0679 [I take you as a brother, you take me as a gunner!] (4000 word chapter)
"A guest has arrived! Come forward and salute! Bow once! Bow again! Bow three times! Family members respond!"
The funeral parlor in Hong Kong was very lively today, with firecrackers bursting out and wreaths lining both sides from the intersection to the funeral parlor auditorium.
In addition, the parking lot a hundred meters away from the funeral home was filled with all kinds of luxury cars.
Hong Kong Funeral Parlor, commonly known as "Hong Kong Grand Hotel", is the only funeral parlor on Hong Kong Island, located at the junction of King's Road and Java Road in North Point.
Its history dates back to the 1930s. Like the Kowloon Funeral Parlor in Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon, it is managed by Xiao Ming and his family, known as the funeral king.
Initially, it only operated in a simple bamboo shed built on Wan Chai Road. It was moved to its current location in 1964 and continues to operate in the newly built Hong Kong Funeral Parlor in North Point.
Funeral parlors in Hong Kong have higher fees, but the transportation is convenient, and many celebrities and rich people live in Hong Kong Island, so they have become the first choice for funerals for the famous and rich people in the city.
Today is a condolence event for Mrs. Xu of the Xu family. The entire first and second floors of the funeral home have been taken over by the Xu family. The condolence hall is extremely luxurious. There are black and white photos of Mrs. Xu with a banner above: Xu Weng’s voice and appearance through the ages.
Still there!
The eldest young master of the Xu family, Xu Shijian, the second young master Xu Shiwen, and the third young master Xu Shixun, were all kneeling on the left side of the mourning hall, wearing sackcloth and mourning. On the right side, the female family members of the Xu family were kneeling, all kneeling down. There were almost thirty people.
"Mr. Saipan, the general manager of Standard Chartered Bank, is here!"
"I am sorry for your loss!"
"Thanks!"
"Chairman Liao Wenlei and Chairman Liao of the Hong Kong Chaozhou Chamber of Commerce are here!"
"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Xu Weng!"
"Thank you, Chairman Liao is interested!"
"Hong Kong Chow Tai Fook President Zheng Yutong, Mr. Zheng is here!"
"I am very sad that Uncle Xu passed away, and I hope you will show your condolences and accept the change!"
"Thank you, Brother Zheng. Please sit down over there!"
As a celebrity in Hong Kong, Mr. Xu had a wide network of friends during his lifetime. Basically, people from all the major families in Hong Kong sent people to express their condolences. In addition, some Hong Kong government officials also came to greet the Xu family, which was extremely grand.
Of course, in addition to these wealthy families and dignitaries, some civilians and refugees who Mr. Xu rescued during his lifetime also spontaneously prepared condolence gifts this time to express their condolences. They could not afford firecrackers, so they could only buy some yellow
Paper, he brought over his most precious old hens and his most precious steamed buns.
"Mr. Xu helped me during his lifetime, and my daughter's illness was cured by his donation!"
A dark-skinned, honest-looking man entered the mourning hall hesitantly, handed a chicken and a bag of steamed buns to the mourner, and bravely spoke to the Xu family members.
"In addition, Mrs. Xu has helped many people in our slums. This time, on behalf of everyone, I brought something to express my condolences to him!"
After saying that, the man knelt down on the futon with a bang and kowtowed three times to the portrait of Mrs. Xu.
Such a sincere kowtow made others moved.
The dead are great!
Although Xu Shijian and Xu Shiwen didn't care much about guests of this caliber, Xu Shixun was very grateful and took the initiative to invite the honest man to sit down and prepare thin tea for him to drink.
This time, because of the large number of people paying condolences, the areas for entertaining guests were not dispersed according to class as before.
The honest man looked at the big shots and did not dare to go and sit down.
But Xu Shixun placed the hens and steamed buns he brought in front of the mourning hall and said to the man: "Sit down, you are qualified! My father, Quanxia Youzhi, will be very happy to see you coming to express condolences!"
Only then did the man have the courage to sit down among the group of dignitaries and wealthy tycoons.
He was shabby, dressed in rags and out of place with the gang!
Especially those next to him, who smelled the stench of sweat coming from his body, moved away on their own initiative. Some female guests even covered their mouths and noses in disgust, wondering how the Xu family allowed anyone to get in.
The honest man was a little embarrassed and wiped his forehead and cheeks with his sleeve. The temperature in the mourning hall was not high, but he felt hot all over.
A servant came over to pour him tea, and he hurriedly picked it up with both hands. He was so nervous that he almost spilled the tea after it was poured!
…
At this time——
The master of ceremonies shouted: "Mr. Shi Zhijian, President of Hong Kong Shinhwa Company, please send us a wreath and an elegiac couplet!"
Shi Zhijian asked Chen Huimin and Dasha to place the condolence offerings, and then he knelt on the futon according to the rules, clasped his hands and bowed to the portrait of Mr. Xu, and then saluted the Xu family members.
Shi Zhijian was relatively dissatisfied with the Xu family, and especially had a close relationship with the third young master Xu Shixun.
Xu Shixun took the initiative to stand up and greet Shi Zhijian, asking him to sit down in the rest area next to him first, and he would come back later!
Shi Zhijian nodded and took a look at the leisure area. There were many people he knew, such as Chairman Liao, Zheng Yutong, Saipan, etc., but those big shots were surrounded by people at the moment.
Although this is a condolence event, it is also an opportunity to make connections, and some caring people will certainly not miss it.
In comparison, only the honest man's place was more spacious, so Shi Zhijian strolled over and asked the man: "Excuse me, can I sit down?"
The honest man was sipping the tea nervously. Shi Zhijian might as well talk to him. He was startled, and the tea in his hand spilled out again. He stood up and said: "Okay! Okay! There's no one here!"
Shi Zhijian smiled and sat down next to the honest man. The rich and famous people next to him gave him various looks, including confusion, disdain, and sneers.
The servant came over and poured a cup of tea for Shi Zhijian. Shi Zhijian drank the tea and asked the honest man: "May I ask your surname?"
"For free, my name is Tang Tieniu!" The honest man looked at Shi Zhijian's tea-drinking posture and wondered why he was so elegant but he couldn't imitate it.
"Oh, Brother Iron Bull!"
"I don't dare to take it! I don't dare to take it!" Tang Tieniu looked naive, but he was not stupid. No matter Shi Zhijian's dress or demeanor, he couldn't compare with him. Even in Tang Tieniu's view, even the rich men next to him couldn't compare with Shi Zhijian.
In short, Shi Zhijian gives people the impression that he is very tall!
"What kind of business does Brother Tieniu do?"
"Huh? I work for others at the dock!"
"Really? I also have many friends looking for food at the pier! But I don't know which pier you are at?"
"Wharf!" Tang Tieniu hurriedly sipped his tea, feeling nervous for some reason talking to Shi Zhijian.
"Wharf?" Shi Zhijian's eyes flashed.
"Yes, my brother and I, as well as many people from the slums, are looking for food at Wharf!"
"The recent general strike at Wharf..."
"Ah, you're talking about this! Someone gave us money and said they would help us fight for benefits!" Tang Tieniu sipped his tea, and he didn't know if it was because of nervousness that he poured out all the words in his stomach.
"We poor people never encountered such a good thing, so of course we obeyed! When he asked us to march, we marched! After the parade, lunch boxes were distributed. Yesterday's lunch box included roasted goose legs, which was very delicious!"
As if thinking of the deliciousness of roasted goose legs, Tang Tieniu licked his thick lips vigorously.
"It's a pity that such a bento was only given out once! I gave it to my daughter, and I chewed the remaining bones. It tasted really delicious!"
Shi Zhijian had no time to pay attention to Tang Tieniu's nostalgia for the roasted goose legs, and continued to ask: "Is there anyone behind you supporting you?"
"Oh, it's a gang! Their leader is called -" Tang Tieniu scratched his head and his eyes lit up, "By the way! We all call him 'Brother Hua'! His nickname is also very sharp, 'Cobra'!"
Just when Shi Zhijian wanted to continue to inquire about Wharf, someone suddenly called him: "Ajian, here!"
Shi Zhijian followed the sound and saw Huo Zhenting, the eldest young master, standing together with the third young master Xu, waving to him.
Shi Zhijian smiled at Tang Tieniu: "Sorry, my friend called me!"
Tang Tieniu said hurriedly: "It's okay! You are busy with your business!"
Shi Zhijian pointed to the "return gifts" prepared by the Xu family for condolence guests not far away and said: "Brother Tieniu, those are the condolence gifts prepared by the Xu family. You can take as many as you represent for each family! Tens of millions.
do not mention it!"
"Huh?" Tang Tieniu looked at the strips of Marlboro cigarettes placed not far away, as well as the exquisite small gift bags. The small gift bags contained cash, at least three hundred yuan!
Tang Tieniu was just thinking about whether to take it, but he didn't dare to take it. He only brought a chicken, a bag of steamed buns, and a stack of yellow paper. Not to mention the small gift bag of 300 yuan, just the Marlboro.
He can't afford it!
…
"Ajian, I'll introduce you to a friend later!"
In a remote place, Xu Shixun was holding a cigarette in his mouth, looking tired and depressed, and his eyes were bloodshot from staying up late.
Mr. Huo was smoking next to him and said, "This friend is very ruthless! You will know when you meet him later!"
Shi Zhijian looked curious and was about to ask what riddle the two were playing when he heard Xu Sanshao say: "He's here!"
Shi Zhijian hurriedly followed the sound, but saw a tall ghost guy walking towards them.
"Mr. Su, this is the young hero Shi Zhijian you have always wanted to get to know!" Xu Shixun introduced.
Shi Zhijian smiled, no matter how miserable these three young men were, they still couldn't get rid of their cynical style.
I still have the young hero Fang Shiyu!
"It's really extraordinary! Su has been a famous name for a long time!" Su Diwen, an Austrian and son-in-law of Hong Kong's four major shipping kings Bao Yugang, stretched out his hand and shook hands with Shi Zhijian.
"I've heard from Young Master San and Young Master Huo that you started from scratch and founded Shinhwa Group, which operates food, entertainment, and real estate! It is said that the electronics industry is now even more prosperous! I'm afraid it won't be long before you are from Hong Kong.
You have to do all the business!"
Shi Zhijian didn't expect that the person Mr. Xu was going to introduce to him turned out to be the foreign son-in-law of the chartering king. He only saw the typical appearance of a ghost guy, his hair was meticulously combed with hair wax, he was in a suit and leather shoes, and there was a corsage on his left chest. He was typical.
Western style.
In his previous life, Sudven had a few tricks up his sleeve, especially in expanding the Bao family from a single shipping industry to other territories, and ultimately making the Bao family the first of the four major shipping kings. It can be said that he was indispensable for this.
Shi Zhijian shook hands with Su Diwen and smiled: "Thank you, Mr. Su! The business industry is very deep, and I have just started!"
"You're welcome! Although I'm Austrian, I love Chinese culture very much. Just call me Awen!"
"Yes, we all call him Brother Zuowen!" Mr. Xu and Mr. Huo said together.
It seems that these three families usually have a good relationship.
Su Diwen remembered the words of his old father-in-law, the chartering king, and wanted to take the initiative to make friends with Shi Zhijian, and then send him "on the battlefield" to compete with Li Zhaotian as a chess piece of the three major families!
Who is Shi Zhijian? He has always been cautious in doing things. Seeing that this ghost guy Su Diwen started to have a relationship with him as soon as they met, he knew that there was a will behind it.
He didn't point it out and said with a smile: "In this case, I will boldly call Brother Wen! But I don't know what Brother Wen has to say?"
When Su Diwen heard this, he couldn't help but take a deep look at Shi Zhijian. This guy is indeed extraordinary. He touched my heart with just a few words.
"Haha, Ajian is really sharp! In fact, I took the initiative to make friends with you this time because I wanted to ask for something!"
Since we are all smart people, there is no need to play riddles and talk in circles!
Sudven felt that he had to show some sincerity.
"Want to hear the details!" Shi Zhijian took out his cigarettes, knocked out a few and handed them over.
Sudhiwen waved his hand and refused to smoke, but then he remembered that as the locals do, Chinese people like to give up cigarettes and use cigarettes as bridges, but Westerners don't like this approach very much.
So Su Diwen took the cigarette again, but did not bite it on his mouth, but held it in his hand and kneaded it.
Shi Zhijian lit the cigarette, took a puff with squinted eyes, and then looked up at Su Diwen through the smoke.
Su Diwen organized his thoughts, tapped his forehead with his fingers, and said, "Here's the thing, A-Jian, do you know about the recent strike at the Kowloon Pier in Hong Kong?"
Of course Shi Zhijian knew, and had just found out some information from Tang Tieniu, but at this time he pretended to be confused and said: "I really didn't pay much attention to this matter! You know, I was dealing with some... Haha,
Just don’t say it!”
Shi Zhijian's words are 70% false and 30% true.
Many people know the story of how he helped Leloza take office and brought down Chen Zhichao and Charles.
As for whether he knew about the Kowloon strike, that depends on the wise and the benevolent!
"How could you not know about such a large-scale report in the newspaper?" Xu Sanshao, who knew Shi Zhijian well, interjected next to it.
Seeing Su Diwen and Young Master Huo both looking at him, Third Young Master Xu pointed at Shi Zhijian and said: "I'm telling the truth! Ah Jian has always been an eye-catcher and an ear-listener. Nothing can be hidden from him! Don't say there is a strike in Kowloon.
, maybe he already knows that the other person is behind the scenes!"
Xu Sanshao dissected Shi Zhijian cleanly with just one sentence!
What a good brother!
"Haha, Third Young Master really praised me! I am a young man with limited energy, and I often have no time to care about other things!" Shi Zhijian flicked the ashes of his cigarette with a broad smile.
Who was Su Diwen? He immediately understood that Shi Zhijian made it clear that he was unwilling to interfere in this matter.
Come to think of it, Shi Zhijian has been so popular recently, and he is a legend in both black and white.
Any tree that is beautiful in the forest will be destroyed by the wind!
It’s better to keep a low profile!
But what Shi Zhijian wanted was
I treat you as a brother, and you treat me as a gunman!
