Nightclubs are an exotic that originated in Europe in the second half of the 19th century. The most prestigious nightclub at the time was the French Moulin Rouge cabaret, which opened in 1889.

Dressed in long skirts and to the rhythm of the frenetic music, the dancers twisted their hips and raised their thighs high to the ceiling where the chandelier hung them.

At that time, the British called this dance "cancan", and considered it debauched and indecent.

But European artists, aristocrats, and the emerging bourgeoisie were so interested that the stands were filled with "greedy spectators with wine glasses".

Everything is learned from the West, and the trend of dancing in the 20s of the 20th century swept the magic capital. At first, foreigners danced by themselves, and then a group of Chinese people who drank foreign ink followed suit, and it gradually became fashionable. The place for dancing has also expanded from private parties to professional dance halls.

Speaking of dance halls, we have to mention Paramount.

This was the entertainment venue that enjoyed the first pleasure house in the Far East. Even in later generations, they frequently appear in spy war dramas.

At the time of the inauguration ceremony, the most famous newspaper in the magic capital, "Declaration", can be described as full of praise:

"Glass lighthouse, ten miles of light. The granite face is solemn and magnificent. Marble steps, precious and rare. Reinforced railings, dexterous novelty. Glass floors, dazzled. Spring-loaded floors for flexibility. ”

At present, the five super-first-class dance halls in the magic capital, Cirous, Lido, Metropolitan, Vienna, and Paramount are also among them, and they are firmly in the position of king.

However, Yuan Pengfei was reluctant to go there, he wanted to go to Cirous.

Ciros is a dance hall in the French Concession. Compared with other dance halls in the magic capital, its advantage is that it is opened in the French Concession.

Normally, Japanese people don't come here to play, let alone find faults.

For the Japanese, Yuan Pengfei hated them so much that he would make trouble for them when he had the opportunity.

However, it has to be said that the Japanese have an absolute advantage here, and the great powers of Britain, the United States, Germany, and France will not desperately oppose others.

In underground warfare, the emphasis is on hiding his identity, and he is stabbed in the back. Fighting against others with a clear knife and a gun is tantamount to hitting a stone with an egg, which is a reckless practice, and he will not touch that moldy head.

Therefore, try to avoid face-to-face confrontation with the Japanese, and don't touch these bastards if you can.

At the door of the car's splendid ballroom, the doorman immediately greeted and opened the door.

After getting out of the car, Yuan Pengfei took a banknote to the doorman, and said while holding Zhuang Xiaoman and walking inside: "Give me the best card seat, don't let those indiscriminate little deflated people disturb me." ”

"Yes sir."

The doorman is also a very knowledgeable person, and he takes a tip to serve respectfully, and everything is in accordance with the requirements of the "uncle".

Yuan Pengfei is not very familiar with this kind of place, but he is not unfamiliar. Everything is natural and casual, just like arriving at home.

And Zhuang Xiaoman really came to this kind of place for the first time, and when he saw the dazzling and magnificent dance hall, he was a little shocked. hugged Yuan Pengfei's arm tightly and cautiously followed his steps.

The two sat down, Yuan Pengfei ordered some drinks and snacks at random, patted Zhuang Xiaoman's little hand and said, "Don't be nervous, we are using money to consume, we are uncle." It seems to be a bit too arrogant, but there is no need to be cautious, just sit generously and play generously, it's not a big deal. ”

Zhuang Xiaoman relaxed a little when he heard this, and his eyes scanned the environment here. The exquisitely arranged stage, the marble bar, the extensive dance floor, and the comfortable booths around it all tell the luxury of the ballroom, which is worthy of being a first-class ballroom.

"How much does it cost to open such a dance hall?"

"I don't know, but I heard that Paramount seemed to cost 700,000 when it was opened, so how could this Cirox cost hundreds of thousands!" Yuan Pengfei said casually.

For him, who has seen a lot of wealth, he has long seen these things very plainly. Anyway, as long as the money is enough to spend, it doesn't have to be a lot.

But Zhuang Xiaoman had never experienced this, and when he heard that this place was worth hundreds of thousands, his surprise was beyond words.

"It's worth so much money, my monthly salary is only a few dozen yuan, which means that I have to work for a thousand years to have a chance to buy it?" Zhuang Xiaoman was amazed.

Then he asked: "I really don't know how these capitalists make money, this is too powerful." Will this Cirox be able to earn me a year's salary one day after it opens? ”

Yuan Pengfei shook his head, he didn't open such a house, and he didn't know. But he knew something else.

"Xiao Man, don't look at him now making money every day, he can afford to open this kind of place.

The French Concession is even better, and if the Chief Inspector General of the General Bureau of Patrol and Arrest in the French Concession is done, he can still make money for a few years.

Dance halls like those that open elsewhere are basically in dire straits. ”

"Oh, is it? It seems that the little brother has an opinion! ”

A bad old man in his fifties happened to pass by, and when he heard his words, he deliberately asked.

Yuan Pengfei stood up, looked at the visitor and asked, "What do you call it?" ”

"My surname is Liao, just call me Lao Liao." The old man said with a smile.

The corners of Yuan Pengfei's mouth curved slightly: "My surname is Yuan, just call me Old Yuan." ”

Lao Liao waved his hand and sent the waiter away, and sat down on the opposite card seat unceremoniously, "Lao Yuan, it's also a title, I don't know if I can listen to your opinion." ”

With this determined tone, Yuan Pengfei was not happy when he heard it. Asked rhetorically: "Intelligence can be sold for a price, and my analysis is also valuable, you have to give me a reason, otherwise why should I tell you." ”

Lao Liao obviously didn't expect to encounter such an answer, his eyes looked Yuan Pengfei up and down, nodded and said: "What you said is also right, but my favor is also very valuable, if your analysis is really valuable, I can exchange a favor with you." ”

He is the chief Chinese catcher in the French Concession, and half of the Chinese catchers in the French Concession are all under his orders. The French don't have much to do with things, so in a sense, he can be regarded as the emperor of the French Concession.

There are few people who don't sell his face.

Yuan Pengfei really didn't know about him, but seeing that he was also a person who consumed in this booth, he could be regarded as having a bit of status, so he readily agreed.

"Xiao Man, Lao Liao, then I'll tell you." Yuan Peng flew to the sofa behind him and leaned back, and said leisurely:

"As we all know, the ballroom is a mixed place, and anyone can get in.

Like those sitting at the bar over there, there are literati, white-collar workers, workers, and small businessmen, but at the same time, there are also ruffians and hooligans.

Usually, the most drunk and jealous fights are a fist and kick, and the people under the dance hall owner can take them down. ”

Hearing this, Lao Liao interjected: "I know what you said, say something I don't know, otherwise it's not worth a favor." ”

Yuan Pengfei glanced at him, didn't care about him, and continued: "But now the times are different, the Japanese are here. They also like to come to this kind of place, but this dance hall is full of people, and who knows if there will be assassination agents! ”

Zhuang Xiaoman was excited, and his little hand held his arm tightly, weren't they the agents who came to the dance hall?

Yuan Pengfei patted her little hand, feeling the excitement of talking to herself. He made it clear that who knew that he was an agent of the military commander?

They're here to play, so naturally they don't have so many worries.

Yuan Pengfei said to the thoughtful Lao Liao: "I see, sooner or later, this dance hall will become a bloody place, if you want to hear the sound of gunshots, you can come to the dance hall, it must be very lively."

This Ciroth can be stable for a while, after all, the Japanese don't come here to play, and the agents don't come here to play with guns.

However, in the future, I'm afraid it will be sooner or later. ”

There is no need to say some pessimistic words, and when the Japanese start a war with the United States, this concession will also fall into the hands of the Japanese, and the situation will naturally be the same as outside.

Lao Liao is a smart person, and he also thought of it, "If you have something, you can come to the General Arrest Bureau to find me." ”

With that, he got up and left, not even having the heart to play.