Chapter 4

In the bustling street----

"What? You want to go to Da Sheng Xiong to collect a debt?"

When Shuai Qiang heard that Shi Zhijian wanted to go to Da Sheng Xiong to collect a debt, he was instantly shocked.

"He owes money, so I'm going to collect it. It's very reasonable!"

"Reasonable my ass! Don't think I'm really stupid just because I'm called Shuai Qiang! Who is Da Sheng Xiong? He's the top horse under the famous boss Zhang Jiuding of Hong Yihai! Do you know what a top horse is? It means he's very good at fighting! One against ten! He can kill you with just a flick of his finger!"

"That's why I want you to come with me!"

"What for? To die with me? No, boss, I'm really scared!" Shuai Qiang looked aggrieved.

"Scared? You just ate our eggs! They're very precious!"

"Just one egg, I'll pay you back!"

"It's too late!" Shi Zhijian grabbed Shuai Qiang's collar, "Come with me. If I die, you can help me collect my body!"

"But I'm afraid I'll die with you!"

"Aren't you being too unrighteous? We're friends, you said you would share the good times and the bad!"

Shuai Qiang was speechless for a moment before he finally managed to say, "I'll go with you, but I want to die a full man!"

Shi Zhijian laughed and pointed to a nearby street stall, "What do you want to eat? Chopped meat noodles, plain noodles, or stir-fried beef noodles?"

"No, I want to eat something good before I die! A large plate of egg fried rice!" Shuai Qiang declared firmly.

...

Shuai Qiang ate the large plate of egg fried rice until not a grain was left, even picking up the grains stuck to his mouth and putting them in his mouth.

Finally, Shuai Qiang took a water pot and poured water into the plate, swishing it around. The oil from the egg fried rice quickly spread over the water. He then slurped it up, drinking it all clean.

Shi Zhijian looked at him, "Are you done?"

Shuai Qiang burped, patted his belly, and tried to be cheeky, but Shi Zhijian didn't give him the chance. He stood up and grabbed Shuai Qiang's collar, "Let's go! To Wan Chai Pier!"

...

In 1960s Hong Kong, apart from the original residents of the New Territories, no one called themselves Hong Kongers. Most new immigrants came from Chaozhou, Shunde, Fujian, and other places.

These people, having left their hometowns, banded together to form gangs and societies to survive, leading to the emergence of many such groups.

Among the many gangs and societies, the most famous were He Ji, Chao Bang, Xin Yi An, and 14K.

As for "Hong Yihai," it was a third-rate gang, claiming to have "three thousand iron-clad soldiers," but in reality, it only had about a thousand people, mainly relying on hard labor and dock work for a living.

These jobs were originally done by the big gangs, but now those gangs were doing more profitable "legitimate businesses" like nightclubs, bars, and cabarets. No one wanted to do these jobs anymore, but they didn't want to give them up, so they handed them over to Hong Yihai.

Don't think Hong Yihai survives by picking up the leftovers; no one dares to provoke them easily, after all, a thousand people are not made of clay.

As the top horse under the boss Zhang Jiuding of Hong Yihai, Da Sheng Xiong had been on a roll lately, thriving and gaining the trust of Boss Zhang, who put him in charge of the Wan Chai Pier business.

At that moment, Da Sheng Xiong was playing mahjong with a few friends in a warehouse near Wan Chai Pier.

The muscular Da Sheng Xiong, with his chest exposed, was rubbing his feet and sniffing them, grinning, "This Hong Kong foot odor is really something! A sniff and you feel refreshed, another sniff and you're energized! Gentlemen, would you like to try?"

"No need, Xiong, your hobby is quite unique, we can't handle it!" said the player opposite him.

"Hey, Wulong, you really don't know good stuff---- East Wind!" Da Sheng Xiong flicked the mahjong tile out.

While flicking the tile, Da Sheng Xiong deliberately rolled up his sleeve, revealing a golden Rolex on his left wrist.

The three players knew Da Sheng Xiong was showing off, so they exchanged glances. Wulong then said, "Oh, that's a nice watch! Da Sheng Xiong, you're doing well?"

"Where, where," Da Sheng Xiong feigned modesty but showed off the gold watch to everyone, "Just a Rolex, made of pure gold and studded with diamonds, only ten thousand in total. You guys are well-traveled, of course you wouldn't be impressed!"

"How can that be? Ten thousand dollars can buy a thousand-square-foot house in Tsim Sha Tsui's 'Mingde Garden' now! A watch worth ten thousand is not a small amount!"

"Indeed, it looks like Xiong is really doing well!"

Da Sheng Xiong's vanity was satisfied, so he waved his hand, "Not much, just did some things for Boss Zhang recently and got his approval, made a little money! Ha, I'll treat you guys to tea sometime!"

"Great! It's a deal!" the three players laughed.

At that moment, one of Da Sheng Xiong's subordinates ran in, "Xiong, someone is looking for you!"

"Who's looking for me?"

"They said their name is Shi Zhijian."

"Shi Zhijian?" Da Sheng Xiong's eyes twinkled, as if remembering something, "Oh, that egghead who couldn't become a cop, let him in!" Da Sheng Xiong waved his hand, not taking Shi Zhijian seriously at all.

Da Sheng Xiong knew that Shi Zhijian was probably there to collect a debt, but the money he had swallowed couldn't be spit out. As for Shi Zhijian, he could be taken down by Da Sheng Xiong in a minute!

...

"Xiong, how are you!"

As soon as Shi Zhijian entered, he smiled and greeted Da Sheng Xiong with a bow.

Da Sheng Xiong ignored him and continued playing mahjong.

Shi Zhijian wasn't embarrassed, but Shuai Qiang, who came with him, was nervous and kept glancing at Da Sheng Xiong.

Besides being a top horse, Da Sheng Xiong was also a well-known dock boss. Shuai Qiang worked on the docks, so he was at Da Sheng Xiong's mercy, relying on him for a living.

Additionally, three burly men in black shirts, with fierce expressions, stood by the warehouse, glaring at Shi Zhijian and Shuai Qiang from the moment they entered. They were obviously Hong Yihai's enforcers.

Shi Zhijian walked over and glanced at the mahjong table, "Xiong, your luck is good, this East Wind is the best to play!" He then flicked the tile, sending it flying out of Da Sheng Xiong's hand.

"Damn, what are you doing?" Da Sheng Xiong, surprised by Shi Zhijian's audacity, leaped up from his seat.

The three players also looked at Shi Zhijian in shock, knowing he was a notorious failure who had just been fired for offending his boss, but his actions were... very bold!

Shuai Qiang also didn't expect this, his eyes wide with fear.

Facing the furious Da Sheng Xiong, Shi Zhijian smiled, "Xiong, don't be nervous, it's just one East Wind, I'll pay you back!" He then picked up the tile and put it back in Da Sheng Xiong's hand, "There, all neat and tidy now!"

"Kid, are you messing with me?"

"How dare I mess with you? You, Da Sheng Xiong, are a prominent figure in Hong Yihai and the top horse under Boss Zhang. I'm just a nobody, how dare I mess with you?"

"Then what was that just now?"

"What was that? In the underworld, debts must be repaid. You owe us five hundred dollars, and it's been almost three years. It's time to pay up!" Shi Zhijian spoke calmly, showing no fear of Da Sheng Xiong's loud voice.

In the underworld, it's all about saving face!

Da Sheng Xiong's face was unreadable, looking at the confident Shi Zhijian, unsure of what to make of him.

Da Sheng Xiong was a man of the underworld, and in this era, men of the underworld valued their reputation, unlike the gangsters of the 1980s who were more ruthless and less concerned with honor and shame.

Since he couldn't scare this kid, it was time to talk.

Da Sheng Xiong laughed and patted Shi Zhijian's shoulder, "Kid, you're right. I, Da Sheng Xiong, am always straightforward and never owe anyone. I'll pay you back, but right now, I'm short on cash!" He then sat back down and continued playing mahjong.

Shi Zhijian smiled, "I just needed to hear that from you. I came here just to ask; since you're short on cash, I won't disturb your game---- oh, Xiong, before I leave, can I hug you?"

Before Da Sheng Xiong could react, Shi Zhijian had already hugged him, whispering in his ear, "Xiong, honestly, seeing you reminds me of my late father! He died young!"

Da Sheng Xiong snorted, unmoved.

After hugging, Shi Zhijian turned to his friend Shuai Qiang, "Shuai Qiang, let's go. It looks like Xiong is in a bad mood today. We'll come back when he's in a better mood!"

Shuai Qiang was eager to leave and darted out even faster than Shi Zhijian.

...

In the warehouse----

Watching Shi Zhijian leave, Da Sheng Xiong sneered, "Damn! Daring to play tricks in front of me, he's asking for death!"

"Xiong, you're a man of principle! Being able to endure is the mark of a true man!" Wulong gave him a thumbs up.

The other two, though they thought it was shameful for Da Sheng Xiong to not repay his debt, admired his power, so they chimed in, "Indeed, no wonder Xiong has reached this position. Even great heroes and valiant men are no more than this!"

Da Sheng Xiong felt even more pleased, "Shi Zhijian, that egghead, if he were still a cop, I might give him some leeway, but now he's nothing, I won't give him a damn thing!" He then habitually flicked his wrist, but he froze, as did the three players---- his wrist was bare.

"Hey, my Rolex!" Da Sheng Xiong cried out, "The kid dared to trick me! Get me, let's go and kill that bastard!"