Chapter 103: Grasping Both Hands

Evening.

The Shangquan Society hall was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers.

Hong Zhiyou drove to the entrance, flashed his identification badge, and walked in with quick steps.

The Station Chief's identity was that of a business representative.

Dressed in an old-fashioned long gown and black leather shoes, he really looked the part.

Yu Zecheng, wearing a press pass for "Gao Rong," was taking photos nearby.

"Station Chief."

As soon as Hong Zhiyou approached, Wu Rui grabbed him and pulled him to the side, scolding him with a jealous edge:

"You smell like perfume; the 'Jinhai Cannon King' title is well-deserved, isn't it?"

"My dear, the Station Chief didn't tell you, but I went out to do business.

"Aren't all those dollars and antiques in your pocket things I slept for?"

Hong Zhiyou winced in pain.

"Did you get the money?" Wu Rui's tone softened slightly.

"Of course, isn't that what I'm reporting to your father about?" Hong Zhiyou raised his eyebrows and smiled.

"That's more like it."

Once she heard there was money, all of Wu Rui's anger vanished, and she rewarded him with a passionate kiss.

"Then I'll go..."

As soon as Hong Zhiyou turned his head, he saw Wanqiu standing there, stunned with an expression of disbelief.

Damn it!

"Do you two know each other?"

Wu Rui was incredibly sharp and sensed something was wrong at a glance.

"Mr. Hong, what a coincidence." Wanqiu suppressed the bitterness in her heart and offered a polite smile.

She was naturally cute and sweet, with a curvaceous figure.

This smile was delicate and sorrowful, which only made Wu Rui more annoyed.

"Indeed. Miss Wanqiu, why are you here?" Hong Zhiyou asked with a smile, his arm around Wu Rui's waist.

"A senior schoolmate asked me to come and play the piano.

"She said attending events like this would be good for getting my label cleared." Wanqiu replied gently.

"I see. Let's talk later." Hong Zhiyou winked and smiled.

"Alright, see you later."

Wanqiu walked off in her high heels to toast guests on the other side.

"Are you very close with her?" Wu Rui asked with a frown.

"Yes.

"Her uncle is a major traitor, the very wealthy kind.

"The Station Chief originally set us up together so I could squeeze quite a few treasures out of her.

"The Yuezhou Winery was given by her uncle."

Hong Zhiyou explained indifferently.

"Do you still like her?" Wu Rui asked.

"As long as the treasures in her uncle's house aren't squeezed dry, I like her.

"I might even go sleep with her tonight."

Hong Zhiyou reached out and pinched her shapely buttocks, smiling wickedly.

"Go ahead.

"Sleep with her until you get ten thousand taels of gold."

Wu Rui was very satisfied with this answer, and her jealousy dissipated by half.

"You're cut from the same cloth as Old Wu; money is everything to you," Hong Zhiyou laughed.

"Who says?

"Even if you had no money, you'd still be my man."

Wu Rui playfully tapped his nose and walked away with a smile.

Hong Zhiyou breathed a secret sigh of relief.

As for Wanqiu.

He truly cared for her.

He knew the Wu father and daughter too well; they were ruthless.

Take Su Jianhua, for example.

Wu Rui's first love, her once-beloved.

He was finished off just like that.

Wu Rui couldn't even be bothered to mention his name.

It was truly worse than how one would treat a dog.

Hong Zhiyou wasn't sure if she might have a whim and strike at Wanqiu.

Therefore, he had no choice but to wrong Wanqiu.

"Station Chief.

"Lady..."

Hong Zhiyou arrived at the corner and greeted everyone one by one.

Zhou Gendi was just about to greet him with a smile when Ma Kui glared her back into silence.

"Sister-in-law, you this..."

When it was time to greet Cuiping, Hong Zhiyou felt his eyes burning.

"Secretary Hong, does it look good?

"Adi helped me pick this style, saying it's the latest trend in Europe and America."

Cuiping touched her hair, feeling quite beautiful.

Her face was rather long, and with that bird's nest on top, she looked a bit like an ostrich.

Adi, the magazines I gave you, did you feed them to the dogs... Hong Zhiyou was afraid of getting hit and dared not step out of line:

"It's good, it's very good; this style is a perfect match for you, sister-in-law."

"Really?

"My Old Yu said it looked good too." Cuiping was overjoyed.

After chatting for a few moments.

An attendant shouted:

"General Zhang Luolin, representative of the National Army, has arrived."

Zhang Luolin, sporting a light mustache, and his party entered the venue and saluted.

"General Zhang has put on some weight," Hong Zhiyou joked.

"He's fed high-end red wine and steak every day; of course he's put on weight," Lu Qiaoshan sneered.

"Zhiyou, the reimbursement funds for last month's delegation have come through.

"Remember to go to the Falanxi Club and find that traitor manager.

"Make him sign all the slips."

Wu Jingzhong signaled for him to sit nearby and whispered.

"I'll go as soon as the meeting ends," Hong Zhiyou nodded.

"Station Chief, why hasn't the Red Ticket representative arrived yet?

"They're already late."

Ma Kui asked from the side with a frown.

"Special Commissioner, then what are you standing there for?" Wu Jingzhong asked with a smile.

"Understood."

Having been a subordinate for so long, Ma Kui instinctively took the order and headed off with his hands in his pockets.

"Station Chief, you're still the best.

"No matter which temple they gilded their bodies in, they're still tamed by you."

Lu Qiaoshan uncrossed his legs and flattered him.

"Hmph," Wu Jingzhong sneered.

"Hey.

"Don't you think the Red Ticket representative is going too far? They're already over ten minutes late.

"To leave General Zhang hanging at the very first meeting is just too rude and lacks sincerity."

Ma Kui joined a group of reporters to complain.

"The Red Ticket representative is new here and unfamiliar with Jinhai; perhaps they got lost or had other reasons. It's understandable," a young female reporter with a round face replied.

"Which newspaper are you from?" Ma Kui asked with a straight face.

"Which newspaper are you from?" Ma Kui asked with a straight face.

"Which newspaper are you from?" the female reporter asked in return.

"I..."

Ma Kui nodded in annoyance, turned, and walked to the other side to instruct Li Ping:

"Did you hear that? Sympathizing with the Red ticket.

"Tie her up for me after the meeting breaks up.

"I'll give her the answer in the interrogation room."

"Yes!" Li Ping said coldly.

Just as they were speaking.

The Red side's representatives arrived.

Leading them was General Deng Ming.

"General Deng, may I ask why your side was absent..." Li Ping asked, raising his hand while squeezed into the crowd.

"Let our representative, Ms. Zuo Lan, answer that question," Deng Ming said.

Soon, a female officer with an oval face walked out and saluted in all directions.

Click!

Click!

Yu Zecheng trembled all over, snapped back to reality, and began snapping photos frantically as if film cost nothing.

"What's that woman's name again?"

Wu Jingzhong had sharp ears; he sat up straight and asked urgently with a frown.

"Zuo... Zuo Lan, I think?"

Lu Qiaoshan looked at Hong Zhiyou.

"Yes, her name is Zuo Lan," Hong Zhiyou nodded in tacit agreement.

"Zuo Lan?"

Wu Jingzhong's eyes flickered, and he stared fixedly at Zuo Lan for a long while.

The Buddha Niche had investigated; this person had a romantic history with Yu Zecheng in Shancheng.

At the Shaanxi Guild Hall, she might have even turned Yu Zecheng.

Such a dangerous figure had actually come to Jinmen.

Perhaps this was a good opportunity to lift the veil on Yu Zecheng.

However... it might also be a good opportunity for Yu Zecheng to prove his innocence.

Right now, the Red ticket was supported by a group of bigwigs in the Democratic League, especially heavyweight figures like Lin Tai.

The Red ticket's prestige in the country was growing day by day.

If he could use Zuo Lan to stir up some trouble.

For example, turning her.

Or having her attempt to turn Yu exposed.

These were all things Boss Dai would be very happy to see.

"Everyone, just five minutes ago, we received intelligence that the Juntong Bureau Jinmen Station had planted..."

Zuo Lan took out a notebook, stood on the stage, and read out the list of agents planted by the Jinmen Station.

For a moment, the scene was in an uproar.

Quite a few democratic representatives started cursing on the spot.

"Damn it, another day of being exposed!"

Wu Jingzhong's face was gloomy, the murderous intent in his eyes like a tide, making Lu Qiaoshan and Ma Kui's scalps tingle.

"Station Chief, this..." Lu Qiaoshan looked bewildered.

Ma Kui also gritted his teeth, secretly cursing that he had seen a ghost.

Yu Zecheng sat to the side, distracted.

He missed Zuo Lan too much.

That feeling of longing was like a flood, about to drown his reason.

He wanted to go over and dance with her.

To hold her.

This was in accordance with the rules of the exchange.

Turning his head, he saw the Station Chief's gloomy and ruthless gaze under the lights, and that thought instantly sobered him.

"Station Chief, I'm going over to dance a song."

Hong Zhiyou hadn't looked at the list and stood up with a clear conscience.

"Go ahead.

"Dance well, and smell if she has the scent of the Juntong Station on her," Wu Jingzhong said expressionlessly.

Yu Zecheng swallowed secretly.

Old Wu was pointing at him.

Hong Zhiyou walked over and extended his hand to Zuo Lan:

"Representative Zuo, I am from the Postal Service; may I invite you to dance?"

"Of course," Zuo Lan agreed readily.

Hong Zhiyou placed his hands on her fragrant shoulders and slender waist, dancing with a smile.

Up close, Zuo Lan was indeed quite good-looking.

She wasn't the type of stunning beauty.

But rather the type with a face that exuded peace and prosperity, the more you looked, the more charm she had.

Especially the beauty mark at the corner of her eyebrow, which added just the right amount of allure.

Even in a stiff military uniform, it was hard to hide her proud figure.

No wonder Old Yu couldn't forget her.

Such a beautiful and capable woman, why did she have to go offline?

"This gentleman, you stepped on my foot."

Zuo Lan felt her scalp tingle from his gaze.

"Apologies, sister-in-law," Hong Zhiyou leaned into her ear and whispered with a smile.

Zuo Lan and Yu Zecheng's old romance.

It was no longer a secret among the upper echelons of the Jinmen Station; anyone could find out.

"You..."

Zuo Lan looked at him, then glanced at Yu Zecheng, cold sweat seeping from her forehead.

"Ms. Zuo, let's dance again if there's a chance."

After the song ended, Hong Zhiyou gave a lazy smile, shoved his hands in his pockets, and walked away.

Back at the station.

Wu Jingzhong slammed the table in a rage.

"Gentlemen, I remember arranging personnel to install listening devices, and we didn't invite the Red ticket to attend.

"How did they know?"

He pointed at everyone except Hong Zhiyou and demanded sternly.

"That shouldn't be.

"The preparations this time were very thorough, and the personnel were all carefully selected.

"They know the discipline; that was a death order. Once a mistake is made, it must be investigated and handled.

"It's impossible that the news leaked from my side."

Lu Qiaoshan shook his head and analyzed.

"Station Chief, I participated in installing the listening devices, but I wasn't involved in the operation at all," Yu Zecheng also said.

"Don't look at me.

"I only came back yesterday afternoon," Ma Kui felt something was wrong and said quickly.

"Station Chief, Ms. Zuo said the intelligence was received five minutes ago.

"If I remember correctly.

"Captain Ma also has a list in his hands, right?

"Could it be that the batch of people you newly recruited leaked it?"

Lu Qiaoshan adjusted his glasses, his tone gentle with a warm smile.

"Lu Qiaoshan, you're trying to stir up trouble again, aren't you?"

Ma Kui was not what he used to be; his tone was much tougher.

"Captain Ma, it's just a guess, no need to get angry," Lu Qiaoshan smiled.

"It's hard to guard against thieves within the house; this is someone trying to slap me, Wu Jingzhong, in the face."

Wu Jingzhong's gaze darkened, and he sighed coldly.

Just as he was speaking, the phone rang.

"No need to guess, it's the Bureau Chief."

"Gentlemen, you drop your pants to take a dump, and I still have to wipe your asses for you."

"If you don't want to be scolded along with me, then please excuse yourselves."

Wu Jingzhong stood up and said with displeasure.

Hong Zhiyou was the first to walk out.

The others followed closely behind.

Once Hong Zhiyou closed the door, Wu Jingzhong dialed back:

"Hey, Bureau Chief, it's Jingzhong."

"I just went to the restroom; my prostate has been acting up again..."

"Bureau Chief, there's no need to wonder, it must have been Special Commissioner Ma who did it."

"I didn't give that list to anyone else; I only gave him a copy."

"Furthermore, this person is colluding with the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, and I already have preliminary evidence."

"Bureau Chief, Jingzhong has been with you for so many years, don't you know me yet?"

"Why else would Director Mao be bad-mouthing me in front of you?"

"Back then, Mao Sen sent people to Jinhai to deal in goods with traitors, and Yu Zecheng—the one who shot Li Haifeng—accidentally killed Station Chief Mao's messenger during the arrest."

"That's how the grudge was formed."

"Bureau Chief, it's all just about this bit of money."

"Ma Hansan was still bragging at a banquet yesterday, saying he wanted to send people to kill me."

"Why? Isn't it just because I confiscated a large amount of property from the Beiping Overseas Chinese Chamber of Commerce and turned it over to the Party and State, and he's red-eyed because he didn't get a cut?"

"You and Section Chief Shen must speak up for me."

"If that doesn't work, Bureau Chief, just transfer me to headquarters; I'll serve you tea and water every day, and save you the trouble of worrying about the storms and strife."

As Wu Jingzhong complained, he brought up old accounts to claim credit.

"Yes, thank you for your understanding, Bureau Chief."

"It won't happen again!"

"I will investigate strictly!"

"As for Ma Kui..."

"Yes, the evidence must be sufficient, as solid as a mountain."

*Slap!

Wu Jingzhong hung up the phone and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Zhiyou," he called out.

Hong Zhiyou walked in quickly.

"Peel me a pear; I was scared into a cold sweat." Wu Jingzhong loosened his collar and fanned himself.

"Station Chief, the Bureau Chief wasn't angry, was he?" Hong Zhiyou peeled the pear and handed it to him.

"Heh heh, it won't happen again."

"You said Tang Wu of the Gendarmerie Headquarters is colluding with the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics; where did this photo come from?"

Wu Jingzhong ate the pear while staring at him with sharp eyes.

"You'd have to ask Section Chief Lu about that." Hong Zhiyou played dumb.

"Qiaoshan and Ma Kui are both holding their breath; he needs a hundred photos like this."

"You have to help him."

"The one who leaked the list can only be Ma Kui, understand?"

Wu Jingzhong tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, making it clear.

Hong Zhiyou and Yu Zecheng took down Liu Xiong.

Not to mention anything else.

That camera of Chen Genbao's clearly had issues.

The Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics' operation had long since rotted through.

With Hong Zhiyou's methods, getting a photo wasn't difficult.

This was also the reason why Lu Qiaoshan didn't want to get involved when interrogating Chen Genbao.

"Section Chief Lu has many informants."

"It shouldn't be hard for him to snap a photo of Ma Kui's subordinates contacting people from the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics." Hong Zhiyou nodded in deep agreement.

"Boss Dai hates the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics far more than the Red Tickets."

"Some of the new subordinates Ma Kui recruited are troublemakers and scoundrels from Jinhai."

"Isn't it perfectly normal for such people to collude with the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics and leak our intelligence?"

"Isn't it?"

Wu Jingzhong curled his lips and started to laugh.

"Normal, perfectly normal." Hong Zhiyou nodded repeatedly.

"Let's not talk about this messy, ass-exposing business anymore."

"How is your mahjong game coming along?"

Wu Jingzhong asked.

"I've certainly played a good hand."

"Mobile Corps Commander Tian of the Security Brigade has a son who messed with a female student at Beiyang University."

"The kid plays wild and ended up getting the girl killed."

"The girl's family is wealthy and has a very good relationship with Director Peng of the Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau."

"I heard the deceased was also the girlfriend of Director Peng's son."

"The girl's family has issued a harsh ultimatum: Mobile Corps Commander Tian's son, Tian Jun, must be sanctioned and executed by firing squad to uphold the law."

Hong Zhiyou stood up, soaked a warm towel, and handed it over.

"Mrs. Tian only has this one son, so she's desperate to save him."

"She said no matter how much money it costs, he must be saved."

"The problem is that Director Peng is one of Jianfeng's men, and he has also issued an ultimatum: money is no object, Tian Jun must pay with his life."

"Now both sides are looking for me to relay messages, just waiting for your wise decision."

Hong Zhiyou continued.

"Where is the person?" Wu Jingzhong asked while wiping his hands.

"He has already been put under protection by Li Hanyuan."

"This matter has blown up quite a bit; Director Peng's side has experts advising them, getting students to make trouble outside the police station."

"The Red Ticket military mediation representative was late last night, which also has something to do with this."

Hong Zhiyou took the towel, changed the water in the basin, and handed him a fresh one.

"Troublesome."

"Causing trouble at a time like this, is it because Jinhai doesn't stink enough already?"

"The key is that if I let him go, I offend people."

"If I don't let him go, I also offend people."

"Hard to handle, hard to handle indeed."

Wu Jingzhong shook his head repeatedly.

"Master, shouldn't it be:"

"If you let him go, there's a ton of money."

"If you don't let him go, there's also a ton of money?"

Hong Zhiyou laughed.

"You little rascal." Wu Jingzhong pointed at him with a smile.

"My kidneys have been failing for a long time, so I won't be making any 'wise decisions' for heaven's sake."

"You come up with an idea."

"Mobile Corps Commander Tian is the number one profiteer in Ma Wang Town; his house is full of the people's blood and sweat. If you don't take this ill-gotten wealth, even the Heavens won't be happy." Wu Jingzhong frowned with a straight face.

"Mm-hmm, that's right."

"If the upper beam is crooked, the lower ones will be too. For what his dog of a son did, the Station Chief must act on behalf of Heaven and take him down hard."

Hong Zhiyou put on an air of high moral integrity and said righteously.

"That's why you understand me."

"And the girl's side, clinging to that lucrative position at the Civil Affairs Bureau, who knows how much grease they've skimmed."

"Director Peng has the backing of my old classmate, so we can't afford to offend him either."

"We have to keep the scale balanced and help both sides, don't you agree?"

Wu Jingzhong furrowed his brows and analyzed with feigned seriousness.

For this kind of sordid double-dipping, he had to find a sufficiently convincing reason to justify his own "shamelessness."

"The students feel the same way."

"I heard that kid Tian Jun is incredibly arrogant and has offended quite a few people."

"Master, you should promise Mobile Corps Commander Tian to release him first, take this haul, and then we'll see."

"Wait until the people are released."

"If, among the students causing trouble, someone impulsively fires a shot from the shadows or uses some other means to kill someone, then that won't be our concern."

Hong Zhiyou thought for a moment and suggested.

"That will require a well-crafted excuse for Director Peng," Wu Jingzhong said, hitting the nail on the head.

"Simple."

"To Mobile Corps Commander Tian, you just say you are releasing the people."

"To Director Peng, you just say they are being transferred to the Shuitun Prison to await sentencing."

"In any case, the incident happens on the way."

"Neither of them will be able to find fault with that."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Hmm, that works."

Wu Jingzhong pondered for a moment, stood up, and sighed:

"Oh my."

"I'm getting old, my prostate is acting up, and my brain isn't what it used to be."

"It's nowhere near as fast as you young people's."

"Teacher, this is entirely due to your wise decision; the student is merely chiming in."

"Teacher, we are family."

Hong Zhiyou lowered his head and looked up, seizing the moment to speak boldly.

"Is that so?"

"If we are truly family, why is that little girl from the Mu Liancheng household hiding in the back crying?"

"Zhiyou."

"Making money is one thing, but I certainly don't want to see my daughter secretly crying one day."

"Once the military mediation ends, immediately raid the naval warehouse."

"You know how to handle that seductive little woman, don't you?"

Wu Jingzhong sneered, staring at him.

……

Today's 10, 00-word update is complete. Thank you all for your monthly tickets and subscription support. Mwah.

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(End of chapter)