Mangongshi wasn't actually blind; he'd been taken by his father to sing blind folk songs in the streets for several years as a child, hence the nickname. As a leader for Gao Lao Cheng, the Double Red Pole of Fuyixing, he must be quite sharp-minded, at least more insightful than Gao Lao Cheng, whom Song Tianyao had praised. Hearing Gao Lao Cheng's question, the somewhat thin and short Mangongshi, lacking any air of wisdom, picked his nose, flicked away a booger, and then squatted down to wipe his fingers on Gao Lao Cheng's clothes before replying:
"Secretaries are there to advise those big bosses Big-Time Tycoons. Advisors and accountants are like me—barely smarter than you guys who risk your lives for money. A little knowledge of the ocean depths and basic math is enough. How can I compare to the secretaries of those big bosses? Didn't you mention last time that Secretary Song sold Red Pole Hung to Sha Tau Kok without batting an eye, and Red Pole Hung was even grateful to Young Master Shun? From the incident to noon the next day, it was only one night and half a day, and the whole thing was done perfectly. All the people in Hong Kong who come out under the guise of 'White Paper Fans,' including myself, might not be able to do it so well in one night. Besides, she speaks English and knows how to do business and make money. That's why she can accompany big bosses to have fun, while I can only accompany you, a thug, to the pier to enjoy the breeze."
"You blind Mangongshi, do you think I'm your Dad or a blind old man? Do you think I'm an idiot? I'm lying here with my eyes wide open, do you think I'm blind? You dare to smear your snot on my clothes? Do you want to die?" Gao Lao Cheng cursed at Mangongshi Shi, who was squatting next to him.
Although he was cursing, he didn't move his body and remained lying down.
He and Mangongshi had known each other for many years. When they first met, they were both just young men from the Fuyixing Yee Hing gang. They fled back to the mainland together when Hong Kong fell to the Hong Kong, and returned to Hong Kong together after its liberation. They had faced life and death together countless times, standing side by side. Gao Lao Cheng was too lazy to raise his hand to playfully fight with him over such a small gesture. Mangongshi, intimidated by his reputation as Double Red Pole, also restrained himself.
"I've never seen another gang leader act like you, almost thirty years old, still like a child. There are so many brothers on the docks, seeing a gang leader smear his snot on the clothes of the gang Big Brother, who's more shameful, you or me?"
"You've got something to do again," Mangongshi said, looking towards the distant shore. "Because the Xianyu Shuan has resurfaced."
Gao Lao Cheng up from the plank road and looked in the direction of the Mangongshi's gaze. Sure enough, there was Xianyu Shuan hat clutched in his hand as a fan, running towards them while fanning his shiny bald head.
"Brother Shing, Secretary Song said something to you..."
Xianyu Shuan ran over to Gao Lao Cheng and Mangongshi before lowering his voice to say the rest, "Secretary Song wants you to hire the police to raid a factory in North Point, taking everything, including the people and goods, and also to bring a photographer to take pictures."
His words were already somewhat incoherent. Gao Lao Cheng frowned as he sized up Xianyu Shuan, the old man. Mangongshi, seeing that no one was around, forcefully slapped Xianyu Shuan's bald head and said from the side, "Damn it! Are you out of your mind? Did I give you a tin megaphone so you could shout all over the world, trying to provoke the Big Brother?"
Xianyu Shuan, covering his bald head, took a few breaths and said with a forced smile, "I misspoke, I misspoke. Someone called the police, the cops raided the factory, Brother Shing led some people to help as good citizens, and a photographer happened to pass by and took some photos for us."
"I know." Gao Lao Cheng's brows furrowed almost into a knot. After a moment of contemplation, he said to Mangongshi, "I'll go find Headless. This guy is from Chiu Chow people and has good connections with the Police Force Foreign Devil. It'll be safer for him to lead the team. I'll take a dozen or so men to help out at the North Point factory. You help me find a photographer to go and take pictures. Keep the developed photos close to your body."
Xianyu Shuan had caught his breath and, seeing that Gao Lao Cheng and Mangongshi had both heard him clearly, turned around to return the way he came.
"Hey, catch your breath before you go, are you rushing to your death? You're never this hardworking when you're helping the gang, watch out, you're so reckless." Seeing Xianyu Shuan turn and run, Mangongshi gave him a warning.
"Thank you for your concern, Brother Shi, I'm fine," Xianyu Shuan replied as he ran.
Although Gao Lao Cheng didn't understand Song Tianyao's plans, he was efficient enough to execute them. He personally went to the Central Police Station and asked Lam Kong plainclothes officer who was also from Chiu Chow people, to help him get seven or eight Uniformed Branch. Then, Fuyixing arranged for a dozen or so underlings to rush to North Point and quickly raid the factory in North Point that was processing Penicillin packaging for Zhang Yuliang. Meanwhile, Mangongshi arranged for a photographer to take pictures of all the counterfeit packaging, workers, police officers, and so on in the factory. He personally escorted the photographer back to the photo studio to develop the photos.
When Lam Kong and Gao Lao Cheng took the factory's people and goods to the police station, Zhang Yuliang's private lawyer Lawyer Pan, had already found out about the news and called Zhang Yuliang at the clubhouse in Tsim Sha Tsui. Upon learning that the factory had been raided, Zhang Yuliang personally spoke up to take down Song Tianyao.
Zhao Meizhen used the hardwood door latch she used in the Squatter Area to barricade the door, then had Song Wenwen carry a large bucket of water and wed it behind the latch. She pushed the latch twice with all her might, but it wouldn't budge. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief and sit back down in the living room chair, staring blankly at the multi-purpose box on the living room table. Next to the multi-purpose box, Zhao Meizhen had placed a kitchen knife.
Lou Fengyun stood to the side, tapping away crisply on the borrowed abacus. Finally, she gave a sharp shake, reducing the abacus to zero, and then looked up at Zhao Meizhen, saying, "Auntie Zhen, after four calculations, the headcount is 7,720 yuan, the soy sauce is 213.75 yuan, making a total of 7,933.75 yuan."
"Um... Lou Fengyun, your leg injury hasn't healed yet, you should rest." Zhao Meizhen had just sat down when she heard Lou Fengyun's words and immediately stood up, bringing a bowl of herbal tea from the kitchen and placing it beside Lou Fengyun: "Have a cup of herbal tea to calm your mind and reduce internal heat."
"Auntie Zhen." Lou Fengyun picked up her iced tea and took a sip. Seeing Zhao Meizhen staring intently at the multi-treasure box on the table without blinking, she smiled and said, "Don't worry, Auntie Zhen, nothing will happen."