Chapter 171: Speculation
The next day at noon, Director Gu was studying porcelain in the Tea House.
The medicine business was damaged, no heart for work, finding something to fiddle with should be no problem.
A Ru kiln bowl, antiques in prosperous times, gold in chaotic times, porcelain in these years isn’t that expensive, last time at the family banquet someone gave it to him as a gift.
The shape is quite rounded, but Director Gu really couldn’t understand it, how to distinguish real from fake, and how it could make some people love it so much.
No matter how he looked at it, it was just a bowl.
Ma Shiqi walked in quickly, carrying two suitcases, “Director, the businessman’s money has all been collected back, 40 US dollars, not a cent short.”
Fine, his own spent money was back, Director Gu put down the bowl and asked: “Did they have any opinions?”
Ma Shiqi smiled, “How dare they have any opinions, told them the black ghost chased to Shanghai news, their faces all turned pale, afraid the black ghost would come find them for revenge, hearing they were all killed, their expressions only improved a bit.
Later I said the medicine was lost, only took half the money, they all agreed very readily, gave the money right away, just their money was already deposited in the bank, took time to withdraw in the morning, so delayed until now, otherwise they wished to give the money yesterday, afraid if you were slow, next time no one would protect them.”
Director Gu sneered, “Now they know to be afraid, 80 US dollars, money isn’t that easy to make, if they want to make this money, they should have thought there was risk, tell them have they collected the other medicine quickly?”
Ma Shiqi nodded, “Said it, they also raised an opinion, can we first collect their now scattered medicine, now Military Statistics Bureau is stirring everywhere, their warehouses might also be affected, collect it away and they’re at ease, I estimate they want to first change to money, lest you change your mind someday.”
“Sure.” Director Gu thought and said: “If they want to sell, collect it, but the price is hard to set, originally I told them it was the quinine loss money, raise other medicine prices to make up for them.
Now their quinine not only didn’t lose money, actually made money.
Like this, you run another trip, directly ask them how much they want to sell, no need to haggle, collect it all, bet they don’t dare sell high price.
Money, just use the money in the suitcases to buy.”
“Good, then I’ll go now.”
Director Gu continued studying the bowl, someday find a master craftsman who understands these things, have him explain knowledge in this area.
Among Japanese high officials, actually quite a few pretend to be cultured and like Chinese culture, learn some knowledge in this area, later if needed, there would be common topics.
In the evening, Director Gu went to Agent Headquarters to find Ding Mocun.
“Director Ding, busy?”
Ding Mocun was buried head looking at some document.
Hearing this he raised the document with a sighing laugh, “Day after day no peaceful days, when is there not busy? Look, Japanese’s job, our own people reselling military supplies, make us investigate, you say, can we enter Japanese Army’s armory, or can we interrogate Japanese?
“What situation?” Director Gu made coffee for himself to drink.
Ding Mocun shook his head and came out, told the Gendarmerie Headquarters matter.
“New Fourth Army put on Japanese Army uniforms, just one set of clothes, bring a few people behind to pretend royal collaboration army, swagger to the outpost, one face-to-face stunned the Japanese, you say, this matter on Japanese, how can they not be anxious?
Impossible to guard against.”
“I hear it feels like guns sent by Third War Zone? Didn’t He Xingjian defect over? Old Jiang sending them some guns is normal.”
“I think so too.” Ding Mocun found a kindred spirit, “But Japanese themselves don’t admit, insist it’s black market flow out, such a large amount, black market can flow out, New Fourth Army also has to be able to buy right?”
“What does Director Li say?” Director Gu finished brewing coffee and took a sip.
Ding Mocun scoffed: “He thinks impossible New Fourth Army bought, he understands Red Party so well, where so much money? If had money bought long ago.
But he estimates, if recently overseas someone aided a batch of money, not impossible.
Key is where to start investigating, concession hard to check, Japanese hard to check, can only watch quartermaster, see if he has reselling.”
Investigate then, investigating investigating find out it’s own soldiers reselling would be interesting.
Anyway guns already in hand, Director Gu didn’t care who they investigated, even if to Sha Shun no use.
Director Gu chuckled lightly, “Day after day ghost stories really many, New Fourth Army even has money, not talking this, today find you for a matter, medicine matter can start.”
“Is it?” Ding Mocun eyes lit up, immediately forgot work, closed the door, sat down and said: “Worth how much? When start shipping out?”
“Tomorrow.” Director Gu said softly: “Specific medicine price not out yet, my people collecting druggist’s warehouses, then give you the list catalog, I ship, you negotiate price, negotiated let them take over, not negotiated, medicine first find a warehouse to store.
As long as first time negotiate success, they gave money, later we follow original plan, hand to people below to connect, we don’t care, don’t know, just collect money.”
Ding Mocun nodded, smile bloomed, “Good good good, then tomorrow you bring things over, best have them businessmen report a black market price, I first understand, have a number in mind.”
“Fine.”
Chatted a while, Director Gu returned home.
Just out door called by Director Li.
“Director Gu, come over.”
“What’s up?” Director Gu entered his office.
Director Li closed the door, pondered and said: “One matter you think about.”
Director Li told the Gendarmerie Headquarters matter.
“Do you still remember the New Fourth Army cotton yarn matter I mentioned last time?”
“Remember, what’s up?”
“Fu Xiao’an matter?”
“Saved Wan Molin, you said Fu Xiao’an has problem, has contact with Chongqing, what’s up? But this isn’t New Fourth Army? You suspect he’s Red Party again?”
“Problem is here, single look one matter actually nothing, New Fourth Army has cotton yarn, could come from anywhere.
From Shanghai, also possible.
Last time we investigated, Fu Xiao’an first faced bankruptcy, then revived, got loan, right?
This shows he very likely not Military Statistics Bureau, just business dealings with Chongqing, just helping.
Then he can’t help New Fourth Army?
Wants cotton yarn has cotton yarn, wants connections has connections, wants smuggling he can smuggle, wants gun he can get gun, wants money has money.”
Director Li’s eyes burned.
Director Gu admired, this thinking active enough.
Director Gu frowned, following his words continued, “Not too possible? Fu Xiao’an making money I believe, he transport things for New Fourth Army, help Chongqing save people, I believe, you say he’s Military Statistics Bureau I believe, but where New Fourth Army’s money come from?”
“This not too important.” Director Li let out long breath, smiled slightly: “Money comes many ways, Red Party has transit station in Hong Kong, receive international supplies and money, important is Shanghai’s channels, how they change money to supplies.
Honestly, I now not very care about New Fourth Army, I rather curious, what exactly Fu Xiao’an’s identity is.”
