"Dak keh oh hwa wu... 大家学华语..."
The radio was broadcasting a cheery language education programme. In addition, the kopi tiam was decorated with courtesy campaign happy face posters and beer advertisements featuring sexy models.
Tonight, however, the mood was far from happy.
In fact there is death in the air.
Ah Beng leaned back casually on a plastic chair as he took another gulp of Laohor beer. There were six of them from the ferocious Mari-Kita gang, sitting around two tables in the coffeeshop and pretending to be reading newspapers.
Their leader smiled confidently at his kah kiah. He had neatly parted hair, wore gold-rimmed spectacles and was reading Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace, which he had borrowed from the national library last week. All his gang members are fiercely loyal to him, but they don't even know his full name.
They only know his surname is Ng.
And they always call him An Tuah.
Ah Beng stirred and looked at the clock. He was supposed to be helping out at another coffeeshop tonight, but his An Tuah called him about this settlement talk, so he obliged immediately. He believed in yi ki (义气) and would never abandon his leader.
An Tuah needed him for the confrontation tonight, because Ah Beng had a special skill. He is a parang-doh king, and his fighting is so good that he can take on five men at once. And his trusty rusty parang-doh is right beside him, hidden inside a folded copy of Xingguan Wanbao, a popular evening newspaper.
"Bang Buah Liup eh lang leh? Mm si bang nang peh kee ah? (Translation: Where Bang Buah Liup people? They put us aeroplane ah?)"
The Number Three man spoke. They call him Gu Kiah, because despite his tender age he is as violent as a charging bull.
There was no one else in the coffeeshop except an old man quietly enjoying his bottle of Laohor beer and some peanuts. The Bang Buah Liup gang was late, and the Mari-Kita people were getting impatient.
Suddenly a familiar and hated face appeared from the darkness - Bang Buah Liup's gang leader, known affectionately as Tuah Dee Tao or Big Pig Head. They have been invading An Tuah's territory for a few weeks, harrassing people and taking protection money.
They must leave Mari-Kita territory. There will be no negotiation.
"Eh An Tuah! Jia bah buay? (An Tuah have you eaten?)" Dee Tao called out in mock respect. Seven of his men swiftly appeared behind him, all carrying folded copies of Xingguang Wanbao.
"Mai lai kan ni nah lah. Zeh. (Don't f*k with me. Sit)" Ah Tuah was in no mood for pleasantries. He pointed towards a chair.
The expression on Dee Tao's face turned very black as he took a seat.
"Dak keh dio si kang oh eh lang, an juah an neh hiong? Ai wu leh mao mah. (We are all Kang Oh people, why so fierce? Must have courtesy mah)" He pointed at the ubiquitous courtesy campaign posters.
"Gong seem mee leh mao. Jit dao is goon nang eh teh buah. (What courtesy? This is our territory)" An Tuah is firm; he will not budge.
"Jit dao si siang eh teh buah ko ah buay gong cheng cho. (Whose territory still haven't talk clearly yet)" Dee Tao was not giving way neither.
The negotiation is quickly breaking down.
At this moment, members of both gangs began putting their hands underneath the tables, ready to flip them over once the fighting starts.
They are preparing to hien doh.
The tension mounts.
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