Hong Kong variety show: From being bitten by a cockroach to becoming a legend

Chapter 12: Gun Pointed at Tai Po Gangsters

The people on both sides stood facing each other, north and south.

Tai Po squinted at Song Zhaowen and Xiao Zhuoxiao for a few seconds, then snorted, "Zhengxing Song Zhaowen? Never heard of him. You two don't look up to anything. What kind of business could you possibly have to discuss with me?"

One of his henchmen leaned forward and whispered something. Tai Po's dark eyebrows twitched, and he looked at Song Zhaowen again: "Oh... so it's that tough guy from Yau Ma Tei last night? I heard you made Prince Tai look pretty bad."

"I didn't expect the news to spread so quickly. It was just luck." Song Zhaowen didn't pick up on that topic and went straight to the point. "Brother Hei, we want to ask you some questions. The Vietnamese gang, those three brothers, A-Zha, Tony, and A-Hu, and that shipment they intercepted a while ago, were handled by our boss. We heard they want to sell off the goods, and they should have contacted you."

Tai Po's dark face twitched, his eyes turning wary: "Vietnamese? I'm not familiar with them. Goods? What goods? I don't know what you're talking about."

Song Zhaowen took a step forward: "Brother Hei, we're all in this together, let's not beat around the bush. These Vietnamese bastards stole our boss's goods. The gang's reputation is paramount, and we, as the underlings, have to step up and do something. Everyone in the underworld knows you have connections on the waterways, Brother Hei. Give us some directions, and Zhengxing will remember your favor. Master Fu has also promised a hefty reward afterward."

"Favors?" Tai Po Hei grinned as if he'd heard a joke, revealing a set of teeth stained yellow by smoking. "Do you think Zhengxing is still the Zhengxing of twenty years ago, protected by Lei Luo? Talking to me about favors? How much are your favors worth?"

His henchmen behind him joined in the laughter, their mockery palpable.

Xiao Zhuoxiao's face flushed red, and his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. Song Zhaowen, however, simply watched Dapu Hei quietly, waiting for him to finish laughing.

Tai Po Hei's smile vanished, his eyes turning cold: "Get lost, before I lose my temper."

"So there's nothing to talk about?" Song Zhaowen asked softly.

"Shut up!" Tai Po spat. "If you don't get out of here, I'll make sure you leave Cheung Chau sideways!"

Before he could finish speaking, Song Zhaowen made a move.

It was as fast as a ghost. Everyone only saw a blur before Song Zhaowen slid sideways, seemingly boneless, passing between the two henchmen who tried to stop him, and instantly closing in on Dapu Hei. Dapu Hei didn't even see the movement clearly; he only felt a chill on his temple as a cold, hard object pressed firmly against it.

It's that Black Star pistol.

Tai Po Black's body stiffened, and fine beads of sweat instantly appeared on his forehead. Several henchmen behind him tried to move, but Song Zhaowen's hand holding the gun remained as steady as a rock. His voice wasn't loud, but it pierced everyone's ears like an ice pick: "If anyone moves again, I guarantee your boss's head will explode."

"Brother...brother, don't be impulsive, let's talk it out, let's talk it out..." Dapu Hei's voice was dry as he tried to remain calm, but his slightly trembling lips betrayed him.

"I've been trying to reason with you, Brother Hei, but you wouldn't listen," Song Zhaowen said casually, as if in conversation. "Are you willing to listen now?"

"Listen! Listen! Ask me anything, and I'll tell you everything I know!" Tai Po Blackie said immediately, his eyes fixed on the muzzle of the gun pressed against his temple.

"I only have one question! Where are those three Vietnamese guys, Ah Zha, Tony, and Ah Hu, based?"

Tai Po Blackie swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "They...they contacted me a few days ago, wanting me to help them unload their goods. But their offer was too low, and they weren't playing by the rules, so I didn't agree. Their hideout...they mentioned it briefly, saying they'd temporarily be based at an old shipyard in Chi Ma Wan, but I really don't know exactly where! They're very careful; they won't easily reveal the exact location!"

"The old Sesame Bay shipyard..." Song Zhaowen repeated, pressing the gun barrel slightly harder: "You're not lying to me?"

"No! Absolutely not!" Tai Po gangsters cried out urgently. "That's all I know! Brother, guns can easily go off, calm down..."

Song Zhaowen stared into his eyes for a few seconds. His gaze was calm and unwavering, yet it sent a chill down the spine of the Dapu gangsters. A few seconds later, Song Zhaowen slowly holstered his gun and took a step back.

"Thanks, Blackie."

The pressure suddenly disappeared, and Tai Po's legs went weak, almost causing him to lose his balance. He was supported by the henchmen next to him, panting heavily. He glared at Song Zhaowen with shock and anger, but dared not utter another harsh word. After all, this guy in front of him had pulled out a gun at the slightest provocation, which was terrifying!

Song Zhaowen tucked the gun back into his waistband and nodded to Xiao Zhuoxiao: "Let's go."

No one dared to stop him from behind.

It wasn't until he stepped out of the alley and felt the sea breeze that Xiao Zhuoxiao realized his shirt was completely soaked: "Damn... Awen, you're really brave."

"What's there to be afraid of?" Song Zhaowen took out a cigarette and handed one to him. "If he doesn't want to talk properly, then we'll talk in a way he can understand."

"Ah Wen, do you think the Tai Po triad might spread false information?"

"Pretending to be innocent? Isn't he afraid I'll go back and confront him?"

Chi Ma Wan is in Sai Kung, a small and unknown place, but there is a correctional service office located nearby.

It was also one of the Japanese strongholds in Hong Kong during World War II. To this day, there are still a few partially stranded and dilapidated ships in the bay, which serve as landmarks and have not been towed away.

Over the decades, with little management, it has become one of the most popular hiding places for homeless people and illegal immigrants.

The two men squatted by the pier until late at night before finally waiting for a large boat bound for Sai Kung. The boatman was a thin, dark-skinned old man who charged double the fare. He didn't say a word the whole way, except when they reached the shore, he said in a hoarse voice, "Young man, Chi Ma Wan isn't safe at night, be careful."

The moonlight was completely obscured by the clouds, making Sesame Bay look like a tattered cloth soaked in ink. In the distance, the searchlights of the Correctional Services Department swept weakly across the sea, making the outlines of the stranded, dilapidated ships nearby appear even more sinister, like the skeletons of giant beasts.

"Ah Wen, can people hide in this godforsaken place?" Xiao Zhuoxiao lowered his voice and walked forward on the slippery rocks.

In the pitch black, Xiao Zhuoxiao had no idea how his brother could see the road at night. Without him leading the way, Xiao Zhuoxiao had a feeling he would just be going around in circles.

Song Zhaowen did not answer, his gaze sweeping across the shore.

Although there were no streetlights, the world appeared completely black and white under night vision.

There were fresh footprints near the tide line, along with several crushed cigarette packs. He walked over, squatted down, and picked them up. They weren't the local brands. "Vietnamese cigarettes? Then the person must be nearby."

The two followed the trail deeper into the old shipyard. It wasn't really a shipyard; it was more like an abandoned repair shed. Half of the corrugated iron roof had collapsed, revealing the dark cliff behind it. A makeshift shed made of wooden planks had been hastily built on the side of the shed, and there was faint light and the sound of people inside.

There were sounds, and the tone was rapid, like an argument.

Song Zhaowen and Xiao Zhuoxiao crept along the rusted hull and crouched behind an oil drum a dozen meters from the wooden house. Inside were three men, the same three brothers from the photograph. Ah Zha sat in the only intact chair, legs crossed, peeling an apple with a dagger. Tony stood against the wall, fiddling with a dark pistol. The burlyest of them all, Ah Hu, squatted in the corner, silently polishing a machete.

"That gangster from Tai Po said he'd cut the price by 30%." Tony's voice was hoarse and angry. "He said the cops are cracking down hard lately, and things are in a lot of trouble."

"Fuck it, the bigger the storm, the more expensive the fish. No way you can haggle!"