Hong Kong variety show: The mastermind behind the scenes is emerging.

Let's rewind to January 1, 1983, New Year's Day.

Night, Wan Chai.

Today is the first day of the new year, but in this city that never sleeps, the air is still thick with the scent of restless hormones and alcohol. Neon signs flicker in the night rain, their reflections on the wet asphalt roads resembling flowing, colorful rivers.

Lockhart Road, Jin Feng Restaurant, this place is booked out tonight.

The entire three-story building was filled with sixty large round tables, all of which were packed. Each table was laden with suckling pig, lobster, and abalone, and beer bottles were piled high like small mountains. The noise, the sounds of drinking games, and the clinking of glasses almost lifted the roof off.

Sitting in the center of the main table was a large man with a fierce face but an imposing presence.

He was wearing a white suit, with a gold chain as thick as a finger around his neck and a Cuban cigar between his fingers, squinting at the lively scene before him.

Wang Bao, the head of the Baozi Village, is also the most sought-after "godfather" in Wan Chai right now.

A few months ago, with the downfall of the three Vietnamese gang members by the police in conjunction with Jiahe, a huge vacuum was created in Wan Chai's underworld. Although Wang Bao lost several million dollars because the police seized the drugs and money, he was still very grateful to the police and said more than once that the "tuition fee" was worth it.

With the Vietnamese gang gone, Wang Bao, like a shark smelling blood, rapidly expanded his territory. Although most of it was devoured by Ahua's "Hero Hall," a considerable amount of the remaining spoils ended up in Wang Bao's mouth.

Now he has a strong army and a lot of money.

"Brother Bao! Happy New Year!"

"Wishing Brother Bao many happy returns of the day!"

A group of his subordinates took turns toasting him, and Wang Bao accepted every toast with a smile that suggested he controlled everything.

"Alright! As long as everyone's happy!" Wang Bao picked up his wine glass, his voice booming, "After tonight, our Bao gang will be the biggest gang in Wan Chai! From now on, brothers, follow me, and you'll live the high life!"

"Thank you, Brother Bao!!"

Dozens of gangsters shouted in unison, their momentum deafening.

however.

Just as the atmosphere reached its climax.

"Bang!"

The restaurant's door was kicked open.

The deafening sound instantly drowned out all the other noises. The once bustling hall fell into a deathly silence, as if a pause button had been pressed.

A cold wind swept in, carrying with it a suffocating, chilling atmosphere.

A team of anti-triad agents in bulletproof vests rushed in expressionlessly and quickly took control of all the exits.

"Police are checking license plates! Everyone, show your ID cards! Put them on the table!"

"Don't move your hands! Even a slight movement will result in you being charged with assaulting a police officer!"

Among the menacing police officers, a middle-aged man emerged, wearing a dark gray trench coat, with a haggard face but sharp, eagle-like eyes.

Chan Kwok-chung, an inspector in the West Kowloon Anti-Triad Unit, is also Wong Po's arch-enemy.

Chen Guozhong walked into the hall, ignoring the murderous stares of his underlings around him, and went straight to the main table. He pulled out a chair and sat down opposite Wang Bao with an air of authority.

"Wang Sheng, you're in such high spirits, treating your men to dinner?"

Chen Guozhong took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, took a deep breath, and then blew all the smoke into Wang Bao's face.

Wang Bao did not move.

He simply watched Chen Guozhong quietly, the cigar in his hand still burning.

"Inspector Chen," Wang Bao began, his voice low and hoarse, carrying an imposing aura, "Today is New Year's Day, which only comes once a year. I don't want to cause trouble, nor do I want my brothers to be unhappy."

"Give me the time to go out for a walk. I'll treat you to tea another day."

This is the unwritten rule of the underworld, and it's also Wang Bao's bottom line. For the police to come knocking during the New Year and ruin the mood is worse than murder.

"Giving you face?" Chen Guozhong sneered, a chill that emanated from his very bones. "Two years ago, in a restaurant like this, it was your birthday celebration."

"That sole witness was slit in the throat by your henchman, Ah Ji, right there on the overpass. And his wife was also killed in the car," Chen Guozhong's eyes reddened, filled with three years of pent-up hatred, "leaving only a little girl behind, an orphan."

"Wang Bao, your reputation is built on the lives of countless people; I won't give it to you."

When this matter was mentioned, Wang Bao's eyes flickered slightly, but he quickly regained his indifference.

"Mr. Chan, everything requires evidence. The judge ruled me innocent, so your claim is defamation."

"Fine?!" Chen Guozhong slammed his cigarette butt into the plate of abalone in front of him, making a sizzling sound. "Where is that kid named Ah Le now? Do you know you killed a policeman?!"

Ah Le was sent by Chen Guozhong to infiltrate Wang Bao's inner circle. He promised to protect him, but in the end...

Wang Bao smiled.

He picked up his chopsticks, took the abalone that had been scalded with cigarette butts, and slowly tossed it onto the table, as if he were picking out fish bones.

"Officer Chen, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. If someone goes missing, you should report it as a missing person. Why are you coming to me? I'm not running a daycare center."

"you--!!"

Chen Guozhong suddenly stood up, his hand on the handle of the gun at his waist.

The surrounding police officers also raised their guns.

Seeing this, Wang Bao's men grabbed bottles and stools, and a hundred of them surrounded the small team of police officers.

The atmosphere instantly became tense; the slightest spark could turn this place into a battlefield.

"Inspector Chen."

Wang Bao remained seated, without even changing his posture.

He picked up his glass and took a small sip. "You don't look too well. Have you been working too hard lately? Should I recommend a good doctor? Be careful not to suddenly die."

These words precisely struck at Chen Guozhong's Achilles' heel, making his already haggard face even more unsightly.

No one knew except him that he had a tumor in his brain. The doctor said it was malignant, pressing on his nerves, and he could die at any time.

Knowing his days were numbered, Chen Guozhong went to such lengths. Before he died, he was determined to do whatever it took, even fabricate evidence or perish together with Wang Bao, to eradicate this cancerous growth.

"It doesn't matter whether I live or die."

Chen Guozhong leaned down, his face almost touching Wang Bao's nose, his eyes filled with madness, "Don't worry, even if I die, I'll definitely drag you down with me."

"I don't believe you'll be this lucky your whole life."

"Bang!"

Wang Bao slammed his wine glass down.

The crisp sound made everyone present's heart skip a beat.

Wang Bao slowly stood up.

With each movement, the oppressive feeling brought by his massive size pressed down on Chen Guozhong like a mountain.

He held up one finger and pointed to the floor beneath his feet.

"Chen Guozhong, I've put up with you for a long time."

"You think you're so great just because you're a cop? You think you can cause trouble just because you're wearing that uniform?"

Wang Bao looked around at the police officers who held guns but dared not fire, and a smug smile appeared on his lips.

"This is Wan Chai."

"During the day, perhaps it's you police officers who call the shots."

Wang Bao's voice, like a resounding bell, echoed throughout the hall:

"But it's past midnight."

"here--"

"I'm in charge!!"

Upon hearing this, nearly a hundred gangsters around him roared in unison, their voices deafening.

Chen Guozhong's face was ashen, and the veins on the back of his hand gripping the gun bulged. He really wanted to shoot right now and kill this lawless bastard. Anyway, he didn't have much time left, and he didn't care about being bound by the law.

But he can't, at least not now.

Because once the guns are fired, this place will become a battlefield, and his brothers may die, and innocent diners may die.

At this critical moment.

"stop!!"

A loud shout came from the doorway.

A young man in a leather jacket, with a muscular build and a roguish air, rushed in. He moved with lightning speed, breaking through the crowd in a few steps and standing between Chen Guozhong and Wang Bao.

Ma Jun.

The newly appointed inspector, who has just been transferred to replace Chan Kwok-chung, is a police combat expert known for his violent enforcement.

"What are you doing?! Trying to assault a police officer?!"

Ma Jun glared at Wang Bao, his muscles tense, like a cheetah ready to pounce on its prey.

"Who are you?" Wang Bao squinted.

"Wan Chai, Ma Jun," Ma Jun pointed his index finger at Wang Bao's chest, "Wang Bao, you're pretty arrogant. How about we go outside and have a go at it now?"

The two top-notch fighters exchanged a glance at each other at that moment.

The air seemed to freeze.

Looking at Ma Jun, Wang Bao sensed a more dangerous and purer aura of violence emanating from this young man than from Chen Guozhong.

That was the scent of one of their own.

"Okay. Very good."

Wang Bao suddenly laughed, a somewhat sinister laugh. He patted off non-existent dust from his clothes and sat back down in his chair.

"Today is New Year's Day, I don't want to see blood."

"If you have evidence, then show it. If you don't, then take your men and get out."

Chen Guozhong stared intently at Wang Bao, his chest heaving violently. After a long while, he took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the urge to die together with him.

"Wang Bao, remember this."

Chen Guozhong pointed to his head. "I'll keep an eye on you. We'll see."

"Fall back!"

With a wave of his hand, filled with anger and resentment, Chen Guozhong turned and left.

Ma Jun gave Wang Bao a deep look before following him out.

As the policeman fled in disarray, a burst of mocking laughter erupted in the restaurant.

"Brother Bao is awesome!!"

"Wuhu—these cops deserve a beating!"

Wang Bao lit another cigar, but behind the swirling smoke, his eyes showed no excitement, but rather an unusually cold expression.

This Chen Guozhong needs to be given a good talking-to.