My adventure as a hawker - Page 38

tuikboo · #**556** 22-03-2017, 11:17 AM

Didn't really pay attention to the User CP in the past.

Now I know who up my points.

Thanks to tuikboo, sykleon, pussluver, sadsky18 & some anonymous samsters who upped my points in the past🤓[/QUOTE]

Enjoy ur power bro...

ilikeoldchangke · #**557** 22-03-2017, 02:28 PM

It took a while for the realisation that the results were a draw to sink in.

What started as a initial confusion soon evolved into panic. The chattering started, the volume of the voices got louder and eventually people were standing and gesturing.

Terry demanded a recount, accusing Tracy of making a mistake.

I almost rolled my eyes at him if not for the grave atmosphere in the room. There’s only 8 votes, how many times you need to count that ?

Tracy held up the tokens in both hands, flashing them to the floor and declared the vote a tie. Uncle Po stepped forward and verified the vote before nodding as well.

The voices from the floor got louder and louder.

Terry was literally shouting while Ben asked him to shut up.

Ah Keong was in a daze, he blinked a few times, looking at Roland, Lucy, Terry and King, and even as he looked at them, he seemed confused and lost at the same time.

Only Fungye grinned and laughed , so did his followers that sat at the same table as him.

Uncle Po : 4 Votes for Ah Keong….. 4 votes for Andy ….

That was all he managed to say when the room erupted into chaos. Ah Keong’s men who were peering through every available crevices and windows tried to push their way into the main hall.

It’s like a switch had been activated, all of the guest’s followers stood up at the same time. With Tracy’s men taking the lead, they formed a impenetrable human wall along the invisible boundary.

It happened so fast I had no time to react.

They just shoved and pushed everyone out of the main hall.

Uncle Po : Only the guest and elders shall remain in the room….

He came down from the stage, and walked behind the men that was chasing everyone out of the room.

I was in a blur as well.

I’m not even sure what to do.

With so many bodies shoving and pushing around, I did what I could to protect Kate, shielding her from the mass of bodies.

Once we were out of the room, I quickly pulled Kate aside towards the edge of the action, closer to where the food and refreshments were.

Jake : Kate… Kate… I need to tell you something….. it’s urgent…

I whispered harshly as I dragged Kate a distance away from everyone onto the grass patch at the side of the house.

Jake : I have the 9th vote…

Kate : WHAT !!!

Jake : I have the 9th vote !!!....

Kate’s eyes widened in shock as she looked behind her shoulder and to our immediate surrounding.

Then she started hitting me seriously with a frown on her face.

Kate : You fucking idoit !!!

She landed several punches on my arm and shoulder, hammering as she cursed at me.

I told her I found it on that day at Bukit Chandu by accident.

Jake : It just landed on my feet…. In front of me… i…. I also don’t know what to do !!..

Kate patted her own chest and tried to calm herself down as she glared at me.

Jake : Look… we can fix this…. Let’s go in… I’ll vote for Andy…. We’ll win… !

Kate screamed and grabbed a tuff of my hair, shaking as I yelped in pain.

Jake ; Ahhhhh…

Kate : I want to strangle you so bad !!!

Kate took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as she paced around the grass patch.

Jake : Quick… tell Gabriel… call him… we need to get inside there now… !

Kate : Don’t be stupid Jake.. !!... the vote works only if you bring it up before the vote !!!! NOT AFTER !!!

Jake : Why not ??

Kate : Have you voted before ??? You dimwit…. You ever saw people waving their vote to tell their MP they haven voted yet after the election is over ?!!!

Jake : Oh… that’s true…

Kate sighed and buried her face in her palms.

Jake : Then what do I do now ???

Kate looked around and lowered her volume before warning me.

Kate : You keep your bloody mouth shut…. You tell no one about the 9th vote you hear me !!!...

She grabbed my shoulders and shook them.

Kate : You understand me Jake ?

I nodded my head.

Kate : Tell no one and keep it safe…. No one must know you have it….not even any of the elders…

Jake : Why ??

Kate : We can still use it…. At the inauguration…. …If Fungye decides to muscle in….as a matter of formality, he needs to throw a banquet…. Introduce himself to the organisation formally….

Jake : I can use the vote then ???

Before Kate could answer me, we saw Uncle Po come out from the back door, he was walking down the side where Kate and I were standing. We were the closest to him and he approached us right away.

Uncle Po : Hey you… bring some drinks… and food in…

Jake : Ok… ok… right away…

Kate and I sprang into action and she went to my parents and grabbed 2 trays of fried wantons, stacking them on top of another while I grabbed 2 cartons of drinks from the table.

Uncle Po gestured to us and we followed him to the back.

As we were nearing the back entrance, some of Ah Keong’s men spotted us and they shouted that the door at the back is opened.

Uncle Po : Quick … come in !

Kate and I rushed into the back of the house and Uncle Po barely shut and bolted the door before a few of Ah Keong’s men arrived and started hammering on it. They shouted to be let in but were ignored by Uncle Po.

2 of Tracy’s men arrived and they stood guard at the door we just entered.

Uncle Po : Follow me…

We fell in step and entered the hall once more. Uncle Po directed us to distribute the drinks and leave the food on the tables. It doesn’t look like another was in the mood to eat anything.

I saw Gabriel trying to reason with Tracy as I set down the drinks.

Gabriel : Tracy !.... look… this cannot be right…

Tracy remained expressionless and she held up her palm at Gabriel with her wrist still resting on the table.

Tracy : Gabriel….. we’re here as neutrals….our role is to validate and enforce the decision of the elders….. the same reason and role that you undertake during our own elections….

Tracy took a drink and opened it , taking a sip before she went on.

Tracy : We have 80 branches , all over the world… if rules are not enforced…. And people object to the results of elections just because it does not align with their choices and beliefs, we would have collapsed a long time ago…… I believe the same applies for you as well…

Gabriel : Tracy…. But…

Tracy turned away from Gabriel, her body language is clear. There is to be no more debate on this matter.

Suddenly Gabriel stood up and announced he would void his own vote.

Gabriel : I concede my vote…. Ah Keong wins…

Ah Keong was still in a world of his own and he looked shocked and puzzled at Gabriel .

Andy immediately followed suit and announced his withdrawal from the contest as well.

ilikeoldchangke · #**558** 22-03-2017, 02:29 PM

Andy : I give up my contest as a candidate…..i’ll concede to Ah Keong….. he wins…

The expressions on Ah Keong’s face is a mixture of pure confusion and bewilderment. He still hasn’t wrapped his mind around what was happening.

Until Uncle Ben got up and said he would void his vote as well did Ah Keong finally get what they were trying to do

Ah Keong : ohh… ohh.. yes… yes…ermmm..errrr… so I win…. I win… they void their vote right… so I win… ??

Uncle Po : Doesn't work that way guys.... and you know it...

Uncle Po raised both his hands to silence the floor before announcing that as per the rules of the organisation, if it comes to a tie, Fungye would preside over the rest of the election.

All eyes went to him and he grinned.

Fungye’s voice was surprisingly loud and powerful given his age.

Fungye : Let’s here what the candidate have to say before I decide…..

He pointed to Ah Keong and said since he was the hot favourite, he would like to know what he can do for the organisation .

Fungye : Get up there…. And tell me…. tell me what can you do…. For the family…

Ah Keong looked a little lost and nervous as he stepped up to the front. Some people are just not used to public speaking or to address a crowd. Ah Keong is one of them .

To put it bluntly, he’s just a grunt.

He was unprepared and he was not confident enough to project his voice loud enough.

Ah Keong : I…. I have….. I have the most men…. Among all the elders !...

I saw Roland closed his eyes and massaged his forehead with both hands as Ah KEong went on.

Ah Keong : I…. my…..I have one of the largest construction company….we also hold several properties….

Fungye : yes… yes… I know all that….. what I want to know… is what can you do…. For the organisation !!.....

Ah Keong : I will take it to greater heights…… I will restore it to it’s former glory !!! We will increase our headcount… and manpower… !...

Fungye just laughed, smacking the table in amusement.

He pointed to Ah Keong and turned to the rest of the elders.

Fungye : Him ??? You all are voting him to be your leader ?? hahaha.. hahaa…

Ah Keong stormed off the front and got back to his seat, fuming in anger from the humiliation.

Fungye turned next to Andy, gesturing rudely to him.

Fungye : Andy !!... you’re up… go…

Andy was a lot more composed and he stepped up confidently.

Fungye : Tell us…. What is your plan….

Andy spent a second too long exchanging glare at Fungye before he started.

Andy : Times are changing…our old ways don’t work any longer…. This is the reason why the family has been constantly evolving as we move along…. We’ve diversified slowly over the years into business, properties and investments…moving forward….

Fungye : Don’t try to act professional la fuck…. A gangster is a gangster…. Hurry up…

Andy was pissed but he continued his speech to the floor.

Andy : We’ve phased out some of our activities over the years, gambling, 4D betting, sports betting….. going forward, our core focus should be on legitimate businesses….

Fungye cut in for the 2nd time.

Fungye : Fuck you understand…. You are just giving up a lucrative side of the business to your competitor…..you stupid fool….

Andy shot back immediately with a salvo.

Andy : What we did….. is right…. This is the very reason why we are out here now…. And not rotting in jail with our competitor. !..

Fungye : It’s a fucking stupid idea I tell you…. You’re burning boatloads of cash by not taking in the bets….

Andy : We made good use of our previous revenue, diversifying into investment grade properties…. Their returns…..

Fungye slammed his hand on the table and shouted again,

Fungye : Don’t fucking tell me about the returns of your properties when you are charging shit rent to everyone you lease to….

Andy was quiet for a brief moment and Fungye continued his rant.

Fungye : Every mother fucker on that table is paying rent so low ….. it’s ridiculous….so don’t tell me about your returns…. It’s shit… it’s time you start bringing drugs back in…

Andy : No. giving up the drug option was the best move Boss made when he was alive…..we need to understand the environment in which we operate…..there are grey areas of the law, where money could be made…. But in areas where there are zero tolerance….. like drugs… we maintain our stand in not………

Fungye stood up and raised his voice so loud that it silenced the people outside the hall as well.

Fungye : That…. Was the MOST…. STUPID…… THING… I EVER HEARD !!!.... AND I TELL YOU….. NOT BRINGING IN DRUGS…. IS THE MOST STUPID DECISION MY BROTHER EVER MADE….

Fungye turned , not only to the elders but to the rest who were peering in from the windows and addressed everyone at the same time.

Fungye : You stupid fools…. Everyday I see news of you bitching….. and complaining about how packed your trains are…. How expensive your cars are….bitching and complaining about your miserable lives in Singapore…… you know the reason why ???

Fungye paused and pointed a finger at the crowd, running it across an arc at the crowd, challenging anyone who would answer his question.

Fungye : That’s because you people… don’t know how to have fun !!... that euphoria of shooting it into your veins… feeling it go into your bloodstreams…

Andy : We shall not discuss this any longer…

Fungye : I’m not finished !!!

Andy : You are !!....

Fungye and Andy spoke at the same time. Each trying to outdo the other with their voices.

Fungye : I can buy every fucker in this room a car with one shipment.

Andy : You bring anything beyond 15 grams…

Fungye : Fuck you and your grams… I’m talking hundreds of KGs….

Andy : Our men… have wives and family !!! who’s going to carry it for it…

Fungye ; This is why you would remain at the bottom of the ladder !!... you only need to sacrifice but 1 man for the shipment …. And hundreds would benefit !!...

Andy : Fuck you…

Fungye : Fuck you Andy … you know who you are talking to

Andy : You have no fucking idea what you are talking about… this is Singapore we …..

Fungye : I am born here as well !.... so don’t fucking go …and…

Andy : We are moving forward…. As business men…. Not some half fuck low grade criminals…

Fungye : The most successful businessmen are all criminals in their own right…. Don’t come and…

Andy : You live under fucking rock….

Fungye : You…. Are not fit to lead …

Andy : No one would buy your drugs…

Fungye ; That’s because you don’t know how to market them !!!! ….

Fungye slammed the table several times pointing a finger at Andy.

Fungye : You have to penetrate the schools….. start them young… introduce them to this wonderful world…. Create the market and demand…

Andy : Go fuck yourself Fungye.. …

Fungye : hahahah… whahaha.. hahaa…

He laughed as Andy stared at him , speechless.

Fungye : Look at all of you…. Like a bunch of loose sand…. Pussies…

He lectured the elders, telling them that they are in that exact position because of their own doing.

Fungye : Your disunity…..gave me this opportunity… I will make this organisation rise again…

He turned to Andy next and added.

ilikeoldchangke · #**559** 22-03-2017, 02:31 PM

Fungye : Don’t worry…. It’ll probably take a few months for me to get into the groove of things….see how is everything being run here…. Then… we’ll see what is the best way to bring my good stuff in here eh… ahahahahahah…

Andy glared at Fungye with a grim expressions with both of his hands in his pocket.

Fungye addressed all who were listening.

Fungye : Don’t worry about the police… or authorities…. I have so many of them in my pocket in Taiwan…. How much does it cost here??? I’ll buy them all !!!hahaahha….

No one laughed , that is until Andy opened his mouth.

Andy : Oh… that is one thing I’m sure you cannot afford….. that’s our politicians…. You know what is the pay they are drawing… ??

Scattered laughs broke out among the men and elders as Fungye glared at Andy.

Fungye : We’ll be reorganising alright….restructure as you call it…. For the future…. And along the way…. If any elders….. wishes to leave…. You are welcomed to do so….

Uncle Po pressed Fungye for a decision.

Uncle Po : Fungye…. Do you have a decision ?

Fungye : Oh fuck yeah….. neither of the 2…. Are worthy to lead…..

Fungye walked to the middle of the floor with his hands stretched out like Christ the redeemer statue in Brazil. With his hands out, he slowly turned anti-clockwise a full circle before announcing his intent.

Fungye : I will…. Gladly accept… the position to lead the family….. into the future…

Voices of protest broke out and almost all the elders stood up at the same time.

Fungye : That is all I have to say… hahah… hahaha…. Hahahahahha…. Haha…

Tracy stood up together with Leonard and Ollie while the rest of their men cleared a path for their departure.

Gabriel went over to Uncle Po and whispered something in his ears. Uncle Po nodded.

Fungye went over to Gabriel and said he looked forward to the handover and for a tour of the country like what Gabriel promised.

Fungye : I hope this won’t affect our relationship….. as relatives….it’s a… practical decision….. and I look forward to the tour….of your beautiful country…. Haha…hahahahah….

Fungye turned and left as Gabriel gathered the rest of the elders.

Everyone else was to leave the room including Kate and me.

I got back out into the open and my parents chided me for staying inside the hall for so long.

Mum : Which part of not mixing with this group of people do you not understand Jake !!

I ignored her and I went over to Kate again.

Jake : What now? ?

She just gestured for me to wait for a minute.

Tracy was still waiting for her ride and she came over to say goodbye to Kate.

Tracy : Maybe we can grab coffee…. This couple of days…when I’m here..

Kate : Sure… let’s do..

I waited till Kate was alone before I went over. She dragged me back to a corner of the courtyard.

Jake : We’re all fucked aren’t we….

Kate : You can say that…

Jake : What do we do now ?? We should tell Gabriel and the others about the 9th vote..

Kate : NO!...

Jake : Why not ??

Kate reasoned that they would be so angry with me that they might just kill me on the spot. If either Ah Keong or Andy had that vote, none of this would happen.

Jake : Shit… what have I done…

Kate : Keep that vote safe…. Tell no one… it will still come in useful…

Jake : Yes… you were saying something about the inauguration …..i can use the vote then…

Kate : Yes… but we don’t know when will that be… the date can only be decided by Fungye…

Jake : We’ll hold out till then….. I’ll vote him out the moment I get the chance to…

Kate stared at me for a couple of seconds, as if she was thinking of what to say to me.

Kate : Who said anything about voting ??

Jake : Huh ?

Kate told me that the 9th vote can only be exercised before election.

Jake ; Huh ? I don’t understand… then why you tell me I can use it during the inauguration ???

Kate : you don’t vote on that day Jake…. You use it to challenge Fungye’s right to leadership. ….

My jaws dropped 2 cm as I stared at Kate.

Jake : What….what if I win ??

Kate : Then you’re the boss…. until the next election… it’s not going to be easy…. Not only would you need the elders to be behind you…. You need the buy in of all the men as well…..every single one….

Kate looked around to make sure no one was near us before going on.

Kate : Which is why you must keep this a secret…..word has gone out that the 9th vote was missing for a while……there were rumours on both sides….…some claimed Ah Keong took it…..others suspected Gabriel kept it for himself………. If Fungye so much as get a wind of what you will be doing…… all he needed was to bribe one of the elder or the man….

Jake : You…..

Jake : Got to be….

Jake : Fucking… kidding me…

I said it so slow because I had to replay what Kate said to me barely a few seconds ago several times just to be sure I was hearing the right thing.

Kate walked up to me , her body almost touching mine.

I could smell the shampoo in her hair and her face was literally less than a finger’s length away.

Kate : Am I smiling right now Jake ?

I shook my head.

Kate : That means I’m not joking…

Kate walked off as she spoke.

Kate : We need to get the logistics of the next few days sorted out…. There’s so much things to be done… we also need to start shifting some documents out of the offices… stuff we don’t want Fungye to know….we… …Jake… Jake… are you listening ??

Jake : yah….yah….

Kate came back and grabbed my arms.

Kate : Get a grip on yourself Jake… this is important…. We cannot allow Fungye to do what he wants…

I nodded again.

Jake : How… the fuck ….. do I get the elders…. And their men…..people that barely know me….. to agree to follow me… ?

Kate pondered my point for a moment before replying with no expressions on her face.

Kate : Start working on a good speech…

Jake : … fuck…

………………………………………

ilikeoldchangke · #**560** 22-03-2017, 02:40 PM

4 more post to wrap this up.

Hope you enjoyed the read so far and apologies for all the grammar mistakes.

Cheers

ilock

labtecpaper · #**561** 22-03-2017, 03:15 PM

Wonderful update!! Getting more and more exciting!!! Thank you for the updates!

jaslim_87 · #**562** 22-03-2017, 03:55 PM

Your stories are probably apolitical, but with rampant oppies posts all over the internet on how bad Singapore is, your stories always show patriotism. This is what probably makes them so "uniquely Singapore". Probably the message that goes out would be "yes, this and that are not good. But I'm here to stay to make them good. Because I'm Singaporean!". Looking forwards to the last 4 posts and future stories!