Back to the Republic of China to open a department store

"I've been looking at houses recently, and I've taken a fancy to a small western-style building nearby. It's about three floors, and it's considered exquisite. But it can't compare with yours..."

Sitting in the "Xia Garden"—that is, the bungalow with a large garden that Luo Yunze gave Luo Xiazhi, Gu Hanlin took the coffee handed by the maid and looked generously at the surrounding furnishings.

Recently, Gu Hanlin is also buying real estate.According to the calculation of the southerners, he will be [-] years old after the Chinese New Year. Whether he is married or not, he should also start a family business.

Although he now lives in school for three or four days out of seven days a week, he has a position in the government after all, so it's hard to justify not buying a house.

Speaking of which, Gu Hanlin has been very busy recently.

Opposition to President Yuan was raging. During this period, there were more students on the road than in the school.He travels around the police station, the Education Bureau and the school every day.

Faced with the pressure from above, he wanted to ensure the safety of the students, but also did not want their patriotism and enthusiasm of the young people to be suppressed, so several parties were trapped and it was very embarrassing.

"By the way, I heard that your second brother has returned to China?"

"Yes, and said to go to the department store as soon as I got back. Interesting?"

"What did your elder brother say?"

"My elder brother asked him to go home and rest for two days, and we'll talk about the rest later."

Luo Xiazhi put down the coffee cup, "Tomorrow, he will go to work with me in the department store."

Gu Hanlin raised his eyes slightly when he heard the words, "He proposed?"

"I proposed. My brother's firm has some business, so it's inconvenient for 'outsiders'... Now it's not convenient for him to know. It's better to go to my department store. At least the business is on the bright side."

Luo Xiazhi accidentally exposed the true thoughts in his heart.

This second brother who appeared out of nowhere, at least for now, is not considered "one of his own" in his heart.

"Are you suspicious...does he have anything to do with the Japanese?"

Gu Hanlin said in a low voice.

"It's hard to say now. I have asked Fan Dongli to help me secretly investigate his behavior in Japan over the years. The circle of international students who went to Japan is not big or small. My second brother doesn't look like a A low-key guy. Someone will notice what he has done all these years."

Luo Xiazhi didn't like this second brother, he was the kind who didn't like him when he met him.

It wasn't about any property disputes, he just felt that there was an ambiguous "evil spirit" in this superficially gentle second brother.

Maybe it's related to watching too many TV series "Screw the Devil" in his "last life".

But in the final analysis, the day when he returned to China was too "coincidental".It's a coincidence that people have to think about it.

"I hope I'm overthinking it."

Rorschach frowned.

In his life, he just wanted to be a simple businessman, make a small fortune, and do some good deeds.I don't want to be entangled with such a heavy national and family hatred.

"If... I mean if, your second brother is really a 'running dog' of the Japanese, who betrayed the Luo family and the country..."

Gu Hanlin stared into Luo Xiazhi's eyes, and asked slowly and heavily, "How do you do it?"

"If he's just sorry for the Luo family, naturally I have my elder brother to clean him up."

Luo Xiazhi raised his head slightly, and said decisively and firmly, "If he is sorry for the country——I will deal with him."

Just like the headline written in the newspaper that day-those who betray China's interests will die!

Gu Hanlin smiled slightly and patted the back of his hand.

"Third Young Master, Director Gu."

Ale stood at the door and knocked, holding a bamboo basket in his hand, which contained an exquisite food box.

"Miss Six sent someone to bring over some snacks, saying that she made them herself."

Luo Xiazhi and Gu Hanlin glanced at each other.

"Is it Su-style dim sum? Sixth sister is really skillful."

Luo Xiazhi opened the snack box, picked a piece inside, and put it on a small plate.

"Since I was injured last time, I suddenly don't like sweets very much. You can eat the rest."

"This... Miss Six specially made it for you, how can I..."

Having said that, Ah Le still hugged the basket with a smile on his face, "Then thank you, Third Young Master."

"By the way, Ale, I remember that you are only one year younger than me. You will be 22 this year."

"Yes, sir."

Ale scratched his head in embarrassment.

"Didn't the family tell you about marriage? I remember that you locals in Chongming Island get married very early."

Luo Xiazhi smiled kindly, "Is there a girl you fancy? If there is one you fancy, don't be shy, tell me, and I'll find it for you."

"Master, I don't have anyone I fancy..."

A Le waved his hands hastily, "Besides, if I like someone, they may not necessarily like me...Master, I'm going out first."

His face was flushed, and he took two steps back anxiously.

"By the way, do you have this snack over there?"

Luo Xiazhi picked up the pastry, put it to his mouth, and asked casually.

"Yes, the same dim sum, Miss Six personally delivered it to Luo Mansion. Master, I'm going down..."

The cheerful young man walked out briskly.

The second he disappeared at the door of the living room, Luo Xiazhi put the snack back into the small plate.

Turning around, he picked up the teapot on the coffee table, poured himself a cup of tea, and rinsed his mouth.Then he took out a handkerchief and wiped the tea stains from his mouth.

"You doubt him?"

Gu Hanlin took out his handkerchief from his jacket pocket, wrapped up the snack, and put it in his pocket.

"I can only say I hope not."

Putting down the handkerchief, Rorschach lowered his eyelids, silently looking at the delicate pattern on the coffee cup.

After all, when he came to this world, the first thing he saw when he woke up was Ale.Over the years, the person who has accompanied him the most is also Ale.

Although he has no education and is not good at speaking, Luo Xiazhi sincerely regards him as a "brother".

"In Luo's house, don't trust anyone."

These were the last words "Rorschach" said to him.

For so many years, he has been silently investigating, wanting to know who the person Luo Xiazhi was talking about.

Now it seems that it may not be "one person", but "some people".

"Brother told me that the person who opened the account with Aunt Helan's private seal was a young woman."

Luo Xiazhi smiled mockingly, "A Le is the one who knows my itinerary best."

He had been negligent before, forgetting A Le's origin - Chongming Island.

Yes, like Li Ye's parents who tried to harm him, they are both from Chongming Island.

As for Li Ye's arrival, A Le used to be so disgusted. He used to think that it was a child's narrow-mindedness. Now it seems that he himself is too naive.

During the time when he was injured and lying in bed, he asked the chief of police on the island to check Ale's life experience, and only then did he know that "Ale"'s mother had been with Li Ye's father before she married into the next village. Neighbor.

Li Ye's own mother, Ah Xiang, is He Lan's dowry girl!

And when he was only ten years old, he was introduced to He Lan by A Xiang when he entered the Luo Mansion.Because He Lan only had two daughters, and it was inconvenient to bring a servant, Luo Zhenhua allocated them to Luo Xiazhi.

Thinking back now, every time something happened to the Rorschach solstice, whether it was a typhoon night in Chongming Island, or when the train station was assassinated, this "personal" boy "happened" not far from him every time.

"I just don't know where Ah Le was the time he fell from the building."

Luo Xiazhi turned his head, sighed, and said to Gu Hanlin, "Let me ask Director Gu to find a laboratory to test it for me."

He never hurt anyone, but he didn't allow anyone to hurt him either.

Luo Yunze, Bai Fenghuang, and Xiaoxiao—they are all the people he cherishes the most in this world, and he will never allow anyone to hurt them!

----------------

"Second brother, this is the clothing counter, which is currently the hottest business in our department store. If you don't like ready-made clothes, you can also buy floral fabrics over there. Our department store also has Hongbang tailors who can help customers customize cheongsams suit."

Early on Monday morning, Luo Xiazhi took Luo Muze to visit Shimai Department Store floor by floor, explaining to him one by one.

"What do you think of the second brother? I have never been abroad. I am not as knowledgeable as the second brother. I don't know what foreign department stores look like. If there is something wrong, the second brother must tell me. .”

Walking behind Luo Muze, Luo Xiazhi said modestly.

"Not bad, very modern and fashionable, no worse than those department stores I saw in Germany and France."

Luo Erye, who lived in a civilized stick and was dressed in a white suit, turned his head gracefully, "It's just...whether the imported goods are a little less...a bit not upscale."

"Second brother, you also know that Europe is at war now. Compared with the past, the frequency of sea transportation is two-thirds less...Imported goods cannot guarantee the supply of goods."

"What about the Japanese goods? The shipping lanes in Japan are not blocked. They are sent from Japan and will arrive in a few days."

Luo Muze "enthusiastically" suggested, "Japanese products are exquisitely made, the key is that the price is much cheaper than European ones. For the same price, of course it is better to buy imported ones than domestic ones, isn't it, Brother?"

"This……"

Luo Xiazhi smiled awkwardly, "Second brother, let's go to the rooftop to have a look. The weather has warmed up recently, and our rooftop will be open soon. It was repaired by someone a few years ago. The small bridges in the south of the Yangtze River have poor water."

"Brother, is it because I'm afraid that I will come up with a random idea, 'the bird occupies the dove's nest', and take away your power in the department store?"

Luo Muze laughed, lowered his head and pushed the frame on the bridge of his nose, "Brother, you are thinking too much."

Luo Xiazhi was noncommittal, bowed his head and smiled, and followed him to the rooftop.

"My brother is very clever. I heard that you came up with the idea of ​​the roof garden. Then the Li family chased after you for a long time before you figured it out."

Taking advantage of the closed roof in winter, Shi Mai also renovated his own roof.

In order to match the overall European style of Shimai Department Store, their roofs have also been made in the style of European gardens, and even a mini maze has been built with shrubs. It must be loved by many children after it is opened.

Among the clusters of flowers, under the small white gazebo covered by Roman columns, there is a flying Cupid drawing a bow and shooting arrows.

There is also a small fountain specially built in the middle of the roof, spraying spring water.When summer comes, it must be a good place to cool off.

"Brother, look over there..."

Luo Muze pulled Luo Xiazhi's shoulders and pointed to an open space to the west, which was only about 500 meters away from Shimai Department Store.

Rorschach had noticed the clearing earlier.This is where the original Zhou Family Yangzhou Sauce Garden was located. It was originally a store in the front and a factory in the back, covering a large area.

After Master Zhou died, the land became vacant.At the end of last year, the original site was suddenly demolished and became a ruin.Xiaoxiao sometimes comes to the department store to play, and when passing by here, she will be silent for a while, wondering if she misses her former classmate who was sent back to the countryside of Yangzhou.

Luo Xiazhi specially sent someone to ask the old fox Shatong about the situation of the land.The other party smiled and said that he rented it to foreigners at a high price, and he couldn't find out more specific things.

"In the second half of the year, a new department store will be built here."

Luo Muze said as if pointing Jiangshan.

"what?"

Where did his second brother, who just returned to China, find out about things he didn't know.

"And I am the general manager of this newly opened 'Kamemaru Department Store'."

Leaning on the railing of the roof, Luo Muze showed a smug smile.

----------------

"Your brother came back from Japan just to be the manager of 'Bastard Department Store', to compete with his own business?"

Liang Shaolong heard that Luo Xiazhi had a new garden house, so he took time out of his busy schedule to come to Shanghai just to visit his garden.

There are three bungalows in this "piece" of Luo Xiazhi.In the middle is a four-story main building, and two three-story auxiliary buildings next to it are connected by two corridors.The house was designed by a famous German designer, and it was built with red bricks. The style is simple and elegant, with a bit of fashionista temperament.

What surprised Luo Xiazhi was that the house was equipped with a small elevator for villas, which is considered a novelty even in Europe, not to mention Shanghai, in this day and age.It is really hard to imagine how much money the eldest brother spent to buy this place.

The house is modern and stylish, but the garden outside adopts the design of a Chinese courtyard.Different from the ordinary gardens of bungalows that open to the point, when you enter through the gate, what you see is the rockery and the flowing water behind the winding path.Looking up, amidst the greenery, a small European-style building with red brick walls reveals a pointed roof.The combination of Chinese and Western is very interesting.

It's okay, just a little bit worse than my 'Meiyuan'. ——Liang Shaolong commented after the visit.

"It's 'Kamemaru Department Store'."

Gu Hanlin corrected with a sigh.

"Isn't 'Kamemaru' the same as 'Bastard'? What's wrong?"

Liang Shaolong waved his hand indifferently.

Recently, when the exam was approaching, Li Ye went back to school to study hard, so he didn't accompany him back to Shanghai this time.

I heard that this kid plans to finish all the courses in three years and graduate early, just to be able to help Luo Xiazhi as soon as possible.

To be honest, as the industry grows bigger and bigger, even a super workaholic like Luo Xiazhi gradually feels that his energy is not enough.

Zheng Jiesen is a very capable secretary, but he can only play an auxiliary role.

In the business field, he still wants someone who he fully trusts to make suggestions together.And this person must have read the book and have a certain vision.

"That kid surnamed Li, I've investigated for you over the past few years, and there should be no problem with his character. His parents' faults are his parents' business, and the disaster is not as serious as his children."

Who is Liang Shaolong?

A high-achieving student who graduated from the "Social University" and "Department of Rape and Crime", since Luo Xiazhi proposed to put Li Ye by his side, he had already guessed his real purpose.

During these nearly two years, on the surface it was Li Ye who followed Liang Shaolong and took good care of him for Luo Xiazhi, but in fact Liang Shaolong was investigating Li Ye's character for his "cousin-in-law".

"I heard that his parents will come out of 'Tilan Bridge' in two months. Are you ready to deal with these two people?"

There is also Liang Shaolong's eyeliner in the prison. He is very clear about the couple's movements in it. Very moved.

"Hanlin, what do you think?"

Luo Xiazhi stood in the garden and waved to Ah Le who was washing the car from a distance.A Le held the faucet, smiled at the three of them, turned around and continued to work.

"I originally thought, should his parents be sent to work in Shaolong's factory. Now that I think about it... how about letting them go back to Chongming Island?"

The rose in front of him was blooming so well that Gu Hanlin couldn't help but lower his head and touch the delicate petals.

"I think so too."

Hero Rorschach nodded in agreement.

"Hey, I don't agree with this. His character is nothing to say, but who can guarantee that his parents won't continue to harm you after they are released from prison? Why don't you leave it with me and let me show you, that's the safest way of."

Liang Shaolong shook his head.

"Li Ye is a very smart child, and very sensitive."

It was the child who discovered that something was wrong with Xiaoxiao before.

"You hold his parents, how can he not be aware of your purpose? Although he won't say it at that time, it will hurt his peace after all."

Luo Xiazhi really likes Li Ye and wants to train him well so that he can become his right-hand man in the future business field.

"Let him go back to Chongming Island, and then go back to my 'Yingzhou Xiaozhu' to work. Do you remember Mrs. Ah Qing? She is now the housekeeper there, and she will take good care of Li Ye's parents for us. "

The couple who once tried to blackmail Luo Xiazhi are now the hardcore "Three Young Masters Party", guarding the villa on the island for Luo Xiazhi.With their husband and wife here, they are not afraid that someone will reach out to Li Ye's parents.

"Xia Zhi, we really want to go together. It's really a 'heart-to-heart'."

Gu Hanlin lowered his head, put his hand lightly on Luo Xiazhi's shoulder, and said without concealment.

There are no outsiders here or there—Liang Shaolong is not considered a "person".

"Tsk tsk, you two are really 'husbands sing husbands with'."

Liang Shaolong turned his head away in disbelief, and put on his pair of sunglasses that are popular in Shanghai now, "You bully me alone?"

"Yes."

Gu Hanlin nodded expressionlessly, "Then you can find one if you have the ability."

"Then you can find one if you have the ability."

Rorschach agreed.

"Bah...you two 'dog boys'."

Liang Shaolong gave them a middle finger, jumped into his beloved big Ford, stepped on the gas pedal, and headed for "Paramount"!

Who would give up a whole forest for a single tree?

Only fools like them would!

He, Liang Shaolong, has made up his mind that he wants to be romantic and happy for the rest of his life!

The author has something to say: Guess, who is the girl A Le likes?

预告一下下一章《撕破脸皮》感谢在2020-10-1710:33:57~2020-10-1817:23:00期间为我投出霸王票或灌溉营养液的小天使哦~

Thanks to the little angels of irrigation nutrient solution: 5 bottles of Yan Yang; 3 bottles of eight bowls;

Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!