National Tide 1980.

Oh, I forgot to introduce you.

Zhao Chunshu quickly pulled the young man next to him forward and introduced him to Ning Weimin with a smile, "This is my disciple, Nakamura Go. Although his father is Japanese, his mother is Chinese and from my hometown, Tianjin."

Nakamura Goya quickly bowed, his waist bent like a drawn bow, and spoke in a loud, clear voice like a striking bell, in fairly standard Mandarin.

“Mr. Ning, I’ve long admired your name! My master often says that you are the most capable Chinese person in Tokyo’s business world. I hope you will continue to guide and support me in the future.”

It turned out he wasn't an outsider, but an apprentice.

Only then could Ning Weimin truly feel at ease.

As the saying goes, one must listen to the underlying meaning. He could actually guess Zhao Chunshu's thoughts; it was clear that he wanted to groom Nakamura Hiroshi as his successor.

However, it was precisely because he heard that the other party had Chinese ancestry that Ning Weimin became increasingly curious about the fact that all of Zhao Chunshu's people could speak Chinese.

So when he introduced Bian Gang to the two of them as his assistant, after exchanging pleasantries, he couldn't help but continue to ask questions.

"Mr. Zhao, I see that not only your apprentices can speak Chinese, but even those people at the gate can speak Chinese? Are most of your subordinates Chinese? Does the Inagawa Association tolerate you treating your compatriots so well?"

Unexpectedly, Zhao Chunshu sighed when the matter was brought up.

His expression was not one of pride, but rather one of gloom and frustration.

"No, it's not what you think. First of all, they are not purely Chinese. They speak Chinese well because they are all of mixed Chinese and Japanese descent, just like Nakamura. Secondly, they are pitiful; they are people rejected by Japanese society. If they hadn't had a difficult childhood in Japan and suffered discrimination from society at every turn, they wouldn't have gathered around me and followed me down this path. If possible, I would prefer that they all leave me and do some proper work."

"What? Will people of mixed Chinese and Japanese descent be ostracized in Japan? They are, after all, half Japanese."

Ning Weimin was shocked by Zhao Chunshu's words; he found them quite unbelievable.

"Sigh, that's how they treat you. You might not know, but Japanese society is actually very harsh on people of different races. People of mixed Chinese and Japanese descent like Haozi practically have no right to breathe freely in Japan. From school onwards, they have to endure vicious insults. Japanese people call them 'bastards,' while Chinese people call them 'devils,' they're disliked by both sides. Violence is commonplace; they get beaten almost every few days, sometimes every three days, sometimes every five. And the school completely condones it. To be honest, the situation for people of mixed Chinese and Japanese descent is actually even more difficult than for Chinese people like me in Japan. Haozi was in middle school when he resisted five or six Japanese..." I discovered it when my thugs were ganging up on him. Their methods were appallingly cruel; if it weren't for me, he might have been beaten to death. And this situation hasn't changed. Last year, there was a news story in Tokyo about a half-Japanese, half-Chinese man who was called a "bastard" and threatened to be kicked out of a ramen shop because of his Chinese heritage. Unable to bear the humiliation, he stabbed the man with his chopsticks and was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison. That kid was only sixteen! His future was gone just like that. Of my 120-plus men, over 80 are young men like that; right now, they have no other way to survive except by following me.”

As Zhao Chunshu spoke, his voice trembled slightly, perhaps because he was too emotional.

Although Nakamura Gou had his head down, Ning Weimin noticed that his fingers were unconsciously digging into the edge of the tatami mat, his knuckles turning white from the force, clearly indicating that his master's words had also touched a raw nerve.

It has to be said that although Ning Weimin knew in his heart that Zhao Chunshu might be playing the victim at this moment and had a scheme to awaken his sympathy, he was genuinely touched at this moment.

After all, everything should be viewed from a dialectical perspective.

Zhao Chunshu certainly had blood on his hands, but his care for his compatriots and his deep sense of loyalty and righteousness were also genuine.

Humans aren't plants or trees; when Zhao Chunshu spoke of such things, it was filled with genuine emotion, and it couldn't possibly be 100% acting.

Given his situation, his background, and his style of doing things, it is actually quite understandable.

And to be honest, what makes China what it is is its great capacity for emotional and cultural inclusiveness.

People of mixed Chinese and Japanese descent are, after all, half Chinese. The key difference that determines whether this group is human or ghost lies not in anything else, but in how they themselves perceive themselves.

Therefore, Ning Weimin asked the most important question.

"So how do your subordinates view their own bloodline? Do they consider themselves Chinese or Japanese?"

“This…” Zhao Chunshu stammered.

For him, Ning Weimin's question was too direct, and it was indeed difficult to answer for a while.

After all, this is Japan, and these children are definitely Japanese citizens. Moreover, there are many Japanese people here, and it's hard for people's thoughts not to be influenced by their environment. Zhao Chunshu really wasn't sure what kind of answer he should give.

Nakamura, however, responded to this without hesitation.

"We can't change our bloodline, but we all wish we were Chinese, not Japanese. If we could choose our own nationality, we would definitely choose China."

"Why?" Ning Weimin continued to press, needing a logical reason, otherwise he couldn't believe it.

“Because Chinese people are friendlier. Being Chinese is happier.” Nakamura Go said without hesitation, “We mixed-race people can speak both Chinese and Japanese, but the attitudes of Chinese and Japanese towards us are completely different. Most Japanese people isolate us because we can speak Chinese and reject us completely. Most Chinese people are very kind to us. Some even envy us for being bilingual and think we are amazing. Even those who hate us and think we are ‘devils’ will not call us ‘bastards’ to our faces like the Japanese do. At least we can keep to ourselves. Chinese people are so good. If possible, we would certainly like to be pure Chinese.”

The most crucial issue has actually been discussed enough here.

At this point, Ning Weimin had established that the other party had a basis for him to extend goodwill.

Everything else is trivial to him.

“Mr. Zhao, from the first time I met you, I could tell you were a man of great loyalty and integrity. Looking at your subordinates now, I can confirm that’s true. It’s truly a privilege to have met you. Oh, by the way, I haven’t thanked you for your help last time. This time, I want to properly express my gratitude.”

Zhao Chunshu was a sensible man. Although Ning Weimin suddenly changed his tune and praised him, this evasive attitude was a bit puzzling, but he clearly understood the meaning behind Ning Weimin's words.

So, just as his foolish apprentice was filled with confusion and about to say something, he quickly seized the opportunity to speak first, giving Nakamura no chance to act foolishly.

“Mr. Ning, you flatter me. You are a business genius I have never met before. It is my good fortune to have met you. The little favor I did for you last time was just a small favor, nothing to worry about. But you, when I desperately needed help, were willing to come and guide me without fear of trouble. This deep kindness has moved me greatly. Please sit down, please sit down. Let’s take our seats first and then talk more.”

And so, with Zhao Chunshu's warm greeting, the group finally sat down and began to eat and chat.

Their conversation then touched upon today's main topic.

"Mr. Ning, I'm not afraid to admit it, but with the Japanese economy collapsing like this lately, our Inagawa-kai has also suffered heavy losses. We're almost on the verge of collapse. To be honest, this is all thanks to our Inagawa-kai's second-generation leader, Ishii Takamasa. It's his fault. I admit, that guy is indeed very intelligent, but he's also stubborn and doesn't know when to stop."

To express his sincerity, Zhao Chunshu personally poured wine for Ning Weimin, filling the porcelain cup with the clear liquid.

He paused slightly, his smile tinged with caution, and then began to reveal more about the internal workings of the Inagawa Association.

"In the years when the Japanese economy was doing well, Ishii tried to reduce our Inagawa-kai's reliance on traditional sources of income and establish a corporate yakuza group. He decided to use the group's funds for stock market investments and obtained the support of Shin Kanemaru, the 'godfather' of Japanese politics. After that, he embarked on an ambitious path of speculation."

"Over the years, he invested a total of approximately 170 billion yen in the stock market, purchasing shares in many companies, including Tokyo Gas, Nippon Steel, and Nomura Securities. In 1987, his investments yielded profits exceeding 12 billion yen, fifty times that of the previous year. As a result, he opened a new headquarters for the Inagawa-kai, where the land price was 15 million yen per square meter at the time. Later, he also spent a considerable sum purchasing paintings by Renoir, Chagall, Monet, and others, estimated to have spent over 10 billion yen."

"In the spring of 1989, Ishii attempted to hoard shares of Tokyu Railway, a major railway and hotel company. He succeeded this time, making a profit of 100%. But this was his last moment of glory. As you know, by the end of the year, the Japanese stock market began to crash and never recovered. Ishii then began to suffer huge losses. Most importantly, at this point, the money Ishii used to invest in the stock market was no longer limited to the Inagawa-kai's own funds; he also used high leverage by seeking financing from banks and securities companies."

"So he not only easily lost all the money he had earned, but also incurred a huge debt of tens of billions of yen. In particular, the recent exposure of the Sumitomo Bank's embezzlement of funds also exposed some of the Inagawa-kai's shady operations, making us even more passive. Now, the Inagawa-kai's years of hard-earned wealth have not only been lost by this guy Ishii, but we also need to find a way to fill the financial hole of tens of billions of yen. Otherwise, without the police even having to do anything, the Inagawa-kai will soon go bankrupt and dissolve due to financial collapse."

Ning Weimin's brows furrowed deeply upon hearing this, and he couldn't help but interrupt, "You mean you want me to find a way to save the Inagawa-kai?"

His tone was full of difficulty and reluctance.

It's important to understand that the situation in the Inagawa Association is not easy to resolve.

After all, they had lost all their savings, and it wasn't even a legitimate business.

As the second largest Yakuza organization in Japan, reviving it will not only be extremely difficult, but the subsequent troubles will be significant.

For example, what if the Japanese police knew that the Inagawa-kai might have dissolved due to a financial crisis?

As a result, this social scourge was saved by Ning Weimin's idea, and the financial crisis was successfully resolved.

What will the Japanese police think of him?
Can Ning Weimin still claim to be a good person and that everything about the Inagawa Association has nothing to do with him?
The consequences of aiding and abetting evil would be too great, so he was extremely unwilling and dared not agree.

He had already thought it through: if Zhao Chunshu really regarded him as an omnipotent god and dared to nod and say "yes," he would definitely turn around and leave.

Fortunately, Zhao Chunshu immediately shook his head, denying this. "No, please don't misunderstand. If I were to ask Mr. Ning to do such a thing, it would be unreasonable of me to ask him to do something so difficult. I'm just explaining the complexity of the current situation, since this is closely related to the choice I want to make and the difficulties I will face afterward."

He continued, “Frankly, I initially supported Ishii’s speculative behavior. I also believed that Inagawa wouldn’t have a better future if it always relied on protection money and income from prostitution and gambling. If Ishii could establish himself legitimately through investment, it wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing for the future of the Inagawa-kai. But later, Ishii became too successful, his business grew too big, and the more he earned, the more inflated he became, almost completely out of control. In addition to financing and speculating in stocks, he even resorted to criminal means to threaten listed companies, forcing them to submit in order to control the stock price from the inside. It was from this moment that I began to oppose him. I believed that his unrestrained desires had become the biggest risk to the Inagawa-kai. Unfortunately, I ultimately failed to persuade him, which not only led to huge losses but also caused a rift between us. Now I’ve almost become the person he hates the most.”

"Good medicine tastes bitter but cures the disease, and honest advice is unpleasant to the ear but benefits one's conduct. But not everyone can distinguish right from wrong. Especially when it turns out you were right afterward, it only highlights his incompetence and makes him seem terribly wrong. Perhaps in his eyes, you have become his greatest threat..."

When Ning Weimin puts himself in the role of Zhao Chunshu, it's not hard to imagine that he is already in a precarious situation.

After all, history has shown that even Cao Cao could not tolerate a talented but arrogant Yang Xiu, let alone a narrow-minded gang leader in Japan.

"Yes, especially when the first chairman stepped down, Ishii and I were both candidates for the second chairman. Given our current situation, this incident is bound to be remembered by many, making me an even bigger thorn in Ishii's side." (End of Chapter)