Chapter 296: People Really Laugh When They’re Speechless
From ancient times to the present, the most effective persuasion has always been pillow talk.
Now she can rely on Cao Weida because of her current man Little Ear.
This relationship is solid if you say it is, but if you say it’s not, it’s indeed quite fragile.
She is a woman, and women age and lose their beauty.
What if one day Little Ear gets tired of her or finds a new love? What should she do?
She is a fallen woman and knows that even if Little Ear accepts her, she can at most be a concubine and not the first wife.
To secure her status, she has been trying hard to bear Little Ear a son or daughter, but her womb is not cooperative, and there has been no news yet.
To prepare for the worst, she must grasp more bargaining chips.
And Xie Wanrou and Qiu Shuyi are obviously good choices.
A smile bloomed on her face: “If Cao Ye is willing to grace us, it is Xiaguang Garden’s good fortune.”
“Cao Ye, please sit first. Wanrou is drawing patterns, Shuyi is practicing pipa. I’ll go call them over right now.”
“If they know Cao Ye came to see them today, they will be overjoyed.”
With that, Han Lu turned and went out the door. Passing by a room, she knocked on the door:
“Wanrou, Cao Ye has come to see you all. He also said he will stay here for a few days. Hurry and tidy up, go to the private room to meet him.”
A flurry of panicked sounds came from inside the room, followed by Xie Wanrou’s joyful response.
Walking to another room, the pipa music abruptly stopped.
Han Lu pushed the door open and saw Qiu Shuyi gripping the pipa strings in a daze, so she smiled and teased: “Shuyi, what are you spacing out for? Cao Ye is here. Hurry and change into bright clothes, don’t be impolite.”
Although she had already had her first experience, it was only once after all, and her heart was still innocent.
Hearing this, Qiu Shuyi’s cheeks flushed slightly. She set down the pipa, stood up, shyly called “Lu Jie”, and hurriedly rummaged through the trunk to find a water-green embroidered bamboo qipao.
Han Lu watched her bustling about, her smile blooming on her face, and instructed again: “Cao Ye will stay here for a few days, a rare opportunity. You must seize it. Whether you can turn from sparrow to phoenix depends on your own ability.”
“The skills I’ve taught you these days, you must use them well. No man doesn’t like this.”
Hearing this, Qiu Shuyi blushed furiously but nodded very seriously, her eyes hiding hope.
Although their contracts had been bought out, they had not moved into Sesame Hutong. These days, she had been very uneasy.
For girls like her with no background but good looks, in this era, if they didn’t hold tightly onto Cao Weida, their future could be miserable.
They knew all too well the fates of the women in Xiaguang Garden.
Young, they might be glamorous with many patrons doting on them.
But once past the best age, their futures were often bleak.
They had finally grasped a chance and naturally wanted to hold on desperately.
Even if their hearts were shy, it couldn’t stop their longing to leave here and enter the Cao Family main gate with dignity!
Soon, Qiu Shuyi and Xie Wanrou followed Han Lu to the private room.
Xie Wanrou wore a pink soft silk qipao with a pearl flower pinned at her temple, timidly curtsying.
Qiu Shuyi stood properly, the water-green qipao accentuating her clear and beautiful features, a handkerchief embroidered with half a orchid clutched in her hand.
After leading the two women in, Han Lu tactfully left.
Cao Weida looked up at them, his gaze lingering on their faces for a moment, then slowly said: “It’s been over ten days since I came. I’ve wronged you.”
“Master, no grievance. You are a big shot. How can mere romance delay your important matters.”
“Yes, Master. We sisters have no skills and can only pray for you every day, hoping you stay safe and smooth always. That satisfies us sisters.”
These words made Cao Weida feel comfortable.
The trace of alienation in his eyes gradually faded.
He had naturally investigated their backgrounds thoroughly; both were clean, with clear records from childhood.
However, that wasn’t enough. Even in the modern era with developed networks, fakes exist, let alone now with such slow information flow?
Those agent organizations could easily forge a seemingly reasonable background.
But at least for now, he had a good impression of the two women.
As long as it didn’t involve deep secrets, he wasn’t stingy about giving two women a good life and dignity.
He opened his arms: “Come, sit in your family master’s embrace.”
Hearing “your family master”, the two women were overjoyed. Did this mean Master had accepted them?!
Looking at the two women sitting happily in his embrace, his hands measuring their bodies, a trace of imperceptible vigilance hid in his eyes.
His bait was in place, just waiting for the hunter in the dark to bare its fangs.
The next morning, Cao Weida woke from deep sleep.
Seeing the two naked women sleeping soundly one on each side, his mind recalled last night’s experiences, and an enjoying smile appeared on his face.
These two women must have been taught by Han Lu; otherwise, they wouldn’t be so skilled.
He was satisfied, but the two women were exhausted, sleeping deeply even this early.
“After this matter, arrange for them to live in the courtyard.”
Keeping them in Xiaguang Garden forever wasn’t right. He wasn’t heartless; for women who followed him, as long as they had no ill intentions, he wouldn’t mistreat them, even if not placed in Sesame Hutong’s courtyard.
With so much money in the space, could he not afford two women?
Pushing open the carved wooden window, the morning breeze blew in, making the copper bell by the bed tinkle lightly. The fragmented sounds fell into the room still filled with warm rouge powder scent, easing his nerves tense all night.
“Cao Ye is up?”
Light footsteps approached. Han Lu came in soft-soled blue cloth shoes, her moon-white qipao collar embroidered with tiny silver crabapple threads, making Cao Weida’s gaze linger for a moment.
“Yesterday the garden got some lotus root powder from Hangzhou. I had the kitchen steam it with osmanthus sugar. Will Cao Ye have some to tide over your stomach later?”
Cao Weida glanced sideways at her, his gaze sweeping over the excellent quality southern red bracelet on her wrist.
This woman had mixed in Beiping’s pleasure quarters for so many years; her hospitality was subtle and warming.
Cao Weida nodded, took the porcelain bowl of lotus root powder, scooped a spoonful into his mouth, and smiled: “Boss Han’s hospitality is truly comforting. Last night, were there any unfamiliar faces?”
Han Lu frowned slightly upon hearing this, as if seriously recalling, then smiled brightly:
“There was one. Before dark yesterday, an old flower seller waited at the alley entrance until curfew before leaving. The rest were regular patrons.”
She looked up at Cao Weida sincerely: “Cao Ye, shall I have my people ask around the alley entrance to see which street that old woman is from?”
“No need.” Cao Weida set down the porcelain bowl, straightened his collar, his gaze passing over Han Lu to the main gate of Xiaguang Garden.
The assassin didn’t appear yesterday, but this seemingly ordinary morning might still hide a pair of spying eyes.
Today is May 29, 1944, weather clear.
Sunny and pleasant, sun high in the sky.
When Cao Weida arrived at the district office, he saw Ji Hongxin sitting in the office.
“Looks like he knows the times.” Cao Weida smiled lightly and nodded at him, his attitude no longer tense as before.
Ji Hongxin squeezed out a smile in response, feeling the “goodwill” from Cao Weida.
Walking further, he saw the released police section chief Lin Angxiong. At the sight of him, Lin Angxiong’s expression was splendid: one-third embarrassed, one-third conflicted, one-third weak, and one-third fear hidden in his downcast eyes.
“Pretty good. From now on, no one in this district office should dare oppose me again.”
Then at the director’s office door, he saw communications group deputy group leader Wen Yongwang with two panda eyes.
“Good day, Director!” Wen Yongwang had lost his previous arrogance. After a light greeting, he fled in panic.
“Cao Ye, you’re here.” Several gift boxes sat by Zheng Chaoyang’s feet. Cao Weida raised an eyebrow, glanced at the fleeing back, nodded, and said: “Their gifts?”
Zheng Chaoyang smiled and nodded lightly. From now on, Cao Weida had fully taken control of the entire district office. On the surface, no one in the office dared pretend to obey but disobey in reality anymore.
Confirmed, Cao Weida couldn’t help but smile, walked to the boss chair and sat, casually took out a cigarette and tossed one over: “Sending a gift like fleeing a disaster. Our section chiefs still have strong self-esteem.”
Since they had shown their attitude, he naturally wouldn’t pursue these small details for lack of sincerity.
After confirming he was clocking in for work, he dumped all the documents on Zheng Chaoyang to handle and became a hands-off boss again.
Looking at the pile of documents, Zheng Chaoyang smiled helplessly: “Cao Ye, you’re the director after all. If you keep dumping these on me and outsiders find out, who knows what they’ll say about you.”
Hearing this, Cao Weida didn’t care, smugly raised an eyebrow: “Be content. This is to train you. If your side wins the world later, the things you’ll handle daily won’t be fewer than now. I’m giving you experience.”
“Besides, it’s only because it’s you, Zheng Chaoyang. Otherwise, I’d pick a pretty assistant to help me.”
“Then, when there’s work, the assistant does it; when there’s no work, do it. Cough cough, that would be real leisure.”
“I’ve sacrificed so much for you, and not only no thanks, but complaints. Truly a dog biting Lu Dongbin, not knowing a good heart.”
“Thank you so much!” Zheng Chaoyang gritted his teeth. The reasons were high-sounding, but couldn’t hide the root of laziness!
And what does “when there’s work, assistant does it; when there’s no work, do it” mean.
Cough cough, simply absurd!
Degenerate, too degenerate!
How can this be the awareness of someone leaning toward the Communist Party?!
No, must find time to correct his thinking and purify his soul!
Zheng Chaoyang muttered inwardly, burying himself in the document pile, writing furiously.
Right, angry furious. He wrote each word with full force.
Of course, he actually didn’t mind handling these documents. As a district director, Cao Weida had absolute control over the jurisdiction.
Helping Cao Weida process documents meant directly influencing all aspects of the people in the jurisdiction!
While helping Cao Weida, it was equivalent to shaping the jurisdiction’s living environment with his will, able to do countless things beneficial to the people.
Thoroughly red-hearted Zheng Chaoyang was naturally willing.
With Zheng Chaoyang this capable donkey—ah no, capable assistant, Cao Weida leisurely wasted the fine time.
He thought today would be ordinary, but unexpectedly, a phone call shattered the calm day.
“What?! Changping was well well well, I’ll come right away. Please wait.”
After hanging up, Cao Weida, who had been urgent, suddenly changed attitude, a smile tugging at his lips.
“What happened?”
What just occurred naturally couldn’t escape Zheng Chaoyang handling documents nearby. Seeing Cao Weida’s change, he couldn’t help asking curiously.
“You don’t know?” Cao Weida waved disdainfully: “And you’re from your organization. Such a big thing, and you don’t even know what happened. Tch~~”
Zheng Chaoyang: “.”
Really, when speechless, people really laugh. And so he did.
Good grief, you as director process zero documents, I as assistant do the ox-and-horse work, no praise is one thing, but mocking me too.
“From your tone, our organization has some action?”
“Bingo!” Cao Weida snapped his fingers, looking at knowledge-thirsty Zheng Chaoyang, stood up smiling:
“Just now, your organization 10th Regiment of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region acted in the Changping Thirteen Mausoleums Area. Just now, little devil police bureau chief consultant Tada Naoyoshi called me to meet him quickly to discuss the fate of the supplies transit station in Changping.”
“Tsk, from now on, the little devils’ days will be even harder~~”
Forty years ago, the Communist Party was mostly chased by little devils. After the Hundred Regiments Offensive on August 20, 1940, the Anti-Japanese War entered the stalemate phase.
Now, over three years less than four years later, Communist Party troops had begun proactive attacks on little devil territory, signaling a fundamental change in the war’s direction.
From then on, offense and defense swapped!
Such news naturally exhilarated Cao Weida.
“Really?!” Hearing this, Zheng Chaoyang excitedly stood up. It was their troops!
“Could it be fake?” Cao Weida took two cigarettes from the pack, handed one over. Such good news called for a smoke to celebrate!
Some rejoice, some worry. With Cao Weida rejoicing, naturally someone fretted.
