Chapter 107: The Identity of Old Father Hong

"Ten thousand US dollars?

"Why don't you just say you're Qin Shi Huang.

"I don't have the money, you might as well just kill him."

Hong Zhiyou was too lazy to waste his breath and hung up the phone directly.

An unfamiliar "father."

Since arriving in Jinhai, the two hadn't even met yet.

To demand his blood the moment they started, who could stand that?

Let him die for all he cared.

According to the original body's memories.

His father, Hong Wangzu, had always been a reckless scoundrel back in Hangcheng.

He had walked on thin ice his whole life to finally reach his current position; with Hong Wangzu's nature of indulging in every vice, he might just be ruined by him.

"Zhiyou, what's wrong?" his mother, He Yinfeng, asked uneasily while draped in a coat.

"Mom, it's nothing.

"Go to sleep."

Hong Zhiyou unplugged the phone line to avoid the endless calls.

These were indeed troubled times.

Ma Kui and the Red Tickets were highly likely to use this "fake father" to drag him into the water.

Hong Zhiyou had no intention of taking such a risk.

Thinking of this, he checked the grenades and firearms on his person and drove to the club.

Of all things in the world, sleep was the most important.

Otherwise, how would he have the energy tomorrow to make money and play cards with the ladies?

An underground secret room.

Zhao Chuncheng, the assistant manager of the Longyang Company, puffed on a cigar.

Several fierce-looking henchmen were punching and kicking Hong Wangzu.

"Assistant Manager Zhao, that kid hung up the phone," a pockmarked thug holding the receiver shouted.

"Call again."

Zhao Chuncheng's slightly chubby cheeks revealed a hint of coldness.

"I'm calling, but it won't go through.

"The phone line has been unplugged," Pockmarked Jiao added.

"Old Hong, it seems you aren't worth much.

"Your son won't even part with ten thousand US dollars."

Zhao Chuncheng patted Hong Wangzu's face.

"Assistant Manager Zhao, I, my son is one of Station Chief Wu's men, he has money, he has money.

"I beg you, don't kill me."

Hong Wangzu kowtowed like he was pounding garlic, pleading with tears and snot streaming down his face.

"Not kill you?"

Zhao Chuncheng sneered, pressing the burning tip of his cigar hard against his forehead:

"Do you know what I do?

"I sell liquor, the biggest foreign liquor distributor in Jinhai.

"In Shanghu, my Longyang Company could walk sideways.

"I never expected that in Jinhai, someone would dare to challenge my Longmen!"

"Do you know what good deeds your son has done?"

As he spoke, Zhao Chuncheng kicked him, still feeling unsatisfied.

"I, how would I know.

"I just arrived, I haven't even seen his face yet," Hong Wangzu said with a bitter, trembling face.

"Your son is colluding with foreigners and Americans to sell knock-off liquor.

"Now the foreign liquor supply for the municipal government and the garrison has all been switched to his Axe brand, squeezing out several of my Longyang brands.

"Just last month, I lost nearly ten thousand US dollars in revenue.

"Do you think I can let you go?"

Zhao Chuncheng roared in anger.

"That, that's his business, you talk to him.

"If you want to kill, kill him; settle your own grudges, don't come after me."

As Hong Wangzu spoke, his nicotine addiction flared up, and he sniffed the cigar smoke like a dog to satisfy his craving.

"You two father and son are truly something else.

"The son doesn't acknowledge the father.

"The father doesn't care if the son lives or dies.

"You really are a family."

Zhao Chuncheng smiled and waved his hand.

Swish!

Pockmarked Jiao drew a short blade, and with one swift motion, sliced off Hong Wangzu's ear.

"Ah!"

Hong Wangzu shrieked like a slaughtered pig in pain.

"Don't say I didn't give you a chance.

"No matter what method you use, contact your son.

"Either pay the money, or pay with your life."

Zhao Chuncheng ordered coldly.

"I, I know.

"My neighbor, Section Chief Yu, is familiar with my son; I'll call him right now."

Hong Wangzu said.

"Call."

Hong Wangzu tremblingly dialed Yu Zecheng's number:

"Section Chief Yu, please find Zhiyou for me, I've been kidnapped."

Upstairs.

Yu Zecheng was standing by the curtains, feeling troubled.

The phone rang.

"So it's Old Father Hong.

"Wait a moment, let me have a word with that person.

"My friend, you've got some nerve, kidnapping someone right under the nose of the Juntong station."

Yu Zecheng answered the phone and spoke with Zhao Chuncheng.

"I don't care what kind of station you are, prepare ten thousand US dollars immediately and arrive at Lion Bridge within an hour, placing it in the third hole.

"If I don't see the money, don't blame me for being ruthless."

After Zhao Chuncheng finished speaking, he hung up the phone.

"What's wrong?" Cuiping asked, seeing his expression was off.

"Secretary Hong's father has been kidnapped.

"Sigh, these are truly troubled times."

Yu Zecheng sighed and began dialing numbers.

After calling several club front desks, he finally found out where Hong Zhiyou had gone:

"Please help me connect to Secretary Hong."

"Zhiyou, your father has been kidnapped, the other side wants ten thousand US dollars."

Before Yu Zecheng could finish, Hong Zhiyou's voice came from the other end:

"Give me ten thousand US dollars, and from now on you can be my father."

"You..."

Before the words were out, Hong Zhiyou hung up the phone.

"He hung up; he says he has no money, and if you want a father, you can slaughter him as you please," Yu Zecheng said, spreading his hands.

"Old Yu, do you think this Secretary Hong is obsessed with money?

"His own father, he really doesn't want him?"

Cuiping looked incredulous.

"You don't know what kind of person Hong Wangzu is."

"In our line of work, one should avoid getting involved in disputes."

"Hong Zhiyou walks between black and white, between the green and the red; starting from nothing, it hasn't been easy for him to get where he is today."

"Someone like Hong Wangzu is bound to cause trouble sooner or later."

"If he were my father, I wouldn't want him either."

Yu Zecheng shook his head and sighed.

"That's true."

"Last time, the moment Old Hong returned, he snatched money from Auntie He and even hit her."

"At the time, I wanted nothing more than to kick him to death."

"A piece of trash like that deserves to die."

Cuiping was a straightforward person and began to curse along with him.

"Hey!"

"Let's not talk about other people's family matters."

He rubbed his brow and said with some exhaustion:

"Wu Jingzhong dropped a hint to me tonight."

"Old Huang over at the police station might be exposed."

"Then what do we do?"

"We have to go save Old Huang immediately."

"Find me a machine pistol, and I'll charge over there right now."

"I'll take down those dog secret agents one shot at a time and bring Old Huang out of the city."

Upon hearing this, Cuiping was shocked and said anxiously.

"Are you some kind of heavenly soldier or general?"

"Taking them down one shot at a time."

"The secret agents from the Juntong Bureau have probably already surrounded his house so tightly not even water could pass through."

"If you go, wouldn't I be exposed too?"

"Cuiping, our mission is to lurk, not to fight people."

Yu Zecheng glanced at her, completely speechless.

Sigh, how did he end up with a partner like this?

"Then what do we do?"

"Just sit there collecting money and silver while watching your comrade die?" Cuiping was also irritated.

"Yes."

"Last time, to save Shopkeeper Qiu, I shot him seven times!"

"I love watching my comrades die, is that enough for you?"

Yu Zecheng felt stifled inside and couldn't be bothered to respond to her.

"Comrade Yu, we have to do something."

Cuiping took a deep breath, her tone softening slightly.

As she spoke, she angrily slammed her fist on the table:

"It's hateful."

"How is the underground organization in Jinhai like a sieve, leaking everywhere? How do those dog secret agents know everything?"

"This is the cruelty of underground work."

"You never know who the next person to be arrested will be."

After Yu Zecheng finished speaking, he weakly unbuttoned his white shirt.

With his hands on his hips, he paced back and forth in the room.

Suddenly, his expression sharpened, and he walked to the phone to dial a number.

The phone rang for a long time.

Finally, it connected.

From the other end came the exhausted voice of Huang Zhong:

"This is Huang Zhong."

"This is Yu Zecheng."

"I've been busy lately, so I won't be going to the police station."

"Tomorrow, hand the recent military adjustment and garrison data directly to Department Head Lu."

"Get it done properly, don't drag it out."

"Department Head Lu has a bad temper; if you drag it out and annoy him, you'll be back to sweeping the streets again."

"Click!"

Yu Zecheng hung up the phone.

"Won't your phone call be monitored?" Cuiping asked, frowning.

"Certainly."

"Even if my phone isn't being monitored, Huang Zhong's house definitely is," Yu Zecheng said calmly.

"Then why did you call? Are you stupid?"

"It's my lack of brains; I shouldn't have provoked you," Cuiping panicked and blamed herself.

"It has nothing to do with you."

"Pretend you have a stomachache and send Liu Ma away; I need to go out to meet someone."

Yu Zecheng thought for a moment and said.

He quickly went downstairs and knocked on Liu Ma's door.

"Mr. Yu, what's the matter?" Liu Ma asked, draping her clothes over her shoulders.

"Cuiping has a severe stomachache, so I'm going out to buy medicine."

"Please keep an eye on her."

Yu Zecheng gave the instruction and quickly went downstairs.

He drove straight to Xie Ruolin's house.

Dealing with people from the Zhongtong Bureau and making trades carries huge risks.

But he could only trust Hong Zhiyou.

He trusted the charm of money.

"Who is it?" Old Xie opened the door in his boxers, pointing a gun at Old Yu outside.

"It's, it's Section Chief Yu."

"That's great, I was just... just thinking of you."

Xie Ruolin stammered as he let him inside.

"You were thinking of money, weren't you?" Yu Zecheng laughed.

"It's, it's all the same; you, Secretary Hong, you are walking banknotes, I... I love you all."

Xie Ruolin sat down and was about to pour water, but Yu Zecheng signaled that it wasn't necessary:

"Now, immediately, right now, have one of Ma Kui's men go to No. 26 Tangkou New Village on Chenglin Road."

"Tell him to secretly place this envelope in the mailbox at the entrance."

"The faster, the better."

"I'll pay half in advance."

Yu Zecheng took out five hundred dollars in cash and placed it on the table.

"It's so late, this is a bit troublesome."

"Do you... do you want me to pick someone?"

Xie Ruolin asked, frowning.

"Anyone, as long as it's someone from the action team!" Yu Zecheng said.

"Take photos?" Xie Ruolin asked again.

"No need," Yu Zecheng said.

Old Lu would never let Ma Kui claim all the credit alone.

He definitely has eyes on the ground there.

Sending photos at this point would be gilding the lily and raising suspicion.

"Done, wait for my good news."

Xie Ruolin sniffed the banknotes, his face full of intoxicated, base laughter.

"Remember to keep it confidential," Yu Zecheng said.

"Understood, isn't it just your Juntong Bureau's internal infighting nonsense?"

"We're the same."

"The officers all know what's going on like the back of their hands."

"Leave, leave it to me."

Xie Ruolin grinned.

"It's good that you think that way..." Yu Zecheng said no more and turned to leave.

"Wait, can you get in touch with Secretary Hong?" Xie Ruo called out to stop him.

Yu Zecheng hesitated for two seconds, then gave him the number for the club's front desk.

Afterward, he drove to the Army Hospital, picked up some painkillers, and sped home.

Cuiping was lying on the bed, her face a frightening, pale blue, and she couldn't stop breaking out in a cold sweat.

Liu Ma was anxiously rinsing a towel to wipe her down.

"Are you feeling any better?"

"The medicine is here."

Yu Zecheng hurriedly poured some water.

"Mr. Yu, the Lady is quite ill; wouldn't it be better to send her to the hospital?" Liu Ma asked with concern.

"No, we aren't going to the hospital."

"Let those stinking men touch my belly? I'd rather die... just die," Cuiping protested weakly.

"Sigh."

Liu Ma knew she was from the countryside and had her own principles, so she didn't try to persuade her further.

"Take the medicine, it'll stop the pain."

"It's just my period, I was just tired from working today," Cuiping explained with a sheepish smile.

Yu Zecheng helped her take the medicine.

A moment later, seeing Cuiping's expression soften, he said:

"Liu Ma, thank you for your hard work, go back and get some rest."

"Very well, Mr. Yu."

Yu Zecheng saw her downstairs and out the door.

Then, he pressed his ear against the door, listening carefully to the movement outside.

Hearing the door next door slam shut with a bang.

Only then did he quickly head upstairs.

"Cuiping, are you alright? How, how did you end up like this?" Seeing Cuiping looking half-dead, Yu Zecheng was truly panicked.

Cuiping knitted her brows and started to laugh:

"I'm fine, I was faking it."

"You, you were so convincing," Yu Zecheng said.

"I've practiced martial arts; I know how to disrupt my Qi."

Cuiping took a slight, deep breath, and slowly the sweating stopped.

"You're really amazing."

Yu Zecheng looked at her and suddenly felt that Cuiping wasn't as annoying as he had thought.

"Of course, this lady has plenty of skills."

Cuiping raised her hand and playfully punched him.

*Oof... Yu Zecheng let out a muffled groan.

"Like a woman, so soft."

"How was it?" she asked with a smile.

"I've bought us some time; hopefully, we can escape this disaster."

Yu Zecheng lay on the bed, closing his eyes to calm his mind.

He had to force himself to get a good night's sleep.

Wu Jingzhong and Ma Kui were both old foxes; if he looked haggard and exhausted tomorrow, it would certainly arouse their suspicion.

Sleeping was also one of the essential courses for an agent.

Soon, to Cuiping's astonishment, he began to snore.

Navy Club.

Hong Zhiyou poured a glass of red wine, swirled it gently, and took a sip.

There was something fishy about Hong Wangzu being kidnapped.

He had a bit of a reputation in Jinhai now, and with Long Er covering for him, there shouldn't be any problems in the underground world.

The other party had demanded ten thousand US dollars.

US dollars!

Ordinary thugs and hoodlums preferred silver dollars for their daily expenses.

Demanding a huge sum in US dollars meant the other party had connections.

They were targeting him.

He didn't care whether a lowlife like Hong Wangzu lived or died.

But he had to find out who was bold enough to stir up trouble on his turf.

Thinking of this, Hong Zhiyou dialed Long Er's number:

"Second Brother, my father has been kidnapped; the other party might be coming for me."

"Could you please help me investigate?"

"If my father can be saved, save him; if not, forget it."

"Everyone's life is a life!"

"Alright, thanks, Second Brother."

Just as he hung up, the front desk phone rang again:

"This is Hong Zhiyou," he said, sipping his red wine and forcing himself to be patient.

"Oh, it's Old Xie."

"Director Yu came to see you?"

"Is there anything in this world that you can't handle?"

"The project I arranged for you last time, hasn't it come in handy now?"

"Going yourself, wouldn't that be too risky?"

"Fine, be careful; I'm counting on you to live a long life."

"Hurry up, there's no time left."

After speaking, he hung up the phone, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile.

Yu Zecheng really went to find Xie Ruo.

Old Xie couldn't find anyone, so he decided to act as the messenger himself!

Money over life.

A ruthless man!

Truly professional and trustworthy.

Chenglin Road, No. 26 Tangkou New Village.

Inside the surveillance vehicle.

"Captain, news from the telephone bureau; someone called Huang Zhong's house."

Li Ping dove inside.

"Did you find out who it was?" Ma Kui asked.

"Yu Zecheng," Li Ping said, looking somewhat excited.

"Did the telephone bureau record it?" Ma Kui was overjoyed.

"Yes, Song Fei was stationed there, so it should have been recorded," Li Ping said.

"Excellent."

"He finally showed his true colors, but I'm curious, how did Yu Zecheng know that Huang Zhong had been exposed?" Ma Kui frowned, quite puzzled.

"How did my Master, Liu Xiong, die?"

"Wasn't it because the Station Chief and Yu Zecheng colluded to kill him?" Li Ping sneered.

"Sigh, the Generalissimo said the Jinhai Station was a fortress."

"Fortress, my ass."

"This is collusion with the enemy from top to bottom."

"No wonder every operation I lead fails; the root of it is here."

Ma Kui's cheeks tightened, and he spat out angry words through his teeth.

Mi Zhiguo, standing to the side, listened and silently recorded every word.

"Since they've already tipped him off, Huang Zhong might try to run."

"Go, move out immediately, arrest him!"

Ma Kui ordered.

In the courtyard.

Huang Zhong, who had just hung up the phone, woke up Jiang Aimei:

"Aimei, I have been exposed."

"The outside may already be surrounded by the Juntong Bureau. I will cover you; you must immediately evacuate through the secret passage in the back."

"No."

"Old Huang, I will cover you, you go." Jiang Aimei said while putting on her clothes and holstering her sidearm.

"No."

"Comrade Jiang, we have played the part of a fake married couple for so many years."

"I am a lone person to begin with."

"You have children and elderly parents in the Border Region."

"Besides, the secret passage is too small; if two people go, there will simply not be enough time."

"I will cover you, go."

"When you get to Beiping, remember to find Old Yuan. He has met you before and will arrange for your return to the Border Region."

Huang Zhong said this as he pushed her toward the inside.

"Old Huang!"

Jiang Aimei's eyes reddened, and she fought back tears as she entered the hidden compartment inside.

Soon, the sound of gunfire rang out.

Jiang Aimei crawled through the secret passage, her tears falling like raindrops.

They were a fake married couple.

Yet after all these years, they had long since become inseparable family.

Old Huang.

Take care!

……

At everyone's request, this chapter has been revised.

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(End of chapter)