Chapter 3: Violently beat the snakehead

The snakehead called Ye Tianhui aside for a detailed conversation and quickly got a clear understanding of the situation.

The snakehead’s name was Li San. Li San had some connections locally and could take people like her, who came from the mainland, to the city center, but it required a fee. Li San’s price was one thousand Hong Kong dollars.

He looked at Ye Tianhui and said, “But it’s not just about money, we also talk about human connections.”

Ye Tianhui replied, “Oh, human connections? But we don’t know each other, so there’s no such thing between us.”

Li San, seeing her cluelessness, shrugged helplessly and then said, “Meeting each other is fate. You have one hundred and fifty; give it to me first. Then write an IOU for the remaining eight hundred and fifty. I won’t charge you interest.”

Ye Tianhui was confused: “But you don’t know me, and I don’t have a guarantor. What if I don’t pay you back or never have the money to repay you? Wouldn’t you suffer a loss?”

Hearing this, Li San laughed. “In a place like Hong Kong, it’s very easy for me to find someone. Anyone who owes me money has to pay it back, no matter what. As for you—” 

His gaze swept from her face downward, pausing briefly at her slightly rising chest before settling on her slender waist.

He chuckled and said, “A young, pretty girl like you, how could you not earn money? I’m not afraid of waiting. I’m very confident.”

Ye Tianhui, hearing this, said, “I’m just afraid I might accidentally deceive someone and cause you a loss. But since you’re not worried, then I can rest assured. But don’t worry about me either.”

She seriously promised, “I’ve always kept my word. Generally speaking, I don’t casually harm others.”

Harm others?

Li San, hearing her innocent words, couldn’t help but find it amusing. This mainland girl was really naïve, and she looked good too!

Since they had reached an agreement, Ye Tianhui handed over her one hundred and fifty dollars to Li San and wrote him an IOU. The IOU even included interest, which Ye Tianhui noticed was a yearly rate of 20%.

She asked Li San, “20% annual interest?”

Li San nodded. “Yes.”

Ye Tianhui confirmed, “Are you sure?”

Li San said, “That’s the standard rate. I didn’t overcharge you.”

Ye Tianhui smiled as she looked at Li San. “I was just worried you’d think it was too low. But since you think it’s fine, let’s go with 20%.”

Li San: “…”

This mainland girl must be out of her mind.

Li San didn’t say anything further and led Ye Tianhui along. Soon, they arrived at a greasy auto repair shop. Li San smoked a cigarette and spoke to someone there in heavily accented Cantonese, which Ye Tianhui couldn’t fully understand.

The people there curiously glanced at Ye Tianhui.

Ye Tianhui felt that their gazes were as greasy as the oil stains covering the repair shop.

Soon after, Li San brought her to an old van. He expertly maneuvered the steering wheel and said, “I’ll take you to the city center.”

Ye Tianhui had only ever taken public buses before. Seeing this vehicle piqued her curiosity. She leaned against the window, watching intently as the van drove into the bustling area, her eyes glued to the scene.

The urban area of Hong Kong was filled with towering skyscrapers and a continuous stream of vehicles. The streets were adorned with large billboards everywhere, dazzling to the eye. Not only that, but even the buses were plastered with colorful advertisements—brands like Lee Kum Kee, Ovaltine malt drink, auto repair shops, and appliance stores—all in traditional Chinese characters.

She couldn’t take her eyes off the view, thinking to herself that this was indeed a vibrant and magnificent world, far surpassing anything from her past era or even the mainland today.

Coming to this splendid land to make a name for herself, enjoy life, and indulge in all its pleasures—that was the only way to make her second chance at life worthwhile.

Li San, seeing her wide-eyed and unsophisticated expression, found it increasingly amusing.

Just then, Ye Tianhui suddenly asked curiously, “What’s that? What are those people doing?”

Li San casually replied, “Nothing much, just people on the streets.”

But he instinctively glanced over, and what he saw left him stunned.

Under the bridge was a mass of people—entire families—each with dust-covered faces. Some even bore wounds on their faces or mud stains.

Judging by their clothing, it was clear these were mainlanders.

These people marched along the streets in a mighty swarm, like locusts passing through, showing no fear of the police.

Li San was dumbfounded. “This… this—”

In all his years, he had never seen such a spectacle!

Ye Tianhui instantly understood.

Because of the rumor about Elizabeth, many mainlanders had believed it. It was said that tens of thousands of people had rushed to Hong Kong. Naturally, many had died, but the sheer numbers meant that many still made it to Hong Kong.

She felt an immediate sense of unease.

Shortcuts in this world—or loopholes, as Confucius might call them—were only available to a select few. Once the numbers grew and everyone wanted a share, the shortcut would be trampled into oblivion.

The “Touch Base Policy” was likely doomed.

At that moment, she saw some Hong Kong police arriving to stop the people. The road ahead was in complete chaos, completely jammed and impassable.

Li San gritted his teeth, cursed, and had no choice but to turn around and stop by a breakfast shop: “Wait here.”  

Ye Tianhui naturally had nothing to say and could only nod.  

Li San led Ye Tianhui out of the car and stood outside a restaurant, where a TV inside was broadcasting the news.  

It reported that tens of thousands of people had rushed the border today, prompting a strong reaction from the Hong Kong British authorities. Various measures were employed to block and capture them, including establishing a “Military-Police Joint Command Center” at the border. They even deployed troops, helicopters, and naval ships for day-and-night patrols.  

Despite these efforts, large numbers of people still poured onto the streets of Hong Kong.  

Authorities were now conducting strict inspections, attempting to deport all these people and warning residents not to harbor them privately. Violators would face fines upon discovery.  

Hearing this, Li San’s mouth fell open and stayed that way.  

He had been in this business for years, and ever since the authorities introduced the “Touch Base Policy,” his money had come easily. How had things suddenly changed so drastically?  

Not daring to make a scene, he quickly slipped away, heading toward a secluded corner with Ye Tianhui hurrying behind him.  

Once Li San confirmed no one was around, he stopped and turned to Ye Tianhui.  

Ye Tianhui blinked innocently at him, her expression as if she were entirely obedient.  

Li San instantly grew angry and spat hard at the corner of the wall.  

Ye Tianhui cautiously asked, “So now, where are we going? What should we do?”  

Li San frowned and slightly tilted his chin toward Ye Tianhui: “Now you have two choices.”  

Ye Tianhui: “What?”  

Li San: “Be my babe^[1]Mazi[马子] – slang: girl/chick/babe, and I’ll protect you.”  

Ye Tianhui listened and understood that “babe” meant being his partner.  

She shook her head and seriously replied, “I don’t want to be your babe. I don’t like you.”  

Li San looked at her still naïve demeanor and said, “Fine, then leave.”  

Ye Tianhui: “Leave? But weren’t you going to take me to the city?”  

Li San thought she was too stupid and grew impatient: “Are you blind? Can’t you see the current state of the streets? Do you want to drag me into legal trouble?”  

Ye Tianhui: “But we already agreed. I’ve paid you, and I even wrote the IOU. Now you’re telling me to leave—what am I supposed to do? I don’t know anyone here; I’m all alone. Do you want me to get caught?”  

Li San: “Get lost! How would I know what you’re supposed to do?”  

Ye Tianhui could hardly believe it: “You actually want to cheat me?”  

Li San found this amusing: “So what if I cheat you? At least I’m not forcing you to be my woman—that’s already me being considerate!”  

Ye Tianhui was truly stunned. How could this person act this way? He was blatantly going back on his word.  

He was cheating her!  

Raising an eyebrow slightly, Ye Tianhui looked at Li San: “So you won’t care for me?”  

Li San: “Care for you? Sleep with me for a few nights, make me happy, and I’ll take care of you.”  

Ye Tianhui: “And you’re not returning my money?”  

Li San: “Return money? Once it’s in my pocket, you think it’s coming out? Dream on!”  

With that, he turned to leave. 

Ye Tianhui stepped forward and persistently followed, “No way, you must return my money, and the IOU as well. You have to give them to me, or I won’t leave.”  

Li San: “Are you f***ing crazy!”  

Ye Tianhui: “You’re really not going to return my money?”  

Li San: “Who owes you money? Go find whoever you want, but don’t come to me!”  

Just as he finished speaking, Ye Tianhui suddenly raised her fist.  

He was shocked and hadn’t yet understood what was happening when his nose took a punch. His nose felt sore and numb, followed by sharp, gritting pain.  

He couldn’t believe it: “You—you actually hit me? Do you know who I am? You—”  

A little mainland girl actually hit him??  

Ye Tianhui looked at him without much expression. “I don’t care who you are. You cheated me out of my money—watch me beat you to death.”  

With that, she stepped forward and threw another punch.  

Li San wasn’t someone who would take a beating quietly. In his fury, he quickly fought back. However, the seemingly weak and delicate Ye Tianhui turned out to be surprisingly strong. Within a few moments, Li San found himself pinned down, his hands twisted behind his back as Ye Tianhui rained punches on him, leaving him yelping in pain.  

Ye Tianhui: “Don’t be too loud. Even if it hurts, don’t be too loud, or the police will come. If they come, I’ll get deported, but you’ll also be punished. Keep it down and endure it.”  

Li San’s tears and snot flowed together, and after hearing this, they flowed even harder.  

What kind of mainland girl was this? She was clearly about to beat him to death, yet she still advised him so kindly!  

Just then, Ye Tianhui threw another punch: “Where’s my money?”  

Li San trembled and stammered, “I-it’s in my pocket…”  

Ye Tianhui bent down, searched his pocket, and sure enough, found her 150 Hong Kong dollars.  

But she didn’t stop there. She continued rummaging through his other pockets and first found a packet of wife cakes that was still unopened. She was starving, so she kept it for herself.  

She kept searching and discovered a wallet containing her IOU and a stack of Hong Kong dollars.  

She took the IOU first, then counted the Hong Kong dollars—there were over 800 in total.  

This snakehead was loaded.  

She took the 800-plus dollars along with her own 150 and said, “Alright, you can go now.”  

Li San’s eyes widened: “That 800 is mine! That’s my money—”  

This mainland girl was actually robbing him? Wasn’t this outright robbery?  

Hearing this, Ye Tianhui directly raised her foot and stomped hard on Li San’s chest. His face turned pale, and he was too pained to make a sound.  

Ye Tianhui lowered her eyes and looked at the man on the ground. “So what if I take some of your money? I didn’t take your life—consider that my kindness. Shouldn’t you be thanking me?”  

Li San’s vision blurred from the pain. He struggled to lift his gaze toward Ye Tianhui, only to see that the once seemingly fragile mainland girl now exuded a cold and commanding presence. She seemed like a general who made life-and-death decisions for countless people.  

A chill ran down Li San’s back.  

He suddenly recalled Ye Tianhui’s earlier words about fearing she might cheat others and cause them losses…  

At the time, he thought this mainland girl was naïve. Now he understood…  

Shaking all over, he stammered, “Heroine, please spare me, heroine. Take all the money; it’s all yours. I thank you!”  

Ye Tianhui nodded in satisfaction. “Good. Since you’re willing to give it to me, I can accept it with a clear conscience. I told you before—I don’t usually cheat people for no reason.”  

With that, she turned and was about to leave.  

However, halfway through, she came back. Looking at Li San, who was now beaten black and blue on the ground, she sincerely said, “M̀h’gōi.”  

Li San: “…”  

The author has something to say:

“Thank you” here is expressed as “唔该,” which means “thank you” in Cantonese. The female protagonist is very polite.