Reborn in Hong Kong, my cousin is Crippled Ho

Chapter 93 A Clash of Wits: All Hidden Beneath the Surface

In the reception room, after Lin Yuanshan finished speaking, everyone's eyes were focused on Li Jianqing.

Li Jianqing put down his teacup, frowned, and looked at Lin Yuanshan: "I am grateful for Mr. Lin's kindness, but unfortunately, I have not been involved in the affairs of the martial world for a long time."

Lin Yuanshan shook his head: "I hired Master Li as a business bodyguard, not you as a江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the martial arts world) bodyguard. You won't break your oath in the underworld."

Upon hearing that Lin Yuanshan could distinguish between commercial bodyguards and martial arts bodyguards, not only was Li Jianqing slightly moved, but even Su Zhenhai couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

He knew very well why Li Jianqing was lame and why he was forced to retire from the criminal life.

He had just seen Lin Yuanshan trying to recruit Li Jianqing as a shield against him, but he just watched it as a joke.

Given Limping Qing's character, he would never break his oath for money and use being a bodyguard as an excuse to return to the underworld!

But now, it's Su Zhenhai's turn to lack confidence.

In traditional Lingnan villages, guards in the past were mostly from martial arts schools, dockworkers, or retired martial artists.

This profession can be further divided into two types.

Firstly, commercial security guards are specifically designed to serve shops, businesses, warehouses, and factories.

This one leans towards secular etiquette, emphasizing contracts and human relationships;

Secondly! Jianghu guards are specifically for protecting gang leaders, gambling and prostitution stalls, smuggling warehouses, and gang docks.

This type, in addition to the martial arts school rules, also requires the Hongmen oath, making the etiquette even more complicated and quite complicated to join.

Regardless of the type, the gift list always included a pair of bottles of baijiu (Chinese liquor), two catties of roast pork, four kinds of pastries, a plate of fresh fruit, and a letter of appointment written on red paper.

The difference lies in the time of signing the contract.

The first arrangement involves the employer and the guard each drinking half a cup of water or wine, exchanging cups and drinking the rest (a bit unhygienic), symbolizing working together in harmony. They then sign and seal the employment contract on the spot, each keeping a copy.

The second method is to take a rough and unconventional approach: catch a live rooster, cut off its comb and drip its blood into a rooster bowl, and everyone drinks chicken blood wine in front of the Guan Gong statue/Hongmen incense table. There is no written contract, and that is considered the ceremony completed.

For middle-aged martial arts instructors like Han Jinqing, the Hong Kong of the 1950s and 60s was a rather awkward period.

The presidents of various chambers of commerce had already kept personal bodyguards at home before the war.

Even after Hong Kong was restored to its former glory, many Chinese business tycoons directly employed a gang leader for protection, eliminating the need to hire a crippled double agent.

As for other small and medium-sized businessmen, they cannot afford the price to hire a master of Han Jinqing's caliber.

His path in the martial world is cut off, and he is physically disabled.

The martial arts school's signboard wasn't eye-catching enough, so no one was willing to come and learn martial arts.

It was only because his apprentice, Biandanwei, was loyal enough to frequently find excuses to send him money and food; otherwise, Li Jianqing's life would have been truly unsustainable.

Now that he hears that Lin Yuanshan is well-mannered and knows etiquette, he wants to hire him as a business bodyguard.

With the fact that Biandanwei's gang was also doing things for them, Li Jianqing was really tempted.

Seeing that Li Jianqing was somewhat interested, Lin Yuanshan pressed on while the iron was hot: "Master Li, I've heard from Awei that you were once a double-flowered red stick with Hong Shun, and now you are the master of Hong Yihai Martial Arts School. Your status is different from that of an ordinary martial arts master."

Today, I, Lin Yuanshan, sincerely invite you to be the warehouse guard for Yuanshan Plastics. You don't need to risk your life in fighting; just help me maintain order and patrol the factory and warehouse.

In terms of salary, the monthly salary is 450 yuan.

Due to limited resources and manpower at the factory, you will have to stay in a private room in the factory building for the time being.

Two meals a day are provided, and a monthly allowance of 50 yuan for cigarettes and 50 yuan for alcohol is provided.

Gifts for the four seasons and eight festivals are priced separately.

You are a senior, and I respect you as an elder.

Iron Head Bro is my driver and bodyguard. If my business grows bigger, I will set up a security department.

Iron Head is the head of the security department, and you are the instructor of the security department.

I will pay you another instructor's salary then.

How about these terms? If you're not satisfied, we can continue discussing...

Just in terms of the visible cash, Lin Yuanshan's guaranteed monthly income has already reached 550 yuan.

This price is equivalent to the ideal income of five dockworkers who have work every day and live a life of hardship.

Not to mention, there are gifts and red envelopes for all four seasons and eight festivals, as well as the future salary for that damn security department instructor.

What does it mean to offer a hefty sum for a job? The price Lin Yuanshan is offering right now is exactly that!

Su Zhenhai sighed inwardly. Before Li Jianqing could speak, he stood up first, clasped his hands in a fist and smiled at Lin Yuanshan, saying, "Mr. Lin, today truly proves the saying, 'Seeing is believing,' and your lavish spending is truly impressive. You are a force to be reckoned with."

Lin Yuanshan's smile remained unchanged as he nodded and replied, "Boss Su is so kind and helpful; no wonder he's so successful. I admire him."

The two seemed to be exchanging cryptic remarks, their interactions appearing to be purely business-like.

In reality, both of them were subtly mocking each other.

Su Zhenhai hinted to Lin Yuanshan to change the meeting place to Hong Yihai, implying that he had planned to include Lin Yuanshan and Han Jinqing from the beginning, and was willing to spend a lot of money to bring out the latter to shield him from his pressure.

Most importantly, Lin Yuanshan was certain that he wouldn't put Li Jianqing in a difficult position or break his loyalty for the sake of the monthly waste plastic flowers from the Yellow River Old Factory.

Lin Yuanshan also deduced from Su Zhenhai's actions that this white paper fan of the Lianying Society had weighed the pros and cons in just a few words, giving up on continuing to exert pressure and preserving the precious human favor he had gained from investing emotionally and materially in Han Jinqing over the past ten years.

In general.

The chessboard where the old man and the young man played their game was mediated by Han Jinqing, the middleman.

We're all cunning, we're all the same.

Su Zhenhai gave Lin Yuanshan a deep look, then cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Li Jianqing: "Aqing, I still have things to attend to at my branch."

"I'll take my leave now. No need to see me off, please stay."

Seeing Su Zhenhai walk towards the gate after speaking, Li Jianqing couldn't help but call out, "Ah Hai..."

Su Zhenhai paused for a moment, but he didn't turn around. He simply raised his hand and waved, then quickened his pace and walked out from under the wooden plaque that read "Hidden Dragons in the Sea of ​​Righteousness." His figure disappeared behind the screen wall.

Lin Yuanshan figured out the reason why Master Hai suddenly left, and Li Jianqing also realized it soon after.

Biandanwei could see about 60% of it clearly, but Tie Tou asked in confusion, "Why did you leave so suddenly?"

Li Jianqing ignored Tie Tou and stared intently at Lin Yuanshan: "Mr. Lin, Awei is my apprentice and my student."

If the large water pipe he's protecting gets into trouble, I'll definitely lend a hand and not stand idly by!

Today, I'm using the martial arts school to negotiate with you and Ah Hai, as I've long been prepared to stand on your side.

Actually, you don't need to do that...

Before Li Jianqing could finish speaking, Lin Yuanshan raised his hand and interrupted, "Master Li, I admit that since last night, when I learned from Awei that Su Zhenhai was planning a trap, and that he has helped you a lot over the past ten years."

At that time, I placed my hopes for breaking this deadlock on you.

But after seeing you in person, I've decided that today's appointment isn't just a show of force, but a genuine invitation to work for me.