Chapter 9: Isn’t This Delaying My Money-making!
“Yōshi, that’s right.” Ono Shiota was obviously very satisfied with this title, “Then Cao Sang, what I just said”
You’re quite eager!
How eager must one be to make money.
“Ono, this requires me to go back and inquire, but we’re about to go search for resistance elements, this.”
Search for resistance elements?!
Isn’t this delaying my making money?!
Ono Shiota waved his hand, “You don’t need to go on this one, I’ll tell Xiao Tian. From now on, you’re transferred to work under me.”
“Cao Sang, you’re my friend, your friends are my Ono Shiota’s friends. Why don’t you think again, are there any other friends who were taken to assist in the investigation?”
Who says little devils are rigid, inflexible, and speak stiffly?
Isn’t this quite slick!
“Ono, I need to go back and check on this. As the core of Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, I believe there should be more than one friend assisting in the investigation.”
“Yōshi, that’s truly heartbreaking. Cao Sang, you must hurry. Just thinking of the suffering your friends might endure makes me deeply worried.”
“Sorry to worry you, Ono.”
“Ono, then now I.”
“Cao Sang, you don’t need to stay here. Hurry and find your friend’s wife. Tell your friend’s wife, so she can rest assured. I’ll handle it with Xiao Tian and the police station.”
“Then thank you, Ono.” Cao Weida smiled and cupped his hands.
Just as he was about to leave, he turned back, “Ono.”
“Cao Sang, is there something else?”
“Ono, one of my seniors, Master Duo, is also a patrolman at our police station. He’s very well-connected around here. If you want more ‘friends’ to request help.”
Ono Shiota immediately understood and waved dismissively, “Small issue, Cao Sang, go ahead.”
There were several hundred assembled patrolmen; one more wasn’t many, one less wasn’t few. It was just a matter of a word.
As soon as he left the office building, he saw Master Duo waving to him.
“Master Duo.”
“Man, why did I see you go in with Officer Ono?” Master Duo asked worriedly.
When one has a guilty conscience, one always overthinks. Last night Cao Weida had just killed a little devil, and today he went to find Ono Shiota, inevitably causing some worry.
“I had something with Ono Shiota. By the way, Master Duo, come with me. We don’t need to search anymore.”
“Huh? What do you mean?” Master Duo was a bit confused.
“We have more important things.” Cao Weida quietly explained to Master Duo, leaving him dumbfounded, “It can be done like this?”
“Of course.” Cao Weida pulled him along as they walked out, “All the world rushes here for profit, all bustle about for profit. As long as there’s money to be made, what can’t be done?”
“So what about little devils? Little devils are people too, and people can’t escape this law!”
“What’s more, he’s still domineering.”
“Do you really think little devils are stupid? Any slightly shrewd little devil knows what is fake; only real gold and silver in hand is real.”
“Master Duo, no one is more familiar with the local situation than you. Help run around more.”
Master Duo appreciated his kindness, and he always remembered it. Now there was a money-making profession, and one that did good deeds at that, so Cao Weida naturally wouldn’t eat alone.
Master Duo took a deep breath and patted his shoulder, “Thoughtful.”
Cao Weida grinned with big teeth, “Master Duo, what are you saying? Who are we to each other? You’re being polite.”
“Let’s go, haven’t even had breakfast. I’ll treat you to breakfast.”
“You’ve introduced me to such a great big-money business, and you’re still competing with me to pay? I treat, it must be me!” Without giving him a chance to speak, Master Duo pulled him along.
Cao Weida grinned, “Alright, then today I’ll eat one meal off you, future big shot.”
Just as they were about to leave, someone blocked their way.
“What are you doing? Didn’t you see the bureau chief is about to give a speech? So lacking in rules?!”
Master Duo frowned, then relaxed, smiling, “It’s Captain Sang. Cao’er and I received orders from Officer Ono to go handle something. Sorry to trouble you, make way.”
“Officer Ono?” Jealousy flashed in Sang Liuji’s eyes.
Normally, the police station didn’t have Japanese Army positions, but they supervised controllable police stations under the title of consultant.
For example, Ono Shiota had no official relation to the police station on paper, but even Bureau Chief Xu Hancheng had to obey Ono Shiota’s orders.
Sang Liuji might be scum and conscienceless, but he wasn’t stupid.
He wanted to advance, to get promoted, and had always wanted to curry favor with Ono Shiota, but lacked a connection.
Now hearing that Master Duo had quietly curried favor, he was naturally jealous.
But no matter how jealous inside, he wouldn’t show it. Sang Liuji forced a smile, “Master Duo, you sure keep a tight lip. Curried favor with Officer Ono and didn’t even tell your brother.”
“What, afraid I’d trouble you?”
“What are you saying, Captain Sang? How could I have that honor?” Master Duo naturally wouldn’t tell him the truth. To put it bluntly, he despised scum like Sang Liuji from the bottom of his heart.
Not to mention it wasn’t his connection; even if it was, he absolutely wouldn’t bring Sang Liuji along.
“I’m just going out to run errands for Officer Ono, do some hard labor. I wish I could curry favor, but he doesn’t even know who I, Master Duo, am.”
“Oh, that’s how it is.” Sang Liuji felt better. No wonder; he, Master Sang, hadn’t curried favor, so how could Master Duo?
His attitude flipped instantly, waving dismissively as he turned, “Then carry on, Master Duo, I won’t disturb you.”
Cao Weida watched coldly from the side, too lazy to deal with Sang Liuji.
As Sang Liuji passed Cao Weida, he glared fiercely, “You little bastard, what are you looking at! Want Master Sang to loosen your muscles?”
Cao Weida’s face darkened. Perhaps because he’d killed three people last night, his initial caution and prudence had subtly changed.
Seeing this jumping clown Sang Liuji barking madly, he felt an urge to punch that disgusting face.
Master Duo noticed and quickly stepped forward, blocking Cao Weida, “Captain Sang, Captain Sang, Cao’er is young and ignorant. Give me face, don’t stoop to his level.”
“Hmph, fine, for Master Duo’s face.” Sang Liuji was arrogant, snorting coldly, “Kid, next time keep your eyes sharp. Learn to tuck your tail and act like a man.”
Cao Weida was somewhat amused with anger. Petty man gets power and becomes arrogant—Sang Liuji was the perfect example.
Not much power, but attitude arrogant as hell.
He stared deeply at Sang Liuji’s back, engraving his appearance deep in his mind.
“Alright, Cao’er, let’s go.”
Pulling Cao Weida onto the street, Master Duo patted his shoulder consolingly, “Don’t stoop to his level. He’s like a mad dog, bites whoever he sees.”
“As the saying goes, better offend a gentleman than a petty man. He’s the typical petty man—stinks ten li against the wind. Stooping to his level just gets you filthy for nothing.”
“Anyway, we won’t see him twice a day. Treat him like a rotten fish and shrimp. We’ll just steer clear.”
“Come on, man, I’ll treat you to Dou Yichu. Let’s turn anger into appetite!”
Hearing this, Cao Weida chuckled wryly, “Master Duo, I’m not that narrow-minded. Skip Dou Yichu; a roadside stall for a casual bite is fine.”
The two usually patrolled together. From Shuimo Hutong to Guanyin Hall, the vendors there basically knew them.
In front of a wonton stall.
The wonton stall boss saw them sit down, grinned, slung the towel over his shoulder, nimbly ran over and wiped the table again and again, nearly wearing through the surface,
“Master Duo, Cao Ye, greetings. Wontons made with freshly allocated flour—want some?”
“Two bowls, extra sesame oil. And a plate of garlic.”
“Got it, sit tight, ready soon.”
At the wonton serving station, Master Duo asked, “Cao’er, is Ono reliable? No follow-up issues?”
“Those little devils kill without blinking. If something goes wrong, I’m afraid he’ll use us as scapegoats.”
Cao Weida understood his worry, but since he dared to do it, he had his own confidence.
“Don’t worry, Master Duo, I know what I’m doing. Besides, we just take the money. Whether it can be done or not, he’ll say upfront.”
Looking around, he said quietly, “Master Duo, you know I like reading newspapers in my free time. Though little devils are still rampant in our China’s occupied territory, actually, little devils are already grasshoppers after autumn, can’t hop much longer.”
“Oh? How so?” Master Duo perked up. Living in the city under little devils’ shadow, he’d always thought they were as domineering and at their peak as ever.
Can’t blame people of this era for shallow knowledge and narrow vision.
Unlike later generations’ information explosion, information accessible in this era was extremely limited. Ordinary people only got scattered bits.
Without great wisdom, great vision, or perspective beyond the frame, how could one peel back layers to see the big picture?
“Hard to say specifically, not something three words can explain. Just look at what’s around us.” Cao Weida thought and said:
“When little devils first invaded China, their soldiers were elites, sweeping unstoppable, thrusting straight in, beating our Chinese Army back step by step.”
“Now? Forget expanding territory; holding current land is uncertain.”
“Haven’t you noticed, since last year, guard troops here have dwindled?”
Master Duo thought; it seemed true. Before, with little devils rampant, to prevent resistance elements, streets swarmed with military police and garrison patrols.
Now, indeed far fewer.
“Also little devil soldiers’ enlistment. Before, 20-40 years old. Now? Old and small. Can’t compare to initial soldier quality. What does this mean? Little devils’ homeland manpower is nearing exhaustion!”
“And little devils’ beef cans. I noticed, early ones were America’s beef cans—finely made, high quality, good taste.”
“Now? Beef content sharply down, mixed with beef blood and starch, plus cabbage, potatoes, and other fillers.”
“What does this mean? Little devils’ homeland supplies are critically short!”
“Declining soldier quality and numbers, reduced rations—all prove little devils are on the wane, not comparable to before!”
“So I predict little devils’ good days are numbered. We’ll surely win in the end!”
Master Duo was amazed, “Just from this, you analyzed all that?!”
“Cao’er, seriously, being a little patrolman in our tiny police station is wasting your talent. You should work in intelligence!”
“Given a proper platform, you’d rise for sure!”
Cao Weida waved hurriedly, “Nah, I don’t have that ability. I’m just parroting newspaper bits.”
“Really make me staff officer? That’d be occupying a post without working.”
He knew his own limits. Previously just an ordinary person, biggest “official” was elementary school language rep. Staff officer? He couldn’t do it.
His insights came partly from this era’s lack of entertainment, spotting info in newspapers.
Of course secondary; mainly later generations’ knowledge let him stand on giants’ shoulders for broad vision.
Bragging was fine; real deal, he’d be clueless.
