thefictionvixens Chapter 3: Let's Go Chop People Up
Chapter 3: Let's Go Chop People Up
Xiao Zhuoxiao is a loyal and courageous man who doesn't chase after fans, but he has a fatal flaw: he is a gambler and a womanizer.
It's fine to joke around with my buddies occasionally.
I don't know what got into me lately, but I actually went to Hongtai's place and lost over 100,000 in one night. These gangsters live for a day and don't live for a day; their pockets are emptier than their faces. All of that 100,000 is now owed to high school students.
Upon hearing the name "Prince of Hongtai," Song Zhaowen's eyes darkened. Prince, the son of Chen Mei, the head of Hongtai, was notoriously arrogant and domineering, and kept a group of thugs under his command. He was definitely not someone to be trifled with.
Why did Xiao Zhuoxiao think of going to Hongtai's place to gamble and incur such a large debt?
"You're going to Hongtai's place? Have you got your head caught in a door?" Song Zhaowen released his grip. "Ah Xiao, you know Hongtai's place is notoriously shady. Even the God of Gamblers, Gao Jin, who drives in a Mercedes, has to push his bicycle out. Going to their place is like offering yourself up for slaughter!"
Xiao Zhuoxiao wiped his face, his expression full of regret and frustration: "I didn't want to either. That day... that day after collecting the money, I was itching to play a few rounds of mahjong. Who knew I'd run into that bastard 'Hua Liuming'? He said he knew of a newly opened 'entertainment center' with a nice environment, pretty girls, and they'd even offer tea to those who played cards with me. I was momentarily confused and went with him..."
"Hua Liuming?" Song Zhaowen frowned. He was a junket operator who specialized in bringing people to Hongtai's gambling dens to gamble and take a cut.
"When I got there, I realized it was Hong Tai's place. It was too late to leave." Xiao Zhuoxiao's voice grew lower and lower. "Prince Tai was personally in charge of the game, with several 'lighters' (touts) surrounding him. My luck was so bad that I was on the verge of collapse. The more I lost, the more anxious I became, and the more anxious I became, the more I lost... In one night, I lost more than 100,000."
Xiao Zhuoxiao suddenly became agitated, "You know those kinds of places, they cheat openly. Prince Brother was obviously trying to scam me. I flipped the table right then and there and said that gambling debts are settled with the table. If you're so capable, let's start another game. If I win, I'll admit it; if I lose, I'll give you my life."
"and then?"
"And then?" Xiao Zhuoxiao smiled bitterly. "Then the Crown Prince laughed and said I had guts. But he wouldn't gamble with me anymore, saying the money could be repaid slowly, but the interest would be calculated according to the 'nine out, thirteen back' rule, and the principal plus interest would be repaid within a month."
"You know my personality, so of course I didn't take it seriously. A couple of trips to the mainland by sea would have brought in the money. But who knew that with all the interest, it would snowball and I would end up owing Prince Tai more than 300,000 today."
"Damn it. More than 300,000 yuan. Even if I sold all my family's assets, it wouldn't be worth that much. Of course, I won't accept it."
"And then what? How did this involve Karen?" Song Zhaowen asked, looking at him.
He paused, his voice hoarse: "While you had a fever, I went to Long Island to lay low for a few days. Who knew that Prince Tai would disregard the rules of the underworld and actually kidnap Karen to his nightclub, saying he'd release her after I made 300,000."
Song Zhaowen's eyes turned completely cold.
This is probably just a complete setup.
Xiao Kailun, a famous beauty from Tsz Wan Shan~
Prince Tai is a typical lecherous devil, and he probably already had his eye on Xiao Kailun.
But Xiao Zhuoxiao was, after all, a member of Zhengxing. Forcibly seizing power from two gangs would lead to a bloody battle. Knowing that Ah Xiao was itchy and fond of gambling, he arranged for Hua Liuming to set up a trap.
It's only right to pay back debts. If the older brother can't pay, the younger sister will have to pay with her body. No one in the underworld can say no.
"So what are you planning to do now?" Song Zhaowen asked. "Go to Hongtai alone to demand the person back? Or rob a bank to raise 300,000?"
Xiao Zhuoxiao took a deep breath, pulled out the cleaver wrapped in cloth from his pocket, and placed it on the table. The blade was polished to a gleaming shine.
"I don't have the ability to raise 300,000. I also don't have the ability to snatch Karen back from Hong Tai; but I can't watch my sister be pushed into a fire pit. My life is worth at least 300,000, I'll give it to him. I just beg him to let Karen go."
Song Zhaowen stared at him: "Do you think the Crown Prince will let Karen go if you die? That kind of person is ruthless. If you die, he'll have even less scruples, and Karen's fate will only be worse."
Xiao Zhuoxiao trembled: "Then what can I do? Awen, tell me, what can I do?"
He buried his face in his hands, his voice choked with sobs: "It's all my fault. I messed up. I was stupid. Now I've dragged Karen down with me..."
Song Zhaowen didn't speak, but walked over and patted him on the shoulder. Once Xiao Zhuoxiao had calmed down a bit, he asked, "Where is Crown Prince here tonight?"
Xiao Zhuoxiao looked up, his eyes red-rimmed: "At his hideout, the 'Dynasty' nightclub. He goes there every night."
Dynasty Nightclub, one of Hung Tai's most popular venues in Yau Ma Tei, is the stronghold of the Prince and is heavily guarded.
Did you tell Grandpa about this?
The grandfather that Song Zhaowen mentioned is the now-famous Uncle Dingfu.
"Ah Wen, Uncle Fu has long since retired from all gangster affairs. I don't want to cause him trouble because of my own problems."
Song Zhaowen nodded, glanced at the clock on the wall, and saw it was 11:20.
"When are you going over?" he asked.
"Twelve o'clock." Xiao Zhuoxiao wiped his face: "Every day after Crown Prince Tai finishes gambling, he takes people to the Imperial Dynasty for a good time."
"Okay, go wash your face in the restroom first and calm down; I'll go with you."
Xiao Zhuoxiao was taken aback: "Young Master is no ordinary person; the people around him are all ruthless, and they might even have guns. This has nothing to do with you, don't..."
slap~
Song Zhaowen immediately slapped Xiao Zhuoxiao across the face.
"Damn it. Ah Xiao, what nonsense are you spouting? Aren't we still brothers? This slap was for Karen. I'm Karen's brother. Would I stand idly by if something happened to her? What kind of trash is Prince Tai? Your brother here has been practicing Bajiquan for over ten years, the Hard Fist Wen. We'll take this responsibility together."
After saying that, Song Zhaowen pulled a leather suitcase out from under the bed. Inside were odds and ends. He pushed aside the machetes and pulled out a bunch of iron tiger finger gloves, which he put on his hands.
"Awen..."
"Please, I like women, don't stare at me with those watery eyes, it gives me the creeps."
If it were before tonight, Song Zhaowen might have had to think of other ways; going alone to the meeting was a minor tactic. Damn it, now that he has Brother Qiang's abilities, he's full of confidence.
The confidence level is completely different now.
"You drive, I'll sit in the back." Song Zhaowen climbed into the back seat.
Xiao Zhuoxiao started his motorcycle, and the engine roared in the night.
"Awen," he suddenly spoke, "if...if we don't come back tonight..."
"There are no 'ifs'," Song Zhaowen interrupted him, his voice calm. "We will definitely bring Karen back. Please drive carefully."
The motorcycle sped out of the housing estate and headed towards the Dynasty Nightclub.
The night breeze brushed against his face, carrying the restless heat unique to summer. Song Zhaowen sat in the back seat, his hands in his jacket pockets, gripping his knuckle dusters tightly.