People in the Republic of China era began to rise from industry.

Chapter 121 Civilized Version of the Slave Trade: Mr. Lin is in a very bad mood!

Everyone is easy to talk to as long as there is something to gain.

Chen Bonan, who rose from Huangpu Army Primary School to become the "King of the South," was no exception to this pattern.

The meeting was very pleasant.

Just as Lin Yi had predicted, Chen Bonan took the initiative to invite him to set up the vehicle manufacturing plant in Guangzhou.

They even promised that as long as Lin Yi came, the Civil Affairs Bureau would bear all the costs of the land needed for the factory construction.

It could even exempt one from all taxes for three years.

He can also provide support for Lin Yi's investments in other industries.

Including steel mills.

Lin Yi explained why he couldn't come for the time being, and promised to provide Guangdong Province with 300 tons of special steel next year. The two sides then ended the topic amicably.

The conversation lasted for more than three hours.

Just as Chen Qiyuan had predicted, Chen Bonan specially postponed several of the scheduled events, and when Lin Yi left, he personally saw him off at the door of the reception room.

After saying goodbye, Lin Yi, who was about to turn around, seemed to suddenly remember something and said, "There is one more thing I need to trouble you with, Director."

"Mr. Lin, please speak."

Chen Bonan chuckled, secretly hoping Lin Yi would bother him a few more times.

Putting everything else aside, the stable supply of special steel was enough to make him always treat Lin Yi with a pleasant demeanor.

His Guangdong Province's No. 1 arsenal is expanding production.

Although this year's output is not high, a lot of investment has been made, and we will definitely see results next year.

Three hundred tons of special steel isn't a lot, but it's enough for him to use for more than half a year.

By the year after next, it will probably reach an even higher level.

There will be many opportunities to rely on Lin Yi in the future, so naturally the more favors we have, the better.

"It's not a big deal."

Lin Yi casually recounted the matter of the United Association's member companies wanting to eliminate bonded laborers, as well as the difficulties Chen Qiyuan and his group were currently facing.

It was concise, but not very clear.

Chen Qiyuan, a former soldier, also didn't know much about this matter.

He knew about the bonded laborers.

But he assumed it was just some thugs causing trouble, so he laughed and said without much thought, "It's nothing, I'll have someone look into it later."

"It is truly commendable that Mr. Lin's Textile Federation is paying attention to the rights and interests of these workers."

"I will give the Silk Bureau an order to do the same to any indentured laborers they have."

Chen Bonan spoke words of flattery, and Lin Yi repeatedly said he dared not accept them.

But in his heart, he couldn't help but think, "You, Chen Bonan, are a regional lord, yet you turn a blind eye to such a serious problem, or are you being kept in the dark? It's an utter disgrace."

Chen Qiyuan, who knew the inside story, noticed some problems.

As they walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, he asked impatiently, "Chairman, the opportunity just now was quite good, why didn't you just explain it to Director Chen directly?"

"As long as he makes a statement on this matter, no matter how powerful Duan Xinde's background is, he won't dare to act recklessly."

Lin Yi stopped and turned to look at him: "Brother Qiyuan, you've oversimplified the problem."

“Chen Bonan has a gun, so no one dares to ignore him once he gives the order.”

"But if things go this way, it will only make Duan Xinde and his people lie low for a while, and once the storm has passed, they will go back to doing whatever they want."

“We’ve cut off his source of income and embarrassed him. Do you think he’ll stay out of our way then?”

Chen Qiyuan frowned, then shook his head: "I'm afraid it will be even more troublesome then."

Duan Xinde was a notorious gangster, and even if the textile industry eliminated bonded laborers, he would still have plenty of ways to cause trouble.

Factories need to produce and operate.

Being entangled with a gang leader will affect you in every way.

"If you don't kill the snake, you'll suffer the consequences. So either don't do it, or if you do, just kill it."

Hearing this, Chen Qiyuan felt a chill run down his spine.

This is going to kill someone.

"As for bringing this up with Chen Bonan now, it's just to lay the groundwork. If things get out of hand and he gets involved, he won't be able to blame us."

Lin Yi chuckled, certain that even if Chen Bonan inquired about the matter...

It seems that once the order leaves the government office, it will become nothing more than a piece of waste paper...

Back at the hotel, a stack of documents was handed to Lin Yi.

They're all about Duan Xinde.

To solve this problem, he used his undercover contacts at the Shanghai station of the Special Service Department to specifically contact people at the Guangzhou station to gather information.

Previously, Chen Qiyuan's introduction of Duan Xinde only occupied a small part of the information.

When Lin Yi turned to the next few pages, his eyes widened in disbelief.

He flipped through it carefully again, then looked up at Ah Sheng and asked, "Have you heard of working abroad?"

"heard about it."

"People in Shanghai do this too?"

"Yes, Mr. Du's disciple Chen Heming is in this business. He's the only one in Shanghai who can do this kind of business."

"It is said that in recent years, this guy has made a fortune by monopolizing this business."

“Especially a few years ago when there was a famine in Guanzhong, boatloads of people were being transported out to work abroad.”

"They are all cargo ships, with one or two thousand people on each ship."

Ah Sheng said with a hint of envy.

"It's said that this isn't a one-time deal; every year, a portion of the money these people who go abroad earn is taken from them."

Lin Yi was so surprised that he was speechless.

He had thought that this era would be terrible.

But to my surprise, even in 1934, this kind of thing is still so rampant.

This is not overseas employment at all; it's just human trafficking in a different name!

"Any more?"

"...He paid for the shipping himself, more than a hundred yuan per person, and he has to pay it back later."

"Many people give up the opportunity to make big money abroad precisely because they can't bear to part with the money."

"However, transporting people by cargo ship is not that expensive at all. He made millions just from the shipping costs alone."

As Ah Sheng spoke, he laughed and said, "I heard that many Hengshe disciples were envious of this business, and they even had a conflict with Chen Heming because of it. In the end, it was Mr. Du who stepped in and settled the matter."

Lin Yi scoffed.

He's a complete scoundrel; he's nothing but a gangster boss.

He refused to believe that Du Yuesheng, having intervened in the matter, couldn't see through its true nature.

Shaking his head, Lin Yi asked again, "Aren't there any rumors?"

"For example, this is not overseas labor service at all."

"Some people have said that even when they go abroad, they do hard labor, and in the end, Chen Heming and his men take all the wages. But when there is a famine, people can't survive, so it's at least a way out."

"It's better than starving to death, isn't it?"

Ah said it as a matter of course.

Lin Yi stared at him for a moment, unsure of what to say.

This guy clearly doesn't know that there's a kind of living that's worse than death.

This is a complicated matter.

But one thing is certain: none of those who are dragged out to stand at attention and be scolded or attacked this time are innocent.

Cold-blooded indifference, utterly devoid of conscience.

Those who deserve to be scolded should be scolded, and those who deserve to die should die.

It wasn't that Lin Yi was ruthless; these people deserved what they got.

Huffing and puffing, Lin Yi threw down the documents in his hand and cursed, "Damn it, a bunch of scum!"

Fang Chang, who had been curled up on the sofa reading the newspaper, immediately sat up straight: "Kill Du Yuesheng?"

Two of the three tycoons have already died. If Du Yuesheng is also killed, the Shanghai underworld will be in a complete upheaval.

This is very interesting!

Lin Yi looked at his head, then shook his head: "Some people don't deserve to die so quickly."

Then he looked at Ah Sheng and said, "Send a telegram to the people in Shanghai. Tonight, send Chen Heming to the hospital."

"As long as it doesn't kill you."

If you're in a bad mood, it's perfectly reasonable to hit someone, right?

As for why he wasn't killed... such a wicked and festering beast should die by the guillotine!