Chapter 122: Adding Fuel To The Fire
Shanghai, French Concession, Fuxi Road.
On Fuxi Road is Zhang Xiaolin’s largest den of iniquity, Great World Entertainment Center.
This place, how to put it, is equivalent to a blend of heaven on earth plus a casino.
The entire building has five floors.
The first floor is an ordinary casino, with gamblers from all walks of life, all classes.
The second floor is a VIP hall specially set up for rich people, divided into sixteen luxury halls and thirty-two VIP halls.
The third and fourth floors are performance venues, where the women are all carefully selected, with looks and service beyond reproach.
The top floor is Cloud Smoke Pavilion, that is, an opium den.
Zhang Xiaolin himself has always been indiscriminate, as long as it makes money, he dares to do any business.
Whether it harms heaven and earth or follows the rules.
Great World Entertainment Center is the place where he makes money the fastest, the speed of making money here can truly be described as earning gold by the dou.
Great World Entertainment Center covers a full thirty mu, in a place like Shanghai, and in a bustling area, getting thirty mu of land is not something money alone can achieve.
This Far East’s number one amusement park made its debut in Shanghai in July of the Republic of China year 18.
The shareholders at that time totaled seven, besides Shanghai’s three tycoons, there was Shanghai Chamber of Commerce’s Huang Xiangu, Chen Mingchu, and two directors of the French Concession.
Of course, behind these two directors are the French Concession’s general director and consul.
These people’s positions are too high, inconvenient to openly support such an entertainment venue.
In the 26th year of the Republic of China, after the war broke out, the shares here underwent a major reshuffle, currently Zhang Xiaolin holds the largest share.
The rest are some directors from the French Concession Municipal Council.
The original Boss Du, Huang Xiangu, Chen Mingchu and others have long withdrawn from here.
At ten in the morning, Zhang Xiaolin’s car appeared at the entrance of Great World Entertainment Center.
Just as he got out of the car, Song Zushan thoughtfully opened the back door for him.
“Boss, something’s off, last night Special Affairs Office’s Director Zuo was attacked by gunmen.”
Zhang Xiaolin, holding an ivory cigarette holder in his mouth, laughed upon hearing this: “That country bumpkin, did he die?”
Song Zushan shook his head: “I heard he was injured, don’t know exactly where, but it shouldn’t be life-threatening.”
“Why didn’t they kill him? This guy really has nine lives, so hard to kill.” Zhang Xiaolin tapped his cigarette holder, looking somewhat disappointed.
“Wait.” Zhang Xiaolin walked a few steps forward, suddenly stopped, turned to Song Zushan and said: “You don’t think I sent people to do it, do you?”
Song Zushan quickly shook his head: “Boss, that’s not what I mean, I know your plan, at this time you wouldn’t move Zuo Mingquan.”
“I’m wondering, is someone trying to stir up trouble using this opportunity?”
“Stir up trouble, do I need to stir things up between him and me?” Zhang Xiaolin said indifferently: “Everyone in Shanghai now knows, one of us has to go.”
“No need to stir up trouble at this time.”
Song Zushan furrowed his brows, but disagreed in his heart.
What Zhang Xiaolin said seemed reasonable, but he was still using the gangster mindset, once he acts, it’s all over the city.
But Zuo Mingquan is different, he had no reason to act before, this incident seems to give him a reason to stand on the moral high ground.
He is the victim.
“Boss, I think we should still be careful, guard against Zuo Mingquan playing tricks.” Song Zushan advised: “At this critical moment, shouldn’t you bring more people with you.”
Zhang Xiaolin’s face darkened, he angrily said: “You think I’m afraid of him? This is Shanghai.”
Song Zushan quickly explained: “Boss, that’s not what I mean, I mean, caution sails ships for ten thousand years.”
Zhang Xiaolin has dominated Shanghai for nearly twenty years, from the establishment of Sanxin Company to Boss Du and others fleeing, in all of Shanghai, only he can still stand here.
After so many years of operation, to be cautious of some special affairs director who just came from Nanjing.
To him, this is the greatest humiliation.
If the other side dares to act openly, he’s just worried about lacking a reason to strike hard.
However, Song Zushan’s concerns are not without reason.
Zhang Xiaolin lit another cigarette, said slowly: “A Shan, where are those new faces you were asked to find now?”
Song Zushan quickly said: “Arranged at Datong Inn, you want to use these people?”
Zhang Xiaolin hesitated: “Can these people be trusted?”
Song Zushan nodded: “I picked them myself, absolutely no problem.”
Zhang Xiaolin nodded, “Have them come over, if that fat Zuo really dares to act, I won’t be polite with him either.”
“Yes, Boss.” Song Zushan nodded, looking at Zhang Xiaolin’s back as he walked into Great World Entertainment Center, a extremely complex look flashed in his eyes.
Datong Inn on Fuxi Road.
This is an extremely cheap inn.
This inn charges very low, one day only ten cents, sleeping on communal bunks.
The so-called communal bunks are just a few bed boards placed, on the floor some wooden stools and such things, no cotton wadding, no bedding, only straw mats.
Simply put, staying here means bringing your own quilt and such, otherwise make do.
Normally, the most common here are those newly arrived migrant workers from the wharf.
The boss is also from out of province, knows it’s not easy for them being away from home, at noon will provide two steamed buns plus a bowl of vegetable soup.
Though not much, but when a penny stumps a hero, these two steamed buns and a bowl of vegetable soup can be lifesavers.
On the second floor of Datong Inn, several young men bare-chested gathered chatting.
After the Huayuankou incident, out-of-towners coming to Shanghai clearly increased a lot.
These people also came from the disaster areas, but they gathered here not to find a stable job to settle down, but someone specially arranged them here.
Creak, creak, footsteps came from the rickety wooden board stairs, a young man hurried upstairs, said to the crowd: “Boss has commands, have us wait at the back door of Great World.”
“Clothes and weapons are prepared downstairs, everyone change clothes, each take a weapon.”
“Brother Lin, we have a job?” A man in the crowd stood up: “The price is as agreed before, right?”
The young man called Brother Lin said impatiently: “Correct, kill one person for fifty silver dollars, normal time each person thirty silver dollars salary.”
“Escape money will be paid separately.”
“Relax, above Song Boss is Shanghai’s biggest Boss Zhang, you still don’t trust?”
“Brother Lin, don’t be angry, we’re all country folk, country folk haven’t seen the world, just want to ask one more time.”
“Everyone thanks Brother Lin.” The group of men laughed and stood up, cupping hands to the man in thanks.
“Alright, move out quick, Boss doesn’t like waiting.”
The man gave the order, the crowd quickly responded, followed him downstairs to get clothes and weapons.
Shanghai, Daxi Road 625.
Zuo Mingquan’s right hand was wrapped in thick bandages, now it’s late June early July.
Wrapped in such thick bandages is like wearing a thick coat, making him hot and uncomfortable all over.
Thud thud thud, footsteps sounded, Zhang Zixian carrying a lunchbox quickly walked into the office.
“Fourth Uncle, Fourth Aunt prepared pigeon soup for you.”
“She said this is good for the wound, have you drink it.”
Zuo Mingquan frowned, still took the soup, drank it clean in three gulps.
“Little Treasure, has anyone sent back any useful info?”
Zhang Zixian leaned in: “Fourth Uncle, someone saw Zhang Xiaolin recruiting some new faces.”
“Is he preparing to come at us hard?”
Zuo Mingquan’s face darkened, stood up: “New faces, so last night’s thing really was him.”
“Damn, this old bastard really wants my life.”
“Have you checked for clues on that Austin car from last night.”
“As long as we find the car, I’ll go smash his door now, see if he dares to act.”
Zhang Zixian frowned: “Fourth Uncle, so many cars in all Shanghai, can’t pinpoint right away.”
Zuo Mingquan angrily said: “Can’t pinpoint then add more manpower, what? I take this bullet for nothing?”
Zhang Zixian quickly waved hands awkwardly: “No, no, Fourth Uncle, that’s not what I mean.”
Zuo Mingquan glared angrily at Zhang Zixian, before he could speak, the telephone on the table suddenly rang.
“Special Affairs Office, who are you looking for?”
Just as Zuo Mingquan spoke, Chen Yang’s voice came from the other end: “Director Zuo, seems your temper is quite big?”
Zuo Mingquan was startled, almost dropped the phone: “Officer Chen, sorry, I didn’t know it was you.”
Chen Yang said amiably: “Nothing much, just heard Director Zuo was injured last night, don’t know how your injury is.”
“Thanks for Officer Chen’s concern, just a graze, no big deal.”
“No big deal is good,” Chen Yang said gravely: “Director Zuo, this matter can’t be let go easily.”
“Openly attacking the director of Special Affairs Office, this is provoking our Nanjing Special Affairs Committee.”
“If this gets out, how can we stand in Shanghai.”
Zuo Mingquan said gravely: “Officer Chen is right, I won’t let it go just like this.”
“But, we have no evidence can’t force it, now Boss Zhang has people from Nanjing backing him.”
Chen Yang said flatly: “Relax, Director Zuo, I got message, the Zhang fellow has a batch of goods arriving in Shanghai this afternoon.”
“Then I’ll issue you a joint investigation notice in the name of Customs General Administration Inspector Commissioner.”
“You can swagger into Great World to check the goods.”
“I’ve given you the opportunity, how to do it is up to you.”
Zuo Mingquan was overjoyed upon hearing: “Officer Chen, I certainly won’t disappoint you.”
