A Zha’s eyes flashed with a sharp light. "Brother Chen," he said, "since Chung Sing Yee has the nerve to send people to kill you, shouldn't we do something to pay them back?"
Lok Yu-chen waved his hand dismissively. "I’ve already sent A Yi to handle that. Your priority right now is to keep a close eye on this shipment of bell-bottoms. You need to keep up the publicity and build momentum. You’ll be spinning like tops during this period, so there’s no time to worry about anything else. Don't worry—I have my own strategy for dealing with Chung Sing Yee. Just focus on your tasks, shore up the capital, and get ready for the big battle ahead."
After a brief pause, Lok Yu-chen added, "Remember, you must station people at the factories every single day to supervise production. Don't let them cut any corners. You need to go and inspect the work daily, and while you're at it, keep an eye on the market for other clothing items. Also, once they produce the first pair of bell-bottoms, bring them back so I can see the finished product first."
"Got it, no problem." A Zha nodded. Then he asked, "But Brother Chen, how exactly should we handle this publicity?"
Lok Yu-chen gestured for them to gather around and whispered, "Do it like this... and like this. Understand?"
A Zha and his men suddenly realized his intent, and they all gave him a thumbs-up.
"If you understand, then get to work! Remember to pick out some sharp, smooth-talking guys for the job. Once this is finished, you can take a break. Time is tight, so I’m counting on you to put in the effort," Lok Yu-chen instructed.
A Zha and the others nodded. "It’s fine, Brother Chen. We can handle it. Besides, this is all for the sake of making money—what’s a little extra work?"
Lok Yu-chen chuckled and shook his head. "Alright. In time, you’ll be glad for the hard work you put in today. You’ll reap even greater rewards in the future. Go on, get busy."
"Brother Chen, we're heading out then." After finishing their drinks, A Zha and his men moved with brisk efficiency.
The area around Fuhua Street and Huangzhu Street in Sham Shui Po, and many of the surrounding streets, was concentrated with wholesalers of local garments, fabrics, textile accessories, and leather goods. There were countless shops of all sizes.
Aside from the current Lai Chi Kok, there was no place that could compete with Sham Shui Po for the wholesale of clothes, shoes, hats, and belts. Wholesale markets in Central, Causeway Bay, or Mong Kok simply could not be mentioned in the same breath as Sham Shui Po. Places like Central were relatively high-end wholesale markets, catering to mid-range customers, unlike Sham Shui Po, which focused on the low-end market.
Central also featured more shopping malls, especially high-end ones, which grew in number every year. Sham Shui Po, however, was one of the earliest developed commercial and light industrial hubs in the area, so to this day, some parts of its commerce retained traditional operational modes, offering a unique charm compared to large shopping malls. Ultimately, it was simply a display of the low-end market.
Back in the fifties and sixties, small factories gathered around Fuhua and Huangzhu streets, stretching as far as the border of Shek Kip Mei. From six to eight in the morning, many people would wholesale all sorts of finished clothes and daily necessities, forming a bustling market. By the seventies and eighties, the local fashion wholesale industry began to emerge, with many shops concentrated along Cheung Sha Wan Road, from Huangzhu Street and Fuhua Street to Yen Chow Street, becoming a famous fashion wholesale hub.
In recent years, these merchants began operating both wholesale and retail businesses. Aside from wholesale market shop owners and exporters coming to make bulk purchases, the area attracted many women looking for clothing, making it a great destination for shopping. At the same time, tourists from abroad and even the mainland began visiting, turning the fashion wholesale cluster of Fuhua Street, Huangzhu Street, and Cheung Sha Wan Road into an emerging tourist and shopping spot with a rich local flavor.
Of course, these streets had one defining feature: the clothes were cheap! But don't be fooled by the low prices—some wholesale costs were under five dollars—because some of the styles were actually quite good.
Now, Yuen Mui, Tian Yang'en, and So Ah-sai had arrived at Fuhua Street. They were followed by four burly young men, with another six hidden nearby to protect them. With the four brawny men in tow, even though passersby were surprised by the beauty and elegance of Yuen Mui and her companions and often stopped to stare, no one dared to approach them. That was the deterrent effect of having bodyguards.
Yuen Mui and the others had come to Fuhua Street to conduct their own market research and see how these wholesale merchants did business. Strolling from shop to shop and asking the owners questions, the sharp-witted women soon understood the lay of the land and even guessed at many unknown inside secrets. Indeed, one has no right to speak without investigation. This first-hand experience cleared up many of the industry's mysteries for the three of them.
Women tend to linger when they go shopping. Even though Yuen Mui and her friends were a bit different from ordinary women, they couldn't escape this innate trait.
"Sister Mei, this looks good on you. You'd look great in this," So Ah-sai said when they walked into a relatively trendy shop, her eyes immediately fixing on a white chiffon top. In the sweltering heat, wearing such a top would certainly be much cooler.
Yuen Mui followed So Ah-sai's gaze, and when she saw the white chiffon top, she couldn't help but let her eyes light up. Even Tian Yang'en, who usually didn't care much about clothes, had to admire So Ah-sai’s taste. It was indeed a beautiful piece, and it only cost fifty-eight dollars.
"Sister Mei, what do you think? Why don't you try it on?" So Ah-sai picked up the top and handed it to Yuen Mui. If Lok Yu-chen had seen this, he surely would have laughed at her for deliberately trying to curry favor with Yuen Mui. But it had to be said, So Ah-sai’s tactic was effective. At the very least, Yuen Mui no longer felt comfortable chasing her away. Besides, it wasn't true that Yuen Mui didn't like So Ah-sai. Beauties appreciate each other, and it was hard to resist someone so dedicated to pleasing you.
Yuen Mui wanted to try it, but she remembered So Ah-sai didn't have many clothes, so she shook her head and smiled. "You haven't bought any new clothes to change into either. You try it on first, and if you like it, just buy it." Even the usually frugal Yuen Mui was being uncharacteristically generous.
So Ah-sai shook her head repeatedly. "I’m picking this out for you. Your skin is so fair; white will make you look even more radiant. I’m fine—wearing your old clothes is just the same, and anyway, your old clothes are quite stylish..."
What a sweet and sensible beauty! Yuen Mui’s heart warmed instantly. A look of tenderness flashed in her beautiful eyes. She shook her head and pushed the chiffon top back toward So Ah-sai. "Since you call me Sister Mei, you have to listen to me. You go try it on. If it fits, buy it. Consider it a gift for calling me Sister Mei. How’s that?"
"But..." So Ah-sai hesitated.
"Oh, stop being so fussy! It’s just a piece of clothing. At worst, we can take turns wearing it. If not, we can ask the boss if there’s another one in the same style. And if there isn't, can't we just pick something else? Hurry up and try it on," Tian Yang'en said, unable to watch any longer. She pulled So Ah-sai into the dressing room, closed the door for her, and walked back to Yuen Mui’s side.
Yuen Mui gave a faint, wry smile, looked toward the dressing room, and couldn't help but sigh.
"Sister-in-law, what's wrong?" Tian Yang'en asked.
Yuen Mui shook her head, thought for a moment, and said, "Xiao En, what do you think I should do?"
"What do you mean, 'what should you do'?" Tian Yang'en asked, puzzled. How was she supposed to respond to such a sudden, out-of-the-blue question?
"It’s about Ah-sai. How should I treat her? And looking ahead, what should I do?" Yuen Mui gestured toward the dressing room and whispered.
"Uh..." Tian Yang'en froze, even less sure how to answer that. A fool could see So Ah-sai’s feelings for Brother Chen. As someone in the thick of it, Yuen Mui could see it even more clearly. Then again, if even Tian Yang'en could tell, how could the sharp-eyed Yuen Mui miss it?
"Sister-in-law, to be honest, I don't know. But I do know that whoever is good to Brother Chen, I treat as one of our own," Tian Yang'en said after thinking for a while.
It was the truth! Even though she had her own unspoken thoughts—thinking that if So Ah-sai joined, it might make her own inclusion in the family more natural—she truly meant it. Whoever treated Lok Yu-chen well, she considered her own.
"Whoever is good to Lok Yu-chen, treat as one of our own?" Yuen Mui murmured. The knot that had been tied in her mind seemed to loosen, and everything suddenly became clear. "That's true. Anyway, I don't know how much longer I’ll be around. Having one more person to take care of Lok Yu-chen might be a good thing."
Yuen Mui laughed self-deprecatingly. "It’s just that I might have to wrong you, Xiao En. Someone else is going to share the love that was once exclusively yours..."
Hearing this, Tian Yang'en felt a bit guilty. "Sister-in-law, how can you say that? You'll be fine. You're such a good person, Heaven will surely look after you. If anything, you're the one being wronged. Besides, I don't even know if Brother Chen likes me..."
Yuen Mui laughed. "Silly, how could Lok Yu-chen not like you? He’s probably just avoiding 'eating the grass by his own nest' and hasn't paid much attention. I can guarantee that if you were a bit more proactive, Lok Yu-chen would definitely like you. And who knows, he might have been watching you all along, only holding back because of Ah Sang and A Yi."
It had to be said that Yuen Mui’s mind was exquisite; in a short time, she had seen right through Lok Yu-chen's nature.
"This... really?" Tian Yang'en's gaze drifted.
Yuen Mui shook her head and smiled. "Whether it's true or not, you'll know if you test it..." After a pause, she sighed, "It’s just a pity that I can't walk with him to the end, otherwise..."
Otherwise, how could she ever let another woman have Lok Yu-chen? She wasn't truly a fool. But what she didn't know was that what Lok Yu-chen had said to her wasn't just comfort—it was the truth.