Chapter 100: Business

Cotton!

This is excellent material for making cotton uniforms, exactly the supplies the troops desperately need!

Since he has cotton on hand, he surely has other supplies as well.

The Ugly Country lost a large batch of supplies in the concession.

Both the overt police and the covert spies have gone mad investigating this, and anyone dealing in black‑market trade has been affected.

Now trying to buy these supplies from the black market is practically impossible, yet here an opportunity has finally appeared.

Even if it's risky, Chen Dian wants to give it a try.

He hurried after Chen Yongren and arrived at the hotel lobby.

At this time most guests were at the dance, only a few who preferred quiet were chatting.

Chen Yongren used his scanning eye and insight to check them; they were all ordinary people, and Chen Dian hadn't been tailed either.

Otherwise he wouldn't dare to discuss business openly inside the hotel.

"Little brother, what kind of good business do you have?" Chen Dian sat opposite Chen Yongren, cautiously glanced around, made sure no one was paying attention, and smiled.

"Food, military equipment, cotton—if you want it, I've got it." Knowing that Fourth Master lived a miserable life, Chen Yongren didn't beat around the bush.

As for turning over the captured white‑skin materiel and equipment to the old man in exchange for military merit?

When I did this, I was keeping it hidden from the Military Intelligence Bureau and from the old man.

If I really turned it in, wouldn't that be self‑destruction, given that the concession‑supplies loss case is tied to me?

Moreover, with the front‑line Nationalist troops starving while the rear‑line enjoys plenty, that's the political ecology.

Even if I handed these supplies to the old man, they'd have to pass through layers of exploitation, possibly being intercepted and resold halfway; they could never fully reach the front‑line soldiers fighting bloody battles.

Furthermore…

The old man who fawns over Britain and America might not even have the guts to take that batch of equipment.

If that's the case.

Rather than that, let's sell this equipment to a unit that can make full use of its value.

Hearing that, Chen Dian's spirits lifted instantly.

Food, cotton, military equipment—these are exactly what the New Fourth Army needs most right now.

The National Government doesn't supply weapons and equipment, so the New Fourth Army has to improvise; if we really had machine tools, the unit could become self‑sufficient.

Chen Dian's main task is to procure supplies for the troops, so he naturally knows which items are in high demand on the market.

But looking at Chen Yongren's mixed‑appearance before him, Chen Dian's eyes held a hint of doubt: "Little brother, it's not that I don't trust you—I just wonder where you could get these supplies."

After all.

The Ugly Country has used its power to arrest almost all black‑market traders; no one on the open market dares to engage in black‑market dealing, let alone sell these scarce goods.

Procuring supplies for the troops is no trivial matter; we cannot allow any mistake.

"Sir, if you don't trust me, let's pretend we never met." Chen Yongren also got up straight away, feigning to leave.

Seeing Chen Yongren rise, Chen Dian grew anxious.

The opportunity is right before us; if we miss it, we might truly miss it. Chen Dian rose and said to Chen Yongren, "Little brother, wait a moment, don't rush…"

Chen Yongren was just acting; he sat down again and looked at Chen Dian.

Chen Dian showed a troubled expression: "Little brother, I believe you have these goods, but…"

If he knew I was a Red Party member, would he still dare to do business with me?

"Sir, I'm just a merchant; my ultimate goal is to make money. As for where these goods end up, I don't care." Knowing what Chen Dian was thinking, Chen Yongren volunteered.

Chen Dian looked at Ren, his expression showing a bit of surprise—he actually knew his concerns.

He'll do business with anyone…

Is he a legitimate businessman?

Doing business with someone like this carries huge risk, yet thinking of our comrades suffering in the mountains—lacking clothing and food, desperately short of weapons and equipment…

Let's gamble!

If something goes wrong, the worst is sacrificing myself to protect the unit's secrets. Chen Dian thought a moment, nodded, and said, "Little brother, since you have so many scarce supplies, let me first take a look and inspect the goods—there shouldn't be any problem, right?"

"A reasonable request." Chen Yongren nodded in agreement.

Doing business, of course you have to prove your capability.

This request poses no problem for Chen Yongren.

He has rented several houses in Songhu; finding a slightly larger one can serve as a temporary warehouse, and if needed he can rent another warehouse—anyway the supplies are in the system warehouse and can be accessed anytime.

But the proper attitude must be shown; Chen Yongren asked, "Do you have money?"

"As long as the price is fair, money isn't an issue." Chen Dian replied solemnly.

"Then set a time." Chen Yongren said.

"How about we meet at the Huamao Hotel tomorrow evening at 8?" Chen Dian added.

"No problem." Chen Yongren nodded.

He knew full well that this deal couldn't be settled in just a few words.

But beginnings are hard; once the first deal is done, the rest will follow smoothly!

"If that's the case, then we'll meet again tomorrow…" Chen Dian rose and reached out his hand, but the latter half of his sentence suddenly got stuck.

He suddenly realized he didn't even know the young man's name.

Industry custom says not to pry into others' identities, but you can't keep calling him 'little brother' forever.

If we're going to do long‑term business, we need a name.

"My surname is Xiao, and my given name is the single character Tu." Chen Yongren shook his hand and smiled.

Never mind the identity—this face is fake, so using my real name is out of the question.

Anyway, I already opened this little account called "Godfather," and I don't mind opening another alt account named Xiao Tu, dedicated to doing business with Fourth Master and his crew.

"My surname is Zhang, and my given name is just Bin," Chen Dian said with a smile.

Xiao Tu?

Definitely a fake name.

But after thinking about it, who cares? As long as we can buy the supplies, it doesn't matter even if he's called Jiang Tu.

It's completely different from the information shown on the scan display; it's definitely a fake name. Chen Yongren also didn't care, smiling: "Boss Zhang, then we'll see each other tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow, Xiao Tu," Chen Dian said with a smile.

……

Takayanagi Shuji's residence.

"Shuji-kun, you must be starving. Mitsuko's specially made Takayanagi ramen—come try it." Takayanagi Mitsuko walked over with a bowl of steaming hot ramen in front of Shuji.

Takayanagi Shuji put down his pen, sniffed the ramen on the desk, and smiled: "It smells wonderful, Mitsuko. You're really thoughtful."

Takayanagi Mitsuko smiled and didn't say anything else.

"How did today's Chinese lesson go?" Takayanagi Shuji asked casually while slurping a mouthful of noodles.

Upon hearing that, Takayanagi Mitsuko smiled and said: "Not bad. Chen Yongren is a very patient teacher; the pinyin instruction is indeed interesting."

Takayanagi Shuji nodded and continued slurping his noodles.

"By the way, Shuji, speaking of teaching…" Takayanagi Shuji repeated Chen Yongren's words.

"Individualized instruction?" Takayanagi Shuji didn't think much: "No problem, as long as you're willing, you can arrange the time."

Just a Chinaman, what dare he do to his own wife?

Takayanagi Mitsuko felt a surge of joy in her heart and softly said: "Shuji-kun, then I won't disturb you; get some early rest tonight."

Seeing the bedding laid out in his study, Takayanagi Mitsuko knew that Takayanagi Shuji would be sleeping in the study again, and she couldn't be bothered to ask further.

"Mitsuko also needs to rest well." Takayanagi Shuji felt a secret delight, completely failing to notice the faint disappointment in her eyes.

……

Inside the Fujiwara Villa.

As expected, Fujiwara Chikata also agreed to the course arrangement for the Fujiwara mother and daughter.

In fact, this old devil also wished his wife would find more things to do.

That way, he wouldn't have to feed himself those bitter medicines every day.

Nothing else.

Since strength fails, we can only rely on the heart.

"Yuuko, you said Chen Yongren's Japanese is improving quickly?" Fujiwara Chikata asked, looking at Fujiwara Yuuko.