Old Knife Handle

Biodata

Background / History

Theatre and Underground Trade

Old Knife Handle learned his craft in the opera world, where his association with A Xiang began nearly thirty years before his death. He eventually owned Shengping Theatre, while A Xiang managed its daily business, visiting opera troupes, and supply channels 35.

Behind this public business, he worked as a middleman in Shanghai’s underground arms and scarce-goods trade. Chen Zhongming bought supplies from him for distribution outside the city. Old Knife Handle also exercised considerable influence over the theatrical world: major Shanghai opera venues required his approval before allowing performers to appear 4 24.

Betrayal of Chen Zhongming

Three years before Chen Fan’s return to Shanghai, Old Knife Handle encouraged Chen Zhongming to sell locally produced opium in the French Concession, encroaching on an established monopoly. Chen Zhongming was caught and ultimately died 4.

Old Knife Handle initially defended himself by claiming that Chen Zhongming had knowingly accepted a dangerous deal. He later admitted privately that he had used Chen Zhongming’s sales to conceal a larger operation and made him take the fall. Despite this betrayal, Chen Zhongming never exposed his associates 4 24 31.

Following the incident, Chen Fan confronted Old Knife Handle and defeated eight of his bodyguards in less than two minutes. Old Knife Handle paid him money, and the two ostensibly settled the matter, though he remained terrified of Chen Fan’s fighting ability 4.

Partnership with Chen Fan

When Chen Fan returned seeking goods to sell, Old Knife Handle offered him work instead of accepting his inadequate deposit. His immediate problem was a customs seizure: three crates containing 120 American-made detonators, worth more than ten thousand silver dollars. Customs demanded three thousand dollars but had not yet discovered the contents 4 5.

Unwilling to pay or appear personally, Old Knife Handle hired Chen Fan to recover the shipment. Their final agreement provided a one-thousand-dollar fee and an interest-free loan of five thousand silver dollars for three months. Chen Fan recovered the crates, and Old Knife Handle paid him as promised 5 8 9.

Old Knife Handle next recruited him to collect three thousand bolts of cotton cloth confiscated from the Qingpu Wang Family. Wu Jingui supplied the connection and requested twenty percent of the profit for himself and his cousin. Old Knife Handle proposed supplying the capital and buyers while Chen Fan handled collection, with the two splitting resale profits equally. Privately, he chose Chen Fan to keep his own men away from the risk 9.

The transaction succeeded. Before the cloth was sold, Old Knife Handle lent Chen Fan another five thousand silver dollars at interest. He later reported total sales of 24,600 and paid Chen Fan a share of 5,720 16 24.

Second Scapegoat Scheme

Old Knife Handle introduced Chen Fan to Kunqu performer Jin Xiangyu as part of preparations for another operation. Under pressure to sell a southwest chieftain’s goods within half a month, he regarded Chen Fan’s apparent greed and willingness to risk his life as qualities that made him expendable 23 24.

His plan was to divide one shipment between two docks. Zhang Xiaolin’s men would catch Chen Fan’s portion, drawing attention away while Old Knife Handle’s own goods were unloaded elsewhere. Jin Xiangyu objected that Chen Fan could identify her as the shipment’s owner and implicate her 31.

Chen Fan recognized the trap and redirected the cargo boat into the Yangshupu Waterway. He replaced its opium cargo with other goods, allowing the boat to pass inspection at Dongjiadu. Meanwhile, Brother Bao and Long Si seized the separate shipment at Warehouse Three on Shiliupu Wharf and demanded two hundred thousand for its return 32 33 34.

Death and Aftermath

Desperate to recover the goods, Old Knife Handle sent A Xiang and Jin Xiangyu to seek Rui Qingrong’s fighters. He then led a force to Chen Fan’s warehouse, demanded the shipment back, and threatened Chen Fan with seventy or eighty men and dozens of weapons 35 36.

The reinforcements were actually Cao Bin’s men. A Xiang, who had secretly sided with Chen Fan, placed a blade against his employer’s neck. He accused Old Knife Handle of keeping the profits while leaving him with decades of work, low pay, and little standing. Old Knife Handle offered money, but A Xiang refused; Chen Fan had promised him Shengping Theatre 36 37.

On Chen Fan’s command, A Xiang slit Old Knife Handle’s throat. Chen Fan concealed the killing with a story that Old Knife Handle had abandoned his holdings to elope with Jin Xiangyu, who had also been killed. The rumor spread widely, but underworld figures questioned it, and Rui Qingrong identified Chen Fan as the likely killer 37 42 43.

A Xiang took over Shengping Theatre. Chen Fan absorbed Old Knife Handle’s distribution channels and used them to expand his trading business 43 47.

Appearance

• Build and features: Short and stout, with small eyes and a visibly shrewd expression 4 35.
• Usual clothing: Introduced in a gray squirrel-fur robe; later wears a navy-blue, silk-faced padded robe 4 9.
• Formal dress: Wears a dark-purple satin mandarin jacket with floral medallions, Western trousers, and handmade Italian leather shoes when entertaining Chen Fan 23.
• Accessories: Frequently smokes through a cigarette holder and rolls a pair of glossy lion’s-head walnuts in his hand 4 9 35.

Personality

Old Knife Handle is calculating, distrustful, and intensely protective of his profits. He openly states that he trusts money rather than people. His bargaining with Chen Fan combines appeals to friendship with strict financial limits, while his reluctance to replace old tea leaves illustrates his everyday stinginess 4 5.

He uses business rules and professional reputation to justify his conduct, yet privately treats partners as disposable protection for his own interests. His exploitation of Chen Zhongming becomes a model for his attempted sacrifice of Chen Fan 4 9 31.

His treatment of A Xiang exposes his failure to recognize the resentment beneath him. Even with a knife at his throat, he initially argues that management responsibilities and access to famous performers should compensate for withholding money. Only after realizing he has no loyal force left does he offer to surrender his wealth 37.

Abilities & Skills

Brokerage and Distribution

• Maintains suppliers and buyers for weapons, scarce goods, and contraband, enabling partners to trade without building their own networks 4 9.
• Claims to have followed a broker’s rule against personally handling goods or money for twenty years, presenting neutrality as the basis of his reputation 9.
• Controls channels valuable enough for Chen Fan to build further business after taking them over 43 47.

Negotiation and Information Gathering

• Uses silence and patience to make people seeking favors reveal their needs first 8.
• Tracks Chen Fan’s spending closely enough to predict when he will need to settle accounts 23.
• Employs lookouts to monitor dock operations without appearing himself 8 34.

Covert Logistics

• Uses intermediaries, concealed shipments, and divided unloading points to distance himself from dangerous transactions 5 31.
• Arranges for a conspicuous shipment to divert rival gangs from his main cargo 31.
• Relies on hired fighters and powerful associates when his schemes fail; no personal combat ability is demonstrated, and he acknowledges that his men cannot match Chen Fan in close combat 35 36.

Relationships

• Chen Fan — Former victim’s son, temporary business partner, and eventual enemy. Old Knife Handle mistakes his apparent pursuit of money for a weakness he can exploit 4 24 31.
• Chen Zhongming — Former customer whom he deliberately made a scapegoat. He acknowledges Zhongming’s loyalty despite having caused his downfall 24 31.
• A Xiang / Li Wenxiang — Trusted subordinate of nearly thirty years and manager of his operations. A Xiang ultimately kills him and succeeds him at Shengping Theatre 35 37 43.
• Jin Xiangyu — Trusted performer and accomplice in the scheme against Chen Fan. Old Knife Handle also sends her to persuade Rui Qingrong to provide fighters 24 31 35.
• Wu Jingui — Fellow underground dealer who brings him the confiscated-cloth opportunity while avoiding direct exposure 8 9.
• Rui Qingrong — Powerful underworld associate whom he turns to for armed support after losing the opium shipment 35.

Notable Quotes

“I've never trusted anyone since the day I entered this life. I only trust money.” 5

“In our line of work, trust is the most valuable thing, and also the most fragile.” 9

“Apart from the money, I gave you everything.” — To A Xiang during their final confrontation 37