Hong Kong variety show: I wanted to be a lawyer, but I became a big shot.

The next day at noon, before the smoke from the Mong Kok market had dissipated, Lin Bei, with a toothpick in his mouth, led his three little followers as they strolled leisurely through the narrow alleys of the Walled City.

Huo Baoming was carrying several bags of roast goose rice and milk tea, Yaowen was carrying a briefcase, and Ailian followed obediently behind, holding Lin Bei's arm with one hand and holding a parasol with the other.

As soon as the group entered the community clinic, the smell of disinfectant and liniment hit them.

Gao Jin was leaning against the hospital bed, his face was ashen, his eyes were still a little bruised, and his chest was wrapped in bandages. He opened his eyes immediately when he heard footsteps.

Upon seeing that the person was Lin Bei, he shuddered and struggled to sit up straight, stammering out a few words.

"Mr. Lin... Mr. Lin!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he had already moved one leg to the edge of the bed, and was about to get off.

Lin Bei took two quick steps and reached out to press his shoulder.

"Alright, that's enough. Stop fussing over it with injuries like this."

Lin Bei casually tossed the toothpick into the trash can by the bedside, took a plate of roast goose rice from Huo Baoming, and placed it next to Gao Jin.

"Let's eat first, and then we'll talk."

Gao Jin opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he just nodded emphatically.

He opened the lunchbox, and the steam carrying the aroma of soy sauce wafted up. He grabbed his chopsticks and began to shovel large mouthfuls into his mouth. His eating manners weren't exactly refined, but they exuded a down-to-earth quality.

Lin Bei didn't stand by the bed; instead, he wandered aimlessly around the clinic with his hands behind his back.

He rummaged through the gauze rolls on the medicine cabinet, fiddled with the blood pressure monitor, and then glanced at a box of unopened anti-inflammatory drugs in the corner, clicking his tongue in disapproval.

"Opening a clinic is about making money."

"Just to maintain this place every month, the club has to put in an unknown amount of money."

Huo Baoming was just looking for a chance to chime in, and as soon as he heard this, he immediately leaned over, wearing his usual cheeky grin, and said in a low voice.

"Brother Bei, since clinics are such a money pit, why don't we open a hospital too?"

"This is a sure-fire way to make money."

"Headaches, fevers, cuts, gunshot wounds—you can make money from everything! It's incredibly lucrative!"

Lin Bei turned around and looked at him with a half-smile, a look that sent a chill down Huo Baoming's spine for no reason.

Lin Bei reached out and tapped his chest, his tone teasing.

"I'll open a hospital? You'll be the doctor?"

"I'm speechless. Stop thinking about making money from everything."

"Your hands are only used for chopping people up or playing mahjong. If you were to operate on someone, wouldn't you be afraid of sending the patient straight to their death?"

Huo Baoming shrank back, not daring to continue, and awkwardly smiled as he took half a step back.

Lin Bei stopped teasing him and turned his gaze to the window. Thinking of his own clothing factory, he suddenly spoke.

"I plan to arrange for you and Awen to go to the factory to learn in a couple of days."

"You two are quick-witted and have great business potential. It's a waste that you're always running errands for me."

Upon hearing this, Huo Baoming's face immediately fell.

He shook his head vigorously, repeating the same thing over and over.

"No, no, no..."

"Brother Bei, the factory is full of sewing machines and fabrics, what am I cut out for?"

"I still want to stay by your side, just to fend off some drinks for you and run errands for you."

Yaowen, standing to the side, remained silent, his brows furrowed as if he were pondering something.

After a moment, he raised his head, his gaze steady.

"Brother Bei, I'm willing to go to the factory to learn."

Lin Bei turned his head and looked at him.

When Yaowen was looked at like that, he simply poured out his heart.

"I think that when you're out in the world, it's all about making money."

"There will always be a day when I stop fighting and killing, but as long as I have business to do, whether it's a big business or a small business, I'm willing to do it."

"I want to learn a skill that will allow me to make a living."

Lin Bei stared at him for several seconds, and a look of approval gradually appeared in his eyes.

"Okay, you'll start going to the factory tomorrow and work directly with Ateng."

Lin Bei made the decision on the spot, then added a sentence after thinking for a moment.

"It's not enough to just do OEM manufacturing. We also need to develop a batch of new styles that can be sold retail."

"This business segment will be led by you."

Yaowen was taken aback at first, then his face flushed, and he moved his lips a few times before suppressing the excitement in his heart.

He nodded emphatically.

"Thank you, Brother Bei. I will definitely study hard and strive to make this business bigger and stronger."

Lin Bei reached out and patted his shoulder, without saying anything more.

He knew that Yaowen in the original story was just like that, with the skills of a gangster, but willing to stay in the fruit market as an old clerk, without fighting or grabbing.

Knowing when to retire gracefully is a good thing, but Lin Bei doesn't want a promising talent to lose his fighting spirit for life.

Huo Baoming watched this scene from the side, his eyes darting around, and he leaned close to Ailian and whispered something.

"Well, it seems Ah Wen is going to be the factory manager."

Ailian smiled softly, not saying a word, but quietly glancing at Lin Bei's back with gentle eyes.

By this time, Gao Jin had finished the whole box of roast goose rice, even scraping the last bit of rice from the bottom of the box to remove all the oil.

He put down his chopsticks, grabbed the edge of the bed, and got off the bed. He limped but stood up straight.

The swelling on her face had not completely subsided, and several bruises stood out starkly on her cheekbones and jawline, but her eyes had already regained some sparkle.

"Mr. Lin, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Lin Bei shook his head, didn't say anything polite, and just waved to him, indicating that he should come to his office.

The two entered the small room at the back of the clinic one after the other. Ailian followed quietly behind, casually closing the door slightly behind her.

The office was simply furnished with a wooden table with peeling paint, a few folding chairs, and several old photos of club gatherings on the wall.

Lin Bei took out a pack of Marlboro cigarettes from his pocket, pulled one out and handed it to Gao Jin. Gao Jin took it with both hands, picked up the lighter on the table, lit it for Lin Bei first, and then lit it for himself.

Two cigarettes flickered in and out, their pale blue smoke slowly spreading through the small space.

Lin Bei sat down in the chair and crossed his legs.

"Last night I saw that you were quite skilled, and I took a liking to your talent, so I helped you out."

Gao Jin's fingers tightened slightly as he held the cigarette, then he lowered his eyes and remained silent.

Lin Bei flicked his cigarette ash, speaking in a calm and unhurried tone.

"But you have to understand,"

"You haven't won five consecutive matches, so according to the rules of the stronghold, you've already lost your title as the champion."

"So the prize money from those three games last night was something I got for you. It's some money, you can take it for now."

As he spoke, he gestured to Ailian.

Ailian stepped forward lightly, took out a yellow envelope from her small handbag, and placed it steadily on the table in front of Gao Jin.

The envelope wasn't very thick, but the four corners were neatly arranged.

Gao Jin stared at the envelope for a long time, his lips moved, and finally he let out a low, hoarse, bitter laugh.

"In the end... it still doesn't work?"

In Lin Bei's eyes, that dejected look was nothing like the suit-wearing thug from the original story.

At this moment, Gao Jin is more like a trapped beast, wounded all over, forced into a corner by fate.

Lin Bei stood up, walked up to him, and once again raised his hand and placed it on his shoulder.

"I can tell you have a pre-existing condition, and coupled with not eating enough and not sleeping well, that's why you lost the title last night."

"I bet you smuggled yourself all the way to Hong Kong Island just to fight."

"Are you here for a medical checkup?"

"Otherwise, they wouldn't have risked their lives."