Chapter 119: Deceived

Knock, knock!

After a few knocks, the door was opened quickly.

"Brother Li!" Zuo Ban looked surprised to see Li Wensheng, then hurriedly ushered him inside.

In the room, two dishes, a set of bowls and chopsticks, and a bottle of liquor were set out on the table.

"Drinking already at noon?" Li Wensheng sat down and smiled.

Zuo Ban gave a sheepish grin. "I didn't have any work this afternoon, so I thought I'd have a couple of drinks. Brother Li, have you eaten yet? Why don't you join me?"

"No, I have things to do later. And you—don't drink anymore."

Li Wensheng pulled a thick stack of US dollars from his pocket and placed it on the table.

Looking at the stack, which amounted to at least a thousand dollars, Zuo Ban was stunned.

"Th-that... Brother Li, what... what do you need me to do?"

Zuo Ban was so terrified he began to stutter; a thousand dollars could buy dozens of lives.

"Don't worry, this money is for you to move. Two hours ago, I came to see you, but I was followed. That means someone has their eye on you. Move immediately, and for the next little while, keep a low profile. Can you do that?"

Zuo Ban’s heart, which had been pounding wildly, finally slowed down.

"Brother Li, I can do what you say. But you should take the money back; moving doesn't cost this much."

"Just take it," Li Wensheng said, standing up. "Remember, stay out of sight. Keep yourself hidden."

Seeing that Li Wensheng was firm, Zuo Ban stopped refusing and replied quickly, "Don't worry, Brother Li. I'll definitely stay hidden. I won't contact any of my old acquaintances."

"Good. I'm leaving."

Li Wensheng walked toward the door. Just as he was about to open it, he suddenly remembered why he had come to see Zuo Ban in the first place—he had nearly forgotten after that incident with the man in the traditional gown.

"Do you know where one can buy a refrigerator?" Li Wensheng asked, turning around.

Zuo Ban, who had just reached for the money on the table, pulled his hand back. He stared blankly for a few seconds, calming his heart which had been startled by Li Wensheng again, and after thinking for a moment, he replied in confusion, "A refrigerator? Brother Li, you mean that appliance that freezes things once you plug it in?"

"Yes. Do you know where to buy one?"

"This thing... it seems no one in all of Shanghai sells them. I only know about it because I heard a gossip-monger mention it. He was marveling at how rich Yin Shibao is, spending thousands of dollars to have someone buy a machine from abroad that can freeze things with electricity."

"Who is Yin Shibao?" Li Wensheng asked, his brow slightly furrowed.

"The general manager of the Meifeng Bank. He's incredibly wealthy."

Li Wensheng nodded slightly and urged, "Move as soon as possible."

"Brother Li, don't worry, I'll move right away," Zuo Ban replied.

After stepping out of Jinqiao Lane, Li Wensheng headed toward the street where he had parked his car. Once inside, he drove toward home.

Since he couldn't find a place to buy a refrigerator and didn't know Yin Shibao, and because he had discovered that people were hunting him and had even tracked him to Zuo Ban, Li Wensheng decided to keep a low profile for the time being.

Aside from checking on the flour mill every few days and meeting with Wang Feng at the Ciro's nightclub once a week, he holed up at home.

By mid-July, the weather outside had become increasingly sweltering.

Shortly after five in the afternoon, Li Wensheng left the Zheng Family Clinic and drove to Ciro's.

Ciro's was much more luxurious than the Qiao Le Dance Hall or the Lido. It was the premier dance hall in Shanghai, and its opulence rivaled the luxury clubs of the twenty-first century.

Ciro's also featured a wide variety of performances—water ballet, tap dancing with gold and silver shoes... a new spectacle every few days.

Tonight’s attraction was water ballet. As soon as Li Wensheng walked in, he saw a dozen young, beautiful women in the large swimming pool in front of the dance floor, raising their long, snow-white legs.

After glancing around, Li Wensheng headed toward a booth near the left wall.

Once seated, he set his briefcase on the table and pushed it toward Wang Feng, who was sitting opposite him.

Wang Feng did not take the briefcase; instead, he pushed his own briefcase toward Li Wensheng.

"It’s been nearly a month since the war ended. The market price for Western medicine is dropping. This time, there’s only 1,800."

Listening to Wang Feng’s low-voiced explanation, Li Wensheng didn't mind. He wasn't short on money now, so he didn't care if it was a bit less. He picked up the briefcase and tossed it onto the sofa.

"I can't move the goods this time," Wang Feng said, pushing Li Wensheng’s briefcase back.

Li Wensheng looked at him in surprise but said nothing, as a waiter was approaching.

After ordering a drink and waiting for the waiter to leave, Li Wensheng asked, "Did something happen?"

"Mr. Gao’s men found me. They asked why the Japanese were suppressing his business, and why I hadn't sought him out after coming to the French Concession. I managed to brush it off, but it won’t be long before Mr. Gao realizes I was lying. I have to hide for a while."

Li Wensheng frowned. "Will hiding solve anything? You’ll have to show your face eventually, won't you?"

Wang Feng took a sip of his drink and said slowly, "It will solve it. Mr. Gao is in big trouble right now. His previous businesses were all in the Japanese Concession. The Japanese sealed off the Lido Dance Hall and then wiped out all his other ventures. Without business, he can't support his men. Last month, he started trying to open up channels in the French and International Concessions."

"Business in the concessions is fiercely contested; every spot is taken. Even the beggars on the street have people behind them..."

At that moment, the waiter returned, and Wang Feng immediately fell silent. Once the waiter had delivered Li Wensheng’s drink and left, Wang Feng continued.

"Even the begging trade has backers, let alone other businesses. A while ago, he offended Huang Jinrong to get into the opium trade. Huang Jinrong doesn't want to work for the Japanese, so he has been keeping a low profile and staying out of affairs, and his influence has weakened significantly. But in terms of power, besides that fellow who brought shame to the Green Gang and Ji Qingyun, Huang Jinrong is still the biggest player. Mr. Gao offended him, so there is no place for him in the French or International Concessions. He’ll have to leave soon."

Li Wensheng nodded slightly, took a sip of his drink, and said, "Then hide for a while. Come out once Mr. Gao is gone. I’ll keep the medicine for you; we can sell it when you return."

"Then I thank you in advance," Wang Feng smiled.

He leaned in slightly and whispered, "Wensheng, I have a buyer. She has purchased from me several times and knows I have a large supply. A while ago, she told me that no matter how much I have, she will take it all, at five percent above market price."

Li Wensheng’s hand paused. He took a drink, set the glass down, and asked, "Did you agree?"

"No. I wouldn't dare agree without your word. I wouldn't even have brought it up if I weren't unable to move the goods myself."

Li Wensheng turned slightly, watching the water ballet in the pool. "In such a hurry to go abroad?"

Since he couldn't move the goods himself, he was introducing a buyer who could take everything at once. Wang Feng clearly wanted to make a big profit quickly so he could leave the country.

"No, no, I just didn't want to delay your business. I won't take a cut of this deal," Wang Feng said hastily.

Li Wensheng turned his head sharply toward Wang Feng.

Under Li Wensheng’s piercing gaze, Wang Feng faltered. "What's wrong?"

Li Wensheng turned back to watch the ballet. "Brother Wang, we’ve been through thick and thin together. For your sake, I’ll agree to this deal. We’ll go by the market price. I have over 800 boxes left; let's just call it 800 even."

A flash of joy crossed Wang Feng’s eyes. "Thank you. Wensheng, I am truly sorry; I didn't expect Mr. Gao to find me."

"No need to thank me. Brother Wang, don't come looking for me after this deal."

Wang Feng’s expression froze. Just as he was about to speak, Li Wensheng stood up, picked up his glass, and downed the drink in one gulp.

*Clack!*

As he set the glass down, Li Wensheng said in a low, heavy voice, "Brother Wang, I don't care whose side you're on. I’ll sell the medicine, but I hope you know when to stop."

Since Wang Feng had said he wouldn't take a cut, Li Wensheng immediately realized that Wang Feng had been lying to him! A man desperate to make money to go abroad wouldn't refuse a commission—the only explanation was that he belonged to an organization, and it was his organization buying the medicine.

But Wang Feng couldn't be with the Japanese, or he wouldn't have killed the men from the Iwai Mansion.

Under Li Wensheng’s sharp gaze, Wang Feng didn't try to explain. He said solemnly, "Thank you."

"Two days from now, at ten in the morning, come alone to the Xiangyuan Bookstore diagonally across from my house. If anyone else is with you, the deal is off."

With that, Li Wensheng picked up both briefcases and walked out.