[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-spy-survival-guide":3,"chapter-spy-survival-guide-spy-survival-guide-chapter-19":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Spy Survival Guide",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2366335,4634,"Chapter 19: So We're Fellow Countrymen Now? (Seeking Collections and Recommendation Votes)","spy-survival-guide-chapter-19",19,"\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou was at his usual post at the reception desk outside the Station Master’s office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, Yu Zecheng, dressed in a sharp suit and carrying a briefcase, arrived at the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director Yu,\" Hong Zhiyou said, rising to his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Secretary Hong, is the Station Master in?\" Yu Zecheng asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following protocol, Hong Zhiyou took his briefcase and performed a brief search.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Zecheng walked inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A while later, Yu Zecheng emerged, his expression as steady as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave Hong Zhiyou a look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou quickly followed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once inside the confidential room, Yu Zecheng let out a sigh and sat down on the sofa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s wrong, Director Yu?\" Hong Zhiyou asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you know Mu Liancheng’s niece?\" Yu Zecheng asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou smiled: \"I do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Station Master wants me to court her, and even urged me to take her as a concubine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You tell me, my wife is arriving soon, isn't that ridiculous?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The key is, Miss Wanqiu is cold as ice toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re an expert at this, can you take this task off my hands?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Zecheng loosened his tie and grumbled in a low voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When is the Station Master going to the Mu residence again?\" Hong Zhiyou asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mu Liancheng has invited the Station Master to play tennis,\" Yu Zecheng said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Easy enough. When you get to the Mu residence, give me a call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll take care of this for you,\" Hong Zhiyou said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s great.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I knew you’d have a way. I’m off, I still have to go talk to her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Zecheng gave a bitter smile, stood up, and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou returned to the duty desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Liu Xiong strode over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou went in to pour tea for the two of them, and Wu Jingzhong waved him away as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it, when will I ever get treated like a favorite son?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once those two closed the door, they whispered inside for ages; who knows what they were talking about?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Jingzhong was very keen on catching Red agents these days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anything Liu Xiong handled personally was usually important intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Hong Zhiyou had no interest in such things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His current concern was eliminating the Zhang family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By tonight at the latest, Ma Kui would take the bait; all he had to do was remain patient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Secretary Hong, I’m going to the Gendarmerie Headquarters for a meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s hot outside, you go back to the office and rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If any documents come in, just keep them with you, and I’ll look at them when I get back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Wu Jingzhong and Liu Xiong walked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, Station Master,\" Hong Zhiyou said, rising to acknowledge the order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He returned to the office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this day and age, there were no computers or mobile phones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou could only pass the time by listening to the radio and reading the newspaper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was past ten o'clock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rapid footsteps echoed in the hallway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou walked to the door, and Lu Qiaoshan also poked his head out to look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They saw Ma Kui rushing out in a flurry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Section Chief Lu, it looks like Captain Ma has work to do again,\" Hong Zhiyou asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiaoshan was truly worthy of being the Intelligence Section Chief; his information was extremely up-to-date.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced around and whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They say a Red agent special envoy has come over from Beiping. It’s a big fish.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If Old Ma catches a big fish, you two might just get a promotion,\" Hong Zhiyou laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bullshit!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He hides things so deeply. I leak whatever intel I have to him, but he—who knows where he digs up his scraps—has his tail stuck up in the air,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiaoshan cursed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that Old Xie had already made contact with Ma Kui?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That guy has always been proactive when it comes to making deals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second step of the plan is looking promising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Section Chief Lu, it’s because you’re both Lieutenant Colonels; peers are always rivals,\" Hong Zhiyou laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come over, have a drink with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiaoshan beckoned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After what happened last night, he was keen to get closer to Hong Zhiyou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They entered the office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiaoshan brewed two cups of hot coffee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm, the taste is good, better than what they have at the club.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou praised it sincerely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ethiopian coffee beans, my son sent them,\" Lu Qiaoshan said with a proud smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Very Western.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No wonder the brothers in the dormitory all want to follow you,\" Hong Zhiyou said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How so?\" Lu Qiaoshan asked quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ma Kui is poor, and he likes to hit people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unlike you, Section Chief Lu, everyone under you wears suits, and there’s never a shortage of tips or bonuses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The station is missing a deputy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In my opinion, no matter how many merits Ma Kui racks up, he won't get it if he doesn't have the support of the people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Section Chief Lu just needs to sit tight and wait.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou laid on the flattery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You kid...\" Lu Qiaoshan crossed his legs and pointed at Hong Zhiyou, clearly pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re from Zhejiang, I’m from Yuedong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director Yu and the others are all Northerners; we two are fellow Southerners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understand?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiaoshan raised his eyebrows to signal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood. I appreciate your kindness; if you need anything in the future, just give the word,\" Hong Zhiyou said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't wait for the future, about the foreign liquor...\" Lu Qiaoshan started to say, but Hong Zhiyou shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rest assured, I check this room eight times a day; there are no bugs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In this station, I’m the only one who monitors others.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiaoshan dismissed his concerns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Section Chief Lu, shall I make the call now?\" Hong Zhiyou pointed at the telephone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go ahead, it’s safe,\" Lu Qiaoshan said, delighted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou dialed Fang Min’s number directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as it connected, there was heavy breathing on the other end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn, this slut really can't go without a man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s Hong Zhiyou,\" he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You dead man, you stood... stood me up,\" the sound of rhythmic thumping was audible on the other end; the perverted woman was acting even more coquettish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheap slut, she’s using me to get her kicks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ll have to beat her ass later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After you finish up later, handle a real task: go to the Navy Club to meet with Lady Lu and deliver ten cases of foreign liquor to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Make sure it's a name brand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The kind they drank when Ma Xieer came last time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Give her the friend-of-a-friend price.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou instructed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Got it, but you'll have to make her wait a while; I'm not finished having my fun yet,\" Fang Min said coquettishly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your sister... Hong Zhiyou decisively hung up the phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't about to let that woman get a free ride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Division Chief Lu, have your wife go to the Navy Club in an hour; someone there will make arrangements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are ten cases enough?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enough, more than enough!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh my, brother, you really have incredible connections; I clearly underestimated you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come, I'll toast you with this coffee as an apology.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiaoshan raised his coffee cup, his smile carrying a touch more flattery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Foreign liquor was a rare commodity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That Hong Zhiyou could procure ten cases so casually—was this ability not stronger than that of Fourth Master Zhang?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't have any real ability; I'm just relying on the station chief's prestige to leverage a few connections I've gathered in the social scene,\" Hong Zhiyou said modestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's not how it is at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are plenty of high-ranking officials in the garrison and the Garrison Command, yet ten cases of foreign liquor are harder to get than ten truckloads of munitions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You really take me for someone who hasn't seen the world, brother.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiaoshan offered a compliment and changed the subject:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, you haven't been assigned housing yet, have you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll go have a word with Section Chief Xue of the Internal Affairs Section later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right now, there are quite a few houses vacated by traitors and foreigners—detached houses, townhouses, villas, you name it. Take your pick.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiaoshan said readily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Division Chief Lu, you won't tear my mouth open this time, will you?\" Hong Zhiyou quipped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiaoshan squinted and smiled, \"Are you holding a grudge, brother?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wouldn't dare, just joking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The housing matter isn't urgent; let's just focus on staying alive for now. About the Canal Gang...\" Hong Zhiyou started but stopped himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother, don't you worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can tell by your face that you're destined to live a long life,\" Lu Qiaoshan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, Division Chief Lu knows how to read faces?\" Hong Zhiyou feigned surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you think?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two of them laughed, sharing a tacit understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as they were chatting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard walked in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Division Chief Lu, Ma Kui's wife is here; she says she wants to see him,\" the guard said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Captain Ma is out; tell her to go back,\" Lu Qiaoshan said, frowning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She... she said if Captain Ma isn't here, she'll see Secretary Hong instead.\" The guard glanced at Hong Zhiyou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mrs. Ma is new to the area, and Captain Ma asked me to take her to the club to see the sights,\" Hong Zhiyou explained, noticing Lu Qiaoshan's strange look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's good to be young; you're quite popular.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go on then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiaoshan teased with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1592,"2026-06-25T10:22:48.848Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","9029de17bb6776b68d7f6b28effcfe8f9ee74682035be7ec1a105a4feb50d594","spy-survival-guide-chapter-20","spy-survival-guide-chapter-18",395,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fspy-survival-guide-cover.jpg"]