Chapter 051: Major Aoki Assumes His Post

According to Chen Jiehua’s original plan, he was supposed to take the train directly from the northeast to the Soviet Union, find that person, join his organization, and begin his own scheme. However, he never found a suitable excuse to ask Uncle Gangmura for permission, and in the end Gangmura Neiji made the decision himself and sent him to Shanghai.

Well, Shanghai it is. Waiting here would work just as well. Fate seemed to intervene—on the very first day in Shanghai, he encountered Fujiwara Mio! Was it destiny? Perhaps it truly was! He remembered the last time he returned home after graduating from the university; it was his second day in Lushun when he met Zhou Yongsu and then rescued the dying Liu Junze.

If it was fate, he might as well let things flow naturally. With Mio’s status, it was no problem for her to enter any of the Japanese establishments and attend countless banquets.

By noon, Fujiwara Mio’s fever had finally subsided. In this era, most injured people died of wound infections and convulsions from high fever, but now that there was penicillin, it was easy to pass this hurdle.

Waking from a fever brought hunger, so Chen Jiehua reheated some millet porridge and fed it to Mio.

Halfway through her meal, Fujiwara Mio suddenly embraced Chen Jiehua tightly!

“Auntie washes the railway!”

Well, it seemed no aunt could avoid washing the railway!

“Aoki-kun! No one has ever taken care of me so attentively when I was ill!”

“Aoki-kun! Will you marry me?”

“Yes!”

Two bowls of millet porridge settled the heroine! Or perhaps, the heroine was pursuing the hero! By convention, the protagonist should feign reluctance, but Chen Jiehua didn’t even pretend!

Some details of the ensuing story were omitted.

On the fifth day, March 9th—a good day for outings and cleaning!

Fujiwara Mio was able to get out of bed. Chen Jiehua took her shopping for clothes. On their way back, they ran into the rickshaw driver from last time. Chen Jiehua gave him three silver dollars and had him gather a group of neighbors to clean the villa from top to bottom, including clearing the weeds and fallen leaves in the courtyard.

On the sixth day, March 10th, Sunday—even the Japanese took a holiday. Another good day for buying clothes.

So once again, Chen Jiehua took Fujiwara Mio shopping. Shopping and more shopping!

March 11th—time to go to work!

According to the transfer order from Gangmura Neiji at the Army Department, Aoki Qiao was to report to the Japanese Consulate General in Shanghai, though his actual work would be assigned to various Japanese-run trading companies, firms, and newspapers.

Fujiwara Mio followed Chen Jiehua. Aoki Qiao entered the Consulate General with his transfer order and immediately saw an acquaintance in the lobby—his classmate from the university, Watanabe Wataru.

Though they hadn’t attended many classes together and barely interacted, Chen Jiehua remembered the name because of its unique ABA structure.

“Watanabe-kun! I’m so glad to see you here!”

“Aoki-kun?” Watanabe Wataru was equally surprised. He knew Aoki Qiao by name but didn’t have a good impression—he simply disliked him!

We, the outstanding graduates, only received the rank of Lieutenant, and Watanabe Wataru had been secretly posted to China for over a year, still a Lieutenant. Yet this guy graduated as a Major! It felt unfair.

“Watanabe-kun, you go ahead. I’ll report to the Consul upstairs first. Let’s have a drink together at noon,” Chen Jiehua said, heading for the stairs, with Fujiwara Mio obediently following behind.

Chen Jiehua knocked on the door. “Come in!”

“Consul, Army Major Aoki Qiao reporting for duty!”

“Aoki Qiao?” Consul Shigemitsu Akira had forgotten someone was due to report—Aoki Qiao was a week late!

“Aoki-kun, you are a week late! Please explain yourself!” Shigemitsu remembered—it was the one who arrived a week late! He had to give him a stern warning.

“Sir…”

“Mio? Miss Mio!” Just as Chen Jiehua was about to find an excuse, Shigemitsu saw Fujiwara Mio enter behind him. He quickly rose from his desk and hurried to the door.

“When did Miss Mio arrive in Shanghai? Why haven’t you come to chat with Uncle?”

“Uncle Akira, I came to Shanghai with my fiancé. I injured my leg earlier and have been recuperating at home, so my fiancé was delayed reporting for duty because he needed to care for me. Please forgive him, Uncle Akira!”

Fujiwara Mio performed a Japanese-style bow.

“Fiancé? Oh! I see! Come, Mio, have a seat.”

Truly the protagonist’s halo—no matter how difficult the situation, there was always someone to help!

“Thank you, Uncle.”

“Don’t call me Uncle. You and Mio should both call me Uncle Akira! Didn’t Mio tell you? Her father and I are lifelong friends.”

“Uncle Akira!” Fine, another uncle added to the roster.

After dealing with the Consul, Aoki Qiao found Watanabe Wataru and arranged to meet at a small Japanese bar run by expatriates. Taking Fujiwara Mio along, he left the Consulate General for his real workplace—the Tongyuan Trading Company on Nanjing Road.

Thanks to Mio, Shigemitsu insisted on giving Aoki Qiao a car, claiming, “Mio’s leg isn’t fully healed; she can’t walk so much!” This made things much easier.

Chen Jiehua drove directly to Tongyuan Trading Company, quickly reported in, and received his assignment. Though he was a Major, he was a newcomer, so the company couldn’t arrange much for him and simply tasked him with gathering business information about the Republic.

This suited Chen Jiehua perfectly, as he planned to open a pharmacy in Shanghai, and truth be told, that was about all he knew how to do.

At noon, Aoki Qiao intended to send Mio home before meeting Watanabe Wataru, but she insisted on accompanying him, so they went together to the Japanese bar.

The three drank and chatted. Aoki Qiao was merely making casual conversation, but it was Fujiwara Mio who asked most of the questions. Given her status, Watanabe Wataru answered everything.

That evening, Shigemitsu Akira hosted a banquet at the Japanese club to welcome Major Aoki Qiao’s transfer from the Kwantung Army to Shanghai!

Of course, everyone knew the Consul was really welcoming Miss Mio of the Fujiwara family; a mere Major like Aoki Qiao didn’t command much attention.

The Japanese club in the HK district operated on a membership basis, the entire building heavily guarded. It featured prominently in later war and espionage films, so Chen Jiehua had every reason to explore it.

Shigemitsu Akira invited all the high-ranking Japanese officials in Shanghai, hosting a Western-style banquet and ball—a hallmark of grand Shanghai. After several rounds of drinks, those with weaker tolerance began to wobble, and as things grew more relaxed, Fujiwara Mio proposed exploring the club’s floors.

She’d never been there and was curious!

“Mio, I’ll go with you. I’m new myself; it’s a good chance to get acquainted.”

A Major and a noble lady from the Fujiwara family—of course they were allowed to tour the club! No need for identity verification; the club manager personally accompanied them, introducing each floor.

When they returned downstairs, the Western banquet was nearly over. Aoki Qiao deposited a large sum of yen at the club and obtained a premium membership card.