Chapter 253 Zheng Jiemin Comes to Tianjin
Chapter 253 Zheng Jiemin Comes to Tianjin
"Coral, where's my coral?"
Ke Shufen started to panic.
Check carefully.
In addition to the blood coral, there was also a pair of jade bracelets missing.
Fortunately, the thief did not know the value of the items, so the calligraphy and paintings and several pieces of porcelain were saved.
Fortunately, the thousands of dollars she had recently won from playing cards were kept in another room.
Ke Shufen gathered her thoughts.
Okay.
Antiques, calligraphy and paintings, plus several thousand dollars.
Miscellaneous.
I estimate that the profit is at least 20,000 to 30,000 US dollars.
What a pity, damn thief.
I took the most valuable blood coral, otherwise I would have earned 50,000 US dollars and this trip would not have been in vain.
Wu Jingzhong does have good stuff.
Have to keep picking.
When Ke Shufen suddenly saw the note on the table, the hairs on her body stood up again.
The other party is a ruthless killer.
Last time I killed a chicken.
This time release the snake.
Next time it might cost me my life.
Ke Shufen loves money.
But I'm not stupid. There's a lot of time left and I can make money slowly.
But we only have one life.
It would be too much of a loss to end up in the hands of a bearded man.
"Captain Fang."
After figuring it out, she walked out the door and shouted.
"Madam, please give your orders." said Captain Fang.
"Arrange a plane immediately, I'll go back to Jingling right away." Ke Shufen ordered.
"Yes, ma'am."
Captain Fang accepted the order.
Turning his head, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally I'm back. If I stayed any longer, I would have lost my job.
……
Jingling.
Zheng Jieming sat on the sofa with his eyes closed.
“Old Zheng, let me tell you, if it weren’t for that damned beard, I would have brought that red coral back.
"You don't know, the quality, tsk tsk!
“I tell you, Wu Jingzhong can’t be without treasures.
“And there’s Jinhai City.
“Don’t underestimate Jingling because it’s the capital. It’s nothing compared to Jinhai. They’re very Westernized.
“There are a lot of rich people.
“When playing cards, you just play with dollars.”
“I made nearly $10,000 just at the poker table.
“Well, you won’t know until you go.
"There is so much gold over there. Your old partner Wu Jingzhong got so much that he had no place to store it, so he bought Zhang Xun's house and used it as his private vault.
"You are……"
While showing off her "harvest", Ke Shufen kept chattering on and on.
"okay.
“I don’t even know what’s been planned.
“Fang Yuan told me everything.
“Who do you think that bearded guy is?
"That's Wu Jingzhong's man, he wants you to leave quickly.
"The red coral was taken back because people couldn't bear to part with it. This is all I can give you. Do you understand?"
Zheng Jieming opened his eyes and interrupted her impatiently.
"You, you mean that the bearded man is from Wu Jingzhong's faction?" Ke Shufen looked incredulous.
“You should be welcomed by others.
"If he hadn't sent you, would you still be standing here and talking to me?"
Zheng Jiemin said.
"Watch the tone of your voice. Who are you talking to? What are you arguing about?" Ke Shufen was unhappy.
“Yes, yes.
"Aren't I just reminding you?" Zheng Jieming suppressed his anger, put on a quick smile, and returned to his henpecked attitude.
"Wu Jingzhong!
“Isn’t this too much?
"What are you waiting for? Let's go to Jinhai right away and confront him face to face."
Ke Shufen had never been ridiculed like this before and got furious.
"Face-to-face confrontation?
"Why, do you think it's reasonable to ask someone for money?
“Wu Jingzhong is not Ma Hansan.
"Everyone knows that Jinhai is a fertile land. Do you think that I, Mao Renfeng, and even Jianfeng have never thought about it? No matter who proposed to replace Wu Jingzhong, they were blocked by the chairman.
“The war is intense right now, and they are deeply involved with the Americans.
“We cannot do without the support of the United States in terms of military aid and supplies.
"Especially his son-in-law, whom Cole thinks very highly of, and he treats him like a brother with the commander of the Marine Corps.
“Even my good friend Ambassador Smith advised me not to touch this person.
“It’s given to you, just accept it.
"If someone doesn't want to give it to you and you try to snatch it away, that won't look good. After all, he and I have been classmates and partners for many years, so we still have to save face."
Zheng Jieming advised in a gentle voice.
"So are we just going to put up with this?" Ke Shufen said indignantly.
"Why.
“Just bear with it for now.
"Besides, didn't Old Wu give us something worth 20,000 or 30,000 US dollars?
“Do you think those ladies at the card game are all fools, with lots of money to burn, rushing to give you money?
“That was all arranged by Wu Jingzhong.
"Let's leave it at that."
Zheng Jieming said with some annoyance.
"Sit down, I want to tell you something." He raised his hand.
"What's the matter?" Ke Shufen also noticed that he was thinking about something.
"A man named Li Ya from Jinhai Station lost the medicine that the Japanese sent to Hu Zongnan's troops, which was worth nearly $200,000.
"He is from Jianfeng..."
Before Zheng Jiemin could finish his words, Ke Shufen interrupted him sharply:
“I know him.
“It was him who ruined Luqiaoshan’s good deeds in Peking last time.
"The clown!"
Zheng Jiemin took over the conversation: "He is a clown, but he is also a good dog raised by Jianfeng.
"Now that the medicine is lost, the chairman and Jianfeng don't want to offend Hu Zongnan, but they also don't want to pay for it. So now I have to bear the cost.
"They said I failed to supervise military supplies and ordered me to get the medicine within seven days.
“The key is not to give money.
“One hundred thousand dollars was allocated to the Quartermaster Department, and they wanted two hundred thousand dollars worth of goods.
“That’s a difference of $100,000.
“It’s not 100,000 French francs.
"This old man is giving me a difficult problem."
Zheng Jieming sighed with a headache.
"how so?
"The old man has always trusted you, even more than Kang Ze and Dai Li. You have only been the deputy minister for a few days. How can you turn against him so suddenly?"
Ke Shufen frowned in confusion.
“Politics is like fire and water, both are merciless.
“Integrating the police and security systems has offended people.
"This villain Tang Zong reported me to the chairman, saying that I was close to the Americans.
"As soon as I submitted the report, Cole invited me to visit the ship. Cole and He Yingqin specifically asked me to go.
"Hey, this is to set me up and follow Dai Li's old path."
Zheng Jieming said worriedly.
"Dai Li?" Ke Shufen was a little confused.
“Didn’t Dai Li want to be the Navy Commander-in-Chief because he was too close to Cole?
“Forget it, you still won’t understand even if I tell you so much.
“Keep these things sealed.
"Return it to Wu Jingzhong intact, and pick out a few valuable items from the warehouse. I will go to Jinhai in person to apologize to my old classmate."
Zheng Jiemin said.
"You not only apologize to him, but you also have to give him gifts. Zheng Jieming, are you crazy?" Ke Shufen immediately started cursing.
“Shufen.
"The chairman only gave me $100,000 in cash, and I wanted $200,000 worth of medicine.
"Where am I going to get this $100,000?
"Where can I get so much penicillin in this situation?"
"We still have to find Wu Jingzhong."
Zheng Jieming said helplessly.
“Do you have to find him?
"He just ran errands for you back then, isn't that too..."
Ke Shufen always felt unsatisfactory.
“You find someone else.
"They may be polite to you, but I don't know what they are doing behind your back. They hope that I will fail to complete the task and be punished.
"Alas, a new official has three things to do when he takes office.
"Now that this first fire has been extinguished in Peking, I wonder how many people are waiting to see me make a fool of myself.
“Now bad things are happening one after another.
"Everyone wants to step on me."
Zheng Jieming shook his head.
“Wu Jingzhong is greedy for money, but he has been with me for many years and was once my classmate, so I know a little about him.
“He is a smooth person who pays attention to personal relationships in everything.
“There are not many human beings left in this world.
"Perhaps he is the only one willing to lend a hand to me, his elder brother."
After taking a few sips of tea, he sighed.
"Why.
"I made this trip for nothing, and I still have to pay Wu Laogou a lot of money.
"Go ahead if you want to go. Anyway, I don't want to go to Jinhai again in my life."
Ke Shufen curled her lips and went upstairs.
……
The next day.
Zheng Jieming flew to Jinhai personally, carrying several carefully selected antique toys.
He was not in a hurry to meet Wu Jingzhong, but summoned Lu Qiaoshan first.
“Qiaoshan, you know how to find a place.
"It's quiet, the spring is warm and the flowers are blooming, it's suitable to be an idle person."
Zheng Jieming sat in the flower garden and asked with a lazy smile.
"Deputy Minister, you can't be idle. If you are idle, the chairman will stop turning around." Lu Qiaoshan stood aside and said with a respectful smile.
"sit.
"Sheng Xiang has been arranged in. What are your plans after completing this secret mission?" Zheng Jieming asked.
He also has informants in Jinhai.
I know that Lu Qiaoshan has contacts with Hong Zhi, and he has even been to Wu Jingzhong's house for a quick meal.
"to be honest.
"Jinhai is indeed a hot spot, and there is only one job for every person." Since I left, few people recognize me.
“To be honest with you.
“It’s hard to move around here, and I have to ask for help for anything.
"Not to mention my mortal enemy Li Ya, who is always on guard against me like a thief. There are people squatting outside my house every night.
"Deputy Minister, after completing my mission, I will apply to return to Jingling and continue to serve you tea and water."
Lu Qiaoshan said sincerely.
He is a smart man.
Hong Zhiyou also reminded that he should not have the slightest intention of staying in front of Zheng Jieming.
Zheng Jieming was very satisfied with this answer.
However, he sighed:
“Going back may not be a good thing.
"Li Ya from Jinhai Station has come back to attack me. Hu Zongnan and Jianfeng have dumped the mess of the missing drugs on me.
“I have to ask for help too.
"Call Wu Jingzhong and ask him to come see me."
Zheng Jiemin ordered.
"Yes, Deputy Minister." Lu Qiaoshan took the order and went into the inner room to inform Hong Zhiyou.
……
Jinhai Station.
Wu Jingzhong stood by the window with his hands behind his back, humming a little tune while looking at the delicate flowers in the flowerbed.
When spring comes, all things come to life.
It's a delight.
Ke Shufen is gone.
I can finally make some time to think about this stubborn Li Ya.
"Teacher, Deputy Director Zheng is here and summons you to see him." Hong Zhiyou walked in quickly and said in a low voice.
"where?"
Wu Jingzhong's smile faded, and he asked solemnly with narrowed eyes.
"It's a private residence in Luqiao Mountain. It will probably take 30 to 40 minutes to drive there." Hong Zhiyou said.
“So biased.
"He won't go into the station or the house. It seems the old man has given him a problem. He has something to ask of us."
Wu Jingzhong raised the corner of his mouth slightly, and he understood.
"Let's go and meet my old leader." He smiled and walked out first.
Got in the car.
Wu Jingzhong sat in the back seat and said in a deep voice:
"Compared to many people in the party and the country, Zheng Jiemin is a somewhat humane person.
“His greatest strength is that he can take on things and let them go.
“I’ve suffered a loss, I dare to admit it.
"As long as it's beneficial, he can eat from the same pot with you even if you kill his father.
“Back then in the Fuxing Society, Dai was the director, Tang Zong was the secretary, Zheng Jiemin was the deputy director, and there were a lot of people including Yu Lexing.
"In the end, Boss Dai had a falling out with Tang Zong and Yu Lexing.
"The only thing I have with Zheng Jieming is that I have remained the same for ten years.
"Even the little bit of my skills I learned from him in Lanzhou.
"A truly wise man, Big Brother."
Wu Jingzhong couldn't help but feel emotional when recalling the past.
"teacher.
"Now that we have driven Ke Shufen away, I hope Deputy Director Zheng won't make things difficult for you." Hong Zhiyou said.
"Won't.
“I have already vomited what I need to vomit, that’s enough.
"He is a wise man and will know."
Wu Jingzhong said.
Arrived at the small courtyard on Luqiao Mountain.
Wu Jingzhong got out of the car, took a few quick steps, and greeted them with a smile on his face:
"Deputy Director Zheng, my old classmate and leader, I have been looking forward to your visit to Jinhai. Now it has finally come true."
"Jingzhong, come and sit down." Zheng Jieming stood up and greeted him.
Wu Jingzhong observed his expression and addressed him more intimately:
"Brother, let me introduce you. This is my secretary, Hong Zhiyou, and Ruirui's boyfriend."
"I know, it's Tianjin-Haitong.
"Shen Zui has mentioned to me many times that you are young and promising." Zheng Jieming said with a smile.
"Meet Commander Zheng."
Hong Zhiyou stood at attention, chest out, and saluted respectfully.
"Let's sit together.
"Qiaoshan, bring...tea." Zheng Jieming waved his hand.
"I'll do it.
"Deputy Minister, Teacher, please chat."
Hong Zhiyou was very tactful and went to the inner room to make tea.
“You know everything about Jingling, right?
"You guys are the one who lost the medicine, and Jianfeng put the blame on me.
"Now Tang Zong is reporting me.
"He Yingqin pushed me to meet the Americans again. The chairman has a big prejudice against me."
Zheng Jieming began to complain.
"Don't worry, brother. If you need Jingzhong's help, just let me know." Wu Jingzhong patted his chest and made the promise.
"Ok.
“We are old partners, so you just need to know a lot of things.
“Now many people want to trample me to death.
“But I know you won’t.
"I tried to persuade Shufen to come to Jinhai this time, but she was bewitched by Qiaoshan and gave in to her selfish desires.
“You know, she has the final say in our family.
“Even the Lord can’t control her temper.
“No, this hurts our brotherhood.
"I brought you everything."
Zheng Jieming pointed at the suitcase.
"Old leader, if you say that, you are insulting Jingzhong and my sister-in-law.
“I gave these things to my sister-in-law with all my heart.
"I swear to God and to the Chairman.
"If you want to take it back, wouldn't it make my sister-in-law feel cold, as if she really cares about my little thing.
"Hurt feelings, hurt feelings."
Wu Jingzhong quickly refused.
“I feel relieved that you think so much of your sister-in-law.
"Why.
“After all these years, we two are the only ones who have remained consistent.
"Do you remember what I said to you when you were transferred from the Director of the Eighth War Zone's Inspection Office to the Northeastern District?"
Zheng Jieming asked with a smile.
"Remember.
“You said that we eat from the same pot, but we use different chopsticks, some are long and some are short.
“Fighting for food is inevitable.
"When necessary, we should give in and retreat, but we must never ruin the brotherhood.
"Struggle is a means of survival in the officialdom. As long as we sit together, we are still old brothers."
Wu Jingzhong repeated word for word.
"Yes.
“I’ve said this to a lot of people.
“But many people only talk about struggle, not unity.
"Jingzhong, you are the only one who still shows some humanity."
Zheng Jieming pointed at Wu Jingzhong and said with emotion.
There is always a mountain higher than another. Although he is very popular in the officialdom, he has suffered a lot of humiliation in secret.
Among them was old classmate Jianfeng.
“I’m different from them.
"You are my elder brother, teacher. Jingzhong is what it is today, thanks to your careful support and teachings. I can sit firmly in Jinhai, mostly because of your support behind the scenes.
"When mentioning Wu Jingzhong, everyone would think... He was your classmate, your old subordinate, and your old brother.
“It is because of you that others are cautious.
"Let alone others, Sanmao has always been thinking about this chair of mine."
Wu Jingzhong's eyes were slightly red as he spoke with deep emotion.
"It's good that you can see this. I haven't protected you for so many years in vain.
"Mao Renfeng is very respected right now, and Jianfeng has become hostile to you and me. If we two old brothers don't stick together for warmth, let alone your position as stationmaster.
"Even my position as Vice Minister is no longer stable."
Zheng Jieming also sighed.
"clear.
"Brother, if you have any difficulties, just tell me. Jingzhong will definitely help you through fire and water." After talking about feelings, Wu Jingzhong got straight to the point.
“The old man left me a $100,000 hole in the military funds.
“You know, I have $100,000, but you have to pay for it out of your own pocket. Given your sister-in-law’s temper, she’d be so scared that she’d jump off the building.
“Besides, medicine is hard to come by right now.
“We have to find a beautiful man.
"I asked Ambassador Smith in Jingling, and his suggestion was to find Commander Filson and ask him to help urgently requisition medicines from Guidao, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong Island, and other places to deal with Hu Zongnan's frontline supplies."
Zheng Jiemin said.
"Well, the time given by the chairman is too short, so this is the only way to do it.
“The Americans are now the big daddies of the devils.
“As long as the word is out here, there won’t be a problem over there.
"The British Governor of Hong Kong and the Americans are also one family. If we need to expedite air transport from Yuezhou, there should still be hope of completing the task."
Wu Jingzhong thought about it and said.
"The question now is, what to do with the $100,000.
“That’s the crux of the matter.”
Zheng Jieming knocked on the table with a headache.
“Don’t panic, bro.
“In my opinion, it’s not about the $100,000, it’s about the medicine.
"Do you think this is okay?
"We should replenish all the boxes of penicillin that Hu Zongnan lost, not even one injection is missing from him.
“But we can manipulate this medicine.
“Like diluting it a bit.
“Change the amount of one stick into two sticks.
"In this way, can't one hundred thousand dollars accomplish something worth two hundred thousand dollars?"
Wu Jingzhong whispered.
“That’s one way.
"But I'm afraid it won't pass the drug supervision. If it really has to be sent to the front line and fails to cure the disease, I'll lose my head if I'm investigated later." Zheng Jieming frowned.
“Brother, you’re overthinking it.
"Penicillin is used for anti-inflammatory purposes. What is the environment like in a field hospital?
“It was a dirty mess.
“Not to mention that even if the drug is less effective, it can still cure the disease.
“Even if it can’t be cured, you can also say that they used drugs improperly, didn’t pay attention to medical hygiene, etc., causing secondary infection.
"Since the Americans are backing this, would the government dare to investigate the Marine Corps?"
Wu Jingzhong laughed.
“I had people do experiments at the Army Hospital.
"A dose of penicillin only needs half of its potency to achieve the anti-inflammatory effect.
"Just rest assured."
After a pause, he said again.
……
(End of this chapter)