Period drama: Old Cao's carefree life

Chapter 290 He has his brilliant plan, and we have our own ways to overcome it.

Ma Daxiang's eyes darted around, and he was the first to speak up, smiling ingratiatingly:
"The Director is right, 50% is not much, it should be! On behalf of myself, I fully support the Director's decision!"

As soon as he made his statement, the others exchanged glances and immediately echoed him, turning their complaints into a chorus of agreement.

There was no other way; they had to agree. If they did, they could at least get some soup or scraps.

disagree?
The destruction of their family and the loss of their loved ones are just around the corner!

What other choice do they have?
What choice do they have?
Seeing that they were so sensible, Cao Weida finally smiled and pointed in the direction of the finance office:
"Have the accountant send the money over tomorrow, don't make me send someone to urge them."

He paused, then added, "Go ahead and do business properly. My people won't cause you trouble, but if you dare to play tricks, you won't want to see the consequences."

The bosses nodded and agreed repeatedly. Seeing that they were all behaving themselves, Cao Weida waved them away with satisfaction.

Walking back down the street, the sunlight was so bright it made people dizzy, but no one dared to complain.

After seeing off the bosses, Xiao Erduo withdrew his gaze from them and whispered, "Brother Cao, they don't seem like they're going to obediently submit. They might be up to something behind the scenes."

Zheng Chaoyang nodded and said, "Xiao Erduo is right. I think so too. Especially that boss Wang Dafa inside. I know him well. He's a quick-witted guy. He was calm and collected the whole time and didn't say a word. But I'm sure he's not someone who's easily intimidated."

"Of course I know. It would be a miracle if these guys handed over their money just because of a few words." Cao Weida, with a cigarette between his fingers, got up and stood by the window.

Sunlight shone on the gold buttons on the director's uniform, making them gleam with a golden light.

"But it's alright, I'm not afraid of them pulling any tricks, I'm just afraid they won't do anything!"

Cao Weida smiled, his eyes slightly narrowed, and watched the business owners walk out of the district government gate before slowly continuing:
"Send someone to keep an eye on them, but don't alert them. Let them make a fuss first and see what tricks they're up to."

"Only when they start making a scene can we legitimately join in the fun, right?"

"Oh, by the way, when those bosses come this afternoon, Little Ear, you can preside over the event. Just do it the way you did at the police station."

"You don't need to pay attention to those who are willing to 'cooperate,' but for those who are not willing to 'cooperate,' just give me their names later."

the other side.

After the group of bosses left the district office, they found a place to sit together. Everyone was there, but Ma Daxiang was nowhere to be seen.

They unanimously decided to keep this "troublemaker" and "traitor" out of the picture.

Another round of puffing smoke ensued, and because the room had no windows, the small room quickly transformed into a fairyland.

At this moment, one of the bosses kicked a brick in the corner, threw his cigarette butt on the ground, and muttered, "This isn't asking for money, this is robbery!!"

Another boss sighed, his folding fan swaying weakly: "What can we do? On their turf, we're just meat on the chopping block!"

"Disobey? They can just uproot us and eat us whole, then let someone else do it."

The other bosses remained silent, because they knew that what was said was true.

They have power, people, and guns; what can they use to resist?
Relying on the people behind you?
Come on, it's Japanese territory, and we're not harming their interests, so why would they want to cause trouble?

In the end, the only ones who suffer are those at the bottom, doing the hardest and dirtiest work for the least pay.

The key is that you can't refuse to do it. If you don't, you'll just be waiting to die. There are countless people lining up to do it!

Even so, having 50% of their profits forcibly taken away is tantamount to cutting off their flesh!
How could they possibly accept this?!
"Boss Wang, among us, you have the quickest mind. Can you come up with a solution?"

Wang Dafu, addressed as Boss Wang, fiddled with the jade thumb ring on his thumb. The ring was a vibrant green, extremely beautiful under the light, and clearly a fine piece.
"Mr. Liu is joking. I would never claim to be the most quick-witted person."

Before he could finish speaking, another boss interrupted him anxiously, "Hey, Mr. Wang, don't be so modest. We're in a dire situation, are you going to keep hiding anything?!"

"We're all in this together now, sharing 50% of the profits! If we hand over all that profit, what will we eat or drink? We'll just starve!"

These words were supported by a group of bosses, who all fixed their gazes on Wang Dafa's face.

They usually eat meat and drink wine in large quantities, so it's natural for them to feel resentful when they're suddenly forced to eat coarse food and wild vegetables.

There's a saying that goes something like this: it's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality!
As long as the profits are big enough, countless people will flock to it, even if it means death or hanging!

Seeing that Wang Dafa was calm and collected, they immediately realized that Wang Dafa must already have a plan, but he just wanted to keep it a secret.

How can this be done!
The saying goes, "It's not scarcity that's worrisome, but inequality." We're all eating coarse food and wild vegetables, while you, Wang Dafa, are eating well and drinking well, enjoying all the good food by yourself.

How can it be!

If Wang Dafa really dared to do that, countless people would be willing to drag him down with them!

Wang Dafa himself knew this. He was not worried about scarcity but about inequality. If he dared to secretly make money on his own, any one of these people would definitely report him!

Having lived for so many years and been a boss for so many years, he understands human nature all too well.

So, he never intended to keep anything to himself from the beginning; he just wanted to pretend.

If he offers the solution himself, who would appreciate his kindness?

Seeing that the desired effect had been achieved and the atmosphere was just right, he slowly began to speak:

"Cao Wei Da is still young, but he doesn't know that he has Zhang Liang's plan, and we also have a way to overcome it."

“We’ll have someone open a hidden corner at the back door and hang up a sign like ‘Tea Room.’ Acquaintances can enter from there. We’ll openly reduce the commission by half, but secretly take 20% as ‘lucky money’ from each hand. That way, there’s not much difference between the two.”

Boss Liu's eyes lit up, and he forgot all about his cigarette, hurriedly praising, "Boss Wang really has a good idea; his mind is far superior to ours!"

"In this way, the gambling den's profits will drop by half on the surface, but in reality, they will not decrease, and the profits given out will be much less!"

If Cao Wei Da heard this, he would definitely scoff. Isn't this just a copy of the dual contract? In modern society, we hear about this kind of thing far too often. Does he really think I'm some clueless greenhorn?
The people at the gambling den were delighted, but the people at the opium den were anxious: "Boss Wang, what about the opium? Do you have any good ideas? The director said that it's forbidden to mix in smuggled goods!"

"Silly brother," Boss Wang chuckled, shoving an oil paper package into his hand:
"This material comes from Zhangjiakou. It's three times stronger than the official cigarettes. If you roll the official cigarettes into tobacco bubbles and bury half of this at the bottom, the smokers will just think it's because the official cigarettes are of better quality. Who will notice?"

The so-called "official opium" refers to the opium that ordinary people received from their hands, and it was all rationed.

Although the price was high, it was safer; the authorities wouldn't interfere, and might even secretly support you in selling more. Imported opium, or smuggled goods, was strictly prohibited from entering the country; if caught, it was a serious crime.

But now that we can barely make any money, does it even matter whether we've committed a crime or not?
There's a saying in Marx's Capital: "Capital becomes bold when there is a suitable profit."

If there's a 10% profit, he'll guarantee it'll be used everywhere.

He becomes active if there is a 20% profit.

He would take the risk if there was a 50% profit.

If he has a 100% profit, he dares to trample on all human laws.

If he had a 300 percent profit, he would dare to commit any crime, even risking being hanged.

The tobacco stall owner, clutching the oil paper package, felt a sense of relief at its firmness under his fingers, but then frowned: "What if the military police investigate? Like what happened at Yongding Gate last time."

"Check?" Boss Wang sneered, pulling out a cigarette coupon from his pocket. "See this? It's a cigarette coupon from the government's Anti-Smoking Bureau. I had someone get me twenty of them."

"If they really find out, just show them this and say it's a special medicine approved by the government. Then slip them a little money, and you'll be fine."

He paused, then added, "By the way, don't sell medicine potions. Go specifically to those who drive sports cars or do black market business. They have money and don't mind spending a few extra coins for a stronger one."

"Also, the tribute the director wants, let's not send it separately, let's gather it all together and have someone deliver it."

Everyone was overjoyed: "Boss Wang's consideration is very thoughtful!"

"."

In the afternoon, many cigarette stalls quietly opened small doors behind them.

Two days later.

"Brother Cao, just as I expected, these guys are really dishonest, secretly pulling off a double game." In the director's office, Little Ears sneered. These guys think they're so clever, actually trying to play this trick!

Little did they know, Brother Cao had been on guard against their underhanded tactics all along!
I had been secretly watching them since they didn't go their separate ways after leaving together, but instead found another place to meet up.

“Our people have already touched it and have a general understanding of how it works.”

"A wooden door opened in the back wall of Jucaifang on South Street. Pushing it open, you would find a narrow passage with three private rooms hidden inside. The cigarette lamps were lit like will-o'-the-wisps, and the kang (heated brick bed) was full of regular customers. The copper cigarette shovels were still steaming in the cigarette trays."

"There was also the Tonghe Opium Den, which had a hidden compartment under the window. Regular customers would hand over a carved wooden plaque to get the medicine, and the owner's wife would squat inside, never even showing her face."

Cao Weida chuckled, paused with his fingertips, and said, "Go, invite the wealthy boss of Jucaifang and those who have opened the secret doors here in batches."

Now that the prey has moved, it's only natural that he, the prey, should also move around.

When Cai Laosan entered, he was carrying a gift box in his arms, intending to offer it as a gift. However, when he saw the jade cigarette holder that had been found in the secret door on the table, his face turned pale instantly.

Cao Weida ignored him and continued to stroke his cigarette holder: "Do you know how Chairman Song banned opium back then? The bones of the opium addicts executed under the overpass could pile up into a mountain."

When he looked up, his piercing gaze stung the third son of the wealthy family.

“I don’t want your cigarette holder, nor do I want you to look like a coward. I’ve given you a chance, but since you’re so compliant, you have to follow my rules.”

Cai Laosan was terrified, his face drained of color. He knelt down with a thud, his forehead pressed against the brick floor, and wailed, "Director, have mercy! It was all Wang Dafu's idea! I've always respected you, Director!"

"Alright, I've already said, don't give me that cackling, pathetic act!" Cao Weida slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly, staring at him expressionlessly as he spoke, word by word:

“From today onwards, those regular customers behind your secret door will have to pay 20% more than those at the front door!”

"Also, send two of your own men, those who have committed numerous evils and whose hands are stained with blood, to the station to face justice!"

"If even a single word is missing, or if not a single person is brought to trial, then I'll drag you into this in place of me!"

"Chief, spare me!"

Before he could even try to negotiate, Cao Weida coldly interrupted, "This is an order, not something to discuss with you!"

"Of course, you can try not to cooperate and see if I dare to arrest you and bring you to the station, see if I dare to confiscate your house, and see if the people behind you dare to bare their teeth at me!"

Cai Laosan trembled with fear as he responded. The director was backed by the Japanese. Rumors had already spread that the reason why the arrogant and domineering Marshal Guo, who had been so powerful in Beiping, had suddenly disappeared and kept a low profile these days, and why the tyrannical Liu Changjiang, who ran rampant in the countryside outside the Great Wall, had been taken down by this man!
Who is Commander Guo?
That person has an extremely close relationship with both Chairman Wang and the Mayor!

Liu Changjiang is also rumored to have dealings with the security brigade.

People like that can be taken care of just like that, right?
He's nobody!
At this moment, Cai Lao was filled with regret and wished he could slap himself a few times.

Everyone says that finance is captivating, but I was blinded by immediate gains!
In the current situation, even a fool can see that all their little tricks are being played right under someone else's nose.

But they were completely unaware of the truth, yet they believed they had done something flawless and could deceive everyone.
"If I had known this would happen, why would I have struggled at all?!"

"We could have at least eaten some leftovers before, but now it seems like we're lucky if we don't lose our whole family."

Oh, what should I do?

Hand it over!

Whether it's people or money, whatever this guy asks for, he'll agree to!

Seeing that he knew what was good for him, Cao Weida snorted coldly and waved his hand, saying, "You can get lost now. Remember, if you dare to fool me with the people you've brought here, you know the consequences!"

"I know, I know," Cai Laosan stammered, backing away. As he reached the door, he accidentally bumped into the doorframe with a 'bang'.

Even though his eyes were twitching from the pain, he dared not utter a sound, nor even look at Cao Weida.

"Hmph, they really won't listen to reason, so they'll have to suffer the consequences!" He lit a cigarette with a 'click,' took a puff, picked up a pen, and found the three characters 'Jucaifang' among a list of shop names on a sheet of paper on the table. He circled it next to the name.

"Chaoyang, it's time to call the next boss."

(End of this chapter)