Hong Kong Storm: The King of Jobs

Chapter 754, Part 345: With silver coins, of course I'll follow (8,000-word challenge)
Panda Boy would never risk his life, and besides, he doesn't know anything about electrical work, but there are many skilled technicians inside the building.

The Guanlou Investigation Department also has an intelligence section and a technical team. These people are all marginalized in Guanlou, and they are the most suitable to be used as scapegoats.

Panda called Liu Wenfeng via the car radio, asking him to quickly send a skilled person and, incidentally, get a set of China Electronics Corporation work clothes.

Less than twenty minutes later, a van bearing the logo of China Power Company drove into the underground parking lot of New World Center.

The two men who had been smoking behind the car quickly stepped out of the shadows, waved at the van, and asked it to come over.

The van driver also noticed the panda cub and the white crane hiding in the shadows, and stopped the van right in front of the two idiots.

The driver of the van opened the door, jumped out, and stood in front of the white crane and the panda cub.

"Let me introduce you to this guy, Alai. He's a tech fanatic in the technical team. Even a flashlight becomes as powerful as a jackpot in his hands."

"Trust him, you won't go wrong!"

The man who got out of the van was someone Panda Boy actually knew, but the two knew each other not because of a case, but because of Ah Lai, that good-for-nothing, who took on side jobs.

This scoundrel is a master of modification, a master of repair, and an appliance repairman—all of them are losers who often steal parts from you and overcharge you.

So if someone in the building needs their appliances repaired, they can just take the small ones to the technical department and pick them up when they leave work.

For large appliances like televisions, refrigerators, and air conditioners, you'll need to hire A-Lai for on-site service.

Ah Lai's prices are quite fair. He only charges the cost of parts and makes a profit on labor costs, which is at least 30-50% less than that of other appliance stores.

After a while, the staff at Guanlou, having received word of this, all started asking Alai to repair their appliances.

Last month, Panda Boy's TV had a problem; it only had sound but no picture. So they called Ah Lai over, who replaced some parts, and it was fixed that same day.

Ah Lai was wearing a China Power employee uniform. This uniform was not new, but old, with a lot of oil stains and holes. This should be Ah Lai's usual work clothes.

"Just take me in, and I can handle everything."

"However, this time I'm on fieldwork, so it'll be recorded in the report, and I'll be able to earn some overtime pay this month."

After Ah Lai finished speaking, without waiting for the panda cub to reply, he opened his toolbox, which contained all sorts of measuring tools.

It seemed like there was no problem at all, but unexpectedly, A-Lai pressed a latch button, revealing a hidden compartment filled with all sorts of eavesdropping devices.

“Brother Panda, if you had arrived a few days later, Scotland Yard’s high-end equipment would have arrived in Hong Kong. It’s a combination of wiretapping and recording, guaranteed to give you a real treat.”

"However, installing such equipment requires approval from the Department of Justice and must be done according to the rules; otherwise, everyone will end up in jail at the ancestral hall."

Alai smiled smugly, then closed the hidden compartment again, preparing to enter the metropolis with Baihe.

"Baihe, you go up first, Panda Cub will follow shortly."

The panda distracted the white crane, telling it to go upstairs and wait.

Knowing that the two scoundrels had something to say, Bai He nodded, put the documents and passport in his pocket, picked up the tea box, and left without looking back.

Only Panda and Alai remained in the underground parking lot. Alai looked around and said, "Brother Panda, you've been promoted this time and become the leader of the sixth group of the investigation department."

"It's so enviable!"

"Becoming a team leader opens up a path to wealth, and the bosses will have to look up to you."

Ah Lai took out his cigarette case, picked out two cigarettes, and handed the first one to Panda Boy before taking the second one for himself.

He reached out to help the panda light the fire, and said with a fawning smile, "The technical department is a clean department; you can't squeeze any money out of it."

"If there's a good opportunity, give me a hand too." "Don't worry, I know the rules about the 'tea money' (cash advance), Panda Bro, thank you for your help!"

Alai took out two boxes of Red Wan cigarettes that he had prepared beforehand and helped Panda put them in his pocket.

This isn't a tea fee, not even a greeting gift; it's just a small way to get closer to someone.

"Want to join the investigation department with me? No problem. Brother Feng took away a lot of people, and I'm just missing a skilled guy like you under my command."

"And don't worry, you'll definitely get a copy of this report, which will guarantee you a promotion. But you need to do something for me, something for Brother Feng."

"Once it's done, I'll submit a report and transfer you to the investigation department to help you get rid of Ichika."

Panda looked around and, seeing no one, pulled a Black Star pistol wrapped in a plastic bag from his jacket pocket and slapped it into A-Lai's hand.

What's going on?

"Making pork skewers? That's so outdated! If the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) finds out, none of us will be able to play this game!"

Guanlou is a cesspool; no one can remain untainted. Alai, from the technical department, has seen all the tricks and schemes here.

So the moment Alai got his hands on the Black Star pistol, he realized what was happening. He quickly put the pistol on the box and shook his head desperately in refusal.

"You haven't been promoted in five years because you're unwilling to share the profits!"

"Chen Ke from the technical department has been unhappy with you for a long time. You're using parts from Guanlou to make money for yourself, which is a violation of the rules!"

Do you know that?

When Panda saw that Ah Lai wasn't getting it, he immediately pointed out that this good-for-nothing hadn't been promoted in five years.

There are few people in Guanlou, but many positions are available. As long as you have enough seniority and know how to flatter the foreigners, you can always get a minor official post.

Ah Lai earns a considerable amount of money each month from his side jobs, probably two or three thousand yuan, but this loser didn't even give his boss a single woman's head.

If it weren't for the fact that this scoundrel's father was the old man of Guanlou who had helped many people, this scoundrel would have been kicked out of Guanlou long ago for even the slightest mistake.

“Ah Lai, your father helped me and supported me in crucial moments, so of course I want you to be well.”

Seeing that Alai was still confused, Panda Boy said with exasperation, "You idiot, it's not that you don't understand this principle, it's that you'd rather risk your life than your money."

"leave!"

After walking back to his car, Panda Boy opened the trunk, took out another file bag, and walked back to Alai: "There's 50,000 yuan in here."

"After entering Ninth Sister's office, put this Black Star pistol into Ninth Sister's safe."

"It's settled. This 50,000 yuan is all yours. Come to the investigation team, Group Six, next month."

"Follow or not?"

"Get to the point! Stop whining!"

"There's still time. If you're not going to join, then don't ruin things. Keep things to yourself. I'll find someone else right now."

Panda opened the file bag in his hand and stuffed stacks of large gold bulls into Alai's pocket.

"I'll follow!"

Ah Lai, who was greedy for money, stared wide-eyed, his gaze following the panda boy's golden bull without hesitation, and nodded quickly.

(End of this chapter)