Thinking of Shanghai Outside Lichi (Continued)
Without his wife's status, even if Shek Chi-yik's postwar rewards didn't match those of his wartime colleagues, his contributions to the economic and political affairs of Britain overseas colonies were considerable. Moreover, as a true expert on Hong Kong, the Britain Colonial Office included him as one of the nine core members of the Hong Kong Planning Group in 1944, responsible for formulating Britain postwar governance policies for Hong Kong and preparing for Japan's defeat and surrender and Hong Kong to Britain rule. It was his former superior MacDougall, who personally suggested including him in the core group. However, due to his wife's Australia Aboriginal status, he was ultimately excluded and remained in London, unable to return to Hong Kong with the rest of the group to share in the postwar credits and positions.
If it weren't for the fact that the new Governor Grantham and the former Governor Young had different political views, and that after careful analysis of the situation in London and Hong Kong, Shek Chi-yik publicly expressed his support for Grantham, who had not yet officially taken office, by making this move to curry favor with Grantham, he probably wouldn't even be able to hold the position of Deputy Director of the Industrial and Commercial Administration Office today, and would still be stuck in the middle ranks of the Hong Kong Colonial Government with the title of Second-Class Cadet Officer Civil Service Officer.
Even Grantham, upon learning that his wife was an Aboriginal from the Australia colony, regretfully postponed his report next month recommending that the Colonial Department promote Shek Chi-yik to First-Class Officer.
The 40-year-old Second-Class Cadet Officer, who went to Hong Kong at the age of 24 as a University of Cambridge graduate to begin his colonial political career, is still Second-Class Cadet Officer 16 years.
Shek Chi-yik took a small sip of red wine. It was a little astringent. His reflection was in the bright glass of the floor-to-ceiling window. He was still impeccably dressed in a suit, just as he had been in his youth. However, his thinning hair, wrinkles on his face, huge eye bags, and slightly red nose were no longer the same as they used to be.
Looking out the window at himself, Shek Chi-yik recalled his high school days at St. Lawrence College.
At that time, he was a student leader in the academy, and he could confidently represent the students in dialogue with the dean, advocating for the students' rights within the school.
He recalled the high spirits he felt when he graduated from University of Oxford and was invited by three political organizations to join them as assistant secretaries.
He also considered pursuing further studies at Queen's College University of Cambridge, but within a year, colonial officials were eager to recruit him and invited him to go overseas to manage the colonies for the Queen.
I recalled meeting my wife at the Anglican Church in London, dating her, and proposing to her in front of fellow church members, her tearful smile mingling with joy.
Thinking of his resolute words to his wife, he knew that no matter what happened, he would change her life.
Thinking back to the anxiety I felt when my first child was born, and the worries I had about his/her future...
As he thought about it, Shek Chi-yik suddenly realized that tears were streaming down his face as reflected in the glass. There was no expression of sadness or grief, only tears flowing down his numb face until they blurred his vision.
"Darling, what's wrong?" Mrs. Bess, holding the cigar box that Song Tianyao had specially chosen, stood not far behind Shek Chi-yik, looking at her husband's reflection in the glass window, and asked softly.
Shek Chi-yik wiped his eyes with a handkerchief from his suit pocket, and turned around as if nothing had happened. "It's nothing, maybe some sand got in my eyes. Don't worry, darling, get some rest."
As usual, the main entrance of the Lichi Nightclub was completely jammed with traffic. Several waiters in red vests and white shirts, who were responsible for greeting customers at the nightclub entrance, were sweating profusely but didn't have time to wipe it away. They were busy directing traffic in the flow of cars and also had to smile and deal with the curses from the rich young men who came to have fun as they got out of their cars.
After a long and difficult wait, the lads finally got out of the car and entered the nightclub. The driver drove away, clearing space in front of the entrance, and the waiters also pushed the waiting rickshaws further away. Finally, they had a moment of peace. One waiter wiped the sweat from his brow, straightened up, and took a deep breath. He muttered something in Shanghai to the group of rich young men who had already entered the nightclub, "Damn it! Back in Shanghai Bund, not to mention these glamorous young masters, even the police chief wouldn't dare to act so arrogantly at the entrance. They'd have to politely greet their brothers and offer them a cigarette before going in. These Hong Kong lads, do they think our Green Gang runs a soup kitchen? If this were still Shanghai Bund, I would have led my brothers to burn down the houses of these bastards who're always cursing!"
Another waiter took out a pack of cheap Double Happiness cigarettes from his pocket and offered one to his complaining companion. "Even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. Boss Du in poor health; I heard he's bedridden. We're leaderless. Mr. Choi Fat may seem powerful on the surface, but he's just maintaining the status quo. These local Hung Mun gangs aren't like the Hung Mun branches on the Mainland that are familiar with the Green Gang. There's always some camaraderie there. These gangs are ruthless and greedy. Let's just bear with it for now. When Mr. Du or Mr. Choi Fat steps up to take charge, our Green Gang will turn Hong Kong upside down sooner or later."
He was comforting his companion with a cigarette dangling from his lips when a waiter in a black vest with a short beard approached. The two men, who were taking a breather, quickly smiled at each other, and the waiter even offered one of his Double Happiness cigarettes to the other. "Brother Fei, have a smoke."
The leader waved his hand, took out a box of Ho Choi from his pocket, and lit it. "What? What are you two talking about so suspiciously?"
"Brother Fei, back in Shanghai Bund, even if we weren't big bosses or tycoons, even if we were just doormen and shoe shiners at the Paramount, we'd never been insulted like this. This local shrew, if you're even a step slow in greeting him, he'll open his mouth and curse your mother. If this were back in Shanghai Bund, we would have already taken a few brothers, kidnapped him, extorted a fortune from his family, and thrown him into the Huangpu River, cutting off his family's lineage." The waiter who started complaining was clearly very familiar with Brother Fei, and without any hesitation, he lit a cigarette for him and spoke up.
Brother Fei exhaled a smoke ring, turned his head towards the magnificent scene at the nightclub entrance, snorted, and lowered his voice, saying, "No rush. Mr. Du's health is poor, and rumors say he might not last much longer. Mr. Choi Fat has sent word that while Mr. Du is alive, he cannot break the Green Gang's seniority and rules. If Mr. Du passes away, he plans to hold the Hong Kong Green Gang's inaugural ceremony. Only then will it be our chance to risk our lives for Mr. Choi Fat and make a name for ourselves."