Chapter 208

Huaihai Road.

Deep in the alley, Old Liu's Teahouse.

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin ordered a plate of peanuts and edamame, braised chicken feet, and a pot of tea.

Soon, Li Ya walked in.

"Mr. Old Xie, did you get the intelligence I wanted?" he asked, sitting down.

"Fo... foreign intelligence is not easy to get."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin picked up a chicken foot, chewing while looking at him with a smile.

Li Ya frowned slightly, took out a small gold bar, and handed it over.

"The intelligence was obtained.

"However, I spent a lot of money just on long-distance calls and telegrams, and I also had to entrust people from the Ministry of National Defense.

"Captain Li, you... this bit might not be enough to show your sincerity."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin spat out a mouthful of bone fragments and laughed dryly.

Li Ya looked at him with displeasure, counted out ten ten-dollar US bills, and handed them over.

"Not enough.

"Need... need to add two more bars.

"Bi... big ones!"

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin stopped pretending, wiped his hands, and laid his cards on the table.

"Brother, you're trying to fleece the wrong person; it's a pity Hong Hong Zhiyou even praised you as the conscience of the industry.

"I think you're black-hearted."

With nothing more to say, Li Ya sneered and got up to leave.

"Don't, don't be in such a hurry to leave."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin picked up the teapot with a smile.

"If you knew her background, you wouldn't say that.

"How much rice you eat determines how big a bowl you carry.

"People are different from one another.

"Without exaggeration, give me a gold bar, and I can tell you what the Chairman ate for lunch today.

"But this... this woman is not easy to investigate.

"I've always done business based on how much money for how much goods.

"Your... your goods are not ordinary.

"Believe me, you won't lose out.

"Otherwise, if you walk out that door today, I guarantee you tomorrow... you might not even have the chance to regret it."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin raised his eyebrows and stared at him, still smiling like a spring breeze.

"For the sake of that truckload of sugar last time, I'll trust you once.

"I didn't bring that much today.

"Consider this a deposit.

"Let's be clear: if your intelligence isn't what I want, I won't give you a single cent later."

Li Ya turned back, took out gold bars and US dollars with a pained expression, and slapped them heavily in front of Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin.

"Rest assured.

"If I dare to ask for this price, I dare to guarantee your satisfaction."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin took out materials from his briefcase and handed them to Li Ya.

Li Ya opened them and looked; his face gradually turned livid.

Mei Mei Yingxue was actually an MI6 operative.

Moreover, when she was in England, her private life was very chaotic.

There were rumors of her having been boyfriend and girlfriend with school professors and many students.

Looking at the list above, the men she associated with were all foreigners, and she even had a record of an abortion at a hospital.

Her current boyfriend, James, is an MI6 intelligence officer.

Currently... Deputy Head of the International Observation Group.

Mission to Jinhai: Top Secret.

"This intelligence was obtained by entrusting people from the Ministry of National Defense to hire the most professional private detectives in England; if you don't believe it, you can find someone to verify it.

"How about it? Didn't disappoint you, did I?

"Marrying an MI6 operative who's been played out by foreigners—only you, Captain Li, would dare.

"This money wasn't spent in vain, right?"

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin shook his head and said triumphantly.

"Not in vain!" Li Ya frowned, feeling very uncomfortable.

He knew about Mei Mei Yingxue going to the hotel to mess around.

But he didn't expect this woman's past to be so filthy and unbearable.

What's even more terrifying is that from the first time they met, Mei Mei Yingxue had been calculating him.

Love at first sight?

Damn it, it was clearly using his identity to steal intelligence for foreigners.

Poisonous!

"Don't you want to know what she... she and James came to Jinhai for?"

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin tilted his chin, blinked, and smiled.

"Go on, how much more money do I need to add?" Li Ya said.

"This is too important.

"To put it lightly, it concerns your life.

"To put it heavily, it concerns the life of the Party and State.

"Same old rules: buying it will save your life, and I definitely won't let you lose out."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin tilted his head, lit a cigarette, exhaled a few puffs, and said.

As he spoke, he held up five fingers.

"Five big gold bars?" Li Ya asked in surprise.

"Isn't five big gold bars worth your life?" Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin pouted, tilted his head at Li Ya, and laughed dryly in a mercenary way.

"Write it down, seven big gold bars in total," Li Ya hesitated for a moment and decided on the deal.

"Isn't that settled?

"Since I started this business, apart from being tricked by you hiding Yuan Yuan Peilin, which caused our Director Sun to lose a fortune, I haven't received a single bad review yet.

"You can rest assured."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin said, taking out another piece of intelligence from his pocket:

"Take a look; you'll be grateful to me."

Li Ya opened it and looked; it was simply shocking.

He never expected that Mei Mei Yingxue and James's attempt was actually to sabotage Western military aid.

This was outright treason.

Even a hundred times more detestable than traitors like Zhou Zhou Fuhai and Ding Ding Mocun.

Right now, the Nationalist Army had just gained an advantage on the battlefield.

Hu Hu Zongnan's army had already shouted the slogan of leveling Yancheng in three months.

The Nationalist Army is not like the Red Party, which can endure hunger and cold, survive on one steamed bun a day, gnaw on tree bark, eat wild vegetables, and reclaim wasteland.

With these masters, if the Americans' flour and ordnance support were cut off at this critical juncture, given the meager resources in the country, I'm afraid they would run out of food and start infighting in less than three months.

"How about it? Is it saving your life?" Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin narrowed his eyes, tilted his chin with a sense of accomplishment, and asked with a smile.

"Yes.

"You could sit on such important intelligence and use it to make money; you've simply refreshed my bottom-line understanding of the Party-Affairs Bureau," Li Ya frowned and said.

"I've said it before: the Party-Affairs Bureau is just where I collect my salary.

"To tell you the truth, if you didn't buy it.

"For this intelligence, if I resold it to the Red Party, it would be at least ten, or even twenty big gold bars.

"Being able to package it and sell it to you cheaply—that's all... friendship."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin said, biting on his cigarette.

"Captain Li, I know you are currently concurrently managing the Intelligence Division and hold a lot of intelligence resources.

"No... no leaks?

"If we kill the price like this, I... I'll give you an extra share; you take six, I take four."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin continued.

Li Ya looked at him with a sneer.

"Then... then you take seven, I take three.

"You at least have a traitor girlfriend and a villa assigned by the unit; I... I still live in a broken bungalow, and my wife is nowhere in sight.

"Brother, this is already my limit."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin said.

"I have no interest in low-life matters.

"I just want to wipe out the Red Party, unify the world, have the old cared for, and the young educated; as for money, enough to wear, spend, and eat is fine.

"Betraying the interests of the Party and State is absolutely impossible.

"To be honest, I feel ashamed just eating at the same table as you; I'm afraid I won't be able to resist shooting you dead."

Li Ya's spirit was very high, and his words were merciless.

"Don't be like that.

"Whose world the future belongs to is not yet certain.

"Right now, throughout the Nationalist Government, there are many people reselling intelligence—the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry; can you shoot them all?

"Who cares about the interests of the Party and State? Those are just principles talked about on the lips; the heart is all business.

"If we don't do this business, there are plenty of people who will.

"If you argue this point, you're just going against money.

"Believe me, people who go against money won't have a good end."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin tapped his fingers on the table, expounding on his business philosophy, trying to persuade Li Ya.

If you ask which place in Jinhai has the most and most authoritative intelligence?

It's definitely the Secret Service.

Yu Zecheng doesn't sell.

And since they are friends, it's inconvenient for Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin to pester him.

Hong Hong Zhiyou sells selectively.

Neither of these are stable sources of channels.

In the past, Lu Qiaoshan and Sheng Xiang were the biggest intelligence peddlers in the Secret Service; now that Lu Qiaoshan is gone, the little bit Sheng Xiang gets by stealing chickens and touching dogs is simply worthless.

A huge vacuum has appeared in the intelligence market of the Commercial Voucher Club.

If Li Ya could take over Lu Qiaoshan's business, that would definitely be a joy for everyone.

"You'd better tell this money theory to someone else.

"Goodbye."

Li Ya put the intelligence into his bag, grabbed a handful of melon seeds, stuffed them into his pocket, got up, and walked out.

"Mud that can't be supported on the wall.

"Deserves to be played by women."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin spat, quickly took his things, and left.

Once outside, he drove directly to an old house in the HQ district.

"Old Shang, are you in?" Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin knocked on the door.

Soon, a middle-aged man with a flat top, wearing suspenders and glasses, opened the door holding a precious sword.

"Old Shang, you've collected new goods again," Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin said, clutching his briefcase and walking in with a smile.

Old Shang was his mentor in peddling intelligence.

Back when Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin was still in college, he ran errands for this guy, and having today was also "washed" out by Old Shang.

It's just that Old Old Xie has made it big now, and the two aren't as close as before due to business relations.

"Indeed, collected in Jibei—a Tang Dynasty battle sword; take a look at this material, this feel..." Old Shang loved collecting swords and couldn't help but gesture.

"Be... be careful.

"Any dry goods recently?"

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin ducked his head and asked with a smile.

"Where would there be any dry goods?

"Whatever there was has been sold by you, brother," Old Shang pointed the sword at him and sneered.

"Don't be like that.

"You are my master; not to mention anything else, you are more familiar with the Yancheng area than I am," Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin said.

"Heh, in your eyes, that's the only use I have, right?

"Someone in Jinhai is secretly transporting supplies to Yancheng, taking the Beiping-Fangshan line..."

Before Old Shang could finish, he was interrupted by Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin:

"What kind of bird intelligence is this? Didn't you sell it to the Mei father and daughter?

"As a result, Li Ya wasn't investigated, and you were blackmailed for ten thousand US dollars by Ma Ma Hansan.

"Only that pair of stupid father and daughter would be interested in this kind of runny intelligence."

Old Shang curled his lips and didn't retort.

"Yancheng has been sealed very tightly recently; Hu Hu Zongnan is about to launch a major attack. If you can get intelligence from the Xi'an Pacification Commissioner's Office, I can buy it at a high price.

"The Red Party loves these things right now."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin said.

"Easy, the net has already been cast; in a few days, there should be goods," Old Shang said.

"Hurry up.

"When Yancheng is occupied later, you'll lose money again," Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin said.

"Do I need you to tell me that?" Old Shang said unhappily.

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin smiled and said nothing, casually sifting for "gold" in the pile of materials Old Shang had stacked up.

"By the way, do you have any good goods on your side?" Old Shang asked.

"None.

"However, the latest batch of mineral samples from the Ministry of Industry, as well as coal and gold mine exploration and mining reports, have been released; it is said that the data is not very ideal.

"If you have the means, you can get a copy of the data.

"Those foreign devils in the International Observation Group want this data right now; it's valuable."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin's eyes rolled, and he turned his head to smile.

"No acquaintances in the Jinhai Agricultural and Mining Bureau, and the confidentiality level of this kind of data is definitely very high; it's not easy to get," Old Shang said.

"Who says there are no acquaintances?

"Do you know who the newly appointed Inspection Division Chief of the Agricultural and Mining Bureau is?

"Li Ya of the Secret Service.

"Isn't his stupid fiancée the Mei woman who bought your intelligence?

"Talk to her.

"If... if you can get it, foreigners' money is the easiest to earn; at the very least, you'll earn three thousand US dollars."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin stuttered.

Old Shang listened but didn't take the bait, instead handing him a pipe: "Have a few puffs?"

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin shook his head and laughed:

"This... this stuff hurts the brain if you smoke too much; only decadent, incompetent people smoke it; it doesn't suit me; I'm afraid if I smoke too much, I won't be able to calculate the accounts and will lose the business."

"Whether you smoke or not is up to you.

"A puff after a meal, live to ninety-nine; this fairy pleasure is something a running dog like you with a life of toil can't enjoy."

Old Shang retorted with dissatisfaction.

"Brother is right.

"I am just a running dog for money!"

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin wasn't annoyed either, chatting with him while picking up a document.

"Regarding the rescue case of Comrade Li Li Wanrong in Jinhai Shuitun Prison...

"Old Shang, this intelligence is related to Jinhai; I'll take it."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin said.

"Take it," Old Shang glanced at the envelope; it was worthless stuff.

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin put down fifty US dollars and prepared to leave.

"By the way, can you still get sugar on your side?

"Recently, I've received less intelligence, and funds are idle anyway; I know you have connections to help me move some; you take three, I take seven; losses or gains are all my business.

"You get a clean share.

"Also, any inside information on US dollar public bonds, let me know if you have news."

Old Shang called out to stop him.

"Sugar is a bit difficult.

"Recently, the Americans have been making a big fuss internally, and with the International Observation Group watching, sugar is not easy to get.

"I can provide some US bonds for you."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin thought for a moment and said.

In some respects, he is now Hong Hong Zhiyou's "distributor."

Nicknamed "Little Jinhai Pass."

Without Hong Hong Zhiyou's nod, he wouldn't dare guarantee sugar, but selling some of the public bonds in his hands was no problem.

"Thanks, brother," Old Shang said.

"Don't be polite; you... you are my master."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin said politely, clutching his briefcase, and left.

"Little rabbit cub!"

Old Shang cursed and quickly went to the room to dial a number:

"May I ask if this is Miss Mei?

"I am Shang Bo.

"Is it convenient to come out for a cup of coffee? I have some business I want to discuss with you.

"Good, goodbye."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin left Old Shang's house, and once in the car, he picked up the intelligence envelope that looked very "nutritious-less" and read it.

The content was very simple.

Regarding the rescue of Ms. Li Li Wanrong.

This should be a telegram reported to Beiping by the Jinhai Red Party District Committee or the underground transportation station.

After Yuan Yuan Peilin died.

His residence, besides being washed by the Secret Service.

There were many residual confidential documents scattered in other transportation stations.

Old Shang's copy should have been missed by the Secret Service.

The report was very clear: Li Li Wanrong was swapped out of prison by someone before the execution, and this woman was caught by the Headquarters Inspection Team.

To claim credit and steal the limelight from the Secret Service, the Inspection Team investigated this aspect very strictly.

Furthermore, this Li Li Wanrong was not a leadership figure of the Red Party.

Counting on the Red Party to spend a mountain of gold and silver, given the Red Party's current economic turnover, this possibility was very small.

To be able to deceive the world, there was only one possibility.

There were Red Party members at important posts in Shuitun Prison.

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin was not stupid.

With a slight synthesis of cognition.

He could also roughly guess Yu's identity.

Both Yu and Hong had dealings with the Red Party.

Hong Hong Zhiyou could be considered his "upstream" and "god of wealth"; he did big business with the Red Party, otherwise, it would be impossible to be so successful in Hong Kong.

The Secret Service in Xiangdao was not strong right now.

Yu Zecheng, well.

Judging from how he and Ma Kui bit each other and dismantled moves, he was highly likely a true Red Party member.

And Yu was close to the high-level officials of Shuitun Prison.

Liao Liao Sanmin!

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin had already guessed Liao Liao Sanmin's identity through this piece of intelligence.

Of course.

It was because he was deeply involved with Yu Zecheng that he could figure out the taste.

In Old Shang's hands, it was almost waste paper.

Because there was no direct evidence.

And some time ago, Shuitun Prison dealt with a batch of prison guards, and even Song Mingjie, the warden, was replaced.

Therefore, someone swapped Li Li Wanrong out.

Even if they found Liao Liao Sanmin, he could push it onto some prison guard who had already been executed.

The prison side couldn't admit that Li Li Wanrong was swapped out either.

Because that was a serious dereliction of duty.

Of course, if this intelligence fell into the hands of a professional like Li Ya who specialized in the Red Party—especially since he had a grudge against Yu Zecheng—he would definitely be able to dig something up.

Even if Liao Liao Sanmin wasn't investigated, he would be bitten very badly.

"Secretary Hong, let's meet at the usual place."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin thought for a moment, got out of the car, hailed a rickshaw, and headed toward the old house.

Three streets away from the house.

He paid the fare, switched to walking, wandered around to make sure no one was following, then opened an ownerless house, passed through the back door of that house, and turned into his old house.

An hour later, Hong Hong Zhiyou walked into the alley.

As usual, Lin Tian went over the wall first to scout the path.

After confirming there were no other people or setups in Old Old Xie's house, he walked in.

"Bro... brother, I have already followed your instructions and leaked the news to Old Shang.

"If my guess is correct, Mei Mei Yingxue already knows that the Ministry of Industry data has been distributed to the Agricultural and Mining Bureau; she will definitely try every means to get that intelligence from Li Ya."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin said.

"Old Old Xie, thank you for your hard work," Hong Hong Zhiyou handed him a small gold bar.

Although it was just passing a message.

But dealing with Old Old Xie, the main thing is not to talk about feelings, only about money.

"What hard work.

"Without your help, brother, I wouldn't have been able to do business to this extent, and I wouldn't have been able to buy a luxury house on Guilin Road," Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin said gratefully.

"Don't be polite; we are true brothers.

"Clear accounts, after all.

"Transparent and solid!"

Hong Hong Zhiyou laughed.

"Take this," Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin smiled and took the intelligence envelope out of his pocket.

"Useless bird intelligence."

Hong Hong Zhiyou took a look and threw it back.

"Stop pretending.

"You, me, and Yu are not outsiders, otherwise I wouldn't have bought it alone," Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin said.

"Shuitun Prison.

"The last gate before the King of Hell.

"If the gatekeeper falls.

"I'm afraid Deputy Station Chief Yu will cry to death,"

he paused and continued.

"Thanks.

"How much?"

Hong Hong Zhiyou laughed.

"Bought for fifty US dollars; you have plenty of money, and you are my brother and benefactor, so I'll just charge you two hundred US dollars," Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin said.

"Authentic.

"Good brother."

Hong Hong Zhiyou didn't say a word and counted out two hundred US dollars.

Don't look at it being several times the price.

If it were someone with ulterior motives, taking this intelligence to threaten Yu Zecheng or Liao Liao Sanmin, at the very least ten gold bars, or even tens of thousands of US dollars, wouldn't be impossible.

Old Old Xie's price was indeed a conscience price.

"Leaving.

"I... I have an appointment to play mahjong with Xu Xu Baofeng; contact me by phone if anything happens."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin got up and said.

With your three seconds, aren't you just getting white eyes from that woman? You really don't have a long memory... Hong Hong Zhiyou muttered to himself and walked toward the door.

At the door, he suddenly turned his head and said:

"Someone from the Party-Affairs Bureau offered a thousand taels of gold to buy my head through Du Yuesheng; see if you can check it out?"

"Who the hell is... so rich?

"Even foreigners and devils couldn't afford this price.

"This is an endless feud with you."

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin asked, very surprised.

"Ye Ye Xiufeng?

"That old miser, unlikely.

"Not to mention you, Wu Wu Jingzhong's head isn't worth this price.

"Who else could it be?"

He shook his head and clicked his tongue.

"Enough said.

"As long as you can dig it out, I'll give you fifteen big gold bars.

"Whether you can earn this money depends on your ability."

Hong Hong Zhiyou straightened his round hat, lowered his head, and walked away quickly.

"Who is it?

"What can't you do with a thousand taels of gold? Buying a head—is there something wrong with their brain?"

Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin stood in place, still unable to figure it out.

Hong Hong Zhiyou returned to the station.

Yu Zecheng was calculating accounts.

He was truly busy now.

In the past, he only managed the confidential room, but now that he was Deputy Station Chief, Hong Hong Zhiyou simply handed him all the miscellaneous accounts of the General Affairs Division.

Plus various reimbursements and purchases for the Equipment Room, Intelligence Division, and Dispatch Room.

A pile of messy accounts.

Yu Zecheng was very serious about his work.

He did the accounts strictly by the book.

He knew very well that this position was hard-won; at the very least, Li Ya still hadn't given up and would occasionally make sarcastic remarks and cause some destruction.

Out of vigilance and stability, Yu Zecheng did not allow himself to have problems in his work that others could hold against him.

Even if it was tedious, he had to do it himself.

"Old Yu, busy?" Hong Hong Zhiyou walked in, carrying fried tofu and brown sugar rice cakes he had bought on the way.

"Busy calculating accounts; anything up?" Yu Zecheng asked.

"This is for you.

"Three hundred US dollars collected from Old Old Xie."

Hong Hong Zhiyou took out the envelope and handed it over.

Yu Zecheng opened it, took a look, burned it on the spot, and readily took three hundred US dollars from the drawer and handed it to him.

"Thanks," he said.

"What for? Did Liao Liao Sanmin report this to you?" Hong Hong Zhiyou asked.

"I don't know about Li Li Wanrong.

"Before Yuan Yuan Peilin was double-led, someone from the underground transportation station might have looked for Liao Liao Sanmin.

"They did things privately and didn't involve me."

Yu Zecheng whispered.

"That's good.

"What I'm worried about now is that Old Old Xie isn't the only one who has seen this document.

"If it's leaked to Li Ya or the Headquarters Inspection Team, and someone with ulterior motives gets a hold of it, Liao Liao Sanmin will be in big trouble."

Hong Hong Zhiyou reminded him.

"I'll find time to meet Liao Sanmin in an official capacity," Yu Zecheng said.

"Hmm.

"By the way, didn't Bank President Li's brother-in-law go in some time ago?

"Planning to find someone to maneuver and see if we can get a better prison cell.

"You take this matter and talk to the Station Chief.

"With him vouching for you, dealing with Liao Liao Sanmin at the prison will be more secure.

"The price President Li offered is..."

Hong Hong Zhiyou said comprehensively.

"Hong Zhiyou, thanks," Yu Zecheng said.

"I still have to go to Captain Li's office.

"Forgot to say: the fish has taken the bait!"

Hong Hong Zhiyou raised the pastries in his hand and walked out with a smile.

(End of chapter)