Early nineties,
Mong Kok, Chien Kun International Film Company.
"Damn your mother! Do you take me for your big brother or an ATM?
Do you really think the money your boss here makes just comes lying down?"
"Well, doesn't it come lying down?"
Yan Liang, scolded by Liang Kun, showed not a trace of displeasure and couldn't help but retort.
With those words, his gaze drifted toward the room behind Liang Kun.
Inside that room right now, a passionate battle was underway...
Yet to Yan Liang, who had already seen countless films, these scenes were simply too amateurish...
In his eyes, those actors and directors possessed not a shred of professionalism.
Only in this era could such things fly;
otherwise, no one would ever pay to watch trashy little movies like these.
Of course, that wasn't the main point.
The main point was, wasn't this literally making money while lying down?
Yet lucrative as it was, in Yan Liang's eyes, this wasn't the most profitable industry.
Since he had somehow transmigrated, he naturally had to catch the crest of the wave...
An adult film director?
That was simply too beneath him!
No matter what, he had to become a tycoon!
Of course, before all that, he needed to build up his strength.
In the current environment, building up your strength required men under your command.
Fortunately, when he transmigrated, his supporting software package was entirely intact.
The [Thug Recruitment System]!
To put it in the simplest, most straightforward terms: as long as you have money, you can recruit all sorts of subordinates.
And they came with 100% loyalty.
There were even one-yuan flash sale events during holidays—simple, crude, and foolproof!
The system was simple and crude,
but it was also undeniably expensive.
Ordinary thugs started at ten thousand.
Those with a bit of combat capability started at a hundred thousand...
As for the ones in suits, their price skyrocketed tenfold and more...
So right now,
he desperately needed money!
Though following Liang Kun offered more financial prospects than following other bosses,
that tiny bit of money was still a drop in the bucket for him now...
And that was how the matter of borrowing money had come about just a moment ago.
...
Don't listen to whatever Liang Kun was saying out loud.
While the man was a bit of a bastard, one thing was undeniable: he was exceptionally good to his own people.
Seeing Yan Liang still standing stubbornly in front of him, he immediately shook his head with a helpless sigh:
"I swear I'm scared of you!
I honestly don't know if you're the big brother or I am..."
With that, he pulled a thick wad of Hong Kong dollars from his deep denim pocket, counted out ten thousand, and shoved it toward Yan Liang.
"Damn your mother!
I must have owed you guys in my past life!
Take it, and spend it sparingly!"
"Uh..."
Yan Liang looked at the ten thousand dollars thrust before him, suddenly finding himself torn between laughter and tears.
"Big Brother, I don't want pocket money. I need to borrow a million in a hurry!"
"What the fuck... you damn punk... did you go borrow usurious loans?"
At that, Liang Kun let out a hoarse, booming roar, looking as if he wanted to devour Yan Liang alive.
"I'd love to, but nobody dares lend me that much!"
Yan Liang rolled his eyes.
When he first awakened the system, that had indeed been his exact thought, but even if he dared to borrow...
no one would dare give him that much money!
Everyone knew he was Liang Kun's favored favorite;
sure it was easy to borrow, but paying it back was another story altogether!
"Then what do you want so much money for?"
Seeing him stay silent, Liang Kun couldn't be bothered to ask further and stated bluntly:
"Whatever, I can't be arsed to deal with you!
Want a million, do you?
Don't say your boss didn't look out for you—Babi owes me twenty million. If you can get it back for me, I'll give you a million..."
Hearing this,
Yan Liang's eyes lit up, though he shook his head and replied:
"Big Brother, that's your sworn brother...
You've got to sweeten the pot!"
"..."
Liang Kun looked at Yan Liang speechlessly. "I really give up on you. Name your price."
"This much..." Yan Liang held up one hand, spreading five fingers in front of Liang Kun.
"Damn... are you out of your fucking mind?"
Liang Kun cursed. If not for the fact that they had joined Hung Hing on the very same day, he probably would have flipped out long ago.
"Fine!
I suppose I'm just afraid of you!
If you can actually get it back, I'll give you five million!"
In truth, he knew very well that the twenty million owed by Babi was officially a debt on the books, but practically a dead loss.
Since this kid Yan Liang wanted to give it a shot, where was the harm in letting him try.
Presumably, Babi knew his relationship with Yan Liang and wouldn't dare go too far...
With the promise secured,
Yan Liang left Chien Kun Films. The moment he stepped out the front door, he said to the middle-aged uncle squatting by the entrance:
"Old Li, we've got work!"
"Who are we killing?"
Hearing this, the middle-aged man squatting by the door hurriedly tossed the cigarette butt he had just lit onto the ground, his triangular eyes fixing on Yan Liang.
Looking at that crisscrossed scar of a face, Yan Liang couldn't help rolling his eyes internally.
"Collecting a debt!
We aren't killing anyone!"
Upon hearing that it wasn't a hit, Li Fengtian nodded without the slightest ripple on his scarred face:
"I'm good at collecting debts too!"
"Let's go grab a bite first. Someone will send us word later!"
Yan Liang nodded slightly, then led Li Fengtian away from the film company...
However,
neither of them knew that up above in the company, Fire-Quelling Kun was standing by the window the whole time, watching their retreating backs.
Only when their figures completely vanished around the street corner did he let out a helpless sigh:
"Well, I'll be damned!
Every time I look at that old geezer, it gives me the creeps!
I honestly have no idea where Ah Liang finds these old mainland mobsters!"
Thinking of this die-hard buddy who had stepped into the underworld alongside him, Liang Kun felt like he was seeing ghosts.
A few years ago, Yan Liang's performance had been utterly mediocre.
Yet over the past few years, for reasons unknown, he kept rounding up all sorts of freaks and weirdos as underlings.
And now he had even dragged a fucking old man into the triads.
It was truly surreal.
"Damn it...
Why am I wasting brain cells on this..."
Liang Kun turned away, grumbling curses.
Grumbles aside, though, he still had to look after his own people.
"Sha Qiang, have our guys look into Babi's movements and pass the info to Ah Liang later..."
"Ah... Boss, are you seriously letting Ah Liang go collect from Babi?"
Sha Qiang asked in surprise.
"If he wants to try, let him try!
How will he ever learn how hard money is to come by if he doesn't take a few hits?
Otherwise, he'd really think my money just comes from lying down!"
Liang Kun curled his lip, then added a parting instruction:
"When that kid makes his move, have the brothers tag along. I'm afraid Babi might go off the rails and not even give me face!"
"Got it! I'll go take care of it right now!"
Sha Qiang nodded and hurried away.
...
Meanwhile,
Causeway Bay, Big Brother B's boxing gym.
Just as Big Brother B and Chan Ho-nam and the others were drinking and shooting the breeze, the telephone rang.
With a slightly flushed face, Big Brother B picked up the receiver directly.
The caller was Hung Hing's Chan Yiu, Hung Hing's strategist and White Paper Fan!
"Ah Yiu, what's up?"
"Big B,
Babi of Wo Hing To has overstepped his bounds!
The guy is peddling white powder on our Hung Hing turf, and Mr. Chiang wants you to teach him a lesson.
Mr. Chiang said if this job is done well, he can give you a slot for a Red Pole..."
Chan Yiu's voice wasn't quiet.
Hearing this, Chan Ho-nam and the others nearby all lit up, their faces practically brimming with eager anticipation...
"Ah Yiu, tell Mr. Chiang for me, this matter is handled by Big B!
I guarantee I'll give him a satisfactory result!"
Big B laughed and patted his chest as he spoke...