Hong Kong Island: From a small stall to a global supplier

"I want a yacht!" Wang Yaotang shouted, his head bowed and his forehead covered. The speed of the large aircraft was so fast that it made his hair stand on end.

The four-eyed guy took off his mask and put it on his head, shaking his head with a smile. "How about we buy Yao a yacht instead? He looks so pitiful."

“They also make them on Hong Kong Island, over 8 meters long, with a capacity of 7,” the bespectacled man said loudly.

"Can seven people even turn around inside? Either don't buy it, or start at 20 meters. I'd be too embarrassed to even buy an 8-meter one. I might as well take a big plane; at least I can say I'm thrifty," Wang Yaotang shouted.

"Slow down, why are you driving so fast? We're not in a hurry to get back." Wang Yaotang patted Sha Ze.

The four-eyed guy shrugged. "Well, there's nothing I can do about it. He really did pay attention to the yacht prices."

The Italian Riva 63 Virtus is 19.2 meters long, equipped with twin engines, and has a top speed of 30 knots. It cost over HK$2000 million.

The Hong Kong-made Island Gypsy 82, which is 24.99 meters long and has a speed of 26 knots, costs over 2000 million.

Buying a yacht isn't the end of the story. You need a captain, crew, a marina to moor the yacht, and equipment maintenance. The annual expenses can easily reach 200-300 million.

Yachts are something that you not only have to be able to afford to buy, but also have to be able to afford to maintain.

"Brother Yao."

"how?"

After a slight hesitation, the four-eyed man said, "Actually, there was no need to kill anyone. You even did it yourself. How could you do such a thing with your current status?"

"What kind of thing?" Wang Yaotang looked the four-eyed man up and down with amusement.

“I’m not saying killing is bad, I’m just thinking… given your current status and your candidacy for district councilor, you should be more disciplined in your actions. Killing is dirty business.”

“You like to study, but precisely because of that, your values ​​are easily corrupted by all the messy information being promoted, and you fall into their trap,” Wang Yaotang said, putting his arm around the four-eyed boy’s shoulder.

Four-Eyes frowned, not understanding what Wang Yaotang meant.

"You follow the rules when doing things, okay? Then let me ask you first, what rules, and whose rules?"

"It's...it's the law, isn't it?" The bespectacled man looked conflicted. After thinking for a long time, he concluded that rules are the law. "I've seen that when big families in Hong Kong encounter problems, they all talk about the law. Fighting and killing all the time is for gangsters. The upper class uses the law to protect their interests."

"So, who do you think is the most law-abiding?" Wang Yaotang asked with a smile.

"What do you mean?" the bespectacled man asked, confused.

“Let me tell you, the people who uphold the law the most are the ordinary citizens. Think about the life you and Jia Hui lived for the past ten years or so. Didn’t you obey the law? Aren’t the tens of thousands of people in the estate law-abiding citizens enough? They tremble at the sight of the police.” Wang Yaotang scoffed. “Tell me, those families who have worked hard for two or three generations to become the upper class in Hong Kong, did they work so hard just to obey the law?”

The bespectacled guy was speechless.

"Everyone's goal is to one day have the privilege of not obeying the law, otherwise, what else can they do but serve the people? Of course, I don't deny that there are such great people, otherwise we wouldn't be living such a good life, and I respect and admire them from the bottom of my heart. But I am not like that. I live a superior life for myself and for my relatives and friends."

"What does it mean to be superior to others? It means to follow the rules when you want to, and to break them when you don't. That's what it means to be superior to others. If I follow the rules, it's because I'm being kind; if I don't, it's because I'm doing my duty."

"Rules? According to the rules, the Hong Kong government should have maintained social order, stabilized prices, and ensured basic living conditions. Did they do that?"

"no!"

"Besides, let me ask you this: they can break the law and commit crimes, while I, as someone who is superior to others, am required to abide by the law and use the law to punish them. Am I out of my mind?"

"That's not what I meant." The bespectacled man shook his head, his brows furrowed, unsure how to express himself.

"Are you saying that we should follow the rules when dealing with people at the same level?" Wang Yaotang said with a smile.

“Yes!” The bespectacled guy nodded emphatically.

"Several US presidents have been killed already. Don't be silly. If this continues, I'm starting to worry about your marriage. You'll end up losing all your assets and being sent to jail."

"Impossible!" the four-eyed guy said with absolute certainty.

"Heh, remember, rules that protect our interests are good rules, and rules that don't protect our interests can go to hell. Of course, most rules at the societal level can protect our interests, but we don't need to be bound by them." Wang Yaotang patted the four-eyed boy on the shoulder. "Alright, let's go back."

"Go back and run to the Public Works Bureau to get the security company's paperwork done as soon as possible. They said they were going to poach people from the police station, but it's been dragging on for months. Get it done quickly."

"Damn it, we're going to have to choose a leader soon, this is a hassle." Wang Yaotang looked at Sha Ze. "Remember to call the other gangs tomorrow and tell them I'm treating them to dinner tonight."

"Okay, Brother Yao."

Did you visit Ali during the Chinese New Year?

“I went there, and he’s even gained weight.” Sha Ze chuckled. “I arranged for him to be released on medical parole, and I gave him the things too.”

“Okay, once he gets to the hospital, I’ll have Attorney Jiang help him apply. The storm has passed, it’s not a big deal, no problem.” Wang Yaotang patted Sha Ze on the shoulder.

"Mmm, thank you, Brother Yao."

"We're brothers, no need for such formalities."

……

"What does 'God of Wealth Shines' mean?" Big Niu from Tseung Kwan O asked, frowning.

"It's clearly all about the selection of the fifteenth boss," Tsuen Wan boxing champion Hai said in a deep voice. "A trap!"

"Then why aren't you going?" Sha Tian, ​​the skinny dragon, took a puff of his cigarette and squinted at the two of them.

With that one sentence, no one in the room spoke.

"I'm definitely going," Da Niu said, sounding somewhat aggrieved.

Skinny Dragon took another deep drag and stubbed out his cigarette on the table. "That's it. Caishenyao is the biggest now. He controls four branches and has countless men. If we don't go tonight, we'll have to run away tomorrow."

"Damn it." Boxing champion Hai cursed through gritted teeth. If Wang Yaotang hadn't suddenly taken over, he would definitely be the one in charge this time.

His branch was located in Tsuen Wan, and he had the best relationship with the uncles in the triad.

“I just don’t understand. He only has a little over 10,000 men under his command, while Yi’an, Tiaolin, and Shenghe all have over 100,000 men, and they haven’t said they can’t manage them. Why does he have to push all his men out?” Da Niu frowned. Lately, he felt like he was sitting on a volcano, afraid that Wang Yaotang would raise a voice and he would be killed.

"How should I know?" Boxing champion Hai spat angrily.

“I’ve actually heard about that.” Skinny Dragon took out another cigarette and lit it. “Did you know that Cai Shenyao bought the stone quarries in Fanling?”

The two shook their heads in unison, "Why would he take that? It's hard work and doesn't make much money."

Decades ago, there were many small stone quarries approved by the Hong Kong British government. Most of them were operated by various "companies". Blasting and manual excavation were the most suitable for "company" management. However, after the large-scale mechanization and industrialization began, the various "companies" were forced to withdraw and lost money.

The claim that it lacks technical content is only relevant in comparison to other industries. For companies that have developed a path dependency on making quick money, this approach simply won't work.

"Cai Shenyao looks down on those small venues, thinking they pay too little and cause too much trouble," Skinny Dragon said, pouting with a disgruntled expression.

"Really?" Da Niu's eyes widened. "Everyone outside is saying that he only took action because he was giving back to his former brothers."

"Really? You think he only deals with those small venues? He's even selling the 'Maple Leaf Evening' chain of hotels. That was one of the options we gave to Mr. Fu in Fanling. Later, Mr. Fu chose a plastics factory in Tseung Kwan O. He really wants to get involved in the building materials industry."

"I know about the plastics factory," Da Niu slammed his fist on the table. "Damn it!" They're all from 'Shengyi,' and what he considers worthless garbage becomes their prized possession, something they'd protect with their lives...

It's disheartening to even think about it.

It makes it hard to breathe.

I can't live this day!
After a round of arguing, none of the three were in the mood to speak anymore.

"I'm leaving." Boxing champion Hai suddenly stood up.

“I’m leaving too.” The skinny dragon also swayed as he got up.

……

A hint of satisfaction flashed across Wang Yaotang's face as he looked at the modified Ford in front of him.

The white Ford looked completely different now. The body was painted black, with large Umbrella logos painted on both sides. The body was connected by rivets, giving it a menacing metallic look.

I walked up and opened the front door. The door was much heavier than usual. I peered inside and saw that the area that should have led directly to the rear compartment had been completely sealed off with steel plates.

Master Liu said with a smile, "There's no bulletproof glass, so we can only use ordinary tempered glass. But if you're really attacked, you can still block bullets by crouching down. The hood is made of 3mm homogeneous steel plate."

Walking to the back of the carriage, you'll find double doors with two 20-centimeter firing ports on each side, enclosed by steel bars. The firing ports can only be opened from the inside.

Opening the rear door reveals two benches facing each other, with firing ports on both sides.

"The outer layer is a 3mm steel plate, and we have increased the inner bulletproof steel plate to 1.2 meters. The firing port is located on the bulletproof steel plate. When counterattacking, one leg can be kneeled on the stool to protect the entire body. Under the stool is a storage box that can hold some first aid supplies, gas masks, fire extinguishers, and the like. Even if the enemy uses tear gas or petrol bombs, we will not be helpless."

"The safe uses a mechanical combination lock, which requires two sets of keys to open. We can't do anything better."

"That's enough. If someone really manages to break through here, no lock will work. We can just cut it open with acetylene." Wang Yaotang patted the door and said, "This thing is just for showing to clients. Besides, it's just dealing with robbers, not a world war. It's not that dramatic."

Besides me, who else would use such a heinous thing as a petrol bomb?

“That’s true.” Old Liu said with a smile, “We also added a layer of protection to the fuel tank, but this is a diesel engine, so there is no risk of explosion.”

"Are you satisfied or not?" Director Zhao walked up and asked with a smile.

"Not bad." Wang Yaotang nodded.

"What do you mean 'not bad'? Where's the problem?" Director Zhao was immediately displeased upon hearing this.

"Run-flat tires."

"No, you can find a way to do it yourself."

"Is the load-bearing capacity okay?" Wang Yaotang asked Lao Liu.

"There's definitely no problem, it's just that it's impossible to run that fast anymore. The top speed is only 80 kilometers per hour now, and the shock absorption is also much worse. There's nothing we can do about it, the car's weight exceeds the design weight. But we've reinforced the chassis, so there's no need to worry about it not being able to withstand the load."

"It doesn't matter, it's not like it's meant to be comfortable." Wang Yaotang patted the car body with a smile, he liked it, he really liked it, "It would be even better if there was a machine gun turret on top."

Seeing that neither Director Zhao nor Master Liu responded, Wang Yaotang could only cough lightly, "It's just a decoration, we're not actually putting a machine gun on it."

"It's for scaring people, no, it's for making movies, yes, that's it!"

Factory Director Zhao chuckled and said, "I don't believe you for a second. It's definitely not going to work. You can find someone to modify it yourself, but it absolutely cannot carry any weapon platforms when it leaves our factory. If it does, it will be a diplomatic incident, and I can't afford to take that responsibility."

"Tch, you sold me the patrol boat too." Wang Yaotang scoffed.

"The patrol boat can't go ashore, so you're just driving around the city center all day long."

"Alright, alright." Wang Yaotang could only agree with a smile. "We'll go with this standard. I'll have someone send over six vehicles for modification right away."

Factory Director Zhao was immediately delighted. That was $12! Although it was impossible to transfer the money directly to their shipyard account, they could still ask for some foreign exchange quota later. With more money saved up, they could order some advanced equipment.

Wang Yaotang took out cigarettes, offered some to the group, took a puff, and then said, "I still have some Toyota Hiaces that I want to modify."

Factory Director Zhao's eyes lit up. "Is it this kind too?"

“No,” Wang Yaotang said. “The car body has 5mm steel plates, the rear doors open, the seats are placed on both sides, leaving a central fast passage, and firing ports on both sides and the rear.”

"Bring security personnel?" Director Zhao understood immediately.

"Correct."

"Okay, no problem, send them all over."

"What about speed?"

"The Hiace itself doesn't have as much horsepower as the Ford, at most 70."

“That won’t do. It has to be at least 90 kilometers away. There’s no way we can make the vehicles protecting the target vehicles wait for them.”

"Then we'll have to reduce the armor."

"Then reduce their armor; their mission is to protect people, not to be protected."

"Then we'll just use 3mm homogeneous steel plates in the lower half; that should be enough to withstand 9mm."

"can."

After leaving Guangzhou, Wang Yaotang did not return to Hong Kong Island but instead took the modified Ford to Macau. He drove the car directly from the tugboat to the pier, met up with the people who came to pick him up, and headed straight to the Public Security Bureau.

Legitimate vehicles should, of course, have legitimate license plates!
Neves kept making "wow" noises. "Dude, you brought an armored vehicle into Macau? That's outrageous!"

"Including the driver, there are four fully armed security guards. Can they escort one hundred million US dollars?" Wang Yaotang shouted.

“Yes, of course!” Neves laughed and said, “Compared to these two trucks, the other armored trucks are simply garbage. You can hardly imagine how I felt when I found several armored trucks with rust crumbling off with just a light poke during an inspection a while ago.”

“I was terrified. If someone robbed the armored truck, I couldn’t imagine the pressure the police department would face. I really wanted to crack open the heads of those bank executives to see what was inside.”

"What a bunch of idiots!"

“So, everyone in the Public Security Bureau supports you in taking over the escort business in Macau. Go ahead and do it with confidence.” Neves smiled and waved his hand, and his subordinate immediately brought over a file folder.

"Umbrella Security Company's gun license, but you have to buy the gun from us yourself, including the bullets."

"Thank you." Wang Yaotang took it, kissed it, and laughed loudly. "From now on, if anyone the hell disagrees, I'll have someone bring cash to them, throw two pistols at them, say they're robbing an armored truck, and then shoot them dead on the spot!"

Neves burst out laughing. "You're quite the joker."

He laughed, then Neves's brow furrowed. "Why aren't you laughing? Dude, don't joke around."

"Hahaha, of course I'm just kidding!" Wang Yaotang laughed loudly.

Neves stopped laughing now... (End of Chapter)