20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 843 Focus on the heart
"Mr. Meng, please come in. We've been waiting for you!"

Three days later, in the afternoon, as heavy snow fell, Meng Duo braved the cold wind to visit Qin Huaimeng at No. 207 Ping'an Tong.

The heavens were playing tricks on him. He hadn't originally intended to come during this turbulent time, but he had been busy with official duties lately. It was only because of this heavy snow that he had managed to free up half a day, so he called ahead to arrange a time and arrived right on time to knock on the door.

Qin Huaimeng was still wearing a black long robe with a cotton jacket over it. Upon hearing that a distinguished guest had arrived, he hurriedly led his servants to the entrance to greet him.

Meng Duo didn't stand on ceremony. After all, he was an official, and he had to maintain a certain air in front of outsiders. He couldn't back down. If he did, others would think he was easy to bully, and he would often be unable to carry out many official duties as usual.

As the saying goes, "No merchant is without guile!"

The officials' arrogance was often driven by these unscrupulous merchants.

None of us are pushovers, so let's not nitpick at each other's manners.

Meng Duo stood at the entrance, brushed the snow off his shoulders, took off his coat, and handed it to the servant next to Qin Huaimeng.

The servant was in his thirties, looked rather dim-witted, and seemed oblivious to what was happening. He stood there blankly for a while before realizing that he was being asked to help hang up his coat!

Seeing this, Qin Huaimeng looked displeased and immediately reprimanded him in a stern voice: "Zhang Shuo, what's wrong with you? Be more discerning next time!"

After saying that, he quickly smiled apologetically at Meng Duo and said, "Mr. Meng, look at how spoiled I've become of these servants! It's just like the old saying, 'When servants become too powerful, they bully their masters!'"

Meng Duo didn't mind at all, waving his hand and saying, "It's nothing, it's just that Boss Qin is respectful to the talented and kind to people!"

"I'm ashamed, I'm ashamed!"

The two exchanged pleasantries and walked side by side into the house.

Zhang Shuo didn't say anything. He crumpled up his coat and hugged it to his chest. He walked to the door, peeked outside a few times, and then closed the door.

On the other side, Meng Duo entered the house and immediately looked around.

Although this villa is exquisite, it is indeed not spacious enough and cannot compare with the Jiang family mansion. Not only is it small, but it also always feels like it lacks a sense of life.

However, the room was very quiet, even eerily quiet.

Firstly, there are not many servants in the house; at present, there are only two or three. Secondly, there are no maids. Women tend to be talkative and chatty, while men are mostly silent. They speak when they have something to say, and stand quietly to the side when they don't. It's not appropriate for grown men to always be nagging in front of their masters.

The curtains in the living room were drawn, and the chandelier on the ceiling was lit.

Meng Duo accepted the invitation and sat on the sofa, unable to resist teasing, "Boss Qin, it's gloomy and snowing outside, and you've kept the house so well-covered. Don't you care about the electricity bill?"

Qin Huaimeng remained calm and smiled, saying, "Well, I'm just doing this for your convenience."

"For my convenience?"

"Yes!"

Qin Huaimeng laughed and said, "You are an official, and I am a businessman. We are talking business in this room, and the gate is an iron fence. Who knows if some thief will see us and go back to spread rumors? If it causes you any bad influence, then I will really deserve to die."

Upon hearing this, Meng Duo couldn't help but laugh and said, "Alright! Boss Qin, you've used all your little tricks on me. But you don't need to flatter me. I'm not an official, at most a minor clerk, and no one bothers to spread rumors about me."

"That's not necessarily true! As the saying goes, 'A scholar should be looked at with new eyes after three days of separation.' Who can say for sure what will happen in the future? You came to see me today because you consider me a person. Maybe if we want to meet again in the future, I'll have to wait in your gatehouse."

As Qin Huaimeng spoke, he gestured to Zhang Shuo to prepare hot tea.

Meng Duo looked around, then suddenly changed the subject, asking, "Mr. Qin, this isn't your residence, is it? When I came here, the sign said 'Saito Mansion'."

"To be honest, this is my friend's house," Qin Huaimeng said frankly. "The city was too chaotic a while ago, and for safety reasons, we moved here temporarily."

"Where is your own house?"

"Dadongguan, near the rickshaw depot."

"Oh, now that the war is over, when does Mr. Qin plan to move back?"

"I haven't decided yet, I'll see! The main thing is that the family business is currently concentrated in the concession area, so it's more convenient to stay here since we're in frequent contact with people here!"

As they were talking, Zhang Shuo came over carrying two bowls of hot tea.

Qin Huaimeng politely declined, then said, "Mr. Meng, I apologize for any neglect we experienced at the last goodwill gathering. Please don't take it to heart!"

Meng Duo picked up his teacup, blew on it twice, and said, "It's nothing. I'm just a little curious. Takeda Shin is a director of the South Railway Investigation Department, and you're a businessman who runs a rickshaw shop and a pawn shop. What does he want to talk to you about?"

"Well, it's nothing really, just talking about the transfer of those seventeen shops to Japanese expatriates."

"We should talk to you about that."

Meng Duo suddenly changed his tone, crossed his legs, and said with a hint of sarcasm, "Boss Qin is really capable. He kept it a secret from the Trade Port Bureau, but secretly arranged for seventeen shops to be transferred to the Japanese. No wonder he came to talk to you!"

Qin Huaimeng feigned panic and quickly clarified, "No, what are you saying? I never intended to hide it from the Commercial Bureau! Even if I wanted to, I couldn't hide something this big! Besides, the transfer and circulation of shops is a normal business practice. I... I don't need to bother you at the Commercial Bureau, do I?"

"Mr. Qin, are you playing dumb with me?"

"Don't dare, don't dare."

"Then you should know that the provincial government has issued an official document stating that Fengtian merchants and residents are not allowed to privately lease or sell land to foreign nationals. If there are any related transactions, they must report to the government in advance and wait for approval. If anyone makes a decision on their own, the government will not recognize it and will even prosecute them for treason. You've been doing business for a while now, do you dare say you don't know that?"

"Hey, Mr. Meng, can we not be so serious?"

Qin Huaimeng immediately put on a smiling face, leaned forward slightly, and whispered, "Look, it's just the two of us in this room now, what can't we discuss properly?"

"What are we discussing?" Meng Duo asked knowingly.

"I do know about the provincial government document you mentioned, but this deal is still in the planning stages and hasn't been finalized yet. Don't worry, I won't skip any of the necessary procedures. I've heard that you speak Japanese well and specialize in handling Sino-foreign disputes at the Trade Ports Bureau. I'll need your help a lot when the time comes!"

"Support?" Meng Duo waved his hand with a smile: "Boss Qin, you think too highly of me. Let me tell you the truth, since I started working here, the provincial government has never agreed to any requests from the public to lease or sell land to Japanese people. This time you're trying to arrange the transfer of seventeen shops to Japanese expatriates, the Port Authority is even less likely to agree. I advise you to give up on that idea as soon as possible!"

Qin Huaimeng replied, "The past is the past, and the present is the present. Haven't you heard? Commander Zhang has already signed a secret agreement with the Japanese. This agreement includes the commercial rental rights and mixed residence rights of the Japanese residents. It concerns the national trust, so how could it be false?"

“I have heard about it,” Meng Duo nodded, “but how to implement it and when to start is still under discussion by the municipal government, and no decision has been made yet.”

"So, I'll have to rely on Mr. Meng's help from now on! Don't worry, I know the rules, and I've already prepared what's due to you!"

"This isn't about money. If the government doesn't agree, there's nothing anyone can do. If we do it in private, that's treason, a capital offense."

"Mr. Meng, let's talk business. Can we please stop bringing up treason?"

"What, you know that's not a nice thing to say?"

Although Meng Duo studied at the Tongwen Commercial School founded by Japanese, he was, after all, a provincial government official and had only graduated a few years ago. He was still somewhat arrogant and inevitably looked down on people like Qin Huaimeng.

However, Qin Huaimeng had his own explanation: "Mr. Meng, although you have never studied abroad, you have still received some education. Those ordinary people are short-sighted and always call people traitors and sellouts. They can't understand this. Don't you understand? I'm doing this for the sake of Fengtian's industry and commerce!"

Meng Duo frowned: "No, how could you have such a misconception?"

"This is not an illusion, this is a long-term vision."

"It's incredible!"

Qin Huaimeng laughed and said, "As you probably know, there are quite a few hawks in Japan who have repeatedly tried to provoke war and harm the people of Fengtian. When our two countries have good relations, we can barely maintain peace, but who can say what will happen in the future? Foreigners are not that bad. They just want to do business with us. Since it is business, there are buyers and sellers. We are intertwined, you are in me and I am in you. You are me and I am you. Wouldn't that prevent war? This is what we call universal harmony!"

"hiss……"

Meng Duo took a sip of tea, frowned in deep thought, and did not interrupt him.

Qin Huaimeng continued, "Nowadays, some big bosses always say they want to protect national industry and commerce. What a joke! Survival of the fittest! Commercial competition is a matter of course. If you really want to protect it, you might as well all go back to small workshops. Why bother with factories? Look at these lights, telephones, airplanes, and cannons. Aren't they all foreign products? If we really did things like that and protected everything, how would we be any different from the Qing Dynasty?"

"But if everyone thinks like you, what will happen to Chinese businesses? Who will be willing to set up factories and engage in industry to save the country?"

"Save the country through industry?"

Qin Huaimeng sneered, "They say they're saving the country through industry, but in the end, all the money they make still ends up in the hands of those big bosses."

These words were like a steel knife, piercing Meng Duo's heart.

He had suffered greatly. He became an orphan because his father died early and his mother couldn't pay the land rent. The land was taken back by the master, and he became a vagrant, wandering around and begging on the streets. In the end, his mother also died, leaving him alone. Fortunately, he was protected by the west wind and chosen by the south wind. He received assistance from the Jiang family and was able to defy fate and finally live a normal life.

Seeing Meng Duo's fixed gaze, Qin Huaimeng knew he resonated with the sentiment, so he quickly added, "Sigh, I'm just a businessman with a few shops that I want to transfer to Japanese expatriates. I really have no bad intentions, much less be considered a traitor or a sellout. Tell me, aren't those foreign goods good and cheap, affordable for everyone, and able to improve people's lives? Isn't that great? I think it's a good deed!"

What a clever way to cover up one's mistakes! He managed to turn black into white. This traitor is quite adept at exonerating himself.

Meng Duo remained silent for a long time, unable to find a reason to refute it, so he shook his head and said, "Boss Qin, we've gone off on a tangent."

"Alas, I was just speaking from the heart, please don't take offense, Mr. Meng."

"It's not that I find it strange, and what you said isn't entirely unreasonable, but I'm not here to talk about that. Let's talk about those seventeen shops instead!"

"Whatever Mr. Meng wants to hear, I, Qin, will tell you without reservation."

When do you plan to sign the transfer agreement?

Qin Huaimeng pondered for a moment, then whispered his estimate: "We had a meeting before, and for the sake of coordination, we expect to sign the contract after the New Year."

"You don't mind if I report this to the Commercial Port Authority now, do you?" Meng Duo asked.

Qin Huai shrugged: "Since it will have to go through the government sooner or later, I'll just follow Mr. Meng's arrangements. I just hope you can put in a good word for me then."

"I'll do my best." Meng Duo mumbled a few words, then got up to leave. "That's all, I won't bother you any longer."

"What's the rush? Why don't you stay for a simple meal before you leave?"

"No need, I have plans tonight."

Qin Huaimeng followed closely behind, and when they reached the entrance, he suddenly suggested, "It's snowing so heavily, where are you going? I'll have the driver take you there."

Zhang Shuo also came over and returned the woolen coat to Meng Duo.

Meng Duo noticed that the coat was wrinkled and looked somewhat displeased. He insisted on refusing, saying, "Mr. Qin, please stay. I can walk by myself."

After saying that, he immediately turned around and pushed open the door.

The north wind and snow suddenly rushed towards him. Meng Duo tightened his collar, turned around to say thank you, and then stomped his feet and walked quickly across the street.

Zhang Shuo immediately closed the door and asked quietly, "Master Qin, should we keep this kid here?"

Qin Huaimeng nodded and said, "Keep them, we must keep them. Although we have gained some advantage now, it's because Jiang Lianheng was unprepared. Now that they have recovered, we are still lacking if it comes to a head-on confrontation. We must make them fall into chaos first. He and that fan gang are both Jiang's weak points."

Zhang Shuo curled his lip.

He didn't care at all; he would just do whatever Master Qin ordered.

After Meng Duo left, Qin Huaimeng quickly returned to the house and went straight up the stairs to the top floor attic.

This villa is said to be three stories, but it is actually only two and a half stories. From the outside, the top floor attic only has a pointed corner and the room is not very big. However, when you push open the door, you will find that it is packed with more than a dozen people.

Qin Huai pushed the door open, and everyone stood up with a thud. However, the ceiling beams were too low, so they had to crouch down. Everyone was eager to go out and relax.

The curtains remained drawn, and a brother was peering cautiously across the street from the window. Hearing the noise, he immediately turned and whispered:
"Master Qin, the Jiang family's agents have already set their sights on this area."

(End of this chapter)