Chapter 25: Friend
“They’re coming up.” Wen Yan heard the footsteps and reminded.
Heavy stomping sounds rang out on the stairs, da-da-da, with overwhelming momentum, causing the others on the second floor to glance over repeatedly.
“Mr. Gu, Green Gang people all have hot tempers. If one rushes at you, please endure it a bit. There are many of them, and a good man doesn’t suffer immediate losses.”
“Alright.”
Gu Yansheng smiled in agreement, turned his head to look, and the person had already appeared at the stairwell entrance.
The minor leader in that group spotted Wen Yan at a glance and immediately introduced him to Wu Sibao.
Wu Sibao knew who the main person was and looked directly at Gu Yansheng.
He had investigated Gu Yansheng’s background; the lawyer identity wasn’t much, worthless to him.
It was just this Gu fellow—what exactly was his relationship with the Japanese Consulate? He couldn’t quite figure it out.
Number 67 backed by the Japanese Military Department had no connection at all to the consulate. Trying to probe what relationship Gu Yansheng really had with the consulate was utterly impossible.
He could only guess.
If it weren’t for this car-buying matter, he would have planned to repaint the vehicle and sell it out of town.
It was impossible to return anyway.
Even if Gu Yansheng truly had a huge connection with the Japanese Consulate and complained to the Japanese Consul, he could just flatly deny it—what could he do to me?
But now that this Gu Yansheng wanted to buy the vehicle, the matter became interesting.
If the guy was willing to spend some money, then for the Japanese Consulate’s sake, there was no need to make things so absolute. He’d also save on the transportation costs of selling it out of town.
Best of both worlds.
So after thinking it over, he decided to come over proactively for a meeting and probe the situation.
His gaze sized up Gu Yansheng, he walked over with a half-smile, and as he moved, a large group followed behind with a rustling sound, creating an intense sense of pressure.
If a naive young person saw this, they would probably be scared into wetting their pants.
“So this is the boss who wants to buy the vehicle?” Wu Sibao stood still. Seeing the other had background, he didn’t act tough.
Gu Yansheng smiled faintly, raised his hand in a gesture to sit, “It’s correct to say I’m here to buy the vehicle, but more accurately, to make a friend. Gu Yansheng.”
“Wu Sibao.” Wu Sibao plopped down, picked up a cigarette, lit it, and drew on it, asking with interest: “How exactly to make a friend? This is our first meeting, Mr. Gu. You’re interested in me to the point of wanting to make friends already? Tell me about it.”
“Because of admiration.”
Gu Yansheng picked up the teapot and poured him a tea cup.
“Though this is my first meeting with Mr. Wu, I actually heard your distinguished name yesterday.
My vehicle was lost, so I asked Director Liao of the French Concession to help find it.
Logically, with his abilities, anything lost in the French Concession should be recoverable, but this lost vehicle just couldn’t be found.
I got curious—what kind of person could make the Chief Constable of the French Concession eat a loss.
So I had this friend of mine inquire.
Upon inquiring, Wu Sibao’s name was etched in my mind.
Lawyers eat the Jianghu rice, rely on friends when out and about. Director Liao is certainly a character, but on the Shanghai Bund, if there’s someone like you, Wu Sibao, who can suppress Director Liao, and I don’t get to know him or make friends—then who else on the Shanghai Bund is worth me knowing and associating with?
Mr. Wu, admiration. Please have some tea.”
Wu Sibao listened stunned, not expecting this guy to come up with a barrage of flattery, and it was all logical.
Not bad, it felt pretty good, especially the part saying he was better than Liao Shan—particularly satisfying.
“A lawyer is a lawyer; Mr. Gu, your words are truly pleasing. Only…”
Wu Sibao flicked his cigarette ash and sneered, “Only, if you think these words can make me waive the vehicle price, you’re overthinking.
I don’t have the vehicle in hand; I’m just the one who finds vehicles.
If you’re willing to spend money, I can help you find it.
But if you’re unwilling to pay, no immortal can handle this.”
Gu Yansheng chuckled, picked up the tea cup to drink tea, and said after setting it down: “Mr. Wu, you’ve misunderstood. It’s just one vehicle; I don’t value it that highly. If it weren’t my friend’s beloved vehicle and I didn’t want to lose it while driving for someone else, I’d give it to you. But since it’s lost and I want it back, I’ll definitely spend the money. Whatever it costs to find the vehicle, tell me the amount.”
“Now that the vehicle is lost and I want it back, I’ll definitely spend the money. You find the vehicle—whatever it costs, just tell me.”
“Straightforward.” Wu Sibao perked up and thought more highly of Gu Yansheng.
He hated most those who clearly wanted their stuff back but acted like it was rightfully theirs, whining about grievances, pulling strings, and refusing to pay.
“If you put it that way, this friendship isn’t impossible to discuss. So specifically, how much are you planning to spend to buy back—no, find back—this vehicle?”
“You’re calling the shots on that, of course, Mr. Wu.” Gu Yansheng spoke very generously from the start, “As I said, whatever it costs to find the vehicle. Though I just arrived in Shanghai not long ago and don’t have much money on me, as long as you name the price, even if I have to borrow, I’ll scrape it together for you.”
“Real or fake?” Wu Sibao scratched his head; this guy’s generosity was starting to baffle him.
All that talk of making friends was just polite talk; as a lawyer, saying nice words was just his stock-in-trade, nothing special—whoever takes it seriously is a fool.
But involving money, and still like this?
Wasn’t he afraid of being ripped off with a lion’s mouth price?
Baffling.
Did he really want to make friends?
“Of course it’s real. Entrusting someone to handle a matter—you have to see how much they spent. You call the shots, isn’t that right? What are you suspecting, Brother Wu?”
“I’m not suspecting; I just… it’s been a while since I’ve seen a lawyer as straightforward as you, Brother Gu.”
Wu Sibao felt a bit hesitant to speak up.
This guy wasn’t playing by the rules.
He hadn’t expected the meeting to go like this.
But whether it was genuine still depended on how readily he paid; he decided to test it.
“Brother, let me tell you: my friend told me the new vehicle’s price is about 14,000 US dollars. Selling it out of town as second-hand would be 7,000 US dollars.
It’s a bit pricey, but it depends on the person. If you really want it, Brother recognizes you as a friend today—as a meeting gift, I’ll help you haggle it down to 5,000 US dollars, and you take the vehicle.
If I can’t haggle below 5,000, anything over is on me. What do you think?”
After speaking, Wu Sibao stared intently at Gu Yansheng.
Honestly, he felt this price was a bit dark.
A new vehicle had one price; second-hand definitely couldn’t be calculated that way, especially a stolen vehicle.
The biggest problem with this vehicle was that few groups could afford it, and those who could wouldn’t buy such a conspicuous stolen vehicle.
Stolen—that was the biggest problem.
There were only a few such vehicles in all of Shanghai; one had just been lost days ago, and now a tycoon says he bought one himself.
That would lose all face if word got out.
And shipping it out of town solved the conspicuous issue, rich tycoons weren’t short on cash, but when it would sell was unknown.
Nothing beat immediate cash in hand.
Wu Sibao set this price, actually leaving a cut for Gu Yansheng; closing at 4,000 US dollars would be plenty, considering the consulate connection.
Yet to his shock, Gu Yansheng didn’t haggle a bit.
“5,000, right? Fine, Mr. Wu says 5,000, so 5,000 it is. I’ll figure out how to raise the money. I’m here today to make friends with you, Mr. Wu. This price is fine, so no more talk—just this price. Next, shall we order food and drinks?”
Wu Sibao was stunned. Damn, he really came to make friends.
So sincere!
Extremely poised, extremely bold!
Such a sucker was rare.
Smack—he slapped the table: “Refreshing, too refreshing! Someone, bring the best wine and dishes for Father. Brother Gu, this friend of yours is set. Today I treat—you mustn’t fight with me! We won’t go home until we’re drunk.”
