Ghost Stocks

Chapter 41

Zhou Song: "It turns out it wasn't a happy ending; it's a tragedy. I don't want this tragedy to have anything to do with you or me. Luckily, I'm not a member of the mafia, and you're not a cop."

Feng Junzi: "We both have an old friend who is a criminal police officer."

Zhou Song: "You mean Chang Wu? Chang Wu also watched this TV series?"

Feng Junzi: "He's very busy and hasn't seen it yet."

Zhou Song: "Then there's no need to watch it. He's a good person and shouldn't be exposed to too many dark things."

Feng Junzi: "It's really not good to be involved in too many of these kinds of things. It may not do me any good to tell this story today, but we are old classmates and old friends after all. Even though we had some disagreements in the past, I still hope to treat you as a friend. Zhou Song, your self-control has improved a lot in the past two years. You can remain calm no matter what you hear, but there is one thing that cannot be faked."

Zhou Song: "What?"

Feng Junzi: "The pupils in the eyes! According to scientific research, the size of a person's pupils changes depending on two factors. One is the brightness of the light; the dimmer the light, the larger the pupil. The other is one's inner likes and dislikes; the pupils will constrict when hearing or seeing something that frightens or disgusts them."

Zhou Song: "Feng Junzi, I know you've liked fortune telling since you were a child, so don't bring up scientific research. Have you finished your story?"

Feng Junzi: "Now that I've finished talking, there's one more thing I need to ask you—do you know Momoki Kenji or Momoki Shinobu?"

Zhou Song: "What Tang people? I've never heard of them! Who are they?"

Feng Junzi looked at Zhou Song carefully, shook his head and said, "It's nothing, it's fine if we don't know each other."

Part 4: A Pair of Chopsticks, Episode 24: The Innocent Are Always Wrongfully Accused

Feng Junzi had just stepped out of the Jinzhou Group's office building when his phone rang. It was Chang Wu calling, and Chang Wu sounded very anxious: "Feng Junzi, something strange has happened. Do you know who the legal representative of the Longwangtang Yaping Fish Farm we visited last time is?"

Feng Junzi: "What's so strange about it? I already guessed it. I just came out of Zhou Song's office."

Chang Wu: "What are you doing at Zhou Song's place? What does this have to do with Zhou Song?"

Chang Wu's tone was off, and Feng Junzi also felt strange: "Chang Wu, what's wrong? What happened?"

Chang Wu: "The legal representative of Longwangtang Turbot Fish Farm registered with the Industry and Commerce Bureau is actually Lin Zhenzhen!"

Feng Junzi: "What? Lin Zhenzhen! Could it be someone with the same name?"

Chang Wu: "I've checked the registered ID number, and it's Lin Zhenzhen! Feng Junzi, what do you think is going on? Should we ask Lin Zhenzhen about it?"

Feng Junzi: "Even if you kill me, I don't believe Lin Zhenzhen would get involved in this. Don't ask her directly yet; find an opportunity to find out more."

Chang Wu: "How do you know?"

Feng Junzi thought for a moment and replied, "Call Lin Zhenzhen and tell her that you want to eat her mother's cooking. Her parents will definitely invite us over."

...

Just as Feng Junzi had predicted, Lin Zhenzhen generously invited them to dinner, saying that her parents also warmly welcomed them as guests.

That evening at the Lin family home, Feng Junzi repeated his old tricks, chatting with Chang Wu about the Italian TV series and interspersing it with talk of the restructuring of Nanjing University of Science and Technology, mentioning the turbot fish farm more than once. Lin Zhenzhen was very curious about these topics, staring wide-eyed as she asked questions repeatedly.

After leaving the Lin family, Feng Junzi said to Chang Wu with a stern face, "This silly girl has no reaction at all. It seems she's not faking it. She seems completely unaware of what's going on. What should we do now?"

Chang Wu: "If what you said about the air-raid shelter is true, then the incident is too serious! I need to report it to the bureau immediately and get the security department involved. I'm afraid even we police officers can't handle this kind of thing."

Feng Junzi: "Chang Wu, I have a favor to ask of you, you must agree!"

Chang Wu: "You don't need to tell me, I know what you're trying to do, but it's too dangerous. You really shouldn't have gone to Zhou Song so rashly; it's like putting your head under someone else's thumb."

Feng Junzi: "I understand, but Zhou Song is our old friend and classmate. We were a close trio in middle school. I can't control whether he's a good friend or not, but I have to uphold the principles of friendship and can't deny him a chance to turn back."

Chang Wu: "Turning back? Do you think you can turn back once you're involved in something like this? You probably don't even realize how dangerous you are right now."

Feng Junzi: "That's why we can't let Lin Zhenzhen get involved. Even Zhou Song is giving her a chance, so Lin Zhenzhen is even less likely to be harmed. People who do this kind of thing are scum of the earth, but they're also shrewd people in this society. They've probably already found a scapegoat, and Lin Zhenzhen is probably just an unsuspecting scapegoat. If you expose this now, you'll only make Lin Zhenzhen fall into a trap she doesn't even know about."

Chang Wu sighed, "It's none of my business, but when it does, I panic. I don't know what to do." Feng Junzi gave Chang Wu a deep look, hesitating to speak. Chang Wu continued, "There are a few clues we can investigate. First, this matter may be related to someone close to Lin Zhenzhen. I checked the business registration information, and it has Lin Zhenzhen's signature on it. Judging from the handwriting, even if it's not hers, it's a very convincing imitation."

Feng Junzi: "Anything else?"

Chang Wu: "And then there's Lin Zhenzhen's ID card. Do you remember the first time I met Lin Zhenzhen was when I lost my wallet? I found the wallet, but my ID card was missing. At the time, we thought it was very strange, but now we realize it was premeditated."

Feng Junzi: "My personal ID card is the most crucial thing for business registration; everything else can be done by someone else. I should have thought of that earlier."

Chang Wu: "Another thing is who the real controller of this fishing ground is. You've already found out it's Zhou Song. This is the most important clue, but also a dangerous one. I think you should stay out of it and let me handle it."

Feng Junzi: "Don't forget your identity as a police officer. Zhou Song doesn't know you're investigating this matter yet, otherwise he would be more vigilant, and Lin Zhenzhen's situation would be even more dangerous."

...

The affairs of Tao Muling and the Tao Mu family are becoming increasingly complicated, while Feng Junzi's investigation of Longwangtang reveals that his other good friend, Lin Zhenzhen, is also involved in a conspiracy. The troubles seem to be piling up, and just as he's thinking this, new troubles come knocking.

That afternoon, in room 208 of the Binhai Tianhe Road branch of Tianfeng Securities, Feng Junzi was sitting in his office, frowning as he looked at the stock index trend. Hearing a knock on the door, he looked up and saw that it was Momoki Shinobu who had walked in.

Feng Junzi tried his best not to show any surprise and greeted him calmly, "Mr. Taomu, you've finally arrived. Please have a seat."

Momoki Shinobu sat down on the sofa casually: "It seems you knew I was coming all along. Should I call you Mr. Chen or Mr. Feng?"

Feng Junzi's smile was a little unnatural: "Since you already know, why are you still asking?"

Momoki Shinobu: "I could tell from the start that you weren't a photojournalist. Later I found out that you had already dealt with our company's employees. Mr. Feng is a man of few words, which is why I had no choice but to pay you a visit."

Feng Junzi: "You're really something, finding me so quickly. Has your subordinate's front tooth been fixed yet?"

Instead of answering the question, Momoki Shinobu turned around and looked at the surroundings, asking, "So Mr. Kaze works here. The conditions are quite simple."

Feng Junzi: "Having a place like this is already pretty good for me. I was originally a homeless person in Binhai, and the head of the sales department here is on good terms with me and gave me an office."

Momoki Shinobu: "So Mr. Feng is a securities analyst. I checked your information and it turns out you have some influence. Why don't you just stick to your stock commentary?"

Feng Junzi: "Why doesn't Mr. Peachwood just do his business honestly?"

Shinobu Momoki: "I am an honest businessman. A few days ago, the municipal government gave me an award for outstanding investment enterprises, in recognition of my contributions to employment and tax revenue in Binhai City over the past year."

Feng Junzi: "Then congratulations. It's always good to gain both fame and fortune. The Chinese government is always tolerant and magnanimous."

Shinobu Momoki: "Mr. Kaze seems to have a prejudice against me, or perhaps you always have a prejudice against us Japanese, which doesn't seem quite right."

Feng Junzi: "Prejudice? No, no, absolutely not! The thing I respect most is the truth. In fact, the memories Japan has left for China over the past hundred years have all been painful. Am I wrong?"

Shinobu Momoki: "History? Neither you nor I have experienced it or witnessed it firsthand, so don't make hasty judgments. At least in the last twenty years, China's economy has grown rapidly, and Japan has provided a great deal of assistance in terms of technology and funding. Don't you think so? This is a fact that my generation has witnessed."

Feng Junzi laughed, stood up and said, "You don't want to talk about history? If you want to talk to me about economic issues, you've come to the right person. Don't you even know what my profession is?"

Momoki Shinobu: "What insightful remarks does Mr. Kaze have?"

Feng Junzi left the table, put his hands behind his back, and paced around the room, saying as he walked, "Over the past twenty years, you could say Japan helped China, or I could say the Chinese market saved the Japanese economy... Don't speak yet... Twenty years ago, Japan had a huge trade surplus with the US, and friction was constant. In 1985, the US and Japan signed the Plaza Accord, and within a year and a half, the yen appreciated by 40%. This was a fatal blow to Japan's export-oriented economy, and Japan entered its most severe recession crisis in history..."

Momoki Shinobu: "So what?"

Feng Junzi ignored Momoki Shinobu's words and seemed to enter a speech mode, continuing on his own: "The actual countermeasure of Japanese companies was to resolve this contradiction through international division of labor, and to relocate their production bases to China on a large scale, which coincided with China's reform and opening up at that time. However, the Japanese side divided the production process, keeping the high-tech, high-value-added parts in the country and moving the low-end parts to China. The Japanese parent companies transferred the high-value-added products to their Chinese subsidiaries through intra-company trade, while the Chinese subsidiaries carried out low-value-added assembly and processing, and then exported the finished products to the world. This export method, which bypassed China, greatly increased China's foreign trade surplus as shown in customs statistics, but in reality, the profits flowed to Japan... This year is 2004, exactly twenty years. Some people predict that the trade volume between China and Japan will exceed 20 trillion yen this year, which will also exceed the total trade volume between Japan and the United States. This situation is a sign."

Momoki Shinobu: "What symbol?"

Feng Junzi: "In recent years, Japan's foreign trade frictions have decreased dramatically, while China's international trade frictions have increased sharply. Since George W. Bush took office in the US two years ago, the US has almost stopped making any demands on Japan to improve economic and trade relations. However, China's low-quality trade data has triggered the 'China threat theory,' and those who most enthusiastically promote this theory are precisely some people in Japan. The sign I just mentioned is a sign of history repeating itself. If this continues, some countries, led by the US, will force the RMB to appreciate. I think this won't be long; at most, by next year, the RMB will have no choice but to appreciate, and Japan will be the biggest beneficiary. Twenty years of diverting trouble eastward has finally achieved its effect. Between China and Japan, who has contributed more to whom?"

Feng Junzi's impassioned speech had even moved him; he felt as if he were standing on a platform in a grand hall, speaking eloquently. But looking down at the only person before him was the sarcastic and unsettling Momoki Shinobu, and he couldn't help but feel a little deflated. Momoki Shinobu seemed quite interested in Feng Junzi's words, waiting until he finished before asking, "Mr. Feng, what you said makes some sense, but isn't it a bit too extreme?"

Feng Junzi: "My words may be a little extreme, but I've been more than polite to someone like Mr. Taomu."

Momoki Shinobu said with a teasing smile, "We've never met before, and I've never provoked you. You don't have to be like this. It seems Mr. Feng is truly wasting his talents. You should be working in the government's decision-making departments. What a pity!"

Feng Junzi: "You don't need to praise me. I don't have such great ambitions. I'm just giving you a little lesson in international trade."

Shinobu Momoki: "You're going to tutor me? I graduated from Harvard!"

Feng Junzi: "Harvard? Even if you were a Living Buddha, you'd still need to take extra classes."

Shinobu Momoki: "I don't quite understand Mr. Kaze's humor."

Feng Junzi: "Humorous? I don't think I'm humorous either. Harvard didn't teach you modern Asian history, did it? What brings you here today? You're not really here for a crash course, are you?"

Momoki Shinobu: "Enough with the small talk, let's get down to business. I'm here to issue a challenge."

"Issu a challenge!" Feng Junzi was genuinely surprised this time. He had thought that Momoki Shinobu had discovered his affair with Momoki Rin and had come to cause trouble, but it seemed that wasn't the case.

Momoki Shinobu straightened his posture and continued, "Our Momoki family is a martial arts family in Japan, and I usually instruct some people around me in basic kung fu like karate. Not long ago, Mr. Feng taught some of our company's incompetent employees a lesson at Longwangtang. They deserved it for their lack of skill. But I've heard that Mr. Feng's Chinese kung fu is superb, and I'd like to come and learn from him."

Feng Junzi now understood why Momoki Shinobu had come; he had clearly misunderstood. That day, when Feng Junzi went to Momoki Shinobu's office, he encountered the Japanese man whose front tooth had been broken at Longwangtang, and the Japanese man recognized Feng Junzi. Momoki Shinobu must have thought that Feng Junzi was the one who attacked at Longwangtang, since indeed only Feng Junzi stood up and clapped and laughed at the time. However, it was Xiao Zhengrong who acted from the shadows; Feng Junzi did nothing. But Feng Junzi was too lazy to explain to Momoki Shinobu.

"So, Mr. Taomu, those people were your disciples back then?"

Momoki Shinobu: "They are not disciples, but my subordinates. I have given them a few pointers from time to time. I hope you will forgive my poor performance, Mr. Feng."

Feng Junzi: "Then you don't need to challenge me to a duel. Besides, what era are we living in? Do we still need to have that kind of martial arts competition? I think this is better: one day I'll ask a friend to take you to the shooting range, and we can play shooting. The winner will be determined by the number of rings. Whoever shoots more accurately will win. There's no need to fight, right?"

Momoki Shinobu's expression changed: "Fighting? How can Mr. Feng describe a noble duel between samurai as fighting! Our Momoki family's martial arts have not met a true opponent for decades. I have long heard of Chinese Kung Fu, but since I came to China, I have not encountered a single true master. I even visited your national martial arts champion in private, and the result was very disappointing. Does Mr. Feng also intend to disappoint me?"

Looking at Momoki Shinobu's smug expression, Feng Junzi suddenly recalled the duel between Feng Xingzhi and Momoki Shinobu's grandfather, Momoki Kensuke, more than sixty years ago, which never took place. An indescribable sense of disgust and aversion welled up inside him. He coldly replied, "The result disappointed you? I think it's because they didn't want to fight someone like you. Don't worry, you won't be disappointed. I'll show you what real Chinese Kung Fu is."

Momoki Shinobu stood up and said seriously, "Since Mr. Feng has accepted my challenge, could we set a date and place?"

Feng Junzi: "I've been very busy lately and don't have time to play with you. Let's talk about it next month."

Momoki Shinobu: "Alright, let's set the date for this day next month. I'll choose the location. Does Mr. Kaze have any objections?"

Feng Junzi: "I have no objections, but I have one request: you and your men must not harass me for the next month."

Momoki Shinobu: "Okay, see you in a month."

After Momoki Shinobu left, Feng Junzi calmed down. As the saying goes, too many lice don't itch anymore; worrying about too many troubles is useless. What to do a month from now? Feng Junzi himself couldn't possibly fight Momoki Shinobu; he was just a weak scholar. Let alone a martial arts family like Momoki Shinobu, he wouldn't even be a match for the security guards at the business department. But it didn't matter; he'd still try to persuade Xiao Zhengrong to come out of retirement. After all, it was Xiao Zhengrong who had intervened at Longwangtang. Feng Junzi had considerable confidence in Xiao Zhengrong's skills; if he were to fight, Momoki Shinobu would be no match. He had only said he'd let Momoki Shinobu experience Chinese Kung Fu, without specifying whose Kung Fu it was. The problem now was, how to persuade Xiao Zhengrong?

Part Four: A Pair of Chopsticks, Chapter 25: Blessings and Kind Deeds

(I had something to do tonight, so I updated early, around 4 AM.)

Persuading Xiao Zhengrong was much easier than Feng Junzi had imagined. At first, Xiao Zhengrong was somewhat hesitant about his military background, but with the constant encouragement of Xiao Yunyi and Yuan Xiaoxia, he finally agreed, albeit on one condition—that Old Master Xiao approve. Feng Junzi's current task was to persuade Old Master Xiao.

This was at a restaurant in the food court on the rooftop of a large shopping mall, where Feng Junzi and his group were eating hot pot. Yuan Xiaoxia was treating them, ostensibly to Feng Junzi, but she kept insisting he invite Xiao Zhengrong as well, suggesting her intentions weren't entirely pure. Not wanting to invite only Xiao Zhengrong, Feng Junzi simply invited the Xiao siblings as well. Chang Wu naturally came, and Lin Zhenzhen also joined in the fun. There were six people at the table—three men and three women.

While eating, Feng Junzi stole glances at Xiao Zhengrong and Yuan Xiaoxia across the table. Whether it was the heat of the hot pot or the effect of the beer, Yuan Xiaoxia's face was constantly flushed. She kept trying to find topics to chat about with Xiao Zhengrong, constantly urging him to drink and eat. The others at the table could all see that Yuan Xiaoxia had feelings for Xiao Zhengrong, and they all covered their faces with their drinks, pretending not to notice. Only Xiao Yunyi secretly smiled. Feng Junzi sighed inwardly, thinking how the world had changed; it was now fashionable for women to pursue men. This girl, Yuan Xiaoxia, had only met Xiao Zhengrong once, and she had already taken action. Was this the legendary love at first sight?

As the saying goes, "It's like climbing a mountain for a man to pursue a woman, but piercing a thin sheet of paper for a woman to pursue a man." Xiao Zhengrong didn't seem to mind Yuan Xiaoxia's excessive enthusiasm, and the two chatted happily, leaving the other four people at the table speechless. Just then, the waiter came over with a plate: "You ordered the 'Mandarin Duck Meatballs'."

"Mandarin Duck Meat! Feng Junzi, why did you order this? The restaurant actually sells it." Xiao Yunyi asked, her eyes wide.

Feng Junzi: "Don't talk nonsense if you don't know. This kind of 'Mandarin Duck Meat' is not Mandarin Duck Meat. It's meatballs made by poaching beef, pork and mutton together."

Xiao Yunyi: "Oh, so that's what happened. You scared me. I'll quickly make a few to try."

The meatballs were dropped into the hot pot and soon floated to the surface, the bubbling broth releasing a fragrant aroma. Feng Junzi didn't use a strainer; instead, he reached for a meatball with his chopsticks. Just as he picked one up, there was a loud snap—one chopstick broke in mid-air, and the meatball fell back into the pot, nearly splashing him with broth. Everyone was startled, then laughed. Feng Junzi, embarrassed, asked the waiter for another pair of chopsticks and continued to use his hands to pick up meatballs.

As he picked up the meatball, he muttered, "I refuse to believe I can't get you." Before he finished speaking, there was another snap—another chopstick broke, and the meatball fell into the soup. The splashing soup scalded Feng Junzi's hand, and everyone burst into laughter. Xiao Yunyi asked with a smile, "Feng Junzi, tell me honestly, have you done something bad to offend the gods lately? You can't even pick up a meatball."

Feng Junzi also found it strange, but didn't think much of it and replied with a smile, "That Momoki Shinobu yesterday was really inconsiderate. He came to my office and boasted that he graduated from Harvard. I casually replied that even graduating from a Living Buddha wouldn't be acceptable. Wouldn't that be considered offending a deity?"

Lin Zhenzhen chimed in from the side, "You're so outspoken, you've offended the gods! Quickly apologize to the Living Buddha!"

Feng Junzi blinked and thought for a moment, then bowed towards the seat above him and said, "I accidentally said the wrong thing yesterday. It wasn't intentional. I won't do it again next time. Please forgive me, gods and living Buddhas who are passing by."