Since Chen Yu received the order from his master, he has been looking for Chen Ding in and outside Guangzhou these days.
If you calm down and think about it carefully, if Chen Ding really comes to Guangzhou, he will come to visit relatives and friends, whether on business or private. Even if he is eager to find connections with the Australians, he should first come to his master instead of hiding and not showing up.
Either he didn't come to Guangzhou at all, or he hid for some reason.
The question is why is he hiding?
Although Chen Ding and Chen Xuan have conflicts, they are brothers after all, and they are not enemies of life and death. According to Chen Qing, there is no irreconcilable conflict between the two. It is unlikely that Chen Xuan would send someone to hunt him down.
Chen Yu felt that Chen Ding's coming to Guangzhou was purely Chen Lin's imagination. It's just that I can't disobey my command, so I can only wander around the streets of Guangzhou every day.
On this day, he ran into an old acquaintance on the street. He was a fast-moving government official in Nanhai County named Zhao Xian. This Zhao Xian was retained in the detective team because of his "active performance" after the Senate entered the city. After more than half a year, the police station carried out its first comprehensive purge of retained personnel, dismissing the poor ones and retaining the good ones. Zhao Xian was able to become a formal police officer because of his "good performance" and became a patrol officer in the Public Security Department.
As long as there is no blood feud and public anger like him, the new national police will naturally make use of him. After Zhao Xian became a full-time officer, he honestly worked as a patrol officer in the Public Security Department for more than half a year, and then was promoted from the "uniformed team" to the "plainclothes team." The police rank was also promoted one level.
After being transferred to the plainclothes team, he no longer has to wear a uniform to work every day, but can walk through the streets in plainclothes. The content of the work has also shifted to the field of light crime prevention and control - mainly responsible for small street cases such as anti-pickpocketing and anti-street fraud. Such cases can only be "contained" by police patrols, but cannot be effectively combated.
This is almost his old job for Zhao Xian, and his new position makes him feel like a fish in water. He soon became a "capable person" in the Public Security Department.
Zhao Xian had some friendship with Chen Yu in the past. After the Australians entered the city, everything became complicated and the two of them had not seen each other for a long time. So I was very enthusiastic at first sight. Chen Yu wanted to find a place to "drink tea" with him and reminisce about the past.
"This is impossible." Zhao Xian shook his head and said, "I haven't gotten off work yet. If someone in the bureau sees it, this month's performance appraisal will be over."
Chen Yu knew that since the arrival of the Australians, these old government officials had been made obedient and cautious, for fear of "making mistakes".
"What about another day?"
"It's better to choose a day than to hit it." Zhao Xian shook his head and said, "We haven't seen each other for a long time. Besides, I will be busier on a few days, and I may have to get off work overtime continuously. In this way, I will get off work in less than half an hour. You can Go to the usual place, I’ll come over after work.”
The old place he mentioned was a small teahouse called "Yuchunhe". This is also the place where Zhao Xian "worked" in the past. As usual, a "upright" and fast-moving government official like him has a "stronghold". Whenever anyone asks him to do something, he will go to this place to find him, and even if Dr. Cha is not around, he will tell him on his behalf.
Nowadays, Zhao Xian no longer has such prestige, but his old habit of drinking tea and meeting people here has not changed.
Chen Yu came to "Yuchunhe" - although he didn't come here often, Dr. Cha still remembered that he was Zhao Xian's friend. Come and say hello immediately.
"Brother Zhao and I are drinking tea today. You make the tea first."
“Our store has newly arrived Qiongzhou Limu Mountain Oolong…”
"Make a pot." Chen Yu ordered, "Prepare some of Mr. Zhao's favorite snacks..."
Although he hasn't dealt with Zhao Xian for a long time, Chen Yu knows Zhao Xian's current situation clearly. Since we met by chance today, we must have a cup of tea to reminisce about the past. Not to mention the past friendship, maybe we can get some useful information from him.
Sure enough, about half an hour later, Zhao Xian came. He had already changed into homely clothes, and even the stains on his face were gone.
Chen Yu knew that his clothes, stains, and hair bun were all his "disguise" when he was at work. After a few words of greeting, the waiter was asked to bring tea, and the two of them drank tea and chatted. Speaking of the situation in the past two years, Zhao Xian was quite emotional:
"It's like a different world!"
"Who says it's not the case! What our master used to say most often was that no matter what is going on outside, as long as the world is peaceful, we will live behind closed doors - now he is also thinking about taking advantage of the Australians to set up a factory."
"I heard that we are going to set up a cotton spinning factory, right?"
Chen Yu raised his thumb and said, "Brother, you are really the best in Guangzhou!"
"What am I doing about Bai Xiaosheng?" Zhao Xian chuckled, "The news that your master went to bid was published in the newspaper early this morning, and there is it in the office. Speaking of which, your master is really rich! A bid worth tens of thousands of yuan seems like a joke. If you have to, take it!”
Chen Yu laughed a few times. Under the Ming Dynasty, Zhao Xian's words contained the hint of "extortion", and his master had better "know the current affairs". But now Zhao Xian doesn't have the courage. Not to mention that my husband is now a member of the Federation of Industry and Commerce and can directly talk to Australians. Even for ordinary people, it is enough for Zhao Xian to feel better if he sends a note two fingers wide to the Guangzhou National Police Headquarters - a retained employee like him, Once someone makes a complaint or report, it's a "suspected crime."
"Our master is going bankrupt this time and is preparing to start a career." Chen Yu said, "The master is a smart man. I don't quite understand what he said. In short, he just makes money with the Australians."
"It's good to have money." Zhao Xian murmured, with a rather complicated look in his eyes. Suddenly he remembered something: "I don't understand. Your master has always been in the dried fruit business, how come he thought of spinning cotton? ? You can’t hit these eight poles, right?"
"Hehe, we servants can't guess what the master is thinking..." Chen Yu said, "But the master's cousin is from a silk-spinning family."
"I see." Zhao Xian nodded, "Whether it's silk or cotton, it always has to be spun."
Chen Yu thought to himself that the difference here is huge! But now he found a suitable opportunity, so he took the opportunity to say: "Originally, our Chen family was spinning silk in Xiangshan. I have an uncle who is also a good hand, and I originally wanted to borrow from him..." As he said this, he found a suitable opportunity. He told the story of the search for Chen Ding, "I searched in the city for several days, but found nothing. I don't know why I insist on saying that he came to Guangzhou!"
Zhao Xian ate a piece of pink fruit and understood what Chen Yu meant. He wanted to help himself. This favor is naturally a favor - not for a few "thank you money", but to allow Mr. Wu to see his love. Now he vaguely understands that in this Australian world, scholars are in trouble, but those engaged in industry and commerce are doing better. Due to his background, his future in the new police system is limited, and he can only rely on his children to prosper in the future - they will inevitably have to rely on the support of noble people in the future.
There is no difficulty in finding someone for help, and there is no pressure - it doesn't matter whether you can find someone or not, and it doesn't violate discipline if you look closely. It was a smooth and smooth relationship, so I immediately patted my chest and said that this matter was taken care of by him:
"This is easy. Nowadays, foreigners who come to Guangzhou to stay in a hotel must register, and those who live in the homes of relatives and friends must also register for temporary household registration. They can be found out at a glance."
Zhao Xian was willing to help, and Chen Yu was very happy, and hinted that "there will be a big thank you after the job is done." Zhao Xian instead acted stupid and refused to answer his words at all. Instead, Chen Yu shouted: Since ancient times, dogs can't change their habit of eating shit. , this Australian actually changed his gender when he came here!
Since there is no need for money, there is only perfunctory words.
"Brother Zhao said he would be busy for a few days. I wonder what he will be busy with?" Chen Yu asked while pouring him tea.
"In a few days, the Australian troops will be reorganized one after another." Zhao Xian said casually, "I heard that some of them are going back to Hainan, and some of them are stationed in various places. The bureau issued an order saying that the troops will be repaired in Guangzhou after they return. For a period of time, we are asked to pay attention to order on the streets and avoid conflicts."
"Aren't Australians the strictest in controlling their troops?"
"That's true," Zhao Xian sighed, "but they are all people who came down from the battlefield. They suffered a lot, suffered a lot, and probably many Paoze brothers died. Return to the colorful world of Guangzhou and take a look , everyone is singing and dancing, eating and drinking, do you want to be angry?"
"I probably won't be angry, but I always feel a little uncomfortable."
"So, there's no guarantee that the firecrackers will be ignited without a single spark."
"It's really a big deal to have a military riot!" Chen Yu was a little surprised. Although he had not seen it with his own eyes, he had heard many people who had been to the north talk about such things.
"The chief wants us to be prepared," Zhao Xian said. "He wants us to say hello to the shops and tell them not to conflict if something happens and to call the police as soon as possible. Our police also need to be deployed to all places in the city, especially in the commercial district. I heard that we are planning to mobilize the riot squad from the security battalion... Just like this, we will continue to keep an eye on the big business, wishing that one person could become three envoys!"
"This is really too artificial. If you are worried about Qiu Ba and the others causing trouble, just don't allow them to enter the city. It takes so much effort!" Chen Yu commented.
"You don't understand this," Zhao Xian shook his head. "The soldiers fought outside for almost two years and won the territory of Guangdong and Guangxi. They worked hard and made great achievements. Now they are returning to the court. Take a rest and rest, don't let them spend time here. Wouldn't it be resentful to eat, drink and enjoy yourself in this world? These soldiers are all holding back their anger! Just yesterday, the National Army, which came back from Wuzhou to rest, made a fuss over something big and destroyed a lot of buildings. Not to mention a few objects, several people were injured, and one outsider was beaten until he fainted, and I don’t even know his name!”
As Zhao Xian spoke, he suddenly remembered something: "By the way, how old is the Zhao Ding you are looking for? What does he look like? Does he have any characteristics?"
"Oh, he is about thirty-five or sixteen years old. He has not shaved his head, his beard is not long, and he has a black mole on the tip of his left eyebrow..."
(End of chapter)
