Hon Sam's appointment with Yan Hung today was actually an attempt to ease his awkward position. He joined the Hong Kong Police Force in 1940, making him a veteran with no criminal record. When the Japan invaded Hong Kong, Hon Sam voluntarily fled back to Dongguan, unlike Yan Hung and Lui Lok, who worked for the Japan. The Britain generally disliked Chinese police officers with a history of opportunism, and Hon Sam's loyalty to the Britain was considered exemplary, with former Chief Chinese Detective Chief Inspector Yiu Muk serving only one master. However, the Britain valued money more than loyalty. Initially, they praised these loyal servants and awarded them medals, but they were quickly drawn to money. Lui Lok and Yan Hung, despite their past controversies, had risen to prominence and surpassed him, leaving him, an aging veteran, practically standing at attention.
Yan Hung's purpose in asking him to help him move from Wan Chai District to another district, out of consideration for their past police academy classmates, was to ask Yan Hung to do something for him. Even if it meant working as Yan Hung's deputy in Yau Ma Tei, it would be better than being treated like air under Liang Pei's command.
In the end, they only invited Yan Hung to drink at the Golden Phoenix Dance Floor, but all four of them ended up sitting on this table.
"We all wear the same clothes, so what's so strange about sitting together and drinking?" Yan Hung glanced at Lui Lok and spoke up.
Lui Lok then smiled and said, "Brother Hung is right. Harmony brings wealth. We're all brothers, so there's nothing strange about it. I heard from my friend that there's a pretty girl at the Golden Phoenix Dance Floor who dances quite well. Let me make it clear first, I'm definitely not here for her. To avoid hurting feelings, I'll say it now."
"I've been busy tracking down counterfeit money these past few days, and I haven't even had time to satisfy my wife yet. How could I be in the mood to take advantage of other women?" Yan Hung added.
Lam Kong raised his hand. "Of course it's me! Anyway, it's fate that we're all here tonight, no matter how strange it may seem. Let me meet that handsome guy first before we talk."
Chapter 468, "The Tempest Sonata"
Lu Rongkang reached into the insulated cigar box on the coffee table, took out a cigar, removed the cap, lit a match, and gently heated it for two seconds before puffing out pale blue smoke.
He wasn't a very assertive businessman who needed cigars to enhance his image. Although he had a grandfather who was known as the godfather of the Malaya Chinese, he didn't inherit Lu You's domineering and sweeping presence in the Malaya business world. Most of the time, he was calm and unhurried, a typical Confucian businessman. Tonight, he was lighting a cigar, actually feeling a little nervous.
The person he was nervous about was his cousin, Lu Yuanchun, who was sitting opposite him, smiling at him.
Lu Yuanchun wore a light purple floral dress, her face was unadorned, her hair fell obediently over her shoulders, and her fair and smooth legs were crossed casually on the sofa. She looked like a stay-at-home, unemployed girl next door who didn't care about the world. However, despite her gentle and delicate appearance, the words she uttered made Lu Rongkang's heart skip a beat. He couldn't help but light a cigar to interrupt the conversation and ease the tension.
"I know what Brother Kang is worried about," Lu Yuanchun said softly. "As long as Brother Kang agrees, I can immediately have my lawyer prepare a contract to transfer the shares of Malaya Guangyi Bank to you. That way, no matter what happens in the future, even if it makes things a bit difficult for Brother Kang in the Hong Kong business world, the Guangyi Bank shares he acquires will be enough to make up for it."
"Chunmei, Guangyi Bank is a legacy from your grandfather. Even if you entrust it to someone else, you'll be set for life. With your grandfather's reputation and the Guangyi Bank's dividends, you can live comfortably for decades. With a little savings, it's enough for two or three generations. Why... gamble your entire fortune?" Lu Rongkang exhaled a puff of smoke, then looked up at Lu Yuanchun: "Although I haven't asked about your business in Hong Kong, from what I understand, you seemed to have intervened when the Lin Family and Song Tianyao were fighting. Take my advice: don't be fooled by Song Tianyao's gamble with his entire fortune." Xiang wanted to emulate him and take a gamble. Every year in Hong Kong, ten people risk their lives, but only one, Song Tianyao, survives. The other nine either leave their homes and never return, or simply perish in Victoria Harbour. Moreover, the future of the surviving Song Tianyao, whether he can truly establish himself in Hong Kong, is uncertain. In business, taking shortcuts is a major taboo. Once you've taken a shortcut, returning to the right path is incredibly difficult. Even if you want to do business honestly and fairly, others won't give you a chance.
Lu Yuanchun gently unwrapped a piece of imported Thailand milk candy, put it in her mouth and savored the taste. Hearing Lu Rongkang's somewhat stern admonition, she smiled and said, "What about Grandfather? Could he be considered someone who lived a life of unorthodox paths and died peacefully in his old age?"
"In all of Malaya, among hundreds of thousands of Chinese, there was only one grandfather back then. You saw him stand at the top, but do you know how many corpses he stepped on? How can you be so sure you are that grandfather, and not just one of those countless corpses used as stepping stones?" Lu Rongkang sighed heavily. "You transferred your Guangyi Bank shares to me for nothing, hoping I would help you, but you still call me Brother Kang. I can't watch you go astray. I will call Malaya and have Uncle and the others tell you to return to Malaya."
Lu Yuanchun ran his hand through his hair, stood up from the sofa, and slowly walked to the piano in the corner of the living room. He opened the piano lid, and his fingers nimbly glided across the keys, producing a series of lively notes.
Lu Yuanchun slowly sat down at the piano, flipping through the sheet music on the music stand, and said:
"Brother Kang, in my opinion, there's no such thing as a legitimate or illegitimate business, but there must be a distinction between good and evil. My grandfather's involvement in the opium trade and the sale of piglets was evil, but his later fundraising for the resistance against Japan and advocacy for the Chinese people was good. That's all. As for the methods used, there's no right or wrong. At least up to where he is now, I admire Song Tianyao."
At this point, Lu Yuanchun turned to look at Lu Rongkang, who was watching him from the sofa, and gave him a satisfied smile, "The wealth he accumulated along the way wasn't from evil. The Zhang Family rose to power through evil, the Lin Family rose to power through evil, and those Collaborator Big Brother in Hong Kong triads rose to power through evil. So what if you fought and killed them? Does robbing those villains make you a crooked person? Does it mean your wealth is ill-gotten?"