Chapter 51: Do You Understand Propriety?
Having been back in Shanghai for so long and having done so many things, Chen Yang had already figured out the layout of Shanghai’s underground world.
Black market business has always been the most profitable business.
But not everyone can handle this line of work.
Shanghai’s black market business is dominated by a trio, and the one active in the French Concession is Jin Dayou.
The one active in the International Settlement is called Qiao Zhenhuai. Although his surname is Qiao, he has no relation whatsoever to that Qiao Family Courtyard in Shaanxi.
He is from Shangyu in Ningbo, not from Shanxi.
The last one is Zhang Boqian, the oldest in Shanghai and the one who has been doing black market trading the longest.
Zhang Boqian, nicknamed Old Uncle, comes from a family that has generation after generation dealt in black market goods; it can be said to be a family tradition.
Chen Yang closed the invitation and said, “Secretary Li, for the matter of the City Hall arranging a celebration reception tomorrow, have Director Ding of the General Affairs Section arrange it. He will represent our Economic Department.”
“You must remind him that we can’t lose face for our Economic Department on such an occasion.”
Li Ningyu said in surprise, “Officer, you’re not attending the reception?”
Chen Yang said carelessly, “I have to keep an eye on the materials transport matter. How could I have time to attend the reception?”
“Just have Director Ding fully represent the Economic Department.”
Although Li Ningyu still didn’t quite understand, she had no right to question Chen Yang’s decision.
After a slight bow, she hurried out to convey the various orders issued by Chen Yang.
Chen Yang looked at the invitation in his hand and smiled slightly.
The celebration he had just mentioned was a reception to be held tomorrow evening at the Bund Hotel. Starting from eight o’clock tomorrow morning, the Nanjing Restoration Government would officially begin operations.
The various traitors in Shanghai had organized some kind of celebration reception. Through the explosion incident in the VIP Hall at the racecourse last time, Chen Yang clearly felt that this reception would not be so peaceful.
The Military Statistics Bureau had just been established in Chongqing, and the new station chief of the Military Statistics Bureau Shanghai Station, Zhao Lijun, was a notorious butcher.
Chen Yang speculated that the Military Statistics Bureau would definitely use this reception to make a move.
Last time he was lucky; the chandelier fell and his reaction was quick, and he even pulled Sonoda along with him.
What if this time they threw a bomb into the banquet hall? If he was accidentally hit by friendly fire, where could he go to reason it out?
Speaking of which, the request for contact information had been sent out so long ago, but no one from Chongqing had come to make contact.
Had they forgotten about him?
***
Shanghai, Jinling Hotel.
The most famous in Shanghai is the tallest building in the Far East standing along the Huangpu River, the Cathay Hotel.
However, that hotel has people coming and going, with a mixed crowd. Generally, Shanghai businessmen prefer old-name hotels like International Trade or Jinling for doing business.
The Jinling Hotel was founded at the end of the last century and has a history of forty or fifty years to this day.
At seven in the evening, Old Qi, the driver from Lin Mansion, dropped Chen Yang off at the hotel entrance and familiarly parked the car at the shop entrance across the street.
Chen Yang stood at the hotel entrance, straightened his clothes, walked up the steps, and pushed open the carved rosewood door.
“Hello, esteemed guest. Welcome.” The welcome miss greeted him with a sweet smile.
Chen Yang took out the invitation and handed it to her. After the welcome miss looked at the private room name on it, she slightly bowed and said, “Esteemed guest, please follow me.”
With that, she walked with elegant steps, leading Chen Yang to the second floor.
It had to be said that as a top hotel in Shanghai, this Jinling Hotel indeed had some capital.
Velvet curtains in dark red hung around the hotel, and old-style brass chandeliers cast a warm yellow light, illuminating the lobby as luxuriously as an old theater.
From the gramophone in one corner of the lobby, Zhou Xuan’s《Heavenly Ya Songstress》 flowed leisurely. Month calendar advertisement paintings hung on the walls; in gold-edged frames, qipao beauties held fans with faint smiles, their eyes full of the charm of old times.
“Guest, please watch the steps.” As they walked deeper into the hotel, the welcome miss politely reminded him. Then, the two spiraled up along the staircase.
The second floor was covered with a red carpet; walking on it felt like stepping on cotton, light and soft.
The door of the private room at the staircase entrance was half-open, faintly transmitting the high talk and broad discussion of young overseas-educated masters, mixed with a few giggles in soft Wu dialect.
The welcome girl led the way ahead and soon reached the end of the staircase, where two tall men were already standing early.
Seeing Chen Yang appear, the two immediately came forward: “May I ask if you are Director Chen of the Economic Department?”
Chen Yang’s expression changed slightly; these black market businessmen were being a bit too dismissive.
Logically speaking, since they were hosting, the host should be waiting at the door to welcome him, but now they had just sent two underlings to wait at the entrance.
This was not treating him as a proper guest.
“No, I came to the wrong place.” Chen Yang said indifferently and turned to leave.
With a whoosh, just as Chen Yang turned, the private room door behind him opened, and a middle-aged businessman wearing a Hangzhou silk long gown with gold-rimmed glasses on his nose hurriedly chased out.
“Officer Chen, misunderstanding, misunderstanding.” The middle-aged man caught up in a few steps and bowed to Chen Yang: “I just went in and spoke a few words with Old Uncle, and unexpectedly you arrived at this exact time.”
“I am Jin Dayou. My manners were lacking; please don’t take offense, Officer Chen.”
“Oh, so I didn’t come to the wrong place after all.” Chen Yang said with a light laugh: “I just returned from Japan not long ago and rarely go out for social engagements. I’m really not familiar with this hotel and thought I’d gone to the wrong place.”
“Boss Jin, we country folk haven’t seen much of the world, so please be tolerant.”
Who was this aimed at? Jin Dayou was originally from the countryside, and the meaning in Chen Yang’s words was that this country bumpkin didn’t know manners.
Jin Dayou knew he was in the wrong first and didn’t dare argue much. He carefully accompanied Chen Yang with smiles all the way and led him into the private room.
At this time, besides Jin Dayou, there were two other people in the private room.
The man on the left wore a dark blue British tweed suit with a silver-gray vest inside, a pocket watch chain crossing his chest, and the gold watch cover engraved with Roman numerals.
A steel pen was tucked into the upper suit pocket, and a gold pin was attached to the light blue tie.
Before even getting close,
he could smell the pungent Havana cigar scent on him.
The one on the right was an old man in his early sixties with grayish-white hair, clearly not young anymore.
He wore a purple floral satin long gown, with a gleaming gold pocket watch chain peeking out above the collar, and the slit at the hem faintly revealing the crease line of suit pants.
His right hand held a red sandalwood civilized stick, and his ring finger wore a jade thumb ring.
Just from the attire of these two men, it was enough to prove their status: either rich or noble.
“Officer Chen, let me introduce. This is Qiao Zhenhuai, Fifth Master Qiao.”
“This is Zhang Boqian, Old Master Zhang.”
Chen Yang smiled and cupped his hands in greeting to the two; the other side also politely returned the courtesy.
However, Chen Yang felt—perhaps it was an illusion—that when Qiao Zhenhuai looked at him, there seemed to be something strange in his eyes.
That feeling was disdain for him?
