However, in front of his brothers, Di Zhen had to appear worldly-wise, so he forced himself to remain calm and coughed lightly. "What's so great about Foreign Devil? I've seen plenty back when Brother Shan in Beiping. Be natural, don't look around like that, you're embarrassing the China person."
When everyone approached Tan Jingwei, Sheng Zhaozhong casually pulled over a high chair and sat down next to him, while Tan Jingwei Di Zhen and the others stood in front of the table, looking somewhat at a loss.
Sheng Zhaozhong's mission was to bring this group of people down from Hanging Neck Ridge. Now that the mission was accomplished, he didn't even want to talk to Di Zhen and the others. As soon as he sat down, he poured himself a glass of red wine and slowly savored it.
Seeing the bewildered expressions of Di Zhen and the others, Tan Jingwei chuckled and turned his head to the side, "Fourth Brother, don't just come over and grab your wine glass like that. Introduce these gentlemen to me, what are their names?"
Sheng Zhaozhong put down his wine glass and was about to speak when Di Zhen preemptively introduced himself.
"Hello Mr. Tam, my name is Di Zhen. The men standing behind me are my brothers who have risked their lives with me." Di Zhen pointed to his brothers behind him. Several Kuomintang remnants who had come down from Hanging Neck Ridge straightened their backs and adopted the stern and unsmiling demeanor of soldiers.
Di Zhen took the initiative to speak, and Sheng Zhaozhong was happy to have some peace and quiet. He gave Tan Jingwei a teasing look and continued to pick up his wine glass.
"Brother Zhen, right? Hello, hello!" Sheng Zhaozhong could disregard these people because his task was simply to bring them to him, but Tan Jingwei couldn't do the same. After all, Tan Jingwei still needed these people to stir up trouble in Hong Kong.
Tan Jingwei took the initiative to extend his hand. Di Zhen, who was already feeling somewhat uneasy, saw this and, like a drowning person suddenly grasping at a straw, unconsciously lowered his posture, bowed slightly, and shook hands with Tan Jingwei, no longer showing any of the arrogance he had shown on Hanging Neck Ridge.
"Mr. Tam. Tan, Mr. Sheng has already told us about Brother Shan's situation. This matter is indeed not your fault. It was our brothers who were blind, allowing that bastard Gui Xiu Wen Xiuwen to take advantage of us." Di Zhen spoke up, completely different from his demeanor on Hanging Neck Ridge: "I was Brother Shan's deputy battalion commander back then, and these Brother Shan behind me are all his good brothers who have gone through thick and thin with him. Mr. Tam, if you have any orders for us, just let us know."
Sheng Zhaozhong lowered his head and cut the steak on his plate. After hearing these words, the corners of his mouth slightly turned up, but his eyes were full of helplessness.
The hero is trapped in Shau Kei Wan; when will he be able to reach Central?
Di Zhen and his men have now arrived in Central, but their pride and integrity in Shau Kei Wan Hanging Neck Ridge have been largely worn down by the unprecedented extravagance. Before even meeting Tan Jingwei, they have already lost more than half of their battle.
However, Sheng Zhaozhong did not look down on Di Zhen because of this. If he were in Di Zhen's shoes, he might have been just like Di Zhen now, having to Hanging Neck Ridge and scrape to Tan Jingwei, the powerful figure in their hearts who could take them to Taiwan to live a peaceful life, for the sake of the families and future of the brothers on Diaojing Ridge.
The idea of refusing to bow down for five pecks of rice only exists in history, let alone for these loyal and righteous soldiers. Even if not for themselves, they have to consider the widows of their brothers.
Tan Jingwei seemed to sense what Sheng Zhaozhong was thinking. They exchanged a glance, and both saw the bitterness in each other's eyes.
In fact, whether it was Han Chongshan before or Di Zhen in front of them, they all respected them from the bottom of their hearts. In contrast, people like Ge Zhaohuang of the 14K, who rose to the position of Kuomintang major general through petty theft and slick ways, were more disdainful to Tan Jingwei and Sheng Zhaozhong.
From the moment Di Zhen and his men descended from Hanging Neck Ridge, they were treated as expendable pawns. The promise to take them and their families to Taiwan after the mission was accomplished was nothing but an empty promise.
Taiwan is rotten to the core now. Even if those two majors, graduates of the Whampoa Academy, are full of enthusiasm, they can't do anything to change the overall situation.
"Brother Zhen, don't worry, what Fourth Brother said is exactly what I said. As long as this matter is over, I will definitely give everyone an explanation. The Party-State will not forget all the heroes." Tan Jingwei raised his head and gave Di Zhen and the others a bright smile, "Everyone has had a hard journey. Let's sit down and have something to eat. I'll have someone arrange accommodations for you later."
Looking at the table full of delicacies before them, the brothers behind Di Zhen kept swallowing their saliva, their eyes filled with longing.
Di Zhen's gaze was also drawn to the delicious food on the table. He glanced back at his brothers, who looked as if their thoughts had been read, and they revealed embarrassed expressions.
"Thank you, Mr. Tam." Di Zhen swallowed hard, reached for a roast goose on the table, and the people behind him, seeing him make a move, couldn't hold back any longer and grabbed the food on the table, starting to wolf it down.
Outside the restaurant, night was falling.
Chapter 537
When Song Tianyao woke up, it was already 4:30 in the morning. The curtains in the hotel were drawn, and it was pitch black, with only a few rays of light coming through from the streetlights outside.
He slept for a full ten hours, from six in the afternoon until now. This was one of the few times Song Tianyao had slept so soundly since he started doing business.
Patting his head, which was a little sore from sleeping too long, Song Tianyao turned over in bed.
At the slightest sound, the Mute Ah Si, who had been pretending to be asleep on the sofa, immediately opened his eyes and reached out to turn on the lamp next to the sofa.
"Hey! Brother Six, what are you doing?" The sudden light made Song Tianyao squint, and he immediately complained.
Upon seeing Ah Si sitting on the sofa, Song Tianyao was slightly taken aback. "No way? Brother Six, that good-for-nothing, is slacking off again? Where did he go this time when I told him to keep watch at night?"
Ah Si gestured with his hands and mumbled something unintelligible.
Song Tianyao smiled helplessly, glanced at his wristwatch, and sat up in bed. "Never mind, thank you for your trouble, Fourth Uncle. I'll treat you to breakfast when it gets light."
Ah Si chuckled and rubbed his hands together. Song Tianyao rolled over and got up. He hadn't even bothered to take off his clothes before going to bed, and now he got out of bed and headed straight for the door.
The door opened, Ah Gen, who was on guard outside, who had been leaning against the wall pretending to be asleep, immediately opened his eyes upon hearing the noise. After seeing Song Tianyao's face clearly, the sharpness in his eyes disappeared and a kind expression appeared.