Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 51 Persuasion
After seeing off Lu Bowen and the others, the main purpose of today's meeting was over.

However, Gu Yansheng still had to deal with the remaining two smoke bombs and make them explode.

"Director." Liu Xiaolou brought the next person in.

The assistant manager of the rickshaw company, a pot-bellied man, Ji Weiding.

"Mr. Ji, how are you?"

As for him, Gu Yansheng was too lazy to get up, so he just leaned back in his chair and looked at him with a smile.

When Ji Weiding saw Gu Yansheng again, he could only say that she was stunningly beautiful. After not seeing her for a few days, the old hen had turned into a phoenix.

He bowed his head and said, "Haha, thanks to Director Gu's blessing, I've been doing pretty well recently."

"Please sit down, Assistant Manager Ji. I'm here to ask you for help with something."

"What help? Just tell me if you have anything to do. As long as it is something I can do, I will go through fire and water and do my best." Ji Weiding said in a generous tone.

Who said things were different now? In the police station, he dared to yell at Lawyer Gu that it was unfair and that he would report it, but who should he report to Director Gu? Where should he report it to?
The British are reasonable, but the Japanese are not. He still wants to survive in Shanghai.

Gu Yansheng smiled, "That's not that serious. The thing is, there are quite a few prisoners in the two prisons in Shanghai. They were arrested after the war for some well-known reasons. Ji Xiangli should have some idea of ​​the time."

Ji Weiding's eyes rolled, and he suddenly realized: "Oh, I know, it's Japanese, right?"

"Yes." Gu Yansheng nodded. "Mr. Ji should also know that these people are not serious criminals. Most of them should be of good character. After all, they were all citizens of SH before."

"Uh-huh."

“So, the Ministry of Justice recently decided to release some of these prisoners. This will also reduce unnecessary government expenses. There is really no need to keep them locked up.

However, a lot has changed since the war, and the living environment of these people is always not very good. After they are released, it may not be easy to find a job given the current situation in Shanghai.

It is the government's good intention to release them, but if they do nothing and start causing trouble again, my good intentions will become bad intentions in the eyes of the Japanese.

So I'd like to ask Assistant Manager Ji for a favor and see if your dealership can absorb some of it."

"This..." Ji Weiding frowned, looking a little embarrassed. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "How many people are there?"

"See how many people you can use."

Ji Weiding smiled helplessly, "Director Gu, you know that the job market in Shanghai is quite saturated right now. Even if you want to work as a laborer at the docks, you still have to queue up and find connections.

It wouldn't be a big problem if there were more rickshaw pullers. At most, if there were more people eating, they would eat one bite less and still not starve to death.

But the number of these cars is fixed. If you only have 20 or 30 people, I will arrange them for you without hesitation. But if the number is larger, the number of cars alone will not be enough.

Salary is a small matter. The more you work, the more you earn. If they have just started and don't have much money, I can give them a temporary daily salary to ensure they don't starve."

That was a question. Gu Yansheng thought for a moment and asked, "How much does a rickshaw cost?"

"Depending on the model, the luxury version is around 100 to 120 dollars, and the lowest-end one is 50 dollars."

Speaking of this, Ji Weiding knows all about it like the back of his hand. "Shanghai rickshaws are divided into different grades. If you want to work in the concession, you have to get a luxury version. Foreigners and Shanghai bosses don't like to work with the low-end rickshaws, so you won't have any business in the concession.

But if you are in the city of SH, it doesn’t matter. People will still ride the low-end ones, but the fare will definitely be less than the luxury version. But generally speaking, there will be more people riding them.

There's no real difference in income per se; the better-off ones have less, the cheaper ones have more, and that offsets the difference. The only difference is that the boss who drives a luxury car will be more polite if he's given a tip."

Gu Yansheng thought for a moment and said, "How about this? You help me deal with forty people. I'll find the money, and you help me buy thirty vehicles and arrange for another sixty people to go in, for a total of 100 people. How about that? Is it difficult?"

"Okay, since you said so, I will definitely help." Ji Weiding thought about it and it was not a big problem. There were only fifty cars in two shifts, and it would not have any impact if they were spread all over Shanghai, so he showed his generosity.

"I just don't understand. You've already given them a second life by releasing them, so why are you still spending money to find them jobs, and even buy them cars?"

Although Director Gu just said that he was worried that the people who came out would have nothing to do and cause trouble, Ji Weiding felt that these 100 people would not be able to cause any trouble, right?
It’s so much trouble to spend money to buy a car, but the Japanese will behave themselves once they are threatened.

Gu Yansheng smiled slightly. "I can't tell you about this right now. It's confidential. But when we're ready to release the person, we'll definitely let you know. Then I might have to trouble you to cooperate and give the driver a few words of encouragement."

"No problem. Director Gu's business is my business. Leave it to me." Ji Weiding patted his chest loudly.

Just doing this little thing can gain the friendship of Director Gu and the government. It's a great deal.

"Okay, that's all. Thank you for making the trip."

"It's okay. I don't have anything to do during the day anyway. The driver's shift is already in the evening, so I can be there then. So I'll be leaving first?"

Ji Weiding smiled and greeted him, then took two steps before remembering something. "Director Gu, I almost forgot to mention this. I'm just an assistant manager. I can buy this car for you and register it with our dealership, but I'm not the boss. According to the rules, I still have to take a commission from the registration. I'm afraid I can't save this money."

"We will collect it as usual. It will not affect your normal process."

"That's good, that's good. Goodbye, Director Gu. No need to see me off."

"it is good."

Gu Yansheng watched him leave, which was considered to be giving him enough face.

I stood up and stretched myself, and since I was the only one left, I simply walked to the meeting room.

Liu Xiaolou was still accompanying the professor from Hujiang University, but judging from the professor's expression, he seemed a little restless.

"Professor Tian, ​​I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." Gu Yansheng smiled and stepped forward to shake hands.

"Waiting is fine, but I don't know what the purpose of waiting is. If Mr. Gu wants me to work for the city government, then I'm sorry, but I just want to teach and educate people. I'm not interested in politics."

It is not news that the Japanese are recruiting respected people to work for the new government. Since the end of the war, invitations have been common, but only a few have agreed. Who doesn't know that the Japanese are behind the SH city government?

Going to the government is no different from being a traitor. Professor Tian was very nervous when he was invited this time.

"For the citizens of SH."

Gu Yansheng came up with a big hat, pulled Professor Tian to sit down, and said:

"The thing is, since the Shanghai War, Shanghai's prisons have held a number of prisoners who actually did not commit any crime. Some of them offended the Japanese, while others were simply unlucky and were arrested because they encountered an unhappy Japanese on the road.

Without a name or status, without a trial certificate, no one knows when he will be released; it seems like the time is so far away.”

"What you are doing is inhumane!" Professor Tian shouted.

Still a hot-tempered person, Gu Yansheng raised his hand to stop him from talking. "Professor Tian, ​​we are old acquaintances. You know, a few days ago I was working as a barrister in the concession. I could have stayed out of this. Why did I come here to help the new government and the Japanese? Without Chinese participation in governance, do you think Shanghai under Japanese control would be better than it is now?"

I came here to fulfill my responsibility as a Chinese. I entered the Judicial Department, checked the files, and discovered this group of people.

My first thought was to find a way to release them, and I had to release them."

When Professor Tian heard this, his eyes changed significantly. He wanted to say something and his lips moved, but he suppressed his thoughts and didn't say anything.

Gu Yansheng continued, "But as I said, these people were captured by the Japanese. If I release them, I will be in great trouble. Even if I want to release them, it's still unclear whether the Japanese will agree.

So I tried my best to find a way to release these people without the Japanese.

About 2200 people, no more, no less.”

Gu Yansheng said the number in a heavy tone.

Professor Tian was visibly moved. The numbers were truly astonishing. He couldn't help but ask, "So what are you going to do?"

Gu Yan pressed his hand: "I already have a specific plan, but there is still a missing link in the plan. I need some doctors to go into the prison to help these prisoners with their physical examinations.

But doctors charge a lot, the city government doesn't have the funds, and the Japanese are even less likely to pay, so I'd like Professor Tian to help me with this."

"But I'm not a doctor?" Professor Tian was confused.

He is not studying medicine, he teaches chemistry.

"I know." Gu Yansheng nodded and smiled, "But doesn't Hujiang University have a medical school?"

Professor Tian understood a little and guessed, "You want me to help you contact the school's medical department and have teachers and students go to the prison to help the prisoners with physical examinations?"

"Correct."

"Mr. Gu, I can't help you with this. I'm not familiar with the people in the medical school. I majored in chemistry, and they majored in medicine. We don't interact much. Besides, I'm just an ordinary professor, not a dean, vice dean, or even a president. You think too highly of me by asking me to persuade the medical department to do you this favor."

"How do you know it won't work if you don't try?"

Gu Yansheng raised his voice a little: "Professor Tian, ​​a professor is a professor. You are able to work in a university and teach chemistry to the world. You are so virtuous and respected. How can you be called ordinary?
Although you say you are not familiar with medical school, doctors cure diseases and save lives, which is the purpose of students studying medicine.

It is just a free clinic for prison inmates. It will take less than a day or two and can be completed over a weekend. Students can also get the opportunity to practice hands-on.

You feel that you cannot convince the leaders of the medical department.

But I remind you that the country is now in ruins and the smoke of war in Shanghai is still vivid, and the students' anti-Japanese sentiment is very strong.

If the leaders gave up the opportunity to rescue more than 2000 prisoners at once.

I think the students may not agree if they know this.

What's worse, if other universities knew they gave up, wouldn't they become a laughing stock in Shanghai? "

Professor Tian was a smart man after all. He immediately realized what was going on and asked with wide eyes, "Aren't you using me to pressure the school?"

Gu Yansheng leaned back and said calmly, "Professor Tian, ​​there are more than 2000 people. Do you want me to give up?
More than 2000 lives are involved. If your school leaders are willing to do this, then people will naturally be willing to do it once you say it. There is no need to force them.

If he is unwilling to do so and as a teacher he has no faith in saving people, what does it matter if I force him?
Is it a bad thing for his students to know what kind of person their teacher is?"

Professor Tian scratched his hair and smiled bitterly, "That's true, but you want me to be the bad guy?"

"Professor Tian, ​​there are more than 2000 people."

"If the school leaders have complaints, how can I stay in school in the future?"

"Professor Tian, ​​there are more than 2000 people."

"Tsk, let me think about it, I really don't have any close relationship with the Dean of the Medical Department."

"Professor Tian, ​​2000"

"Over 2000 people. Okay, I get it. I've said it a few times. I'm just trying to figure it out. Is there anything new?"

Professor Tian suddenly became irritable, rolled his eyes at Gu Yansheng, and said unhappily, "It's just a few doctors, isn't it? How can your city government be so stingy? The SH city government is so big, but they can't even pay for a few doctors. Otherwise, why would they come to us?"

Gu Yansheng couldn't take the blame for this. "That's not my problem. If the city government doesn't approve the money, you have to go to the mayor. The new mayor is Fu Xiaoan. You can have your school write a letter and give him a good scolding. I also want the funds."

The school has to be brave too? Professor Tian sneered, but then he frowned, "Does the name Fu Xiaoan sound so familiar?"

His eyes widened. "Your new mayor is called Fu Xiaoan? Isn't that that stinky profiteer?"

"Well, I didn't say that." Gu Yansheng blocked his mouth with his fingers and laughed secretly.

I originally thought that cursing businessmen was just Ling Xianwen's catchphrase, but now it seems that Mayor Fu's reputation among the people is really bad.

"Letting a businessman be the mayor, no wonder he is so calculating." Professor Tian snorted, and even Gu Yansheng rolled his eyes, stood up and shook his clothes.

"Since you saved me, I'll help you this time. If I find out that you're a corrupt official, don't call me next time!"

I hope there will be a next time. "Okay, thank you Professor Tian for your help. Give me a call when you have a letter. Come, I'll see Professor Tian off.

Professor Tian, ​​I actually have something new to say. Would you like to hear it?"

Professor Tian paused and asked, "How fresh is it?"

Gu Yansheng held his hand and said sincerely, "I don't like to let people who have helped me suffer. If this incident really leads to you being treated unfairly in school, please tell me.

I'll help you transfer to a school in the French Concession. I should be able to get some respect in the French Concession. If you've followed the follow-up of this case, I believe you know what I'm saying is true."

Professor Tian was somewhat moved and said seriously, "As a city government official, you are much better than many people I have met. But remember, I am helping you for the sake of those 2200-plus people. No matter what the outcome, I am doing this voluntarily."

"Yes."

"If those 2200 people are not released, I will never forgive you."

"clear."

"gone."

(End of this chapter)