Courtyard House: First, kill the hypocrites, leave none alive.

Kowloon, Yau Ma Tei.

An old-fashioned teahouse is hidden in a small alley deep in Temple Street.

The storefront is small and the signboard is old, but regular customers all know that this is a place where the elderly people of Hexingsheng gather.

Third floor, private room.

The window was slightly ajar, letting in the cool evening breeze and the faint sounds of street noise in the distance.

A chandelier was lit in the room, casting a dim yellow light on the round mahogany table.

Several plates of dim sum were on the table—shrimp dumplings, siu mai, and char siu buns—all cold and untouched.

The three cups of tea had gone cold.

The three people sat around the table.

Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Uncle Wen.

Snake King Can.

Tyrannosaurus Rex sat by the window, a cigarette between his fingers, but he didn't light it.

He was a big, burly man with a face full of menacing features; he looked like a formidable fighter.

But his eyes were very lively, darting around, unlike his rugged appearance.

Uncle Wen sat opposite him, thin and withered, wearing an old-fashioned long gown, holding a cup of cold tea in his hand, slowly sipping it.

He was an elder of Hexingsheng; he was already a founding member when Grandpa He was still alive.

He hasn't been involved in much business these past few years, but no one dares to underestimate him.

Snake King Can sat at the head of the table, half-reclining in his chair, his eyes half-closed, like a snake basking in the sun.

He was thin and wiry, with little flesh on his face, high cheekbones, and narrow eyes that always made people feel uncomfortable when he looked at them.

The room was quiet for a few seconds.

Tyrannosaurus Rex spoke first.

"This Ah Quan,"

He said in a low voice, with suppressed anger, "This is outrageous."

Uncle Wen raised his eyelids and glanced at him.

He didn't say anything.

Tyrannosaurus continued, "Master Crane is dead. He's taken over most of the business. Human trafficking, gambling dens, nightclubs, docks—he controls it all. What have we old folks gotten? A few run-down streets, a few stalls on the verge of bankruptcy. What's he planning? To monopolize everything?"

He lit his cigarette and took a deep drag.

"We're all brothers, why should we be treated differently?"

Uncle Wen put down his teacup.

He spoke slowly, with a hoarse voice typical of the elderly.

"Tyrannosaurus Rex, you're right."

The Tyrannosaurus Rex looked at him.

Uncle Wen continued, "When Master He was around, we discussed everything together. If we made money, we shared it. If something went wrong, we all took responsibility together. That was the rule at Hexingsheng."

He paused.

"Ah Quan is breaking the rules by acting like this."

The Tyrannosaurus Rex nodded.

That's exactly what I mean.

He looked at Snake King Can.

"Snake King Can, what do you say?"

Snake King Can opened his eyes.

Those slender eyes gleamed in the dim light.

"I?"

He spoke slowly, his voice as slow as a snake crawling.

What else can I say?

The Tyrannosaurus Rex stared at him.

"You're in the 'snake' business. You and Master He used to manage the human-snake trade together. Now? Ah Quan has taken control of all the lines. Do you have anything to do with it?"

Snake King Can remained silent.

Tyrannosaurus Rex continued, "Just from catching human smugglers, they can make millions a year. Millions! It all goes into A-Quan's pocket. Are you willing to accept that?"

Snake King Can narrowed his eyes.

Just for a moment.

Then he laughed.

The smile was brief, like a snake flicking its tongue.

"Tyrannosaurus Rex,"

He said, "What are you trying to achieve by saying all this?"

The Tyrannosaurus Rex looked at him.

"What do I want to do?"

He paused.

"I want everyone to work together and teach Ah Quan a lesson."

Uncle Wen's eyebrows twitched.

Snake King Can did not move.

The room was quiet for a few more seconds.

Uncle Wen spoke.

"Tyrannosaurus Rex, what do you want to do?"

Tyrannosaurus looked at him, then at Snake King Can.

"You've all met Ruan Biao, right?"

Uncle Wen didn't say anything.

Snake King Can didn't say anything either.

Tyrannosaurus continued, "He's from Borneo, he has goods, guns, and money. He wants to find a new partner in Kowloon. He's quitting his job with Uncle Quan. Why? Because Uncle Quan lost his goods and cheated him."

He paused.

"The people Ruan Biao is looking for now are me and you guys. He wants the few of us to take over his business together."

Uncle Wen's eyes lit up.

Just for a moment.

Then he regained his composure.

"Ruan Biao,"

He said slowly, "I've heard of this man. His brother, Nguyen Hung, has over two thousand men in Borneo. He wants weapons, not heroin."

The Tyrannosaurus Rex nodded.

"Yes. He wants weapons. We can't get weapons. But Uncle Quan can. Uncle Quan has docks, connections, and warehouses. As long as we can get a share of Uncle Quan's business, we can trade with Ruan Biao for goods."

Uncle Wen looked at him.

"you mean……"

Tyrannosaurus Rex lowered his voice.

"What I mean is, let's team up and force Ah Quan to split the business. The human trafficking business will go back to Snake King Can. I want half of the dock business. Uncle Wen, you decide how to divide the gambling dens and nightclubs."

He paused.

"If he refuses—"

He didn't finish speaking.

But everyone understands what that means.

Uncle Wen remained silent for a long time.

He picked up the glass of iced tea and took a sip.

The tea has cooled down; it's astringent and bitter.

He swallowed it slowly.

"Tyrannosaurus Rex,"

He asked, "Are you sure?"

The Tyrannosaurus Rex looked at him.

"Uncle Wen, do you believe me?"

Uncle Wen didn't say anything.

He looked at Snake King Can.

Snake King Can remained as lazy as ever, half-lying in his chair with his eyes half-closed.

"Snake King Can,"

Uncle Wen asked, "What do you think?"

Snake King Can opened his eyes.

He glanced at Uncle Wen, then at Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Then he spoke.

"This is what I, Snake King Can, originally did."

He said slowly, "I've been in this human trafficking business with Master He for over ten years. What right does Ah Quan have to take it?"

He paused.

"If he's willing to return it, we're still brothers. If he's not—"

He didn't finish speaking.

But that meaning is the same as that of a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Uncle Wen nodded.

He stood up.

I walked to the window and looked at the gray sky outside.

It's getting late, and it's getting dark.

The neon lights in Yau Ma Tei in the distance have already begun to flash.

He recalled many years ago, when Grandpa He was still alive.

At that time, He Xingsheng and Duo were very united.

If there's anything, let's discuss it together.

If we make money, we'll share it together.

now--

He turned around.

Looking at Tyrannosaurus Rex and Snake King Can.

"Okay," he said. "I'll join."

The Tyrannosaurus Rex's eyes lit up.

A smile appeared on Snake King Can's lips.

Uncle Wen walked back to the table and sat down again.

He looked at the Tyrannosaurus Rex.

"Tyrannosaurus Rex, tell me, what's our first step?"

Tyrannosaurus Rex thought for a moment.

"Don't rush to turn against us."

He said, "Let's go and sound out Ah Quan first. Tell him that business hasn't been good lately and we want to talk to him about whether we can get a bigger share."

Uncle Wen nodded.

That makes sense.

Snake King Can also said, "Let's try diplomacy first, then force. If he knows what's good for him, we can still be brothers. If he doesn't—"

He didn't finish speaking.

But Uncle Wen and Tyrannosaurus both understood.

If you don't know what's good for you, then don't blame them for being impolite.

"What about Ruan Biao?"

Uncle Wen asked, "How should we answer?"

Tyrannosaurus said, "Let's stall for now. We'll decide after we finish talking to A-Quan."

Uncle Wen nodded.

"OK."

The three people stood up.

Tyrannosaurus Rex stubbed out his cigarette.

Uncle Wen straightened his long gown.

Snake King Can slowly got up, like a snake waking up from hibernation.

They glanced at each other.

He didn't say anything more.

Push open the door and go outside.

They disappeared into the night.

-

The private room fell silent again.

The plates of pastries on the table were still there, completely cold.

The three cups of tea had gone completely cold.

The neon lights outside the window grew brighter and brighter.

The night in this city is just beginning.

And some people are plotting a major storm.

-

Yau Ma Tei, Golden Princess Ballroom.

Third-floor office.

Uncle Quan sat behind his desk, holding a phone in his hand.

On the other end of the phone was A-Qiang's voice.

"Uncle Quan, Tyrannosaurus and the others are having a get-together tonight."

Uncle Quan narrowed his eyes.

"Where?"

"That old teahouse on Temple Street. A private room on the third floor. Tyrannosaurus Rex, Uncle Wen, and Snake King Can, the three of them."

Uncle Quan remained silent for a few seconds.

"What are you talking about?"

"I don't know yet."

Ah Qiang said, "Their people guarded the gate very tightly, and our people couldn't get in."

Uncle Quan didn't say anything.

Ah Qiang waited a few seconds.

"Uncle Quan, should I investigate further?"

Uncle Quan shook his head—even though A-Qiang couldn't see it.

"No."

He said, "I know what they're talking about."

He paused.

"Come back."

He hung up the phone.

Leaning back in my chair, I stared at the ceiling.

Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Uncle Wen.

Snake King Can.

Three old guys.

They finally couldn't hold back any longer.

He knew this day would come.

He knew it from the day he took that position.

Those people called him "Uncle Quan" on the surface, but secretly they wished he were dead.

Now, they have united.

And Ruan Biao.

That snake from Borneo.

Uncle Quan reached out and picked up a cigar.

ignite.

I took a sip.

Slowly expel it.

Smoke rises under the light.

He thought of Master He.

These people were so well-behaved when Grandpa Crane was alive.

Now that Master He is dead, they want to turn the world upside down.

Uncle Quan gave a cold laugh.

A complete upheaval?

It's not that easy.

He stubbed out his cigar.

Stand up and walk to the window.

Looking out the window at the flashing neon lights.

Tyrannosaurus Rex, Uncle Wen, Snake King Can—

If you want to play, I'll play with you.

Let's see who can play until the end.