A Republic-era tycoon started as a secretary at Tianjin Railway Station

Chapter 16: Using the pretext of investigating corruption to amass wealth [Please continue reading]

Antique shops in Jinhai City are divided into two main categories. One category consists of traditional Chinese shops in the old city, mainly located in Beimenli and Guyi Street.

The other group consisted of newly built Western-style shops in the concessions, mainly located in Quanyechang and Binjiang Road.

The antique shops in the Guyi Street area are all old-style buildings with blue bricks and gray tiles.

As the saying goes, antiques are valued in prosperous times, while gold is valued in chaotic times.

In these turbulent times, not many people play with this kind of outdated stuff anymore!

As a result, the once bustling Guyi Street gradually declined and became deserted.

Deep within Guyi Street lies a jade shop called "Hengyazhai," which was once a long-established brand in Tianjin.

But with the arrival of the little sun... the entire family of the former boss was wiped out, and now the shop has been empty for a long time.

But right now, the place has been cleaned very well. Although it is still a bit old, the black lacquered wooden door with brass rings and the black wooden plaque with gold lettering hanging above the door has a unique charm.

The shop has blue brick floors and old wooden counters, and the lighting is somewhat dim. The porcelain vases and jade items that used to be displayed on the shelves have all disappeared.

Hong Zhong was standing in the center of the shop at this moment, and said to the person next to him:

"Accountant Zhou, oh no, I should call you Manager Zhou now!"

"No, no! It's all thanks to Secretary Hong speaking well of me to the station chief that I was given this opportunity!"

Standing next to Hong Zhong was a middle-aged man in his forties, of medium build and rather thin, who was bowing and scraping to Hong Zhong with a hunched back.

He has a square face, slightly prominent cheekbones, and deep-set eyes, and looks somewhat haggard.

This man was Zhou Yafu, the station's accountant, who had been sent by Ma Kui to monitor Yu Zecheng.

Unfortunately, after Ma Kui's downfall, the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics was downsized, and he, who had offended Director Yu and had no background, became one of the 25 unlucky ones!

After losing his job at the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, Zhou Yafu faced dire financial straits and had to search for work everywhere.

However, due to his superior's reputation for being a liar, coupled with his advanced age, he was unable to find a job despite being literate, able to do accounting, and capable of doing arithmetic!

When Hong Zhong found him, his family had run out of food.

Now that Hong Zhong can offer him a job, let alone being the manager of an antique shop, he would do anything, even be a waiter!

"Although the stationmaster agreed to let you become the manager."

But this shop has absolutely nothing to do with the station manager, and I hope you remember that!

Hong Zhong warned Zhou Yafu with a serious expression.

"Yes, yes, I understand! This shop has nothing to do with the Secret Service!"

Zhou Yafu nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Seeing Zhou Yafu's submissive demeanor, Hong Zhong was quite satisfied.

To be frank, this shop is just for show. The antiques they display are all fakes, so even if they were stolen or robbed, it wouldn't be worth much.

Therefore, the shopkeeper doesn't need to be a shrewd and capable person, but rather someone who is obedient.

Hong Zhong only remembered Zhou Yafu after being reminded by the action team.

Zhou Yafu was a very obedient person; he even meticulously recorded every detail of Yu Zecheng's cradle!

Moreover, having experienced the loss of his job, Zhou Yafu naturally cherishes the opportunity given to him by Hong Zhong.

"Boss, Xiaohui and I have finished tidying up the backyard!"

As the two were talking, Mo Xiaoli walked in from the backyard with his younger sister.

Seeing that the two men were covered in sweat, you could tell they had worked a lot.

"Thank you for your hard work. From now on, you two will live in the backyard and help out at the shop!"

"Okay, boss!"

Mo Xiaoli readily agreed.

Putting aside the fact that this job is more respectable and pays more, just the fact that Hong Zhong personally came to his home to recruit him shows that Mo Xiaoli really had no reason to refuse.

"Thank you, boss! Cough cough..."

Following behind her brother, Mo Xiaohui also bowed to Hong Zhong, but then coughed, seemingly exhausted.

Hong Zhong frowned upon seeing this.

When he first met Mo Xiaohui, he could tell that the little girl was either malnourished or sick; otherwise, it would be impossible for her brother to be so strong while her sister was so thin.

So he said, "I'll have someone take Xiaohui to the army hospital later; she doesn't look well!"

"No need, boss, I'm fine!"

Upon hearing that she was to be taken to the hospital, Mo Xiaohui quickly refused.

"Yes, boss, Xiaohui just has a weak spleen and stomach; she's fine!"

Mo Xiaoli quickly offered an explanation.

"No matter what the illness is, if you're sick, you should get treatment!"

"Don't worry about this. I'll have someone take her to see a doctor. That's settled then."

As he spoke, Hong Zhong looked at Zhou Yafu again:

"Manager Zhou, please make a note of this! Xiao Hui's medical expenses will be deducted from Ali's future wages!"

"yes!"

Upon hearing Hong Zhong point him out, Zhou Yafu quickly responded.

"Brother Zhong! I'm back!"

At this moment, another person walked into Hengyazhai; it was Chen Beifa.

After taking off his military uniform and putting on a Zhongshan suit, Chen Beifa returned to his original unremarkable appearance, blending into the crowd and disappearing without a trace.

"Go outside and tell them!"

Hong Zhong interrupted Chen Beifa and gave him a wink.

"Manager Zhou, you and Ali will share the workload. This shop isn't usually crowded, so the three of you should be able to manage!"

"yes!"

After giving his instructions, Hong Zhong led Chen Beifa out of Hengyazhai and turned into a small alley next to the shop.

After looking around and finding no one following him, Hong Zhong asked:

"Tell me, what's going on?"

"Brother Zhong, you're incredibly insightful! I've found out everything!"

This Han Tieshan, along with the logistics company and officials from the Joint Logistics Support Force's Tianjin-Haikou Supply Area, would resell military supplies every month, earning them about $1 a month...

To be honest, the resale of military supplies is all too common in the Nationalist army. Not to mention the military police, even the elite 94th Army can do it.

Whether it's the Bureau of Secrecy or other supervisory departments, they all turn a blind eye to these things.

After all, the law doesn't punish everyone. If you arrest all these people, who will help you fight the police?

Moreover, this involves the affairs of the four major families, and even Director Zheng is implicated. How can they possibly investigate?

Therefore, under normal circumstances, Hong Zhong would neither be able to investigate nor dare to investigate!

But some things, if you don’t weigh four ounces on the scale, you can weigh a thousand pounds on the scale!

Now, by using the pretext of Han Tieshan hiding Emei Peak, we're exposing this whole affair, and they'll naturally be afraid!

He, Hong Zhong, may not have the guts to investigate corruption, but he certainly has the guts to amass wealth under the guise of investigating corruption.

Not only does it exist, but it's huge!

"Very good. The 20th Regiment has been in Jinhai for half a year now. By that calculation, they should have earned seventy or eighty thousand US dollars. They should be able to catch the stationmaster's eye!"

Thinking of this, Hong Zhong, who had been pacing back and forth, finally stopped and said to Chen Beifa, "Now that everything has been investigated, let's arrest them!"

"Are they all being arrested?"

"Arrest them all!"