Chapter 133: 132, Treasure Hunting Group Reunites, Liu Shijie Reveals His Hand
Old Shanghai city, Taishan Airlines’ shuttle bus stops at the terminal.
Howard and other passengers get off the bus.
He walks toward the rickshaw pullers by the roadside.
These rickshaw pullers often do business in the concession. Seeing that Howard is a foreigner, they immediately speak to him in pidgin English.
“My car forcelike, his no good.”
Pidgin English is a mix of English and Chinese, completely phonetic transliteration in spoken form. Even foreigners whose native language is English have to guess to understand it.
For example, the sentence above means, my car is very good（very good）, his car is no good（no good）.
Howard doesn’t understand pidgin English, but he understands Chinese.
“How much to Zhabei?”
Such fluent Chinese immediately dispels the rickshaw pullers’ ideas of making a big profit.
In the end, a rickshaw puller with a normal price takes the fare.
Heading north all the way, they arrive in Zhabei District.
Howard pays and gets off, searching on the street.
He sees a man in a short jacket leaning idly by the roadside.
He goes straight up and asks, “I’m looking for Zhao Jiu.”
The man looks up, surprised: “Hey, how do you speak Chinese so well? Master Jiu isn’t someone anyone can see.”
“I’m from Taishan Airlines,” Howard replies.
The man immediately stops smiling. “Follow me.”
Howard follows him through streets and alleys to a small Western-style building.
After walking in, it’s very lively inside—it’s actually a casino.
It seems that during this time, Zhao Jiu has used that gold to start some undertakings and should count as a notable figure in the Green Gang.
Howard waits on the first floor while the man goes up to report.
Not long after, he is taken upstairs.
Upstairs, Zhao Jiu is wearing a silk jacket, smoking a cigarette, playing pai gow with someone. Beauties fan him nearby and serve tea—quite dashing.
Seeing Howard, he immediately stands up: “So it’s Brother Howard. When they said the foreigner from Taishan Airlines, I first thought of you. What brings you here?”
“The General Manager has words for you.”
Howard’s one sentence makes Zhao Jiu serious.
“Come, let’s talk in the inner room.”
The two enter the inner room, and Howard relays Fang Wen’s instructions.
“The General Manager wants you to help investigate a person and find out his true identity.”
“Who?” Zhao Jiu asks.
Howard takes out a note with Liu Shijie’s information recorded on it.
Looking at this information, Zhao Jiu strokes his chin thoughtfully.
“It’s a bit suspicious. He doesn’t do a proper ticketing company job, doesn’t want a promising position, just wants to stay at Shanghai Airport. But that doesn’t mean there’s a problem. Leave this to me. If there’s news, I’ll go directly to the airport and talk to the General Manager.”
“Alright then, I’ll go.”
“Someone, see off Mr. Howard.”
After Howard leaves, Zhao Jiu smiles.
Months have passed, and the people who participated in the Northeast treasure theft action haven’t gathered for a long time. This is a good chance for everyone to meet.
Also, now he, Zhao Jiu, is different from before. Let his former accomplices see and show off, and by the way, learn about everyone’s recent situations.
He immediately instructs his men to invite people from various places in Shanghai.
The time is set for nighttime, when these night owls are most active.
9 p.m.
Zhao Jiu’s Fugui Casino in Zhabei closes early.
In the now quiet casino, they tidy up, set out a table, and wait for guests to arrive.
The people he invited arrive one after another.
Axe Gang Leader Wang.
Six action group gunmen.
Liu Family Three Brothers who dug the tunnel.
Five fellow disciples from the Daoist Sect.
Zhao Jiu greets them with a full face of smiles, clasping fists in salute, giving bear hugs.
Everyone sits down, and Zhao Jiu, as the host, speaks:
“How is someone missing? Where’s Old Liu?”
The Daoist Sect people look somber.
“The old man just couldn’t have money. Once he had money, he lived it up every day and lived his life away.”
Gang Leader Wang sighs: “At least he went happily. Come, let’s toast to the elderly man.”
After toasting, they exchange pleasantries and ask about recent situations.
Axe Gang Leader Wang is the same as always. Rich or poor, he’s still devoted to the killer business.
Instead, those six gunmen under him who participated in the action have quit the life and become reclusive rich men.
The Liu Family Three Brothers have also moved to Shanghai to enjoy life.
The five from the Daoist Sect have opened a hall in Shanghai, recruiting some orphans, preparing to pass down the skills left by their master.
Among them, only Zhao Jiu has strong ambition for undertakings, which makes him a bit smug.
After learning everyone’s recent situations, Zhao Jiu gets to the point.
“I invited everyone tonight about the General Manager’s matter. Today he sent Howard to find me, saying there’s someone of unknown identity who has infiltrated Taishan Airlines, and wants me to help investigate.”
Everyone has special feelings for Taishan Airlines.
Taishan Airlines pays 30 years of retirement pension, and those present don’t want Taishan Airlines to have any mishaps.
Isn’t it just investigating one person’s background? Not a big deal.
These gangsters who have been enjoying for several months think doing something is fine.
They discuss it.
The Liu brothers analyze: “That person was a teacher for several years, speaks patriotically, and organized anti-Japanese propaganda. I don’t think there’s any problem.”
Zhao Jiu retorts: “You think no problem means no problem? I think the General Manager’s suspicion is right. Maybe he had no issue before, but after being caught, it’s hard to say.”
Gang Leader Wang agrees with Zhao Jiu’s analysis: “People can’t stand suffering. Once tortured, many change immediately. I know this well.”
The Daoist Sect fellow disciples add: “Simple, let’s bet a prize. We’ll each use our own channels to investigate. Whoever finds out, no one gives him 100 silver dollars.”
There are 15 people present in total. Even the five Daoist Sect brothers acting together have a 1000 silver dollar prize. Everyone gladly accepts.
As for the specifics, each has their own channels, and no one says.
Fang Wen asked Zhao Jiu to check the identity, but it turned into a competition with a prize.
These people each have their own channels and actually find some clues.
Later, Zhao Jiu, who lost silver dollars, comes to the airport and explains the situation to Fang Wen.
March 25.
Liu Shijie has been working as airport patrol inspector for two days.
He seems to really like the job of checking airport hygiene, wandering around the airport during work hours, inspecting sanitation.
From the Taishan Airlines office building outside the airport, Fang Wen can see Liu Shijie’s figure walking around the airport without binoculars.
Because his identity is uncertain, Fang Wen hasn’t had time to experiment with applying his mechanical perception ability to the security gate.
Kuang Mingzhu, who has been helping him process documents in the General Manager’s office, comes out and says concernedly, “Liu Shijie looks like he should be fine.”
“I don’t know. Just feels a bit off.” Fang Wen replies.
“Maybe he was stimulated in the prison cell,” Kuang Mingzhu analyzes.
Fang Wen doesn’t discuss it further. How it really is will be known soon.
Sixth sister’s matter is a bit tricky instead.
“Mingzhu, did you notice Sixth Sister has feelings for Liu Shijie?”
“Of course I noticed. Otherwise, why would I speak up for him.”
“If Liu Shijie isn’t a good person, what should I do?”
“You can’t do anything. Tell Father. Only he can decide this.”
“Yeah, what business is it of the third house to manage the second house.”
Fang Wen secretly laughs at himself for clearly understanding this relationship but still wanting to meddle.
The two return to the office and continue processing that pile of documents.
Without Shopkeeper Liu and Fang Shouxin, the couple has to handle various matters personally.
Busy like this for a whole day.
At sunset, a visitor arrives in the city.
After getting off, Zhao Jiu goes straight to the Taishan Airlines General Manager’s Office.
Seeing Kuang Mingzhu there, he hesitates a bit, unsure if he should speak in front of her.
Fang Wen notices.
“Speak. No outsiders here.”
One sentence “no outsiders,” and Zhao Jiu smiles broadly. Kuang Mingzhu feels sweetness in her heart.
Zhao Jiu explains the situation.
“Liu Shijie probably has a problem. We checked the events of that day when the Japanese caused trouble. When the Japanese businessman fell, it was he who told the students to surround and argue, and used inflammatory language to stimulate the students.”
“How is that possible?” Kuang Mingzhu, who was involved throughout in bailing out Liu Shijie and Sixth Sister, looks incredulous. “Why would he do that?”
“We were puzzled too, so we checked Liu Shijie’s situation after being detained. Turns out, the person guarding him was the prison cell director. Other guards were prohibited from contacting him.”
In Zhao Jiu’s account, Liu Shijie was under particularly tight supervision.
This made other guards in the prison cell realize something was fishy.
They sneaked over when the director was away.
They found that Liu Shijie hadn’t suffered at all inside, living in a single room, eating and sleeping well. Only when seeing outsiders was he arranged to the large prison cell.
This information was obtained by Gang Leader Wang through his connections from the prison cell guards.
Hearing this, Fang Wen’s face turns grave.
“What do you think the situation is?”
Zhao Jiu states the analysis from the Treasure Hunting Group members:
“We think that before the incident, Liu Shijie was already controlled by the Japanese. He cooperated with the Japanese to stage a play, getting your sister into the prison cell to lure you out. After all, the prison cell is outside the concession, not an area controlled by the Japanese. They wanted to surround and kill you like last time at Sixteen Wharf. Unfortunately, they didn’t expect you to fly to Europe, round trip over two months.”
Hearing Zhao Jiu’s explanation, Fang Wen thinks it’s very possible.
The Japanese leaving Liu Shijie at Shanghai Airport must have a special purpose.
Lurking to sabotage at an opportunity?
Or probing Taishan Airlines’ secrets?
Fang Wen suddenly realizes.
Either way, this is a very dangerous arrangement.
Won’t the Taishan Volunteer Army’s actions all be under his watch from now on?
And the Xiangxi Airport and bomb factory matters could easily leak because of this.
Sigh, Fang Wen laments. He originally thought he could contact the underground party through Liu Shijie, but didn’t expect the other party to be a Japanese chess piece.
Such a person definitely can’t stay.
The next day, Liu Shijie still puts on his work uniform early to go to work.
But at the airport entrance, he is stopped by security guards.
“What?”
“You’ve been dismissed. Take off the clothes.” The security guard glares viciously at him.
“I have a good relationship with the General Manager. Don’t mess around.” Liu Shijie is unafraid.
“This is the General Manager’s order.” The security guards say and immediately act, pinning him to the ground, forcibly removing the Taishan Airlines work uniform, and beating him while at it.
“Why?” Liu Shijie struggles to stand, looking aggrieved.
Fang Wen walks over accompanied by Zhao Jiu.
“Because you colluded with the Japanese to set up the General Manager.” Zhao Jiu says coldly.
“I didn’t.” Liu Shijie still holds out.
On the street outside the airport, more and more people gather. Not knowing the situation, the onlookers whisper.
Seeing so many people, Liu Shijie shouts loudly: “Everyone, judge for me. I, Liu Shijie, was persecuted by the Japanese, dismissed by the school. I thought Taishan Airlines would take me in. But they were toying with me and falsely accusing me of colluding with the Japanese.”
At this point, he points to the injuries on his face: “See? These are from persecution in the prison cell. I have a blood feud with the Japanese. How could I collude? Taishan Airlines has disappointed me too much. Fang Wen, I even thought you were an anti-Japanese hero. You don’t deserve it.”
Everyone looks at Fang Wen, faces surprised.
Not knowing where this farce will go.
Zhao Jiu, knowing a lot of the situation, sneers and questions publicly: “Where did you go a few days before the incident? Why did you only return to school the day before the street propaganda? Someone saw you getting off a car.”
“Can’t I go out for a few days? What’s wrong with returning the last day? Do I need to tell you whose car I took?”
Liu Shijie fluently counters, tone increasingly tough.
And more and more onlookers on the street.
There are Taishan Airlines staff members, China Airlines staff members, nearby residents, merchants, and airplane passengers.
These people are the effect Fang Wen wants—to publicly expose this person’s true face, lest people say Taishan Airlines is acting recklessly.
“Begin.” Fang Wen says.
Hearing Fang Wen, Zhao Jiu waves his hand.
His underlings bring over a few people.
These few arrive, and Liu Shijie involuntarily shows panic.
They state their identities and explain the situation.
“I’m a prison cell guard. I can prove Liu Shijie is all lies. He lived in a single room in the prison cell and ate well.”
“I’m also a prison cell guard. Every time someone visited, he was moved to a large cell. Anyway, the prisoners in the cell didn’t know where he came from.”
“And me, besides his students and family visiting him, one night while on duty, I saw the director bring someone to see him. That person was the Japanese who accused him.”
Not only these witnesses, but also reporters from Shanghai who photograph and record this scene.
Liu Shijie goes limp, soulless, covers his face, and flees.
The farce at Shanghai Airport ends, and newspapers report it, exposing another evil deed of the Japanese.
But soon, the incident is suppressed, with only the prison cell director resigning to take blame.
It doesn’t cause much waves.
Without Liu Shijie, everything at Taishan Airlines goes smoothly.
Fang Wen prepares to start experimenting with fusing his mechanical perception ability with the security gate.
Mr. Lin and his wife have finished translating the German weapon information and are preparing to bring the translated information and the Asia-Europe flight travelogue manuscript for Fang Wen to review.
The tung oil for airplanes project starts again. Two Boeing 247s are shipped to Shanghai via cargo ship. Since it’s an American ship, the Japanese don’t intercept.
Neil, busy with the tung oil for airplanes project, also helps Fang Wen find a pilot who can fly the Shrike Hao and brings him specifically to meet Taishan Airlines and Fang Wen.
Meanwhile, a major change happens in Europe.
This change originally had nothing to do with the East, but because of Fang Wen’s European trip, it becomes connected.
A ship carrying refugees sails from Europe toward Shanghai.
