Siheyuan: Why is my crossing so ugly?

Chapter 1432 Final Chapter 1
In fact, Du Weiguo also had a territory that wasn't exactly his own land: an enclave in Japan.

His business dealings in Japan were mostly clandestine, but they were the primary source of his slush fund, without exception.

Pachinko, in particular, is something the Japanese are obsessed with and love for—it's beyond imagination.

By the late 1970s, the number of pachinko parlors across Japan had surged to nearly 10,000, with annual revenue exceeding 20 billion US dollars and net profit approaching 10 billion.

Du Weiguo received 40% of the shares.

Therefore, through this seemingly insignificant pachinko business alone, his personal savings can reach over 30 billion every year.

In addition, the Yamaguchi-gumi's profits are also in the billions, and his annual "internal treasury" income is nearly 50 billion.

Although Citibank is not as powerful as it was in the previous era, the US dollar remains strong. It is no exaggeration to say that Du Weiguo's wealth is comparable to that of a country.

As the saying goes, when one person attains enlightenment, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. Kamata Jiro has now also prospered, becoming one of the top figures in Japan's underworld.

He practically monopolized two of the three traditional sectors of the underground black market in Japan, making him incredibly powerful.

Kamata Jiro wasn't just relying on Du Weiguo's name to intimidate others; he also had real strength.

Du Weiguo promised him 10% of the profits from Japan, but over the years he has neither saved any money nor squandered it.

Instead, almost all of it was spent.

Kamata Jiro recruited over two thousand elite henchmen, all of whom had gun licenses, and applied for the money under the name of a security company.

Gun control was strictly enforced in postwar Japan, and gangs usually used long knives and short axes in their operations. Although he didn't have many men, they were enough to sweep through the entire underworld.

In addition to training soldiers, Kamata also gradually wove an enormous network of relationships within Japan.

He had connections in almost every government office, from the two cabinets and fourteen provinces down to the 47 prefectures and counties.

With such a powerful hand, he's not far from being able to control everything.

Besides helping Du Weiguo manage those two shady businesses, Kamata Jiro was also responsible for a legitimate business starting in 70.

The convenience store was named 6-12, and it operated for two hours longer than the 7-Eleven stores in Texas at the same time.

Because of their wealth and influence, and their established connections, the 6-12 chain stores experienced explosive growth in Japan, opening more than 1700 stores in major cities in just a few years.

In recent years, Japan's economy has been booming, so convenience stores have become extremely popular, with annual sales of hundreds of millions of US dollars and profits of tens of millions.

However, given Kamata Jiro's current net worth, he would have long since looked down on such a small amount of money.

The main reason for opening a convenience store was to launder his image. After all, being a legitimate businessman is much more respectable than being a gangster godfather, and it's also easier to operate in the open.

In addition to this, convenience stores have another very important use: money laundering.

Some of the profits are illicit, and while the Japanese government dares not provoke Du Weiguo, it will not tolerate the Yamaguchi-gumi.

Although the Yamaguchi-gumi also had money laundering channels, they would deduct 15% each time, which would amount to over 100 million yuan every year. Du Weiguo was heartbroken to see so much money go down the drain.

The enormous profits Japan is reaping are not without their envy.

Not to mention outsiders, even Miss Hu and Mo Lan were very envious and had repeatedly pleaded with Du Weiguo.

However, Du Weiguo was no fool, and he refused to give in no matter what. After all, a man must have money in his pocket, otherwise he won't stand tall.

January 21, 1979, was a weekend and happened to be the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year's Eve.

The old city of Beijing, Maozi Hutong, and the Yama's Compound.

"Godmother, please open the door!"

In the backyard, through the moon gate, before Bart's men even arrived, his booming voice rang out.

The thick cotton curtain of the east wing was lifted, and Sun Yumei peeked out from inside.

"Bart, why are you carrying so much stuff?"

At this moment, Bart was carrying a whole white sheep on his shoulder and a huge net bag in his left hand, which was full of canned food, tea, malted milk powder, chicken, duck and fish.

Bate was tall and had long legs. He took two steps to the door, unloaded the whole sheep under the window, and Sun Yumei took the net bag from his hand.

"But, I live alone and I work a regular job. How can I possibly finish all that food?"
Sun Yumei has aged considerably, with graying temples, but she seems to be in good spirits.

In 76, she was rehired by Tongji Hospital and is currently the director of the Department of Gynecology and vice president. According to her rank, she could be allocated a cadre building, but she refused and still lives in the courtyard house.

"Hey~" Bart grinned sheepishly.
"Why can't you finish it? Godmother, this food isn't just for you."

“My whole family comes over for a free meal during Chinese New Year. Besides, with my few rascals, this amount of food might not even be enough for them.”

Over the years, Bart has also been busy. With improved financial conditions, he has had three more children in addition to his original two.

There are five children in total. The eldest daughter is already 15 years old, and the youngest son is only 4 years old.

Sun Yumei casually put down the net bag and pretended to put on a stern face:

"What a bastard! Bart, how can you talk about your own child like that? It's awful. Don't say that again."

"Yes, yes, I understand, godmother. I promise I won't say it again."

Bart nodded obediently, casually took off his shearling hat, scratched his head, and a cloud of white mist immediately rose up.

"Oh dear, it's so cold! You'd better put your hat on and come inside, or you'll catch a cold!"

Sun Yumei's voice suddenly stopped, and she froze on the spot, staring blankly at the moon gate.

"Godmother, what's wrong?"

Bart turned his head in curiosity and surprise, following her gaze, and in an instant, he was frozen in place.

Before the moon gate, a tall figure stood, upright and handsome, with a pair of clear black and white eyes like deep pools, and a warm smile on his lips.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment. After more than ten seconds, Bart finally murmured in disbelief:
"Head, head~"

Du Weiguo's lips curled up wider as he chuckled softly, "Fool."

Just then, a beautiful and tall figure suddenly appeared behind him. She moved quickly and rushed straight towards Sun Yumei, crying out in distress:

"mom!"

"Colorful jade!"

Sun Yumei woke up with a start, and tears welled up in her eyes instantly. She took a few steps forward, opened her arms and hugged Yang Caiyu tightly. The mother and daughter immediately embraced and wept bitterly.

Du Weiguo walked up to Bart, who was still dumbfounded and standing there, and punched him in the chest in an annoyed manner.

"What's wrong? Butt, you idiot, you've become an official and you don't recognize me anymore?"

Back when Du Weiguo left the country, Bart had already started working at the municipal bureau as a cadre. Over the years, he has also made something of himself and risen to the rank of division chief.

Of course, it was also because of Du Weiguo's ancestral worship and Hu Fei's occasional help that he was able to have such a smooth and successful life.

Otherwise, given Bart's honest and straightforward nature, and his questionable background, he would probably be long dead, let alone getting promoted.

Bart wiped his eyes hard, then stared intently at Du Weiguo with wide, unblinking eyes, and choked out in a hoarse, trembling voice:
"Boss, is it really you? How come you've gotten taller? And you haven't aged at all?"

"Ha!" Du Weiguo was amused by him.

"I'm still growing at 23, is it wrong for me to have a second growth spurt?"

"Besides, I'm only in my early thirties, in the prime of my youth. I eat and drink well every day and am in a good mood, so how could I be old?"

"Boss! It really is you! You're finally back, I've missed you so much!"

Upon hearing that familiar voice and tone, Bart could no longer hold back. He grabbed Du Weiguo tightly, burst into tears, and cried like a child.

His thunderous voice not only startled the entire courtyard but also woke up the mother and daughter who were weeping bitterly.

Sun Yumei wiped away her tears, barely managing to compose herself: "Wei Guo, you, you're back."

Du Weiguo pushed away Bart's tear-streaked face and replied with a smile:

"Mom, I'm back. I've kept my promise to you and brought Caiyu back safe and sound."

"Yes, yes, you're a good boy."

Sun Yumei's tears started flowing again, but quickly, her expression hardened, and she asked somewhat urgently:
"Wei Guo, you're coming back this time... no, I hope there won't be any trouble?"

"No." Du Weiguo smiled and shook his head.

"Mom, don't worry, there won't be any trouble. Before I came back, I met Hu Fei and that other person." Du Weiguo wasn't making things up; he landed in Beijing yesterday morning.

The person who personally led the team to pick them up at the airport was Hu Fei, who had already been promoted to the top leader of the Six Doors, and could only be ranked fifth in the team.

He deserves this level of prestige now; to put it bluntly, it wouldn't be unreasonable to raise the bar even further.

Of course, Du Weiguo is also savvy in social interactions. He didn't return empty-handed; he brought foreign trade orders worth hundreds of billions of dollars.

He also donated 100 billion yuan in his private capacity, which to some extent alleviated China's foreign exchange pressure.

Sun Yumei was quick-witted and immediately understood who he was referring to. She breathed a sigh of relief, and her expression relaxed.

"well."

At that moment, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from the middle court. Soon, Wang Yang led two capable young men through the moon gate and ran in.

"Bart, what's wrong with you? Why are you howling in broad daylight? This, this is~~"

Upon suddenly seeing Du Weiguo, Wang Yang was stunned and stopped abruptly, nearly falling over.

It had been a long time since I'd seen Wang Yang. He had grown stronger and more mature. He had now been promoted to head of the security department at the steel rolling mill, a position of considerable power and influence.

Wang Yang rubbed his eyes frantically to make sure he wasn't seeing things, and his eyes instantly reddened, his whole body trembling as if he had been electrocuted.

"Boss, boss, is that you?"

Upon seeing Wang Yang, Du Weiguo's smile deepened:
"Ha! Wang Yang, what's gotten into you? You've grown a beard and are wearing such old-fashioned glasses. You look like a little old man."

"Oh! It's Director Du and Caiyu, you're back! When did you arrive?"

Before Wang Yang could reply, a high-pitched, crisp female voice rang out behind him.

As they approached, Bart's wife, Wang Yang's wife Li Mengmeng, and several other unfamiliar young wives poured in, instantly making the backyard lively.

"Sister-in-law, Mengmeng, we came back yesterday. By the way, where's Xiaohong?"

Yang Caiyu snapped out of her daze and quickly and affectionately pulled them aside to chat. Most of these women were her former girlfriends, and they knew each other very well.

Through conversation, it was learned that Wang Xiao and Sun Xiaohong left the courtyard house in 76.

The couple went to Anshan Iron and Steel Group in Liaoning Province. Wang Xiao was appointed as the head of the security department of the branch factory and concurrently as the deputy factory director, which can be considered a high position.

Du Weiguo's two childhood friends, Yu Huaihai and Xiang Beifang, are also no longer in Beijing; one went to Jiangxi Province and the other to Sichuan Province.

It was all because of that period of turmoil. At that time, we had no choice but to leave, but once we left, it wasn't easy to come back.

At noon, a feast was set up in the east wing of the backyard.

Hand-pulled mutton, braised lamb chops, stir-fried mutton with scallions, shredded pork with eggs, fried peanuts, braised ribbonfish with tofu, braised pork belly with cabbage, braised chicken with mushrooms, and a pot of canned hawthorn.

There's nothing fancy about it, but it's generous in quantity and affordable. The table is piled high with it, making it look incredibly appetizing.

Sun Yumei sat in the center with a rosy complexion, flanked by Du Weiguo and Yang Caiyu. Accompanying her were the Bart couple, Wang Yang, and Li Mengmeng.

During the meal, Du Weiguo sighed slightly, realizing that he no longer had any acquaintances in Beijing, and he couldn't even get a full table of people together.

"Boss, Caiyu, welcome home!"

Du Weiguo quickly snapped out of his daze, laughing as he raised his glass: "Haha! Cheers!"

"Boss, are you leaving again this time?"

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Wang Yang got up and took the opportunity to pour wine for Du Weiguo, tentatively asking him a question.

Upon hearing this, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at him, even Yang Caiyu couldn't help but glance at him.

"We're leaving."

Du Weiguo did not shy away from the question and answered it straightforwardly.

He's now the one who sets the rules, with the power of life and death, and the ability to command the wind and rain. How could he possibly come back to be governed by someone else's rules?

Besides, even if Du Weiguo were willing, would those big shots agree, or dare to agree?
Du Weiguo's main reason for returning to Beijing was to accompany Yang Caiyu. In addition, he also wanted to see his old buddies one last time.

Upon hearing his answer, the atmosphere at the dinner table suddenly became tense and heavy.

Du Weiguo's gaze swept across the room, as if he had etched everyone into his mind, before he shrugged and smiled:
"Hey, I've been working hard outside for so long, and I've accumulated quite a few assets. With so many things to own, it's natural that I can't bear to part with them."

Bart asked unwillingly:
"Boss, where do you usually live? If we have the chance to go abroad in the future, can we come to visit you?"

Everyone present, including Yang Caiyu, was actually an ordinary person who had no access to the deep secrets of the world.

Not to mention the underworld, even those who secretly manipulate events, such as Zhao Yingnan, Mo Lan, Guo Fu, and Miss Hu, were completely unaware of it.

Even someone in the know like Hu Fei couldn't tell them, because Du Weiguo really would turn on them.

Du Weiguo paused slightly, a complex emotion that was hard to describe flashing across his eyes, but it was only fleeting before he quickly returned to normal.

"of course."

"I now reside in Queiana, South America, and have officially established diplomatic relations with China. Soon, visa restrictions will be lifted, and you can come to St. George's to see me anytime you wish. You are welcome to retire here if you wish."

"Great! I'll definitely go!"

The simple-minded Bart immediately cheered.

The expressions of the others at the table also improved considerably, except for Yang Caiyu, who frowned almost imperceptibly, a hint of sadness flashing in her eyes.

"No problem, Bart, I'll definitely treat you well then, with plenty of fresh seafood every day!"

Du Weiguo smiled and patted him on the shoulder, taking the opportunity to raise his glass:
"Come on, today is the Little New Year, and it's a rare occasion for us to meet again. Come on, let's drink until we drop!"

"Cheers! Happy New Year! May you have many more happy returns of the year!" The atmosphere at the table became lively again.

The meal lasted from noon until dark, and everyone got completely drunk. Even Sun Yumei drank a few more cups because she was happy, and then curled up on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

As evening fell, heavy snow began to fall in Beijing, turning the world into a vast expanse of white.

Under the porch of the east wing, Du Weiguo and Yang Caiyu stood side by side, an inexplicable atmosphere surging between them.

"Wei Guo, when are you leaving?"

Yang Caiyu reached out and caught a few snowflakes, watching them melt slowly in her palm, her voice somewhat melancholic.

"The plane is already waiting at the airport."

Du Weiguo raised his hand to check his watch, took out his cigarette case, lit a cigarette, and exhaled a long puff of smoke.

"When are you coming back?"

"Hmm~ I'm not sure either. I'll try to finish my business quickly and come back to you."

"Wei Guo, will you ever come back?"

"Of course, this is my home, with you here."

"Sigh~" Yang Caiyu sighed softly, speechless for a moment.

Du Weiguo turned to look at her and gently brushed a few snowflakes off her head.

"Caiyu, are you sure you want to stay in Beijing? To teach at Yenching University?"

Four years ago, Yang Caiyu obtained two doctoral degrees from the University of Edinburgh and then stayed on as a professor. One of the reasons she returned to Beijing was that Yenching University offered her a position.

"Mm." Yang Caiyu grasped Du Weiguo's large hand in return, forcing a smile onto her face.

"Wei Guo, can't you stay a little longer?"

"No, I have something urgent to do."

Du Weiguo's expression was bitter, and he shook his head helplessly. Seeing Yang Caiyu's gloomy expression, he couldn't bear it, so he pressed her shoulder and promised:

"Caiyu, wait for me to come back. I promise I'll spend more time with you."

"Okay, I'll wait for you." After a long while, Yang Caiyu nodded weakly and replied in a hoarse voice.

As night fell, at a military airfield on the outskirts of Beijing, a uniquely designed, futuristic-looking plane soared into the sky and quickly disappeared into the snow.

Some content was censored.