Shanghai in the Republican Era

Chapter 62 Exquisite Attire: The Struggle of the Republic of China - Crisis of Seizure, Mystery of M

Splendid Attire: Lin Fangfei's Journey of Struggle in the Republican Era

The legendary business and love journey of a poor but academically gifted girl in Republican-era Shanghai.

The sudden arrival of the police was like a storm without warning, instantly engulfing us in a huge vortex. My heart sank, as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand. I stared wide-eyed at the serious-looking police officers filing in, a nameless fear welling up inside me. I was wearing a plain-colored cheongsam, and in this tense atmosphere, even the color of the cheongsam seemed to fade.

Gu Zixuan stood beside me, his body slightly tense, his eyes wary. He instinctively shielded me behind him, like a lion guarding its territory, unwavering despite the danger. He said to the lead policeman, "Officer, our textile factory has always operated legally; there must be some misunderstanding."

The police officer glanced at Gu Zixuan and said expressionlessly, "Whether there's a misunderstanding or not, we'll know after we finish our inspection."

Su Yao also came over. She was wearing a light blue dress today, and her hair was a little messy. She was obviously flustered by the sudden situation. Her eyes were full of worry, and she whispered to us, "This must be the work of that emerging textile company. They want to use the police to completely ruin us."

I bit my lip, my heart filled with anger. "How could they be so shameless? We must find a way to prove our innocence."

The police began searching the textile factory, looking through ledgers, inspecting equipment, and questioning the workers. The workers were frightened, their eyes filled with unease. I watched all this, my heart pounding with anxiety, yet utterly helpless.

During the inspection, a policeman approached me, holding a ledger in his hand, his eyes filled with suspicion. "Ms. Lin, some entries in this ledger look suspicious. Can you explain them?"

I took the ledger and examined it carefully. I discovered that several entries had been maliciously altered. My hands trembled involuntarily, and I said angrily, "This was deliberately forged. Our accounts were originally clear and accurate."

Gu Zixuan also walked over, looked at the ledger, and his face turned very ugly. "Officer, this is a trick our competitors used to frame us. Please investigate thoroughly."

The policeman frowned. "You say you've been framed, but do you have any evidence?"

Just when we were in trouble, the mysterious man stepped forward. He was wearing a black suit today, which made him look even more enigmatic. He walked up to the police officer and handed him a document. "Officer, this is some evidence I've gathered that proves someone is manipulating things behind the scenes, trying to frame this textile factory."

The police officer took the documents and examined them carefully. After a while, his expression softened. "We will verify this evidence. If the situation is true, then you have been wrongly accused."

I glanced gratefully at the mysterious man, my mind filled with questions. "Why are you helping us? Who are you?"

The mysterious man smiled. "As I said before, I'm very interested in your textile factory. I don't want to see a promising company maliciously suppressed. However, it's not the right time to tell you my identity yet."

Further investigation by the police confirmed that we had indeed been framed. Those who falsified the accounts were also identified; they were indeed sent by that emerging textile company.

Although we have temporarily escaped the crisis of being shut down, the situation at the textile mill remains dire. Damaged equipment and a shortage of raw materials have brought our production to a standstill.

Looking at the empty workshop, I was filled with worry. "We must resume production as soon as possible, but the problems of funding and raw materials have not yet been resolved."

Gu Zixuan pondered for a moment and said, "I can go back to the family and try to get some more funds. Although the Gu family is also facing some difficulties now, I believe they will support us."

I nodded. "Then I'll contact other raw material suppliers to see if I can find some cheaper sources."

Su Yao also said, "I will stay at the textile factory to reassure the workers and prepare them for resuming work at any time."

So we each set out on our own. Gu Zixuan rushed back to his family, while I embarked on a journey to find raw materials.

Wearing a pair of somewhat worn cloth shoes, I wandered through the streets and alleys of Shanghai. I went to one supplier after another, but the answers I received were either that the prices were too high or that there wasn't enough stock. My mood grew increasingly gloomy, and my steps became heavier and heavier.

One day, I discovered a small raw material supplier in a secluded alley. The shop looked shabby, but it had a wide variety of raw materials. On a whim, I went inside.

There was only one old man minding the shop; he was wearing a worn-out long gown and had gray hair. When he saw me come in, he looked up, his eyes filled with doubt.

"Young lady, are you here to buy raw materials?" the old man asked.

I nodded. "Yes, sir. I'm a representative from a textile factory. Our factory is facing some difficulties and needs some raw materials. Could you possibly offer a discount?"

The old man glanced at me, smiled, and said, "Young lady, I can tell you're an honest person. The raw materials I have here aren't the best, but they'll do. However, I have one condition."

My heart leaped with joy. "What are the conditions?"

The old man said, "I heard that your textile factory's fashion samples are very good. I would like you to design a dress for my husband. If you can do it, I will sell you these raw materials at a very low price."

I agreed without hesitation. I carefully selected the raw materials in the store, and my mind was already starting to conceive of the style of the clothes.

Just as I was discussing the details of the clothes with the old man, I suddenly heard a commotion outside. I went out of the store and saw a group of people walking towards us. Leading them was the owner of the emerging textile company, a smug smile on his face.

"Lin Fangfei, you really won't give up. Let's see how you escape my grasp today," the boss said viciously.

My heart skipped a beat; I hadn't expected to run into him here again. I looked at him warily. "What do you want?"

The boss smiled. "What do I want to do? I want you to know that there's no good end for going against me. Today I'm going to completely destroy your little textile factory."

The men behind him began to surround my shop and the old man's. I knew a fierce battle was inevitable, and my heart started racing.

At this tense moment, Gu Zixuan arrived with some members of the Gu family. His eyes filled with anger upon seeing the scene before him.

"You've gone too far! How dare you bully a weak woman in broad daylight!" Gu Zixuan shouted.

The owner of the emerging textile company sneered when he saw Gu Zixuan, "Gu Zixuan, do you think you can stop me? None of you are leaving today."

The tension was palpable, with both sides on the verge of conflict. My heart was in my throat, wondering what would happen next.

Just then, a group of people suddenly jumped down from the rooftop next to them. They were dressed in black, their faces were covered, and they were carrying weapons. They rushed towards the people from the emerging textile company.

This sudden turn of events stunned everyone. I stared in astonishment at the men in black, wondering who they were and why they were helping us.

The chaotic battle unfolded in the alleyway, with shouts and sounds of fighting mingling together. Gu Zixuan and I joined the fray, cooperating with each other and engaging in a desperate struggle against the enemy.

During the fight, I saw the owner of the emerging textile company trying to slip away. I didn't care about anything else and chased after him.

"Don't even think about running away!" I shouted.

He saw me chasing him and quickened his pace. I chased him desperately through the alley, when suddenly he turned around, pulled out a dagger, and pointed it at me.

“If you come any closer, I won’t be polite.” His voice was full of threat.

I stopped in my tracks, my heart filled with anger and fear. Just then, a man in black rushed over from the side, kicked the dagger out of his hand, and subdued him.

The battle ended quickly; the men in black had tied up everyone from the emerging textile company. I walked up to them and said gratefully, "Thank you. Who are you? Why did you help us?"

The men in black didn't answer me. They untied the boss and then took him away.

Gu Zixuan and I were both very confused. What exactly happened?

Back at the textile factory, we discovered a new problem: a batch of new equipment we had ordered had gone missing during transit.

This new discovery has once again plunged me into deep unease. Was the disappearance of this equipment an accident, or was it deliberately orchestrated?

Splendid Attire: Lin Fangfei's Journey of Struggle in the Republican Era

The legendary business and love journey of a poor but academically gifted girl in Republican-era Shanghai.

The missing equipment, like a broken link in the textile factory's fate, nearly snapped the already taut strings of my heart. I stood in the open space of the textile factory, my eyes fixed on the direction the equipment should have gone, as if staring at it would miraculously bring it back. My lips trembled slightly, and various possible scenarios flashed through my mind, each one like a sharp blade piercing my nerves. I was wearing a light blue cheongsam, but I couldn't feel its presence; I felt as if I were in a cold ice cellar.

Gu Zixuan walked to my side, his brows furrowed, his eyes filled with deep worry. He gently took my hand, trying to give me some warmth and strength. "Fangfei, don't worry too much, we will definitely find those devices." His voice was low and firm, but I could still hear a hint of unease hidden in it.

Su Yao also rushed over. She was wearing a beige dress today, and her hair was a little messy, clearly indicating that she had come in a hurry. Her eyes were full of anxiety. "I just asked the transportation company, and they don't know where the equipment went either. They only said that it suddenly disappeared during transportation. This is so strange."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. "This must be intentional, someone's goal is to hinder the development of our textile factory again." My voice was calm, but inside I was like a raging sea, filled with anger and anxiety.

Gu Zixuan nodded. "We can't just sit here and wait to die. We have to find a way to investigate. I'll contact my friends in the martial arts world and see if they've heard anything."

I looked at Gu Zixuan, my heart filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Zixuan. I'll go check the textile factory's accounts and inventory again to see if there are any clues."

Su Yao also said, "I'll go talk to the workers; maybe they can provide some useful information."

So the three of us split up. I went into the office, sat down at the table piled high with ledgers, and began to carefully examine each entry. My eyes were glued to the numbers in the ledgers, my fingers lightly turning the pages, not missing a single detail. But after a long time, I didn't find anything unusual. I leaned back in my chair, somewhat frustrated, and rubbed my temples.

Just then, I suddenly remembered the mysterious man from before. He seemed to know a lot about our situation and always appeared to help us at crucial moments. Could he know about the missing equipment? A thought struck me, and I decided to go find him.

I left the textile factory and, following the contact information he had left, went to a secluded teahouse. The teahouse was filled with the faint aroma of tea, and people were talking in hushed tones, creating a mysterious and tranquil atmosphere. I found him in a corner; he was sitting alone, drinking tea, wearing a dark gray suit, and still looked as enigmatic as ever.