Recaps

Song Tianyao met Pedro Lobo for a private dinner in Macau, where they discussed Hong Kong Oxfam and charitable giving. The chapter ended as Pedro Lobo watched Song Tianyao closely and prepared to continue the conversation.

• Song Tianyao greeted Pedro Lobo and invited him to call him A-Yao.
• Pedro Lobo hosted Song Tianyao alone in his back garden and welcomed being addressed as Dr. Lobo.
• Pedro Lobo asked about the development of Hong Kong Oxfam.
• Song Tianyao said Hong Kong Oxfam was flourishing but modest compared with Pedro Lobo and He Xian's contributions in Macau.
• Pedro Lobo watched Song Tianyao over dinner and began speaking after finishing a bite of fish.

Song Tianyao met Pedro Lobo over dinner and secured his support against the Lin Family, while learning what the He and Lu Families would expect in return. He promised to pursue the Lin Family’s downfall and left Lobo warning him not to betray the trust placed in him.

• Lobo raised Song Tianyao’s rice distribution in Green Island and his disputes with the Lin Family, then revealed his lingering hatred of them.
• Song Tianyao said Lin Xiyuan and Lin Xishen had died in revenge killings and admitted his plan to use himself as bait had failed.
• Lobo offered to help Song Tianyao target the Lin Family, and Song asked whether the He Family and Lu Family would join them.
• Song Tianyao named Ngau Tau Shan as his basic demand, while Lobo explained that the He Family needed money and the Lu Family needed prestige.
• Song Tianyao agreed he could meet their needs and told Lobo the Lin Family still repeated its old mistakes.

Song Tianyao arranged for Zhaofeng Trading to issue new shares and prepare to buy more of Xizhen Properties, while monitoring the Lin Family and HSBC. Though tired and still recovering from his wound, he set out with Huang Liu to thank Huang Sen, Lee Kuen, and the other men who had helped him by drinking with them at Longfu New Street.

• Song Tianyao instructed Luo Zhuankun to arrange a 48-million-share issue for Zhaofeng Trading and use the proceeds to buy Xizhen Properties’ separately held 6% stake.
• Song Tianyao told Luo Zhuankun to watch the Lin Family’s mortgage situation and HSBC’s losses in Mainland China, and to stay in contact with Bao Yuehan.
• Huang Liu questioned why Song Tianyao wanted to visit Longfu New Street, and Song explained that he had asked Huang Sen to arrange a drinking gathering to thank him and Lee Kuen.
• Song Tianyao teased Huang Liu about having a courtesan keep him company, then prepared to leave despite his aching gunshot wound.

Lin Xiao qia took Lin Xiaokang for a private drive and urged him to conceal his resentment toward the rest of the Lin Family. He left Lin Xiaokang with a warning that he was the brother he worried about most.

• Lin Xiaokang visited Lin Yujing and Feng Yunzhi at the hospital, then encountered Lin Xiao qia in the parking lot.
• Lin Xiao qia apologized for slapping Lin Xiaokang and took him for a drive to a pier.
• Lin Xiao qia asked whether Lin Xiaokang resented him for the slap and for making him lose his soda factory position, and Lin Xiaokang admitted he did.
• Lin Xiao qia brought up their uncles' deaths in Macau and acknowledged Lin Xiaokang's difficult place in the family.
• Lin Xiao qia told Lin Xiaokang to keep any resentment toward the others hidden and to direct it at him instead, warning that he worried about him most.

Lin Xiaokang realized Lin Xiao qia was warning him that the Lin Family might have killed Fifth Uncle and Sixth Uncle, and feared that Lin Yujing and her daughter were also in danger. At the Lin Family mansion, Lin Xiaohe learned that his mother Hong Lanfang’s health was stable but that she refused to stop smoking, while she demanded to see Lin Xiao sen or Lin Xiaokang.

• Lin Xiao qia warned Lin Xiaokang to avoid provoking the First Madam and Lin Xiaohe, and Lin Xiaokang suspected the Lin Family had silenced Fifth Uncle and Sixth Uncle.
• Lin Xiaokang feared the First Madam or Lin Xiaohe might also target Lin Yujing and her daughter, then drove away from the hospital.
• Ronnie told Lin Xiaohe that Hong Lanfang’s checkup showed no serious health problem, but she needed to smoke less.
• Lin Xiaohe returned to find Hong Lanfang demanding a cigarette and asking for Lin Xiao sen or Lin Xiaokang.
• Zheng Ruilian tried to persuade Hong Lanfang to smoke a water pipe instead, while Hong Lanfang dismissed Lin Xiaohe’s efforts to help.

Liao Jingxuan interrogated Su Wenting about the failed attempt on Lin Xiyuan and Lin Xishen, then pressured him to cooperate and arrange a false confession. Su Wenting agreed to report future requests from the Lin family to Liao first.

• Liao Jingxuan examined Su Wenting’s Dragon Turtle ornament and assured him that Lin Xiao qia only wanted information about their meeting.
• Su Wenting told Liao that Lin Xiao qia had asked On Lok Hall to work for the Lin family and mentioned Headless’s connection to Song Tianyao.
• Liao admitted he had sent people to watch Su Wenting’s family as a precaution and promised they were safe.
• Liao warned Su Wenting not to obey anyone in the Lin family without consulting him first.
• Liao ordered Su Wenting to arrange for scapegoats to confess to killing Lin Xiyuan and Lin Xishen over a gambling debt.

Su Wenting decided to leave Hong Kong after Liao Jingxuan questioned him about the Lin brothers. Meanwhile, Lu Rongfang asked Lu Yuanchun to arrange a loan, and the conversation revealed the estrangement between Lu Rongkang and the Malaysian Lu Family before the story turned to their grandfather Lu You’s early life.

• Liao Jingxuan questioned Su Wenting about what Lin Xiao qia had said, then left without further explanation.
• Su Wenting decided to go to Malaysia with Zheng Zhizhong’s group and stay away from Hong Kong’s troubles.
• Lu Rongfang asked Lu Yuanchun to borrow money against his properties, but Lu Rongkang criticized him for seeking a shortcut and urged him to work in the family trading company.
• Lu Yuanchun spoke of the Lu Family’s decline, while Lu Rongkang said he and Lu Rongfang wanted no part in its affairs.
• The narration described Lu You’s orphaned childhood, his indenture to the Lu Family, and the broker who offered to take him to Malaya as a miner.

The chapter recounts Lu You’s rise from a Chinese coolie in Malaya to a wealthy mine owner and labor recruiter in Kuala Lumpur. After returning to Malaya, he secured British backing to recruit Chinese workers to rebuild the fire-damaged city.

• Lu You sold himself to a coolie trafficker, worked in Malaya’s mines and a tobacco shop, and saved enough to seek a mining opportunity in Larut.
• Lu You joined the Yixing Triad Society, rose to become a senior figure, and opened a tin mine that the Hai San Jiande Hall later destroyed during a major conflict.
• Lu You secured a British military supply contract, rebuilt his fortune through mining and tax farming, and became a prominent Chinese figure in Gantingwen.
• Lu You returned to his hometown, stayed for four years, bought his wife a baby, and established a household and shops in Guangzhou before returning to Malaya.
• Lu You moved to Kuala Lumpur, gained the trust of a powerful British official, and recruited Chinese laborers to rebuild the city after a devastating fire.

Studwell watched Xizhen Properties shares surge amid a flood of buy orders, despite believing Song Tianyao had not yet raised money for his hostile takeover. Fearing that rising prices would let Jardine cash out on the market instead of selling its shares to the Lin Family, Studwell moved to suppress the price with a massive sell order.

• The Hong Kong Securities and Stock Exchange opened to a noisy crowd of brokers calling out trades under rules designed to prevent secret collusion.
• Studwell saw dozens of buy orders for Xizhen Properties totaling more than four thousand lots and watched its price keep climbing.
• A Wardley Securities broker posted a buy order for five hundred lots at 1.85, deepening Studwell's concern about the surge.
• Studwell decided to dampen the buying before the rising price attracted more attention and made Jardine demand more from the Lin Family.
• A Chinese broker posted a Wealth-Through Securities sell order for seven thousand lots of Xizhen Properties and began sweeping through the buy orders.

Studwell and Tang Boqi watched Xizhen Properties’ share price surge as a seven-thousand-lot sell order was immediately absorbed by more buy orders. Tang suspected Song Tianyao was manipulating the market and urged the Lin Family to raise cash to reclaim Jardine’s shares, then wondered if they planned to mortgage property and borrow from a bank.

• Studwell called Lin Xiaoze to ask whether Jardine had placed a seven-thousand-lot sell order, and Lin said he was preparing to meet Joseph Keswick with A-Sen and A He.
• Tang Boqi revealed that he suspected Song Tianyao had placed the large sell order, and pointed out that it had been bought up while fresh buy orders appeared.
• Studwell proposed that Song Tianyao might be pushing up the price before selling his shares and cashing out.
• Tang Boqi concluded that the Lin Family should raise money quickly to buy back Jardine’s shares before the price climbed further.
• Tang Boqi wondered whether the Lin Family planned to mortgage its land and properties, borrow from a bank, and use a share swap or bonds to fund the buyback.

Song Tianyao brought several disabled former bandits from Macau to live on the third and fourth floors of his family’s tenement as guards. He explained that he feared Lin Xiaohe might target his family, and his parents met the men despite their alarming appearances.

• Zhao Meizhen questioned Song Tianyao’s plan to rent the empty floors to the grim-looking men he had brought home.
• Song Tianyao introduced his parents to Yao Chunxiao, Ah Da, Ah Gen, Ah Si, and Ah Shun, presenting them as friends from Macau who had helped him.
• The men greeted Zhao Meizhen and Song Chunliang warmly and used ordinary names rather than their fearsome bandit aliases.
• Song Tianyao reflected that Lin Xiaohe’s ruthless actions made him worry his family could be attacked, so he had recruited Huang Sen’s disabled former subordinates as guards.
• The chapter explained that the men had followed Huang Sen through years of conflict, but had remained in Macau after being overlooked for bodyguard work because of their disabilities.

Song Tianyao brought five of Huang Sen’s former Taishan Squad men to Hong Kong to guard his family, and Ah Si punished gamblers who mistreated Song Chunliang at the family’s mahjong parlor. Later, Song signed documents for Zhaofeng Trading to issue additional shares, while Luo Zhuankun prepared to take them to the exchange.

• Song Tianyao arranged to support five of Huang Sen’s old subordinates and brought them from Macau to Hong Kong to protect his family.
• Song Tianyao and Song Chunliang showed the five men their rooms, where they found neighbors gambling and insulting Song Chunliang at the mahjong parlor.
• Yao Chunxiao took Song Chunliang upstairs, while Ah Si scalded one gambler with hot water and warned the others not to mistreat the family.
• Song Tianyao met Luo Zhuankun, reviewed the documents for Zhaofeng Trading’s additional share issue, and signed them.
• Luo Zhuankun planned to take the signed documents to the exchange to prepare the share issue.

Song Tianyao and Luo Zhuankun discussed the rising price of Xizhen Properties and the Lin Family’s efforts to recover its shares, then learned that China’s deposit revaluation demands had thrown HSBC into crisis. The chapter ended with Lin Xiaosen meeting Studwell and Tang Boqi after Jardine’s taipan was called away to an emergency HSBC board meeting.

• Luo Zhuankun told Song Tianyao that buy orders had absorbed a large sale of Xizhen Properties shares and that he planned to push the price to four dollars.
• Song Tianyao and Luo Zhuankun discussed why the Lin Family had not contacted HSBC or Jardine to arrange financing for the shares.
• Luo Zhuankun received news from Bao Yuehan that China would revalue Kuomintang-era deposits and require HSBC to let depositors withdraw a fixed proportion of their balances.
• Song Tianyao celebrated China’s demand, while Luo Zhuankun said HSBC could not afford to accept it.
• Lin Xiaosen met Studwell and Tang Boqi after Mr. Keswick was called to an emergency HSBC board meeting.

Tang Boqi proposed a stock-market scheme to help the Lin Family raise money to buy back Xizhen Properties shares from Jardine. The chapter then shifted to Song Tianyao having lunch with Meng Wanqing after she asked to see him.

• Lin Xiaosen listened as Tang Boqi advised the Lin Family to raise money by selling shares in other companies rather than taking out a bank loan.
• Tang Boqi explained how the Lin Family could use investor interest in Xizhen Properties to promote and sell shares in companies it controlled.
• Tang Boqi suggested transferring the shares to other companies or individuals before selling them, while the Lin Family publicly condemned speculators for dumping stock.
• Song Tianyao asked Meng Wanqing why she had invited him to lunch, and they ate together at the Sea Capital Restaurant.

Lin Xiaohe warned Lin Xiaoze that Song Tianyao and Pedro Lobo could complicate the Lin Family’s effort to buy back Xizhen Properties shares, then revealed that his investigation into the deaths of Fifth Uncle and Sixth Uncle had pointed to Second Brother. Lin Xiaoze rejected the accusation and reminded Lin Xiaohe that A Qia had had opportunities to harm them before.

• Lin Xiaohe said Xizhen Properties’ rising stock price would make buying back Jardine’s shares more difficult, while Lin Xiaoze urged raising money quickly to buy them back.
• Lin Xiaohe explained that Song Tianyao might expect Hong Kong to be retaken by force and warned that Pedro Lobo could finance trouble for the Lin Family.
• Lin Xiaoze asked whether Lin Xiaohe planned to deal with Song Tianyao again, and Lin Xiaohe said they could not repeat their earlier surprise attack.
• Lin Xiaohe said his investigators had traced the deaths of Fifth Uncle and Sixth Uncle, the failed affair, and Song Tianyao’s rescue of Fifth Uncle to Second Brother.
• Lin Xiaoze questioned Lin Xiaohe’s accusation against A Qia and said A Qia could have harmed them ten years earlier if he had wanted to.

Lin Xiaohe asked Lin Xiaoze to speak with Lin Xiao Qia about his possible guilt over the deaths of their uncles. Song Tianyao learned that HSBC faced heavy losses and a likely leadership change, which could improve his chances of acquiring the Lin Family’s foreclosed properties, and then spotted Yan Hung arriving at the Dulles Hotel.

• Lin Xiaohe told Lin Xiaoze that Lin Xiao Qia might feel responsible for the deaths of fifth uncle and sixth uncle, and asked him to prevent the matter from damaging their family bond.
• Lin Xiaoze agreed to speak with Lin Xiao Qia and praised Lin Xiaohe for raising the concern.
• Michael Sandberg told Song Tianyao that HSBC faced mounting losses over its closed mainland branches and that Morse’s resignation was likely.
• Michael Sandberg explained that Turner, who favored expansion across Asia before returning to China, might succeed Morse and could be more willing to sell HSBC’s seized properties.
• Song Tianyao observed that HSBC might demand a stake in his business in exchange for selling him the Lin Family’s collateralized land and properties.
• Song Tianyao noticed Yan Hung hurrying from a car toward the Dulles Hotel coffee shop.

After Lee Jusheng had Headless arrested, Song Tianyao planned to protect his ally and asked Lai Man-yau whether he wanted to remain in the Police Force. The chapter ended with Song offering Lai a million dollars to become Chief Detective of Hong Kong Island if Lai could ruin Lee Jusheng's reputation.

• Yan Hung told Song Tianyao that Headless had been arrested after guns and opium were found at the Golden Source Club, and that Lee Jusheng had acted without first consulting Liu Fu or the Foreign Devils.
• Song Tianyao told Yan Hung to reassure Headless and summoned Lai Man-yau, while saying he would make Lee Jusheng retire early.
• Lai Man-yau told Song Tianyao that he had assumed Song wanted him to arrange a meeting with Liu Fu to help Headless.
• Song Tianyao asked Lai Man-yau whether he wanted to serve in the Police Force for another term, and Lai explained the cost of retaining or advancing his position.
• Song Tianyao offered to pay a million dollars to secure Lai Man-yau the post of Chief Detective of Hong Kong Island if Lai could find dirt on Lee Jusheng.

Song Tianyao promised to fund Lai Man-yau’s rise to Lee Jusheng’s position, and Lai vowed to deal with Lee within two days. Liu Fu warned Lai that the affair could implicate the Lin Family and the Dongguan Chamber of Commerce, but Lai remained determined to target Lee alone.

• Song Tianyao offered to fund Lai Man-yau’s promotion, with Yan Hung and Headless set to fill the positions Lai and Yan would leave vacant.
• Song Tianyao promised to deposit one million into Lai Man-yau’s brother-in-law’s wig factory account, and Lai vowed to take care of Lee Jusheng within two days.
• Lai Man-yau told Liu Fu that Song Tianyao had already placed a million in the account as proof of his sincerity.
• Liu Fu refused to support Lai, warning that Lee Jusheng’s actions might involve the Lin Family and that Lai’s involvement could draw in the Dongguan Chamber of Commerce.
• Lai Man-yau insisted he would deal only with Lee Jusheng and would not interfere further afterward.

Song Tianyao used the million-dollar offer to pressure Lai Man-yau and planned to profit if Lai failed to act against Lee Jusheng. Meanwhile, Tang Boqi waited at Queen’s Pier, where he drank beer and watched an elderly white man fishing.

• Liu Fu warned Lai Man-yau against pursuing Lee Jusheng and threatened to lock him up if he acted without permission.
• Song Tianyao gave Yan Hung a hundred thousand dollars to negotiate a demotion for Headless with the police, including Lee Jusheng.
• Song Tianyao explained that Lai Man-yau would have to return the million dollars if he failed to act, giving Song grounds to deal with him and eventually offer Yan Hung the Yau Ma Tei post.
• Yan Hung questioned Song Tianyao’s plan, and Song said Lai could still earn his support if he boldly took the chance to deal with Lee Jusheng.
• Tang Boqi sat drinking beer at Queen’s Pier and exchanged a friendly toast with an elderly white man fishing nearby.

Tang Boqi met Lin Xiaokang and Lin Xiaoda at Queen’s Pier and explained how Song Tianyao could use a securities company to raise money through Zhaofeng Trading’s share issue. The three discussed exploiting Prosperity Rubber’s planned stock manipulation for themselves, but Lin Xiaokang’s final remark left Tang Boqi and Lin Xiaoda stunned.

• Tang Boqi persuaded the guards to let Lin Xiaokang and Lin Xiaoda into Queen’s Pier.
• Lin Xiaokang reported that Zhaofeng Trading planned to issue new shares, and Tang Boqi explained how Song Tianyao could conceal the source of its financing through a securities company.
• Tang Boqi said Lin Xiaosen, Lin Xiaoze, and Studwell planned to raise Prosperity Rubber’s stock price, sell their shares, and later buy them back.
• Lin Xiaoda asked whether he and Lin Xiaokang should secretly use the information to make money, and Lin Xiaokang replied with a brief statement that made both men drop their beers into the sea.

At Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Huang Liu and Uncle Bing traded insults while Song Tianyao visited his recovering family and brought them dinner. Meanwhile, Lin Xiaokang, Tang Boqi, and Lin Xiaoda waited on a pier as Song Tianyao approached by yacht for a meeting.

• Lin Xiaokang explained that the pier was the only place they could speak freely, and Song Tianyao arrived by yacht.
• Huang Liu teased Uncle Bing in the hospital corridor, and Uncle Bing answered him with dry-roasted soybeans and an insult about Song Tianyao.
• Song Wenwen chatted with the recovering Feng Yunzhi, while Meng Wanqing and Sister Xiang kept Lin Yujing company.
• Song Tianyao served dinner and stopped Nine-Tattooed Dragon from eating the black chicken soup meant for Lin Yujing and Feng Yunzhi.
• A young nurse joked with Song Tianyao about Nine-Tattooed Dragon eating seven bowls of hospital food at every meal.

Yan Hung watched the Victory Friend opium den in Kowloon City while recalling Lai Man-yau’s request to find someone nearby. The chapter left Yan Hung and his two men surveying the den as people outside chatted.

• Lai Man-yau asked Yan Hung to help him find someone near an opium den because Chief Liu was watching him closely.
• Yan Hung drove to Kowloon City with A Yue and A Wai and observed the brightly lit Victory Friend opium den.
• Several men outside the den talked about a woman at Song An Lau and a factory job his wife had found at a wig factory.

Yan Hung found the opium addict Cai Wenhong for Lai Man-yau and brought him to Chen Mengjun at a secret gambling vault. Chen revealed that A Mei still remembered Cai and offered him a chance to escape Hong Kong with her.

• Yan Hung sent A Wai to search opium-den back alleys and found Cai Wenhong waiting to drink water containing opium residue.
• Yan Hung had Cai cleaned, given clothes, and brought to a secure vault near Yau Ma Tei Police Station.
• Yan Hung delivered Cai to Chen Mengjun, who explained that Lai Man-yau was still at the station to avoid drawing Liu Fu’s suspicion.
• Chen Mengjun gave Cai letters from A Mei and told him she had been unhappy with Lee Jusheng and had saved money.
• Chen Mengjun asked Cai to escape Hong Kong with A Mei and start a new life in Malaysia.

Song Tianyao returned to Hong Kong by yacht and confronted Tang Boqi, who urged him to stop cutting off others’ chances to make money. The chapter ended with their tense exchange as Tang Boqi asked him to change course.

• Huang Liu helped Song Tianyao jump from the yacht onto the pier, then the vessel sailed back out to sea.
• Song Tianyao taunted Tang Boqi about losing before and threatened to harm his girlfriend if she helped him again.
• Tang Boqi recalled his first meeting with Song Tianyao in the United States and remarked that Song looked older.
• Tang Boqi told Song Tianyao that he was leaving no opportunities for others and urged him to stop.

Song Tianyao met Tang Boqi, Lin Xiaokang, and Lin Xiaoda on a pier, where Lin Xiaokang wounded himself to persuade him to talk about the Lin Family. The chapter then shifted to Liu Fu attacking Lai Man-yau in his office and ordering his men to arrest him.

• Song Tianyao rejected Tang Boqi's warning and asked Lin Xiaokang whether he had summoned him to settle accounts.
• Song Tianyao demanded that Lin Xiaokang repay the wound Yunzhi had inflicted on himself; Lin Xiaokang admitted his earlier cruelty had been an act and said he did not know whose side Sister Xiang was on.
• Song Tianyao refused to discuss the Lin Family until Lin Xiaokang repaid Yunzhi's wound, so Lin Xiaokang stabbed his own thigh and asked to talk.
• Liu Fu burst into Lai Man-yau's office, slapped him, and ordered his subordinates to arrest him or shoot him if he resisted.
• Lai Man-yau spat blood onto the floor and addressed Liu Fu as Boss.