Chapter 20: A Man Who Refuses to Yield

Before nightfall, Li Zhongying returned to the car wash where he worked, clutching a deposit slip. “Ah Yiu, I’m sorry, but I want to quit this job.”

A young man wearing a tank top, his shoulders tattooed with dragon and phoenix designs, sat behind the counter tallying accounts. Hearing this, he looked up and asked, “You just took an advance yesterday, and today you’re quitting? What the hell do I owe you?”

Li Zhongying counted out more than ten bills and placed them on the counter. “Thank you, Ah Yiu.”

Ah Yiu took the money, added it to the accounts, bundled it with a rubber band, and exhaled a long stream of smoke. “At least you know to pay back, that’s some conscience. When you didn’t show up for work and came back dressed in a suit, I knew something was up.”

“Didn’t go gambling, right?”

Li Zhongying shook his head. “Met someone influential and got a job.”

Ah Yiu sneered. “You served five years in prison and still haven’t woken up. Always dreaming of being a big boss. You’re just a front man—thinking you’ve got real skill!”

“Look at you—your suit’s yellowed, your tie’s greasy, and the soles of your shoes are worn flat, boss!”

“Get lost. I won’t take you back here.”

Li Zhongying bowed his head deeply. At his age—half a lifetime behind him—he couldn’t voice the ambition burning in his chest. He turned and walked away, his steps quickening.

Because he wanted to come back next time with his head held high and chest out...

Under the watchful eyes of more than a dozen coworkers in the shop, Ah Yiu leaned on his cane and walked over to a BMW just sprayed with foam. He called out loudly, “Who else wants to be like him and keep wasting their life?”

“I’m only taking you in because I pity you for having done time and not finding work. I’m not here to be your stepping stone. If you want out, say it now.”

Most of the car washers, a dozen or so men of various ages with scars and tattoos, lowered their heads silently and got back to work.

Passing an Italian bakery, Li Zhongying stopped, pushed open the door, and pointed to the tomato ciabatta in the display case. “Please wrap one for me and tie it with a bow. Thank you.”

Though his wife and daughter still lived in that home, Li had never returned once since his release.

A proud man with status and respect, a job and money—only then could he face home with dignity.

***

Pi Zhibang, wearing a suit and with a paunch, strode into the West Kowloon Major Crimes Unit and approached Lin Tiansheng’s desk. He tapped the table with his finger. “Ah Sheng, how’s the homicide case I handed you last time coming along?”

Lin Tiansheng had just sat down, his bag of breakfast unopened, when he stood abruptly. “Reporting, sir, no leads yet.”

Pi Zhibang’s face darkened. Raising a finger toward Lin’s head, he snapped, “The task force chief is watching this case closely. Get it done quickly.”

Lin Tiansheng clenched his teeth, his face flushed with shame. He stomped his foot to vent his frustration. “Yes, sir!”

“Eat, eat, eat. Who told you to bring breakfast into the office?” Pi Zhibang sipped his milk tea with coffee, then walked into the office.

Several colleagues were still eating at their desks. As a superior, Pi Zhibang singled out Lin alone, his pressure blatant.

This unfair treatment made some officers wary of befriending Lin, while gradually stirring a sense of solidarity among the others.

Even Shi Zhanpeng, who had been cautious around Lin, frowned and stepped forward. “Lin, eat whatever you want, whenever you want. We bust our asses in Major Crimes; do we need to take orders from the top?”

Lin put away his breakfast, smiling bitterly. “Higher-ups press down harder. What can we do?”

Shi sneered. “Pi sir got his position through connections. If he treats the brothers well, everyone’s happy. If not, he’s the first to get dumped.”

Lin inwardly cheered and gave a thumbs-up to Pi Zhibang, truly a master of support. Openly suppressing Lin not only pleased the foreigners but helped Pi maintain good relations with his colleagues.

Just as Shi was about to say more, a phone suddenly rang in the office. Ma Delong, He Li, and others who had just transferred to Major Crimes hadn’t yet grasped the situation.

But veterans like Shi Zhanpeng and Chen Sheng’s expressions darkened as they exchanged serious glances.

“West Kowloon Major Crimes!” The duty officer picked up the receiver and replied quickly. Lin and Ma understood immediately—it was the direct line from the report center.

“Uniform division calling central: a robbery with weapons at Yongxin Gold Shop on Shandong Street, Mong Kok. Seven armed robbers carrying automatic rifles, heavy firepower. Requesting Major Crimes support.”

“Received. Repeat: robbery with weapons at Yongxin Gold Shop, Shandong Street. Seven robbers armed with automatic rifles.”

“Affirmative. The criminals have fled along Nathan Road toward Yaumatei.”

The officer hung up, tension etched on his face. He stood and headed toward Pi Zhibang’s office. Though Pi hadn’t yet responded, he had already grasped the case details. Pushing open the door, he ordered, “This is urgent. Don’t bother grabbing guns. Take your gear and get moving!”

***

“Move fast!”

The officers present immediately straightened up and answered crisply, “Yes, sir!”

Pi Zhibang clipped on his badge and headed out with the team.

Though the Major Crimes Unit was not the main assault force against heavily armed criminals, the Riot Police were the ones to break through frontlines.

However, since uniformed and mounted police lacked weapons, Major Crimes had to rapidly respond within their jurisdiction, participating in pursuits to prevent escalation and further casualties.

“GOGOGO!”

Four teams dashed down the corridor. Some donned plainclothes, others uniforms. They sprinted out of the police headquarters.

The vehicle management office had already received the alert and prepared eight vehicles: three sedans and five vans.

The officers skillfully boarded their vehicles. Lin Tiansheng randomly picked a car without his assistant and slid in with four subordinates, minimizing the risk of being reassigned before deployment.

After all, without an inspector present, the police superintendent was the highest-ranking officer and could act as temporary squad commander.

Though Pi Zhibang was the on-scene commander, choosing any car seemed trivial. Yet, maintaining command was an instinct engraved in him.

As the convoy departed, new updates came via radio—stolen vehicles entering certain streets, gunfire exchanges at various locations.

When the suspects abandoned their car and entered a residential building, experienced officers riding in the vehicles showed visible concern.

This likely meant the robbers had given up fleeing and were preparing to take hostages, using narrow passages or units inside for a last stand.

From the case perspective, the armed robbery was nearing its end, with arrests imminent. But from the front-line officers’ view, the risk of death surged sharply.

“Tssshh,” the screech of tires on pavement sounded as the convoy made an emergency stop on Dundas Street in Yaumatei.

Doors flew open, and more than forty Major Crimes officers swiftly disembarked, drawing their .38 revolvers. Following orders, they charged toward the residential tower, sealing off entrances first.

Earlier, uniformed police had established a perimeter outside, and the patrolling Riot Police had arrived early. Two teams were already confronting the robbers, while civilians steadily escaped with uniformed officers’ assistance through stairwells.

After coordinating with the Mong Kok District Major Crimes inspector and senior Riot Police commanders at the scene, Pi Zhibang deferred to the Riot Police’s judgment.

He ordered all Major Crimes officers via radio to enter the building, assist in civilian evacuation, and set up checkpoints throughout the floors.