Shanghai, public concession.

Since the fall of Shanghai, although the public concession has been constantly threatened, at least the Japanese army has not been able to come in. To a large extent, it is a symbol of security and freedom.

A veritable island.

On the surface, it seems that this place has not been affected by the war.

The horse still runs, the dance still dances.

There are all kinds of people here.

Gangsters, opium dealers, and smugglers are everywhere.

Japanese special forces, traitors, military commanders, central commanders, and workers and peasants' party members all gathered here to stay.

Kidnappings and assassinations occur every day.

Everyone wants to completely control this place, but no one has the ability.

Even Meng Shaoyuan, the King of Shanghai, was unable to fully control the concession.

Fortunately, after Kaiwei, the new general director of the Public Settlement Industry Bureau, took office, out of his hatred of the Japanese, the activities of the military commanders in the concession ushered in their golden period.

Even when Kai Ziwei first took office, facing the Sino-Japanese disputes in the concession, the general manager adopted a one-sided approach and favored the Chinese side.

Later, after many protests at the Japanese Consulate and a lot of controversy within the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Kai Ziwei restrained himself somewhat.

Recently, the Wang Puppet regime in Nanjing is preparing to forcibly implement China Reserve Bonds in Shanghai, and the concession has become a key target for their competition.

However, the progress seems to be a little unsatisfactory.

The Shanghai Bank Money Trade Union refused to cooperate with the Shanghai Branch.

All merchants in the concession, large and small, refused to accept China Reserve Bonds.

No. 76, who was ordered to assist in the implementation, decided to compulsorily implement China Reserve Bonds in the concession under the planning of Li Shiqun.

The quantity is not much, one hundred thousand yuan.

But this test of the waters is crucial for both the National Government in Chongqing and the Wang Puppet regime in Nanjing.

This will largely determine the final direction of this financial war.

…

Niu Kuiyuan.

This can be considered an old restaurant in Shanghai, as long as it mainly serves various types of beef.

When business is at its hottest, it's often hard to find a building.

After the outbreak of the war, business was obviously affected, but in the past year, it has slowly begun to return to its previous prosperity.

The boss’s surname is Tao, Tao Zhiwen, from Shaanxi.

In his early years, he came to Shanghai to seek life, started as a restaurant waiter, and gradually established Niu Kuiyuan.

This store is everything to him.

At noon, Tao Zhiwen was very satisfied when he saw more and more customers in the store.

The most difficult moment has finally passed.

When the war is over, maybe, he thought, he would open another branch and make the "Niu Kui Yuan" brand bigger and stronger, with branches in several major cities across the country.

At that time, he can safely leave the business to his son.

He took his wife and returned to his hometown in Shaanxi to take care of himself.

I had just lit a bag of dry cigarettes when I suddenly heard a quarrel.

Tao Zhiwen looked there and saw two customers patting the table and talking, while the waiter kept laughing apologetically.

Tao Zhiwen hurriedly put out his cigarette bag and walked over.

He cupped his hands and said: "Calm down your anger, calm down your anger."

Turning to the waiter, he asked with a straight face: "What did you do to make you two angry?"

The waiter said with a sad face: "Shopkeeper, they want to use this to pay the bill."

Tao Zhiwen looked at the table and saw several unfamiliar banknotes.

Tao Zhiwen smiled apologetically and said: "You two, we are from the countryside and have little experience. Don't be offended. We have never seen the money you two have. What is this?"

"China Reserve Bonds, do you understand?" A customer said with a stern face: "This is legal tender issued by the National Government. How can you, a restaurant, have the guts not to accept it?"

China Reserve Bond?

Tao Zhiwen felt a thump in his heart.

I had long heard that the group of people in Nanjing were forcibly promoting China Reserve Bonds in the concession, but I never expected that such a thing would happen to me here.

These two people are most likely spies.

Tao Zhiwen was also well-informed and immediately said: "Oh, gentlemen, to be honest with you two, I really haven't seen it before. Well, I'll treat you to this meal."

After that, he said to the waiter: "Pack up two more pounds of good beef for you two and take it back."

"Wait a minute." The guest stopped the waiter: "Shopkeeper, I appreciate your kindness. Since you're treating us, we won't pay anyway, so you readily accepted the China Reserve Bonds. You won't lose anything, right?"

?”

This is indeed true.

Even if Tao Zhiwen accepted it, he could just throw it away.

However, the branch of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce has long ago stated that it must not accept China Reserve Bonds. Anyone who accepts them will be a traitor.

Even those small merchants will not accept China Reserve Certificates.

Being called a traitor is one thing.

On the one hand, the money is worthless at all, and there is no use for it.

Tao Zhiwen didn't want to cause trouble, let alone be labeled a traitor.

His Niuguiyuan is still well-known. Once the news spreads that it accepts deposit certificates, customers will come to visit.

Maybe the store was damaged.

Tao Zhiwen was heartbroken: "You two, we really can't afford this money. You two, please give me some face today. I'll come back for dinner someday. Just eat and drink enough, wipe your mouth and leave."

"

The two agents were furious and wanted to quarrel with them, but the guests next to them were unhappy.

"China Reserve Bonds? Aren't they traitor bonds?"

"Issued by the National Government? What is issued by the National Government is not legal tender. When did there be more China Reserve Bonds?"

"They are talking about Nanjing, not our orthodox Chongqing National Government!"

You said something to me, and Niukui Garden suddenly became lively.

Several patrolmen came in: "What's going on, what's going on, who is causing trouble here?"

Seeing that things were about to get serious, the two agents collected the China Reserve Bonds, stood up, and sneered: "Okay, you refuse to accept the government's legal tender. You are very brave, so take your leave!"

Watching them leave, Tao Zhiwen breathed a sigh of relief.

But there was always some vague uneasiness in his heart.

…

"It's on fire, it's on fire!"

In a peaceful night, I was suddenly awakened by a shrill scream.

The fire started burning from the gate of Niukuiyuan.

The weather in May is dry, and the fires are unstoppable.

Tao Zhiwen's family woke up from bed, and the chefs and waiters in the store rushed out in panic.

"Put out the fire, put out the fire!"

Tao Zhiwen jumped to his feet and shouted loudly: "Fire station, fire station, go find the fire station."

"Put out the fire, put out the fire!"

But, how can this fire be extinguished?

…

Its daybreak.

It was almost dawn when the fire brigade arrived belatedly.

Niu Kuiyuan, which once had a prosperous business, has been burned to the point where it is impossible to distinguish its original appearance.

A woman was crying there.

That's Tao Zhiwen's wife.

Tao Zhiwen sat on the ground blankly, crying.

Half a lifetime of hard work was ruined, just ruined.

Damn agents, damn beasts!

It’s over, everything is over, there’s nothing left.
Chapter completed!