A Life of Attributes Starting as a Nobleman in the Republic of China Era

"Ding ding ding," a crisp sound came from inside the lobby.

"The banquet is ready, please take your seats, distinguished guests." A waiter carried an exquisite tripod in his left hand and gently tapped a small iron hammer in his right.

"Let's eat, let's talk while we eat." Led by Chen Qichuan, the crowd on the terrace began to walk toward the banquet hall.

Dong Yi, trailing behind, secretly tugged at Chen Qichuan's sleeve: "Master, you have so many resources in Shanghai? Why didn't you introduce them to Brother Che earlier?"

Chen Qichuan smiled slightly but remained silent.

……

Wang Jian sat upright in the grand chair in the center of the Green Gang headquarters, surrounded by Li Zuyi, the leader of the Fiery Fire Hall, Lü Qi, the leader of the Sharp Metal Hall, and Shen Hai, the leader of the Earthy Earth Hall.

Hongshui Hall Master Huang Suyuan is in Nanjing and is unable to attend due to some excuse.

The banquet hall, which could accommodate 500 people, was packed with people, including some of the best members of the Green Gang.

As the night wind blew, five hundred people in blue robes fluttered in the wind, like a blue ocean.

Wang Jian glanced around and whispered to Zhang, the clerk standing behind him with his hands at his sides, "How are the invitations coming along? When will the invited guests arrive?"

Zhang, the abacus expert, bowed slightly and said in a very low voice, "Don't worry, Boss, the invitations were all sent out three days ago. Chairman Deng of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, Manager Zhao of Xianfeng Bank, and Director Lü of the Industry and Commerce Bureau all said they would definitely arrive tonight."

Wang Jian nodded slightly, her face expressionless.

At the time, the Green Gang of Shanghai was the largest underground force in the city, with approximately 50,000 to 60,000 members.

The Green Gang's influence was almost ubiquitous. Male factory workers, dockworkers, rickshaw pullers... these immigrants from northern Jiangsu, Ningbo, Shaoxing and other places would seek protection from the gang in unfamiliar cities.

The Green Gang used this opportunity to infiltrate every inch of Shanghai's fabric. Their business can be summarized in one sentence: from bank bonds to dock dung, they encompassed everything and were ubiquitous.

The city of Jinling is so small, with a population that is only one-tenth that of Shanghai. What can the four major families do to compete with me in Shanghai?

Wang Jian had already planned it out: while in Nanjing he was receiving 100,000 taels of silver a month from the four major families, he would pretend to help them move into Shanghai.

In Shanghai, the four major families were subjected to all sorts of difficulties and blockades, and all their businesses were placed under the umbrella of the Green Gang, making it impossible for them to move an inch without the Green Gang.

Among the major powers in Shanghai, who would dare to offend the local Green Gang for the sake of the four major families in Nanjing?

......

The wine stains clinging to the crystal glasses of the champagne tower slowly trickled down.

Chen Qichuan was talking to Lü Mai when he suddenly noticed that Zhao Yuping had put down his chopsticks.

"Boss Chen," Zhao Yuping took out a pocket watch, looked at it, and then put it back in his pocket, "It's getting late. I have a meeting with Mr. Deng, Director Lü, and I have to go now."

Deng Zhuosheng also stood up, straightened his suit collar, and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Chen Qichuan: "I will remember your kindness, Boss Chen. I will definitely make it up to you when the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce hosts a dinner another day."

Lü Mai didn't speak, but simply stood up and nodded to Chen Qichuan as a greeting.

Chen Qichuan's smile faltered for a moment. He stood up, grabbed Zhao Yuping's sleeve with one hand, and made a gesture to stop Deng Zhuosheng with the other.

"How can this be?" His voice was not loud, but it was earnest. "We've only had three rounds of drinks, and the dishes haven't all been served yet. Are you three leaving already? Is it my fault, Chen Qichuan, for not being a good host?"

Zhao Yuping patted the back of his hand: "Old Chen, you're overthinking it. It's just that we already made plans over there, and it's hard to refuse."

"Master Wang's 'Breakthrough Feast'?" Chen Qichuan smiled, his gaze sweeping over the three faces.

Deng Zhuosheng smiled slightly but did not reply.

Chen Qichuan was still smiling. He released his hand from Zhao Yuping's sleeve and turned to the waiter behind him.

"Go and bring me that jar of Shaoxing wine that's been aged for thirty years, the one sealed with red paper."

The waiter responded and left.

Chen Qichuan turned back and said, "Today is a banquet hosted by the Chen family, and my son has not yet toasted his three uncles. You three are about to leave."

He glanced at the clock hanging in the corner.

"How about this, let's sit for another half hour, just half an hour."

Just as Deng Zhuosheng was about to speak, Zhao Yuping gave him a wink and suddenly smiled: "Since Boss Chen has already said so much, alright, then half an hour it is."

After saying that, he winked at a burly man standing at the door, and the man hurriedly ran out the door.

......

Wang Jian was getting impatient. He pulled a pocket watch from his pocket, glanced at it, and frowned as he asked Zhang the Abacus, "When exactly will they arrive?"

Before Zhang could reply, a man dressed in a tight-fitting outfit rushed in through the door, ran onto the stage, and whispered a few words in Zhang's ear.

A smile spread across Zhang's face as he leaned close to Wang Jian's ear and said, "Chairman Deng, Manager Zhao, and Director Lü were about to leave when that guy surnamed Chen pulled them back temporarily, saying they'd be here in thirty minutes."

"Deng, Zhao, and Lü have left, and the others won't stay long either. It's not even eight o'clock yet; let their banquet end at eight-thirty."

"When the time comes, let's see how they'll be able to hold their heads high and do business in Shanghai." Zhang the Abacus said with a cunning and shrewd expression.

Wang Jian nodded slightly, stood up, and addressed the more than five hundred gang members present, saying loudly, "Everyone, go watch the lion dance, and first drink the 'union wine'!"

"Whoa!" A deafening roar echoed from the banquet hall that could hold five hundred people.

Outside the Green Gang headquarters was a long and narrow alley, only wide enough for three or four people to walk side by side.

High walls lined both sides, with blue bricks and gray mortar, and broken glass embedded in the tops of the walls, gleaming dimly in the moonlight, like a row of jagged animal teeth.

Torches, lanterns, and gas lamps illuminated the small patch of land at the alley entrance as bright as day.

The sound of gongs and drums seemed to be trying to tear a hole in the sky. "Dong dong qiang, dong dong qiang," the drums vibrated so hard that it made people's chests feel stuffy, and the gongs and cymbals pounded down in rhythm, one after another.

The dragon dance was performed by ten strong men, bare-chested, with red headscarves tied around their heads.

The lion dance is right next to the dragon, in gold and red, with a head about two meters tall and a ball the size of a human head in its mouth.

When the lion and the dragon saw Wang Jian come out, they shook their heads and tried to rub against him.

Wang Jian waved his hand, and the sound of gongs and drums gradually subsided.

Li Zuyi grabbed a wine jar from the ground, poured himself a full bowl, stood up, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Come on! Brothers! Let's toast our leader first!"

"Homage to the Chief!"

Five hundred people raised their bowls at once, the sound like thunder. The rims of the bowls clattered together, creating a cacophony like a sudden downpour.

Wang Jian finished his blue-and-white porcelain bowl and then filled it again.

He didn't drink immediately, but held up the bowl and slowly scanned the faces of the densely packed people at the alley entrance.

"drink."

He brought the bowl to his lips, tilted his head back, and poured the rice wine down his throat.

Five hundred people also looked up, and five hundred bowls were raised in unison.

Some people drank too fast, and the wine dripped from the corners of their mouths, down their necks, and into their collars. They didn't bother to wipe it away, but just laughed and showed the empty bowl to the world.

The ground was covered with residual wine, which made the bluestone slabs look amber.