1982 Started from Hong Kong

Chapter 17 The interview officially begins

Zhai Yuan sat at the door of the convenience store with a big horse and a golden knife, holding a bottle of Coke in his hand, biting the straw tightly, and his face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

He didn't fall for a woman, but was cheated by an old man? If you tell others about it, they will laugh at him to death!
He felt very embarrassed.

At the same time, I felt even more distressed about the huge sum of two hundred yuan.

"My father worked so hard to raise 8,000 yuan, but he extorted 3% of my principal at once. Pick it!"

Theoretically, when something like this happens, one should complain to the Consumer Council, but this unfortunate agency has no law enforcement powers, and even if they send someone over, they will most likely just try to smooth things over and stall for time.

Of course Zhai Yuan would not be willing to wait for three or five days for an unknown result.

If by that time I have calmed down, or the other party returns the money, wouldn't that be tantamount to swallowing the loss in silence?

How could I possibly give you a chance to admit your mistakes! All I want is for you to understand my thoughts!

Zhai Yuan thought indignantly.

People from Sau Mau Ping Estate arrived faster than expected.

Zhai Yuan had just finished a bottle of Coke when he saw a group of people coming from the other side of the street. At first glance, there were about twenty of them.

The leader was Liang Zhichao.

The crowd stood in the small square outside the Garden Building. Liang Zhichao looked around and saw Zhai Yuan coming from the convenience store opposite, waving at him repeatedly.

"Brother Yuan, here!"

Zhai Yuan crossed the road, stepped over the guardrail with one hand, and came in front of the crowd.

The people Liang Zhichao invited were all from their housing estate, and Zhai Yuan did not know them.

After a simple nod to each other, Zhai Yuan repeated the issue of salary that he had discussed on the phone.

"Two thousand dollars a month, and the school provides three meals. If anyone doesn't believe me, you can call the principal's office of Sau Mau Ping Tzu Ai Secondary School now, and Principal Huang will explain to you."

More than twenty former police officers who had been dismissed expressed no objection and stared at Zhai Yuan with burning eyes, waiting for him to announce the content of the interview.

A monthly salary of two thousand yuan was the average income for men in Hong Kong at that time, and it was even a bit low, but we also had to take the identities and backgrounds of the people in front of us into consideration.

The ones that Zhai Yuan specifically mentioned were the corrupt policemen who were expelled from the police force after the ICAC purge. The files of these people had long been written to pieces, and they couldn't even get a decent job in a decent company. Moreover, they were basically around 40 years old. Even in later generations, they would be middle-aged men facing the crisis of layoffs and unable to find decent jobs.

So most of these people work as laborers in the Anderson Mine above the Sau Mau Ping Housing Estate, earning $80 a day. When there is a shutdown period, it is normal for them to have no income for ten days or half a month.

Therefore, this job that Zhai Yuan mentioned, with a monthly salary of 2,000 yuan, close to home and with three meals provided, was extremely tempting to them.

"I am representing the school this time and there are six positions in total, so some people will definitely be eliminated."

Zhai Yuan paced back and forth in front of a group of middle-aged men with his hands behind his back, like a leader giving a speech, leaving Liang Zhichao standing beside him dumbfounded.

"The content of this interview is very simple. Since we are responsible for maintaining the school's law and order, we must face some evil problems in society and protect the safety of students. If anyone wants to take this job easily, they can leave now."

After a pause, Zhai Yuan nodded with satisfaction when he saw a group of middle-aged men expressing their opinions and showing their disdain for the society and its affiliated organizations.

He was not afraid at all. What I said was true, but I was just using public resources for personal gain.

This is part of my interview plan.

"Since no one is leaving, let me see if you are really brave enough to join the club. Now is the second part of the interview. Follow me!"

Zhai Yuan was the first to cross the road, followed closely by more than 20 adults, afraid of being a step behind. They soon returned to the entrance of the Huangpu Men's and Women's Barber Shop.

In the barber shop, a few strong men were still laughing and teasing the student who had just been blackmailed.

The next second, through the glass door, they saw the student coming back, holding a square brick in his hand and giving them a bright smile.

Bang! The brick flew out with the sound of wind and hit the door fiercely, instantly creating a big hole and shattered glass!
"I choose!"

The strong men in the barber shop rushed out angrily, "Boy, don't even think about leaving if you don't pay me today!"

Then they were dumbfounded.

What underworld prince?
The narrow alley behind Zhai Yuan was crowded with people. A group of middle-aged men dressed like the neighbors were smiling maliciously in the direction of the barber shop.

What kind of people are eligible to be expelled from the police force?
Most of them are gangsters with official titles who have experienced the baptism of gangs in the 1960s and 1970s. It’s just that they are older now and have turned from licensed gangsters into unlicensed gangsters.

When this group of people got together, the unstable factors in their bodies when they were young immediately boiled over again.

"Give way, give way."

In the barber shop, the old barber from Huangpu named Uncle Ming finally showed up.

He pushed aside several burly men and came to Zhai Yuan with a humble and friendly smile on his face: "Young sir, it's just a misunderstanding. I'm old and my eyes are dim. Please forgive me if I have offended you."

As he spoke, Uncle Ming took out five hundred Hong Kong dollars and said in a conciliatory manner: "Young man, you just got your hair cut and dropped your wallet in my shop. Fortunately, I helped you pick it up and now it has been returned to its owner."

The haircut costs 200, but you give me 500. What do you mean?
Zhai Yuan grinned, reached out to take the money, counted out two bills, and stuffed the rest into Uncle Ming's arms.

"It's okay, old man."

Seeing the other party's respectful appearance, Zhai Yuan comforted him: "I just came here to seek justice. In fact, your barbering skills are quite good. Why do you have to do this? Be more careful next time."

"Of course, of course." Uncle Ming said in a slow and soft voice.

Zhai Yuan nodded, turned around and left.

When passing by a group of former black police officers, he handed the two hundred Hong Kong dollars to the person closest to him.

"This little money is for everyone's travel expenses. Now the interview officially begins."

Looking back at the timid Uncle Ming and the several strong men behind him, Zhai Yuan grinned and said to the group of middle-aged people, "Help me change the feng shui layout of this store, but don't hurt anyone. Whoever contributes the most, I will consider giving priority to him."

As soon as he finished speaking, a group of men facing the mid-life crisis rushed into the barber shop like wolves and tigers.

Amid the attempts of Uncle Ming and his men to stop them, the sounds of tables, chairs, benches and door signs being smashed could be heard one after another.

Liang Zhichao looked at the scene in front of him anxiously: "Brother Yuan, if this is such a big deal, will something go wrong?"

Zhai Yuan put his hands in his pockets and nodded in agreement: "Yeah, they made such a big scene. I don't know what grudge these people have with this barber shop. Even a passerby like me thinks it's too much."

After saying that, he patted Liang Zhichao on the shoulder and said, "I hate this kind of violent scene. You stay here and help me keep an eye out. Pick out a few good fighters and write down their names. I have other things to do. Let's go first!"

Under Liang Zhichao's astonished gaze, Zhai Yuan walked away.

That day he put his hands in his pockets and didn't know what an opponent was.

(End of this chapter)