"Chai Fa Chiu, whether I forced you into prostitution or it was consensual, this is Kowloon City, not your Mong Kok. You're ruining my business, are you tired of living?!" Ignoring the two pistols pointed at him, Rat Xiang slammed his fist on the table and roared at Wong Wan-chiu, "You think you can scare people with a few short guns? Believe me, I'll make sure you bastards never leave this apartment!"
Wong Wan-chiu, dressed in a flamboyant white suit, lit a cigarette, then slowly and deliberately took out a pistol from its holster, pointed it at Rat Xiang, and arrogantly said, "I'll take you on! You dare to touch this woman without even investigating? Miss Wanqing is my protégé! I'll have my men take Miss Wanqing out to my car right now. If you dare let your men touch her, I'll accuse you of assaulting a police officer and smash your head in. You guys, take Miss Wanqing out to my car first. I'll stay and see clearly how this bastard dares to touch me!"
"Understood, Brother Chao." Several men escorted Meng Wanqing outside. Meng Wanqing turned to look at Wong Wan-chiu, Wong Wan-chiu smiled easily at her, "Don't be afraid, Miss Wanqing. Go out with my brothers first. I'll be down soon."
After his subordinates and Meng Wanqing had left and the corridor was quiet, Rat Xiang lazily sat back down at his desk, head down, and said impatiently, "Alright, that girl's gone downstairs. Put her away, be careful not to accidentally smother her."
Wong Wan-chiu put away his pistol, walked to Rat Xiang's table, tapped the surface, took out a cigarette and offered it to him, saying with a grin, "Hey, it's just asking Brother Xiang to help me put on a show. We're brothers, is this how it has to be?"
"Going after a girl is fine, but if she doesn't agree, just have one of the guys load her up in the car and take her to a room to print some paper." Rat Xiang looked up and took Wong Wan-chiu's cigarette, saying, "Kowloon's Eighteen Tigers, you're seventeenth. You want to play the hero to save the damsel in distress? You want me, your ninth brother, to put on this act for you? If the other brothers find out, they'll laugh their heads off!"
"I don't like your crude methods. What's the fun in forcing a woman? This girl is clearly cold on the outside but warm on the inside. She seems chaste and aloof, but I've asked her out several times and she's refused. I don't want to force myself on her, so it's all an act. Then I'll take her out for a few drinks to calm her nerves, and finally, she'll half-heartedly agree. When she thanks me, I'll make it happen, and she'll take me home as her third wife. She'll be devoted to me from now on, and everyone's happy. The other brothers won't laugh at you; they'll just praise you for helping your brothers and being loyal." Wong Wan-chiu Rat Xiang to put a cigarette in his mouth, then lit it for him and said with a smile.
"Kowloon's Eighteen Tigers" refers to eighteen renowned figures in the Kowloon region, from different factions, who, despite their differences, held each other in high regard. They formally swore an oath of brotherhood by burning yellow paper and beheading a chicken, a name that spread throughout the martial arts world. These eighteen individuals, from different factions and with their own businesses, were brothers. They swore that, except when their respective gangs clashed and direct confrontations were unavoidable, they would always support each other. The eighteen brothers were of one mind, working together to make a living.
The one who initiated this sworn brotherhood was White Paper Fan, who had just made a name for himself in the Mong Kok area on the 14K, Scribe Tan, who made a living by lending money at high interest rates. Others, such as the brothers Heizai Jie Heizai Yiu, Shar Pei Dog Handsome Keung Handsome Mau Chu Yau-chai, the brothers Gold-Tooth Lin and Leung Ma, Gold Rat Xiang, Chai Fa Chiu Chao, and others, were all rising stars in the underworld who could stand on their own in Kowloon. Among these eighteen people, the lowest status was White Paper Fan. Chai Fa Chiu, a cop, was only twenty-five years old, but thanks to his godfather Lai Man-yau, he had already earned the title of Red Pole of the He-prefix gangs.
Rat Xiang took a drag of his cigarette and chuckled, "Then you'll be the brother-in-law of the Opium Addict Hing? That guy's got a powerful backer now. Watch out, he might eat you out of house and home."
"Brother-in-law? I'll take it. You think you can take advantage of me like I'm an idiot? Brother Xiang, for such a small matter, just help me find a few capable men and throw him into the sea. Take the woman to bed, I don't care if her family lives or dies." Wong Wan-chiu said, taking out five hundred yuan from his wallet and placing it in front of Rat Xiang: "Let the brothers who did the job take this money for tea."
"It's nothing. I'm just looking out for you, not my sworn brother. I'll arrange for someone to send your cheap brother-in-law to his grave later. Speaking of which, in Yau Ma Tei, Harmony Heroes recently opened a new Opium den, taking away a lot of business from my Big Brother Ho's shop. You know he admires you, and coincidentally, you..."
"Alright, I'll definitely help with Brother Ho's matter. Tomorrow I'll talk to my godfather and have him arrange for people to raid the shops a few times. I can't talk to you anymore, the woman is waiting for me in the car." Wong Wan-chiu put away his wallet, straightened his clothes, and turned to walk out.
"You've already got three wives at such a young age, be careful you don't become impotent!" said the Rat Xiang behind him, leering.
Wong Wan-chiu walked out of the Flower Arrangement Apartment, got into his car parked outside, and dismissed his men, telling them to go and have some fun. He then drove Meng Wanqing himself, blinked his dry eyes, and turned to look at the cold and beautiful woman. "The police station was busy today. After finishing, I was going to the seafood restaurant to support Miss Wanqing, but when I got there, I heard that you were brought here because of your brother Ah Hing. So I rushed over with my men. How was it? Did I scare you?"
"Thank you, Officer Huang, thank you so much. I'm alright." Meng Wanqing smoothed her slightly disheveled hair and sincerely thanked Wong Wan-chiu.
If Wong Wan-chiu hadn't suddenly arrived to save him, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
"Since you're not going to work at the seafood restaurant tonight, and I haven't had dinner yet, how about I treat you to dinner? I know a restaurant in Mong Kok Fung Yu Restaurant, their signature dishes are one meat and one vegetable, 'Magpie's Nest Seafood Treasure' and 'Mandarin Duck Bamboo Shoots,' they're very famous." As Wong Wan-chiu spoke, his hand reached for the gear shift, but instead of moving, it wandered towards Meng Wanqing's leg. Meng Wanqing was still tense, but she keenly noticed his movement, and slightly moved her legs to the side to avoid his hand, her eyes looking at Wong Wan-chiu: "No need, thank you, Officer Huang, I'm a little tired today and want to go home and rest early."
Wong Wan-chiu chuckled, "Let's eat first before going home. No matter how tired you are, you still need to eat. Besides, considering I helped you this time, it's not too much to ask that you have dinner with me, is it?"
Just then, Meng Wanqing glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the plainclothes officers who had just rescued her with Wong Wan-chiu outside the Flower Arrangement Apartment, now sitting arm in arm with several of Rat Xiang, smoking and chatting merrily.