HongKong1960

Chapter 8: Trouble in Wan Chai

The conversation continued, with everyone commenting on the news: the 14-K had killed Wong Yuen-Ban, the Green Gang Boss’s son. Apparently, Uncle Owen was negotiating with the Green Gang’s boss, Wong Kam-Hung.

The talk wasn't going well. Wong Kam-Hung had lost his son, and he was demanding blood, insisting the 14-K hand over the killers! It looked like a full-scale war was brewing between the Green Gang and the 14-K.

When we heard the negotiations had failed, the three of us immediately tensed up. It seemed like a fight was inevitable!

“Let them fight! The Green Gang is finished anyway. These Shanghai guys will be wiped out by the Hung Mun sooner or later!” one of the gang members declared.

“They fight their fight; we’ll eat ours here in Tai Wan Shan. Come on, cheers!” The table erupted in laughter and clinking glasses.

From their gossip, we learned that all the Hung Mun Societies’ Uncles and Elders had already held a meeting, planning to seize back the resources currently controlled by the Green Gang while their power waned. No wonder Uncle Owen chose us to strike first at the Green Gang. The moment Wong Yuen-Ban died, the 14-K immediately moved in to stake their claim and take over the territory!

It looked like war was definitely coming.

Wong Kam-Hung’s stance was aggressive: he vowed to send his men to take our lives—blood for blood!

Sure enough, that afternoon, a few Society members came to Tai Wan Shan by boat to secretly meet with us. The messenger was the “Straw Sandal” (Cao Xie) for the Xiao (*) Faction, a guy named Big Voice Fat (*** - Dai Seng Faat). (The “Straw Sandal” is a position for liaison, communication, and lobbying within the Triad.)

Brother Fat immediately told us to keep a low profile in Tai Wan Shan. Wong Kam-Hung had sent people looking for us. If they found us, it would be "three cuts and six holes," and we’d be dismembered. "You absolutely must not leave Tai Wan Shan until the Society Bosses decide what to do!"

He then gave us a few sharp weapons for self-defence.

I worriedly asked if my parents were in danger. Brother Fat reassured me that the Green Gang couldn’t enter Tiu Keng Leng, and the Society had people protecting them there.

“The Bosses like you guys. Don’t leave Tai Wan Shan without permission!” We quickly agreed and thanked Brother Fat. After feeding and entertaining him, Brother Fat left to report back to the Society.

For the next few days, we strictly followed the Society’s orders: no going out, no leaving Tai Wan Shan, and absolutely no revealing our identities! We were cooped up in Ah Yi’s mansion every day, watching TV, horse racing, and those Liang Xingbo comedies. Life was incredibly dull.

Finally, Ah Yi was the first to snap.

“Damn it, I’ve had enough of this! How long has it been since I saw a girl?” Ah Yi paced frantically.

“Don’t even talk about it! At this point, I think even a female dog looks attractive!” Ah Ho chimed in.

Although we were eating and drinking well in Tai Wan Shan, it got boring quickly. Tai Wan Shan was a remote, undeveloped area, basically just continuous hills and fishing villages, with no exciting entertainment. The local girls were mostly fishermen’s daughters, sun-tanned with calloused hands from weaving nets all year. How could a carefree playboy like Ah Yi stand that?

“Ah Ho, Ah Man, we’re going to Wan Chai! My treat!” Ah Yi announced. He boasted that he had a hangout there, and the girls were gorgeous!

Ah Ho immediately brightened up. “Yeah! We haven't even celebrated after taking out that bastard! Wan Chai is exciting, let’s go play!”

I quickly waved my hands. “No way! The Boss told us not to wander off. What if something happens? Plus, there might be a big fight soon; we need to stay ready for orders!”

The moment I said that, I was met with contempt from Ah Yi and Ah Ho.

“Come on, Ah Man! Why are you so scared? Where’s that crazy streak you had when you were chopping? We’ll just go for one night and come back. What’s the big deal?” Ah Yi chuckled.

“Exactly! Wan Chai is huge! Who’s really going to find us? Besides, when a big fight is imminent, you need to relax. Otherwise, it would suck to get cut down while stressed out!” Ah Ho added, laughing.

“Ah Ho, stop being a jinx! We’re three dragons reincarnated! So many guys jumped us, and we were fine. What is there to fear? Let’s go have fun! I’m paying!” Ah Yi insisted.

Seeing their determination, I hesitated.

“Fine! Forget your Ah Fung! When we get to Wan Chai, I’ll find you ten girls, Ah Man! Hahaha!” Ah Yi said, wrapping his arm around me.

I simply couldn’t refuse them. Plus, lately, I’d been having frequent nightmares about Ah Fung, always waking up in tears and feeling mentally suffocated. I also wanted to blow off some steam, so I went along with them.

That day, Ah Yi contacted a boatman, and we took a ferry to the Star Ferry Pier on Hong Kong Island, then headed straight for Wan Chai.

Wan Chai at night was dazzling, lights flashing, with bars, saunas, and dance halls packed tightly together. When we arrived, Ah Yi was so excited he almost jumped for joy! “Let’s go take a bath first, get scrubbed up, and then go sing and dance!” Ah Yi cried.

In the sixties, Hong Kong's saunas and bathhouses hadn't fully developed yet. The best ones were the big bathhouses run by the old Shanghai Green Gang. The best one in all of Wan Chai was called "Bao Tong Xiang," run by Shanghai natives.

We went to the bathhouse, had a thorough wash and scrub, and then Ah Yi led us to the "Celeste" (*** - Sin Lok Si) nightclub in Wan Chai. The club was on the second floor, luxuriously decorated, and filled with beautiful women!