Chapter 133: Gathering
“Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!”
Gu Yansheng did not stint on praise: “Wen Yan, this matter was handled beautifully, and the thinking was good too.”
“Just got lucky.” Wen Yan smiled modestly.
“Luck is also part of strength. Those who survive on the battlefield all have luck. That little girl being rescued in the refugee camp and surviving is also luck, good.”
Gu Yansheng was genuinely happy. “Did you bring the person?”
“Not yet. That Swiss nurse was a bit reluctant to part with her. She had raised her for over a year, so there must be feelings involved. Moreover, she said there’s no way to verify if we are good people or bad people, so she can’t hand her over to us. French Concession—I couldn’t forcibly bring the person back.”
Gu Yansheng could understand, nodding. “No problem, finding the person is fine. We’ll handle the rest slowly.”
Wen Yan hummed and said: “There’s one more thing. I asked the nurse if she had seen the child’s mother and that boy. The nurse said she hadn’t seen them. The child was picked up by her at the Suzhou River back then. It sounds like there was an accident.”
There was no way around it then—search slowly. Finding one is one.
It was still early, so Gu Yansheng got into Old Jin’s car. Old Jin asked him where to go, and Gu Yansheng told him to head to the church.
Gu Yansheng didn’t tell him the reason for going the whole way.
Only after they arrived did Old Jin ask: “Mr. Gu, are you a Christian?”
“Come with me.”
Gu Yansheng led him into the church. Wen Yan had said there was a free clinic today, and indeed, there were many people queuing inside to see the doctor.
A French male doctor, a Swedish nurse, a Chinese nurse, and during that time, a little girl running around.
No one knew who had made her little nurse outfit for her; she was wearing a hat and looked just like the real thing.
The little girl was quite eye-catching. Old Jin saw the little girl’s back and thought to himself that if his own daughter were still alive, she would be this tall, this big by now.
But when he saw her profile, Old Jin shuddered all over. “She, she!”
With that, he stepped forward.
“Don’t rush.”
Gu Yansheng firmly held him back, found a corner to sit in, and had Old Jin sit down too.
“Watch first. Is she living happily now? If she is happy, don’t rush this moment. Let the others finish their work.”
“Mm, mm!”
Old Jin sat there still trembling all over, tears already welling up in his eyes. He wiped them, stared at the girl and kept watching, his hands clenched tightly.
He didn’t have to wait long for Old Jin. Perhaps it was some kind of telepathy; the little girl casually looked up and saw Old Jin sitting at the end.
The little girl’s expression froze, she hesitated for a moment, then slowly walked over, then quickened her steps. “Father! Father! Is that you?”
“Yes, it’s me, it’s me.” Old Jin could no longer hold back and stood up, hurriedly running out to embrace the child.
The big man crying was really embarrassing. Gu Yansheng wasn’t talking about Old Jin, but himself—his emotions were too rich, and his eyes were a bit moist too.
He secretly wiped it, pretending no one saw.
This scene also drew the attention of everyone present.
Seeing someone trying to abduct the little nurse, the doctors and nurses stopped seeing patients and all walked over.
For this kind of thing, Gu Yansheng had to step out to negotiate.
“Hello.” Gu Yansheng reached out and shook hands with the doctor.
The French doctor could speak Chinese too: “Hello, who are you?”
“This girl’s father’s friend.” Gu Yansheng introduced Old Jin. “I believe Miss here already knows about the search for his daughter.”
Gu Yansheng gestured to the Swiss nurse, who had a somewhat reluctant expression and nodded.
“Father-daughter identity—no need to explain. Old Jin.”
“Yes, yes.”
“These people are all your daughter’s benefactors. They rescued her in her time of crisis, especially this miss, who cared for her meticulously. You can see it from your daughter’s life—she must have treated her like her own. So thank them properly.”
“Certainly, certainly.” Old Jin nodded repeatedly and bowed deeply.
“Come over here first.”
Gu Yansheng pulled Old Jin aside: “These people have been good to your daughter. According to my people, they might be a bit reluctant to let her go too. Handle the rest yourselves.
My suggestion: don’t rush. Think carefully about what’s best for your daughter. You still have to work, and you haven’t found a wife yet, so leaving her here during the day is actually a good choice. Decide the rest yourself, but don’t cause any conflict—they’re all good people.”
“I understand, I understand.” Old Jin’s emotions were surging.
“You talk.”
Gu Yansheng waited a while, and Old Jin finished talking.
“I’ll listen to Mr. Gu. I really don’t have time to take care of the child during the day. And I heard the child say she wants to be a nurse when she grows up. Mr. Gu, thank you.”
“Need me to give you time off?”
“No need.”
“Really no need?”
“No need. There’s no rush; I’m very reassured leaving her here.”
“I’ll give you evenings off.”
“Thank you, Mr. Gu!”
“Just say if you need anything, but take me back first.”
The next day at work, Old Jin was clearly much more spirited, with more smiles and a glowing face.
On the way, he told Gu Yansheng about taking the child out to eat last night.
“Did you ask about how they got separated?”
“Yes, the child said at that time her mother was fleeing with her and her brother, with Kuomintang routed soldiers nearby. Japanese were chasing them, bullets flying everywhere in the chaos, and they got separated. He was carried by a soldier running to hide by the river, passed out, and when he woke up, he was rescued by the nurse in the refugee camp.”
“Don’t worry, search slowly.”
“Mm, finding one is already a blessing from heaven. Thank you, Mr. Gu.”
In the morning, Gu Yansheng worked at the City Government, but in the afternoon, he skipped work to go home and review banquet arrangements.
Important figures were coming today, and he had no contact with Military Statistics Bureau Shanghai District. If at this critical moment, Military Statistics Bureau Shanghai District learned of so many traitors gathering at his house and caused trouble, that would be no joke.
He personally oversaw food sources, with strict checks.
He brought Liu Xiaolou and Wen Yan to help, letting them wander around first.
“Zhou Ma, how are the preparations?”
Gu Yansheng passed by the living room; alcoholic beverages and pastries were already set out, decorations were up on the walls. The City Government’s current flag was the Five-Color Flag, hung in a circle on the second floor as decoration—it looked okay, colorful and vibrant.
As a flag, it had absolutely no distinctive features, still using Beiyang Government stuff—zero creativity.
He glanced into the kitchen; several pastry chefs were busy.
“Sir, please don’t come into the kitchen—it’s a mess. But we guarantee that by 3 PM, the living room and outer hall will be filled with food. No matter how late the banquet goes, we can continuously serve fresh pastries.”
Since that was the case, Gu Yansheng didn’t look. “Good, everyone has worked hard. There will be bonuses for those who helped.”
“Thank you, Mr. Gu.” A bunch of people thanked him, now motivated to work.
Some here were Ling Xianwen’s family’s kitchen helpers, called over to assist.
Gu Yansheng checked on the alcoholic beverages again. A Meng told him these were brands specified by Zhou Ma; they bought them through Gu Zhuxuan’s channels. No one knew the destination before delivery—guaranteed safe.
At 3 PM, people started arriving.
Zhang Xiaolin arrived first with several businessmen. “Director Gu, congratulations on the housewarming. A small token—not much, but with respect.”
One gift per person. He called Wen Yan and Liu Xiaolou for registration and collecting gifts.
“Boss Zhang, you’re quite early. Everyone here is a leader in Shanghai’s business world. I’m very happy you could come. Sit wherever.”
How could the businessmen sit? Coming early was to inquire about City Government movements from Gu Yansheng, any new policies.
The early bird gets the worm. Gu Yansheng didn’t mind giving them a little inside info.
After chatting a bit, that was enough. Couldn’t expect such small gifts to reveal all of City Government’s secrets.
He greeted them briefly, letting the businessmen negotiate among themselves. Zhang Xiaolin had the driver bring over a suitcase, leaning in to say: “Sha Shun knows Director Gu has moved to a new residence. He’s not convenient to come, so he asked me to bring the dividend. The gift is inside too.”
“Okay.” Gu Yansheng beckoned to A Xiang serving nearby and had her take the suitcase upstairs.
“How’s the outside matter?”
Zhang Xiaolin shook his head slightly: “These good things, locals won’t let go. Negotiations have gone one round; talking more won’t help.”
“Then hit them.” Drug dealers weren’t worth pitying—either get beaten to death or smartly resist Japan, just two choices. Gu Yansheng said flatly: “I’ve informed them of Japanese Army policy. Since they don’t want face, smash their rice bowls. Gendarmerie Headquarters people will come later; I’ll tell them to lend some men to clear the place for you.”
“Good, good.” Zhang Xiaolin achieved his goal, but had one more thing to ask: “The new military scrip Japanese are pushing now—seems anyone can exchange. Sha Shun asked me to check: is this temporary or permanent? If permanent, this business is done for.”
Gu Yansheng sneered: “If permanent, why military scrip? Japanese Yen not good enough? Pushing military scrip without Japanese Yen is so one day they stop exchanging, preserving Japanese Yen’s credit.”
“Understood.”
“Don’t worry, it won’t last long.”
While talking, more people arrived at the door, in waves: Gendarmerie Headquarters, City Government, businessmen, one wave after another.
Gu Yansheng couldn’t greet them all. At first he managed for arrivals, later whoever, anyway people would find their own circles.
It was just a gift-receiving banquet, nothing major, so everyone eat, drink, and chat.
When it got a bit dark, the banquet officially started.
Gu Yansheng spoke a few words, thanking everyone, then had Kobayashi Nobuo, as Japanese representative, go on stage to talk about economic strategy to the businessmen—a satisfactory answer.
Ring ring, ring ring.
The home telephone rang. A subordinate answered and came to find him: “Call from Gendarmerie Headquarters.”
Gu Yansheng went over immediately and picked up: “Hello.”
“Director Gu, Colonel Miura and Colonel Kageza will arrive soon. Please prepare to welcome them.”
“Yes.”
Gu Yansheng hadn’t expected Miura Jiro to really come. He quickly told Hase Jinagawa nearby, and Ling Xianwen immediately went on stage.
“Everyone, pay attention. Gendarmerie Headquarters Commander Miura Jiro General is about to arrive. Please mind your etiquette.”
There was immediate low murmur in the room. Few ever saw Miura Jiro; him coming to Gu Yansheng’s housewarming banquet was unexpected for many.
Everyone quickly straightened their clothes, changed drinks where needed, even servants were called to mop the floor again.
The gate opened, and people lined up on both sides to welcome.
Ten-plus minutes later, gendarmes cleared the way, and the convoy drove in.
Miura Jiro, Kagesa Sadaki, Haruki Keiichi, and a bespectacled middle-aged man.
Miura Jiro nodded slightly: “Mr. Gu, today I brought guests—sorry to intrude.”
Gu Yansheng nodded back immediately: “Your Excellency is too polite. Your presence honors the place.”
“Please.”
“Please.”
Miura Jiro strode into the room and straight to the speech platform: “Very sorry to interrupt your gathering. I’ll take just one or two minutes to introduce someone to you. It’s him.
Former Chongqing Government Minister of Propaganda, party training minister, Deputy Director of the Attendant Room, Mr. Zhou.
Everyone, welcome.”
Wow, enthusiastic applause erupted. This was a big name—even without knowing him, the titles showed he was super heavyweight!
Minister Zhou smiled and nodded to the applauding crowd, attending to all sides’ feelings.
Miura Jiro continued: “Everyone here is Shanghai’s elite. You should know a new government will be established soon. Minister Zhou is here representing Mr. Wang to exchange with Shanghai’s various sectors.
Today, borrowing Director Gu’s housewarming banquet, it provides a perfect platform for exchange. Please welcome Minister Zhou to speak to our Shanghai sectors.”
Enthusiastic applause rose again. Minister Zhou smiled and went on stage.
“Today, borrowing Director Gu’s banquet, Fohai gets to see Shanghai’s eminent figures. First, thanks to Commander Miura, Colonel Kageza, and the banquet host Director Gu.”
Minister Zhou bowed slightly in respect.
“Since the war began, Chiang Kai-shek talks empty national justice, vents personal grudges, ignoring the common people’s life and death!
Mr. Wang and I went down to inspect; what we saw was truly starved corpses everywhere, families torn apart.”
Scenes of misery under Chiang Kai-shek’s rule were depicted one by one, how Mr. Wang tried hard to save the collapsing edifice, only to face suppression from Chiang Kai-shek.
As Minister of Propaganda, Minister Zhou was very eloquent; he spoke so movingly it felt real, nearly bringing tears.
Gu Yansheng felt this banquet had truly taken on the flavor of a traitor gathering.
