Chapter 131: Searching For Someone
“This is the place where you will work and live from now on.”
Gu Yansheng brought them to the villa district.
For ordinary people, coming here was no different from Liu Laolao entering the Grand View Garden; they were amazed by the beauty of the scenery all the way.
The Japanese barracks here were under strict control, and ordinary people couldn’t get in at all; it was much rarer than the villas in the concession.
“What a beautiful house.” A Xiang was young and lively, falling in love with the environment here at first sight, laughing and exclaiming frankly.
Zhou Ma was more steady, but she couldn’t help exclaiming, “It’s really big. When I worked for the Portuguese before, their consul’s residence wasn’t as big as this villa. When Mr. Gu has children, the land in front of the door will be enough for the kids to play vigorously.
And look at this lawn; tidy it up, plant some flowers and plants, it will definitely look great when they bloom.
Mr. Gu, what kind of trees, flowers and plants do you like?”
Gu Yansheng wasn’t particular: “You just arrange it as you see fit.”
Walking into the house, it was also the first time Gu Yansheng saw the interior; now cleaned up, it looked very new and very clean.
It was built for Japanese senior military officers, and all the materials used for the furnishings were good; now it was benefiting him cheaply.
Gu Yansheng took out his wallet, took out 300 bucks and handed it over, “See what else is missing and buy it. Keep accounts, ask me if the money isn’t enough. When cooking, no need to consider the amount for the guards; they don’t eat here.”
“Okay.”
“Pick a room on the first floor for yourselves, and starting today, we’ll calculate your salary.”
There was a nanny room on the first floor, reserved for them to live in.
As for the guards, they were on a shift system, so no possibility of sleeping.
The guards were still strolling in the garden outside. Gu Yansheng went out and explained the remaining matters to A Meng. Accommodation was never included to begin with, but work meals had to be provided for eating.
Fix a number each month and let them handle it themselves, so as not to have to hire two more cooks.
Set the meal standard a bit higher, and they wouldn’t have any complaints.
“For the group on duty eating, the vegetable sources must be bought from two different shops; not everyone can eat from the same shop.”
Gu Yansheng had to state this in advance; the formalities still had to be done.
While talking, there was a beep at the door; a car was honking its horn.
Gu Yansheng looked over, and Ling Xianwen was sitting in the back seat of the car, smiling.
“Secretary-General.” Gu Yansheng quickened his pace by two steps.
Ling Xianwen got out of the car, walked in, looked around at the guards and said, “Good, efficient enough; quite a few staff have been recruited.”
Gu Yansheng smiled and sighed, “Sigh, we have to set up the framework first; otherwise, it’s so empty here, I wouldn’t even sleep well at night. And I’ve realized that living here means money flows out like water.”
Living in a villa as a traitor, how could he not engage in corruption?
Just supporting these dozens of people was a considerable expense each month; with the city government’s salary, he’d have nothing but northwest wind to drink!
Ling Xianwen laughed heartily, “Spending money naturally has its benefits; it’s more reliable than eating that moldy rice at the city government, right? And us living here is also for our own safety; no choice, sometimes taking a little tribute from others is just for basic survival.”
“Right, that makes perfect sense. If you haven’t been in this position, you really can’t understand.” Gu Yansheng nodded; they were all corrupt officials, and Ling Xianwen had a big family to support, so he wouldn’t skimp on corruption either.
“Need any help? I still have some staff; if you need help cleaning or moving things, I can call them over.”
“No need, let them tidy up slowly. I’m not that picky; anywhere to sleep is fine. Secretary-General, you’re off work so late today?”
“Went to see off some people; Vice Chairman Wang’s envoy returned to Hanoi.”
Ling Xianwen leaned his head closer and said, “Talks are almost done; probably soon, this matter will be officially put on the agenda.”
“Setting up the various agencies, right?” Gu Yansheng asked.
Once the new regime is established, that’s a big piece of meat; there are too many things involved.
Ling Xianwen nodded: “Once the new government is established, select personnel for each department. Their agreement has a clause to integrate government departments from other provinces; all that requires negotiation. I estimate in a few days, important figures from Vice Chairman Wang’s side will come.”
“Change is imminent; who knows what it will be like in the future?” Gu Yansheng sighed softly.
“Delaying your moving into the big villa?” Ling Xianwen smiled: “Shanghai is still our territory; at most, the top leaders change, but the work still needs people to do it?”
“That’s for sure.” Gu Yansheng nodded.
“So no need to worry; take it as it comes.”
“Got it.”
“When are you holding the housewarming banquet?”
“Do I need to? I didn’t even think of it.”
Ling Xianwen tsked, his face pulling taut: “See, that’s where you’re clueless. If you don’t hold it, how can others openly give you gifts? With the expenses of living here, don’t you need to recoup them? If someone really complains later and the Japanese nitpick, it’s still money from selling others’ gifts; reciprocity, the money has a source, and everyone’s face looks better, right?”
Gu Yansheng admired: “Secretary-General, you are right.”
Ling Xianwen sneered: “Don’t play dumb; you’ve seen plenty of cases as Great Lawyer Gu. How could you not understand this?
But one point is true: it absolutely must be done. That group surnamed Wang is coming; we need to steady our base here in Shanghai. You have to give them more opportunities to interact; only then will they open up to you.
Otherwise, if the city government gets some people inserted later, with so many businessmen in the market being poached, what then?”
“Okay, I get it. These couple of days, I’ll find someone to check for an auspicious day and pick a good date to send out invitations.”
Ling Xianwen had hinted at believing in feng shui before, so Gu Yansheng went along with his preference.
“I’ll pick it for you; I have some research on this.” Sure enough, it hit Ling Xianwen’s itch, and he volunteered eagerly.
“Really? Then I’ll trouble the Secretary-General.”
“Piece of cake. I’ll go back now and study it carefully; I’ll definitely calculate it well for you.”
Once Ling Xianwen left, Gu Yansheng still had to instruct Zhou Ma.
Have her buy some alcoholic beverages; Zhou Ma had experience with Portuguese banquets, clear on what wines were high-class. As for food, Zhou Ma said she could find some people who make Western pastries to do it together, guaranteeing no loss of face.
The effect of spending money was immediate.
That evening, Gu Yansheng packed his luggage from the city government dorm and moved into the villa district.
The next morning, getting up meant enjoying professional butler service.
Water was boiled, suit was ironed, breakfast was one Chinese portion and one Western portion.
Finally, no need to go to the canteen for thin porridge of moldy rice plus pickles set meal.
As soon as he appeared at the door, Old Jin opened the back car door and waited.
Gu Yansheng got in the car, and beside him was a Shen Bao bought by Old Jin.
“Old Jin, what about your wife’s and children’s information?”
“Got it, here.” Old Jin took a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over: “Thank you, Mr. Gu, for remembering.”
Gu Yansheng smiled, took the paper and looked at it.
There was a lot of content; ordinary people didn’t have much to record, but Old Jin had written in minute detail many traceable clues.
Old Jin’s wife was named He Xiu, the boy was Jin You’an, the girl was Jin You’ning.
At that time, Old Jin worked for a British company with decent income; he made two small gold locks. The boy’s gold lock was engraved with “peace and joy,” the girl’s with “tranquility leads far.”
The boy had a burn scar on his right arm, caused by a hot water kettle falling from the table during a Japanese army bombing.
The girl had a small birthmark behind her left ear.
Gu Yansheng found it curious; with so many clues, if they couldn’t be found, the hope was indeed slim.
“Have you published notices in the papers?”
“A few times, and a few people came claiming to be, but their stories didn’t match. The children are still young, but they should have some impressions of childhood events.”
“Don’t worry; I’ll find a way to help you search.”
As long as people have faith, they can keep living; Gu Yansheng couldn’t say they wouldn’t be found and dash Old Jin’s spirits.
Old Jin smiled: “I’m not anxious; I’ve come to terms with it long ago. If I can’t find them, I’ll keep looking. But people still have to live; otherwise, if I find them one day but I’m destitute and can’t even buy them candy, that wouldn’t be too much of a failure?”
Fine, good mindset is key.
Back at the city government.
Gu Yansheng planned to look into this matter.
His subordinate came in first to report the situation.
The court’s judgments had started issuing yesterday; the city government was formally beginning compensation for the enterprises that suffered losses in this smashing incident.
“Speed it up a bit; get them all done as soon as possible. The Japanese are watching the economy closely; we can’t delay here.”
“Yes.”
Liu Xiaolou came in to report, “The mayor is holding a press conference, announcing the start of exchanging new military scrip.”
“How’s the reporters’ reaction?”
“Not much emotional fluctuation; they probably want to see the market’s reaction. The court compensation has set a good precedent, so foreign enterprises should still have confidence.”
“Got it.”
Just a minute of quiet, and Zhang Xiaolin called again.
“Director Gu, we’ve discussed it. Since we’re decided to push out, let’s do it; first take the Suzhou and Hangzhou markets. We’ve prepared the goods; if you see no problem, we’ll start working?
At that time, their local forces will definitely resist; hope Director Gu can help contact headquarters to suppress them for us.”
“Sure.” After saying that, Gu Yansheng thought and added: “When you reach a place, first find the local people doing this business, notify them first. The Japanese have this policy; if they’re willing to withdraw, take their goods and let them go.
If not willing to withdraw, then fight again; don’t go straight to the gendarmes at the start. If you call too many, the Japanese will get annoyed too, right?”
If we don’t publicize that the Japanese are taking their rice bowls, how to make them passively resist Japan? Don’t let the locals think it’s just the Shanghai Green Gang coming to grab territory; that would be far less effective.
“Okay, I understand. I’ll send staff out today.”
“Wish you success right away!”
Gu Yansheng was about to hang up when he remembered something: “Right, with the Japanese promoting new military scrip, shouldn’t we settle the old batch?”
It wasn’t said too clearly on the phone, but Zhang Xiaolin understood, “Yes, it should be settled. I’ll go find him and calculate properly.”
Sha Shun’s black market money should also be accounted for.
“Mm, then that’s it for now.”
Gu Yansheng hung up the phone and picked up the note.
Ring ring, ring ring.
“Hello.”
Ling Xianwen’s laughter came through the phone, “Yansheng, it’s me. I studied it carefully for you yesterday; five days from now is an auspicious day for a housewarming banquet, a great date.”
Whether it’s accurate or not, don’t half-ass it. “If the Secretary-General says so, it must be. Okay, then I’ll set it for five days from now. Today I’ll have invitations printed. Secretary-General, if your family has time then, come help me out.”
“Sure.”
Hanging up the phone, Gu Yansheng waited a bit; this time it was finally quiet, no more calls.
The city government wouldn’t have much going on lately; the Japanese were serious about the economy, so Shanghai’s economy would definitely recover a bit in the short term.
The Military Statistics Bureau Shanghai District was rebuilding, lacking medical supplies, and wouldn’t make too much noise.
Chen Mo’s side would rest for now, waiting for the waiter matter to settle.
Agent Headquarters was watching the just-released Wan Molin; if he wasn’t stupid, he’d know he was being watched and would shrink back.
Even the Japanese wouldn’t make moves; after all, Wang Ni building the new regime was the top priority right now.
So Shanghai wouldn’t have much fluctuation lately; everyone was hanging up “no war” signs to rest.
Gu Yansheng picked up Old Jin’s note, looked at it, then opened the folder, clipped in a blank sheet, and started writing and drawing.
Old Jin’s wife was the simplest; as an adult, if still in Shanghai, no reason she wouldn’t have seen Old Jin’s newspaper ads, so either dead or already left Shanghai.
But back then, it was hard to leave Shanghai pregnant without birth records; either left within three months after or already dead.
Assuming she died, left with two toddlers.
Boy ten, girl eight.
Gu Zhuxuan said he checked the Household Registration Office, but how thoroughly is unknown; with his ability, the police station might not go all out, possibly faking it—this was a clue to verify again.
At that age, if mother gone, either beggars or adopted.
If adopted with adult supervision, probably in school.
If no adoption, either beggars or child laborers.
With Gu Zhuxuan’s ability, he should check schools and child labor spots thoroughly; beggars or child workers’ main areas shouldn’t escape his reach.
So if still in Shanghai and alive, high chance adopted.
That explains why not on household registration book.
Likely name changed.
Figured this out, but new problem.
If name changed, unless check every kid in Shanghai, how to confirm new names?
Gu Yansheng thought, better ask professionals.
Called Police Station Director Lu Ying.
“Hello, Director Lu, it’s Gu Yansheng. There’s this matter: I want to find two children.” Gu Yansheng explained.
“Do you think there’s any way to find them?”
Without profit involved, Lu Ying thought seriously, “If name changed, hard to find. Dumb way: find all kids registered that year matching age, compare one by one. Only way.”
