Chapter 40

That local's words immediately drew the attention of the surrounding townspeople to the thugs who had come to collect protection money. Under the locals' scornful, contemptuous stares, their faces burned and their hearts pounded. Enraged by the Japanese devils' atrocities and unable to save face, the thugs had no choice but to steel themselves and step forward, joining the drunken Japanese soldiers in a fight.

On one side were Japanese soldiers armed with guns, but so drunk their hands and legs had gone limp. On the other were tall, burly men from the Northeast, strong as oxen and careless with their blows. After one Japanese soldier stabbed a thug in the arm with his bayonet, the thug, driven into a frenzy by the pain, grabbed a brick from the ground and slammed it into the back of the soldier's head. Brains splattered everywhere, and the drunken devil collapsed, never to get back up.

The thugs had killed someone.

Seeing this, the other thugs knew there was no making peace with the Japanese now. With the locals' help, they went all out and killed the rest of the soldiers, too. Then, forgetting all about collecting protection money, they scrambled back to their headquarters in the Old District and gave their boss a detailed account of what had happened.

At the same time, the Japanese soldiers, having learned that their men had been killed, came to demand that Zhang the Eldest hand over the thug responsible and pay compensation. Since Zhang the Eldest believed that face mattered more than anything, he naturally refused to back down. Instead, he killed all the Japanese soldiers who had come to threaten him and hung their bodies from the city gate as a warning. Then he gathered the brothers from every family at Righteousness Hall, called a meeting, and rose in revolt, firing the people's first shot of resistance against the invaders.

Gu Zhaohuan had only read the beginning when he laughed and said, "The War of Resistance Heroes on the market these days all depict characters who are perfect in every way. Very few start from the perspective of bandits and thugs. But I feel this kind of plot is more likely to resonate with audiences and stir their emotions. As the saying goes, every ordinary citizen has a duty to their country. This script takes an unconventional approach, but if it's done well, it'll definitely make waves."

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

Gu Zhaohuan replied, "Don't worry. I've already contacted Zhang Chaofan, the director most skilled at filming war scenes. With him directing it personally, your script will be in good hands."

Zhang Linmo grinned. "He's a Zhang, too. Turns out we're from the same family."

Zhang Xianyang, standing to one side, cut in. "Have you picked the lead actors?"

Gu Zhaohuan nodded with a smile. "I've got my eye on a few people, all famous veteran actors in the country. But I thought I'd let Director Zhang read the script first. He'd be the best person to choose."

After a pause, he added, "Or you can suggest any actors you like."

Zhang Linmo replied without hesitation, "Chen Feng, the one who acted in War of Resistance Heroes last time, was pretty good. I liked his Chu Mengxiong."

Gu Zhaohuan gave Zhang Linmo a strange look and laughed. "I didn't know the big shot was a fan."

Zhang Xiyang, who had already gotten his visa and was planning to head to the United States after the New Year, said with a grin, "My dad's not a fan. He just thinks this Chen Feng has a bit of a bandit air about him, so he feels familiar."

"A bandit air?" Gu Zhaohuan was baffled. Chen Feng had been acting for twenty years, always playing upright characters. He stood there with righteousness practically radiating from him. Only Zhang Linmo would say he had a bandit air. Gu Zhaohuan had no idea how he'd come to that conclusion.

"Trust my eyes. This Chen Feng definitely used to run with a rough crowd when he was young." As he spoke, Zhang Linmo suddenly added, "Could you pick a few people from the Old District when casting? The brothers haven't acted before, and a few of them want to join in for fun."

Gu Zhaohuan was at a loss for words.

Zhang Linmo gave him a "considerate" smile. "You don't need to go out of your way. There's an open audition, right? Let them try for themselves. If they're good enough, use them. If not, forget it. Promoting the Old District is still the priority."

This time, Gu Zhaohuan had nothing to say but nod. "I'll send the script to Director Zhang first. The open auditions have already started in Yanjing. I've also put forward the big shot's suggestion about having the troops make a friendly appearance. They should get back to me in the next couple of days."

Zhang Linmo nodded and said casually, "I trust Mayor Gu to get things done. I'm sure you won't disappoint me."

Gu Zhaohuan had grown numb to Zhang Linmo's overbearing way of speaking. Pretending he hadn't heard him, he continued, "But most units that have kept their designations since the war of aggression have become elite forces. It's unlikely they'd appear on television. The higher-ups say we can send some people to the Old District, but they absolutely can't use a military designation."

Zhang Linmo cut in, "I understand. The units in Xianyang's script are all made up anyway. I just want the publicity. I don't care how they handle the details."

Gu Zhaohuan looked at the big shot with a thoroughly exasperated expression. That publicity stunt was precisely what made this difficult!

But Zhang the Eldest was doing it to promote the Old District. Thinking it over, Gu Zhaohuan realized it would also help pave the way for his own political career. That made him feel a little better. Setting aside the matter of the crew, he asked, "When might the big shot have some time?"

Zhang Linmo couldn't be bothered to talk in circles with Gu Zhaohuan. He asked outright, "Just tell me what you want."

Gu Zhaohuan was at a loss for words again. He could only say, "Does the big shot remember the intelligence officer who came to the Old District a while back to investigate the smuggling of cultural relics?"

"Your nephew, right?" Zhang Linmo raised an eyebrow. "What dirt has he dug up on the Old District now?"

Ignoring the barb in Zhang Linmo's words, Gu Zhaohuan went straight to the point. "After An Ming returned to the capital to report, I don't know what he told his superiors, but they've decided to set up an Intelligence Bureau branch in the Old District. So I'd like to introduce my nephew to you. Would the big shot be willing to meet him?"

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

Gu Zhaohuan: "..."

After a long silence, Gu Zhaohuan managed to put a smile back on his face and asked, sounding a little disappointed, "Why?"

"When a weasel pays a New Year's call to a chicken, what good can come of it?"

At his words, the three Zhang brothers standing nearby couldn't hold back their laughter. Gu Zhaohuan shook his head, both amused and embarrassed, and said, "I only want to work with the big shot. I mean nothing else by it."

Hearing this, Zhang Linmo looked up and stared straight at Gu Zhaohuan. Gu Zhaohuan was utterly perplexed by the look. Then Zhang Linmo said, "You... what do you want for lunch?"

Gu Zhaohuan: "..."

Quietly weeping inside after Zhang Linmo had infuriated him, Gu Zhaohuan spent a full five minutes thinking it over before ordering the Manchu-Han Banquet again. He had no idea what was so good about the food, but Zhang Linmo still instructed Old Zhang to prepare it.

While they waited, Zhang Xianyang pulled Zhang Muyang aside to discuss opening a breakfast shop.

After three whole days of gathering information, Brain AI had come up with the most scientific and reasonable plan. It included a section on decorating the breakfast shop.

To suit the Old District's culture and customs, Zhang Xianyang planned to decorate a quaint, old-fashioned breakfast shop. Its main offering would be Feng Sanxian's congee, along with soy milk, fried dough sticks, steamed buns, rice porridge, and various other Chinese pastries. To solve Feng Sanxian's speed problem at its root, Zhang Xianyang had also asked Brain AI to come up with the strictest possible congee recipe. The cooking time was precise down to the second, and the ingredients had to be added with an accuracy of 0.1 milligrams. It had even designed the most advanced storage container, which would keep the finished congee's flavor and texture unchanged.

Zhang Xianyang handed Zhang Muyang all the information, including the management rules. Seeing how expectantly Zhang Xianyang was looking at him, Zhang Muyang reached out and ruffled his hair. With a smile, he said, "Don't worry. I've more or less picked the staff, too. Most of the front-of-house servers are newly hired laid-off workers. The kitchen staff are family members of our gang's brothers. Some are military dependents, too, 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 a lead to follow."

Just then, one of the brothers guarding the door poked his head inside. In a tone that suggested he was looking forward to a show, he reported, "Boss, the Li Family is here again. There's a woman with them this time. Should we let them in?"

"A woman?" Zhang Linmo raised his eyebrows, finding it both irritating and amusing. "They cling to us like a dog-skin plaster and never give up. Now they've even dragged a woman from their household into this. What exactly are they after?"

Gu Zhaohuan glanced silently at Zhang Linmo. The Old District's culture was relatively backward, and its men tended to be rather chauvinistic. The gang bosses in particular firmly believed that men should work outside while women stayed home. Naturally, Zhang Linmo disapproved of the Li Family bringing a woman from their household into this business.

Still, despite his disapproval, Zhang Linmo thought of what his eldest son had told him and forced himself to ask Zhang Xianyang, "Do you want to see them?"

Zhang Xianyang was about to say no, but before he could, he noticed the expressions on his father's and brothers' faces. They seemed eager to let the visitors in. For a moment, Zhang Xianyang was confused. After thinking it over, he said uncertainly, "Maybe... let them in. Let's see what kind of trick they're up to."

Zhang Linmo made no objection. He waved to the subordinate at the door, signaling him to let them in.

Just two or three minutes later, the Li Family, who had previously left in defeat, entered the house again.

As soon as he entered the living room, Li Cunzhou spotted Gu Zhaohuan sitting on the sofa opposite Zhang Linmo. His pupils contracted. But when he saw the documents and manila folder on the coffee table, he relaxed a little.

Gu Zhaohuan glanced regretfully at the kitchen, where a rich aroma was wafting out. He swallowed wistfully, then stood and said, "Now that we've settled on the script, I'll contact the director and crew as soon as I get back. I also have a meeting this afternoon about opening the Old District up for publicity, so I'll be going."

Zhang Linmo folded his arms and asked with an amused smile, "Not eating the Manchu-Han Banquet?"

Gu Zhaohuan took care not to glare at Zhang Linmo. Smiling faintly, he said, "Looks like I'm out of luck. I hope I'll get another chance to try Old Zhang Family's signature dishes."

"My family doesn't run a restaurant. What signature dishes?" Zhang Linmo shook his head and stood to see him out. "In that case, I won't keep you."

Gu Zhaohuan smiled faintly, nodded to Li Cunzhou, and left.

Li Cunzhou watched Gu Zhaohuan's back, his expression shifting between light and dark. As Zhang Xianyang, who had walked behind to see their guest out, turned back without warning, Li Cunzhou's heart lurched. He immediately schooled his expression, but it was too late; Zhang Xianyang had seen him.

Zhang Xianyang gave a meaningful little laugh and said, "Minister Li... you seem very interested in the relationship between Mayor Gu and our family. That look on your face—half wary, half suspicious. What did you imagine?"

Li Cunzhou was startled. He immediately came back to himself.

Zhang Linmo reached out and patted Zhang Xianyang on the head. "Don't pretend you don't know. Making things difficult for grown-ups isn't what good kids do."