Hong Kong films: From street thugs to Hong Kong financial tycoons

In the late 1980s, in a rather unremarkable, ordinary public university in Guangdong Province.

In the sweltering heat of summer, cicadas were screeching desperately in the trees, and the boys' dormitory of the School of Civil Engineering was filled with a desperate atmosphere of instant noodles, sweat, and cheap cigarettes.

Inside dormitory 404.

Li Qiang, a senior student, had a head of messy hair like a bird's nest and bloodshot eyes. He stared intently at the bulky old-fashioned CRT computer in front of him. On the screen were densely packed drawings with intersecting lines.

"Holy crap... how the structural calculations for this load-bearing wall are even done? If I don't revise, improve, and optimize this graduation project soon, that balding old professor is definitely going to make me graduate with extra time!"

Li Qiang irritably pulled out a small tuft of hair and howled in pain, while his roommates next to him all looked like lifeless, dejected dogs.

For ordinary public university students like them, without the halo of a prestigious university, if they can't even produce a decent graduation project, the prospect of unemployment upon graduation is definitely not an empty phrase.

Just when this group of geniuses were so worried about a few blueprints that they were about to jump off a building.

"Bang!"

The dormitory door was kicked open, startling Li Qiang and the others. Just as they were about to get angry, they turned around and were all stunned.

Their usually aloof and stern dean was now bowing and leading the way like an old eunuch, his face full of obsequiousness.

Behind the dean walked in a portly man wearing a flashy pink suit, a large gold watch, and a cigar in his mouth.

Behind the fat man were two bodyguards dressed in black, who looked like black iron towers, each carrying an extremely conspicuous silver briefcase.

This fat man was none other than Wang Sanri, who had been ordered by Lin Yao to fly to the mainland overnight to spend money.

"Director Wang, look, these are the best senior students in our college. Although we're just an ordinary second-tier university, these kids are hardworking and their drafting fundamentals are absolutely solid!"

The dean rubbed his hands together, his face crinkling with laughter.

Fatty Wang exhaled a puff of cigar smoke ring, swaggered over to Li Qiang's computer, and glanced at the complex lines on the screen.

"It is indeed drawn in great detail, but the scope is too small."

Fatty Wang casually pulled over a chair, sat down, and tapped on the table.

"Stop what you're doing and look up at me."

The boys in the dormitory looked at each other, completely confused.

"Snapped!"

Wang Pangzi snapped his fingers, and the two thugs in suits behind him stepped forward and slammed the silver briefcase they were carrying onto Li Qiang's rickety desk.

With a click, the briefcase popped open, revealing a dazzling array of bright green Hong Kong dollars, instantly blinding everyone in dormitory 404.

"hiss--!"

Li Qiang gasped, nearly crushing the mouse in his hand. He'd never seen so much real gold and silver in his life. Was this some kind of police drama?

"My name is Wang Sanri, the chief director of Hong Kong Yaosheng Film Company. I am here today on behalf of our boss to present you with a great opportunity."

Fatty Wang crossed his legs, displaying the nouveau riche attitude of throwing money around—a style that was practically a direct inheritance from Lin Yao.

"Stop with your messy, theoretical architectural drawings. I'll give you a real, practical project."

Fatty Wang threw a stack of sketches on the table.

"A 1:1 scale replica of the original, covering tens of thousands of square meters, the Maoshan Celestial Master's Mansion, a building steeped in Eastern mythology!"

"The main hall will enshrine the magnificent statues of the Three Pure Ones, and the underground will suppress the eighteen levels of hell. I want you to modify, improve, and optimize this sketch."

"I don't care how many all-nighters you work or how many hairs you lose, I want to see a complete set of blueprints within a month, blueprints that can be directly handed over to the construction team to lay the foundation."

Fatty Wang stood up, waved his hand, and instantly exuded the oppressive aura of a top Hong Kong film crew director: "This box contains one million Hong Kong dollars in cash, which is your start-up deposit."

"Whichever team can draw the most perfect blueprints, that set of blueprints will be the most awesome graduation project of your life. Not only that, our boss will also give you an extra super bonus of ten million Hong Kong dollars."

Ten million Hong Kong dollars!!!

These five words were like five atomic bombs, detonating directly in the dormitory building. Li Qiang and his roommates felt as if their skulls were about to be blown off, and their brains went into a state of shutdown for ten seconds.

A graduation project costing ten million Hong Kong dollars?

Why even bother looking for a job? If they can just finish these blueprints, they can retire on the spot and avoid taking forty years of detours!

"We've got it, Director Wang, we'll take the job!"

Li Qiang's eyes instantly turned bloodshot. He clutched the box of cash like a rabid wolf and roared at his roommates.

"Brothers, it's worth dying in front of the computer. Weld the dorm doors shut, go to the convenience store and bring back ten boxes of instant noodles. Starting today, if anyone dares to sleep, I'll smash their head with a keyboard."

Looking at the group of college students from second-tier universities who had instantly gone into a frenzy, Fatty Wang smiled with satisfaction.

The boss is right. For these ambitious young people, give them a platform and invest a huge sum of money that can change their destiny. The creativity they unleash will absolutely crush those foreign old scholars.

"With the blueprints sorted out, now we just need to wait for Master Lin to find suitable land in famous mountains and rivers."

Fatty Wang strolled leisurely down the dormitory building, keeping his achievements and fame hidden.

……

Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, on Victoria Peak, at Yiu Shing Estate.

Compared to the fervent "liver-drawing" movement on the mainland, Lin Yao's life seemed dull, monotonous, and filled with an infuriating sense of boredom.

The afternoon sun lazily shone on the manor's heated swimming pool. Lin Yao, wearing beach shorts and sunglasses, was lying on an inflatable floating bed on the water, drifting with the current.

"Boss, have some fruit."

Wearing an extremely conservative yet perfectly figure-hugging one-piece swimsuit, Chingmy Yau swam to the edge of the floating bed like a mermaid.

She held a crystal fruit platter in her fair, delicate hands, filled with top-quality netted melons that had been air-freighted from Japan.

After the intense brainwashing effect of the television premiere, Chingmy Yau's fame is now at its peak, making her arguably the most dazzling beauty in Hong Kong in the late 1980s.

Countless wealthy young men coveted her, yet she willingly served as Lin Yao's private maid in this mountaintop mansion.

"I'm not eating this anymore. Eating these expensive things every day is giving me gout."

Lin Yao waved his hand, took off his sunglasses, looked at the blue sky and white clouds, and sighed softly.

"Shuyi, don't you think it's a bit of a problem when someone has so much money they don't know what to do with it?"

If those recently bankrupt stock market investors outside heard Lin Yao's extremely Versailles-esque words, they would definitely grab kitchen knives and rush up the mountain to fight him to the death.

Yau Shu-yee chuckled, her beautiful face full of admiration: "Boss, you're joking. Everyone in Hong Kong knows you're a living god of wealth who can turn anything into gold. Asia Star TV is raking in GG fees like crazy."

Lin Yao finds the mention of Asia Star Television amusing.

That expressionless guy, Sang Gou, went to execute the plans for those three toxic variety shows, and the results were surprisingly good.

The audition venues for "The Voice of Hong Kong" were packed to capacity, and when the twenty-four materialistic female guests on "If You Are the One" took the stage, the ratings skyrocketed, and they were constantly being criticized by housewives all over Hong Kong.

The more it's criticized, the more popular it becomes; the more popular it becomes, the higher the downfall fee. Shaw Brothers' TVB has now completely collapsed, without even the strength to struggle.

"Staying on the mountaintop every day, my bones are practically rusting."

Lin Yao sat up, plunged into the water, and swam to the shore.

"Old Chen went to Europe, and Thirteen Sister went north. Now it's just us left in Hong Kong. Come on, let's change clothes and I'll take you to buy a big toy and go out to sea for some fresh air."

Half an hour later.

Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong's most prestigious royal yacht club.

This place is home to various luxury yachts used by Hong Kong's richest people to display their status. When Lin Yao's armored luxury car convoy stopped at the entrance of the club, the general manager of the yacht club practically scrambled out to greet him.

"Boss Lin, Boss Lin, it's such an honor to have you here! We're truly sorry for not welcoming you sooner!"

The general manager bowed and scraped, his smile brighter than a blooming chrysanthemum.

Just kidding, this guy is now the uncrowned king of Hong Kong. Even a century-old family like Xu Tianheng was wiped out by him with a flick of his finger. Who would dare to be disrespectful?

"I heard you just seized a Middle Eastern tycoon's yacht here?"

Lin Yao put his arm around Qiu Shuyi's slender waist and asked casually.

"Boss Lin is really well-informed!"

The general manager quickly led the way.

"It was a superyacht commissioned by a prince overseas, but unfortunately, that prince recently went bankrupt due to failed investments. The ship was just launched at a shipyard in Germany, but it was seized by the bank before delivery. Now it's being offered for sale through us, but the price..."

The general manager swallowed hard, somewhat hesitant.

"Price is not your concern. Lead the way."

Lin Yao said casually.

A few minutes later, when Chingmy Yau stood in front of her designated berth and saw the enormous vessel that resembled a sea fortress, she was so shocked that she was speechless.

It's huge, ridiculously huge, a full 120 meters long, pure white, and its streamlined hull exudes a powerful and imposing sci-fi aura.

The deck features not only a helipad and an infinity pool, but also a small floating golf course that can be vaguely seen.

"This Desert Star cost a staggering one billion Hong Kong dollars to build, and its interior is incredibly luxurious; even the faucets are made of pure gold..."

The general manager was giving a passionate presentation from the side.

"This name is awful. We should rename it Yaosheng No. 1."

Lin Yao didn't even glance at the interior decoration; he simply pulled out the black gold card and casually tossed it to the general manager.

"Swipe your card, full payment. You have half an hour to complete the formalities. While you're at it, fill up the tank on the boat. I'm going out to sea this afternoon to fish for tuna in international waters."

A billion dollars to buy a yacht for fishing at sea?

The general manager's hands were trembling wildly as he held the black gold card. He had worked here for more than ten years and had seen countless wealthy people haggle until their faces turned red. But he had never seen a god-like figure who didn't even enter the cabin and directly used the card to buy a billion-dollar yacht.

"Yes, yes, yes, I'll get it done for you right away!"

The general manager jogged all the way to the finance office.

Lin Yao led Qiu Shuyi onto the superyacht, which was comparable to a palace at sea, on a red carpet.

Approaching us were two rows of top-class foreign crew members in neat uniforms and blond-haired, blue-eyed waiters, who bowed in unison.

"This is the right way to enjoy a boring life."

Lin Yao walked to the luxurious observation deck at the top of the deck, enjoying the sea breeze and stretching.

Just then, an inconspicuous black sedan pulled up at the dock, and a middle-aged man wearing a long gown and with slicked-back hair got out.

This man had a calm demeanor and an imposing presence. He was accompanied by only two bodyguards. He was none other than Chiang Tin-sang, the current leader of Hung Hing, the largest triad society in Hong Kong!

Jiang Tiansheng strode to the bottom of the yacht, looked up at Lin Yao standing at the highest point, and instead of acting like a gangster boss, bowed deeply.

"Mr. Lin, please forgive my uninvited visit."

Jiang Tiansheng's voice was filled with an extremely obvious sense of awe.

Lin Yao glanced down at him and raised an eyebrow.

"Why isn't Mr. Chiang having tea at your headquarters, but instead coming to the pier to enjoy the sea breeze?"

"Boss Lin is joking. The ruthless methods you used in that battle at the West Kowloon Pier a few days ago really opened the eyes of us old hands."

Jiang Tiansheng gave a bitter laugh, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Times have changed. When he saw more than 800 members of the East Star gang being humiliated by 300 heavily armed thugs in suits, he realized that traditional underworld organizations didn't even qualify as cannon fodder in the face of truly top-tier capital.

"I am here today on behalf of the entire Hung Hing Group to pay my respects to Boss Lin."

Jiang Tiansheng took a deep breath and made a decision that went against his ancestors' wishes.

"From today onwards, Hung Hing is willing to abandon all its shady underground businesses. The 30,000 brothers of the twelve branches are ready to be at the command of Yiu Shing Capital at any time. Just give the word, Boss Lin, and we will brave mountains of knives and seas of fire, even unto death!"

The head of Hong Kong's top triad society, taking the initiative to come to a businessman's door and ask to be his lackey, if word got out, it would cause a massive earthquake in the entire underworld.

But Chiang Tin-sang was a smart man. He knew that if he didn't quickly latch onto Lin Yao's powerful backer now, and wait for Sister Thirteen to bring back those veteran soldiers from the mainland and establish a true security empire, then there would be no place for Hung Hing in Hong Kong.

"To incorporate Hung Hing?"

Lin Yao leaned against the railing, holding a glass of champagne in his hand, a playful smirk playing on his lips.

"Mr. Jiang, you've got a pretty clever plan. You want Yaosheng Capital to be your protector?"

"Mr. Lin has misunderstood. We will never cause any trouble for Yaosheng Capital."

Jiang Tiansheng quickly explained, "We just want to make a living in this new era!"

"I can make a living off you, but my food isn't exactly delicious."

Lin Yao downed the champagne in his glass in one gulp and casually tossed the glass into the sea.

"Go back and shut down all those shady places you run. Pick out the smartest guys under you, put them in suits and ties."

"I'm going to be involved in infrastructure projects, making movies, and building Asia's tallest building in Hong Kong. I'll need manpower everywhere to maintain order."

"Remember, from now on, there will be no triads in Hong Kong, only Yaosheng Capital's unofficial security force."

Lin Yao stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes like those of an emperor reigning over the world.

"Anyone who dares to go out without a suit, I'll make sure they never leave Kowloon Walled City for the rest of their life."

Jiang Tiansheng was startled and bowed deeply once again.

"Thank you, Boss Lin, for this meal. All members of Hung Hing will strictly abide by Boss Lin's rules!"

Watching Jiang Tiansheng's departing figure, Lin Yao curled his lips in boredom.

"Being invincible is so lonely. I hope Old Chen can encounter some interesting resistance in Europe, otherwise this life is too boring."