I own nothing from Hearts of Iron nor the Kaiserriech Mod.
Private Bedros Sahakian
Journal Entry 15
June 20, 1932, Monday
It is now the second week of my deployment in Shanghai. Still getting used to this city. Sure I grew up around port cities but Shanghai is a different animal than from Los Angeles. While westernized in many ways the place manages to meshed together those elements with this country's past. You could go back hundreds of years just walking on the next corner. Such as the shrines and markets.
After finally being given off duty time today I checked one of the latter with Hector, following Shang's advice this last weekend. That kid can beat any tour guide here without breaking a sweat. One of the craziest things I saw was all the multiple cages for crickets of all things. They're bigger and more aggressive than the ones back home. I noticed how a number of people were buying a great many of these insects.
Never knew there was a fascination for crickets here in China. Later back here in the base Mr. Guao explained that they symbolize good luck, claiming their ancient emperors kept crickets as pets before commoners caught on. Either to hear their chirping or use them for cricket fighting. Like people stateside use roosters to fight each other. There are actal tournaments for all that.
You learn something new every day.
Many of the guys have gone to the red light district. Haven't gone there myself. I don't think of myself better than them or anything. It's just when it comes to women I want a real relationship, not a business arrangement. So instead me and Hector went around and were directed to a little gambling den in the basement of some hotel.
The cigarette smoke collectively hung over the air of the joint mixed with the mixed scent of various brandy. In the crowd down there it was as diverse as you could. There were people in the neighborhood to the ends of earth. You would find police officers, gangsters, sailors, mercenaries, shop keepers, college students and foreign troops like ourselves. We ended up sharing a table with a few other guys, an old Croat engineer of the Dual Monarchy navy, a Chinese patrolman and some Brazilian clerk from his country's consulate.
The poker game went on for a little bit before first Hector fell out then the clerk and the sailor. Then it came down to me and the policeman. He was a cool customer, and didn't seem even capable of sweating. Just when I thought I had him the fellow turned the tables on him.
He played with me the whole time, bluffing his way to victory. Once I realized what exactly happened I laughed though still disappointed losing all that cash I threw in. Afterwards we finally introduced ourselves. The cop called himself Zheng Lao. For a guy who played me like a fiddle Lao was friendly enough.
I actually recognized him as one of the officers who took away stupid drunk from last week. He told us how the station is still talking about that standoff. Also he knows about us helping the pregnant lady last Saturday. She and her newborn daughter were doing fine from what he told me. Apparently our team earned a cowboy reputation for better or for worse.
Wild West films have been earning some kind of following here from the sound of it.
Zheng took his leave and we soon did the same. Hector was sore about us losing but he got over it quickly. Next time I'll snatch the win.