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

Chapter 10: Doing a favor for the gang

Song Zhaowen and Xiao Zhuoxiao exchanged a glance.

Finally, Uncle Xiang spoke, his voice calm and devoid of emotion: "Ah Xiao, Ah Wen, sit down."

Two plastic stools were handed over from the corner. The two sat down.

"We've all heard about what happened last night," Uncle Cheung said slowly. "Yau Ma Tei, Dynasty Nightclub, they took Prince Tai hostage, injured more than a dozen of Hung Tai's men, and still managed to escape unscathed. You two, pretty impressive, huh?"

Xiao Zhuoxiao quickly said, "Uncle Xiang, there's a reason for this. It was Prince Tai who set a trap for me and even kidnapped my sister... It has nothing to do with Awen."

"I know," Uncle Xiang interrupted him, his tone still calm. "Hua Liuming set up the scheme, and Prince Tai kidnapped people. It's only right that you go to rescue them, but the problem is..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the two men's faces: "You rescued people using Zhengxing's name, which is a slap in the face to Hongtai. Now, Prince Tai has issued a kill order with a 500,000 tael reward, and the entire martial arts world is watching how Zhengxing will respond."

Big Guang couldn't help but interject, his voice rough and hoarse: "What kind of trouble are you talking about? Those two bastards caused this mess themselves, they should clean it up themselves. Do you expect the gang to take the blame for you?"

Xiao Zhuoxiao's face turned pale. He wanted to explain, but Song Zhaowen gently pressed his arm down.

Song Zhaowen raised his head, looking at Uncle Xiang and then at Uncle Fu, who had remained silent: "Uncle Xiang, Brother Guang, this matter was caused by us brothers, it won't implicate the gang. We came here firstly to explain to Grandpa and all the uncles, and secondly... to ask what the gang's rules are? Are they going to hand us over?"

Uncle Xiang glanced at Uncle Fu. Uncle Fu still had his eyes half-closed, as if he were asleep.

"The bylaws?" Uncle Cheung pushed up his glasses. "According to the gang rules, if someone provokes another gang in private and causes a conflict, the consequences range from mild punishment to severe punishment... being stabbed three times and expelled from the gang."

Xiao Zhuoxiao's body trembled, and Song Zhaowen's eyes narrowed slightly, but his face remained unchanged.

"However," Uncle Xiang changed the subject, "in this matter, Prince Tai was in the wrong first. Although Zhengxing is a bit small, we are not to be bullied. If we just hand you over or enforce the family rules, what will outsiders think? They will say that Zhengxing is afraid of Hong Tai and can't even protect its own brothers; besides, your eldest brother, Cheng, has also lost his life for the gang, making it as if you two have no eldest brother at all; if the punishment is unfair, the brothers in the gang will be disheartened. It's really a difficult situation. You two have really given the gang a hard time."

Big Guang snorted coldly: "Of course it's a problem! Are you suggesting we make a film with Hong Tai just for the sake of those two? What kind of environment is this? Making money is the priority, Uncle Xiang!"

"Opening the film is definitely not an option," Uncle Xiang shook his head. "But we can't just let it go like this either, Grandpa's idea is..."

He finally looked at Uncle Fu.

Uncle Fu stopped playing with the walnuts and slowly opened his eyes.

He looked at Song Zhaowen for a long while before slowly speaking: "Wenzi, I heard that you used Bajiquan to take down more than a dozen people last night, including two skilled bodyguards of Prince Tai. There are no martial arts masters in the entire Hong Kong martial arts school who can teach you that. Where did you learn it?"

The question came as a surprise, and everyone was taken aback. What did Uncle Fu mean? Why did the topic jump so quickly?

Song Zhaowen remained unfazed: "When I was a child, I learned a few moves of Bajiquan from an old man who performed martial arts in the park. I practiced them on my own without much thought."

I can't exactly say I've mutated, because nobody would believe me anyway.

"Blindly practicing?" Uncle Fu's lips twitched, as if he smiled, but then again, he didn't. "Blindly practicing and you've developed a deadly skill?"

Song Zhaowen shrugged: "When pushed to the limit, your potential will be unleashed; people in dire straits are capable of anything."

"Unleashing potential..." Uncle Fu repeated, neither confirming nor denying. He shifted his gaze to Xiao Zhuoxiao.

"Ah-Xiao, is your sister alright?"

Xiao Zhuoxiao quickly replied, "It's nothing, I was just a little frightened, but I'm in a safe place now."

"Hmm." Uncle Fu nodded, closed his eyes again, and began to slowly twirl the walnuts with his fingers. "Ultimately, this matter is because Hong Tai is unreasonable. But Hong Tai has grown stronger and more powerful in the past two years. The gang wants to stand up for you, but there are also dissenting voices within the organization. How about this, do something for the gang, and after it's done, the gang will take responsibility for your situation!"

Xiao Zhuoxiao's eyes lit up, as if he had grasped a lifeline: "Grandpa, what is it? As long as it can solve this problem, my brothers and I will definitely do it!"

Uncle Fu didn't open his eyes, but slowly said, "A while ago, a shipment of high-end smuggled goods from Japan was intercepted by the 'Vietnamese Gang' in the waterways near Changdao. The goods were quite valuable, and two of the brothers in charge of escorting them were injured. Those Vietnamese gang members are unruly and ruthless. Not only did they steal the goods, they also said that they would rob any Zhengxing ship that passes through those waters every time they see it."

He paused, then continued, "The gang sent men to raid several times, but three guys from the Vietnamese gang named Ah Zha, Tony, and Ah Hu were very skilled and injured many of our brothers! Even Ah Yong was hospitalized after being beaten."

The man Fu Ye mentioned, Ah Yong, was the most capable Red Stick in Zhengxing, yet he still fell to the Vietnamese gang.

"Losing the goods doesn't matter, but the gang's reputation is paramount!"

Uncle Xiang took over, his voice lowering even further: "So, Grandpa's idea is that you're in charge of handling this matter. Take care of the three leaders of the Vietnamese gang, get that batch of goods back, and let the underworld know that Zhengxing's reputation isn't just for show."

Big Guang scoffed, glancing sideways at the two: "The two of them? Even Yong couldn't handle them. Are you sending them to their deaths?"

Uncle Cheung pushed up his glasses, his tone flat: "Brother Guang, that's not how it works. Ah Yong is good at fighting, but he's disciplined and knows how to conduct himself. Those three from the Vietnamese gang are lunatics, they don't play by the rules, and they've figured out Ah Yong's background perfectly." He looked at Song Zhaowen: "Hard Fist Wen, he made a name for himself in Yau Ma Tei last night, he's ruthless and powerful enough, let's give him a chance."

Song Zhaowen clenched his fist: "Vietnamese? I like beating up Vietnamese people, but Uncle Xiang, let me add something: are you working for the gang? Did the gang take on Zheng Tai's wanted order?"

Uncle Fu finally opened his eyes again. His bright eyes, unlike those of an elderly person, stared at Song Zhaowen and slowly nodded: "Your grandpa never makes things up. He not only covered for you, but he also did a great job. You don't need to squat on the street collecting debts anymore. You can take care of Silly Kui's territory in Tsz Wan Shan."

Xiao Zhuoxiao's breath hitched; this was his chance to rise to power.

"However," Uncle Xiang added, his voice turning colder, "if you can't handle it, or if you fail outside... then it has nothing to do with the gang. It's your own incompetence, and you'll have to bear the consequences."

"Okay." Song Zhaowen turned around, his voice not loud, but steady: "We'll take it."