Chapter 136: Dividing the Steamed Buns

Xia Wenqiao clapped his hands.

A subordinate entered carrying a food box.

The box was opened.

Inside were crystal-clear little steamed buns, neither more nor less than exactly ten of them.

Cheng Qianfan smiled.

Using his fingers, he picked up one of the little buns and put it into his mouth.

“Thin skin, delicious flavor, rich and juicy.”

A gleam appeared in Cheng Qianfan’s eyes.

“Nansiang steamed buns.”

Nansiang steamed buns originally came from Nansiang Town in Jiading County, Shanghai.

They were small and exquisite in appearance, with thin, semi-transparent wrappers.

The filling ingredients were carefully selected and expertly seasoned.

After steaming, they became plump and contained rich broth inside.

Their delicious flavor had long made them famous in Nansiang County.

Later, during the early Republican period, the owner of the Nansiang bun business came to Shanghai’s City God Temple and opened the Changxing Bun Shop, specializing in these Nansiang steamed buns.

“You’re mistaken, Brother Cheng.”

Xia Wenqiao shook his head.

“They are indeed Nansiang steamed buns, but they weren’t bought at the City God Temple. I happen to love these things, so I simply had the master chef from Changxing come to my house and make them.”

“In that case, Brother Xia is used to eating them and won’t miss a bite or two. Then I’ll be bold.”

Smiling, Cheng Qianfan picked up another little bun and ate heartily.

Hearing this, Xia Wenqiao sneered inwardly and cursed him for not knowing his place.

Both men had hidden meanings behind their words.

Xia Wenqiao’s meaning was that when he wanted something, he did not merely eat a bowl or two of it.

If he wanted it, he could even bring the chef into his home.

Therefore, Cheng Qianfan should carefully consider how much commission he was willing to surrender.

Cheng Qianfan’s meaning was that Xia Wenqiao already managed such a vast enterprise and had long since stuffed himself full of profits.

Surely he could spare a little and show some goodwill.

Xia Wenqiao sneered inwardly:

Who the hell do you think you are?

Xia Wenqiao watched Cheng Qianfan continue eating.

He had already consumed six little buns one after another.

Finally, Xia Wenqiao’s expression grew increasingly gloomy.

Just as Cheng Qianfan reached for the seventh Nansiang bun, Xia Wenqiao suddenly grabbed his wrist.

“Brother Cheng, that’s enough. Be careful you don’t eat so much that you throw it back up.”

Cheng Qianfan glanced at the four buns remaining.

Xia Wenqiao’s meaning was clear.

He intended to monopolize forty percent of the profits.

Cheng Qianfan sneered.

“Brother Xia, Second Lieutenant Pete was just married. He often complains to me that supporting a family from now on will be difficult.”

A flicker crossed Xia Wenqiao’s eyes.

“I’m afraid Second Lieutenant Pete is a foreigner. Perhaps he isn’t accustomed to Chinese food.”

However, his right hand released Cheng Qianfan’s wrist.

Cheng Qianfan calmly picked up the seventh bun and swallowed it in one bite.

Then he reached out for another.

“Brother Cheng, you’ve gone too far!”

Xia Wenqiao said coldly.

“To be honest, Teacher Xiu...”

“Cheng Qianfan, don’t push it too far!”

Xia Wenqiao slammed the table.

“I’ve already given face to Translator Xiu. Otherwise, do you think you would have been allowed to eat the sixth bun?”

“Brother Xia, you’re too impatient.”

Cheng Qianfan smiled, though his eyes were cold.

“Thanks to my teacher’s care, the burden on my shoulders has become somewhat heavier.”

He stared directly at Xia Wenqiao.

“When one does more work, how can one have the strength to carry it out without eating one’s fill?”

Xia Wenqiao looked at Cheng Qianfan, his mind racing.

Had Cheng Qianfan been promoted?

Inspector?

Impossible.

Xiu Gongshen would not be so aggressive.

Nor was Cheng Qianfan the sort of fool who only cared about immediate gains.

Then the most likely possibility was Deputy Inspector.

That was it.

Jin Kemu had been promoted to Deputy Chief Inspector of the Central Police Station.

The position of Inspector had temporarily remained under his own concurrent management.

Therefore, the most likely outcome was that Deputy Inspector Ma Yishou would be promoted to Inspector.

And Cheng Qianfan would receive an exceptional promotion to Deputy Inspector.

At that moment, a subordinate entered and whispered something into Xia Wenqiao’s ear.

The moment Cheng Qianfan had entered, Xia Wenqiao had already dispatched someone to gather information.

Now the report had returned.

Ma Yishou would soon be promoted to Inspector of the Third Division of the Central Police Station, while Cheng Qianfan would shortly assume the post of Deputy Inspector of the Third Division.

Xia Wenqiao gave Cheng Qianfan a long look.

If he remembered correctly, this young man had been born in the fourth year of the Republic.

It was now the twenty-fifth year of the Republic.

A twenty-two-year-old Deputy Inspector!

Moreover, Xia Wenqiao knew the capabilities of the various inspectors well.

Ma Yishou simply lacked the ability to serve as an Inspector.

Nor did he possess any significant backing.

In that case, Cheng Qianfan’s authority as Deputy Inspector would be almost equal to that of the Inspector himself.

“Brother Xia, may I eat this bun?”

Cheng Qianfan asked gently with a smile.

Xia Wenqiao slowly shook his head.

Seeing Cheng Qianfan’s expression change immediately, he burst into loud laughter.

Picking up one of the three remaining buns and stuffing it into his mouth, he pushed the food box containing the final two buns toward Cheng Qianfan.

“How can one bun fill a stomach? Brother Cheng, please!”

The subordinate standing nearby was astonished.

He repeatedly looked at his boss.

He was merely a Deputy Inspector.

Yet Brother Xia had not only yielded another ten percent of the profits, he had even given up an additional ten percent.

Was Cheng Qianfan’s status as Deputy Inspector really worth more face than Xiu Gongshen and Pete?

Seeing the expression on his subordinate’s face, Xia Wenqiao ignored him.

Xiu Gongshen’s face was worth ten percent.

Pete’s face, as Deputy Chief of the Investigation Unit under the French Concession Political Department, was worth ten percent.

Cheng Qianfan’s position as Deputy Inspector, though far inferior in rank to either Xiu Gongshen or Pete, was likewise worth ten percent.

Xiu Gongshen held a high position but relatively little practical power.

Pete was a Frenchman.

The French appeared to be the masters of the French Concession and seemed immensely powerful.

Yet actual work still depended on Chinese personnel.

Moreover, the French Concession Political Department mainly investigated Communists and foreign spies.

Its deterrent effect on the Green Gang was limited.

Therefore, although the ranks of Inspector and Deputy Inspector seemed low, police officers were directly responsible for maintaining public order, conducting manhunts, and sealing businesses and residences.

That was true power despite low rank.

The Green Gang was not afraid of the police.

Many officers had ties to the Gang, and quite a few were members themselves.

However, harmony generated wealth.

A Deputy Inspector had barely reached the threshold where he could sit at the negotiating table and demand benefits for himself.

Cheng Qianfan, with both backing and ability, was worth ten percent in Xia Wenqiao’s eyes.

As for the additional ten percent that Xia Wenqiao voluntarily gave away, it was related to Cheng Qianfan’s position as Deputy Inspector, yet also unrelated.

The reason was simple.

He thought highly of the man.

Cheng Qianfan looked at the two Nansiang buns pushed before him.

He picked one up, placed it into his mouth, and swallowed it whole.

Then he picked up the final remaining bun.

The subordinate beside Xia Wenqiao glared at Cheng Qianfan with furious eyes.

Xia Wenqiao smiled and gestured with his hand for Cheng Qianfan to continue eating.

Instead, Cheng Qianfan smiled.

He took a bite, eating half of it.

Then, holding up the remaining half dripping with broth, he extended it toward Xia Wenqiao.

“Brother Xia, I never eat more than seventy percent full. I can’t finish this much. If Brother Xia doesn’t mind...”

This was Cheng Qianfan’s way of voluntarily surrendering the final five percent of profit that had already reached his lips.

Xia Wenqiao stared deeply at Cheng Qianfan.

Then he suddenly burst into laughter.

Grabbing the half bun, he stuffed it into his mouth and swallowed it in one bite.

“Mind? What nonsense. We’re all grown men.”

Then he clasped his fists.

“Brother Cheng, you’re a man who understands propriety. I’ve accepted you as a friend.”