Espionage: I Have Photo Editing Software

Wei Renming's hostility towards Kimura was somewhat inexplicable. He glanced at the latter, then turned to look at Yamagami Ryosuke. "Who is he?"

Ryosuke Yamagami frowned slightly, seemingly displeased with Kimura's attitude, and said indifferently, "Kimura Ihei, photographer. He's here to participate in the competition at the invitation of President Matsumoto."

Ok?

Wei Renming felt the name was somewhat familiar, and after a moment's thought, he remembered this "father of Japanese modernist photography".

This guy is no good!

"Never heard of him? Is he better at taking pictures than me?" Wei Renming asked deliberately.

Ryosuke Yamagami said, "Why don't we take this opportunity to have a match?"

Kimura Ihei has been famous for a long time, and Wei Renming would not lose out regardless of the outcome of the contest with him.

The proposal from the mountainside appears fair, but it is actually biased.

Wei Renming naturally understood this principle. "I have no objection, but I wonder if this Mr. Kimura dares to accept the challenge?"

Kimura Ihei sneered, "Since you two are in such high spirits, I'll gladly oblige. However, since it's a contest, how about adding a wager?"

"Of course!" Wei Renming hadn't expected such a good deal. "How about we bet 15,000 yen?"

Kimura Ihei sneered, "The commission that President Matsumoto paid you, you haven't even had a chance to enjoy it, and you're already in a hurry to lose it to me?"

"None of your concern. But you, you can't possibly be short of the money, can you?" Wei Renming mocked.

"Then it's a deal. Please have Mr. Yamagami be our witness," said Kimura Ihei.

"Okay. The results of this competition will be the standard for the competition."

Kimura was an ally hired by Matsumoto, and even if he won, it wouldn't matter to Yamagami Ryosuke; he would have preferred Wei Renming to win.

"How does Mr. Kimura plan to film this?"

"White kimono, colored kimono, black tomesode, furisode," Kimura Ihei said proudly.

All four outfits are formal kimonos.

The white kimono is a wedding dress, the furisode is worn by unmarried women, and the other two outfits are exclusively for married noblewomen.

"These four formal dresses were all custom-made at a high price in China; they will definitely outperform Hanfu!"

Wei Renming's eyes darted around. "Counselor Yamagami, since Mr. Kimura is so confident, why don't we let his work be published in the newspaper first?"

Kimura Ihei was full of confidence and said arrogantly, "I couldn't be happier. Once I win, your work will be worthless."

Wei Renming laughed and said, "If you win, it will be the glory of the empire and will also solve the urgent problem for the advisors on the mountain. Even if I lose, I will be happy to accept it."

"Wei-san is a true friend of the Empire!" Yamagami Ryosuke said with satisfaction.

"Just wait and see!" Kimura Ihei said, then walked away with his head held high.

Wei Renming stared at his departing figure, puzzled, and asked:

"Advisor on the mountain, this person doesn't seem to take you seriously?"

Ryosuke Yamagami's expression darkened. "He's nothing but arrogant and conceited, relying on his reputation in the country!"

Wei Renming said earnestly, "Even if it's just for you, I have to deflate his arrogance!"

Ryosuke Yamagami closed the door and whispered:

"News about the China-Japan photography competition has reached Japan. Many media outlets are reporting on it, and it's attracting a lot of attention. If you can beat Kimura, it will be a great thing for you. This is an opportunity, and you must seize it. If you're not satisfied with the photos you took during the day, I can arrange for a reshoot!"

"Thank you for the advice, sir. That's exactly what I was thinking." Wei Renming thought for a moment and said, "I'll photograph whatever he photographs; that way the contrast will be more obvious. However, I don't know much about kimonos, so I'll have to trouble you."

"It's no big deal, I'll take care of it," Yamagami Ryosuke readily agreed.

The next morning.

While drinking his porridge, Wei Renming flipped through the newspaper and, sure enough, came across Kimura Ihei's work: four photos of him in kimonos, each named with a different character: Yong, Rong, Hua, and Gui.

"Top-notch photos!"

He sighed.

This bastard may be arrogant, but he's not entirely without merit.

"But at this level, to think you can easily beat four people in Hanfu is just wishful thinking."

Chinese newspapers have largely denigrated it.

Pro-Japanese newspapers and Japanese newspapers praised him highly.

Some English-language newspapers, such as the *North-China Daily News* and the *Shanghai Times*, pretended to be rational and objective, and after a thorough analysis, concluded that Kimura's work was superior. In reality, they were paid by the Japanese, and even the commentary articles were written by Japanese people themselves, making them arguably the earliest forms of advertorials.

For a time, neither side would give in.

The two sides started arguing.

Since the Chinese newspapers are fighting on home soil, they currently have the upper hand.

Wei Renming put down the newspaper, picked up a fried dough stick, and started eating.

"We need to send our alt account to first utterly annihilate that old dog Kimura, then I'll step in and turn the tide. Such a perfect script, won't the Japanese pay more?"

As he was thinking, he caught a glimpse of Wei Renyi coming downstairs, taking a few steamed buns from the dining table, and quietly walking out.

"Where to?"

"Let's go to a classmate's house!" Wei Renyi quickened her pace.

Wei Renming stood up and grabbed her. "Wei Renyi! I've noticed you've gotten a bit cocky lately! Summer vacation is here, and instead of studying hard, you're never home. Do you really think I wouldn't dare beat you up?"

"Brother, I really did make plans with my classmate!"

Which student?

"You don't recognize him!"

Wei Renming stared at his sister for a while, then took out ten yuan in legal tender and stuffed it into her pocket. "You're not allowed to go to the Chinese territory! It's a mixed bag there, not safe!"

"Don't worry, brother! I definitely won't go!" Wei Renyi said with a big smile.

"I have plenty of money now, don't be stingy with it!" Wei Renming instructed.

"Okay, thanks, bro!" Wei Renyi dashed off in a flash.

"He's always appearing and disappearing mysteriously, I wonder what he's up to. I guess I'll have to ask Feng Xiaohe about it," Wei Renming said worriedly.

Wei Renyi left Yueshaofang, walked two streets, and stood at the intersection eating a steamed bun. A little while later, Feng Xiaohe stopped his bicycle at the intersection.

"Sister Xiaoyi, get in the car!" Feng Xiaohe wiped her sweat, panting.

"Let me ride it!" Wei Renyi said with heartache.

"I'm not tired!"

"If you won't let me ride, then I'll walk."

"All right……"

"My brother gave me pocket money again today. Combined with what I earned before, I finally have enough. Now Teacher Lin Ling doesn't have to worry anymore."

"My brother also gave me pocket money, although not as much as you, but it still helps a little..."

The two rode their bikes, chatting as they headed towards Yangshupu.

……

"President Matsumoto, what's the feedback from the outside world?" Kimura Ihei asked.

"The situation has stabilized for now." Matsumoto Shigeharu breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you very much, Mr. Kimura."

"It's my honor to be able to help President Matsumoto, no need for thanks," Kimura Ihei smiled. "I heard you once offered 50,000 yen to make Wei Renming lose to the Empire's photographer. Now that I'm here, you don't need to pay that money."

"If it weren't for that anonymous photographer getting involved, I would still have to pay this money. But money is secondary, all I want is to win!" Matsumoto Shigeharu said.

"Has the true identity of the anonymous person still not been found?"

Matsumoto shook his head. "Strange! Logically, with photos of Hanfu models, we should be able to find them. But several days have passed, and we still haven't found anything."

"Is the anonymous author not in Manchukuo?"

"That possibility cannot be ruled out!"