Kong Ergou - Triads & Turbulence - Volume Two: Once Upon a Time in Northeastern China

In the spring of 1992, an old man close to 90 years old dragged his frail and weary body onto a south-bound train. This old man wanted to offer his last spark of energy to the republic by giving a renewed boost to badly stagnating reforms. As the old mans thick Sichuan accent swept through every corner of the country, from north to south, 1992 marked a new page in the history of the republic.

Zhao Hongbing was released from prison in autumn 1992. Ergou clearly remembers it as a cold and drizzly day that drove all the citys residents to begin laying up their winter stores of cabbage. Zhao Hongbing was 28 years old and had spent four of his prime years in prison.

Hongbings appearance was virtually unchanged. He still looked young and gallant, and he still walked with the ramrod posture of a soldier. As he passed through the prison gates, he gazed up and took a deep breath. Although the sky was gray and overcast, the air was fresh. Even more important, it was the air of freedom. Hongbing didnt look back; they say that people who look back as they leave prison are sure to return.

Hongbings gang brothers had been waiting for him outside since morning. His release was a major event. The first to enter his line of vision was a slim, refined-looking young man wearing a black European-style suite and snow-white shirt. He was grinning sardonically as he leaned against a brand new black sedan.

Zhang Yue! Hongbing shouted.

He later recalled how good it felt to shout someones name after the stifling repression of the last four years.

Hongbing! Zhang Yue didnt shout, but his large eyes swam with tears.

The second person Zhao Hongbing saw was Little Beijing, who remained silent and motionless on his perch on the back bumper of a beat-up Lincoln town car. Little Beijing had missed Hongbing immensely, and had lost much of his garrulousness in his friends absence.

Get in! Time for a drink!

It was Liu Haizhu who spoke and stepped forward to grab the duffle bag in Hongbings hand, carrying it to his self-assembled green pick-up truck. Liu Haizhu wore a black fedora instead of his bamboo hat, but the same old goatee. His steely grip made Hongbing wince.

Hey, Im here, too! shouted Sun Dawei, sporting the hairstyle of Hong Kong megastar Aaron Kwok, from astride a black motorcycle. He was looking more than a little pleased with himself.

Dawei, thats one shitty haircut! Zhao Hongbing was so out of touch with the latest social trends that he knew nothing about Hong Kongs Four Kings of Cantopop, much less that Sun Daweis hair style was all the rage among Chinas youth.

Its called blow-dried, you dope! Dawei teased. Youve been in prison too long!

Zhao Hongbing smiled.

Way to go, Dawei, said Zhang Yue with a glare.

That shut Dawei up immediately. He could joke with Zhao Hongbing, but a single look from Zhang Yue could stop him in his tracks.

Hongbing, jump in with Brother Liu! shouted Feisi, flashing a good-natured grin from the window of Little Beijings car. Lets get a drink before it starts raining!

As Zhao Hongbing opened the door of Liu Haizhus car, someone grabbed his collar and pulled him in. It was Xiaoji, who had been waiting inside. How the hell do you still look the same? he demanded, pounding on Hongbings chest.

You havent changed either! grinned Zhao Hongbing. Shouldnt you look more settled, now youre a married man?

His heart glowed at the sight of these old friends whod been through so much with him. After their long wait, they wasted no more time in heading back to the city. Their entourage of three cars and a motorbike quite a spectacle back then, in the early 1990s.

Wheres Lisi? Zhao Hongbing asked, suddenly noticing his absence.

Hes at the restaurant ordering the food.

Which restaurant are we going to?

Only the best in town! said Xiaoji.

So which is the best restaurant now? Hongbing and his friends had always patronized just two or three top eateries before hed gone to prison.

The Asian Games Restaurant, of course!

Wheres that? Who runs it?

Its yours! laughed Xiaoji

Mine... ? Zhao Hongbing was bewildered.

Of course its yours! But for the time being the boss is a guy named Shen, said Liu Haizhu.

So hes running a restaurant called Asian Games? Whered he get such a crappy name? laughed Zhao Hongbing.

He knew that after hed gone to prison, Little Beijing hadnt renewed the lease on the hotel by the train station, and had started a restaurant downtown. But hed had no idea what the new joint was called.

Who cares if the name sucks? Its still the best in town! Liu Haizhus unusual high spirits showed how happy he was to see Zhao Hongbing. Shen always knows what hes doing. He opened it just when Beijing hosted the Asian Games in 1990. Asias on the rise these days, you know.

When Shen visited me in prison, he said hed take me for a ride in his new car when he got out. Wheres the car? I didnt have a chance to ask him just now.

Didnt you see it? He was sitting in it!

That old beater?

Thats it.

He spent more than 100,000 on that old wreck? I thought he said hed bought a new car. In prison, Zhao Hongbing had been dreaming about what Little Beijings new motor looked like, and it was nothing like that broken-down Lincoln.

Its a newly-bought old car, said Xiaoji.

Zhao Hongbings head spun; Little Beijing had been playing word games with him. He knew Little Beijing had a different way of thinking from most people, but who would have guessed hed spend so much on a used car? Hongbing was ready to strangle him.

Over at the restaurant, Zhao Hongbing was given the place of honor. Apart from Li Wu, who was still in prison, Liu Haizhu and the rest of Hongbings six gang brothers were all there, along with Zhang Yues three gang brothers. When Zhao Hongbing looked around the 300-square-foot VIP room in this fabulous restaurant that belonged to him, and at the friends he hadnt seen in years, his heart almost burst with happiness.

Hongbings father had been right in seeing Little Beijing as able and true to his word. In the four years Hongbing had been in prison, Little Beijing had stayed in the city, not only looking after the elder Mr. Zhao when he became terminally ill, but also managing to build up a successful business for himself and Zhao Hongbing. Of course, some said Hongbings third sister Hongyan gave Little Beijing a further reason to stick around. In any case, Little Beijing got the thumbs-up from everyone who knew what hed done.

So youre telling me you spent more than 100,000 on that beat-up Lincoln? Those were the first words Little Beijing heard Hongbing say as he entered the VIP room.