Chapter 170: Need to use some methods

Dangtong Bureau office.

Sun Chuanzhi's face was gloomy as he paced back and forth in the room, restless.

"Director, I've found out."

"Yuan Peilin is dead."

"Our assassination plan was a complete success. The Bureau Chief will surely be very satisfied with this birthday gift of yours."

Wei Jin walked in, feigning a joyful expression to report and claim credit.

"Yuan Peilin is dead."

"I'm asking you, where are the people you sent?" Sun Chuanzhi asked coldly.

"The people? I let them go and hide in other provinces for two months after completing the mission."

"They'll come back once the wind blows over."

"I reckon they've flown far away by now."

Wei Jin played dumb.

"Let me tell you, the people you sent are currently drinking tea on Wu Jingzhong's electric chair."

"All because of your shitty honey trap."

"Not only was Zhu Yan dragged off to be slept with for free, but she also ended up dead."

"The remaining seven people."

"Are also a bunch of trash. Right now, Wu Jingzhong is intensifying the interrogation, insisting that it was Director Ye who ordered me to do it, and threatening to report it to the Guofang Force and the Chairman."

"Once the news goes up, Director Ye will be wrongly accused and will surely be furious."

"By then, you and I can just wait to be fired and get a bullet."

Sun Chuanzhi pointed at him and cursed loudly.

"Seven people?"

"I clearly only sent three people. Zhu Yan is already dead, where did the other five come from?" Wei Jin frowned, puzzled.

"Do you even need to think about it?"

"Those five must be Red agents, and they were the ones who did the killing."

"The Juntong Bureau hates us even more than they hate the Red agents."

"It's obvious they just want to pin this bad debt on me."

Sun Chuanzhi said, extremely annoyed.

"Director, we can't just let them splash dirty water on us. We should report to headquarters and ask someone to come and investigate or mediate." Wei Jin suggested.

"No wonder they say you have a pig's brain."

"Wu Jingzhong caught them in the act. If this gets poked upward, Director Ye won't be able to wash himself clean even if he jumps into the Yellow River."

"Do you know why Wu Jingzhong is suppressing it and not reporting it?"

"He's waiting for me to state my position."

Sun Chuanzhi put his left hand on his hip and rubbed his aching temple with his right, simply speechless.

To be saddled with such a pig of a subordinate.

It was truly the unluckiest thing ever.

Why didn't he have a reliable subordinate to help him rake in money and solve problems?

Wait.

Wu Jingzhong has a "Jinhai Expert" Hong Zhiyou.

Doesn't he also have a "Money Expert" Xie Ruolin?

How could he have forgotten this kid?

"Get out, get out, get out! Go call little Xie over." Sun Chuanzhi waved his hand impatiently.

"Yes."

A flash of jealousy crossed Wei Jin's eyes, and he walked out, unhappy.

He just couldn't understand it.

How could a bumpkin like Xie Ruolin, who had an ordinary background, no connections, no faction, and was even a stutterer, have everyone in the station revolving around him?

"Little Xie, the Director wants you to go to his office." Wei Jin came to the archives and shouted at Xie Ruolin, who was organizing documents.

"Oh, it's Section Chief Wei."

"Section Chief, Master Mei's disciple is going to open a show at the Shengping Theater recently."

"I got two tickets for you."

"You and your wife can go listen when you have time."

"Please, accept them."

Xie Ruolin gave a dry laugh, took out two tickets, and handed them over.

"How did you know I like listening to opera?" Wei Jin raised his eyebrows and looked at him.

"Your wife is from a scholarly family and is also a native of old Beiping. How could she not like this?"

"Section Chief Wei."

"I, I don't have any great skills, and I don't have any rank."

"I'm just a laborer who does odd jobs."

"Please take care of me in the future."

Xie Ruolin smiled obsequiously.

Wei Jin had originally been somewhat annoyed with this guy, but upon hearing this, his anger dissipated quite a bit.

On second thought, it was true.

This kid was nothing; was it worth it for him to be jealous?

"Go on then."

Wei Jin waved his hand dismissively and turned to leave.

"Pah!"

"What a piece of work."

Xie Ruolin stared at his retreating back and spat.

Arriving at the office.

Sun Chuanzhi hurriedly greeted him: "Close the door, little Xie, come over here quickly."

The two went to the sofa.

Sun Chuanzhi poured him tea himself and said with a smile: "Little Xie, how many years have you been with me?"

"When Jinhai was liberated, you came to Jinhai to take charge, and I was already a clerk in the archives."

"It's, it's been two years."

Xie Ruolin smiled respectfully, without losing a sense of closeness.

"I remember now."

"At that time, Director Liu was in charge, and I was the deputy director."

"He disliked your stuttering at the time, often used you as a laughingstock, and even once thought about firing you."

Sun Chuanzhi pointed at him and laughed loudly.

"Yes, it was called Zhongtong back then."

"It was you, you protected me, otherwise I would have been gone long ago."

"In my heart, you are my second parent, my own big brother."

Xie Ruolin's eyes reddened, and he stood up and bowed to him.

"Sit, sit."

"You are my man. Today, let's talk heart-to-heart."

"You've helped me a lot in the past two years, and I've seen your ability. Our Dangtong Bureau isn't like the Juntong Bureau, where promotions and titles are very troublesome."

"Within our internal ranks, as long as one is proactive."

"I can still call the shots on promoting someone to section chief or something."

Sun Chuanzhi first drew a big picture, crossed his legs, lit a cigarette, and continued:

"Do you know why Wu Jingzhong's official career is getting more and more stable?"

"Why he'd rather stay in Jinhai than go to Shanghai with Jiang Jianfeng for promotion and wealth?"

"Sub... subordinate doesn't know, please enlighten me." Xie Ruolin feigned stupidity.

"To tell you the truth, Wu Jingzhong rakes in more privately than a group commander. Who in Jinhai doesn't go to him to get things done?"

"Even our basic foundation—the municipal sector, the garrison, and even the dividends from the foreigners—he's eating his fill everywhere."

"Why?"

"Isn't it because he has a 'Jinhai Expert' secretary who specializes in soliciting work?"

"Little Xie, I don't think your brain and methods are any worse than that Secretary Hong."

"You have to learn from others; you can't just flip intelligence."

"How much is that stuff worth?"

"You have to be like Hong Zhiyou and set up your own stall."

Sun Chuanzhi tapped the table, reminding him explicitly.

"Director, with your words, I... I can give it a try." Xie Ruolin smiled.

But in his heart, he was sneering.

Who is Hong Zhiyou?

He has American classmates.

He has the backing of the Cao Gang big brother.

He is Wu Jingzhong's son-in-law.

He himself is just eating off him.

The key is that you, Sun Chuanzhi, can't compare to old Wu.

Cowardly as a mouse, can't do anything right, only knows how to play with women.

The Dangtong Bureau in Jinhai can't even get a deep foothold; he'd be risking his life to set up a stall.

"Hmm."

"That's right. There's a job right now that needs you to operate." Sun Chuanzhi smiled.

"Director, please speak." Xie Ruolin said.

"Your intelligence last time was very accurate. Yuan Peilin was indeed hiding in the Xiuchun Tower, but Wei Jin messed it up last night." Sun Chuanzhi said.

"Yuan Peilin was killed by Red agents?"

"That's a good thing!"

"How did it get messed up?"

The news about Xiuchun Tower was sealed very tightly; Xie Ruolin really hadn't heard any wind of it.

"The person was killed by Red agents."

"It has nothing to do with us."

"The three idiots Wei Jin sent—Zhu Yan was slept with for free and lost her life."

"The other two were caught in the act."

"Now Wu Jingzhong is counting all seven people, including the Red agents he caught, on our heads."

"What do you say we should do?"

Sun Chuanzhi asked, raising his hand in distress.

"Director, this matter is very troublesome."

"Yuan Peilin is the Juntong Bureau's golden nugget, and the person in charge of this matter is Li Ya, a disciple of Jiang Jianfeng."

"If this gets poked to the top."

"Director Ye won't be able to protect himself. The matter of Zhong Wangguo last time hasn't settled yet, and now this has happened. He will definitely drag... drag you out to take the blame."

Xie Ruolin frowned and said, hitting the nail on the head.

"Yes, that's why I wanted to entrust you to smooth this over."

"Wu Jingzhong's tone is very tough."

"But he has sealed this matter now. What do you think he means?"

Sun Chuanzhi had actually guessed it, but he wanted to hear Xie's opinion.

"It's very simple."

"He wants to digest it internally within Jinhai."

"The ones who took action on the Red side must be the Anti-Traitor Squad."

"Wu Jingzhong doesn't want to offend this group of people."

"He doesn't want to be used as a gun by Mao Renfeng to openly oppose Ye Xiufeng."

"Therefore, he has left enough room for maneuver."

"It just depends on whether you, Director, are willing to reconcile."

Xie Ruolin's analysis was so smooth he didn't even stutter.

"Do you know Hong Zhiyou?" Sun Chuanzhi said.

"I do."

"Good, talk to him. As long as the conditions are reasonable, everything can be discussed." Sun Chuanzhi said.

"Yes, Director." Xie Ruolin accepted the order.

"There are no outsiders here, call me brother."

"Little brother, whether I can get through this disaster depends entirely on you."

Sun Chuanzhi held Xie Ruolin's hands with both of his and entrusted him solemnly.

"Rest assured."

"I, I will definitely negotiate it for you."

Xie Ruolin accepted the order and left.

Tongyuan Bookstore.

Yu Zecheng walked in.

This time he didn't bring Cuiping.

No other reason, he was afraid Cuiping would beat up Shopkeeper Luo.

After a simple exchange of glances, the two came to the warehouse in the back.

"Comrade Zecheng."

"Last night, comrades from the Anti-Traitor Squad sneaked into Xiuchun Tower and successfully assassinated Yuan Peilin."

"Unfortunately, the people from the Anti-Traitor Squad were caught."

"I called you here because..."

Luo Anping spoke as soon as they met.

Before he could finish, Yu Zecheng interrupted him:

"The assassination failed."

"The person they killed last night was a man named Guo Liang."

"He was Yuan Peilin's assistant."

"This was a trap set by Li Ya, aimed at drawing out the assassins from the Anti-Traitor Squad and the Dangtong Bureau."

"You fell for the trap."

"What?" Luo Anping was shocked.

"Comrade Yu, are, are you sure?" He rubbed his forehead and asked, unable to believe it.

"I'm sure."

"Right now, Yuan Peilin is in Li Ya's hands. Besides him, even Wu Jingzhong doesn't know."

"I advised you..."

Yu Zecheng shook his head and didn't continue to discourage him.

Luo Anping instantly lost all his spirit, slumped powerlessly in his chair, and muttered to himself:

"No, that can't be."

"You must have made a mistake."

Yu Zecheng glanced at him and didn't argue.

"Shopkeeper."

At this moment, Luo Bing's voice came from outside the door.

"Come in." Luo Anping said.

Luo Bing leaned into his ear and whispered a few words.

The color drained from Luo Anping's face. After Luo Bing left, he stood up and bowed to Yu Zecheng to apologize:

"Comrade Zecheng, the organization has confirmed it."

"Your reminder was correct."

"It was my carelessness and arbitrary decision that harmed the comrades of the Anti-Traitor Squad."

"I take full responsibility."

"At the same time, I express my apologies to you."

Yu Zecheng said calmly: "Old Luo, now is not the time to discuss responsibility."

"You just arrived in Jinhai and are unfamiliar with the people and the environment here, so it's inevitable to make mistakes."

"The most urgent task is to rescue the comrades of the Anti-Traitor Squad."

"Wu Jingzhong now wants to use the death of 'Yuan Peilin' to find some trouble for the Dangtong Bureau and Ye Xiufeng."

"This is also a good opportunity for our rescue."

"Wu Jingzhong wants to rake in money from this; the Dangtong Bureau will definitely have to bleed, and our side is no exception."

"You should raise funds as soon as possible."

"So I can go buy the people."

"Funds?" Luo Anping frowned, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"To tell you the truth, the organization's funds are very tight."

"I still owe money to the bookstore and the landlord. You figure it out, how many US dollars does it take to redeem one person?"

He asked in a low voice.

"At least five thousand, maybe up to ten thousand." Yu Zecheng said.

"Ah!"

"This is even harder than robbing the execution ground." Luo Anping was full of bitterness.

"There are ways when there's no money."

"Let those comrades insist that they are people from the Dangtong Bureau."

"Let Ye Xiufeng foot the bill."

Yu Zecheng thought for a moment and said.

He had originally wanted to find Yong Jianqiu.

But Zhangjiakou was lost, the front line in North China was further compressed by the 11th and 12th Group Armies, and the Nationalist army in Subei was also frantically counterattacking General Su.

The flames of war were becoming more intense by the day.

Medicine, ammunition, and food were like a bottomless pit.

Buying from the black market or the Nationalist army often involved premiums, and transportation required payoffs to all parties.

Even though Mr. Yong's daughter was mining in North America, they were stretched thin.

"Sigh."

"It's all my fault!"

Luo Anping slapped his thigh in frustration, then looked at him with anticipation:

"Comrade Zecheng, everything depends on you."

Yu Zecheng nodded and walked out silently and steadily.

Returning to the station.

Yu Zecheng looked around and came to Hong Zhiyou's office.

"Old Lu is here too." He greeted with a smile.

"Nothing, just came over to complain."

"Have you heard?"

Lu Qiaoshan asked with a smile.

"What?" Yu Zecheng looked curious.

"Li Ya hired two cooks."

"One Sichuan cuisine chef."

"One Anhui cuisine chef."

"It is said that he wants to invite all the head chefs of the eight major cuisines."

"Our Captain Li, Yuan Peilin is lost, and he still has the heart to study gourmet food."

Lu Qiaoshan shook his head in disdain.

"Food is the people's heaven, after all."

"Even the honest official Hai Rui had times when he bought pork."

"Captain Li has eaten too much loess in Yancheng and wants to improve his diet; that's understandable."

Yu Zecheng smiled.

"That's not all."

"Whose house is Li Ya living in?" Lu Qiaoshan winked and laughed dryly.

"Ma Kui's, of course."

"Zhiyou personally set up the furniture for him." Yu Zecheng said.

"My people in the action team said."

"Li Ya invited them to dinner at home, and there was a photo frame that Zhou Gendi hadn't taken away by the pillow."

"He hugs it every day and has sweet dreams."

"You say, this person doesn't look bad, and holds an important position, wouldn't it be better to marry a wife himself?"

"Doing such filthy things."

"A petty person is a petty person. No matter how much hair gel he uses or how shiny his suit is, he can't hide that rustic air."

Lu Qiaoshan shook his head and sneered.

"It's indeed a bit excessive. He's not afraid of Ma Kui coming to find him at night." Yu Zecheng teased.

"No wonder the ancients said that one thinks of desire when full and warm."

"This person has been afraid of poverty. Wine, lust, wealth, and anger—lust is always a matter after food and clothing."

"Nowadays, marrying a wife means dragging a whole family along. Parents, brothers, and sisters get involved; you can't ignore them, and that all costs money."

"Captain Li doesn't marry and just enjoys the fun of a photo; that's called economic and practical."

Hong Zhiyou also started to laugh as he listened.

Not to mention.

Li Ya has awareness regarding settling down and starting a career.

"By the way, Old Lu, how is the interrogation of Qi Qi Da Fu going?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"No need to ask."

"His mouth was torn apart, and it finally vented the evil air in my heart."

"Moreover, the matter has already been characterized regardless of the interrogation."

"It must be that Qi Qi Da Fu colluded with the Dangtong Bureau and killed Yuan Peilin."

"The Station Chief means the same thing."

"No choice, someone behind him is Jiang Jianfeng. With such a big thing happening, Qi Qi Da Fu must be the scapegoat."

Lu Qiaoshan's eyes sharpened, but then he smiled gently again.

"The art of being an official: sacrifice the small to protect the big." Yu Zecheng said.

Hong Zhiyou refilled their tea.

He could see that Yu Zecheng had something on his mind.

However, since Old Yu wasn't in a hurry, he naturally didn't need to be either.

Listening to the fun was also quite good.

"I'm very strange."

"You say Yuan was killed, such a big thing, why is the Station Chief covering it up and not reporting it?"

Speaking of this, Lu Qiaoshan said in a low voice:

"I called Director Zheng."

"He told me not to worry about it."

"What do you think this means?"

"What does it mean? The top doesn't want to make a big deal out of it, I suppose." Yu Zecheng knew but didn't say, leading Lu Qiaoshan to spit it out himself.

"Bullshit."

"We and Zhongtong are sworn enemies. With such a good opportunity, could Mao Renfeng let it go?"

"In my opinion, the one who died in Xiuchun Tower is not Yuan Peilin."

Lu Qiaoshan expressed his view.

"Old Lu, don't talk nonsense."

"The trap carefully laid by the Station Chief and Station Chief Qiao, how could it be fake?"

Hong Zhiyou reminded him solemnly.

"I didn't believe it at first either."

"But the facts are right there. I was also deceived by Li Ya and the others."

"You wait, after settling the Dangtong Bureau matter."

"Li Ya will definitely perform another great service."

"This person is sinister."

Lu Qiaoshan said this, stood up, and said:

"Enough, the Station Chief asked me to go to the Public Security Bureau for a meeting, it's almost time."

"Old Lu, you still say the Station Chief doesn't value you."

"Many people dream of being able to show their faces at meetings."

"These big and small meetings, all the important things are handled by you."

Yu Zecheng joked.

"Sigh, a life of hard labor."

"I'm off!"

"Just wait, dare to play me? The skills I lost, I will eventually find back. Yuan Peilin can't hide."

Lu Qiaoshan left a harsh word and walked out.

"Something up?" Hong Zhiyou closed the door and poured the tea Lu Qiaoshan had left behind.

"Yes."

"I've made contact with the top, they don't have the money to redeem the people." Yu Zecheng said helplessly.

"No money? Then what's there to talk about?"

"The Station Chief isn't running a temple."

Hong Zhiyou looked at him and rolled his eyes speechlessly.

"They really don't have money."

"Mr. Yong is also tight on cash right now."

"I really have no other way."

"How about we count the heads on the Dangtong Bureau and let them pay the money?"

Yu Zecheng smiled and negotiated.

"That's the only way."

"I'll go talk to the Station Chief and see if he can loosen his mouth."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"I'm counting on you, little brother." Yu Zecheng said gratefully.

Arriving at the Station Chief's office, Wu Jingzhong was reviewing documents.

"Station Chief, the Dangtong Bureau side has contacted me, and Sun Chuanzhi expressed his willingness to redeem the people." Hong Zhiyou said.

"He's still sensible."

"How does he want to redeem them?" Wu Jingzhong asked.

"He said he is willing to pay ten gold bars per person to redeem his two subordinates." Hong Zhiyou said.

"Two?"

"Have the Red agents been contacted?" Wu Jingzhong asked.

"The Red side also had Mr. Yong pass the word, saying... saying they can't come up with the money." Hong Zhiyou said.

"Red agents have no money?"

"Doesn't Yong Jianqiu have a mine at home? How could he be short of money?" Wu Jingzhong snorted with dissatisfaction.

"Supplies are tight recently."

"Yong Jianqiu has invested most of his family fortune, so he really can't spare the money to turn it around."

"Teacher, this is what I think."

"Whether Yong Jianqiu has money or not, let's put that aside."

"Department Chief Lu has already called Director Zheng to ask."

"He has already deduced that Yuan is not dead."

"Given his relationship with Li Ya, this news will spread sooner or later."

"So, every day this person stays in our hands, he depreciates, and in the end, he might be worthless."

"It's better to take advantage of Sun Chuanzhi's urgency to put out the fire and bundle them all to him."

"The Dangtong Bureau has plenty of money."

"That Zhong Wangguo of the Jinhai Economic Investigation Group, it is said that the property confiscated filled a whole truck, and gold bars and US dollars were countless."

"Sun Chuanzhi has always only taken in and never paid out; he definitely has plenty of money."

"We might as well slaughter him hard."

"Anyway, whose money we earn, it's all earning."

"Giving the Red Anti-Traitor Squad some face—these people are not to be trifled with—let's just consider it a good deed."

Hong Zhiyou persuaded him in a soft voice.

"Sigh, these people, they have money to buy ammunition and intelligence, but play dead when it comes to redeeming people."

"Fine, we can only let Sun Chuanzhi pay this money."

"Tell him, don't try to cheat, don't play any tricks, don't force me to go to the Dangtong Bureau to catch him!"

Wu Jingzhong pointed at the ceiling and said "don't" three times; his attitude was quite firm.

"Teacher, rest assured, Sun Chuanzhi is now a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow."

"As for the price, I'll let Department Chief Yu negotiate."

"To collect the money, let Long Er go."

"Even if someone investigates this matter later, just say that the Cao Gang people discovered Sun Chuanzhi was keeping a woman and embezzling, and extorted him privately."

"It has nothing to do with you or the Jinhai Station."

"You release the people afterwards just because the investigation clarified that Guo Liang was killed by mistake while fighting for favor with other patrons."

Hong Zhiyou had already prepared the name.

Wu Jingzhong smiled with satisfaction: "Not bad, you are becoming more and more like me back in the day."

"However, being hacked to death for fighting for favor is not quite appropriate."

"Just say it was assassinated by Red agents."

"Anyway, he was also a traitor, so let's consider it the Red agents contributing the money for five heads, and give them a good name for anti-traitor work."

"Good deeds, after all, still need to be done."

"Yes, Teacher is wise." Hong Zhiyou flattered respectfully.

Three days later.

Outside Liujiazhen.

Wearing sunglasses and a Tang suit, Long Er, looking extremely cool, got out of the car and walked towards Xie Ruolin.

Xie Ruolin took a small black leather suitcase from the car and handed it respectfully to this underworld big brother:

"Gang Leader Long, thank you for your hard work."

Long Er adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose, scanned the suitcase to confirm the goods were correct, and left in the car without saying a word.

Xie Ruolin shrugged self-deprecatingly.

Sun Chuanzhi even wanted him to be the second Hong Zhiyou.

Hong Zhiyou and Long Er are close enough to wear the same pair of pants.

And himself?

In Long Er's eyes, he's not even worth a fart.

Sigh.

Comparing people to people, it's enough to piss you off.

Xie Ruolin shook his head and got into the car.

Jinhai Station, Station Chief's office.

"Station Chief, this is what Long Er brought."

"Please count it."

Yu Zecheng handed over the suitcase.

Wu Jingzhong glanced at it and said with pleasant surprise: "Why so much?"

"Teacher, Department Chief Yu beat the price down to fifteen bars per person, five more than originally planned." Hong Zhiyou explained from the side.

"What a pity."

"If I had known this guy had hidden so many gold bars at home, I could have cut it down to twenty per person."

"Student is incompetent and let Teacher down."

Yu Zecheng sighed with regret.

"Sigh."

"Not disappointed, not disappointed."

"Zecheng, do you know why I've been distancing myself from you recently?"

Wu Jingzhong closed the suitcase and pulled him to sit on the sofa.

"Student roughly understands a little."

"The matters of Liu Xiong and Ma Kui, I was somewhat implicated by the suspicion of being a Red agent."

"Teacher let me stay away from right and wrong to protect me."

Yu Zecheng answered respectfully.

"Correct." Wu Jingzhong smiled.

"You and Zhiyou are like my left and right hands, indispensable."

"You are my own family."

"Suffering a little grievance, taking a little loss, those are all family matters; when the time comes, it can be made up."

"Unlike some outsiders, who have to be pampered."

"If you offend them, they will hold a grudge."

"So, when things happen, I can only wrong you and Zhiyou. Do you understand what I mean?"

Wu Jingzhong patted the back of his hand and said.

"Student understands." Yu Zecheng nodded.

"Come to my house for dinner tonight." Wu Jingzhong nodded with gratification.

After drinking some tea, he brought up the main business:

"The current difficulty is that Yuan Peilin is still hiding."

"Except for Li Ya, no one knows."

"I've tried to fish for information a few times, but this guy is very cunning and doesn't quite trust me."

"Now I'm handing this task to the two of you."

"Today I will use some methods on Li Ya. You two must find this Yuan Peilin within three days and make him disappear forever."

"Otherwise, even if I want to stop Li Ya from becoming the Deputy Station Chief, I won't be able to."

"Yes!"

The two accepted the order together.

"You go, call Li Ya in."

"I need to have a good talk with him today along with Zheng Jiemin."

Wu Jingzhong's eyes sharpened, and he tilted his chin.

The two retreated tactfully.

Soon, Li Ya walked in.

Wu Jingzhong waved his hand with a beaming face: "Come, eat some fruit, I have good news to tell you."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 171 =====