Ru Shen || Manages Opium Den Nicknamed “The Old Fishing Docks” || Age: 27 || Portrayed by Harry Shum Jr.
The proud manager of “The Old Fishing Docks”, opium has played a vital part in Ru’s life since birth. Born only a year before the first Opium War, Ru would grow up in extreme poverty as his father Kang struggled to keep his once thriving opium business alive. Despite his family’s struggles, Kang wouldn’t give up on his business until he heard word of the economic boom hitting the western shores of the United States from the Gold Rush. A twelve year old Ru would be both frightened and doubtful of his father’s decision, but wouldn’t be given much of a choice once his father booked their passage.
Once in San Francisco the Shen’s opium den would thrive, and for the first time in his life Ru knew what it meant to live in luxury. This new found wealth would eventually drive his curiosity to the point that Ru wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. Spending his days at the opium den, Ru’s father would teach him the ins and outs of the business. It would actually be a sixteen year old Ru who would come up with the idea of hiring drug runners to sell the liquid variety of the powerful drug throughout the city, which would soon throw the family into the a whole new level of wealth.
Not too long after the Shens made it rich in San Francisco, they would decide to expand their business to the U.S’s eastern shore. Packing up everything they owned, Ru and his parents would travel to New York, and this time he was bursting with excitement over the move. In New York the Shens would once again hit it big and soon become one of the largest and most successful opium dens in all of the city; however, their good fortune would soon run out. It was just a year ago when Ru would find his father stabbed to death in their own opium den. The police would try their best to find the killer, but no leads would be found. Frightened of the killer returning, Ru’s mother Lien would go to a local street gang called the Bowery Boys and beg for their protection. The Bowery Boys would take her request but under one condition, the Shens give over half their business to the gang.
Ru would plead with his mother to not take the gang’s deal, promising he would find a better way, but nothing he said would persuade the woman who would soon return to the gang and accept their deal. Ever since Ru has had a bitter and resentful opinion of the gang. While he still manages the den under his mother’s leadership, which is now only half her’s, he never thinks twice before publicly criticizing the very powerful gang. Lien thinks Ru is just being foolish and stubborn, but he thinks she’s being way too trusting of men whom they really only barely know.
Much like his father, Ru is incredibly ruthless in terms of business and very head strong in his beliefs. He isn’t afraid to stand up for himself no matter the consequences and he’s extremely protective of those who have earned his trust.
Kang Shen: Ru had always held a great amount of respect for his father, and ever since his death has tried to become just as great a businessman as he was. He still misses his father terribly, and often wonders what Kang would think if he knew about the Bowery Boys’ new claim in his business.
Lien Shen: Despite their disagreements over the Bowery Boys, Ru does love his mother very much. He often worries over the woman and how deep she is getting herself into with the street gang, and whenever the two do have an argument it’s usually over her involvement.
Viktor Gehris: While his mother thinks the Bowery Boys’ leader is the complete gentleman, Ru saw through his facade right away. He doesn’t trust the man at all and despite Viktor’s power isn’t afraid to say it to his face.
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