82.

The war between the Russians and the Japanese continued on the land of the Chinese, and there were more and more Russians in Harbin, some wounded soldiers who had retired from the battlefield, and some civilians who had emigrated. Some went to the Butou District, and some went to Fujiadian. The Russians in the Butou district live near China Street, those who don't have much money live near Bazashi, and some who are particularly poor live in the 36 sheds. Compared with the Butou district, the Russians in Fujiadian seem to be more local, they Chinese learn to wear robes, cloth shoes, and some can learn some Chinese. Zhou Shiying even talked to a few people with comparisons, and they all said that they were poor and had no land in Russia, so they moved here. Zhou Shiying asked in wonder, the land here is not yours, right? Those people said that their emperor had said that the land they had moved over was theirs.

After the ambush that year, Japan launched a general attack on Arthur, and the two sides fought fiercely on the 203 heights outside Arthur. During this period, countless fields were destroyed and countless Chinese civilians were affected, and the war zone was thousands of miles away.

Fujiadian can often see some people who fled from Mukden, and no one knows how they escaped. Xu Qingzhi sometimes returned to the medical center, and he would see some people in rags. Xu Shihuai treated many people who had fled, but none of them were complete. Some people say that the Russians are like locusts crossing the border, all the grain is collected, and even the sorghum and millet have to be snatched to make horse food, leaving no way for people to live. Some people say that the Russians forced them to repair the forts, but many people only saw them but did not return at all, and the land was expropriated and the houses were destroyed. There was an old man who almost fainted from crying, and said that the Japanese had surrounded thirty or forty people in their village without asking for any reason, and his son was among them. The Japanese told them to dig a big pit, and when they had dug it, they pushed the people into it and buried them alive. Without evidence, let's just say that they are spies of the Russians.

Xu Qingyi would say a few words resentfully at first, but he soon understood that no matter how much he said, it would be useless, and no matter how much he said, it would not be able to offset the pain of his skin. In the crowd of refugees, it was almost impossible to see Lushun coming. Some say they died either by Japanese artillery fire or by the massacre of the Russians. ①

The war was raging day and night, and the Russians' factories were not able to meet the needs of the front. The Russians began to buy textiles and food in large quantities, which led to the division of the Binjiang Charity Association. One faction believes that the supplies are used to support the front line, where is the front line, in Mukden Lushun, the more things are sold to them, the longer they can hold out, and the more the people of Mukden will suffer, so they must not do business with the Russians. The other faction thinks that now the Russians are still pretending to buy from you, and if you really don't sell it at all, you will have to rob it in the end, and since you don't know what it will look like at that time, it is better to sell it to them at the beginning to make a profit. The two sides were at a stalemate, and finally each took a step back, and the charity association decided that all members would sell supplies to the Russians at a price 50% higher than the market price.

"Since you have to sell both horizontally and vertically, let's knock him hard," Ji Fanchen said.

By the end of the summer, the United Commercial Bank had bought a few shops that could not be done, some of which sold groceries, grain and oil, and ready-to-wear. Xu Qingzhi bought the grain and oil store, and he said that if the firm wants to expand its business scope, it must have a business like the door and the sea god's needle, and it cannot all sell high-end goods such as cloth and clothing. High-end goods are highly profitable, but when the world is bad, the poor do not buy it, and it is common for a dress to be worn for several years. Grain and oil are different, they are low-grade commodities, although the profit is not large, but no matter whether the world is good or bad, everyone has to buy it. Therefore this business is the foundation, and as long as it does not fall, everything else will be saved.

Lin Hongwen accompanied Xu Qingzhi to walk around one shop after another, there are not too many grain and oil stores that are still open in Fu's store, but as long as they are open, the business is very good. When passing by He Ji, Lin Hongwen couldn't help but sigh, "You said that He Gui is bold enough, and the food is not like other things, and it will not be in the way for three or five years." He collects so much at once, what if he can't sell it out? What should I do if I get damp and moldy? ”

Xu Qingzhi said: "As long as it is stored properly, it will not deteriorate for two or three years." ”

Lin Hongwen glanced at the crowded counter of the He Kee grain and oil shop and said, "I hope." ”

There are too many shops and not enough manpower, so Zhou Shiying recruited some people, and there was actually a Russian among them. This Russian is Ivan, he is in his twenties, his right leg has been broken before, and he will not be as bright as before after healing. But he had a lot of strength and could speak some Chinese, and Zhou Shiying thought that there was a lack of someone in the store who could understand Russian, so he kept him.

Lin Hongwen went to the drunken rouge to report every now and then, He Mu and Zhou Shiying both teased him, saying that he was hooked, and Lin Hongwen did not refute it. Ru Ting was happy when she saw him, and she kept chattering, only when she was affectionate, Lin Hongwen could be clean for a while. Although Ru Ting was a little noisy, Lin Hongwen never interrupted her to speak, because he didn't know what Ru Ting's next sentence would pop up, useful or useless, in short, just listen to it.

Ru Ting said that the matter was very trivial, today said that He Gui asked his subordinates to send money to the director of the Jiangbian Police Station, Ming'er said that He Gui sent someone to entertain a group of people from Fengtian, and two days later said that Yao Shunchang asked Yamada to help contact the people of the Songhua Society. Lin Hongwen listened to only a few words, afraid that he would think badly, so he asked He Mu to send someone to inquire. The news from the inquiry is naturally chaotic and complicated, and there is everything. Lin Hongwen put what Ru Ting said and the news he inquired about together, and He Gui's mind gradually became clear. He Gui should have never given up on Fengtian, and he wanted to go back and continue to open the pipe. Now the Japanese and the Russians are fighting inextricably, and the Japanese have heard that they have the upper hand, but he does not dare to hold it up, and both sides want to win it over. He gave money to the police chief of the riverside, and he gave gifts to the Songhua Club of Dongshang Street, so that he would not suffer any loss if he won it. Of course, he also understands that it is easy to be not a person inside and out, so he operates secretly and privately, sending the people below, and does not dare to put it in the open.

After autumn, the weather has cooled a little, except for the grain and oil stores, the recovered shops have all been on track. Xu Qingzhi said that this matter is not in a hurry, and the food can only be received after the battle is over. Moreover, the grain and oil store originally had some land outside the city, but it was deserted because of the war. He is not in a hurry, Lin Hongwen is not in a hurry, the other companies on the left and right are making money, and it is not a big deal if this one is not in business.

83.

The battle for the 203 Heights between Japan and Russia lasted until the beginning of December, with a total loss of more than 100,000 men on both sides. After that, the Japanese heavy artillery bombarded the Russian ships in the port, as well as the military facilities in the city of Arthur, and the Russian Pacific Fleet ceased to exist.

On this day, Lin Hongwen came out of the grocery store in a hurry, ready to go to Zhou Shiying's place to have a look, but found that the shoe store opposite the door had changed its plaque. Lin Hongwen remembered that the original owner of this shoe store was called Ding Zhiyou, and he had been selling shoes in Fuji's store for a few years. Lin Hongwen looked at the congratulatory words on the plaque, and said in his heart that He Gui's hand was stretched long enough.

There was a light snow in the sky, Lin Hongwen felt that it was not enjoyable, he thought that the northwest wind swept that kind of large snowflakes, and the battle that made people couldn't even open their eyes was enjoyable. However, enjoyment and fear of cold are always two different things, Lin Hongwen got into the trading house and sat down next to the charcoal brazier, putting his hand on the top and greedily roasting the fire. Zhou Shiying looked at him and said, "Not busy today?" ”

"It's okay", Lin Hongwen said, "I walked around, and it was quite stopping, by the way, the shoe store opposite our grocery store, do you remember?" The boss's surname is Ding, I saw the plaque just now, and asked He Gui to buy it. ”

Zhou Shiying was stunned and said, "Do you remember the time I quarreled with He Gui at the Charity Association before?" ”

Lin Hongwen nodded, "I remember." ”

"Before me, Boss Ding also quarreled with him", Zhou Shiying said, "I don't know if I'm too careful, I always feel that this matter has something to do with his graduation." ”

"It's impossible to say", Lin Hongwen said, "He is rich and powerful, who is not pleasing to the eye, and it is not easy to rectify whom?" ”

Zhou Shiying silently counted the accounts, Lin Hongwen glanced at him and said, "Don't think about it." ”

"I know", Zhou Shiying said, "By the way, there is a batch of foreign cloth coming to the warehouse today, and I can't leave now, can you help me inspect the goods?" ”

"Cheng", Lin Hongwen responded, "I'll roast the fire for a while and go." ”

"Don't worry, let Ivan go with you", Zhou Shiying instructed, "The Russians have lost the battle, and they haven't stopped much recently, I heard that there are people in the Butou District who have been robbed by soldiers, and if the money is gone, it will be small, and if the life is gone, it will be big." ”

Lin Hongwen has also heard what Zhou Shiying said, most of those Russian soldiers are stationed near China Street, relying on guns in their hands to do evil. Lin Hongwen has been on the street in China for a long time, and he knows more details, but the truth is not just robbing money as Zhou Shiying said. As far as Lin Hongwen knows, there has already been a fatality.

"It's okay to bring Ivan," Lin Hongwen said approvingly, "In case of encountering a Russian who finds fault, he can still say a few words for me." ”

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(1) Mu Jingyuan, Mao Minxiu, Bai Junshan. History of the Russo-Japanese War. Liaoning University Press. p. 422