Republic of China, 1928: Starting from a Wonton Shop

Outside Xuanwu Gate on a snowy night, Lao Wu and Xiao Wu, one after the other, avoided the patrol routes of the police brigade and arrived at Zhou Zhengnan's small courtyard house, where the stove was still burning.

Zhou Zhengnan was sitting at his desk, flipping through a stack of documents. Hearing the noise, he took off his glasses and rubbed his bloodshot eyes: "You're back? Is everything arranged?"

"Everything's all set up." Old Wu took off his somewhat worn cotton hat, snow water still dripping from his forehead.

As soon as Xiao Wu entered the room, he sat down in a chair. "Those scoundrels are easy to fool; a few copper coins will do. It's just that the commotion of the city-wide martial law is bigger than we expected."

Zhou Zhengnan nodded, stood up and poured a cup of hot tea for the two of them: "You've worked hard. Hu Chou Chou made a false report about a robbery by a ruthless bandit. The police department is trying to save face, so even if it's just for show, things won't be peaceful for the next few days. Since Li Ji is closed, you should go back to Xiheyan for now to avoid arousing suspicion."

"Hmm," Old Wu took the teacup, took a sip, but didn't put it down immediately. He looked at Zhou Zhengnan, remained silent for a while, and finally said, "Old Zhou, there's something that's been bothering me."

"you say."

"My boss," Old Wu lowered his voice, his brow furrowed, "he encountered the search at the market, but when Dogskin Six came to the shop to question us, he was clearly covering for us."

"And another thing," Old Wu added, as if remembering something else, "Now that I think about it, do you know what the boss told me on the night of the operation?"

"What did he say?" Zhou Zhengnan asked, somewhat curious.

He said, "Be careful of the slippery roads on this snowy night. Li's Restaurant is everyone's escape route!" The implication was clear: he knew we were going to do something dangerous.

Xiao Wu straightened up and chimed in, "Uncle Wu is right. I've felt that too. Sometimes when I'm practicing my boxing, the owner passes by and not only doesn't find it strange, but he also says that the world is in chaos and it's good to be strong. He doesn't seem to be afraid at all of hiring two troublemakers into the shop."

"Hmm," Zhou Zhengnan said slowly, "This Li Chunsheng is indeed an extraordinary person. Although he runs a restaurant, his vision and manner of speaking far surpass those of ordinary small vendors. The fact that he can be so adept at navigating a place like Qianmenwai, managing to handle both the patrolman Fatty Liu and Ma San of the Black Tiger Gang, is definitely not just luck."

"If he realized who we were, why didn't he report us to the authorities? Or just kick us out?" Xiao Wu asked, puzzled. "We're doing a business that could cost us our lives if we're exposed. Isn't he afraid of implicating his restaurant?"

"Because he is a man with principles." Zhou Zhengnan put on his glasses. "From the time he saved Yunniang and her daughter to his insistence on sending Yaya to school, you can see that he has a sense of justice that is rare in this era. Such a person has a bright heart."

"More importantly," Zhou Zhengnan paused, "although he didn't join us, judging from all the signs he's shown, he supports us from the bottom of his heart. He's not only covering for you, but he's even using his own methods to facilitate our work."

Old Wu breathed a sigh of relief: "If that's the case, then in the future, could we perhaps..."

"No." Zhou Zhengnan immediately interrupted him, "We must still strictly abide by the rules! It's his kindness that he doesn't expose us; it's our responsibility that we don't expose him. If he wants a peaceful life, we can't bring the war to him. Remember, as long as we haven't withdrawn from that shop, we are just his accountants and employees; unless he takes the initiative to reveal it one day."

Old Wu and Xiao Wu nodded solemnly.

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On the other side, Li Chunsheng came out of Guanghelou, carrying an empty food box, and walked on the deserted street. Snowflakes fell on his shoulders, but he didn't feel cold at all.

Feng Gengguang, president of Xinhua Bank, and John Leighton Stuart, president of Yenching University—these two names were prestigious in Beiping in 1928. He originally just wanted to deliver a meal to Mr. Mei, but unexpectedly, he also received Feng Gengguang's business card.

Back in the backyard of Li's Restaurant, there was a commotion coming from the kitchen. Li Chunsheng lifted the curtain and saw Yunniang sitting behind the stove, pulling the bellows. The small iron pot on the stove was steaming. Yaya was lying on the bench next to her, nodding her head sleepily, but still rubbing her eyes.

"Chunsheng, you're finally back!" Yunniang stood up quickly as he entered, brushing the dust off her clothes. "Was the snow heavy? Did you get soaked?"

"It's alright, sister-in-law," Li Chunsheng put down the empty food box, smelled the aroma in the air, and asked, "What delicious food are you making?"

"It's a kind of pancake." Yunniang smiled a little embarrassedly. "Yaya said she didn't eat enough tonight and insisted on eating this. I thought you must be hungry after making this trip, so I made a few extra and heated up some leftover chicken soup from earlier today, and added two eggs for you."

Li Chunsheng felt a warmth in his heart. This was life. Although there were undercurrents outside, as long as he had a hot meal, his time-traveling days were not in vain.

"Oh, it smells so good!" Li Chunsheng didn't stand on ceremony. He washed his hands, sat on the bench, picked up a golden and soft rice cake, dipped it in garlic and vinegar sauce, and stuffed it into his mouth. "Sister-in-law, your cooking skills have improved."

Ya Ya was fully awake by now. Holding half a paper pancake, she asked, "Brother Chunsheng, did Mr. Mei eat your braised pork? Was he as handsome as the people in the paintings when he sang?"

"You ate it, you ate three pieces," Li Chunsheng teased the little girl. "Mr. Mei is not only handsome, but he also speaks very well. He said he would invite you to a play after the New Year."

"Really!" Ya Ya jumped up excitedly.

Yunniang sat to the side and waited until the two had almost finished eating before asking softly, "Did you run into any trouble at the theater today? I heard that important people come and go from Guanghe Tower."

Li Chunsheng put down his bowl and wiped his mouth: "I didn't encounter any trouble, but I did meet two benefactors."

He took out the business card that Feng Gengguang had given him from his pocket and handed it to Yunniang.

Although Yunniang knew a few words, she was not familiar with the financial giants.

She flipped through the high-end-looking business cards, pointed to the words and read aloud, "Feng Gengguang, Xinhua Bank, is he an official?"

"No, he's a businessman. You've heard of Xinhua Bank, right? He's the owner of Xinhua Bank," Li Chunsheng said, putting the business card back. "Sister-in-law, this Mr. Feng said that if we ever want to expand our business, we can go to him. There's also Mr. Situ from Yenching University who praised our food."

Yunniang was overjoyed. She had once been a pitiful person who sold her body for twenty copper coins, but now she could hear these famous names and some connection with Li Chunsheng from his mouth.

"Chunsheng, you're incredibly bold. That's a big banker, and you actually dared to chat with him."

"A businessman can't get rich without being daring."