Yoshino Takehiko fell silent for a moment. "If you think he really is all right, then meet him."
"Tomokazu, if you want to do something, don't hesitate too long. You won't find the right person every time."
"Seizing an opportunity isn't the same as playing it safe."
Yoshino Tomokazu froze for an instant. He heard a different sort of signal in Yoshino Takehiko's words.
Yoshino Takehiko had been indifferent before. Now, Yoshino Tomokazu clearly sensed his uncle's shift from tacit acceptance to concern.
Had Uncle really come around?
Yoshino Tomokazu asked no further questions. He simply bowed and left the room...
In the third-floor office of Chen Trading Company in Shanghai, Chen Fan looked at the work logs Long Wu had brought in, unable to muster any enthusiasm.
Rui Qingrong was like a sword of Damocles hanging over his head.
There was no telling when it would fall.
Fatty Wu had sent word through A Xiang yesterday afternoon that his cousin had already passed the message along.
Chen Fan had been waiting for Yamada's reply, too, but the longer he waited, the more he felt that Yamada did not seem to be the one calling the shots among those Japanese.
He waited from morning until afternoon. Time seemed to crawl...
It was not until three o'clock.
Knock, knock, knock. A knock sounded at the door, and Long Wu pushed it open. "Boss, a Japanese man named Hyoda is here to see you."
"Hyoda?" Chen Fan paused, then instructed, "Show him in."
Long Wu nodded and went out. Soon, she brought in a Japanese man wearing a suit.
Only after chatting with him did Chen Fan learn that he was Yamada's assistant, here to tell Chen Fan to meet them at Inoue Cuisine that evening.
Chen Fan repeatedly confirmed whether this Inoue Cuisine was Inoue Shinichi's restaurant.
Hyoda Isamu confirmed that it was. As for why they had chosen that restaurant, Hyoda gave no explanation.
But Chen Fan did not ask further. What he needed to do now was go and pay the bill.
After seeing Hyoda Isamu off, Chen Fan gave Long Wu a few instructions and hurried to Inoue Cuisine.
Of course, he did not go empty-handed. First, he went to the street corner and bought some dried shrimp and dried scallops, neatly wrapped in oilpaper, as a gift for Inoue Shinichi.
By the time he reached the restaurant, dusk had fallen.
The lanterns outside had just been lit. Two pools of creamy yellow light lent a warm glow to the four ink-black characters reading "Inoue Cuisine."
Chen Fan could clearly tell that the restaurant was livelier than it had been a few days earlier.
Even from a distance, he could hear women's soft laughter coming from the private rooms, mingling with the shamisen melodies like a few grains of sugar scattered into the cold wind.
Chen Fan greeted Mrs. Inoue at the front and gave her the gift. She hurried inside to call Inoue Shinichi.
Before long, Inoue emerged from the kitchen carrying a medicinal fragrance. At the sight of Chen Fan, he smiled with particular warmth, as though meeting an old friend again.
He led Chen Fan to the counter, personally poured him a cup of warm barley tea, and asked how his business had been lately.
After exchanging a few casual pleasantries, Chen Fan told Inoue that Yamada had invited him to dinner here.
Inoue was very surprised. He had not thought Chen Fan would have any connection with Yamada and his people.
After confirming it several times, Inoue lowered his voice. "I never imagined you could make a connection with Major Yamada, Chen-san. He had Kazuhiko call me earlier. I've reserved the Pine Room upstairs for you."
"Don't worry, Chen-san. I've already given instructions and made arrangements for your private room."
"I've moved the guests on either side one room farther away, so they won't disturb your enjoyment of your drinks."
"And you needn't worry about anyone overhearing your conversation."
Chen Fan paused. Inoue Shinichi seemed to know something, but apparently not very much.
Before Chen Fan could speak, Inoue leaned closer conspiratorially. "Chen-san, would you like me to call in a couple of hostesses tonight? It's all the rage at Shanghai's upscale Japanese restaurants now."
"I visited the Cherry Blossom Dance Hall a little while ago and worked out a partnership with them."
"Don't worry. The ones I bring in are all wooden fish. If you're satisfied with them, Chen-san, send a few more customers my way another day."
As he spoke, Inoue gave him a smile any man would understand...
Wooden fish were different from goldfish. Goldfish were only for looking at, while wooden fish could be touched and struck...
Having transmigrated, Chen Fan naturally knew the ins and outs of entertaining over drinks.
The more important the business, the less one could simply sit there drinking.
Someone had to soften the atmosphere and cover up the chill and stiffness between the cups. Especially in
settings like this, drinking companions, singing, and dancing were not just entertainment, but also a sign of standing.
It was like when he had negotiated deals before. At those high-end business karaoke clubs in Hangzhou, performers routinely cost thirty or forty bills. Did anyone really think people would order someone that expensive outside a business gathering?
"You're very thoughtful, Inoue-kun," Chen Fan said with a smile. "Since you've just arranged this partnership with the Cherry Blossom Dance Hall, let's have their best dance hostesses tonight."
"Money isn't a problem, but they must know how to entertain and watch what they say. Most importantly, they mustn't pry or ask questions about everything."
"Of course." Inoue thumped his chest resoundingly, then turned to make a call and arrange the girls.
Since Yamada had not said how many people were coming, Inoue Shinichi arranged for three first. Chen Fan did not mind having an extra one...
With everything arranged, Chen Fan stood outside Inoue Cuisine, quietly waiting for Yamada to arrive.
Although he did not know when Yamada would arrive, Chen Fan did not dare wait inside the private room.
He was the one asking a favor now. Standing at the entrance to welcome them personally was the proper etiquette.
At six thirty that evening, a black sedan bearing Military Police Headquarters plates stopped outside the restaurant.
The car door opened, and Chen Fan froze. Besides Yamada, Major Yoshino, whom he had first met in the warehouse, was there too.
There was also a fat Japanese man.
The man looked like a sumo wrestler. He stood less than 1.6 meters tall but weighed at least a hundred kilograms.
His appearance was just like the rhyme: wide as a vat, not nearly as tall, apart from his backside, nothing but waist at all.
"Sorry for the wait, Chen-san." Yamada was quite polite, giving a slight bow as soon as he approached.
"You met Major Yoshino last time. This is Shimura..."
"There's also Inoue Kazuhiko, the restaurant owner's cousin. He still has an assignment, so he'll come a little later."
Chen Fan glanced at Shimura. With that face, surely this fellow had nothing to do with Danzo?
"Welcome, welcome. Shimura-kun, Yoshino-kun, I look forward to your guidance."
Shimura had a fat head and large ears, but his face looked amiable. "A pleasure to meet you, Chen-san. I look forward to your guidance."
The group entered Inoue Cuisine, chatting and laughing. Inoue Shinichi came out personally to lead them to their room.
Fruit and cold dishes had already been laid out in the room. Chen Fan invited everyone to sit.
Before long, the sliding paper door opened again.
A young woman in a pale blue kimono brought in the sake.
Two more women followed her, one carrying a shamisen and the other wearing a pale purple kimono. Neither was very old, and both wore practiced smiles.
With a single glance, Chen Fan knew these must be first- or second-tier girls from the Cherry Blossom Dance Hall. Their movements were carefully measured. They greeted everyone upon entering, their voices soft without being cloying.
Inoue Shinichi did not follow them inside. He merely gave a quiet instruction from outside the door: "Take good care of them"...
Chen Fan waved to him, telling him to hurry and call over two more girls.
He reckoned Inoue Kazuhiko would be coming later. Even if he did not show up in the end, on an occasion like this, it was better to have one too many than one too few.
It would not cost much anyway.
Inoue Shinichi asked no questions. Chen Fan was paying, after all. He simply nodded to indicate that he would arrange it immediately, then turned and went downstairs.
Chen Fan seated each of the three girls beside Yamada and the others, then promptly invited everyone to have a drink.
He had been a director in his previous life, after all. This sort of drinking-table culture came naturally to him.
He said nothing about any cooperation, because the time had not yet come.
No one had drunk much yet. Why discuss cooperation? Naturally, all of that had to wait until they were pleasantly tipsy.
After a few drinks, the conversation gradually loosened up, and the girl holding the shamisen picked up her instrument and began to play.
Yamada and the others were enjoying their drinks, dancing around the table with the dancing girls in little shuffling steps.
The atmosphere instantly reached a peak. By then, they had stopped putting on the prim and proper airs they had worn at the start.
One after another, they began getting handsy with the women beside them.
These young married women from Japan had clearly undergone systematic training. Their coy resistance was worthy of applause.
The girls kept saying "yamete" and "dame," their mouths saying no while their bodies kept pressing closer. Even Chen Fan grew distracted watching them, feeling as though a kitten were scratching at him.
Yamada was bleary-eyed with drink. Seeing Chen Fan sitting alone to one side, he slurred, "Ch-Chen-san, Inoue-kun really... really isn't being fair. How... how come he hasn't arranged a girl for you?"
Seeing that Yamada was already slurring his words, Chen Fan hurriedly explained, "Yamada-kun, the owner has already gone to get someone for me. They're probably on their way."
"On... on their way? I'll go... go have a look." Yamada drunkenly stood and pushed the door open. Chen Fan hurried over to support him, but Yamada shoved him away, pointing about in front of himself.
"Chen-san, you... you wait here, right here. I'll... I'll be right back..."