Chapter 4: Old Man Anthony

In my memory, it is all about being forced to learn horseback riding, wrestling, tracking, driving, photography, psychology...

"Uncle Lin." Zhou Sen quickly stepped forward to greet him

Especially the smell of old oil on him made Zhou Shen unable to hold back a sneeze again

Unfortunately, Boss Ma's fortune was meager; Bai Yulan had been married to him for less than two years when Boss Ma met with an inexplicable death

Is this an organization

It is quite strange that his nose is now very sensitive to smells, and even a slight刺激 can make him want to sneeze

For a moment, Zhou Sen felt a sense of confusion and turmoil; Lin Dakuan approaching him clearly had ill intentions, yet he found himself unable to refuse.

A Chasikma knife

To die beneath this peony flower is to be a dashing ghost, yet one must be a clearly defined dashing ghost, indeed

Basically, Lin Dakuan handles cases and interacts with the Japanese while bringing this guy along. Lin Dakuan's Japanese is not very good; he can manage daily greetings, but when it comes to discussing matters, he is at a loss.

She is not the first owner of the Ningxiang Pavilion; the first owner was surnamed Ma, who is her husband. In fact, she should be considered the proprietress of the Ningxiang Pavilion

If that is the case, it can also be justified

Upon encountering these items, Zhou Sen's mind was flooded with various strange thoughts, all seemingly related to Old Man Anthony

Bai Yulan took over the Ningxiang Pavilion, and contrary to what some had imagined, it not only continued to operate but, after a national selection for the Flower Queen, Bai Yulan personally participated and won the title of the Ice City Flower Queen. As a result, the reputation of the first beauty of Daowai spread rapidly, and the once moderately known Ningxiang Pavilion unexpectedly became the most renowned establishment in Ice City.

It is said to be the only treasure passed down through the family

How did he end up on Bai Yulan's bed? What happened in between? He has no clue at all

The brass handle is quite sharp, and there is a long blood groove on the blade, which nearly cut through Zhou Sen's finger, frightening him into quickly putting it back.

A police sergeant and two police corporals, all of whom hold a higher rank than him

He also did not understand how Old Man Anthony could associate with a traitor like Lin Dakuan, but upon reflection, it was also understandable. Old Man Anthony was a White Russian, and the term "traitor" held little significance for him.

Such a woman, how many people have coveted her beauty and wealth, how did she end up getting involved with a mere police officer?

Headache

Guests entering and exiting the door are all dressed in high-end attire, creating a lively atmosphere

The redder the girl, the more autonomy she possesses

What secret could this be hiding

Zhou Sen had only heard of it but had never seen it; it must have been hidden away by Old Man Anthony. This item, if not priceless, is at least quite valuable and easily attracts people's attention.

Placed on the knife rack

His absence is not necessarily a bad thing; without anyone to restrain him, in these three months, Zhou Sen has completely liberated himself. Otherwise, how would he have the opportunity to occupy another's nest?

Two days ago, it was suddenly announced, and that very night he was encouraged by a group of colleagues from the police station to go to the Fragrant Pavilion to drink flower wine, not knowing how much he had consumed

Since he became an adult and became a police officer, he has been less present

It now appears that Old Man Anthony is also a person with secrets

It is said to be picking up, but it is also said to be saving; otherwise, he would either starve to death or freeze to death on the street

He could not believe that Bai Yulan had taken a liking to him; there must be some hidden circumstances behind this. However, he currently did not have the time to investigate this matter.

The box is not large, made of wood, and it is difficult to discern the specific type of material. However, it feels substantial in weight and has a relatively hard texture

This is the favorite item of Old Man Anthony, and he has also collected a complete set of Cossack cavalry armor and harnesses

Put the box away and hid it back, letting out a long sigh of relief

To understand this step, it is difficult for many police officers to cross it; for ordinary police officers, it is a lifetime opportunity that may never arise

One of the middle partitions has been pushed to one side, revealing a hidden compartment

In my impression, Anthony's father is just a slightly wealthy White Russian businessman, how could there be such intricate hidden compartments in the house

Although the Fragrant Pavilion is a place of pleasure for men, it still differs somewhat from other brothels in Ice City.

Speaking of which, my promotion this time is somewhat inexplicable, and the reasons behind it are also rather unclear to him

I bought two packs of Shuangfu cigarettes from the cigarette vendor, and the half pack of cigarettes I took from Bai Yulan yesterday has long been smoked up

Zhou Sen was in a dilemma. Should he open it and take a look? Since Old Man Anthony had gone to such trouble to create a hidden compartment in his home, it must contain something of great importance. Could it be the emerald ring from the oil painting that is hidden inside?

Before long, a waiter knocked on the door and entered, bringing him a cup of hot water, then said "Enjoy your drink" before leaving.

Anthony's father is a studious person, and there are quite a few books in his study, not only in Russian but also in Chinese, Japanese, and English

"Certainly, Young Master Zhou, please hold on a moment." The manager said respectfully and then stepped out.

That is a portrait of a person

The original self has a fondness for literature, enjoys drama, and has a passion for performance, feeling particularly endowed with artistic talent. If given the opportunity to explore the path of art, there is a chance that he could become a literary master of his generation in the future

He must strive to replay the life of his original self in his mind, after all, this pertains to his survival moving forward

The box is not locked; it simply has a copper clasp.

A sound of "crack" was heard

"You must be Young Master Zhou Sen, right? Director Lin called and instructed me to have you wait for a moment; he will be here shortly," the manager said with a smile as he opened a private room and ushered Zhou Sen inside.

With a strong sense of curiosity, Zhou Sen reached into the dark compartment and felt something resembling a rectangular box

"Police Department Special Agent, Lin Dakuan." Zhou Sen reported a name

A chilling thought upon deeper reflection

Forget it, I might as well go back to my room and sleep, as I have to deal with that Lin Dakuan tomorrow, and he is not an easy person to handle

Secondly, the owner of the Ningxiang Pavilion, Bai Yulan, is known as the most beautiful woman in the outside world; she is not an ordinary woman

It is already past 10 a.m., and the once bustling Central Avenue seems to have very few people. The pedestrians walk with their heads down, hurrying past.

After careful consideration, I have decided to give up. Although I do not consider myself a paragon of virtue, I still disdain engaging in such unprincipled acts as invading others' privacy.

Take off your hat, remove your coat and scarf, and hang them on the hanger. The stove in the room is much warmer than outside

Thank you. Zhou Sen slightly nodded and followed the manager upstairs

It does not resemble a cold at all

However, this ring seems a bit too shiny, which creates a slight discordance when compared to the color of the surrounding items

Such situations have occurred before, but it is rare for them to last this long

In the memories of his original self, he was sold by his parents at a very young age. Before the age of ten, he stayed in a theater troupe, where he endured harsh training, often went hungry, and was frequently beaten. Later, he seized an opportunity to escape and ended up on the streets, where he was picked up by Old Anthony.

The person in the image closely resembles Uncle Anthony, that is his father

Entered the restaurant's lobby through the tall revolving door

As Zhou Sen was lost in thought, several footsteps were heard outside the door

My attention was suddenly drawn to an oil painting on the wall directly opposite the desk

Hmm," Zhou Sen nodded and said, "Give me a glass of water

Although Fengtian is somewhat distant and making a phone call back may be a bit troublesome, sending a telegram should be feasible, right

Hastily casting aside distractions, he quickly stood up

It is likely that the depths here are unfathomable

An elderly man, full of vitality, sits in a Russian armchair, dressed in the splendid attire of Russian nobility, vibrant in color. His pair of eyes shines brightly, exuding an air of distinction, particularly accentuated by a large emerald ring, the size of a pigeon egg, on the ring finger of his left hand

Mad, if I keep reminiscing like this, Zhou Sen even doubts whether he might develop a split personality, as much of this is in stark contrast to his own direction.

The personnel of the Special Agents Division of the Police Department, in Ice City, show no regard for anyone except the Japanese. They are accustomed to acting with impunity, as evidenced by their gait and the expressions on their faces.

These things have become quite vague for Zhou Sen at present; if he does not deliberately think about them, he may even struggle to recall them.

"Sir, do you have a reservation?" the lobby manager inquired as he approached.

The Iberian Hotel, located on Central Avenue in Daoli, is a Baroque-style building with exquisite reliefs and a rather luxurious appearance

Zhou Sen got off a carriage, adjusted his black mink fur top hat, and exhaled a puff of white breath. It was indeed too cold that day; there was no choice but to wear more clothes, otherwise, he truly did not dare to go out

This man also has a strong scent of perfume on him, but it is likely of poor quality. It is pungent

The lobby manager immediately showed a hint of surprise and quickly said, "So it is Director Lin's guest, please follow me."

He has just been promoted to the rank of police officer, thus freeing himself from the hardships of patrolling in the wind and rain, and now has the opportunity to work directly in an office

Firstly, the young women in the establishment are of a relatively high caliber, and the average person cannot afford their services. Moreover, the young women have the authority to select their clients.

Indeed, it is a high-end restaurant, with decor that is exceedingly luxurious. The lobby is spacious and bright, featuring intricately carved columns that resemble exquisite works of art. The floor is so smooth that it reflects shadows, and if this were placed in later generations, the level of decoration would also be considered exceptional

On the desk lies a photograph of him with Old Man Anthony, taken when he had just entered the police academy. He is dressed in a black police uniform, standing behind Old Man Anthony, who is seated in a chair

His favorite feature is the well-groomed patch of mustache on his upper lip, which is trimmed very beautifully. He says that a mature and reliable man cannot be without a mustache

Zhou Senyuan quickly recalled the identity profiles of the three individuals in his memory. Following closely behind Lin Dakuan was a police officer named Zou Shuxun, who held the rank of police inspector. He was the captain of the Special Operations Team and was nicknamed "Zou the Lame." Originally from a gang background, he was later incorporated into the regular army. He had sustained an injury to his left foot. After the Japanese occupied Ice City, he sold himself to the enemy, becoming a traitor and a lackey, ultimately becoming Lin Dakuan's top enforcer.

And today, this banquet is likely to be a poor one

Old Anthony said he went to Fengtian to discuss business, and it has been almost three months since he left, yet there has been no news returned.

Alongside the Qunfang Building of Taohua Lane and the Grand View Garden of Beidao Street

Zhou Sen could not help but feel curious and reached out to touch it. With a slight application of pressure, he felt the ring face sink inward.

Li Shaotang, the director of the Criminal Division of the Police Department, has dark skin and wears a cold expression all day long, as if someone owes him two dimes. He is nicknamed "Li Yama". This fellow has a unique approach to interrogation, being ruthless and merciless. He is a sworn brother of Lin Dakuan and is undoubtedly a trusted confidant.

Unfortunately, his literary dream was abruptly cut short by Old Man Anthony

The person who pushed the door and entered directly was Lin Dakuan, his large head was too conspicuous, and behind him followed three individuals, all dressed in the uniforms of the puppet Manchukuo police.

Zhou Sen's heart raced wildly, a sensation unfamiliar to his memory. He turned his head; the sound was coming from the bookshelf behind the desk!

The items that Old Man Anthony treasures greatly are not to Zhou Sen's liking, which is why Zhou Sen rarely visits the study, except when he is being reprimanded for making mistakes

The last one is chubby and fair-skinned, wearing a pair of black-framed glasses, with small eyes that look quite sly. His name is Wu Shuqing, and he is a few years older than Zhou Sen, serving as a Japanese translator in the Special Operations Department

Took it out and placed it on the desk