How could he laugh like that if he wasn't absolutely furious? Let him go? He must have something to hide. The more he thought about it, the more his blood boiled, and wherever it flowed, his flesh burned uncontrollably, causing him immense discomfort. He was almost burned alive by the flames of jealousy. His eyes flashed involuntarily, like a single blue-green will-o'-the-wisp of vengeance in a grave.
She had to get him back! Open attacks are easy to defend against, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against. She picked up the receiver—
Yes, he should be in charge of her.
Mr. Jin answered the phone.
On one side, he was having a tense discussion with Shi Zhongming when he received an unexpected yet predictable message: a woman on the other side, terrified and fearful, threw aside her pride and mocked him with feigned composure, "I don't know where you put your face."
Mr. Jin replied calmly:
"Oh, you don't care about your reputation? Sorry, it's no big deal."
"They are old flames."
"Aren't we old flames? Haha! All good things must come to an end. I have some important things to take care of, goodbye."
Shi Zhongming was interrupted and, in the middle of his conversation, couldn't help but feel puzzled, but he didn't ask. He watched as Mr. Jin continued as if nothing had happened. He inadvertently noticed that Mr. Jin's eyes were a little strange, sour and sinister.
If I hadn't followed him for so long, I definitely wouldn't understand.
But because he had followed him for so long, he understood him completely. When it came to a critical moment, this was a good opportunity to test his true abilities.
He was a little nervous, like watching his opponent play a card in a poker game. He was sure to lose, but he couldn't be underestimated; who knew if his opponent had a killer card up his sleeve?
Shi Zhongming was quick-witted and intelligent, always putting his needs first:
“Mr. Jin, you may consider it, but it is not advisable to delay. Otherwise, things will become more complicated, and I do not want to get involved.”
Jin Xiaofeng smiled:
"Zhongming, you seem so confident, as if you're pinching a snail with three fingers."
"No, Mr. Jin, I was just doing this for someone. Besides, the bank is in a situation it can't handle, and someone has to come out and clean it up."
Shi Zhongming's suggestion was truly ruthless and brilliant. Whose idea was it?
He had his eye on the plot of land on Zhejiang Road and the row of alleyway houses he had built there. He claimed that due to the global economic crisis, if credit tightened, he would have to sell at a loss to raise cash, and then no one would be interested. Yes, he saw that the man's bank account was running out of funds day and night, so he came to discuss business, but even that couldn't solve his immediate crisis.
"Mr. Jin, I do have something to say, but I dare not say it."
He was getting impatient: "Just say what you want to say. I don't have time for riddles."
"They want the Le World and its stock exchanges. You can have a nominal stake in Day and Night Bank, but to be honest, their real target is opium. Keep everything a secret; no one in Shanghai will know."
Upon hearing this, Jin Xiaofeng was secretly surprised.
Absolutely amazing!
Taking advantage of his misfortune, they seized control. Their target, of course, was opium. There were ten major opium dealers in the French Concession, all controlled by this Mr. Jin. The smaller opium dealers and dens were managed by these ten dealers individually. Whenever there was a particularly large transaction, they would set aside money as "tribute" to him; during the three major festivals of the year—Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival—he would ask for money, and the opium dealers would discuss making up the amount and send it to him, not daring to haggle.
The reason the tobacco merchants gave him this face was naturally because he had the "power" to protect him. Even when the government cracked down on the tobacco and the crackdown was very loud, he could still get rid of the "informers".
One day, on Wu Ji's fishing boat, they discovered a batch of smuggled goods worth one million yuan. The goods were detained for some time but soon released; the news was published. The smuggled goods came from Yunnan, Fujian, Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangdong, and other provinces, packaged in one- or two-pound bags, and spherical in shape—… This batch of "spheres" was never investigated.
Where does his "power" come from? He knows the answer in his heart.
Opium was his source of wealth.
Once he can no longer provide protection, who will support him?
As soon as he "retired gracefully," the news spread throughout the neighborhood.
"No one in the entire Shanghai will know?" Even Xiao Tuan couldn't be fooled.
This Shi Zhongming, his face flushed red, even made Jin look like a nobody.
Who rises, who falls? It happens every day. Sighing, unaware of being a guest in a dream, indulging in fleeting pleasure.
So ruthless, how did they gain the upper hand?
Who is it?
"Mr. Jin, I'm not at liberty to say."
"But Mr. Zheng?"
"...He got a share."
What's behind that?
"It's really inconvenient to say. I'm the one who's speaking to you, because I'm more familiar with you."
Jin Xiaofeng smiled coldly; after all, they were acquaintances.
"Oh? It seems there's a plan in the case?"
"You can speculate as you please. I'm just a soldier; I can't reveal too much."
Manipulation from behind the scenes? Thinking of Mr. Zheng... Ah, Jin Xiaofeng broke out in a cold sweat.
Zheng Zhilian came from an official family. He had no cunning when it came to business, but he understood the meaning of "wealthy family".
It was as if suddenly everything became clear.
He understood.
In Shanghai, he was extremely powerful, spending money like water, and commanding great influence. Many high-ranking officials, military and political figures would humbly defer to him and defer to his authority.