Chapter 9: He’s A Smart Man
“Knock knock knock.” A crisp knock on the door sounded, and the butler Lawrence pushed open the door and said: “Sir, Mr. Madier, the representative elected by the French Concession business firms, has arrived.”
“Besides him, there’s also a Chinese person. He said his name is Lin Xueli. Do you want to see him?”
“Madier, that troublesome guy again.”
Pi Shaona put down the report in his hand and said: “Lawrence, entertain that Lin Xueli and have him sit for a while first.”
“Let Mr. Madier come up. I think he’s still here about the merchants’ materials being detained by the Japanese.”
“Yes, sir.” Lawrence elegantly gave a salute, turned around, and left the room.
“Wait a moment.” Before he could go far, Pi Shaona stood up, frowned, sighed, and said: “Have them both come up together.”
Lawrence didn’t know why Pi Shaona kept changing his mind, but he was just the butler and would never question the boss’s decision.
“Yes, sir. I’ll go call them up right away.”
Pi Shaona nodded, folded the report neatly, and put it into the pile of information on the desk.
Just as he finished doing this, he heard footsteps approaching. Before the people appeared, an angry voice rang out first: “Mr. Pi Shaona, I need you to give a reasonable explanation.”
“Is the French Concession still our great French people’s territory? How can your Municipal Council allow the Japanese to infringe on our rights without doing anything about it?”
Pi Shaona felt displeased but instantly put on a smiling face to mask his inner dissatisfaction.
“Mr. Madier, don’t be in a hurry. As far as I know, Mr. Morrison is already negotiating with the Japanese.”
“I believe he will soon have good news.”
Madier walked into the study room and said angrily: “Negotiating with the Japanese? Are you trying to say that the Municipal Council is willing to accept the Japanese conditions and allow Gendarmerie Headquarters personnel to enter the French Concession to search for anti-Japanese elements who sabotage the Japanese image?”
“Mr. Pi Shaona, if you think this condition is useful, I suggest you find a pig to sit in your position instead.”
“Because apart from a pig, I believe any normal person with a brain knows exactly what purpose the Japanese have in detaining our materials under false pretenses.”
“A tiny place like this that even needs to import scrap steel and oil—would they watch us transport ship after ship of materials under their noses to trade with Chinese people?”
“The Japanese previously arrogantly claimed they would take China in three months, but now their troops are still fighting with Chinese troops.”
“They’re using our materials to supply their military.”
“Do you really think handing over a few so-called anti-Japanese elements will reconcile you with the Japanese?”
Pi Shaona’s face flushed red from being scolded by Madier, but he didn’t dare rebuke him.
Madier’s backing wasn’t just anyone—it was the deputy director-general of the Municipal Council, Mr. Donaldson.
Pi Shaona was just a director, while that man firmly outranked them as deputy director-general. Offending him would mean his own position might not be secure.
“Mr. Madier, please don’t be hasty first.” Pi Shaona tried to make his tone as mild as possible.
“I know that recently, due to the Japanese actions, the merchants in the French Concession have all suffered losses.”
“I can think of a method to compensate for their losses.”
Madier glanced sideways at him and sneered: “How will you compensate? Are you planning to have Mr. Medif open the Municipal Council’s financial safe and give each merchant a sum of money?”
“If you’re really planning to do that, I’d definitely support it with both hands.”
Pi Shaona gave an embarrassed laugh: “Mr. Madier, you’re joking. I don’t have that much authority to command Mr. Medif.”
“To be frank with you, I’ve received a message from the Canton side that the French Concession Municipal Council in Canton plans to completely shut down the maritime transportation line after New Year.”
“At that time, it won’t just affect Canton—even Shanghai will be impacted.”
“So, I suggest you plan well with the Chamber of Commerce and stockpile goods as much as possible during this period.”
“Shut down the maritime transportation line?” Madier’s expression instantly became extremely grave.
“Mr. Pi Shaona, do you know what shutting down the sea passage means? We merchants all rely on maritime transportation to make a living.”
“If it’s shut down, many small merchants will face bankruptcy. Has your Municipal Council considered the merchants’ interests?”
“Mr. Madier, of course the Municipal Council has considered the merchants’ interests.” Pi Shaona said seriously: “But you should also consider the nation’s face.”
“We won’t compromise with the Japanese, even if their forces are strong enough to blockade Chinese waters.”
“The Municipal Council is communicating with the homeland, hoping to open a new route through Vietnam, from Fangcheng Port to the Yunnan-Vietnam railway directly into Chinese territory, but this will take time.”
“I’m telling you now so you can prepare as soon as possible and stockpile materials while you still can.”
“Once sea transport stops, Shanghai will face widespread shortages of materials. I can guarantee that the materials in your hands will at least yield triple profit.”
“Alright, thanks for the message.” Madier didn’t dwell on it too long and stood up: “I’ll go back and discuss it with them first. I hope your message is accurate.”
Pi Shaona reminded: “Not many people know about this matter, Mr. Madier. Remember, you must not leak it.”
“What? Are you teaching me how to do things?” Before Pi Shaona could finish, Madier said coldly: “Mr. Pi Shaona, I think you should just do your own job well. I don’t need you to teach me how to do mine. Goodbye.”
Having been rebuffed, Pi Shaona’s face turned somewhat ugly. He took a deep breath, then turned his gaze to Lin Xueli on the side and said in not very standard Chinese: “Mr. Lin, sorry to let you see this spectacle.”
“Please sit. You’re in such a hurry to see me, so it seems you must have good news.”
Lin Xueli had only heard them jabbering in argument and didn’t really know what exactly they were arguing about.
Clearing his throat, Lin Xueli said respectfully: “Mr. Pi Shaona, you’re right. The Osaka Chamber of Commerce’s recent unusual behavior is indeed related to my cousin.”
“But to be honest, I’m really no match for him.”
“He deduced the whole story just from a few words during our conversation.”
“I even suspect this guy has the ability to read minds.”
“Heh, interesting. Mr. Lin, tell me the content of your conversation with him.” Pi Shaona smiled: “I’m very interested to know how he spotted the problem from it.”
Lin Xueli recalled for a moment and then recounted the entire content of their conversation.
After listening, Pi Shaona’s expression instantly became grave. After pondering for a while, he said slowly: “Very clever. Indeed a remarkable person.”
“Mr. Lin, do you think we have any chance of inviting him to join?”
