Chapter 229 First Visit to Hong Kong
As the ship sailed from Guangzhou to Hong Kong Island, it broke through the gently rippling sea, and the damp, salty sea breeze carried a unique, bustling atmosphere belonging to this pearl of the Far East.
The dock was bustling with noise, a cacophony of Cantonese, English, and Mandarin mixed with accents from various regions.
The group didn't linger and got into a black sedan that was already waiting for them, heading towards their destination—the Peninsula Hotel.
Outside the car window, towering buildings stood tall, and countless neon signs shimmered with iridescent light, illuminating the entire city as if it were daytime. Su Wantang leaned back in her seat, her gaze calmly sweeping over this dazzling cityscape.
She knew that beneath this dazzling facade lay a darkness and evil capable of swallowing everything. This was the Huo family's territory, the nest that "Eagle's Nest" had cultivated for many years.
I stayed in a suite on the top floor of the hotel, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows facing Victoria Harbour. At night, ships came and went in the harbour, and the lights on the opposite shore formed a galaxy of stars, a breathtakingly beautiful sight.
Qin Zheng drew the heavy curtains, cutting off all outside light.
He opened his briefcase, spread a hand-drawn map on the table, and began to report with a solemn expression: "Miss, January, February, and I came here two days in advance to investigate, and the situation is more complicated than we expected."
He pointed to an area on the map. "The Huo family is like a local tyrant here. They have shares in everything from docks and shipping to real estate and entertainment. Their connections in both the legitimate and underworld are deeply entrenched, and many government officials are their honored guests."
Lu Jingyan's face darkened.
Qin Zheng moved his finger to another place circled in red, which was the location of "Sacred Heart Clinic".
“This is the most heavily guarded area,” he said in a deep voice. “I’ve tried to get close. There are at least three layers of lookouts around, patrolling 24 hours a day. The clinic’s security personnel, judging from their walking posture and stance, are all professionally trained; some even look like they came from the military. They’ve managed this place like a military restricted zone; not even a fly could get in.”
Su Wantang tapped her fingers lightly on the table without saying a word.
Lu Jingyan said, "I checked through military channels, but I could only obtain the Huo family's publicly available business information. All information involving core personnel and confidential financial transactions has been erased by some force. This path is blocked."
The official investigation has reached a stalemate.
The air was heavy. The enemy was like a towering mountain, its weight making it hard to breathe.
Bai Shu's expression remained unchanged as she took out the banana leaf and bat jade brooch from her inner pocket.
The warm, lustrous jade gleams softly under the light.
“January, February,” she began.
"Yes." Two alluring women immediately stepped forward.
“Go investigate the Tung family in Hong Kong.” Bai Shu placed the brooch on the table. “I need to know the current situation of this family, especially who still recognizes this brooch and who still has a voice in the family or outside.”
"yes."
January and February accepted the order without uttering a single word of nonsense, turning and leaving the suite. They were like the most precise weapons, solely responsible for carrying out orders.
In less than two hours, with astonishing efficiency, he returned to his room.
She handed over a document: "Miss, I've found out. The Dong family declined thirty years ago and is now just an empty shell. However, there is a distant relative of the Dong family named Dong Cunshan, known as 'Uncle Dong,' who received favors from the main Dong family back then. He is now the vice president of the Hong Kong Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and has a very high reputation and is highly respected among the older generation of businessmen."
She paused, then added, "Tonight, the Hong Kong Island Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual charity gala at the Central Town Hall, and Dong Cunshan will be attending."
Charity Gala Dinner.
Bai Shu's eyes lit up.
This is like someone bringing you a pillow when you're about to fall asleep.
She stood up. "Qin Zheng, prepare the car."
Lu Jingyan looked at her. "What do you want to do?"
"Go to the banquet." Bai Shu's tone left no room for argument.
“We don’t have invitations,” Lu Jingyan reminded them. Security for a banquet of this caliber is extremely tight; it’s not something you can just walk into.
"An invitation?" Bai Shu picked up the jade brooch and said, "This is my invitation."
...
Outside the Central Town Hall, luxury cars lined the streets, and elegantly dressed people strolled about. Hong Kong's elite, sipping champagne, chatted and laughed.
A black sedan stopped at the entrance but did not drive into the parking lot.
The car door opened, and Qin Zheng stepped out first. He was wearing a black suit, and his tall stature and cold aura silenced the surrounding noise. He glanced around warily, then opened the back door.
A foot in a silver high heel peeked out first, and then a figure appeared before everyone's eyes.
Bai Shu changed into a dark green silk cheongsam. The cheongsam was simple in design, without any superfluous embroidery or embellishments, yet it perfectly accentuated her exquisite figure. Her long hair was styled into a gentle bun at the back of her head, revealing her slender, fair neck.
Her appearance drew everyone's attention at the door.
Behind her followed January and February. January was still wearing a smart suit skirt, the lapels stretched taut as if about to burst, and her excessively thin waist creating a strong visual impact that made many men secretly swallow. February, on the other hand, had changed into a light purple cheongsam, gentle and charming, the slit in the hem revealing glimpses of her long, straight legs as she walked.
Three women with distinct styles, yet equally stunning, surrounded Bai Shu, whose aura was the most aloof, and followed by a menacing bodyguard. It was impossible for this group not to attract attention.
"Miss, please show your invitation." The security captain at the entrance was clearly used to big scenes. Although he was also taken aback by the commotion, he still dutifully stepped forward and stopped them.
A few hushed whispers came from the surrounding area.
"Who is this? I've never seen him before."
"Trying to sneak in, huh? You're incredibly audacious."
Bai Shu didn't even look at the security guard, but just gave Yi Yue a look.
In January, she stepped forward, took out a beautifully crafted business card from her handbag, and handed it over.
The business card had no title, no company name, only a single large, bold, gold-embossed character: "Dong," followed by a Beijing phone number.
"Tell Mr. Dong Cunshan inside about this, along with the brooch on my young lady's chest," Yiyue said coldly. "Just say that a descendant of an old friend has come to pay a visit."
The security captain was stunned. He looked at the imposing "Dong" character on the famous film, then at the antique-style jade brooch on Bai Shu's chest, which looked very valuable, and hesitated for a moment.
He dared not offend them, but he also dared not let them pass easily.
Just as he was caught in a dilemma, the urgent voice of the person in charge came through the walkie-talkie: "Tell them to wait! Old Dong is coming out right away!"
A few minutes later, the doors to the banquet hall were pushed open.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, an elderly man with gray hair, dressed in a traditional Chinese suit, but full of energy, walked briskly out of the venue, surrounded by a group of people.
It was Dong Cunshan.
As soon as he stepped outside, his gaze was fixed on Bai Shu. When he saw the banana leaf and bat jade brooch on her chest, he froze, his eyes first filled with shock, then with immense excitement, and even the hand holding his cane began to tremble slightly.
The surrounding guests were stunned, and the murmurs grew louder.
"My God, Uncle Dong actually came out in person!"
"Who exactly is that woman? Is there any special meaning behind that brooch?"
Ignoring the gazes around him, Dong Cunshan walked step by step to Bai Shu, scrutinizing her face for a long time with a complex look in his eyes, as if trying to confirm something.
He didn't immediately acknowledge her; his Adam's apple bobbed, and he asked in a deep voice, with a heavy local accent and a slightly dry Cantonese accent:
"Miss, are the crabapple blossoms still blooming in our hometown?"
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