Chapter 79 Waiting for someone... is so painful

The police car stopped, and Thai police rushed in, pointing their guns at him.

Li Hanzhou raised his hands, his expression calm.

He was handcuffed and put into a police car.

In the distance, inside the black sedan, Jiang Kun put down his binoculars and smiled.

"The Li family brat is just like his father, a good-for-nothing."

He dialed the phone.

"Tianqi, it's all settled. Li Hanzhou is in jail and won't be out for at least half a month. You can go ahead and do your job in Hong Kong now."

In Hong Kong, Jiang Tianqi hung up the phone and smiled.

Across from him, Li Ruoxue asked anxiously, "How is it?"

“Your brother is in jail,” Jiang Tianqi said. “The Thai police arrested him for drug smuggling and he’ll be detained for at least half a month. During this time, I’ll be the one calling the shots here in Hong Kong.”

Li Ruoxue's face turned pale: "You promised not to hurt him..."

“I didn’t hurt him.” Jiang Tianqi spread his hands. “He’s the one who smuggled drugs. What does it have to do with me? Ruoxue, now that Li Hanzhou has fallen, Heyitang is leaderless. You are his sister, it’s time for you to step up and take charge.”

Li Ruoxue remained silent.

“Of course, I will help you.” Jiang Tianqi walked to her side and put his hand on her shoulder. “After we deal with Fang Che and take over Portland Street, Heyitang will be yours. Then, you can save your brother however you want.”

Li Ruoxue closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face.

"good."

Portland Street, Hong Kong, 4 a.m.

Fang Che woke up from a nightmare.

He dreamt that Li Hanzhou was covered in blood, standing in a sea of ​​fire, reaching out to him, but he could never reach him.

"Brother Li..."

He sat up, covered in cold sweat.

The sky outside the window was still dark, and Portland Street was still asleep.

Fang Che got out of bed, walked to the window, and lit a cigarette.

My unease grew stronger.

There has been no news from Brother Li for three days.

No matter how busy he is, he will call every day to let everyone know he is safe.

But this time, no.

He took out his mobile phone and dialed Li Hanzhou's number again.

Still no one answered.

Calling Ah Gui would be the same.

Something happened.

Fang Che confirmed it.

He put on his clothes and went downstairs.

The kitchen lights were on, and Cheng Tieniu was already preparing the ingredients.

"Che, why are you up so early?" Cheng Tieniu asked.

"I can't sleep," Fang Che said. "Brother Tie Niu, let's go to the gang today and ask about the situation in Thailand."

"Alright." Cheng Tieniu nodded. "Che, are you worried about Boss Li?"

"Um."

"Don't worry too much," Cheng Tieniu chuckled. "Boss Li is very capable; what can't he handle?"

Even so, Fang Che remained on edge.

At eight o'clock in the morning, Xi Rong came to the shop, looking unwell.

"Brother Che, I just heard the news... The Tung Sing Society is saying everywhere in Tsim Sha Tsui that Boss Li got into trouble in Thailand."

"say what?"

"They said he was arrested by the Thai police for smuggling drugs," Xi Rong said, her voice trembling. "They also said the evidence was conclusive, and he'd get at least ten years in prison..."

The teacup in Fang Che's hand fell to the ground and shattered.

“Impossible,” he said hoarsely. “Brother Li wouldn’t touch drugs.”

“I don’t think so either, but the rumors are so detailed.” Xi Rong was almost in tears. “Brother Che, what should we do? If something really happens to Boss Li, Heyi Hall will be in chaos, and Jiang Tianqi will definitely…”

The shop door was pushed open.

Ah Gui walked in.

He was covered in dust, his face was injured, and his eyes were bloodshot.

"Brother Gui!" Fang Che rushed over. "Where's Brother Li? How is he?"

Ah Gui looked at him, opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Finally, he lowered his head and said in a hoarse voice, "Brother Li... has been arrested. The Thai police said he was caught red-handed smuggling drugs."

Fang Che's vision went black for a moment, and he had to grab the counter to steady himself.

"What exactly happened?"

Ah Gui briefly explained the situation in Thailand...

The part about Zhou Wenxuan has been omitted; this was explained by Li Hanzhou.

“Brother Li asked me to protect you,” A Gui said. “Fang Che, from now on, you can’t leave my sight. Jiang Tianqi will definitely make a move if he knows you’re alone.”

Fang Che forced himself to calm down.

Who's in charge of Heyitang now?

“Uncle Chen is temporarily in charge, but…” Ah Gui paused, “Li Ruoxue is back, with Jiang Tianqi’s men, and she’s going to take over the gang.”

Li Ruoxue.

Fang Che's heart sank.

"What about the school?" he asked Xi Rong.

“The children have all arrived, but a few parents called and said they wouldn’t be bringing them today,” Xi Rong said softly. “They… are afraid of getting into trouble.”

When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.

Fang Che should have thought of this sooner.

"Xi Rong, go to the school and tell the children that today is a holiday," Fang Che said. "We'll resume classes once things are clearer."

"And when the neighbors ask..."

“To tell you the truth,” Fang Che took a deep breath, “we’ll say that Brother Li got into some trouble, but we believe he’s innocent. The school will continue to operate, the barbecue restaurant will continue to run, and the sky over Portland Street won’t fall down.”

Xi Rong nodded and ran out.

Ah Gui looked at Fang Che: "What do you plan to do?"

"Wait," Fang Che said. "Wait for news from Brother Li, wait for news from Zhou Wenxuan. In the meantime, hold Portland Street, hold our business."

He looked out the window; the morning light was gradually breaking.

“If Jiang Tianqi wants to take advantage of the chaos, let him come.”

"I want to see just how tough the people of Portland Street really are."

By 10 a.m., the news had spread throughout Kowloon.

Li Hanzhou, the head of the Heyitang, was arrested in Thailand for drug-related offenses. His sister, Li Ruoxue, temporarily took over the gang. Jiang Tianqi of the Dongsheng Society publicly expressed his "support".

The locals on Portland Street gathered in front of the barbecue restaurant, discussing the matter.

Fang Che walked out of the store, and everyone quieted down.

He looked at everyone and said clearly, "Fellow neighbors, I just found out about Brother Li's situation. But I believe he is innocent. There must be some misunderstanding."

"Fang Che, what if it's not a misunderstanding?" someone asked.

“Then let’s wait for the legal decision,” Fang Che said. “But whatever the outcome, businesses on Portland Street will continue as usual, and the school will continue as before. If the neighbors trust me, things will remain the same. If they don’t trust me…”

He paused for a moment: "I won't force you. But from today onwards, anyone who is still willing to stay on Portland Street is my brother or sister. We'll share the good times and the bad."

The neighbors remained silent.

Finally, Granny Lin came out leaning on her cane: "I believe Che-zai. Everyone knows what Portland Street has been like all these years. It was Li Han-zhou who brought cleanliness to the streets. It was Fang Che who brought education to the children. Now that they're in trouble, we can't forget their kindness!"

“Mother-in-law is right!” Cheng Tieniu stepped forward. “Che, I’ll stick with you to the end!”

“Me too!” Xi Rong said.

Gradually, residents began to express their support.

But Fang Che knew that this was just the beginning.

In the afternoon, Li Ruoxue arrived.

She brought with her a dozen or so members of the Dongsheng Society, as well as two elderly people from the Heyitang.

“Fang Che,” Li Ruoxue said coldly as she stood at the shop entrance, “My brother is in trouble, and I’m now in charge of Heyitang. According to the rules, you are my brother’s man, so you should also be under my jurisdiction. From today onwards, hand over all the accounts and keys for the barbecue restaurant, the school, and the express delivery.”

Fang Che looked at her and suddenly smiled.

"Miss Ruoxue, on what grounds do you request these?"

“Sister Li Hanzhou, the temporary head of Heyi Hall.”

“First, Brother Li is only in a temporary situation and hasn’t been convicted yet, so you’re not the legal heir,” Fang Che said. “Second, even if Brother Li really is in trouble, these businesses are mine and have nothing to do with Heyitang. It’s all in black and white in the contract. Do you want me to show it to you?”

Li Ruoxue's face darkened: "Fang Che, don't be ungrateful. My brother isn't here now, no one will protect you."

"I don't need anyone to protect me." Fang Che stepped forward. "Li Ruoxue, what were you doing when your brother was risking his life in Thailand? Teaming up with Jiang Tianqi to set him up? Now that he's in trouble, your first thought isn't to save him, but to steal his things?"

His voice was soft, but each word was clear.

The neighbors all heard it.

Li Ruoxue's face turned pale: "What nonsense are you talking about!"

"You know in your heart whether I'm lying or not." Fang Che took an envelope out of his pocket and threw it to her. "Take a look at this before you decide whether you want to keep making trouble."

Li Ruoxue opened the envelope; inside were surveillance screenshots…

The image shows her putting drugs in the spice jar.

Her hands began to tremble.

“I can hand these photos over to the police or the media,” Fang Che said. “Then all of Hong Kong will know that Li Hanzhou’s sister gave laxatives to the neighbors at the neighborhood festival. Do you think people will think of you then? Will the brothers of Wo Yee Tong still respect you?”

Li Ruoxue gritted her teeth and tore the photo to shreds.

"Are you threatening me?"

“It’s a warning,” Fang Che said. “Miss Ruoxue, leave now, and I’ll pretend today’s events never happened. We’ll leave each other alone from now on. If you dare to cause trouble on Portland Street again…”

He paused, his eyes turning cold: "I'll send backups of these photos to Jiang Kun. Tell me, if Jiang Kun knew his 'ally' was this stupid, would he still cooperate with you?"

Li Ruoxue stared at him intently for a while, then snorted coldly and turned to leave.

Her people followed her.

The neighbors breathed a sigh of relief.

But Fang Che knew that this was only temporary.

That evening, Fang Che sat alone in the shop, looking at the spot where Li Hanzhou usually sat.

There was still half a pack of cigarettes that Li Hanzhou hadn't finished smoking on the table.

He picked up a cigarette, lit it, took a puff, and coughed from the smoke.

So this is what cigarettes taste like.

Waiting for someone is so difficult.

The cell phone rang.

It's Zhou Wenxuan.

"Fang Che, Li Hanzhou asked me to pass on a message," Zhou Wenxuan said wearily. "He said to wait for him. He'll definitely be back in half a month at most."

How is he?

“He’s safe in the Thai prison for now,” Zhou Wenxuan said. “We’re trying to get him out, but it will take time. You must be careful in the meantime.”

“I know,” Fang Che said. “Inspector Zhou, Brother Li really didn’t touch drugs, right?”

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone.

“Fang Che, there are some things that are better left unknown,” Zhou Wenxuan said. “Just remember that everything Li Hanzhou did was to eliminate Jiang Kun, to avenge his family, and to… give you a clean future.”

Fang Che's nose felt sore.

"I'll wait for him."

After hanging up the phone, Fang Che walked to the window.

Portland Street at night is dimly lit.

In the distance, the Dong Sheng Society's headquarters were brightly lit, and a faint commotion could be heard.

Further away, in a prison in Bangkok, Thailand, Li Hanzhou leaned against the cold wall, looking at a corner of the sky outside the iron bars.

He held Fang Che's photo in his hand.

“Ache,” he said softly, “wait for me.”

Wait for me to come back and settle everything.

Then, let's live our lives well.

We'll never be apart again.