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Chapter 1148: Clothes The lead officer then said arrogantly, “You’re ten yuan short on the fee.” “No way, officer. It was fifty last time, and isn’t the current regulation fifty a month? Old Wang’s shop next door is similar to mine—he paid fifty too.” Ah Xia’s father frowned. With the new governor’s appointment, the licensing fees had been clearly standardized, and the exact amounts owed were specified—no one could cheat anyone. “Stop all that nonsense. Ten dollars more is ten dollars more,” the officer said impatiently. Ah Xia’s father, of course, wasn’t about to hand over the money blindly, so he spoke up again: “There’s supposed to be documentation for these fees now. Show me the paperwork.” This was a rule Li Mu had established: documents specified the exact fees for every category of vehicle. Even if there were changes, they would be noted in the documents—partly to facilitate auditing, and partly to prevent anyone from interfering. “Do you even read documents? Can you read? Let me tell you, this is an order from our superiors—an extra ten yuan for now. Hurry up and pay up. We’re busy. Can you afford to hold us up on official business?” ” The lead officer was already getting annoyed. To be honest, he hadn’t intended to do this at first, but seeing how well Ah Xia’s little shop had been doing lately, the idea had naturally crossed his mind. Besides, along the way, the street vendor had shown them such deference that he’d grown quite smug, convinced there was nothing wrong with it—after all, the extra ten yuan could easily be split among the few of them. Hearing this, he frowned. He was well aware of the regulations—Li Mu had briefed him in detail, and he’d reviewed the documents himself. Xia’s father’s small shop was indeed subject to a monthly fee of fifty yuan, and he hadn’t altered that regulation. Li Mu wouldn’t dare change it on his own either. This was clearly a case of these officers trying to extort money; otherwise, why wouldn’t they produce the official documents? “Without the official document, I won’t pay this ten yuan. Why don’t you call your superior and have him show me the document himself?” Ah Xia’s father refused outright. He could see right through these officers’ attempt to extort extra money, and he wasn’t about to go along with it. The moment he said this, the officers immediately lost their tempers. They surrounded him and shouted, “How dare you defy the law? Do you know the consequences of not paying the fees? Do you even want to keep running this shabby shop?” “This is an unauthorized surcharge. I won’t pay you, and don’t even think about using this to threaten me. If the higher-ups find out, you won’t end up well.” Ah Xia’s father was in the right, so he naturally spoke with greater confidence, completely unafraid of the police. The officers grew even angrier. At this point, there was no turning back—it was a matter of pride. The lead officer roared, “Fine! Since you dare to break the rules, don’t blame us for being ruthless. Guys, tear this little shop down!” At that, the customers who had been eating inside all rushed out, forming a circle to watch the spectacle. The owners of nearby shops, in particular, had long envied Ah Xia’s shop and were now secretly delighted. The police began overturning tables, and Ah Xia’s father tried to stop them, leading to a scuffle. At that moment, Ah Xia and her mother, who had been cooking inside, also ran out. Seeing this, they immediately cried out in distress, “Stop fighting! Don’t hit my dad (husband)!” But the police weren’t about to listen to them. One of them even pulled out a baton, ready to strike Ah Xia’s father. This was a deadly weapon—not only would it cause excruciating pain, but it could easily result in internal injuries that would take at least ten days to heal. If it struck a vital area like the head, it could even be fatal. Seeing this, Ah Xia and her mother couldn’t think of anything else; they were about to rush forward to stop them. Qian Ruhai was the only guest who hadn’t run out; he was still sitting at the table. He hadn’t intervened immediately earlier because doing so right away would have signaled the end of the confrontation, which would have diminished the significance of his action. But by waiting until the fighting had begun before stepping in, the impact was entirely different—it made his intervention seem like a timely rescue. Besides, with Xiaxia about to charge forward, how could he possibly let his woman get into a brawl with those police officers? “Bang!” The gunshot rang out, piercing the night air. Time seemed to stand still; everyone froze in their tracks, their eyes turning as one toward Qian Ruhai. The onlookers screamed and scattered in all directions, while the police officers instinctively went weak in the knees—they certainly weren’t in the mood to grapple with Ah Xia’s father anymore. “You…” The officers tried to speak but found themselves at a loss for words. They were regular patrol officers, not detectives, and thus had no right to carry firearms; at that moment, they had absolutely no means to counter him. “Who gave you the right to collect illegal fees? Come on, tell me which department you’re under,” he asked calmly. This display left Ah Xia’s parents secretly grateful, and Ah Xia herself was filled with the utmost admiration. Yet at the same time, a hint of worry crossed her face. She was innocent and naive; she only knew that police were powerful. Now, not only was he standing up to them, but he’d actually drawn a gun—that was illegal. Would he get arrested? But those police officers weren’t blind fools. From his attire and demeanor, they could tell something was off—this was definitely no ordinary person. At the very least, he was wealthy. In this day and age, money equaled power; bribing their superiors would be no problem. Besides, he was holding a gun made of gold. This isn’t something money alone can achieve. Firearms are strictly regulated; even police officers like them aren’t authorized to carry them—only criminal investigators are. Not only did he pull it out in public, but it was a genuine gold-plated gun. That meant he was confident he could get away with it. It reminded them of what their instructors had said back in the police academy: such a gun was a symbol. Anyone carrying one was either a high-ranking figure in Hong Kong or someone with deep connections to the city’s elite. As for exactly what constituted “high-ranking,” the instructors hadn’t specified. But surely they must be figures on par with their police commissioner, right? At that moment, they certainly didn’t dare to be disrespectful, especially with the gun muzzle pointed right at them. The lead officer immediately said, “Sir, please calm down. We’re just…” But there was no time for their nonsense, so he cut them off: “Get to the point.” “We’re officers from the Third Squad of the Yau Ma Tei Police Station.” The lead officer shuddered with fear and, without thinking, answered the most crucial question. He nodded and said calmly, “Get lost.” The officers scrambled away in a panic. The onlookers were stunned—they knew this man’s status must be no ordinary one. They all marveled at how incredibly lucky Ah Xia’s father was, and some even considered approaching him to curry favor. After all, they had daughters of their own—not quite as stunning as Ah Xia, but still young and beautiful. If they could establish a connection, they’d have powerful backing in the future. Ah Xia’s dad was well aware of their intentions, and he immediately flew into a rage. He couldn’t let someone else snatch this kind of connection away from him. He understood exactly what the previous scene meant—this was definitely a big shot. Though he didn’t know just how big, or even what kind of title such a person held. “Everyone, please disperse,” Ah Xia’s father said. “I’ll cover the bill for today’s meal—no need to pay. Don’t linger here; there’s nothing to see.” It was a clear signal to shoo them away. And since he—who was usually so tight-fisted—was even waiving the bill, the onlookers naturally felt awkward about lingering any longer and began to disperse. In the end, only Xia’s family and Qian Ruhai remained. At that moment, Xia’s father bowed formally and said, sounding a bit nervous, “Thank you, Boss, for coming to our rescue.” “Yes, thank you, sir,” Xiaxia’s mother quickly chimed in. Only Ah Xia was still a bit dazed, unsure of what to do. She just stared blankly, her eyes sparkling with admiration. No woman dislikes a strong man, especially one who is both handsome and wealthy—it gives her a sense of absolute security. Qian Ruhai shrugged and said, “There’s no need for all this. Relax—we’re family. Why be so formal? You won’t have to pay any fees from now on.” Hearing this, Ah Xia’s father immediately perked up: “That’s right, we’re family.” To him, this was a clear hint—he’d definitely set his sights on his daughter. They’d be family from now on; this was a major source of support. However, he was still a bit unsure about the second part of the statement and couldn’t help but ask, “Why don’t we have to pay the fees anymore? Is that really possible?” “Of course you can. Since I said it, I have the authority to make this decision. Don’t ask for details—you’ll find out soon enough. No police will come to collect fees from you again.” He spoke with an air of unquestionable authority. “Oh, I see.” Seeing that he wasn’t willing to reveal more, Ah Xia’s father didn’t dare to ask further. But it was clear that he now truly had a powerful backer. If he didn’t have to pay the fees anymore, he could save fifty yuan a month, and life would be a little better from now on. “Alright, that’s it for tonight. I’m leaving.” Seeing that the matter was settled, he had no intention of staying any longer. Ah Xia’s father immediately pushed his daughter forward and said, “Let Ah Xia see you out.” “Sure.” He smiled at Ah Xia, and her face flushed again, but she still walked over to him and said, “I… I’ll walk you out.” “Hmm, not bad. You’ve made progress. You finally know to see me off. I’ve always felt a bit reluctant to leave, and now I can finally make up for that.” He was, of course, a master at picking up girls, and his sweet talk was smooth as silk. Xia’s face flushed all the way to her neck. She’d never heard such sweet talk before, and she was naturally overjoyed; you could see just how happy she was from the look on her face. “I’ll walk you home from now on.” That was the boldest confession Ah Xia felt she could muster. Savoring this innocent affection, he took her hand and said, “Come on, let’s go stroll through the market.” “Oh, but that’s not a good idea. My parents will scold me.” With her small hand held so firmly, Ah Xia was suddenly flustered and didn’t know what to do, but his palm was so broad and strong that it gave her a sense of reassurance. “Don’t worry. I guarantee your parents would be thrilled—they won’t scold you. Besides, we’re in the open. What’s there to fear? Didn’t you see your dad even asked you to walk me home?” Qian Ruhai said with a smile. Such a simple and beautiful, innocent love. “Alright,” Ah Xia said shyly; if you weren’t right behind her ear, you wouldn’t have heard a word she said. He then took Ah Xia’s hand and led her toward the nearby night market. Hong Kong was indeed a bustling place; the night markets usually stayed open until very late. After walking for a while, Ah Xia finally stopped feeling nervous and shy; she was much more at ease. Now, her youthful innocence began to show. Looking at the person she loved and admired beside her, she asked, “Sir, you’re so amazing! You actually have a gun—and it’s made of gold, too. Who exactly are you? Why are you allowed to carry a gun, and why don’t those police officers dare to arrest you? It seems like they’re actually pretty afraid of you.” “We’re holding hands now—why are you still calling me ‘sir’? From now on, just call me Qian Ruhai. As for why I have a gun and why those police officers are afraid of me, it’s naturally because I’m so formidable. I’ll let you in on a little secret: I have powerful connections. No one in Hong Kong dares to cross me.” he said, half-jokingly. Qian Ruhai’s words weren’t entirely clear; most people would have taken them as a joke. But Ah Xia was naturally innocent and actually believed him. This backfired, however, because what he said wasn’t a joke at all. As the Governor of Hong Kong, naturally no one could afford to cross him—not even anyone in the entire world. With over a million elite, loyal troops, he had defeated Great Britain, occupied the island nation, and had it ceded to him. Even the Americans had to walk on eggshells around him. “Qian Ruhai, thank you.” Ah Xia knew that without him, her family would be in a terrible state right now. Those police officers would never have let it go, but he had protected them. Besides saying “thank you,” she didn’t know what else to say to express her gratitude and admiration for Qian Ruhai. “Enough with the thanks—you’ve said it several times already. Come on, I’ll take you for a proper stroll,” Qian Ruhai said, leading Ah Xia toward the night market. Arriving at the market, they once again experienced the bustling atmosphere of Hong Kong back then. Although it wasn’t as developed or filled with new things as the modern society he was used to, it had everything from traditional snacks to all kinds of goods. Since both he and Ah Xia had already eaten, they naturally couldn’t eat much of the street food, but he still bought quite a few other items for Ah Xia, such as roses and watches. Eventually, the two made their way to the clothing section. Back then, Hong Kong naturally didn’t have advanced places like shopping malls; it was considered quite good if a clothing vendor had their own shop. Now, he had brought Ah Xia to just such a store. Many parts of Hong Kong bore the influence of Britain—this shop, for instance, seemed to take a cue from British luxury brands. The decor was quite upscale, and the clothes inside looked high-end as well. The sales staff were all stunningly beautiful women, dressed in rather sexy attire. “Come on, let’s go in and take a look. The clothes look pretty good. You can’t keep wearing those cheap street-stall clothes. You’re my woman—I can’t let you go without.” he said to Ah Xia. In the past, Ah Xia had lived a hard life and dressed very plainly. Although it couldn’t hide her beauty, it did conceal it to some extent. Now that she was his official girlfriend, how could he possibly let her wear street-stall clothes? Of course, seeing a store like this still made Ah Xia a little nervous. After all, she’d seen this shop before—the clothes were tempting, but she’d never dared to go inside. The prices started at fifty yuan, and she simply didn’t have that kind of money to spend. Even now that she was with Qian Ruhai, she still felt a bit intimidated. “Qian Ruhai, I think we should just skip it. The clothes in there probably won’t suit me anyway,” Ah Xia said softly, still lacking confidence. “Wrong. If there aren’t any pretty clothes, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any that suit you. It just means this store is too run-down and doesn’t have clothes pretty enough to do you justice.”