Futile Devices Scans

He Chu San’s expression darkened.

Tiger Head was ecstatic and opened his mouth to speak, but Black Chicken stopped him. Black Chicken rose, shook out the coarse cloth, and a wooden staff carved with an imposing dragon head landed in the center of the long table. He pulled the dragon-head handle free, revealing a thin dagger concealed inside, displayed it to everyone around the table, then slid it back into place and nodded. “This is the Dragon Head Staff. Brothers and sisters, now that the Dragon Head Staff has appeared, does anyone object to electing a new Dragon Head here today?”

“No!” everyone answered in unison.

“Consultant He?” Black Chicken asked.

He Chu San replied calmly, “No objection.”

“Good. Then Boss Xiao Ma will preside over the meeting.”

Xiao Ma leaned back in his chair and puffed on his cigar. “You preside. I’ll watch. Forget all those messy formalities. Nominations, then voting. Keep it simple.”

“Yes,” Black Chicken said. “According to the rules, only those seated at this table are eligible to stand for election and vote, and candidates cannot vote for themselves. The previous Boss alone retains one vote. According to Consultant He, the Boss already nominated him as his preferred successor, so that counts as one vote for Consultant He. Are there any other nominations?”

“Do you even have to ask?” Tiger Head shouted. “I object! I nominate Boss Xiao Ma! Boss Xiao Ma was the society’s Red Pole. He’s been with us for more than ten years and has done countless important things for Xiao Qi Hall. He knows both the jianghu and the society inside out! He has seniority, brains, and fighting skills. Everyone respects him and listens to him! If he becomes Dragon Head, he’s the one most capable of looking after everyone’s interests. If we don’t support him, who else are we supposed to support?!”

“That’s right! Boss Xiao Ma!” “Boss Xiao Ma!” several junior bosses behind him echoed.

“Any other nominations?”

A low murmur spread through the room, but no one spoke. Who would dare claim that his ability and influence surpassed either Boss Xiao Ma or Consultant He?

“Good. We’ll begin voting. Tiger Head has voted for Boss Xiao Ma, while the Boss’s vote goes to Consultant He. Big Crab, who do you vote for?”

The two bosses seated at the table who had yet to speak—Big Crab and Snake Girl—looked at each other. Under everyone’s watchful gaze, Big Crab hesitated and began stumbling over his words.

“Hey! What’s wrong with you?!” Tiger Head snapped. “Didn’t we settle this last night?”

Big Crab hesitated. “Last night you said Consultant He had bad intentions, but I think what he said today makes sense. The Boss’s whereabouts are still unknown. Who knows? Maybe he’ll come back tomorrow. Boss Xiao Ma may be the staff-holder, but if he wasn’t dead these past few months, why did he wait until today to show himself? And the moment he comes back, he wants everyone to elect a Dragon Head. Who knows whether he only came back because he heard the society was in trouble and wanted to seize the opportunity to take power…”

“Go to hell! What the hell are you talking about?!” Tiger Head sprang up and moved to hit him. Big Crab was no pushover either; he rolled up his sleeves and stood. Black Chicken and Snake Girl hurried between them.

Xiao Ma rose, stripped off his black leather jacket, then ripped open the shirt underneath. His muscular torso came into view, crossed by a long, vivid red scar that ran from his shoulder toward his waist as though someone had nearly cleaved him in two.

“I was badly injured,” he said. “I’ve spent the past few months recovering in Thailand. I rushed back as soon as I heard something had happened to the society. The Boss saved my life. He’s valued me and promoted me all these years. I could spend the rest of my life repaying him and it still wouldn’t be enough! I want the Boss to come back more than any of you do! I swear that if he returns, I’ll hand the Dragon Head position straight back to him. If I break that oath, may heaven strike me dead!”

“You hear that?! You see that?!” Tiger Head was still itching to beat up Big Crab, but Black Chicken forcibly pushed him back into his seat.

Big Crab remained hesitant and said nothing more. Snake Girl spoke instead. “Boss Xiao Ma, you’ve been loyal to the Boss all these years. Every one of us trusts and respects you completely. Big Crab was only worked up just now. He didn’t really mean it. But things aren’t what they used to be. Hong Kong only has a few years left before the handover. Who knows whether the things we used to do will still work afterward? I support Consultant He’s reforms, and I believe he can bring even greater benefits to the brothers and sisters in the future. I’m sorry, but this vote goes with the Boss. I vote for Consultant He.”

“Big Crab?” Black Chicken asked.

Big Crab looked at the bare-chested Xiao Ma, then at the composed He Chu San. He bowed his head and wrestled with himself for another long while. “Boss Xiao Ma, what I said just now was wrong. I’m sorry. The Big Boss saved my life too. I just don’t want anyone scheming against him behind his back. Since you said you’ll give up the position as soon as he comes back, I absolutely believe you. But like Snake Girl, I support reforming the society. People always say, ‘If you live by the underworld, one day you’ll have to pay it back.’ My wife just got pregnant. I don’t want my child to grow up and ask me, ‘Dad, what do you do for a living?’ and have no answer. I don’t want my child to be ostracized at school or looked down on because of me, and I definitely don’t want to end up dead in the street one day while my wife and child cry over my body… So I’m still giving my vote to Consultant He.”

Several junior bosses behind him voiced their agreement as well, murmuring among themselves about the good He Chu San had done. The balance in the room tilted toward He Chu San. He now had three votes, while Xiao Ma had only Tiger Head’s; even if Black Chicken voted for Xiao Ma, that would still leave him with only two. Tiger Head grew anxious and cursed Big Crab and Snake Girl furiously. “You two bastards! Have you forgotten how Boss Xiao Ma treated you before? Now you’re turning your backs on him and siding with an outsider?!”

“Who’s siding with an outsider?! We’re judging the matter, not the person! Use your damn brain for once!” Snake Girl shot back.

Tiger Head rolled up his sleeves and prepared to fight. Snake Girl and Big Crab had endured his explosive temper for long enough and both tried to get past Black Chicken to start throwing punches. Xiao Ma suddenly roared, “What the hell are you fighting about?! Sit down!”

He first glared Tiger Head back into place. Tiger Head reluctantly lowered his fists, while Snake Girl and Big Crab no longer had any reason to continue. Both sides returned to their seats. Xiao Ma said, “I expected things to turn out like this. If Consultant He dared to call this meeting, of course he would’ve prepared beforehand. I haven’t been here these past few months, so I don’t know exactly how the society has changed, but my loyalty to Xiao Qi Hall and my determination to look after every brother and sister here are there for heaven and earth to see!”

He glanced at He Chu San beside him and sneered. “But don’t forget, the people sitting at this table aren’t the only ones entitled to vote at a Dragon Head Assembly. I originally didn’t want to disturb these two gentlemen in their retirement, but from the look of things, inviting them was the right decision.”

He turned toward the door and shouted, “Invite the two elders in!”

A bodyguard outside answered, and a moment later Prince Duan entered with his cane, supported by others. Old Ge, somewhat younger and still hale and energetic, followed with a vigorous stride. These two were the only surviving senior elders of the society. Both had retired years ago and had long ceased involving themselves in underworld affairs.

Xiao Ma rose and respectfully invited the two elders to take the seats of honor. Everyone greeted the elders they had not seen in years.

Prince Duan glanced at Old Ge. Old Ge cleared his throat and began. “The two of us old fellows retired a long time ago, but something as important as electing a Dragon Head deserves a few words from us. We served as elders for more than ten years. No one here questions our right to have a say at this table, do they?”

“No, no, no!” Everyone shook their heads.

Old Ge continued, “Everyone knows how much Liu Yi has always trusted Xiao Ma and Dong Dong. Instead of entrusting the Dragon Head ledger to Xiao Ma or Dong Dong, we’re expected to believe he entrusted it to some green kid who only joined the society a year ago? I don’t buy it. And as for these so-called reforms this boy has been running—they’ve destroyed decades of Xiao Qi Hall’s foundations. In truth, he wants to drive the old brothers out of the companies and use Xiao Qi Hall’s assets to make himself rich. I don’t trust him! Whether you look at loyalty or reason, I support Xiao Ma. Old Duan and I discussed it outside just now. Our two votes go to Xiao Ma.”

Tiger Head burst into delighted laughter. “Good! Three votes for Consultant He, three for Boss Xiao Ma!” He turned smugly toward Black Chicken. “Chicken, there’s no need to ask you. Obviously you’re going to—”

“I vote for Consultant He,” Black Chicken said. The room erupted in surprise.

“What did you say?!” Tiger Head shouted in disbelief. He grabbed Black Chicken by the collar and raised his fist several times, but simply could not bring himself to strike him. “Are you crazy?!”

Black Chicken looked at him calmly. “Brother Tiger, there’s an old saying: heroes are made by the times. Times have changed. In the world we’re living in now, I believe Consultant He is the hero we need.”

“Hero my ass! You just see how much money he has!” Tiger Head was nearly crazed with anger. He turned and shouted at the others. “Isn’t that what all of you want—to follow him and get rich?! He throws you a few meaty bones and you come running like wild dogs! Have you all forgotten loyalty?!”

“Watch your mouth, Tiger Head!” Snake Girl slapped the table and stood. “The Big Boss designated Consultant He to become Dragon Head. By voting for him, we’re following the Boss! Are you saying the Boss has no loyalty?! And besides, who becomes a gangster because they have a choice? Who is born wanting to spend every day fighting in the streets and risking their life? Who wouldn’t rather have a way to make clean money? You care so much about loyalty and claim you don’t care about money—then why don’t you hand over everything you collect each month and distribute it among the brothers?!”

Tiger Head was driven into a fury by her sharp tongue. He grabbed his chair and prepared to charge at her, but Xiao Ma growled, “Tiger Head!”

Xiao Ma signaled with his eyes for Tiger Head to calm down, then raised his voice. “Enough. If this is the result, I accept it!”

He turned toward He Chu San. “You win, kid. Let’s see what kind of tricks you can pull!”

He Chu San smiled at him, then addressed the assembled members. “Thank you for trusting me enough to vote for me as Dragon Head. But as I said earlier, I have no intention of replacing the Boss. I’m waiting for him to come back. I will not hold a Dragon Ascension Ceremony. I will only temporarily perform his duties. During this period, everything continues as usual. Company matters will be submitted to me for decision, while matters of the jianghu will be discussed with Brother Xiao Ma, and I will listen to his advice. How does that sound?”

“Good!” Snake Girl and Big Crab answered. A scattering of agreement came from behind them. Black Chicken turned and swept his gaze over the junior bosses, prompting several of them to hurriedly raise their voices in support.

“Brother Xiao Ma?” He Chu San asked.

Xiao Ma sneered and spread his hands. “The Acting Hall Master has already spoken. What can I say?”

“The two elders?”

Old Ge had been dragged out of retirement only to accomplish nothing and now wore a dark expression, refusing to answer. Prince Duan, however, seemed to have understood something. He gave He Chu San a faint smile.

“Then it’s settled. Meeting adjourned.”

“Wait!” Xiao Ma suddenly called out.

“Something else, Brother Xiao Ma?”

Xiao Ma tapped the back of his fingers against the tabletop. “Acting Hall Master, what do you plan to do about Qin Hao? That traitor had our places raided, forced the Boss into hiding, got Boss Dong Dong killed, and made Xiao Qi Hall lose all face in the underworld. Are we just supposed to let that go?!”

“From the sound of it, Brother Xiao Ma wants revenge?” He Chu San asked.

“Of course! If we don’t avenge this, how are we supposed to hold our heads up in the jianghu?! Anyone who hurts the Boss—I’ll settle the score with every last one of them!” Xiao Ma looked meaningfully and viciously at He Chu San. Tiger Head slapped the table in agreement, while the rest of the room grew agitated.

He Chu San raised a hand, signaling for silence. “Do you know how serious a crime it is to attack a police officer, Brother Xiao Ma?”

“So what if I do?! Do I look afraid of dying?!”

“The Boss is currently missing. If anything happens to Qin Hao, the police will suspect the Boss first. Do you want to dump that blame on his head?”

Xiao Ma angrily opened his mouth, but He Chu San cut him off. “And suppose whoever does it turns himself in afterward and takes all the responsibility. When the Boss returns and discovers that someone got himself arrested just to avenge him, how do you think he’ll feel?”

He stepped closer to Xiao Ma. “Brother Xiao Ma, do you know how devastated the Boss was after something happened to you?” He leaned close to Xiao Ma’s ear and lowered his voice. “When I went to Thailand to find him, he was covered in injuries. He cried and told me Xiao Ma was gone. Can you imagine how weak and miserable he looked?”

Xiao Ma’s ears turned crimson, while guilt and pain filled his eyes. For once, he was completely speechless.

He Chu San stood and addressed everyone. “No one is to act on their own regarding Qin Hao! During this period, watch what you say and do. No one is permitted to come into conflict with the police. Do you understand?”

A few scattered replies sounded through the room.

He Chu San’s expression darkened. An oppressive authority rose naturally from him; he did not need to show anger to command the room. “I’ll say it again. Do you understand?”

Everyone immediately answered loudly in unison, “Understood, Acting Hall Master!”

“Good. Meeting adjourned.”

…

Xiao Ma helped the two elders leave. The rest gradually filtered out of the conference room as well. Kevin walked to the doorway and gave the bodyguards outside a few instructions, then pushed shut the door whose lock had been kicked apart and returned to He Chu San’s side.

“You worked hard, Mr. He.”

With the grand performance of fighting for power finally over, He Chu San allowed himself to relax and leaned wearily against the back of his chair. “I expected Black Chicken to support me. I also expected them to bring the elders out. I calculated everything I could, but I never expected Brother Xiao Ma to still be alive.”

“Do you need me to get rid of him, Mr. He?”

He Chu San did not know whether to laugh or cry. He turned and lightly smacked Kevin on the forehead. “What nonsense are you thinking? Brother Xiao Ma is alive. I couldn’t be happier. How many times have I told you? Now that you’re with me, you’re not a gangster anymore. You need to change the way you think. Every time something happens, all you know is fighting and killing. Do you want to get locked up and made to reflect too?”

Kevin rubbed the spot He Chu San had hit and smiled sheepishly.

He Chu San gave a wry smile of his own. “It’s actually good that Brother Xiao Ma came back. We can adapt the plan. The role I originally prepared for Tiger Head can go to him instead.”

He leaned back again and silently calculated for a while. When Kevin remained quiet for an unusually long time, He Chu San turned and found him still touching his forehead, lost in thought.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing, Mr. He.”

“Stay sharp. The main act hasn’t even started yet. Arrange a meeting with Master Qiao for me tonight.”

“Yes, Mr. He.”

…

He Chu San arranged to meet Master Qiao aboard Xia Liu Yi’s yacht. The little bar, sofas, and bikini-clad beauties on deck had all disappeared, replaced by a single elegant, understated Western dining table illuminated by a faux-candle lamp casting warm yellow light. Their waiter was a quiet, handsome young man in a tailcoat who approached carrying a tray in one hand and bent with a smile to set down two plates of appetizers. Everything was elegant and orderly.

Master Qiao looked around with an ambiguous smile and sighed. “Brother He really is an educated man. Your style couldn’t be more different from Xiao Liu’s!”

“You’re joking, Brother Qiao,” He Chu San said. “The chef is still the same one. I heard this foie gras is one of your favorites?”

“Hahaha! Brother He really understands me! Oh, but I shouldn’t call you Brother He anymore. From today onward, I ought to call you Hall Master He. Come, come! I brought a bottle of expensive wine especially for you today to congratulate you on becoming Dragon Head!”

“I wouldn’t dare. I’m only the Acting Hall Master.”

“Oh, what Acting Hall Master, what real Hall Master? You and I both know it’s the same thing! Hahahaha!”

Master Qiao beckoned, and a bodyguard standing nearby presented an exquisitely packaged bottle of red wine. Master Qiao showed it off proudly. “1962 Lafite! Twenty years older than the ’82! I had someone buy it from a French auction house especially for you! Well? Impressive enough?”

He Chu San smiled faintly. “Thank you, Brother Qiao. You shouldn’t have.”

Master Qiao waved the waiter over to open the wine and chatted idly with He Chu San while they waited. Once the wine had reddened the glass, he picked it up with exaggerated elegance and took a sip—then immediately went, “Pffft—!” and sprayed it across the entire table.

He Chu San quietly shifted backward, picked up his napkin, and wiped his face, privately experiencing a powerful desire to dunk this filthy, lecherous gangster into the sea and rinse him thoroughly.

Master Qiao summoned his own bodyguard and unleashed a torrent of abuse, slapping and kicking him as he cursed. What bullshit 1962 Lafite?! He had wasted all that money! He Chu San tried to intervene, but Master Qiao suddenly spun around, grabbed the table lamp, and smashed it viciously over the bodyguard’s head.

The bodyguard screamed and fell to the floor, blood splashing onto the cuff of He Chu San’s trousers. Master Qiao grabbed the man’s bloodied head and slammed it into the table. His mangled face crashed straight into He Chu San’s dinner plate.

He Chu San immediately understood the warning behind Master Qiao’s display. He closed his mouth and stopped interfering. Master Qiao kicked the bodyguard several more times before finally stopping and ordering someone to drag the half-dead man away. He swaggered back into his chair and wiped the blood from his palms with a napkin. “Brother He, just disciplining a servant. Didn’t frighten you, did I?”

“Of course not, Brother Qiao.” He Chu San hurriedly shook his head and signaled for the waiter to clean everything up. “If a subordinate doesn’t behave, he should be disciplined.”

He stood, accepted a fresh tablecloth from the waiter, personally changed the cloth and plates, then ordered two glasses of champagne and spent some time praising Master Qiao before finally soothing his temper. Master Qiao had deliberately put on that violent display, and seeing He Chu San’s face pale, his words turn cautious, and his manner become deferential—every inch a frail and timid scholar—left him extremely pleased.

The two began their meal in apparent harmony, exchanging underworld gossip and discussing trends in politics and business. He Chu San put his professional expertise to work and spoke persuasively about the future of finance. By the end of a single dinner, he had somehow negotiated a business deal worth thirty million Hong Kong dollars from Master Qiao. Afterward, he invited Master Qiao below deck. The room that had once contained the “Brazilian electric bed” had been converted into a small meeting room, with two rows of sofas and a low table.

He placed a stack of contracts in front of Master Qiao and patiently explained each clause. Master Qiao was almost completely won over by his coaxing, but just as he was about to sign, a sliver of clarity returned to his brain. He frowned and stopped his pen.

“Don’t worry, Brother Qiao,” He Chu San added, delivering the final push. “I’m right here. It’s not as though I can jump into the sea and escape. Whether your money comes through will be perfectly clear in three days. If anything goes wrong, come straight to me. Kill me or carve me up as you please.”

Master Qiao looked up at him. He Chu San had a handsome, dignified face, a mild and humble manner, and an earnest, focused gaze. He looked exactly like an upright, trustworthy businessman who would not cheat a soul. According to Kevin’s reports, He Chu San was merely a young scholar. He had a few clever ideas, perhaps, but was physically helpless and had not a single man of his own to command. Police pressure was bearing down on him from outside, while Xiao Ma and the others fiercely opposed him from within. Isolated and without backing, he could only hope to cling to Master Qiao, this great tree, for protection. Where would he find the courage to play any tricks?

Master Qiao’s head grew hot. He signed. He Chu San carefully put away the contract and shook Master Qiao’s hand with a beaming smile. “Thank you for your trust, Brother Qiao.”

…

Late that night, the yacht returned to the pier. He Chu San personally stood at the bow and helped Master Qiao ashore. After respectfully presenting Master Qiao’s cane with both hands, he turned, took two bulging leather cases from a bodyguard, and pushed them into Master Qiao’s arms.

“What’s this?” Master Qiao asked suspiciously.

He Chu San lowered his voice. “A little token of respect for ‘that person.’ I’ll have to trouble you to pass it along.”

Master Qiao pretended not to understand. “Which person?”

He Chu San did not bother playing along. He smiled faintly, leaned close to Master Qiao’s ear, and said bluntly, “There are two hundred thousand U.S. dollars in each case. One is for him. The other is for your trouble, Brother Qiao. I entered this line of business late and never had the opportunity to pay my respects properly. I’ll have to trouble you to introduce me and put in a few good words. If I’m fortunate enough to meet him personally and listen to his guidance, I have another two hundred thousand U.S. dollars waiting for you.”

Master Qiao said nothing.

He Chu San companionably wrapped an arm around his shoulder. “Please tell him that I want to do a very big deal with him—one he must have wanted to make before he retired.”