"Yes, there is some. Although I saw you last time in the evening, I at least knew you arrived in Hong Kong in the afternoon. But I haven't received any news tonight, which is a bit unexpected." Song Tianyao did not deny it, staring at Song Chunzhong as he spoke.
Song Chunzhong nodded slightly, surveying the private room, and said, "I casually set up a scheme a while ago to help your deceased third uncle vent his anger, and incidentally do you a small favor as well—a win-win situation."
Song Tianyao didn't say anything, just listened quietly.
"When I returned to Hong Kong last time, I already knew you were going to clash with the Lin Family, who trafficked in opium. As your uncle, I should have stood up for you, but I've never been one for underhanded dealings; I only know the ways of the underworld. Besides, I don't have the resources to play along with the Lin Family. That's why I didn't tell you last time. Although I do have some businesses in Malaysia, those are for you to inherit, or for our Song Family to use as a fallback after you lose to the Lin Family and can't survive in Hong Kong. I don't have the capital to get involved. But you're my nephew, and of course I can't watch the powerful Lin Family bully the only son of the Song Family. So I resorted to some tricks." Song Chunzhong flicked his cigarette ash and said lazily, "The methods were a bit low-class, but they should have been very effective. Three days ago, in New Fuzhou, Sarawak, Su Wenting, a veteran of the Hong Kong Wo On Lok gang, and more than a dozen other Big Brother from the Wo On Lok gang, who I had tricked into going there, were discovered by the local military and police to be carrying firearms and secretly engaging in extremely serious espionage activities. They have been executed by firing squad."
Song Tianyao's eyes widened slightly. "Wo On Lok would be spies?"
"They really did become spies, charged with smuggling high-quality rubber seed stock to Mainland China. It was a top-tier strategic material embargoed by Malaya. I personally witnessed the military and police reading the verdict, and I personally saw them get their heads blown off one by one before they returned to Hong Kong." Song Chunzhong laughed. "You should know about the relationship between the Lin Family and Wo On Lok. Wo On Wo On Lok helped smuggle rubber seed stock to the mainland, even getting triad Big Brother involved personally. With such a large-scale operation, the Lin Family couldn't possibly be unaware. No matter how they explain, the Britain won't believe them; they'll only think..."
"They'll just assume that since everyone's dead, there's no way to verify anything, and the Lin Family is shirking responsibility," Song Tianyao said, his breathing becoming slightly heavier.
Song Chunzhong laughed, "Does this count as doing you a small favor?"
"Of course it's not a small favor. I just started targeting the Lin Family 'Lin Family Soda Factory. All the workers there are members of the 'Wo On Lok' Soda Factory. If this gets out, the Lin Family won't be able to hold onto their money so tightly anymore," Song Tianyao said. "But, you were helping your third uncle get revenge, how did you end up getting slapped by your grandfather again?"
Song Chunzhong poured himself a cup of tea, rubbing his swollen cheek and chuckling, "I deliberately said something to annoy your grandfather, so he'd hit me a few times. The more my face hurts, the better I feel. I haven't been able to fulfill my filial duties for so many years; I wouldn't feel comfortable if he didn't hit me."
"Regarding the matter of Wo On Lok's people engaging in espionage activities in Malaysia, the Malaysia side..." Song Tianyao paused for a moment when Song Chunzhong said that he had deliberately provoked a fight, then turned his attention back to what had just happened.
Song Chunzhong held a teacup to his lips. "If you're going to set up a scheme, you have to do it completely. My rubber plantation and I have both received praise and letters of thanks, and the military and police involved have also been commended. The Britain in Malaysia immediately published in the newspapers that Malaysia had cracked a China spy case, which has sealed the whole matter. I only came to Hong Kong three days after the incident, just to first use money to bribe various well-known newspapers in Malaysia. Let me show you these newspapers."
He finished the tea in the teacup in one gulp, then opened the bag next to him, took out more than a dozen newspapers, and handed them to Song Tianyao.
Song Tianyao took the newspapers and flipped through them. There were five English newspapers and the remaining three were Chinese newspapers. The English newspapers put the espionage case on the front page, and the intention to criticize China was self-evident. However, the Chinese newspapers did not place the case in such a prominent position, and they were also vague, just briefly mentioning it, obviously not wanting to focus on this kind of news.
After reading through all the newspaper articles about the espionage case, Song Tianyao discovered a common thread: none of the newspapers mentioned where the spies came from; they only stated that the military and police had arrested a group of China spies disguised as tourists Malaysia, who were attempting to smuggle a large quantity of high-quality rubber seeds.
"We didn't reveal the identities of He Wo On Lok and his group," Song Tianyao said to Song Chunzhong after finishing reading the newspaper.
Song Chunzhong nodded, exhaled a smoke ring, and said casually, "I'm stalling for you, but not for long. Malaysia has cracked a China spy case, and the Britain are eager to use this news to criticize China in international public opinion. When the London newspapers publish it, they will be very detailed. I can only stall Malaysia for now, letting them be vague for a while to give you some time. Otherwise, if this news suddenly breaks, the Lin Family will be very surprised, and you will be just as surprised. Unlike now, you can calm down and think about how to use this to target the Lin Family."
"Uncle, compared to you..." Song Tianyao, with a pile of newspapers spread out in front of him, pondered for ten minutes until Qi Weiwen brought in a late-night snack. He then said sincerely to Song Chunzhong, "I feel utterly insignificant. If the Lin Family really collapses this time, it will definitely be because of you. Take your time eating. I need to go and do some things now. Uncle, you must stay in Hong Kong for a few more days this time. After I'm done with my work, I'll take you around Hong Kong."
Before Song Chunzhong could reply, he grabbed the pile of newspapers, stood up, and hurriedly walked outside. Huang Liu, who was following Song Tianyao downstairs, peeked into the private room. The swollen-cheeked Uncle Song Family had no air of superiority and was wolfing down a bowl of wonton noodles in front of him.
"Boss, your uncle stares straight at the food in his bowl while eating; his eating manners are just like yours," Huang Liu said softly as he walked up the stairs behind Song Tianyao.
Song Tianyao, clutching the newspapers from Malaysia, said, "Drive, I need to see Hong Lai-sau now."
"That guy probably just finished his work and climbed into bed to rest with his girlfriend. Boss, Song Advisor also advises you to go to sleep early, so why don't you..." Huang Liu deliberately exaggerated a yawn when he heard that Song Tianyao still had to meet someone in the early hours of the morning, and began to advise him.