Chapter 40

That one remark from a local immediately drew the surrounding townspeople's attention to the thugs in the crowd who had come to collect protection money. Flushed and embarrassed under the locals' contemptuous, disdainful stares, and enraged by the Japanese soldiers' brutality, the young thugs had no choice but to grit their teeth, step forward, and start fighting the drunken Japanese soldiers.

On one side were Japanese soldiers armed with guns but too drunk to stand steady; on the other were big, burly Northeastern men built like oxen, with no restraint in their blows. After one Japanese soldier slashed one thug's arm with a bayonet, the pain drove the thug into a frenzy. He snatched up a brick from the ground and smashed it hard into the soldier's skull. Brains splattered everywhere, and the drunken soldier collapsed, never to rise again.

The young thug had killed someone.

Seeing this, the other thugs knew there was no turning back. With the locals' help, they hardened their hearts and killed the remaining soldiers as well. Then, forgetting all about collecting protection money, they scrambled back to their Old District headquarters and reported the entire incident to their boss in meticulous detail.

Meanwhile, having learned that his soldiers had been killed, the Japanese came demanding that Zhang the Eldest hand over the thugs responsible, pay compensation, and admit guilt. Believing that his pride mattered more than anything, Zhang the Eldest naturally refused to show weakness. Instead, he simply killed all the Japanese who had come to threaten him and hung their corpses from the city gate tower as a warning. Then he gathered the brothers from every faction at Righteousness Hall, rose in rebellion, and fired the first shot in the people's resistance against the invaders.

Gu Zhaohuan had only read the beginning before he smiled and said, "These days, War of Resistance Heroes on the market all tend to portray lofty, flawless heroes. Very few start from the perspective of bandits and street thugs. But I think this kind of plot is more likely to stir the audience's emotions and resonate with them. As the saying goes, every commoner bears responsibility for the rise and fall of the nation. This script may take an unconventional path, but if it's filmed well, it will definitely make an impact on society."

Zhang Linmo smiled faintly and asked, "How are the director and production crew coming along?"

Gu Zhaohuan replied, "Don't worry. I've already contacted Director Zhang Chaofan, who's best at filming war dramas. With him directing personally, your script definitely won't be wasted."

Zhang Linmo laughed. "His surname is Zhang too. He's practically family."

Standing to the side, Zhang Xianyang cut in and asked, "Have you picked the lead actors yet?"

Gu Zhaohuan nodded with a smile. "I've had my eye on several people, all of them the country's most renowned veteran actors. But I thought I'd let Director Zhang look over the script first. It would be most appropriate for him to make the selections."

After a pause, he added, "Or if there are any actors you like, you can mention them."

Zhang Linmo said directly, "Chen Feng, who starred in War of Resistance Heroes last time, was pretty good. I liked the Chu Mengxiong he played."

Gu Zhaohuan gave Zhang Linmo a strange look, then smiled. "I never expected Boss Zhang to follow celebrities."

Zhang Xiyang, who had already obtained his visa and was preparing to leave for the United States after the New Year, said cheerfully, "My dad isn't following celebrities. He just thinks this Chen Feng has a certain bandit air about him. He feels familiar."

"Bandit air?" Gu Zhaohuan was rather baffled. Chen Feng had been acting for twenty years, always playing upright characters. Just standing there, he radiated righteous integrity. Only Zhang Linmo claimed he had bandit air. Gu Zhaohuan truly had no idea how he saw it.

"Trust my eyes. This Chen Feng definitely ran with the wrong crowd when he was young." As Zhang Linmo spoke, he suddenly added, "When you cast the roles, could you pick a few people from the Old District? The brothers haven't acted before, and some of them want to join in the fun."

Gu Zhaohuan was speechless for a moment.

Zhang Linmo smiled "understandingly." "You don't have to make things difficult. Isn't there an open audition? Let them try their luck. If they're chosen, use them; if not, forget it. Promoting the Old District still comes first."

This time, Gu Zhaohuan could not say much either. He could only nod and reply, "I'll mail the script to Director Zhang first. The open auditions in Yanjing have already begun. I also submitted Boss Zhang's suggestion about having the military make a friendly appearance. I should receive an answer in the next couple of days."

Zhang Linmo nodded and said casually, "I trust Mayor Gu's ability to get things done. You certainly won't disappoint me."

Gu Zhaohuan had already gone numb to Zhang Linmo's overbearing way of speaking. Pretending not to hear it, he continued, "However, most units that have retained their designations since the war of invasion have become elite units. It's unlikely they can show their faces on television. The higher-ups mean to transfer some people to the Old District, but they absolutely cannot use military unit designations."

Zhang Linmo replied, "I understand. Aren't all the names in Yangyang's script fake anyway? I just want that gimmick. I don't care how it's handled behind the scenes."

Gu Zhaohuan looked at Boss Zhang with dark lines practically covering his face. That gimmick was exactly what made things difficult!

Still, Zhang the Eldest was doing it to promote the Old District. Thinking it over, it was ultimately paving the way for his own political career. That thought made Gu Zhaohuan feel a little better. Setting aside the matter of the production crew, he asked, "When would Boss Zhang have time?"

Zhang Linmo had no time to beat around the bush with Gu Zhaohuan and asked directly, "Just tell me what you want."

Gu Zhaohuan was speechless again and could only say, "I wonder if Boss Zhang still remembers the Intelligence Bureau officer who came to the Old District some time ago to investigate the smuggling of cultural relics?"

"Your nephew, right?" Zhang Linmo raised a brow. "What leverage has he found on my Old District this time?"

Ignoring the barb in Zhang Linmo's words, Gu Zhaohuan said directly, "After An Ming returned to Yanjing to report on his duties, I don't know what he told the higher-ups, but they decided to establish an Intelligence Bureau branch in the Old District. So I'd like to introduce my nephew to you. Would Boss Zhang be willing to do me the honor?"

Without even looking up, Zhang Linmo answered, "No."

Gu Zhaohuan: "..."

After a long silence, Gu Zhaohuan finally forced a smile onto his face and asked with some disappointment, "Why?"

"When a weasel pays a New Year's call on a chicken, how could it mean anything good?"

Before the words had even finished falling, the three Zhang brothers standing nearby could no longer hold back their laughter. One after another, they chuckled under their breaths. Gu Zhaohuan shook his head, both amused and embarrassed, then said, "I only wish to cooperate with Boss Zhang. There is no other intention."

At that, Zhang Linmo looked up and stared straight at Gu Zhaohuan. He stared so hard that Gu Zhaohuan became thoroughly confused, before Zhang Linmo finally asked, "What do you want for lunch?"

Gu Zhaohuan: "..."

Silently shedding tears at Zhang Linmo's ability to infuriate people, Gu Zhaohuan spent a full five minutes thinking it over before ordering another Manchu-Han Banquet. Though he had no idea what was so delicious about it, Zhang Linmo still told Old Zhang to start cooking.

Taking advantage of the time, Zhang Xianyang pulled Zhang Muyang aside to discuss opening a breakfast shop.

After gathering information for three full days, Brain AI had produced the most scientific and practical plan, including the breakfast shop's interior decoration.

To fit the culture and customs of the entire Old District, Zhang Xianyang planned to decorate the breakfast shop in an antique style. The breakfast menu would center on Feng Sanxian's porridge, supplemented by soy milk, fried dough sticks, steamed buns, rice paste, and other Chinese breakfast foods and pastries. To fundamentally solve Feng Sanxian's speed problem, Zhang Xianyang had also asked Brain AI to produce the strictest porridge-cooking formula. The timing was accurate to the second, while ingredient amounts were precise to 0.1 milligrams. It had also created an advanced freshness-preserving container that ensured the finished porridge would retain its taste and texture after being placed inside.

Zhang Xianyang handed all these materials, including the management rules, over to Zhang Muyang. Seeing the anticipation on Zhang Xianyang's face, Zhang Muyang reached out and rubbed the top of his head, smiling. "Don't worry. I've more or less selected the staff too. Most of the front-of-house servers are newly recruited laid-off workers, while the kitchen staff are family members of our gang brothers. Some are military dependents, and their backgrounds are all clean."

"Most importantly, don't forget to install cameras during the renovations. That way, if anything goes wrong, we'll have leads to follow."

As they spoke, a brother who had been guarding the entrance poked his head in. In a tone of eager anticipation, he reported, "Boss, the Li Family is here again. This time, they brought a woman too. Should we let them in?"

The author's having one of those episodes again. It finally updated.

Next chapter, a new character will appear. Tormenting people is healthier—the script is about to begin.

Thanks--

Gulu Little Moon threw a landmine at 2013-09-06 11:05:45.

snjxyy threw a landmine at 2013-09-06 11:31:42.

Slow Pig threw a landmine at 2013-09-06 17:08:04.

Yi Xiaoyan Ke threw a landmine at 2013-09-06 17:08:42.

Kitty threw a landmine at 2013-09-06 21:57:46.

Chapter 40

"A woman?" Zhang Linmo raised his brows, both amused and exasperated. "They're clinging on like a dog-skin plaster and just won't stop. This time, they've even dragged the women from the inner household into it. What exactly are they trying to do?"

Gu Zhaohuan silently glanced at Zhang Linmo. Perhaps because the Old District's overall mindset was rather backward, its men were somewhat chauvinistic. This was especially true of gang bosses, who firmly believed men should handle affairs outside while women managed the home. Now that the Li Family had actually dragged a woman from the inner household out over outside matters, they naturally found it distasteful.

But distasteful as it was, recalling what his eldest son had told him, Zhang Linmo still suppressed his impatience and asked Zhang Xianyang, "Do you want to see them?"

Zhang Xianyang wanted to say no immediately. But before he spoke, he noticed the expressions on his father's and two older brothers' faces. They seemed to want the Li Family let in. Zhang Xianyang was briefly bewildered. After thinking it over carefully, he said uncertainly, "Then... let them come in. Let's see what kind of nonsense they're trying to pull this time."

Zhang Linmo neither agreed nor disagreed. He simply waved a hand, signaling the guard to let them in.

In no more than two or three minutes, the Li Family members who had previously left in defeat once again entered the house.

Upon entering the living room, Li Cunzhou immediately spotted Gu Zhaohuan sitting on the sofa opposite Zhang Linmo, and his pupils contracted slightly. But when he saw the documents and kraft paper file folder on the coffee table, he relaxed somewhat.

Gu Zhaohuan looked regretfully toward the kitchen, which was giving off a rich aroma. Swallowing his saliva resentfully, he stood and said, "Since the script has been finalized, I'll go back and contact the director and production crew right away. I also have a meeting this afternoon about opening the Old District for publicity, so I'll be leaving first."

With his arms crossed, Zhang Linmo asked with a half-smile, "You're not eating the Manchu-Han Banquet?"

He had hit right where it hurt. Gu Zhaohuan shot Zhang Linmo an imperceptible glare and smiled. "It seems I'm not fortunate enough this time. I hope I'll have another chance to try the Old Zhang Family's specialty dishes."

"My family doesn't run a restaurant. What specialty dishes?" Zhang Linmo shook his head and rose to see him out. "Since that's the case, I won't keep you."

Gu Zhaohuan smiled faintly, nodded to Li Cunzhou, and turned to leave.

Li Cunzhou watched Gu Zhaohuan's retreating back with an uncertain expression. Zhang Xianyang, who was the last to walk out and see the guest off, suddenly turned around. Li Cunzhou's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately restrained his expression—but he was still too late. Zhang Xianyang had already seen it.

Zhang Xianyang gave a meaningful chuckle. "Minister Li... you seem very concerned about Mayor Gu's relationship with our family. Judging from that frightened, suspicious expression on your face, what have you connected it to?"

Li Cunzhou shuddered and immediately came back to himself.

Zhang Linmo reached out and patted Zhang Xianyang on the head, saying casually, "Don't ask questions when you already know the answer. A child who makes things difficult for adults isn't a good child."