Chapter 37: I am upright and aboveboard; I never resort to underhanded tactics behind someone

Ha Gong Da, Security Section.

"What about your Section Chief? I want to see your Section Chief… no, I want to see your President!" Pan Muyang's eyes were bloodshot, his voice hoarse.

He hadn't eaten a bite the previous night when he was taken away; after arriving here, it was endless interrogations, a dark cell, a bright desk lamp—Pan Muyang was tortured to the point of not sleeping all night.

Actually, as long as you find a Ha Gong Da leader who has met him in a meeting room, you can prove his identity.

But the leaders are busy!

When Bu'er Boshi came to Ha Gong Da, we had to entertain him well—not because they're foreigners, but because they're here to deliver money!

Last night the school leaders warmly received Bu'er Boshi, only to discover that a large contingent of leaders had arrived from the capital—military, military-industrial… they too needed entertaining; after the exhaustion, the Security Section could let the matter of catching a spy slide for now.

As the night passed and day was about to pass, Pan Muyang was already near breaking point.

"Our President? You spy, you've got a big mouth—why don't you demand to see the Mayor instead?"

Pan Muyang's face turned ashen; he really had never seen the Mayor—seeing the Section Chief and President would suffice, but unfortunately, all he's run into are these low‑rank grunts!

"I'm telling you, let me go at once! I'm of high status—you can't afford to offend me!"

"Is that so? You stubborn fellow, if you don't come clean I'll see you're just itching for a beating!"

Clang!

Just then the outside door opened, a somewhat weary voice sounded: "Caught a spy? Let me have a look…"

Security Section Chief Du Yongfei!

Pan Muyang finally saw hope! His eyes had been about to tear up, but in the next instant they flashed with a fierce light.

"Du Yongfei, you of Ha Gong Da's Security Section dare to arrest me, a translator from the Foreign Affairs Department, and slander me as a traitor! Tell you, this isn't over!"

I've never suffered such insult in my life! I must regain face and take harsh revenge!

The moment he saw Pan Muyang, Du Yongfei's heart gave a jolt—done for!

We grabbed the wrong person, beat him, and locked him up for a day and night—and this guy is the type who repays every grudge!

What to do?

Du Yongfei's mind raced—if he recognized him here, things would really not end well!

"Who are you?"

"Me? I'm Pan Muyang—I came here with Bu'er Boshi and the others…"

"Impossible—Bu'er Boshi has already returned to the capital! How could his translator stay here? You're definitely not Pan Muyang!"

Pan Muyang stared in disbelief: "Du Yongfei! Section Chief Du! Old Du! I really am Pan Muyang!"

"Hmph, I've got other things to do; I'll come back and deal with you after I'm done."

Du Yongfei walked outside, sweat began to pour down; hearing the howls from inside again, he even felt the urge to kill the guy and bury him somewhere.

Du Yongfei paced back and forth, unconsciously reaching the stairwell, where he happened to see a silhouette.

"Qin Miao, Qin Miao! There's something…"

After seeing off Bu'er Boshi and the capital's leaders, Qin Miao attended the school's Truck Cannon project mobilization meeting; having finally finished it, he ran into Du Yongfei.

After hearing him out, Qin Miao was also taken aback: "There's more to this?"

"Yeah, if this isn't handled well, once Pan Muyang goes back he'll surely put the blame on you!"

"Section Chief Du, I haven't done anything—you know I've been busy entertaining Bu'er Boshi. That guy Pan Muyang? I, Qin Miao, act openly and aboveboard; if I curse him to his face I do, and I'd never resort to sneaky tricks behind his back."

"Hmm, I know, but Pan Muyang doesn't—you little rascal are full of tricks… you're clever and resourceful, you'll surely find a way to settle this!"

Qin Miao pondered a moment: "Then we can only let him go; if he comes back causing trouble, we'll stubbornly deny it!"

"All right."

Outside, night fell; inside the room it remained pitch‑black.

Pan Muyang felt despair creeping in! Du Yongfei didn't recognize him—ask anyone else and they surely wouldn't either; the only option was……

He flexed his wrist and found the handcuffs had somehow loosened, while the Security Section staffer guarding him was slumped over the desk, snoring.

So Pan Muyang quietly rose, slowly stepping toward the door—one step, two steps, three…

Pan Muyang reached the door, his heart racing; he slowly turned the handle—luckily it wasn't locked from outside—one step, two steps, three…

Finally he reached the stairwell, went down the stairs, and quickened his pace, pattering down.

As he stepped out of the building, he glanced back, eyes full of anger—hmph, I'll be back! Ha Gong Da, I've marked you!

Ha Cheng, train station.

Pan Muyang got off the rickshaw, headed to the ticket counter, suddenly felt a urge to go, so he walked toward the nearby restroom; before he could enter, as he passed a big tree, a figure leapt out from behind, brandishing a brick at his head.

Thud!

Pan Muyang's vision went black and he passed out.

He was awakened by the cold; opening his eyes, he found he had nothing on—not even a scrap of underwear.

He staggered to his feet, teeth gritted—who did this? Who stabbed him in the back?

Where is this?

He kept walking, left the alley, and suddenly the view opened up—it was the main square of the train station!

Next, go find the station police……

Just as he was thinking about filing a report, a sharp cry rang out through the night.

"Ah… someone's being lewd!"

Pan Muyang hadn't even reacted before he was surrounded by a few people who rained punches and kicks on him.

"Don't hit, don't hit—I'm not a troublemaker……"

"Damn, going out naked—what else could you be but a flasher?"

"Beat him to death!"

A few minutes later the station police in their peaked caps came over, took in the scene, and without further ado slapped cuffs on Pan Muyang.

Inside the small black room.

"I am Pan Muyang, I am a translator of the Capital Foreign Affairs Department, I..."

Slap!

Confess honestly!

"I really am..."

Slap slap!

Confess honestly! Avoid physical suffering!

Half a month later, in Da Xi Bei, in the labor reform team, there was an extra person breaking stones. Meanwhile, the Foreign Affairs Department sent a telegram to Ha Gong Da inquiring, and the reply was that Pan Muyang had already left!

After investigating for half a day, they got no news; in the end they could only conclude that Pan Muyang had secretly run off with a foreigner, which couldn't be investigated in detail, so they could only treat it as an unsolved case.

And Du Yongfei, every time he saw Qin Miao, he felt... a bit uneasy in his heart; this kid, he's not just an ordinary dark one!