20demayo Chapter 148 Ji Chuan Comes to Talk Business
Chapter 148 Ji Chuan Comes to Talk Business
In the evening in Shanghai, the lights of the "Blues Bar" on Xiafei Road are dim and ambiguous.
The gramophone played languid jazz, mixed with the rich aroma of whiskey and the heavy scent of cigars, concealing a hint of the extravagance and danger of the chaotic Republic of China era.
This bar is one of Yan Shuo's properties.
He opened five bars like this in Shanghai, which were making a fortune every day.
In addition, cinemas, theaters, beverage factories, garbage recycling companies, incinerators, crematoriums, and milk delivery stations are scattered throughout Shanghai.
There are also luxury passenger ships along the coast, traveling between Dalian, Dandong, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Haikou and other places, and even navigating the Yangtze River. The scale of their business is astonishing.
Yan Shuo was sitting on a booth sofa next to the bar, smoking. His dark Zhongshan suit made him look tall and straight, and his eyes were indifferent but intimidating.
Few people know that this man named Liu Jie is actually the CFO of West America.
He was also the Earl's closest confidant, managing most of the Earl's business affairs in the Far East.
He had close relationships with the Municipal Council and consuls of various countries, and maintained close ties with many high-ranking officials in Japan and the United States.
He is also the owner of Fengming Film Company, which consistently ranks first in the news department and can be considered the number one film and television company in Asia.
Fengming Film Company not only employs a large number of Japanese actors and staff, but also numerous foreign white professionals. Its powerful background and strength are unmatched in Shanghai.
Both the Military Intelligence Bureau and the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (Juntong and Zhongtong) knew his importance and never dared to cause him trouble. Even more so, no one in Shanghai's business tycoon dared to provoke this hidden giant.
After all, high-ranking officials of the 76th Division, Japanese special agents, and even various foreign powers in Shanghai all had a stake in his business. Their interests were deeply intertwined; to touch him was to touch everyone's cake and stick.
Zhou Hu stood behind him, acting as a bodyguard throughout. His expression was vigilant but not overt, his gaze subtly fixed on the doorway.
Zhou Hu gestured in a low voice, "Sir, there is nothing unusual around." Throughout the entire conversation, he addressed the person as "sir" and never showed any sign of overstepping his bounds in front of outsiders.
Yan Shuo nodded slightly; he knew Ji Chuan would come. With Wang Zhe, the squad leader of No. 76, killed, Ji Chuan, as his direct superior, had to come and offer an explanation.
But he knew even better that Ji Chuan would never dare to truly break ties with him. Not to mention Ji Chuan himself, even all the top executives of the 76th Division had a stake in his business.
They profited from his business profits and had long since given up any thoughts of plotting against him. Their visit this time was merely a formality, to give their subordinates an explanation.
Sure enough, not long after, a series of steady footsteps came from the bar entrance. Ji Chuan, dressed in a black satin long shirt with dark patterns embroidered on the cuffs, was followed by four bodyguards in black, their faces grim.
They dispersed the surrounding guests as soon as they entered, exuding an imposing aura. However, this aura subsided considerably when they stood before Yan Shuo.
Ji Chuan knew very well that this person in front of him was someone he couldn't afford to offend. Even the operation of the 76th Division was inseparable from Yan Shuo's covert support.
The two bodyguards behind Ji Chuan couldn't help but whisper among themselves as they approached the bar. Their tone was full of dissatisfaction, yet tinged with apprehension, clearly unaware of Yan Shuo's true influence.
"Captain, this Liu Jie is too arrogant. He's just a nobody with some connections, yet he dared to kill one of our 76th Division members. If word gets out, where will we, 76th Division, put our faces?"
"Exactly! No matter what Wang Zhe is doing wrong, he's still one of our 76th Division members. Who gave him the right to lay a hand on him? In my opinion, we should just take the brothers and tie him up, make him pay with his life, and also deter those arrogant fools!"
The two became increasingly agitated as they talked, their voices unconsciously rising a few decibels. They were completely unaware that Ji Chuan's face had darkened to an almost palpable grimace.
Ji Chuan secretly rejoiced that these two idiots hadn't spouted nonsense in front of Yan Shuo. Otherwise, not only them, but he himself might have been implicated.
"Shut up!" Ji Chuan whirled around, his voice sharp and his eyes icy. "Do you even have the right to speak here? You're all useless and only cause trouble!"
The two bodyguards froze in fright, immediately lowered their heads, and dared not speak again, their faces filled with fear.
"Who is Mr. Liu Jie? Don't you all take a good look at yourselves before you dare to talk about him?" Ji Chuan's tone was sharp, each word like a knife.
He was both reprimanding his subordinates and subtly currying favor with Yan Shuo. "What kind of person is Wang Zhe? He dares to lay a hand on Mr. Liu Jie's wife without even knowing right from wrong; he's just asking for death."
"If he hadn't caused trouble first, would we have ended up like this? We, the 76th, aren't so foolish as to offend someone we shouldn't for the sake of an idiot!"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the four bodyguards behind him, his tone carrying an unquestionable authority.
"What happened today is for you to hear, but not to speak of, and certainly not to seek revenge in private. Anyone who dares to ruin my plans or break the rules of 76th Division, don't blame me, Ji Chuan, for being ruthless and breaking their arms and legs!"
"Yes, Captain!" the four bodyguards answered in unison, not daring to utter a sound. They quickly stepped aside, stood with their hands at their sides, and dared not utter another word of complaint.
Although they did not know Yan Shuo's specific identity, they could tell his importance from Ji Chuan's attitude.
Having subdued his subordinates, Ji Chuan turned around. The gloom on his face faded somewhat, replaced by a respectful yet somewhat hesitant demeanor. He quickly walked up to Yan Shuo and gestured with his hand.
"Mr. Liu Jie, we apologize for keeping you waiting. My men are unaccustomed to etiquette and inexperienced; please forgive their inconvenience."
Yan Shuo raised his eyelids slightly, but didn't get up. He merely glanced at him indifferently, his tone cold. "Captain Ji certainly has a high opinion of himself, making me wait here for half an hour."
Zhou Hu remained in his bodyguard posture, head bowed, silent. Only his eyes remained vigilantly scanning his surroundings.
Ji Chuan wasn't angry. He quickly pulled up a chair and sat down. He gestured with his chin to the bartender: "Give me a whiskey, on the rocks."
Then, he cautiously looked at Yan Shuo, his tone softening slightly. "Mr. Liu Jie, to be honest, I have thoroughly investigated Wang Zhe's matter."
"That fool was so arrogant and ignorant that he offended you and your wife. He deserves to die."
"Oh? Captain Ji found out so quickly?" Yan Shuo chuckled, his fingertips tracing the shape of his cigar. "What? You found out I killed him, and you're planning to avenge him?"
"Mr. Liu Jie is joking. I wouldn't dare to do that." Ji Chuan quickly waved his hand, his face full of smiles and his tone full of respect.
"Wang Zhe is a straightforward and impulsive guy. He doesn't know the occasion or the person he's dealing with. He actually dared to lay a hand on you. He only has himself to blame."
"I'm not here today to cause you trouble, but to discuss how to resolve this matter. That way, I can give my subordinates an explanation."
Despite his words, a hint of unease crept into his eyes. "But Mr. Liu Jie, even when beating a dog, one must consider its owner. No matter how bad Wang Zhe is, he's still one of my men from the 76th Division, a soldier under my command, Ji Chuan."