Chapter 186: Li Ya

"Master, there are many shady dealings going on right now; if Li Ya comes, will he..." While gossiping was certainly interesting, Hong Zhiyou was more worried about his financial path being obstructed.

"I know what you mean."

"But I have no choice. My old classmate is currently in a rush to cultivate his own power base."

"He is following the old path of Boss Dai."

"Any government office, no matter how small, he insists on planting a member of the Iron-Blooded Group inside to lie in wait."

"Moreover, he is a new force and will likely rise to power in the future. Having been exposed to Bolshevik ideology, his indoctrination of members in terms of thought and spirit is even more thorough than the Juntong Bureau."

"These Iron-Blooded Group members are very loyal to him; they strike wherever he points."

"In a city as important as Jinhai."

"Jiang Jianfeng cannot fully trust me, so he sent Li Ya over. Nominally, he is still my student; I have no way to refuse."

Wu Jingzhong also shook his head helplessly.

"I understand. It's just like how Chen Cheng was recently urgently transferred to the Beiping Garrison Headquarters; this is planting a nail," Hong Zhiyou nodded slightly.

"When soldiers come, block them; when water comes, cover with earth."

"We cannot control the affairs of those above."

"As for the affairs below, we will do them quietly, and I will provide cover for you."

"Also, they currently need someone who can speak to the Americans."

"If we handle the arms deal with the Americans this time, they will turn a blind eye to many things in the future."

"What they want is power. We know our own worth clearly; as long as we keep our own house in order and don't show off, nothing will happen."

Wu Jingzhong pointed at the portrait on the wall and said.

"With those words from you, Master, I am relieved."

"Then let this Buddha come."

"At worst, I'll just burn some incense to appease him."

Hong Zhiyou laughed.

"Go attend to your duties," Wu Jingzhong said.

Hong Zhiyou walked out quickly.

"Burning incense to appease a Buddha, I'm afraid that won't be enough," Wu Jingzhong watched his back and sighed to himself with some worry.

After leaving the door.

Lu Qiaoshan was waiting at the corridor entrance leading to the basement and the first floor.

"Brother, thank you."

"If it weren't for you this time, Li Zongren would surely have had my head."

Lu Qiaoshan held Hong Zhiyou's hand with both of his and shook it vigorously.

"Brother Shan, you are too polite."

"When you soar to success in the future, just don't forget me," Hong Zhiyou said.

If you forget, Zhang Zui will treat you to a bullet.

If you don't forget, you will still have a life to live.

"If I become wealthy, I will not forget you."

"You are my own brother; just wait, I will repay you," Lu Qiaoshan answered very earnestly.

"Have you thought of a strategy for Ma Kui's matter?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"I have."

"Ma Kui waited for an opportunity to murder me, and Lao Wu shot and killed him to save me."

"Brother, what do you think of this plan?"

Lu Qiaoshan pulled out his service pistol and clicked it into battery.

"Brilliant."

"As expected of the senior fellow apprentice from the Nanchang Investigation Section days!" Hong Zhiyou gave a thumbs up.

"Heh, not at all."

"I am also at my wit's end. I'm off."

Lu Qiaoshan smiled, waved his hand, and walked toward the basement interrogation room.

Arriving at the interrogation room.

Ma Kui's head was slumped back on the electric chair; the dizziness had not yet fully passed.

"Wake him up," Lu Qiaoshan ordered.

Lao Wu splashed a basin of cold water onto Ma Kui's face.

Ma Kui woke up in a daze, shook his head, and began to mutter:

"Stinking woman, she has quite a kick."

"If she weren't a Mobile Corps Commander captain, I'd write my surname 'Ma' upside down."

"Ma Kui, we meet again," Lu Qiaoshan adjusted his glasses and smiled contemptuously.

"I want to see Director Mao."

"Last night, in the alley near the Laifuli Hotel, I recorded a conversation between Yu Zecheng and Zuo Lan."

"Yu Zecheng is Emei Peak!" Ma Kui said.

"Your mouth has already been torn, yet you still dare to spout nonsense here."

"Ma Kui, you are nothing but a fart now."

"If you were to say that the Generalissimo is a Red, I wouldn't be surprised at all coming from that stinking mouth of yours."

"Let's have less of this useless nonsense."

Lu Qiaoshan took a sip of tea and looked at Ma Kui with eyes full of sarcasm:

"To tell you the truth, Director Mao has personally ordered that you must disappear."

"In a moment, you will board the train to Jingling again."

"Are you happy?"

"Director Mao wants to kill me?" Ma Kui frowned and shouted in disbelief.

He knew that Mao Renfeng had already abandoned him.

But to say he would kill him, that was something he absolutely could not believe.

Thinking back to the Japanese occupation period, he had risked his life many times to run errands for Mao Renfeng and protect him.

"Ma Kui, use your clumsy pig brain to think: you are Emei Peak, a servant of three masters; why would Director Mao save you?"

"To let that stinking mouth of yours run to the Ministry of National Defense and say how he rescued a traitor?"

"You are just a fool who makes everyone unable to sleep in peace."

"Except for the King of Hell, who can stand you?"

Lu Qiaoshan did his utmost to mock and attack Ma Kui.

He had to enrage Ma Kui.

Only then could the plan be implemented smoothly.

"Say no more."

"Send me to Jingling," Ma Kui said.

"Before sending you to Jingling, there are some things I still have to tell you."

"You know Liu Quanfa, right?"

"He has always liked your wife; he was fired by the Station Chief the other day, and I told him your wife had returned to Shanghu."

"That very evening, Liu Quanfa bought a train ticket to Shanghu."

"I remember you have a house in Shanghu, right?"

"If my guess is correct, Liu Quanfa is lying on your comfortable big bed right now, holding a beauty in his arms."

"A fine house indeed."

"A fine beauty."

"It has all become Liu Quanfa's. Ma Kui, why did you work yourself to death?"

"In the end, it all belongs to someone named Liu."

Lu Qiaoshan chuckled with a sinister tone.

"Ah!"

Ma Kui roared hideously like a wild dog:

"Lu Qiaoshan, you did this on purpose, didn't you?"

"You deliberately let Liu Quanfa go after my wife."

"You villain."

"I curse your eighteen generations of ancestors."

Lu Qiaoshan shook his head and chuckled: "I wouldn't call it deliberate; I'd just say I was helping someone fulfill their wish."

"Who in the station doesn't know your wife is a slut? That wiggle of her big butt is truly soul-stirring."

"Liu Quanfa even carved your wife's name into the bed frame in the dormitory."

"Every night he dreams of her."

"Anyway, you're finished; don't occupy the latrine and not do your business, leaving a beauty to live as a widow."

"I can consider this accumulating merit and doing good deeds."

Speaking of this, Lu Qiao Shan's smile became even more radiant.

"Shameless villain."

"You surnamed Lu, you will die a horrible death!"

The veins on Ma Kui's forehead and neck bulged, and he gritted his teeth and cursed indignantly.

After cursing a few times, he suddenly looked up and laughed loudly.

"Ma Kui, what are you laughing at?" Lu Qiao Shan's face sank, and he demanded sharply.

"Do you know that Sun Ke is coming to Jinhai?" Ma Kui said.

"I know." Lu Qiao Shan nodded.

"Zhan Qinghe is a descendant of the royalist faction; he will definitely kill Sun Ke."

"Once he dies, your life and Wu Jingzhong's life won't be easy either."

"Heh heh."

Ma Kui laughed.

"You must be muddled from being dizzy."

"He failed his assassination attempt last night; this is this morning's newspaper, you can take a look."

Lu Qiao Shan picked up the newspaper and handed it to him.

Ma Kui took one look, his eyes wide open: "Ho, how is this possible, Mr. Zhan is invincible under heaven..."

"No matter how invincible, he is not as effective as a dozen guns."

"Come on, sign this confession of colluding with Zhan Qinghe to assassinate President Sun."

"Comrade Emei Peak!"

Lu Qiao Shan sneered.

"You, you all..."

Ma Kui's face turned as pale as paper in an instant, like a defeated rooster, completely wilted.

"Sign it."

"If you don't sign it, I will beat you to death."

Lu Qiao Shan drew his service pistol, click, loaded it, and slapped it onto the table.

He walked over, raised his hand, and gave Ma Kui two slaps:

"This is to teach you how to be a person in your next life."

"Remember, there are some people you cannot afford to offend."

Ma Kui's anger burned, his teeth clenched tight:

"Lu Qiao Shan, I won't let you go even as a ghost."

"Don't worry, you'll have the chance."

"But even as a ghost, you'll be one without balls, how pathetic." Lu Qiao Shan provoked him fiercely once more.

"Take him away."

"Escorted by train, the ticket bandits hijacked the train for the second time."

"Ma Kui, there should be no one left to save you this time, right?"

He gave a dry laugh and waved his hand.

Lao Wu and two other burly men stepped forward to restrain Ma Kui, escorting him as they prepared to walk out.

Ma Kui knew that his life had reached the countdown stage.

Thinking of how Lu Qiao Shan had deliberately led Liu Quanfa to Shanghai to find A Di.

And the suffering of being humiliated for having no balls.

The rage in his heart surged up instantly.

No.

He could not just die in vain like this.

Even if he had to die, he had to drag someone down with him.

Lu Qiao Shan was bullying him too much.

Today was the perfect time to drag him to the grave; it wouldn't be a loss.

Thinking of this, the surging blood in Ma Kui's body transformed into infinite strength.

He was getting closer and closer to the interrogation table.

That loaded gun was right before his eyes.

Ma Kui's courage grew from his desperation, and he slammed his shoulder into Lao Wu.

He darted out like lightning.

Before the others could react, Ma Kui had already grabbed the pistol and aimed it directly at Lu Qiao Shan.

"Captain Ma, don't, don't be impulsive." Lu Qiao Shan hurriedly raised his hands, smiling in horror to appease him.

"Lu Qiao Shan, don't you mess around."

Lao Wu and the others simultaneously drew their guns and aimed at Ma Kui.

"Heh heh, so you know fear!"

"Lu Qiao Shan, you have repeatedly humiliated me."

"Don't you want to make me a ghost?"

"I'll let you go see the King of Hell first!"

Ma Kui gave a ferocious smile, and without the slightest hesitation, he pulled the trigger.

Snap!

A shot was fired.

A crisp, empty clicking sound echoed.

Oh no!

Ma Kui realized something was wrong, and over there, the tense Lao Wu had already pulled his trigger.

Bang bang!

In an instant, blood blossomed on Ma Kui's chest.

"You, you..."

Ma Kui's whole body trembled, his eyes wide as he glared at Lu Qiao Shan.

"Captain Ma, have a safe journey."

A trace of coldness rose at the corners of Lu Qiao Shan's mouth.

Thump!

Ma Kui's body tilted and he collapsed to the ground.

His eyes were wide open, dying with deep resentment.

Lu Qiao Shan quickly stepped forward and felt Ma Kui's neck, confirming there was no life left.

"Ma Kui, oh Ma Kui, trying to fight me with your clumsy intelligence, you're still far from it."

He gave a secret, disdainful smile, turned his head, stood up, and slapped Lao Wu across the face:

"Idiot."

"Who told you to fire?"

"There were no bullets in this gun of mine; he couldn't have killed me."

"I!" Lao Wu was stunned.

He hadn't expected that instead of getting credit for saving someone, he had invited disaster.

"Listen well, Ma Kui is someone Director Mao specifically named."

"Write me a report immediately!"

"Go home and kowtow to your ancestors, and pray that Director Mao can spare you."

Lu Qiao Shan pointed at Lao Wu and the other interrogators, then tucked the documents under his arm and walked away quickly.

He exited the interrogation room.

"Whew!"

He let out a breath of relief, his mood pleasant.

Ma Kui was dead.

There was someone to take the blame.

Perfect!

Lu Qiao Shan got straight into his car to go find Liu Yunchen.

The next day.

Jingling.

The Leader held his cane, pacing slowly in the back garden.

The dampness by the river.

The erosion of time.

This made the footsteps of the leader gradually grow heavy.

"Mr. President."

"A report just submitted by the Jinhai Station."

Chen Bulei walked in with quick steps, his eyes behind thick glasses full of dissatisfaction.

"Delin colluded with the remnants of the royalists to assassinate Sun Ke?"

The Old Man frowned and looked at Jiang Jianfeng beside him:

"What do you mean?"

Jiang Jianfeng took a look and said indifferently: "President Sun just returned to Jingling this morning; wouldn't this investigation be too rash and too hasty?"

"Wu Jingzhong is your old classmate, and you trust him very much."

"Does this look like something a high-ranking general with such seniority would do?"

The President asked in return.

"It does not." Jiang Jianfeng was very fearful of his father, and since it involved President Sun, he could not point it out directly.

"Mr. President."

"Setting aside the investigation, this secret letter alone is full of loopholes."

"I am familiar with Delin's handwriting."

"Although this person mimics it with some resemblance, in some details—such as Delin's habit of leaving a hook at the end of his strokes—this one is relatively smooth."

"It is very obvious that this was deliberately forged by someone."

"The purpose was to frame Delin, but the method is too crude and laughable."

Chen Bulei said quite indignantly.

The President did not answer, but walked slowly to the sofa and sat down.

Intelligence from a Grade A station would not usually be sent directly to the Aide-de-Camp Office.

It would instead be submitted to headquarters.

It would be processed by Mao Renfeng, and only reported if it were of great importance.

Clearly, this had been forwarded by his own son, Jiang Jianfeng.

"Liansheng's temperament is a bit impatient."

"Many things cannot be accomplished overnight; the timing is not right now."

"Tell Liansheng that I am already aware of this Pingjin matter, and he need not blame himself."

After taking a sip of tea, the President said indifferently.

"Father, then what about this letter?" Jiang Jianfeng asked.

"Since it is a forged letter, just destroy it; let this matter end here," the President said.

"Yes, Father." Jiang Jianfeng respectfully accepted the order.

Office.

The phone rang.

Sun Ke's eyebrows twitched, and he answered the phone as quickly as possible:

"Yes."

"Yes."

"Understood."

"Jianfeng, thanks."

"Good."

Hanging up the phone, he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his hanging heart finally settling down.

This Pingjin networking meeting had been an extreme failure.

Li Delin's foundation was too deep.

It was impossible to shake him at all.

Sun Ke had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure.

He knew the method was very clumsy.

An old fox like Wu Jingzhong would certainly be able to see through it and would never carry it out.

It would not truly cause a major disturbance.

But he had to do it.

Because the Old Man could accept his failure in networking, but his stance had to be clear.

At present, the Americans were constantly applying pressure, and many veterans were restless.

Undercurrents were already surging in the government and the public.

The Old Man had always been suspicious and might very well suspect him of intentionally going through the motions; this letter was the best evidence that he was exerting effort and showing he was not in league with Li.

It seemed he had luckily passed the test.

"No wonder he is highly valued by Jiang Jianfeng, Dai Li, and Zheng Jiemin."

"Wu Jingzhong is indeed a capable official."

Sun Ke looked out the window and sighed with relief.

The next day.

Jinhai Station.

Hong Zhiyou and Yu Zecheng were eating fresh fruit with Wu Jingzhong.

"Zecheng."

"How is the matter with Wu Taixun going?" Wu Jingzhong asked.

"He is still very stubborn."

"He wants to pull strings with Ma Hansan and the Beiping garrison," Yu Zecheng said.

"The methods are still not ruthless enough."

"Boss Dai is already dead, and Ma Hansan is like a clay bodhisattva crossing a river—he can barely save himself—so why be polite to him?"

"His past collusion with the Japanese is easy to dig up."

"Label him a traitor directly."

"If he dares not to be honest, use harsh tactics and shoot him."

Wu Jingzhong frowned and said.

"Yes, Master."

"It was I who was too concerned about the reputation of the Wu family; I will go and arrest him now," Yu Zecheng said.

"What reputation does the Wu family have?"

"This is no longer the era of warlord hegemony."

"The sons of old warlords, like him and the likes of Lu Xiaojia, have long been intolerable to the world."

"When you go to make the arrest, take his wife as well."

"That is the daughter of Zhu Qiling; there must be no shortage of things in their home."

Wu Jingzhong sneered with disdain.

"Station Chief, the matter is resolved; Lao Wu killed Ma Kui," Lu Qiaoshan said, handing over a report.

Wu Jingzhong raised his eyebrows and looked at him.

Lu Qiaoshan smiled awkwardly and said nothing.

"If he's dead, then he's dead; send the report to Jingling," Wu Jingzhong said, withdrawing his gaze.

"Station Chief, the Red representative, Left Blue, said she wants to take back the corpse of Emeifeng."

"What do you think?"

Lu Qiaoshan asked again.

"They certainly don't lose out."

"One Buddha shrine exchanged for two living people, and now they even want the dead."

"Give it to her."

"Emeifeng, a martyr for the Reds."

Wu Jingzhong sneered.

"Yes."

"Who knows, they might even pile the grave with fresh flowers and sing praises."

Yu Zecheng echoed with a laugh.

"Zecheng, have you read the reorganization circular issued by headquarters?" Wu Jingzhong asked.

"I have," Yu Zecheng nodded.

"Good."

"Secretary Hong, go and call the heads of each section to the conference room for a meeting," Wu Jingzhong said, and walked out first.

Arriving at the conference room.

After the personnel from each section had arrived, Wu Jingzhong sat at the head of the table and said:

"From today on, the Juntong Bureau is no more.

"The Generalissimo has given this organization a new name... the Confidentiality Bureau."

He turned his head to look at Yu Zecheng: "It is called the Confidentiality Bureau, right?"

"Yes," Yu Zecheng nodded.

"Confidentiality Bureau!

"It doesn't sound nearly as prestigious as Juntong.

"The name has changed, and with a new department comes a new atmosphere.

"Zecheng, why don't you tell everyone about it."

Wu Jingzhong sighed with emotion and gave the order.

"It is like this: according to the requirements of headquarters, our station must cut fifty positions. The places they are leaving for are not bad: the Relief Administration, the City Defense Bureau, and the Jingling Officer Corps.

"Also, the field staff must be reduced by eighty people.

"In short, the station's budget will not be very generous in the future. Everyone can talk to the people below and see who is willing to leave voluntarily."

Yu Zecheng said to the group.

The leaders sitting there looked at one another, each wearing a mournful expression.

After the meeting ended.

Wu Jingzhong returned to his office, looked at Hong Zhiyou and Yu Zecheng, and could not help but sigh with emotion:

"You two, you saw their expressions just now.

"None of them want to leave.

"Juntong, what a glorious existence it once was.

"Just by flashing our credentials, we could collect gold and silver.

"Who didn't feel a bit of fear upon seeing us?

"Ever since Boss Dai died, we have become people who keep secrets for others. The Garrison Command and the stationed troops don't take us seriously at all.

"This is the reality we face now."

"It is clear that they don't want to leave. After all, in terms of benefits and perks, there is nothing fatter than our Juntong station," Yu Zecheng said with a smile.

Hong Zhiyou poured tea for the two of them and smiled in agreement:

"Good flowers do not bloom forever, and good times do not last.

"Being laid off is a very normal thing."

Wu Jingzhong sighed and said:

"Yes, here, a single word from us can decide their fate.

"But in the eyes of the Ministry of National Defense, a single word can also end our lives.

"Gentlemen, take care of yourselves."

He paused and said: "Zhiyou, at noon, find a decent restaurant. Let's welcome Buddha Shrine together."

"Buddha Shrine is coming to Jinhai?" Yu Zecheng feigned astonishment.

"Yes.

"On the surface, he is sent by headquarters to take over Ma Kui's position.

"Behind the scenes, he is a supervisor sent by Jiang Jianfeng.

"He is specifically here to keep an eye on you and me."

Wu Jingzhong curled the corner of his mouth and smiled.

He was not particularly repulsed by Buddha Shrine's arrival.

Having Lu Qiaoshan hold the concurrent post of Operations Team leader was not a long-term solution.

The underground struggle in Jinhai and the corruption within the military were extremely serious. Since the higher-ups wanted to get serious, they needed someone with real ability to take on the burden.

"I know Buddha Shrine.

"He was in the same class as me, an honor student in the operations squad.

"He was highly valued by Yu Lexing."

Yu Zecheng nodded and said.

"That is not the point.

"The point is that he and Liu Xiong are like father and son. Liu Xiong is the 'Gray Eagle,' and he has long since received the true teachings of those eyes.

"Zecheng, you must be careful in the future.

"Watch out for him taking private revenge."

While Wu Jingzhong was warning Yu Zecheng, he was also warning himself.

"Don't worry, Teacher, I will know how to handle it," Yu Zecheng nodded and said.

"You two go pick him up.

"I will rest for a while and wait for you at the restaurant later."

Wu Jingzhong instructed.

After the two men left.

Wu Jingzhong called Xiao Guohua in and asked in a deep voice: "Have all of Liu Xiong's files been destroyed?"

"They have been destroyed.

"Even if Li Ya comes, he won't be able to find any faults," Xiao Guohua said.

"Yu Zecheng's old, messy business must also be cleaned up.

"I know Li Ya; he is a ruthless man just like Liu Xiong.

"Also, hurry up and purge the people in the Operations Team. Promote Sun Xing to deputy team leader and plant two people in the Security Section whom we can trust.

"The Operations Team was held in Ma Kui's hands in the past and often acted without orders, ignoring the chain of command.

"I don't care who sent him.

"This situation must absolutely not be allowed to happen again under Li Ya."

Wu Jingzhong instructed solemnly.

"Understood, I will arrange it right away," Xiao Guohua said and left to carry out the order.

"Buddha Shrine!

"He really should be properly enshrined."

A cold smile appeared on the corner of Wu Jingzhong's mouth.

Twelve-thirty in the afternoon.

Hongfu Teahouse.

A large table was filled with fine wine and dishes.

Wu Jingzhong sat at the head of the table.

Li Ya sat directly opposite him.

Yu Zecheng and Hong Zhiyou sat on the left and right.

"Come, Li Ya, let me introduce you.

"There is no need to say much about Zecheng, as you are old classmates.

"This is Hong Zhiyou, my secretary.

"Secretary Hong, this is the famous Buddha Shrine who was undercover in Yancheng."

Wu Jingzhong introduced them with a smile.

"Team Leader Li," Hong Zhiyou leaned forward and shook his hand.

"I am ashamed.

"Boss Dai gave me instructions to perform great deeds during the war.

"But before the war even started, I was chased back.

"I suspect my famous name has become a joke within the Juntong Bureau."

Li Ya joked in a very familiar manner.

"Not at all.

"Li Ya, you look more haggard and sallow than before," Yu Zecheng said with a smile.

"You don't know.

"The life I lived in Yancheng—every day was spent reclaiming wasteland and hoeing the fields, eating steamed buns and cornmeal buns.

"Whenever a strong wind blew, my mouth would be filled with sand and dirt."

Li Ya shook his head and began to complain.

"It really hasn't been easy for Team Leader Li.

"Now that you are in Jinhai, enjoy yourself.

"This is a world of flowers and luxury; you won't be eating dirt here, and you will certainly have your fill of wine and meat."

Hong Zhiyou said with a flattering smile.

"Not at all, we are all colleagues from now on.

"I hope the Station Chief and you two will look after me," Li Ya said with a face full of smiles.

"Come."

"Let us raise a glass to our returning hero!"

Wu Jingzhong raised his glass at the opportune moment to propose a toast.

They drank two rounds.

Li Ya did not stand on ceremony; while he drank his wine with refinement, he devoured the food like a starving wolf.

"Gentlemen, please excuse my lack of manners.

"When I first returned to Xi'an, I was restless and unwilling to accept things, and I had no appetite for anything.

"Then I arrived in Jingling.

"The headquarters only gave out commendations, not money. Aside from the grand meal Comrade Jiang Jianfeng treated me to, my pockets were empty, so how could I afford to eat at restaurants?

"Today, I owe it to the Station Chief and the two of you.

"I can finally have a full meal."

As Li Ya ate, he took the opportunity to reveal his trump card.

"Captain Li, Jiang Jianfeng has treated you to a meal.

"Tsk tsk, that must have been quite a feast.

"With treatment like that, those of us who assassinated the likes of Li Haifeng or Ke Chengwu couldn't even catch up if we rode the fastest horses.

"At most, we only get a 'Good, good, good' from the Chairman."

Hong Zhiyou smiled faintly, indicating that those present were no pushovers either.

"Correct.

"The two of you are talents who have been commended by Boss Dai and the Chairman.

"Come, I toast you both."

Li Ya glanced at Hong Zhiyou and hurriedly raised his glass to return the toast.

"You are all young heroes.

"As long as everyone remains united, the Jinhai Station will be as solid as a rock.

"That Ma Kui caused no end of trouble for everyone in the station.

"Li Ya, now that you are the Operations Captain, you must take this as a warning."

Wu Jingzhong gave Li Ya a pointed reminder.

"Station Chief, rest assured.

"As long as it is something beneficial to the Party and State, Li Ya will not shirk his duty.

"As for things detrimental to the Party and State, I will not touch them in the slightest.

"This was also the instruction Comrade Jiang Jianfeng gave me before I departed."

Li Ya smiled, subtly pushing back.

"Well said.

"Then let us use this glass to pay tribute to Comrade Jiang Jianfeng."

Wu Jingzhong smiled unnaturally.

After the meal was finished.

Li Ya took a large bag from his car, pulled out some gifts, and said:

"Station Chief, gentlemen.

"I am not well-off, but this is roast duck from Jingling; it is considered a local specialty.

"I hope you will accept it."

"Li Ya, you are too polite. Why bring gifts when you come to visit?

"In that case, I will accept this gesture of friendship from my old classmate."

Yu Zecheng smiled and took them.

Hong Zhiyou also expressed his gratitude.

Back at the station.

Li Ya did not rush to the office for roll call; he called out to Hong Zhiyou:

"Secretary Hong.

"Regarding my housing, assigned vehicle, and such, please make things convenient for me.

"Also, could I possibly draw two months' salary in advance?

"My pockets are truly empty."

Hong Zhiyou decided to turn up the pressure on this guy.

He pulled Li Ya aside and whispered: "Captain Li, to be honest, my position as Assistant to the General Affairs Section is just a nominal title.

"The seal is in the hands of Section Chief Lu Qiaoshan of the Intelligence Division.

"The main sections in the station are all run by Section Chief Lu.

"It won't work to ask me; you have to ask him."

"Section Chief Lu?

"I heard people mention him at headquarters; he is a fellow townsman of Bureau Chief Zheng.

"Very well, I will go meet him."

Li Ya tilted his chin and bobbed his head, his expression full of arrogance.

Hong Zhiyou saw it clearly.

Li Ya was better at talking than Ma Kui on the surface and understood some social nuances, but not many.

Yet, deep down, he remained arrogant.

At the very least, he was very confident in his own qualifications and achievements.

And what about Lu Qiaoshan?

He loved to put on airs and cared deeply about face.

If these two bumped into each other, it would be a miracle if they got along.

(End of chapter)