Chapter 10: Figures in the Storm (2)

  As for the Li family, although their reputation in Shanghai was not small, Li Wanqi was a man with a deep understanding of the situation and did not easily reveal his true strength. Therefore, in Shanghai, he was only considered an ordinary nouveau riche. However, Li Wanqi had the closest ties with America behind the scenes, and most of his businesses in Shanghai were industrial enterprises, including a transportation company, thirteen grain stores, and a cigarette factory.

  After Xu Shaowen's repeated inquiries, he also learned that Li Wanqi had an underground money house in both the British concession and the Chinese district, which specialized in cooperating with casinos to lend usury.

  Although Li Wanqi's business in Shanghai was not large, his reputation in the business community was not low. Moreover, in recent years, Li Wanqi's connections with government officials and southern warlords have become increasingly close, which is a contradictory personal relationship network, but it fully explains that he is an absolute speculator.

  Xu Shao Wen knew that if he wanted to stand firm in Shanghai and the south, he had to build his own power. Huang Jin Rong, Yu Meng Qing, Zhang Jing Jiang and Li Wan Qi were all people he needed to get to know, and he also needed to expand his relationships with them. Of course, Li Wan Qi was already familiar with him as Li Zhen Ning's father, but as for the others, he would have to find an opportunity to meet them.

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  At the end of the month, Xu Shaowen returned to his room after dinner at Li's villa. He was feeling listless when he suddenly heard a faint and pleasant violin sound coming from outside the corridor. Whether in the 21st century or in the Republic of China era, Xu Shaowen had never been interested in Western music before, but today's violin sound made him feel excited. The refreshing and lively melody made him feel very comfortable in his heart.

  Xu Shao Wen opened his door following the sound of a violin, only to find that it was coming from another room directly across from his own. This room belonged to Li Zhen Ning's sister, Li Yue Ru, and he suddenly recalled that she had once mentioned to him that she occasionally practiced her violin in her room.

  He saw that Li Yue's door was ajar, so he walked up and gently pushed it open. The room was decorated warmly, revealing a unique atmosphere of a girl. Li Yue was wearing a beautiful black evening dress made of satin, standing on the balcony, intently playing her violin. The young girl's immature body looked slender and beautiful in the tight-fitting dress, giving off an aura that tempted others to love and hold her. Her pale skin also shone like snow under the contrast of the black dress.

  Xu Shaowen felt a slight change in his heart rate, and he suddenly thought that Li Yueru was just a lovely little beauty.

  The sound of the violin suddenly stopped, and Li Yu Ru turned around with a satisfied expression. However, when she saw Xu Shao Wen who had appeared out of nowhere, she was startled and her face turned bright red.

  "Wen Gege, I... did I disturb you?" Li Yu Ru's timid expression was like a flower that had yet to bloom.

  "Sorry, I didn't knock before coming in and disturbed your violin practice."

  "But I'm still worried that I disturbed Brother Wen Yuan, though." Li Yu Ru looked at Xu Shao Wen with a blush, appearing somewhat flustered.

  "How is that possible? Your violin playing sounds great, and it even attracted me, a person with a different sense of rhythm." Xu Shaowen said honestly, but he couldn't help sneaking a few more glances at Li Yu Ruo's enchanting figure.

  Li Yu Ru smiled awkwardly, but her small face showed great excitement. She walked to the front of Xu Shao Wen and finally managed to gather some shyness, looking up at him. She asked: "Wen Yuan Gege, is what you said true? In two days, a violin professor from Vienna will come to Shanghai, many people want to receive his guidance, so I hurriedly practiced, hoping to gain his favor."

  "Really? I believe you will definitely succeed, your violin playing is truly heavenly and sounds great." Xu Shao Wen said sincerely.

  "Thank you, Brother Wen Yuan." The little girl looked very happy. Her father and brother were always busy with their own things, no one ever came to encourage her. Xu Shao Wen's words left a warm feeling in her small heart.

  "You look great in that dress." Xu Shaowen said, looking at Li Yueru's slightly dazed expression.

  Li Yu Ru turned around, smiled softly and said: "Really? This was made for me by Father on my birthday last year. Today I just put it on to show you, when Professor Vienna arrives, I will wear this dress to meet him too."

  Xu Shaowen secretly sighed in his heart, he felt that a 16 or 17-year-old little loli like Li Yueru could make him feel a kind of palpitation, it was really a terrible sense of guilt. Although in this era, girls at the age of 28 were already considered to be of marriageable age, but as a person from the 21st century, his ideas and concepts still couldn't adapt to it.

  At this moment, the door of Li Yue's room, which was not closed, was knocked. Xu Shao Wen and Li Yue both turned around to look outside. At some point, Li Wan Qi, dressed in outdoor attire, was already standing at the door. He saw Li Yue and Xu Shao Wen together, his face slightly strange, but quickly returned to normal.

  "Uncle Li!" Xu Shaowen greeted, while in his heart he felt a bit uneasy, not knowing if Li Wanqi would misunderstand seeing him alone with his daughter.

  "Dad, it's so late, are you going out?" Li Yu'er asked with a smile, looking at Li Wanqi. This silly little girl didn't feel any discomfort being alone with the opposite sex at all.

  "Oh, Xiaoru, it's already late autumn now, aren't you cold wearing so little?" Li Wanqi asked with concern, looking at Li Yue's thin evening dress.

  As for Li Wanqi's question, Xu Shaowen was even more nervous in his heart, this was clearly hinting that it was not appropriate for him and Li Yu'er to be alone together in such a situation.

  "No way, I just wanted to try it out and see if wearing a dress would be inconvenient for playing the violin." Li Yu'er smiled innocently.

  "Put on your clothes, don't catch a chill," Li Wanqi's expression was still unreadable, looking calm but giving off an ominous feeling, "I came to find Wen Yuan, saw you two together so I came over."

  "Oh? Is there something on your mind, Uncle Li?" Xu Shaowen made himself appear very calm.

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