Chapter 199: Family
“No, I’m from Hunan, used to live in Hunan, and was only brought over by Father last year.”
The timing matches the defection point exactly.
“Then you must be able to eat spicy food?” Gu Yansheng asked with a smile.
“Of course.” Zhou Shuhai had a complacent expression, “Can you eat it?”
“I can, and I haven’t eaten anything just now. How about we go eat Hunan cuisine?”
“Sure, do you know where there’s Hunan cuisine around here? The food on the ship is awful, the Japanese eat things like sashimi with no flavor at all.”
“I know, follow me.”
Gu Yansheng really knew where to eat spicy dishes in Hongkou; he had accompanied Minister Zhou there twice before.
To understand a person, first understand her stomach.
At the Kaifu Hotel, Gu Yansheng had the chef prepare a table of signature Hunan cuisine to receive her.
While eating and asking questions, the intelligence came right out on the dining table.
In his early years in Hunan, Minister Zhou had an arranged marriage arranged by the previous generation and married a locally decent-looking woman. Three years older than him like holding a golden brick, he succeeded in sowing seed at sixteen and gave birth to Zhou Shuhai.
The next year sowing seed succeeded again, and he had a son named Zhou Shaohai.
Idled at home for two years, then Minister Zhou went to Japan to study, then joined the revolution, and along the way, he forgot what his wife at home even looked like.
Even if there was time to visit, there were no common topics, they couldn’t chat together, and were estranged in appearance but divided in spirit.
One was a top graduate of Tokyo Imperial University, the other a rural woman, not together for a long time, the outcome was definitely having a woman outside.
But the family didn’t know about these things; their waiting ultimately got them a divorce letter, and they no longer had contact from then on.
Because Minister Zhou was getting remarried in Shanghai, and the bride was Yang Shuhui, the daughter of the director secretary of the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce at the time.
Gu Yansheng knew much more about what happened after that than she did.
Not purely because of love; at that time, Minister Zhou was still a top graduate returned from studies, still ten thousand miles away from becoming a pillar of the party and state.
This father-in-law could provide plenty of help on Minister Zhou’s path to rising.
So he soared into the sky.
Now, Yang Shuhui’s son was already seventeen or eighteen years old.
But in Zhou Shuhai’s mouth, this matter wasn’t incomprehensible, because among the major investor families in the folk, having several Mrs. was very normal.
Insisting on writing a divorce letter, in her view, was nothing more than a city miss with too much temper and too many rules.
“I really don’t like this woman; Father’s vision is too poor.” Zhou Shuhai spoke bluntly, “Clearly a concubine, but after I came, she points fingers at me, nothing I do satisfies her, her personality is too bad.”
No wonder that expression; Gu Yansheng recalled Yang Shuhui’s expression when leaving the venue, at the time almost thinking she was afraid her daughter would be abducted by him.
Gu Yansheng asked curiously: “For example?”
“For example,” Zhou Shuhai put down her chopsticks and recalled: “She keeps scolding me as a country bumpkin, there’s something at home I’ve never seen, I touch it, and she snidely calls out, do you know how to use it, don’t break the things in my house.
Listen, isn’t her tone full of disdain?
And that’s not all.
This time I was brought to Hanoi, stayed there quite a while, naturally there were expenses for eating, she wouldn’t even give me basic living expenses, it’s not like our family has no money, I don’t use much, but she just wouldn’t give.
Sometimes I go tell Father, then she reluctantly gives a little, while giving still scolding me as a burden.”
Minister Zhou’s family finances were managed by Yang Shuhui, Yang Shuhui had a fiery personality and wasn’t afraid of Minister Zhou, Minister Zhou would occasionally stand up for his daughter, but only occasionally.
Gu Yansheng obtained several pieces of information.
It was pretty miserable, but not strange; Shanghai people looking down on country folk isn’t a one-day or two-day thing.
Ordinary people are like that, let alone Yang Shuhui who has a natural feud with her and can’t get along, seeing her brings her mom to mind.
Gu Yansheng comforted: “Then you’ve had it tough; my promise stands, come find me whenever you need in the future.”
Zhou Shuhai smiled, wiped her eyes, “A bit spicy.”
This wasn’t being moved to tears by Gu Yansheng; it was just Zhou Shuhai feeling genuinely aggrieved from the heart.
Gu Yansheng pretended not to see, took a bite of dish, hissed with a smile: “It is a bit spicy.”
“Haha, eat up, try this one, it’s delicious.”
Gu Yansheng accompanied her to finish the meal, took her out for a stroll, thinking since she didn’t have much money on her, stroll the clothing stores and buy her a few outfits.
Spending a bit of time and a little money was enough to make a girl who had endured endless white eyes happy.
Gu Yansheng actually thought her mindset was good, not becoming timid and shrinking after the blows, probably also because the time in contact with Yang Shuhui wasn’t long, still having the courage to fight.
If continuously struck by Yang Shuhui for a long time, it would be hard to say what this person’s personality would become.
After buying clothes, Zhou Shuhai was even happier, the whole process very pleasant.
“About time, we should go back, otherwise Minister Zhou can’t find us and will think I abducted you.”
“Alright then, let’s go back.”
Gu Yansheng accompanied her on a walk back to the venue, entering the hall, there were quite a few things to discuss today, the banquet was still continuing, just with fewer people.
Zhou Shuhai smiled and said thanks, then left directly.
Gu Yansheng noticed that from when she entered, Yang Shuhui’s gaze shifted over, then to the clothing bag in her hand, then to Gu Yansheng’s face.
Gu Yansheng politely nodded with a smile, then looked away.
Throwing a tantrum also depends on the person; he wanted to know how Yang Shuhui would handle him buying clothes for Zhou Shuhai.
Whether going back to scold or swallow her anger, he’d know next time.
“Hey, Minister.”
Gu Yansheng saw Minister Zhou beckon him, walked over to greet.
“Didn’t cause you trouble, right? Just came from the countryside, might not know the rules.”
“No, she’s great.” Gu Yansheng said softly: “We went to eat Hunan cuisine, Minister, jealous?”
Minister Zhou held back a breath, pointed at Gu Yansheng with a laugh, “Sneaking good eats without calling me, penalty is you accompany me to eat tomorrow.”
Gu Yansheng smiled frankly and nodded, “Sure.”
Minister Zhou smiled, “Down to business, just now I bumped into Mr. Wang, he chatted with a few Japanese, decided on the itinerary: these few days we’ll first go around various departments.
City Government, Agent Headquarters, China Daily and such places, some people he still wants to meet personally, talk, including you, then based on the negotiation personnel’s information, summarize opinions, and confirm the government department structure issue with the Japanese side.
Tomorrow you accompany us on the trip?”
“No problem.” Gu Yansheng nodded, “Security by the Japanese, or call people from Agent Headquarters?”
“The Japanese will handle it.”
“Alright, then I’ll come at eight tomorrow morning?”
“No need to be that early, we barely slept well on the ship, can you let me sleep until daybreak?” Minister Zhou joked.
Gu Yansheng chuckled, mind flashing, thinking of Minister Zhou’s hobbies he’d probed, “Minister, what’s the Japanese arrangement later? Need to go drink some alcohol, watch some dancing to relax, then sleep soundly; there are plenty of geisha dance halls in Hongkou.”
Minister Zhou clearly moved, thought and said: “Here’s the deal, not appropriate for me to ask, you ask the Japanese for me, if there’s an arrangement we’ll go drink and relax, just us two, at most call Luo Junqiang too, I have something with him.
Keep it quiet, don’t let my wife hear.”
“Rest assured, I’ll arrange it well.”
