binnovel Chapter 1019 Hiring a Private Investigator
Chapter 1019 Hiring a Private Investigator
After finishing his call with Chang Hui, You Shichang sat at his desk, lit a cigarette, and pondered.
Two minutes later, he opened the drawer, took out a business card from a stack of cards, picked up the phone, and dialed the number on the card.
The call was quickly answered, and a young man's voice came through: "Global Detective Agency, who is this?"
You Shichang immediately said, "Mr. Cheng? I have a business deal I'd like to ask you for help with. Can we discuss it in person?"
"Of course, of course, when and where?" came a delighted voice from the other end of the phone.
“Half an hour later, at the Red Romance Ballroom in the International Settlement, you put a red rose in the upper left pocket of your suit. Once I see it, I’ll come find you!” You Shichang said.
The person on the other end of the phone hesitated for a moment, but finally agreed, "Okay, see you in half an hour!"
After hanging up the phone, You Shichang made another call to Liu Changhe, a big boss of the Green Gang.
"Hello, Liu Mansion, who is this?"
You Shichang said, "I am You Shichang. Tell Boss Liu to meet at the Huamao Hotel restaurant at 11:30 am tomorrow for a meal. Bring my wife and son too!"
"Okay, I'll pass on the message to Master Liu!"
With a bang, You Shichang hung up the phone, got up, walked to the coat rack, picked up his coat and top hat, and went outside.
Opening the office door, You Shichang walked out and said to the bodyguards at the door, "You all come out with me!"
Two minutes later, the group got into a car downstairs, and the two cars drove out of the grain bureau one after the other.
"Sir, where are you going? Are you going home?" the driver asked as he drove.
You Shichang said, "Go to the Red Romantic Dance Hall, over in the International Settlement!"
"Okay, sir, I know the location!" the driver replied.
You Shichang closed his eyes to rest, but his mind was still working, thinking about his upcoming meeting with the private investigator.
A few minutes later, he opened his eyes and said to the bodyguard sitting in the passenger seat, "Lu Jiu, I've arranged to meet a private investigator surnamed Cheng at the Red Romantic Ballroom. He'll be wearing a red rose in his suit pocket. You'll go in and meet him for me later!"
Bodyguard Lu Jiu turned his head and asked, "Yes, sir, what should we say when we meet?"
You Shichang said, "Have him investigate Liu Changhe's situation. I need to know about Liu Changhe's family members, social connections, how many thugs he has under his command, and more importantly, why this guy suddenly wanted to get into the rice business."
"You know, the grain and oil business is very complex. Why would someone who has never been involved in the grain and oil business suddenly want to get involved in grain? Have a private investigator check what's been going on in Liu Changhe's family recently, and who he's been meeting with."
After saying that, You Shichang took out a wad of cash and handed it to the bodyguard: "Give this money to Mr. Cheng and tell him it's half of the payment. He'll pay the other half after his investigation results are out."
Lu Jiu took the money, nodded, and said, "Sir, I understand what to do!"
Soon, the car pulled up and stopped outside the Red Romantic Ballroom.
It was just after dark, and the Red Romantic Dance Hall was still quite deserted, with very few customers inside.
“Sir, I’ll be going now!” Bodyguard Lu Jiu said to You Shichang as he turned around.
You Shichang instructed, "When you meet Mr. Cheng, don't show any fear. Don't think of yourself as just a bodyguard. You are now a boss, a client. You are paying him to do this. You need to maintain a certain demeanor. Don't let his presence overwhelm you, and don't let him realize that you are not the right person."
"Understood!" Lu Jiu said, then pushed open the car door and got out.
You Shichang only looked away after seeing Lu Jiu walk into the Red Romantic Dance Hall. He took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and lit it with a match.
The carriage was immediately filled with smoke. When the window was opened, a gust of cold wind blew in, and the smoke was quickly dispersed.
Fifteen minutes later, a young man with a red rose tucked into his suit pocket walked out of the Red Romance Ballroom.
You Shichang immediately saw the man take the red rose out of his pocket and throw it on the ground. He then walked down the steps to a car, opened the door, got in, and quickly started the car and drove away.
Lu Jiu quickly came out of the dance hall, walked down the steps to the car, opened the door, and got into the passenger seat.
As the car door closed, Lu Jiu turned to You Shichang and said, "Sir, it's settled. He said he can give me the investigation results within three days, and we'll meet here again at this time three days from now."
"very good!"
The following day at noon, You Shichang arrived at the Huamao Hotel.
"Director You?" a waiter asked as he approached.
"it's me!"
"Mr. Liu is already waiting for you at the restaurant, please follow me!"
"Thank you!"
The waiter led You Shichang to a private room. When he opened the door, he saw his concubine and son.
"Shichang!" the woman exclaimed excitedly.
"Dad!" the son shouted and ran over, hugging You Shichang's leg tightly.
The family of three hugged each other and cried bitterly, their sobs filled with both joy and grievance at their reunion.
"Did the man surnamed Liu mistreat you?" You Shichang asked.
"No, no, there's plenty of food and drink, and the servants are very attentive. It's just that he can't move around freely and has to stay in the house all day. I was worried, how can my son, who is so young, stay in the room all the time? So he's been making a fuss for the past two days. Later, Liu Changhe agreed to let him run around in the yard, but he's not allowed to go outside," the concubine said.
You Shichang quickly comforted the mother and son: "Dad will pick you up in two or three days. Son, can you hang in there a little longer?"
"Ok!"
Seeing his son nod in agreement, You Shichang felt even more heartache.
Not long after the family of three was reunited, there was a knock on the door.
You Shichang quickly got up to open the door, and when he opened it, he saw Liu Changhe and Master Fang standing outside.
Liu Changhe said with a smile, "Director You, the food is ready, we can begin!"
“Okay!” You Shichang agreed, then turned around and took his concubine and son with Liu Changhe to the private room next door for dinner.
Throughout the meal, Liu Changhe chatted with You Shichang about things that had happened in Shanghai, and occasionally teased the child, showing no sign of embarrassment whatsoever.
Half a minute later, the child put down his chopsticks: "I'm full."
This was the slowest he had ever eaten, just so he could spend a little more time with his father.
Seeing this, You Shichang said to his concubine and son, "Then you should go back first. Dad will come to pick you up in three days!"
After seeing his wife and son off, You Shichang dropped the pretense and said directly to Liu Changhe, "Boss Liu, are your transport team and permits ready? I've got them all ready; we can transport at least 1 shi of rice every day!"
You Shichang had Liu Changhe forge the approval document mainly to deceive the guards of the granary and prevent the news from leaking out. As long as the document was signed by the Japanese, the guards would not suspect anything, and the news would not leak out to their superiors or the Japanese.
Liu Changhe immediately said, "We've been prepared for a long time. When do we begin?"
"It starts at 7 p.m. tonight. The location is not the grain depot of the Grain Bureau, but at No. 233 Linhua Road in the west of the city. Once you get there, just show the permit to the guard captain and the warehouse manager. Each time, the maximum is 10,000 shi!"