Findings at sea

Recently, Ji Xingtang has been busy again. On the one hand, he has to be busy with investigating Longxing's affairs, and on the other hand, he is busy with various channels of receipts and payments as the Chinese New Year is approaching.

That day, Ji Xingtang came back from his busy schedule and walked to the Xiangxi Pavilion. At the door, he saw a crowd of servants. The maids were sitting on cattail mats in the evening light and cutting window grilles. New Year's goods.He saw Ruoyu at a glance, wearing a white brocade gown and off-white soft mandarin jacket, trimming flowers and plants with the servants, like a quiet little white cloud in the sunset.

Ji Xingtang waved to him from afar, "Zi Xuan!"

Seeing Ji Xingtang's bright smile, Bai Ruoyu put down her scissors, took off her gloves and ran happily over, "Brother!"

The two went to the Bai mansion talking and laughing.

Bai Xiaohong has been lying in bed since he was injured, and never went downstairs to eat. Ji Xingtang accompanied Ruoyu for dinner, and Ruoyu was very happy at the dinner table. He dug a spoonful of white rice porridge and smiled, "Brother, you are so busy that you don't need to come to see me every night. Me, I fell asleep at that time. Even if you come to change your shoes, it won’t take long, your footprints are all on the carpet, and it’s inconvenient for them to clean.”

The past few days were very busy, Ji Xingtang rested directly in Haoguan, never went back to the Bai Mansion, let alone went to the Champs Pavilion, he was taken aback for a moment before saying, "Me? When did I go to see you and left footprints? Are you sleepwalking?"

Ruoyu lowered her head and smirked secretly, "I don't sleepwalk, and I still don't admit that you came to see me secretly."

Ji Xingtang joked again with a smile, "I don't have any. I know how expensive wool carpets are in that place. They must have been stolen."

"Eh——you—" Ruoyu looked up at Ji Xingtang, took a piece of crab dumpling and brought it to his mouth, "Forget it if you don't admit it."

Ruoyu said again, "Brother, why are you so busy all day long? Don't you have enough money to spend? Why are you busier than usual after the Chinese New Year?"

Ji Xingtang pointed at the tip of Ruoyu's nose with chopsticks, and said with a bold smile, "Where do I have any money in my hand, even your usual food and clothing expenses are all from my eldest brother." He picked up the crab dumpling and paused He paused and said, "Ruoyu, you don't understand. I look rich, but it's not an exaggeration to say that I'm too shy. The money I usually pass is used to buy favors and relationships. One wave, we're going to sleep on the street."

It's true that Ji Xingtang earns a lot of money every year, but he can't resist spending money like water. He likes to make connections and believes in avoiding disasters by making money.He and Bai Xiaohong would also spend part of their salary from time to time to bribe and win over high-ranking officials in Shanghai, officials at all levels in the mansion, leaders of different gangs, and important people in the news circle.More importantly, knowing that the money in his hands is not clean, Ji Xingtang will donate his own funds to public welfare causes every year, build roads and bridges, donate medicine and medicine, help the poor and beggars, and will be generous to help friends who ask for help, so He will soon run out of money at the end of the year, and he has to borrow money everywhere if he wants to start a company.

Ruoyu said "oh", he felt uncomfortable hearing the phrase "big brother", and he didn't want to have anything to do with Bai Xiaohong.He also said, "Brother, how can you be a brother with him? He is so bad, we will not be with him anymore, I will take you away when I find a chance", he could not help but lean forward, showing his longing "It doesn't matter where you go, I can sing and set up a stage to support you."

"You raise me?" Ji Xingtang was amused by him, and then heaved a sigh of relief, looking at the white rice porridge in the bowl, and said, "Kang is honest but knows etiquette, has enough food and clothing and is polite, if you don't let everyone see it, you will be scared." ", he said suddenly, "He should get better..."

After dinner, Ji Xingtang went to see Bai Xiaohong, the wound on his body was almost healed, and he was leaning on the pillow with his eyes closed to rest his mind, when he heard the door opening, he knew that it was Ji Xingtang, and asked in a low voice, "How is the investigation going? "

Standing beside him, Ji Xingtang bowed his head and said, "Most of the people who dealt with food and beverages in Longxing that were removed last time didn't know, and those who knew fled away; the people caught by Yan Zhaoling refused to reveal anything even after exhausting torture. Feng Sheng, it can be regarded as... nothing was found out, so I was really careless."

Bai Xiaohong said calmly, "Let the snake out of the hole if you can't find it, and release the news to the outside, just say that I will go to the Town God's Temple to offer incense on the first day of the Lunar New Year."

Ji Xingtang frowned slightly. Judging from Yan Zhaoling and his own situation, someone really wanted to put his elder brother to death. He hesitated, "I'm afraid it's... not appropriate."

Bai Xiaohong said calmly, "What's wrong? Bring enough bodyguards and let them hide in the crowd in plain clothes. You and baby Ruoyu will follow me." He raised his eyebrows and looked at Ji Xingtang, and said with a smile , "I really want to see someone shoot secretly, will Xingtang block the gun for his Zixuan or his elder brother?"

He shook his head, "Your injury is still not healed... Besides, I have something to do on the first day of the new year, so I can't accompany you."

Bai Xiaohong's tone was calm but always threatening, "Push it."

Ji Xingtang frowned and left helplessly, he wanted to die so much, or he wanted to embarrass himself so much.

Ji Xingtang went back to rest, just lying on the bed and remembered what Ruoyu said, got up and told the housekeeper to have someone spread a layer of glass slag on the top of the small wall to avoid thieves.

If it is Chinese New Year, there should be the joy of the spring breeze bringing warmth into Tusu, but it is different in the Bai mansion.

It was still daylight on the first day of the new year, and the Bai mansion was busy in a mess. Everyone knew that as long as the gate of the Bai mansion was opened, there would be an endless stream of visitors, but there was no joy to speak of.Those in the military and political circles, business circles, judicial circles, police agencies, and even newspaper offices, whoever has anything to do with profit and fame, will wear false masks and come to drink tea and pay New Year's greetings with a tiger-like smile on their faces.

What makes people tired is slander and flattery, and what makes people tired is mediation and wits.If you want to gain a firm foothold in Shanghai Bund and get a share of the pie, you have to come to Master Bai to have a face-to-face meeting. You really have to worship like a giant Buddha.

After Bai Xiaohong and Ji Xingtang had finished their breakfast, Yan Zhaoling was greeted first, and the three of them went to pay a visit to the master and wife, and then returned to the Bai mansion.First, I talked about the situation of attracting tobacco and local merchants in the British Concession and this year's profit and expenditure. After that, the three of them chatted and laughed like brothers. After talking, the housekeeper came to report after a while, saying that the chamber of commerce in the French consulate would Long Francis came.

The three looked at each other and smiled, Yan Zhaoling spoke first, "Hey! A foreign devil came first today! They are all a bunch of bastards."

Bai Xiaohong smiled heartily, and Ji Xingtang pursed his lips and smiled silently. He was not as scheming and cunning as the two, but he had a meticulous mind, and vaguely felt that the visitor was not kind.

Francis has blue eyes and a big nose, leans on a civilized staff, and wears a small bow tie. Under the leadership of the butler, Francis enters the living room in a polite manner. He smiles and shakes hands with the three of them to say hello. What scruples, pinched a piece of Linglong apricot cake and put it in his mouth, and praised the delicious taste.

The floor of the Bai mansion is covered with thick woolen carpets, Chinese landscape paintings and Western paintings of nude women are hung around the walls, some of which are still by Bai Xiaohong, and the Chinese mahogany furniture is covered with embroidered shawls embroidered with flowers, birds, insects and fish. Decorated with elegant decorations, next to the Chinese furniture is a large sofa covered with thick red felt.

Yan Zhaoling sat on the sofa, crossed his legs and looked at the little goldfish in the fish tank, and twirled the freshly inserted tulips from time to time. Ji Xingtang stared at his movements for a while and didn't speak.

Bai Xiaohong asked with a smile, "I don't know what is the president's business today?"

Francis wiped the crisp ears on his palm with a handkerchief, took a sip of tea and said with a smile, "Happy New Year."

Yan Zhaoling snorted and said in a low voice, "The old man is quite good at beating around the bush."

Francis didn't hear what he said clearly. Seeing the three people smiling so happily, he also said with a smile, "I'm here today to pay New Year's greetings, and I also want to give Mr. Bai a big gift." He twitched his lips and said with a smile, "Our chamber of commerce in China would like to invite Mr. Bai to be the vice president."

After saying this, there was silence in the living room, and the three of them looked at each other. Everyone knew that the foreigners in the concession were proud to the core. When the Chinese lease it, they immediately become proud. Even if you have a rich mansion, you are still a yellow-skinned maggot in their eyes.The Chinese seem to be willing to degenerate, and they can boast about being proud of being able to find Belarusian women in a brothel all day long.

Bai Xiaohong has never negotiated with these foreigners. These bandits are very shameless. They occupy China's territory openly and say that all benefits are shared. The Chinese businessmen in the chamber of commerce are squeezed and controlled. I don't know what kind of idea to be the president by myself.

Bai Xiaohong said with a smile, "Mr. Francis really thinks highly of me, Bai, but I am a vulgar hooligan leader, and I am not worthy of the vice president of your chamber of commerce." After speaking, he looked at Ji Xingtang and smiled softly.

Francis said with a smile, "I have known Mr. Bai's name for a long time, and he is definitely not the gangster you call him." He looked at Bai Xiaohong intently, "I just came here by car from the road."

He said in awkward Chinese, "I remember that before the concession was opened, there were no roads in China. The British missed the local racetracks and opened up many racetracks. The Jews brought asphalt to pour the roads, and Chinese traders set up roads on the side of the road. Set up a small stall to sell goods, everything is prosperous and harmonious, don't you think this is the benefit of cooperation?"

Bai Xiaohong took a sip from the teacup, looking murderous through the dense water vapor, this Frenchman is not a fuel-efficient lamp, he flicked the tea with the tea lid, smiled and said straight to the point, "Since Mr. If Bai is a vice president, what should I give you?"

Francis smiled and said, "Opium or what you call tobacco, smuggled guns and drugs, and human trafficking, the profits are divided into [-]-[-]; and the chamber of commerce is responsible for ensuring that these sales channels are not subject to picketing by the Chinese government."

Just kidding, no one dares to block the road under his own banner, "Why do you think I will agree to you?"

Francis leaned on his civilized staff and got up, took off his top hat in a humble and polite manner, and said with a smile, "Mr. Bai has enough time to think about it. I believe you will accept my proposal, so I will leave first."

After seeing off the Frenchman, Bai Xiaohong chatted and laughed happily with Yan Zhaoling as if nothing had happened. Ji Xingtang slightly thought about the tone of Francis' speech just now, as if he was bound to win. Indeed, in this matter, he did not agree to involve too much with foreigners. Lost in thought, Yan Zhaoling called out to him, and he regained his composure. When he looked up, he saw Bai Xiaohong's strange eyes and the corners of his mouth trembling slightly.

After being harassed all day, Yan Zhaoling was also sent away at dusk.

Bai Xiaohong sat on the sofa and stretched his arms. He looked at Ji Xingtang and asked, "Are you tired?"

Ji Xingtang shook her head, "Aunt Liu and the others are cooking dumplings, let's go to bed early after dinner."

Bai Xiaohong said, "Go change your clothes, after dinner, take Ruoyu to the Temple of the City God."

Ji Xingtang frowned slightly, "It's getting dark, I'm afraid it's... very unsafe..."

useless.

I haven’t worn a spinning shirt for a long time. Looking at myself in the mirror, I was wearing a white robe with light silver auspicious cloud pinch flowers printed on it. In a trance, I went back to the old Chinese New Year. Sister Xiang took them to make new clothes. He couldn't help chuckling, feeling that something was missing, so he put the white scarf on his shoulders, and felt that something was wrong when he put on the thick woolen top hat. He touched his hips and put on the ring.

Ji Xingtang went out first and arranged for dozens of bodyguards to go to the Temple of the City God to hide in advance, and then went to Xiaolong to call Ruoyu.Ruoyu missed her master and brothers in Peiping, and sang a play all day with her voice hanging. She just wrote a letter to her master at her desk, and now she is resting on the couch. Tired and sleepy, he didn't know what else Bai Xiaohong had come up with, so he nodded and answered without saying a word, "Go."

When he came to the gate of the White Mansion, he saw that Bai Xiaohong was wearing a long white robe and a purple mandarin jacket, the buttons were fastened meticulously, and he looked like a tall and broad-breasted literati with torching eyes.

However, he didn't see Bai Xiaohong's Chevrolet, only his Katy Buick was parked empty at the door, he looked at Ruoyu and whispered relief, "No problem, let's go."