HK District was fairly quiet after nightfall. The curfew on Japanese turf was stricter than in the French Concession, and few pedestrians were on the streets. Occasionally, a police bicycle passed, its bell ringing before quickly fading away.
Jiuyuan Warehouse stood midway along East Hengbang Road, a row of dingy gray brick buildings with a small frontage but considerable depth.
Gate Seven of Section C was on the side. A single dim yellow streetlamp stood outside, its bulb coated gray with insects, giving off barely more light than a candle.
Chen Fan did not hurry over. He first crouched in the shadows at the opposite street corner for ten minutes, watching for activity around the warehouse.
There was no one at the warehouse entrance. The door was locked, and a numbered iron tag hung from the padlock, proving that the warehouse was officially registered with Japanese military logistics.
Occasional pedestrians passed along the road beside it, all ordinary citizens hurrying on their way. No one paid any attention to the dingy gray warehouse.
"Going in now?" Brother Bao asked quietly.
"Not time yet." Chen Fan took out his pocket watch, checked the time, then said to Brother Bao, "Check the surroundings for anything unusual. It's our first deal. You can't be too careful!"
"Yes, boss!"
Brother Bao had two of his men carefully inspect the area around the warehouse. More than an hour passed, until 9:58.
A black sedan slowly approached from the eastern end of East Hengbang Road and stopped outside the warehouse.
The headlights went out. A short, stout figure got out first, looked around, then beckoned to someone inside.
Another man emerged, of medium height, wearing the uniform of a Japanese army major. His cap brim was pulled so low that his face was obscured.
The major said something quietly, then headed toward the side of the warehouse.
They were too far away for Chen Fan to make it out, but he had already read the man's information through the system panel!
Yoshino Tomokazu, chief of the Administrative Affairs Section, Logistics Department, Shanghai Gendarmerie Headquarters, age 34, position: section chief, rank: major...
It seemed he was the target of this transaction. Chen Fan rose from the shadows, dusted off his knees, and said to Brother Bao, "Let's go."
They crossed the street at an unhurried pace, like people heading home at night.
When they reached the side of the warehouse, he saw Yoshino Tomokazu stop and look straight at their group.
Chen Fan and his men came a little closer, only then getting a clear look at his appearance...
He was a Japanese officer in his early thirties, with a long, thin face and a medium build, roughly 1.7 meters tall. He looked Chen Fan over and said in stilted Chinese, "You, one of Old Knife Handle's men?"
"My surname is Chen." Chen Fan smiled and extended his hand, speaking fluent Japanese. "Mr. Yoshino, I've long heard of you."
Yoshino paused slightly. The man's Japanese was strange. Japanese speech varied by region: Kansai had its own accent, as did Kyoto.
Chen Fan clearly had not learned to speak from just one person, and his accent was a mixture. Still, in Yoshino's eyes, speaking Japanese was already a point in his favor. At least the transaction ahead would be much easier...
Yoshino studied Chen Fan's smile for two seconds before saying evenly, "The goods are inside. Did you bring the money?"
"Yes." Chen Fan waved a hand. Brother Bao stepped forward and set his wooden crate on the ground, and the two men behind him put theirs down as well!
Yoshino crouched, opened the wooden crates, and checked the amount. At last, a smile appeared on his face!
"Boss Chen keeps his word. Very good!"
With that, Yoshino stepped forward and knocked on the side door.
Knock, knock, knock...
One long and two short knocks sounded...
With a creak, the side door opened, and a figure emerged!
"Major Yoshino." The man bowed slightly.
"They're here. Open up. Time for the deal!"
"Yes, sir!" The man glanced at Chen Fan and the others, then stepped aside!
Yoshino led the way. Chen Fan signaled Brother Bao and the others to pick up the wooden crates and follow!
The group entered the warehouse. It had to be said that it was much larger than they had imagined. Four heavy trucks stood in the center, their loads covered with army-green tarpaulins!
Yoshino nodded to the man, who waved a hand. Several Japanese men stepped forward and untied the tarpaulins, revealing the cloth underneath!
Chen Fan went forward, inspected it, and nodded to Brother Bao and the others!
Brother Bao promptly handed over his wooden crate along with those his men were carrying!
The man looked at Yoshino. Only after Yoshino gave a slight nod did he accept them with confidence!
"Chen-san," Yoshino suddenly asked in Japanese, "you speak Japanese very well?"
Chen Fan's smile remained unchanged as he replied in Japanese, "You flatter me, Mr. Yoshino. A man needs a few skills to make a living out in the world. From your accent, you're from Kyushu, aren't you?"
Yoshino's gaze sharpened slightly. Rather than answer directly, he changed the subject. "You're an interesting man, Chen-san. If this deal goes smoothly, there will be more opportunities for us to work together."
Chen Fan replied with a smile, "Whenever you're willing, Mr. Yoshino."
Yoshino abruptly changed the subject. "By the way, Chen-san, how do you plan to take these goods away?"
"I've arranged for porters. They'll be here soon!"
Yoshino was taken aback, then laughed despite himself. "Porters? Chen-san, you mean to have a group of men haul smuggled cloth openly through the streets!"
"You really don't think much of the Empire of Japan's gendarmes. If Commander Otani knew his troops were being treated with such contempt, he'd probably be angry enough to have you torn apart by five horses."
Chen Fan froze for a moment and was just about to explain.
But Yoshino raised his hand first. "Chen-san, frankly, I admire your courage in daring to do business with us, but I don't think this is a good solution!"
"Yamada..."
At Yoshino's call, a thin man emerged from the shadows behind them. His features were ordinary and unremarkable, the sort of face that would disappear in a crowd!
"Yoshino, is there a problem?"
"Yamada, this is our first transaction with them. We ought to show some sincerity."
"How about giving Chen-san a ride?"
Chen Fan was momentarily stunned. Was this little Jap offering to use their vehicles to deliver the goods to Shiliupu Wharf?
If that really happened, Chen Fan would have truly made a name for himself!
Yamada glanced at Chen Fan and the men he had brought, then nodded slightly. "No problem. Where do you want the goods delivered?"
"Mr. Yamada, the warehouse at Shiliupu Wharf," Chen Fan answered honestly.
"Shiliupu Wharf. French territory. All right." Yamada frowned but agreed nonetheless.
"Good. That will be all for now, then. Until next time, Chen-san." With that, Yoshino left first with his men.
Yamada had the tarpaulins secured and invited Chen Fan into the first heavy truck. But he did not hurry to drive off, instead sitting in the cab with his eyes closed, resting.
Chen Fan did not know what he was planning and could only sit idly beside him.
About ten minutes later, a man hurried over, stood beside the cab, and quietly said to Yamada inside, "Favorable winds and timely rain."
At those words, Yamada's eyes snapped open. He started the engine and stepped on the accelerator...
The truck left Jiuyuan Warehouse, soon drove out of East Hengbang Road, and turned onto a main road in HK District.
They drove south through HK District, crossed a bridge over Suzhou Creek, and entered the International Settlement. Then they headed east, and the scattered lights around Shiliupu Wharf were already in sight...