Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 227, Chapter 226: Penicillin Shanghai Trading Network, Tall and Short Romance, The Bund Crisis
The penicillin issue is not over yet.

Without revealing his identity, he made all of Shanghai aware of the miraculous effects of penicillin, also known as the "miracle sterilizer," and that was just the beginning.

Next, we need to establish a distribution channel.

Since we've already chosen the path of concealing our identities, the method of shipping also needs to maintain an air of mystery.

Furthermore, from this day forward, it must not be allowed to have any connection with Taishan Airlines.

Wu Yingzong was shot in the shoulder, resulting in a fractured scapula and nerve damage. As a result, the flexibility of his right arm will be reduced from now on.

He was no longer suitable to stay in the special operations team, and Fang Wen also needed a trustworthy person to go undercover in Shanghai.

Therefore, Fang Wen had a private conversation with Wu Yingzong, who was discharged from the hospital and recuperating at the airport dormitory.

Wu Yingzong, with a bandage on his right shoulder, arrived at the general manager's residence.

Qiuju led him in, then left the living room and waited outside in the courtyard.

"Sit down. I called you here today to discuss things from the future," Fang Wen said.

Wu Yingzong sat upright opposite Fang Wen and replied, "I'll do whatever the general manager asks me to do."

"Your health condition is no longer suitable for you to stay in the action group. You should leave early. I have arranged a new job for you."

"Yes."

"I want you to change your identity and stay in Shanghai, is that okay?"

Wu Yingzong agreed without hesitation. "Okay."

Fang Wen knew this was a way of repaying a debt of gratitude, and he didn't mind gaining more loyal subordinates through this method.

Perhaps this is the most traditional source of loyalty in the Republic of China era.

He had a more detailed conversation with Wu Yingzong.

"Shanghai is the hub of intelligence in the Far East and a place where representatives of various interest groups exchange information. I need a trustworthy person to operate in Shanghai. At the same time, penicillin will also be sold through you. Therefore, you will have two identities in Shanghai: openly, you will run a trading company, and secretly, you will be a supplier of penicillin, um, now called Miracle Sterilizer. Therefore, you must be careful not to expose your secret identity. Can you do that?"

“Sure. General Manager, I may not be suited for combat, but disguise is my forte,” Wu Yingzong replied confidently.

Fang Wen nodded: "I'm worried about you being alone in Shanghai, so I'll arrange a partner for you. Considering your health, someone skilled in combat would be best. I think Zhang Yunfei and Zhao Wanping are both good choices. Which one do you want?"

This choice left Wu Yingzong somewhat at a loss.

If the action team were present, they would probably all guess that he chose Zhang Yunfei, since Zhao Wanping had always shown interest in him, but Wu Yingzong had not reacted at all.

After hesitating for a moment, Wu Yingzong replied, "I choose Zhao Wanping."

It's a decision that's really hard to guess.

Fang Wen was somewhat surprised. Before he could ask, Wu Yingzong explained the reason herself: "My dad said that women with big hips are good at bearing children. Now I'm the only one in our Wu family, so the task of carrying on the family line is up to me. General Manager, if I get together with Zhao Wanping, will you agree?"

This idea is very simple and straightforward!

Fang Wen scratched the back of his head. This matter should be clarified today, so as not to cause trouble later.

He replied, "I have no objection, but I don't know if her parents will agree. How about this, I'll treat everyone today and invite Zhao Wanping's parents over. I'll act as a matchmaker for you. If it works out, you two can be a couple. Go and call Zhao Wanping over."

"Sigh." Wu Yingzong got up and went out.

Fang Wen picked up the phone and dialed the secret contact number left by Chief Wang.

The coded message came over the phone: "Wu's Trading, what goods do you want to order?"

"Do you have a Taishan Stone Guardian?" Fang Wen replied.

"Yes, please wait a moment."

A moment later, Wang Gangzhu's voice came through the phone. "General Manager Fang, long time no see. I heard you encountered danger in Beiping. Are you looking for our Axe Gang to deal with the Japanese? I can give you a 50% discount."

“No. I want to talk to Zhao Wanping’s parents, um,” Fang Wen, who was acting as a matchmaker for the first time, hesitated to say, “to discuss Zhao Wanping’s marriage with them.”

Chief Wang was quite surprised: "Someone has taken a liking to Wanping? That's really rare. Whose son is so bold?"

Unexpectedly, even Chief Wang had a gossipy side. Fang Wen could only explain, "Wu Yingzong, who stole the door, and Zhao Wanping are in love. They've secretly made a promise to each other. I only found out about it recently. That's why I immediately went to Zhao Wanping's parents to act as matchmakers. If it works out, I'll help bring them together. If it doesn't, at least they won't become enemies."

“It’s possible. You don’t know, her parents are worried about not being able to marry off their daughter. I’ve told them to come over right away.”

Fang Wen hung up the phone and waited.

Wu Yingzong and Zhao Wanping returned first, followed by Zhao's parents.

After Fang Wen gave his introduction, the two were very happy to have such a prospective son-in-law and immediately agreed to the marriage.

But when to get married is up to the two of them.

The two of them disagreed with holding the wedding now, mainly because they were afraid of revealing their identities and affecting their subsequent actions.

A secret hideout was established in Shanghai.

Wu Yingzong and Zhao Wanping withdrew from the Taishan Volunteer Army Special Operations Team. They took on new identities and opened a trading company in Shanghai under aliases.

The two ran the company together as husband and wife, but secretly they also had another business: selling "miracle sterilizing agent".

The two men usually work in trade, importing perfumes, chemicals, and daily necessities from Europe and America. They source their goods through Taishan Airlines' European branch and transport them via Taishan International's cargo ships, and their business is progressing smoothly.

At night, the two would team up, one providing cover while the other disguised himself and leaked information to the outside world through intelligence networks.

Thus, Shanghai learned that the sale of the "miracle sterilizer" was about to begin.

This drug is in demand not only in Shanghai, but also all over the world.

The message was quickly disseminated through the information network of the Far East intelligence stations.

News of the availability of effective battlefield medicines in the Far East spread far and wide, and many people placed orders in Shanghai through their online networks.

A mysterious supplier released information to the public.
1. The production of the miraculous sterilizing agent is limited, with a monthly supply of only about 5 kilograms, which is equivalent to 5000 bottles of injectable dry powder, and it will be available until it is sold out.

2. Do not investigate his identity, otherwise the entire supply will be cut off.

3. We will not sell to the Japanese.

These three points indicate the scarcity of the product. One bottle of injectable dry powder cannot guarantee a cure for an infection symptom; at least 3-7 bottles are needed. 5000 bottles of injectable dry powder can only be used for 1000 patients.

More than 1000 people in Shanghai need these medicines, not to mention those outside of Shanghai.

With demand comes market, and with market and profit comes conflict.

They wouldn't target the mysterious supplier, but they wanted to control all the medicines, and a struggle quietly began in Shanghai.

People from the Green Gang and the Hongmen joined in, as did people from the foreign concessions. Even high-ranking officials from the Nationalist government participated in this game of interests, and even the Japanese, who were not openly allowed to participate, found their own representatives.

On the day of delivery, the streets of Shanghai were unusually quiet.

Beneath the calm surface, countless undercurrents are surging.

Everyone was waiting for the moment of shipment. Fang Wen was also worried about problems arising from the first supply transaction, so he went to the vicinity of the transaction location early in the morning.

The transaction took place in the Bund area of ​​the British Concession in Shanghai.

After disguising himself, Fang Wen led his team into a hotel on the Bund Avenue.

The people staying at the hotel with them today all seemed a bit different, but they didn't bother each other and went to their respective hotel rooms.

Fang Wen also entered the room, went straight to the window, picked up binoculars, and observed the situation outside through the gap in the curtains.

Trams were installed on the Bund, cars were parked along the roadside, and there were docks and private boats on the river.

This was the gathering place of the most powerful foreigners in Shanghai, and also the safest place, making it the best location for transactions.

Fang Wen checked the time: 7:40 PM, 20 minutes before the transaction.

Suddenly, a squad of police officers from the concession appeared and forcibly imposed martial law, driving everyone out of the area, whether Chinese or foreign.

The streets were suddenly deserted, with only two patrol officers remaining.

The only people who can still observe the situation here are those who checked into hotels in advance, as well as the people in various commercial buildings.

Under the watchful eyes of countless people, a car drove by. When it passed the inspection team in the concession, it was allowed to pass after something was said to it.

The car stopped in the middle of the Bund, and a man and a woman got out.

It was Wu Yingzong and Zhao Wanping, disguised, who took suitcases out of the car, preparing to make a transaction on the spot.

Wu Yingzong picked up the megaphone and shouted:
"This is our first transaction, so I hope everyone follows the rules so we can continue. I have 5000 vials of injectable dry powder here, at $50 per vial."

Upon hearing this offer, buyers who had been hiding throughout the Bund gradually emerged.

One person responded, "Isn't $50 too expensive?"

Wu Yingzong sneered and raised the megaphone to respond: "Before the advent of the Miracle Sterilizer, no doctor could guarantee a cure for bacterial infections, and I think you should know that. Bacteria are everywhere in this world, and they invade the body when a person is sick and weak. Without the Miracle Sterilizer, you can only rely on your body to tough it out. With the Miracle Sterilizer, it's like having an extra chance of survival after a bacterial infection. Do you think $50 is worth it?"

It's definitely worth it. Once you buy it, it's absolutely valuable. You don't need to resell it to double or even multiply its value; there's always someone who might want it for several times its original price.

Apart from that person, no one else objected.

Everyone agreed to the price.

Wu Yingzong continued to shout through the loudspeaker: "We are only responsible for shipping tonight, and the price is $50 a bottle. Everything else is none of our business. Now I ask you, who wants this batch of goods?"

Everyone wants it, and some bold individuals have already taken the first step.

He's a member of the Green Gang.

A gunshot rang out, and sparks flew from the ground in front of the Green Gang man.

The sudden firing halted everyone's desire to move forward, and they looked in the direction from which the gunshots came.

It was fired by the red-haired police officer, Ah An.

They were the British's most loyal men, and clearly, the British were making a move.

People came down from several foreign firm buildings, including the British consul who led the officers.

The consul announced loudly, "This transaction is taking place in the British concession. We have the right to purchase all the potions. Please restrain yourselves and do not act impulsively. After all, there will be other transactions."

Everyone was being targeted with guns, and there were probably troops nearby. It was clear that the British were going to take over the deal.

Although unwilling, no one was foolish enough to go against the British in the British concession.

Immediately, someone shouted, "Mysterious man, is the next deal going to be another British rent transaction? Playing this game is basically helping the British, isn't it?"

Wu Yingzong responded: "We chose this place for our own safety. Other things were not our consideration. But next time we can choose another place, or you can discuss a transaction method that is beneficial to everyone, which we can also accept."

These words gave everyone the grace to leave, and the transaction was thus concluded.

Everyone who wanted a piece of the pie left empty-handed, leaving only Wu Yingzong and Zhao Wanping to complete the deal with the British.

The transaction was completed, and all the medicines were purchased at the price converted from pounds sterling.

The British consul shook hands with Wu Yingzong: "These medicines are important to everyone, and on behalf of Britain, I hope to establish a long-term purchasing partnership."

Wu Yingzong shook his head: "Sorry, this is just the beginning. We need to find the most suitable way to exchange benefits. The deal will continue until we find the best partner."

After he finished speaking the specially meaningful words Fang Wen had given him, he and Zhao Wanping got into the car with the cash suitcase.

As the two got into the car, Fang Wen's heart couldn't help but jump.

This is a test of humanity. There's $25 in cash in the car. Will someone come and rob it?

If anyone makes a move, the situation will become chaotic, and the two will be unable to complete their subsequent actions.

The loss of this small amount of money is insignificant, but the long-term plan will also fail.

He was waiting for the result.

Inside the car, Wu Yingzong and Zhao Wanping were equally nervous.

While constantly observing the situation outside the car, Zhao Wanping said, "Someone is observing from the shadows. I saw a reflection."

"Don't be afraid. We represent a continuous supply of miraculous sterilizing agent, which is more valuable than gold. If they dare to touch it, future transactions will be canceled," Wu Yingzong reassured them, though he himself was not entirely sure.

In this materialistic city, anything is possible.

Suddenly, a figure moved in front of me, and then a wooden fence blocked my way.

Under the car headlights, Wu Yingzong and Zhao Wanping saw that a dozen or so men in short jackets were blocking their way.

"Don't be afraid, leave the money and we'll let you pass." The leader demanded money but didn't reveal his name, clearly intending to embezzle the money without letting anyone know.

His actions do not represent the real big shots in Shanghai, and may even have infringed upon their interests.

Moreover, it involves the interests of more than one bigwig.

Before Wu Yingzong could utter a word to fight back, bullets from different angles shot in, killing all of them.

More than a dozen vibrant lives were lost on the spot; their fates were decided so easily.

Then, a group of people jogged over, pulled open the wooden fence, and apologized to Wu Yingzong and his companion: "We didn't expect anyone to be so bold. We're sorry. Don't worry, no one will harm you after you leave here."

Wu Yingzong nodded and drove into the darkness.

Fang Wen's gamble paid off. No one was willing to give up the lucrative market of the miraculous sterilizing agent. In order to protect this interest, all parties were willing to allow the two people Fang Wen had placed in Shanghai to remain.

This is a new type of exchange of benefits. Everyone needs the miraculous sterilizing agent. As long as the supply of penicillin is maintained and the source is not revealed, this network of benefits will continue to exist and grow larger.

No longer worried about penicillin, Fang Wen piloted a plane with the first batch of recruits from the north to Yangon, starting his new career in aircraft manufacturing.

(End of this chapter)