Chapter 49: The Superintendent Who Eats Shrimp Dumplings

Back in the day, Brother Hui led the brothers from Rainbow Village to Sanli Lane, and from there, they fought their way through the entire Baiyun District. At that time, I wasn’t even a low-ranked member, but I was willing to follow Brother Hui anywhere. When Brother Hui stood up for his men in Sanli Lane, he took three blades for them—his guts were spilling out. With a leader like that, I’d charge ahead even if it meant dying. But after Brother Hui was gone and you, Seventh Master, took the helm, what have you done all these years? When the brothers needed you, you didn’t back them; you wouldn’t even let them make a name for themselves. My right-hand man wanted to prove himself, to earn the Red Pole position, but you handed him a Straw Sandal instead! How do you expect the brothers to respect you?

Big-mouth Owl roared out all his grievances against Seventh Master, his voice hoarse and exhausted.

Seventh Master’s expression darkened and brightened by turns. In truth, in his early years, he was known as White Paper Fan—not someone who fought his way up, but someone who wanted to manage the gang with his brains.

This approach could work; there’s even a boss from a major society who now lives like a god, never getting involved in the gang’s affairs or showing up for fights. Instead, he quietly runs his company. Everyone knows he’s the big boss, but no one has proof. On the surface, he’s a squeaky-clean businessman. If the police come knocking, his team of lawyers handles everything—he’s practically untouchable.

Seventh Master wanted to be that kind of hands-off boss, but he simply didn’t have the ability. That’s why things ended up as they are now.

“Big-mouth Owl! Tell your men to get lost, or I’ll cut you down right here and no one will speak up for you,” Langtou warned.

“You want my men to leave? Fine. But I want his hands and feet, or no one’s leaving today!” Big-mouth Owl jabbed a finger at Lu Feng.

The atmosphere immediately turned tense as a drawn blade. Seventh Master’s men stepped forward, facing off against Big-mouth Owl’s group. But without orders from their bosses, no one dared make the first move.

If this erupted into a fight, it would be a brawl of several hundred men. Of course, if Seventh Master sided with Big-mouth Owl, it’d be five or six hundred men surrounding Lu Feng and Su Dao’an.

Lu Feng wasn’t especially afraid; at worst, he’d get hurt. But Su Dao’an probably wouldn’t make it out alive.

...

Three days ago, when Seventh Master proposed a truce, Big-mouth Owl agreed because that was the only way to lure Lu Feng to his banquet.

Just when the tension was at its peak, a loud voice rang from outside the tea house.

“Who wants hands and feet? Are you asking for bear paws or human hands? Tell Officer Wang about it!”

The minions of Lianhong Society parted to form an aisle. A senior police superintendent in uniform, bearing the insignia of one star and three stripes, walked into the tea house, chose a seat, and slammed his pistol—holster and all—onto the table.

“Officer Wang, we’re not doing business today,” Langtou said, hoping the cop would leave quickly.

“No business with the doors open? Planning to live on air? Come on, give me two baskets of shrimp dumplings,” the superintendent said, ordering food.

“We…” Langtou wanted to send him away, but couldn’t be too obvious.

Seventh Master spoke up, “Serve Officer Wang two baskets of shrimp dumplings.”

Langtou had no choice but to call the chef, and soon the dumplings were brought to the superintendent.

Everyone in the tea house watched as the officer ate his dumplings, savoring them leisurely. After finishing one, he finally spoke. “A crowd like this—are you holding a party?”

Big-mouth Owl, who had been menacing just moments before, could only suppress his anger and reply with forced calm, “Just taking the brothers out for a little sightseeing—is that a problem?”

“Of course good citizens can travel, but blocking the entrance and causing a traffic jam isn’t allowed,” the superintendent retorted, then glanced at Su Dao’an with a smile. “Boss Su, here for tea as well?”

“Yes, just happened to pass by and thought I’d sit down. Didn’t expect to run into you here, Officer Wang,” Su Dao’an replied politely.

It was plain to see, even for a fool, that Officer Wang was the bodyguard Su Dao’an had called in.

The police would intervene in a gang fight, but only to a limited extent. Unless someone died, at most they’d arrest a few people for a few days—it didn’t amount to much.

However, if it was a gang assault, the matter would escalate, bringing in the Special Police. Gang wars were usually kept below the threshold that would provoke a full-scale police crackdown. If the Special Police got involved, the only option was to run; if anyone resisted, even tougher forces would be called in, and then it would turn into a bandit suppression operation.

That’s why none of Big-mouth Owl’s men dared make a move in front of the officer.

“I don’t see any dishes in front of you, Boss Su—have you eaten already? Want to come over and have some more?” Officer Wang asked.

“No, thank you. I’m full, about to leave,” Su Dao’an declined with a shake of his head.

“Alright then, tea another day,” Officer Wang said cordially.

“Tea another day,” Su Dao’an echoed, rising and taking Lu Feng with him as they left.

Big-mouth Owl and his men glared fiercely at Lu Feng, itching to pounce and cut him down, but not one of them dared move. They could only watch as Lu Feng and Su Dao’an walked away.

After Lu Feng and Su Dao’an had driven off, Officer Wang remained in the tea house, finished his two baskets of shrimp dumplings, placed fifty bucks on the table, holstered his pistol, patted his belly, and said as he left, “The shrimp dumplings are pretty good—no wonder business is so brisk, with such a long line outside.” With that, he stepped out and drove away in his patrol car.

...

Once Lu Feng’s group had left, only Big-mouth Owl and Seventh Master’s men remained, staring each other down.

This time, Seventh Master failed to play the peacemaker, and Big-mouth Owl’s attempt to host a trap banquet had also fallen through. In fact, relations between Big-mouth Owl and Seventh Master were now thoroughly soured. It would be hard for Big-mouth Owl to continue working for Lianhong Society in peace.

Big-mouth Owl snorted heavily and left the tea house with his men.

Langtou, suppressing his anger, watched him go, then said to Seventh Master, “Boss, that man is disrespectful to you. He can’t be left alive. Do you want me to take care of him?”

“What’s the point of fighting our own people to the death? Big-mouth Owl is just a fool, played and not even knowing it,” Seventh Master replied grimly.

“You mean Shan Wei?” Langtou asked, frowning.

“Shan Wei is a fox, but Big-mouth Owl is a wild boar—neither of them is any good,” Seventh Master said with bitterness.

“So what now?” Langtou asked.

“Let Big-mouth Owl hear that Shan Wei instigated this, and make sure he knows I’m not pleased with Shan Wei,” Seventh Master instructed.

Langtou immediately understood and went to carry out the orders.

In truth, factions within Lianhong Society had long been competing openly and secretly. The current leader was getting old and didn’t want too much conflict, but the younger brothers all wanted to make a name for themselves. That’s why the heads of several branches all had their eyes on the top seat.

Among them, Big-mouth Owl’s branch was the strongest and most battle-hardened, so he had the best shot at becoming the new leader. Next was Shan Wei and a few other weaker factions; Shan Wei had close ties with Seventh Master and was also positioned to compete for leadership.

Now, Seventh Master had someone tell Big-mouth Owl that Shan Wei was stirring up trouble, and hinted that his own relationship with Shan Wei was poor. In essence, it was a message to Big-mouth Owl: sooner or later, the leader’s seat would be his.

Big-mouth Owl was ambitious. If he defected to the Bamboo Green Gang, he’d always be stuck running a single branch. But if he became the leader, everything would change. Seventh Master was sure that after receiving this news, Big-mouth Owl wouldn’t defect after all, but would choose to stay in Lianhong Society.