Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 197 Madam
"How should I put it?" Fu Xiao'an chuckled and shook his head. "It's hard to say whether it's good or bad."

"Why is it so hard to say?" Minister Zhou asked with a strange smile, clearly puzzled.

Fu Xiao'an chuckled and pointed at Gu Yansheng, "Let's put it this way. According to the regional statistics that just came out, the worst performing region in this assessment is Director Gu's region, which ranks last among everyone."

But if you want me to bet on which region will have the best economic growth in six months, I'll definitely bet on Director Gu to win.

Such an extreme statement made Minister Zhou look at Gu Yansheng with interest. "What did you do to get ranked last?"

Gu Yansheng smiled and said, "Don't listen to Mayor Fu's boasting. I didn't say that. It would be embarrassing for me to brag now if I couldn't do it."

Minister Zhou smiled and looked at Fu Xiao'an, "Outsiders see things more clearly. Mayor Fu, tell me, why was he able to jump from last place to first?"

Fu Xiao'an didn't mind praising Gu Yansheng a bit, starting with the practices of other bureau chiefs and pointing out their drawbacks, before talking about Gu Yansheng's approach. Of course, he himself followed the same approach. With this comparison, some things became quite clear.

"I didn't expect you to be such an expert in economics?" Minister Zhou sized up Gu Yansheng.

Gu Yansheng shook his head modestly, "I don't know anything about economics. It's just that others gave me face and were willing to take a gamble with me to open a factory in western Shanghai."

"Isn't that enough?" Minister Zhou raised an eyebrow seriously. "The economy is made up of people. If everyone could find so many factories like you, what would we have to worry about if the economy didn't develop?"

Hey, what about Luo Junqiang? How's he doing in Pudong?
By the way, he didn't come today?

"They didn't come, did they?" Gu Yansheng said. "The Japanese did some secrecy work. I only found out that you and Mr. Wang's group were coming today after Mr. Hasegawa called me over. The Japanese probably didn't inform him."

In the eyes of the Japanese, Luo Junqiang was just a lackey who had accomplished nothing, and they couldn't really remember him.

"So how did he do in Pudong this time?" Minister Zhou was still very concerned about his top general, and smiled expectantly.

"not bad."

Gu Yansheng spoke frankly, mentioning Luo Junqiang's businesses in western Shanghai, which were doing very well and were thriving.

However, when Minister Zhou heard that Luo Junqiang was running either brothels or casinos, his smile quickly vanished.

Gu Yansheng was involved in industry, while Luo Junqiang ran a brothel there.

Luo Junqiang, as his alter ego in Shanghai, has become known to everyone here today, including the Japanese. His top general has been reduced to a pimp in Pudong, truly a complete disgrace.

"He can definitely complete 30% of the task, and there's a 50% chance, but..."

Gu Yansheng leaned over and whispered Fu Xiao'an's speculation about the Japanese conducting a tax audit in advance.

Minister Zhou's smile vanished.

Gu Yansheng added, "I actually suggested that he change the data, but he didn't take my advice or submit it. Now I guess he's waiting for your opinion before deciding how to submit it."

"Idiot," Minister Zhou muttered under his breath.

Isn't this just shifting the responsibility onto him, leaving him with no way out?

Do you really think the Japanese are stupid and can't figure it out?
If he submits a fake document and the Japanese eventually expose it, where will he put his face?

It would have been better to just forge a document and submit it; at least he wouldn't have arrived by then.

They're too afraid to take responsibility; they're terrible at fulfilling their duties.

Even real money is acceptable; at least it's honest and straightforward.

Gu Yansheng reminded him, "If the Japanese want to use this matter to put pressure on the negotiations, Minister, you can actually start by refuting the high-pressure situation in other regions, whose economies are unsustainable."

As long as we firmly grasp this point and expose the illusion of economic prosperity in other regions, I think this matter should not have a negative impact on the negotiations.

You can even turn a passive situation into an active one.

Minister Zhou nodded slightly, "I understand." "Minister, where are the negotiations at now? Is there anything I can help with?" Gu Yansheng asked directly.

Minister Zhou didn't hide it. He stood up and patted Gu Yansheng on the shoulder, indicating that the two of them should walk together, since there was a third wheel here.

The two walked to a side door, which served as the entrance and exit, leading to a small tea garden.

Right by the door, Minister Zhou said, "Most of the negotiations have been completed. The negotiations with Yingzuo went relatively smoothly. Now that Mr. Wang is here, we will further determine the organizational structure and personnel appointments of the new government."

Whether or not you can be promoted to the ministerial position depends on these next few days.

Gu Yansheng asked curiously, "Is this matter difficult? Does Mr. Wang know about it?"

Minister Zhou nodded. "I spoke with him about you when I returned to Hanoi from Shanghai last time. I have a high opinion of you. Mr. Wang believes that it is certainly acceptable to appoint people based on merit."

However, Mrs. Wang felt that since you weren't one of Chairman Wang's old subordinates, but rather a former bureaucrat of Shanghai, it was hard to say what your true intentions were.

Minister Zhou glanced at Madam Wang and Chen Bijun in the crowd. Chen Bijun had sharp eyes, as if she had noticed them or had been observing them all along. They made eye contact immediately. Minister Zhou smiled and waved when they met eyes.

Gu Yansheng glanced at it as well, smiled and nodded in acknowledgment. When did he become someone else's "old bureaucrat"? He really knows how to talk.

Minister Zhou continued in a low voice:

Li Shengwu was closer to them and they were old acquaintances. Everyone knew what he was thinking, so Madam Wang was more inclined to consider Li Shengwu for the position of Minister of Justice.

Moreover, you have limited political experience, going from a judicial director in charge of a city to a minister in charge of the entire country. She also has doubts about whether you are capable of fulfilling the duties of a minister.

Mr. Wang usually considers her wishes when making decisions.

Minister Zhou smiled meaningfully, “Madam Wang is a heroine among women, a member of the Tongmenghui, and her father was a wealthy businessman in Southeast Asia. Mr. Wang’s early rise to power relied on the support of Madam Wang’s family.”

Gu Yansheng nodded slightly. He had someone check Chen Bijun's information. This woman was indeed extraordinary. In her early years, she devoted herself to the revolution, donating money and goods generously, and had a husbandly demeanor.

This woman accompanied Wang on his northward journey when he went to assassinate the regent.

That was a road from which there was a high chance of no return, but courage was not lacking.

Later, in revolutionary activities, they raised military funds and joined Wang Jingwei in opposing Chiang Kai-shek, becoming the main force in the fighting.

The funds for establishing the Whampoa Military Academy came from donations she raised in the United States, amounting to approximately 30 silver dollars.

People who are both rich and capable always have aspirations.

Mrs. Wang's ambition was very simple: she wanted to be the First Lady.

This is a news article published in a Chongqing tabloid after Wang Jingwei went to Hanoi.

It is said that Madam Wang was unwilling to be subordinate to Madam Song, and felt that she was very capable, so she defected with Wang.

There are also rumors that if she weren't a woman, she could have been the CEO.

Minister Zhou reassured him, "But you don't need to worry. I will fight for your case. For the sake of peaceful nation-building, I will not allow some people to hold positions without doing their jobs. The core positions of the country should be held by capable people, not by nepotism. This is a must."

At this moment, a woman walked over. She was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old and dressed like a young lady.

"Dad, what are you talking about here?" she asked, glancing at Gu Yansheng with curiosity.

"Of course we're talking about business."

After responding, Minister Zhou smiled at Gu Yansheng and said, "Yansheng, let me introduce you to my daughter, Zhou Shuhai."

(End of this chapter)