"Mr. Tam, should I go to the police station with Attorney Smith first and take down Qi Weiwen's little backer there? If all goes well, we can get him tonight..." Fourth Brother glanced at the rearview mirror and said to Tan Jingwei.
"A Detective Sergeant and a woman from the martial arts world—if I have some free time these next few days, I can just do it. Why waste so much time on them? Besides, there's a banquet at the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce tonight. Fourth Brother, why don't you come with me to the banquet first? You can also meet those people from Shanghai. After all, you'll inevitably have to deal with some of them in the future." Tan Jingwei struck a match, lit his cigarette, looked at Smith in the passenger seat, and said leisurely, "Having a Britain lackey by your side is indeed useful."
Chapter 477 Guests from Both Sides
A small smuggling boat from Hong Kong was sunk at a small pier in Tsim Sha Tsui. Meanwhile, a small steamship from Shanghai was brazenly set on fire by the local Hong Kong gang Chao Yong Yi, which destroyed the engine room. The entire ship was reduced to scrap metal with only a hull remaining. Zeng Chunsheng, who was initially responsible for the incident in Shanghai, disappeared without a trace, and the Shanghai people could not provide any explanation even if they wanted to.
Rumors are circulating that members of local gangs are gathering at major wharves in Hong Kong and Kowloon, and they are likely preparing to wipe out all the Shanghai people boats still docked at the wharves tonight, completely eradicating the Shanghai people from the wharves.
Yu Shiting seemed completely unconcerned. Judging from his composed demeanor, he probably wouldn't care even if Xu Pingsheng led the Hong Kong to war against the Shanghai people. Of course, he could be indifferent. The Yu Family's business had already expanded to Europe and America, with multiple shipping routes in Europe and South America. In other words, even if the entire port business and shipping routes in Hong Kong were lost, Yu Shiting and the Yu Family would not suffer any serious damage.
But the Yu Family's indifference didn't mean the other Shanghai shipowners were indifferent. Di Junda, who used to be so anxious in front of Yu Shiting. The banquet was scheduled to start at six o'clock in the evening, but as early as three o'clock in the afternoon, Shanghai businessmen began to visit Yu Shiting Yu Family the Yu family's traditional Chinese garden mansion, Jing Garden, located in Sheung Wan Hong Kong Island.
Whether they are local Hong Kong tycoons or Britain, even if they have money and official positions, in the eyes of many wealthy Mainland businessmen who come to Hong Kong, they can only be considered bumpkins.
For example, the Chu Family and the Lu Family, one in business and the other in politics, are both considered prominent local Chinese families in Hong Kong. However, when it comes to outward enjoyment after becoming rich and powerful, they are basically nonexistent. The Chu Family is alright, with the Second Young Master Chu playing the role of a spendthrift in the brothel. As for Chu Yaozong and Chu Xiaozhong, they are the kind of businessmen who are content with just a bed to sleep in and a bowl of rice to eat. To put it bluntly, they are like a mythical creature that only takes in and never gives out.
Britain officials are the same; they make some money in Hong Kong and always try to send it back to their homeland, waiting for the day they can retire and return to the Britain or be transferred back to work before they start to enjoy life. As for their standard of living in Hong Kong, they're just so-so.
The wealthy businessmen from Shanghai who came to Hong Kong set a new standard for lifestyle for these local or Britain bumpkins. It goes without saying that the nannies of wealthy Shanghai families were chauffeured around to go grocery shopping. Some local wealthy businessmen, in a competitive spirit with the Shanghai people, also provided their nannies with private cars. But people Yu Shiting, after settling in Hong Kong, not only bought a mansion of tens of thousands of square feet to live in, but also spent millions to buy a traditional Chinese garden house for enjoying the scenery and entertaining guests. It was something that local Hong Kong tycoons and Britain officials simply couldn't compete with.
The Chinese garden that Yu Shiting bought in Sheung Wan was originally called Ji Garden, Ji Garden is a homonym for brothel. It was later changed to Jing Garden.
Jing Garden was originally a private garden built by Hu Zhiting, a gambling tycoon from Guangdong. To arrange the ponds, pavilions, bamboo groves, rocks, bridges, and winding paths in Jing Garden, Hu Zhiting hired several landscape designers to travel all over China to visit famous gardens. Construction began in 1905 and was not completed until 1924, taking nearly 20 years. Later, Hu Zhiting passed away, the Hu family fell into decline, and Hong Kong was occupied. Jing Garden was taken by Japan military officers who used it as their residence in Hong Kong, thus saving it from destruction.
After Hong Kong's liberation, the Hu family put Jing Garden up for sale, but no one bought it. Firstly, even though the Hu family had lowered the price, the garden was still exorbitantly priced. Secondly, for most businessmen, buying a garden residence seemed pointless; the money they had for this garden was enough to buy five streets in the Eastern District of Hong Kong Island.
It wasn't until Yu Shiting went to Hong Kong that this Jing Garden had a new owner.
After buying this Jing Garden, Yu Shiting didn't live there every day. In his words, he bought this garden house so that he would have a place to entertain guests, listen to operas, and relax when he argued with his wife.
At this moment, in the Spring Grass Hall Waterside Pavilion Hall of Jing Garden, two Shanghai shipping merchants were speaking to Yu Shiting with slightly anxious expressions. On the door of the Waterside Pavilion Hall hung a wooden couplet, written by Du Xisan, a staff member under Chen Jitang, the "Southern King." At that time, Hu Zhiting was at the height of his power, backed by Chen Jitang. Gambling in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau was Hu Zhiting's business. When Hu Zhiting landed in Hong Kong Macau, all forces bowed down to him. Therefore, Du Xisan's couplet was quite flattering.
The land is blessed with outstanding people and abundant resources, its spirit soaring over the Mirror Sea; the roars of dragons and tigers echo Hong Kong.
"Boss Yu, you absolutely must say something this time. That Hong Kong smuggling ship in Tsim Sha Tsui has absolutely nothing to do with us Shanghai people. Everyone is waiting for you to reach a conclusion with Xu Pingsheng. How could anyone dare to act on their own? Besides, it looks like they're trying to sow discord." Huang Jianfu wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and spoke somewhat hastily.
Beside him, Wang Yanqi also spoke to Yu Shiting looked like he was dozing off:
"Boss Yu, we've already investigated. The one causing trouble at Fish-Mouth Bay in Tsim Sha Tsui is likely a guy from the Green Gang named Bai Qishan, while the one who set fire to the boat at the Tsim Sha Tsui Pier is a gang thug named Chao Yong Yi, whose real name is Fish Stall Kun."
Yu Shiting yawned, smacked his lips, and looked at Wang Yanqi, who had spoken up about Bai Qishan and Fish Stall Kun. In the past, he and Huang Jianfu would hide in the background, perhaps even hoping to see Yu Shiting make a fool of himself. When Yu Shiting went to grovel before Xu Pingsheng to negotiate peace, these guys probably even thought he Yu Shiting it. Why were they only getting anxious now that someone was deliberately stirring up trouble?