Starting from 40, holding the Star Mall to lead the motherland

Chapter 62 Huge Profits
At around nine in the evening, Han Hui and Zhang Ziqiang went on patrol. A biting river wind blew, scratching Han Hui's face painfully.

The weather has been getting colder lately, making patrolling at night quite unpleasant. Han Hui decided to buy a hat tomorrow, one that would cover both her face and ears.

The two of them passed by a warehouse where movers were unloading items. Han Hui was puzzled. She had seen this warehouse ship out several times during her night shift. If it happened once or twice, it might be an emergency, but several times in half a month was abnormal.

After the patrol was over, Han Hui asked, "Brother Zhang, which trading company owns the warehouse that just shipped the goods? Why do they always choose the night?"

Zhang Ziqiang knew she was tight-lipped, so while he couldn't be too curious, a few internal conversations were fine. "This warehouse belongs to Xinan Trading Company, and their monthly cargo volume isn't huge. But I heard their goods are all in-demand supplies right now."

The largest cargo handling company at Blue Chimney Wharf was the Pingyuan Company. Its president was said to be a branch of the aristocratic Pingyuan clan, with close ties to both the Marine Corps Commander and the head of the Special High Police. Consequently, his smuggling business flourished, and many small trading houses followed his lead.

Han Hui said, "I heard that the smuggling business in Shanghai is monopolized by the Taira-gen clan. Isn't this trading company importing in-demand materials like they're snatching food from a tiger's mouth?"

Zhang Ziqiang lowered his voice and said, "Pingyuan Company resells all kinds of scarce materials, but they don't touch arms. This Xinan Trading Company is different. They do whatever makes money."

What strategic materials are currently the most profitable? Of course, it's munitions and medicine. For example, many guerrillas in Fengxian County couldn't even get guns, and they were reluctant to use bullets during training. It's fair to say that every victory was won at the cost of the soldiers' lives. Guns are in extremely short supply, so this business is incredibly profitable. However, the Japanese government strictly controls munitions; if caught, the entire family would be killed, and the death would be horrific.

Han Hui deliberately said, "This is too bold. Aren't they afraid that the Japanese will capture them all?"

Zhang Ziqiang laughed and said, "They dare to do this, they must have something to rely on. Alas, in this world, it's us ordinary people who suffer. Those officials and rich people can fill their pockets with just anything they do."

The following words are pure complaints. However, in this world, prices are soaring, money is becoming less and less valuable, not to mention the poor, even working-class families are having a very hard time.

Han Hui thought to herself that every snake has its own way and every rat has its own way, which further strengthened her determination to open a trading company.

The two of them had to patrol twice in the second half of the night. At around 3:00 a.m., the river wind was getting stronger and Zhang Ziqiang sneezed several times.

Han Hui said, "Brother Zhang, we're working the night shift these days, so you should buy yourself some warm clothes."

Zhang Ziqiang sighed and said, "Xiao Han, my second son got sick a few days ago and just recovered, and yesterday my third son caught a cold and had a fever. I wanted to advance half a month's salary, but Brother Li said there was no such rule, so I borrowed a hundred yuan from him."

The money he earned was barely enough for his family's food and clothing, and he couldn't afford to take care of his family if he got sick. But no matter how difficult it was, he was the pillar of the family and had to shoulder this heavy responsibility.

Han Hui felt that it was not easy for him to support five people by himself: "Brother Zhang, I haven't used last month's salary yet. If it's not enough, just tell me."

Zhang Ziqiang smiled and said, "How can I take your money? What kind of person would I be then?"

Han Hui knew that Zhang Ziqiang felt it was shameful to borrow money from a child like her.

During her early morning patrol, Han Hui discovered the ground was covered in a fine layer of white frost, making the entire dock seem like it was draped in a layer of silver gauze. While the scenery was beautiful, it was a real hardship for the patrolmen and movers.

The weather was gloomy. On her way home from work, Han Hui saw that the trees were still covered in frost. As she rode her bike, the chill kept creeping in. By the time she got home, Han Hui's hands and feet were freezing. She turned to Huang Shufen, who was making breakfast in the kitchen, and said, "Mom, I just got a cold wind. Can you make me a bowl of brown sugar ginger tea?"

When Huang Shufen heard this, she stopped making breakfast and quickly made her some brown sugar ginger tea.

After she finished her drink, Huang Shufen said, "Yesterday I went to your Aunt He's house. She said it's so cold now and you're constantly patrolling the docks and your health is strained. Since you can write and do math, she's planning to transfer you to a clerk position. Not only will you not have to suffer the cold outside, but the salary will also be much higher than before."

He Sanmei treated Huang Shufen and Han Hui as her own sisters and nieces, and thought about everything for them, which touched Han Hui very much.

Han Hui said, "Mom, I'm going to Aunt He's house after dinner. I have something to tell them. Do you want to come with me?"

Han Mengyang looked very serious during breakfast, but Han Hui didn't ask. After dinner, Huang Shufen and Xiaocao went to buy groceries, and he called Han Hui into his room.

Han Mengyang said, "Xiaoman, can you give me ten large yellow croakers? I want to buy some cotton. Many soldiers on the front lines don't have winter clothes. If you can send them some cotton, it will help them get through the cold winter."

Han Hui thought for a moment and said, "Brother, I can give you ten large yellow croakers, but you can't do this. If these supplies are seized by the enemy, you will be exposed. Not only will you die, but mother and I will be captured too. You know all too well the methods used by the Japanese and the traitors. We can't withstand their torture."

Han Mengyang smiled and said, "I hadn't planned to do this myself. It would be too dangerous. From now on, our trading company will be like Fengze, selling goods to merchants in Suzhou. Although the profit is small, it is safer."

Han Hui felt relieved after hearing this. She went upstairs and fetched him ten large yellow croakers. Then she said jokingly, "Brother, if we don't have enough money to open a trading company, I'll go visit those traitors and their lackeys."

The so-called rotation is to rob the traitors and their running dogs.

Han Mengyang disagreed, saying it was too dangerous.

Han Hui was in a good mood when she saw that he had no objection to robbing the traitors and their lackeys, but was only worried about her danger. "Don't worry, big brother, I'm very good at light martial arts. If I do my homework well, they won't be able to catch me. But we can only do it occasionally. If we do it too often, they will set up an ambush in advance and it will be dangerous."

"Let's discuss this carefully," Han Mengyang said. Even if they wanted to rob traitors and their lackeys, they had to pick those with low martial arts scores.

Han Hui nodded and asked another question: "Brother, you have worked at Fengze Trading Company for so long, have you heard of Xinan Trading Company?"

Han Mengyang nodded and said, "I know. The manager of Xinan Trading Company studied abroad in the United States and opened this trading company two years ago."

"Studying in the United States? So, the owner of Xinan Trading Company is American."

Han Mengyang nodded and said, "The owner of Xinan Trading Company is Adolf, the military attaché of the U.S. Embassy. He is a diplomat and has diplomatic immunity."

The so-called immunity means enjoying certain special rights and privileges. Goods like those shipped by Xinan Trading Company would normally not be inspected by customs. Of course, this is mainly because the United States is a powerful country, and the Japanese dare not offend them, otherwise they would shut down the trading company in a matter of minutes.

(End of this chapter)