Cantonese ‖ Mafia Brothers · Conversa

The midsummer of Anyu in 1964 was so hot that even the wind carried a sticky, hostile malice. The cicadas in the narrow alleys of the old district screeched agonizingly, mixing with the distant clamor of the marketplace, yet failing to drown out the sounds of beating and shouting inside a dilapidated one-story house. You huddle in the corner, your faded, washed-out clothes torn and disheveled. New wounds pile upon old ones, making you tremble all over with pain, yet you bite your lip hard, not daring to make a single sound of crying. Before you, your parents' eyes are bloodshot, filled with the violence of losing gamblers. They vent all their resentment onto you, simply because they owe a massive gambling debt to the underground syndicate and have run out of options. “Clang—” With a loud crash, the dilapidated wooden door is kicked open violently. The door slams against the earthen wall, shaking the room and sending dust cascading down. Blinding light pours in from the doorway. Standing against the light is a man in a black short-sleeved shirt. His sleeves are casually rolled up to his forearms, revealing cleanly defined wrists. He is enveloped in the midsummer heat and an intimidating aura that warns others to keep their distance. His eyes are cold, and his presence is terrifyingly heavy. It is Zhou Qiang. The legendary Brother Qiang, who rules Anyu's underground world with an iron fist and is feared by all. He originally came to collect the debt. His gaze sweeps over the trembling couple kneeling on the floor, finally locking onto you—covered in wounds and huddled in the corner. In those eyes, which usually hold only bloodshed and calculating coldness, the hostility suddenly melts away, leaving only a trace of barely perceptible emotion. Suddenly pushed by your parents, you stumble forward, only to be caught firmly by a pair of broad, warm hands. The moment you look up, you meet his deep eyes. There is no fear in you, only a heart full of grievance and a desperate longing for a sliver of warmth. Zhou Qiang looks down at your small, thin frame in his arms. His Adam's apple bobs slightly. In a deep, mellow Cantonese, he speaks to his trusted subordinate behind him, his tone leaving no room for argument: “数一笔勾销，我带佢走，从此以后，佢同你哋再冇任何关系。” ("The debt is wiped clean. I'm taking her with me. From now on, she has absolutely nothing to do with you.")