Hong Kong Storm: The King of Jobs

Chapter 743, Section 334: The Living Seal (Seeking monthly votes!)
The next morning, the sun rose as usual, and nothing happened.

No matter how big the problem or how great the guilt, after a good night's sleep, it's all forgotten.

After drinking a bowl of the medicinal soup prepared by the kitchen, Bai He forgot all about chivalry and loyalty, and his expression returned to normal.

After staying up all night, Ninth Sister and Professor J finally received the news, and their doubts completely disappeared.

She yawned and asked Baihe to take the two of them to the Peninsula Hotel so they could get a good night's sleep in the suite.

The Bald Eagle sent a member of the spies to secretly deliver the original invoice and test tubes to Ruixing Sparrow House.

The officers from the Criminal Intelligence Bureau simply made a brief record, took a few photos, and then went home.

After arriving home in the early hours of the morning, Chi Mengli and Xiren spent another two hours fussing, so they slept until almost noon.

He got out of bed and found himself covered in sticky residue, so he went to the shower to take a shower.

With a towel draped over her head, she walked out of the shower room and into the living room, where she found Xiren's family's secret vegetable juice on the bar counter.

Seeing this green liquid, Chi Mengli felt a chill run down her spine. This stuff was indeed good for the body, but it could also kill a good mood.

What the hell is love?

Love means enduring hardship together!

Thinking of this wise saying from Spinach East, Chi Mengli pinched her nose and drank all the vegetable juice in one gulp.

After drinking that glass of vegetable juice, he experienced a truly nauseating sensation!

After a minute, Chi Mengli finally recovered. She went to the window, looked at the lush greenery outside, straightened her back, and began to do a horse stance.

His fists and feet were the foundation of his livelihood, and ever since he put on his belt and became a martial artist, he never dared to slack off for a moment.

For more than a decade, he has never missed a single one.

After standing for an hour, covered in sweat, Chi Mengli slowly stood up, went into the shower room, and took another shower.

After changing his clothes and putting on his shoes, he went downstairs and found that Xiren hadn't left either, and was cooking while wearing an apron.

You're at your gentlest when you're playing the role of a virtuous wife and loving mother!

The trash can was full of packaging boxes. Judging from the logo on the bags, they should be from Fulinmen's delivery service.

Fulimen is now the most popular restaurant among the underworld figures. It is open 24 hours a day, and its name is auspicious. Entering Fulimen means that good fortune will come.

“A smart husband will pretend to be deaf and dumb, and then praise his wife, saying that her cooking skills are even better than those of the chefs in the restaurant.”

Since she had already been exposed, Xiren simply stopped pretending. She took off her gloves and threw them on the table, then untied her apron and handed it to the housekeeper hired from the Zu family.

Two Eastern European maids hurried into the kitchen and began heating up the delicious food delivered by Fortune.

"Haha. Looks like I'm not a good husband."

Chi Mengli picked up the newspaper from the dining table, took the milk, and went to the tea table. She read the news while drinking the warm milk.

Xi Ren sat next to Chi Mengli, opened a bottle of hot spring water, poured it into an iron kettle, lit a pine cone, and began to heat the hot spring water.

The water is hot spring water, and the tea is Longjing tea.

Chi Mengli was also helpless. Hot spring water contains a lot of minerals, and drinking this kind of hard water all year round can easily lead to kidney stones.

The renowned dating guru Lü Xiaobu once summarized that kidney stones are not a disease, but the pain can be excruciating.

Looks like I need to go to the Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital for regular checkups!
The hot spring water quickly boiled, and Xiren picked up an antique-style teapot, a top-quality teapot that had just flowed over from the north of the border river.

This is a Gongchun teapot from Jinsha Temple in Yixing. Although it was not made by Gongchun himself, it is still a fine teapot from Jinsha Temple.

If used for decades, it is worth a gold scepter!
This refers to the Gongchun Pot made by Gongchun!

Although the pot in Xiren's hand is a replica from the Qing Dynasty, it was made by a top craftsman from the Imperial Household Department, imitating the first tree burl pot made by Gong Chun in Jinsha Temple.

This Gongchun teapot features a painting by Yang Jichu, a renowned artist from the Kangxi era, depicting the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove—a painting of unparalleled elegance.

If this teapot were to be auctioned at Sotheby's, it would be guaranteed a minimum of HK$300,000. If someone were to find a buyer who liked it, it could easily fetch between HK$800,000 and HK$1 million.

Rongbaozhai, located north of the border, didn't have time for the auction; they needed foreign exchange and specifically requested only Japanese yen.

Hong Kong is a free port and an Asian financial center. It has many other things besides a lot of foreign currencies.

This Gongchun teapot is priced at only nine million Japanese yen, which is less than 110,000 Hong Kong dollars.

Due to the oil crisis, the Hong Kong dollar has been appreciating rapidly, and it is now worth HK$4.98, which is quite a good sign.

It seems like Xiren got a great deal, but in reality, Rongbaozhai profited. Selling antiques in large quantities would naturally lead to significant price reductions.

The representative from Rongbaozhai refused to allow the sale on consignment, demanded immediate settlement, and left Hong Kong that very night, without even giving Xiren time to make arrangements.

The porcelain vases and calligraphy and paintings sent this time were not famous pieces; they were just basic items from the official kilns, with only a few being imperial artifacts for the palace.

If you want to exchange for Japanese currency, there are still many antiques available, so the price will definitely be very low.

However, Xiren didn't let the Rongbaozhai representative run around recklessly. This connection couldn't be abandoned; it needed to be nurtured properly, as it might be useful in the future.

He spent 150 million Japanese yen to buy all ten boxes of antiques, and also gave the representative of Rongbaozhai 10,000 foreign exchange certificates as a return gift.

The tea changed color, and only then did Chi Mengli put down the newspaper in her hand, pick up the teacup, and take a big gulp.

"Madam, someone requests an audience with Chi Sheng!"

The housekeeper put down the microphone hanging on the wall, quickly walked to Xiren's side, and whispered.

"Let Viper Ming search him first. If there are no problems, then let him in."

Xi Ren took a sip of the newly arrived Longjing tea. Pre-Qingming Longjing was much better than post-Qingming Longjing, with more tender leaves and a richer flavor.

The housekeeper bowed and stepped back, then walked to the landline and spoke with Viper Ming.

Five minutes later, the snotty-nosed man, dressed in a well-tailored suit, walked into the restaurant and stood in front of Chi Mengli.

"I must have forgotten to check the almanac today, that shameless rascal like you would come knocking on my door."

"Push to the street!"

"Oh no! I actually blurted out what was on my mind. I'm so sorry."

"sit!"

Chi Mengli never hid his disgust for Pink Guy. He waved his hand dismissively and invited Snotty to sit down.

Nosebleed had already experienced Handsome Sheng's attitude before; he had even been slapped by Handsome Sheng. But there was nothing he could do; the Double Flower Red Stick was just that—a powerful figure. Even if he was angry, he had to swallow it down.

He plopped down opposite Handsome Sheng and glanced at Handsome Sheng's girlfriend.

Handsome guys are good at picking up girls. The girls they win over are fair-skinned and beautiful, definitely not shady girls with rotten pants.

He lives in a villa on Victoria Peak, drives a Volvo, and has a plethora of legitimate sources of income.

Just by relying on Shanghainese to do real estate business, this loser in front of him could make a fortune.

The most profitable business in Hong Kong right now is real estate.

As long as you buy the right land, you can get all the necessary permits from the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau in a month, and the building can be topped out in six months.

Once the foundation is laid, the model house for the sales department will be built, and pre-sales can begin.

Envy is one thing, but if a snot-nosed person were to use the money earned from running a noodle stall to start a real estate company, they would lose everything in less than three months.

"Brother Sheng, you've fallen so low in the gangster world, I wouldn't trade you the position of leader!"

"Bravo! I admire you!"

Snotty sincerely praised Chi Mengli, then took out his snuff bottle and took a satisfying puff.

"Being a boss? Only a fool would do that! Working at the funeral home on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and the police station on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, dealing with both the legitimate and criminal underworld, there's no profit to be made!"

Chi Mengli took out a cigarette case, put a Double Happiness cigarette in her mouth, and muttered a complaint.

That's absolutely right! It makes a lot of sense!
Slug nodded, deeply agreeing with Chi Mengli's words.

"Brother Bug, have some tea!"

Xiren poured a cup of tea, placed it on a saucer, and put it in front of Snotty: "Brother Snotty, I have to go now. Stay for lunch." "It's just a simple home-cooked meal, don't mind it!"

After Xiren finished speaking, she stood up and sent all the maids away, giving Chi Mengli and Bulbul a chance to chat alone.

Seeing that all the bystanders had left, Snotty crossed his legs and said bluntly, "All is well! Nothing happened!"

"Brother Sheng, you're very thoughtful. Let's scout the route first and see if there's any danger."

There wasn't much interesting news in the newspapers. Chi Mengli folded the newspaper, placed it on a chair, picked up her teacup, blew on it, and took a sip.

"Caution is the boat!"

"Hey snotty-nosed bro, you've been hiding in the shadows all day, but I didn't expect your information to be so accurate!"

Chi Mengli scoffed at the snotty-nosed girl, put down her cup, and continued, "What did Uncle Jin say?"

The most crucial factor is Biao Jin's attitude. Snotty is just a eunuch; without Biao Jin's orders, this good-for-nothing wouldn't risk coming to his villa.

"The boss is very satisfied! Praise Brother Sheng, you are very reliable in handling matters!"

Slug made a polite remark, then got straight to the point: "Since this route is fine, we should ship the first batch of goods to avoid any unforeseen complications."

"However, since you're in charge of this deal, Brother Sheng, we errand runners should listen to your opinions more often."

These are just polite words; don't take them seriously.

Chi Mengli sneered inwardly and said directly, "I'm just a gofer, I just make phone calls and pass on messages."

“Since Uncle Jin thinks the time is about right, I have no objection, but I need to ask Ninth Sister and Professor J for their opinions.”

A seasoned veteran like Biao Jin won't listen to a young upstart's orders.

To reiterate, if it's just a matter of notifying people to start shipping, there are countless ways to handle it; there's no need to send that snotty-nosed kid on the trip.

It's worth noting that the bounty on a slug at the police station isn't necessarily less than the bid.

"Cough cough."

Snotty coughed twice, touched his nose, and said, "The list has been handed over to Old Ding."

"The personnel at the underwater surveillance points in Chiang Mai province are also changing; Uncle Jin is still following the rules."

Chi Mengli did not interrupt the snotty-nosed man's long-winded speech. From the perspective of criminal psychology, touching one's nose before speaking is a sign of guilt and also a prelude to telling lies.

"This transaction is extraordinary; both parties must be present to exchange money for goods."

"This is Uncle Jin's request. I wonder if Brother Sheng can handle it?"

Slug stared intently at Chi Mengli's face, hoping to get some reaction from this pathetic face.

But after watching for a while, Chi Mengli still wore a half-smile and made no comment.

"As the younger brother, I can only obey Uncle Jin's orders. If I do anything wrong, please forgive me, Brother Sheng."

Snotty couldn't decipher Chi Mengli's expression, so he couldn't figure out what this loser was thinking.

“Since it is Uncle Jin’s order, I, as a young man, will of course obey.”

“But we are all brothers in the water room, and we are newcomers to each other. However, Ninth Sister and Professor J are from the Number Gang, so they will definitely not agree easily.”

"After thinking it over, I think it's more reliable to ask a middleman. Why don't I ask Huanqi Yanluo? If something goes wrong, I, as the one in charge, will at least have an explanation."

Huanqi Yanluo is the messenger of the East. Guaranteeing is not the end goal; helping people get justice is.

However, people in the martial arts world prefer to call the "living seal" of the middleman, as they trust these middlemen more than documents stamped with an official seal.

Snotty was stunned for a moment, not expecting that Handsome Winner, this loser, had directly hit his weak spot.

In the world of martial arts, no one wants to mess with these eccentrics. There are at least seven or eight families in Hong Kong that practice this kind of thing, and the oldest of them even did it during the Song Dynasty.

These living seal-issuing families, bound by blood ties, would do anything once they received the guarantee money.

Once something goes wrong, they're like leeches, clinging on relentlessly until death, refusing to let go even if their heads are cut off.

If you mess with these bastards, you'll have to sleep with one arm around your girlfriend and the other holding a short dog.

"Gentlemen, the food is ready. Let's eat and chat. I've opened two bottles of fine Château Lafite Rothschild, which have already decanted. If we don't drink them soon, they'll turn into vinegar."

Xi Ren broke the awkward silence between the two. Snotty-nosed dared not agree, nor dared he refuse directly. He took the opportunity to stand up and said to Xi Ren, "Thank you for your hospitality."

"I heard that Brother Sheng is a wine lover, so we're going to have a few more drinks this time."

"Definitely! This way, please!"

Chi Mengli sneered inwardly, then stood up and exchanged some polite words.

On the large round table in the villa's restaurant, the dishes in the center of the table were piled high, the most eye-catching being a large plate of crispy roast goose, its skin roasted to a golden-red and glossy sheen.

When it was first served, the oil was still slightly seeping out, and it made a "crackling" sound when you picked it up with chopsticks. The juice dripped into the bone dish with a "drip-drip" sound, and even the crevices of the bones were soaked with the aroma of honey.

The steamed grouper next to it had bulging, round eyes, and was covered with neatly arranged shredded scallions and ginger, its flesh gleaming with a porcelain-white hue.

The housekeeper used her chopsticks to gently separate the fish from the bone. Each seat had a small dish of soy sauce, and the aroma of fish in the air was so fresh it made your eyes squint.

There's also braised sea cucumber in abalone sauce. The glossy black abalone sauce clings to the sea cucumber, and the king oyster mushrooms underneath are soaked in the sauce. When you pick them up, you can even pull out thin silver threads.

Even the steamed scallops with garlic and vermicelli in the corner had vermicelli soaked in oil, and when you bit into them, the garlic aroma mixed with the sweetness of the seafood was so delicious that your mouth was full of flavor.

These are all appetizers, including Fu Lin Men's Golden Caviar Lando Stir-fried Prawns, steaming hot.

This dish is incredibly fragrant even when heated in the microwave.

The "rich man's shrimp" in the dish are tiger prawns imported from Vietnam, each one as long as a palm, deveined and kept whole.

Take the tenderest first three sections of asparagus tips, cut them diagonally, blanch them to keep them bright green.

The finishing touch of golden caviar is Siberian sturgeon caviar, each one plump and like scattered gold.

Two bottles of Château Lafite Rothschild's finest red wine were placed in an ice bucket, radiating a chill.

"Snotty-nosed guy, please take a seat."

Chi Mengli and Xiren are the masters, so of course they give the best seat to the snotty bug. Even when beating a dog, you have to consider its master. Behind the snotty bug is the waterway king Biaojin.

Even if Chi Mengli looks down on this guy, she still has to give him some face.

"Thank you!"

As soon as the snotty-nosed boy sat down, the housekeeper quickly poured wine, served each of the three a glass, closed the restaurant door, and bowed before leaving.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the three of them started eating and chatting.

The situation wasn't much better than before, because this dinner was all about probing.

Just as Chi Mengli picked up a piece of goose skin, the snotty-nosed man opposite her took a sip of red wine, glanced at Xiren beside him, and said in a nonchalant tone, "Mrs. Chi, this wine is really good."

This was just making conversation. Xi Ren smiled. There were two bottles of red wine on the table, each costing three thousand yuan. If they didn't taste good, Château Lafite Rothschild would have gone out of business long ago.

"If you like it, drink more. It's best to finish both bottles, otherwise there won't be any left!"

Chi Mengli swallowed the goose meat in her mouth and said meaningfully.

There is something in the words!

Snotty bug could also hear the sarcasm in Chi Mengli's words, but it didn't matter. That's how negotiations are; there are never any nice words.

If Handsome Sheng's every word is a compliment, then he should be worried.

"I often hear people exaggerate how Fu Lin Men's signature dishes are unparalleled, how much effort they put into their creation, and how picky they are about the ingredients!"

"It tastes so-so, Brother Sheng. Don't be fooled by these restaurants. Don't spend a lot of money to eat cheap food."

"This stir-fried tiger prawn dish features imported tiger prawns and sturgeon caviar, creating a vibrant and eye-catching combination. But is the so-called wok hei (wok aroma) and sweetness due to the quality of the ingredients themselves, or is it just a result of the seasonings and cooking time?"

"When it's just family eating together, there's no need to make things too fancy!"

The snotty snotty slurred the conversation to the dishes at Fu Lin Men, implying that Chi Mengli, like the dishes on the table, was all show and no substance.

(End of this chapter)