Chapter 073: Reopening the Aoki Pharmacy

From the moment the Emperor received the film reel to finally confirming the formula’s efficacy, he kept the news under wraps, fearing it might prove false. After all, the stakes were too high—what if it turned out to be a hoax? Waiting a dozen days was harmless, but if titles were granted, military ranks elevated, marriages bestowed, only to discover a fraud, it would be a scandal.

Aoki Qiao obtained the formulas for the two medicines at once, sparing not a moment, braving countless hardships to return home and deliver them to the Emperor. Well, he took a slight detour, but it was of no consequence. Anyone who dared accuse Aoki Qiao of being a spy for the Republic—let them beware, for the accuser would be the spy!

Shimazu, the god of war, and the empire’s god of medicine!

After the banquet, Okamura Ninji quietly sought out Aoki Qiao, followed by his classmate from the Army University, Miyazaki Zhouichi. This time, Aoki Qiao immediately recognized Miyazaki, exchanged greetings after speaking with Okamura, mindful not to repeat the incident in Berlin.

Among kin, words were direct: “We hope you’ll reopen the Aoki Chain Pharmacy! You have the experience.”

Okamura’s intentions were transparent—the Great Depression had left the imperial family short of funds, the general headquarters likewise, and pharmaceuticals were a lucrative business. With two life-saving miracle drugs soon to be released, demand would surely outstrip supply. They needed to seize the market and make money!

“Uncle, I’m a bit apprehensive. The profits are indeed substantial. Otherwise, back in Manchuria, the pharmacy wouldn’t have been targeted just half a year after opening, right?”

They struck a deal at once. Chen Jiehua, inwardly overjoyed, had been fretting over an excuse; now Okamura had made it unnecessary. With backing from the imperial family and the army—if only the navy were included—it would be perfect.

“We understand your concerns. No one will dare meddle this time! You two classmates, talk more!”

Okamura departed, leaving Miyazaki Zhouichi and Aoki Qiao to reminisce. In truth, there was little to reminisce about—they had scarcely exchanged words during their time at school. Yet Aoki Qiao wished to learn about the current lives of fellow Army University alumni. Miyazaki, working with Okamura in personnel at headquarters, was a ready source of intelligence.

After graduating from Army University, Miyazaki Zhouichi was chosen by Okamura to join the General Staff, always at Okamura’s side. Naturally, he knew Aoki Qiao’s significance, which had grown following the recent major events. He wanted to converse more, but lacked a topic. What do classmates discuss when reunited? Other classmates, of course. The conversation soon became lively.

With the second round of the banquet concluded, Aoki Qiao had acquired the intelligence he sought.

At that time, Tokyo already boasted several pharmaceutical companies—First Pharmaceutical Co., Sankyo Pharmaceutical Co., Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., and Tokyo Pharmaceutical Co. The Shimazu family’s Manufacturing Works also wished to take a share, hoping to use this opportunity to pivot into pharmaceuticals. Shimazu Tadahiro approached his nephew Aoki Qiao precisely for this reason.

The Shimazu Manufacturing Works originally produced incense for temples, but as the anti-Buddhist movement grew, fewer people worshipped, and incense sales plummeted. With the family’s population swelling and expenses outstripping income, compounded by the Depression’s impact, their financial crisis grew ever more acute.

Thus, deciding whom to entrust with these two formulas and how to divide the profits became a headache. His mother’s younger brother came to him personally; meanwhile, others surely sought out the seventh aunt, mother of Empress Kojun.

Ordinarily, the rights to manufacture medicines would be debated by the House of Peers and the Emperor, but these two drugs promised such vast profits that both the Army and Navy were watching closely, quarreling daily. Somehow, the storm landed on Aoki Qiao—since he brought back the formulas, why not offer a suggestion?

Chen Jiehua was no longer the naive Aoki Qingxuan of old and would not be fooled into bearing the brunt. He wanted only the global agency rights for medicine sales; the rest was not his concern.

In truth, the quarrel was pointless. Okamura represented the Army’s interests; the Shimazu family’s roots were in the Navy, so both sides needed inclusion. There was no sense in the Army and Navy insulting each other—better to make money together.

Eventually, consensus was reached on profit sharing: the Emperor, the Shimazu family, the Army, the Navy, and the Fujiwara family—with Aoki Qiao as the principal.

Chen Jiehua simply needed a legitimate reason to return to Shanghai.

In October 1929 (Year 4 of Showa), after completing his wedding and numerous affairs in Japan, Chen Jiehua returned to Shanghai with his wife, Fujiwara Mio.

In the latter half of 1929 (Year 18 of the Republic), the global situation grew increasingly complex due to the two medicines. First, Poland’s Second Bureau could not withstand the onslaught of global spies and, after collecting a hefty sum, sold the formulas to Italy and Britain.

America then purchased the formula for Bialadosis from Britain, while Germany, unwilling to be outdone, obtained the penicillin formula from Italy.

Around the world, factories were being built at full speed, frantically manufacturing the two life-saving miracle drugs. This caused raw material prices to soar and led to a global scramble for chemists.

Chen Jiehua and Fujiwara Mio, upon returning to their home at No. 73 Jessfield Road, first meticulously checked for any listening devices, examined the hairs placed on the secret room’s windows and doors, and only after confirming all was secure did they settle in to rest.

Considering that Shanghai from 1929 to 1931 was already a city of dizzying luxury and treacherous intrigue, with the Nationalist police, international settlement patrols, and Japanese agents all coming onto the scene, Chen Jiehua and Fujiwara Mio could no longer act as freely as before.

The first step was to observe organizational discipline and adhere to the “Three Major Tasks, One Forbidden Principle,” maintaining single-line contact. His sole contact remained Zhao Shiyu.

Secondly, Chen Jiehua considered establishing a firewall for himself, communicating with the Fifth Bureau through Zhao Shiyu, secretly destroying Fujiwara Mio’s files, withdrawing from the Red Team, and dedicating himself to being a radio operator and executing special missions.

The organization specially reassigned Zhao Shiyu to Shanghai to support the work of Chen Jiehua and Fujiwara Mio.

As for the ultimate strategy regarding the medicine formulas, Chen Jiehua explained everything to the organization via Zhao Shiyu, which expressed full understanding and highly commended the previous ruse and its results.

On October 22, Year 18 of the Republic, beside Hartung Garden on Jing’an Temple Road, Chen Jiehua selected the new location for the “Aoki Chain Pharmacy” Shanghai flagship store, and Zhao Shiyu arrived to apply for the position of chief pharmacist.

“Aoki, I have unfortunate news. In August, four comrades from the party organization were betrayed and captured. The Fifth Bureau issued a must-kill order to the Red Team, demanding swift retribution against the traitor Bai Xin!”

“Where does this man live now? What do you need me to do?”

“According to inside sources, Bai Xin now lives in constant fear, hiding all day at No. 43, Hoh Fong, Avenue Joffre, in the Fan residence, which is heavily guarded. The organization currently lacks sufficient manpower in Shanghai and needs support from you and Mio.”