Wei Cheng (Traditional Chinese: 陳偉, Simplified Chinese: 陈伟, Pinyin: Chén Wěi) is a character in the Grand Theft Auto series, appearing as a supporting character and the quaternary antagonist of Grand Theft Auto V.
He is voiced by George Cheung.
History[]
Background[]
Cheng is a Chinese-born mobster from Yangshan, who eventually grew to lead the powerful Los Santos Triads, which primarily deal in gunrunning and meth manufacturing. At some point, he fathered at least three children: Tao, Georgina, and an unnamed son. He is also related to Mr. Cheng, the CEO of Cheng Family Holdings, the family's legal front, though their relation whether they are brothers or brothers-in-law remains unknown. He grooms Tao to be his successor, albeit with little success; while Georgina is Vice President of their legitimate business.
Events of Grand Theft Auto V[]
By 2013, Cheng began seeking to expand his business into Blaine County through collaboration with an already functioning group there. The Triads met Ron Jakowski and agreed to a potential partnership with his business partner, Trevor Philips, and their organization, Trevor Philips Enterprises. Cheng sends his son Tao and his translator to make contact with Trevor, but when a shootout with a rival gang occurs while touring the TPE meth lab, Cheng decides to partner with the O'Neil Brothers instead.
Enraged upon learning that the Triads won't be partnering with him, Trevor bashes Tao's head against a pole before assaulting the O'Neil's ranch, destroying their cookhouse, and killing the majority of the brothers. With Cheng's expansion attempts disrupted by Trevor's attack, he desires to meet face to face. He orders his men to scout Trevor's trailer, where they observe Trevor and his friend Michael De Santa living in it while hiding out from cartel boss Martin Madrazo, along with Madrazo's kidnapped wife, Patricia. The Triads then incorrectly believe that Michael and Trevor are gay lovers, with Patricia being their maid.
Later on, Trevor and Michael have a falling out when the former figures out that the latter betrayed him and his old crew nearly ten years prior, and that their fellow criminal, Brad Snider, had been killed as a result of Michael's actions, being buried in a grave marked for Michael when he had faked his death. Trevor flies to the gravesite in Ludendorff, North Yankton to confirm his suspicions, with Michael giving chase in an attempt to stop him from uncovering the truth. Unbeknownst to the two, they are both followed by Cheng's men, who ambush them at the cemetery. Trevor manages to escape, but Michael is captured by the Triads.
Michael is brought back to Los Santos and held captive in a slaughterhouse. Cheng personally calls Trevor and informs him that they will kill Michael unless he meets with them, but Trevor, angry due to Michael's betrayal, declines. When Cheng realizes that Trevor is serious and in fact, isn't coming, he orders Michael to be put into one of the slaughterhouse's machines, before leaving. Ultimately, Michael's friend, Franklin Clinton, rescues him.
Ending[]
By the end of the game, Franklin is given separate orders by FIB agent Steve Haines and billionaire Devin Weston to kill one of his friends. Haines wants him to kill Trevor, and Weston wants him to kill Michael. He then has to choose between carrying out Haines' instructions, carrying out Weston's, or disregarding them both and getting together with both Trevor and Michael to take out their enemies. Ultimately, he picks the latter.
The Third Way[]
Michael, Trevor, Franklin, and his friend Lamar Davis wipe out several FIB teams and Merryweather Security operatives in order to strip Haines and Weston of their muscle, before each heading off individually to kill their enemies. To avoid association, Franklin is sent to kill Cheng, with their contact, Lester Crest, tracking Tao's credit card and determining it to have recently been used at the Pacific Bluffs Country Club.
Franklin arrives and spots Cheng getting into a car outside the club with Tao, surrounded by bodyguards. If he notices Franklin, he correctly recognizes him as an assassin and orders his driver to speed away. Ultimately, Franklin manages to kill Cheng. Afterwards, Trevor laments that they while the Triads won't be coming after him anymore, he no longer has anyone to sell superweapons to.
The following day, the Daily Rag newspaper reports on Cheng's death, stating, "Wei Cheng, a prominent Triad gang boss was murdered yesterday. His Triad had been weakened by a series of recent incidents, both in Los Santos and bizarrely up in Ludendorff, North Yankton. Mr. Cheng, a Chinese national, was believed to be prominent in a two-way drug and weapon trade between China and the US, smuggling materials in and out of the country via the Port of Los Santos."
Something Sensible/The Time's Come[]
If Franklin chooses to kill either Michael or Trevor, Cheng makes no further appearances and his fate is unknown.
Character[]
Personality[]
The elder Cheng is very different from his son, Tao. He is shown to be cruel and extremely bloodthirsty, stopping at nothing to ensure the Triads are the dominant gang in Los Santos. He has gone as far as having Michael De Santa hunted down in North Yankton and sentenced to being slaughtered for his alleged "lover" Trevor's actions with the O'Neils, which were one of the Triads' business partners. Despite his cruelty, he attempted to peacefully make business with Trevor, but seeing that he was an insufficient business partner, attempted to cut ties with him. A hostility then occurred after Trevor destroyed the O'Neil's meth lab and killed a large majority of them after being replaced as a business partner by them. He also appears to care about his men, as he has expressed great irritation twice about his men getting killed. The first time being in the meat house where he berates Michael by saying “and then you kill several good men. Good day, huh?” Trevor can also call Mr. Cheng after the completion of Fresh Meat where he tells Trevor that Michael was rescued, and Trevor asks what was up with that, with Mr. Cheng replying “more of my men died, Mr. Philips!” He also appears to show some compassion as he attempts to make peace with Trevor if he gives up his business and he will let Michael go (although this could be manipulation). But Trevor refuses and Michael is still kept hostage at the meat factory until Franklin comes to rescue him.
Mission Appearances[]
Grand Theft Auto V[]
- Bury the Hatchet (Betrayal/Phone call)
- Fresh Meat
- The Third Way (Option C; Killed)
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- In the official traditional and simplified Chinese version, his name is 陳偉(陈伟) in Chinese. But his surname "陳(陈)" is possibly a translation error of the Chinese version, because "陳(陈)" pronounces "Chen" instead of "Cheng" in Mandarin Chinese, and “程" is more likely the correct surname, which is a Chinese surname and pronounced "Cheng", then his correct full name would be “程偉 (程伟) [Chéng Wěi]”.
- Cheng can be called in Grand Theft Auto Online, but the same voiceline that is heard in Grand Theft Auto V after the final mission is heard.
References[]
- ↑ The Third Way was confirmed to be the canon ending of GTA V during the GTA Online: The Diamond Casino & Resort DLC mission "Casino - Strong Arm Tactics".