The mountain wind on Mount Davis was quite strong, blowing Tan Jingwei's half-long hair wildly and causing the cigarette butt to burn faster, flickering on and off.
"Military ranks are really worthless now. Ge Zhaohuang even has the rank of major general. What kind of gang can a good-for-nothing who's spent most of his life in intelligence work and only managed to become a station chief? It's nothing more than petty theft and backstabbing. There are hundreds or even thousands of well-known Whampoa Military Academy graduates in Hanging Neck Ridge. Nobody will take a spy like him seriously. That's why he has to associate with those thugs and hooligans who bully men and women. It's because they saw his incompetence, that they couldn't even command the usable soldiers in Hanging Neck Ridge, that they lost faith in him. After all, Taiwan is in a difficult situation now, and they don't support useless people. But you're even more despicable than a useless person. I heard you even became the disciple of a woman named Qi Weiwen. You've really made something of yourself..."
In the end, Tan Jingwei smiled dismissively, picked up his half-burnt cigarette, and took another drag.
"In the end, you were killed because of this woman. If I hadn't been sent to Hong Kong to clean up the mess at Hanging Neck Ridge, I wouldn't have bothered avenging you. What a disgrace."
Tan Jingwei touched the three characters "Tan Bangguo" on the tombstone:
"Do you think following a major general is more promising than following your brother, a mere major? Your brother may not have such a high rank, but he's a graduate of the Whampoa 19th-Term Training Corps, personally appointed by Chiang Kai-shek. He's much more reliable than someone like Ge Zhaohuang who just fills in his own position on his appointment letter. You have no sense of judgment. Alright, just stay down here and take care of Mom and Dad. As for things above, your brother will handle them."
Tan Jingwei placed the cigarette back in front of the tombstone, slowly stood up, and looked at the sea that was faintly visible in the distance. Behind him, his Fourth Brother draped his trench coat over Tan Jingwei's shoulders.
Tan Jingwei spoke:
"Let's go, there's still a lot to do. First, take advantage of Zeng Chunsheng's death and, while both sides are on strike, find out who still dares to smuggle embargoed goods to the mainland, and kill or sink those who deserve it. Oh, and an old superior of mine told me before I came that a friend of his surnamed Lin was forced to his death, and he hoped I could help the Lin Family get justice. Fourth Brother, please investigate the Lin Family's situation and who their adversary is. Also, find that woman named Qi Weiwen. Don't waste time questioning her. Dig up my brother's grave and bury her in it to keep him company. Let him enjoy his happiness down there."
"Understood, Mr. Tam." Fourth Brother spoke from behind Tan Jingwei, "After I take you to Hanging Neck Ridge, I'll make the arrangements immediately."
White waves rippled across the sea. Tan Jingwei gazed at the ocean, his voice tinged with melancholy. "The waters of the Canglang River flow eastward in endless waves. Fourth Brother, tell me, is it better to be a hero who rides the waves, or an old fisherman who can only watch the tides from the other side of the river?"
The Fourth Brother behind him spoke in a slightly hoarse voice, with a hint of Sichuan accent. "People like us don't have a choice."
An airplane flew in from the distance, slowly passing overhead. Tan Jingwei let out a sigh of relief.
"Yeah, there's no choice."
As Song Tianyao stepped out of the airport exit, Huang Liu, who had been waiting in the distance, immediately smiled and quickly stepped forward to take the suitcase from Song Tianyao's hands, saying with a grin:
"Boss, we heard you're back. Three women, all heavily made up, are ready to drain you dry."
Song Tianyao looked at Huang Liu, who was grinning slyly. "Brother Six, three women? Who are they? Lou Fengyun, Wanqing, and who else? It can't be those three little girls, Xinniang, can it?"
"Miss Qi, didn't you ask me to investigate your uncle's whereabouts? So when I went to Kowloon yesterday to say hello, I mentioned that you were returning today. I specifically told Miss Qi that Foreign Girl didn't come back with you. How about that? Isn't my bodyguard very considerate?" Huang Liu said to Song Tianyao as he put the suitcase into the trunk of the car.
Song Tianyao rolled his eyes. "You're so thoughtful, booking the boat tickets. I need to go to Macau to see Mr. He first; I don't have time to spend with women."
"Mr. He is a man too, he will understand. He might not even ask you to stay for dinner tonight, and will just let you go back to Hong Kong." Huang Liu got into the driver's seat and started the car.
After the car drove out of the airport, Song Tianyao sat in the back seat, flipping through several Hong Kong English newspapers published that day that Huang Liu had prepared. Huang Liu gripped the steering wheel, glancing at Song Tianyao through the rearview mirror:
"Boss, that pretty girl surnamed Lu seemed quite unhappy about your sudden return to Hong Kong. She wanted to call you herself, but I refused."
Song Tianyao glanced at the news in the newspaper and said, "She was determined to team up with me to catch fish in a big net, but now that I've given up halfway, it's understandable that she's angry. But it doesn't matter. I can afford to offend her, but I can't afford to offend Mr. He."
Huang Liu sensed that Song Tianyao was somewhat dissatisfied with He Xian's sudden decision to take him back to Hong Kong. He scratched his head, smiled, and changed the subject.
"Your uncle is truly elusive. We've investigated for so long, but there's not a single clue. He's probably already run off to Malaya or the Philippines. Anyway, he's taken all of Wo On Lok's uncles' fortunes, so wherever he goes, he'll be set for life."
Upon hearing Huang Liu mention that Song Chunzhong was missing, Song Tianyao put down the newspaper and turned to look out the window:
"It would be great if he just retired. You've seen his methods before. Does that kind of person look like he's planning to retire?"
"Boss, how much money are you making so you're planning to retire? Or are you planning to do what Mr. He did, becoming a Chinese ghostwriter or a Chinese legislator once you have the money?"
"How much money do you need to start retiring? That's a long way off. As for Chinese representatives or members of parliament, I have no interest in them."
"Isn't it fashionable these days to speak up for the people after you've got money? The people you deal with all have family members with titles like members of parliament or Justice of the Peace. Aren't you planning to get one of those titles to wear? If you were Justice of the Peace, my bodyguard would look more impressive when I go out. If I get into a fight, they'd only arrest the other person and not me, saving me a lot of trouble."
"What did Lei Danzi say about Xu Enbo, Yu Zhenzhong, and Di Junda?" Song Tianyao abruptly changed the subject, turning his gaze away from the window.
Huang Liu paused for a moment, seemingly surprised that his boss's mind was always so unpredictable: