Du Mingshan has been feeling a little irritable these days.
He has never been able to get the position he wanted. He only held a false position and had no rights. This was intolerable to him who regarded himself as an important minister of the Qing Dynasty.
Something happened to the business of his second son Du Zhenxian. The goods were robbed, and the gendarmerie boss was behind to collect debts.
I will definitely not take out the money.
In addition to being willing to spend a lot of money on antiques, he regards wealth as his life.
Antiques can increase in value and can be passed down from generation to generation.
Of the two sons, there is no doubt that he is partial to his eldest son Du Zhenchun.
Although the boss is a bit unsatisfactory, he is the orthodox member of the Du family.
His mother, his eldest wife, is a serious and serious person.
"Sir, Colonel Fujiguchi would like to see you."
Du Mingshan was startled by this voice.
Why did Takeo Fujiguchi come to his house?
Could it be that since his son didn't pay back the money, he came to collect the debt from him?
But when the Japanese colonel came, he had to see him. Du Mingshan gritted his teeth:
"please!"
Takeo Fujiguchi always wears a military uniform wherever he goes. It seems that not doing so is not enough to show his identity.
"How come your Excellency, Colonel, you are free to come to Humble House today?" Du Mingshan smiled broadly.
"The house of Mr. Ge is not a humble one, but a very large and luxurious house." Takeo Fujiguchi understands Chinese and can speak it himself, but he is not very proficient:
"The Gendarmerie is preparing to hold a social event with the Chinese people in Xinjing recently, so they need Mr. Du Ge's help..."
Upon hearing this, Du Mingshan felt relieved.
These Japanese people always organize some social activities at every turn to show their "goodwill" to the Chinese in Manchuria, and goodwill often invites celebrities to participate to show their influence.
"It's easy to say, it's easy to say. Your Excellency Colonel, please take a seat. Come and watch the tea! Come and hand over the eldest son, and say that Your Excellency Colonel is here."
Du Mingshan asked Takeo Fujiguchi to sit down, served tea, called his eldest son Du Zhenchun to accompany him, and discussed the goodwill meeting with him carefully.
If there is a chance to contact a big shot, Mr. Du Ge will definitely bring him with him.
He likes to participate in such publicity activities the most.
After talking there for a while, the discussion was almost completed. Du Zhenxian walked in. When he saw Colonel Fujiguchi was there, he first stepped forward to say hello, and then said to Du Mingshan:
"Father, I have a friend who wants to see his father."
Du Mingshan had a displeased look on his face: "I don't meet all cats and dogs."
"Father, he is Zhu Yanfan, the deputy general manager of Shanghai Angus International Co., Ltd."
"From Shanghai?" Du Mingshan was startled.
What does the manager of a foreign bank from Shanghai want to see me for?
"That person is a friend of Arie Kaneda of the Manchuria Hotel." Takeo Fujiguchi said on the side: "I met him during a routine inspection of the hotel. He was very young."
"Oh, that's how it is."
Seeing that Du Mingshan was still hesitating whether to see him or not, Du Zhenxian immediately said, "He said it would work."
Du Mingshan's eyes lit up when he heard the word "result", and then he felt a little embarrassed when he remembered that the Japanese were still around.
"Okay, Mr. Du Ge, the matter I discussed with you has finally come to an end." Takeo Fujiguchi stood up wisely: "Then I will take my leave first."
"Oh, you didn't even stay for a bite to eat." Du Mingshan wished that he would leave early, so he said with a false politeness: "Huanyi, help me loosen up, Your Majesty Colonel."
"I never quite understand why Chinese people have to add a word even though they have names. Should I call you Du Zhenchun or Du Huanyi." Takeo Fujiguchi muttered and walked out.
"It's a small barbarian country, but it's not the etiquette of our higher country." Du Mingshan said with contempt: "Huantai, please invite that Zhu Yanfan up."
Du Zhenchun means Huanyi, and Du Zhenxian means Huantai. They are both very particular. He, Mr. Du Ge, picked them out after reading many books.
After a while, a young man walked in.
Du Zhenxian introduced both sides, "Zhu Yanfan" and Meng Shaoyuan raised his hand: "Mr. Du Ge's name is also well-known among younger generations in Shanghai. I am lucky to meet you today. I am very lucky."
These young people can only bow their hands now? Thinking back to the Qing Dynasty...
Du Mingshan invited him to sit down, served tea, and chatted for a few words: "Manager Zhu visited Humble House today. Why?"
"It's a little thing." Meng Shaoyuan said with a smile: "I have a cousin who is originally from Xinjing. He has been doing business in Shanghai. In the past two years, he has been homesick and wanted to return to his hometown. This time I came to Xinjing. He set up an outpost. My cousin wanted to have an official career, but he had no connections. He happened to meet the second young master, and he got a glimpse of it.
Whether in the Qing Dynasty or in the current Manchukuo, Mr. Ge was an important minister beside the emperor. A word from Mr. Ge was worth thousands of words from others. Therefore, I take the liberty of disturbing you today, and I also implore the elder to say a few kind words in front of the emperor, which can be regarded as giving my cousin a good background. By the way, I serve the Emperor and get the best of both worlds. "
So this is what happened?
In order to amass financial resources and line his own pockets, Manchukuo created a large number of false positions. Each position had a clearly marked price and no bargaining was allowed.
If you pay a lot of money, I can get you a director-level job.
Du Mingshan pretended: "Brother, it is good for you to serve the emperor wholeheartedly. There is absolutely no future for you to follow the pseudo-National Government. But there are no vacancies in the court for the time being. Go back and wait for the letter. Since you are Huantai I’ve been a friend for a year and a half, and I’ll always help you figure it out.”
Meng Shaoyuan smiled and took out a box from his pocket: "Yan Fan heard that Mr. Ge likes antiques the most, so he helped Mr. Ge in exchange for some knickknacks in Shanghai to pay off the old treasure."
Du Zhenxian took it and presented it to his father.
Du Zhenchun happened to be seeing off guests as well, so he took a closer look.
Opening the box, Du Zhenchun was playing antiques with the old man, so he knew the goods. When he looked at the contents inside, he blurted out: "Blue and white jade thumb ring."
This jade wrench finger is round and smooth, without any impurities, and is worth at least tens of thousands of dollars.
When Du Mingshan saw it, he beamed. He was from Shanghai, so he was rich. The meeting gift was such a good thing.
In front of the guests, he could not show off too much. He handed the box to Du Zhenchun: "Manager Zhu, why are you so embarrassed? You and I are neither relatives nor friends... That's all. The state affairs at hand are heavy. When the court is hiring people, although there are no vacancies, But when the Emperor comes back from his inspection tour of Fengtian, I, Du Mingshan, will help my brother find a job to be loyal to the Emperor even if I don't have this old face."
"Thank you, Mr. Ge, for taking care of me." Meng Shaoyuan looked overjoyed: "I know there must be expenses involved. No matter how much it is, Mr. Ge, just ask."
Met a fat sheep.
Du Mingshan felt very happy, thinking about how to trick this guy.
Du Zhenxian came over and whispered a few words in the old man's ear. Du Mingshan's face changed greatly when he heard that, and he asked in a low voice: "Really?"
"It's absolutely true, I saw it with my own eyes." Du Zhenxian replied firmly.
Du Mingshan's eyes fell on Meng Shaoyuan: "Manager Zhu, I heard that you received an ancient painting the day before yesterday, or did it come from the palace?"
"Yes." Meng Shaoyuan said casually: "What is it called...what is it? By the way, the picture of dead trees and strange rocks seems to have been painted by Su Dongpo, right?"
Du Mingshan's eyes widened, and his words became trembling: "Really... is it really a picture of dead wood and strange rocks? I have heard rumors that Fengyu Tower sells fakes, and the real ones have always been hidden in the palace. Wanwan I never thought, never thought that this rumor would be true..."
Meng Shaoyuan looked at it and didn't care at all: "What kind of father-in-law Liu sold it to me, one million yen, the price is not bad. Mr. Du Ge will help me check whether it is genuine or fake."
"Okay, okay." Du Mingshan said repeatedly, looking like this, I wish I could see it right now.
After saying that, he asked Du Zhenxian to accompany Meng Shaoyuan back to get the painting.
When they went out, Du Mingshan looked depressed: "Eunuch Liu, this piece of shit, the emperor has wasted so much trust in him... Ouch, I feel so bad, why don't you give it to me."
"Father, that's one million yen." Du Zhenchun said at the side: "Even if he brings it, we won't be able to collect such a large amount of money in a while. This Zhu Yanfan is really rich, look at him It looks like he doesn’t even care about a million yen.”
"If we can't get it together, we can mortgage the house. If we can't, everything in the house that can be mortgaged will be mortgaged." Du Mingshan beat his chest and said: "Huanyi, you don't understand. If this picture of dead trees and strange rocks is real, it will be a real thing." If it changes hands, the price can at least double. Although Su Dongpo has handed down many poems, there are only two paintings."
As he spoke, he murmured curses: "Those eunuchs in the palace are all the ones who have no descendants. Ever since Yuan Shikai stole the treasure, he has been trying his best to steal things from the palace and sell them. Even after arriving in Manchuria, he still feels sick. Change. Hey, why am I not in the palace? Why am I not in the palace?"
Du Zhenchun was dumbfounded when he heard this.
For the sake of a painting, my old man actually wants to be a eunuch?
Where does this come from?
"No." Du Mingshan thought for a moment: "This painting cannot leave Manchuria under any circumstances. Zhu Yanfan asked me for help. Seeing that he didn't care about money, I tried to persuade him after a while... Giro d'Italia, You go to Yi Xin Pavilion now, bring ten dollars, and ask Master Han there to come over and do the palm eye. In Manchuria, he is the only one who can identify calligraphy and paintings."
"Father, you are an expert in this field yourself, why waste another ten dollars?"
"What do you know? This painting is priceless. If someone helps me with more hands and eyes, it will always be foolproof. Oh, how long has it been and you still feel sorry for these ten dollars? Go, go."
"Okay, I'll go now, I'll go and invite you now."
Du Mingshan sat there, his eyes were white, his face was dull, and his lips were trembling.
A picture of dead trees and strange rocks, a rare and famous painting, why am I not so lucky to get this painting?
