DCFRP Extra 5

TL: Hua

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After Qi Xiaoyu returned to the troupe, he took ten days off without performing any show. Gu Zizhen, Xi Yun, and other troupe apprentices were responsible for carrying the show.

Qi Fengjian didn’t let him show up and asked him to stay out of the limelight.

Qi Fengjian looked at the gifts in mahogany boxes all over the yard, his face was as solemn as when Hu Haibing asked Qi Xiaoyu to sing opera, “I have inquired with someone and found out that this young commander Xun is the third son of the Northeast Tiger Xun Shaoyou. Despite his young age, he has inherited his father’s prestige and conduct. He is cold and cruel, a person not to be trifled with. Otherwise, this young man would not be allowed to take over such a big city like Shanghai.”

Chi Fengjian knocked on the long smoking pipe in his hand while sternly rebuking , “He just took over Shanghai the day before yesterday, but he has already uprooted Hu Haibing’s power, abolished legal tender[mfn]The legal tender 法币 was the name of the currency in circulation in old China from November 4, 1935 to August 19, 1948.[/mfn] and issued paper money. He has soldiers, power, and means. We ordinary people can’t afford to offend such a big shot and can’t reach him. Even if he rewards you with something, it depends on whether you have the blessing to enjoy it.”

After he said this, he turned to Qi Xiaoyu, “Avoid him if you can in the future. Understand?”

Qi Xiaoyu stood at the bottom of the steps and nodded obediently.

Qi Wanrou also stood at the bottom of the steps and whispered, “Dad, don’t scare Xiaoyu. I don’t think Commander Xun is that scary. If it weren’t for him, Senior Brother Gu and Xiaoyu would have fallen into the hands of the old pervert named Hu.”

Qi Fengjian hit Qi Wanrou on the head. “What do you know? Stay at home with Xiaoyu these days and don’t go anywhere.”

During the ten days when Qi Xiaoyu was locked up in the troupe, Xun Qian’s reputation in Shanghai rose.

After sending Qi Xiaoyu home, he announced the next day that he would officially move into the commander’s mansion. On the same day, he seized all the troops and manpower under Hu Haibing, and even Hu Haibing was packed up and sent to the battlefield on the northeast front.

Then, he took over the bank and directly grasped the economic lifeline of Shanghai.

Xun Qian was a top student in the economics department, and he had been a big boss for so many years with a lot of companies under him. The economy of S City a 100 years later was conquered by him, not to mention the era when the modern economy was just starting. His level was more than enough.

After he took over the bank, he immediately counted the silver inventory, made silver the standard, abolished the legal tender and other messy currencies, and issued paper money in a unified manner.

He also prohibited looting, prohibited the market from raising prices privately, especially for daily necessities, and stipulated that these things must be purchased with paper money issued by the bank, regulating the market economic order internally and regulating foreign trade economy externally.

Some people opposed it, but they couldn’t oppose Xun Qian’s gun.

It is said that the bank president refused to give up power and was holding onto silver currency. The new young commander pointed a gun at his temple and revealed his messy situation in detail.

That day, Qi Xiaoyu was washing things in the backyard again. He had cleaned several of his own clothes and also dug out the bags that other senior brothers had hidden at the bottom of their boxes and couldn’t clean up after escaping. He cleaned them one by one and took advantage of the good weather to take them out for drying.

When he was washing the dirty tassels on a shawl with water, he heard the middle-aged women next door chatting again.

One of the women said in an excited voice, “I’m going to buy rice today. Guess how much it costs to buy one dan[mfn]50 kg[/mfn]?”

“I went to buy it last month, and it dropped. When I used the legal tender to buy it, one dan cost about ten yuan.”

“Oh, now it’s dropped again. I took ten yuan in legal tender and exchanged them for ten yuan paper currency to buy rice, but they only charged me five yuan.”

“Is it really that cheap? This price is about to catch up with the price before the war.”

“It’s true. Wait a minute, I’ll take out the rice to show you. It’s this year’s new rice, and the quality is good.”

In no time, he heard the sound of fine, falling rice grains coming from the next door. Qi Xiaoyu couldn’t help but look up and saw two women studying the new rice.

“The price of rice has finally fallen.”

“Yes, have you exchanged the banknotes?”

“Not yet. My husband is on a business trip. My father-in-law said he would wait and see the situation. I can’t make up my mind. Who knows how the situation will change further?”

“Hurry up and exchange it. I heard from the bank that you can still exchange this banknote for silver if you don’t use it in the future. Last night, my husband told me that the new commander is definitely someone who understands economics. My family is planning to exchange the silver dollars[mfn]Silver dollar, also known as “silver yuan,” commonly known as “ocean,” “foreign money,” or “lace money,” originated in Europe in the 15th century and began to flow into China around the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty (1573-1620). After the establishment of the silver standard currency system during the Republic of China, silver dollars were also used as the main currency in circulation.[/mfn] we have saved in a few days.”

Qi Xiaoyu listened carefully to the last few words.

When Qi Fengjian led them to escape from Beiping, they brought gold and silver with them. However, due to the skyrocketing prices caused by the war, even gold and silver could be spent as quickly as water, and trading in Shanghai was not convenient.

If the newly issued banknotes are so easy to use, it is indeed better to change them into banknotes.

Qi Xiaoyu thought of the woman next door praising Xun Qian. If Xun Qian came to Shanghai and could control prices, life would be much easier for them.

From this point of view, although the young commander is a little strange, he is a good man who serves the country and the people.

But even if he is a good man, he should avoid him. Master is right. The difference between their status is like the difference between heaven and earth.

There are as many people in the theater who like him as a feather, but it’s temporary. He can’t really get involved with these people.

He remembered that when he was singing opera in Beiping, there was a girl named Yue Yuehong in the Chunxi Garden theater troupe. She had a slender waist and phoenix eyes. After each performance, she was given countless silks and satins. Later, she fell in love with an official and agreed to marry him as the fifth concubine. The betrothal gifts filled five carriages, which made her a sight to behold.

But he heard that she was bullied by the first wife, who was born in a wealthy family and couldn’t make ends meet. She wanted to sing opera when she came back a year later, but her voice was already damaged.

The cold well water splashed out of the basin and onto Qi Xiaoyu’s feet. He put away his messy thoughts and carried the laundry to the eaves to hang them up one by one.

After hanging up the clothes, he wiped the water off his hands and body and went to the kitchen to find Qi Wanrou.

Qi Wanrou was cooking dinner in the kitchen.

Dinner was white rice porridge, steamed buns, and a small basket of Shanghai greens.

The most expensive ingredients they bought recently were the crucian carp and some eggs. Last time, to celebrate Qi Xiaoyu’s safe return, Qi Wanrou cooked them for him to eat.

However, Qi Xiaoyu is not picky. His senior sister’s cooking is amazing. The clear porridge paired with the side dishes was sweet and savory, especially the steamed buns, which were fluffy, soft, and chewy. She kneaded the dough and steamed it herself.

Qi Xiaoyu walked into the kitchen, stood beside Qi Wanrou, and took the flour bag on her right side. “I’ll knead the dough.”

Seeing him coming in, Qi Wanrou snatched the flour bag and sent him away, “Your hand injury hasn’t healed yet; go sit in front and rest.”

Seeing that Qi Xiaoyu didn’t move, she urged him again, “If you don’t knead the dough well, I’ll have to start over, go to the front quickly.”

Qi Xiaoyu couldn’t argue with Qi Wanrou, so he could only go around to the front hall, practicing while warming up his voice.

He had just sung a few sentences when he heard a knock on the door outside.

He thought it was a senior brother who forgot something at home, so he quickly put down his leg that was in a split position and went to open the door.

As a result, a handsome and fair-skinned student was standing outside.

The student wore a black church school uniform, with the top two buttons undone and a black hat on his head. When he saw Qi Xiaoyu opening the door, he smiled and asked, “Xiaoyu, is your senior sister here?”

Qi Xiaoyu stopped at the door, looking like he was facing a great enemy. “My senior sister is not at home; she went out.”

The student’s surname was Zhou, Zhou Sinian. His family ran a factory. He was a rich young man who had been pursuing his senior sister since they were performing in Beiping.

But Qi Xiaoyu didn’t like him very much, thinking that this kind of rich young master who only knew how to coax people with sweet words was unreliable. Some days ago, when they were fleeing, this young master Zhou was dragged away by his mother, not caring at all about his sister’s life or death. Now that he is in Shanghai and everything is peaceful, he wants to look for her again.

Humph, in you dream.

Zhou Sinian poked his head in and looked inside. “Your sister is not in the theater, nor here, so where did she go?”

Qi Xiaoyu made up a lie: “She went out to buy something.”

His senior sister was soft-hearted, and he was afraid that after Zhou Sinian went in, he would coax Qi Wanrou back with a few words.

Zhou Sinian smiled, “It shouldn’t take much time to buy things; I’ll go in and wait for her.”

Qi Xiaoyu was on guard. “My master will be back soon. It’s not good if he sees Mr. Zhou.”

As the two were in a stalemate, they suddenly heard someone calling in a deep and husky voice, “Xiaoyu.”

Qi Xiaoyu gave a glance and thought to himself that he should take a good look at today’s almanac. Why did everyone gather together today?

XXun Qian wears a white robe with a white velvet collar. He carries a food box in his right hand and two strings of candied haws in his left hand. His good looks, combined with his luxuries, created an air of extravagance.

Zhou Sinian, out of his male instinct of hostility when he sees someone superior to himself, immediately became alert. “Is this gentleman also here to see Miss Qi?”

Xun Qian smiled faintly, his eyes not falling on Zhou Sinian, “I made an appointment with Xiaoyu.”

Zhou Sinian said, “Oh,” suspiciously.

Xun Qian smiled, looked at Qi Xiaoyu, and said, “Xiaoyu, didn’t you say you had something important to talk to me about?”

Qi Xiaoyu understood what Xun Qian meant.

But he didn’t want to let in either Zhou Sinian or Xun Qian.

He looked left and right and finally decided that his sister’s business was more important, so he went with the flow, “Sorry, Mr. Zhou, I have something to do, and I need to entertain guests; please go back.”

Zhou Sinian didn’t want to leave yet, “Then help me convey a message when Wanrou’s back.”

Qi Xiaoyu had long been impatient with him and casually replied, “I understand. Goodbye, Mr. Zhou.”

Zhou Sinian left hesitantly.

Watching Zhou Sinian walk away, Qi Xiaoyu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Xun Qian lowered his eyes and smiled at Qi Xiaoyu quietly.

He thought of the way Qi Xiaoyu stopped Zhou Sinian from entering just now and found it funny, cute, precious, and lucky. When he met Qi Xiaoyu, he was 23 years old, but he didn’t expect that now, by some strange coincidence, he would make up for the time when Qi Xiaoyu was 18 years old.

At this time, Qi Xiaoyu, no matter how smart and sensible, still had the innocence of a teenager on his face, like a young swallow, trying to grow a body of iron feathers to allow himself to fly against the wind and rain, but when he took off his weapons, he was still innocent and naive.

Qi Xiaoyu sent Zhou Sinian away, and when he turned around, he found Xun Qian in front of him. He quickly took a step back and tried to force a smile, “Hello, young commander.”

“I came to see you. Is your hand okay?” Xun Qian asked softly and then said, “It’s time for dinner. I brought some food.”

Qi Xiaoyu was only eighteen years old after all, not as calm as when he was twenty-three. He had decided to stay away from Xun Qian in his heart. However, seeing Xun Qian play along with his act and seeing that the person, who was said to be very powerful, coaxed him so gently, he couldn’t help asking, “Why are you helping me deceive him?”

Xun Qian smiled, “Don’t you dislike him and want to drive him away?”

Qi Xiaoyu didn’t say anything, thinking that this strange young commander was like a worm in his stomach.

Xun Qian handed over the two strings of candied haws in his hand. “Look, there are strawberries inside, not hawthorns. Don’t you like it?”

Qi Xiaoyu, of course, likes it. He hesitated for a moment, then asked, “How come you know so much about me? Have we met before?”

Qi Xiaoyu had felt that Xun Qian was a strange person before, knowing his preferences, knowing the size of his clothes, and even knowing that he was afraid of the dark, and now the other party even knew that he liked candies haw.

Xun Qian smiled and whispered in his ear, “Because I often see you in my dreams.”