Starting from Hong Kong in 1988!

The man wiped his hands on his apron, took the cigarette, and tucked it behind his ear. "Inquiring about something? What is it?"

Xu Guangkun tapped the ground beneath his feet. "I've heard that Kowloon Walled City is terrifying."

As he spoke, he pointed to the crowd around him.

"But now, this is the situation I see. If it's convenient, could you tell me about what's going on here?"

"First time visiting the Walled City?"

"right."

"This isn't a good place." The man's eyes dimmed for a moment before he said, "It's too noisy here, not a place to talk. Let's go to my shop, it's right next door. By the way, which part of Sichuan are you from? Is it also a mountain city?"

"Chengdu" (Rongcheng)

...

"arrive."

"Your place is quite remote."

This shop is located in an alleyway. On the first floor, they pushed down the wall facing the alleyway and replaced it with a roller shutter door, turning the living room into a restaurant.

Xu Guangkun looked up.

The shop was small, with only four tables, and it was completely deserted. The only person there was the well-built proprietress, who stared listlessly at the creaking old-fashioned fan overhead.

"Come in and sit down."

The man went in first and then waved to Xu Guangkun.

Xu Guangkun originally only intended to inquire about the news.

The moment he stepped into the shop, the pungent aroma of spicy food filled the air and wafted into his nostrils.

He had eaten breakfast, but after being chased all the way, the little bit of food in his stomach had long since disappeared.

Besides, it's not good to just gather information without putting in any effort. So he picked up the menu.

Are you hungry?

The man couldn't help but smile when he saw his appearance.

"I can't get used to the taste of Hong Kong food; I haven't had a full meal in a long time."

Xu Guangkun gave a casual explanation, sat down in an empty seat, and ordered a few more dishes: "Boiled sliced ​​pork, Mapo tofu, cold pig's ear salad, and some crispy pork with cabbage. Make a dipping sauce, add plenty of chili oil, and let's eat and chat."

"Okay." The man called out to the woman, "Honey, you prepare the dishes, I'll chat with this young man."

The proprietress didn't say anything, just gave him a sidelong glance, and got up to walk gracefully towards the kitchen.

"Thank you for your hard work, my wife."

The man chuckled twice, sat down opposite Xu Guangkun, and his expression turned serious.

"It was the same as you heard before, until the committee was established some time ago..."

"Committee?"

....

Kowloon Walled City, Lung Chun Road, Kwong Ming Street, 369 Fragrant Meat Restaurant.

"Roll around three or six times, even immortals can't stand still, guests, the fragrant meat is here."

As the owner served the dishes, the two people sitting at opposite ends of the table, who had been looking at each other, finally started talking.

"I've always heard that the dog meat hot pot in Kowloon Walled City is authentic, but I've never had the chance to try it. This time, I've finally fulfilled my wish."

"It's truly not easy for you and the victor to come here together, please."

The woman sitting on the left called out, picked up her chopsticks, and put a piece of dog meat into her mouth.

The two ate until their noses were sweating, and the woman, still chewing, mumbled, "I know you, the new head of the Mong Kok gang, surnamed Yin, right? I remember today was your inauguration banquet. What brings you here to invite me to dinner?"

Yin Tao stopped what he was about to do, his face showing a hint of embarrassment.

He gave the woman a deep look.

Was it because Kowloon Walled City was poorly informed? Or was it just self-deprecation?

"Why must Chairman Jiang rub salt into my wounds?"

The woman stopped chewing.

"ha?"

Yin Tao asked, "You don't know?"

The woman looked up, her face blank. "What are you talking about?"

Seeing that the woman's reaction didn't seem fake, Yin Tao's mood improved a little, and he waved his hand, saying, "It's nothing."

However, he had lost all interest in eating, so he simply put down his chopsticks and got straight to the point.

"I heard that Chairman Jiang, you recently spearheaded a committee in Kowloon Walled City, intending to implement sweeping reforms."

"You guys at Sheng are pretty well-informed." The woman swallowed what was in her mouth, picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip. "So what exactly did you risk being blocked by Yi'an to come in here for?"

"There's something I'd like to ask you for help with."

"You want my help?" The woman raised an eyebrow. "How could a lowly woman from a run-down fortress like me possibly be of any help to you or Hesheng?"

"Chairwoman Jiang is no ordinary woman. I've heard that you used your fists to get all the big shots in this walled city to agree to your creation of the committee."

At this point, Yin Tao couldn't help but take another look at the woman.

He actually found it very difficult to associate the charming woman in front of him with the rumored madman, who had long, wavy hair and a wasp waist.

"Chairman Jiang must be short of money to build the walled city, so I've prepared 50 for you. Also, if you need manpower, Wo Shing can lend you some."

Hearing this, the woman put down her teacup, finally showing some interest.

"What do you want me to do for you?"

"It's simple, just find someone in this fortified village."

....

"This fortified village is far inferior to the outside world."

Halfway through the conversation, the man suddenly said, "If you don't have no other choice but to take refuge here, it's better to make a living outside."

"I wouldn't have come in if I could have stayed outside," Xu Guangkun replied casually, then added, "Brother, I don't see much business here. What made you decide to open your shop here?"

"The rent is cheap."

As he spoke, the man glanced at the still empty dining table, stood up, and said, "Please sit down for a moment. I'll go check why the dishes haven't arrived yet."

"OK."

.....

Twenty minutes later.

"Thanks, bro."

"Are you leaving?"

"Yes, I'm full, and everything's clear now, so I won't bother you any longer."

"I don't have any customers here. Why don't you sit with me a little longer? It's rare to meet someone from my hometown. I'll ask your sister-in-law to cook a couple more dishes."

...

The meal lasted forty minutes, with dish after dish being served. I couldn't resist the man's enthusiasm and didn't want to bother him any further.

Xu Guangkun took out 300 yuan from his pocket, put it on the table, and said, "I'm leaving."

"Let's talk some more. I haven't been back to my hometown in a long time. Tell me more about what's going on there."

"Maybe next time."

After saying that, Xu Guangkun got up and left.

Unexpectedly, a hand reeking of sweat and cheap cigarettes grabbed his sleeve.

"Brother, are you really not keeping it?"

Xu Guangkun shook off and broke free.

next second.

The hand grabbed his sleeve again, and before he could react, it pulled him back into the stool with force.

"Um?"

Xu Guangkun raised his head.

Does this go beyond the realm of passion?

"Dude, that's a bit much."

"Sorry, brother, I didn't mean it, I was just in a hurry." The man's eyes were calm, but upon closer inspection, there was a hint of guilt. "Wait a bit, I'll have your sister-in-law make some houttuynia cordata leaves with broad beans, you can try it and see if it's authentic."

If Xu Guangkun still hasn't realized something's wrong, then he's a complete idiot.

How long have we known each other?

They clearly don't like it, so why keep it?

He sighed and said slowly, "A bowl of Hong Kong-style mixed noodles is ten dollars, and a pack of Marlboro cigarettes is twenty dollars. You've ordered eight dishes, so three hundred is enough to pay the bill. If you feel it's not enough, I'll add some more for you since we're from the same hometown. I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

The man seemed not to understand the meaning behind Xu Guangkun's words, and gave a dry laugh: "We're all from the same hometown, talking about money will hurt our feelings. How about this, chat with me some more, and then you can rest here."

Xu Guangkun reached down to his lower back. "We're all from the same hometown, it's not really appropriate."

"It's alright, there's room."

"Does it really have to be this way?"

"Money is hard to earn these days, so every little bit saved counts."

"What's the point of pretending to be confused now? Does it mean there's no point in talking anymore?"

Xu Guangkun gripped the gun handle.

suddenly.

"Tap tap tap tap".

A flurry of footsteps sounded outside the door, and then three menacing-looking thugs rushed into the shop like a gust of wind.

.....

The gang leader, probably in his thirties, was wearing a beach shirt with his chest exposed, revealing his large pectoral muscles. He came in and immediately said, "Old Pan, well done."

He glanced at Xu Guangkun a few times, nodded in satisfaction, and waved to the person behind him.

"Clang!"

The roller shutter was pulled down roughly, plunging the restaurant into darkness, followed by a snap as dim yellow light filled the space.

Xu Guangkun glanced around at the gangsters blocking the doorway and mentally compared his own size to theirs.

In hand-to-hand combat, they couldn't beat one of them.

If I pull out the gun, will that intimidate me?

Xu Guangkun calmly put the gun back on its case and turned his gaze back to the shop owner, Lao Pan. "When did you call in the men?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to go to the kitchen either."

Old Pan didn't dare look Xu Guangkun in the eye, stood up and said to the beach shirt, "Third Brother."

Then, deceiving himself, he turned around and went into the kitchen.

"Tsk."

Xu Guangkun pursed his lips.

It's not about Lao Pan's escapist behavior, but about myself.

At first, he thought that Lao Pan had planned this, and he even went through the negotiations in a serious manner.

Now I understand.

Old Pan is nothing but a tool; he was just talking to a brick wall.

He looked at the man called Third Brother: "Tell me, are you from Hesheng, or did you come on your own? Why are you blocking me here? What's your plan? Robbery? Or are you trying to kill me?"

"Looks like you have quite a grudge against He Sheng." Third Brother crossed his arms and exclaimed in admiration, "You're so calm even when you're cornered. You've been through a lot of big scenes."

"Then it's not Hesheng." Xu Guangkun was no longer in a hurry. "If you're not in a rush, how about we chat for a bit?"

"What do you want to talk about? Beg for mercy? Someone like you wouldn't do that, so are you going to reveal your identity? Or are you going to pay to have your life taken?"

"I just don't quite understand."

Xu Guangkun pointed to the closed kitchen door. "This guy said that recently, a few big shots in the stronghold have set up some kind of committee, and they're going to take charge of everything, big or small. There are far fewer murders and robberies in the streets now. But what are you doing, and why did he betray me?"

"The committee does have jurisdiction, but they're not a charity." Third Brother casually found a stool, leaned back, and looked very relaxed. "If you want him to protect you, you can, but you have to register with the committee and pay protection money every month. If you don't have the money, then you're not under their jurisdiction."

He paused for a moment, then continued.

"As for why your fellow villager sold you out, our area is a well-known enclave. Countless people come here for refuge every day. Once they come in, they're bound to want to know where to go to find information."

He pointed to the ground, "This is Longjin Road. Teahouses, restaurants, brothels, and inns are all here. It's bustling and well-informed, but while you're asking around for information, we're also asking around for information about you. For example, you're seeking refuge and know nothing, making you the perfect target."

"That makes sense." Xu Guangkun nodded and continued, "But spending money to buy information from so many shop owners must be quite an expense, right? Will it be profitable?"

"First, I don't need to support these bosses; they all owe me money and work for me, it's only right that they do so. Second, you're more valuable than you think. So, if you want to leave, you'll have to pay enough."

Xu Guangkun calculated his current net worth, which amounted to a maximum of 3000 yuan.

There are quite a few, but the other party went to such great lengths…

"I have no money."

"It's okay if you don't have money."

Third Brother spoke with a smile, standing up and walking to Xu Guangkun, staring straight at his face.

"You are very handsome."

Xu Guangkun was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"You can be a male prostitute."

"Male prostitute?" Xu Guangkun's expression was strange.

"Yes, male prostitutes." Third Brother licked his lips, his smile wicked. "Of course, if you're not willing to accept that, you can find other ways to pay in lieu of that."

"Worth it?"

Xu Guangkun pursed his lips.

In this situation, even a fool could tell that what he was being offered was not a good thing.

"Yes, it's a good match." Third Brother gestured at his body: "Cornea, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen—where can't it be a good match?"

....