The World Before the Wine and Beneath the Lamplight
Song Tianyao respectfully said, "When I get back tonight, I will help Mrs. Bess, the founder of Oxfam, to draft a development outline Oxfam Mrs. Bess in the near future, so that she can submit it to the Social Welfare Department of the Hong Kong Government within the next few days."
The conversation ended there. Chu Xiaoxin and Song Tianyao bid farewell to Lu Wenhui. Lu Wenhui saw them off from the study to the living room door, and hesitated to say something to Song Tianyao was walking behind them.
"A-Yao... Ah Sin, drive carefully on the road."
Song Tianyao and Chu Xiaoxin quickly thanked Mr. Lu for his concern. The two left the Lu Family's living room, and after getting into their car on the street, Song Tianyao rubbed his temples and thought about what Lu Wenhui had said when she left, "Drive carefully on the road."
This polite remark sounded rather abrupt; what exactly was he trying to say to me?
Chapter 249 Humanity Before the Wine Cup and Under the Lamp
Accompanied by Yan Hung, Song Tianyao met Lai Man-yau at Fung Yu Restaurant. They had a cup of tea and exchanged a few words.
It's nothing more than getting Lai Man-yau to come up with money, promising to take care of him, and giving him priority in selling him a set of equipment to open a wig factory.
Lai Man-yau is already quite old, and his current position within the Police Force is rather awkward. Taking over Liu Fu's position is impossible for him. Even if he wanted to advance further, his age means he might not have much time to recoup the money he bribed the Foreign Devil with. Furthermore, the Embargo Order and the influx of Japanese goods in the past two years have led to a slump in Hong Kong's economy. Even wealthy Chinese businessmen no longer have the lavish spending of the early post-war years to readily promote their own people; they now carefully consider their options before seeking truly capable individuals. Even if the Dongguan Chamber of Commerce waits for Liu Fu to retire... After stepping down, it seems that Hon Sam, the Detective Sergeant at the Causeway Bay Police Station, has an advantage over Lai Man-yau. Hon Sam is also a close associate of Liu Fu, a native of Dongguan, and younger at just thirty-two. He is shrewd and has connections with many second-generation heirs of the Dongguan Chamber of Commerce and wealthy young men, working for those playboys. He is somewhat similar to Yan Hung, who was accompanying him. As for Lai Man-yau, with Liu Fu stepping down and a new Chief Chinese Detective Chief Inspector appearing, the Yau Ma Tei Police Station, a prestigious location, will inevitably be his only option, and he will most likely have to reluctantly relinquish his position.
In the Dongguan Big Water Pipe industry, Lai Man-yau didn't have Liu Fu's connections and influence to persuade those Big Brothers to spend money to bribe the Foreign Devil and get him promoted. He was reluctant to use all his life savings to compete for the position of Chief Detective Chief Inspector, because if he failed, the Foreign Devil who had taken the money wouldn't return it. In the end, he would have neither the position nor any money left. It would be better to plan his business after retirement.
Lai Man-yau himself knew this, and Song Tianyao knew it too. That's why Song Tianyao suggested that he help Lai Man-yau's family open a small wig factory so they could earn a little money each year and live comfortably.
This greatly excited Lai Man-yau, because wealthy people treated them, the cops or gangsters, like servants, or even lower than some of their close servants. At least the maid in the Dongguan Zhou Family could mock him, and he didn't dare to talk back, he could only smile obsequiously.
Those important figures would praise and pat them if they were in a good mood, and scold and pat them if they were in a bad mood; it was practically a daily occurrence for them.
Even if the current Chief Chinese Detective Chief Inspector Liu Fu and the former Chief Chinese Detective Chief Inspector Yiu Muk amassed millions in the Police Force over the years, so what? They could only buy properties and become landlords. Did they not know how to do business? No, they dared not, because no one gave them the right connections. Yiu Muk's watch shop and jewelry store would have been squeezed out of Big Brother in no time if the Britain hadn't made special arrangements.
Those Big Brother always treat gangsters and cops the same way. "I can support you with my money, but if you want to become like me after you get money, no way. You used to be my dog, but just because I raised you to be smart and obedient like a human doesn't mean you can actually think you're a human being and that you can be on equal footing with me. You're a dog for a day, and you'll be a dog for a lifetime."
This attitude made Lai Man-yau unwilling to admit it, but the harsh reality left him helpless.
In the wig industry, Song Tianyao's factory was the first in Hong Kong, and it didn't involve the interests of other Big Brother. His willingness to help him open a small factory in this industry to make money was essentially giving him a stable path to wealth.
Lai Man-yau had even envisioned a factory slowly developing over a decade, allowing his son to grow up, attend university, and then take over the business. Perhaps this would change the family's fortunes, transforming the Lai Family into a merchant family. If the business grew significantly in the future, he might even be able to join the Dongguan Chamber of Commerce and become one of the Big Brother.
"Thank you, Mr. Song, thank you, Mr. Song." Lai Man-yau poured himself a full glass of wine and raised it to Song Tianyao: "I'll drink this first as a sign of respect."
Song Tianyao didn't dare to beat around the bush with Lai Man-yau Lu Wenhui because he was afraid, but he was straightforward and promised benefits to Lai Man-yau was no different from Yan Hung. As long as you could see through what he was thinking, he would be easy to deal with. Just like Yan Hung wanted a position in the Police Force, while Lai Man-yau wanted an opportunity after retirement.
"A-Hung, you stay and have a late-night Detective Chief Inspector Li. I have to go now." Song Tianyao touched his lips with tea and got up to leave.
Yan Hung agreed and called to A Wai beside him, "A Wai, you help take Mr. Song home. I'll have a few more drinks with Brother You."
After Song Tianyao left, Lai Man-yau finally relaxed and looked at Yan Hung with some envy. "A-Hung, you're lucky. Mr. Song was so generous. Maybe you can take Cheung Wing-kam's position in two years."
"Brother You, it's the same for you. You help Mr. Song, Mr. Song gives you the opportunity to open a factory. I'm envious. You know how difficult it is to open a factory in Hong Kong these days. How could those wealthy Big Brother let anyone enter the market and steal their business? Only Mr. Song is fair in rewarding and punishing anyone who works for him." Yan Hung said to Lai Man-yau with a smile, "With Mr. Song's support in your business, it's hard for you to be poor again."
Yan Hung's underling, A Wai, was driving for Song Tianyao. Song Tianyao was leaning back in the passenger seat with his eyes closed, resting. The car suddenly stopped, and Song Tianyao opened his eyes to see that A Wai had stopped the car at a red light on Prince Edward Road West.