Chapter 19: The Car
“Wen Yan, did you drive the car away?” Gu Yansheng subconsciously asked his acquaintance.
Wen Yan was puzzled, “What car? I didn’t drive it. Did you buy a car?”
Right, Wen Yan didn’t even know he drove here.
“Then where’s my car?” Gu Yansheng suddenly felt a bit dazed.
“Brother, where’s your car?” Liao Shan asked with a hearty laugh, thinking Gu Yansheng had parked it somewhere and forgotten, then realizing something was off.
No, Gu Yansheng did have a car. He saw a luxury sedan parked at the entrance when he arrived, and he even muttered, who is this, so flashy, buying such an expensive car.
His men later told him that was Lawyer Gu’s car.
“Stolen?” Wen Yan thought of a possibility.
Nonsense, could it have grown legs and run away? Gu Yansheng didn’t even want to speak. This was right at the police station entrance, in broad daylight, under clear skies—this was the French Concession police station headquarters.
Stolen here?
Liao Shan’s face fell; this was like a direct slap to his face.
“Call back to the station and ask if Mr. Wolf came to pick up the car.” Gu Yansheng had Wen Yan confirm, also giving Liao Shan a buffer.
“Okay.”
The call result nearly scared Wolf out of his wits; his voice was so loud Wen Yan’s ears almost went deaf, “What the fuck? My car is gone?”
“You, come here!” Liao Shan shouted at the Indian constable at the door, “Did you see Lawyer Gu’s car at the entrance? A very nice car.”
The Indian constable’s eyes were clear; he nodded: “Yes, I saw it.”
“Where’s the car?”
“It was driven away.”
“Who drove it?”
“Don’t know, didn’t recognize him, Officer.”
“How could you let him drive the car away?”
“How was I to know he wasn’t the owner.”
“When was it driven away?”
“Afternoon, I think.”
“Stolen in the afternoon? What’s the point of keeping you? Get lost.”
Liao Shan darkly scolded the Indian, then turned to comfort Gu Yansheng: “Brother Gu, don’t worry. I’ll send people to find it right away. Your car is so eye-catching; anyone who’s seen it will remember. Wait for me a bit; I’ll go make a few calls, then we can eat and wait for news, okay?”
“Okay, I’ll follow Director Liao’s lead.”
What else could Gu Yansheng do? He really had to rely on Liao Shan to find it.
But that didn’t stop him from cursing Liao Shan inwardly: broad daylight, clear skies, Liao Shan you useless fool, can’t even deter villains at the police headquarters entrance!
“On French Concession turf, I want to see which scoundrel is this brazen. He’s blind as a bat. Brother Gu, relax; it’s just some blind thief who targeted you. Don’t worry, brother guarantees I’ll get your car back.”
At Song He Lou, over drinks, Liao Shan made his guarantee.
“I’m not worried. In Shanghai, if Director Liao wants to find a car, it’s a piece of cake. I’ll eat and drink while waiting for Director Liao’s good news.”
Though Gu Yansheng cursed Liao Shan inwardly for his poor management, he wouldn’t believe Liao Shan couldn’t find the car.
Chief Constable of the French Concession—what a position.
In an era when the Municipal Council just wanted to coast and enjoy Shanghai Bund life, the Chief Constable managed all police stations, so inevitably, all walks of life had to give Liao Shan face.
How could he not find it?
Before leaving, Liao Shan had already made calls; probably had some gang or such out searching. No worries.
“This dish is good.” Gu Yansheng kept using his chopsticks, picking up some mandarin fish and putting it in his mouth.
Time to relax; these past couple days had been high tension.
Now his little partners were released, temporarily out of danger, and the most important underground party operative, Liao Shan had sent him out of 67’s sight.
Once the old underground operative left, he should have his own ways to survive and hide.
As for how he’d contact Lu Bowen again later, the organization surely had backup plans arranged beforehand; no need for him to worry.
The only thing to watch was if Lu Bowen was being tailed. If he was, their contact wouldn’t go smoothly, but that wouldn’t be today’s issue—no rush.
Time to treat his stomach and experience this era’s Shanghai delicacies.
Garlic pork, smells great.
“The chef’s skills are good too.”
“Not bad, right?”
Getting Gu Yansheng’s approval let Liao Shan save some face; he smiled and said: “I pre-ordered the ingredients, specially arranged for you, brother.”
“Director Liao, thanks.”
“No need to be polite with me.”
Still exchanging pleasantries when the private room door was knocked on, “Director Liao, phone call for you.”
“Ah, probably news.” Liao Shan stood up with a beaming smile.
Nothing like good news to lift spirits; this was a chance delivered to his door to do Gu Yansheng a favor, small matter, all gain no pain.
“Brother, wait a sec; I’ll go see what’s up.”
Liao Shan went out, picked up the phone, and after not even two sentences, his smiling face slowly fell.
“You sure it’s them? Not your people doing it to frame them?”
An affirmative voice came from the phone: “Director Liao, really not our people. I beat the hell out of the lads; I know exactly where everyone was today. It was Wu Sibao’s men; people saw them, more than one. That car is so conspicuous, no mistake. The car is definitely on Da Xi Road.”
Da Xi Road, Wu Sibao!
“Got it.”
Liao Shan hung up darkly, couldn’t help cursing under his breath, “Thirteen points, you son of a bitch! Little devil born of a pig!”
Liao Shan dialed Wu Sibao right back.
As soon as it connected, Liao Shan unleashed, “Hey, Wu Sibao, you thirteen points, stealing right at my doorstep? What do you want, to slap my face?”
Wu Sibao on the other end was picking his toes, even sniffed his fingers, haha laughed: “Director Liao, such a temper? What’s up, did your house lose something?”
“Don’t play dumb with me; get the car back here, now!” Liao Shan growled.
Wu Sibao played dumb, “What car? I don’t know.”
Liao Shan slowed his speech, voice deepening, “Wu Sibao, I warn you, don’t make me mad. Steal from whoever, but not today. This is my friend’s car, right at my doorstep—you’re slapping my face.”
“Yo, made new friends?” Wu Sibao teased indifferently with a laugh, then slammed the table, tone suddenly furious: “You’re the one slapping my face!
You couldn’t even hold a few people; the ones I went to so much trouble to get back, all my efforts these days wasted, all that manpower and resources, feeding people and horses—who reimburses me? You do?
Steal my car? I’ll tell you, I ordered the car stolen. So what?
If you’re unhappy, send someone to steal it back. You dare?
Let me tell you, Liao Shan, I haven’t shorted you, right?
My bro comes to Shanghai, finally snags wharf inspection rights from the Japanese, first thing I do is give you a pass; those opium you’re selling, without my connections, would’ve been seized by Japanese inspection boats at Wusongkou long ago!
And look at what you’re doing!
Can’t hold a few people, and you still put on airs in front of me, making new friends.
Even if you got a new daddy, it won’t fly!
I’ll tell you, want new friends, want your car back? Fine. Your new batch of goods at the wharf, I take an extra fifty percent. Agree, and I’ll have someone deliver the car back right now, tank full.
Dare to agree?
Three, two, one.
No guts? Shut your mouth!”
Slam, the phone was hung up mercilessly.
