Hong Kong variety show: Starting from Cold War 1994

Not only Axe Jun, but also Bai Shan Hua, who was slapped by Old Ghost Huang before, are all seasoned veterans who have been able to gain a foothold in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Although Shen Shaofeng's two suggestions sounded unremarkable, upon closer examination, since these entertainment venues were gradually becoming saturated, why not explore new ideas and move towards the high-end market?

Seeing that the gang leaders' thinking had shifted from "Why can't we do drugs?" to "If we make the events high-end, we can make more money", Shen Shaofeng decided to use his trump card.

He knew these guys' nature well; getting them to immediately give up their highly profitable flour business would be difficult to achieve through police crackdowns alone.

While cracking down hard, we must also show them other, safer, and more reliable ways to make money. Only by using both soft and hard tactics can we gradually achieve our goals.

Coincidentally, Bai Shanhua's words at this moment perfectly set up Shen Shaofeng: "Shen Sir, your opinion makes a lot of sense. But we're not as financially powerful as Brother Jun and Brother Tai."

"The venues I manage are dilapidated and old. They need to be transformed, we need to recruit talent, and we need to renovate them—that'll cost a fortune!"

The other leaders, whose power was slightly weaker, nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes, Inspector Shen, I... uh, I have a friend who, if he hadn't been forced into it, wouldn't have gotten involved in that kind of thing called flour, where you give birth to a child without an anus."

Shen Shaofeng simply sat down at the long table: "Even small-scale games have their ways of playing. Do any of you here run arcades, playing games like Street Fighter, racing games, or horse racing games?"

Before they could say that they "definitely wouldn't be gambling in the basement of the arcade like Guohua," he immediately said:

"Arcade games, I estimate they'll be obsolete in five or six years. The future belongs to personal computers and next-generation game consoles. A computer is expensive now, but it's precisely because it's expensive that it's considered high-end and has potential for growth."

At the beginning of 1995, personal computers were still too high-end for members of the community.

Seeing their confused expressions, Shen Shaofeng explained further:

"Imagine opening a store that doesn't have arcade machines, but instead has dozens of the latest computers, and calling it a computer center. Young people, even office workers, come here after get off work not to play arcade games, but to play computer games."

"For those who prefer playing alone, there's 'DUNE2,' where you build a base, mine resources, build tanks, and go to war; there's also a game called 'DOOM,' where you shoot monsters. But it can be played online, allowing up to four computer players to battle together, making it ten times more exciting than those arcade fighting games..."

Shen Shaofeng's words seemed to open a door to a new world for everyone present, including Li Xian.

Computers are for sending emails and doing office work, right? How can they play games? And the kind of games that make men want to try them just by hearing about them?

Shen Shaofeng took a drag of his cigarette, his tone brimming with confidence: "For a place like this, the environment needs to be top-notch—good air conditioning, comfortable chairs, even drinks and snacks provided. The price is charged by the hour, a few dozen yuan per hour. One machine runs 24 hours a day; you can calculate the profit yourselves..."

"The key is that this business is clean, safe, and prestigious, after all, it belongs to the high-tech industry! And your customers are no longer those thugs, but young people and white-collar workers with spending power..."

From fighting and killing, street brawls to seize territory, gambling, prostitution, and drugs, to operating high-end venues and developing high-tech industries, no longer being looked down upon by the wealthy... Shen Shaofeng's grand vision undoubtedly hit the sore spot of all the gang leaders present.

If you can make money legally, who would be willing to risk being raided by the police every day?

Even the usually lazy and irresponsible Huang was now fired up, his eyes gleaming with eagerness: "Shen Sir, I want to ask, what kind of computers are these? How much does one cost? And how do I get the license?"

Look at this guy, he's so aware of things. He immediately thought about the license issue and didn't even consider the possibility of secretly running a computer room.

Shen Shaofeng stubbed out his cigarette and shook his finger: "You'll have to figure out these problems yourselves. In short, I've provided you with the ideas. According to the principles of a business world, I'm essentially giving you some very promising industry guidance for free."

Shen Shaofeng was fully aware of the current state of computer rooms and the future business prospects of internet cafes.

But he's a policeman, and making money this way presents a conflict of interest and many other inconveniences, making it very troublesome.

Moreover, he has already figured out a safe, legal, and hassle-free way to make money, and he will talk to Yue Huizhen about it in the next couple of days—of course, he won't just be a kept man.

"Thank you, Inspector Shen!"

"Yes, yes, Inspector Shen is truly righteous!"

"Thank you, Inspector Shen, for giving us the money!"

"I always tell people that Inspector Shen of the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau is the most honorable. As long as he doesn't upset you like that scoundrel Ni Yongxiao, he definitely won't go too far."

"Yes, yes, yes, Mr. Shen, if you ever patronize my establishment... oh, sorry, never mind, anyway, I, Taishan, owe you a favor!"

The guys showered the compliments on him like they were free, and even the "tough guy" Crown Prince patted him on the back with a big smile.

Shen Shaofeng jumped down from the long table, sat back down next to Li Xian, and said seriously:

"I have shown you more than one path; how you choose to follow it is up to you."

"I'll say it again: I'd love for everyone to transition into truly promising businesses, and for us all to happily make a fortune together in Tsim Sha Tsui. But if anyone remains stubborn and insists on crossing that red line..."

"I, Shen Shaofeng, said it: whoever touches it dies!"

"I've finished speaking. Who agrees? Who disagrees?"

Axe Jun and the Crown Prince exchanged a glance, and just as he was about to speak, Old Ghost Huang beat him to it.

"Sir Shen, I agree! I'm making this clear: not only will I not do it myself, but if I find anyone else breaking Sir Shen's rules, well, I may be getting old, but don't forget I'm still one of Lao Wan's men..."

Axe Jun immediately chimed in: "Mr. Shen is farsighted and has pointed out the right path for us. I, Ah Jun, will definitely cooperate! Sun Kee's business in Tsim Sha Tsui will definitely keep up with the times. Don't worry, Mr. Shen, I will never get involved in anything that's not aboveboard, and I will not allow anyone else to do it on my turf."

This statement was made sincerely, because Axe Jun knew that their leader, Lao Xu, had already begun the process of transforming and going ashore.

The Crown Prince didn't object: "Hung Hing agrees."

The others quickly chimed in:

"Since both Brother Jun and Brother Taizi say so, of course we'll follow suit!"

"We're so grateful to Inspector Shen for pointing out the way; how could we dare to object?"

"Yes, yes, let's all get along well and make money together, and make Laojian prosperous!"

"Sir Shen, Sir Li, don't worry, we will definitely keep our men in check and they will absolutely not cause any trouble!"

Looking at the scene before him, Li Xian felt both absurd and had to admit that Shen Shaofeng's "carrot and stick" approach was indeed brilliant.

……

An hour later, Shen Shaofeng drove his Mazda MX-5 away from the West Kowloon Police Station parking lot.

"Hey, senior sister, it's me. Do you have time to go shopping with me later?"

"Hey, you, Inspector Shen, actually have time to ask me to go shopping? What do you want to see?"

"Hmm, I'd like you to come with me to the maternity and baby shopping center. It's inconvenient for me to go alone as a man."

Lok Hye-jung: "Huh???"