Chapter 20: Ma Kui Gets Beaten (Please add to favorites, please vote)

Zhou Gendi arrived, carrying a thermal food container in her hand.

A water-green cheongsam, a white hollow-out shawl, paired with black high heels and exquisite makeup—she was extremely beautiful and charming.

Hong Zhiyou went to the door to welcome her personally, and upon meeting, he immediately showered her with flattery:

"Sister-in-law, you look truly beautiful today."

Zhou Gendi said nothing, her eyes holding a shy, honey-sweet smile.

What woman doesn't love to hear sweet words?

Once in the office, she asked, "Secretary Hong, where is Old Ma?"

"He went out; he is a very busy man."

"Sister-in-law, there is discipline in the station. Perhaps you should head back first; I will call you when Old Ma returns."

Hong Zhiyou put on an act of being strictly professional.

Women, after all, must be handled with a mix of carrots and sticks; a simp is destined to end up with nothing.

Zhou Gendi looked at him, standing in place, feeling somewhat at a loss.

Hong Zhiyou said nothing, watching her with his arms crossed.

"Actually, I... I also came to see you."

"Stuck at home all day, I'm suffocating."

Zhou Gendi looked at him, her beautiful, large eyes blinking.

"I can't get out these next few days."

"How many days?"

"Hard to say, ten days or half a month is possible."

"Ah!"

Zhou Gendi's eyes were filled with dejection.

Ever since she went to the Naval Club with Hong Zhiyou, she had become obsessed with that life of a wealthy lady, and also with the modern, youthful aura Hong Zhiyou possessed.

Especially since she suffered Ma Kui's cold treatment night after night.

These days at home, she felt like she was in prison, wanting to see Hong Zhiyou every single moment.

To fly together, to live it up together.

But the moment they met, her obsessive passion was instantly wiped away by Hong Zhiyou's cold gaze.

"Then... then I'll go back." Zhou Gendi felt a slight ache in her nose and turned to leave.

"Sister-in-law, wait."

Hong Zhiyou opened a drawer, took out a few American magazines, and handed them to her.

"If you're bored at home, you can look at these."

When Zhou Gendi saw the beach beauty on the cover, she blushed with shame: "Look at this?"

"Mm, this is called fashion," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Isn't it a bit too revealing?" Zhou Gendi asked in a low voice.

Hong Zhiyou gently patted her hip:

"Sister-in-law, that's where you don't understand."

"If a woman isn't seductive, her status won't be high."

"Go look at those women at the club; who doesn't sway their hips?"

"I know, the ladies at the Bund are like that too," Zhou Gendi nodded.

"How many years does one have in life? If you don't be seductive now, no one will look at you later."

"A man might not necessarily love a woman, but a man will definitely like a seductive woman," Hong Zhiyou laughed.

Ever since witnessing the "superpowers" of the ladies' group like Fang Min, Hong Zhiyou fully realized the utility of a socialite.

Although Zhou Gendi lacked worldly experience, her figure and appearance were excellent, especially her natural Jiangnan charm; if groomed properly, she could absolutely become a sharp sword in the world of fame and fortune.

Whether it was gathering intelligence or conducting business, it would be very convenient.

Ma Kui would be off the stage even earlier than Lu Qiaoshan.

With the Military Mediation imminent, he didn't have many days left to live.

Hong Zhiyou had no reason to let go of a potential stock like Zhou Gendi.

"Nonsense, Old Ma doesn't like that," Zhou Gendi retorted with a red face.

"If that's the case, there's only one possibility: the woman Old Ma faces isn't seductive, or rather, not seductive enough," Hong Zhiyou stated firmly.

Rubbish, I'm very seductive and it's no use anyway... Zhou Gendi muttered to herself.

"Fine, I'll read them when I get back." Unable to suppress her inner desire, she accepted them.

"How about you give it a try now?"

Hong Zhiyou leaned against the desk, watching her with interest.

"It's too embarrassing," Zhou Gendi refused.

"Sister-in-law, if you can't even let go in front of me, what will you do in front of others?"

"How about this: imagine you are one of those wealthy ladies at the Bund—no, you are a hundred times more beautiful than them, more radiant than them."

"You can't pin your hopes on a man for your whole life, right?"

"Walk a few steps?"

Hong Zhiyou closed the door behind him and raised his eyebrows in encouragement.

Pinning hopes on a man?

At the thought of Ma Kui's icy indifference.

Zhou Gendi's heart was bleeding.

She hadn't seen much of the world, but she wasn't stupid.

Ma Kui didn't love her.

This man, aside from the title of husband, was essentially a stranger.

Hong Zhiyou was trying to pull her out.

This was her chance.

Looking at Hong Zhiyou's expectant gaze, Zhou Gendi took a deep breath, kicked off her high heels, and with her bare, snow-white feet, she mimicked the cat-walk of the Bund ladies, swaying her hips rhythmically.

"The waist, make the curve of your waist larger, chest out."

"Don't be timid in your gaze; believe me, you are the most beautiful, most dazzling woman in Jinhai."

Hong Zhiyou was pumping her up.

Zhou Gendi's eyes instantly lit up, and even her charming, delicate features gained a hint of pride.

She walked back and forth a few times.

"How was it?" she asked.

"Excellent, you are simply a natural talent," Hong Zhiyou praised sincerely.

"Really?" Zhou Gendi was overjoyed.

"Of course."

"Believe me, next time you go to the club, many young masters will invite you to dance." Hong Zhiyou took out a fragrant handkerchief and handed it to her to wipe the fine beads of sweat from her forehead.

"I won't dance with them; I... I only dance with you," Zhou Gendi said in a low voice, blushing.

"Another day, I will definitely dance with you."

"By the way, take this."

"Eat well, drink well, don't wrong yourself."

Hong Zhiyou opened the drawer, took out a stack of silver dollars wrapped in red paper, and handed it to her.

Zhou Gendi's eyes turned red, and tears welled up: "Secretary Hong, you are truly good to me."

They were almost out of food at home.

When she asked Ma Kui for money, he was stingy every time, causing her to only be able to buy rouge from street stalls.

"Captain Ma entrusted you to me; how could I not put in ten thousand percent of my heart?" Hong Zhiyou's heart bled with pain.

His money was also earned through sweat and hard labor.

This was his last bit of savings.

No choice; to succeed, one must be crazy.

Just treat it as an investment, going all in!

"If only Ma Kui were one ten-thousandth as good to me as you are."

Zhou Gendi wiped away her tears, whispering to herself.

"Alright."

"Sister-in-law, it's time to go, otherwise people will gossip, and you wouldn't want to see me get hammered by Ma Kui."

"Leave the thermal container here; I'll give it to Captain Ma later."

"I'll see you out."

Hong Zhiyou waited for her to calm her emotions, then gestured with his hand.

"Every time I spend time with you, it passes so quickly," Zhou Gendi said, her expression dimming as the words slipped out.

"That's more like it."

"A woman has to know how to flirt."

"Change starts now, shake it."

Hong Zhiyou pinched her perky buttocks and winked with a wicked smile.

"You're getting worse," Zhou Gendi said, putting on her high heels and casting a coquettish, sidelong glance at him.

"Things like this, there's only once and then countless times."

"Since the last time you let me pinch it, sister-in-law, it has belonged to me," Hong Zhiyou whispered flippantly into her ear.

After saying this, he opened the door.

"You really are a menace."

Zhou Gendi took a slight breath, puffed out her bulging chest, wiggled her perky buttocks, and walked out, her high heels clicking rhythmically.

Truly a quick study.

Hong Zhiyou sniffed the lingering fragrance on his palm and smiled with satisfaction.

In a few days, Cuiping will be coming to Jinhai.

Judging from the original story, Zhou Gendi has already started pretending to be high-class.

This shows that deep down, she yearns for a high-society life and has a strong ability to learn.

He only accelerated her "evolution."

……

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

The Station Chief returned from his meeting.

The weather was sweltering, so Hong Zhiyou hurriedly served herbal tea and watermelon.

"Did Mrs. Ma come?" Wu Jingzhong asked after unbuttoning his collar and downing a large mug of herbal tea.

"She did."

Hong Zhiyou nodded.

"Don't let the fact that Ma Kui's wife is from Shanghu fool you; she's actually just a vulgar bumpkin.

"This kind of low-class woman isn't worthy of you.

"Men fear these things the most; Ma Kui has a bad temper, so you must keep a sense of proportion."

Wu Jingzhong warned him solemnly.

"Yes!" Hong Zhiyou nodded, offering no defense.

Wu Jingzhong knew exactly where every mosquito in this station was.

Anyone who underestimated him was a fool.

Wu Jingzhong was very satisfied with his attitude, tapping the table and pointing out with a smile:

"Zhiyou, don't waste your energy on useless people.

"In this station, their bodies belong to the Party-State, but your body is... your own.

"Every bullet must be fired at the right person.

"For example, those ladies at the club."

"Yes, this student will strictly follow the teacher's instructions and strive to achieve new merits!" Hong Zhiyou stood at attention, saluted, and answered in a booming voice.

"That's right, those cigarettes..."

Before Wu Jingzhong could finish his sentence, the hallway became noisy.

Ma Kui, with bruises on his face and leading several action team members with arms in casts and heads wrapped in bandages, stormed in angrily.

As soon as he entered, he slammed his service pistol onto the table.

"Ma Kui, what is going on?" Wu Jingzhong shouted sternly.

"Station Chief, this damn job as action team captain is impossible to do," Ma Kui said, his cheeks tight and teeth gritted in fury.

"Captain Ma, what happened?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"I received intelligence that Beiping sent a special commissioner to Jin, and the person is hiding at the Tanggu wharf.

"I took men over there, and thousands of people from the Cao Gang blocked me.

"Not only did they refuse to let me in to investigate, but they also beat my brothers.

"Last time, when the Customs Anti-Smuggling Bureau requested the station's assistance to investigate a traitor's ship, the Cao Gang people blocked us too, and as a result, the ship got away right under my nose.

"Station Chief, I just want to ask, does Jinhai belong to the Party-State, or to Zhang Si!

"Wherever we of the Military Statistics Bureau go, we usually run the show.

"I can't take this crap!"

Ma Kui grew more and more indignant as he spoke, his voice rising by eight degrees.

Hong Zhiyou stood by silently.

Xie Ruo takes money and gets things done; his efficiency is high indeed.

The second step of the plan has been successfully completed.

The coffin lid of the Cao Gang has already been opened; they are not far from death.

……

Dear foster fathers, the new book is climbing the rankings, I beg for firepower support; throw recommendation votes, monthly tickets, and tips right at my face, really, don't worry about me feeling pain.

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(End of this chapter)