Chapter 522: Wringing Bones and Sucking Marrow from the Japanese

Midnight.

"Fire! Quick, get up and put out the fire!"

A shrill wail echoed through the Japanese expatriate district of Jinmen.

The roaring flames instantly devoured the rows of wooden houses.

Cries and pleas for help mingled together.

The able-bodied laborers in debt were all recruited by Chen Yongren to work in the factory and be exploited; the remaining elderly, weak, women and children were feeble—how could they possibly resist this raging inferno?

Chen Yongren didn't know what would happen later, but tonight they no longer had to worry about staying warm.

The next day, at dawn, once there was nothing left to burn, the fire gradually died out.

The homeless Japanese stared at the ruins of their homes; some gazed blankly, others couldn't help covering their faces and weeping.

After all.

They had all been lured or deceived by the Japanese government into abandoning their homes in Japan to live in Jinmen.

Now that even their sole shelter was gone, they finally understood what it felt like to be without a fixed abode, and at the same time felt lost and helpless about their future.

News of the fire in the expatriate district quickly spread throughout Jinmen's streets and alleys.

When the Japanese workers in the factory, who were being treated like chives, learned that their homes had been burned in a great fire, their mindset collapsed instantly.

Chen Yongren had anticipated this; he immediately called a temporary meeting, saying he was willing to provide funds and loans to help company employees rebuild their homes, as long as they paid a bit of interest.

Upon hearing this, they had nothing else to say; they immediately felt grateful to Chen Yongren, hating to not even sell their lives to him.

Sniffle…

Willing to fund employees' housing reconstruction—such a good boss is rare; no one doubted this, but in fact it was Chen Yongren's scheme.

As they lost their homes, more and more of the little devils fell into Chen Yongren's trap, signing new loan contracts with him.

As for the contract details…

Their own houses were gone—how could these little devils have the mind to worry about these?

Actually, even if they noticed, it would be useless; with no place to stay, besides obeying Chen Yongren, they had no other choice.

"You see, I said earlier they'd thank me." Chen Yongren casually tossed a contract onto the table.

Lin Ke Xin rolled her eyes and gave no reply.

This time, this bunch of little devils were likely to be skinned and have their bones sucked dry by Chen Yongren.

"There are too many people now; the factory can't hold them all unless we buy another batch of equipment." Lin Ke Xin mused.

"With so many people we can lend them out wherever there's a shortage—construction sites, factories, docks…" Chen Yongren said calmly.

"Of course, they need to pay us a bit of service fee; the people are ours—how could we lend them out for free?"

Lin Ke Xin was very doubtful; Chen Yongren had already anticipated this.

With virtually free labor, this business could almost be described as a sure profit.

The factory business was booming.

Yuan Gangxian also got his wish, returning to the company and starting from the lowest rank.

Such a fine ox and horse—while they still had utility, of course we should make good use of them.

After all.

Chen Yongren loved to see Yuan Gangxian, after strenuous effort, achieve some results, only to be destroyed by himself, breaking down in tears.

Yuan Tian Tonggui also became Chen Yongren's personal little secretary.

Yuan Gangxian thought that 'Yuan Chief' merely wanted to humiliate him, impossible to stop; even if he was unwilling, he could only grit his teeth and agree.

Anyway, that worthless thing couldn't stir up anything for now; Chen Yongren gradually shifted his focus to rebuilding the Jinmen liaison station.

As the Yao Xi brand beverage gradually spread through Jinmen, basically every district and street had a sales point for it.

Under Chen Yongren's arrangement and operation, the liaison station points were also successfully rebuilt.

Nobody would have guessed that the Military Statistics Bureau's newest liaison station would be set up in a beverage shop run by Japanese.

Both new and veteran members greatly admired the new station chief's non‑stick‑pan ability, and were also curious about this station chief who appears and disappears like a divine dragon.

Compared to the previous hardship of dodging east and west, the days of the Military Statistics Bureau's Jinmen station improved greatly.

With a fixed contact point, communication became much more convenient; no longer did they need to move after a single shot, nor worry about Japanese screening.

The original Military Statistics Bureau Jinmen station liaison officer Xu Jie retained his post, continuing to be responsible for contacting team members and receiving and conveying the non‑stick‑pan task.

After roughly finishing matters in Jinmen, Chen Yongren felt he could make a trip to Yancheng.

As the one‑month delivery deadline approached, settling these matters early would also ease a worry in his heart.

It had been a while since he'd seen the trio; he ought to go see them, lest they starve to death.

As for Mitsuko, forget it; Chen Yongren still hoped to infiltrate the Fujiwara family through Fujiwara Rina and Fujiwara Yuuko.

Chen Yongren casually picked up that day's newspaper and walked into the restroom.

Lin Ke Xin didn't take it to heart either.

Entering the restroom, Chen Yongren casually locked the door from inside, disguised himself, took out the Any Door, and went to the rendezvous point.

When he looked up again, Chen Yongren saw only an endless yellow‑earth plain before him.

The sky glittered with starlight, a round moon hung in midair; matching the surrounding desolation, Chen Yongren felt a different kind of charm.

Modern people do not see the moon of ancient times, yet today's moon once shone upon the ancients.

Chen Yongren inexplicably recalled this line of poetry.

However, there were more pressing matters at hand; Chen Yongren had no leisure to admire the scenery.

After extracting all the aircraft and ammunition, Chen Yongren again took out the Any Door, went to Songhu, dressed as before, and found Chen Dian.

At that moment, the shop's assistant was putting up the door panels.

Hearing the commotion at the door, Chen Dian, who was tallying accounts at the counter, didn't look up and said, "Sir, we're closed; if you need anything, please come back tomorrow."

"Is that so, Boss Zhang? I can't be excluded either?" Chen Yongren smiled and said: "Then I guess I really have to go?"

"Today's bill is already..." Chen Dian looked up, saw Chen Yongren standing at the doorway, froze for a moment, then smiled and said: "Of course, everything needs an exception."

"Since Brother Gu has come, even if I'm busy, I still need to give him a proper welcome."

"Brother Gu, please come inside."

Chen Dian couldn't bother with the accounts, closed the ledger, and led Chen Yongren to the backyard.

Chen Yongren nodded and followed him to the backyard.

"The airplane has already been delivered; please don't worry." Chen Yongren said, cutting to the chase.

It's not because of the remaining balance, but to have them take the airplane away as soon as possible to avoid any accidents.

"It's already delivered?" Chen Dian said, dumbfounded.

"Of course, I said before, delivery—I'm professional, please trust the professional." Chen Yongren made an inviting gesture, smiled and said: "Also, please have Brother Zhang report to your organization for verification, to avoid any delays."

After holding back for a while, Chen Dian stood up and said: "Please wait a moment, I'll be right back."

Half an hour later.

Chen Yongren then saw Chen Dian, face full of spring breeze, carrying a suitcase back inside.