Chapter 28: The Car Park Trap
As soon as they heard about buying a car, the brothers immediately got excited. How many men don’t like cars?
Back when they were just parking attendants, they could only enjoy driving other people’s cars, but now they were going to have their own. The excitement and thrill were only natural.
On the way there, the brothers kept arguing about what kind of car to buy—British, German, Italian, American, Japanese—they rattled off various models like experts.
Wang Yaotang listened and wanted to laugh. The ones who know the most about cars are always the ones who can’t afford them. The bickering didn’t bother him at all.
Being able to argue about buying cars was proof that everyone’s life was getting better and better!
The future was bright!
...
When it came to buying a car, they definitely had to go to the New Territories to find Tiao Lan Fei Che Qiang!
Fei Che Qiang was the biggest smuggler of stolen cars in the Hong Kong-Macau area, famous for a slogan: “Order today, stolen tonight, shipped the day after tomorrow.”
With Tiao Lan’s branches in major cities worldwide, Fei Che Qiang could get you any model you wanted!
Half the luxury cars in Hong Kong and Macau were black market vehicles, and half of those belonged to Tiao Lan, with half of Tiao Lan’s stock sold by Fei Che Qiang.
The other half were sold up north...
Of course, Tiao Lan wasn’t the only one in this business. New Kee, Shing Wo, and some medium-sized gangs with overseas connections were also involved.
In a village north of Siu Leng Shui Road in Tuen Mun, there was a huge parking lot—this was Fei Che Qiang’s showroom.
In the 1980s, smuggled cars were semi-openly sold on Hong Kong Island without interference.
Since imported cars were tax-exempt, running an import-export company and faking documents wasn’t difficult. The police couldn’t possibly know where a stolen car came from just by looking.
The only slight hassle was registration, but Fei Che Qiang could handle that.
Upon arrival, a junior underling immediately greeted them.
Cars of different brands from various countries were parked in separate areas. The junior showed the brothers around, letting them check out every car, touch and feel them—it felt just like buying legitimate cars.
The only difference from a dealership was the sheer variety and completeness of brands.
After letting the brothers roam around for a good while, the junior started to lose patience. Wang Yaotang finally spoke up, “Let’s go look at the Lincoln Continental.”
At this stage, American cars were prized for their size, and the Lincoln Continental stood out for its ‘toughness’!
Its boxy body, sharply defined front, six-meter length, theater-style windows, and a 6.6-liter V8 engine meant high fuel consumption but immense power.
Looking at the shiny black Lincoln Continental, Wang Yaotang patted its body and asked, “How much?”
“Twelve thousand.”
“That expensive? I’m telling you, don’t try any tricks.” A-Jie pointed at the junior.
“The Continental Mark V, a high-end luxury model. New cars go for 350,000 in the US. Can’t afford that? Look at Japanese cars—they’re cheaper!”
“Fuck you! What did you say!” A-Jie instantly exploded, shoving the other guy’s chest.
While they were checking out cars, that kid had been impatient and looked down on them.
“What’s the matter, causing trouble? This is Tiao Lan’s territory!” The junior shouted, and immediately six or seven henchmen appeared, all giving hostile stares.
“So what if it’s Tiao Lan’s territory? Scared of you?” A-Jie stepped forward, almost nose-to-nose.
“If you dare cause trouble on our turf, I’ll kill you, believe that.”
“Come on, you punk, try it.” A-Jie tilted his neck defiantly, glaring fiercely without backing down.
Wang Yaotang leaned against the car, thinking: if you honestly buy a stolen car, trusting Tiao Lan’s reputation, you’re just asking to be ripped off!
“You stinky punk...”
“Your mother’s a stinky bitch...”
A-Wei and A-Ji pushed and shoved the Tiao Lan men, even Siu Ngai Jai jumped in.
As the insults flew, someone outside shouted, “Stop, what are you doing!”
The Tiao Lan men immediately stopped.
“Back off.” Wang Yaotang also shouted. A-Jie and the others took a couple of steps back.
The crowd parted, and a man with a braided ponytail stepped forward, eyeing A-Jie and the others before settling his gaze on Wang Yaotang, who was leaning casually.
“Brother, what’s your background, coming to cause trouble at our Tiao Lan’s place?”
“Harmony Victory, Wang Yaotang.” Wang Yaotang made a hand gesture—pinky, ring, and middle fingers together, thumb and index finger locked. “If coming to buy a car is causing trouble, then Fei Che Qiang’s place might as well shut down. I’m a client, damn it. Just because some punk can’t speak properly doesn’t mean I’m here to cause trouble!”
The hand gesture marked him as a big figure from the Harmony faction. The braided man glanced at the junior showing the cars.
“Twelve thousand, and he still thinks it’s expensive.” The junior whispered.
The braided man shot the junior a fierce glare, waved him away, then stepped forward. “Brother, sorry about that. Junior here doesn’t know how to behave. Let me introduce you properly.”
Wang Yaotang smiled and nodded. “Just call me Yao.”
“Tiao Lan, De faction, Chang Mao.” The braided man introduced himself. “Yao bro, not happy with this car?”
“The price is negotiable, but is there any problem with the car?” Wang Yaotang smiled and patted the car.
Chang Mao turned to the junior.
The junior whispered a few words, and Chang Mao nodded, then smiled at Wang Yaotang. “We’re all family here. Take a look at this one—just landed two months ago, only 1,500 kilometers on it. It’s a bit pricier at fifteen thousand, but since junior offended you just now, it’s twelve. Take it if you like.”
Wang Yaotang immediately understood—the previous car had issues. This little scuffle was actually a show of goodwill.
Pay the money, leave, and Tiao Lan would handle registration and license plates. Leave an address, and the car would be delivered within three days.
On the way back, the brothers fought over who would drive. Wang Yaotang found it amusing and made them play rock-paper-scissors to decide who’d drive each day.
...
“How come we’re buying an American car?” In the car, A-Jie touched and looked around, especially curious about the oval theater window at the back.
“Because it’s a gangster must-have.” Wang Yaotang laughed. American gangster movies always feature a Lincoln Continental.
“This car’s really spacious, bigger than British or German cars. Feels like it’s half again as long as a Japanese car.” Siu Ngai Jai smiled.
“American cars are big and that’s beautiful!” Wang Yaotang patted the seat. “Britain’s the son, America’s the big daddy—if you drive, drive daddy’s car!”
They laughed and chatted all the way back to Tsim Sha Tsui, where the car again drew admiration and envy from the juniors.
“Alright, let’s get serious. No fooling around.” Wang Yaotang called A-Jie over. “Go call all the girls from the two stables. From now on, those two stables are your responsibility. You’re the stable master, A-Jie.”
“Ah, this...” A-Jie scratched his head, a bit troubled, looking at A-Ji.
They were brothers, and he had thought each would get one stable, but now...
He felt a little guilty toward A-Ji, but this was the big brother’s order.
Wang Yaotang looked at A-Ji. “What do you think?”
“I’ll follow Yao bro’s lead,” A-Ji smiled.
“A-Ji, I have other plans for you. You’re too serious. If you hang out with those girls all day, I’m afraid they’ll eat you up,” Wang Yaotang joked, and everyone laughed.
At the Fortune Building, eighth floor, the stables had been set up. Just as a few customers were about to finish, A-Jie had dragged them out, now awkwardly putting on their pants.
“A-Jie, be polite to the customers.” Wang Yaotang glared at him. “Sorry, the club has something on today, so we’re temporarily closed. Siu Ngai, return the money and take their names. Next time, free service.”
This improved the mood of the old perverts considerably. Forgetting names was one thing, but Siu Ngai even gave each a pack of cigarettes.
Once the outsiders left and the door closed, a dozen girls gathered, curiously eyeing Wang Yaotang. Last time they saw him, he was beating up Big Head Sheng and they hadn’t gotten a clear look.
Now, he was clean, smiling, exuding calm and confidence—he looked completely out of place among a bunch of gangsters.
If this were a TVB drama, he’d be a white-collar elite, a rising business star—definitely not a gangster.
Wang Yaotang didn’t know what the girls thought. He took a good look around the stables’ layout and decor.
This traditional way of running a stable was really outdated!
...
P.S. Brothers, isn’t this awesome? Brothers!
New book is on the bestseller list!
Number 68!
“The Eighteen Escorts, a sea of black”—it looks just like a triad, doesn’t it? That’s the atmosphere we want!
Eighteen, eighteen, right!