On the third day, around eight o'clock in the morning.
Xinglong Town is not big, nor is it complicated. It is traversed by a long north-south street. Although it is small, it has everything and is home to a variety of businesses. In the center of the town, next to the crossroads, there is a two-story building facing the street. It is magnificent but has no business signs. This is the Xiulong Money House. Next to it is the largest gambling house in Xinglong Town, separated by a wall.
For several days, the money shop had been closed because the commandos were annihilated some time ago, and this openly underground money shop was also affected. One of the largest shareholders was implicated with the commandos and was arrested by the gendarmerie. Since then, the money shop has been closed. This morning, the door of the money shop was opened, and a clerk was removing the gate that sealed the door.
The news spread quickly through passers-by, and immediately a large number of depositors swarmed in, fearing that the bank would go bankrupt and wanted to cash out. The shopkeeper appeared at the door and explained to the customers that the bank had severed its relationship with the criminal shareholders and would not be implicated, so there was no need to rush. The depositors gathered at the door ignored him and swarmed in.
Outside the largest inn in Xinglong Town, there stood a bright and beautiful young girl, wearing black cloth shoes with straps, bright blue pleated pants, a tight-sleeved white shirt with flowers, a braided braid with a ring on her head, big eyes and clear eyebrows, leaning against the door frame, eating osmanthus cake while watching the pedestrians passing by. She was said to be watching the pedestrians, but in fact, the pedestrians passing by looked at her. Finally, an insider stopped to wonder, she looked unfamiliar, there was no such girl among the famous girls in Xinglong Town, and no one so young, and couldn't help asking: "Sister Fairy, it's so early... Can you take the job?"
The girl's mouth was full of the smell of dregs, and her beautiful eyes were blankly blinking for a few seconds without answering. The questioner almost dropped his eyeballs. Just then, a jeweled woman walked out of the door. She had eight gold and silver rings on her ten fingers, and a jade ring on her finger. She looked very noble. She opened her mouth and said to the man outside the door who was drooling at the girl, "Get lost!"
The girl stuffed the last bite of osmanthus cake into her mouth and chewed it, clapped her hands, turned her head and asked the woman who had just walked out the door: "Auntie Jin, Zhang San ran out just now, and he didn't come back when I called him."
"Yes. I asked him to go out and do some work. Come on, let's go to the bank with me."
"Strolling? Aren't you going to get the money?"
"I don't care about the money. I'm one of the shareholders."
…
On the outskirts of Xinglong Town, there is a thatched house that is so dilapidated that it cannot be further dilapidated, with a rotten roof that is about to collapse.
Inside the house, several men were yawning and fiddling with their guns. One of them was as tall as a bear, half lying on a broken mat, his hands clasped in his torn sleeves, smacking his lips lazily, not wanting to get up: "I said chop off the second brother, is it necessary so early? Huh?"
The leader had a face full of flesh. He was Kan Jiu from Green Water Shop. He was unhappy when he heard the bear's name: "Who are you calling Kan Lao Er?"
"Since ancient times, there can only be one big brother. In my company, our captain is Hu Lao Da, so of course you have to kill the second one. I am comparing you to Guan Yu."
"Get lost. Call me Kan Ye!"
"Okay, Master Kan, isn't this too early?"
"Wasn't it you who came up with the idea? What? You want to give up before the action? There are fewer people in the morning, so it's easier to start, do you understand? Even if I don't have to spend money to buy the property now, I won't lend you the money unless you let your company commander or that 'know-it-all' come. If you want the money, you can ask for it yourself. No matter how much you rob, it's yours. I definitely won't care!"
The bear sighed and sat up helplessly: "You have to give me a gun, right?"
Kan Jiu nodded to one of his men, and then a box gun was thrown directly into Xiong's arms.
At this time, the broken door opened, and a man hurried into the room and placed a pile of paper masks on the broken kang: "I bought them from town!"
Kan Jiu frowned: "Who told you to buy this crap?"
The man raised his hand and pointed at the bear: "The military advisor told me to buy it."
"Why not just cover your face with some black cloth? Why are you talking nonsense?" Kan Jiu picked up a paper mask and looked very unhappy.
Xiong finally stood up and walked to Kanjiu's side. "Awesome! Do you understand? Covering with a black cloth means you are a thief, and covering with a mask means you are a commando! Which one is scarier? Wearing this thing will increase your combat power. You can scare them to death without even showing your gun!"
All the men in the room were speechless. This Xiong is really a good military advisor. No wonder the Eighth Route Army was able to fight against the Japs. Details determine success or failure!
Kanjiu smacked his lips and said, "You said so... That's true! But... What kind of masks are there in this town? Can I be Sun Wukong? Why do I have to buy a bunch of Zhu Bajie?"
Xiong smiled helplessly: "Master Kan, this is for our own good. Hehehehe... It's because we are so thick-skinned. I'm afraid Sun Wukong can't block it well!"
…
On the main street of Xinglong Town, a group of four people were walking amid the hustle and bustle.
The first one was a woman, wearing a grey cheongsam embroidered with black edges, with fair complexion and a cold face, holding a small knitted bag under her arm, walking steadily ahead.
A man in black followed closely behind him, his black hat pulled down to cover half of his bronze face, a brown holster slung across his waist, swinging with his steps, and a suitcase in his hand. Two or three meters behind him followed two more men, all dressed in black and dressed like detectives, holding guns. One had a handsome scarred face and looked left, while the other had a red face and looked right.
Passersby deliberately kept a distance, not daring to look directly at him for fear of getting into trouble.
According to the tip, the Xiulong Money House in Xinglong Town did not close down due to the Rangers incident and will resume business soon. The so-called "Xiulong" money house is not the name of a money house, but a place that is not allowed to see the light. All underground money houses can be called Xiulong money houses, which are real loan sharks. However, many people are willing to deposit their money here because the interest is high; another type of people also like to deposit their money here because it does not matter whether your money is white or black.
Su Qing's organization's activity funds are kept here. Compared to the heavily guarded county town, Xinglong Town is a good place. A few days ago, he heard that Xiulong Money House might be implicated in the Rangers incident, and he thought his deposits would be lost. Now it is said that the money house is going to resume business, so Su Qing came to withdraw the money to be on the safe side.
However, this time she felt much more at ease than when she sneaked to Xinglong Town to deposit money. She was followed by a powerful general and two deputy generals. For the first time in her working career, her pace was not hurried, but she had time to relax and look at the bustling streets.
…
In a remote street corner of Xinglong Town, a few coolie porters wearing tattered straw hats were sitting on the ground by the wall, apparently waiting for work to come.
Soon another porter arrived, sat over, wiped the sweat off his shoulders with a dirty towel, and whispered, "Except for a company of security forces in the barracks, there are probably more than 30 policemen. The detective team can't tell, they basically don't gather in groups, they're all scattered."
"It is important to know the key positions clearly. After eating at Xinglong Town once, we can fill our bags! Okay, let's not rest, let's do some work. There is no porter who doesn't take on work." The leader took off his straw hat and fanned himself with his hands. The face exposed in the sun was Pan Zhuzi from the third company...