1982 Started from Hong Kong

Chapter 520 Chairman Zhai, please have some tea.
“I know you are all waiting for Liu Huangfa to return and take charge of the overall situation.”

Zhai Yuan casually tossed the file folder in his hand onto the table.

coax!
The local gentry who were sitting around the table scattered in all directions, trying to avoid them.
A series of chair-moving sounds filled the conference room.

Huang Hongfa's example was right before their eyes. Before he could even reach Zhai Yuan, he collapsed into bed, a pool of blood spreading beneath him, and the air was already thick with the stench of blood.

Zhai Yuan glanced at the fearful-looking gentry and shook his head with a smile.

"Sorry, I startled everyone." After saying that, he looked up at the armed security personnel and said, "You can go out now."

Ya'an's security personnel were well-trained. At the boss's word, they left without hesitation and gently closed the door behind them.

"Alright, now I'm the only one left in the room."

Zhai Yuan spoke again, pointing to Huang Hongfa lying on the ground, his tone laced with amusement: "Is there anyone else like him who intends to seek justice from me?"

There was silence.

"Good!"

Zhai Yuan patted the shoulder of the local gentry he had put his arm around, stood up, and clearly heard the man let out a long sigh of relief.

"I know everyone is waiting for Liu Huangfa to come back, but I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."

Zhai Yuan started the conversation again, taking out a wanted poster from his trench coat pocket and casually saying, "I just heard that Liu Huangfa is wanted for allegedly hiring someone to commit murder. Who to kill? Of course, it's me. I'm not making this up, it's the Hong Kong government's word."

As he spoke, he casually handed the arrest warrant to Liao Shuren, who was standing to the side.

Liao Shuren calmly accepted the arrest warrant, glanced at it, and nodded, saying, "That's right, it's a joint document signed by the police force and the magistrates' court."

Hou Yanzhai leaned closer with a smile: "Witness Guo Yonghong, nicknamed Huangpuzai, I know him, he's the rascal who often does things for Ah Fa!"

"Yes, at the end of last year, my villa in Deep Water Bay was shot at. The criminal that the Flying Tigers caught was this sausage."

Zhai Yuan paced around the conference table, passing behind each local gentry member, and said unhurriedly, "What a coincidence! Last week, I was fulfilling my duty as a Justice of the Peace by inspecting the prisoners at Stanley Prison. This fellow named Huang Puzi actually knelt down in front of me and confessed his wrongdoing as soon as he saw me, revealing the mastermind behind it all..."

As Zhai Yuan spoke, he walked behind Cao Shaowei and slapped him on the shoulder: "Guess who it is!"

Cao Shaowei shuddered and turned around, forcing an ugly smile.

As Zhai Yuan raised his voice, the door was kicked open again, and a group of security personnel carrying shotguns rushed in.

The local gentry in the meeting room, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, were suddenly filled with anxiety again.

When will you be allowed in?

Zhai Yuan glanced at the gentry, who looked like quails in fright, and curled the corners of his lips. Then he shouted at the security personnel, "Get out!"

The door closed for the second time.

"I'm sorry, but these Vietnamese guys did take my money after all. They were worried I'd get into trouble. Country bumpkins are country bumpkins."

Zhai Yuan smiled and said something to the local gentry, then, without waiting for Cao Shaowei to speak, he gave him a hard shove on the back of the head and said with a disappointed tone, "The mastermind is of course Liu Huangfa. I even showed you the arrest warrant. You can't even guess that? And you want to go to England to appeal like others? You're so naive!"

Cao Shaowei slammed his forehead on the table with a thud, but dared not show the slightest dissatisfaction on his face.

"So you definitely won't be able to wait for Liu Huang to send it back."

Zhai Yuan circled the table again, passing behind each of the local gentry. The gentry dared not even breathe loudly, for fear that their footsteps would stop behind them.

"Hiring someone to commit murder, and now the police suspect that the attack I was in Japan was also his doing."

Zhai Yuan slowly said, "The police originally wanted to invite him back to assist in the investigation, but Uncle Fa is incredibly resourceful; he actually got wind of it beforehand and ran away. Not to mention he doesn't dare to return to Hong Kong now, even if he were brought back to Hong Kong for trial, how many years do you think he would be sentenced to? Would he still be qualified to continue sitting in the position of chairman of the Heung Yee Kuk?"

…………

"Uncle Fa, after you get through on the phone, please read what's on this piece of paper aloud."

The speedboat was moored at the edge of the island's shore.
The usually deserted Wai Lingding Island is unusually lively today.

Xi Mitian unfolded a piece of paper and handed it to Liu Huangfa, who was surrounded by a group of various companions.

The Vietnamese guy and the Soviet guy rested against the rocks.

The brothers from Taiwan stood on the other side.
Liu Yeqiang and Liu Yeguang had their hands tied behind their backs, and Cai Songlin stood behind the two brothers holding a black star gun.

Liu Huangfa took the manuscript paper handed to him by Ximitian. Although there were only a few lines of text on it, it still made the veins on his forehead throb.

A script of a phone call with Taiwan, and the donation of books are not the main issues. As long as the recording of these few sentences is leaked, it will completely confirm his motive for abandoning Hong Kong and fleeing to Taiwan.

"You should familiarize yourself with your lines first."

Ignoring the other person's expression, Ximitian walked to an open space and started adjusting the equipment on the ground.

Liu Huangfa, clutching the manuscript, watched as Xi Mitian turned on the communication and recording equipment, its lights flashing. He said in a deep voice, "Release my son first, or I won't..."

Before he finished speaking, Black Star twirled in Cai Songlin's hand, then pointed the gun directly at Liu Yeqiang's ear and pulled the trigger!

boom!
Liu Yeqiang let out a scream as his earlobe exploded, a bloody mess!

Liu Yeguang, the younger brother standing to the side, was so frightened that his legs went weak and he collapsed to his knees with a thud.

"I'll pick your mother!"

Liu Huangfa's eyes instantly turned red, but before he could make a move, Cai Songlin had already pointed the gun at Liu Yeqiang's other ear.

“Calm down, Mr. Liu,” Cai Songlin said with a smile, moving the gun from Liu Yeqiang’s ear to his temple. “You’d better do as I say, or I might not be so accurate next time I shoot.”

Liu Huangfa abruptly stopped in his tracks.

"Okay~"

Ignoring the gunfire nearby, Ximitian clapped his hands after adjusting the machine and handed a satellite phone to Liu Huangfa.

“Three lines of text, three sentences, let’s rehearse them.”

Xi Mi-tian shoved the satellite phone into Liu Huangfa's hand, then picked up another phone and said to him, "Don't worry, you did a good job. I guarantee your two sons will be fine. Otherwise, I'll be struck by lightning. I, Chen Jiale, have been in this business for so long, and I'm very good with my words!"

…………

Heung Yee Kuk.

After circling the desk once, Zhai Yuan returned to his original position.

He reached out and patted the chair reserved for Lau Wong-fat, and smiled at everyone, saying, "So the Heung Yee Kuk needs someone to step forward and give an explanation to both the foreigners and the old man."

"To put it bluntly, I plan to take this position. Wei Yixin is going to build a new airport, and I also want to do telecommunications business. In the future, new towns and infrastructure will inevitably be developed around the New Territories."

"In the past, Lau Wong-fat held onto land and waited for it to appreciate in value. How long did that take? Now the mainland is developing so fast. After the 97 handover, the Lo Wu border crossing opened, and citizens rushed to Shenzhen to buy property. At worst, they can go back to Hong Kong to work. It's just a bit of trouble, but it's better than being burdened with a mortgage. I'm not joking. If you have time, go and take a look at Shenzhen. Even truck drivers are starting to keep mistresses. Will land in the New Territories be very competitive in the future?"

"Furthermore, the foreigners have been pushing immigration programs for the past few years. Anyone with eyes can see that they want to take Hong Kong's talent to the UK. If you have time, go and take a look at big companies like Cheung Kong and Sun Hung Kai. A lot of their CBD offices are empty, and the occupancy rate has dropped to 60%. If they can't even fill up the city center, they certainly won't be able to fill up the New Territories."

"Suppose, and I mean suppose, what if Grandpa builds a new district in the future, something like the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, but deliberately avoids the New Territories... Why? Because you're waiting for the right price to go up! Then all the land you've hoarded will just rot in your hands!"

"But it's different if I sit in this position~" Zhai Yuan paused, then slowly continued, "I have connections with both the foreigners and the old folks. As long as everyone is willing to cooperate, I guarantee you'll all have a share in airports, communications, infrastructure, and logistics. The hot money you get in your hands is the most practical thing. Besides, you've all seen what my Xiawan Village is like. It's just a company called Kuaibo Technology, and it's turned those idle scoundrels around, making them start wearing suits and ties and speaking English. You guys talk about carrying on the family line all day long, but what's the use of producing a bunch of useless rich kids!"

After finishing his speech, Zhai Yuan leaned on the table, leisurely biting his cigar and exhaling a thick cloud of smoke.

Amidst the swirling smoke,
He squinted and swept his gaze across the crowd: "Now that I've finished speaking, who agrees and who disagrees?"

The atmosphere in the meeting room froze for a moment.

The local gentry exchanged glances, some tapping lightly on the table, others gripping their teacups tightly, their eyes flickering with hesitation.

"I agree."

Liao Shuren smiled and slowly raised his watch in response.

“Even Tanka people and women need to have the right to have children; the world has really changed.”

Hou Yanzhai smiled and patted his belly, then jokingly raised his watch along with Liao Shuren in agreement.

After the Leung and Hau families, two of the five major clans in the New Territories, expressed their opinions, some of the other gentry members also raised their hands in a scattered manner.

Only the oldest, Wen Zhengbing, closed his eyes and remained silent.

Peng Xiuhua glanced at her third uncle, silently lowered her hands from the table, and rested her hands on her knees in silence.

Seeing this, most of the remaining gentry dared not react further, and the atmosphere became tense.

“Our ancestral halls in the New Territories have been passed down for hundreds of years, and this cannot be resolved with a few guns.”

Deng Zhaotang, who had been silent for a long time, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and like a stone thrown into a lake, broke the deathly silence of the conference room.

Peng Xiuhua breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and stared at Zhai Yuan, saying, "That's right. If someone tries to hold a gun to our heads and force us to submit today, I think we should just disband the Rural Council."

The two men spoke in succession, causing the previously silent gentry to nod slightly, wipe the sweat from their foreheads with their sleeves, and seem to breathe more easily.

Unexpectedly, the next second, Tang Siu-tong suddenly changed his tone: "But if the incense of the ancestral hall is to be passed on, someone must be able to maintain the situation. Brother Fat has passed away, and now someone is willing to take over, which is also for the sake of the New Territories. So I agree to let Mr. Zhai sit in the chairman's position."

Upon hearing this, all the local gentry present froze, staring at Deng Zhaotang in disbelief.

Peng Xiuhua abruptly turned her face and watched as Deng Zhaotang raised one hand, making the same vote as Liao Shuren and Hou Yanzhai.

The five major clans instantly became three to two.

Unlike Liao and Hou, Deng Zhaotang was a true brother of Liu Huangfa and the number two figure in the Heung Yee Kuk.

Upon hearing this statement, the local gentry present were stunned for two seconds before quickly reacting, with many raising their hands in response, instantly reaching nearly half.

"Uncle Tang is the one who understands the bigger picture."

Zhai Yuan glanced at Peng Xiuhua, whose face was pale, and smiled as he nodded to Deng Zhaotang.

Peng Xiuhua's face twitched twice, and she looked at Wen Zhengbing beside her. The latter still looked like he was resting with his eyes closed, but he gripped his cane a little tighter.

at this time,

The conference room door was opened from the outside for the third time.

The local gentry, all with similarly heightened nerves, paled, thinking it was another intrusion by the Ya'an security forces, and instinctively shrank back.

Fortunately, there was only one person standing outside the door.

He Zilang pushed open the door and entered, ignoring the expressions of the local gentry, and went straight to Zhai Yuan's side, whispering a few words in his ear with a solemn expression.

Zhai Yuan raised an eyebrow and turned to look at He Zilang.

He Zilang lowered his eyes and nodded slightly to Zhai Yuan.

A smile appeared in Zhai Yuan's eyes, but his expression immediately hardened: "Can't you hear me? We're all on the same side here. Speak up if you have something to say!"

He Zilang's voice suddenly rose, and he said in a strong and clear voice: "Councilor Zhai, fishermen have found three corpses hanging from trees near the high seas. After preliminary confirmation by the General Administration of Customs, the deceased are Liu Huangfa and his two sons. It is suspected that the three of them fled to escape punishment and were killed by pirates on their way, leaving their bodies exposed in the wilderness!"

After he finished speaking, the conference room fell into a deathly silence.

Dozens of eyes turned to He Zilang, then shifted to Zhai Yuan, filled with shock, horror, and disbelief...

blah blah blah!

Cao Shaowei, Liu Huangfa's only remaining confidant, trembled, and the teacup fell to the ground and shattered with a crack.

Hot tea splashed onto the floor, creating a wisp of white steam.

"Damn pirates!"

Zhai Yuan sighed.

"It seems that Liu Huangfa is really not coming back this time."

Liao Shuren also sighed, his gaze sweeping over the local gentry present, and said earnestly, "Right now, the overall situation is of utmost importance."

The last glimmer of hope in the hearts of the local gentry vanished with He Zilang's message.

Cao Shaowei raised his hand without hesitation: "I oppose... I support Mr. Zhai becoming the chairman of the Heung Yee Kuk!"

The stalemate was completely broken in an instant.
One after another, the local gentry raised their hands in agreement, quick and decisive, as if afraid of being a step too slow.

Peng Xiuhua's face alternated between pale and flushed, her knuckles clenched tightly on her knees. After a long silence, she finally slowly raised her hand: "I agree."

The outcome was decided, and there was no further wavering on the field.

Only the elderly Wen Zhengbing remained seated with his eyes closed and leaning on his cane.

Everyone stole glances at this third uncle, but dared not urge him on.

Suddenly, there was a loud thud.

Wen Zhengbing tapped his cane lightly on the ground.

The old man slowly opened his eyes, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes slowly curved into an arc.

His smiling gaze fell on Zhai Yuan. He stood up, leaning on his cane, and then personally picked up the teapot in front of him.

Steam rises, and clear tea leaves fall into the teacup.

Wen Zhengbing moved slowly and deliberately, placing the teacup he had poured in front of Liu Huangfa's chair.

Then he gestured to Zhai Yuan and said with a smile, "Chairman Zhai, please have some tea."

Zhai Yuan's gaze met He Zilang, Liang Shuren, Hou Yanzhai, and Deng Zhaotang in turn, and a smile appeared in his eyes.

He shook off his trench coat, finally settled into the chairman's chair of the rural council, picked up his teacup, gestured to the local gentry present, and drank it all in one gulp!

(End of this chapter)