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

About twenty minutes later, Jiang Tiansheng came out wearing a comfortable linen casual outfit. His hair was still slightly damp, and he looked much more refreshed.

"Come on, let's go to the study," he called out.

The two went to the study located on the other side of the villa.

The style here differs from the luxurious and modern style of the rest of the villa; it is more calm and elegant, with a touch of old-fashioned charm.

The dark solid wood bookcase occupies two entire walls, densely packed with all kinds of books, from finely bound ancient books to modern management and finance works. The variety is extensive, and many of the spines are still in good condition, indicating that the owner does not read them often, but rather they serve as decoration or a way to showcase taste.

In the center of the room was a large mahogany desk, on which were placed the Four Treasures of the Study (writing brush, ink stick, inkstone, and paper) and an old-fashioned rotary dial telephone.

On the other side is a small reception area, also furnished with mahogany sofas and coffee tables. A set of purple clay teaware is already prepared on the coffee table, with water gently boiling in the kettle and a faint aroma of tea wafting through the air.

Jiang Tiansheng gestured for Lin Yaodong to sit on the sofa, then went behind the desk, opened a cedar humidor, took out two large Cohiba cigars, skillfully cut off the caps, heated them with long sulfur-free matches, and then handed one to Lin Yaodong.

"Try it, a friend brought it back from Cuba, it's good."

Lin Yaodong took it, thanked him, lit it like Jiang Tiansheng, took a puff, and slowly exhaled the strong, mellow smoke that swirled in his mouth.

The ritual associated with cigars often signifies a formal and in-depth conversation.

Jiang Tiansheng leaned back on the sofa, legs crossed, and leisurely exhaled a smoke ring. His gaze, passing through the wisps of smoke, fell upon Lin Yaodong, and he spoke as if casually:

"Ah Dong, the gunfight at Tsuen Wan Harbour View Plaza has caused a huge uproar. I saw on the news that more than twenty people died. It's all over the underworld right now, and everyone's saying... it's related to you?"

They arrived as expected.

Lin Yaodong was already prepared.

His expression remained unchanged, even carrying a hint of helpless smile, as he lightly flicked off the ash from his cigar: "Mr. Jiang, nine out of ten rumors circulating in the underworld are false, and the tenth is an exaggeration or distortion. How can you believe that?"

He took a puff of his cigar and said slowly, "I still have no idea what the gunfight was like. I only found out from the newspapers that so many people died."

However, the gunfight didn't take place far from my territory in Mong Kok. That bastard Wang Kun was lucky; he survived two shots and, in his panic, fled to a shady clinic I knew well in my area...

He paused for a moment, then looked at Jiang Tiansheng: "Jiang Sheng, you know what kind of person I, Lin Yaodong, am. I'm a good person."

He's always been considerate of his neighbors and all sorts of people, and has some connections. So the doctor at that clinic secretly notified me immediately, saying that a gunshot wounded fugitive had come to him for help.

"Shot! This is a serious matter!"

Lin Yaodong's expression turned "serious". "An armed bandit appeared on my turf and was seriously injured. What if he dies here or attracts the wrath of his enemies? Wouldn't that bring danger to the neighborhood?"

I definitely need to personally investigate and find out what happened.

Jiang Tiansheng listened, his lips twitching slightly, but he didn't say anything, only gesturing for him to continue.

Lin Yaodong shrugged, looking completely at ease: "Upon asking this question, Wang Kun himself mumbled some nonsense, something about 'Black Chai,' 'goods,' and 'the Ni family'... When I heard that, I thought, 'This is outrageous!'"

Drugs! Although I, Lin Yaodong, am a man of the underworld, what I hate most are these harmful things!

Drugs are absolutely forbidden in my establishment. That's an ironclad rule I set, Mr. Chiang, you know that.

"When something like this happens, of course you should call the police and let them handle it! We law-abiding citizens have a duty to cooperate with the police in fighting crime."

Jiang Tiansheng silently smoked his cigar, his eyes behind the smoke displaying a complex expression.

He probably knew Lin Yaodong would deny it.

In his heart, Jiang Tiansheng also tended to believe that this matter was related to Lin Yaodong.

But to my surprise, the other party denied it so "confidently," even making "calling the police" sound as natural as eating and drinking.

This left him momentarily speechless.

Did the gangsters call the police to arrest drug dealers?

Still a good citizen?

Is the script upside down?

You're the kind of guy who's been around to get by...

Lin Yaodong, seemingly oblivious to Jiang Tiansheng's speechless expression, continued, "So I had my men keep an eye on him, and then notified the police..."

I didn't get involved in what happened after that. How the police interrogated him and how they traced him back to Gandhi was their business.

I reckon the police already had evidence of these guys' crimes and were just waiting for the right opportunity to make their move. This gunfight might have disrupted their plans... but the police are really efficient, they acted so quickly..."

He even lamented, "It's a pity that the drugs and most of the suspects at the scene are gone. Otherwise, these drug dealers would definitely have been rounded up and brought to trial! These social scourges should all be shot!"

Jiang Tiansheng paused, his fingers holding the cigar. Looking at Lin Yaodong's face, which was full of "righteous indignation," he felt a tightness in his chest.

In front of a Hung Hing leader, he so openly praised the police, denounced drug dealers, and even called for "target practice"... The scene was so bizarre that it gave him a strong sense of unreality.

What about the rules of the underworld?

Even if it's just for show?

Lin Yaodong, are you not planning to do it at all?

He took a deep breath, suppressing the strange feeling in his heart, and steered the conversation toward a more practical issue: "Ah Dong, your calling the police to arrest Wang Kun is a 'good citizen' act, so I... I can't say much more."

But you should know that Wang Kun is Hei Chai's right-hand man, and Hei Chai has always had close ties with Gandhi of the Ni family. Now that Wang Kun is in the hands of the police, he has implicated Gandhi, and the police are already keeping an eye on Gandhi and preparing to cause him trouble.

He stared at Lin Yaodong: "Last night, Ni Yongxiao, the person in charge of the Ni family, personally called me."

Although the words were spoken politely, the meaning was clear: that we Hung Hing people don't know the rules, and that matters between gangsters should be resolved within the gangster community.

Call the police... Ha, his subsequent "What the hell is going on?" wasn't explicitly stated, but everyone understood.

Jiang Tiansheng leaned forward slightly: "Ah Dong, the Ni family is very dissatisfied right now. Although we Hung Hing and the Ni family don't have much of a relationship, we don't have any major grudges either."

We're all in the same boat, trying to make a living. Sometimes we should keep to ourselves, and other times we need to give each other face. Now, because of this incident, everyone's in an awkward position.

After listening, Lin Yaodong placed his cigar beside the crystal ashtray, leaned back on the sofa, and remained expressionless.

"Mr. Jiang, it's their predicament that's embarrassing them. What does it have to do with me, Lin Yaodong? I didn't force Gandhi to deal drugs, nor did I let Wang Kun come to my territory. They have dirty hands and the police are watching them, so they deserve it."

His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable firmness: "If the Ni family is unhappy, then let them be unhappy."

"What? They dare to gather their men and show off to Hung Hing over this?"

"Even if they dare..." Lin Yaodong suddenly smiled, a hint of coldness in his smile.

"So what if I'm showing off my horse? Although I'm personally a law-abiding citizen and don't advocate or participate in illegal activities like large-scale armed clashes, well..."

He looked at Jiang Tiansheng, his eyes sharpening: "If the Ni family really wants to go to war with Hung Hing because of this, wouldn't that give us a perfect excuse?"

"Due to the gunfight and subsequent sweeps, a power vacuum has emerged in Tsuen Wan..."