Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 32 Negotiation
After going to the car dealership with Wolf to look at the car, Gu Yansheng had already bought the car in full within the time it took to drink a cup of tea.

Buick series 40, all procedures completed, $1150, Wolf still gave a $50 discount to save face, plus a tank of gas for free.

A tank of gas costs more than twenty dollars, which is equivalent to a rickshaw driver's monthly income.

"Mr. Gu, we've sent someone to help you with the paperwork. You'll be able to drive your new car by tomorrow noon at the latest."

"Okay, can you send someone to take me to the door of the law firm?"

"of course."

After the simple car-buying trip, Gu Yansheng's cash was reduced to $1800.

Back at the law firm, under Wen Yan's arrangement, released suspects came one after another.

Some people panicked, fearing that something else might happen, but they gradually relaxed in response to Gu Yansheng's gentle tone.

For these people, they were terrified for two days after being captured. Gu Yansheng was like their savior, who rescued them from the clutches of the Japanese without charging a penny.

As we all know, lawyers are expensive.

Therefore, in terms of attitude towards Gu Yansheng, most of them behaved well and were easy to talk to.

Gu Yansheng chatted with them slowly, dragging out time until it was Lu Bowen and He Yun's turn.

"Yansheng, I didn't expect to see you here."

As usual, when entering, one had to make gestures to confirm whether or not he could speak. After that, He Yun was left with nothing but amazement.

How bold! He danced blatantly in front of No. 67.

The backhand gesture is a hug, of course it is a hug full of revolutionary friendship, and both men and women can embrace it.

Looking at the office, the decoration and style are really nice.

"Who would believe you if you said you just arrived in Shanghai? Yansheng, if Minister Chen knew what you did, I don't think he would believe it."

"Haha, when the time comes, let our team leader give him a proper report. Similarly, we are meeting here, and as gentlemen, we should be open and honest. The people at No. 67 will understand. Sit down.

Let's clarify today's conversation. I'm here to ask you about the past few days and whether the law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has inquired about your case.

He Yun nodded and asked, "Should we answer yes or no?"

"Seek truth from facts, is there?"

"No, what about you, Bowen?"

Lu Bowen also shook his head, "No, why would they look for us?"

Gu Yansheng smiled and said, "It seems that you have slipped through the net."

After talking with several other people, he found that Smith Freehills had indeed done its homework and had questioned everyone involved in the case, but these parties all replied to Gu Yansheng that they had not said anything.

Whether they said anything specific or not, you can't trust what these people say.

"Anyway, you should be realistic. If there is no such thing, then there is no such thing. It has nothing to do with you. Maybe they couldn't find your address."

After all, the address was in the French Concession, and it was only after Gu Yansheng took out the consul's authorization letter that the Household Registration Department made it convenient for him.

"For this case, you should just handle it according to what I said to you in the conference room."

"understood."

"Okay, now that we've discussed these miscellaneous matters, how have your dog walks been these past two days?" Gu Yansheng looked at the two of them with concern.

In Shanghai, the only people we can trust are these two comrades.

"Walking the dog, haha, that's quite a vivid metaphor. Bowen, you go first."

"it is good."

Lu Bowen agreed and took the lead in caring about the underground party's problems.

Gu Yansheng nodded and smiled directly, "Destination Hong Kong. I'll report back when I get there. You can keep an eye on the newspaper."

Gu Yansheng explained the situation.

Lu Bowen breathed a sigh of relief, his slightly tense face visibly relaxed, and he nodded repeatedly, feeling somewhat relieved after surviving a disaster. "That's good, that's good."

If everyone fails in their first mission after coming to Shanghai, it will undoubtedly be a blow to their confidence.

"Originally, we came to Shanghai to make contact. According to the predetermined plan, we should have sent a signal to let the organization know after the contact. Now it has been delayed for the past few days, and the old underground has not returned yet, and his people have not received anyone. I guess the organization is very anxious now.

There's no news from either side. He has no idea what happened to us. Yansheng, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you with this matter. I can't go to the newspaper office to send a signal, so you have to spread the news."

"Okay, I'll handle it. Tell me the details."

Lu Bowen quickly finished explaining the content. It was essentially a missing person notice posted on the application form. The organization would naturally know about it once they saw it. Gu Yansheng said he had taken note, and Lu Bowen could now explain his situation.

"Let me tell you about my situation. I've already contacted my connections in Shanghai."

Lu Bowen was chosen by the organization to do business, so he naturally has his strengths.

He used to be an assistant manager in a Yangtze River shipping company. The boss behind this shipping company was once a businessman, but now he is the Deputy Minister of Transportation in Chongqing.

It cannot be said that the face of the old subordinates is very great, but it is better than nothing. If this business wants to expand, it cannot be separated from shipping. At that time, with this relationship, it will be more effective and efficient.

"I found my old friends in the Shanghai office and they told me that the Japanese were seriously encroaching on the Yangtze River's transportation. They had less shipping now, but they were still running. They asked me if I wanted to come back to work, but I refused.

I said I wanted to do some business, what kind of business would be good with a small amount of capital.

They said we could consider selling necessities like rice, grain, and oil. In these chaotic times, prices fluctuate daily, and any other business would be a loss. But rice is quick to sell and highly secure. If anything unexpected happens, like another war, we can sell it the same day and run away.

Gu Yansheng smiled and said, "You can decide on business matters yourself, but where do you get the rice from?"

"Su Bei."

Lu Bowen said, "Suzhou is close to Shanghai, so the transportation cost can be low. There is also a Northern Jiangsu Anti-Japanese League there, so there must be local farmers growing food. If we buy their food, it can be regarded as supporting their anti-Japanese war."

Gu Yansheng pondered for a moment and reminded him, "You are a small business now. As long as you don't offend the local big grain merchants, it shouldn't be a problem to make a living with small business. But you have to be careful. If you communicate with people in northern Jiangsu, you must pay attention to your attitude. You are a businessman, and businessmen are profit-driven."

Gu Yansheng recounted his conversation with the old underground agent, "Suzhou is close to Shanghai, so Japanese intelligence has infiltrated there. That's for sure. Farmers aren't necessarily good people, and merchants are more likely to have ties to the Japanese. Don't be too sympathetic when things get tough."

"I know that." Lu Bowen was very clear-headed: "We should forget our identities. We are just three money-makers with only money in our eyes. Minister Chen also emphasized before we came here that we should not have any psychological burden.

Speaking of this, Yansheng, I have to apologize to you, a solemn apology."

"What are you apologizing for? What's wrong?"

"When I was in Yan'an, I repeatedly requested the organization to remove you. I believed that you were young, emotional, and had no experience behind enemy lines. You would easily cause trouble in Shanghai, where there were many evil spirits and demons, and even be exposed.

I request the organization to assign us a more experienced comrade, or simply not assign us anyone and just let He Yun and I come to Shanghai.

But now, facts have proved that the organization's vision is completely superior to mine.

If you had not participated in this trip, we would have become prisoners of the Japanese in our first operation, and the consequences would have been unpredictable.

That would be a shame to the organization and Minister Chen's earnest expectations, and would also make me regret the decision I made at that time.

Here, Comrade Gu Yansheng, I want to apologize to you and express my sincere apologies. I was too rigid in my thinking to underestimate you and the organization's vision. I will find an opportunity to make my own self-reflection to the organization. I should not have questioned the organization's decision. At the same time, I also hope to receive your forgiveness."

Gu Yansheng thought about it and realized that this was indeed the case. Lurking behind enemy lines, taking this inexperienced college student with him was indeed like bringing a burden.

The key is that they go to a government department among a bunch of old hands. If one of them shows any flaws, then all three of them will be finished.

Lu Bowen’s concerns at the time were not unreasonable; they could even be said to be extremely cautious.

He just didn't trust this new college student, but he and He Yun had worked together in the Organization Department for a period of time, so they were old acquaintances, so naturally he trusted her more.

However, the organization did consider choosing Gu Yansheng.

Minister Chen refuted it at that time.

"As for your character, the organization has been examining you for a long time, so I won't tell you anything. I'll tell you something realistic.

You have business experience, so let me ask you, you are in Shanghai under the Japanese occupation and have no reliable source of information. Do you think you can continue your business?

Do you think you are going to open a liaison station or a bookstore? You and He Yun can just run a husband-and-wife shop and make a hundred or eighty yuan, right?
When you make a certain amount of money, what business doesn't require connections? What business doesn't require connections? Without these, could you have survived the plundering of the Japanese and puppet regimes in Shanghai?

This is an explanation of the necessity of the third party.

Then about the candidate, why is it Gu Yansheng?

First of all, it’s age. Every experienced undercover agent is in a key position and it is impossible to transfer them easily.

Even if the organization tries hard to transfer people from other places to Shanghai, have you ever thought that this person may be hiding a crisis? Then, both of you will be killed together, and all your efforts will be in vain.

"Sending Gu Yansheng is precisely for your safety. His clean background will be a very important indicator when passing the appointment review of the Japanese puppet departments."

Anyway, since Minister Chen said so at the time, Lu Bowen could only listen to it.

In his heart, he probably didn't quite agree with it. It wasn't that he disagreed with what Minister Chen said, but he felt that Gu Yansheng, a new recruit, was unsafe behind enemy lines, which made him extremely uneasy.

As a result, he and Gu Yansheng didn't really get along, at least not to the extent of being good friends.

But now that he has apologized, it means he has acknowledged his mistake.

Taking the initiative to ease the relationship shows that you are still a good comrade.

Gu Yansheng smiled, "Revolutionary comrade, don't worry about these things."

(End of this chapter)