Ning Zhiheng glanced at the shrewd-looking man in front of him, nodded slightly, and then looked at Ikemoto Yujin, saying, "I'll call you if I need anything!"
Ikemoto Yujin immediately understood Ning Zhiheng's meaning and quickly bowed and withdrew.
"Hirao-kun, please sit down!" Ning Zhiheng gestured for Hirao Daichi to sit opposite him.
"Yes, sir!" Hirao Daichi replied with a smile, and sat respectfully on the sofa opposite Ning Zhiheng. "I heard from Ikemoto-kun that Mr. Fujiwara is looking to buy a property here? I wonder what your specific requirements are? I am very familiar with the property information in the Overseas Chinese District, and I am sure I can give you a satisfactory result."
Ning Zhiheng nodded, leaned back on the sofa, and said calmly, "The area doesn't need to be too big, but it must have a separate gate, preferably a villa-style courtyard!"
When Hirao Daichi heard Ning Zhiheng's requests, he was overjoyed. Ikemoto hadn't lied to him after all. This big client wanted to buy a villa with a detached yard, which was a huge deal for him, and the commission alone would be extremely generous!
He carefully examined the handsome and refined young man opposite him. He spoke with a Kansai accent, which should be a Kyoto accent, and his surname was Fujiwara. He was also very generous.
Could he be a direct descendant of the Fujiwara family? That shouldn't be the case. Most Japanese immigrants to China are commoners living in the lower or middle classes. Those who are truly noble and direct descendants of the aristocracy usually don't immigrate abroad.
Don't be fooled by the haughty and well-dressed Japanese businessmen sitting in the lobby. Back home, they're just ordinary people with some family wealth. If they were to encounter true nobles, they would probably have to bow and scrape, showing utmost respect.
The thought that the person opposite him might be a member of the famous Fujiwara family of Kyoto in the upper echelons of Japanese society warmed Hirao Daichi's heart, but his back bent even more deeply.
“Mr. Fujiwara, your request is not high at all. Of course, someone of your status cannot live with ordinary people.” Hirao Daichi said respectfully, his mind racing as he reviewed the information he knew. “Actually, in the overseas Chinese community, most of these villas with independent courtyards already have owners, usually high-ranking military officers or influential figures in the Japanese business world.”
Seeing the slight disappointment in Ning Zhiheng's eyes, he changed the subject and continued, "However, you've come at a very opportune time. There happen to be several villas like this in the overseas Chinese district. I wonder what your opinion is?"
"Is that so?" Ning Zhiheng asked in surprise. In fact, he knew that a large number of Japanese expatriates were pouring in, but Shanghai was almost completely destroyed and was still in the midst of a tense recovery. Housing was definitely in short supply. He was just trying to ask. If there was no suitable location, he would have to settle for buying an apartment instead.
Hirao Daichi quickly explained, "The specifics are as follows: Before the war, although the majority of residents in the overseas Chinese community were Japanese citizens, there were also some Chinese living there. Among them were quite a few wealthy merchants. After the war broke out, these wealthy Chinese merchants fled the community and dared not return, leaving the properties they purchased vacant. Now that we have won, these assets have been confiscated and are public property. I heard that they are currently being cleared out and will be sold soon. If you are interested, I will immediately begin the process."
“Very good, go and take care of this as soon as possible, money is not a problem,” Ning Zhiheng said.
Upon hearing these confident words, Hirao Daichi immediately perked up and nodded in agreement.
“There’s one more thing,” Ning Zhiheng continued, “Do you know Mr. Kuroki Yueyi?”
"Mr. Kuroki Gakuichi?" Hirao Daichi was taken aback. After thinking carefully, he shook his head. After all, he was just a middleman and didn't know much about the literary world's hierarchy. "I don't know him. Are you looking for this gentleman?"
He reacted quickly. This Mr. Fujiwara had just arrived in Shanghai, and the person he was asking about must be an old friend of his.
Seeing that Hirao Daichi's mind was working quickly, Ning Zhiheng smiled and said, "You are very shrewd. This Mr. Kuroki Takeichi is my mentor and a very famous scholar in the country. We were separated before the war. Now, please help me find out if he has returned to Shanghai. If you have any news about him, please let me know immediately."
Ning Zhiheng sought out Kuroki Yueyi to add another layer of protection for himself. With someone as renowned as Kuroki Yueyi vouching for him, his safety in the Japanese-occupied territory would be further guaranteed.
Moreover, Kuroki Yueyi was indeed very kind to Ning Zhiheng. When they parted, he even gave Ning Zhiheng a sum of money. Ning Zhiheng also wanted to see his teacher again.
Hirao Daichi was a specialist in these kinds of things, and finding people was also one of his strengths. He immediately nodded in agreement upon hearing Ning Zhiheng's instructions.
"In addition, Mr. Kuroki Yueyi used to own a sizable library in the overseas Chinese community, but it was destroyed by artillery fire during the war. I plan to build another library for him. Go and inquire about the most famous architects in the overseas Chinese community. I need to select one by one."
This is the kind of grandeur only aristocratic youths of Kyoto possess. The gifts they give are so extravagant—not just money, but a whole library! How much money must that have cost! Ning Zhiheng's words completely impressed Hirao Daichi.
He stood up, bowed respectfully, and said, "Hi! Mr. Fujiwara is truly devoted to his teacher. I have taken note of everything you have said and will reply to you as soon as possible."
Ning Zhiheng took out another small stack of banknotes and placed them in front of Hirao Daichi, saying solemnly, "I'm short on time this time, but there's a lot to do. Hirao-kun, thank you for your hard work! I'll give you double the commission after you finish the job."
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