According to the unwritten rules of Xiangjiang's underworld, any business transaction between a buyer and seller typically involves a one-on-one meeting, with no other sellers present.
This is to prevent sellers from encountering each other, learning of each other's quotes, and consequently escalating into conflicts that could lead to unnecessary bloodshed.
As the old guard of Xiangjiang's triads would say, business is business, and turf wars are turf wars. Direct confrontation over a deal isn't worth it. Everyone is out to make a fortune, and harmony is paramount.
This unwritten rule, a code established by the elder generation of triad members in the eighties and nineties, has persisted.
Consequently, since the dawn of the new millennium, Xiangjiang's triads have rarely engaged in large-scale clashes over business deals.
Disputes are usually settled through negotiation. If talks fail, a place is arranged for a fight, and the loser withdraws.
This is also a tacitly accepted practice by the Hong Kong authorities, as it significantly reduces the occurrence of violent altercations.
However, Chen Guoyao was different. He brought two sellers, who were there on a mission, together for an auction.
Faced with his proposal, Fish Ball and Big Third recalled the instructions given by their boss, Kid Chicken, before they came to Xiangjiang.
Kid Chicken had told them that the mainland and Hong Kong were different. Mainland bosses were businessmen disguised as triad members, driven purely by profit, and unconcerned with any so-called rules or codes of honor.
Fortunately, they had practiced extensively before their arrival, so they smoothly complied with Chen Guoyao's terms.
After half an hour of intense bidding, Fish Ball and Big Third proved themselves to be consummate actors of the underworld.
They almost came to blows over the price per kilogram.
Finally, Chen Guoyao slammed his hand on the table, interrupting their theatrical display, and declared, "You two are merely messengers. Tell your big shot bosses that I, Chen Guoyao, am not short of money. If they want to do business, they can come talk to me themselves.
If they fear I can't afford it, I'm willing to put down a deposit of one hundred million. You two lackeys have already seen my capabilities, Chen Guoyao.
Ah Hu, escort them out!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Guoyao returned to his card game, ignoring Fish Ball and Big Third.
Ah Hu, with a smile, ushered the two men out.
...
At twelve midnight, inside the Yi He main hall in Ching Kwai District.
Xu Xiao sat at the head of the conference table, with Kid Chicken to his left. Big Third and Fish Ball stood before them, reporting on the evening's meeting.
"Leader, Boss, I must say, the mainland bosses are truly different. They conduct business through open bidding, without any regard for where the sellers come from or which faction they belong to."
As Fish Ball finished speaking, Big Third placed his mobile phone on the table. "Leader, this is a photo I secretly took."
Xu Xiao and Kid Chicken leaned in to look at the phone. Piles of cash were stacked high, with stacks of hundred-yuan bills, each worth over ten thousand, that were incredibly eye-catching.
"Leader, Boss, guess how much they lose in a single round of Dou Dizhu?"
"How much?"
Kid Chicken looked up curiously.
Big Third extended a finger and swallowed, saying, "I roughly estimated, they play Dou Dizhu with at least one million Long Guo coins per round as the base."
Hearing this figure, Xu Xiao and Kid Chicken were speechless.
A simple game of Dou Dizhu with a starting bet of a million was something no one in Xiangjiang would dare to play.
After Fish Ball and Big Third left, Kid Chicken urgently asked, "Leader, what do you think? Can we cooperate with Chen Guoyao?"
"This is a dangerous business. If it's a trap, we'll all die. I want to observe further."
Xu Xiao was extremely cautious, not making a decision to cooperate solely based on the report from Big Third and Fish Ball, or the photos on the phone.
Although Kid Chicken desperately wanted to cooperate and secure those two hundred million, he dared not contact Chen Guoyao privately without the Leader's approval.
Just as the two were discussing how to conduct further probes, a knock suddenly came from outside the conference room.
"Enter!"
As the words fell, a man in his thirties strode into the conference room.
"Leader, Brother Chicken, the brothers who were monitoring other major players just sent word that 18k and San Yi have suddenly sent people to Shenzhen in the mainland. The person they're meeting with is also Chen Guoyao.
Furthermore, Ah Ching Yung of Wah Luen Shing has also sent people to Shenzhen. According to the intel from within, he is preparing to negotiate a cooperation with Chen Guoyao."
For 18k and San Yi, it was understandable. They were major factions, concerned with making money, and had no prior grievances with Chen Guoyao.
However, Ah Ching Yung had previously declared that anyone who dared to cooperate with Chen Guoyao would be killed.
His change of tune made it difficult for Kid Chicken to comprehend.
Xu Xiao, sitting at the head of the table, gave a cold smile and rubbed his cigarette butt, saying, "Ah Ching Yung threatened the underworld not to cooperate with Chen Guoyao, then turned around and contacted him himself. His 'hiding in plain sight' tactic is brilliant."
"Leader, what do you mean?"
"Wah Luen Shing has just been reorganized and has experienced several clashes. The triad must be short on funds. Ah Ching Yung needs those two hundred million to stabilize morale, hence his 'hiding in plain sight' scheme."
Xu Xiao slammed the table and gritted his teeth, cursing, "That scoundrel. If it weren't for the insider tip, Ah Ching Yung could have easily secured a single deal with Chen Guoyao, and Wah Luen Shing would have recovered.
Now, Ah Ching Yung is like a wolf. We absolutely cannot let him catch his breath, or he'll devour all of Ching Kwai District.
Give me Chen Guoyao's phone number. I'll contact him myself."
Seeing that the Leader was going to personally negotiate with Chen Guoyao, no longer hesitating whether the two hundred million cooperation was a trap,
Kid Chicken's eyes gleamed with greed, and he immediately provided the phone number.
...
Shenzhen.
The people from San Yi and 18k had indeed arrived.
However, they were not there to discuss illegal goods but to negotiate legitimate business with Chen Guoyao.
Their discussions were not leaked, thus creating the false impression that they were cooperating with Chen Guoyao on illegal activities.
As for the person sent by Ah Ching Yung, it was merely a diversion. Wah Luen Shing was now firmly under Guo Yue's control. Sending someone was to expedite the cooperation with Xu Xiao.
Undeniably, Ah Ching Yung had indeed provided a powerful boost to Xu Xiao's cooperation with Chen Guoyao.
Less than an hour after the news was released, Xu Xiao's call immediately reached Chen Guoyao's mobile.
Finally, they arranged to meet the next day for detailed discussions.
As for the person sent by Ah Ching Yung, Chen Guoyao detained him to demonstrate sincerity in their cooperation.
When the news reached Xiangjiang, Ah Ching Yung flew into a rage in the main hall that night, even threatening to send gunmen to deal with Chen Guoyao.
To outsiders, this appeared to be a conflict of interests, and no one could fault it.
However, to those in the know, Gao Fei's first step had been successfully completed, and the grand play, designed to dig a grave for Yi He, had gradually begun.