NABC Chapter 8: They've figured out human nature completely!
Chapter 8: They've figured out human nature completely!
Zhang Guohao was also speechless. He didn't enjoy any of the good life when he was living the high life, but now he's been reduced to being a thug, and he's the one doing all the work.
"Sir, is there anything else you need? Ointment, singing girls, or anything else? We have it all."
Seeing that Zhang Guohao had finished eating, the waiter came in, clearing away the plates while asking him a question.
"No need, I'm going to take a nap. Don't come in unless I call you."
Zhang Guohao waved his hand and said, "What does this guy think he is? These mediocre hobbies are not worthy of me at all!"
My most important thing right now is to make money! Only with money can I live well in Hong Kong.
Zhang Guohao slept straight until four in the afternoon. He casually stretched, and his joints cracked and popped, but he felt extremely comfortable.
The South is too humid. The places I sleep these days are mostly damp. I don't have any money in my pocket, so I'm lucky to have a place that's sheltered from the wind.
After taking a hot bath and getting a massage, Zhang Guohao felt incredibly comfortable, to the very core of his being.
I pressed the call bell inside the room, and immediately there was a knock on the door.
"Sir, what are your orders?"
A genuine Beijing accent then rang out. This is the only time you can still hear such a clear and accurate Beijing accent on Hong Kong Island. In another ten or twenty years, it will become increasingly rare.
"What kind of opera is being performed outside?"
Zhang Guohao asked the waiter.
"Replying to your question, sir, today's performance is the complete 'Dragon and Phoenix Bring Auspiciousness,' sung by a renowned actor from the capital."
The waiter said politely.
Zhang Guohao nodded without saying anything. After all, he didn't know much about Peking Opera, and he only knew Mei Lanfang, though he occasionally hummed a few lines. He didn't watch many full-length operas.
"Lead the way."
Zhang Guohao asked his waiter to lead the way, planning to have dinner while listening to the opera.
Are there any quiet houses around here?
On the way, Zhang Guohao looked around at the deliberately aged-looking decorations while asking the shop assistant about the house.
Restaurants, teahouses, and bathhouses that are frequented by many people often act as intermediaries, since more people mean more information, and they can often find out about any news in advance.
When you're out in the world, it's natural to stick together. Before the internet existed, the first people you'd look for were your fellow villagers.
When fellow villagers meet, are they filled with tears, or do they stab each other in the back? Generally speaking, the more common outcome is tears.
Ordinary people wouldn't risk having their ancestral graves dug up to deceive their fellow villagers.
These fellow villagers who work in the service industry are also honored guests at their family gatherings when they return home. Many people rely on them to introduce jobs, so they won't easily ruin their reputation. Earning brokerage fees honestly is enough; a steady stream of income is the only way to make a living.
Zhang Guohao, being from the north, would naturally seek help from other northerners when looking for a place to live, since there are relatively few northerners here.
The further south you go, the more people come to Hong Kong Island. People from Guangdong Province, in particular, tend to stick together in groups based on their county or town.
People from Sanyi, Dongguan, Guangzhou, Hakka, and Chaoshan are categorized in great detail.
Most importantly, Zhang Guohao's bath ticket is the highest grade, which allows him to serve the most high-end customers. If he were to cheat a customer, the bathhouse owner would have to have the employee drowned without the customer even having to lift a finger.
"Sir, you've come to the right place. I have connections in all three price ranges of houses: high-end, mid-range, and low-end. I guarantee they're good quality, affordable, clean, and tidy."
When the waiter heard that Zhang Guohao was looking for a house, his eyes lit up. The way Zhang Guohao acted when he came in didn't seem like someone who was short of money. Although his clothes were a bit worn, he had a certain air about him and didn't look like a country bumpkin. He looked like someone who had seen the world.
Customers like this are unlikely to find a bad place to live, so the commission is quite substantial.
"Then please help me look around. I need to find a place that's close to the Kowloon pier, but also secluded. Ideally, it should be a detached house with a small courtyard."
"Don't go to those shady places, I'm not short of money."
Zhang Guohao took out a ten-yuan note and handed it over.
"Don't worry, sir, I will definitely find the most suitable place for you."
The man was even happier when he saw the money.
"What's your name?"
Zhang Guohao then asked, "Next time I come, I need to remember who to look for."
"Look at me, I forgot to introduce myself. My surname is Liu, and everyone calls me Liu San the Painted Eyebrows."
The waiter lightly slapped his mouth, striking a pose with great poise. How could he let a customer ask his name? He had to introduce himself first!
Anyway, no matter what the fault is, it's always the waiter's fault; the customer can't be at fault.
"You're not kidding me, are you? Isn't this someone from a storyteller's tale?"
Zhang Guohao stopped and looked at Liu San.
In many storytelling performances, all the waiters are called "Painted Eyebrow Liu San".
"Sir, my real name is Liu San. It just so happens that I bumped into someone from a storytelling performance, so I took the opportunity to also be called Liu San the Painted Eyebrows, just for good luck."
Liu San bowed and explained.
"You've got potential, kid."
Zhang Guohao smiled. There are smart people everywhere. At this time, they know how to ride the wave of popularity. There are many northerners who love to listen to storytelling. Anyone who hears the name Liu San match the characters in the storytelling will pay more attention.
Upon arriving at the rest hall, Zhang Guohao was deeply moved to see the full performance of "Dragon and Phoenix Bring Auspiciousness" on stage.
Such a full-length opera is generally not heard outside of proper theaters, let alone in Hong Kong Island, where Cantonese opera is performed there.
The glory days of Peking Opera in Hong Kong have only lasted for the last two years; every time we hear it, it's one less time we'll have to listen to it.
However, the owner of Huaqing Pool is very ambitious and willing to spend a lot of money. The decoration, service and entertainment are all top-notch and the most expensive. It is a veritable money pit.
"Go get me a braised pork knuckle, a chicken, a fish, a pound of beef, a pound of rice, and a pot of good Longjing tea. That's all I need for this meal."
"We've chosen a slightly secluded spot," Zhang Guohao said to the man leading the way.
"Understood, sir, please wait a moment."
The waiter nodded, bent down and took three steps towards Zhang Guohao before turning around and quickly going to help Zhang Guohao prepare his food.
These are all the rules for the waiters. As the center of the Manchu rule, the waiters in the capital all have a servile attitude.
Zhang Guohao can't make money in this line of work; he doesn't have the good temper to accept things passively.
Soon, the four dishes and a pound of rice were served, and Zhang Guohao devoured them all in no time.
Then I bought a new set of clothes at the bathhouse, changed into my old clothes, and then paid the bill and left.
A bathhouse of this size is similar to a high-end club in later times, providing almost everything from food and drink to entertainment, clothing, food, housing, and transportation.
I guess the owner just wants to squeeze every penny out of the customers who come to take a bath. You come to take a bath, get all clean, and then you have to change into a new set of clothes. He's really figured out human nature.
The price is quite attractive; a bath ticket, food, drinks, and clothes all cost just over a hundred yuan.