"Have you lost your mind? Do you have any idea what you're talking about?
You're running for councilman now, and you still want to dabble in selling white powder?"
Yan Liang glared irritably at Liang Kun, then tried to reason with him patiently.
"If you want to be a councilman, you can never touch drug dealing again. Not only is it a capital offense, but it completely ruins your reputation. If you don't want to clean up your act, fine, consider my words worthless. But if you're planning for your future, you must stay away from this stuff for good."
Chided by Yan Liang, Liang Kun stiffened his neck defiantly.
"That stuff makes money fast!"
"Damn it!! You die even faster!"
Feeling as though he were playing the lute to a mule, Yan Liang immediately cursed,
"Which do you fucking think is better: money or a councilman's seat?"
Hearing this question, Liang Kun froze.
Come to think of it, no matter how glamorous a street hoodlum was, he was still just a hoodlum. There was simply no comparison to a councilman—those bigwigs who went out surrounded by entourages and held high social status.
After a brief flash of struggle on his face, he muttered,
"Of course a councilman's position is more glamorous, but I can't just dump all my drug businesses overnight."
"I'm not asking you to handle it immediately; I'm just talking things through with you. Of course, if you want out, it's actually very simple. You're not the only one in Hung Hing pushing white powder—plenty of people are drooling over your operation. You can just hand it right over to them. That way, you not only clear your own name, but you also do them a massive favor!"
"Right, right, you're right! Wallhead Kee and Fatty Lai have been drooling over it for ages. I can easily dump these businesses on them. Only... if I do that, our income is going to..."
"Are you out of your mind?!" Yan Liang said, a dark look crossing his face.
"Without the drug trade, can't you just ramp up film production?"
Ramp up film production?
Hearing this, Liang Kun fell into deep thought.
Come to think of it, despite the name Qiankun International Film Company, the profit actually earned from shooting movies over the course a year was pitifully small. The only reason it managed to stay afloat was because, lurking beneath the respectable facade of a movie studio, there was another major source of income.
Money laundering!
Of course, at this stage, the money laundering operation wasn't open to outsiders—it was restricted to Liang Kun himself and a few other Hung Hing sector bosses.
And now, reading between the lines, Yan Liang was clearly hinting that he wanted him to expand the money laundering business. While this business might not be quite as lucrative as selling drugs, at least it wouldn't ruin his reputation.
"B-but our production volume is limited! Even if we want to scale it up, we don't have enough output!!"
"You don't need to worry about that. I'll find someone to help you plan it out later. Right now, the most important thing is to ditch all those dirty operations in your hands!"
Although Yan Liang hadn't given him the detailed plan yet, Liang Kun—who had always trusted him implicitly—suddenly felt as though he could see a bright and prosperous future ahead.
Under Yan Liang's persuasion, his ambitions began to drift far from his original intentions.
Who says a street punk couldn't go into politics and become a councilman?!
"Good! I believe you. I'll have my men start making arrangements..."
***
"Are you kidding? Are you trying to trick an idiot? You seriously think a street punk can become a councilman?"
As soon as they stepped out of Qiankun International Film Company, Xia He looked at Yan Liang with a strange expression.
Though she was a woman, she knew all too well how difficult it was to get a hoodlum elected to public office.
Yet, this absurd claim—something not even a ghost would believe—had actually been swallowed hook, line, and sinker by that perverted bigwig Liang Kun.
Xia He felt her worldview shaking slightly at that moment. She also suspected that this Liang Kun fellow wasn't particularly bright!
"I was lying to him!" Yan Liang rolled his eyes and said,
"Only an idiot like him would believe such nonsense. But if I hadn't put it that way, how could I have gotten him to willingly give up the drug trade?"
With that, he took out his phone and made a call. Once connected, he told the person on the other end to investigate the whereabouts of Tony's trio, hung up, and explained to Xia He as they walked:
"Over the past few years, I haven't gotten deeply involved in Liang Kun's dirty business. But ever since we first stepped foot into this underworld, we've been tied together. Who knows which of the guy's wires got crossed, but he's always trusted me unconditionally. As the saying goes, we sink or swim together. If Liang Kun goes down, I won't have an easy time of it either, so I might as well lay the groundwork early."
Finishing his sentence, Yan Liang instinctively rubbed his smooth chin and muttered to himself,
"Actually, a hoodlum becoming a councilman isn't entirely impossible, but... the challenge is pretty huge."
"..."
Hearing this, Xia He was left somewhat speechless.
Just then, Yan Liang's warning reached her ears:
"Right, don't go making a move later. That habit of yours of always going after a man's most sensitive spot is really uncivilized!"
"What does it have to do with me if they explode on their own?" Hearing this, Xia He gave Yan Liang a sidelong glance and instinctively asked, "Where are we going?"
"To collect a debt, of course! There are tens of millions there, and part of it belongs to me!"
With that, Yan Liang stopped talking and led Xia He away, disappearing around the corner of the street.
Of course, collecting the debt was just an excuse.
In reality, his eyes were set on the drug money embezzled by Tony's trio. Knowing their personalities, they likely had more than just Liang Kun's drug funds in their hands. And any extra cash would naturally end up in his pockets!
***
Meanwhile, down the corridor of Causeway Bay's Guangming Hospital,
"Ah Nam, don't take it too hard. The doctor said it's not like there's no hope of recovery. You need to rest properly for the next few months, especially when it comes to... you know..."
Big Brother B looked at Chan Ho-nam—who was leaning on Tai Tin-yee and walking with extreme difficulty—a flash of pity crossing his face.
Who would have thought that because of this whole Babi incident, not only had Chicken gotten his head split open, but Chan Ho-nam had essentially been reduced to a eunuch. The thought of testicles being crushed was enough to make anyone wince in sympathy.
"Don't worry, I'll help you settle this score. We just need to wait a little longer."
"Brother B, I, Tai Tin-yee, will personally help my brother settle this score. I'm going to make that fellow named Yan Liang wish he were dead!"
"That's right, Brother B! If that Yan Liang hadn't stepped in and meddled, we would have taken care of Babi already! We have to settle this grudge one way or another."
Tai Tin-yee and Poultry Skin, who had sustained lighter injuries, immediately clamored in agreement.
And it was true.
If Yan Liang and that old fogey hadn't stuck their noses into it, the brothers would likely have risen to power in glory long ago, instead of suffering two heavy losses and several minor injuries like this.
Big Brother B naturally felt a burning anger in his chest, but Liang Kun's faction was currently too powerful in Hung Hing. Even if he wanted to avenge Chan Ho-nam, he had to weigh his options carefully.
At that moment, a subordinate trailing behind them hurried over with a phone.
"Brother B, it's Brother Yao on the phone."
Without hesitation, Big Brother B took the phone and answered it.
After exchanging a few words, he hung up and looked at Chan Ho-nam with a jubilant expression on his face:
"Ah Nam, Mr. Chiang isn't blaming you guys for what happened this time. He specifically pointed out that Liang Kun's men were the ones who broke the rules. What's more, he told me to bring you along to tonight's dragon-head meeting. Judging by Brother Yao's tone, he might give you a chance to redeem yourself through meritorious service! Make sure you perform well this time!"
"Don't worry, Brother B." Hearing this, Chan Ho-nam forced an awkward, pained smile.
It still hurt like hell!
"Alright then, get some good rest first. I'm heading out!"
With that, Big Brother B patted Chan Ho-nam on the shoulder and left with his men.
"Mr. Chiang has more arrangements for us? Brother Nam, we're definitely going to make it big this time, right?"
After Big Brother B left, a smile appeared on Tai Tin-yee's face, though it was quickly replaced by rage.
"That damned Yan Liang! I'm going to chop him up!"
Hearing Tai Tin-yee's words, Poultry Skin, standing nearby, immediately chimed in,
"That Yan Liang really deserves to die. Should we just go take him out tonight?"
Hearing this, Chan Ho-nam—whose crotch was still throbbing with tearing pain—immediately declared,
"Hold on. Let's wait until after the dragon-head gathering tonight. This score—I, Chan Ho-nam, will definitely settle it!"
The vengeance for his destroyed manhood was an irreconcilable feud, especially since one of them was utterly crushed.