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

Now, the little boss in my own gang not only helped the police arrest someone, but was also praised so highly on TV news. This feeling...

It was as if people who had always operated in the dark were suddenly thrust into the spotlight, and as "good helpers to the police," leaving them somewhat bewildered and looking at each other in confusion.

"What kind of trick is Brother Dong playing?" one of the henchmen asked, scratching his head in confusion.

"You're asking me? Who should I ask?" Another henchman shrugged. "Maybe Brother Dong has his own ideas."

The underlings here all know that Lin Yaodong is keen on doing good deeds. Although the mahjong parlor is a triad business, isn't it a bit too much to go in with a robber's gun on your head?

Just as everyone was discussing this, the door to the office in the back of the boxing gym opened.

Big Brother B, Lin Yaodong, Chen Haonan, Chicken, and other core members had obviously just finished a meeting to discuss strengthening security at the venue and how to handle the aftermath of the robbery, and then they came out together.

They immediately sensed the unusual atmosphere outside; everyone was staring at the television on the wall.

Boss B and the others also looked in that direction and saw a close-up of Lin Yaodong on the news screen, along with the anchor's words, "This unexpected cooperation between the police and gang members..."

Boss B: "…………"

Chan Ho-nam: "…………"

Chicken rubbed his eyes dramatically and leaned closer to the TV: "Wow! Brother Tung, when did you get along so well with the police? You're even on TV receiving praise?"

Big Boss B's expression was somewhat complicated.

He knew, of course, that Lin Yaodong had done a great service yesterday, saving the place and reducing the gang's losses, and he appreciated it.

However... when it's reported on television in this way, the whole thing takes on a completely different meaning.

When gangsters appear on television, they're usually either criminal suspects in social news or businessmen in the financial section. It's unprecedented for someone to be praised by the police as a "heroic citizen."

He turned to look at Lin Yaodong beside him, his eyes filled with questioning and a hint of scrutiny.

Ah Dong, are you a gangster or an undercover cop?

Every time news of Lin Yaodong doing good deeds reached Boss B, this thought would unconsciously pop into his head.

But he was certain that Lin Yaodong was a gangster, only his gangster status was a little different from other gangsters.

Once this news is reported, what will the gangsters think of you?

Wouldn't you think I'm two-timing you?

Chen Haonan also looked at Lin Yaodong, his gaze filled with curiosity and inquiry.

He felt that Lin Yaodong always did things in unexpected ways, making it difficult for people to understand his true intentions.

At this moment, Lin Yaodong, who was in the spotlight, looked at his image on the TV screen and the exaggerated praise. A genuine surprise and astonishment flashed in his eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses.

He did indeed give a red envelope to the director of TVB and pull some strings, but that was only to insert a short promotional video about the movie "Wolf Warrior" into the morning news, hoping to use the TV station's channels to increase the movie's popularity.

He had expected that what happened at the mahjong parlor yesterday would be filmed, but he didn't expect the news department to report it so extensively and portray him as a "heroic citizen."

Yesterday was an emergency, and he only wanted to resolve the trouble as quickly as possible to avoid greater losses, so he didn't pay attention to whether there were reporters or bystanders recording the incident.

This sudden exposure was completely outside his plan.

Is it a blessing or a curse?

Lin Yaodong's brain started working at lightning speed.

This will undoubtedly greatly enhance his personal and film fame, but at the same time, it will push him, a former member of the Hung Hing triad, into a very delicate and even dangerous position.

What will the club members think?

What will other clubs think?

What will the police's attitude be?

He frowned slightly, but quickly relaxed, his face regaining its usual calm, and even the corners of his mouth curving into a faint smile.

Now that things have come to this, panicking won't help.

Perhaps this unexpected "publicity" will bring some unexpected opportunities.

……

In a quiet villa near Red Hill Park in the Southern District of Hong Kong Island.

Chiang Tin-sang, the leader of the Hung Hing Society, was enjoying a breakfast carefully prepared by a nutritionist at a restaurant with his celebrity girlfriend, Fong Ting.

Jiang Tiansheng has long passed the age of fighting and struggling, and has begun to focus on health preservation.

He was dressed in a comfortable silk morning coat and slowly sipped the bird's nest porridge in his bowl.

Fang Ting, who was standing next to her, was young and beautiful, wearing a silk nightgown and eating fruit salad.

The television was showing TVB's morning news.

When the news broadcast the segment about Lin Yaodong, Jiang Tiansheng didn't pay much attention at first, until he heard the words "gang member" and then he looked up.

Then he heard the anchor praising the "gang member" in a passionate tone, describing how he had "bravely attacked" and "assisted the police"...

"Cough cough! Pfft—"

Jiang Tiansheng couldn't hold it in and spat out a mouthful of porridge, choking and coughing repeatedly.

Fang Ting quickly put down her fork and gently patted his back.

"Honey, are you alright?" Fang Ting asked with concern, then looked at the TV, her eyes lighting up.

"Hey? That handsome guy on TV... isn't that the one who came to your house yesterday morning? His name is... Lin Yaodong?"

Jiang Tiansheng caught his breath, wiped his mouth with a tissue, and looked at Fang Ting with some surprise: "You remember him?"

Fang Ting made no attempt to hide it; her beautiful eyes remained fixed on the close-up of Lin Yaodong on the screen, filled with admiration and curiosity.

"Of course I remember! When he came yesterday, even though he was filthy and his suit had blood on it, he didn't look sloppy at all. Instead, he had a... um... special vibe... And he was really handsome!"

As she spoke, a girlish infatuation appeared on her face.

Looking at Fang Ting's undisguised expression, Jiang Tiansheng felt a strange mix of emotions. He smiled and said, "What are you fussing about..."

He knew his own body well; over the years, he had gradually lost his strength, and Fang Ting was at the age where she was in her prime. Although things seemed harmonious on the surface, Jiang Tiansheng was not entirely without resentment.

Seeing Fang Ting showing interest in the young and handsome Lin Yaodong, it's hard not to have some other thoughts.

However, he quickly suppressed his wild imagination and returned his attention to the news itself.

A gangster made it onto TVB news and was praised as a heroic citizen?

This sounds absurd, but Jiang Tiansheng has been in the underworld for decades and his sense of smell is far more acute than that of ordinary people.

He immediately recalled that Lin Yaodong had come to see him yesterday, and besides reporting on the mahjong parlor, he had also mentioned promoting the upcoming release of his movie.

Jiang Tiansheng had weighed the options at the time.

Now, TVB News has actually packaged a robbery at a triad venue, involving a gangster, into positive news, and even promoted the movie in the process?

Jiang Tiansheng leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, his eyes becoming deep.

This is by no means a coincidence.

Lin Yaodong must have pulled some strings behind the scenes.

This kid is not only skilled, but also quick-witted and knows how to use the media. Moreover, he uses such clever methods to turn a negative event into positive publicity for himself and the movie without leaving a trace.

"Using their strength against them... turning danger into safety... even taking advantage of their momentum..." Jiang Tiansheng muttered to himself.

A thought popped into his head again: clear his name!

He had long been planning to transform some of Hung Hing's businesses and launder their money.

Chiang Tin-sang knew that relying on violence, collecting protection money, and running brothels would never allow Hung Hing to gain mainstream status; it was extremely risky and offered no future.

Moreover, the money received is not considered legitimate income.

It can only be used by myself; no one wants it if I want to make legitimate investments.

Especially with the impending "1997," the future of this shady and gray way of life is even more uncertain.

He wanted to do business honestly, be a tycoon, and be a celebrity, so that he could pass on his business securely.

However, over the years, the path to whitewashing has remained unclear and has faced significant resistance.

The triad members are used to making quick money and seeing cash directly, and they have neither the knowledge nor the patience for legitimate business; externally, with the background of Hung Hing, it is even more difficult for them to integrate into the mainstream business community.

Now, Lin Yaodong's actions seem to have opened a new window for him.

How to leverage the power of the media to create a positive image?

To package certain actions of the community into a "heroic narrative" that is acceptable or even admirable to the public.

Even more so, by investing in softer methods like film and cultural industries, they could change the way they make money and gradually alter the public's stereotypical image of Hung Hing.

Jiang Tiansheng's mind began to race.

This Lin Yaodong may seem like just a traitor, but the intelligence, skill, and vision he displays are far from ordinary.

Shouldn't we give him a bigger stage?

Let him try to manage some of the businesses that Hung Hing is trying to launder or is preparing to launder.

As he thought about the inheritance, his gaze involuntarily fell on Fang Ting's flat stomach.

For so many years, Fang Ting's belly has shown no signs of pregnancy.

Jiang Tiansheng knew in his heart that the problem lay with himself.

He indulged in excessive sexual activity when he was young, which depleted his body, making it difficult for him to have offspring now.

Although he had recently made some secret inquiries and learned that there seemed to be some kind of "artificial insemination" technology abroad, which might be a glimmer of hope, that was a matter for another time.

Right now, Hung Hing's future might find a breakthrough by focusing on this seemingly insignificant Lin Yaodong.

Jiang Tiansheng picked up his teacup, took a sip, and made up his mind: He needed to keep a close eye on Lin Yaodong, to observe him closely. He needed to see if Lin was genuine or just a gilded shell…

The television news continued, but for Jiang Tiansheng, what followed was no longer important.

What he saw was a new possibility that could change the fate of Hung Hing, quietly emerging in the ripples of radio waves.

At the eye of all this storm, Lin Yaodong stood in the boxing gym, facing the complex and unspoken gazes of the crowd, and pushed up the pair of gold-rimmed glasses on his face, only one of which was intact.

No one could see clearly what flickered behind his glasses—whether it was helplessness, vigilance, or… a hint of eager ambition.

The live broadcast had long ended, but the ripples caused by those few minutes of news were only just beginning to spread.