Chapter 593 - Another Piece of the Map

Having resolved the strategic decision-making issues at the Xiangjiang Electric Light Company, Xia Yu felt relieved to delegate the follow-up tasks to Han Tianze, only requiring his input on major decisions. That night, instead of going home for dinner, Xia Yu headed to a late-night snack at a food stall within the Kowloon city limits.

Given his current status and position, dining at such a modest place seemed incongruous. However, Xia Yu had grown up poor, and despite his high position now, he had not forgotten his roots. He believed in remaining grounded—if he could rise through hard work, he could just as easily embrace simplicity.

The person who dared to invite Xia Yu for a late-night snack at a street stall was naturally no outsider. It was Xia Lei, his own younger brother. Of course, there was no way Xia Yu would turn down such an invitation.

In the dark of night, a black sedan navigated through the narrow streets of Kowloon City, eventually stopping at an older, worn-out street. Xia Yu stepped out of the car with Li Wuming by his side, while the two other bodyguards remained in the car. He looked up at the large, fluorescent sign overhead: "Four Seasons Fresh Stall." This was the place.

Sure enough, Xia Yu spotted Xia Jun and Xia Lei sitting inside, chatting animatedly. As soon as they noticed him, both stood up with broad smiles.

"Ah Yu, you're here!" they greeted warmly.

"You two arrived early. Was I late?" Xia Yu responded with a smile.

"No, we just got here ourselves," Xia Lei replied.

Glancing around at the empty rows of tables, Xia Yu asked casually, "This place is newly opened?"

Xia Lei grinned, "It hasn't officially opened yet. It opens tomorrow. Tonight, we just unlocked the doors to test the flavors first."

Xia Yu raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more to the story. "Is this your place?" he asked.

Xia Jun looked at Xia Lei curiously as well, awaiting his answer.

Xia Lei chuckled, "Well, sort of. It belongs to our society. Snack stalls like this do great business, and we have a lot of brothers in the society. Instead of spending money elsewhere, we might as well keep it within the family."

Xia Jun joked, "Does that mean your brothers eat here for free?"

"Of course not!" Xia Lei replied loudly. "No freebies here, not even for me. If I eat here, I still pay. We have rules; otherwise, we might as well close shop!"

Xia Yu nodded approvingly, "Ah Lei, you're right. Public is public, and private is private. It's important to set boundaries if you want to achieve big things!"

Xia Lei scratched his buzz-cut head and smiled, his demeanor devoid of the usual cold and imposing air people associated with gang leaders. 

Since the fall of the Black Dragon Hall last year and his takeover of the Tigers, Xia Lei had risen to prominence. Now, in the entire Kowloon City district, only two major forces remained: the Tigers, led by Xia Lei, and New Yee On. Over the past six months, the Tigers had systematically cleaned up the smaller factions. 

Today, Xia Lei commanded over 1,200 men. New Yee On, knowing who backed Xia Lei, had been cautious, which even put pressure on them—one of the three major forces in Hong Kong's underworld. Beyond Kowloon City, Xia Lei's influence had spread to Yau Tsim Mong District and Kwun Tong District, where his operations were still in the foundational stages but had already made a mark. Xia Lei had truly become a heavyweight figure in Hong Kong's underground world.

After Xia Yu entered, one of Xia Lei's men lowered the metal shutter halfway down and hung a "Closed for Business" sign on the door.

"Old Wu, get us some abalone and clam dishes first!" Xia Lei shouted toward the kitchen.

Soon, the table was filled with various barbecued dishes and cold beer. Xia Lei grabbed a bottle of beer and casually popped the cap off with his teeth before placing it in front of Xia Yu.

"Ah Lei, use an opener, or you'll break your teeth," Xia Yu chided with a frown.

"I got it!" said Li Wuming, who was seated nearby. He picked up a beer bottle, covered the mouth with his palm, and with a swift motion, the cap flew off. Xia Lei and Xia Jun stared in amazement.

Xia Yu, however, wasn't surprised. Li Wuming possessed extraordinary strength and mastery in power techniques. In his later years, Xia Yu had seen ordinary people perform such feats using specific techniques.

"Come on, let's have a drink!" Xia Yu raised his bottle.

"Cheers!" they responded in unison, clinking their bottles.

As the cold beer flowed down their throats, Xia Jun couldn't help but exclaim in satisfaction. "This clam is delicious!"

Xia Yu took a bite and nodded approvingly. "The flavor's good."

Xia Lei smiled proudly, "Old Wu is a chef I specially invited. I hired fifteen chefs like him. I plan to turn 'Four Seasons Fresh Stall' into a chain restaurant, opening branches all over Hong Kong. When it comes to catering, I understand that taste is everything."

"Well, we have a future catering tycoon on our hands!" Xia Jun teased.

"Don't make fun of me," Xia Lei laughed, clearly amused.

"Ah Lei, there's no need to be humble," Xia Yu said earnestly. "If you make this stall the best in Hong Kong, who can say you're not a catering tycoon?"

Xia Lei nodded, "I understand that management is key. I'll hire someone skilled to handle the operations."

"That's smart," Xia Yu agreed. "If you hire the right people, you can make money without getting too involved."

"Last year, following your advice, I set up several companies, and now they're all turning a profit," Xia Lei added.

Xia Yu's curiosity was piqued, and he put down his chopsticks. "What companies did you establish, and how are they doing?"

Xia Lei listed, "Not too many, about a dozen, but most are small, so I won't mention them. The ones doing well are four. First, a film company specializing in adult films; we've made three movies and earned about three million dollars. Second, a foot-washing chain; we have three locations, and business is good. Third, a property development company; we acquired a piece of land and are currently developing it. Fourth, an export trading company, which is also performing well."

He looked at Xia Yu with gratitude, "These successes, except for the foot-washing chain, were all thanks to your help, Ah Yu."

Xia Yu waved his hand modestly, "No need for thanks between us. Just keep moving forward."

Shifting gears, Xia Yu asked, "How's the overall operation of the Tigers?"

"The situation is great," Xia Lei replied. "Although we have over 1,200 brothers, we're making around eight million a month from various activities. It's mostly underground, but enough to support everyone."

Xia Jun did a quick mental calculation, "That means you're pulling in nearly a hundred million a year! This line of work sure makes money fast, though it has its risks and can't be done openly."

Xia Yu remained calm. For an organization of their size, a monthly income of just over eight million was actually modest. He was well aware of the immense profits in this line of business. "If it weren't for you steering clear of the most lucrative but dangerous activities, you could easily double that income."

He continued, "What about the organizational structure?"

Xia Lei nodded, "It's solid. After you spoke to me last year, I studied the organizational frameworks of both the Yakuza and Hongmen. I spent a month designing a comprehensive and rigorous structure, which we're now implementing. I feel like our control over the organization is at its peak; no one dares to cause trouble."

"Good!" Xia Yu smiled in approval.

"Brother Jun, a toast to you on your promotion to Police Sergeant," Xia Lei lifted his bottle, and they clinked.

Xia Jun grinned, "Ah Yu, I'm now the fastest-promoted officer in the whole police department, all thanks to you."

Xia Yu laughed, "This is just the beginning. There's still a long way to go. By the end of this year, I guarantee you'll be promoted to a trainee inspector."

In the small area of Xiangjiang, a sergeant was comparable to the position of a local police station chief in other places. For an ordinary person with no background, it would take at least eight to nine years to reach that level, often over a decade. But Xia Jun was different—backed by Xia Yu, a powerful figure. No one in the entire Police Force dared to slight him. Even the Commissioner of Police, Shi Lirong, and the Deputy Commissioner of Management, Han Yili, showed respect to Xia Yu and took good care of Xia Jun.

One of the Chief Superintendents, Li Junxia, had already allied himself with Xia Yu and was doing everything he could to promote Xia Jun. Though Xia Jun had a powerful backing, he also put in a great deal of effort, making rapid achievements. With the support of Luo Network and Xia Lei, Xia Jun always had an inside track on intelligence that others lacked, leading to his rapid rise.

Xia Yu had already begun his political maneuvering. With the UK's recent change in government, there would soon be an adjustment of personnel in Xiangjiang. The term of the current Commissioner of Police, Shi Lirong, had expired,

 and Xia Yu had already established connections with the key British figures who would decide on the new appointments. It was only a matter of time before Xia Jun's career advanced.

Xia Lei looked at Xia Jun, his eyes filled with admiration and gratitude. "Brother Jun, with your new position, things will only get better."

The conversation flowed seamlessly, touching on personal and professional aspirations, reflecting their deep bond and trust in each other. The bond among the brothers grew stronger, bound not just by blood but by mutual respect and shared ambitions. 

That night, under the dim lights of a modest food stall in the Kowloon City slums, three men of ambition, wisdom, and grit dined together, dreaming of the future they would build—together, as brothers, in this vibrant, chaotic city of Hong Kong.