Quick Wear: Cousin, Come to the Bowl Quickly

"It's Takahashi-kun, nice to meet you."

Facing his eyes that seemed humble and submissive but actually contained a trace of inquiry, Shen Jingyuan sneered in his heart, but did not show it on his face. Instead, he raised the corners of his lips slightly and responded to Takahashi's greeting in fluent Japanese.

Takahashi obviously did not expect that the young Staff Officer Shen in front of him could speak fluent Japanese. He was slightly stunned, a hint of surprise flashed across his eyes, and then a perfect look of surprise appeared in his eyes, and he spoke with admiration.

"Oh my! Staff Officer Shen actually knows the Japanese language? This is really surprising!"

"I don't deserve it," Shen Jingyuan said, his expression becoming even warmer as he extended his hand. "In my early years, I learned a little bit from an old friend from Japan. Unfortunately, I'm dull and my skills are not very good. So far, I can only barely say a few polite words."

"So that's how it is! I wonder where in Japan this old friend of Staff Officer Shen is from? Tell me, maybe I recognize him." Gao Qiao's face showed a bit of "flattered" expression, and he hurriedly extended his hands and shook Shen Jingyuan's hands tightly, trying to take advantage of this "fellow countryman friendship" to get closer to him.

"Where exactly is your residence..." Shen Jingyuan frowned slightly, pretending to think hard, and then spoke uncertainly, "I haven't asked in detail, but I vaguely remember that it's a small village at the foot of a famous volcano in your country... It's called Nomura..."

"Oshino Village?" Takahashi's eyes lit up when he heard that and he blurted out.

"That's the name!" Shen Jingyuan's face showed an expression of sudden enlightenment, and a hint of reminiscence appeared in his eyes. "I heard him say that the scenery there is really beautiful, the springs are clear, and in spring, the cherry blossoms are like a sea of clouds. Many devout believers often gather to burn incense and pray. I think it is a good place with outstanding people and beautiful scenery."

Hearing his words praising his country so highly, even someone as thoughtful as Gao Qiao couldn't help but feel a sense of closeness to Shen Jingyuan.

His smile grew more genuine, and he echoed Shen Jingyuan's words, "Oshino Village is famous for its mountain springs and beautiful scenery. The adjacent Sakura Village is a great place for spring flower viewing. It's a place with outstanding people and beautiful scenery. I think your old friend must be a talented person as well."

"Mr. Fujita is indeed a gentle and refined gentleman." Shen Jingyuan nodded, a hint of sadness on his face. "It's a pity that he has returned to his country. It's been several years since we last met, and I haven't heard from him. I don't know how he's doing now."

"If Chief of Staff Shen doesn't mind, please tell me Fujino-kun's age and appearance. I have some connections in Japan and can help you find some."

"If it's not too much trouble, then I'll trouble you, Mr. Takahashi." Shen Jingyuan nodded with a smile, briefly described the information about his old friend in Japan to Takahashi, and then changed the subject with a smile.

"Oh, I forgot to ask if your conversation with the Commander went well today. I'm just about to go in and report to the Commander. If there's anything you're not comfortable saying directly to the Commander, I can convey it to you."

"I came here today..." Upon hearing this, Gao Qiao couldn't help but look at the file bag in Shen Jingyuan's hand, and explained his purpose with a smile.

"I've only come to pay a visit to Commander Lin, having long heard of his name..."

……

"Send people away?"

In the office, Commander Lin was leaning over the table, carefully reviewing a telegram on the table with a calm expression. He heard the sound of someone pushing the door open and spoke casually without raising his head.

"Sent it off." Shen Jingyuan placed the document bag in his hand on Commander Lin's desk, pushed it forward, and said in a calm tone.

"What do you think of this man?"

Commander Lin glanced at the brown paper bag with sealing wax printed on it, then returned his gaze to the telegram in his hand, still without looking up.

"Hypocritical and cunning, with evil intentions." Shen Jingyuan stood solemnly in front of the table and expressed his evaluation of Takahashi Hideo with an expressionless face.

"Oh?" Commander Lin was immediately interested when he heard that. He looked up at Shen Jingyuan standing in front of him and said in a teasing tone, "Seeing that you are having a great time talking to him, as if you want to make him your close friend, I guess you admire him very much."

"Just pretending to be submissive." Shen Jingyuan ignored Commander Lin's teasing and said calmly.

"Sit down, and tell me, what exactly did this Japanese man say that made you give him such a 'high' evaluation in just half a quarter of an hour?"

Commander Lin waved his hand to signal him to sit on the chair opposite him, picked up the teacup beside him, took a sip, and looked at Shen Jingyuan with interest.

Shen Jingyuan then told Commander Lin about how Gao Qiao had only met him once, yet this man was able to accurately describe his position, and although his words were humble, there was contempt hidden in his eyes.

"Now that China is in decline, it's understandable that he, a Japanese, would look down on Chinese officers. Furthermore, he's from the Chamber of Commerce, and businessmen are known to be shrewd and sophisticated. Perhaps he simply sees you as young and promising, so he's deliberately lowering himself to make friends with you."

Hearing Shen Jingyuan's sharpness, and that he had almost figured out Gao Qiao's character in just a few words, Commander Lin's eyes flashed with approval, but he still looked puzzled and continued to ask.

"There are many young and promising men in the army. I had never met him before, but he recognized me at a glance. If he wasn't very familiar with the military situation, he definitely wouldn't have come up to me and chatted with me so confidently."

Shen Jingyuan knew that Commander Lin was testing him intentionally, so he no longer concealed his thoughts and expressed his views in a clear and logical manner.

"But Takahashi Hideo is just a businessman. Even though he also works as a translator for the Japanese consulate, he is just a lowly diplomat."

"But a seemingly insignificant Japanese merchant like this not only received an introduction from Commander Kou and shared a room with you, but also knew everything about the young officer. It would be surprising if he had no other agenda."

At this point, Shen Jingyuan snorted coldly, looked at Commander Lin and asked in a low voice: "What exactly is his purpose in coming here this time?"

Just now when he asked Takahashi Hideo about the purpose of his visit, the man smiled gently, but his words were vague and evasive, and he only said some polite words about his admiration for Commander Lin. Therefore, Shen Jingyuan was not very clear about the specific purpose of his visit.

"Hmph, what's going on?" Seeing Shen Jingyuan's sword-like brows slightly furrowed, with a questioning look on his face, Commander Lin couldn't help but snort coldly and pushed the thin telegram paper in his hand towards him. "Take a look at this, and you'll understand everything clearly!"

Shen Jingyuan's heart trembled. He reached out to take the page of paper and quickly scanned the telegram of just a few words. His face instantly darkened and a layer of frost gathered between his brows.

"Open a port?!" His voice was low and contained a hint of cold disbelief.

"Heh," Commander Lin raised the corner of his mouth with an extremely sarcastic arc, and rapped his knuckles heavily on the table.

"It's more than just opening a port! They're going to carve out a piece of land along the Pujiang River and build a 'special port' just for the Japanese!"

"It was designed, built, and managed by the Japanese themselves! It's only for Japanese merchant ships to enter and exit, and only for loading and unloading Japanese goods! It's simply ridiculous!"

Shen Jingyuan's fingers holding the telegram tightened slightly, his knuckles turned white, and a sneer appeared at the corners of his mouth.

It turned out to be the case.

Hideo Takahashi came here under the guise of a visit, but in fact he was carrying instructions and promises from Tokyo to act as a lobbyist and briber.

Not only did they want Commander Lin to agree to open a new port in Shanghai, a strategic location with extremely valuable land, but they also wanted it to be completely turned into the private property of the Japanese.

This telegram came from Commander Lin's immediate superior. Although he did not directly order Commander Lin to comply, he repeatedly instructed him to treat the Japanese special envoy with courtesy. If this is not a disguised form of pressure, what is it?

Thinking of this, Shen Jingyuan couldn't help but think of Takahashi Hideo's hypocritical face, and a hint of frost suddenly condensed between his brows.

Ever since the new king who was keen on "reform" came to the throne, the whole country has followed the West, introduced machines, reformed the system, and its ability to produce goods has expanded rapidly like a wild horse.

However, their country was so small and confined that how could they absorb the flood of goods? Therefore, China, with its vast territory and abundant resources but also its poverty and weakness, became the best dumping ground in their eyes.

The former court was corrupt, the national strength was declining, and all industries were in decline. China's industry had a weak foundation, and its production technology was backward and the goods were not abundant. Japanese goods poured in in the name of "good quality and low price", and in an instant, the weak Chinese domestic products market was shattered.

So students took to the streets, the Chamber of Commerce made appeals, and the whole country launched a wave of boycotting Japanese goods, which gave national enterprises a chance to breathe.

However, in recent years, with the eyes of the great powers, the activities of various countries in China have become increasingly rampant, the situation has become chaotic, and many Japanese businessmen have taken advantage of the situation to fish in troubled waters, and there are signs of a resurgence.