Chapter 50: Exploitation
“Ah?” He Yun was stunned and smiled puzzledly, asking, “What do you mean by Japanese stamping for verification?”
“Right, why did you call us here today? Why are there two other people?” Lu Bowen asked.
“Of course I called you here for something good.”
Gu Yansheng smiled: “Congratulations to you two, you’re going to be bosses.”
Gu Yansheng explained his dealings in the project, then talked about the prisoners in the prison, and what feelings this matter would bring to Li Shiqun if the tracking continued.
“Are you saying you pulled my relationship to the Construction Bureau, and I can eat a share of the imperial grain?” Lu Bowen listened with his eyes wide open in astonishment.
“Yes, not only can you eat the Japanese Army’s imperial grain, you can eat it without doing any work.”
Gu Yansheng directly explained to him what would happen next, “Later go to the Construction Bureau to find their director, just say you’re my distant relative, he’ll understand naturally. What happens next, you’re a businessman, no need for me to explain, right?
And what you need to do is establish an agent company, be the boss yourself, and for the staff, just wait for me to release prisoners from the prison, you go directly to the prison gate to recruit.
The Battle of Songhu, there must be many people whose houses collapsed, homeless and displaced. Those homeless ones who are willing to work and can endure hardship, that’s who you want.
If they want to go home, let them go home. There are plenty of people anyway, so you can pick and choose then.
Specifically how many, it depends on how much project volume I get from above, then you discuss and decide with him. He said using a few hundred people definitely won’t be a problem.
Once this matter is done, you’ll have your first income.
Of course, on the surface, this is money others gave me, just temporarily placed with you. I’m not in a hurry to take it.
Don’t spend it too lavishly. After all, you’re actually not my relative; I just happen to need someone to front for me, and you this merchant couple who came to Shanghai to do business but aren’t doing well were selected by me.
The benefits of helping me are obvious. Sharing some money is secondary. The most important reason is that you know doing business requires relationships. You want to climb my high branch to make your future path smoother.
So even if I don’t give you a single cent, you’d actually be willing to help me.
These two reasons are enough to convince anyone no matter who asks.
That also gives you the motivation to move freely in Shanghai.
You don’t need to worry about things on Li Shiqun’s side at 67. You didn’t do anything out of line to begin with. If they want to follow, let them follow. You just do your own things and pretend you don’t know.
And if Li Shiqun insists on making a move to arrest you for interrogation, the possibility is actually very small, but even if it happens, it doesn’t matter.
Starting today, you’ll move. The address is one I found for you. You’ve met the neighbors; they’re my female assistant from earlier. You know full well she’s the informant I sent to monitor you, but since you weren’t planning to run anyway, just interact as usual and don’t point it out.
If people from 67 really arrest you, suppose they only arrest Bowen. If He Yun finds he hasn’t come home, notify me in the evening.
If they arrest both of you, then in the evening you both won’t be home. At the latest the next day at work, this informant will tell me about it.
If you two have to go out and both won’t be home, tell me in advance. As long as you haven’t told me and both disappear, I’ll assume something happened to you two. Next, I’ll get you out.
What you need to do is relay the relationship I just made up layer by layer to Li Shiqun, do everything to delay time. At most no more than 24 hours, I’ll definitely show up and get you out.
I’ve made it clear enough, right?”
After He Yun heard it, she had one feeling: touched. “Yansheng, you’ve already done so much? You’re seeking your own position and still thinking up so much for us. Time is so tight, your pressure must be huge too, right? Thanks for your hard work.”
“This is what lawyers do. If you don’t think carefully, it’s easy to get caught in loopholes in court. Others leaking a loophole is fine, but if a lawyer leaks one, they won’t earn the lawyer’s fee.” Gu Yansheng chuckled lightly.
Lu Bowen patted Gu Yansheng’s arm, “Indeed, thanks for your hard work, Yansheng. We’ll definitely cherish your planning, make good use of this environment to develop, and never let your efforts go to waste.
When it’s completely safe, I must describe this matter in detail to the organization. Your progress has already exceeded my expectations. I believe it may have exceeded Minister Chen’s expectations too.”
After speaking, Lu Bowen had a flash of inspiration, “You’re not a party member yet, right? Yansheng, I recommend you join the party. I’ll be your party introduction person.”
“Count me in.” He Yun raised her hand.
Gu Yansheng raised an eyebrow and smiled, “Great, I’ve wanted to join the party for a long time. Back when I was in Yan’an, I was thinking of having Minister Chen be my party introduction person personally, but then we came out and didn’t get the chance.”
“Haha, He Yun, hear that? Yansheng looks down on us.” Lu Bowen teased.
He Yun smiled slightly: “Well, I don’t think that’s impossible either. This time the organization wants cotton yarn, right?
I think this matter is quite important. If we really pull it off, talk to Minister Chen about letting him personally be Yansheng’s party introduction person. For the sake of so many fighters having clothes to wear, I think Minister Chen will definitely agree.”
“Makes sense, then find an opportunity to mention it.”
Lu Bowen encouraged: “This can also be our motivation to urge ourselves to go all out to solve the organization’s problem, and also to strive for resolving the party member status of our trio member, Comrade Yansheng. Let’s cheer together.”
“Cheer.”
“Cheer.”
The three reached out and clapped hands, a small pep talk, self-encouragement. In the enemy rear, this genuine comradeship of war would keep everyone firmly together.
Pep talk when needed, but warnings still necessary.
Gu Yansheng took a sip of coffee and said: “The project time won’t last long and won’t come often. During this period here, you can plan your own business. Dealing in grain is fine too.
For staff, select from those released from the prison among the ones doing labor from daily observations.
These people were selected by the Japanese, and they’ll be kept in prison indefinitely without clear reason. They basically have no relationships locally in Shanghai. Pick carefully, and it should be promising to train them into your capable assistants later.
But I must emphasize one point: Li Shiqun is no simple person. He’s a director of the Central Statistics Bureau himself, an expert in conspiracies and tactics. This time I’m just taking advantage of his suspicious nature.
But the Military Statistics Bureau has been carrying out assassinations in Shanghai. Based on the Japanese judgment of the Shanghai situation, they’ll inevitably need experienced people like Li Shiqun to help them.
Pressuring Li Shiqun is only temporary. Maybe not long from now, he’ll rise rapidly, and it would be normal if he doesn’t give me face then.
So in future work, we must remember not to act out of line. This is crucial, especially the cotton yarn.
Until I say it’s okay to touch it, don’t even glance at it.”
The two nodded solemnly, “Don’t worry, though we can’t help much, we can at least not hold you back.”
“What are you saying.” Gu Yansheng sneered, “Later pick a few sturdy ones to be your own bodyguards, get a car too. That way even if Li Shiqun’s side wants to make a move, there won’t be no movement at all.”
“Got it.”
“Alright, your matters are settled. For the remaining two people, one is related to you, the manager of that car dealership.
I’ve seen this person’s resume. He’s been in Shanghai a long time, with so many rickshaw pullers under him, he’s practically a local snake.
When the time comes for you to transport grain in and out of the city, if you need vehicles, you can try finding him. Though it’s a rickshaw business, he definitely knows people for big carts too. Purely commercial relationship—fellow prisoners, you exchange, it looks reasonable to outsiders.
I’m using him to throw smoke bombs at Li Shiqun.”
“Then I get it. No wonder I saw those two.”
Lu Bowen understood and said: “Just now at your entrance, when the guard wouldn’t let me in, I sounded them out. These days, that professor hasn’t left the concession, but that manager has left the concession.
From his expression and actions when speaking, he hasn’t been invited over by 67, so I judge the risk is indeed not big for now.”
“Good news.” Gu Yansheng smiled: “If it were a lunatic like Wu Sibao grabbing people regardless, that would be troublesome. But Li Shiqun playing the long game to catch big fish, we don’t need to worry excessively. We’re clean to begin with, so being followed casually is no big deal.
Actually, I even hope he keeps following. The more he follows, the more it proves our innocence.”
“Haha, that’s what I mean too. No other matters, shall we head out first? If we don’t go soon, that director will be off work.”
“Okay, have the secretary leave you an address. After meeting him, go rent a house. Be careful yourselves usually.
From now on, you can call me anytime if there’s something. Home office or office. If not convenient to speak, start with Mr. Gu. If convenient, start with Deputy Division Chief Gu. If it’s an emergency in the middle of the night, come to my house, that’s fine too.”
“Got it, then we’ll be off.” Lu Bowen stood up and extended his hand: “Take care.”
“Take care.”
“Yansheng, rest more when you have time.” He Yun said.
“Got it.” Gu Yansheng smiled and nodded.
