone was incredulous, as if he was wondering how Lin Yaodong, as the head of Hung Hing in Mong Kok, could not even recognize this famous industry giant.

It really was him… Lin Yaodong thought to himself.

In fact, he had already guessed most of it from the other person's familiar appearance.

The Ni family is a powerful family-run triad in Hong Kong, with deep roots and a complex web of businesses, especially known for its control of a network of drug addicts.

This Ni Yongxiao is the current head of the Ni family.

At this moment, Ni Yongxiao had already walked slowly to Lin Yaodong, his demeanor composed.

Lin Yaodong also stood up from his seat to show equality. The two were of similar height, and their eyes met in the air. One was gentle and refined, but with a sharp edge hidden beneath; the other was calm and composed, but with profound depth.

"Mr. Ni, I've heard so much about you." Lin Yaodong spoke first, his tone neither humble nor arrogant, while extending his right hand.

Ni Yongxiao's smile deepened as he reached out and shook hands with Lin Yaodong.

His hands were dry and strong, and he held on for just the right amount of time.

"Does Mr. Lin know me?" he asked casually, but his gaze was carefully scrutinizing Lin Yaodong.

He came here specifically to make friends with the newly risen leader of Hung Hing, a stock market guru who has recently been making waves in the market.

Lin Yaodong smiled slightly: "The Ni family has a good reputation, so I've naturally heard of them."

He neither admitted to being familiar with the subject nor expressed unfamiliarity with it.

"Hehe~"

"Hehe~"

The two exchanged a smile, each harboring their own thoughts behind the smile; their polite demeanor masked the tentative nature of their first encounter.

At this moment, the capable young man behind Ni Yongxiao stepped forward and extended his hand to Lin Yaodong, his attitude humble yet dignified: "Mr. Lin, hello, I am Jimmy."

Lin Yaodong shook hands with him, his smile unchanged: "Oh—Jimmy from Wo Shing, young and promising, I've heard so much about you."

He understood perfectly; his guess was correct.

I recently instructed my subordinates to investigate the drug powder issue, and many clues have pointed to the Ni family and Wo Luen Shing.

Wo Luen Shing is a major gang on Hong Kong Island, known for its relatively traditional way of doing things. Jimmy is a rising star in Wo Luen Shing in recent years, known for his quick thinking and business acumen.

Ni Yongxiao appeared with Jimmy, a combination that is quite intriguing.

For a moment, the people around the table wore social smiles and exchanged pleasantries. The atmosphere seemed harmonious, but it was tinged with a faint sense of alienation and insincerity.

Ni Yongxiao casually glanced at the more than one hundred people in the restaurant who looked like workers but were actually Hung Hing members, and nodded as if confirming some information.

He is also looking for an opportunity to launder the family business.

Ni Yongxiao said no more, took out an exquisite business card holder from the inside pocket of his suit, pulled out a simple but high-quality business card, and handed it to Lin Yaodong with both hands: "Mr. Lin, this is my contact information."

Jimmy, standing next to him, immediately followed suit, handing over his business card with the same respectful attitude: "Mr. Lin, please give me your guidance."