Chapter 118: Dead Student, Not Dead Son-in-law

Jixian.

Chen Zhibin, the station chief of the Jinhai branch, hurried to the station entrance to greet him.

"Captain Ma."

He greeted Ma Kui respectfully.

The Baodi branch chief was one of Lu Qiaoshan's men.

Jixian was Ma Kui's territory.

This was the tacit understanding of the division of power when the stations were first established.

"Are you sure it's Jiang Aimei?" Ma Kui asked while walking, his trench coat fluttering.

"Yes.

"According to the files sent over from the police station.

"It is undoubtedly Jiang Aimei."

Chen Zhibin replied.

"Excellent.

"I searched high and low, only to find it without any effort at all."

Ma Kui took off his black leather gloves and clapped his hands in great delight.

He had been down on his luck for so long.

It was time for his luck to turn and for him to show his true colors.

Yu Zecheng and Huang Zhong had dumped a bucket of filth on him; if not for Director Mao, he would have been unable to clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River.

Now, things were looking up.

He had caught the biggest fish in the transit station himself.

Let's see how Yu Zecheng tries to play the stubborn mule now.

Inside the secret room.

Jiang Aimei was tied to a wooden stake, her hair disheveled, yet her gaze remained unyielding.

"You didn't touch her, did you?" Ma Kui asked.

Jiang Aimei had a curvaceous figure and the charm of a young married woman; she was quite attractive.

The Juntong Bureau station was never "polite" to women like her.

"After we caught her, someone recognized her as the wife of Inspector Huang.

"The brothers, well, they got a little handsy.

"But we didn't dare do anything serious."

Chen Zhibin chuckled dryly.

"A bunch of idiots!

"This woman is my prized possession.

"Don't talk about getting handsy; if you even pull out a single hair of hers, see if I don't shoot you dead."

Ma Kui glared at him and spat out an angry curse.

"Yes, yes.

"I will strictly discipline them, sir." Chen Zhibin nodded repeatedly.

"How was she caught?"

Ma Kui turned his head and asked coldly.

"Not clear, perhaps she was trying to flee to Beiping.

"She ended up in a firefight with someone in a village near Jixian.

"She was captured alive by the local security regiment."

Chen Zhibin said.

"A firefight?

"Is that person still alive?" Ma Kui frowned.

"When the security regiment arrived, that person had been shot several times and was covered in blood, but still had a breath left, so they sent him straight to the Army Hospital.

"I don't know if he's dead or alive right now.

"Here are the files and photos."

Chen Zhibin handed over a folder.

"Wen Chong?

"Isn't this one of Qiu Ji's associates?"

The vertical lines between Ma Kui's brows smoothed out, and a look of ecstatic joy appeared on his face.

Qiu Ji had two associates.

One was Tang Si-mao.

After Tang Si-mao was caught, he testified that Qiu Ji had hidden a radio transmitter and was an important liaison for the Red tickets in Jinhai.

Ma Kui had reported this to Mao Renfeng, only to be severely scolded.

There was no other reason; whether Qiu Ji was a Red ticket or not no longer mattered.

This man was now highly valued by Lady Jiang and was an indispensable "imperial physician."

Ma Kui wanted to expose him.

But someone higher up was unhappy, and that was a sure way to lose one's head in an instant.

Now, the only breakthrough could be Yu Zecheng.

Unfortunately, Tang Si-mao was a radio operator and had never seen Yu Zecheng.

But he had revealed one important piece of information.

Qiu Ji's other associate, Wen Chong, was a receptionist; according to the procedures of the Red ticket underground organization, if Yu Zecheng was truly Qiu Ji's subordinate, Wen Chong must have met him.

Jiang Aimei must have discovered Wen Chong.

Therefore, she would rather give up the chance to leave Jinhai than leave the hidden threat of Wen Chong behind.

There was only one purpose:

To protect Yu Zecheng!

Ma Kui's eyes lit up, and he walked quickly to the side room to pick up the telephone:

"Hello, is this the Army Hospital?

"I am Ma Kui, Captain of the Jinhai Station Operations Team."

"Did you receive a wounded man sent from Jixian this afternoon?

"Tell your Director Ding to save this man's life at all costs.

"If he dies.

"I'll cut off that Ding fellow's head!"

Clack!

Ma Kui hung up the phone and sneered:

"Yu Zecheng, oh Yu Zecheng, let's see how you pretend this time."

"Old Chen.

"Keep your eyes wide open and watch this woman well.

"Remember, if anyone dares to get handsy again, I'll chop them up to feed the dogs."

Ma Kui gave a vicious order and walked out.

Dai Li would be arriving soon.

That incident with Huang Zhong had really screwed him over.

An interrogation—it had to be done at the station.

For an important Red ticket like Jiang Aimei, if torture was used at a branch station without interrogation records and signatures from the interrogation room, it would be difficult to use as evidence even if she confessed.

It was very likely that Yu Zecheng would counter-accuse him of collusion and framing.

In the courtyard.

After work.

Yu Zecheng managed to catch Hong Zhiyou, and the two set up a game of Chinese chess:

"Zhiyou, is your father really not going to do anything?

"It's been several days; if this drags on, the kidnappers might kill the hostage."

"Let them kill him.

"Ten thousand dollars, are you going to pay it?" Hong Zhiyou sneered.

"You've cleaned me out so thoroughly I can barely afford to eat; where am I supposed to find ten thousand dollars?

"We can't drag this out any longer.

"Maybe we should ask the station chief or Li Hanyuan to send some men."

Yu Zecheng was genuinely worried for him.

"No need to ask; this is aimed at me.

"I've already notified Long Er; he's more useful for this kind of thing than the police." Hong Zhiyou said indifferently.

"Who is so bold as to dare to cause you trouble?" Yu Zecheng asked, puzzled.

"Hard to say.

"It could be Ma Kui, or it could be one of your people.

"Or perhaps it's something to do with business."

Hong Zhiyou shook his head.

"Nonsense, Mr. Wu set the rules; it absolutely cannot be one of our people," Yu Zecheng immediately rejected.

The two were chatting.

Liu Ma called out: "Ma'am, your phone is ringing."

"Coming."

Cuiping, who was stir-frying, handed the spatula to Liu Ma, wiped her hands, and went into the room.

"Liu Ma's ears are truly sharp," Hong Zhiyou laughed.

"Nonsense, she makes her living by this; if her ears weren't sharp, she wouldn't be here," Yu Zecheng said.

"Old Yu, it's for you."

Cuiping shouted.

Yu Zecheng went up, and upon answering, it was Ding Defeng calling.

Ding Defeng had originally been looking for Hong Zhiyou.

That guy had unplugged his home phone line.

Now, out of ten calls, nine were for Hong Zhiyou.

"Zhiyou, it's for you," Yu Zecheng waved from the window.

Hong Zhiyou went upstairs.

"Hello, Director Ding, is something the matter?" Hong Zhiyou said.

"Captain Ma asked you to save someone, so you're just going to save them?

"What about Jixian or Wuqing?

"Not confident?

"Don't worry, Ma Kui is just bluffing; just do your best.

"I have things to do, I'm hanging up now."

Hong Zhiyou hung up the phone and hurried downstairs.

Yu Zecheng grabbed him:

"What happened?"

"Didn't hear clearly.

"Old Ding's Jinhai accent is too authentic; once he speaks fast, it becomes like flour tea, thick and sticky.

"Dinner is ready, gotta go."

Hong Zhiyou was afraid he would keep asking, so he slipped away.

Yu Zecheng furrowed his brows, realizing something was wrong.

Captain Ma asked to save someone?

The wounded person came from Jixian or Baodi?

The person is currently at the Lujunyi Academy.

This person must be very important to Ma Kui.

Ding Defeng was panicked, which is why he sought Hong Zhiyou for a "reassurance pill."

Unfortunately.

After Ma Kui returned, the Meng Army had to leave Jinhai to protect him.

He no longer had anyone he knew at the hospital.

What to do?

Yu Zecheng picked up the phone, but changed his mind and put it back down.

Ma Kui is very cunning.

If things go wrong, this could be another trap.

He might even be waiting right by the phone.

If he were to inquire, he would be walking right into a trap.

While these small matters couldn't convict him, if he got involved too often, he would truly start to stink.

After all, "one hundred thousand US dollars" is not an impenetrable golden body.

Even Hong Zhiyou was avoiding it.

He had to be careful.

"Cuiping, is dinner ready?"

Yu Zecheng went downstairs, washed his hands, and called out.

Once dinner started.

He whispered:

"Eat quickly, after we finish, we're going to the British Club to get a room."

"Get a room?" Cuiping was a bit confused.

Yu Zecheng didn't explain; he ate a few bites and inexplicably thought of Zuo Lan.

Back in Shancheng, Zuo Lan would also cook when she had time.

Her cooking was just like her, wonderful; no matter how much he had, it wasn't enough, he couldn't get enough.

Unlike now, where it's so salty every day it chokes the throat.

After finishing dinner, he drove Cuiping to the British Club and rented a room.

The owner of this club was a foreigner.

The guests staying there were all high-ranking officials and nobles.

The Juntong Bureau hadn't installed any wiretaps.

Once in the room, he told Cuiping to go take a bath.

"Why take a bath?

"Comrade Yu, let me tell you, don't even think about doing anything that violates discipline.

"Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite."

Cuiping glared at him.

"We came out to have some fun.

"If you don't bathe and tidy yourself up, Liu Ma will notice later.

"This is a mission, understand?"

Yu Zecheng said.

"What kind of bullshit mission, taking a bath can be a mission too."

Cuiping grumbled as she went in.

Yu Zecheng picked up the phone and dialed Liao Sanmin's number:

"Officer Liao.

"Have you found the person?

"Already arranged into the machinery factory, right?

"Good, see you again."

After saying this, he hung up the phone.

His secret code with Liao Sanmin: "See you again" meant truly seeing each other again.

"See you later" meant asking Liao Sanmin to call back.

The prison phone was monitored, so they couldn't talk about serious business.

After waiting for over ten minutes.

Liao Sanmin called back:

"Old Yu, what happened?"

"There is a wounded person at the Lujunyi Academy transferred from Jixian, Baodi, or Wuqing.

"Ma Kui attaches great importance to this person.

"Find someone you trust to go take a look.

"Be extremely cautious; this might be Ma Kui's trap.

"I'll wait here.

"At most two... one hour."

Yu Zecheng glanced at his watch and instructed.

"Okay."

Liao Sanmin hung up the phone.

"Old Yu, what's wrong?" Cuiping had been listening from the side for a long time, completely confused.

"Ma Kui caught someone."

"Injured, at the Lujunyi Academy."

"I'm worried it's one of our people," Yu Zecheng said.

"Those damn secret agents."

"Old Yu, if it really comes to it, let's just take out Captain Ma and Old Wu."

"Didn't he ask me to go to his house to be a nanny?"

"As long as I'm close enough, I can snap his neck with one kick."

Cui Ping thought for a moment and said with a straight face.

"Don't mess around."

"That's a Major General of the Juntong Bureau; if I kill him and they replace him with someone else, how am I supposed to get intelligence?"

"This isn't the period of the anti-encirclement campaigns, where both sides are trying to kill each other."

"Everyone has a tacit understanding; political maneuvering is one thing, but assassinating high-ranking officials would break the balance."

"Just like when high-ranking officials like Mr. Wu or Commander Peng come to Haicheng, Wu Jingzhong still has to provide the highest level of protection for them."

"Isn't that how the Double Tenth was?"

"Old Jiang gave his tacit approval, and didn't Dai Li and Zhang Zhizhong defect then?"

"Struggle requires skill and an eye for the political situation; there are too many people and interests involved."

Yu Zecheng said, restraining his patience.

"Then you tell me, did I break discipline by saving the station master's wife?"

Cui Ping wiped her damp hair and asked in a low voice.

"No."

"Like many women, she comes from a poor rural background; she isn't involved in secret agent work, hasn't stained her hands with blood, and isn't a bad person."

"That can only be considered a difference in class, but it doesn't make her an enemy."

Yu Zecheng shook his head and smiled.

"Alright, since you say so, I'm relieved," Cui Ping smiled.

Just as they were talking, the phone rang.

"It's me," Yu Zecheng answered.

"It's Wenchong, are you sure?"

Yu Zecheng was greatly alarmed.

"You can't let him live; don't let him spit out a single word."

"He has seen us."

"He knows many details."

"Good, I'll wait for your news."

Yu Zecheng hung up the phone.

"Phew." He rubbed his temples, panting from a headache.

"What's wrong?" Cui Ping asked.

"One of Shopkeeper Qiu's receptionists was caught."

"This person has seen me."

"Ma Kui has already sent people to watch the hospital."

"Once he confesses, no one can protect me."

"Sigh, thanks to Hong Zhiyou, otherwise the security department would be coming to make arrests tomorrow morning."

Yu Zecheng said, his head aching.

"Ah."

"Then what should we do, Old Yu? How about I..."

Cui Ping swallowed the rest of her sentence.

"We can't make a move; let's see what Sanmin does," Yu Zecheng could only leave it to fate.

"You say this Secretary Hong, how does he know everything?"

"And he even leaks it to you."

Cui Ping asked curiously.

"Do you think he wants to?"

"His dealings with the Rong family—arms, ships, medicine—none of it can happen without the organization's tacit approval and support."

"That's how it is when you eat from both bowls."

"You have to help everyone, and you have to guard against everyone."

"It's not easy."

Yu Zecheng sighed.

"Let's go."

"I'll take you out for a stroll."

Yu Zecheng glanced at his watch.

"Isn't that too fast? It hasn't even been an hour," Cui Ping wasn't stupid; she knew what "getting a room" meant now.

"An hour isn't enough?"

"Do you think everyone is Hong Zhiyou?"

He rolled his eyes, put on his coat, and the two walked out.

Midnight.

Gunshots rang out at the Chenxing Machinery Factory.

Dozens of "Red Ticket officials" were killed.

The next day, in the conference room.

Wu Jingzhong sat at the head of the table, pointing at the front page of the morning paper, beaming with joy:

"Captain Ma did a beautiful job; catching Huang Zhong and suppressing the Red Tickets is a remarkable achievement."

As he spoke, he glanced at the group: "Where is Ma Kui?"

"Captain Ma? I don't know."

"Could he have gone to the Xiuchun Pavilion to spend the night again?"

Lu Qiaoshan smiled and said the first thing that came to mind.

"You bastard."

Wu Jingzhong cursed, sat up straight, and announced a major piece of news:

"Everyone, I have just received word that Boss Dai's motorcade has already departed from Beiping."

"It is expected to arrive at the station by eleven o'clock."

"Call your wives now and have them rush over with your best suits, ties, and leather shoes; prepare to welcome him."

"Yes," everyone quickly acknowledged the order.

"Zhiyou, you are familiar with Mrs. Ma; tell her to bring Ma Kui's suit over."

"Boss Dai is fastidious and fussy, and he's already furious about the Ma Hansan affair; if we look sloppy, he'll start picking on our discipline again."

"We can't give him the chance."

Wu Jingzhong pulled Hong Zhiyou aside and instructed him.

"Station Master, do I need to change into a set as well?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"Yours, I've already had Shopkeeper Sun send it over for you."

"Hu Die likes you very much."

"The boss might even summon you and Zecheng separately."

"There is enough time, go prepare first."

"I have important matters to discuss with you and Zecheng later."

Wu Jingzhong said with a smile.

Hong Zhiyou called Zhou Gendi and returned to his office.

Soon, Yu Zecheng walked in, having changed into his military uniform.

He closed the door.

"Zhiyou, something big is going to happen," he whispered.

"What is it now?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"Ma Kui caught Wenchong, the former clerk and receptionist for Shopkeeper Qiu."

"This person has seen me."

"I tried to have someone take care of it last night, but I couldn't find an opportunity."

"Ma Kui watched him all night without closing his eyes; not even a fly could get in."

"The worst part is, I heard they managed to resuscitate him."

"He could wake up at any moment."

Yu Zecheng said with a gloomy face.

"You really are a jinx," Hong Zhiyou cursed.

He knew this was a life-or-death moment and he had to pull Yu Zecheng through.

The matter of Shopkeeper Qiu.

He also had a hand in it; helping Yu Zecheng was helping himself.

"Old brother, help me out of this jam."

"If Ma Kui exposes this in front of Boss Dai, I'm finished," Yu Zecheng said, truly at his wit's end.

"Understood," Hong Zhiyou said.

After Yu Zecheng left, he rubbed his forehead and began to think.

The risk wasn't too high; it was manageable.

Having made up his mind, he went to the Station Master's office.

Wu Jingzhong was trimming his nose hair in front of a mirror.

"Teacher, there is a matter I must report to you," Hong Zhiyou said, closing the door and speaking in a low voice.

"What is it?" Wu Jingzhong asked.

"Captain Ma caught someone in Jixian last night; he is severely wounded and is now at the Lujunyi Academy," Hong Zhiyou said.

"That's good news."

"The more Red Tickets Huang Zhong bites, the happier Boss Dai will be," Wu Jingzhong laughed.

"The problem is, this person wasn't bitten by Huang Zhong."

"He is a pharmacy clerk for Shopkeeper Qiu."

"I heard he fled to his ancestral home in Jixian, and Ma Kui led men to rush his house and shot him down directly."

"This is aimed at Section Chief Yu."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"How do you know?" Wu Jingzhong asked, frowning.

"Ding Defeng called to tell me."

"He was afraid that if something went wrong with this person, he wouldn't be able to bear the responsibility, so he begged me to report it to you first," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Why is it this Qiu Ji again?"

"That pig Ma Kui!"

Wu Jingzhong threw down his small scissors and furrowed his brows:

"This person is currently the personal physician to Lady Jiang; investigating him will cause trouble. Who knows, I might even be implicated for failing to investigate clearly and suffer along with him."

There was one more thing he didn't mention.

Yu Zecheng had helped him rake in a lot of money; if he were forced into a corner by Ma Kui now, it would also be very troublesome.

"Teacher."

"Ma Kui has always been impulsive and brainless. If he reports directly to Boss Dai..."

"The sky over the Jinhai Station would collapse."

Hong Zhiyou said, filled with worry.

"Sigh."

"The closer it gets to the end of the year, the more ghostly things happen."

"We must deal with this person quickly."

"You go, no... don't you get involved in this."

"Tell Yu Zecheng to call Ding Defeng and have him ensure this person is silenced forever before Boss Dai arrives."

Wu Jingzhong would never allow such a "landmine" to exist.

Let Yu Zecheng make the call.

If something goes wrong in the future, it is better for one to die than two.

A dead student is always better than a dead son-in-law.

Wu Jingzhong had this scale in his heart weighed out perfectly clearly.

"Thank you, Teacher."

Hong Zhiyou understood, bowed, and retreated.

"Old Yu, call Ding Defeng; as you wish."

Arriving at Yu Zecheng's office, he said directly.

"That's great," Yu Zecheng was overjoyed.

Both were smart men; this little matter didn't need to be taught at all.

Yu Zecheng picked up the landline and dialed Ding Defeng's number:

"Hello, is this Director Ding?"

"Captain Ma brought someone back, how is he?"

"Waking up soon, is he?"

"What? The Station Master and I heard this person was already dead and taken to the crematorium to be burned?"

"The information is wrong?"

"Old brother, you should get that otitis media of yours treated. If it really doesn't work, I know a famous doctor in Qinghai; shall I send you there for treatment?"

"Oh, you remembered wrong, the news is accurate, is it?"

"Alright then, you should invest some funds into the Otolaryngology Department; don't just keep a bunch of idlers who eat for free and don't get things done."

"That's all, hanging up."

Yu Zecheng gave a cold snort and slammed the phone down.

"Phew!"

"Thanks, old brother," Yu Zecheng extended his hand.

"Three thousand US dollars," Hong Zhiyou held up three fingers.

"Understood, I'll give it to you when I get home."

Yu Zecheng nodded and smiled.

Hong Zhiyou glared at him and strolled out with his hands in his pockets.

Returned to the office.

As soon as he entered the door, he saw the warm and fragrant beauty Zhou Gendi sitting in a chair waiting.

According to feedback from various leaders, Chapter 106, the identity of Old Man Hong, has been adjusted. I am currently writing the second chapter, everyone please wait a moment.

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(End of this chapter)