Chapter 92: Suggestion
Shanghai, Gelin Gao Road, Zhang Mansion.
Zhang Xiaolin sat in the living room with a gloomy face.
The news that Tian Darong’s Fu Shou Guan had been smashed quickly reached him.
If it had been five years ago, he would have already gathered his men to take action by now.
But now, he had unusually calmed down, not because he was older and more timid.
Rather, he had already sensed some dangerous aura within it.
The current Shanghai was no longer the era when the three tycoons dominated.
Boss Huang had retired, Boss Du had fled, and although he still controlled most of Shanghai’s underworld forces, he was well aware that many people wanted to take his position.
In the past, three people supported each other like cornerstones, but now, he was the sole dominant force in all of Shanghai.
Sometimes, standing alone at the top was not a good thing.
Because many people were watching from behind, and as soon as there was an opportunity, they would pull him down.
Few in the underworld could end well, and with his vast family business like this, it was even more impossible for him to simply let go.
Even if he was willing, his subordinates were not, and moreover, if he let go, he would be floating on the Huangpu River the next day.
Over these years, the number of people he had offended was far more than just a hundred or eighty; even if each bit him once, they could devour his entire family alive.
“Thud thud thud,” a sound of footsteps rose, and the butler walked up to Zhang Xiaolin and said softly: “Mr. Qi is here.”
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaolin forced himself to perk up and said: “Invite him in.”
The butler nodded, turned, and walked out. Soon after, the butler brought in a middle-aged man who walked in gracefully.
“Boss Zhang.” The visitor respectfully gave a salute.
Zhang Xiaolin looked up. The visitor was wearing a half-worn blue cloth long gown, old-fashioned in style, starched and ironed extremely neatly, with the collar and cuffs impeccable, only faint dense stitching patches visible at the elbows.
He was not wearing the fashionable felt hat, his hair was combed neatly back, revealing a broad and slightly pale forehead, with several deep wrinkles like fine brushwork carved by the years.
A pair of round-framed gold-rimmed glasses rested on his nose bridge, and the eyes behind the lenses exuded a deep and gentle flavor. Like the rippling light precipitated on the Huangpu River in late autumn, clear yet revealing an understanding that pierced worldly affairs.
“Mr. Qi, please sit. Uncle He, serve tea.” Zhang Xiaolin instructed faintly, his tone carrying deep fatigue.
“Does Boss Zhang have something on his mind?” Qi Shiyi asked with a smile.
Zhang Xiaolin let out a long sigh and said: “Alas, things have been going poorly lately. I’d like Brother Xianzheng to give me some guidance.”
Qi Shiyi nodded slightly and said: “Boss Zhang, whatever is on your mind, feel free to speak.”
Zhang Xiaolin did not stand on ceremony and recounted everything: Xie Yuankui’s death earlier, the Xinkaihe Wharf being robbed, and now Tian Darong’s opium den being smashed.
After the other had finished venting, Qi Shiyi picked up the tea bowl, gently skimmed off the foam with the lid, took a sip, and then slowly said: “Boss Zhang, stay calm.”
“Shanghai’s winds and clouds change in an instant, yet all changes remain rooted in the same principle. This situation is like a game of chess, not about vying for momentary gains or losses; one must observe the momentum and conserve strength. For example, the Pu River tides: boats easily capsize in raging torrents, but one can advance steadily when they calm.”
Was this even human language? Zhang Xiaolin pondered carefully, feeling like the other had said something, yet nothing at all.
After a while, Zhang Xiaolin said directly: “Brother Xianzheng, at a time like this, don’t play riddles with me.”
“Just tell me straight: what should I do?”
Perhaps having posed enough as a worldly sage, Qi Shiyi set down the tea bowl and said: “Boss Zhang, you’ve been too prominent these past two years. As the saying goes, the tree that stands out in the forest will be torn down by the wind.”
“This group is clearly coming for you, and they come prepared. We cannot act rashly, so I suggest showing weakness to the enemy first.”
“Don’t they just want money? Twenty thousand silver dollars is something Boss Zhang can afford.”
“Once we see clearly if there’s someone behind them pulling strings, then uproot them completely, and you’ll sleep soundly.”
“Mr. Qi wants me to admit defeat to a few punks from Nanjing? Where do I put my face?” Zhang Xiaolin’s old face instantly darkened upon hearing this.
Qi Shiyi said slowly: “It’s not admitting defeat, it’s temporarily avoiding their edge. The other side now has Japanese backing them; a head-on clash is not the best solution.”
“Boss Zhang has dominated Shanghai for years, with forces unmatched by anyone.”
“If the Japanese want to use this to strike at you, shouldn’t you prepare?”
“If it’s just a few punks from Nanjing, once you see clearly, just take action. But if not, you should carefully consider your next step.”
“I’ve heard that Minister Chen from Nanjing intends to invite you to take charge of the situation in Zhejiang Province. You might start from there and build good relations with Nanjing.”
“In officialdom, beatings and killings definitely won’t solve the problem.”
Zhang Xiaolin fell silent upon hearing this, and after a long while, he slowly said: “Brother Xianzheng, that Minister of Finance has quite an appetite.”
Qi Shiyi smiled faintly: “Boss Zhang, since ancient times, the poor do not fight the rich, and the rich do not contend with officials. You now have power and influence, but you’re still short a bit of nobility.”
“I’ve said all there is to say; it depends on how Boss Zhang chooses.”
Zhang Xiaolin raised the tea bowl, took a small sip, pondered for a moment, and then said evenly: “Thank you for the guidance, Brother Xianzheng. I know what to do.”
“In that case, I’ll take my leave.” Qi Shiyi stood up and cupped his hands toward Zhang Xiaolin.
Zhang Xiaolin quickly said: “Uncle He, see the guest out.”
The butler saw Qi Shiyi to the door, then hurried back to the living room. Zhang Xiaolin rubbed his brow and stood up: “Uncle He, prepare a box of gold, and have Song Zushan make a trip to Nanjing.”
“Mr. Qi is right; we can’t clash head-on with them. They want to play the officialdom game, so we’ll play along.”
Shanghai, No. 625 Daxi Road.
“Fourth Uncle, we’re rich, we’re rich.” Zhang Zixian ran into the office excitedly: “This trip we seized over ten thousand silver dollars in gambling funds and more than thirty cases of the goods.”
“Added up, it’s more than twenty thousand silver dollars. Now everything is solved.”
“Tch, you’ve never seen the world.” Zuo Mingquan muttered disdainfully, then as if remembering something the next second: “What about that Tian Darong?”
Zhang Zixian said: “Don’t worry, Fourth Uncle, the men downstairs are giving him a proper welcome.”
“However, this one’s mouth is very tough; he’s not easy to deal with.”
A ruthless glint flashed in Zuo Mingquan’s eyes: “Tough mouth? It can’t be tougher than the torture instruments in the interrogation room.”
“Tell him, if he doesn’t say what we want, he won’t leave alive.”
“If he’s willing to cooperate, perhaps I can spare his life.”
Spare his life? Zhang Zixian shook his head; where would that come from?
Zuo Mingquan wanted Tian Darong to take the blame for the New Army special commissioner matter—in other words, killing innocents to claim merit.
Tian Darong knew full well the consequences; not only would it ruin him, it might even drag Zhang Xiaolin down, so he was holding out and refusing to cooperate.
If he talked, no immortal could save him.
Zhang Zixian nodded, about to go out, when suddenly footsteps came from the office door. A figure poked half his head in, waved to Zhang Zixian, signaling him to come out.
Zhang Zixian curiously leaned forward. The man whispered a few words in his ear, Zhang Zixian frowned, and waved him away.
Immediately after, Zhang Zixian walked back into the office and said: “Fourth Uncle, Boss Zhang has brought people downstairs. Do you want to see him?”
