Chapter 0 - Harbin Under A Veil Of Darkness

It was midwinter already. The goose feather-like snowflakes kept fluttering, mixing with the north wind.

Cold to the bone.

A compact car slowly stopped in front of Harbin’s most popular Sifang Hotel’s entrance. The maid, wearing a western dress, trotted before the car. After spreading the roof of the car, she opened the door respectfully.

A woman, wearing a cheongsam, came down from the car. The woman was about thirty years old and was exquisite as a picture. She stepped on the snow with her thin high-heels, leaving some traces.

The maid, who was behind her, immediately held up a red plum umbrella, where the snowflakes fell on.

Although it was extremely cold outside, there was singing and dancing inside Sifang Hotel.

“Manager, the person has arrived already and is waiting for you in the Emperor Room on the second floor.”

This fashionable woman wasn’t just anybody, but Tang Jiao, the proprietor of Harbin’s famous Sifang Hotel.

Tang Jiao just nodded her head and reached the second floor. After a brief knock on the door, she entered the private room with a smile. “Mr. Xu, I made you wait up.” Her voice was like an oriole in the valley.

Mr. Xu didn’t give her the cold-shoulder. In fact, he immediately stood up and shook hands with her in a formal way as he sized her up. It was rumored that her eyebrows were like willow leaves, her mouth was cherry-like and she had a graceful figure. Although she was middle-aged, she was still beautiful, making it difficult to shift one’s eyes away from her.

Tang Jiao kept smiling as she said, “Mr. Xu had a good journey?”

Mr. Xu immediately remembered his purpose of coming to Sifang Hotel this time. He secretly despised himself as his mind became clear and business-oriented, “Everything was fine. Thanking Manager Tang for your concern.” He didn’t beat around the bush as he took a deep breath, and said straightforwardly, “To be honest, this time I came to see Manager Tang because of our foreign business. Right now toilet soaps and vanishing creams are extremely demanded goods. I heard that Manager Tang has some ways to import them from Shanghai. I wonder if I can have the opportunity to share a cup of soup?”

Tang Jiao had some reputation in the Wetlands. If she resorted to tricks, he was afraid he would be eaten without any bones left. Thus it was better to come straight to the point.

Tang Jiao picked up the teacup. Her slender fingers were especially well maintained. Her red nails matched well with the white porcelain cup. In fact, it didn’t seem unpleasant to watch, but made people feel she had a valuable personality.

There was a ticking sound in the background. Every minute that passed by slowed down his heartbeats. Actually, his supply channels were limited. Moreover, the people who could get those supplies weren’t many either. Recently, he has had really bad luck as several contracts ended up badly. There were rumours that he was extremely dislenient and villainous in doing business. Who knows which beggar was so cheap!

Since it was difficult for him to progress, he rushed from Fengtian to Harbin to find Tang Jiao’s help.

Mr. Xu rubbed his hands nervously.

Tang Jiao sipped the tea slowly. Looking at Mr. Xu’s expression, she felt like the effect had been achieved, so she gently answered, “Naturally, it is possible to share the profits. Since I met Mr. Xu personally, then you must have faith in me. But… who knows how much sincerity Mr. Xu has?”

Mr. Xu immediately stretched out his hands, showing numbers with the fingers.

Tang Jiao smiled meaningfully and shook her head, “Add 30%.”

Mr. Xu glanced at Tang Jiao with disbelief. But Tang Jiao continued seriously, “In this situation, if you don’t concede, other people will.” She kept smiling shallowly.

He gasped deeply as he clenched his fists, “This… I need to consider.”

Tang Jiao wasn’t in a hurry, “May as well. But I am going to remind you that time is waiting for no one. This time, allow me to be the host. Have a nice meal, then. But I won’t keep you company.”

Without any regrets, she stood up and reached the door. However, before she opened the door, his voice could be heard, “Wait a minute.”

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In truth, he had no ways out. Even though Tang Jiao’s conditions were harsh, he could only agree, as this was the only chance he was left with.

Tang Jiao looked at him with her head inclined.

Mr. Xu swallowed the saliva in his mouth with difficulty, “I agree.”

Tang Jiao smiled brightly, “It seems that Mr. Xu is a smart man.”

***

Facing the street, Tang Jiao was sitting quietly in a chair made of red wood. It was snowing outside, and the coldness was enough to penetrate into the marrow.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Tang Jiao looked up at the door, where her assistant Gu Er, the most trusted person she has rescued from the street, appeared.

Gu Er began to speak, “Manager, Mr. Xu’s contract has been finalized. Presumably, he will never know that we were the ones who got in his way.” She wore a business smile.

Tang Jiao didn’t have any expressions as she asked, “Did you send the telegram to Seventh Old Master?”

Gu Er replied, “Yes, it has been sent, don’t worry.”

Tang Jiao nodded as she remarked, “I feel relieved that you are the one dealing with things. Now, withdraw.”

Gu Er was a little worried, but retreated quickly and closed the door before leaving. On this day of the year, after handling everything, the manager would lock herself in the room and have a good cry.

Tang Jiao smiled gently as she leaned her head against the big chair. Everyone thought that she was someone who could turn things upside down in Harbin, but they didn’t know that she was just a pawn in the hands of others.

However, she didn’t mind being a chess piece at all. If she hadn’t met Seventh Gu Old Master, or if she hadn’t become a pawn, Tang Jiao wasn’t sure she would be any different from those dancing girls in Sifang Hotel. Or, she will be like those prostitutes in the dark alleys across the street.

Anyway, it wasn’t any better.

Therefore, she was very willing to be a pawn. And to be one, she left home, arrived in Harbin, and became somebody of whom people were afraid of.

She had nothing to regret.

Life was how it was.

There were both gains and losses.

And today was the day when her mother died and when she was the weakest.

She got up and poured herself a glass of scarlet blood-like red wine in front of the wine cabinet. And then, she took a sip.

Since her mother passed away, the Tang family began to fall apart, while her life derailed to a desperate level.

Who would have thought that Harbin’s Tang Jiao of now was the most pampered miss of the Tang family in Shanghai twenty years ago.

If her father hadn’t taken in a concubine and brought her home, then their family would still have been together. But her mother was eventually harmed by that woman, while her father gradually stepped onto a ruined road.

Her family had such a tragic ending, and yet that woman was leading a good life.

Her daughter was also well married as she became the Madame of the Commanding Officer.

Each time on her mother’s death day, Tang Jiao would never sleep well. Thinking of that vicious woman, she had the wish to kill her. She raised her head and drank all the red wine. A hint of hatred flashed in her eyes. She had no other expectations except returning to Shanghai and killing that vicious woman in this lifetime.

A second later, she walked towards the window with a fierce gaze.

Every year on this day, she prayed for a chance to return, but year after year, she could only bite her lips while digging on the window’s frame.

When will she have a chance?

“Uh.”

She then felt a sudden pain from her heart. Squatting slowly, beads of sweat ended up on the ground. She wanted to speak, but could only spit out a mouthful of blood, “Gu, Gu Er…”

The pain was worse and worse, while her heart hurt even more. Staring at the glass of wine not far away, she gritted through her teeth, “Poison…”

And then, she fell to the ground. As pain became more unbearable, she struggled to grip the carpet.

In the middle of anger, the door was gently pushed open, and someone softly came in. Tang Jiao tried to peep at the person who may have poisoned her, but her body had no strength at all. She could only spot clean and shiny leather shoes.

That person raised her hand. Who knew if it was for saving her or to determine whether she was really dead. At this time, she could not hold her eyes open anymore…

A moment later, she heard Gu Er’s wail…

‘In the 37th year of the Republic of China, Tang Jiao, the Manager of Sifang Hotel, was assassinated at the age of 35. A beauty passes away. Harbin’s secure business was cut off, shocking Harbin.’

The author has something to say:

Started a new story, please Bookmark+Comment! I am just at the starting line of the novel, so I need your enthusiasm to irrigate~~my focus!!! Although the story is set in the Republic of China, there is no similarity to the actual Republic of China’s history. All the characters do not refer to anyone and have nothing to do with history. The Female Lead will upgrade her abuse points and make a massacre! You can criticize or throw flowers, but don’t mention sensitive topics! Again, it has nothing to do with history. Don’t mention sensitive topics!!!

Little Fairies, do not be mistaken!~~ Come and save the novel! If you don’t buy the VIP chapters, you will be the one suffering!

To tell you the truth, it is absolutely worth owning!

BD: Imma the translator hi… the author then advertises another work of hers and I will not translate the plot hehe… anyway, please consider to support me, thanks! (I will link the support channels in a while)