Chapter 19: Stormy Weather (6) Flying Kite Net

  Akagi Kōken replied: "Consul General, I have just received this news. I was about to report it to you."

  "Oh?!" Akira Shikou sneered: "Akagi-kun, you're in charge of intelligence work, isn't it a bit too late for you to find out now?!"

  "I apologize! This is my dereliction of duty!"

  "Ah, no!" Just as Akagi Kōken was about to finish speaking, Shigemitsu Aoi cut him off: "Is this something that can be resolved with just an apology?! Mr. Akagi, this has put us in a very passive position. If we don't come up with a solution quickly, the Empire's industries in Shanghai will suffer heavy losses!"

  "Don't worry! I've already thought of a plan to deal with this. I'm sure it will blow over soon!" Akagi Kojirou said reassuringly.

  "I don't want to hear your promises, I only look at results. If you can't handle this matter well, Akagi-kun, you're on your own!" With that, Shouko hung up the phone.

  Hearing the busy tone on the phone, Akagi's eyes narrowed unconsciously, and a hint of killing intent flashed across his face. After a brief moment of contemplation, Akagi hung up the phone and pressed the bell on his office desk.

  The attendant in the next office heard the bell and knocked on the door, entering Akagi Katsuhiko's office and asking: "Commander, what are your orders?"

  "Akagi Kōken took a deep breath and said: 'Prepare my carriage, I'm going to Sakuragi Shun'ichi's residence!'"

  "Hey!" The attendant responded and left Akagi Kengo's office.

  The sun sets in the west, and the evening sky is a fiery red. The snow has stopped falling by now. On the way back to the mansion, Cheng Jincheng suddenly spoke up in the carriage, "Ziliang, what do you think of Song Ziwen's attitude just now?"

  Lin Guodong thought for a moment before responding, "Father-in-law, I always feel that Song Ziwen has an ulterior motive in his words. He doesn't completely trust us yet. Moreover, I have a strange feeling that Song Ziwen knows what's going to happen next."

  Cheng Jincheng gazed deeply out the window and said, "I have the same feeling as you. Perhaps I've known Song Ziwen for a bit longer! I understand him better too. From his expression just now, it seems like he's worried about something. If my guess is correct, he's worried that this matter will become the spark that sets off a bloody conflict. It looks like this year won't be very peaceful after all."

  On the third day of the New Year, Lin Ao Feng finished his morning exercise and returned home to wash up. As he was about to leave the mansion dressed in new clothes, his mother stopped him: "Where are you going so early?!"

  Lin Ao Feng smiled and replied: "Mom, I'm just going out for a stroll! Do you have something to say?!"

  Cheng Xue Mei looked Lin Ao Feng up and down, slightly raised the corner of her mouth, smiled and glanced around, saying: "You're my son. What's on your mind I wouldn't know?! Your dad and grandpa came back yesterday and said that Shanghai has been a bit chaotic lately, be careful when you go out."

  "Don't worry, mom! Nothing will happen to me!" With that, Lin Ao Feng took advantage of his mother's distraction, gave her a quick peck on the cheek, and ran out.

  "Good grief!" Looking at the back of her son as he walked away, Cheng Xue Mei let out a soft "tsk", turned around and saw her husband suddenly appearing behind her, patting his chest, and glared at him with annoyance, saying: "You scared me half to death! Why didn't you make a sound when you came?!"

  "A doting mother will spoil her child!" Lin Guodong said with a bitter face: "Feng'er has been spoiled by you! Didn't I tell you yesterday?! On the surface, Shanghai is calm and peaceful, but underneath it's turbulent. Let me tell you, don't let Feng'er go out for this period of time..."

  "Alright! Alright!" Before Lin Guodong could finish speaking, Cheng Xuemei cut him off, panting: "Feng'er is no longer a child. Do you think it's useful to use the same tricks on him that you would on a kid?! Besides, you're not unaware of Feng'er's temper. Even if we lock him up at home, do you think this house can hold him back?!"

  "Cough!" Lin Guodong muttered to himself: "If I had known today, I shouldn't have kept him at Daiyun Temple in the first place. The child has grown up and his wings are hard too. Letting him go out on his own isn't a bad thing either!"

  Leaving home, Lin Ao Feng drove around the block and arrived at Qin Keqing's house, parking his car in front of her door. He lifted his wrist to glance at his watch and muttered, "Looks like I'm not late."

  "...ding...ding..." After about ten minutes, the door of Qin Keqing's house opened, and Qin Keqing walked out from inside. Lin Aofeng, who was sitting in the car, honked the horn.

  Qin Keqing turned her head to look at the sedan parked by the side of the road, and couldn't help but smile. She walked three steps in two strides to the car and asked: "How did you come here?!"

  Lin Ao Feng smiled and said: "Of course I'm here to be your guardian knight! Does the beauty want to grant me an audience?"

  Qin Keqing pretended to be hesitant, thought for a moment and said: "Well, I'll reluctantly agree to it!" After that, Qin Keqing smiled and opened the car door to get in.

  With a snap of the fingers, Spring Festival has passed. A storm opens the curtain.

  "Punish the murderer!"

  "Oppose the Oriental Great Man!"

  "Afeng, what's going on?!" Qin Keqing asked, sitting in Lin Aofeng's car, seeing the excited workers marching on the street.

  Lin Aofeng said expressionlessly: "A child laborer's corpse was found in the spinning room of the eighth factory of Nichi Shōnen Spinning Co., Ltd. According to forensic examination, the child laborer had more than ten severe injuries on his chest. After investigation, it was found that the child laborer was beaten to death by the Japanese manager with an iron rod."

  "They're too cruel!" Qin Keqing exclaimed.

  "When people are kind, they will be deceived; when horses are gentle, they will be ridden. When a country is weak, it will be humiliated." Lin Aofeng looked at the long procession and continued: "If China wants to get rid of the situation where it is bullied by powerful countries, it is impossible without paying the price of blood and life."

  Qin Keqing tilted her head and looked at Lin Aofeng, asking: "Do you mean their parade this time is in vain?"

  Lin Ao Feng shook his head and said: "I didn't mean that. I just think they are too kind."

  "Really?!" Qin Keqing muttered, a look of doubt appearing on her face.

  Lin Aofeng started the car, turned his head and said to Qin Keqing: "Yes! Japan is the most despicable country in the world. They are good at pulling out shit and sitting back. Under pressure, they will agree to the workers' demands, but once the storm passes, they will immediately find excuses to crack down on the workers."

  "What should we do then?! Are we just going to sit back and watch them cheat the workers?!" Qin Keqing retorted.

  Lin Ao Feng bitterly smiled and said: "Do you think they will listen to us with our current power?! What we need to do now is to do our own things well. Wait for the real opportunity to come."

  "A real opportunity?!" Qin Keqing sat in the car for a moment, saying: "A Feng, you're getting more and more unpredictable!"

  Lin Ao Feng stopped the car and looked at Qin Ke Qing with deep affection in his eyes, saying: "Ke Qing, from the moment I first saw you, I knew it was you. I promise you, apart from my mother, I only love you, spoil you, won't deceive you, will do everything you ask to the best of my ability, every word I say to you is true, won't bully you, won't scold you, if someone bullies you, I'll be there in no time to help you, when you're happy, I'll accompany you, when you're not happy, I'll coax you into happiness."

  Qin Keqing was caught off guard by Lin Aofeng's sudden confession, staring blankly at him as tears involuntarily flowed from the corners of her eyes. Realizing she had lost composure, Qin Keqing took out a handkerchief and wiped away her tears while saying: "You said you wouldn't bully me, but now it's clear that you are! You're making me cry!"

  "Sorry!" Lin Ao Feng lowered his head and sat in the driver's cabin in a daze.

  Qin Keqing couldn't help but burst out laughing at Lin Ao's appearance, saying: "This judge has made a decision based on your performance and will observe the outcome!" Seeing the bewildered expression on Lin Ao's face, she continued: "I've taken note of everything you just said. If I find one thing that doesn't add up in the future, watch how I'll deal with you!"

  "Awesome!" Lin Ao Feng excitedly jumped up: "Ah yo!" and bumped his head on the car roof.

  Because the news had already spread during the Chinese New Year, all parties made preparations in advance. After mediation by the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce, the Japanese factory owners agreed not to beat or scold workers and to pay wages every two weeks. The workers immediately resumed work. However, this peaceful situation did not last long. In early May, the Japanese cotton mills cited the frequent strikes by male workers as a reason and fired all male workers, replacing them with female workers. This move triggered another large-scale strike in 22 factories. After mediation by various Shanghai organizations, the workers agreed to resume work on the condition that their treatment would be improved and their savings returned. However, soon after the workers resumed work, the Japanese owner of the seventh factory of the Naigai Cotton Mill used the excuse that there was not enough yarn stored in the factory and intentionally closed the factory, suspending payment of wages to workers. The eighth factory then found an excuse to fire dozens of workers. The workers refused to accept this and elected representatives, including Gu Zhenghong and seven others, to negotiate with the factory owner. During the negotiations, a dispute arose, and a Japanese ronin who was mixed in with the negotiating personnel suddenly opened fire, killing Gu Zhenghong on the spot. The other seven negotiators were all injured. The injured workers asked for assistance from the Shanghai Workers' Bureau, but the bureau not only did not provide fair treatment but also charged the workers who requested assistance with disturbing public order because the Japanese side had made arrangements in advance. This move once again aroused public outrage.

  "What does the Ministry of Works say about this?!" Zhu Baosan had just returned to the General Chamber of Commerce, when a large group of bosses from various Shanghai factories surrounded him.

  Zhu Baosan sighed and said: "The country is weak and being bullied! The Ministry of Works has long been bribed by the Japanese."

  Yu Kuai-cheng, who was following Zhu Baosan, chimed in: "Everyone, given the current situation in Shanghai, a general strike by workers is unavoidable. If we want to survive this disaster, we must unite as one."

  "Not bad, Mr. Yu has a point!" Lin Guodong stood up and said: "From the Japanese constant provocation of workers, it can be seen that the real purpose of the Japanese is not to provoke the workers, but to aim at the industries in our hands. As long as we don't lose the industries in our hands, relying on our strength, it's easy to recover!"