Chapter Forty-Two: Preparing Once More

"By the way, Brother Ning, have you heard anything about the recent municipal government's plan for supporting facilities at Fuyuan Wharf?" Chen Guangran asked with a cheerful smile.

Both Ning Liangcai and Ning Zhipeng perked up immediately at Chen Guangran’s words. Everyone knew what this so-called Fuyuan Wharf supporting facilities plan was really about—essentially, it was the local bigwigs divvying up the infrastructure and land of the crucial water transport hub, Fuyuan Wharf, manipulating the process to share in the feast. Knowing about it was one thing, but being able to participate was entirely another; only the top powers in Hangzhou could hope to get a piece, while someone like Ning Liangcai could only watch with envy.

However, with Chen Guangran being the official responsible for such projects, his words clearly carried another meaning. He was offering reciprocity, ready to give the Ning family their share of the benefits.

"I've heard plenty. The business circles in Hangzhou have been abuzz about it. But our Ning family’s resources are limited; we wouldn't dare hope for anything beyond our reach. I heard everything’s already been allocated. Is there still a chance for us?" Ning Liangcai felt a surge of excitement—this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity he couldn’t afford to miss.

"Brother Ning, you’re too polite. Just call me by my name; from now on, our two families are as one, so there’s no need for such formality!" Chen Guangran feigned displeasure, then continued, "If others ask, it’s all been distributed. But if you ask, there’s always room for discussion!"

"That’s wonderful! Guangran, my dear brother, tell me the details!" Ning Liangcai was overjoyed. With Chen Guangran’s goodwill and support, he realized that from now on, he could be counted among the notable figures in Hangzhou’s business world.

"I still have a plot on the west side of the wharf, at South Bay. If you’re interested, I’ll hand it over to your Ning family. Are you satisfied?" Chen Guangran said.

"Satisfied, very satisfied! Thank you so much, my brother!" Ning Liangcai was ecstatic. The South Bay plot was prime land—if acquired, it would be a windfall, a stroke of fortune. Even if they just built warehouses there, the annual rental income alone would be immense, and it would be a steady source of revenue, like having a treasure trove at home. Chen Guangran’s favor was enormous.

Most importantly, from now on, Ning Liangcai would no longer be seen as just an ordinary shop owner. With the backing of a bureau chief, he would have the standing to claim a share among the city’s powers. His status, both before his peers in business and among the members of the Ning clan, would change dramatically.

The more they talked, the more congenial they became, and Chen Guangran clearly meant to foster a close relationship. The atmosphere grew warmer, the conversation lively.

After spending more than two hours at the Ning house, and seeing it was already late at night, Chen Guangran and his family finally took their leave. Once the Chen family had departed, the Ning family, somewhat tired, went off to rest, though the father and sons remained excited, returning to the study to continue their discussion.

Little Wan’s problem had been resolved, with an unexpectedly good outcome.

Especially now, with the Ning and Chen families forming an alliance. Ning Liangcai was filled with excitement, joy, and a touch of emotion. He had always thought that after decades of hard work, the Ning family would amount to nothing more than their current holdings. Who could have imagined that under his stewardship, they would have such a chance to soar?

Ning Zhipeng was equally thrilled, discussing with his father how best to develop the prized plot, envisioning their own treasure trove.

Ning Zhiheng, who had been mostly quiet, was less impressed by their enthusiasm, thinking it wise to clarify some matters beforehand.

"Father, I think we shouldn’t invest too much effort in this land. Once we have it, we should sell it quickly—it will fetch a sky-high price, and it’s safer to have the money in hand," he said.

Father and son, caught up in their lively discussion, were suddenly doused with cold water by Ning Zhiheng’s words, leaving them stunned.

"Zhiheng, you may not know business, but you should understand that owning this land is like having a treasure trove. Our family’s future depends on it! How could we sell it?" Ning Zhipeng thought his younger brother must be out of his mind—how could they let such wealth slip away?

"Yes, this is Chief Chen’s reward to our family. If you sell the land and cash out, what would Chen think? Wouldn’t that be a joke?" Ning Liangcai frowned, speaking to Ning Zhiheng with irritation. If not for Zhiheng’s role in bringing Little Wan back and making today’s good fortune possible, not to mention his now elevated status, Ning Liangcai might have scolded him outright.

Ning Zhiheng felt he had to lay out the risks clearly: "Father, there are things you might not understand—you haven’t been exposed to this level. The domestic situation may seem stable now, but at the highest levels, there is a consensus: a war between China and Japan is inevitable. It’s just a question of when, and most believe it will happen within a year or two. I estimate that by the end of next year at the latest, Japanese troops will invade China.

Hangzhou is too close to Shanghai, too close to the capital Nanjing. If war breaks out, Hangzhou will be among the first to fall, and everything will be reduced to ashes. The whole city could become scorched earth; we might not even survive, so what use would the land be then?

I came home mainly to discuss our family’s arrangements with you."

Ning Liangcai and Ning Zhipeng were stunned by this sudden revelation, wondering how the conversation had shifted so abruptly to the Sino-Japanese war.

"Zhiheng, are you speaking nonsense? The Japanese are still far off in the northeast, and aside from a few troops in Shanghai, they’ve been pretty quiet these last two years," Ning Zhipeng said, clearly doubting the credibility of his brother’s news.

"To be honest, this information is still confidential. In the top echelons, many are already looking for ways out—numerous government officials are buying properties in the hinterland. Ordinary people just don’t know it yet. My teacher and his associates have already started making arrangements," Ning Zhiheng explained, realizing it was hard to convince them, since he was just a young man in their eyes. So he brought up his teacher, He Feng.

"If you look into it, you’ll see land prices in the hinterland cities are rising, and the pace will only accelerate. Then you’ll know whether I’m right."

Now Ning Liangcai took the matter seriously; his son was in the military, his information surely more reliable than that of ordinary citizens. Judging from his tone, his teacher must be an important figure, or he wouldn’t have placed Zhiheng in such a critical intelligence department.

He spoke with reason, and it wouldn’t be hard for them to send someone to investigate land prices in the interior.

"Could there really be war? Our Ning family has lived in Hangzhou for generations—are we supposed to leave home, become refugees?" All his life, Ning Liangcai had lived in Hangzhou; leaving his homeland was not something he could easily accept.

"It’s not about fleeing—think of it as spending a few years away for a change of scenery. The war won’t last forever. When it’s over, we’ll return.

A wise man avoids dangerous walls. When war erupts, bullets and shells have no eyes; I don’t want any harm to come to my family.

My teacher has already started preparing a backup plan in Chongqing, and I want to follow his lead," Ning Zhiheng urged earnestly.

"Even if Hangzhou is occupied, would the Japanese really kill everyone? Ordinary people still have to live," Ning Zhipeng muttered hesitantly.

Ning Zhiheng was exasperated: "If we stay, with the Japanese’s brutal nature, the civilians in the occupied areas won’t even have their lives guaranteed, let alone their property. At that point, we’d be at their mercy, powerless to resist.

Besides, others stay because they have no way out, nowhere to run. They resign themselves to their fate as conquered subjects.

But our Ning family can prepare in advance, buy assets elsewhere—it’s just a move, nothing more. Why risk staying to become obedient subjects of the Japanese?"

He felt it was incomprehensible—some people simply refused to escape danger, even when they had the means.

"But all our property, shops, and restaurants—how can we just abandon them?" Ning Liangcai had spent half his life building the family’s business; the mansion itself was the product of his own labor. Everything here was his life’s work; how could he bear to let it go?

"Father, these are just possessions—they won’t disappear if left behind. What matters is our people. If we act early, convert them into cash for protection, then when the war ends, we can buy everything back," Ning Zhiheng explained, trusting his father’s shrewdness would soon win out.

Ning Liangcai couldn’t help feeling lost; so much had happened today, too much information to process. First, his son returned home, announcing his graduation from military academy and bringing Little Wan back. Then, they reunited with family, forged an alliance with Hangzhou’s influential Chen Guangran, acquired a prime plot of land—a windfall!

Before he could even fully enjoy his happiness, his son poured cold water on his head with the news of impending war. The sudden swings from joy to anxiety left him dazed.

After much thought, he made his decision: if things were as Ning Zhiheng said, they had a year to prepare. He would first send someone to investigate land prices in the hinterland cities to verify the truth. As for selling their own assets, he couldn’t decide yet and would continue to observe.

At the same time, he would mobilize people and capital to Chongqing, leveraging He Feng’s connections to purchase some properties as a precaution. That way, if the worst happened, the whole family would have an escape route.

Seeing his father finally make a wise decision, Ning Zhiheng was greatly pleased. His purpose in returning home had been fulfilled, and the weight in his heart was finally lifted.

He also warned his father and elder brother that the information he shared must be kept strictly confidential. If the news leaked, either no one would believe it, or it would cause panic, both of which could bring trouble to the family.