Chapter 93: Brainwashing a Group of Classmates

January 1, 1930 (the 5th year of the Showa era), New Year's Day. The expansion of the chain pharmacy had come to a temporary halt—simply because there were no more store managers available.

In a secret building in Shanghai belonging to the Red Party:
"How are our people placed? Have they all gotten in?"
"The 'Pao Kuai' (courier service) is in high demand across all districts. Our first batch was deployed well in advance; they are efficient, speak fluent Shanghainese, and are well-received. They have all been placed!"
"Notify each base to screen the second batch of personnel as soon as possible. Conduct preliminary training in the Shanghai dialect, and once completed, send them into Shanghai through the existing channels."
"For those already embedded: organizational discipline must be strictly observed! Each cell leader must restrain their members. No horizontal contact, no cross-cell probing."
"Understood!"

On the afternoon of New Year's Day, Aoki Kyo went to the Aoki Agency headquarters (a small building renovated from the site next to Nishi Hongan-ji) to pick up Fujiwara Mio and Higuchi Keishichiro for the New Year's banquet at the Japanese Club in Hongkou.

The distance from the Aoki Agency to the Japanese Club was only a few hundred meters. Aoki Kyo and Higuchi Keishichiro walked ahead, as Fujiwara Mio, being a lady, did not need to arrive so early and remained behind to organize intelligence.

"Aoki-kun, regarding the report I gave you last time: based on information gathered through the courier service, we have discovered traces of the Chinese Red Party. It seems they are planning a major move soon. Should we not take countermeasures?"

"Higuchi-kun, you know I have no interest in intelligence or special operations. Have you reported this to Miss Mio? What did she say?"

"Miss Mio’s stance is that our primary goal is to expand the pharmacy network, sell domestically produced medicine, and obtain high profits while gathering economic intelligence on the Republic of China. She told me not to meddle in other people's affairs."

"Higuchi-kun, look at that—'do not meddle in other people's affairs.' What a well-put sentiment. Haha, it is indeed true."

"Think about it. While Mio’s words are simple and direct, they are correct. What is the mission given to us by Headquarters? We only need to execute it to the letter. This way, we avoid complications and stay out of danger."

"Our current priority is to expand pharmacies and collect intelligence to forward to the Consulate. The Consulate will then conduct a secondary review before sending it to Headquarters. It is Headquarters that makes the decisions; we don't need to worry too much."

"In my opinion, even if we were to worry, how do you suggest we do it, Higuchi-kun? Report it to the British Police Station? Or to the Kuomintang’s Investigation Bureau? Let them make arrests? What benefit would that bring to the Empire?"

"Aren't we on good terms with Mr. Yang from the Kuomintang’s Investigation Bureau? Wouldn't there be benefits to reporting it to them?"

"Higuchi-kun, we are among dozens of classmates. Even though I, Aoki, didn't attend many classes, I am a good judge of character. While your grades weren't the top, I know you are the sharpest-minded among us! So, you are testing me with these words, aren't you? Am I right? A bit of personal gain is not something you, Higuchi-kun, would set your sights on."

"Don't deny it just yet. We are in a foreign land, and as classmates, we should treat each other with sincerity. We are at the door now; let's talk more inside."

After entering the club, they found that several classmates had already arrived and were impatiently drinking together.

"You lot, is there really such a rush? You have plenty of opportunities to drink in Shanghai, don't you?"

"That’s easy for you to say, Aoki-kun—the well-fed don't know the hunger of the starving. You and Miss Mio are a pair all day long; what else are we supposed to do besides drink?"

"So that's how it is. It turns out Miyazaki-kun is missing his wife!"

"Who isn't? I've been out for a month! I’ve never been away this long before!"

"Are you blaming me for pushing too slowly, preventing you from going home to see your wives?"

"That’s not it at all. Aoki-kun’s pace of advancement has been incredibly fast, exceeding the expectations of the three commanders at Headquarters."

"They’ve just arrived! Zhao-kun, Zhou-kun, Obata, over here!" Aoki Kyo saw Zhao Shiyu, Zhou Yongsu, and Obata Kazuki entering the door together.

Because Zhao Shiyu and Zhou Yongsu were the manager and deputy manager—as well as instructors—of the currently trending Aoki Chain Pharmacy, they were often dragged out by students for banquets. Thus, they were well-acquainted with the club, and the doormen knew them well enough to allow them free access.

Obata Kazuki, on the other hand, had completely teamed up with Zhao Shiyu to help train students and run the chain stores. Crucially, the income provided by Aoki Kyo was high. As for the tasks from the Special Higher Police? What tasks?

"Come, come, pour the drinks. Zhao-kun, Zhou-kun, Obata-kun, thank you for your hard work, you three great contributors! Let’s finish the first glass for our current achievements—Cheers!"

"Everyone, where were we?"

"We were talking about how our pharmacy system has advanced rapidly over the past month!"

"Right, speaking of it being too fast—I also believe we have advanced too quickly. It’s just that we are currently in a boom period; Shanghai citizens are curious, and our medicine prices are much cheaper compared to Western alternatives, so sales are quite impressive."

"However, once Shanghai finishes this first wave of saturation, we will enter a relatively stable period. This stable period will be the perfect time for us to launch the second batch of storefronts."

"On the way here, Higuchi-kun mentioned to me that he discovered traces of Red Party activity while processing intelligence. He asked if we needed to take further countermeasures."

Chen Jiehua (Aoki Kyo) paused here and glanced at Old Zhao.

"Higuchi-kun and I hadn't finished our conversation before we reached the door. This is a problem I should discuss with all of you, so please think about it."

"The first question we must consider is: what is our primary goal at this stage?"

"Expand the pharmacy network, earn profits, and collect economic intelligence?"

"Tang Chuan-kun’s understanding is very accurate! Let me elaborate: there is much to be done. To expand the pharmacy network, we need to train batches of store managers. Over the past month, as you have all seen, the people sent by Headquarters are of varying quality. Zhou-kun, Zhao-kun, and Obata-kun, you three have been working nonstop for a month and only came out to relax today, right? Is the training personnel sufficient?"

"Barely. The young masters from the various families are too hard to please—complaining that one place is too far, another is too bitter. They are picky and none of them are easy to manage."

"Everyone listen, the first question is actually two questions: not only are people scarce, but the first batch is difficult to manage. Think again: the Shanghai city center is already saturated with shops. If we keep opening more, we’ll be competing with ourselves, which is counterproductive. So, the second round of expansion must move to the surrounding cities. Won't the next batch of young masters feel it is even further and more bitter?"

"Plans are plans, but various problems emerge in operation. Higuchi-kun, do you think Zhou-kun and Zhao-kun would have the energy to worry about traces of Red Party activity?"

"We can’t even finish our own work; there is absolutely no need to meddle in other people's business!"

"In fact, I know that Mr. Yang from the Kuomintang’s Investigation Bureau has a good relationship with us and often invites everyone for drinks. Some of you might think that doing him a favor wouldn't be a bad idea!"

"But, think about it from another perspective: doesn't this look like two brothers in a family fighting? We are outsiders. It is inappropriate for an outsider to make money in their home while also getting involved in their family affairs, isn't it?"

"Therefore, as I said to Higuchi-kun, our 'Imperial Medicine Plan'—the primary task given to us by Headquarters is to expand pharmacies, extend our reach, and earn money! We should avoid complications as much as possible! Complications will only bring more trouble!"

"Come, having said so much, let’s have another glass!"

"Cheers!"