Operation Red Book

"Mr. Zhu, Sherlock Holmes is here. He wants to talk to you about Shuyang."

Ivy placed a stack of unreviewed documents on Mr. Zhu's sandalwood table and began to grind ink on the inkstone.

"If he hadn't brought the people from Scotland Yard into Shisanfang, Shuyang wouldn't have ended up like this. What? Are you trying to find another reason to torture me?" Mr. Zhu waved his hands and said impatiently.

"Mr. Holmes is very powerful, and his brother is a high-ranking government official." Ivy said excitedly.

"Grind the ink carefully, otherwise I will deduct your money!" Mr. Zhu shouted harshly.

"The people in the British government are all blood-sucking worms, especially those in high positions. Just look at how badly they have harmed us Chinese."

"Besides, I have already made good connections, so Shuyang doesn't have to be hanged by the British."

"real!"

Ivy became even happier and ground the ink faster, but she blinked again and her joy faded.

"Then what's the point of all my efforts these days..." Ivy murmured with a pout.

"What are you mumbling about? You should treat Mr. Holmes to dinner, for he has taken such good care of you."

"He didn't take care of me, I was the one taking care of him." Ivy said sadly.

"Don't keep him for dinner. He's taking all the benefits. It's really..."

"It's up to you. Shuyang won't be hanged anyway." Mr. Zhu dipped the pen in ink and started marking the official documents.

"Only 20 years in a Scottish prison."

With a "swish" sound, Mr. Zhu was startled and the brush drew a long black line on the document.

Are you okay, Mr. Zhu? Mrs. Hudson's husband was sent to the toughest prison in Scotland. Wouldn't Shuyang, who is so small, be eaten up if he went there?

When Ivy thought about Shuyang having to serve another 20 years in prison among a group of vicious gangsters, she got so excited that she poked a hole in the document in her hand.

"What are you doing?" Mr. Zhu asked in confusion and anger.

"You should keep him for dinner and let him discuss Shuyang's matter with you." Ivy said with a fake smile, her eyes twitching.

"Didn't you just..."

"I'll make you some seaweed stewed pork ribs for lunch. I'm leaving now. It's settled!"

Ivy quickly packed up the documents and fled, fearing that Mr. Zhu would refuse to meet with Holmes.

"Hey, wait!"

Ivy trotted to the door, but was stopped by Mr. Zhu's shout.

"There's a dance at MacMillan Manor on Sunday. The invitation says I must bring a female companion. Can you go with me?"

Ivy turned back. This familiar dance seemed a little similar to the one Joshua was going to attend.

"I, I don't work on Sundays."

"You will get double the salary."

"Don't you have an evening assistant?"

"He is a man, and the invitation letter asked me to bring a female companion."

"I can't dance, I can't socialize, I'm just an ordinary ..."

"Who asked you to dance?"

Mr. Zhu sat on the sofa and drank a sip of tea, his eyes shining with shrewdness.

“The person who invited me was the Duchess of Emerson, so of course I had to take this opportunity to talk to her about the silk and porcelain business.

You are going to work, so you don't need to serve tea or water. Just take the contract and samples and stand next to me."

"Ah, that's it."

Ivy leaned against the wooden door pretending to be embarrassed and looked into Mr. Zhu's almond-shaped eyes. The two of them seemed to be having a tense negotiation with their eyes.

"Good good..."

Mr. Zhu was defeated and raised his hands and shook his head in surrender.

"Triple your salary and give you another day of paid leave."

"make a deal!"

At noon, Mr. Zhu and Holmes were talking in Mr. Zhu's study, while Joshua and Ivy were drinking tea in the living room downstairs.

"This tea cake is very expensive, and Mr. Zhu cherishes it very much." Ivy said as she stuffed a large piece of tea leaves into the teapot.

"Really?" Joshua looked at her actions that she did not appreciate, swallowed his saliva, and replied awkwardly.

"Yes, he usually only wants to take a little to make tea." Ivy pinched some tea leaves from the teapot, "and he only makes tea when there are distinguished guests."

There was a quarrel coming from the study upstairs, and Ivy and Joshua looked up at the same time.