Agents of the Republic of China

In the past few days, there has been no news in the concession. Except for the news that David, a British naval officer, had his legs broken a few days ago, there is really nothing that can stimulate the hearing and senses of the Shanghainese.Although the parties and two witnesses confirmed that the attacker was a Japanese, the Japanese side did not say anything, but the Shanghai Garrison issued a statement, expressing the attitude of strictly investigating the murderer, nothing more.

What is intriguing is the attitude of the British side. The British Navy in Shanghai issued a strongly worded announcement, pointing the finger at Japan's negative response.But the British government has remained silent.This made Lin Xiaotang a little sad. If the British knew that the murderer was actually a Chinese, it would definitely not be the situation now. I am afraid that the concession would have been turned upside down long ago. A weak country has no diplomacy. It is indeed true!

At noon, Fatty Shen came back from the outside, seeing the lackluster business in the store, he couldn't help but curse.He turned around and called Ma Qixiang, who was lingering with his new prey, and Lin Xiaotang, who was in a daze at the bar, and returned to the office together.

Fatty Shen's office has the aura of a nouveau riche. All the furnishings are golden European-style furniture and supplies, and the originally small space is filled to the brim.

Fatty Shen is a member of the Green Gang. Lin Xiaotang knew this a long time ago. Ever since he ambush the British police officer David, Fatty Shen also expressed his intention to let Lin Xiaotang join the gang, but Lin Xiaotang didn't want to be bound by this in the future, so Just hit a haha ​​to fool the past.Fatty Shen is also a smart person, after he understood Lin Xiaotang's intentions, he never mentioned it again.

Fatty Shen brought Ma Qixiang and Lin Xiaotang here because his boss is also his master, Wan Molin (Note [-]), a well-known gangster in Shanghai, is going to hold a reception in the mansion to entertain celebrities from all walks of life in Shanghai. Not enough, so Fatty Shen and Ma Qixiang brought their brothers to help.Hearing this, Lin Xiaotang couldn't help but looked at Ma Qixiang curiously. Could it be that he is also a member of the gang?

Ma Qixiang seemed to see Lin Xiaotang's doubts, he smiled and put out the cigarette butt, "It's nothing strange, I'm a character whose grandma doesn't love my uncle, so I always have to leave a way out for myself."

Fatty Shen specially told Lin Xiaotang to say hello to the clerks and chefs. Tonight, all the celebrities present at the scene are celebrities from Shanghai Bund, and everyone must cheer up and make no mistakes.

Wan Molin's mansion is located in a villa area. Lin Xiaotang and Datou led a group of waiters and cooks, carrying the necessary tools, walking on a tree-lined path that is not too wide, looking at the two sides of the road. Exquisite and luxurious house, everyone is speechless.

Fatty Shen changed into an elegant tuxedo, and his round belly was supported by a white shirt, as if it might burst at any moment. He reached out and patted the back of the big head, "Keep your voice down, a group of countrymen, you know that everyone here Is there someone living there? We can't afford to offend anyone!"

As soon as they entered the mansion, someone greeted them and led them directly to the worker's room at the back, directing everyone to change into uniform waiter uniforms, and then a man who looked like a butler came to teach etiquette, because there are still Some foreigners, so some Western-style banquet etiquette is essential.

For a whole afternoon, a group of brothers were dizzy from being tossed about, but Fatty Shen and Ma Qixiang watched the layout of the banquet hall and the various people coming and going, and chatted a few words from time to time, but their expressions gradually became serious .

At seven o'clock in the evening, guests from all walks of life arrived one after another. Accompanied by his disciples and disciples, Wan Molin met the guests in the banquet hall.Fatty Shen and Ma Qixiang were also among them, and people kept calling them "Brother Glasses, Brother Young Master."

Lin Xiaotang guessed that this might be the nicknames of the two of them, but after thinking about it, Lin Xiaotang couldn't help thinking of a well-known formula in Shanghai: Thirteen Taibao, Yiyue in power, Teacher Kuaidao, Prodigal son rich man, Student Master, Xionghuyingbao, Glasses, cigarette holders and long guns cannot escape.

Could it be that Fatty Shen and Ma Qixiang are members of the famous Shanghai Thirteen Taibao?

Suppressing the curiosity in his heart, Lin Xiaotang held a tray full of drinks and shuttled among the dignitaries.It's the twelfth lunar month, but the room is as warm as spring. The male and female guests in long robes, jackets, dresses, and long skirts are holding wine glasses and smiling, but they don't feel the wind and rain in the outside world.

There was a commotion at the door, and the welcome guests shouted loudly: "Mr. Zhang Xiaolin, deputy director of the Shanghai Secret Service Headquarters and famous businessman Zhang Xiaolin is here!" There was a commotion in the crowded banquet hall, and people turned their heads to look in the direction of the gate.

Wan Molin was stunned for a moment, but then regained his composure, and rushed to greet him with a group of disciples.

A tall man in a suit who was less than 40 years old and an old man in his 50s wearing a long gown and top hat walked into the gate with their arms behind them. Behind them were a dozen big men in black clothes with short guns. go hand in hand.

Wan Molin took a step forward, and flirted with the old man, "Uncle, why did my little reception surprise you so much?"

The old man took off his top hat, handed it to the servants, touched his short gray hair, stared at Wan Molin for a while, and said meaningfully: "Mulin, Boss Huang doesn't care about world affairs now, and Yue Sheng is gone away again." Hong Kong, if I don’t take a closer look at this huge Shanghai beach, it’s hard to guarantee that people with ulterior motives will take advantage of it. No, I heard that you treat guests here, so I’ll come and take a look. It’s also to help you keep the place down. Why, no welcome?"

The light in Wan Molin's eyes flashed away, and then he said yes again and again, met with Li Shiqun again, and surrounded the two of them into the venue.

As soon as the two entered the meeting place, they were surrounded by the crowd. Zhang Xiaolin and Li Shiqun talked and laughed happily and handled things freely, as if they were the protagonists of today's reception.Wan Molin, who was left out, looked at the backs of the two of them coldly, called a doorman, and said in a low voice, "Tell Xiao Shen and Xiao Ma to keep an eye on what's going on over there. Boss Zhang and Li Shiqun's sudden visit is just to watch Kill me, let them adapt to the situation, things will not be good tonight!"

Fatty Shen listened to Wan Molin's message delivered by the doorman in silence, and nodded.Turning to Ma Qixiang, he said, "Did you see that Wu Sibao and Duan Baihu didn't follow, they should have gone to work, I don't know what's going on outside."

Ma Qixiang stretched out of boredom, "Calm down, it's still early, keep your spirits up, many people are destined to not be able to sleep tonight." Then he stood up and put his suit on his shoulders, "I'll go to the back kitchen to find Have something to eat."

Lin Xiaotang walked among the crowd while watching everything that happened in the banquet hall.Regarding the arrival of Zhang Xiaolin and Li Shiqun, he had an instinctive feeling of approaching danger.As far as he knew, Huang Jinrong, the three big tycoons in Shanghai, was already at home and thanked guests behind closed doors. Du Yuesheng didn't want to be a traitor and left for Hong Kong.There is also Li Shiqun, who is a very peculiar character. He first betrayed the Communist Party, and later defected from the military command to Nanjing, and joined Wang Jingwei. , also known as the head of No. 76, with ruthless means and a vigorous figure.

And what purpose did these two uninvited guests suddenly come to Wan Mansion tonight?

Thinking of this, Lin Xiaotang couldn't help being a little distracted, completely unaware that a slender hand took a glass of red wine from the tray in his hand, and the owner of that hand accidentally saw Lin Xiaotang's side face, and immediately called out, " Xiao Qi, why is it you?"

Lin Xiaotang suddenly heard this familiar voice, turned his head in a daze, and saw the woman in front of him clearly. His chest seemed to have been hit by a heavy hammer in an instant, and the blood all over his body seemed to gather on the top of his head. At this moment, He almost doubted whether he was dreaming, looking at the face that often appeared in dreams, Lin Xiaotang subconsciously pressed the handkerchief in his body pocket, and his thoughts had already flown back to those green years.

"Xiaoqi, if I leave, will you come to see me?" The soft tone, accompanied by that flowery smile, was deeply engraved on Lin Xiaotang's heart.

Lin Xiaotang thought again of that night filled with spring rain, full of anticipation, she shrank and hid in a corner, holding flowers and carefully prepared gifts, waiting for the appearance of her sweetheart, fantasizing about spending a romantic time with her birthday.

What he was waiting for was the scene that broke his heart so far. The girl he loves is holding a man's hand and walking towards home. Lin Xiaotang has never seen the sweetness and satisfaction on her face. , never seemed to belong to him.

The two chuckled, hugged, and kissed under the street lamp, while Lin Xiaotang was hiding in the shadow and trembling, the flowers and gifts in his hands fell on the wet soil, and a young heart was smashed together.

Because Lin Xiaotang could see clearly that the man who kissed the girl he loved was his best friend.

Ma Qixiang and Datou stood bored at the entrance of the passage between the banquet hall and the back kitchen, each with a cigarette in his hand, and from time to time took a glass of wine from the passing waiter and drank it all in one gulp.

Ma Qixiang's eyes searched the crowd, surrounded by fat, swallows and thin, and beauties gathered, tonight's banquet definitely suits his style, but right now he really doesn't have this intention, because there are still big things to do.

Suddenly, Ma Qixiang bumped the big head with his arm, "Hey, hey! Big head! Look over there, I'm not mistaken, isn't Xiao Qi chasing a girl? That girl looks pretty good!"

The big head turned his head casually, "It's just him! It's almost like being soaked, where is it?"

Ma Qixiang pointed, looked carefully with his big head, and spit out the wine in his mouth with a "poof"