20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 835 Goodwill Society

Ping An Tong Plaza, part of the Nantong Railway Annex.

The streets were still bustling. On the west side of the square stood a three-story red brick building with an arched roof, high windows, and stone carvings—a very standard example of Japanese-Western style architecture.

This is the Fengtian branch of the "Manchu-Mongolian Cultural Association" and also the temporary venue for the "Japan-China Friendship Association".

Just past ten o'clock, the sun rose in the east, the ice and snow melted, and the rare warm sunshine shone brightly, making the streets flow with water from north to south.

A row of black cars was parked outside the building. Ordinary people didn't know what was going on, but they could hear bursts of applause coming from the windows from time to time.

"On behalf of the Chinese businesspeople present, I would like to express my gratitude to our friendly nations in Japan for sending troops to assist in stabilizing the situation in Fengtian. May our two countries enjoy lasting friendship, harmony, and prosperity!"

"Crash-"

Inside the venue, a row of long tables was set up on the stage, with more than a dozen people sitting upright. Most of them were Japanese, and a few Chinese members were sitting in the corners.

The group members came from diverse backgrounds, including mainland wanderers, representatives of wealthy families, and scholars from the East.

The man at the head was the president of Nantetsu Corporation, and sitting next to him was Nobuyuki Takeda, the director of the investigation department.

On the wall behind the podium, a banner hangs with eight large characters: "Japan and Manchuria as one, East Asia co-prosperity!"

The audience area resembled a classroom, with a trapezoidal layout and a large number of attendees, mostly Japanese, while the Chinese were all seated at the back.

The goodwill event proceeded as scheduled.

In the initial stage, the Chinese representatives spoke one by one, all expressing their gratitude to the Japanese for sending troops and quelling the Guo rebellion. The Japanese interpreters provided simultaneous interpretation, and the sycophantic flattery was always the same, making it sound rather dull.

Meng Duo sat at the end of the hall, leaning to one side, trying hard to make out the few Chinese people on the stage.

Qin Huaimeng has not yet spoken.

Before long, the emcee gave the opportunity to speak to an elderly man.

This man's surname was Pang. It is said that he passed the imperial examination in his early years and was well-versed in Confucianism and Mencius. He considered himself a great scholar of his generation in Fengtian.

More than a decade into the Republic of China, Old Deng still kept his queue, unwilling to cut it. Now that it was his turn to speak, he felt as if he had received a divine favor and quickly stood up and bowed.

After he finished his formalities, everyone almost fell asleep.

Finally, Mr. Pang sighed and said, "Manchuria is the place where the Taizu Emperor rose to power. Thanks to the repeated assistance of our friendly nations in the East, it was preserved and spared from the ravages of Tsarist Russia. It is truly a stroke of good fortune amidst misfortune! The day when Japan and China become good neighbors, friendly and prosperous is just around the corner..."

Old Deng's speech was long and tedious, and he could talk on and on, leaving everyone listless.

Upon hearing this, Meng Duo couldn't help but yawn.

Unexpectedly, just as I was feeling annoyed, a soft voice suddenly called out in my ear: "Old classmate, you're here too?"

Meng Duo was startled, turned his head and saw a smiling face, and couldn't help but be a little surprised: "Hey, it's you?"

who?

This person's name is Hou Chuanyan, and he was Hou's classmate when he studied at Tongwen Commercial School.

Although they knew each other during their school days, they weren't exactly close friends.

After graduation, one of them went to work for the municipal government, and the other went to work for the South Railway Local Office. They were both busy making a living and didn't usually have any contact. Unexpectedly, they ran into each other here today.

Hou Chuanyan crouched down and walked around from the back of the venue, asking with a smile, "What's wrong? It's been a few years since graduation, and you don't recognize me anymore?"

Meng Duo smiled and said softly, "How could that be? I didn't see you just now."

"I just arrived. When I came in through the back door, I recognized you immediately. I was thinking of coming over to say hello. Could you move over for me?"

"Sure, have a seat!"

Meng Duo didn't think much of it, moved a little further in along the bench, and let Hou Chuanyan sit down next to him.

At this point, Mr. Pang's speech was finally coming to an end.

Standing on the podium, Lao Deng bowed earnestly and said, "Feng Jishan has brought disaster to the country and its people by arbitrarily abolishing the 'Regulations on Favorable Treatment of the Qing Imperial Family.' This is a matter of great importance and has damaged the nation's credibility. Now, the most urgent task is to earnestly hope that our friendly nations can provide their full assistance to welcome the Qing Emperor back to the East, stabilize the situation in the three provinces, and realize the Great Prosperity Sphere of East Asia as soon as possible!"

Overwhelmed with emotion, he wiped away several tears on stage.

However, there were very few people responding in the venue; it was almost completely silent.

After a long while, someone finally started clapping, but it was sparse and didn't sound very sincere.

Hou Chuanyan couldn't help but laugh and said, "The Qing emperor's return to the east sounds nice, but given Zhang's personality, how could he possibly bring the emperor to Fengtian? Don't you think so?"

"Ok?"

Meng Duo didn't hear clearly, his attention was entirely focused on the podium. Seeing that it was almost Qin Huaimeng's turn to speak, he immediately made a shushing gesture and said, "Wait a moment, I'll talk to you after the meeting."

Immediately afterwards, the emcee on the stage introduced Qin Huaimeng.

Everyone's eyes then turned to the corner of the podium.

Qin Huaimeng was in his thirties, reserved and dignified, dressed in a black long robe. He sat there nodding frequently and spoke in a very low-key and cautious manner.

"Thanks to Mr. Ishihara's introduction, I am not well-educated and cannot explain the reasons or doctrines. I only know that twenty years ago, if it weren't for the help of our friendly nations in Japan, this land beneath my feet would be in Russian hands now. In the three provinces of Manchuria, anyone of a certain age knows how ruthless the Russians were to us. During the Boxer Rebellion, not a single Western power came to our aid; only the Japanese stepped in to help. After all, we share the same language and culture, so I trust and thank the Japanese. Only by achieving the Great Prosperity Sphere of East Asia as soon as possible can we resist foreign aggression and prevent the three northeastern provinces from being ravaged by Tsarist Russia again!"

Compared to Mr. Pang from before, Qin Huaimeng's words seemed to have struck a chord with the Japanese.

The hall erupted in applause.

Qin Huaimeng continued, “I am just a businessman and don’t know how to achieve mutual prosperity, but I believe that the prerequisite for mutual prosperity is mutual trust and integration, starting with business culture to promote exchanges between the two countries. To this end, I have decided to lead by example and personally persuade merchants in Fengtian to strive for early commercial exchange. Currently, I have helped contact many business gentry, and everyone has unanimously decided to sublet seventeen shops around Bagua Street and Xue Street to Japanese merchants to jointly promote the commercial prosperity of Fengtian.”

Upon hearing this, the chaebol representative on the podium immediately applauded in celebration.

The Japanese have been coveting the land lease rights in Fengtian for quite some time now.

Although the provisions of the Treaty of 1915 stipulated that Japanese expatriates should enjoy the right to live together and rent commercial properties in the southern Manchuria region, in the process of implementation, due to the numerous obstacles imposed by the Fengzhang Group, it was always impossible to fully realize these rights. As a result, for many years, most Japanese expatriates have been able to live in the southern railway annex.

However, the situation is different now.

In order to quell the Guo rebellion, Lao Zhang signed a secret agreement with the Japanese. The most important part of this agreement was to implement the right to live together and the right to rent shops in accordance with the "Fourth Treaty of the Republic". At this time, Qin Huaimeng, together with other merchants and gentry, was preparing to transfer seventeen shops. For the Japanese, it was like someone handing a pillow when they were just about to doze off. It couldn't be more coincidental and better than it could be.

Upon hearing this, even Meng Duo was somewhat surprised: "Why are there so many?"

Hou Chuanyan chimed in, “What’s so strange about that? When the Guanzhong Plain was in chaos, the foreign concessions were the safest place. If those rich people wanted to seek refuge in the concessions, wouldn’t they have to pay some conditions? Besides, now everyone is confused. Fengtian doesn’t belong to the Zhang family. When it really comes down to it, the Japanese still have the final say.”

"That's too much!"

Meng Duo frowned, suddenly remembering that the Jiang family also had businesses and real estate in Xue Street and Bagua Street. He muttered to himself, "If we really transfer all seventeen shops to the Japanese, won't the remaining businesses be squeezed out of business by the Japanese?"

"Survival of the fittest!" Hou Chuanyan said with a smile. "Old classmate, that's the business world!"

"I know, but..."

"But what?"

"It's nothing," Meng Duo waved his hand, unwilling to easily mention the Jiang family. "I just didn't expect that this Boss Qin would be so powerful. It shouldn't be like this. I'm still working at the Commerce Bureau, and I've never heard of him before."

"Hey! That's what they call a true master who doesn't show off, and a master who shows off isn't a true master!" Hou Chuanyan patted his shoulder and then laughed, "Old classmate, back in our school days, I wasn't as good as you, but after you graduated you went to work in the government office. You've never done business before, and you don't know how to be flexible. Do you know that you can only make a fortune by keeping a low profile!"

“I’m not surprised that he can make a fortune; what surprises me is why he has such influence.”

"You'll have to ask Mr. Pang about that. These old-fashioned folks are now in decline, with only a few scraps of money left. They fawn over the Japanese all day, hoping to restore their country. They usually keep a low profile, but as soon as someone takes the lead, they immediately follow suit. As far as I know, half of these seventeen shops are their property."

Meng Duo suddenly realized, but then felt a little curious and asked, "I heard that you seem to know that Boss Qin quite well, and that you're very familiar with him?"

"He's alright!" Hou Chuanyan didn't give a full answer. "I work at the local office of the South Railway Bureau, and I've run into him a few times. I'm fairly familiar with him. He even donated money to the Manchuria-Mongolia Cultural Association. Didn't you know?"

“Never heard of him, I’m not an accountant.” Meng Duo paused for a moment, then suddenly suggested, “Um… old classmate, if it’s convenient for you, could you introduce me to him later? I’d like to get to know him.”

"Why?" Hou Chuanyan feigned surprise.

"Well, it's nothing really. I work at the Commercial Bureau, and I just heard him say that he's going to transfer shops to Japanese people. I'd like to know more about it."

"Are you trying to trip them up?"

"How could that be? This is my job."

"Oh, I see. You want to abuse your power for personal gain, extort money from him, and squeeze some cash out of him, don't you?"

To be honest, Meng Duo hadn't thought about it that way at all, but seeing the other party's beaming face, he simply went along with it and nodded, saying, "You help me with the introductions later, and when I get the benefits, I'll share some with you."

"It's a deal!" Hou Chuanyan squinted and chuckled, "Old classmate, you've finally got it!"

Before we knew it, the goodwill event was drawing to a close.

The president of Nantetsu Corporation slowly rose to his feet, delivered a few closing remarks in Japanese, and then led the chanting of slogans: "Japan-China friendship, East Asian co-prosperity, long live His Majesty the Emperor!"

"Long Live His Majesty the Emperor!"

The shouts were deafening, but the one who put in the most effort was Mr. Pang, a remnant of the Qing Dynasty.

Shortly afterward, the goodwill association officially closed.

The ordinary people in the audience started helping to clean the venue, while the important people on stage were busy with socializing and networking.

Meng Duo dared not delay, fearing that Qin Huaimeng would turn around and leave, so he quickly grabbed Hou Chuanyan and pulled him through the crowd, heading straight for the corner of the stage.

As he approached, Hou Chuanyan cooperated by clearing his throat and softly calling out, "Um... Mr. Qin?"

Qin Huaimeng looked up in response, first glancing at Meng Duo, then turning to Hou Chuanyan. After a moment of surprise, he smiled and said, "Oh, it's Mr. Hou!"

"Yes, yes, you have such a good memory."

"Mr. Hou, is there something you need from me?"

"Oh, this is my classmate, his name is Meng Duo!" Hou Chuanyan introduced in a fake manner. "Mr. Meng works in the Municipal Government Office, as an official in the Commercial Port Bureau. He heard your speech just now and wanted to get to know you, so he came to me for help. I can't refuse, so please do me a favor, Mr. Qin, so we can become friends!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Huaimeng quickly nodded and extended his hand, smiling apologetically, "Not at all, thank you for your kindness, Mr. Meng. It's a pleasure to meet you!"

Even at this point, Meng Duo still didn't feel anything was amiss.

After all, given his status as an official of the Fengtian Commercial Port Bureau, any businessman would not easily refuse him.

Meng Duo also adopted a formal demeanor, shook hands with him, and said with a smile, "Boss Qin is too low-key. Such a large family business, yet you keep a low profile and don't flaunt it. It's just like the rumors say, making a fortune quietly!"

Qin Huaimeng hurriedly said, "No, no, my little business is nothing in the city. If we're talking about making a fortune quietly, the Jiang family of Fengtian is the best."

Meng Duo was stunned for a moment, not expecting the other party to bring up the Jiang family on their own initiative.

Immediately afterwards, Qin Huaimeng asked, "Mr. Meng, forgive me for being so blunt, but I don't know if you came to see me... for any advice?"

Meng Duo waved his hand and said, "I wouldn't call it giving advice. I just heard you say that you plan to sublet seventeen shops to Japanese merchants. I work at the government office, so I wanted to come and find out more about the situation. I have no other intentions. Please don't overthink it, Mr. Qin."

"Oh, I see……"

Qin Huaimeng hesitated for a moment, then said, "Of course, of course. The subletting of shops to foreigners should be approved by the government. Since Mr. Meng is here, I must ask you for your help. Please feel free to ask me anything you want to know. I will answer everything I know."

That's great!

Just as Meng Duo was about to ask a question, a figure suddenly walked over from the side.

"Boss Qin!"

The three of them froze, turning to look around, only to see Takeda Nobumasa walking closer.

An unexpected situation.

Qin Huaimeng was also surprised. After staring at him for a moment, he nodded and said, "Mr. Takeda, I have long admired your name!"

Takeda Shin stopped, glanced at Meng Duo first, then turned to Qin Huaimeng and asked in a low voice, "Would it be convenient for us to talk?"

(End of this chapter)