77: Double Spring

One day later, Lanruo Pavilion private room, Peace Hotel.

Traffic flowed like water outside the window, but inside, there was a tacit silence.

Three people sat in the large private room, including Lu Fan and Tang Jifeng.

In the seat of honor was a slightly plump middle-aged man wearing an exquisite silk gown.

A large jade thumb ring adorned his finger as he unhurriedly skimmed the froth from his tea bowl with the lid.

This man was Sun Bogui, the Director of the Jiangnan Circuit Salt Affairs Supervision Bureau.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of food, the atmosphere gradually warmed up under Tang Jifeng's precise control.

But the conversation kept circling around local customs and scenery.

"Director Sun, my brother Lu Fan has long admired your prestige and expert management in salt affairs.

He has always wanted to contribute to our Shanghai's salt affairs and gain some official experience.

I heard that under your bureau, there are some positions... quite leisurely, like 'Inspection Commissioner' or 'Consultant'?"

"I wonder if there is an opportunity for my brother to learn a thing or two?"

Tang Jifeng set down his wine cup, cleared his throat, and got to the point.

The smile on Director Sun's face remained unchanged, but the hand holding the wine cup paused, and his eyelids lifted slightly.

"Oh? Mr. Lu is interested in salt affairs?"

"This Inspection Commissioner position... haha, it can be leisurely or not. However..."

He drawled, "This position inspects smuggled salt and upholds salt laws. It seems leisurely, but it is actually of great importance. Difficult, quite difficult."

Lu Fan immediately chimed in, his tone sincere: "Director Sun, I am well aware that salt affairs concern the national economy and people's livelihood, and the responsibility is heavy."

"I do not dare hope for real power; I just want a nominal title to observe and learn. As for the... difficulties,"

Lu Fan leaned forward slightly. "If there are places that need greasing or connections to be smoothed, Director Sun, please do not hesitate to speak up."

At this point, a sharp glint flashed in Director Sun's eyes, and he smiled. "President Lu, you certainly understand the ways of the world!"

"Naturally! My family taught me that the Jianghu isn't about fighting and killing; it's about the ways of the world!"

An internet catchphrase slipped out.

"Well said! Since Commander Tang has introduced you and Mr. Lu is so sincere... how about this."

Director Sun leaned back slightly, feigning a look of difficulty and understanding, and held up two fingers. "Twenty thousand silver dollars."

"For this amount, I'll risk my reputation to pull some strings and try to secure a 'Recommended Grade' Inspection Commissioner title for Mr. Lu."

"With this identity, it will be much more convenient for Mr. Lu to move around Shanghai and deal with various government offices, right?"

"Twenty thousand?" Beside him, Tang Jifeng slammed the table, startling both Director Sun and Lu Fan.

He glared at Director Sun, his voice loud: "Old Sun! This is too much!"

"Are you treating me, Tang the Fourth, like a sucker to be fleeced?"

"A nominal Inspection Commissioner, a do-nothing job, and you ask for twenty thousand?"

"In Shanghai right now, how much is the annual salary for a real Recommended Grade Section Chief? Three hundred silver dollars at most!"

"Is your empty title worth twenty thousand?"

Director Sun's facial fat quivered from Tang Jifeng's shout. Feeling embarrassed, he forced a smile. "Commander Tang, you can't put it that way... Many people have their eyes on this position. It's not easy to arrange..."

"Bullshit! For such a trivial matter, if I didn't want to bother my teachers and the Principal, do you think I'd come to you?"

"Don't be ungrateful."

Tang Jifeng interrupted him rudely, slapping the table with a thwack that made the dishes rattle.

"Old Sun, we haven't known each other for just a day or two!"

"Give me the real bottom line. If this position were given to one of your own people in the Salt Bureau, how much 'tea money' would you usually collect?"

"Eight hundred? Six hundred?"

Director Sun was a bit stunned by Tang Jifeng's aggressive bargaining.

His face turned red and white as he instinctively defended himself: "That... that's different. That's internal..."

"What's the difference!" Tang Jifeng pressed on, his voice even louder. "Lu Fan is my brother, a life-and-death friendship."

"He's much more reliable than those nobodies in your bureau!"

"He just wants a title; he won't actually inspect your salt. Instead, he can help you out."

"Eight hundred! One price. Take it or leave it."

"I, Tang Four, don't have much, but I have plenty of teachers and friends."

"If this doesn't work, I'll go ask the Ministry of Finance and see if there are any more 'affordable' positions!"

Tang Jifeng made a move to stand up.

"Hey! Commander Tang! Commander Tang! Don't be in such a hurry!" Director Sun was truly anxious now and quickly reached out to stop him.

He was very clear about Tang Jifeng's background.

The current top two leaders of the government were both his teachers and regarded him as their star pupil.

His influence was beyond comparison. In the Shanghai, one could offend anyone but this dandy.

He forced a deeper smile, sounding somewhat pleading: "Commander Tang, your temper is still so short... We can discuss this, let's talk."

Tang Jifeng snorted and sat back down, but his eyes were still glaring at Director Sun.

Director Sun wiped non-existent sweat from his forehead, his mind racing.

The eight hundred Tang Jifeng mentioned was actually close to or even exceeded the market rate for internal vacancies.

It was just much less than he had anticipated.

But Tang Jifeng's attitude was firm, and Lu Fan didn't look like an easy target either.

And as Tang Jifeng said, giving a merchant like Lu Fan a title might lead to other benefits later... "How about this," Director Sun said, feigning a pained expression, "out of respect for Commander Tang,"

"and for the sake of Mr. Lu's sincerity toward salt affairs... one—"

"Fine—ten thousand silver dollars then." Lu Fan settled the matter.

This sudden offer left Director Sun completely dazed.

Just now, Tang Jifeng had exerted his full presence to bargain and slash the price.

Why was the person involved now raising the price back up?

He, an old fox of the bureaucracy, couldn't understand what game they were playing.

On second thought, if he couldn't figure it out, so be it. Why refuse free money? It was just that this stroke of luck had come too suddenly!

Lu Fan gave Tang Jifeng a look, signaling that the timing was right and he was taking over the second half of the double act.

Immediately after, he casually took out an exquisite small box. "A small token of my appreciation!"

When the brocade box was opened, the dazzling sparkle of a one-carat diamond ring filled the room.

This time, Director Sun was stunned. He knew the price of a one-carat diamond ring very well.

A few days ago, his mistress had been pestering him to buy one, so he had specifically looked into it.

The diamond there wasn't even as big as this one, and Showa Jewelry had it clearly priced at thirty thousand silver dollars.

Altogether, by selling an office, he was pocketing forty thousand silver dollars. He was making a fortune.

Lu Fan took in Director Sun's expression. Taking advantage of the man being dazzled by the diamond, he struck while the iron was hot.

"Director Sun, I don't want real power; I just want to advance a bit faster. That way, when I return to honor my ancestors, it will bring glory to my family."

"Do you think regarding the position, you could..."

"Boss Lu's filial piety is commendable. It must be possible!" Director Sun pressed his hand on the box and spoke in an intimate tone: "Deputy Division Chief Lu—"

A proper smile appeared on Lu Fan's face as he raised his glass. "Thank you for your help, Director Sun, and thank you for your trouble, Brother Jifeng."

"I will keep this in my heart. In the future, if there's anything the Salt Bureau needs, Director Sun, please just say the word."

"This glass, I toast to you both!"

He tilted his head back and drained it in one gulp.

Director Sun and Tang Jifeng also raised their glasses with smiles.