Chapter 31: Madou versus Madame Night

"I know all the shipping channels for Ah Yao's factory. Are we doing this or not?" With the ice broken, Guan Zaisen stopped holding back.

"You scumbag, you're even poaching your own underlings' business? You're no better than an animal!" Shark Kun burst into laughter.

"Screw your mother, forget it then. If I want to make money, I won't have trouble finding partners," Guan Zaisen retorted angrily.

"Just kidding. Making money—that's my favorite thing, Shark Kun. How much are we talking about per month? If it's too little, don't bother."

"He spent over a hundred thousand clashing with the Tong Xin He gang a couple of days ago. Yesterday, he bought a Lincoln Continental at Tiao Lin's place, and he even took over the debts of two girls from the Tong Xin He brothel. You tell me. If you don't believe me, ask your subordinate, Blind Wah."

"That good? Wait for my word." After hanging up, Shark Kun ordered his underling to bring Blind Wah in.

He sat on the edge of the pool table. He had actually been thinking about those clothes—the ones Blind Wah had given him—ever since he pictured the women on the boat wearing them.

Nearby, a woman with a black wavy perm, wearing a yellow camisole and a tight black skirt, was bending over to play pool. Shark Kun grabbed a billiard ball and tossed it at her. "Come here, come here."

"What is it, Brother Kun?" The woman wiggled her hips and walked over with a flirtatious look.

"I've got a lot of pent-up heat right now!"

...

Previously, he had promised that each of the eight 'Blue Lanterns' could recruit two subordinates, but even with the original crew, it still felt like they were short-handed.

Ah Wei set up two more stalls, one on Bowrington Road and one on Heard Street.

Assets: Lingerie Stalls (x6)

At the brothel, Ah Jie was busy managing a team of six.

The two new venues were very useful for Wang Yaotang. The syndicate collected accounts once a month and only took a 20% cut, which greatly eased his financial pressure.

In the morning, Four-Eyes drove, and the brothers headed straight for the New Territories. First, they went to Tiao Lin’s place to pick up a Toyota Hiace H20. This model had been launched in '77, and Wang Yaotang wanted the 15-seater version—it was convenient for hauling goods or taking his men out for a brawl.

Ah Wei drove the Toyota H20, and the group went to the garment factory to find Old Li. From a distance, they saw Old Li pacing back and forth at the factory gate.

"What’s wrong? Afraid I wouldn't come and pay you?" Wang Yaotang pulled up in the Lincoln, pushed the door open, and stepped out to look at Old Li.

"Brother Yao!" Old Li blinked, then quickly dropped his cigarette butt and hurried over. "You’ve struck it rich, Brother Yao! A new car, a Lincoln Continental—so imposing!"

"I bought it with your payment money," Wang Yaotang said with a smile.

Old Li’s hand, which had been stroking the car body, froze. He felt terrible; if he weren't physically outmatched, he would have loved to punch him right in the face.

Wang Yaotang burst into laughter. "I’m teasing you. The syndicate elders saw my business doing well and gave it to me to help keep up appearances."

"The elders are good to you," Old Li chuckled dryly. *As if I believe that.*

Seeing Ah Wei step out of the other Toyota, Old Li grew even more worried. *Don't tell me he spent all my payment money?*

*These street thugs—as soon as they get a little cash, they lose their minds!*

Full of anxiety, he led them to the office. Old Li couldn't wait to bring out the ledger. "Brother Yao, five styles, 63,000 sets, plus the 85,000 sets from before—I can't keep up with this demand!"

"What are you afraid of? If I don't take them, won't other syndicates come looking for you?" Wang Yaotang crossed his legs. "You haven't even offered a cup of tea. Do you want to do business or not?"

"There won't be any other syndicates, Brother Yao." Old Li looked panicked. "The day before yesterday, Old Man Gui's garment factory changed hands. I heard they hired a professional designer yesterday to specialize in producing this kind of lingerie. They even registered a brand name: 'Madam Night Clothing.'"

"What did you say!" Ah Wei was instantly agitated. He stood up abruptly and shouted, "Brother Yao, this is absolutely unacceptable! Let's smash their place!"

The relaxed expression vanished from Wang Yaotang's face. He frowned at Old Li. "Who is the new boss of the factory?"

"I heard it's someone from the Dong Lian She syndicate," Old Li sighed. "That deadbeat Old Man Gui loves to gamble. He got set up and lost the factory in one night."

Upon hearing it was a syndicate, Wang Yaotang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "Who in Dong Lian She?"

"I don't know."

"You don't need to worry too much. The worst case is that I have a confrontation with them; it won't affect you here. Today, I'll settle 70% of the bill, and the rest in a few days." Wang Yaotang’s expression was impassive. "In the next few days, keep your ears open. Find out what clothes they're producing, whether they've copied my designs, and bring me a few finished samples. If you get any news, call Ah Wei."

"Can't you pay it all off? I have a lot of stock tied up, and I can't keep my cash flow moving," Old Li pleaded, grabbing Wang Yaotang’s arm.

"Do you want me to pawn the car to you?" Wang Yaotang frowned.

"Hehe, hehe, never mind then." Old Li pulled his hand back with a sheepish grin. "I trust you, Brother Yao."

"Four-Eyes, pay him."

Four-Eyes verified the accounts with Old Li and pulled out a checkbook to write a transfer check.

It wasn't a grassroots operation anymore; they were running it like a proper company, with all accounts going through the bank for easier tax purposes.

Seeing the check, Old Li’s eyes flickered. He requested to sign a new contract with Wang Yaotang—to formalize things. If things really went south, he could at least sue him.

"A contract? Sure." Wang Yaotang signed it with a smile and shook the document in his hand. "Now, I have no problem suing you for copyright infringement and illegal profit from my company's designs, right?"

"Brother Yao, Brother Yao, this... hehe, hehe." Old Li’s expression stiffened, and he felt numb. He had been so focused on legality that he had forgotten about that.

"You stingy bastard!" Wang Yaotang patted Old Li’s cheek. "What are you staring at? Get people to load the goods!"

On the way back, Wang Yaotang had his underling drive the Toyota while he sat in the Lincoln with a constipated look on his face. "Brother Yao, what should we do? It's the Dong Lian She. What if it’s Old Dong Jiu? If it is, we’re finished."

"What are you afraid of?" Wang Yaotang patted Ah Wei’s chubby stomach. "When soldiers come, use generals; when water comes, use earth. Should I just fold and quit? If someone learns to cultivate socialites like I do, should I just step aside?"

"That’s absolutely impossible!" Before Ah Wei could speak, Four-Eyes, who was driving, said with a ruthless edge, "Whoever dares to block Brother Yao’s path, we'll just finish them off!"

"Hahaha, look at that! Even Four-Eyes is getting tough. How are you going to finish them off?" Wang Yaotang teased.

"We don't need to do it ourselves. We can pay people from the north," Four-Eyes turned his head, his glasses glinting. "I know a few groups of 'Provincial-Hong Kong Flagmen.' They all use Type 56 rifles. As long as the money is right, killing a few people is nothing."

"Damn!" Ah Wei was shocked. "Where did you meet those kinds of people?"

"None of your business!"

"Alright, alright. There's no need to make a big deal out of it. If you use guns, others will use guns too," Wang Yaotang waved his hand dismissively. "It’s unlikely to be Old Dong Jiu taking action; the profit isn't high enough. Besides, it's not that I look down on the syndicate, but they don't have that kind of talent. Do they really think doing legitimate business is that easy? Just churning out a few new styles and expecting them to sell out? Ha."

"Wait and see. Let's test their quality. I still have plenty of trump cards I haven't played yet."

"Really?" Ah Wei was a bit excited.

"Don't you believe me?"

"No, it's just... hehe." Ah Wei scratched his head.

"Alright, rest easy."