Chapter 167: The Little Shrimp Meets the Dragon's Breath

Hong Kong's pawn industry has a long history and is quite substantial. Since the British government enacted the Pawn Law in 1926, the first pawn shop in Hong Kong was established. Over the years, the industry has thrived and expanded.

In commercial society, pawn shops essentially function as lenders. Unlike banks, which offer loans based on property and credit guarantees, pawn shops accept small physical items as collateral. For those in urgent need of cash, pawn shops provide a crucial emergency solution.

During the late 1970s, due to Hong Kong's economic depression, the pawn industry saw rapid growth. By the 1990s, over two hundred pawn shops were scattered throughout Hong Kong.

Among these two hundred pawn shops, nearly one-third are located in Kowloon.

Looking at the red sign of "Fuk Kee Pawn Shop" and the antique-style wooden signs that read "Emergency Use Only" and "No Entry Unless in Urgent Need," Li Xian stopped in his tracks.

"Hey, old friend, let's go."

The con artist who called himself "Nine Boy" noticed Li Xian had stopped and urged him impatiently.

Li Xian smiled to himself and looked at the pawn shop's sign. He hesitated and said, "Hmm... I feel like this isn't quite right."

"What's wrong?" Seeing Li Xian hesitating, Nine Boy became anxious and fidgety.

Li Xian shrugged, "Brother, here's the deal. I'll take the watch. Let's not go to the pawn shop. Is that okay?"

"Huh?" Nine Boy was taken aback when he heard that Li Xian wanted the watch. He stammered, "How can that be?"

"I'll give you money!" Li Xian offered immediately, "How about this: I'll give you five hundred dollars. The watch is mine."

Nine Boy was stunned when he heard this amount. Usually, street scams involving fake gold watches only net four or five hundred dollars. Seeing that the watch Li Xian had was a seemingly valuable Lange, he was tempted.

Hearing that Li Xian was willing to buy the watch outright, Nine Boy was thrilled, "Alright, so I found five hundred dollars on the street, right?"

He extended his hand.

Seeing Nine Boy's outstretched hand, Li Xian smiled slightly. He pulled out a few Hong Kong dollars exchanged at the port, counted them, and found there was only two hundred and thirty.

A few minutes later, as Li Xian fumbled through his pockets without finding the full five hundred, Nine Boy grew impatient, "Hey, old friend, do you have enough or not?"

Enough?

I have over thirty thousand in my bag! But unfortunately, you can't see it.

After silently despising the scammer, Li Xian made a pained expression, "Not enough, only two hundred and thirty. That's all I have."

Seeing Nine Boy shake his head vigorously, Li Xian shrugged helplessly, "So what now?"

Nine Boy was equally bewildered and shook his head, indicating he didn't know.

Standing there looking around, Li Xian silently moved to the pawn shop's entrance, pretending to be deeply troubled and at a loss.

Just then, Nine Boy exclaimed as if discovering a new world and pointed behind Li Xian, "Stupid! Why don't you pawn the watch, get the money from me, and then come back to redeem it?"

Li Xian slapped his forehead and immediately gave a thumbs up, "Brilliant! Brother, that's an excellent idea!"

...

At the entrance of Fuk Kee Pawn Shop, there was a large black curtain with a big red character for "Pawn" written on it.

Inside was a wooden screen with the words "Major Pawn." Passing through the screen and along the old corridor, one would finally reach the main business area of the pawn shop.

Looking around, at the tall and solemn counter, an elderly pawnbroker in a black Tang suit, with a face as stern as a photo on a tombstone, stood motionless, staring straight ahead.

The entire room was shrouded in an air of antiquity, rigidity, and coldness.

It was a perfect location for a horror movie.

Li Xian internally mocked, then, under Nine Boy's urging, approached the counter. He held the Lange high and placed it on the counter.

"I need five hundred dollars urgently. I'll come back to redeem it tonight."

The elderly pawnbroker did not respond but simply put on a magnifying glass the size of a ring and began to examine the watch meticulously.

After a few minutes, a handwritten pawn ticket and five hundred Hong Kong dollars were placed on the counter. Li Xian, quick on the uptake, snatched the pawn ticket and money before Nine Boy, who was already fidgeting, could react.

He then nodded at the still-expressionless pawnbroker, "Sir, I'll come back to redeem it tonight. I'm new here, can you give me a piece of paper? I'm afraid I might get lost and need to copy the sign."

Seeing his polite manner, the pawnbroker slightly nodded, casually handing over a blank pawn ticket.

Li Xian thanked him with a smile, took the ticket, and exited the pawn shop.

Outside.

He handed over the money he hadn't put in his pocket to Nine Boy, "Here's the money. The watch is mine. I'm leaving."

Nine Boy looked down at the money in his hand, turning it over and over. Although wearing a baseball cap, Li Xian couldn't see his face, but his happiness was evident from his repeatedly counting the money.

Seeing this, Li Xian smiled and said, "Thank you! Thank you."

Without further ado, he turned and walked away.

Watching his retreating figure, Nine Boy furrowed his brow and then slithered back into the pawn shop.

"How much is the pawn ticket for the watch?" Nine Boy asked, standing on tiptoe at the counter.

The pawnbroker glanced under the counter and coldly replied, "A Lange classic 18k gold watch, the pawn value is fifteen thousand."

"Damn!"

Nine Boy slammed his palm, cursing loudly as he ran out of the shop.

...

Li Xian hadn't gone far.

When Nine Boy's shouting reached him, he had just exited a small shop.

Seeing Nine Boy rushing up to him, grabbing his sleeve, Li Xian frowned and tightened his pocket, "What's up?"

"Old friend! Old friend! I just remembered, tomorrow is my grandpa's birthday," Nine Boy caught his breath and said anxiously, "Can you transfer the pawn ticket to me?"

Hearing this, Li Xian sneered and firmly refused, "Didn't we agree that I get the watch and you get the money? I told you, it's all set, and I've given you the money. No backing out!"

With that, he shook off Nine Boy and strode forward.

Behind him, Nine Boy quickly caught up, clasping his hands in a pleading gesture, "Old friend, we can discuss it!"

Seeing that Li Xian was still ignoring him and walking away, Nine Boy grew desperate, stamping his feet and shouting, "I'll give you the money!"

Hearing those four words, Li Xian almost lost control.

In the bustling street, he managed to suppress his urge to laugh out loud.

"How much are you offering?"

"Six hundred!"

Li Xian continued walking.

"One thousand!"

Still walking.

"Two thousand!"

Kept walking.

"Four thousand five hundred, I can afford that much!"

At this offer, Li Xian stopped.

Half an hour later.

In front of a bank on Shanghai Street, Li Xian received a thick bundle of Hong Kong dollars.

Seeing Nine Boy's anxious wringing of his hands, Li Xian took out the pawn ticket from his pocket.

Under Nine Boy's eager gaze, he handed it over but, just as it was about to be handed over, pulled it back and suspiciously asked, "Wait! Old friend, isn't this watch quite valuable?"

"No, no! Not valuable, not valuable, it's just that I really liked it." Nine Boy raised his hands, shaking his head vigorously, like a drumstick.

"Okay,"

Li Xian nodded and handed over the neatly folded pawn ticket.

Afraid that Li Xian might change his mind, Nine Boy quickly glanced at the ticket, said "bye," and ran off, grinning from ear to ear.

Li Xian noticed that as Nine Boy turned the corner, he even gave the pawn ticket a kiss.

Seeing this, he jingled the bundle of cash in his hand and smiled.

A rookie trying to con others?

Haha,

Today's tuition fee is on me.

...

At Fuk Kee Pawn Shop.

Nine Boy could hardly believe his ears.

Standing on tiptoe and pounding the counter, he shouted, "Say that again?"

"Your pawn ticket is fake." The pawnbroker repeated coldly, tossing the ticket back over the counter.

The wrinkled pawn ticket fluttered down in front of Nine Boy like a bamboo dragonfly.

After it landed and Nine Boy, still in disbelief, picked it up, he examined the ticket closely. It looked fine, except for the lack of the pawn shop's stamp.

Then...

Nine Boy went berserk.

"Ahhhh! Damn it!"

With a loud, melodious curse, he threw the crumpled pawn ticket onto the ground. It bounced around like a ping-pong ball before rolling into a corner.

Still fuming, Nine Boy ripped off his hat and threw it on the ground.

Without the hat, Nine Boy's long, black hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

"Damn it! Even if I have to dig three feet into the ground, I'll find you!!"

He clenched his fists, closed his eyes tightly, and shouted under the tall counter.

"Hey." The pawnbroker's deep voice came from above, "Don't make a scene here."

"Oh. Sorry."

Scolded by the pawnbroker, Nine Boy's anger vanished immediately. He bowed to the pawnbroker, then hurriedly left, head down.

"Damn it! I will find you!"

Moments later, hearing another curse from outside the pawn shop, the pawnbroker shook his head helplessly.

"A small shrimp meeting the dragon's breath."

The pawnbroker, who usually spoke very little, had seen enough of the world's cold and warmth during his decades in the pawn shop. Very few things could escape his understanding.

Having figured out the situation, he shook his head, picked up a feather duster from the counter, dusted the pristine counter, and sighed.