War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1798 Setting up a trap

Near noon, Wei Ran was called away by a nearby dance hall. Just like yesterday, he took some photos of the dancers waiting in line.

In general, this photography job is quite profitable, but the prerequisite is that you have to print the photos yourself.

Now that he has handed over all the printing business to Musashino Photo Studio, he doesn't make much money from each roll of film.

However, this is a good thing, or rather, it is a good excuse - a good excuse to sell the family heirloom Buddha statue.

After completing the photo-taking task in a methodical manner, Wei Ran collected the money and helped the other party pack a lunch box of food and wine and returned to his Dongyi Photo Studio - this seemed to be a special instruction from the old man who understood art yesterday.

After filling his stomach with slow chewing, Wei Ran carefully wrapped the Buddha statue in a towel and put it into the suitcase.

Fortunately, although the manufacturing process of this Buddha statue is a bit disgusting, the living father does not object to him packing up the suitcase, which is undoubtedly good news.

Of course, this Buddha statue is not valuable, but Wei Ran has to be cautious. He doesn't want to bet whether Ichiro Hoshino will come and steal it or even rob it.

Picking up the film that needed to be developed, Wei Ran took a rickshaw and came to Musashino Photo Studio for the third time.

"Hello, I'm here to pick up the negatives and photos that were delivered yesterday. I also want to develop some negatives."

Wei Ran spoke to the staff member who received him, this time in Japanese. This person also received him yesterday.

Apparently, the staff member also had an impression of him, but his attitude was indifferent with a hint of undisguised arrogance.

Wei Ran didn't care about it at all. He just took the envelope containing the photos and negatives and carefully examined it. Then he took out another roll of film and asked, "I have another roll of film here and hope it can be developed today. Do you know?"

"Why didn't you say anything just now?" the Japanese clerk said unhappily.

"Nakamura, this is very rude of you."

Just when Wei Ran was about to say something, Ichiro Hoshino walked out from the printing room not far away.

"Sorry, President." The young Japanese clerk immediately bowed and apologized.

"You should apologize to Mr. Wei, not to me." Hoshino Ichiro said seriously.

"It's okay, Mr. Musashi," Wei Ran said gently, "I just forgot to take it out."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Wei, I was so rude." Nakamura turned around and bowed to Wei Ran.

"Shake hands"

Wei Ran smiled and extended his hand, "Then forget about the unpleasantness just now, we will be friends from now on. I have always had a good impression of the big box nation. I believe you are just too tired from work."

The clerk named Nakamura was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously reached out and shook hands with Wei Ran.

"Mr. Musashi, we meet again." Wei Ran let go of his hand and greeted Ichiro Hoshino with a smile.

"I saw the photos you took yesterday, they were all very good." Hoshino Ichiro asked enthusiastically, "Mr. Wei, have you ever studied photography?"

"not at all"

Wei Ran replied regretfully, "But I studied sketching for a while. Although the results were not very ideal, at least I have some basic knowledge of composition."

"I see"

After saying this, Ichiro Hoshino looked at the film that Wei Ran had just placed on the table, "What's going on here?"

"I hope this roll of film can be developed today"

Wei Ran's tone was filled with a hint of embarrassment and helplessness, "I want to put it in the newspaper this afternoon."

"In the newspaper?"

Hoshino Ichiro didn't rush to ask, but just waved his hand and said, "Nakamura, send it to be developed. You can do it yourself."

"Hi!"

The clerk named Nakamura immediately responded, bowed to Wei Ran again to apologize, then took the film and walked towards the developing room.

"Mr. Wei, please come to my office and sit down." Ichiro Hoshino warmly invited Wei Ran to walk into his office again.

"excuse me"

Wei Ran said apologetically.

"Nothing." Hoshino Ichiro waved his hand. "Mr. Wei just said that we need to put it in the newspaper?"

"really"

Wei Ran nodded, deliberately hiding a hint of reluctance in his tone.

"There's a Chinese guy who often works part-time in my photo agency. He works in a newspaper office."

Hoshino Ichiro said, "If Mr. Wei needs anything, I can introduce him to you."

"Really? That's great!" Wei Ran said in surprise.

“It’s nothing”

Hoshino Ichiro waved his hand and changed the subject, "Where did you learn photography, Mr. Wei?"

"In Peking"

Wei Ran replied, "I worked as an apprentice in a photo studio in Peking for more than a year. In the fall, the studio went out of business, so I simply pawned some of my belongings and planned to come to Shanghai to try my luck and see if I could open a photo studio myself."

"I've seen the photos you took, they're really good."

Hoshino Ichiro praised again, and then asked curiously, "Why doesn't Mr. Wei print the photos himself?"

"To be honest, I can't."

Wei Ran shook his head helplessly. "Although I worked as an apprentice in a photo studio, I only learned how to take photos. At that time, that photo studio was the same as Dongyi Photo Studio. The printing was done by others."

"How can a qualified photographer not know how to develop prints?"

Ichiro Hoshino said, "At least you have to know how to develop the film, which is as important as taking the photo."

"If Dongyi Photo Studio is able to operate stably, I will definitely buy some printing equipment." Wei Ran said worriedly, "But now let's try to stabilize it first."

"It's ok"

Ichiro Hoshino made an especially open promise, "When your photo studio is stable, if you want to learn how to develop photos, you can always come to me."

"Really?" Wei Ran asked in surprise, "Is it really possible?"

"sure"

Hoshino Ichiro nodded in a casual manner, and then asked casually, "Speaking of this, Mr. Wei, why did you choose to come to Musashino Photo Studio to develop photos?"

“Because of this”

Wei Ran picked up the envelope containing the photos and negatives, "When I was cleaning my room the day before yesterday, I found an envelope with Musashino Photo Agency written on it, so I came here directly."

"I see."

Ichiro Hoshino was distracted for a moment, and then he pulled Wei Ran aside to talk about topics related to photography.

After waiting for about an hour while chatting, the Nakamura clerk knocked on the door and brought the developed negatives and photos.

"Mr. Wei, these have been printed, a total of..."

“Don’t charge for these.”

Ichiro Hoshino waved his hand. With Wei Ran's deliberate flattery and performance, the two of them had a very enjoyable conversation. He even thought that Wei Ran was a genius with a great talent in photography.

"How can this be done!"

Wei Ran quickly put down the envelope that Nakamura handed to him, and deliberately let the photos inside fly out, while he hurriedly took out his wallet.

"Is this the photo you wanted in the newspaper?"

Ichiro Hoshino, who was about to say something, picked up a photo that was thrown out and asked, then he waved his hand and asked the clerk Nakamura to leave the office.

"That's right," Wei Ran, holding the wallet in his hand, said a little embarrassedly.

"Can I ask why you want to put it in the newspaper?" Ichiro Hoshino said as he took out his glasses and put them on his head.

Hooked.

Wei Ran chuckled secretly, but sighed on the surface and said, "I plan to sell it for some money. Things in Shanghai are too expensive. This morning, coal briquettes were sold for 4 yuan a load. I'm afraid the money in my pocket won't last until the New Year.

I'm new here and I don't know the place well. The price the pawnshop offers is too low to accept. Placing an ad in the newspaper is the only solution I can think of."

At this point, Wei Ran also took out a photo from the envelope, "The New Year is almost here. Instead of not being able to afford the New Year's Eve dinner, I might as well sell this." "Where did this Buddha statue come from?" asked Ichiro Hoshino.

"Mr. Musashi, are you interested?" Wei Ran asked.

"Just chatting," Hoshino Ichiro said casually.

“This Buddha statue is not actually mine.”

Wei Ran looked at the photo and said regretfully, "He was a tenant who used to live in the same courtyard with me. The old man would burn incense and worship Buddha every day. He also worshipped a smaller statue of Guanyin, which was also made of bronze."

"Then what?" Hoshino Ichiro asked subconsciously.

"Then the old man passed away."

Wei Ran sighed, "He fell asleep at night and never woke up during the day. He has no children and can't contact his family. I heard from the owner of the house that he used to be a eunuch in the palace, and he was a miserable person.

Another tenant and I felt sorry for him, so we discussed it with the landlord and pooled our money to buy him a thin-skinned coffin to bury him. The other tenant and I also divided some of the old eunuch's room's belongings. "

At this point, Wei Ran sighed and said, "I didn't take it seriously at the time. A jade ruyi that looked very valuable was taken away by another tenant, leaving me with only this statue of Bodhisattva and a statue of Buddha.

I didn't take this thing seriously at first, but later on, my family was really short of money, so I thought of taking the small Guanyin statue and trying to sell it in Liulichang.

I thought if I could exchange some money, I could have a full meal. Hey! Guess what happened?"

"Did it sell for a good price?" Hoshino Ichiro asked subconsciously, and he even lowered his voice subconsciously.

"I sold a whole and a half small yellow croaker!"

Wei Ran said proudly, "Thanks to this windfall, otherwise I wouldn't be able to come to Shencheng and I wouldn't be able to afford the Dongyi Photo Studio."

"what about this?"

Hoshino Ichiro pointed at the Buddha statue in the photo and asked, "Mr. Wei, what price do you plan to sell this Buddha statue in the photo for?"

"This Buddha statue is much bigger than the Bodhisattva statue, and it is also well preserved. The Bodhisattva statue has both hands missing, but it can still be sold for one and a half small yellow croakers. This one should be sold for at least one and a half large yellow croakers."

Wei Ran said as a matter of course, "Although my family is lonely, I still have a keen eye. This Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is so beautifully cast that it is totally worth the price."

“I don’t understand this, but this Buddha statue is indeed very beautifully cast, and I am willing to help Mr. Wei.

So, how about I take the Chinese guy who works part-time at my photo agency to visit Dongyi Photo Studio this afternoon?"

Hoshino Ichiro said, "I will find a way to get him to help you put this treasure in the newspaper."

"This is really a big trouble for you, Mr. Musashi."

Wei Ran said with increasing gratitude, "I just came to Shencheng and I have received such help from you. I am really..."

“It’s nothing”

Hoshino Ichiro waved his hand and said, "Also, Mr. Wei, if you come to me to print photos in the future, I will give you a half-price discount. I sincerely hope that you can gain a foothold in Shencheng."

"Thank you, thank you! Thank you! Mr. Musashi!"

Wei Ran stood up and bowed repeatedly in gratitude, and the latter accepted Wei Ran's thanks with a smile.

The two then exchanged pleasantries, but neither of them mentioned the Buddha statue in the photo again. On the contrary, Ichiro Hoshino asked in detail about Wei Ran's family background.

This was naturally easy to fool. Wei Ran, who seemed innocent, took a cup of tea to fabricate an identity as the son of a landlord. He also made up a story about how he studied abroad as a young man, rode a horse and dressed in fine clothes, but his family fell into poverty and he had no choice but to return home, and finally came to Shanghai alone to make a living.

After finishing the last cup of tea, Wei Ran, who had finished telling the story, made an excuse to go home and pack up early, and said goodbye to Musashino Photo Agency.

After returning to his Dongyi Photo Studio, Wei Ran carefully checked the door lock and rear window, then went upstairs to take out the Buddha statue from the suitcase and hid it in the closet.

The story about the Buddha statue that he told Ichiro Hoshino at Musashino Photo Studio was naturally not the complete version, but it was enough.

As the saying goes, everything is excessive or insufficient. His "original" buyer was not the other party, so there was naturally no need to explain everything.

And what he has to do next is to wait patiently for the other party to come and bring the surprise.

However, he waited until the lights came on. When he was about to go to the theater opposite to listen to some music and have dinner, Ichiro Hoshino finally arrived in a rickshaw. Zhang Taichuan was also sitting in the rickshaw.

"Mr. Musashi, you're here." Wei Ran quickly turned on the lights in the photo studio.

"I was delayed a bit this afternoon."

Hoshino Ichiro got off the rickshaw and said apologetically, "Let me introduce you. This is Qin Lichuan, a part-time apprentice in my photo agency."

"We have met before"

Wei Ran said, "Mr. Qin received me the first time I went to Musashino Photo Agency."

“It is true”

Zhang Taichuan said, "I thought Mr. Wei was recruiting nuclear personnel. He speaks very good Japanese."

"Mr. Wei's Japanese is really good"

Hoshino Ichiro followed Wei Ran upstairs and said, "Mr. Wei may not know that the previous owner of Dongyi Photo Studio was actually Mr. Qin's cousin."

"Oh?"

Wei Ran exclaimed in surprise at the right moment, "So the previous owner was a lady?"

"Don't you know?" Zhang Taichuan asked in the same surprise.

“I bought this photo studio through a real estate agent.”

Wei Ran pretended to be thankful and said, "To be honest, I was in a hurry to find a place to stay. I had never come here to see it before I bought it. I thought I was cheated at that time."

At this point, Wei Ran had already taken the two upstairs, then opened the closet, took out the Buddha statue from it and placed it on the table, "Mr. Qin, this is the one. I plan to put an ad in the newspaper to find a good buyer."

"Mr. Wei"

Zhang Taichuan reached out to stop Ichiro Hoshino, who subconsciously wanted to move closer to take a look, and said with extra caution, "The light here is too dim. How about we go to a brighter place?"

"I just want to put it in the newspaper," Wei Ran said with the same caution.

"As long as you pay, it doesn't matter who you sell it to."

Zhang Taichuan reminded him, "Boss Wei, you have to think carefully. After this newspaper is published, there will certainly be people who want to buy it, but there will also be many who want to steal or rob it."

Wei Ran panicked when he heard this, and even subconsciously pressed the Buddha statue on the table. After a moment, he gritted his teeth and asked, "Where are you going to talk?"

"How about the Lihua Theater across the street?" Zhang Taichuan pointed out the window and asked, "Let's go there and find a private room."

"Don't drink." Wei Ran became more vigilant.

"No problem, no drinking."

Zhang Taichuan followed up and then looked at Ichiro Hoshino beside him, "Teacher, let's go to the theater opposite to talk."

"Okay," Ichiro Hoshino nodded.

"Is it Mr. Musashi who wants to buy it?" Wei Ran asked as if he had just realized it.

"Mr. Wei, please don't misunderstand."

Hoshino Ichiro smiled and said, "I just want to introduce Mr. Qin to you. He is a translator for the newspaper, and he might also be a good buyer."

Hearing this, Wei Ran breathed a sigh of relief and said, "In that case, let's go to the theater across the street to talk."

"please"

As Zhang Taichuan said this, he deliberately winked at Ichiro Hoshino.

Seeing the two of them turn around and start walking downstairs, Wei Ran immediately wrapped the Buddha statue again with a towel and held it in his arms, then went downstairs with them. After locking the door of the photo studio, he walked into the theater diagonally opposite.

"Mr. Qin, are you familiar with this place?" Wei Ran asked as he walked in.

“Boss Mu is very hospitable”

Zhang Taichuan said, "Besides, he and I were classmates. Before I met my cousin, I worked in his theater for a few days."

"Is he your classmate?" Wei Ran became even more nervous.

"Boss Mu doesn't care about the Buddha statue in your hand," Zhang Taichuan said nonchalantly, "Why? Is Mr. Wei scared?"

"Being afraid can't be used to make a living," Wei Ran said, quickening his pace. He knew that the situation had already been settled.