Chapter 650: Being Too Excellent Is Also Not Good

The Shanghai Bund at night is a place of glitz and glamour, and hidden beneath the glitz and glamour is fatal danger. There are homeless people and little beggars fighting because of sleeping places and food; that is the desire to survive. There are hooligans holding knives and launching chaotic battles because of slight benefits; amidst the flying blood, there is the ambition of little people standing on a big stage. There are those who seek glory by betraying their country, walking out of dance halls and casinos with arrogant laughter while hugging women, only to be shot in the head by someone walking quickly toward them; that is the disappointment in traitors. There are fearless warriors fighting on the secret front, carefully passing intelligence in the dark night, and in their bright and firm eyes is the hope of breaking the darkness.

Of course, at night, there is always the desire of human beings on soft and comfortable big beds.

The battle ended, the battlefield was cleaned up, and the blushing Wang Wang Manchun, with hazy eyes, leaned satisfied in Wang Yan's arms: "I thought you were going to 'cultivate your body and nature' today. I didn't expect you to be so fierce today..."

There was satisfied coyness in her words, and also a trace of dissatisfaction.

Wang Yan understood her dissatisfaction. Just as he said to Yu Manli last night, after they left the Paramount and spent the night at the Wang Mansion, the Japanese investigation into Yu Manli had already begun. This didn't mean they were deliberately monitoring Wang Yan, but that at his level, even a fart-sized thing would spread widely. The people of Shanghai loved to hear about the messy things of these big figures. And since he debuted, besides bringing women home when he was young, he hadn't brought any women home since he got involved with foreigners and became a captain. In seven years, Wang Wang Manchun was the first, and Yu Manli was the second.

The Japanese investigation into Yu Manli was both a precaution against Wang Yan and a respect for his status.

Wang Tianfeng was thoughtful and acted carefully. Yu Manli's identity arrangement should have been fine. In addition, it was also because Wang Yan wasn't afraid of being found out; after all, he "didn't know." He would never cooperate with the Military Statistics Bureau. Even if Yu Manli was arrested and spat out that he provided medicine to the Military Statistics Bureau and let the Military Statistics Bureau sanction traitors who defected to Japan, it wouldn't matter. It was just out of selfishness to divert the Japanese's energy. Besides, the Japanese were definitely problematic in the Du Yong matter. As long as his value was greater than the things he had done, it didn't matter. It was just that Yu Manli might have to die, but there were many "no ways" in this world, so he could only sigh that the timing was bad.

After all, really speaking, Yu Manli's value was not worth his risk to protect. It was still Wang Tianfeng's saying: anyone could die.

"You've come, how could I spoil your fun? But I really have to 'cultivate my body and nature' these two days. No matter how good the taste of this thing is, I can't toss it every day."

Wang Wang Manchun snorted with dissatisfaction: "Tell me, what's different about that little vixen yesterday? Not only mixing outside, but also bringing her home?"

"She complained that the room at the Paramount wasn't clean. This is the first time I've heard someone say that. Besides, she doesn't look bad, and she's a Chinese teacher at a Catholic primary school. It's rare for such a knowledgeable young woman to like money, so I brought her back."

Wang Yan explained casually, raised Wang Wang Manchun's chin with his hand that was touching her "big treasure," and let her look up at him: "You didn't notice your tone, it sounds like a resentful wife complaining about her husband's debauchery? You are a woman who works for Japanese agents and kills without blinking, and I am a rotten Green Gang leader. Don't tell me you have real feelings? Why does it sound like you're jealous?"

Wang Wang Manchun's eyes flickered. She slapped Wang Yan's hand away unhappily and continued to nestle in his arms: "What status does Detective Wang have? Don't you know? If it were just an ordinary overnight stay, that would be fine. But you, who never bring women home, happened to bring her home. Can the Japanese not think too much? You too, living a peaceful life is not enough, always looking for trouble for yourself. Don't say I didn't remind you, be careful, otherwise you'll die in bed sooner or later. Tell me about the situation you know."

"The woman last night is named Yu Manli, from Hunan. Her parents are all dead, and that side is the Nationalist-controlled area. You know what kind of virtue the Kuomintang has. She looks good, and she had no one to rely on there. After being afraid, she ran to Shanghai to rely on a distant uncle and found a way to teach Chinese at a Catholic primary school. Hunan doesn't have the prosperity of the Shanghai Bund. She came more than half a month ago. She said... prosperity confuses the eyes, she couldn't stand the poverty, and wanted to rely on a man."

"You also know that I have a big reputation. All the women in the Shanghai Bund know that I am generous and that my bed skills are durable and my combat power is strong. You know this point better than anyone. She inquired about my whereabouts, and my whereabouts are not a secret. Either go to the dance hall or go to gamble. There are only a few places in the Shanghai Bund. So she waited at the Paramount. Seeing me go, she threw a wink at me. You also know that I am lustful by nature; how can I stand a little girl's flirting? So I brought her back."

"I don't know about the rest. She accompanies me to sleep, I give her money, and provide certain protection. This is a fair trade. Regardless of whether she is really greedy for money or fake greedy for money, anyway, I am taking advantage. Why care so much?"

"Also, don't treat me like a fool. I am in a whirlpool now. I don't look for trouble, but trouble will come to me. You should know about Du Yong being assassinated in Hong Kong at noon yesterday, right?"

"You suspect we did it? Why can't it be that Du Yong arranged it himself, just to play a 'bitter meat trick' on you, using this matter as an excuse to force you to retreat?"

"Du Yong wouldn't be that stupid. He doesn't dare to gamble. His life isn't as valuable as you think. It's not that he can't die, it's just that I'm not easy to kill him. If he plays a 'bitter meat trick,' what he provokes is the suspicion between me and the Japanese, which is no different from the current situation. And I am indeed afraid of the Japanese, but I am just relying on the French for protection. In the end, maybe I'll really harden my heart and defect to the Japanese. Because at that time, defecting is death, and not defecting is also death. If I defect, I can live a little longer. Then if I really defect to the Japanese, wanting Du Yong's life wouldn't be easy? There's no such thing as seeking death."

Wang Wang Manchun snorted. What she snorted was her own stupid sophistry: "As expected of someone who fought his way up step by step, his mind is really active. You point this out to me now, is it because you want me to go back and tell Section Chief Minami Tada?"

"What if I openly defect to them? I'm just losing the identity of a Chinese detective, but I still have thousands of brothers under me. If they let me unify the Green Gang, then I will master greater power. But I still won't be an enemy of the two parties. What's the use? It's better to maintain the current situation. I don't block the Japanese's way, and I don't do things for the two parties. If there is any intelligence, I tell the Japanese. Maybe without the French supporting me from behind, the Japanese can control my life and death. But I still say the same thing: although I am indeed greedy for life and afraid of death, when I am really bound to die, 'a trapped beast fights, a dog jumps over a wall,' I don't lack the courage to fight for my life."

Wang Yan's words were sonorous and powerful, and his attitude was tough. Although he had always said this before, perhaps his impression of being "greedy for life and afraid of death" was too deep, leading the Japanese to think he was really easy to bully. So many undercover personnel of the two parties didn't go to catch them, didn't do their own jobs, but had nothing to do but find trouble with him. Although his position was indeed quite important, it wasn't that he didn't cooperate, so why bother him endlessly and have to get him over?

Wang Wang Manchun didn't look up, but she felt Wang Yan's anger. He truly revealed the aura of a Green Gang tycoon of the new generation. She felt... even more fascinated...

"Okay, let's not talk about these unhappy things." Wang Wang Manchun didn't pick up this topic and changed the subject: "It's been two months, right? How is the thing you are researching with those teachers and students from Datong University?"

"How can scientific research be achieved overnight? It's something that requires long-term accumulation and hundreds of experiments, and there may not be results. However, I'm lucky. The progress in this period of time has been smooth. If there are no accidents, in another two or three months, drinks and noodles will be made. By then, although it may not earn as much as it does now, it can avoid the situation where I have no livelihood to support my brothers and tens of thousands of workers after the foreigners are driven away by the Japanese. It's finally a retreat."

"You don't even know if people will buy your noodles and drinks, and you've already treated it as a retreat? Also, since you don't look favorably on those foreigners, why don't you just defect to the Japanese early?"

"You still don't understand. Your mind is all on catching undercover personnel of the two parties, and you don't know enough about higher-level politics. My status doesn't need me to actively defect to the Japanese to fight for any credit. Even if the French are really driven away and the Japanese fully take over Shanghai, with my status, I can still get a good position to continue mixing days. Plus, I am currently making friends with high-ranking officials of the Consulate, the Army, and the Navy, and pulling them to do business, which can guarantee my safety. I don't need to be like those who have already defected to the Japanese, like your uncle, fawning over the Japanese."

Through Wang Wang Manchun's reaction, Wang Yan already understood. It was estimated that this action against Du Yong was caused by Wang Wang Manchun. Even if she didn't lead it, she was the one who slandered it to Minami Tada. A man being too excellent is also not good. Look, isn't this woman eyeing him, wanting to pull him into the same camp? Perhaps in Wang Wang Manchun's view, this is saving him.

Just because of this paranoid, brainless energy, in the future, if she wants to kill him, Wang Wang Manchun might not even blink. And after killing him, in a lonely and lonely night, thinking of the passionate and hot collisions in countless identical nights before, she would silently shed tears, as if she were very affectionate.

Of course, Minami Tada Yoko is also a brainless one. Historically, there is no her, and it doesn't matter who her prototype is. Being able to agree to the assassination of Du Yong is a fool. Perhaps it is also the influence of the plot; otherwise, this woman, as a dignified Section Chief of the Special Higher Division, would not have acted personally with just a few people, and being killed by Ming Tai is what she deserves. If she doesn't die, who will?

"Boring!"

Hearing Wang Yan belittle her beloved uncle, Wang Wang Manchun, thinking of her uncle's appearance in front of Wang Yan at the banquet before, punched him dissatisfiedly and left his embrace unhappily. She turned to lie on the side, pulled the quilt to cover her naked body: "Sleep!"

Wang Yan shook his head and smiled, saying nothing. His deterrent power as the new generation Green Gang leader didn't need to be said. He was a businessman with quite a lot of industries, a Chinese detective in the French Concession, and had connections with many people in the Kuomintang and the Red Party. How could Wang Fuqu, who purely defected to the Japanese for profit, be compared with him?

He reached out and turned off the bedside lamp, pulled Wang Wang Manchun back and hugged her in his arms. He had been here for a short time, but he had been through many women. Currently, besides Wang Wang Manchun, he hadn't repeated any. It made him feel like something was missing if he didn't hug something when sleeping at night...

The next day, Wang Wang Manchun, who found value in her work, despite still being a bit tired, got into the car waiting at the door and went to the Special Higher Division to report to Minami Tada Yoko what Wang Yan said last night, letting Minami Tada Yoko know that Wang Yan was a bit annoyed and couldn't continue to force him.

And Liu Yitong also set off early, first went to the police station to see the situation, and went to the Guangsheng Tea House after nine o'clock. He had to follow Wang Yan's instructions to force those old guys again.

"... In the end, they showed a difficult look, but because they had previously destroyed unity with Du Yong and found trouble with us, they also knew they were in the wrong, so after a while, they agreed to continue adding 4 million. I estimate that at this moment, they are gathered together to analyze your intentions. I heard they found a manager of the HSBC Bank to consult. Maybe it's really like what you said, they want to redistribute the shares privately and fight against you in the future. However, I think although they looked quite difficult, they still agreed too readily. There must be a follow-up move; it's just not clear what it is..."

Today's lunch was Cantonese food. Wang Yan was drinking wine and eating various delicacies, smiling: "How about it, Old Liu, Feng Nairong and the others have calmed down, right?"

Liu Yitong, who was sitting with Qi Si opposite, smiled: "Your gun, Detective Wang, was pointed at the head of the old senior Du Yong. Who would dare to toss? Du Yong sent a telegram overnight. It's not clear what exactly was said, but when I met them in the morning, they were very polite. However, they also said that they still hope everyone maintains the current stable situation, maintains the unity of Qinglian, and everyone pulls together to make a fortune. If you ask me, it's all on the surface; they are all unconvinced in their hearts."

Wang Yan also shook his head and laughed: "These old guys are all smart and afraid of death. I just don't understand, Old Liu. You say, since the establishment of Qinglian, it's been more than a month, right? Besides appointing the accountant, investigating the background of the employees, and deciding on the headquarters building and the construction and decoration of the Gold Building, what else have I done to damage the current stable situation and destroy the harmony of Qinglian?"

"On the contrary, look at them. That old thing Du Yong ran to Hong Kong to beg for food, and still listens to Du Yong's command. One by one, they find trouble with me, checking accounts, interfering in the construction of the headquarters building and the Gold Building, making many comments, and wanting to negotiate with me about specific bank management systems, restricting my power as chairman. The people below are also restless, killing, robbing, and stealing in my jurisdiction, and even someone ran to the North Station warehouse to find trouble, and even pretended to be the Green Gang on the Japanese side.

Now look, Du Yong was scared by me, and they reacted. One by one, they were afraid of death, so they became harmonious. What kind of stuff is this? And they still scold me for being greedy for money, lustful, and afraid of death every day. The older they get, the less useful they are. They've lived half their lives in vain. You're right; they must be unconvinced. I estimate Du Yong has come up with another trick to let them deal with me."

"Then we must be careful. Don't capsize in the gutter at this time. It wasn't easy to seize the opportunity to establish Qinglian and tie these people together. If there is any change and Qinglian splits, the one who suffers in the end will still be us."

Liu Yitong was a bit worried. His brain hurt when he thought of Wang Yan's situation, dealing with people from the Japanese, Kuomintang, and Red Party, and also dealing with the trouble in Qinglian. But Wang Yan was still eating, drinking, and playing with women all day long. Oh, the woman was also arranged by the Japanese. Under such circumstances, he could still do research with that group of people from Datong University and build factories all day long. He was really convinced. If it were him, he would have died long ago.

"Still the same saying: as long as the Japanese haven't found someone who can command those Green Gang members who defected, they have to have a limit to their trouble; otherwise, if I die, they will all have to be buried with me. On this point, we are already in an invincible position. As for what tricks that old thing Du Yong has..."

Wang Yan pondered for a moment, took a sip of wine, and said: "Like this, tomorrow you take the accountant to find them again. On the grounds that the purchase of the headquarters building, the construction of the Gold Building, and the decoration of both are very expensive, the bank's business is developing slowly, and the exchange business between major cities and other banks is delayed and cannot be expanded, ask them to increase capital. I will take the lead in putting up 50,000 US dollars and ask them to put up money according to the proportion. If they don't, the shares will be diluted according to the proportion. Let's test their reaction first. Do you have money? If not, I'll help you pay for it, or I'll buy part of the shares in your hands and let you hold them on your behalf."

"No need. If I don't even have this bit of money, wouldn't I have lived in vain?" Liu Yitong shook his head, looked up at Wang Yan's expression, and asked: "Are you planning to take action?"

"Of course not. It's just using this excuse to tie them deeper to Qinglian. Before, I put up 100,000 and they put up 8 million. So this time, if they don't want to be out, or if they want to redistribute the shares themselves and want to fight against me, I put up 50,000, and they have to put up 4 million. With 12 million in cash smashed out, I don't believe how much family property they can have left. They can't run even if they want to. Then see what their response is, and then, just like what I said to you in the car, 'dull knife cutting meat,' we hide in the back and swallow them all. The advantage is with me; I don't believe they can turn the sky."

Du Yong is definitely pretending to be submissive on the surface; this is certain. Wang Yan knows this very well. Because Du Yong can die, anyone can kill him, but he just can't die in his hands. If he really killed Du Yong, undoubtedly, he would have to break with the Kuomintang, which is not easy to settle. Du Yong, who is being threatened, naturally knows this even better. However, there is a limit to this. Du Yong will grasp it himself. Otherwise, if he is forced into a corner and really defects to the Japanese, just in terms of current value, the impact on the situation is not enough for Du Yong to pay with ten lives. And if he really defects to the Japanese, the first one he wants to kill must be Du Yong. "If you don't let me live well, then no one will live well."

So Wang Yan is already in an invincible position; it's just a question of earning more or less. He is not afraid of anything, just "soldiers come to block, water comes to cover." The situation seems chaotic, but the problem is not big, and he is still at ease.

"Okay, I'll go talk to them tomorrow morning." Liu Yitong nodded vigorously: "What if they don't pay? Just like you said, the dilution, the extra shares will definitely be given to others."

"Since the shares are small, it means the family foundation is not thick, the ability is not great, and the presence is not strong. As the saying goes, 'pick the soft persimmon to pinch.' Of course, we start with these people. After handling the easy ones, we will gnaw on the remaining hard bones that are unconvinced. However, you have to pay attention; some of them must have been bought by the Japanese. Be careful."