Hong Kong film: Rise of Prison Break

"Snap!"

He took a bite without hesitation, decisively and cleanly!

The crispy outer layer is mixed with salty, savory and slightly spicy ingredients, while the inside is full of plump and sweet crab meat. The ultimate taste explodes in your mouth!

He chewed contentedly, then casually lifted the beer bottle with his right hand and gulped down two more large mouthfuls of ice-cold beer, the alternation of hot and cold feeling exhilarating!

Next, dishes such as salt and pepper mantis shrimp, boiled prawns, steamed scallops with garlic and vermicelli, and stir-fried razor clams with black bean sauce were served one after another.

Zhang Wenjie let loose completely, sweeping across the table like a whirlwind.

He ate with gusto, even somewhat rudely, using both his hands and mouth. Occasionally, juice would splash onto his chin and clothes, but he didn't seem to care.

When the beer bottle in his right hand was empty, he would immediately replace it with a new one, one after another.

Such a fierce and oblivious way of eating naturally attracted curious or sidelong glances from many diners around.

But when their gaze fell upon Zhang Wenjie's face, now covered in fleshy bulges and scars, and his eyes, slightly reddened by alcohol and food yet still radiating a fierce intensity, all their curiosity instantly turned into fear and avoidance. They quickly averted their gaze and buried themselves in their food.

Occasionally, a few young men who looked like street thugs would sweep over with provocative or assessing glances.

After seeing Zhang Wenjie's "appearance" and the aura of someone who was definitely not a good person that could be felt even across the table, their expressions changed slightly. They quickly turned their heads away, whispered among themselves, and dared not look at him any longer.

Without him.

In this era, especially in places like Kowloon and Wan Chai where all sorts of people mingle, people have developed a keen eye for talent.

The face Zhang Wenjie wore at that moment, along with the bloodthirstiness and江湖气 (jianghu aura) that he inadvertently exuded, seemingly ingrained in his bones, told everyone without him even uttering a word: This was no ordinary gangster; this was a ruthless character who had truly tasted blood on the edge of a knife and might very well have murder on his hands! He was someone you couldn't afford to mess with.

"Hey, girl over there!"

Zhang Wenjie finished another bottle of beer and felt a slight buzz from the alcohol. He missed that relaxed, tipsy feeling.

He shook the empty bottle and called out to a waitress who was taking orders at the next table, "Bring two more bottles of beer! Ice cold!"

The waitress looked to be in her early twenties, with a simple ponytail, wearing a uniform apron, and had a pretty face and quick movements.

Hearing the call, she continued memorizing the dishes ordered by the customers at the next table, and replied crisply without turning her head, "Okay, handsome, please wait a moment, I'll be right there!"

"Handsome guy?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wenjie paused, subconsciously looking down at the white ceramic plate on the table that he had just licked clean and made it shine like a mirror.

The smooth surface of the plate clearly reflected his appearance at that moment—it was impossible to find any connection between him and the word "handsome."

He chuckled to himself, but then a strange emotion welled up inside him.

Who doesn't like to hear nice things?

Especially when you have a face like that.

"Hey! Pretty girl!"

He raised his voice and shouted again at the back of the waitress who was running towards the kitchen with the order slip.

"Two more bottles, please! Just because you called me 'handsome' earlier, I'm in a good mood today, so I have to order two more!"

The waitress turned around at the sound of his voice, gave him a professional yet sweet smile, and waved the order slip in her hand: "Got it, handsome! Your beer will be here soon!"

Having frequented the seafood late-night food scene around Wan Chai Pier for many years, Wu Tingting has seen all sorts of customers.

She was already used to men who were repulsive, greasy-haired, drunk and rambling, or trying to take advantage of her.

As long as the customers pay for their meals and don't cause trouble, she can handle the occasional verbal teasing with ease, and can even cleverly defuse the situation with a smile and words.

In her opinion, this seemingly fierce-looking uncle, although intimidating in appearance, seemed to be just generous and able to eat a lot, but did not do anything else excessive.

Soon, she brought two bottles of chilled beer and briskly delivered them to Zhang Wenjie's table: "Handsome, here's your beer, enjoy."

"Thanks."

Zhang Wenjie accepted the beer and briefly thanked him.

With his dignified appearance, he felt that saying a few polite words would ruin his "temperament," so he might as well save his time, drink more wine, and eat more food.

Wu Tingting smiled, turned around and went back to her work.

"Tingting! I want to order more food! Another serving of salt and pepper flounder, and a plate of stir-fried beef noodles!"

At another table, several young men wearing flashy shirts, with slicked-back hair and tattoos on their arms shouted loudly, their tone carrying their usual swagger.

They are common "local thugs" in this area. The seafood market is such a lucrative area, so naturally, it is not uncommon for the local gangsters, Hung Hing, to look after them (or rather, collect protection money).

After all, the late leader of Hung Hing, Chiang Chen, started as a dockworker and built his empire step by step.

The Wan Chai Pier and its surrounding area have always been considered by Hung Hing as one of their territories, or at least that's what the members of Hung Hing believe.

Back when Chiang Chen-hung dominated the region, his influence was immense. Some even created a catchy rhyme: "When Hung Hing prospers, Hong Kong prospers; when Hong Kong prospers, Hung Hing prospers even more!"

This shows its momentary glory.

But in the world of martial arts, there's always a limit to street fighting.

In his later years, Jiang Zhen became increasingly arrogant and disdainful of others, making countless enemies. In the end, he died far from home, reportedly shot to death with submachine guns in Southeast Asia.

As for Big Mimi... he was originally just an insignificant errand boy at the bottom of Hung Hing, and had no connection with big shots like Chiang Chen at all; their levels were too far apart.

The only "intersection" between the two stemmed from a scandal. Jiang Zhen was caught having an affair by the woman's husband, and in the ensuing conflict, he accidentally killed the husband.

Such a scandal is certainly not in line with the "character" of a powerful figure in the underworld, and someone needs to take the blame.

At the time, Da Mi was young, simple-minded, and eager to rise in rank. She was easily fooled by her superiors and foolishly agreed to take the blame for Jiang Zhen's murder.

Jiang Zhen also promised him that once he was released, he would make him extremely wealthy and powerful.

The results of it?

He never achieved great wealth and status.

Before Da Mi could even complete the "surrender" process, Jiang Zhen was riddled with bullets in South Asia.

The foolish Da Mi, who took the blame, never expected that the person he had "taken the fall" for and killed had a rather complicated family background and was involved in some troublesome relationships.

The lawsuit turned what could have been a potentially achievable sentence into a near-hopeless "life imprisonment"!

This is the source of Da Mi's greatest resentment and bitterness, and one of the reasons why he desperately tried to climb up the ranks and make money in Stanley.

He fantasized about one day being able to get out, or at least, being able to buy better treatment with money, or even... a reduced sentence?