Chapter Seven: Alliances and Strategies, New Records · Numbers
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There was a story behind the “豪门 Nightclub.”
It happened a year ago, just after Wang Yaotang had taken Officer Sen as his boss. With the initiation red packet his boss had given him, he went to the nightclub next door with Ah Ji, Ah Jie, and Ah Wei to broaden their horizons.
Back when they had been low-level thugs under their previous boss, they had barely managed to scrape by. Their boss had been broke as well and had never taken them to a nightclub. Otherwise, why would they have “let him go” to draw the heat?
That alone proved it: without money, what good was being a boss?
While the four brothers were drinking and laughing, an argument broke out in the booth next door. When Wang Yaotang turned around, he immediately spotted Guan Jiahui being harassed in the middle of the crowd.
The lighting was dim, and Guan Jiahui was wearing heavy makeup, yet her beautiful face still stunned Wang Yaotang.
Yes, Wang Yaotang admitted it—he had been overcome by lust.
He had only just sworn allegiance to a boss and was still riding the excitement. Add to that the alcohol in his system, and he no longer cared that Sun Yee On was running security at the club. Taking Ah Ji and Ah Jie with him, he charged forward, wine bottles in hand, and cracked a few heads open.
The four brothers looked like nothing more than penniless street punks. The yellow-haired security man immediately surrounded them with seven or eight underlings.
They had dared to cause trouble on Sun Yee On’s turf. They must have a death wish!
Fortunately, Wang Yaotang was quick-witted. He pulled Guan Jiahui toward him and claimed that he had brought his girlfriend there to have fun and had already paid for a table. Those punks had harassed his girl. The two teenage delinquents who had come with Guan Jiahui were frightened as well, and they hurriedly pulled Ah Ji and Ah Jie along.
Yellow Hair glanced at the things they had actually ordered on the table. It was reasonable for a customer to stand up for his girlfriend, so he dragged the three punks away from the floor.
A few days later, they ran into one another on the street again. That was when Wang Yaotang learned that he was a junior member of Wo Shing Yee.
As they crossed paths more often, they grew closer and eventually became friends.
But back to the matter at hand.
Sun Yee On’s man in Tsim Sha Tsui was Ji Bao, known as the leader of the Four Tigers. Ji Bao served under Big Steward Lam of Sun Yee On.
As for the “豪门 Nightclub” itself, the man responsible for security was Crooked-Mouth Dragon. Yellow Hair worked under him.
Crooked-Mouth Dragon had not always had a crooked mouth. When Sun Yee On first pushed into Tsim Sha Tsui, he had once been involved in a street battle with a rival. Someone had stabbed a deep gash into the left side of his cheek. After it healed, his mouth was permanently twisted.
The good news was that although his mouth had gone crooked, his reputation had soared.
With Yellow Hair leading the way, Wang Yaotang had little trouble meeting Crooked-Mouth Dragon.
“Brother Dragon.”
Crooked-Mouth Dragon had evidently only just woken up. He yawned and waved carelessly without even raising his head.
“Hmm.”
He pulled out a napkin and dabbed at his watering eyes. Then he fished a silver metal cigarette case engraved with floral patterns from his pocket and took out a strange cigarette. It looked like a cigar, but was only as thick as an ordinary cigarette and had no filter.
Yellow Hair produced a lighter and lit it for his boss. Crooked-Mouth Dragon narrowed his eyes and took several deep drags before he finally began to look more alert.
As the smoke drifted through the air, Wang Yaotang gave a quiet sniff. There was a peculiar, unpleasant odor. After turning the thought over in his mind a few times, he wondered whether it might be marijuana.
“Who’s this?” Crooked-Mouth Dragon glanced sideways at Yellow Hair.
“My friend. Ah Yao from Wo Shing Yee. Brother Dragon, remember those crotchless pantyhose? He’s the one who came up with them.” Yellow Hair grinned.
Crooked-Mouth Dragon’s eyes lit up. Only then did he look Wang Yaotang up and down.
A white shirt, jeans, and tousled hair—a sunny, handsome young man who looked more like a university student than a gangster.
“Damn, with a design that filthy, I thought you’d be some four-eyed pervert. But you… you…”
Crooked-Mouth Dragon wanted to say that Wang Yaotang looked like a younger version of Ji Bao, but Ji Bao was his boss’s boss. Saying anything higher than that would have been too great a compliment.
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Ji Bao was one of the few highly educated men among the street gangsters.
“What brings you here?”
“I’m planning to set up a couple of roadside stalls to sell the stockings and bring some customers to the gang’s brothels. Since I’m here to make money, of course I had to pay Brother Dragon a visit first.” Wang Yaotang smiled as he placed a Cohiba cigar on the table and pushed it across.
The words “first visit” made Crooked-Mouth Dragon very pleased.
“You haven’t gone to Tiu Lam?”
“Who in the underworld doesn’t know that Sun Yee On’s man in Tsim Sha Tsui is the one to see?”
“You’re a sensible kid. Black and White Impermanence are finished anyway.” Crooked-Mouth Dragon burst into laughter. “Yellow Hair, buy a few hundred pairs later to support the kid. Put it on the gang’s account.”
“Thank you, Brother Dragon.” Wang Yaotang stood and clasped his fists. This was an unexpected windfall. He had opened another sales channel.
“A small matter, a small matter.” Crooked-Mouth Dragon waved his hand grandly, looking every inch the magnanimous boss.
“Then I won’t disturb you any longer. I’ll be leaving first.” Wang Yaotang smiled and took his leave.
“Bring some people over to have fun when you get the chance.”
“Of course, of course.”
“Then, Brother Dragon, I’ll go take a look over there.” Yellow Hair followed up.
Crooked-Mouth Dragon reclined on the sofa and waved them away with his eyes closed.
It was an auspicious start. Not only had he recovered the money spent on the cigars, he had even made a profit.
The moment they stepped out of the nightclub, Yellow Hair grabbed Wang Yaotang by the arm. He raised his eyebrows and smiled obsequiously.
“Brother Yao, how much are those crotchless stockings?”
“We’re brothers. Why ask? Eighteen. Here—tell me what price you want to charge, and I won’t interfere.” Wang Yaotang jabbed Yellow Hair twice with his elbow. “You know how to make these things most appealing?”
“You have to tear them open. Give them that shredded look.” Wang Yaotang gestured a few times. “Understand?”
“Damn!”
Yellow Hair’s eyes lit up. If they did it that way, with so many girls in the clubs, a few hundred pairs a month would never be enough.
Thirty dollars’ profit per pair…
He fiddled with his fingers, but could not complete the calculation. He became so anxious that sweat broke out across his forehead.
“All right.” Wang Yaotang pressed down on his hand. “Do a good job and you can easily make over ten thousand a month.”
“I’ll be damned!” Yellow Hair grabbed Wang Yaotang by the shoulder, his eyes wide. “Brother Yao, from now on, if anyone dares touch you on Tientai Hill Road, I’ll cut him to pieces!”
“So you wouldn’t help me if there were no money in it?” Wang Yaotang lightly punched Yellow Hair in the stomach. “Can you handle Tiu Lam?”
“Leave it to me.” Yellow Hair thumped his chest and took full responsibility. “The higher-ups can fight among themselves. What’s that got to do with people like us? Making money is what matters. Wait for me.”
About half an hour later, Yellow Hair returned with another man.
“The Tak faction’s Little Gong.”
“Brother Little Gong.”
“He’s my brother, Brother Yao from Wo Shing Yee.”
“I know him. He just knocked out Crab Chang. He’s pretty good with his fists.” Little Gong was very polite and took the initiative to shake Wang Yaotang’s hand.
“It would have been the same if it were Brother Little Gong.” Wang Yaotang smiled. Flattery cost nothing, and everyone liked hearing it.
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Gangsters were gangsters after all. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Little Gong could not resist asking, “If I take stock from Brother Yao, how much are these crotchless stockings?”
“It’s like this.” Wang Yaotang smiled. “Besides this style, I’ve designed two other kinds of seductive underwear. I’ve already found a clothing factory to produce them, but they’ll still need a few more days before they’re ready. As for the designs, each has its own appeal. But I guarantee that any man who sees them will be filled with heat.”
“Damn, really? Why didn’t you mention that earlier?” Yellow Hair looked delighted.
“It’s meant to be a surprise. Besides, these crotchless stockings haven’t reached their full potential yet, so there’s no need to rush out new products. Since Brother Little Gong asked, I figured I might as well tell you.”
“Brother Yao, you flatter me.” Little Gong laughed loudly. Whether the words were true or not, they made him look good.
“For the crotchless stockings, I’ll give Brother Little Gong a price of twenty. As for the new designs, I can’t set a price yet. I’ll have to wait until the clothing factory finishes a batch and see what the production costs are. But no matter what, I guarantee they’ll make Brother Little Gong a great deal of money.”
“Don’t call me Brother Little Gong. We’re all brothers—just call me Little Gong.” Little Gong grinned so broadly that his mouth nearly reached his ears. “Brother Yao, don’t worry. I’ll handle things with my boss.”
“Ah Yao, Ah Yao.” Wang Yaotang cupped his fists.
“No, no.” Little Gong shook his head, still reluctant to part. “How about this? I’ll make arrangements tonight. We’ll gather at my club and give Ah Yao a proper welcome.”
“Hey, hey, he’s my brother. We’re going to the 豪门 tonight.” Yellow Hair hurriedly pushed Little Gong back. “Don’t get carried away!”
“I’m treating him tonight.” Little Gong slapped Yellow Hair’s hand away. “Meeting Ah Yao today has made me very happy. You have to give me this face.”
“Damn it.” Yellow Hair raised his middle finger. “Fine, tonight is yours.”
“Haha, then I won’t stand on ceremony.” Wang Yaotang smiled and nodded. He waved Ah Jie over, took a box of Cohiba cigars, and handed it to Little Gong. “Just a small gift to mark our first meeting. Brother Little Gong, please don’t refuse.”
“Wow, Cohiba cigars. Only bosses get to smoke these!”
“Brother Little Gong will be a boss sooner or later.”
“Haha, I’ll take your auspicious words, Brother Yao.”
“Should we invite people from the other gangs?” Yellow Hair asked.
“You mean the East Union Society? All right. We can have a drink. There’s nothing we can’t talk through.” Little Gong nodded, then shook his head. “As for the United Brotherhood, the Fook Yee Hing, and the others, forget it. Why would anyone without sense enter this line of work?”
“Whatever Brother Little Gong arranges.” Wang Yaotang had not expected things to go so smoothly.
That night, the Fourteen K and Sun Yee On would both be hosting him. Even Officer Sen had never enjoyed that kind of standing.
The system also popped up to add to the excitement.
[You have achieved a brilliant diplomatic victory.]
[In recognition of your courageous performance in diplomacy, your reputation has spread on a small scale. Renown +50.]
[Current Renown: 105/205 — Newly Arrived in the Underworld.]
Wang Yaotang quietly clenched his fist.
He could purchase another skill now. What should he buy this time?
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