Chapter 34

As the saying goes, what goes around comes around. This time, Li Ke was lucky; there happened to be a fellow member of the汽水房 (Soda House) nearby, which helped him avoid a disaster. But what about next time?

In the world of the underworld, one is often caught up in various disputes. Li Ke is not the kind of person who is particularly composed or knows how to protect himself. He still sees himself as a front-line fighter for the gang, rather than a factory owner who values peace and prosperity.

In fact, Li Ke could have called Scarface Qiang right from the start to inform him of the situation. Qiang would have naturally taken over and handled it. Instead, he acted like a junior member eager for recognition, thinking he had resolved the issue before informing the boss. The problem seemed to be solved, but it left behind resentment and hidden dangers.

Li Xuan carefully analyzed his thoughts and shared them with his brother, not expecting him to understand everything immediately. However, he hoped his brother would think more carefully next time, as he only had this one big brother.

This incident also served as a warning to Li Xuan. From the beginning, he never treated Keji Factory as a serious business. After establishing Dongfang Electronics, he paid even less attention to Keji.

Before he went to Japan, Li Ke had called him about some minor issues at the factory. At that time, he was busy with Du Wenqiang, finalizing the adjustments and modifications for the Tank Battle game, so he didn't ask for specifics.

Now that Dongfang Electronics was gradually getting on track, it was time to wind down Keji Factory. Of course, closing down didn't mean shutting it down entirely. It involved not only the interests of the Li brothers but also those of Shao Yongqiang and the Hele Tang (Harmony Hall).

Li Xuan's plan was to deregister Keji Company and have Scarface Qiang register a new company to take over the factory. Since last month, Li Xuan had been focusing all his energy on Dongfang Electronics, and he had also brought Du Wenqiang, the technical expert for cracking games, along with him.

Without Li Xuan and Du Wenqiang, Keji Company could only rely on its existing resources and had not launched any new game machines for over a month. Fortunately, there were no new popular games in Hong Kong recently, or Shao Yongqiang would have come to urge them.

So, Li Xuan couldn't just walk away. He had already prepared a backup plan. When Keji was first established, Li Xuan, while pirating games like Space Invaders and Galaga, had also designed two new game machines.

Actually, calling them game machines wasn't quite accurate; they were more like gambling machines.

The first one was a fruit machine. The screen displayed various fruit icons arranged in a circle. Players would press the fruit button to place a bet, then choose to start the lights. If the lights stopped on the selected option, the player would win points according to the multiplier. Players could also guess higher or lower to double their score.

When players were done, they could exchange their points for coins, which the machine would dispense. This was a very simple and easy-to-play gambling machine. Li Xuan remembered that in the future, these machines were rampant in China, found in the corners of small restaurants and convenience stores.

The second type, the horse racing machine, was more popular in the south, especially in the eastern Guangdong region, influenced by Hong Kong's horse racing. These machines were very common in arcade halls. Compared to other game machines, this one was the most suitable for gangs like the Hele Tang.

For just one dollar, players could place a bet, and if they were lucky, they might win a grand prize of thousands of dollars. Besides arcade halls, mahjong parlors, which gangs often frequented, were also ideal places for these machines. The mahjong players, who were mostly gamblers, would often pass the time by playing a few rounds while waiting for a full table, gradually accumulating a new source of income. The best part was that no additional space was needed; the machines could fit into any corner of the existing venues.

"Big brother, I'm planning to have you deregister Keji Company!" Li Xuan said seriously to his brother.

"Ah! Really shut it down?"

Li Ke's voice grew louder. Before Keji opened, Li Xuan had already mentioned this to his brother. At that time, Li Ke wasn't even sure if the company would make money, and since the capital was provided by his younger brother, he naturally let him decide. But now that Keji was making over a million dollars a month, he was naturally unwilling to close it.

"Didn't I tell you before starting the company that pirating others' games is illegal and can only be a temporary measure? Now that my Dongfang Electronics is on track and will soon produce our own arcade games, you can come help me in Shatin after you're discharged. Just like last time, you'll be in charge of running the factory!" Li Xuan said firmly.

"Hong Kong doesn't enforce the law strictly. If it were really illegal, the police would have found us long ago!" Li Ke was still reluctant. "Besides, how will we explain it to Qiang?"

"Closing Keji doesn't mean shutting down the factory. I'll have Qiang send someone else to take over. It just means it won't be related to us anymore. We'll become good citizens!" Li Xuan sighed and explained patiently, "Your Soda House is expanding rapidly in arcade halls. Do you think the other gangs in Hong Kong are blind? If something like this happens once, it will happen again. You're eating and drinking lavishly, and there will always be someone who gets jealous and tries to take a piece of the pie! When that happens, the current Keji factory will be the biggest target. If your Soda House doesn't give up some of the profits, they might not just send informants; they might even plant bombs! Can you handle that, big brother? It's better to quit while we're ahead this time!"

"Whatever you say, little brother!" Li Ke said dejectedly, "After all, the money for the factory came from you, and I just had a nominal position!"

Li Xuan knew his brother was a bit unhappy, but he wouldn't back down on this. Especially when the fruit machines and horse racing machines would soon appear in the Hong Kong market, the current Keji factory would become a target for all the gangs in Hong Kong.

This was also why Li Xuan chose to move Dongfang Electronics to Shatin instead of Kowloon Bay, which was within the Hele Tang's territory. Besides being closer to the Chinese University, it also showed his intention to distance himself from Keji.

"What about the brothers who work for me after Keji closes?" Li Ke found another reason.

"You mentioned that Old K's Yizi Pile leader, Tang Yong, would hand over two nightclubs to your Soda House. How do Uncle Jian and Qiang plan to handle it?" Li Xuan countered.

"Ha ha!" Li Ke knew he couldn't hide it and laughed awkwardly, "Qiang said he would give me the two nightclubs to manage after I'm discharged."

Initially, when Li Ke was managing the video hall, he only had two or three junior members. But after starting Keji, Scarface Qiang gave him a large new arcade and billiard hall to manage.

Previously, the game hall that Li Xuan had encouraged the Zhong family to invest in was also entrusted to him. With the few junior members who usually followed him, Li Ke now had over twenty subordinates.

"Fa Zai and Ah Yong have been with you the longest. They are skilled and understand the big picture. Fa Zai even took a knife for you. You can put them in charge of the two nightclubs, giving them a chance to prove themselves.

As for Da Jiao Wen, he also took a knife for you. He was in charge of the game hall where my girlfriend works. After Ah Yong goes to the nightclub, you can give the arcade to Da Jiao Wen. For the Zhong family's game hall, choose a reliable junior member to take over."

Li Xuan thought for a moment and gave his brother some suggestions.

"What about me?"

"You, of course, will become a good citizen with me!" Li Xuan rolled his eyes at his brother, "On the way here, I called Lawyer Lu, who complained that you were talking nonsense to the police.

This time, you were clearly the victim, and you almost got a criminal record! Please, big brother, think before you speak next time. Is it so glorious to admit you're in a gang? Be careful, or you might not even be able to get a visa for travel abroad!"

Lawyer Lu was the legal advisor Li Xuan had specially hired for Keji Company and Li Ke's personal lawyer, to ensure they wouldn't be misled by the police.

PS: Dear readers, please give a few recommendations if you can. It's tough during the new book period, and I'm on my knees, thanking you!