Chapter 58
Xiang put his hand on Chao’s arm. ‘My son still enjoys the impetuosity of youth, Poe,’ he said. ‘He says things like that because he wants to see your expression. The surprise. He would be better served by giving you some context rather than playing silly games.’
Chao bowed an apology, although Poe thought this was a game they played often. There was genuine affection between them.
‘My son, as impetuous as he is now, had an even more troubled youth,’ Xiang continued.
‘When he was fourteen, he got mixed up in a Forty-Fours scam involving illegal seafood. The gang were smuggling abalone, a highly prized delicacy in Chinese cuisine, into Liverpool and selling it to restaurants. By the time my idiot son realised what a terrible mistake he’d made, it was too late. No one leaves the Forty-Fours.’
‘But?’
‘But in the end, they are businessmen. They were open to me buying his freedom. It cost me a lot of money, but how much is too much for your only child’s head?’
It was a rhetorical question and Poe didn’t answer.
Xiang settled back into his seat. Removed his hand from his son’s arm. ‘Tell your story,’ he said.
‘The Red Chamber are affiliated to the Forty-Fours, Mr Poe,’ Chao said.
‘Affiliated how?’
‘They hand over a percentage of their earnings and enjoy a measure of protection.’
‘And how do the Red Chamber earn their money?’ Poe asked. ‘Drugs?’
‘Not drugs,’ Chao said. ‘The Forty-Fours wouldn’t tolerate someone else importing and selling drugs. Why settle for a percentage when you can have the whole thing?’
‘Protection rackets then? They’re pretty local. The Forty-Fours can’t control every area.’
‘Not protection rackets either.’
‘What then?’
‘Concubines, Mr Poe,’ Chao said. ‘For over thirty years, the Red Chamber has owned and trained the most sought-after concubines in the history of the world.’