Chapter 217: A Mad Dog Can Guard the House

The office.

Yu Zecheng was leaning back in his chair, eyes closed to rest his mind.

Having huddled on the sofa for the night, half-asleep and half-awake, he was feeling extremely exhausted at this moment.

Knock, knock!

Li Ya tapped on the door.

"Come in," Yu Zecheng called out.

"Old classmate, are you busy?" Li Ya walked in, all smiles.

He understood a bit of social nuance and knew that when asking for a favor, one sometimes had to lower oneself.

But that forced air of his lacked a certain something; it looked very fake and affected, the kind that one could see through at a glance.

"Not busy."

"Congratulations, Captain Li, on being restored to your former post." Yu Zecheng stood up to welcome him with a smile, as if nothing had ever happened.

The Station Chief had gone all the way to Jingling to vouch for Li Ya.

If Yu Zecheng were to be stubbornly difficult with Li Ya on the surface, that would be showing a lack of awareness.

One still had to put on an act when necessary.

Living in this world, everything depends on acting.

As for acting, everyone here is a big shot in the office; who doesn't know how?

"Heh, what 'restored to former post'."

"The Water and Land Inspection Office, the cold storage warehouse, and the Delong Inn—I hadn't even warmed my seat before the whole lot was snatched away."

"Now they won't even let me take my salary."

"It's impossible to live like this."

Li Ya sat down and spoke heart-to-heart like an old friend.

"That doesn't sound like you."

"I remember back in the special training class, during collective training, you were always the one charging at the very front; how high-spirited you were then."

"I feel like after going to Yancheng and becoming a hero, you've lost that heroic spirit instead?"

Yu Zecheng laughed.

"When a man is poor, his ambitions are short."

"You have no idea what kind of life I lived over there."

"Every meal was corn buns and sweet potatoes with a bowl of boiled cabbage; I could only bathe once a month, and we had to queue up with limits just to get hot water—and that was the special supply for the school; other places didn't even have water to drink."

"Sigh, I really was terrified by the hardship."

"Do you know? Even during the Battle of Jinshanwei fighting the Japanese, I was never this scared."

"But staying in that hellhole, I was truly afraid that one day I would starve to death or die of illness; it was like a dull knife cutting into flesh—every day was torment and pain."

"Food, clothing."

"Medicine—everything was in extreme shortage."

"Honestly, I can't for the life of me understand how the National Army could lose a war against a bunch of mud-legged peasants who couldn't even get enough to eat or wear."

Li Ya counted on his fingers, sighed, and said.

"Stop, let's not talk about this topic."

"If I say they have talent and faith, you'll start suspecting I'm a Red agent again."

"This Confidentiality Room of mine must have bad feng shui that clashes with your Action Team."

"Whoever sits in this position ends up being the target of your blade."

Yu Zecheng complained and teased while pouring him tea.

"Director Yu, in our line of work, one must always remain suspicious."

"Look at Lu Qiaoshan, you, and Hong Zhiyou—didn't you all call me a Red agent over the Baoding and Zhong Wangguo affair?"

"A straight body doesn't fear a crooked shadow; I don't mind."

"However, I was indeed impulsive those two times; in the end, it was all because I was instigated by my subordinates and was too eager to earn merit."

"Thinking that I'm new here, you and the Station Chief are the closest people I have."

"Our relationship shouldn't be like this."

"Old classmate, I solemnly apologize to you for the past."

As Li Ya spoke, he stood up and bowed to Yu Zecheng.

"Don't!"

"Aren't you trying to ruin me with that?"

Yu Zecheng quickly steadied him and persuaded him with a smile:

"You, my brother, are a Lieutenant Colonel, and I am a tiny sesame-seed Major; when it comes to rising in rank and getting rich, I don't even have the qualifications to stand in your way."

"Let's cooperate sincerely from now on, with you leading and me following, working toward the same goal."

"Yes, with those words from you, I can rest easy." Li Ya smiled and sat down, his leg crossing over the other unconsciously.

"Old classmate, you... you are a very busy man; you didn't come here just to complain about the hard life in Yancheng, did you?" Yu Zecheng asked.

"I'm wondering about that batch of goods Officer Xiong wants; how do you plan to handle it?" Li Ya asked.

"How else can I handle it?"

"It's all been detained by you; I can't clear customs, so I'll just have to pay the breach-of-contract penalty."

"Anyway, it's Secretary Hong's stuff; he has wide connections, so if he can ship it, he can, and if he can't, he's the one paying the penalty."

"At worst, I'll just refund him the three hundred dollars in escort fees."

Yu Zecheng said with a relaxed smile.

"Don't do that."

"This concerns the grand plan of the Party and State; just think, if the Soviets lean toward us..."

"What path would those Red agent Bolshevik bastards have left? They'd have to disband on the spot."

Li Ya didn't mention his own involvement at all, appealing to the grand cause of the nation.

"Brother."

"The grand plans of the Party and State are not for small fry like us to worry about."

"On the way to Shanhai Pass, there are bandits, soldier-bandits, and Red agents; who knows where someone might hijack it and put a bullet in my head."

"I'm only going there purely for the sake of Secretary Hong."

"You, brother, have wide connections; how about I give you two hundred—no, three hundred dollars, and you handle this job for me?"

Yu Zecheng said with a sudden, enlightened smile.

"Don't."

"I don't have the ability to deal with Red agents," Li Ya waved his hands hurriedly.

"Then let whoever wants to deal with it do it."

"Captain Li, a new batch of German goods just arrived at the equipment room; I have to go register them, so I won't chat with you anymore."

Yu Zecheng stood up.

"Don't, don't!"

"Let's chat a bit more."

Li Ya bit his lip slightly, braced himself, and raised a hand to stop Yu Zecheng.

"Captain Li, you, what is this..." Yu Zecheng looked puzzled.

"Actually, I bought this batch of white sugar with my entire life savings."

"I originally wanted to sell it at a high price through Secretary Hong."

"I didn't expect..."

Li Ya shrugged and smiled awkwardly.

"It certainly was sold at a high price; at double the price of the old master of the Northeast, you made enough for two houses in one flip."

"You say this Secretary Hong, he's really too partial to you."

"Old Lu and I have worn our tongues thin begging for white sugar, and we couldn't find a way in."

"You've only been here a few days, and you're already trading in white sugar."

"Having the Jianfeng halo really is different; you're quite the favorite."

Yu Zecheng pointed at him, mocking him with veiled barbs.

"The problem is, I... I've messed up my own business."

"Now I'm drowning in debt."

"White sugar is a strategic material; if Lu Qiaoshan reports it to the Civil Affairs Bureau, it will be confiscated immediately."

"Otherwise, even Officer Xiong wouldn't dare pass through Huludao."

"It has to be shipped out as soon as possible."

Li Ya looked at Yu Zecheng with a sorrowful face.

"It's not just your business that's messed up; I was almost messed up by you too."

"Captain Li, I really can't take this job; you should go find Secretary Hong."

Yu Zecheng chuckled and turned to leave.

"Director Yu, I'll give you half the profit," Li Ya shouted behind him.

Yu Zecheng ignored him.

"Sixty-forty."

"Seventy-thirty."

"Eighty-twenty."

"How about this, you keep all the profit, I'll just cover my costs, alright?" Li Ya shouted, his heart dripping with blood.

"We were classmates, if I profit from your money, would I still be human?" Yu Zecheng turned his head and smiled.

"Director Yu, you must help..."

Li Ya lowered his pride and was about to plead, when Yu Zecheng raised his index finger: "Shh, don't let Lu Qiao hear."

After saying this, he walked downstairs with light steps.

"Damn it!"

Li Ya slammed his fist against the wall, his lungs burning with rage.

Now he was at a stalemate.

He couldn't transport the goods himself; he didn't have the capability.

He had to find someone.

It was true that he was one of Jianfeng Society's men.

But while using that signboard to save his life was fine, he didn't have the guts to pull off this kind of scheme.

In Jinhai, the only people he could seem to turn to were the Station Chief, Hong Zhiyou, and Yu Zecheng.

Right now, there was friction between the two of them, so what was he to do?

Li Ya hung his head in dejection and walked toward his office.

Hong Zhiyou returned to the Station Chief's office, where Wu Jingzhong was drinking tea.

"Station Chief, how should we handle the sugar matter?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"Do you think a person like Li Ya can be tamed?" Wu Jingzhong asked in a deep voice.

"It's very difficult.

"If not for his experience in Yancheng, he would be a second Liu Xiong.

"He only recognizes red bills and doesn't care about sentiment.

"Or rather, he only cares about sentiment toward you."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Do you think Liu Xiong cares about sentiment toward me?"

Wu Jingzhong's eyes sharpened; he turned his head and snorted coldly:

"That's because he believes enjoying life is right, and he tacitly allows me to extort these landlords and wealthy men. If he knew I had any connection to the red bills, he would be the first to shoot me in the back.

"Li Ya is the same.

"That stubbornness and arrogance in his bones cannot be hidden by those pretty words and hypocritical smiles on his lips.

"This kind of person is a typical egoist; he only has his own spiritual sanctuary and cannot tolerate the slightest dissent from others.

"You could be good to him a thousand or ten thousand times, but the moment you go against his will once, he will turn heartless and ruthless.

"Even if it were his own father, he could execute him."

Wu Jingzhong flicked his index finger, having long seen through everything.

"The Master is truly worthy of someone who has studied philosophy; you see through every detail," Hong Zhiyou said.

"When you've seen enough of human nature, you can tell what kind of person someone is at a glance; it's no great skill," Wu Jingzhong said with a smile, waving his hand.

"Master, then what about this sugar?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"Since he can't be tamed, then don't tame him; use some sticks and stones.

"Make him feel the pain.

"Otherwise, he won't learn his lesson.

"In the past, I was always lenient with people, but now I think that sometimes kindness isn't necessarily a good thing.

"If you're not careful, someone will climb onto your head to defecate!"

Wu Jingzhong's gaze turned sharp as he spoke righteously.

"Understood.

"I know how to handle it," Hong Zhiyou said.

The Station Chief was right.

The prerequisite for harmony bringing wealth is that the other party is willing to be harmonious.

Whether from the original story or his own experiences and observations, Li Ya was someone who couldn't tolerate others in his bones.

Since they couldn't be "harmonious," then he could only be served with "sticks."

"Hello, is this the Dispatch Office?

"Is Xiao Kai there?

"Tell him to come to my office for a moment."

Hong Zhiyou returned to his office and picked up the phone.

Intelligence Division Office.

The driver Xiao Kai walked in quickly: "Division Chief Lu, Secretary Hong called and asked me to go over."

"Looking for you to play chess again, I suppose," Lu Qiao smiled.

"Yes.

"Only Mi Zhiguo and I play chess well down there; sometimes he calls Mi Zhiguo, sometimes he calls me," Xiao Kai said.

"Then go ahead.

"Secretary Hong is a decent person; let him win a little, perhaps he'll even reward you with some pocket money."

Lu Qiao smiled gently.

"Very well, Division Chief Lu." Xiao Kai accepted the order and left.

"Secretary Hong."

Upon seeing Hong Zhiyou, he greeted him respectfully.

"Sit down quickly."

Hong Zhiyou gestured for him to take a seat.

He brewed tea, brought out some dried fruits and pastries, and set up the chessboard so they could eat and play.

"Secretary Hong, these cookies you have are truly delicious," Xiao Kai said while eating.

"This is called Sachima, invented by foreigners.

"If you like them, I'll give you more later."

Hong Zhiyou said very casually.

"Secretary Hong, you are such a good person; everyone likes to be assigned tasks by you in private.

"If we were to vote for a Deputy Station Chief in the station, you would definitely be elected unanimously."

Xiao Kai said from the bottom of his heart.

"A Deputy Station Chief needs rank; Division Chief Lu is more like it, I definitely don't have a chance," Hong Zhiyou placed a piece and smiled faintly.

Just as they were talking, Yu Zecheng walked in:

"Secretary Hong, Captain Li just came to find me, begging me to transport that batch of sugar..."

"Oh, Xiao Kai is here."

Seeing an outsider, Yu Zecheng hurriedly stopped with a smile.

"Well, Secretary Hong, Director Yu, you two are busy; I, I will accompany you to play next time," Xiao Kai said, rising tactfully.

"Good.

"Wait, take the food with you."

Hong Zhiyou took a few pieces of Sachima wrapped in colored paper and stuffed them into Xiao Kai's hands.

"Thank you, Secretary Hong."

Xiao Kai took them happily and walked out.

Passing by the Intelligence Division.

He was just about to hurry past when he was called out by Lu Qiao: "Come in, don't you know the rules?"

Xiao Kai finally came to his senses.

He was one of Division Chief Lu's men.

When going to other offices for tasks, he was required to come back and report.

"Yes, yes," Xiao Kai hurriedly lowered his head and turned back.

"What are you holding?" Lu Qiao frowned, sounding dissatisfied.

"Sa... your horse," Xiao Kai stammered.

"Bring it here.

"You have no discernment; this is called Sachima."

"You certainly have a good appetite."

"You dog with no sense of propriety!"

Lu Qiaoshan snatched it over, opened it, and while eating, asked, "What did Secretary Hong look for you to say?"

"Just asking how my parents are doing."

"Oh, he also asked if my brother-in-law's wonton shop business is good, and if he wants to open a branch outside our station, saying he could help find..."

Xiao Kai became excited as soon as he brought this up.

"What kind of nonsense is that." Lu Qiaoshan pulled a long face and interrupted him.

"What on earth are you thinking about all day long? You are a driver for the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, not a green onion seller on the street."

"You only ask about trivial, petty matters."

"Think carefully, did he mention any official business of the station, especially regarding the Station Chief, me, or Captain Li?"

Lu Qiaoshan pointed at him and said.

"Hmm, it seems not..."

Xiao Kai pondered for a moment, his eyes lit up, and he said:

"Yes."

"Director Yu just went to find Secretary Hong, saying something about that batch of sugar of Captain Li's, begging him to handle it."

"He saw I was present, so he didn't continue."

"Are you sure Director Yu said Li Ya used the word 'beg'?" Lu Qiaoshan keenly grasped the wording.

"That's right, it was 'beg'." Xiao Kai said very firmly.

"I know now, you may go." Lu Qiaoshan raised his hand to signal him to leave.

"Division Chief Lu, I, my..."

Xiao Kai gave an awkward laugh and pointed at the pastries on Lu Qiaoshan's desk.

"Take it, take it."

"Get out!"

Lu Qiaoshan patted the pastry crumbs off his hands and cursed unhappily.

"Yes." Xiao Kai took the pastries and ran off in a flash.

Beg?

Lu Qiaoshan took a sip of coffee and began to ponder carefully.

Could this batch of white sugar be Li Ya's?

Or perhaps it belongs to Yu Zecheng?

It certainly isn't Hong Zhiyou's.

Otherwise, the Station Chief would have already ordered it to be moved away by now.

The problem is, how did Li Ya's white sugar end up being escorted by Yu Zecheng, and then seized by Li Ya himself?

Never mind.

Neither of them are good birds.

Yu Zecheng eats alone.

Li Ya is even more of a thorn in the side and a nail in the eye.

If it is his white sugar, how much money would that be?

Heh.

This is truly heaven helping me.

Lu Qiaoshan quickly picked up the phone, sucked in his cheeks, and then said with a face full of smiles:

"Hello, is this Director Zhang of the Public Opinion Survey Bureau?"

"It's like this, our Bureau of Investigation and Statistics has seized a batch of white sugar of unknown origin, there must be two truckloads."

"You bring some people over to take an inventory."

"Yes, white sugar."

"At the very least, it must be one or two tons."

"Alright."

"Goodbye."

Half an hour later, Zhang Fenglai of the Public Opinion Survey Bureau led a group of law enforcement officers to the station.

"Director Zhang, what wind blew you here?" Wu Jingzhong, along with Lu Qiaoshan and Hong Zhiyou, personally went to welcome him.

Currently in wartime, the Public Opinion Survey Bureau is not simple; it falls under the jurisdiction of the Material Supply Committee and is responsible for allocating livelihood materials—it is a proper lucrative office.

For example, Ma Hansan in Beiping is currently the director of the Public Opinion Survey Bureau.

Boss Dai not only failed to bring this person down.

Instead, with the support of Li Zongren, he gained control over all the materials in Beiping and made a fortune.

If there is any position that even Wu Jingzhong covets.

There is only one: Director of the Public Opinion Survey Bureau in Jinhai.

Zhang Fenglai has the backing of Zhang Zhizhong, and his roots in the Ministry of National Defense are quite deep.

"Station Chief Wu, we are all guarding one side for the Party and State, so I won't use polite phrases."

"I just received news that your Jinhai station seized two truckloads of smuggled white sugar last night; I don't know if it's true or false."

Zhang Fenglai asked with a smile, neither humble nor pushy.

"Is there such a thing?" Wu Jingzhong turned his head to look at Lu Qiaoshan.

"It seems there is."

"Captain Li seized it; why don't we bring him here to ask?" Lu Qiaoshan said.

"No need."

"Since Director Zhang is already here, let him inspect it personally."

"If it is white sugar, just haul it away according to the instructions from above. As for the people smuggling the white sugar, that is the specialty of our Bureau of Investigation and Statistics; we will naturally investigate it clearly and give Director Zhang an explanation."

Wu Jingzhong said loudly.

"Station Chief Wu, then I will..." Zhang Fenglai said happily.

"Please." Wu Jingzhong said, gesturing with his hand.

Soon, Zhang Fenglai hauled away the two truckloads of white sugar.

Li Ya stood by the window witnessing all of this, his face deathly pale with anger, his whole body trembling.

That was his entire net worth.

Now it was all washed away, and on top of that, he still owed Xie Ruolin a large sum of money.

Unreconciled, he came to the Station Chief's office.

"Station Chief, this batch of white sugar was seized by us, why did you let the Public Opinion Survey Bureau haul it away?" Li Ya asked with dissatisfaction.

"Smuggling white sugar is a heavier crime than arms trafficking."

"The Public Opinion Survey Bureau has already come to the door; if I don't hand it over, am I supposed to wait for the Ministry of National Defense to send inspectors?" Wu Jingzhong asked him in return.

"But this was secretly escorted by Director Yu for Officer Xiong."

"Letting that man surnamed Zhang haul it away, it won't be easy to explain to Officer Xiong, will it?" Li Ya frowned, trying to find a way around it.

"Officer Xiong's face is bigger than mine."

"But that is a matter between them, it has nothing to do with you or me."

"Captain Li, you don't need to worry about this matter."

"Anyway, the white sugar isn't yours; Yu Zecheng and Xiong Shihui aren't in a rush, why are you so anxious?"

Wu Jingzhong "kindly" consoled him.

"I..." Li Ya felt worse than if he had eaten a dead fly.

"Alright, I'll tell you the truth."

"I really wanted to hide this batch of white sugar in the warehouse; if we just resold it, everyone in our station's year-end bonus could triple."

"The equipment could also be replaced with new models."

"But Zhang Fenglai told me plainly that Lu Qiaoshan pointed it out to him."

"You tell me, how could I hide it?"

Wu Jingzhong told him the "truth" at the right moment.

"I know now!"

Li Ya walked out of the Station Chief's office with a face like dead ash.

Thinking that he didn't have a single cent in his pocket, and that the gourmet food, suits, and hair oil were all out of reach, his chest couldn't help but throb with pain, and he found himself unable to breathe, involuntarily leaning against the wall and groaning in agony.

"Yo, what's wrong with Captain Li?"

"Do you want me to send you to the infirmary?"

Lu Qiaoshan had been standing at the door watching for a long time, spotting the opportunity to come over and kick a man when he was down.

"No need."

"Division Chief Lu, I wish you peace."

Li Ya gave him a cold, grim smile and staggered toward his office.

"Hehe."

"A thing like a dead dog, and you still want to fight me?"

Lu Qiaoshan watched Li Ya's retreating back and sneered with disdain.

Li Ya would not be promoted for three years.

Now was a time when civil war was frequent, not just a good opportunity to perform meritorious service.

It was also an excellent time to rake in money.

This punishment had basically pronounced a "death sentence" on Li Ya.

It left him with no more capital to compete with him for the position of Deputy Station Chief.

Staying behind was nothing more than being a runner-up.

"Lu Qiaoshan!

"I curse your ancestors for eighteen generations!"

Once inside the office, Li Ya slammed his fists hard onto the desk and cursed through gritted teeth.

Autumn passed and winter came.

Some were happy, some were sad.

No. 1 Changde Road.

Cuiping, Mei Qiuju, and Chou'er were wrapping dumplings.

"Big Brother loves mutton, let's wrap mutton filling first so they can eat them hot as soon as they get back," Cuiping, dressed in a cheongsam, skillfully rolled out the dough.

"Never mind him.

"Wrap the pork filling first, Zhiyou loves that," Mei Qiuju whispered with a wink.

"Don't look at Old Wu as a high official; nowadays, Zhiyou handles most things. He just knows how to play with antiques all day; he's at the age where he should retire," she added after a pause, lowering her voice.

"It's a good thing my Zecheng and Zhiyou are brothers.

"Look at Li Ya; a few days ago, he was eating wontons on the street and hid from me, as if he were afraid of losing face.

"He doesn't even wear a suit anymore.

"He doesn't even put oil in his hair anymore.

"You'd think he's also a student of the Station Chief, how did he end up like this?"

Cuiping said with a sigh.

"He brought it on himself.

"Just like his teacher Liu Xiong, stubborn and not on the right track; your Big Brother doesn't look highly upon him anymore.

"However, this time he was also harmed by Lu Qiaoshan.

"I heard he entrusted someone to get two tons of white sugar, and the Civil Affairs Bureau took it away.

"A person like that, who doesn't earn money when he can and insists on making trouble, deserves it."

Mei Qiuju said with a look of contempt.

"He does deserve it.

"They are all like mad dogs, specifically staring at my Old Yu to bite him.

"You say he's such an eyesore, why doesn't Big Brother get rid of him?"

Cuiping asked, puzzled.

"He can't get rid of him.

"It hurts when a mad dog bites.

"If Li Ya leaves, the person Mao Renfeng sends will be a fierce tiger, and that one will eat people.

"It's better to keep a mad dog; at least it can watch the door."

Mei Qiuju laughed.

As they were talking, Wu Jingzhong walked in wearing a thick hat, with Yu Zecheng and Hong Zhiyou following closely behind.

"This person, once they get old, is afraid of the wind; even a slight chill makes it ache to the bone.

"Winter Solstice, eat dumplings.

"Very good.

"What fillings do you have?"

Wu Jingzhong took off his hat and asked with a smile.

"We have the mutton filling you love, Big Brother, we'll put them in the pot now," Cuiping said.

"Cuiping, call him Teacher.

"Big Brother, is 'Big Brother' something you can call him? How do you expect Secretary Hong to address him?" Yu Zecheng reminded her with a straight face.

"I'm just used to calling him that, I can't change it," Cuiping said.

Mei Qiuju originally wanted to say it didn't matter.

But thinking that would make Zhiyou a generation lower and dampen her husband's prestige, she just smiled and said nothing.

"We are about to enter 1947.

"Before the liberation of Jinhai, Lu Qiaoshan and I came here to establish the station; in the blink of an eye, it's been almost two years. You say, how fast time flies.

"According to news from the Ministry of National Defense, Hu Zongnan's recent military operations have been very smooth.

"When reporting to the Chairman, he claimed that by March of next year at the latest, he would capture Northern Shaanxi and strike directly at the heart of the enemy!

"Everyone, for the Party-State, for the soldiers of the Party-State on the front lines.

"Let us raise our glasses in tribute together."

Wu Jingzhong said in a booming voice.

"A tribute to Commander Hu and the fearless soldiers." Yu, Hong, and the others raised their glasses one after another.

After the meal.

Cuiping and Mei Qiuju went to the side hall to chat.

Wu Jingzhong tapped the table and said: "There is a troublesome matter at hand; Mao Renfeng insists that the Jinhai Station immediately appoint a Deputy Station Chief, and Zheng Jiemin is naturally happy to agree.

"I'm afraid Lu Qiaoshan is set for this; what are your thoughts?"

Hong Zhiyou shook his head and said: "The Deputy Station Chief must absolutely not be Lu Qiaoshan.

"This person is more insidious than Li Ya.

"He is also impossible to tame; regarding the white sugar matter, I deliberately asked him to help Director Yu.

"Not only did he not help, but he also said quite a few sarcastic remarks.

"Teacher, this person cannot be trusted."

Yu Zecheng took up the conversation: "Yes, I heard that Director Zheng has already stepped down as the Director of the Second Department, and it is said that after the New Year, he will enter the Ministry of National Defense as a Vice Minister.

"If this drags on until next year, it will be even harder to say."

Wu Jingzhong nodded and said: "I am also worrying about this matter; everyone is eyeing Jinhai like a piece of fat meat!

"Actually, the person I have my eye on is Zecheng.

"But since Boss Dai died, he has lost his backing, and furthermore, this rank has never had a chance to move up.

"Right now, unless one goes to the front lines, opportunities for meritorious service are rarer than beauties.

"It's difficult."

Speaking of this, he sighed in distress.

"Teacher, there are still ways.

"In our station, the only one who can deal with Lu Qiaoshan is Li Ya.

"You can let Captain Li loosen up first, create a trend that Jiang Jianfeng is going to promote him, and let him clear out a few printing plants to find his craft and prestige.

"Once Li Ya warms up, Lu Qiaoshan will inevitably become anxious.

"At that time, they will inevitably bite each other.

"Everyone has seen Captain Li's methods; perhaps he will send Lu Qiaoshan away."

Hong Zhiyou suggested.

"Hmm, that makes sense.

"Let Li Ya deal with him.

"If we promote Li Ya, Lu Qiaoshan will inevitably use underhanded tactics against him; as they counter-attack each other, we can sit back and reap the rewards.

"We can try it.

"Zhiyou, your relationship with Li Ya is not bad.

"Go, send these two plates of dumplings to him, and by the way, give this to him, and just say that Jiang Jianfeng leaked the word to me.

"He only recognizes Jiang Jianfeng, it will work.

"Tell him to pull himself together and get the work of the Action Team up and running."

Wu Jingzhong instructed.

"Yes, I will go see Captain Li right now."

Hong Zhiyou packed the food, put it in a tray, and drove straight to Li Ya's house.

After knocking for a long time, Li Ya finally opened the door.

"Yo, Secretary Hong, why have you come?" Li Ya asked with a dejected face and a mouth full of alcohol.

"It's the Winter Solstice, time to eat dumplings.

"The Station Chief invited you but you didn't go, so he entrusted me to bring them over to you."

"It just came out of the pot, touch it, it's still hot."

"Hurry up, eat while it's hot."

Hong Zhiyou entered the door and set it out for him.

"Dumplings!"

"Dumplings again."

"The last time I ate dumplings was during the Spring Festival, when I was a nature teacher at the Yancheng Second Experimental Primary School."

"They were so fragrant."

"I will never forget it in my life."

Li Ya's eyes turned red; he dipped them in sesame oil and vinegar, and his mouth was filled with fragrance.

"This is for you."

Hong Zhiyou took out two gold bars, one thousand US dollars, and a stack of silver dollars and placed them on the table.

"Brother, what is this?" Li Ya asked excitedly.

"The Station Master entrusted me to give this to you."

"Well, not exactly the Station Master."

"Jiang Jianfeng mentioned you to the Station Master last night, saying you are still very capable and telling the Station Master not to let your talents go to waste."

Hong Zhiyou said it without hesitation.

"Comrade Jiang Jianfeng really, really mentioned me?" Li Ya asked with tears in his eyes.

Since losing the Yuan Peilin case, Jiang Jianfeng had never contacted him again.

Li Ya had thought he would never be trusted with important tasks again in this life.

He never expected...

For a moment, he trembled with excitement, and tears could no longer be held back as they fell.

"Captain Li, would I dare to joke about that person?" Hong Zhiyou said.

"But this money?" Happiness had come too suddenly, and Li Ya was a bit dazed.

"As it happens, I spoke to the Station Master about the white sugar matter tonight."

"The Station Master knew long ago that the white sugar was yours, and he would never have let Zhang Feng take it away."

"He even complained about why you didn't speak up, and asked why you've been living so stingily lately."

"After I told him, the Station Master felt so bad that he immediately paid out of his own pocket and had me bring this money to you."

"The Master still keeps you in his heart."

Hong Zhiyou continued.

"Thank you, Master."

"Brother, thank you."

"I, Li, will never forget this as long as I live."

Li Ya bowed to Hong Zhiyou.

"Don't, if you want to thank someone, thank the Station Master and thank Jiang Jianfeng."

"Quick, eat your dumplings."

"The Station Master's intention is for you to pull yourself together and quickly get the Action Team back on its feet."

Hong Zhiyou was afraid Li Ya would grow suspicious, so he dared not say too much.

"Rest assured."

"As long as Comrade Jiang Jianfeng and the Station Master still trust me, I will be the sharp blade of the Jinhai Station!"

Li Ya's cheeks tightened, and that air of arrogance and murderous intent returned to his eyes.

Hong Zhiyou breathed a sigh of relief.

He knew that Li Ya was indeed a good blade.

At the very least, in the original story, Lu Qiaoshan was a soul lost to his blade.

Jinhai cannot have a Deputy Station Master.

If there is one, it can only be Yu Zecheng.

(End of chapter)