In a way, he was the only one in his generation in the family who had ever been involved in the family's shady business. While his other brothers went to study abroad, he had already been following his father to manage the opium business. Compared to the other brothers in the Lin Family, he had seen far more threats and intimidation. By the time Lin Xiaoze returned to Hong Kong to take over the business, the Lin Family had almost lost its opium business.
Song Tianyao turned to look at the bewildered Lin Xiaokang and Lin Xiaojie, then turned back to Lin Xiao qia: "Looks like you're not very bright. Well, that's right, you're not the head of the Lin Family. Even if you were, you should be the one making the decisions. Go back and explain to the head of the Lin Family that I, Song Tianyao, have three fears in my life: being poor, suffering, and owing favors. The only thing I'm not afraid of is death, and I love fighting fiercely with others. If I don't see the Lin Family give me an explanation before my third aunt and Yunzhi are discharged from the hospital, then I'll give the Lin Family an explanation. Don't blame me for not giving you a heads-up."
"Song Tianyao, arrogant people don't live long. My father, the Lin Who Bullies Gods you mentioned, was even more arrogant than you back then." Lin Xiao qia patted Song Tianyao on the shoulder. "Ah Jing and Yunzhi's accident was very sudden. Tonight, I'll consider it your youthful indecisiveness and won't hold your words against you. But those underhanded tactics of hiring someone to commit murder, those so-called intimidation methods you mentioned, have been used by the Lin Family for three generations, starting from my grandfather."
Lin Xiao qia finally whispered in Song Tianyao's ear, "Give me money to kill the entire Lin Family? That won't scare me. If you dare to do it, I guarantee your family will die before you. The Lin Family will spare your fearless life and watch them die one by one. In business, there must be rules. Just because someone can hire someone to kill my father doesn't mean you can. I'll come to visit Ah Jing and her daughter again tomorrow when they wake up."
"Uncle Bing, let's go." Lin Xiao qia brushed past Song Tianyao.
Uncle Bing looked at Huang Liu, slowly withdrew the knife from his hand, put it away, and then followed Lin Xiao qia outside.
Lin Xiaokang, Lin Xiaojie, and the others followed Lin Xiao qia away.
"Mr. Lin," Song Tianyao said, standing still.
Lin Xiao qia stood at the door. "Speak."
"You want to witness fair and square methods?" Song Tianyao said, "Then the Lin Family will lose even more miserably."
"Many people make such boastful claims, and most of them end up drowning. I hope you're not next." After saying this, Lin Xiao qia left the ward without lingering.
Huang Liu put away his pistol and knife, and looked at Song Tianyao: "Boss, I was bragging about killing his whole family in one night, but killing just him is no problem. I can still come back and have a late-night snack with you."
"No need. If, in the end, I can't let the Lin Family Yunzhi the knife to Yunzhi in front of me, then consider me, Song Tianyao, a good-for-nothing." Song Tianyao's face was expressionless as he spoke slowly and deliberately, "Call Sister Yun Sister Fen Shu Yan, Sister Wen, and have Xinniang, Shi Yin, Xiu'er, Xiuer, Wanqing, Sister Wen, and Wenwen take turns staying at the hospital with Third Aunt and Yunzhi. Don't let them feel bored; try to cheer them up. Also, have Nine-Tattooed Dragon come and take good care of them. And have Yan Hung arrange for two armed police officers to guard outside the ward. If anyone from the Lin Family comes to visit and says something unpleasant that upsets Third Aunt and Yunzhi, have Nine-Tattooed Dragon kick them out."
"Understood." Huang Liu walked to the window, took out a cigarette, lit it, and looked out at the three cars with their headlights on, driving out of the hospital gate in a single file through the night.
Song Tianyao returned to the ward, tucked the blankets around Lin Yujing Feng Yunzhi, who were still unconscious, stood at the head of Feng Yunzhi's bed, and gently squeezed Feng Yunzhi's hand. His voice was gentle, as if making a promise to Feng Yunzhi, or as if he were encouraging himself.
"Wait for Brother Yiu to help you get revenge. There's nothing to be afraid of with the Lin Family, right? It's only 1952. Your Brother Yiu has plenty of ways to deal with us. We've never been afraid of Foreign Devil, so there's no reason for us to be intimidated by a so-called aristocratic family created by opium compradors."
After saying that, he released Feng Yunzhi's hand, returned to the sofa in the outer living room, and closed his eyes to rest. Huang Liu returned from making a phone call at the medical station:
"Boss, I've already called the factory. Sister Yun said she'll be there immediately with Xinniang and the other two. Ah Long is on his way too."
Song Tianyao sat quietly on the sofa for nearly an hour before Lou Fengyun arrived with Nine-Tattooed Dragon, Fu Xinniang, Shu Yan Shi Yin. It was clear that Nine-Tattooed Dragon had gone to the factory first and then came with the women.
"Take good care of Third Aunt and Yunzhi for me during this time," Song Tianyao said, getting up from the sofa and addressing Lou Fengyun and Nine-Tattooed Dragon, who were still somewhat bewildered.
Lou Fengyun looked at Song Tianyao: "What happened?"
"It's nothing, I'll take care of it as soon as possible." Song Tianyao smiled at Lou Fengyun, then walked resolutely towards the door without looking back. "Brother Six, take me to the Dulles Hotel, I need to Foreign Girl."
Huang Liu scratched his face and followed Song Tianyao outside. Even though he prided himself on his sharp mind, he had no idea what the boss he had chosen was thinking.
Sometimes, Song Tianyao seems to be a person with very little affection for his family. Now that he has so much wealth, his parents still live in an old-fashioned tenement building, and his grandfather lives in a dilapidated Kowloon City. Song Tianyao seems to have no intention of buying a big house and bringing his whole family to live together. He even occasionally complains to his parents that they always cause him trivial troubles.
But sometimes, family ties seem to be Song Tianyao's Achilles' heel. When Black-Hearted Wah tried to capture Song Wenwen, Song Tianyao personally intervened, stabbing her and damaging her kidney. The Foreign Devil at the orphanage committed heinous crimes, provoking his grandfather. Song Tianyao took a huge risk and killed the Foreign Devil to avenge his grandfather, Song Chengqi. Now, someone in the Lin Family has offended this mother and daughter. Huang Liu no longer dares to think whether his boss's claim of using his entire fortune to buy the lives of the Lin Family is true or false.
In Huang Liu's eyes, Song Tianyao didn't need to offer his entire fortune; even if he only offered ten million Hong Kong dollars as a covert bribe, it would be enough to provoke those desperate criminals in Macau to risk their lives to cross the sea to Hong Kong to do business. They would bring out grenades, explosives, and firearms one after another, and perhaps even force Hong Kong to rely on the British Army to maintain order.