Chapter 261: Revenue
In the evening, Shen Shuyun came over.
“Why did you come? Haven’t gotten off work yet?” Gu Yansheng looked at his watch.
Shen Shuyun smiled, walked forward and said: “With my current shift, if I don’t go, is there anyone who dares to punish me?”
“What do you want from me?”
“Of course to take you home to eat. You’re so busy every day, can’t even see you at mealtime.”
Shen Shuyun walked behind Gu Yansheng, placed her fingers on his shoulders for a massage, bent down and whispered in his ear: “The broadcast ciphertext received last night.”
“What did it say?”
“Three questions. First, why did Japan-Wang reopen peace talks?
Second, what step have the Japan-Wang peace talks reached?
Third, what goal do the Japanese negotiations in Hong Kong aim to achieve?”
This question doesn’t seem like one Boss Dai would ask; it seems more like one President Jiang would ask.
“Then let’s head home early.”
Gu Yansheng stood up, took his clothes from the coat rack, and took Shen Shuyun downstairs.
This place is close to Traitor Alley; it only took one press of the accelerator to arrive.
Came back early today. Upon entering the house, he saw the guards gnawing on steamed buns, and the courtyard still had the wheat aroma of steamed buns.
“Mr. Gu.”
“Minister.”
A bunch of bodyguards greeted him, with steamed buns in hand and nowhere to hide them.
“Smells good. Keep eating.” Gu Yansheng was very amiable to his subordinates, smiling as he asked: “Is the daily food enough? Grain supply is tight in Shanghai now; does the household have any difficulties?”
“Enough, enough.” Several bodyguards nodded and bowed with smiles. “Very grateful for Mr. Gu and Miss Shen’s care. The brothers eat well, are full, and steamed buns this good aren’t necessarily available outside.”
“Good then. Keep eating. If there are difficulties, tell Miss Shen.”
“Okay.”
Gu Yansheng gave simple consolation. Shen Shuyun said softly: “I’ve already made arrangements. If the grain these people buy outside isn’t enough, add a meal at home. Not much extra, but steamed buns and side dishes can be supplied sufficiently.”
These bodyguards are just bodyguards. Working for Gu Yansheng, the salary is a bit higher than outside, but they aren’t government people, so no power—just stability and face when mentioned outside.
They protect Gu Yansheng’s personal safety; Gu Yansheng’s representative—Miss Shen of the Judicial Department—protects their social safety. That’s the benefit.
As for the flour for steaming buns, that’s also a benefit. Lu Bowen from the flour mill sends Gu Yansheng premium flour for his own consumption.
Speaking of this, Gu Yansheng had to ask: “Is the grain shortage outside serious now?”
Shen Shuyun loves shopping and has seen plenty. “Pretty serious. Not to mention ordinary people—even city government staff aren’t eating their fill now. Outsiders think government employees eat plenty, but actually they’re the same.”
Of course. Outsiders see city government staff as officials, but in the eyes of Gu Yansheng or Fu Xiao’an’s level, no difference.
But “Fu Xiao’an hasn’t given the city government any preferential treatment at all?”
That’s too stingy.
“If not canceling the canteen counts as preferential treatment, then there is some.”
“How so?”
“Isn’t everyone’s monthly grain quota 5.6 kilograms now? Just with that rice, definitely can’t eat your fill.
But the city government has its own supply allocation; the canteen isn’t counted in the quota, so government employees save the rice from their outside quota for family and eat canteen rice themselves, freeing up an extra share.”
“Pretty good at managing. What if no family?”
“Sell on black market. Rice is expensive on black market now. Previously some people didn’t like canteen food and loved going out occasionally to a restaurant to improve meals; now they don’t. They say eating at the canteen is like making money.
A few close ones in the office think I definitely won’t go hungry, so they ask me to queue with them, don’t waste the quota, share quota with them.”
Gu Yansheng smiled listening; women have this advantage—office chatter reveals everything, natural intelligence officers.
“Queuing for rice going smoothly?”
“Smooth so far, but I feel it won’t be soon.”
“Why?”
“Under controls, shortage is still okay. After autumn harvest, grain itself isn’t scarce, just less available after controls.
Because verifying each person’s share, queuing is severe; rice shops have queues all day.
If properly planned, eating less, average families can endure hungry one meal full next. But some can’t control mouths; finish rice, don’t want hunger, plus black market rice price increase, all make rice a hot commodity.
I hear from office people, rice robbing tides already starting. Thugs hungry or wanting money target those queuing.
Those people just bought rice, usually in a bag. Thugs pick targets while queuing, follow after buy all the way home, grab chance to rob, then run.
So you say, these people have whole bag of grain robbed, no food, won’t that cause trouble?”
Gu Yansheng nodded listening; rob rice sell black market—a novel way to make money.
“Mr. Gu, Miss Shen, back. Dinner soon ready.” Aunt Liu came out to greet.
“You do your thing.” Gu Yansheng waved off Aunt Liu, said softly: “The three questions you just mentioned—the Japanese goal in Hong Kong negotiations is exactly the process Wang Faction personnel are experiencing now.
Seeking peace talks with you is sincere, but peace talks purpose isn’t peace, but control.
Peace talks succeed, anti-Japanese front gone, Wang Faction and Chongqing form united government, Japanese assassinate Jiang, Wang Faction as united government vice president takes power after President Jiang dies, naturally; Japanese goal achieved, simpler than years of war.”
“So that’s it.” Shen Shuyun nodded as if realizing, “Content a bit much; let me think how to condense into telegram.”
“Four words: Assassinate Jiang, prop Wang. Rest they can guess.”
“Good, secretive, won’t leak source.”
Of course won’t leak; content all made up by Gu Yansheng, untraceable if known.
“Second question, Japan-Wang peace talks reached what step: About to open. Content: say Gao usable.”
“Which Gao?”
“Gao as in high and low.”
“Got it.”
“First question, why advance peace talks again.”
Gu Yansheng advanced it; of course can’t say, or Boss Dai couldn’t withstand President Jiang’s anger.
“Damn it, Yu Nong! How does your Military Statistics Bureau produce such things!”
“Because Japanese think need pressure Chongqing; reply four words: Carrot and stick.”
“Understood.”
Heap of telegram content, summed to sixteen words—much simpler.
After dinner, Gu Yansheng thought of Gao Zhongwu matter, time to start; drove to find Chen Mo.
Chen Mo was eating at home.
“Mr. Gu, eaten? Join me.”
“Eaten. You eat.”
Gu Yansheng sat: “Boss Dai ordered to know negotiation content. Wang Faction has Gao Zhongwu, suppressed.”
“Heard of this person.”
“Mm.”
Gu Yansheng explained Gao Zhongwu: “Now doing stock trading. Find someone to follow him, see what stocks he’s trading, how much invested.”
Chen Mo nodded: “Tracking easy, but he likely has bodyguards? What stocks, how much invested—how check?”
“If stock trading, goes to exchange. At exchange crowded; your people nearby won’t alert bodyguards.
No contact needed; his stock buys/sells at counter, your people nearby listen, know what stocks, amounts—just observe.”
“Understood, I’ll arrange.”
“Notify me of news.”
“Good.”
Two days later, Chen Mo came to meet Gu Yansheng.
“Checked. Trading cotton yarn futures. Not from trades—guy like exchange people, eyes on cotton yarn futures price board, clutching money shouting rise rise rise.
What big shot? Like ordinary stockholder, hyped up.
But amount bought unclear; no trades these two days, probably already bought.”
Gu Yansheng smiled: “Matches. He mentioned cotton yarn futures before. Okay, for now continue watch. If no sell, ignore. If you feel he’s about to sell or sold, tell me.”
“No problem. Just leave alone? How get that stuff?”
“No rush, wait till he’s dead.”
“Dead? Why die?” Chen Mo widened eyes puzzled.
“Know current cotton yarn price?”
“450 or so.” Chen Mo recalled subordinate report.
“Heaven dooms man to perish, first makes mad. Near death.” Gu Yansheng smiled and left.
Tea House.
Fu Xiao’an brought good news.
“Brother Gu, here, revenue already secured, all transferred to Miss He’s money shop. Can rest easy now?”
Nearby He Yun smiled and nodded: “Mayor Fu had me give him all my contracts yesterday; this morning took me to bank for transfer personally—US Dollars one batch, Silver Dollars one batch, total Silver Dollars 65,280,000 exact.”
“Over 65 million?” Gu Yansheng eyes lit up, gave Fu Xiao’an admiring look: “Mayor Fu, great talent. Too impressive. 25 million in, 65 million out—not worthy of Greater Shanghai business leader.”
Usually Gu Yansheng doesn’t flatter Fu Xiao’an, but this time okay—giver is boss.
“Hahahaha.” Fu Xiao’an felt good hearing Gu Yansheng flatter, better than others, laughed again: “Hahahaha, Brother Gu, you trust me, we cooperate smoothly.
This time didn’t meet initial expectation of multiples, but honestly, smoother than I thought, or I’d need at least month to clear positions.”
“Safe landing fine.”
Gu Yansheng not greedy; this stock money, cotton yarn another batch in Lu Bowen hands.
“Tea.” Gu Yansheng personally poured for Fu Xiao’an: “Mayor Fu, how much hardship fee suitable for me?”
Question profound; Fu Xiao’an smiled lightly: “You decide, I cooperate. Minister Gu if wants more, when Japanese make trouble?
Say blown in that wave, Japanese fault, we can’t control; give few million out, good for Minister Zhou side too? Not for nothing.”
“Suitable?” Gu Yansheng eyed inquiringly.
“What’s unsuitable.” Fu Xiao’an sighed laughing: “Brother Gu, lifetime wealth chances few; grasp when come. You’re minister, handing out few tens millions—what use? Give Executive Yuan vice dean position?
Rest assured, whatever amount, I’ll cover.”
Fu Xiao’an gestured between Gu Yansheng and him: “Trust between us.”
“Good, I’ll think. Greed and heart battling.” Gu Yansheng joked self-mockingly.
“Hahaha, think slowly. I go first.” Fu Xiao’an farewell, stood with smiling eyes: “Next watch tigers fight from mountain. Brother Gu, don’t miss—definitely big show.”
“Definitely won’t miss.”
Gu Yansheng smiled seeing off guest.
Turned asked He Yun: “All positions cleared, right?”
“Ours cleared. He has some left; per him, can’t sell all to British and Americans, must leave some for stock market exit, but small share, British and Americans paid, so he settled ours first, rest he handles himself, profits/losses his.”
“Mm, we earned over double; Fu Xiao’an’s 35 million must earn 50 million up. Guy rich now.”
Gu Yansheng smiled faintly sighing: “Tumbler hard to kill.”
“How handle this money?” He Yun worried for Gu Yansheng: “Think don’t cheat Minister Zhou’s money. If Fu Xiao’an complains, lose trust, not worth it.”
Gu Yansheng gave He Yun look: “Not running away; how move this money? Only skim downward, not upward. Teasing Fu Xiao’an, see if he can’t resist plotting behind.
Keep money on books, normal accounting. Your recent operate the market expenses from books, overreport bit. Money, plenty chances later, no rush.
Right, our own positions cleared?”
Fu Xiao’an side used Central Bank money; He Yun and Lu Bowen side had private batch—that’s own money.
Of course 76’s money too.
“All cleared. 70 in, 400 out; deduct 76 portion, our profit 12 million, over fivefold.”
Gu Yansheng satisfied listening: “Much higher than Fu Xiao’an. Why such difference?”
“He pulled stock price hype has cost; we rode his wave costless, sell at time, profit more. Plus he discounted to British; we dumped direct market.”
“Haha, good. How much 76 side?”
“They invested 100,000 US Dollars, 400,000 Silver Dollars; fivefold 2 million.”
“Take 60% profit, rest to US Dollars, send over.”
Gu Yansheng take their 1.2 million hardship fee—reasonable.
“Good, later send over.”
Before off work, He Yun sent money box.
Timing perfect; go Agent Headquarters, can make them buy dinner.
