Zhou Guoxiang
At the scene of the federal trial in San Francisco, a diminutive bald man sat quietly in the defendant's seat and listened to the judge's verdict.
"Zhou Guoxiang was charged with 162 counts, including buying a murderer to kill Liang Yi, conspiring to kill Jiang Da'an, organized crime, money laundering, etc., all of which were established, and the maximum will face life imprisonment."
However, in the face of such accusations, Zhou Guoxiang did not appear angry and sad. Instead, his lawyers, Bridge and Smith, hung their heads sadly.
Zhou Guoxiang was innocent, they believed so firmly.
Before the verdict was pronounced, Zhou Guoxiang also defended himself: "They caught the wrong person, I am not a real criminal." ”
"Although I have done no evil, I have never hurt any Chinese."
Zhou Guoxiang looked calm, his tone was earnest, and he didn't look like a lie. Is the truth as he says? Will he be the "godfather" of reality?
Before he became the boss of the Hongmen Zhigongtang, Chow Kwok-cheung was just one of many ancient puzzle boys in Hong Kong.
At that time, Zhou Guoxiang was thin and small, so he got the name "Shrimp Boy". Later, this also became the flower name of his gangsters.
Because of his family's poverty, Zhou Guoxiang did not receive a good education from an early age. At that time, the gap between the rich and the poor in Hong Kong was large, and there were many people crowded in the slums.
Under the influence of his friends, Zhou Guoxiang began to gradually come into contact with some gray areas.
When he was young, he officially debuted, recognized some big brothers and brothers, in order to protect the big brother, the skinny little Zhou Guoxiang wielded a large knife and slashed at each other.
Both times he slashed at the head, and there was no fear on his face.
Other children of this age were still crying in their mother's arms for candy, but he could take a knife and cut it at someone else.
This stunned Zhou Guoxiang's boss and brothers, and they praised one after another: "I didn't expect that the shrimp boy was small, but he could fight so much!" ”
The reason why Zhou Guoxiang became like this at a young age is not only the reason why the environment is relatively chaotic. In fact, Zhou Guoxiang's parents' neglect of their children is the biggest factor that caused him to take a crooked path from the beginning.
The lack of love made him extreme, and his friends would feel happy if they gave him a little admiration and praise.
He enjoys the feeling of being an ancient boy.
This is the beginning of Zhou Guoxiang's mouth of "no evil and no action".
To the court
Because of the appreciation of the boss, Zhou Guoxiang was introduced to the Hong Kong Triad. Don't look at Zhou Guoxiang's appearance is not amazing, but he is fierce and very moralistic.
Therefore, Zhou Guoxiang's reputation in the triad is very high.
In 1976, because of his parents, Zhou Guoxiang immigrated to San Francisco.
When the triad heard that Zhou Guoxiang was going to the United States, he quickly wrote a letter of recommendation to the Chinese gang in San Francisco. As a result, Zhou Guoxiang was able to smoothly integrate into the local triad.
After the family gradually relaxed, Zhou Guoxiang's parents sent Zhou Guoxiang to school.
But at that time, Zhou Guoxiang was full of brotherly righteousness, how could he listen to anything?
And his American classmates discriminated against him because he was Chinese. Zhou Guoxiang hated school even more.
After a clash with his classmates, Zhou Guoxiang pulled out a pistol and fed a bullet to his classmate's leg. At that time, the scene was extremely chaotic, and countless people screamed and frightened.
Although there will be some mistakes when you are young, who dares to achieve such a point as Zhou Guoxiang?
His fierceness also made him directly expelled from the school.
Since then, Zhou Guoxiang has completely become a professional. Although he is short in stature today, he also has a bit of tendon meat on his body, and no one is inferior to him when he fights.
Under the care of the boss of the American triad, Zhou Guoxiang mixed up.
You can often walk by the river, which can not get wet shoes. Two years after emigrating, Zhou Guoxiang was arrested for robbery.
He was no longer a young man under the age of eighteen, and the circumstances of the crime were more heinous, so Zhou Guoxiang was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
It can be said that the youngest and most beautiful years of Zhou Guoxiang's life were dedicated to prison life. When he was released from prison, Zhou Guoxiang was 28 years old.
Peers have become the husbands and loving fathers of the Gu family. And Zhou Guoxiang had nothing, he was still the little bastard of that year.
It is reasonable to say that if you suffer a loss once, you should restrain yourself. But Zhou Guoxiang didn't think so.
He himself has a strong personality, and wherever he falls, he must get up from where he falls. And what will Zhou Guoxiang do besides being a jerk?
He erased all the other options and was determined to follow the path to the end.
After his release from prison, Zhou Guoxiang became a tainted witness by the police, who considered him a dangerous person, so he wore an electronic monitor on his feet.
With the cover of the witness's identity, it was convenient for Zhou Guoxiang to do many things. But at the same time, he also lives under police surveillance.
Not long after his release from prison, Zhou Guoxiang was arrested and imprisoned again because he was mixed with triad people, and was found to be using violence and possessing illegal firearms by the police.
Zhou Guoxiang's life passed in and out of the prison.
In 1989, Zhou Guoxiang was released from prison again. This time, Zhou Guoxiang actually found a job in a supermarket down-to-earth.
He hadn't been able to impress him in eleven years before, and now that he's been in it for three years, he can figure it out? Obviously, unlikely.
Zhou Guoxiang's evil is the product of a deformed society and the evil result of parental neglect. It's rotten from the root. Even if he wants to open it one day, it will take a lot of time to lay the groundwork.
Evil is like a poppy and can be addictive. Zhou Guoxiang still can't quit this addiction.
The police also believed so, so they did not give up their surveillance of him. Occasional conversations with his employers had a big impact on his life.
Zhou Guoxiang became increasingly disgusted with the police, a symbol of justice.
Soon, Zhou Guoxiang found that this ordinary job could not fill his desires, so he couldn't help but mix with his "brothers" again.
However, this time Zhou Guoxiang was really seriously injured. Because the leader of the triad, Zhuang Binqiang, and all the backbone of the organization were prosecuted.
If convicted, he faces 25 years in prison.
Go in and go to prison for 25 years, and when you come out, you can only be an old man with a low guarantee. Therefore, as long as there is a chance to save himself, he will not let it go.
However, to save oneself means to sacrifice one's brothers.
This is the first time that Zhou Guoxiang has faced the choice of brotherhood and self-interest. Without hesitation for long, Zhou Guoxiang turned to a tainted witness and testified against Zhuang Binqiang.
If it was Zhou Guoxiang when he was young, he would not hesitate to grit his teeth and never betray his brother. But Zhou Guoxiang, who is now in his thirties, is Zhou Guoxiang, who has already tasted the cold and warmth of the world.
Zhuang Binqiang could never have imagined that the one who betrayed himself was Zhou Guoxiang, whom he trusted the most.
With the identity of a tainted witness, Zhou Guoxiang was commuted, but still went to prison.
In his long prison life, Zhou Guoxiang learned more and more things. He gradually realized that the most important thing in a person's life is himself.
In 2003, Zhou Guoxiang was released from prison after completing his sentence.
After coming out, he joined an organization called "Hongmen Zhigongtang".
Hongmen originated in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, and has a well-known name "Heaven and Earth Society". Later, it evolved into many parties and gangs, spreading around the world with the immigration of overseas Chinese.
The ZhiGongtang is subordinate to Hongmen. In 1876, the "Zhi Gong Tang" was officially registered in Honolulu, USA. The famous Sun Yat-sen was also a member of the Zhigong Court.
This organization, which has a history of more than 100 years, is one of the three major Chinese communities in the United States, is keen on social welfare activities, and has a good reputation.
Zhou Guoxiang, a person covered in mud, seems incompatible with this organization. But what he did next surprised everyone.
Zhou Guoxiang seemed to have truly changed from evil to righteousness.
In his spare time, Zhou Guoxiang will go to the community to do volunteer work. For some public welfare activities, we are also very enthusiastic and active.
Zhou Guoxiang will also give lectures to students on campus as a mentor. His experience is too legendary, and his insight is not comparable to ordinary people.
Therefore, many students worship him from the bottom of their hearts.
But Zhou Guoxiang did not lead these students astray, but warned them to learn to stop their inner impulses and not to let the hormones of adolescence affect their lives.
For some students who have gone astray, Zhou Guoxiang is also kind enough to advise. Because he has experienced it firsthand, there is really no way out for society.
In the years of prison life, he seems to have completely sorted himself out, and he is no longer a slave to the dark side of his heart.
Zhou Guoxiang became a real-life version of the godfather, who kept himself clean and restrained despite surviving in the mud.
He even received the "Certificate of Honor for Giving Back to the Community" from San Francisco Mayor Lee Meng-hyun.
At the time when Zhou Guoxiang's career was thriving, the drama thing soon happened again.
One afternoon, Liang Yi, the dragon head of Zhigongtang, was shot and killed by an unknown man in his shop, and Zhigongtang was temporarily ownerless.
Zhou Guoxiang, who was extremely prestigious, naturally became a powerful candidate for the boss of Zhi Gongtang. With the support of most of the brethren, Zhou Guoxiang became the new dragon leader.
However, many people have doubts about Zhou Guoxiang's ascension.
Why would Liang Yi, such a cautious person, be easily killed by others? Is there someone in the organization who secretly buys the murder?
This skeptical thought, once it arises, grows bigger and bigger.
Zhou Guoxiang, a person who had been in prison and cut people, could not do anything terrible. And Liang Yi is dead, the biggest beneficiary is Zhou Guoxiang, he has a big suspicion.
But helpless, suspicion is doubt, can not find evidence, can not say that he is the murderer.
Zhou Guoxiang also knew the outside world's doubts about him, so he sincerely replied to the people who paid attention to Zhi Gongtang.
"I'm not a good person, but I'm not a bad person either."
"Hongmen never asks everyone to do something illegal."
"I hope to lead Hongmen to prosperity. There is this sense of mission, probably because we all shed the blood of Chinese, the old people often say that when faced with the major events of the country and the nation, everyone has the opportunity to be a hero. ”
The sincerity of the words makes it difficult to doubt this ambitious, serious man.
Only the police never believed it.
After taking office, Zhou Guoxiang led Zhi Gongtang to actively participate in public welfare activities and was committed to promoting the fine culture of the Chinese nation.
He also came together with a Chinese-California senator, Yu Yinliang, and the two became close friends.
Everything is in a good place. Gradually, everyone forgot About Zhou Guoxiang's past.
But he's a "shrimp boy"! Can he really stand the violent factor in his body?
In 2013, Zhou Guoxiang's nemesis Jiang Da'an at Zhigongtang was assassinated. Two opponents were killed in succession, and Zhou Guoxiang naturally became the biggest suspect, but he also suffered from no evidence, so he could not be solved.
In 2014, the FBI carried out an arrest operation, and Zhou Guoxiang was arrested and imprisoned on suspicion of extortion, money laundering, and acceptance of stolen goods, and was not released on bail.
Zhou Guoxiang wanted to shout out his grievances. When I worked in a supermarket, I was always investigating and influencing my life. After all these years, why are you still doubting me? Why haven't you let me go?
Next, the FBI indicted Zhou guoxiang on two counts of homicide.
One is the shooting of Liang Yi in 2006, and the other is the murder of Jiang Da'an in 2013. Both are Zhou Guoxiang's competitors in zhigongtang.
Hongmen
According to an undercover FBI agent who has been lurking for five years, "I once pretended to be a businessman with an involvement with the Italian mafia and infiltrated Zhou Guoxiang's network. Liang Yi's killer was directed by Zhou Guoxiang, and Jiang Da'an was also killed by two killers hired by Zhou Guoxiang from Chicago, code-named "Helper" and "Big Fool". ”
But Zhou Guoxiang refused to admit it.
Zhou Guoxiang was arrested along with his good friend Yu Yinliang, who was accused by prosecutors of smuggling arms together.
In court, prosecutors repeatedly recounted Zhou's guilt. There are many students who worship Zhou Guoxiang who have been speaking for him.
"He's leading us to get better, how can we do something like smuggling arms?" How can you kill people? ”
Chow's lawyer, Sierra, also said, "My client has long since turned from evil to help young newcomers stay out of crime and is a visionary community leader. ”
Hongmen Zhigongtang
It can be seen that Zhou Guoxiang's influence on the backbone of the Chinese community is so great.
And Serra frequently questioned, is this evidence really enough to prove that Zhou Guoxiang has smuggled arms? Is it really not that the police are prejudiced against Zhou Guoxiang, so they catch the wind and catch the shadow and beat him fiercely?
Zhou Guoxiang also defended himself: "I am innocent, they did not catch the real criminals." My arrest is the biggest failure of the American justice system, so I will continue to appeal. ”
"I've never hurt any Chinese."
When everyone looked at Zhou Guoxiang and couldn't see any clues, the FBI was biting him. Can a person's mask of hypocrisy really last so long?
As it turns out, it really can. Man himself is contradictory, and a person who is evil can also have a conscience.
Zhou Guoxiang really wants to promote the development and growth of the Chinese community, wants young people to become better, and wants them not to go astray like himself.
But he was also really dancing on a tightrope for his own benefit. His kindness can only be possessed without affecting himself.
On January 8, 2016, the last hearing was held. Judge Brehr read out the verdict: "The grand jury found Zhou Guoxiang guilty of each of the 162 counts, including organized crime fraud, murder, money laundering, etc., and sentenced Zhou to two counts of life imprisonment." ”
The crime was convicted, and Zhou Guoxiang's lies were also solved. He said that he had not harmed any Chinese, but he stepped on the corpses of Chinese people to ascend to the throne.
From Zhuang Binqiang, who was betrayed by Zhou Guoxiang at the beginning, to Liang Yi and Jiang Da'an, who were assassinated. They were all Chinese, but they were all used by Zhou Guoxiang.
Zhou Guoxiang personally mutilated his compatriots, but he learned how to disguise.
His life is a perfect example of how a person grows up slowly.
From the beginning of the brother two ribs inserted knife, to later for their own interests to insert two brother knife. Later, when he put on a mask and acted, everyone praised him.
If it were not for the FBI's close pursuit and undercover, perhaps Zhou Guoxiang would have escaped legal punishment perfectly.
It's not the demons that are terrible, it's the demons that disguise themselves.