Shanghai morning

Al was fascinated by the oil painting on the wall, which was the "Shanghai Morning" he bought at Feliciano's painting exhibition.Next to the painting is a photo. In the photo, the white sunrise on the sea stands against the back of a person. It is a photo of Wang Yao that he snapped on Christmas Day.Coincidentally, both he and Feliciano chose Wang Yao as the character in the work. Al has dealt with many Chinese people, but Wang Yao is the one who best represents the Chinese people.

Al went downstairs to the dining room for breakfast, and the waiter brought the day's paper.Al shook out the newspaper, glanced at it briefly and put it aside, picked up the cup and tasted the first cup of coffee of the day.

Matthew Williams sat across from him and greeted him friendly: "Good morning, dear brother."

Al said coldly, "Good morning, Mr. Williams."

The waiter sets the table and pours coffee for Matthew.

"How's the breakfast here?" Matthew asked expectantly.

"It's okay," Al said. "The coffee is good."

Seeing Al's cold attitude, Matthew couldn't help but smile wryly: "Al, are you still unwilling to accept my existence?"

"I fully accept your existence," Al said, "but don't expect me to think of you as a brother."

The waiter serves dishes for two people, the golden bread and sliced ​​ham are appetizing, not to mention the eggs that are fried just right, and a few blueberries and raspberries are sprinkled on the side of these foods. Up Chef combines Anglo-American and Continental breakfast styles.

The two began to eat, and while eating, they could naturally be silent, and Al devoted all his attention to eating breakfast, at least pretended to be.

"Wow! You should try the bacon, it's delicious!" said Matthew approvingly.

"If you're willing to eat more seriously, you can talk less." Al didn't even lift his eyes.

Matthew smiled and said, "Al, you don't have to be so resistant, I said I'm not your enemy."

"Not even my friend," Al said.

Matthew changed the subject: "I can see that Arthur made you think he trusted you, but he didn't tell you anything."

Al didn't jump into the trap: "It depends on what you mean by 'what', but I don't intend to listen to it, I don't want to know anything about Arthur, and I'm not interested."

Matthew is not annoyed: "Al, you probably think that you and I are both illegitimate children that my father doesn't want to admit. My father doesn't want people like us to share the family property, and wants his only orthodox heir to run a complete family business. Keep the decency of the Kirkland name."

Al disagrees: "It's true."

Matthew put down the knife and fork: "What if I tell you that this is a scam?"

"How?" Al raised his eyebrows.

Seeing that Al's interest was aroused, Matthew said in a hurry: "It seems that you know less than I did back then. I thought you would know more by our father's side."

"I don't see him much more than you do," Al said.

"It seems that you don't know either," Matthew said slowly. "In my father's will, both of us brothers are legal heirs, and we will both receive the Kirkland family's inheritance."

Al's hand that was cutting the bacon stopped abruptly. He finally looked up at Matthew and said coldly, "Go ahead."

Matthew couldn't hide his complacency, and a smile crept onto the corner of his lips: "According to father's will, Arthur will inherit 50% of the estate, and the rest will be divided equally between us." He took a sip of coffee as he spoke .

Al asked, "And then?"

Matthew put down his glass: "Arthur is the eldest son of his father. He took over part of the family business before his father died. To be fair, Arthur is indeed more suitable for running the business than his father. If his father lives a few more years, he will probably take over The family property was ruined. Arthur was facing a debt at the time - it was one of the bad 'inheritances' left by his father. When he was liquidating the family property, he found the part that my father left us and sold half of the property. To settle the debt, anyway, there were not many people who knew the existence of this property at the time, and those people were all on the side of the new Mr. Kirkland. You will know what happened later, Arthur began to go smoothly, and the business Also to the Far East. Now that he lets you participate in the operation of the foreign firm, it can be regarded as a kind of compensation for you."

Al was silent, and he could tell that Matthew wasn't lying.

Matthew calmly nodded his mouth with a napkin, pulled away his chair and stood up: "Think about what I said, brother, see you next time." He picked up his coat and walked away.

Al had no intention of cleaning up the mess on the plate. He put down the tableware and fell into thinking.

Wang Yao is very worried these days. She always feels that her sister is different. Wanwan is still so kind and lovely, but there are subtle differences in her gestures, and she is more and more concerned about her appearance. Every time she goes out, she has to look in the mirror After a good grooming, he sighed at his plain to shabby clothes.

Maybe it's just because girls grow up, Wang Yao comforted himself, girls all love beauty, so they will naturally have these troubles when they grow up.Thinking of this, Wang Yao blamed himself, he knew that Wanwan was a beautiful girl, but he couldn't even save the money to buy a flower for Wanwan.Wanwan's clothes were already too small, but Wang Wan never added new clothes for her. He deliberately didn't pay attention to it. In fact, the girl's burgeoning body had almost torn her clothes, and the simple and rough jacket could barely cover her. The tender chest of a woman is about to come out, and the skirt with frayed edges has long been hanging on her knees, making it difficult to cover her increasingly slender thighs. Wanwan's whole person exudes an attractiveness that cannot be ignored, youthful, beautiful, and charming.Wang Yao is getting more and more worried. He knows that one day his sister will find someone to marry, but there is no one man he can trust. He stubbornly believes that every man except him is plotting against Wan Wan. Who cares more about Wan Wan? Just one glance would make him suspicious, and what he was most wary of was the guy upstairs in his house who might be close to the water.

Say Cao Cao, Cao Cao arrives. "Yao, why didn't you make breakfast today?" Ivan lazily walked downstairs.

"The meal is over early! Don't try to eat and drink for nothing!" Wang Yao scolded.

"Why don't you wait for me." Ivan said dissatisfiedly. While stretching his waist and yawning, he searched around in the pot on the table to see if there was anything left.

"Don't look for it, my family doesn't have enough to eat, how can I keep it for you?" Wang Yao gave him a white look.

"How petty!" Ivan said disappointedly.

Wang Yao saw Ivan put on his coat and looked like he was about to go out: "Where are you going?"

Ivan said: "To meet an old friend, this time my memoir is expected to be published. Seriously, I suggest you read it too, it is a good book!"

Are all foreigners so immodest?Wang Yao felt contemptuous in his heart.

Wang Yao joked, "I've never seen you write any books, either hanging out or basking in the sun."

"I have plenty of time to write. Besides, an excellent writer spends most of his time observing and conceiving, and writing is only the final step." Ivan said.

"I can see that you haven't written a pen." Wang Yao said sarcastically, "I don't know how to read your book. I can't understand your foreign language. If it's English, it's okay."

"That's Russian, not a circle!" Ivan explained helplessly.

"Anyway, I think it's all circles," Wang Yao said, "What are you writing about? Were you a prince or a nobleman in the first half of your life?"

"This can't be revealed, we have to wait for the book to be published." Ivan said, "Okay, I'll go first, I don't have to wait for my dinner tonight." He strode out of the alley full of sewage in a spring breeze.

"When did I wait for you for dinner? This man!" Wang Yao looked at the back of the Russian and smiled.

After Ivan left, Wang Yao was also preparing to go to work, and was about to go out when Xiao Fei, who was wearing heavy make-up, came back with a tired face.

"What's wrong? Business is not good today?" Wang Yao asked casually.

"The business is done, but the customers are good or bad!" Xiao Fei complained, "The Japanese in Shanghai are becoming more and more domineering. When they want to play, they drive me to their place. Kick out the door and let me walk back by myself! Such a far place, I am exhausted!"

Wang Yao's face darkened when he heard this. Although he didn't deal with all kinds of people like Xiao Fei, he also felt that the power of the Japanese was expanding. These cruel guys from the Eastern island country were obviously not satisfied with just occupying Manchuria. Stretched its claws to Shanghai.

"Oh, by the way, I saw Wanwan just now." Xiaofei said.

"Wanwan? Where did you see her?" Wang Yao was very surprised, it was impossible for Xiao Fei to go to Wanwan's school.

"On the street, she's walking towards the Waibaidu Bridge with a man," Xiaofei said.

"Impossible!" Wang Yao categorically denied, "Wanwan's school is not there, and it is impossible for her to be with any man!"

"Huh? She must know that man, I think he was talking to her." Xiao Fei said, "When I called her, she left the man and ran away, ignoring me."

"That must be some bad man who wants to strike up a conversation, Wanwan just ignore him!" Although Wang Yao said so, he knew in his heart that it was too far-fetched. lest she spread gossip.

"That's right." Xiaofei suddenly realized and nodded, "Ah, I won't chat with you about Brother Wang, I have to go to bed!" She yawned and went upstairs.

Behind Xiao Fei, Wang Yao's expression became very gloomy.

Wan Wan ran up the Waibaidu Bridge alone, and Honda Ju chased him from behind.

"What's the matter, Miss Wanwan?" Honda Ju held onto Wanwan's exquisite shoulders with both hands.

Wanwan shook off his hand: "Don't let anyone see it!"

Chrysanthemum Honda put on a straight face: "Miss Wanwan thinks it's shameful to walk with me?"

"No, of course not," Wanwan said in a panic, "but that woman knew me just now, she must go back and tell my brother!"

Honda Ju sneered at a place where Wanwan could not see: "Miss Wanwan, don't worry, going out with friends is not a disgraceful thing, I believe Yaosang will understand. As for that shameless gangster, her words are somewhat Believable? Yaosang won't blame Miss Wanwan for her slander."

"Hey! You don't know my brother, he is old-fashioned! If a man looks at me one more time, he will kill him!" Wanwan complained.

Honda Ju leaned close to Wanwan's thin ears, blowing her breath with her hair: "Yaosang will not kill me, never."

Wanwan felt a numbness spread all over her body from the place touched by the air current, and realized that the man's lips were so close to her neck, she trembled slightly, but did not escape.

Every slight reaction of Wanwan fell into Honda Ju's eyes. His arms crossed Wanwan's shoulders, wrapped around the girl's slender and beautiful body, and slowly tightened, like a fisherman pulling up a fishing net.

Wanwan was immersed in this hug, this was the first hug from a man in her life, it was so powerful and domineering that she couldn't break free, and she didn't want to break free.She let herself fall into this romantic and sweet atmosphere.

Francis hadn't stepped out of the house for many days, and his only purpose of leaving the room now was to buy alcoholic drinks for himself, but when he was outside, the cool wind blew his mind much clearer, and he also felt a hunger stir in his stomach.Only then did he realize that he hadn't eaten at least two meals, and what he ate in the last two days were all spoiled food.A few days ago, Wang Yao asked him for a "small favor". In order to thank him, Wang Yao specially cleaned the room for him, threw out a lot of wine bottles, and bought food for him at his own expense - he knew that Wang Yao had already done so. It's a very important friendship, and that guy's life is also very tight.Now Francis must forage for himself and return to his drunken life.

At an intersection in the southern part of the Bund, Francis suddenly saw a familiar person. After careful identification, he found that it was Honda Ju. At this moment, the proud Japanese was hugging a young woman, probably his new love.Francis didn't care about other people's private life, but when he accidentally saw the woman's face, he was stunned: that turned out to be Wang Yao's sister Wan Wan!Francis remembered that Wang Yao didn't like Honda Ju very much, and the two even had conflicts. Even if Wang Yao would deal with Honda Ju for Arthur's order, it was impossible for his sister to become Honda Ju's lover.

Thinking of this, Francis planned to step forward to ask what happened, but as soon as he had this thought, he immediately stopped, dodged and hid behind the corner of the building, and continued to observe the two.I saw Honda Ju hugging Wanwan's waist affectionately, whispering something in her ear while walking; Wanwan's expression was a bit reserved, but he obviously didn't hate Honda Ju's touch.In this way, the two walked towards a building at the end of the road. Francis recognized the place. It was a Japanese club. Westerners were invited to enter, but Chinese and other Asians were not allowed to enter.The two entered the door of the club, and Francis waited for a while, but they did not come out, so he left quietly.

In Jardine Matheson, Wang Yao was full of doubts, he must ask Wanwan to understand what happened in the morning, but he didn't want to make Wanwan unhappy by asking too bluntly.He thought about it, and found that no matter what the wording would arouse Wanwan's resentment, the more he thought about it, the more angry he became, and he didn't even want to continue working.

Arthur could see that Wang Yao and Al were not in the right state. Al hadn't spoken to him all morning, and Wang Yao also looked sullen.He thought for a while, walked over to Wang Yao and said, "Yao, there is something I forgot to tell you: I received a letter from Aberdeen yesterday."

"Really? How is he?" Wang Yao's eyes lit up, but at the same time he was still a little disappointed. These years, Hong Kong only wrote letters to Arthur, and never wrote a single word to his brother.

Arthur said: "He is very good now, he is still the best student in the school. He said that his tennis level has improved recently, and he has made many friends from upper-class families."

"Oh...that's a good thing." Wang Yao said, "Did he...did he mention me and Wanwan?"

"No," said Arthur, "he's too busy to think about his family all the time, but I'm sure he wants you all to be well."

"Is that so... that's fine." Wang Yao couldn't hide his deep disappointment.

Al suddenly interjected coldly: "Is there no or you don't let him have it?"

"What do you mean?" Arthur frowned and stared at Al.

Al stared back unceremoniously: "Isn't it? How many lies have you told yourself, have you forgotten?"

"Keep your mouth shut! Why should I be framed like this?" Arthur shouted angrily.

"The Honorable Mr. Arthur Kirkland is right in whatever he does," Al sneered bitterly, "whether to another man's brother or his own!"

Arthur was surprised and angry: "What are you talking about?"

"I can't stand staying in this place for another second!" Al said angrily and walked towards the door.

"Al? What's going on?" Wang Yao shouted behind him without knowing what to do.

Al still went straight to the door, and suddenly bumped into a person who rushed in.

"Al?"

"Francis?"

The two called each other's name in surprise at the same time.

Arthur rushed over a few steps and looked at Francis, whom he hadn't seen for a long time, in surprise: "Francis?"

At this time, Francis has disheveled hair and sloppy clothes, like a real drunk.

"Hi, Arthur." Francis greeted with mixed feelings.

"You are..." Arthur didn't know where to start.

"I'm sorry, Arthur," Francis said, "I'm here to find Yao, and I have something urgent."

Wang Yao was watching this dramatic scene, but unexpectedly the lights of the stage focused on him: "Looking for me?"

"Come out with me," Francis whispered.

Wang Yao looked at Arthur, who nodded in acquiescence, so he followed Francis out of the foreign firm's door suspiciously.

tbc