Chapter 47: Banquet
Judicial Department, meeting room.
Gu Yansheng was explaining the report content to Liu Xiaolou, and Liu Xiaolou was writing furiously.
The door was knocked on, and Ling Xianwen walked in.
“Couldn’t find anyone in your office, heard you’re still working hard here. So diligent on the first day of work, makes me as Secretary-General look like I get off work a bit early?”
“Haha.” Gu Yansheng smiled and stood up to greet him with two steps, “Had a meeting to summarize, left on time?”
They had arranged to eat.
“It’s time, the others have already gone over.”
Ling Xianwen came over and glanced at what Liu Xiaolou had written, only saw the title, and his view was blocked by Liu Xiaolou’s slightly stiff action of covering the folder.
Liu Xiaolou remembered Gu Yansheng’s words, he should cover it up, but this cover-up was so crude that he himself felt embarrassed, burying his head even deeper.
“Not bad, just one day in and already managing your subordinates so well.”
Ling Xianwen had no intention of blaming, his eyes full of appreciation, “After all, from a lawyer background, rigorous.”
Gu Yansheng sighed helplessly with a smile, “Just now in the meeting I learned about the situation. As a judicial department, there are actually so many shortcomings. So, I’m reprimanding them, to change from ourselves. If we don’t change our own style, how can we establish Greater Shanghai’s rigorous rule of law?”
“Mm, makes sense. The judicial department was indeed marginalized before, needs to change style. Let them continue reforming, let’s go.”
“Okay, Xiao Lou, you go back and organize it, give it to me before noon tomorrow.”
“Okay okay, got it.” Liu Xiaolou let out a big sigh of relief.
Gu Yansheng and Ling Xianwen went downstairs, and Ling Xianwen also introduced the attendees for the evening.
The protagonists are two: one Director of the Social Affairs Bureau, one Director of the Construction Bureau, also key forces in the consulate faction.
The rest are just division chiefs and section chiefs from various departments.
Unlike Gu Yansheng’s department which is just a division, where he can also count as a chief official, they are just division chiefs and section chiefs in a bureau-level unit, ultimately lacking some power to make decisions on major matters.
But for playing the role of spies, helping with small daily tasks, it’s enough.
Gu Yansheng was quite interested in the Chief of the Inspection Section of the police station, planning to get to know him well in the evening. The Judicial Department also has police, but they are court police and prison guards; relying on them to arrest people definitely isn’t as convenient as regular police officers.
Out the door, they just happened to run into Wu Sibao who was coming.
“Wu Sibao? You’re back?” Gu Yansheng paused his steps.
“Deputy Division Chief Gu, haven’t seen you for a few days, what a changed man.”
This sarcastic tone, wanting to flare up but not daring, sour expression, tsk tsk.
At that time, Gu Yansheng really hoped to befriend Wu Sibao. Character doesn’t matter, the key is some things need people who do the dirty work.
As the saying goes, some people are hard to accomplish things with, but easy to sabotage yours.
But plans can’t keep up with changes. Not an official, give 5000; became Deputy Division Chief, still give 5000, then what’s the point of being an official?
But though not planning to continue giving money, Wu Sibao, he still needs to use.
“What kind of person is this?”
Ling Xianwen can’t stand people of this low caliber, clearly a thug type at first glance.
“The boss of those who extorted me, here to make an apology.” Gu Yansheng explained in a low voice.
“Oh~” Ling Xianwen understood, lips curving into an arc, said no more.
“Sibao, met the Secretary-General.”
“Hello, Secretary-General.” Hearing it’s the Secretary-General, Wu Sibao didn’t dare act up.
“I’ll chat with him a few words.”
“Okay, I’ll wait for you in the car.”
Once Ling Xianwen left, Gu Yansheng sized up Wu Sibao and said, “What’s going on?”
“What’s going on?” Wu Sibao got angry at the words, “Didn’t I come to apologize to you? Deputy Division Chief Gu!”
“Sigh.” Gu Yansheng shook his head: “I knew you’d misunderstand me over this.
At that time the court sentencing was over, the French consul invited us to drink together, the owner of that car, that British lawyer was also there. He has a loose tongue, told Mr. Hase about this matter.
Mr. Hase got angry right then. After all, he’s his lawyer, just won the lawsuit for him, and in front of the French consul, gets reported. You say, does Mr. Hase need face?
So that’s why he made you compensate and apologize, it wasn’t me who said it.
If I wanted to report it, do I need to wait this late? Wouldn’t I have gone to report it the same day I knew it was you? Go through the trouble of treating to eat?”
The reasoning seems to check out, Wu Sibao listened half-believingly, resentment halved, “The British lawyer reported it, not you?”
“Of course not me.” Gu Yansheng put on a serious face, “Go ask your gate guard at number 67. The two days you left, did I not bring money directly to your door? Otherwise how would I know you’re not in Shanghai?”
“This happened?”
“Nonsense, go ask yourself.”
Wu Sibao didn’t need to ask, since it’s said out loud, it can’t be fake.
Then it’s really not Gu Yansheng’s issue, otherwise he definitely wouldn’t bring money to the door, can only blame that British lawyer for being talkative.
“This mess, Brother Gu, I wronged you, brother was wrong. Then this money?” Wu Sibao continued probing.
“I definitely can’t give you the money now.
Don’t rush, hear me out.”
This guy changes faces like a dog, face droops at no money, Gu Yansheng cut off his words,
“It’s not that I care about the money, but now Mr. Hase has spoken, can’t give money. Not only can I not give you money, you have to give me money, compensation money.
How much you compensate, I have to report up, this concerns Mr. Hase’s face. One portion for me, one for that British lawyer.
The show must go on, at least you take out 2000 US dollars to settle this, feels appropriate.”
“2000 US dollars?” Wu Sibao’s eyes bulged: “I didn’t get my 5000, and now add 2000 more?”
“If you don’t put up this money, I can’t report well to Mr. Hase, can’t report well, how do we deal in the future?
Force it and tell Mr. Hase I don’t care about his face?”
Gu Yansheng’s face unhappy, frowned: “If you don’t trust me, unwilling, pretend I didn’t say. I won’t chase you for this 2000 either. As for Mr. Hase’s anger, you handle it yourself.
If you’re willing, the 5000 you didn’t get, I promise to make it up to you afterward, and double it. You consider, I and the Secretary-General have another meeting, I gotta go.”
Gu Yansheng walked two steps.
Wu Sibao, standing there frowning indecisively, saw him leaving and hurried two steps to catch up, “Hey, wait, say a couple more words. Not that I don’t trust you, but I’m poor. You say I gotta come up with 2000 for you, this double make up you said, exactly how to make up?”
Gu Yansheng took a deep breath, sighed, “Look where we are? What department have I taken charge of? Will I lack money in the future?”
Gu Yansheng gave two more seconds buffer, saw him silent still considering, too lazy to wait.
“Decide quick and act fast. Since back in Shanghai, don’t keep Mr. Hase waiting long, lest he thinks you full of resentment. I really gotta go.”
Gu Yansheng patted his shoulder, walked off directly, still reproaching on the way.
“This face is really ugly.”
Leaving Wu Sibao there somewhat conflicted.
Get in the car.
“Handled? That guy didn’t give you trouble, right?” Ling Xianwen asked caringly.
“No issue, if even he I can’t handle, then my Deputy Division Chief is for nothing?” Gu Yansheng smiled easily.
“Good then.” Ling Xianwen told the driver to drive, then continued about some people and matters in the government.
Evening, banquet.
All colleagues backing the same big tree, topics can be opened up.
Tonight’s banquet nominally a welcome for Gu Yansheng, counting as joined the consulate family, actually, a gripe session against other factions.
Griping along, everyone got familiar, especially Gu Yansheng not a quiet type, can chat on any topic a few sentences, so feelings got good.
Easy to do business at the wine table, Gu Yansheng should handle proper business.
Lu Bowen matter, time to resolve.
Gu Yansheng looked at Ling Xianwen.
“Secretary-General, Mayor Fu tasked me with the plan on how to stop the concession’s power encroachment, I already have a rough scheme.
And in this plan, I need to build two or three buildings, probably two courts, maybe corresponding supporting measures.
For this, I want to solicit your opinion, see if city government funds are still ample, if project application can be quick, what level the supporting measures should reach.”
Ling Xianwen put down his wine glass, listened attentively.
If really can solve this headache for everyone, let alone two courts, even twenty, probably the Japanese willing to pay.
He and the Director of the Construction Bureau exchanged a look, both lips curving, mentioning a sure thing, meaning self-evident.
Director of the Construction Bureau spoke right away: “Building courts is good, Secretary-General. I think courts should be built. You say Shanghai so big, we actually only have two courts now, too outrageous. Gotta build, and best build big, majestic and grand, solemn and imposing, solve century problem at once.”
“I think this matter no big problem.” Ling Xianwen stated position, scanned everyone, “This is currently government’s urgent big issue, should pass meeting no difficulty. Anyway, those who can contribute will, we strive to build courts soon, also restore judicial system.”
Ling Xianwen spoke, matter set tone, immediately a group echoed, guaranteeing to contribute a lot then.
No contribution, where dividends from.
Two courts plus corresponding facilities, these two projects, tsk tsk, plenty of oil and water.
Banquet ended.
Gu Yansheng and Construction Bureau Director already close as pants, came out from the restaurant.
Construction Bureau Director drunk face flushed, arm around Gu Yansheng’s shoulder, whispered: “Little brother, rest assured, your share I absolutely won’t short.”
Gu Yansheng smiled faintly: “Big brother, this money I won’t take, but I have a relative not blood-related, he wants to help government do some things. Don’t know if your bureau needs a few people to watch construction sites or such work?”
“Of course need.” Construction Bureau Director got it in a second, “Tomorrow have him come to bureau find me, rest I handle okay? Guarantee him work, food to eat, besides salary, dividends too.”
“Then many thanks.”
“Polite what, hahahaha.”
“One more thing, this doesn’t involve private matters, you can purely by your demand. I say you listen okay?”
“Mm, you say.” Construction Bureau Director not drunk at all, stood steady for serious talk, quite earnest.
Gu Yansheng said: “Shanghai’s existing two prisons, holding many people Japanese randomly arrested back then, over a thousand. These people in prison wasting grain, I plan to release them.
But these people released, those with homes okay, go home.
No homes easy to cause social hazards, stir trouble, Japanese hold accountable, I lose face too.
So if such people, willing to work, see if any construction sites or elsewhere, temporarily let them transition, have food to eat, save a bit money, continue livelihood. One or two months want to leave, let them scatter slowly.
We count as doing good deed, give them one chance to live.
If Japanese side has opinions, I handle.
And big brother you, ensure them one meal, give pocket money for smokes, rest love it or leave, I figure recruiting these, compared to ordinary workers, from cost also save a bit?”
“Little brother calculates finely.” Construction Bureau Director eyes lit up.
This batch, simply eat a meal no wage old oxen.
“No problem, all on big brother. As long as not too many, few hundred, I absolutely arrange for you.”
“Enough, few hundred definitely enough.”
Minus those with families returning home, how many left willing to be cheap labor still uncertain.
“I’ll handle when back, strive to finish in days.”
“Okay, then I wait for little brother’s word.”
