The Jade of the Republic of China

The carriage galloped all the way, and it was almost 10:30 when we returned to the concession. Meng Liansheng got out of the car in a hurry near the Dangui Theater, found a well, and rubbed the blood spots on the hem of his gown vigorously. Perhaps the blood was still fresh, but Let him rub it almost, but most of the hem of his clothes was wet.

He was not very satisfied with the effect, but it was too late to think of other ways, because the hands of the copper pocket watch had reached 10:30, so he patted his clothes and ran towards the Osmanthus Theater.

At this moment, the show had already ended, and the bustling theater had returned to the desertedness of the day. He inquired with the concierge and made sure that Boss Tong had not left, so he hurried to the backstage.

When he came to the door of the lounge out of breath, Tong Rulan, who had already removed her make-up in the room, said loudly and pleasantly with his oriole-like voice: "Xiao Meng!"

Shen Yutong, who was sitting next to him, looked at the door and raised his eyebrows chicly: "I said that Xiaomeng will definitely come."

Meng Liansheng took a deep breath secretly, walked into the room, glanced at Tong Rulan, then turned his gaze to Shen Yutong's smiling handsome face, and asked tentatively, "Are the Second Young Master and Boss Tong waiting for me?"

Tong Rulan said with a smile: "I didn't see Xiaomeng tonight. You came to the play. After the performance, I called the Bai mansion to ask, and said that you haven't gone back. I thought you might have something to do, so I discussed this supper with the second son." Let's meet again some other day. But the second son said something good, you won't miss the appointment for no reason, he bet you will definitely come tonight."

Meng Liansheng pursed his lips and smiled a little shyly: "It's something temporary that made the Second Young Master and Boss Tong wait for a long time. But isn't it too late to go to a restaurant now?"

Shen Yutong said: "Originally it was supper, it's not too late at all." While speaking, his eyes fell on the wet spot on the hem of Shen Yutong's gown, and he let out a sigh, "Where did you go to drown?"

Meng Liansheng replied softly: "I went to the pier with the boss, and my clothes got wet by accident, so I hurried over here, so I didn't go back and change."

Shen Yutong said: "It's okay, no one will look carefully at night, as long as it's not cold."

Meng Liansheng: "It's not cold."

It was almost morning when the three of them arrived at the Weilu restaurant in Shen Yutong's car.The light in the small restaurant was still on, and Lin Bo was sitting by the phonograph listening to the play, which was Tong Rulan's new record.

"Yo, Boss Tong is here!"

Tong Rulan said politely, "Uncle Lin, are we coming too late?"

"It's not too late, as long as you make a reservation, you can wait in the middle of the night. Go and sit first, and the food will be served soon."

A warm yellow chandelier in the private room illuminates the small room warmly and pleasantly.

Meng Liansheng looked down at the hem of the long gown by the light. The place that was wet by the water was already half-dried, leaving a dark stain, but it could not be seen that it was blood.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

Weilu Restaurant does not order food, it all depends on what Lin Bo prepares that day.Five dishes and one soup for three people, still the common taste of Anhui cuisine, fried mandarin fish with shredded shrimp, shepherd's purse balls and fresh mountain bamboo shoots.

Seeing Meng Liansheng holding chopsticks, as if he didn't know which dish to eat, Shen Yutong said with a smile: "Xiao Meng, Bo Lin is from Huizhou, do you think it's from your home?"

Meng Liansheng pursed his lips, lowered his eyes, and said in a low voice: "Before I came to Shanghai, there had been a severe drought at home for two years. Before the severe drought, there were two soldiers fighting. The bandits made trouble. My parents and elder brothers are gone. Can you help me?" It's a blessing to be hungry. I... can't remember what normal food at home tastes like."

He has always been a man of few words, and he said so much in one breath, which made Shen Yutong and Tong Rulan feel sore.

Shen Yutong couldn't help thinking that when he first met him, wasn't he just a hungry and shabby boy?I don't know how much hardship this child has endured, but there is a trace of love and affection in his heart.He took a piece of fish with chopsticks and put it in his bowl: "Try it, if it suits your taste, Second Young Master will bring you here often."

Meng Liansheng picked up the piece of fish and put it in his mouth. His black eyes widened slightly, and he showed a childish smile. He nodded and said, "Mmm, it's delicious."

How can it not be delicious?This is the cook of the palace.

Tong Rulan took a sip of the rum and said with a sigh: "Xiao Meng is a hard-working person like me. I also grew up without a father or a mother, and was sold to a theater troupe by my uncle. I really survived the days at that time."

Shen Yutong said with a smile: "Boss Tong is now a popular actor in Shanghai, and he finally made it through."

Tong Rulan smiled wryly and shook his head: "Second Young Master, you are joking. No matter how many people praise us for our opera singing, it is still a low class and cannot be on the stage."

Shen Yutong said disapprovingly: "Boss Tong, please don't underestimate yourself. Beijing opera is an art. According to the current view, you are a great artist. How can you not be on the stage?"

Meng Liansheng nodded in agreement: "Second Young Master is right, Boss Tong's drama is so good, and he can rely on his own ability to make a living, how many people can't envy him."

Shen Yutong laughed loudly: "Look, Xiao Meng understands this truth at a young age."

Meng Liansheng gave another shy smile after being praised by him.

Tong Rulan was born pale, and after a few sips of sweet wine, a thin blush appeared on his face. He raised his wine glass and said with a smile: "I have been in Shanghai for so long, those who come to listen to my play, the masters who support me, Mostly for pastime, the only one who really understands and respects drama is the Second Young Master. I respect Second Young Master for this glass of wine."

The man who sang Huadan had a soft and charming look. Tong Rulan looked into Shen Yutong's eyes, that was called a spring with water.If it were someone else, I'm afraid I'd be intoxicated by this charm.

But Second Master Shen is not someone else, he is a beauty himself, the noble son of Shanghai who is being chased by others, so he is very open-minded, raised his glass and said with a smile: "Boss Tong is my friend."

Tong Rulan said: "With the status of the second son, it is said that my friends are too flattering to me."

Shen Yutong drank a glass boldly, refilled himself, raised the glass and said to him and Meng Liansheng: "Friends only ask whether they are compatible with each other, not about their background. Both Boss Tong and Xiao Meng are my friends of Shen Yutong. There is a Taoyuan in ancient times. Three knots, today we are also three, after drinking this cup, we will be friends in the future. If there is anything that needs my help, just ask."

It was rare for Tong Rulan to show a bit of masculinity when he saw his frankness and infection, so he raised his glass and nodded vigorously: "Okay."

Meng Liansheng looked at the two of them calmly, and brought the cup in his hand up to touch them lightly.

The meal didn't end until almost two o'clock in the morning. Shen Yutong asked the driver to drop off Tong Rulan who was nearby, and then sent Meng Liansheng back to the Bai mansion.

Lin Bo's sweet wine is not intoxicating, but he drank two more glasses today, and he is somewhat tipsy.

When Meng Liansheng got out of the car, he leaned lazily by the window, looked up at the young man who was saying goodbye to him outside, and without knowing what he was thinking of, he grabbed the other man's hand through the car window, yawned and said, "Xiao Meng, two Young master will be your elder brother from now on, if you need elder brother's help, just ask."

Meng Liansheng bent slightly, and his eyes fell on the hand that was holding his hand. It was a pair of fair and slender hands. It was obvious that the owner of these hands must be a pampered son, completely different from his rough palm.

His heart moved slightly, and his thumb involuntarily rubbed lightly on the back of the opponent's hand twice.

Slightly drunken and sleepy, Shen Yutong became dull, and he didn't realize the intimacy of the other party's little gesture.

Meng Liansheng withdrew his hand, lowered his head to meet the peach blossom eyes glowing with alcohol under the moonlight, and nodded with a slight smile: "Thank you, Second Young Master."

Shen Yutong waved to him: "Okay, go back and rest quickly."

Meng Liansheng watched Shen Yutong's car leave before walking slowly to the door and waking up the concierge Uncle Zhang to open the door.

He walked through the vestibule with ease in the silent night, and when he was about to turn to the wing, a small figure jumped out from the corridor and hugged him.

"Brother Meng!"

Meng Liansheng looked down at Bai Zijun, who was wearing satin pajamas, and rubbed his head with his hand: "Zijun, why aren't you asleep yet?"

Bai Zijun raised his head and said, "I fell asleep. I just woke up and heard a voice downstairs. When I saw it was you, I came over and called you."

Meng Liansheng picked him up and said, "I'll take you upstairs."

Bai Zijun hugged his neck: "Brother Meng, why haven't I seen you lately?"

Meng Liansheng said, "Brother Meng is a bit busy recently."

Bai Zijun suddenly sniffed at the side of his face: "Brother Meng, do you have a smell?"

Meng Liansheng asked casually, "What's the smell?"

Bai Zijun frowned: "The smell of blood, my father used to have this smell too." While Meng Liansheng was in a daze, the little guy sniffed again and said, "Oh, it seems like it's gone again."

Without saying anything, Meng Liansheng sent him back to the small bed in his room, covered him with a thin quilt, and only went out quietly after he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

When Meng Liansheng returned to the room in the annex, he took off his blue bamboo cloth gown and looked at it under the lamp. If he looked carefully, he could still see bloodstains.

He frowned, thinking, if he could react faster and take a step back when Sun Zhidong shot, he probably wouldn't be splashed with blood.

In the future, I still have to be smarter.

As for Wang Yanxing and his coachman who had met Hades, they didn't make him worry about it.Presumably, if he had a dream tonight, he would not dream of those two people.

Meng Liansheng did have a dream that night, and it was a beautiful dream.

He dreamed of Shen Yutong again.

Shen Yutong has been the dream lover of many people, but she obviously didn't know that she fell into Meng Liansheng's dream.

After this supper, because the salt factory was busy with work, it was already half a month before I went to the Dangui Theater to listen to a play.

After Tong Rulan thanked the audience and sent away a few young masters who praised him, when he returned to the backstage, he saw Shen Yutong lazily leaning against the door of the lounge, holding a folding fan, looking like a flirtatious young man.

Since Tong Rulan was twelve or thirteen years old, she followed her master all over the world, and met many sons of aristocratic families, the children of the Eight Banners in the capital, and the modern young masters in Shanghai, but after counting, Shen Yutong is still the most dignified and elegant.

"Second Young Master, I haven't seen you for a while." He stepped forward slowly and said with a sweet smile.

Shen Yutong rubbed the center of his brows wearily, and said, "The salt factory is too busy recently, so I don't have time to cheer for Boss Tong."

Tong Rulan said with a smile: "A good man should put his career first, and watching theater is just a pastime."

Shen Yutong smiled disapprovingly: "I don't agree with this. Work is important, but watching a movie is a spiritual enjoyment, and there is no difference between the two. If you only know how to make money, but don't understand spiritual enjoyment, then what is the meaning of life?"

He is always like this, obviously arrogant and high-spirited, but yet elegant and gentle, saying what people like to hear is not intentionally flattering, as if it is sincere and sincere at his fingertips.

Tong Rulan had heard countless sweet words and praises, but none of them sounded as comfortable as Shen Yutong's. .

He said: "The second son is a young man who has studied abroad, so there are always so many reasons."

Shen Yutong smiled: "I think watching theater is also very important." As he said that, he suddenly changed the topic and said as if thinking of something, "I didn't see Xiao Meng today, does he come here often recently?"

Tong Rulan said: "The last time I went back to Uncle Lin's place for dinner, he came here two or three times. I heard that he went to the pier to do something. He was often busy until the early hours of the morning, so he didn't have time to come. That's right," he said As if thinking of something again, she walked into the lounge and took out a set of silver noodles from the dowry, "Xiao Meng came to the theater the day before yesterday and said he wanted to support me, and he gave me this set as a reward like others did."

Shen Yutong's eyes fell on the jewelry on his hand. Although the silver jewelry is not too expensive, it can be seen that the jewelry was carefully selected, and it probably cost at least a dozen dollars.

He frowned.

Tong Rulan sighed and said: "You said that it is not easy for Xiaomeng to live alone in Shanghai at such a young age? I am afraid that these things will cost him a month or two. How can I accept them? But I am afraid of forcing Give it back to him, and accidentally say something that is not pleasant, making him think wildly. You can speak, second son, or help him return the money and let him exchange the money back?"

Shen Yutong reached out to take the jewelry, nodded and said, "Xiao Meng is really... don't worry, I'll return it to him."

Tong Rulan smiled and said, "Then I will trouble the Second Young Master."

"You're welcome between friends." He raised his hand and glanced at his watch, and said, "It's getting late, Boss Tong should go back to rest early."

"The second son is also."

The two said their goodbyes. Shen Yutong got into the car and was going back to Shen's Garden. When he passed the Huangpu River, he suddenly remembered that Lixin No. [-] Pier was nearby.

Lixin had three piers. He wasn't sure which pier Meng Liansheng was working at, let alone whether he would be at the pier tonight, but he decided to try his luck.

Nearing 10:30, the cargo ships at the pier came in and out, and they were still busy.

Shen Yutong got out of the car and saw a few people who looked like porters sitting on the side of the road resting, and asked, "Is Meng Liansheng here?"

A man replied: "Meng Liansheng? Is it Xiao Meng?"

"Yes, it's Xiaomeng."

The man glanced at him, and shouted to a ship that was loading cargo not far away: "Xiao Meng, someone is looking for it!"

After he finished speaking, he saw a figure jumping off the boat and said, "Who is it?"

Shen Yutong heard Meng Liansheng's voice, smiled and walked over there.

When the distance was only more than ten meters away, Meng Liansheng had already recognized the person. He stepped forward in three steps and said in surprise, "Second Young Master, why are you here?"

Probably for the convenience of doing things, he wore a cotton and linen double-breasted short jacket today, with the sleeves rolled up at the elbows, revealing two strong arms, as if he was born to work hard on the dock.

Shen Yutong said: "I went to the theater tonight, but I didn't see you, and I heard Boss Tong said that you are working at the pier and passing by here, so I will try my luck to see if I can meet you."

Meng Liansheng rubbed the back of his head and said, "I just came to work at the dock, and I have to learn a lot of things from scratch. I am busy until late every day, and I don't even go back to the Bai Mansion, so I don't have much time to listen to Boss Tong's play."

Shen Yutong smiled and said: "It's important to do business. After eating last time, I only got time to go to the theater today."

"Second Young Master must be very busy running a refined salt factory." Meng Liansheng smiled and thought of something, "Our wharf has salt ships from Shen's refined salt factory leaving the port every day."

"Well, our salt boats going south all go from Lixin Wharf." Shen Yutong smiled, and turned around to look around the busy wharf, "Are you still used to working at the wharf?"

Meng Liansheng said: "I'm used to it. When I first came to Shanghai, I worked at the dock, but it was a cruise terminal."

Meng Liansheng's work at the dock was indeed smooth.This is an inland freight terminal, which is different from a cruise ship, but many things are the same, and there are also porters and handles.

Although he is young, he has a good memory and is very disciplined in doing things. He quickly figured out the operation of the dock, because he is naturally able to figure out people's hearts, and he is also very good at handling the relationship between boat owners and dock workers.

Shen Yutong looked at him, and handed him the box in his hand: "Xiao Meng, Boss Tong asked me to return this to you."

Meng Liansheng was taken aback for a moment, and the face under the boat lights was first stunned, then a little disappointed, and asked in a low voice, "Does Boss Tong despise the things I gave you?"

"What are you talking about?" Shen Yutong laughed, glanced at Shidun next to him, took his hand, walked over and sat down, and said calmly, "Xiao Meng, tell me, why did you give Boss Tong such an expensive gift?" Gift?"

Meng Liansheng said: "Boss Tong's show is good. I saw many people cheering for it, so I wanted to show it. I know that this little thing from me is not as good as a check from Mr. Rich, but this is my heart. "

He lowered his eyes sadly, looking a little depressed.

Ever since he went back to the Lulu Restaurant last time, Shen Yutong has regarded the other party as his younger brother.He is the youngest in his family, even Long Jialin is a few months older than him.After living for so many years, he has never been an older brother. Now facing a cheap younger brother who seems to have gone astray, he felt a heavy responsibility for a while, so he thought about his words and said seriously: "If you want to support Boss Tong, if you have time Just watch the play and applaud him, don't imitate that young master's ethos of praising opera singers."

Meng Liansheng raised his eyes and asked, "Isn't the Second Young Master a supporting role?"

Shen Yutong remembered the lace about herself in the tabloids, and said with a smile: "How about me and Boss Tong, haven't you met? I like Beijing opera and appreciate Boss Tong's talent. Although I have given money, I have never given any fancy gifts."

Meng Liansheng seemed to understand what he meant, nodded and said, "I see."

Shen Yutong said again: "Shanghai has a bad atmosphere, don't just follow what you see, be careful to learn bad things. You are my younger brother, if you don't understand anything, you can ask me."

Being a brother for the first time, Second Young Master Shen feels pretty good.

Holding the jewelry box, Meng Liansheng said solemnly, "Thank you, Second Young Master, for teaching me this."

Shen Yutong smiled and said: "Besides, how much money do you make in a month, it's serious to live your life well."

Meng Liansheng nodded with a smile: "Yes, I understand. I will applaud seriously when I watch a play in the future."

Shen Yutong tilted his head to look at him, and jokingly said, "Is that why you like Boss Tong's drama so much?"

Meng Liansheng faltered: "... Boss Tong's play is very good."

Shen Yutong was just joking casually, but when he saw him like this, the alarm sounded suddenly again, frowned, stretched his face towards him, and asked seriously: "Do you just like drama?"

Because the second son of Shen had a pan-an face and peach blossom eyes, he was misunderstood more than once in the past because he smiled at people inadvertently, or looked at people more than once, and was misunderstood as flirting with people. The name.As we get older, we pay great attention to propriety when we get along with each other.

Only when facing Meng Liansheng, because he felt that the other party was a simple child, he never thought of paying attention to proportion.What's more, he is still the child's cheap brother now, and he is getting more and more intimate with him.

Meng Liansheng looked up at the face under the moonlight, which was so close to Chi Chi, and quickly lowered his eyes, nodded and said, "Well, I only like watching theater."

Shen Yutong looked at him intently, not seeing anything unusual on this innocent face, so she smiled lightly and backed away unhurriedly.Suddenly, as if remembering something, he asked, "How many days do you rest in a week?"

Meng Liansheng said, "One day, usually on Sunday."

Tomorrow is Sunday.

Shen Yutong asked again: "Then do you have any plans for tomorrow?"

Meng Liansheng shook his head.

Shen Yutong smiled: "Don't you go out to play on the rest day?"

Meng Liansheng said, "I don't have any friends, and I don't know what to play with."

"Aren't I your friend?" Shen Yutong chuckled. He thought that he would be free tomorrow, and looked at the bright sky in the sky, and said, "It's just autumn, and the weather is good these days. It's time to get cold. How about you go with me to eat boat dishes tomorrow?"

Meng Liansheng looked at him in surprise: "Okay."

Seeing that he was as happy as a child, Shen Yutong felt that his proposal was very good, nodded and said: "Alright then, it's getting late, we'll see you tomorrow."

Meng Liansheng hurriedly got up to see him off.

The two talked while walking, Shen Yutong couldn't help but act like an older brother again, and once again told him to watch the theater as soon as he saw it, and not to imitate the messy ideas of other young masters.

Meng Liansheng could only obediently agree.

**

Swimming the river on a painting boat is an elegant thing, and it is suitable to wear a long gown.Back at Bai Mansion, Meng Liansheng took out the Bai Luo gown from the cabinet in the middle of the night, ironed it carefully under the lamp, and hung it by the window to dry.

The next morning, after having a hearty breakfast at the Bai mansion, he combed his hair and put on a long gown. Like last time, he left the house half an hour earlier and stood at the gate of the Bai mansion, waiting for Shen Yutong's car to arrive.

Only this time, just as he walked to the gate, he heard Uncle Zhong's angry voice coming from the mansion: "Xiao Meng! Second Young Master Shen's call!"

Hearing this, Meng Liansheng quickly turned around and walked in, went to the living room, picked up the phone receiver, and said, "Second Young Master!"

"Xiao Meng, something happened at the salt factory, today's appointment has to be changed, I'm really sorry."

Meng Liansheng seemed to have been poured a basin of cold water, and his heart sank, but his tone was still understanding: "It's nothing, the matter of the salt factory is important, and the boat vegetables can be eaten anytime."

Shen Yutong smiled helplessly on the phone: "I invited you, and I broke the appointment temporarily, so I shouldn't say anything. But don't worry, this boat meal is owed to you by the second son, and you will get it again if you have to deal with it." Kong, I'll take you out to have fun again."

"Well, the future is long, the second son is busy with business, don't worry about me."

After hanging up the phone, Meng Liansheng stared at the phone in a daze for a moment. Seeing this, Uncle Zhong came over and asked, "Xiao Meng, are you not going out?"

Meng Liansheng nodded: "Not going out."

At the same time, Bai Qinghe led his son down the stairs, he probably heard him call just now, and asked, "Xiao Meng, did you intend to go out with Second Young Master Shen?"

Meng Liansheng turned his head back and replied respectfully, "Yes."

Bai Zijun let go of his father's hand and trotted towards him.

Meng Liansheng gently rubbed the opponent's little head.

Bai Qinghe smiled kindly and said: "It seems that you and Mr. Shen Er have really become friends."

He has been around Shanghai Bund for twenty years, and he has seen a lot of young masters, all of them have eyes above the top, but he did not expect that the second son of the Shen family, who is rumored to be the head of the young masters, would be willing to be friends with a country boy.

He seemed to think of something, and said, "Something happened to the Shenjia Salt Factory."

Meng Liansheng's eyes moved slightly, and he asked urgently in a low voice, "What happened?"

Bai Qinghe said casually: "After the Shen family produced refined salt, they had many conflicts with traditional salt merchants. Last time, at Mr. Shen's birthday banquet, some people put poisonous snakes. It is probably because of this. Now the daily output of Shen's refined salt factory has reached [-] tons, the price is not much more expensive than crude salt from local salt. Many salt merchants in the two rivers and lakes have reordered their goods. The salt merchants in Huaiyang can’t sit still and want to block the Shen family’s salt shipment. I’ve been looking for me before, but I didn’t Take care of them. Now it seems that we have negotiated with Shunhe. Yesterday, the Shen family’s salt transportation to the north was officially cut off. The Shen family ships nearly [-] tons from the Shunhe wharf every month. Shunhe does not depend on the Shen family. That bit of salt transport makes money, but if the salt transport is cut off for two months, the Shen family will lose at least hundreds of thousands."

Meng Liansheng frowned and asked, "Then what should we do?"

Bai Qinghe picked up a newspaper, sat down on the sofa unhurriedly, raised his eyelids and glanced at the anxious young man, and jokingly said, "What? Worried about your friend, Second Young Master Shen?"

Meng Liansheng pursed his lips and said nothing.

Bai Qinghe sighed: "This is a battle between their salt merchants. We can't control it. We can only watch the fun from the sidelines. But you don't have to worry. The Shen family has been running salt for so many years, and they have backers from Beijing to Shanghai. The operation of refined salt was supported by the Beijing government. Those Huaiyang salt merchants wanted to rely on Shunhe to suppress the Shen family. Can afford it."

Meng Liansheng nodded thoughtfully.

Bai Qinghe looked at him, then turned to ask: "Xiao Meng, how are you doing at the dock?"

Meng Liansheng said honestly: "It's good, I learned a lot."

Bai Qinghe smiled: "I know you are a smart and hard-working child, and I also need help like you. Take your time, and when you are familiar with the affairs of the dock, I will ask Zhidong to take you to do more important things." thing."

"Thank you, sir."

Bai Qinghe said: "Since you don't go out today, take Zijun to play, if you don't come back, the little guy will talk to me every day."

Bai Zijun raised his head and grinned at Meng Liansheng: "Brother Meng, can you take me to the tram?"

Meng Liansheng rubbed his hair: "Okay, let's take the tram."

"These bastards who came from gangsters just don't keep their promises. Our contract with Shunhe is long-term, and they will destroy it as soon as they say it."

In Shen Yuan's study in Shen's garden, the two brothers sat across the table, annoyed at the interruption of the salt shipment.What Mr. Shen had predicted before would come true in less than a year. Even if they were mentally prepared, they were really upset.

Shen Yuan finished speaking angrily, and said again: "I'll go to the envoy Lin Hujun and ask him to give us justice."

Shen Yutong pondered for a moment, and said: "Brother, the relationship between Lin Hujun and Li Yongnian has always been good, even if he came forward to help us solve it, it would probably take a month or two, and it just happened to let him find an excuse to ask our lions for help." military pay."

"That's right, the envoy Lin Hujun is looking for names and asking for money from merchants like us. If he asks him this time, he will hit him directly at the point of the gun. Forget it, I will go to Beijing and let Beijing give orders I reckon it's faster. This is considered a knock on the mountain, so as not to be thrown around casually."

Shen Yutong nodded: "Okay, brother, you go to Beijing. I will arrange for the factory to reduce production in the next few days, so as not to overstock the goods, and then talk to Shunhe to see if there is a turnaround?"

The two brothers moved separately, and Shen Yuan took two entourages and boarded the train to Beijing that afternoon.Shen Yutong went to Fengxian to arrange the factory, and then returned to the city to contact Shunhe.

Li Yongnian has been behind the scenes all these years, and Li Siwei is mostly in charge.Li Siwei is not a few years older than Shen Yutong. Although he has never met, the circle of rich people in Shanghai is so big. He has heard about Li Siwei's personality for a long time.

He is proficient in eating, drinking, whoring and gambling. He is ruthless and cunning.In short, not a good thing.

After a whole day, Shen Yutong had already inquired clearly that the matter of cutting off their salt shipment this time was all the work of Li Siwei.

But he couldn't figure out why the other party would do this. The two parties had cooperated for more than ten years, and the Shen family's position in Shanghai had long been deeply rooted. Li Siwei really had no reason to offend the Shen family for those few Huaiyang salt merchants.

He also wanted to see exactly what this Li Siwei was up to.

After receiving Shen Yutong's call, Li Siwei happily agreed to the interview, and the two made an appointment to have dinner at Xinghualou in the evening.

Xinghualou serves Cantonese cuisine, Shen Yutongdao had reserved a box in advance, and when he arrived on time, Li Siwei had already arrived first.

Seeing Shen Yutong being led in by Xiaoer, Li Siwei hurriedly got up and stepped forward with a smile on his face, and extended his hands graciously: "Second Young Master, long time no see."

He is wearing a crisp white suit today, his hair is combed shiny, and he can only wish to write the words modern and handsome on his face.

In contrast, Shen Yutong was only wearing a gray shirt and trousers, and because of a busy day, there were faint wrinkles on the trousers.But such things as temperament are not created by dressing up.The natural nobility of a son of a family cannot be bred in the old city of Nanshi where Li Siwei grew up.

What's more, he also has a face that is so ingenious.

No matter how much power and wealth he has now, facing such a person, Li Siwei has an instinctive inferiority complex.

Shen Yutong shook hands with him and smiled softly: "Master Li, hello!"

Li Siwei hugged his shoulders and enthusiastically led him inside: "Second Young Master, please sit down!"

Shen Yutong is as good as others.

Li Siwei poured him a cup of tea himself, and said casually, "I went to listen to Boss Tong's play recently, but I haven't seen the second young master before."

Shen Yutong thanked him politely, but frowned slightly, wondering if this bastard was causing trouble for him, because last time he stopped him and forced Tong Rulan to eat supper?

Thinking of this, he frowned again, and said: "Recently, the salt factory is busy, and I often stay in Fengxian, and rarely return to Yichang."

"Understood." Li Siwei nodded and said with a smile, "Second Young Master's establishment of a refined salt factory is a great cause that benefits the country and the people, so he must be very busy."

Shen Yutong picked up the blue and white teacup, took a sip gracefully, looked lightly at the man opposite, and said with a half-smile, "Since Young Master Li said that producing refined salt is something that benefits the country and the people, why do you want to cut off our salt luck?"

Li Siwei slapped the table and looked annoyed: "Second Young Master, you have wronged me. Although I am taking care of Shunhe, it is really not my responsibility to cut off the salt transportation of your Shen family. It is my uncle who was arrested. Those Huaiyang salt merchants made a fuss. Because of this, I had a fight with the old man, but you also know that my uncle is the boss of Shunhe, and I can't change what he decides for a while. .”

Shen Yutong smiled: "I see, it seems that I blamed Mr. Li wrongly."

"Isn't it?" Li Siwei grinned: "But don't worry, Second Young Master, I will definitely continue to persuade my uncle to restore your Shen family's salt luck as soon as possible."

Shen Yutong didn't know what this man was selling in the gourd, but he still followed his words and said, "Then I will thank Young Master Li. I don't know what Mr. Li needs our Shen family to do?"

Li Siwei clicked his tongue: "Second Young Master won't think that I'm going to take advantage of the fire and ask you for money, right? Although I, Li Siwei, are not as rich as Second Young Master, I am not short of money. This is because we did something wrong here. I want Second Young Master to know that I, Li Siwei, are not that kind of person." Having said that, he paused for a while before continuing, "I just want to make friends with Second Young Master."

Shen Yutong said politely: "It is Shen's honor that Young Master Li wants to make friends with Shen."

Li Siwei laughed loudly: "Okay, let's chat while eating."

Originally, Shen Yutong thought that Li Siwei's little trick might have something to do with Tong Rulan.Tong Rulan is high-minded, and there are countless masters who praise him, but he doesn't even go to the game unless it is absolutely necessary.Li Siwei spent a lot of money to support him, but he still hasn't received any response to this day.

But in Shanghai today, it is rumored that Tong Rulan is Shen Yutong's man.He didn't try to defend, because treating the other party as a friend is a kind of protection for him.

It wouldn't be surprising if Li Siwei did it for this.

It was just a dinner, except for a random question when he entered the door at the beginning, Li Siwei didn't say a word to Tong Rulan, and he was overly attentive, insisting on being friends with him.

Shen Yutong is not a dull person. With his identity and his good skin, he has gained a lot of admiration since he was a child, and there are naturally many men among them. After all, Shanghai is a metropolis at the forefront of the times, and it is not uncommon for him to have his sleeves broken.

He has also heard about Li Siwei's deeds. It's no secret that this man is a man, and his affairs with male actors and young ladies are too large to fit in a basket.

After this conversation, the heart of Young Master Li's Sima Zhao is well known to passers-by.

What make friends?I'm afraid they want to treat him like a rabbit.

Shen Yutong only found it ridiculous.

Originally, he had dealt with it hypocritically, but in the end he was a son of a family, born with arrogance and arrogance.In the end, he was so perfunctory that he didn't even bother to perfunctory, so he put down his chopsticks, called the waiter to pay the bill, and said goodbye to Li Siwei.

Li Siwei didn't seem to see his displeasure, so he chased after Shen Yutong with a shy face, and pulled him back to Shen Yutong's car. Find a better place and we can talk in detail.”

Shen Yutong brushed his hand away coldly: "Thank you, young master, for your kindness, but there is no need to talk about it in detail."

Li Siwei didn't care about his indifference, and said with a smile: "Second Young Master, think about it, if the salt shipment is interrupted for a month, your Shen family will lose hundreds of thousands of oceans, you really don't want to have a proper talk with me?"

Shen Yutong also laughed, but it was a cold sneer, and his tone was arrogant: "I'm afraid this is a good show by Mr. Li, so I won't play with you. How are you Shunheai? How about hundreds of thousands of oceans?" , our Shen family can afford it."

Li Siwei sneered, and his face finally turned cold: "Second Young Master, I sincerely make friends with you and help you solve difficulties. This is your attitude? Your Shen family is rich, but you are not unreasonable about our Shunhe status in Shiliyangchang Clearly, I want to sincerely trip up your Shen family, and your life will not be too easy."

Shen Yutong didn't bother to talk to him any more, so she smiled contemptuously, opened the door and got into the car.

He was angry and annoyed, but in fact, if he falsely promised to be friends with Li Siwei, he could recover the hundreds of thousands of losses he was about to face, which didn't seem like a disadvantage.After all, as each other's identities, it is expected that even if the other party really has some crooked thoughts about him, they will not dare to do anything out of the ordinary.

But he is Shen Yutong, the second young master who grew up pampered in the garden of Shen's family, so he would not wronged himself to submit to someone like Li Siwei.

in his anger