Chapter 170: Making Movies Is Also a Way of Life

"What Political Security General Administration? You betrayed your comrades-in-arms."

"I don't know what you are talking about."

Ma Kui was, after all, professionally trained, and he quickly regained his composure.

"You won't admit it?"

"Lu Qiao!"

Wu Jingzhong tilted his chin, and Lu Qiao took out a file and slapped it down in front of Ma Kui:

"This is the file left behind by the Jingling Political Security General Administration back then."

"It contains your interrogation and confession records."

"Do you still want to deny it?"

Ma Kui secretly swallowed his saliva, sneered, and said:

"Fake, it must be fake."

"Who doesn't know that many of the Political Security General Administration's files from back then were burned, and many were transferred to the Jingling National Defense Force archives."

"May I ask where this material came from?"

Mao Renfeng had deliberately purged the Political Security General Administration's files back then in order to protect him.

No information regarding his interrogation had been found.

Therefore, Ma Kui was not nervous at all.

"If you don't want people to know, you shouldn't have done it."

"Ma Kui, for all those heinous and wicked things you've done, do you think Heaven will let you off?"

"Go, bring the person in."

Wu Jingzhong stared at Ma Kui and shouted coldly.

Soon, Qin Shuangcheng walked in, looking at Ma Kui with a sinister expression:

"Long time no see."

"It's you!"

Upon seeing this devil who had caused him lifelong pain, Ma Kui's expression changed abruptly, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

"Ma Kui, do you still remember him?"

"Qin Shuangcheng, Section Chief of the Political Security General Administration's Action Section."

"He was the one who personally captured you and tortured you."

Lu Qiao said with a smile.

"If you still won't admit it, Director Yu was at the Political Security General Administration at the time; he sat behind you and took the notes himself." He pointed to Yu Zecheng.

"Zecheng, you speak first," Wu Jingzhong said.

"After Ma Kui was captured, he sat in a chair with a gunshot wound to his left shoulder."

"Li Haifeng punched his wound over a dozen times; if I'm not mistaken, there should be a scar there."

Yu Zecheng stood up and said expressionlessly.

"You, you..."

Ma Kui pointed at Yu Zecheng, almost unable to believe it.

He had never dreamed that the leverage he feared most had been in Yu Zecheng's hands all along.

If he had known it would turn out like this.

He would rather have died than come to Jinhai to take up his post.

"Hmm."

Lu Qiao waved his hand at Lao Wu.

Lao Wu stepped forward and ripped off Ma Kui's clothes, revealing the scar on his shoulder.

"Ma Kui, how do you explain this?" Lu Qiao asked.

"It's fabricated."

"It's all fabricated. Someone must have seen it by accident when summer arrived."

"Who doesn't know that Yu Zecheng and I are mortal enemies?"

"This is clearly a frame-up."

Ma Kui was still making his final deathbed struggle.

"Oh."

"Someone saw it in the summer, while you were shirtless, right?"

"But you wouldn't have been bare-assed, would you?"

Lu Qiao looked at him and gave a sinister, cold laugh.

Ma Kui's gaze darted nervously between Qin Shuangcheng and the others, and fine cold sweat seeped from his forehead:

"I, I don't know what you are talking about."

"He won't talk."

"Qin Shuangcheng, you tell them," Lu Qiao said.

Qin Shuangcheng pointed at Ma Kui and said solemnly:

"I was the one who personally performed the interrogation at the time."

"I was the one who crushed Ma Kui's testicles."

"He was even sent to the hospital for emergency treatment afterward."

"I can confirm that Ma Kui has been castrated; if you don't believe me, you can examine him on the spot."

"Ma Kui, well, will you say it yourself, or should I let Lao Wu examine you?" Lu Qiao asked.

Lao Wu took off his gloves, gave a cold, dry laugh, and wiggled his fingers at Ma Kui:

"Captain Ma, we are all men here."

"Have some shame."

"Don't make it difficult for me."

"I am a Special Commissioner of the Headquarters Inspection Office; let's see who dares!" Ma Kui began to struggle excitedly.

"Ah!"

In the scuffle with the guards, he let out a humiliated roar.

"Strip his pants off."

Lu Qiao shouted with great satisfaction.

Someone immediately went to undo Ma Kui's belt; Ma Kui's eyes filled with hot tears, and he roared repeatedly like a trapped beast.

He suddenly opened his mouth and bit down on one of the guards' ears.

Fresh blood gushed out instantly.

The guard screamed in pain.

"Let go, let go!"

Lao Wu stepped forward, grabbed Ma Kui's chin, and pried it open with force.

Ptooey!

Ma Kui spat out half an ear, his mouth full of blood, and glared at everyone with bloodshot eyes.

"Confess."

"Acting tough doesn't work in the Juntong Bureau."

"We're all men; it's embarrassing to be exposed like this, don't be ungrateful for the chance to cooperate."

Lu Qiao said with a forced, insincere smile.

After a bout of venting.

Ma Kui's energy dissipated; he closed his eyes, leaned back against the chair, and took a weak, gritted-teeth breath:

"Those who serve with their lives are as lowly as grass and dogs."

"Filthy, treacherous sycophants occupy the high temples."

"What a misfortune for me."

As soon as these words were spoken, Wu Jingzhong slammed the table in a rage:

"You stupid dog, stop acting so noble in front of me."

"When you betrayed those Juntong comrades, your hands were stained with their blood; did you feel even a shred of remorse?"

"Did you ever think of their wives and children at home waiting in vain, or their elderly parents heartbroken?"

"They were also vibrant, living souls."

"They didn't die at the hands of the enemy, but died under your butcher's knife!"

"What are you acting so righteous for?"

"What are you being so arrogant about?"

"What right do you have to say these things!"

"Someone, tear his mouth apart for me!"

Wu Jingzhong was truly furious.

Who hadn't come through blood and fire back then?

How many heroes and good men had sacrificed themselves to fight the Japanese invaders and traitors.

Not to mention others, he and Liu Xiong, in order to assassinate the brothers of Puyi, were frozen half to death in the ice and snow many times.

Who has it easy, who is comfortable?

And who has defected?

Isn't that gritting one's teeth, holding on until death, willing to sacrifice everything, and daring to drag the King of Hell off his horse?

I never expected that such a disloyal and unprincipled running dog of the Wang puppet regime would dare to stand on the moral high ground and clamor.

It is truly enough to make one's lungs explode with rage.

At the station master's order, Lao Wu and the others immediately pounced viciously.

With pliers and a scraper, in two or three strokes, they sliced open both corners of Ma Kui's mouth.

Fresh blood flowed down along his chin.

For a moment, the interrogation room was filled with a thick, sweet, and fishy smell of blood.

"You don't want to be decent.

"I'll help you be decent!

"If you don't confess, tear his crotch apart, you ignorant dog!"

Wu Jingzhong pointed at Ma Kui and asserted his authority.

"I confess!"

"I was indeed arrested by the General Administration of Political Security in Jingling, and was forced to betray several colleagues.

"I am guilty!

"I request to be sent back to the Jingling headquarters to face punishment at a military tribunal!"

Ma Kui was intimidated by Lao Wu and could only cross his legs and settle for the next best thing.

Returning to the Jingling headquarters, perhaps Bureau Chief Mao could save him.

Staying here, it would truly be a dead end.

"If you want to return to headquarters, then lay out every detail of your defection back then, and who protected you, clearly and completely.

"Since Qin Shuangcheng is here, you two write it together.

"After writing, sign and press your thumbprint."

Wu Jingzhong said with his hands behind his back.

"Ma Kui, write." Lu Qiaoshan brought over paper and pen.

The two sat before the desk and gave a full, detailed account.

"Station Master!"

Lu Qiaoshan handed the signed and thumb-printed materials to Wu Jingzhong.

Wu Jingzhong took a look.

"Take him away," he ordered.

Immediately, someone escorted Qin Shuangcheng out.

"Ma Kui, now let's talk about the Emei Peak matter." Lu Qiaoshan changed his tone.

"Confess about your comrades as well.

"This is a great opportunity to atone for your crimes!"

He said with a smiling, persuasive tone.

"Lu Qiaoshan, don't you go pinning false charges on me, I am not Emei Peak!" Ma Kui shouted incoherently.

"The snow mountain is cold through the ages, shining alone on Emei Peak!

"The letter, the leak, all the evidence is laid out before your eyes, and you still won't admit it?"

Lu Qiaoshan took out a scroll and slowly unfolded it.

"Station Master, this, this is the poem of the Chairman." Ma Kui shouted, feeling wronged.

"The Chairman's poem hung on the wall by a three-surname slave like you.

"This is the greatest shame to the Party and the State!"

Wu Jingzhong gave a cold laugh, turned his head, and ordered Lu Qiaoshan:

"Qiaoshan, don't waste your breath on him.

"Have him sign and press his print directly."

After speaking, he stood up and walked out.

Hong Zhiyou and Yu Zecheng followed closely behind.

Returning to the station master's office, Wu Jingzhong unbuttoned his collar and said with some fatigue:

"Sigh, I'm a bit tired.

"It's all caused by this Ma Kui.

"Zhiyou, let's have Jinhai cuisine today; the 'Old Explosive Three' at Tongfahao last time was not bad.

"Go and book a private room."

"Teacher, Lady seems to have already prepared lunch," Yu Zecheng reminded.

"Never mind her, we're going out to eat.

"It's rare that we can satisfy Jianfeng on this side.

"He hates traitors who defected to the Wang puppet regime the most; just on this point alone, our Jinhai Station can pass."

Wu Jingzhong said with a face full of smiles.

He knew Jianfeng's temper.

He likes to be thorough.

If you don't produce some solid goods to appease him, there will be trouble.

Previously, he had even considered launching an investigation into Yu Zecheng to sacrifice the rook to save the king.

Now everything is resolved.

"Teacher, the meal is already booked," Hong Zhiyou said happily.

"Then let's go now."

Wu Jingzhong said in high spirits.

"Teacher, how should Ma Kui's crime be determined?"

Once in the car, Yu Zecheng and Wu Jingzhong sat in the back seat, and he asked in a low voice.

"Ma Kui's charge must be 'General Ticket'!

"The matter of being a traitor is just to stop the mouths of Mao Renfeng and Jianfeng.

"In the past, people like Chen Gongshu were also traitors, but in the end, after the restoration, weren't they still used and given official posts?

"The water here is too deep.

"Only 'General Ticket' must be severely punished.

"Especially since it involves Boss Dai's secret mission and the exposure of the Buddha Niche."

Wu Jingzhong said.

"Teacher, according to the intelligence from Song Fei and Sun Xing, Ma Kui has been investigating you and the matter of Mu Liancheng.

"And he and Li Ping had already obtained some evidence before."

Yu Zecheng reminded him.

"Yes.

"With Ma Kui's mouth, who knows what he might say once he reaches headquarters.

"Let's wait until Qiaoshan finishes the interrogation."

Wu Jingzhong said, feeling quite a headache.

Entering the private room, the three ate, and Wu Jingzhong said:

"I've inquired, Wu Taixun still has quite a few old treasures in his hands.

"His father followed Zhang Zuolin back then and obtained many good things in the Northeast.

"And that Zhang Mengchao.

"When Zhang Xun restored the monarchy and entered Beiping, Puyi rewarded him quite a bit.

"These are all wealthy landlords.

"If we scrape them, there will definitely be good goods."

"Understood, I will find time to go to Wu Taixun's house and knock the marrow out of his bones," Yu Zecheng nodded.

"Mm.

"This is what you are good at."

Wu Jingzhong smiled and nodded, then instructed Hong Zhiyou:

"You have Yang Wenquan seal off the roads out of the city and the airport.

"Don't let Wu Taixun run away.

"Especially in the direction of Beiping; Dai Li used to be his sworn brother, and he has deep connections with the garrison and municipal government there.

"If he reaches Beiping, it will be hard to catch him."

Hong Zhiyou replied: "Teacher, don't worry, the Cao Gang has people watching the Wu residence twenty-four hours a day.

"If there is any movement, they will notify me immediately."

"Mm, double-pronged approach, we must take him down," Wu Jingzhong nodded with satisfaction.

……

After the meal.

Wu Jingzhong invited the two of them to the East Sea Tea House for tea.

At two-thirty in the afternoon, the three of them returned to the station.

"Station Chief, Ma Kui has confessed." Lu Qiaoshan brought over a stack of documents stamped with bloody fingerprints.

"Was it a forced confession?"

"Or did he confess on his own?"

Wu Jingzhong glanced at him and asked.

"Yes, it was a forced confession."

"He was unconscious, so I made him press his fingerprints."

"There was no other way, his mouth was already torn to shreds."

"He only admits to having betrayed the Juntong Bureau, but he denies the matter of the commercial vouchers to the death."

"With just this little bit of dirt, we can't pin him down."

Lu Qiaoshan shook his head, looking quite helpless.

"Your methods are not the problem."

"But have you thought about what will happen if Ma Kui retracts his confession at headquarters and accuses you of torture and forced confession?"

Wu Jingzhong first firmly shifted the blame onto Lu Qiaoshan.

"I tortured..." Lu Qiaoshan curled his lip, feeling a bit numb.

"Station Chief, then, then how about..." He made a throat-slitting gesture.

With matters having developed to this point, there was no turning back.

One could only go through with it to the end, walking down this path until it turned black.

"We'll just say that while he was being escorted, he was intercepted by the Red Tickets, a firefight broke out, and he died in the crossfire," Lu Qiaoshan said.

"It seems you had this planned long ago."

"As for your business, you can handle it as you see fit."

Wu Jingzhong said with a smile.

"Station Chief, that may be so, but please do clear the air with Bureau Chief Mao first."

"In case he insists on having Ma Kui."

"If we can't come up with a valid excuse, we'll be in trouble if he decides to make things difficult for us."

Lu Qiaoshan was no pushover either; with a few turns of phrase, he shifted the burden back onto Wu Jingzhong.

Wu Jingzhong turned around with his hands behind his back and stared at him.

Lu Qiaoshan smiled.

"You're right."

"Then I shall ask for Bureau Chief Mao's opinion."

Wu Jingzhong smiled, walked over to the telephone, and dialed Mao Renfeng's private line:

"Bureau Chief Mao, this is Jingzhong."

"It is like this, we have discovered that Ma Kui..."

"Yes, the evidence is conclusive; he was caught on the spot."

"Just a moment ago, we intercepted a telegram from the Red Tickets; someone called Pebble is currently organizing a rescue operation."

"Bureau Chief Mao."

"You have misunderstood Jingzhong."

"We are all soldiers under your leadership, how could I possibly target him?"

"There is one more thing: Ma Kui was once arrested by the Political Security Bureau and betrayed the Juntong Bureau; Qin Shuangcheng of the Political Security Bureau can testify to this."

"Qin Shuangcheng is right here at the station; he came all the way from Jingling."

"Yes."

"Ma Kui insists that it was you who rescued him."

"Yes, yes, it is complete nonsense; I don't believe it at all."

"My point is, since he has betrayed us."

"And the Red Tickets want to rescue him."

"Then let them come; bullets have no eyes, and if he meets the King of Hell, he will have no one to blame."

"Yes, very well."

"Goodbye, Bureau Chief Mao."

Wu Jingzhong finished speaking and hung up the phone.

"Bureau Chief Mao has agreed."

"He will have died in a firefight while being rescued by the Red Tickets."

"Qiaoshan, go and make the arrangements."

"Remember, use only people you can trust."

Wu Jingzhong turned his head and instructed.

"I have already selected the men," Lu Qiaoshan said with a smile.

"Add one more."

"Zhou Yafu from the accounting office, and Fang Xiaomin from the security section," Wu Jingzhong thought for a moment and instructed shrewdly.

"But they are Ma Kui's confidants," Lu Qiaoshan said, stunned.

"If there's a firefight with the Red Tickets and not a single person dies, that would be too suspicious."

"Since we are putting on a play, let's make it look real."

Wu Jingzhong said.

"Yes, yes."

"You are as thorough as ever, Station Chief!" Lu Qiaoshan nodded in understanding.

"By the way, how should we handle Ma Kui's wife?"

He glanced at Hong Zhiyou and asked again.

"Leave her be."

"If she wants to go eat dirt with the Red Tickets, that's fine."

"If she wants to return to her maiden home in Shanghu, she can go to Shanghu."

"Returning to Ma Kui's hometown of Hankou is also fine."

"In a word, do not let me see this foolish woman in Jinhai again."

Wu Jingzhong looked coldly at Hong Zhiyou and instructed.

"Secretary Hong, I have many things to attend to; you handle the arrangements."

Lu Qiaoshan winked at Hong Zhiyou and walked out quickly.

"Master, I will handle it well," Hong Zhiyou nodded and said.

"Zecheng, you go to Wu Taixun's house."

"Secretary Hong, you go and deal with Mrs. Ma."

Wu Jingzhong glanced at his watch and instructed sternly.

……

Three o'clock in the afternoon.

Zhou Gendi and Wanqiu were in the courtyard, sunbathing and drinking coffee.

"Sister, what are your plans for the future?" Wanqiu asked.

"I have no plans."

"I have been to school, but I am not as capable as you."

"As for doing business, I have no capital."

"Secretary Hong said I should stay here and serve you, and we will make arrangements later."

Zhou Gendi's pretty face flushed slightly, her eyes filled with endless happiness.

"It was not easy for you to get away from Ma Kui, sister."

"It is time you lived a good life for a few days."

Wanqiu's eyes revealed a faint trace of sadness and sympathy.

Having been dragged into the power struggles of the upper echelons this time, she had nearly lost her life.

Wanqiu had come to understand many things.

Ma Kui's affair was no small matter; if Wu Jingzhong could not even tolerate himself, how could he possibly let Zhou Gendi stay in Jinhai?

Her own freedom had been bought by Hong Zhiyou risking his life in a standoff with Dai Li.

But after all, Zhiyou was the father of Rui Rui's child.

Wu Jingzhong could turn a blind eye to her getting money from the women at the club.

What did Zhou Gendi have?

Aside from her beauty, there was only the stench of Ma Kui's filth.

I fear Hong Zhiyou doesn't even have a reason to keep her.

"I wouldn't call it a good life.

"I just don't want to be a drifter; I want to be happy every day and be myself for once."

Zhou Gendi said coquettishly.

Just as she was speaking, Hong Zhiyou's car drove into the courtyard.

The entrance now operated on two shifts, with elite disciples of the Boatmen's Guild standing guard, each equipped with a pistol.

The attic on the east side was even set up with a machine-gun post.

"Zhiyou."

Both women exclaimed and stood up at the same time; Zhou Gendi gave an awkward smile and stepped back half a pace.

Wanqiu was so understanding that she immediately took her hand and went up to meet him together.

"Zhiyou, have you finished handling the matters at the station?" Wanqiu asked with a smile.

"Are you feeling better today?

"You have been drinking the herbal medicine, right? This is a prescription I entrusted someone to get from Shopkeeper Qiu in Jingling.

"It's specifically for nourishing the body."

Hong Zhiyou pinched her baby-fat cheek and asked with a smile.

"I have been drinking it.

"After dying once, I feel like I can endure any bitterness." Wanqiu nodded.

"That's good.

"You go outside and soak up some sun; I have a few words to say to your sister-in-law."

Hong Zhiyou turned his head to look at Zhou Gendi, "Sister-in-law, let's talk inside."

"Go ahead." Wanqiu nodded.

As soon as Hong Zhiyou and Zhou Gendi entered the inner room.

Zhou Gendi threw herself at him, and the two kissed passionately.

Hong Zhiyou scooped her up by the waist and carried her straight to the second floor, where they immediately got down to business.

The two, who had been suppressing themselves for so long, were finally able to have a hearty romp.

Especially Zhou Gendi.

The long-lost feeling made her sob repeatedly, her face covered in tears.

Nearly an hour later.

Hong Zhiyou held her in his arms and said tenderly, "Adi, there is something you need to prepare yourself for."

"What is it?" Zhou Gendi trembled all over and sat up.

"You have to return to Shanghu." Hong Zhiyou said directly.

"Return to Shanghu?

"Why? I finally managed to be with you.

"Zhiyou, I, I really don't want to be separated from you."

Zhou Gendi let out a whimper and began to cry.

"You are different from Wanqiu.

"The Station Chief is after his uncle's money, so there is room for maneuver.

"You are carrying the burden of the Ma Kui affair.

"Staying in Jinhai is not appropriate; eventually, both the Red Party and the Juntong Bureau will come looking for trouble.

"If things go wrong, there could even be a threat to your life.

"Adi, people living in this world always have too many things they cannot control.

"When you came to Jinhai, I told you that you must learn to live for yourself.

"Go back to Shanghu; leave now, the sooner the better."

Hong Zhiyou cupped her face, kissed her several times, and said apologetically with reddened eyes.

"Alright, I'll go back."

Zhou Gendi wiped her tears and obediently agreed.

She knew that Hong Zhiyou liked to joke around, but he was never ambiguous about major matters.

This was not something that could be solved by throwing a tantrum.

Furthermore, she and Hong Zhiyou did not seem to have that deep of a connection anyway.

"Going back is actually quite good.

"I can entrust someone to arrange for you to be a teacher at the girls' high school.

"Or the library.

"There are also some municipal units; as long as you want to go, I can get it done for you.

"Oh, right, if you are interested in acting in movies.

"Miss Hu Die can take you under her wing.

"I spoke to her on the phone when I arrived; her new script, 'Three Stanzas of Plum Blossoms,' is just about to start filming.

"I can save a role for you."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Acting in a movie, can I do that?"

Zhou Gendi was quite pleasantly surprised, a light blooming in her eyes that had never been seen before, as if a new door had been opened.

"Of course.

"And it's the kind with actual lines.

"I wrote the script, so for the sake of the sequel, they have to hire you.

"Of course, this script is a classic.

"Once you get to Shanghu, you must study it diligently and ask Hu Die and other seniors for advice."

Hong Zhiyou instructed patiently.

"Mm-hmm." Zhou Gendi nodded repeatedly.

Acting in movies, becoming a star.

What a wonderful, radiant life that would be.

Suddenly, she felt that life had new hope again.

……

(End of chapter)