Chapter Eleven: Gambling
The Tide Rider Through Time
Wei Hua entered the casino where Ah Liang worked. The spacious hall was lined with more than a dozen gambling tables, two or three dedicated to blackjack. Wei Hua squeezed into the crowd gathered around one of these tables. His plan was simple: with his formidable memory, calculation skills, and the aid of his spiritual sense, his chances of winning were nearly one hundred percent—assuming the casino played fair. Nonetheless, Wei Hua wasn’t reckless; he understood that he must avoid drawing too much attention, lest he bring trouble upon himself, Ah Liang, or the orphanage. Today, Wei Hua merely intended to test whether his plan was feasible.
He observed beside the blackjack table for more than an hour, confirming the viability of his plan. After all, his ideas had come from movies and literature, and whether they could be put into practice required actual verification. Now, reassured, Wei Hua knew that tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars were no longer an issue—he could safely wait for the Queen’s pardon. After another hour of observation, Wei Hua exchanged some chips and began playing blackjack. It was his first real bout, and, not wanting to attract the casino’s attention, he alternated between losing and winning, winning then losing back again. This cycle repeated several times, and after pocketing a few hundred dollars, Wei Hua left the casino.
Wei Hua had not shared his plan with Ah Liang—not because he didn’t trust him, but because he believed the less Ah Liang knew, the safer it would be. Should anything go awry, Ah Liang’s involvement would be minimal, and he would not be implicated. Wei Hua knew that those involved in the triads were ruthless. He merely used Ah Liang as a source to learn about Hong Kong’s gambling dens.
After winning a few hundred dollars at Ah Liang’s workplace, Wei Hua began frequenting various gambling dens across Hong Kong. In each, he won only a small sum—ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars—and always spaced his visits far apart. Yet, Wei Hua underestimated the vigilance of the triad members. After four or five months of moving between these dens, he finally attracted attention.
The Xiang family was an established name in Hong Kong’s triad circles. At that time, the Xiang brothers managed a moderately sized syndicate. Although they had not yet built their organization into one of Hong Kong’s most prominent, neither was to be underestimated, and their ranks included many capable men. Wei Hua’s unusual activity was noticed by their subordinates, who reported it to the Xiang brothers. The brothers decided to meet this young man.
A dozen days later, Wei Hua returned to the Xiang brothers’ gambling den. No sooner had he entered than several attendants stopped him.
Wei Hua knew he had finally been noticed, but he wasn’t worried. Over four or five months of continuous absorption of electrical energy, his bio-computer’s main structure had been repaired by several percentage points. However, the bio-computer was a relic from a destroyed universe, a piece of advanced technology requiring enormous amounts of energy for restoration. With each percent repaired, the amount of energy needed increased geometrically. During these months, Wei Hua’s body had also been greatly strengthened. Compared to four or five months earlier, his physical abilities had improved dramatically. Although still only eleven years old and not yet grown, his body was as strong as an adult—ten or more men would not easily approach him. Breaking out of the den would pose no difficulty. The men who stopped him said,
“Sir, our boss would like to invite you inside. Please allow us to lead the way.”
Wei Hua, bold and confident, replied,
“Lead the way, then.”
He followed them into the back room, where two young men sat in the center (fictionalized, as the actual circumstances of the Xiang brothers in the seventies could not be verified), with several others seated on either side. The man who brought Wei Hua in said,
“These are our bosses, the Xiang brothers.” Then, to the brothers, he continued, “Bosses, this is the young man you wanted to meet. I have brought him.”
Xiang Huaqiang, seated in the center, regarded Wei Hua and said,
“It is somewhat abrupt to invite you here today, but we brothers had no choice and hope you’ll forgive us. I hear you’ve won quite a sum in our establishment. Our livelihood depends on this place, so we hope you’ll show mercy and leave us a way to make a living. Of course, we brothers will also offer you a generous gift.”
Wei Hua gazed at the Xiang brothers before him—future underground kings of Hong Kong. Their approach was in line with the unwritten rules of the underworld. Besides, he would one day return to Hong Kong; it was unwise to offend these future rulers. He replied,
“Boss Xiang, I am not one of your circle. My winnings in your establishment are due to luck and wit, not cheating or breaking any rules. The money I’ve won is clean—surely this does not violate your code?”
“You’re quite right,” Xiang Huaqiang responded. “That’s why we ask you to show mercy and leave us some means to live.”
“My winnings in your place were simply to solve an urgent need. Since you have spoken, I will do as you wish. From now on, I will not set foot in your establishments. As for your gift, I cannot accept it. What do you say, Boss Xiang? Shall we consider the matter settled?”
“Though you are not one of us, you possess the spirit of our world,” Xiang Huaqiang said. “We brothers are grateful. If ever you face difficulty and need our help, do not hesitate to ask. We will do our utmost to assist you.”