Chapter 49: Mission
Noon, City Government entrance.
Lu Bowen and He Yun got off the rickshaw.
They had actually been somewhat worried all the way here. After all, this was the first time venturing out in the Concession after being targeted. If they were caught on the way, it would be as miserable as could be.
But they had to take this step sooner or later.
However, upon arriving at the City Government entrance and seeing two other prison mates, they realized that they weren’t the only ones taking this step.
“You were called here too?”
“Yeah, why not go in?”
“It’s not time yet. They said work starts at one, and they’re not letting anyone in now.”
“So strict? They called us over but didn’t say what for.”
Prison mate met prison mate, eyes brimming with tears. This was a bond forged through life and death, and they immediately started chatting.
At exactly one, Liu Xiaolou came down to take them up and arranged them all in the meeting room.
“Who is Lu Bowen?”
“Me, I am.”
“Come with me, and your wife too.”
Liu Xiaolou sized up his future neighbor and knocked on the office door.
Knock knock knock.
“Come in.”
“Division Chief, the people are here.”
“Good.”
“Then I’ll go out.”
“The two still in the meeting room, go watch them. Don’t let people from the Division go chat with them.”
“Okay.”
Liu Xiaolou went out and closed the door.
Gu Yansheng smiled as he looked at the two, while they gaped in shock at Gu Yansheng.
Gu Yansheng got up and opened the door a bit, so as not to have someone who naturally liked eavesdropping at the wall.
Wen Yan first had him go with the Secretary Section to handle onboarding documents, tour the building, get familiar with each department, and he wouldn’t be back soon.
“What’s wrong? Why are you all looking at me like that?”
Lu Bowen sighed, “When your assistant found us, I actually didn’t believe it. How in the blink of an eye did you enter the government so quickly, and as Division Chief at that? I was worried something had gone wrong. Turns out it’s real.”
Gu Yansheng chuckled lightly: “Deputy.”
“Even Deputy is impressive.”
He Yun had a look that said how could they underestimate this, touched Gu Yansheng’s desk, and marveled at the mark of the government internal secret files on it.
“Yansheng, your progress speed is steadily advancing toward your goal, very solid. Compared to us, our progress is really far behind.”
“You have special circumstances. Temporary fast or slow is just temporary. When you can’t rush, you can’t rush. Coffee okay? That’s all I have here.”
Gu Yansheng went to the coffee machine and made each of them a cup.
“Sit.”
“We just came straight to see you like this, really nothing wrong?” He Yun asked.
“There won’t be any problems. Even if someone wants to grab you back for interrogation, they have to follow and see where you go, right?
And once they know you’re here to see me, they might not dare act. Relax, I’ve assessed the risk, no big issues.”
Gu Yansheng now wasn’t too wary of Li Shiqun. Though they had never met, if Li Shiqun was a deep planner, he’d overthink and hesitate, not act easily without investigating why they came to the government.
But if something unexpected happened and they were grabbed outright, his Deputy Division Chief position wasn’t made of clay either.
Right now, Li Shiqun hadn’t even established No. 76 yet, at most he had some right to speak in front of the Japanese, but not much.
Head-on clash, who loses, not certain.
“How have things been lately?” Gu Yansheng asked about the two with concern.
“You say.” He Yun let Lu Bowen speak.
Lu Bowen took a sip of coffee, glanced at the door, confirmed no one was there, then said quietly: “We’ve already been interviewing. Since we’ll be doing rice business later, I’m trying to see if any rice businesses are hiring, to get familiar with the business.
But the Concession really doesn’t lack staff right now, competition is fierce.
I’m applying for Manager level positions, which have few openings to begin with, and since I’m not familiar with connections in nearby rice producing areas, even with my trade experience, it’s no good. They have too many choices.
I plan to look for two more days. If not, I’ll find other work first. Securing salary is the top priority. We urgently need a sum of money to tide over the difficulties.
On finding work, He Yun has done much better than me.”
“I got lucky. A shipping company in the International Settlement wants me as accountant. I could have started today, but since you contacted me, I postponed to tomorrow. Starting tomorrow, there’ll be income, no worry about not paying rent.” He Yun added with a smile.
Lu Bowen continued: “With He Yun’s income, we finally see hope. Without income, things would really be trouble.
The organization’s first mission has arrived.”
“So soon?” Gu Yansheng was a bit surprised. By reason, they hadn’t been in Shanghai long. Even if they went all out to make money, the Organization wouldn’t think they could earn much.
Lu Bowen nodded: “Don’t worry too much. It’s not immediate, or I’d have notified you right away.
The information I decoded is that the Organization wants us to find a sum of money or a batch of cotton yarn. In one and a half months, at latest two months, he’ll contact again and send someone to pick it up.”
“One and a half months… that’s for winter clothes. Time-wise it’s already quite late. Plus transport time, then weaving into clothes, whether fighters can wear them by end of December is a problem. No time left. Two months and they’d be wearing cotton clothes by January.”
Gu Yansheng thought and asked: “How much?”
Lu Bowen shook his head: “No quantity specified. I guess the Organization considered we’re new here, limited ability, so it’s do what we can.
The Organization won’t rely only on us. Probably other places lack strength, so we’re to supplement.
He Yun inquired. Cotton yarn in Shanghai now isn’t cheap, key is purchase limits. Japanese know winter’s coming. Whether us or Chongqing, all short on cotton yarn, so bulk procurement is tightly limited.
On the surface, each citizen can only buy household amounts, but to buy more, have to go black market unless you have a note.
But black market, as you know, first not cheap, second not necessarily safe. These businessmen are sly. Everyone knows buyers of cotton yarn on black market aren’t ordinary people.”
“Know the specific prices?”
“Yes, Exchange has cotton yarn futures listed. I heard from stock trading people, direct from urban area factories now about 80 silver dollars per piece, one piece is 181 kilograms, limited sale, more needs a note.
Prices in Concession unstable, some goods smuggled from Nanyang, about half more expensive than urban area.
Black market now about 150 silver dollars per piece.
For scattered buys, all three prices add extra.
This is standard quality price, makes cotton clothes with good warmth and nice appearance. There’s also high-grade, what Japanese Army uses, excellent warmth, but 200 silver dollars per piece, black market 400.
Cheaper ones too, substandard compared to standard, not bad warmth, but poorer hand feel. Advantage is durable, the kind poor rural folk love, can wear over ten years, won’t wear out even after washing, that’s 70 silver dollars, black market starts at 120.”
“Sounds not cheap. How many military uniforms from one piece of cotton yarn?” Gu Yansheng asked.
“Didn’t dare inquire specifically, but He Yun did the math. He Yun, you say.”
“Okay.” He Yun took over and said to Gu Yansheng: “When I went to clothing store to pick clothes, I asked boss a bit about fabric. For poor people making winter clothes, generally use coarse yarn, hand feel worse, but thicker, warmer.
They sell this cotton yarn by piece, kilograms fixed. Because thicker heavier fabric, cloth length per kilogram shorter.
For standard coarse yarn for winter, per kilogram cotton yarn weaves about 3.2 meters cloth.
So 181 kilograms times 3.2 meters, without loss, about 580 meters.
For winter clothes, by my experience buying clothes, men’s jacket takes 3 meters, pants 2.5 meters. Our uniforms plus hat, at least another half meter, that’s six meters.
So one piece coarse cotton yarn 580 meters, 6 meters per set, for uniforms about under 100 sets, roughly 96 sets.”
“So solving one piece solves winter uniforms for 100 fighters.” Gu Yansheng summarized.
Lu Bowen nodded, “That’s the reason, so if we can solve cotton yarn, better do it ASAP.”
“Mm.”
Information gathered comprehensively. Key is how to acquire.
Giving money simplest of course, but worst effect. Money can’t withstand a month’s freezing cold.
Lu Bowen added: “Key is this price isn’t the end. Prices will keep rising till winter ends. These dog businessmen hoarding and price gouging, stockpiled massive cotton yarn, waiting for freezing cold to get rich.
Not cold yet, but later colder, price rise faster. So if buying, we need to hurry.
He Yun and I thought of a way. We definitely have no money now, but if we find a traitor to kidnap and squeeze some out, not impossible. Key is shake off tails first.”
Gu Yansheng was pondering when he heard and laughed, “You’re a businessman yourself, yet curse dog businessmen. Really pushed to the limit to think of kidnapping. No need.”
He Yun heard and sneered.
Lu Bowen helpless, “I’m stuck now. You know how anxious I am? I dream of finding money.”
“Hey, I called you here today to deliver money.” Gu Yansheng smiled.
“Not just money. For your rice business needing staff to procure in Northern Jiangsu, I’ve prepared them all, guaranteed clean backgrounds, personally stamped and verified by Japanese.”
