I need to geek about early gang culture of Hong-Kong because this show is doing it accurately...
1. Using kowloon walled city as a backdrop
Kowloon walled city was a city within a city. A place almost detached from the rapidly developing rest of Hong-Kong. This is where the lowest of economic class resided. Hence crime of any form was rampant. Kowloon is where local gangsters originated. Kowloon was ruled by gangs. Laws *literally* stopped working in kawloon as even police officials wouldn't enter the place.
In the first episode an old man is trying to recruit *fresh blood* for a gang for commission. Very accurate. Many associates, old members and young women were tasked to recruit young men, dare I say 'boys' for gangs. Education was a rare thing. As the community lived in poverty, gangs were a way to make quick money and gain power. Or that's what was told to them.
2. Xiaoqi hall being involved in the film industry
As Hong Kong movies started gaining international accreditation, gangs were quick to involve themselves in the industry. It was an amazing way to turn black money into white, have a legitimate front and weild soft power among the population through owning actors, directors etc. (Bollywood has the same thing too)
3. Liuyi's father was a *drug addict* not *alcoholic*
Liuyi specifically mentions his father was a 'drug addict'. (Ngl I screamed at this moment because most shows use the 'my father as an alcoholic' trope).
The show stayed true to the drug problem of Hong-Kong. And kowloon again being in the centre of it. As Hong-Kong became a busy hub, transporting things from all around the world it included illegal stuff too. Drugs predominantly. And quite a huge chunk of it went towards the lower class population to keep them docile and in debt of the gangs, always.
4. Qiang long taking in the siblings
Some people may see qiang long in a positive light because he 'rescued' liuyi. But gangs did this all the time. Financing a child's education, someone's daughter's marriage, taking in orphans with the goal of getting them in debt of the gangs.
Qiang long's hypocrisy can be seen in how he doesn't give xia liuyi proper education (because he could if he wanted to) instead he makes liuyi learn how to weild knives. He disagrees to liuyi joining the gang but also immediately gives him a position which would not make liuyi see the negative parts of joining a gang.
5. Xia liuyi 'gifting' chusan's father the banner
Gangs control lands. That includes shops, houses, anything. Public or private. Gangs would often give 'gifts' to people they were appeased with. And xia liuyi giving chusan's father the banner is a statement. It shows that this household now has connections to xiaoqi hall. This house has 'protection' from xiaqi hall.
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