money player

Deep in the alleys of Asakusa in Taitung Ward, a two-story wooden building is tucked between a Chinese restaurant and a general store. A faded wooden sign reading "Tokyo Fujian Association" hangs at the entrance, creaking in the wind.

The small auditorium on the first floor has a dozen old wooden tables, and the walls are covered with photos of fellow villagers, maps of their hometown Fuqing, and handwritten loan registration records.

In the evening, several elderly men from Fuqing, dressed in traditional Chinese short-sleeved shirts, sat around drinking tea and smoking, speaking in their local dialect. In a corner, 28-year-old Wang Gongyong listened intently as Vice President Chen Ligui recounted the details of a piece of wasteland in Edogawa. On the table were coarse tea, peanuts, and a crumpled land map.

The second-floor guest rooms are simple yet clean, and are occupied by two or three fellow villagers from Fuqing who have just arrived. They are packing their luggage and preparing to go to work at the restaurant the next day.

The place is unassuming and inconspicuous, yet it is like a dense net that tightly binds together the Fuqing people scattered throughout Tokyo.

Half an hour later, people began to enter the small auditorium in twos and threes. Within five minutes, there were nearly a hundred people.

The association president, Lin Qingying, who was chatting idly, walked slowly to an old-fashioned wooden table. She tapped the tabletop lightly with her fingertips, cleared her throat, and spoke in a steady, thick Fuqing accent. Her gaze slowly swept over everyone present:

"Dear uncles and elders, fellow villagers, I've called you all here today to discuss a few things. We, the people of Fuqing, have decided to do this so that we can establish ourselves in Tokyo and earn a decent living through hard work."

He slowly looked around and saw that all the local elders and uncles had stopped chatting and were listening attentively. He then spoke in a deep voice: "First of all, there are quite a few new fellow villagers who have arrived recently. Some have just disembarked, and some are still looking for a living."

"Yiwen, you're in charge of the mutual aid fund. For any newcomer, as long as they follow the rules and have a guarantor, lend them what they need, help them what they need. But let me make this clear first: lending money is a matter of community spirit, not charity. It must be repaid on time. We can't tarnish the reputation of Fuqing people or bring shame to our hometown."

Lin Yiwen, the clerk in charge of the accounts, leaned forward slightly, his expression upright, and replied crisply, "Don't worry, Chairman, I've got it all figured out. New fellow villagers will first register their place of origin and find a fellow villager to act as guarantor. Small loans will be interest-free for three months, and large loans will be at a low interest rate. All loans will require fingerprints and be recorded in the ledger. I will never lend a single penny indiscriminately, nor will I overlook helping any legitimate fellow villagers from Fuqing. I will not do anything to betray my fellow villagers."

During the meal, a fellow townsman who ran a Chinese restaurant frowned slightly, leaned forward anxiously, and hurriedly interjected, "Chairman, the Tokyo market is sluggish these days, and business is really difficult. My restaurant has been deserted lately, with only a handful of customers, and I simply can't cover the expenses."

Currently, many newly arrived fellow villagers are facing setbacks and struggling to make a living. They can't rely on the mutual aid fund from the fellow villagers association forever.

We have to find a legitimate way out for everyone; how can we just stand by and watch our family members suffer poverty and hunger in a foreign land?

Chen Ligui turned to look at the anxious key member, raised his hand to quell the noise in the room, and calmly took over the conversation: "Uncles and fellow villagers, don't panic, there's a way out. I've been traveling all over the outskirts of Edogawa, Ota, and Setagaya these past few days, and there are large tracts of wasteland and old, empty houses everywhere there."

"The Japanese are currently eager to sell and liquidate their assets, driving land prices down to extremely low levels, practically giving them away for free."

He paused briefly, giving everyone time to ponder, and then continued in a deep voice after scanning the room with his gaze: "We people of Fuqing are born hardworking and resilient. We are not afraid of putting in hard work, but we are afraid of not having connections or opportunities."

We don't need to buy up all these marginal plots at once; we can acquire them gradually in small batches. In the future, we can either break up small residential plots and sell them to newcomers from our hometown to settle down, or build a few simple huts on the spot and rent them to fellow villagers working in the area. This way, we can have a steady income and definitely not lose money.

There is one rule that must be engraved in your mind:
We only take over those remote and outlying plots that the wealthy Japanese families look down on. We won't even set foot in the core territories of local bigwigs like Tsutsumi Yasujiro or Goto Keita, let alone have any thoughts about them.

Rushing in would be courting disaster and certain death, and we, the people of Fuqing far from home, simply cannot afford to risk our lives and property.

Lin Qingying nodded slowly, her tone deep and authoritative: "Li Gui's words hit the nail on the head. This is not only a chance for survival for us Fuqing people, but also our bottom line, which cannot be crossed in the slightest."

We are adrift in a foreign land, and we can only stand firm by sticking together with our fellow villagers. We must never fight among ourselves, compete for the livelihood of our fellow villagers, or rashly provoke those big Japanese conglomerates.

From now on, if anyone dares to break the rules of the fellow-townsmen association, covet the territory of the big boss, or cheat fellow-townsmen out of their money or steal their business, don't blame me, Lin Qingying, for being ruthless.

He should be expelled from the hometown association immediately, cut off all ties, and left to fend for himself. We, the people of Fuqing, do not recognize such an ungrateful and immoral person.

As soon as he finished speaking, all the respected elders and uncles in the room nodded in agreement, and the sounds of Fuqing dialect echoed and mingled in the room.

"The chairman is right. We should abide by the rules, behave ourselves, and not cause trouble."

"We will live an honest and upright life and never do anything to betray our neighbors."

"Only by sticking together can we establish ourselves in Tokyo and earn a stable income."

As the murmurs in the hall gradually subsided, Lin Qingying's gaze fell upon Wang Gongyong, who stood quietly in the corner. Her eyes held a hint of approval and expectation as she slowly spoke:
"Gong Yong, although you have only been in the real estate business for a short time, you are quick to learn and abide by the rules. You are a steady and reliable young man. From now on, follow Li Gui around more often, observe and learn more, humbly gain experience, and don't be afraid of suffering losses or hardships."

Work diligently and conscientiously, don't bring shame to our Fuqing people, and don't let down the trust placed in you by your fellow villagers.

Upon hearing this, Wang Gongyong immediately stepped forward, bowed slightly in greeting, and said respectfully and sincerely: "Thank you for your guidance and high regard, Grandfather. I will certainly keep in mind your and Brother Ligui's teachings, be law-abiding, hardworking, and low-key in my actions."

I focused on managing the land affairs, and whenever my fellow villagers faced difficulties, I did my best to lend a helping hand. I would never dare to do anything that would let down my fellow villagers or my hometown of Fuqing.

Chen Ligui, standing to the side, spoke with a gentle expression and a friendly tone: "Just follow me and I will take good care of you. We people from Fuqing are inherently resilient and united. As long as you stay true to your duties, work hard, and use your brain, you will have no trouble establishing yourself in Tokyo. You will definitely be able to build a stable career and put your fellow villagers back home at ease."

Lin Qingying tapped the wooden table twice with her hand and said in a deep voice, "Very well, the important matters are settled in this way. Wen should keep a close watch on the mutual aid fund accounts, without making any mistakes or omissions; Li Gui should take the lead in helping everyone expand the land, and put in a lot of effort; all the uncles, elders and fellow villagers present should take care of and help each other in their daily lives, and the newly arrived fellow villagers and the old fellow villagers should help and guide them."

Remember this: We, the people of Fuqing, are one family wherever we are. Only by following the rules and maintaining harmony can we establish ourselves, make a living, and build a stable career. Never disgrace our hometown. Meeting adjourned!

After he finished speaking, everyone stood up one after another, cupped their hands in farewell, and left in twos and threes, speaking in their local dialects.

As the crowd gradually thinned out, Wang Gongyong did not leave immediately. Instead, he stayed behind to tidy up the tables and chairs, organize the utensils, and brew hot tea, arranging it neatly.

Lin Qingying and Chen Ligui stood to the side, whispering advice to him, carefully instructing him on the intricacies of land surveying, contacting Japanese people, distinguishing between good and bad plots, and avoiding the taboos of various forces.

Wang Gongyong stood quietly with his hands at his sides, listening intently, bowing and agreeing to every word, silently memorizing them.

“Grandpa, I’ve noticed lately that Japanese people have been appearing in the Edogawa area from time to time. They’re all dressed in formal suits, carrying tape measures, and measuring and surveying the surrounding land. Their behavior is rather strange.”

Lin Qingying frowned and immediately turned to look at Chen Ligui, "Ligui, have you heard about this?"

Chen Ligui slowly nodded, his face suddenly darkening, his tone lowered, revealing a hint of wariness: "I also ran into those short guys that Gong Yong mentioned. I had seen two of them before at the Xinqiao black market; they are members of the Matsuda Group."

He didn't see the tape measure in the hands of the Matsuda group members, assuming they were there to collect debts, and didn't pay them any attention.

Lin Qingying frowned even more deeply. "The Matsuda Group disbanded in 1936. Are you referring to Matsunaga Trading Company or some other organization?"

"Grandpa, if they're after the land, then whoever it is..."

Before Chen Ligui could finish speaking, a series of clattering sounds of hard-soled leather shoes on the wooden floor suddenly came from the porch outside. The rhythm was steady yet rapid, growing louder as it approached, making one's heart tighten.

The three turned around at the sound and saw a burly man in a pure black kimono slowly and steadily appear. Behind him followed four men in black suits, standing in pairs on either side of him, their expressions cold and their aura imposing; they were clearly not ordinary people.

Lin Qingying and Chen Ligui exchanged a quick glance. In that instant, their eyes were filled with seriousness and vigilance, and the same four words flashed through their minds: "Trouble is coming."

Regardless of the turmoil in their hearts, the burly man in the kimono had already approached and stopped at a polite social distance. He stood ramrod straight, expressionless, and bowed slightly to Lin Qingying and Chen Ligui, saying, "Our esteemed leader, please join us for a grand dinner together."

Takano Garden.

In the kitchen, Sin Yiu-man, wearing an apron, stood in front of the stove, his sharp eyes scanning the ingredients on the counter—razor clams and swimming crabs freshly caught from Tokyo Bay, sweet potato starch bought from the black market, as well as Japanese sake, fish sauce, and Satsuma taro.

As he counted the clams, he instructed Fei Baoshu: "Prepare the clams first. Make clams with aged wine. This is the first cold dish, so freshness is crucial. Choose live clams, no dead ones."

Fei Baoshu quickly replied, "Don't worry, sir, I'll remember it all."

She picked up the razor clams from the bamboo basket, squatted by the sink, and carefully scrubbed the mud and seaweed off the clam shells with her fingertips. Occasionally, she would pick one up and smell it to make sure it was fresh before putting it into the filter basket.

After washing them, she picked up the scissors and carefully cut off the fine antennae of the razor clams according to the method taught by Xian Yaowen. After cutting them, she checked them one by one, afraid of missing any.

"Sir, the razor clams are ready. Would you like to take a look?"

She carried the water filter basket over, and Xian Yaowen reached out and fiddled with it a couple of times, nodding and saying, "Hmm, cut it clean, drain the water, and then cut a handful of fine ginger shreds, the finer the better."

Fei Baoshu deftly sliced ​​the ginger and handed it to Xian Yaowen.

Sin Yiu-man took the bowl, picked up a rough porcelain blue and white bowl, and carefully arranged the razor clams into it. He then spread a layer of ginger shreds at the bottom of the bowl and stuffed a small amount into the gaps of each clam. His movements were skillful and efficient.

"The ginger slices should be spread evenly, which can remove the fishy smell and bring out the sweetness of the clams. Don't be careless." He instructed as he set out the clams, while Fei Baoshu stood by and helped by handing over bowls and wiping the table from time to time.

Next, we prepared "old wine," but since old wine was hard to find, we had to use sake instead.

He gestured for Fei Baoshu to bring a small bowl, poured in two spoonfuls of sake, and added half a spoonful of sugar: "Stir it until the sugar is completely dissolved. Be gentle and don't spill it and dirty the table."

Fei Baoshu held the chopsticks and stirred slowly, keeping his eyes fixed on the bowl until the sugar had completely dissolved before handing it back to Xian Yaowen.

Sin Yiu-man took it, added a few drops of fish sauce, and said while stirring, "Fish sauce is a substitute for shrimp oil. Just add a few drops. Too much will mask the original flavor of the razor clams. What we want is freshness, not saltiness."

After stirring, he slowly poured the prepared sake sauce over the razor clams. Fei Baoshu quickly reached out and held the rim of the bowl, helping to rotate the bowl to ensure that every clam was covered in the sauce.

"That's enough. The water should cover half of the razor clams. Any more and they'll taste bland," Sin Yiu-man called out in time.

Fei Baoshu had already boiled the water in advance. Xian Yaowen picked up the bowl containing the razor clams, placed it steadily into the iron pot, covered the pot tightly, and instructed: "Steam over medium heat, remember the time, ten minutes. If it's a second too long, the razor clam meat will become tough, and if it's a second too short, the fishy smell won't dissipate. Keep an eye on the pot."

Fei Baoshu quickly stood guard by the stove, his eyes fixed on the edge of the pot, listening intently to the boiling sound from time to time, his fingers unconsciously tapping the stove, afraid of misremembering the time.

About ten minutes later, the delicate aroma of sake, the fresh scent of razor clams, and the spiciness of ginger filled the entire small kitchen. Xian Yaowen stepped forward, gently lifted the pot lid, and saw that all the razor clam shells were open, and the white razor clam meat was soaking in the slightly boiling sake broth, its color bright.

"It's done, turn off the heat." He said in a deep voice. Fei Baoshu quickly turned off the heat and handed him a handful of finely chopped scallions.

Xian Yaowen asked Fei Baoshu to let the bowl sit for a moment until the heat dissipated slightly. Then he took the chopped scallions and sprinkled them evenly on the razor clam meat. The bright green scallions made the white razor clam meat look even more tempting.

"No need to add any other seasonings, the flavor has already blended in." He said, picking up the bowl. Fei Baoshu quickly reached out to hold the rim of the bowl, and the two of them carried this replica of the old wine-stuffed clams to the table, setting it as the first cold dish.

After serving the cold dishes, the two immediately began preparing the hot dishes.

Sin Yiu-man was in charge of cooking the swimming crabs, planning to make the signature dish of the banquet: braised swimming crab with glass noodles. He asked Fei Po-shu to soak the glass noodles and slice the pork belly. While processing the crab pieces, he instructed: "Soak the glass noodles until soft, but not mushy. Slice the meat thinly so it will bring out the flavor after being stir-fried."

Fei Baoshu responded and busied himself quickly, soaking glass noodles and slicing meat, glancing up at Xian Yaowen's work every now and then, silently memorizing the techniques.

Sin Yiu-man cut the blue crab into pieces, pan-fried them until golden brown, then added luncheon meat slices and soaked shiitake mushrooms and stir-fried them, making the aroma even richer.

"Baoshu, hand me the glass noodles, and pour in a spoonful of sake and half a spoonful of soy sauce."

Fei Baoshu quickly handed over the glass noodles and poured in the seasonings according to the amount. He watched as Xian Yaowen put the glass noodles into the pot, added water, and simmered them. His movements were smooth and fluid, and he handled each step perfectly.

"Master, how much worse is this braised swimming crab with glass noodles than the braised red crab with glass noodles?" Fei Baoshu couldn't help but ask.

Xian Yaowen put his arm around Fei Baoshu's waist and said gently, "A lady from a wealthy family doesn't know the difference between swimming crabs and red crabs?"

"I didn't eat much seafood." Fei Baoshu slowly turned around, his fingertips gently hooking Xian Yaowen's collar. With a little force, he pulled him closer and tilted his head back to kiss him.

Xian Yaowen subconsciously supported Fei Baoshu's waist, his palm touching her warm fabric. He didn't take the initiative, but gently tightened his grip, pulling her closer to him. His lips gradually filled with her faint fragrance, and a gentle smile spread across his eyes.

Fei Baoshu was extremely engrossed. This was the other women's territory, and she felt a strong and secretive sense of theft surging within her, as if she had secretly grasped a tenderness and favor that did not belong to her, and she was indulging in it.

This kiss was like a thunderbolt igniting a fire in the earth. Fei Baoshu almost couldn't control herself and went further, but the ingredients in the pot wouldn't let her have her way. At the crucial moment, the alarm went off.

With his new spatula in hand, Sin Yiu-man continued, "The swimming crabs are a bit lacking in the roe of the red crab. Red crabs aren't produced in Japan, so we'll just have to make do."

"Oh."

The two chatted casually while working together seamlessly to prepare hot dishes such as seafood braised noodles, oyster omelets, and braised tofu. For each dish, Xian Yaowen was in charge of setting the flavors, while Fei Baoshu assisted with preparing ingredients and serving the food. Their division of labor was clear, and their teamwork was excellent.

At 7:30, a banquet was ready, and the maid came to help, carrying dishes to the garden.

Fei Baoshu went to the dining room to enjoy kaiseki cuisine prepared by a renowned kaiseki chef.

Sin Yiu-man went to the dressing room, changed into a navy blue long gown, walked slowly into the garden, stopped in front of the folding bed, took off his linen slippers, stepped onto the bed, and sat down in front of the table.

The pavilion owner, who was sitting to the side waiting, moved over to him, picked up his chopsticks, and put a wagashi (Japanese sweet) to his mouth.

He opened his mouth and took a small bite, his gaze sweeping over the pavilion owner from top to bottom.

In the first six months, Yoshiko Matsuda put in some effort, recruiting for positions such as gardener, gardener, water house girls' school staff, and flower maker, mainly women, and scouring for women's villages in the Tohoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa regions.

Due to the large number of young and middle-aged men who died in battle or did not return, many villages in the three regions were left with only the elderly, women, and children. Women accounted for more than 80% of the population, and their livelihoods and social relationships collapsed. There were instances of women jointly marrying men, as well as various forms of selling themselves into slavery.

The rural areas of Japan cannot produce kind-hearted landlords like Huang Shiren. The landlords are cunning and wicked, and they never give any chance to extend the debt. If the debt cannot be paid on time, they will immediately come to the door to take away Xi'er and sign a contract for her to serve the government. Her daughter is then given to the landlord to perform unpaid forced labor.

Farming, chopping wood, raising pigs, and doing housework; working fifteen or sixteen hours a day; confined to their homes, forbidden to marry, and prohibited from running away; the landlord provides two meals a day, so don't expect to go hungry or not; living in warehouses or cowsheds, working yourself to the bone if you don't die.

There is also more direct human trafficking of "female escorts," with gangs colluding with village chiefs to sell young girls to US military bases in Tokyo, Yokohama, and Kyushu.

For 1500 yen, girls of average appearance can buy a girl's entire life; for girls of better appearance, it's 3000 yen.

Although there are more women than men in women's villages, the power of speech is often still in the hands of men. Many mountain villages will implement "the whole village serving the public good", and women will become the assets of the village collective. They will not only have to participate in unpaid collective labor, but will also be forced into marriage or provide services.

Because the mountainous area is isolated from the outside world, it is difficult for women to escape the village. Anyone who dares to escape will be hunted down by the mountains.

Yoshiko Matsuda specifically recruits "Xi'er" and "collective assets" who have suffered hardships, have been trained, and are obedient and easy to use. From being fed, to eating well, to freedom, and then to paid work, her treatment is gradually improved, and she is gradually trained a second time to establish her image as a savior, thus ensuring her loyalty.

"Hanako?"

Xian Yaowen didn't know the pavilion owner's real name, so he casually picked a common rural girl's name to test her. In the countryside, most girls were either beggars or named Xingzi.

Upon hearing this, the pavilion master bowed slightly, his tone respectful and gentle: "Master, I am Sachiko."

Sachiko's Japanese has a strong Ryukyu accent; even those who don't understand Japanese can hear the difference.

"Okinawans?"

"Hay."

"What's your surname? Higa? Kinjo? Miyagi?"

"Jincheng".

"Kinjiro Sachiko, it's not bad, it's just too ordinary. Let's change it to Kinjiro Mai, and I'll call you Mai from now on."

"Hay."

Just then, Sin Yiu-man heard the sound of car engines coming from the garden gate. It wasn't just one car, and judging from the sound, it wasn't Matsuda Yoshiko's American convoy; it sounded more like a Toyota SA.

The guest he was waiting for arrived. (End of Chapter)