Chapter 33: Crossing the River at Night

  "Xia Zhi Ping!" Da Tou exclaimed in surprise.

  Ma Qixiang immediately became interested: "Old acquaintance?"

  "Big Head glared at him: 'What a load of crap! Old Seven's fatal weakness!'"

  "Let's hear it!" Ma Qixiang tactfully handed Da Tou a cigarette.

  The story is actually quite simple, Lin Xiaotang secretly fell in love with her university classmate Xia Zhiping, wrote a year's worth of love letters, but when it came time to confess, she was beaten to the punch by her own good friend, resulting in a complete defeat for her first love.

  "Look at that good brother of his, Yuan Jianfeng, a guy who's detested by everyone. I don't know how Old Seven got mixed up with him. And then, that little scoundrel met Xia Zhiping through Old Seven and made his move without hesitation."

  Ma Qixiang blinked his eyes: "What else?"

  "What else? That's all!"

  Ma Qixiang waved his hand: "Cut it out! I've had at least seven or eight first loves like this!"

  Big head“……”。

  Xia Zhipeng looked at Lin Xiaotang with surprise: "Really didn't expect to see you here!" As he turned around: "Jianfeng, look who I met!"

  A tall and sturdy man squeezed over from the crowd, holding a wine glass: "Who did you meet, look how excited you are." The man caught sight of Lin Xiaotang at a glance, and was taken aback: "Little Seven!"

  The two of them looked at each other, and for a moment they both felt a little awkward.

  The man glanced at Lin Xiaotang's flight attendant uniform, raised the corner of his mouth, and added some playful and disdainful expressions: "Xiao Qi, what is this...?"

  Lin Xiaotang was about to respond when a strong hand pressed down on his shoulder: "Seventh Young Master, it's just a game of chance, no need to take it so seriously! Brothers were just joking with you, and you actually came here to play along!"

  Lin Xiaotang turned her head and in front of her was Ma Qixiang's face with a hint of a smile.

  The man opposite recognized Ma Qixiang and immediately stretched out his hand: "Young Master Ma, hello."

  Ma Qixiang was taken aback and searched his memory: "Who are you?"

  "Yu Jianfeng, that's right! I know your brother, Ma Gongzi. He's the Director of the Ministry of Finance, isn't he? You've forgotten, we even had dinner together!" The man said enthusiastically, with a big smile on his face.

  Ma Qixiang slapped his forehead: "Oh, it's you, Yuan brother!"

  The two men shook hands warmly, and Ma Qixiang leaned in close to Lin Xiaotang's ear: "Which onion is this surnamed Yuan?"

  Yuan Jianfeng was surprised: "I didn't expect to meet you here, I've been looking for Director Ma, but I heard he's on a business trip to Nanjing. I don't know how the thing I mentioned last time is going now? Can I ask Young Master Ma to inquire about it at his brother's place?"

  Ma Qixiang looked at Lin Xiaotang and pointed at Yuan Jianfeng: "Your friend?"

  Lin Xiaotang looked at Xia Zhiping and found that her eyes were full of sincere color, so she could only helplessly nod.

  Ma Qixiang smiled and clapped his hands: "No problem, since you're a friend of Seventh Young Master, I'll take care of it. Look for me next week, either at Shandu or Yingxiong! He pointed to Lin Xiaotang: "Our brothers' business, come play when you have time!"

  Xia Zhi Ping's eyes showed a hint of surprise.

  Looking at the back of the two people, Yuan Jianfeng's smile suddenly disappeared from his face, and he squeezed out a few words from between his teeth: "What kind of thing is this?"

  Xia Zhipeng held his arm with some concern, and Yuan Jianfeng forced a smile.

  "Do you know him?" Lin Xiaotang asked.

  Ma Qixiang scratched his head: "Maybe after eating, who can remember?"

  "So you still agreed with him?"

  "Nonsense, every day so many people look for my brother, most of them are walking on my road, doing things big and small. This kid I also have some impression, he is in the military affairs office that cold yamen mixing rice to eat, was squeezed by No. 76 almost closed door, just want to jump ship to the Ministry of Finance."

  Ma Qixiang said with a nudge of his elbow to Lin Xiaotang: "Alright, just one first love, go back to my Hero Nightclub, there are plenty of first loves waiting for you to choose."

  Lin Xiaotang's face turned dark.

  Ma Qixiang's meaning was very clear, he sensed that Lin Xiaotang and Da Tou's origins were not as simple as Shen Pangzi said. He and Shen Pangzi had a lot of industries under their control, and Ma Qixiang himself was just a nominal boss, while Shen Pangzi alone could hardly support the business on his own. Ma Qixiang also wanted to take this opportunity to find a helper for the two of them, most importantly, Shen Pangzi also had this intention.

  A steward from the Wan household hastily walked up to Ma Qixiang's side: "Master Wan is looking for you, in the study!"

  Lin Xiaotang turned around and wanted to leave, but Ma Qixiang pulled him back: "Come together, tonight's matter, we are short of manpower."

  In the study, Wan Mulin paced back and forth. Tonight, two important figures arrived from Nanjing with confidential documents, preparing to defect to Chongqing. Du Yuesheng of Hong Kong had given instructions that Wan Mulin must ensure their safe passage to Hong Kong. To this end, Wan Mulin mobilized thirteen Taibao under his command, including Shen Baozi, also known as "Glasses", and Young Master Ma Qixiang.

  Tonight's wine party was just a cover, wanting to take advantage of the crowd and chaos to send someone on board, but unexpectedly Zhang Xiulin and Li Shizhong suddenly arrived, their intentions were self-evident, that is, to stare at Wan Moline tightly, not letting him have any chance to escape.

  Just now, the chief inspector of the French concession police station, Jin Jiuling, called to tell Wan Mulin in a cryptic tone that the Japanese had already contacted the British and American consulates, and they allowed No. 76 and the Japanese to take action within the concession, on the condition that no large-scale gun battles were allowed. Moreover, Zhang Xiaolin had suppressed the power of the Shanghai gang, strictly ordering them not to interfere with tonight's events, so Wan Mulin and others were essentially fighting alone.

  The situation has deteriorated to the point where Wan Mulin is worried and anxious, Huang Jinrong and Du Yuesheng cannot show their faces, and in Shanghai, no one can suppress Zhang Xiaolin. Many connections and relationships are unusable, from the consulate to the dock, without asking, there must be a large number of Japanese agents and 76th Division personnel blocking the way. How can we safely send the person onto the ship?

  Ma Qixiang and Lin Xiaotang pushed open the door and walked into the study, Wan Mulin's mood was already bad, at this time seeing Ma Qixiang's unfamiliar face behind him, his eyebrows furrowed.

  Ma Qixiang spoke up first: "He's one of us, trustworthy, Master, you can rest assured."

  Wan Mo Lin looked at Shen Pangzi, and Shen Pangzi smiled and nodded slightly.

  Inside the house, apart from Wan Gongguan's steward, only four people were left: Wan Mulin, Lin Xiaotang and others. Wan Mulin told them what had happened and looked at Shen Pangzi and Ma Qixiang: "What to do? The ship at Hongyun Dock leaves at 3 o'clock in the night, there is only one trip!"

  Shen Pangzi's fingers rhythmically tapped the table: "Zhang Laoban's subordinates and Wu Sibao, Duan Baohu have not appeared, as expected, they must be guarding outside. Originally, with Shifu's face, we could still force our way in, but Li Shiqun and Zhang Laoban are not suitable here!"

  Wan Mo Lin nodded: "Now we have no one to use, the students went to Nanjing, Yan Muzi and Langzi followed Mr. Du in Hong Kong, Jiao Tou can be used, but he has been following Jun Qingchuang Xian of the Military Affairs Bureau, it's best not to disturb him unless absolutely necessary."

  Three people re-examined the situation and found that there was nothing they could do. The three of them fell silent at once. Wan Mulin glanced at his watch: "It's getting late, I've been gone for so long, Zhang Yaolin will notice something is wrong. I'll go down first. At worst, we'll have a falling out and fight to the end!"

  Lin Xiaotang, who had been silent all along, suddenly stood up: "I have a way!"

  Wan Mo Lin was taken aback, and immediately stopped in his tracks, looking at Shen Pangzi. Shen Pangzi pointed to Lin Xiaotang: "Master, this is my brother, Lin Xiaotang, who has changed his name to Lin Qi."

  Wan Mo Lin hesitated for a moment: "Speak."

  Lin Xiaotang walked to the side of the tea table, pointing at a Shanghai map on the desktop: "We are now in the French Concession. To go to Hongyun Wharf, we need to pass through the International Settlement. Mr. Wan just said that this road is bound to be fraught with danger. And to the west of the French Concession is an area controlled by the Japanese, although it's a bit dangerous, but not necessarily pitch black."

  Wan Mulin's eyes lit up, but immediately dimmed: "Openly repairing the plank road and secretly crossing at Chen Cang is a good plan, but I don't have anyone available to use now. The people here, 76th, Zhang Xiaolin's subordinates are all familiar..."

  Shen Pangzi and Ma Qixiang suddenly laughed.

  Lin Xiaotang stood up straight: "If Mr. Wan doesn't mind, I'm willing to go through this."

  At 10 o'clock in the evening, the wine party came to an end, and the guests from all walks of life bid farewell one after another. The Wan Gongguan, which had been bustling for a day, returned to calmness. Half an hour later, the gate of Wan Gongguan opened wide, and four brand-new Pontiac cars drove out.

  The motorcade had just gone out of two intersections when it was stopped. It seemed that the concession police were setting up a checkpoint here. The driver on the car was very impatient, pointing to the three cars behind him and loudly telling the police officer that Mr. Wan was in the car and wanted to go to the International Nightclub.

  The police officer apologized with a bow, but refused to let them go. Suddenly, a large group of people rushed out of the darkness and surrounded the four cars in an instant.

  Zhang Xiaolin and Li Sizhong smiled and walked out of the crowd: "Mu Lin, it's so late, where are you going? What a coincidence, we met again, why don't we go together?"

  The third car door opened, and before the bodyguard could open the door, Wan Mulin himself got out of the car with a surprised expression: "Young Master, Director Li, what are you doing here?"

  Li Shizhong sneered: "Boss Wan is really chivalrous and righteous, must you personally come to see him off?"

  Ten thousand ink drops cannot express it.

  Li Shiqun shouted from behind: "Chief Jin, this is your territory, we can't interfere."

  Jin Jiuling emerged from the crowd, wearing a police uniform and looking embarrassed. He walked up to Wan Mulin's side: "Brother Mulin, I'm really sorry, but I have official business to attend to."

  Wan Mo Lin let out a sigh and waved his hand: "Please."

  The police rushed up but searched for half a day and found nothing.

  Wan Mulin chuckled and said, "Young uncle, Director Li, since you've finished your official business, why don't we head to the Wanguo Nightclub to have some fun? You two probably know that the boss lady there is a friend of mine. She's mentioned it several times in front of me, wanting to invite you both over. It's better to run into each other than to be formally invited, what do you think?"

  Zhang Xiaolin and Li Shiqun's faces turned pale blue.

  One of his men ran over: "Director Li, two teams of cars rushed out from the back door of the mansion and drove away in two different directions... our brothers went forward to check and were beaten up by them, several were injured..."

  Li Shiqun slapped him on the back of the head: "Idiot, go chase after them quickly!"