Chapter Twenty-Two: Entering the Police Station

Page 1/3

Chen Guangliang entered this world on April 15th, and now, exactly three months later, he had already achieved a modest success in his career.

At present, the Yangtze River Rickshaw Company owned a total of 21 rickshaws, of which 14 bore genuine "large permits," while 7 were fake permits leaked from the Transportation Department. The total assets had already surpassed 4,500 silver dollars.

Moreover, the monthly income of the Yangtze River Rickshaw Company had reached about 700 silver dollars, an extraordinarily high profit margin.

However, this "excessive profit" was not built on exploiting the rickshaw pullers but was a result of efficient business management.

First, the three-shift system proved its advantage perfectly, allowing one rickshaw to earn an extra dime per day in rental fees.

Second, the ratio of real to fake permits was 2:1, and the fake permits were also made by the Transportation Department, so they were genuine in a sense. The real permits were also sold below market price, which invisibly increased the return rate.

Finally, promoting goods boosted income by about 15%.

All in all, the Yangtze River Rickshaw Company was enjoying the perfect confluence of favorable timing, location, and human resources, with everything developing in a positive direction.

Chen Guangliang sat in the office of the Yangtze River Rickshaw Company, calculating financial matters.

Outside, Zhou Xinggao was on guard, and many rickshaw pullers were resting or waiting to change shifts, making the place very secure. Moreover, many residents of the foreign concessions were Chen Guangliang’s creditors, so no one dared to lay a hand on him.

Chen Guangliang wrote down the equity distribution of projects A, B, and C on paper, focusing on the proportion of his shares.

Project A: 60 shares issued, Chen Guangliang held 20 shares;

Project B: 120 shares issued, Chen Guangliang held 35 shares;

Project C: 240 shares issued, Chen Guangliang held 100 shares.

In total, Chen Guangliang held about 37% equity in the Yangtze River Rickshaw Company.

Of course, since the projects had different operating periods, their finances were accounted for separately.

For example, Project A had been running for one month and 25 days, and the original capital of 600 silver dollars had increased to about 760 silver dollars; this did not include two genuine permits, each valued at around 200 silver dollars, making the actual asset value approximately 860 silver dollars.

Although Chen Guangliang was burdened with a debt of 1,350 silver dollars plus corresponding interest, he was completely unfazed!

After all, the speed at which he was making money far exceeded the interest accumulating.

...

"Manager Chen, bad news! Some patrol officers are here causing trouble!"

A rickshaw puller rushed in hurriedly, his voice filled with fear and urgency.

Chen Guangliang put down his pen and stood up, saying calmly, "Don't panic, the sky won't fall!"

Page 2/3

He stepped into the courtyard and indeed saw five or six patrol officers from the British and American concessions, dressed in British police uniforms; they wore caps, uniforms, belts, and pistol holsters, all signaling their "professionalism" and "authority."

Ordinary people would naturally be terrified at the sight of such "dog skins" (a derogatory term for foreign police uniforms).

At this moment, the group was staring intently at Zhou Xinggao, seeming ready to draw their guns at the slightest provocation.

Among these patrol officers was Tang Zhiqing, a local informant.

Chen Guangliang immediately understood that Wang Chengyun was behind this trouble.

"Boss, could this be some kind of misunderstanding?"

Chen Guangliang smiled and stepped before the group, gathering his men behind him to display his leadership charm.

Detective Gao sneered, "Misunderstanding? Do we look like we’re mistaken? According to an informant’s tip, you are harboring a wanted murderer right here. This man... and you, as the boss here, are suspected of harboring a murder suspect. You’ll have to come with us."

Chen Guangliang asked directly, "Which murder case in the concession is this? Is this wanted order issued by the concession? Sir, please enlighten us."

At this moment, Professor Zhang Qihua also happened to be present; he pushed up his glasses and joined in, asking, "Yes, if you are here to arrest someone, you must explain why. Has there been a murder case in the concession recently? Has a wanted notice been issued?"

Foreigners in the concessions generally did not care about the lives of lower-class Chinese, and the issuance of wanted orders was rare.

Detective Gao was momentarily speechless—how could he have forgotten this? They were patrol officers of the concession, and could only arrest and investigate crimes committed within the concession.

However, as someone seen as an authority by ordinary people, he shouted angrily, "When have you ever questioned our police work? Take them away! Arrest and shoot to kill if necessary!"

Chen Guangliang quickly said, "Hold on, Detective. Today, in front of a university professor and a seasoned newspaper contributor, such conduct will surely draw social criticism. We will cooperate with your law enforcement, but please provide a reason."

Professor Zhang Qihua responded immediately, "Indeed. I am Professor Zhang Qihua of Aurora University and am well acquainted with several newspapers. If you arrest people without cause, I will protest to your superiors and report this to the media."

Detective Gao was now genuinely frightened. After all, intellectuals held high status in this era, not to mention journalists.

Even a gangster tycoon like Du Yuesheng treated newspaper reporters with great care, investing in newspapers, taking famous journalists as protégés, and providing stipends to intern reporters monthly.

In this era, intellectuals and journalists were almost untouchable.

Take Yuan Shikai’s son as an example—he originally wanted to be a Japanese collaborator but dared not show himself for fear that journalists would expose his family’s scandals.

"This..." Detective Gao glared sharply at Tang Zhiqing, now in a difficult position.

Chen Guangliang saw an opportunity. He knew Detective Gao feared only Professor Zhang Qihua, and once the heat died down, trouble would come again.

So he immediately added, "Detective Gao, perhaps you were misled into conducting this search. We certainly support your work, but this rickshaw company has shareholders from the Municipal Works Department’s Transportation Section. We are definitely a legitimate business."

Page 3/3

Detective Gao was stunned again—so he had been played. This company had backing!

A rickshaw company with shareholders in the Transportation Department was "one of their own."

"We were just acting on a tip-off, conducting a routine inspection."

Chen Guangliang immediately said, "I understand... In that case, we welcome your inspection."

They could not let these patrol officers create difficulties.

At this moment, Zhou Xinggao stepped forward and said, "Since this matter involves me, boss, I am willing to accompany you to the station for inspection."

Having played his hand, even if he went to the police station, the danger would be minimal.

Chen Guangliang was pleased with Zhou Xinggao’s shrewdness but also said, "I’ll go with him too, Detective Gao!"

Zhou Xinggao quickly said, "Boss!"

Chen Guangliang waved his hand and whispered, "I won’t let my brother take the risk alone. Besides, we haven’t broken any law—what’s there to fear?"

Then he turned to He Xiangdong, who was also present, and said, "Go to the Transportation Department and call Mr. Li back to take charge. Zhou and I will be back soon."

Detective Gao quietly awaited Chen Guangliang’s concession, no longer aggressive.

In his heart, Chen Guangliang was a far more capable figure than Wang Chengyun.

Seeing this, Detective Gao smiled and said, "Mr. Chen, your sense of justice is admirable. Please, lead the way."

He had taken a bribe but only needed to perform the charade, make a report at the station, and then release them.

"Please."

Tang Zhiqing was utterly at a loss—Detective Gao had not glanced at him once.

Clearly, Tang Zhiqing understood that at this point, Detective Gao would not really detain Chen Guangliang and Zhou Xinggao.