Chapter 38: Old Zhao's Tailor Shop

After work in the afternoon, Li Haibo arrived at the willow tree behind his house as agreed. The sky was darkening, and a bitter wind whistled by, causing the willow branches to dance wildly in the gale.

Ma Quanyi was already waiting there. Seeing Li Haibo approach, he hurried forward to meet him.

Li Haibo handed a heavy cloth bag to Ma Quanyi. "Little Ma, this is all my current savings. Take it and go to the Gendarmerie to ransom our people."

Ma Quanyi was stunned. "Brother Bo! I thought we were borrowing guns?"

"Borrowing guns? Are you crazy? Should I lend you guns so you can go to your death? Listen closely: you must not go to ransom them alone. Distribute the money among different families and have the relatives go themselves. Furthermore, they must not all go at the same time; stagger them over two different days."

"Brother Bo, some of the brothers have lost their families in the war. There is no one left to go for them!"

"If that’s the case, each family should ransom at most two people. In short, do not attract the attention of the Japanese devils!"

"Yes! Brother Bo, I understand!" Ma Quanyi took the bag, his eyes moist and his voice trembling. "Brother Bo, your great kindness is something I, Ma Quanyi, will never forget. My brothers are all iron-willed men. Since you have saved us today, if you ever have any orders, we will go through fire and water without hesitation. We will repay you with our lives!"

Clutching the bag, Ma Quanyi turned and walked away quickly.

Li Haibo dragged his somewhat weary body back home and went straight to his room. Looking at the few dozen silver dollars remaining in his possession, he fell into a brief contemplation. A moment later, as if he had made up his mind, he got up and went to his mother's room.

"Mom, here are fifty silver dollars. Please keep them safe for me," Li Haibo said softly, handing her the bag.

"Oh! My good son! You really are capable—bringing money home again!" His mother’s face immediately lit up with a brilliant smile. She hurried to stand up, gently closed the bedroom door, and lowered her voice. "We must be quiet; don't let anyone see. I’ll find a safe place to store these. This money is for you to get a wife in the future."

As she spoke, she moved the wardrobe aside, pried up a floorboard, and took out an earthenware jar. It already contained some silver dollars—money Li Haibo had brought home in two installments previously. His mother counted them and smiled, "Wonderful! There are over a hundred now!"

Watching his mother focused on counting the money, the slight melancholy Li Haibo had felt over parting with his savings vanished, leaving him feeling light and carefree.

He smiled bitterly to himself, thinking he must be at odds with money; no matter how much he acquired, it never seemed to stay for long. Now, he only had some fiat currency left, taken from Huang San’s safe—quite a lot, actually, several bundles of it. Although the currency was devaluing rapidly, it was still a small fortune, enough to keep him comfortable for quite a while.

So be it. After all, with his extraordinary abilities, making money was easy. Tomorrow, he would find some Japanese collaborator to squeeze for more.

...

The next day, Zhao Quangui’s tailor shop officially opened. It was located on the street near Li Haibo’s house—small but compact, with two floors. The front half of the ground floor was meticulously arranged as a workspace, with tools neatly organized and fabrics displayed in order. A few finished garments hung on the wall to showcase the tailor’s craftsmanship. The back half was partitioned into a small kitchen, simple yet fully equipped, with a back door. The upper floor served as living quarters.

Li Haibo visited as an old friend to offer his congratulations. Stepping inside, he found the decor simple and rustic, filled with the festive atmosphere of a new opening. Soon, he met Zhao’s wife and their four-year-old son.

Zhao’s wife, Zhu Yunxiu, was a sickly-looking woman from the countryside with no education and a perpetually sorrowful face. She sighed and groaned from dawn till dusk, never giving anyone a pleasant look, as if the whole world owed her money. Such a temperament was hardly suited for business.

Li Haibo, acting as a friend, entered with enthusiasm, expecting a warm welcome, but Zhu Yunxiu acted as if he weren't even there. She kept her head down, clutching various odds and ends, clattering about as she tidied up, ignoring everyone around her. She muttered incessantly, "We were doing just fine where we were; why did we have to move here? What’s so good about this place? We don't know anyone, there isn't a single regular customer, and the rent is sky-high. How are we supposed to live?"

Li Haibo, filled with confusion, turned his gaze toward Zhao Quangui. He saw old Zhao standing to the side, rubbing his hands together with an awkward, helpless smile.

Understood. Henpecked!

To support his friend, Li Haibo had a sudden idea. He turned and left, returning shortly with five children. He smiled at Zhao Quangui, "Old Zhao, make a cotton-padded jacket for each of these children. Use the best craftsmanship your shop has to offer."

With that, he paid the full amount upfront.

Hearing that there was business to be had, Zhu Yunxiu finally set down her work and came over to take the money, though her face remained devoid of any smile, as if this were all merely her due. After taking the money, she turned and retreated to the kitchen, continuing to bang pots and pans as she cleaned.

This was going a bit too far. After all, a customer comes seeking not just the tailor's craft, but also warmth and respect. With such a cold reception, how could she expect business to flourish?

Li Haibo didn't mind, watching as Zhao Quangui measured the children.

"These are my younger siblings," Li Haibo said, pointing to the children. "The three older ones sell cigarettes and newspapers and shine shoes on the street every day. If you ever need to find me in an emergency, you can tell any one of them; they know how to find me!"

"Got it!" Old Zhao said in a low voice, seeing that no one else was in the shop. "Xiao Wang’s pan-fried bun shop is also rented. It’s on the next street, right on your way to work. It opens tomorrow!"

"Good! We’ll go together tomorrow to show our support and meet our new colleague."

"The safe house is in the alley behind the street. I rented it under a fake name. I’ve marked the door with a chalk triangle. It’s spacious and has basic furniture. If you have anything you can't keep at home, you can put it there. Here is the key."

"I have a place for my things, but I need a darkroom to develop photos! Do you know how to develop photos?"

"No! But that house has an attic; it should be perfect for that!"

Just then, a roar came from the kitchen: "Are you dead? Can't you come and give me a hand? Are you trying to work me to death?"