Chapter 23: The End of Comfortable Days

  On June 23, in support of the Shanghai "May Thirtieth Movement", workers and various sectors of society in Guangdong and Hong Kong held a massive province-wide general strike. When the procession marched to Sha Kek, the British naval landing party stationed there opened fire on the unarmed civilians, killing 59 people on the spot and injuring over 100, causing another shocking "Shaji Massacre" that stunned China and the world. The Whampoa Military Academy also paid a heavy price of 27 deaths and dozens of injuries.

  At this time, at the critical moment when the National Government was formally established, the Huangpu military and political officials led by Chiang Kai-shek were bogged down in a sea of documents and meetings, with various factions vying for power within the party and competing for revolutionary army rights having entered a white-hot stage.

  In the face of Wang Jingwei's powerful political prestige as the "first choice for chairman" who had always accompanied Mr. Sun Yat-sen and recorded his will before his death, Chiang Kai-shek, who had been wandering on the periphery of the central leadership core, worked hard day and night to finally enter the Military Commission's eight-member committee chaired by Wang Jingwei, laying an important foundation for his political career. Chiang Kai-shek gained great reputation with his outstanding military achievements in the Eastern Expedition and the War of Suppression, and his painstakingly written "Military and Political Opinion Book" comprehensively and systematically discussed issues such as military system, military finance, military equipment, military education, and army building for the first time, earning widespread acclaim from all walks of life. Chiang also began his brilliant political career with this series of hard work.

  After the reactionary forces of Chen Jiongming, who were entrenched in the Dongjiang area, gained a chance to breathe, they had a strong momentum to return. Deng Benyin and others, who had occupied southwestern Guangdong for many years, responded to Chen Jiongming's call from Qiongzhou, Lianzhou, Hepu, Qinzhou, and Fangcheng. The warships of British imperialism gathered at the Pearl River estuary. Under this complex and tense situation, the Huangpu students' action to "find hero An Yi" had to be temporarily suspended.

  In the elegant and simple front hall of Puzi Street's Lychee Garden, An Yi put down the "Art of War" by Sun Tzu after reading for an hour and a half. He quietly signaled to Er Mao, who was getting smarter and smarter, to sit in the chair across from him at the Eight Immortals table. From the hidden compartment under the Eight Immortals table, he took out a deck of cards and began a new battle with excited Er Mao.

  Less than half an hour, the just seven-year-old Er Mao's face was covered with thick paper strips like a mustache, which was very cute. An Yi was caught off guard by the clever Er Mao twice and had a paper strip stuck on each corner of his mouth, looking like two long fangs. In annoyance, he shuffled the cards faster than ever before.

  Second Aunt Liu returned with the vegetables, saw this scene and covered her mouth to laugh, put the newly bought newspaper on the incense case and quickly walked towards the back kitchen, all the way laughing so hard that she stumbled.

  "Hmm..."

  The old Taoist, who had just woken up from his afternoon nap, walked out of the room with a displeased expression on his face, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan. Er Mao was so scared that he dropped his poker cards and jumped off the stool, running quickly to the tea table by the wall, where he skillfully brewed a cup of hot tea and handed it to the old Taoist. The old Taoist pointed to the low table beside the rocking chair, indicating for Er Mao to put down the teacup, then scowled and ordered in a serious tone: "Go, go to your room and copy out five pages of the 'Expanded Edition of Words of Wisdom', with no less than three hundred words per page. If you can't finish it today, don't eat dinner!"

  "Yes, I'm going..."

  The worried-looking Er Mao ran hastily towards the backyard.

  The old man continued his daily leisurely and composed rural scholar demeanor, savoring the remaining half cup of tea, before slowly saying: "Yesterday, you were still upset about the British warships entering White Goose Bay, now today, how come you're carefree and laughing?"

  He propped up his legs, staring at the newspaper without lifting his head: "I can't just carry around a belly full of resentment from his mother and live my life like that? The revolutionary army doesn't get angry, the Guangdong army doesn't have temper, you want me to pick up a rock and smash the British warship?"

  The old man smiled slightly: "Since it's like that, why don't you go join the army and shoulder a gun? I've seen it, every time Abao comes to find you, he's sneaking around, who knows what kind of shady business you two are doing upstairs that can't be seen? However, the day before yesterday when you went out and Abao came looking for you but couldn't find anyone, under my questioning, he told me that your Huangpu brothers are searching for you all over the world, but you won't let him reveal your hiding place. Why is that? Is it because in June at Longyandong, people don't remember you and you still hold a grudge?"

  He put down the newspaper and sighed, "Don't think I'm so petty-minded, I've long known the reason back then, it's not your brothers' fault. Last week, to thank Sanbo for getting my truck back, I went to his house with 10,000 yuan, but he refused to accept it. So I rushed to Niu Ma Market in Chengdong and bought two oxen and three cows, including one pregnant cow, and sent them over. Sanbo was delighted with the strong cattle and no longer declined. A dozen men brought out their home-brewed wine and got me drunk until I passed out. I don't even know how I got back to Guangzhou City. Luckily, the little policeman at the East Gate recognized me and let me sleep in the guardhouse for a night. Otherwise, I would have had to sleep on the streets, who knows, maybe those heartless workers from Dongzi's time would have used a flatbed truck to bury me alive in some desolate area again."

  The old man chuckled and put down his tea cup, turning to look at An Yi who was sighing: "You've been kicked out by the shopkeeper for quite some time now, right? These days you're almost always staying at home reading books, practicing calligraphy, drawing those messy pictures at night, and not even leaving the house. On the surface, it seems like you've had a change of heart after going through a life-and-death experience, and your temper has been tempered, but I know that deep down, you still have that untamed restlessness. These days, I've been staying home to recover from my illness, and when I calm down, I think about your future, but no matter how much I think about it, I don't know what's going on in your mind. Today, you'd better give me a straight answer: why are you always avoiding those Huangpu brothers? What do you plan to do from now on? Are you going to join the army or go into business?"

  "Huh?"

  An Yi looked at the old Taoist in surprise: "What makes you assert that I only have these two paths? Is it also the result of divination and fortune-telling every morning and evening?"

  "Ha ha! With your little depth, is it worth my while to cast a fortune for you? I've been traveling with my master since I was 13, roaming the nine provinces and traversing the south and north. What kind of person haven't I seen in decades? Let's get straight to the point today. If you're not willing to join the army, why do you have a brand new German rifle hidden under your pillow? If you're not willing to do business, why did you change my ID into one from Guangzhou in less than two months and secretly deposit 5,000 yuan into an English bank on the sandbank concession? And you little scoundrel, you've also secretly transferred the deed of this lychee garden into my name, Lao Shou Dao. Are you planning to sneak away on a long trip?"

  "Grandma's old way, you're also too unscrupulous! How dare you sneak a peek at my private belongings?"

  An Wei's face turned red with rage, and he slammed the newspaper onto the Eight Immortals table: "You hypocrite, I didn't know you had a peeping habit! Tsk tsk..."

  The old man didn't get angry: "Don't talk nonsense! It wasn't me who deliberately peeked, it was Er Mao who took out your gun that day to play and scared me, that's when I knew. This can be left unsaid, anyway, I have a clear conscience. But you, using my name to do all sorts of evil deeds, I haven't even settled accounts with you yet. Today you must confess to me, if there's half a lie, I'll move out of here immediately, humph!"

  An Yi was shocked, and hastily put on a smiling face: "Second aunt, I'll spank your butt... Haha, old man, what's the point of this? Why say such angry words to family members? You're already in your sixties, but you still want to be on an equal footing with me? Let me pour you a cup of tea to calm down... Haha... Don't drink it yet, it's hot... Since you're so angry, I'll confess!"

  "Alright, I'll tell you the truth. This several thousand yuan was taken from a dead Yunnan military officer on the battlefield. At that time, I was forced to transport opium and money to the front lines for those Yunnan soldiers, and he embezzled a small portion of it, hiding it in the seat cushion of my truck. After the battle, he died, and my truck was also scrapped. It took great effort to get Sanbo from Longyandong to help me tow it back with oxen. But as soon as we returned, Chen Siye betrayed me and fired me without a word. I didn't say anything and left immediately, but that night, I snuck back and retrieved the money. That same night, A Pi was on duty, so I gave him some benefits, and now he's very close to me, haha... With so much money, it can't just be kept at home, right? If we're not careful, we'll get robbed and cry about it later. So I thought of you. You and Dongzi are my only relatives in this world. Dongzi is honest and wouldn't be able to handle the pressure if I put the large sum of money under his name. No choice but to use your name instead. Who would suspect anything with a notorious swindler like you? Haha! Thinking about it, why not transfer the house to your name as well? That way, if something happens to me, our family will have something to rely on."

  The old man's expression changed, his face dark and gloomy, but his heart was deeply moved: "No wonder you've been so idle at home reading books and practicing calligraphy, humming strange tunes and drinking imported wine every day. It turns out that you've received a windfall from outside... Go on, don't think you can hide it from me with your little tricks? Speak up, tell everything, I won't blame you."

  "Old man, your trick won't work on me, it's over, haha!"

  An Yi put down his cup, propped up his legs and continued to read the newspaper with ease. Who knew that Lao Dao would suddenly throw a slipper, which flew through the air and tore the newspaper in half? The momentum didn't stop there, as it slammed open Dongzi's door several meters away, also giving An Yi a big fright: "Damn! I didn't know you had such a beautiful move... Grandma's, it's unbelievable! It seems what Dongzi said was true, that your phlegm could knock down a flying dragonfly. You really do have some skills, hey! One day teach me too, especially the secret techniques from the Daoist scriptures that are never passed on to outsiders..."

  The old Taoist couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Alright, that silly kid is here knocking on the door again. Listen up, young one: don't do anything that goes against heaven and reason, or else I, the old Taoist, won't forgive you!"

  An Yi was about to make a joke, but he found that the old man's eyes shot out an unprecedented sharp light. He felt a chill in his heart and swallowed back the witty remark that had risen to his throat: "Don't worry, what kind of person do you think I am? I will never do anything that harms heaven and reason. Alright, I'll go and come back, what's this son Alai looking for now..."

  An Yi walked to the gate and opened it, Ah Biao slipped in with a smile, looking around cautiously and lowering his voice: "Boss, is there still any of that Indian premium stuff? It's been out of stock for days, and I've got dozens of rich second-generation kids following me around, their nicotine addiction making them chase me like crazy! You said we should be careful about the underworld noticing us, so we only sell one kilogram per day. But I just sold sixty kilograms, how can it be gone? Think of a solution, this business is lucrative and fun! Now Indian premium hash oil has risen to eight hundred dollars per kilogram, and being out of stock is killing me!"

  "I'm telling you, Abiao, do you think it's that easy to take a dump every day? I've only got 60 catties of goods, and they were secretly entrusted to me by Vice Officer Fan Shisheng under Commander Fan Shisheng of the Yunnan Army in Beiyang Camp. Now that the accounts are settled, that vice officer has left Guangzhou to recruit soldiers and buy horses in Xiangxi. Where do you want me to get them from?"

  An Yi glared at Abiao, who had a disappointed look on his face: "Abiao, stop doing this brainless thing. You have hundreds of dollars now, what can't you do? If you really don't want to go out and take risks, just stay in the company. I'll find you when I have a good business opportunity. Don't worry, I know you have your ways. Alright, go back."

  "It can't be helped."

  Abao nodded helplessly: "Boss, if there's any good business in the future, remember me. Wherever you point, I'll hit it, and I won't hesitate to risk my life! After this period of time, I've also come to understand many things. In this chaotic world, those who are timid will starve to death. Alright boss, I'm leaving. One day when you're in the mood, I'll get a dog for you to stew."

  An Yi burst out laughing and put his arm around Abao's shoulder, sending him out the door. Before they could exchange a few words, several powerful figures swooped in, and seven or eight strong hands pressed An Yi firmly to the ground, catching him completely off guard. Abao was so frightened that he leaned against the courtyard wall, staring blankly.

  "Don't move! Be honest!"