Chapter 5: Polishing Shoes in the General Affairs Department

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At half past five in the evening, Lin Tiansheng arrived by car at No. 1 Arsenal Factory Street, the Police Headquarters. He went to the General Affairs Department on the first floor of the Wei Jian Building, where he saw a suited officer carrying a shoe bag walking ahead. He slowed his pace slightly and followed behind.

The Wei Jian Building was named after William Jian, the founder of the police force. Compared to the newly completed Meili Building in 1973, it was an old building with only fourteen floors. It housed secondary departments such as the Public Relations Division, the Mobile Unit, and the Forensics Section.

Lin Tiansheng stopped at the corner, lit a cigarette, and watched the suited officer from a distance. The officer approached a work desk, placed down the shoe bag, took out a pair of dirty leather shoes, and said, “Sergeant Zhang, please clean these. Superintendent Mike needs them by tomorrow.”

Behind the General Affairs Department nameplate sat a scruffy, deep-set, middle-aged officer with a weary face. The name tag on his chest identified him as Zhang Jinrong, Senior Sergeant. Unlike the sharply dressed detective exuding an elite aura, Zhang Jinrong was dressed in a T-shirt, biting on a cigarette. The desktop in front of him was covered with ash, and hanging behind was a row of uniforms enclosed in laundry bags.

Zhang Jinrong exhaled, blew the ash on the table away, removed the cigarette from his mouth, and said coldly, “Shift’s over. Fill out a form, and it’ll be cleaned tomorrow.”

The suited officer frowned, flashed his badge, and said, “I’m He Qiwen from the Operations Division. These shoes belong to my boss. They must be ready by tomorrow morning.”

Zhang Jinrong ignored him, putting away the department nameplate. “Sorry, the laundry’s closed.”

“Look at you, General Affairs staff acting all high and mighty, thinking you’re some Wan Chai detective.” He Qiwen slammed his foot on the wooden table, making a loud bang, warning, “If there’s a speck of dust on those shoes by nine tomorrow morning, I’ll make you regret it.”

“Make sure they’re spotless.”

The police force, as a violent organization, had a strict hierarchy and rampant bullying, with many sycophants bending to those in power. He Qiwen threw the shoes at Zhang Jinrong and turned to leave. Passing Lin Tiansheng, he glanced at the gun holster on his waist, his expression softening considerably, and he smiled in acknowledgment without recognizing who he was.

Lin Tiansheng nodded politely in return, memorizing his name. After finishing his cigarette, he stepped toward the General Affairs Department.

By the time he stood before the workstation, Zhang Jinrong had disappeared with the shoes, bent over in the laundry room. With his left hand pressing on the shoe tip and his right hand holding a polishing cloth, he was meticulously cleaning the leather shoes.

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“Are you going to wash your boss’s underwear too, Sergeant He...” Zhang Jinrong teased as footsteps approached from behind.

After a moment, Lin Tiansheng spoke: “Ah Rong.”

Zhang Jinrong suddenly paused, fell silent, and quickened his shoe-polishing motions.

Lin Tiansheng quietly stepped up beside him, picked up the other shoe, looked at the label on the tongue, and lowered his head to polish as he said, “LV, huh? I remember you used to have a pair.”

Zhang Jinrong took a deep breath, avoiding his gaze. “Forgot.”

“The shoes you’ve worn, the roads you’ve walked, the people you’ve met,” Lin Tiansheng smiled wryly. “You’re no fool. How could you forget? I’ve been transferred to the Major Crimes Unit and plan to make a comeback. Interested in helping me out?”

Zhang Jinrong’s cloth slipped from his hand mid-polish, and he cursed angrily, “Damn! What can a shoe cleaner like me do to help you?”

“Brother Lok ran, Brother Sen ran, even Dong Yifu is done for.”

His proudest past identity was as one of Dong Yifu’s trusted enforcers. He had the power to mobilize the largest triad in Dongguan and maintained good relations with Han Sen, the New Territories’ chief detective and ally of the Dongguan triad.

Among the “Big Four Underworld Figures,” he had the strongest connections but was perhaps the weakest in personal strength.

Lin Tiansheng said, “Times have changed, but loyalties remain. At least you can gather some intelligence. When you’re working cases, information is critical. Even the Major Crimes Unit’s intel—I can’t always tell if it’s the truth. What if it’s a trap?”

“I came to you first because you can gather information.”

He paused for a second then said, “Since I transferred to the backwaters, my brothers haven’t been in contact for years. I want to achieve something, call the brothers back.”

Zhang Jinrong’s expression softened, and he forced a dry laugh. “Call them back for what? To polish shoes together?”

Lin Tiansheng shook his head, dropped the shoe on the floor, loosened his belt to reveal his gun, and urinated into the shoe while whistling. “I can help you polish shoes, but I’m not willing to polish white men’s shoes.”

“Call the brothers back, take back what we lost, prove how great we once were. What do you say?”

Zhang Jinrong gripped the shoe tightly, grinding his teeth. “Why? Why now? After all this time, you come to me?”

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Lin Tiansheng was silent for a moment. “Before, I wanted to reach out to you all, but I wasn’t living too honorably. As a boss, you always want to maintain some dignity.”

Zhang Jinrong took a deep breath. “Are you dignified now?”

Lin Tiansheng replied, “I see the opportunity. The white men haven’t managed the police force well. If some oppose them, there will be supporters for us.”

“Although we can’t return to the old world, at least we can have a part, move forward, and build a new enterprise.”

Zhang Jinrong nodded slightly, stared at Lin Tiansheng for a moment, then suddenly threw the shoe against the wall. He strode forward, loosened his belt, and urinated on the shoes on the floor. “Damn it! Three years. I’ve waited three whole years. Do you know how I’ve spent those three years?”

“I thought you’d be stuck in the backwaters forever, polishing shoes for life. Damn!”

Lin Tiansheng adjusted his gun holster, fastened his belt, and placed his hand on Zhang Jinrong’s shoulder, speaking loudly, “These three years, the brothers have had a hard time too. Sorry about that. Come to the Major Crimes Unit tomorrow, stand your ground, then call the brothers to assemble.”

Zhang Jinrong said, “Give me two hundred dollars. Planning to have a good time tonight at the Eastern Cabaret.”

“That place? You can’t last without two thousand. Here’s the last of what I have.” Lin Tiansheng took out his wallet, pulled out ten one-hundred-dollar Hong Kong bills, and smiled. “Have fun.”

“Thanks!” Zhang Jinrong took the money, beaming, and walked alongside the boss out of the Wei Jian Building. Left behind in the laundry room was a pair of brand-name leather shoes reeking of sweat and grime.

Leaving headquarters, Lin Tiansheng found a tea restaurant in Wan Chai to eat barbecued pork rice but did not follow Ah Rong to the Eastern Cabaret. That place was Dong Yifu’s turf, where Ah Rong used to meet with Dongguan triad members. Gathering intelligence and favors required connections and money—sometimes a thousand dollars wasn’t enough; Zhang Jinrong might have to chip in.

Four years ago, after investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Zhang Jinrong and his wife staged a fake divorce to secretly transfer illicit assets. Unexpectedly, his wife became involved with “Whiskers Yong,” a leader of the 14K triad faction, and the sham became real. She absconded with the family fortune, leaving Zhang Jinrong destitute and at rock bottom.

Thinking of his wife’s past as a cabaret singer, one could only say: the heartless prostitute, the unfaithful performer.

But from Lin Tiansheng’s perspective, running off with money after selling in a cabaret was far too common. Zhang Jinrong never treated his wife well or entrusted her with assets—it was all due to circumstances and great risks. Yet, a man with nothing left fears nothing, which suited Lin Tiansheng perfectly.