Rebirth 1977 Great Era

Chapter 1025 Suits, Luxury Cars, and Fake Identities: The Crazy Secret Chinese Medicine Recipe (Combined Chapter)
Fang Yan followed the maid into the dressing room, her eyes sweeping over the suits hanging all over the room.

Mr. Tang's clothes are mostly in solid colors such as dark gray and navy blue, with exquisite tailoring but not ostentatious, exuding the understated luxury of an old-fashioned gentleman.

These custom-made suits hung on brass hangers, gleaming warmly under the yellow wall lamps. Each suit was adorned with a uniquely shaped silver cufflink, like a medallion worn by an old-fashioned gentleman.

"Which one does Comrade Fang fancy?" The maid's question, delivered with a northern accent, startled Fang Yan, who then realized that the maid was also a comrade on a mission.

Fang Yan understood that choosing this suit was not only a disguise for himself, but also his wedding attire for tomorrow.

His gaze swept over the somber dark colors and finally settled on a light gray striped suit.

Amidst the deep colors of the entire wardrobe, the Prince of Wales check pattern on this garment exudes a youthful vigor, as if it were specially prepared by Mr. Tang for young people.

I took off my old suit and put on this one; I felt a slight tension in my shoulders.

Fang Yan then realized that although Old Tang's build was similar to his, the custom-made suit was tailored to the former owner's physique, with slightly narrower shoulders and sleeves that were half an inch too short.

The middle-aged man who looked like a tailor immediately took out a soft measuring tape:

"Please wait a moment, Comrade Fang. I'll adjust the size for you. I'll raise the shoulder line by half an inch and reduce the hem by three-tenths of an inch. It will be done in a quarter of an hour."

“This tie will match.” While the middle-aged man was being measured, the maid took out a burgundy silk tie from the carved sandalwood drawer. The tie had a subtle sailboat pattern. “It’s a style that was just popular in London in 1978. It will match your suit perfectly.”

He skillfully wrapped the tie around Fang Yan's neck, folding it three times to form a full and crisp Windsor knot, and then handed him an enamel cufflink.
“Mr. Tang’s silver is too old-fashioned; this lapis lazuli is a perfect match for light gray.”

After getting dressed, Fang Yan straightened her clothes in front of the full-length mirror.

The light gray suit accentuated his slender figure. Although it didn't fit him as well as a custom-made suit, the maid's clever styling still gave him a certain air of elegance.

The only thing that gave it away was the waistband; even with the belt tightened, two fingers could still be squeezed in.

The middle-aged man laughed upon seeing this:
"Comrade Fang, please don't mind. Old Tang's waist is three inches wider than yours. Once it's fixed, I guarantee you'll walk with a spring in your step."

Xue Zhen's footsteps came from outside the locker room. Fang Yan raised his hand to adjust his tie, the contrasting colors of burgundy and light gray standing out in the mirror.

"Great, you look very energetic!" Xue Zhen was quite satisfied with his junior brother Fang Yan's outfit.

Fang Yan knew that this carefully chosen outfit was not only presentable, but also an invisible pass to the world of fame and fortune in Hong Kong.

Respect the robe first, then the person.

"However, it still needs some alterations," the middle-aged man in charge of the suits chimed in.

Next, Fang Yan took off his suit and had it altered. During this time, he found the disguise artist's tools and started applying makeup to himself.

The makeup artist and Xue Zhen were also quite curious about how Fang Yan planned to do her makeup.

Fang Yan picked up only an eyebrow pencil, contour cream, and powder from the dazzling array of makeup tools, and then began her makeover.

He dabbed a small amount of dark brown contour cream with his fingertips and gently blended it under his cheekbones and along his jawline, instantly giving his originally thin face a more three-dimensional and deep look.

Next up is the eyelid reshaping.

Fang Yan used an eyebrow pencil to draw a neat eyebrow shape along the brow bone, with the tail slightly upturned. Then she lightly swept dark gray eyeshadow across the eye socket and applied two coats of charcoal black mascara.

The disguise artist standing nearby nodded and explained:
"This is the 'shadowing method' from the Soviet intelligence manual, which makes the eyes look more intimidating."

Fang Yan was taken aback and said:

"No, I learned from my wife; she's a dancer."

"..." The disguise artist opened his mouth but didn't know how to respond.

Xue Zhen came to the rescue:
"Many of the dance teachers in China used to have studied there, so it's normal that their techniques are similar."

The disguise master suddenly realized that this made sense.

Fang Yan turned his head in front of the mirror to make sure the shadows on both sides were symmetrical. Then he picked up a flesh-colored concealer, dabbed it on the corner of his lips, and gently patted it in, which made his features look more defined.

It gives off a feeling that strangers should stay away.

"Would you like your wig adjusted?" A maid handed over a dark brown curly wig without anyone noticing.

Fang Yan shook her head, took out a small bottle of hair wax from the bottom of her makeup case, rubbed it in her palms, and then kneaded her hair. Her originally flat black hair immediately became naturally fluffy, and a few strands of hair fell in front of her forehead, adding a touch of unintentional elegance.

Then Fang Yan used a tissue to clean up the unnatural spots on her face.

Then, looking in the mirror, you realize that you've become a completely different person.

"Alright!" Fang Yan nodded, his face now completely different from the one he had before he came today.

Xue Zhen raised an eyebrow as he watched from the side:
"You didn't learn makeup from your sister-in-law, you clearly learned disguise from a spy."

Fang Yan smiled and said:
"I'll take that as a compliment!"

"Of course I'm praising you!" Xue Zhen said.

The disguise artist also said:

"This technique is incredibly fast; it's much more efficient than mine."

"However, the technique required is quite high. In addition, each person can only change a few faces, and the style must be adjusted to match the facial features."

Fang Yan smiled and said:
"It's enough for me."

By then, the suit that had been altered for him was finished.

After changing back into his new clothes, Fang Yan stood before the crowd.

The angle at which the back of his suit jacket billowed was so precise it looked as if it had been measured with a ruler. The burgundy tie paired with the light gray fabric, Fang Yan with his hands in his pockets, chin slightly tucked in, and eyes peering out from under the shadow of his brow bone, exuded a sense of oppressive power, much like those young tycoons in Hong Kong who appear glamorous on the surface but are actually rife with undercurrents.

As he adjusted his cufflinks, the newly added lapis lazuli gleamed with a cool, understated light. The noble details complemented Fang Yan's current face perfectly, leaving no room for doubt... This was Fang Yan's new mask.

Fang Yan then walked out of the room, and Tang Lao, Le Miao, and the others in the living room almost didn't recognize him.

Mr. Tang smiled and said:
"Indeed, a brilliant tactic; there's absolutely no flaw to be found."

"This outfit is also a good choice, a light gray Prince of Wales check suit paired with a burgundy sailboat pattern tie..."

At this point, he noticed a detail and asked:

"Hey? You didn't change your leather shoes?"

Fang Yan glanced at his feet and said:

"Does this need to be changed? Is anyone even paying attention to this?"

Old Tang stroked his chin and said:

"Let's change it! Just to be on the safe side."

Fang Yan had no choice but to obey and return to the changing room, where he was surprised to find new leather shoes.

Fang Yan chose a pair of light brown lychee-patterned leather shoes and put them on.

The size is quite suitable.

The soles are made of brownish-red raw rubber, with clearly visible natural textures that don't require much embellishment. They make a dull "thump-thump" sound when stepped on on marble floors.

An ebony-colored leather pad is inlaid at the heel, providing just the right amount of rebound when walking – a thoughtful detail designed by the old shoemaker for long periods of standing.

Then he came out of the room again.

After seeing this, Old Tang nodded:
“You have a good eye. This is the ‘Panama Brown’ that was popular at the end of last year. It’s lighter than traditional black, but more subdued than light camel. It’s perfect for matching your light gray suit. However, the soles of these shoes are made of gum rubber and are designed specifically for rainy days. Get a new pair of the same style.”

The dialect was taken aback; I never imagined there were such intricacies involved in leather shoes.

However, since Old Tang has said so, I can only agree.

I went back and found the same style, but I replaced the sole with a different one. This time, the shoes have a dark brown base with fine herringbone stitching arranged at a 45-degree angle to form a regular anti-slip pattern.

The middle-aged man who altered Fang Yan's suit just now said:
"This is a classic design that London shoemakers call 'Thames stripe'."

"It features a softer calfskin sole, with the surface repeatedly polished with beeswax, making it almost silent when walking. The heel has a three-millimeter-thick rubber cushioning layer, which is a silent and shock-absorbing sole specially designed for business occasions where you need to stand for long periods of time."

Fang Yan took a couple of steps and indeed felt that the leather shoes made absolutely no sound.

If no one explained it to him, he would probably think they were leather shoes specifically designed for stealth assassinations.

After walking into the living room, Old Tang nodded in satisfaction when he heard that the thumping sound of his footsteps had disappeared.

"Good, very good."

Even Fang Yan himself was quite satisfied this time.

The disguise and clothing change are now complete.

After packing up the items that had been removed earlier and placing them in a box, Old Tang then said to Fang Yan:

"Until you find out who is following you, you'd better not go to your businesses."

"Actually, I've seen most of it..." Fang Yan said.

Old Tang was taken aback:
"You're quite efficient!"

Fang Yan smiled, unsure whether Old Tang was joking with him or genuinely praising his efficiency.

At this moment, Fifth Senior Brother Xue Zhen handed Fang Yan an ID card:

"This is your new identity. Use this identity when speaking to others tomorrow."

"There are no flaws, and it can withstand investigation."

Fang Yan flipped through the document. In the faded black-and-white photograph, a man wearing a striped shirt with the collar slightly open and his hair parted in a side part, though blurry, exuded a sense of unruliness. The name on the document was "Lin Jingxing," the place of origin was marked as "Penang, British Malaya," the date of birth was March 17, 1952, and the identity column read "Representative of Nanyang Products Trading Company in Hong Kong."

The information on the note was so detailed it resembled a miniature biography:
He graduated from the Department of Economics at Raffles College, Singapore in 1970, with a minor in Accounting. During his time at the college, he joined the Junior Chamber of Malaya and represented the school at the Southeast Asian Trade Forum.

In 1973, he joined the family business "Lim's Shipping" and was responsible for the spice trade on the Penang-Hong Kong route. In 1977, he independently registered "Nanyang Products", which mainly exported tin ore and tropical fruits and had an office in Tsim Sha Tsui.

His mother is the daughter of a former senior executive of HSBC in Hong Kong, his father is the president of the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and his uncle is a senior comprador of Jardine Matheson. He is a member of the Kowloon Tong Golf Club and often entertains clients at the rooftop restaurant of the "Luk Hoi Tong Building" in Central.

“Lin Jingxing?” Fang Yan stroked the gold lettering on the ID card. “That name sounds like a character from a martial arts novel.”

Xue Zhen handed him a fountain pen:
"You need to practice your handwriting, especially your signature. Your original handwriting was too distinctive."

Fang Yan wrote the three characters "Lin Jingxing" on the back of the note, deliberately making the vertical hook of the character "Jing" very long, much like the exaggerated arc often seen in the signatures of overseas Chinese businessmen.

Old Tang leaned over to take a look, then tapped the character "行" with his cane:

“The last stroke should have a small hook, like this…” He drew a sharp arc on the carpet with his cane. “This is called the ‘Nanyang hook.’ Mr. Tan Kah Kee wrote it like this when he signed his name. It means ‘traveled all over Nanyang.’”

Fang Yan said helplessly:
"There's no need to make it so complicated. I'll leave right after the wedding."

Xue Zhen said:

“You’ll come to Hong Kong eventually, so you can keep using this identity as long as it’s not exposed.”

"It's all for your safety. The others have the same status."

As he spoke, he took out a few more notebooks and handed them to Li Chong, Deng Cai, and Wang Feng, who had come with Fang Yan.

"Come on, everyone get some."

After finishing speaking, he handed the last notebook to Le Miao.

Le Miao exclaimed in surprise:
"I have one too?"

Xue Zhen said:

"Yes, there is. You can use the new identity whenever you want in the future."

Le Miao said somewhat awkwardly:
"But I don't intend to..."

Xue Zhen said with a smile:

"Some people don't plan to join, we're all friends."

Fang Yan said to her:
"Alright, take it. Why not take it if it's free?"

Upon hearing this, Le Miao nodded and then put the items away. After they had their identification documents, Old Tang stood up and said to them:

"Alright, I won't keep you any longer. Someone went out to check earlier and there were no tails following us or anyone guarding the intersection. Now is the perfect time to leave."

"Just go to the garage, pick a car, and drive away."

Fang Yan nodded.

He said to Old Tang:
"Then I won't stand on ceremony with you."

"Stop being so fussy," Old Tang said with a smile, waving his hand.

He said in dialect:

"Oh, and remember to take your medicine on time!"

Old Tang said:
"You're worried about that? Your senior brother will take care of it!"

Then everyone went to the garage, where among a group of luxury cars, Fang Yan decided to choose the most understated car.

Under the warm yellow light of the garage, rows of luxury cars stood in neat rows, their paint gleaming, as if they were all secretly competing, hoping to be chosen.

Fang Yan's gaze slowly swept across the scene, as one luxurious and ostentatious car after another swept past his field of vision. There was the magnificent Rolls-Royce Phantom, with its smooth and elegant body lines and upright emblem that highlighted its extraordinary status, but it was too ostentatious. Then there was the Ferrari sports car, with its low-slung body and exaggerated air intakes, as if it was about to roar and rush out at any moment, ostentatious to the extreme.

The Aston Martin DB5 is just as flamboyant.

Just then, a dark blue Volvo 264 came into Fang Yan's view from the corner.

It stood there quietly, not as eye-catching as the other cars, but it exuded a unique charm.

The car's lines are simple and smooth, without any superfluous embellishments. Its square outline carries the simplicity and ruggedness unique to Scandinavian design.

It wasn't particularly large, but it had a calm and composed aura.

As the dialect approached, I looked at it and felt a sense of reliability.

He nodded to his fifth senior brother.

"That's it!"

Upon hearing this, Xue Zhen took out the car keys and handed them to Fang Yan.

As Fang Yan opened the car door and got into the driver's seat, a strong smell of worn leather mixed with a faint smell of engine oil wafted out.

The interior is spacious, and the seats are made of black genuine leather. Due to its age, some parts are slightly wrinkled, but they are still soft, comfortable, and provide a great sense of support.

The dashboard features a simple layout with clear black background and white lettering, and includes a tachometer, speedometer, and other gauges.

Well, not bad.

The steering wheel felt solid to hold, and I noticed that the Volvo logo on it was somewhat worn.

The interior is predominantly dark, with a wood panel on the center console. The natural and rustic texture complements the leather seats, creating a warm yet sophisticated atmosphere.

When the engine is started, it emits a deep, powerful roar, unlike the sharp, piercing sound of a sports car.

"Get in the car," Fang Yan said to Le Miao and the others.

Le Miao then got into the passenger seat, while the others went into the back seats.

This car was produced in 1974, so it's been three or four years now. I guess it was a second-hand collectible that Mr. Tang bought.

After all, he was suffering in the capital just three or four years ago.

With a light touch on the accelerator, the car slowly drove out of the garage, the tires making a slight sound as they rubbed against the ground.

The door opened, and Xue Zhen waved to Fang Yan, saying:

"be careful!"

Fang Yan nodded and waved goodbye to him.

Looking at the time, Le Miao realized it was already past four o'clock. She asked Fang Yan:

"Where are we going now?"

He said in dialect:

"Where do you live? Let me take you home first."

Le Miao said:

"Don't worry about me. Let's go straight back to the Peninsula Hotel now and not keep the Zhou family waiting."

"I'll change my makeup at your hotel later, and then I'll take a taxi home myself."

Fang Yan thought for a moment and said:

"Alright, I'll have someone take you home later."

Fang Yan then drove away from Repulse Bay and headed towards the Peninsula Hotel.

Despite its understated appearance, this Volvo is actually easier to drive than Fang Yan had imagined. The only thing Fang Yan wanted to complain about was its slow acceleration, but of course, that wasn't important, since Fang Yan wasn't going to engage in any high-speed chases.

So this car is pretty good; at least in terms of the riding experience, everyone is quite satisfied.

Twenty minutes later, Fang Yan and his group arrived at the Peninsula Hotel.

It's 4:40 now, and there are still 20 minutes until the agreed-upon 5:00.

Fang Yan first took Le Miao to his hotel room and had her change her hair and makeup. Then, Fang Yan took the opportunity to transform himself and chose a new set of sportswear in the second bedroom.

After the change was completed, Le Miao was also changed. Fang Yan asked Deng Cai and Li Chong to safely escort Le Miao home.

As a result, Le Miao said that she would just take a taxi by herself, and that having too many people would make it easier to expose her. Even when going downstairs, she would take the stairs and then go to hail a taxi by herself without letting Fang Yan and the others take her.

He went downstairs and left shortly after.

Although Fang Yan was a little worried, as long as no one was following her, it was indeed relatively safe.

Just as Fang Yan was about to lead people to the door to wait for Lao Zhou's family, Director Liao and his group returned.

Upon seeing Fang Yan and the others' appearance at the door, Director Liao was initially taken aback, almost mistaking them for outsiders. Fortunately, he quickly recovered and greeted them with a smile:
Where are you all going this time?

Fang Yan hurriedly reported to his superior that he would be going downstairs to meet the Zhou family later. Director Liao nodded and instructed Fang Yan to treat them well.

Taking advantage of the free time, Fang Yan gave Director Liao a detailed report on what had happened that afternoon in her room.

Upon learning that Fang Yan had experienced such a harrowing afternoon, Director Liao was taken aback.

Li Chong, Deng Cai, and Wang Feng also quickly added to the report.

Upon hearing that Elder Tang had already begun the investigation, Director Liao breathed a sigh of relief and addressed Fang Yan and the others:

"Until we find out the truth, just stay put at the wedding ceremony tomorrow and don't go out wandering around."

"Understood..." Fang Yan nodded in agreement.

Perhaps worried about further issues arising from the dialect, Director Liao specifically instructed:
"Besides tomorrow, I have to meet with some business people and overseas Chinese on Monday morning. You'll come with them. These people are all quite old, so you'll need to check on things with them. If by Monday afternoon they find out who's following us and determine that there's no danger, you're free to move around; but if there's still danger, you must stay with everyone."

"Okay!" Fang Yan readily agreed. Since the leader made these arrangements for her safety, she naturally had to listen.

Fang Yan asked again:

"What about Tuesday?"

Director Liao said:

"We left Hong Kong on Tuesday to inspect the investment projects on the border, returned to Guangzhou on Wednesday, and arranged a private plane to fly directly to Beijing that evening."

"Understood..." Fang Yan nodded again. He was originally Director Liao's trump card, and he thought that his disguise would help him avoid being noticed, but he was followed around two or three in the afternoon. Now, Director Liao wouldn't dare let him go out and wander around freely anymore.

Then Director Liao said to Wang Feng:
"Don't follow the dialect. The group of you together is too conspicuous."

Wang Feng was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then immediately reacted and saluted:
"Yes!"

At this moment, the others also realized that Wang Feng's physique was indeed very distinctive.

Even if he was disguised, if he stood next to Fang Yan, anyone who had seen their height combination before would immediately make the connection.

Therefore, it's better to keep a low profile and only bring Li Chong and Deng Cai.

Wang Feng was also a soldier. Although he found it exciting to speak in dialects, he still obeyed orders.

……

Next, Fang Yan led Deng Cai and Li Chong downstairs.

Not long after they arrived at the door, Old Zhou and his wife, along with Zhou Zhaoqin, came over.

Neither Lao Zhou nor his wife recognized Fang Yan, but Zhou Zhaoqin did.

The main thing I noticed was that Fang Yan was different from others. He had a sharp look in his eyes, like when he was examining a patient. He had a calm and collected demeanor, as if he could see everything.

When Zhou Zhaoqin was hospitalized, she observed the dialect closely every day and memorized the feeling.

Even the dialect didn't realize it had such an obvious flaw.

Zhou Zhaoqin locked onto him with just a look; it seems she'll have to wear sunglasses from now on.

Then they went to the private room, where no one else would bother them, and they could finally address each other with peace of mind.

During the meal, Zhou Zhaoqin basically did all the talking in the local dialect.

My head is about to explode from all the readings to everyone around me.

I almost begged her to stop reading in her dialect.

After finishing her meal, she was finally satisfied and happily went home, promising to meet again at the wedding the next day.

It turns out they had also received an invitation.

But it makes sense.

After all, Lao Zhou was a prominent figure among overseas Chinese.

Fang Yan then went upstairs, washed up, and returned to her original self.

I was planning to go shopping and buy some international souvenirs for my family, but now I'm being watched and can't go out.

I wonder when my senior will be able to find out the problem.

At tomorrow's wedding, he will have to pretend to be Lin Jingxing.

I'm clearly a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, and all I have is a secret recipe. Is it really necessary to make such a fuss?

Ultimately, it all comes down to the secret recipe we have.

This could be made into a movie called "Crazy Chinese Medicine Secret Recipes".

Just as Fang Yan was at her wit's end, there was a knock on the door.

"Who?" Li Chong asked warily.

Then came Secretary Zhou's voice:
"I, open the door!"

Then Li Chong opened the door, and Secretary Zhou walked in, saying to Fang Yan:

"We have news about what happened this afternoon!"

PS: The basic chapter of 6000 words has been updated.

There will be an extra chapter later.

(End of this chapter)