20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 587 Missing Person Notice
The tea talk went smoothly.

Although there are many differences among the various gangs, factions, industries and associations, they are not irreconcilable contradictions. Now that Jiang Lianheng and others have shaken hands and made peace, other trivial matters will naturally not be a problem.

The entire foreign concession was divided into several areas, large and small, all of which were divided up by various bosses.

This situation is no different from the great powers dividing the Far East, the only difference is that some people eat the meat and some people drink the soup.

Jiang Lianheng had no intention of opening a business in Shanghai. His only request was to open a branch of an insurance company in Shilipu. The storefront did not need to be too big, nor did he expect to steal business from his peers. He just wanted to have a foothold in Shanghai, a liaison station, or a trading station so as to provide insurance services for the "businesses" in Fengtian.

Everyone accepted it with pleasure and politely asked Boss Jiang to take care of them if they had the opportunity to trade outside the Great Wall in the future.

Representatives from the Cantonese and Chaozhou gangs were also present, so naturally they didn't say much.

Lai Chunbao was not too dissatisfied with the Jiang family. He was mainly resentful of the Axe Gang. However, he seemed to have received instructions from some bigwigs, so he had to keep silent and let it go.

Wan Youyuan was imprisoned, and Ma Yanxia represented the Chao Gang. Most of his local products were sold to Guandong, right under Jiang Lianheng's nose. Now that he was in charge of the Chao Gang, he naturally did not want to be an enemy of the Jiang family anymore.

The three tycoons of the Green Gang had no objections, and the matter was easily settled.

Wu Chong was very happy, clapped his hands, and laughed: "Well, you are all quick-witted and sharp-tongued, heroes of the world!"

Everyone joined in the laughter.

Then, Wu Chong spoke in an official tone again, saying: "This tea talk was the idea of ​​General He, and it is mainly to ensure the stability and prosperity of Shanghai. Everyone knows that the situation is not peaceful now, and there may be a fight one day. When the time comes, everyone must do their best to help maintain the peace in the city!"

Everyone said of course, if a war broke out, they would do their best.

After all, if activities such as marches, demonstrations, protests, and calls for rest took place in the concession, it would be inconvenient for the authorities to step in personally, so they would have to let these gangs do the dirty work.

Wu Chong nodded and continued, "Everyone has reached an agreement this time, right? Everyone present here is a prominent figure, so you can't change your mind again, right?"

After saying that, everyone's eyes naturally fell on Zhang Xiaolin.

Zhang Xiaolin was so embarrassed that he had nowhere to hide, so he quickly waved his hands and said, "Commander Wu, you are joking. You are in charge of the situation here, who dares to regret it?"

"Okay, let's quickly clear the tea and set the table. It's already late. I haven't eaten all day. I'm just waiting for this meal!"

Wu Chong waved his hand and immediately ordered the waiter to serve the dishes.

In a short moment, there were beasts in the mountains, swallows in the clouds, cattle and sheep on land, and fresh water in the sea. There was an array of delicious food and delicacies, so dazzling that no one needed to explain.

Jiang Lianheng picked up the chopsticks and looked around. There was a mixture of sour, sweet, bitter, spicy and salty flavors. For a moment, he didn't know which flavor to try first.

In fact, the old predecessors have already said what kind of taste to try -

It's hard work to meet each other, it must be Jianghu.

This banquet was very tiring.

The wine goes down the throat like watery soup; the food tastes like chewing wax.

Not only Jiang Lianheng, but also Huang Mapi, Zhang Xiaolin, Du Yong, Lai Chunbao, and Ma Yanxia, ​​all felt that they had lost and were ashamed.

Everyone felt a little uneasy, but they still had to put on a smile.

This kind of alliance achieved by relying on external forces is naturally extremely fragile. No one can be sure how long it can last.

After three rounds of wine, five flavors of food.

Jiang Lianheng turned to look at Lai Chunbao and suddenly asked, "Mr. Lai, I want to ask you something."

Lai Chunbao was stunned, thought for a moment, and then said, "Mr. Jiang wants to ask where Mr. Liu's body is, right?"

"Well, after that incident in Zhabei... after that misunderstanding, I haven't seen Yan Sheng since. I heard from Mr. Du before that his body seems to be with you?"

"Yes, Mr. Liu's body is in the northern suburbs, in the charity cemetery owned by our hometown association. If you have time, I can take you there tomorrow."

"That would be the best," Jiang Lianheng said. "After all, it's been so long, he should be buried in peace."

Lai Chunbao nodded and said loudly: "That's right, don't worry, Mr. Liu's body is intact, and our Guangdong Gang is not that despicable."

"Okay, thank you very much, brother. I will bring people there early tomorrow morning. I hope you can help let them know."

Jiang Lianheng's voice was muffled, half with guilt and half with unwillingness.

Upon hearing this, Du Yong suddenly suggested, "The dead are the greatest. If that's the case, why don't we all go and pay our respects tomorrow—"

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Lianheng raised his hand to interrupt him and said, "No, thank you Mr. Du for your kindness, but I want to be alone with my brother for a while."

"Well, that's right. Does Mr. Liu have any relatives or children? If so, it would be convenient for us to express our gratitude," Du Yong asked.

Jiang Lianheng was stunned for a moment, and after thinking for a long time, he finally shook his head and said, "He has never married. As for his relatives in his hometown... I've never heard him talk about them..."

Wu Chong was a little drunk. After hearing this, he waved his hands and said, "Well, we are all children of the Jianghu! If you have a family and a business, why would you go all the way to Fengtian to make a living? The world is so chaotic, where can you find relatives? Mr. Jiang, anyway, I am a member of your Jiang family!"

Jiang Lianheng seemed a little hesitant.

He had no idea what Liu Yansheng was thinking. He was undecided as to whether to go back to Fengtian with him or return to his roots.

"Let's wait and see. I'll ask again later."

Jiang Lianheng murmured to himself, wondering who he should ask, but he didn't say. After all, he wouldn't ask Liu Yansheng.

This went on for another three or two hours.

Wu Chong's face turned red and his neck became thick. He spoke with a slurred tongue and gasped for breath. Finally, he had a great time.

They had all been there before and had endured so much hardship for so long just to keep him company. Now that they saw that he had eaten and drunk enough, they began to show their intention to leave one after another.

Fortunately, although Wu Chong was a heavy drinker, he was not addicted to alcohol. He drank endlessly and when he was drunk, he started to make a fuss and wanted to leave.

Li stood up crookedly, holding his pockets, and laughed: "Okay, okay, you guys are like thieves. You don't drink much, but you are trying hard to make me drink! Okay, it's time to go home! Be honest recently and stop making trouble. We'll get together again some other day!"

Everyone said of course, stood up, and surrounded Wu Chong as he left the private room.

At this moment, Jiang Lianheng suddenly shouted across the table, "Inspector Huang, are you in a hurry to go back? I have something to discuss with you."

Huang Ma Pi was suddenly stunned, raised his eyes, and said quickly: "No hurry, no hurry, uh... Mr. Jiang, I just happen to have something to discuss with you!"

Seeing that the two of them seemed to have made an appointment beforehand and were busy flattering Wu Chong, everyone didn't ask any more questions and allowed them to sit in the private room for a while.

Jiang Lianheng stood up, closed the door, picked up the cups and plates on the table, found an empty seat next to Huang Mapi, sat down, and took out a pack of cigarettes.

"smokes?"

"Okay, thank you." Jiang Lianheng struck a match, lit a cigarette for Huang Ma Pi and himself, then shook his hand and threw the half-burnt matchstick into the leftovers.

Huang Ma Pi knew that Jiang Lianheng was the kidnapper who kidnapped him.

Jiang Lianheng also knew that Huang Ma Pi knew his background.

But the two of them were in tacit agreement and both pretended to be stupid, and neither of them was willing to break the window paper.

"Inspector Huang, there have been a lot of murders in the French Concession recently!" Jiang Lianheng asked, "You must be very busy, have you completed the task with the foreigners?"

Huang Ma Pi was slightly embarrassed and forced a smile, saying, "It's just a small matter. As long as it doesn't involve foreigners, it's a small matter. What's more, there are witnesses, so the case will be closed soon."

Then, Jiang Lianheng asked a few more questions.

There is no need to hide Huang Ma Pi's intention. The way to solve the case is to shoot the arrow first and then draw the target.

In the meantime, they both knew how to fabricate charges, how to cleverly set up physical evidence, how to interrogate motives, all of which the two were experienced in, so they only needed to mention them briefly.

After all, the victims were not tycoons, and the murders happened to take place at the same time as the Washington Conference, so they did not cause much impact.

However, if Jiang Lianheng's plan had succeeded that night and implicated Zhang Xiaolin, there might have been greater public opinion and the foreigners would have personally interrogated him. At that time, Wen Tingge would have testified and pointed out that he had claimed to have betrayed Jiang Lianheng and conspired with Zhang Xiaolin and Wan Youyuan to carry out the Zhabei assassination the night before the tea talk.

Then everything will be clean.

Now the only one missing is Zhang Xiaolin.

Jiang Lianheng didn't want to look back and feel annoyed, so he just looked forward and said, "Inspector Huang, that witness, Wen Tingge, is my man. You should know that, right?"

"I know, I know." Huang Ma Pi said hurriedly, "He is doing well now. After the foreigners confirmed it last night, he has been transferred to the French Concession Hospital. I was just about to tell you, but I didn't expect you to ask first."

"Really? Thanks to Inspector Huang for taking care of me. I'll go see him tomorrow. Look, how can I thank you so much?"

"Well, Mr. Jiang, you're too polite. This is all Xiao Kesi's fault!"

"What's small?"

"Pidgin, case, small situation!"

Jiang Lianheng smiled and flattered him for his erudition and talent.

Huang Ma Pi didn't smile. Instead, he looked worried and uncomfortable.

"Mr. Jiang, if you really want to thank me, this... this... hehe, some things are really hard to explain!"

He hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping himself. Jiang Lianheng naturally knew what he meant, but he said, "Inspector Huang, you don't have to be embarrassed. This is the first time we meet, and you're doing me such a big favor. If you have anything to say, just say it."

First time meeting?
Huang Mapi's eyes rolled and he immediately understood what Jiang Lianheng meant. He chuckled twice, said a few polite words like "favors are priceless", and quickly changed the subject.

Jiang Lianheng said, "I've heard that Inspector Huang is a master at solving cases, but people's hearts are hidden!"

"Hmm?" Huang Ma Pi frowned, "What does Mr. Jiang mean by this?"

"Think about it, there are many witnesses to these murders, including the opera troupe from New Stage and the merchants from Guanghe Building. If they don't say anything now, they may not say anything in the future. What if there is new evidence and Wan Youyuan overturns the case? Not to mention that it would be against justice, I am mainly afraid that it would ruin the reputation of Inspector Huang!"

This is obviously a groundless worry.

How could it be possible for the suspect who was ordered to be arrested by Huang Ma Pi to have his case overturned?

Jiang Lianheng was naturally playing dumb.

Huang Ma Pi also heard the hidden meaning in his words, so he asked: "Then according to Mr. Jiang's opinion, what should we do?"

Jiang Lianheng threw the cigarette butt on the ground and extinguished it with his foot. He suddenly raised his head and said, "There is only one kind of person in this world who will not overturn a verdict."

"dead?"

"I'm doing this for Inspector Huang's reputation!"

"I see, I see." Huang Ma Pi reacted immediately and said hurriedly, "Mr. Jiang is absolutely right. I have long felt that those foreigners are unreliable in judging cases. They are clearly murderers, but they don't execute them. Instead, they lock them up in jail, give them food and drink, and then release them for more than ten years. It's simply outrageous!"

Jiang Lianheng nodded and said with emotion: "Wan Youyuan has indeed committed many evil deeds and deserves to die, but Inspector Huang is an official and it is not convenient for him to do it himself. If Inspector Huang trusts me, I am willing to send someone to help you get rid of this trouble, even if it is to repay Inspector Huang's favor. How do you think?"

Huang Ma Pi couldn't help but smacking his lips, thinking to himself, I helped you open the back door to get someone in, and now you are repaying me.

There's nothing to argue with!
Who made Jiang Lianheng the person that General He wants to protect now?

Huang Ma Pi could only smile bitterly and said, "That's great, that's great. The person who tied the bell must be the one to untie it. Then I'll have to trouble Mr. Jiang. Send someone in the next two days and I'll arrest him. After the matter is settled, I'll release him. But——"

He hesitated and confirmed again and again: "Mr. Jiang, this is the first time we meet, right?"

"Isn't it?" Jiang Lianheng asked, "Could it be that... Inspector Huang thinks I look familiar?"

"I don't recognize his face, but his voice is familiar. He looks like, damn near, an old friend of mine."

"I see, it seems like we have a deep connection!"

"Nice to meet you, nice to meet you!" Huang Ma Pi suddenly stood up, "It's settled then, Mr. Jiang, I'll have to help me get rid of the trouble, you must keep your word!"

"Don't worry, I'm not Zhang Xiaolin. There's no reason to regret what I've said." Jiang Lianheng also stood up.

"Then I'll take my leave. Goodbye!"

"Wait!"

Seeing Huang Ma Pi was about to leave, Jiang Lianheng suddenly stopped him and said, "Inspector Huang, I want to ask you to do me a favor. Officer Wu just said that he hopes you can cooperate with me. I am not familiar with the others, but I am closest to you, so I want to ask you a question."

"What else?" Huang Ma Pi looked confused.

This can probably be regarded as the first intelligence cooperation between Jiang Lianheng and the Green Gang tycoon.

However, during this first collaboration, he had selfish motives.

"I would like to trouble Inspector Huang to help me find someone in Shanghai."

"Do you have a name?"

Finding people is a common task for Huang Ma Pi, so he was naturally confident when he agreed to do so.

Jiang Lianheng thought about it and then described a portrait of the character.

"The man I'm looking for has the surname Gong, but he may not be surnamed Gong in Shanghai. He has a northern accent and is from Fengtian. The corners of his eyes are a little droopy. He should be just over 40 years old now, or in his early 40s. He is lazy and seems to be unable to wake up all day. Well... he should still be with this little girl. No, he should not be young anymore, at least around 20 years old. He may be in Shanghai, or he may not be. Anyway, please keep an eye on him for me. I beg you to do me a favor!"

(End of this chapter)