Chapter 240: If There's a Pig, It Must Be Slaughtered

The relationship between Wu Jing and Ma Kui is very subtle.

It's politics, after all.

Splitting and uniting, uniting and splitting.

Regarding the plane crash of Dai Li, he and Ma Kui joined forces with a tacit understanding.

Don't look at how they fight each other to the death on the surface.

In secret, both sides have me in you, and you in me.

Struggle is for the sake of survival.

The reason Wu Jing can sit firmly in Jinhai and be regarded as a sharp blade by Jianfeng is largely because he is one of the few people on the surface who dares to challenge Ma Kui.

Uniting is a matter of interests.

Back when the family assets of Qing Pujie were involved, if Ma Kui hadn't nodded, could he have hauled them back?

Ma Kui used his position as the director of the Beiping Investigation Bureau to frequently demand cotton cloth, rice, and flour from Jinhai, and then resold them on a large scale to make a fortune from the national crisis.

If Wu Jing didn't tacitly approve, with the Waterway Inspection Office guarding the way, Ma Kui wouldn't be able to ship a single thing out of Jinhai, whether openly or secretly.

Then there is the business between Hong Zhiyou and Ma Kui's subordinates.

These were all tacitly permitted by Wu Jing.

Therefore, on the surface, one is Li-faction and the other is National-brand, wishing they could shoot each other in the back.

Behind the scenes, their interest-based collusion is more tacit than that of biological brothers.

Often, they don't even need to greet each other deliberately to understand what moves the other is making and what they want.

Take this phone call, for example.

Li Ya and the Third Section are most likely not wrong.

It's just that whether this batch of goods is being shipped to the Red Tickets or Sun Lianzhong, Wu Jing is too lazy to ask.

Because he knows that Hong Zhiyou must have a share.

Otherwise, Ma Kui wouldn't be making a fuss to hold him accountable, but would have simply swallowed it all alone.

It's clear that this is a performance being put on with his own son-in-law.

Since that is the case, Wu Jing naturally has to cooperate a bit.

Zhiyou has grown big now, becoming a "walker" for the Chairman and Jianfeng; furthermore, Ruirui is coming back soon, and the family reunion sentiment is strong.

Wu Jing also has self-awareness, and has secretly removed the "tight-fitting spell" from Hong Zhiyou.

He intentionally lets go of many small profits, and even large ones.

If Zhiyou has filial piety and is willing to report it, then let him take a share.

If he doesn't share, he won't strictly investigate and question like before, insisting on squeezing out the lion's share.

After all, he hasn't even finished looking through that vault of treasures in Hexi yet.

There is no need to offend his own prospective son-in-law.

Birds, once grown, must spread their wings and fly high; if you keep pulling the string, you'll end up as enemies.

"Master..."

Li Ya still wanted to speak, but Wu Jing waved his hand behind his back, signaling that he could get out.

"Yes!"

Li Ya bowed and exited the station chief's office.

Returning to his office, Gao Yuan asked: "Captain, is everything alright?"

"Something is wrong, something big.

"Ma Kui has detained the people and the supplies.

"Now he wants me to pay money to redeem them, ten thousand US dollars; where am I supposed to find that?"

Li Ya gritted his teeth and slammed his fist hard onto the table.

"This is official business, won't the station pay?" Gao Yuan said.

"Official business?

"Without reporting, without records, without the station chief's approval, what kind of official business is that?

"Before, Ma Kui was robbed by bandits.

"Now I've been intercepted by Ma Kui.

"This damn place is specifically cursed against our action team."

Li Ya said with a look of frustration.

"Ma Kui is also from the Military Statistics Bureau, we're all our own people, he wouldn't play for real, would he?

"If it really doesn't work, we'll drag it out with him.

"At worst, we lose the supplies, I don't believe he won't release the people."

Gao Yuan thought for a moment and said.

"Naive!"

Li Ya glared at him.

It's not about the supplies and people now; it's that Ma Kui suspects he is a Red Ticket, repeatedly sabotaging war zone supply transport.

With Zhang Qun's "definition" beforehand, if this really blows up, who knows if the military police from the Inspection Office and the Military Tribunal will come to invite him.

"Sigh, my fate is the nation's fate; with bastards like Ma Kui, the future of the Party and State is worrying."

Li Ya walked to the window and let out a long sigh.

"Go do whatever you need to do." After a pause, he turned back and instructed.

"Do we still need to keep an eye on the bookstore and the pier?" Gao Yuan asked.

"Let it go for now.

"Wait until the heat of this matter passes."

Li Ya was truly feeling extremely agitated.

"Understood." Gao Yuan retreated.

Li Ya rubbed his chin, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and then he walked quickly to Yu Zecheng's office.

Looking at the "Deputy Station Chief's Office" sign hanging on the door, he felt a mix of complicated emotions.

Once upon a time.

Just one step away, this position would have been his.

Sigh!

He took a slight breath, tilted his head to straighten his collar, knocked on the door, and walked in:

"Deputy Station Chief Yu, you're not busy, are you?"

"Captain Li, sit down first.

"I'm finishing the calculation of the station's monthly subsidies."

Yu Zecheng didn't look up, his head down as he clicked away on the abacus.

A moment later, Yu Zecheng stood up and came to the sofa, crossing his legs and smiling: "Captain Li, is there something?"

"Nothing.

"Just came over to ask, you are more familiar with Jinhai, which tailor makes better handmade suits?

"My happy event with Yingxue is approaching, and I'm thinking of getting one made."

Li Ya asked with a smile.

"Captain Li, you have to ask Secretary Hong about this.

"He is familiar with those ladies; that group eats, drinks, and plays only with high-end things. If you really want to get one made, they have purchasing agents who fly specifically to Xiangdao.

"Go directly to the foreign shops there and ask a master to make it for you.

"Watches, leather shoes, all of those are fine."

Yu Zecheng said.

"It's like this, I just bought a house recently and I'm a bit tight on cash, and I don't know anyone in Jinhai, could you lend me some first?

"Don't worry, I will definitely pay you back within three months."

Li Ya said, biting the bullet.

"How much?" Yu Zecheng asked.

"Ten thousand US dollars!" Li Ya said.

"Ten thousand US dollars?

"Captain Li, that's an astronomical figure. Even if you sold me, I couldn't scrape together that much money." Yu Zecheng laughed.

He leaned toward Li Ya and said in a low voice: "Don't talk about me, even if you went to every bank, no one would dare lend you such a large sum of money.

"What kind of situation is it now? It gets worse by the day.

"Right after the liberation, the foreigners were optimistic that we would quickly unify, and loans and US dollars poured into the country. Who among Jiang, Song, Kong, and Chen didn't eat until their mouths were oily? It's said that even the toilet paper they used was US dollar bills.

"But now, once they see the constant fighting and that so much money has been thrown in without any results.

"Foreigners are so shrewd; they are afraid of throwing meat buns at dogs and never getting them back, so they tightened the loans long ago.

"Why is money worthless now?

"Isn't it because the US dollar foreign exchange reserves in the national treasury have been exhausted and cannot be replenished?

"From the Chairman down to the common people, who isn't shivering in the cold?

"Don't even mention ten thousand US dollars."

"Even one thousand US dollars is hard to come by."

Li Ya usually only took interest in scraping together small change or catching underground agents; he really didn't understand this economic side of things.

Hearing Yu Zecheng say this, Li Ya couldn't help but feel a wave of panic inside.

"Captain Li, getting married shouldn't cost that much, right? Are you in some kind of trouble?" Yu Zecheng asked.

"Sigh."

"To tell you the truth, I've been doing a little business lately. I had a shipment of goods seized by Ma Hansan in Beiping, and he's demanding ten thousand US dollars in ransom."

"Where am I supposed to scrape together that much money?"

Li Ya said this deliberately.

From the moment he entered the room, while the request for money was real, it was more about testing Yu Zecheng's expression.

He wanted to see if there was anything unusual to confirm whether the goods in Beiping had anything to do with him.

"Oh, Ma Hansan!"

"That man is a Pixiu; he's famous for only taking in and never letting out."

"Boss Dai is ruthless and formidable enough, yet Ma Hansan still eats him for breakfast."

"Never mind you; even if Jiang Jianfeng went to Beiping for a stroll, he'd still have a layer of skin peeled off by him."

Yu Zecheng said with great exaggeration.

"Three days."

"If I can't scrape this money together within three days, the goods will be gone for good." Li Ya clicked his tongue and said, looking troubled.

"You could look for Secretary Hong."

"He's familiar with people like Ma Hansan and Wang Puchen; whenever the Station Chief has business with those two, he's the one who steps forward to handle it."

"It works."

Yu Zecheng acted like it was none of his business, pointing out a clear path for him in a very "classmate" and "friend" manner.

"Then thanks, old classmate!"

Li Ya nodded, shoved his hands in his pockets, and walked out.

"Bastard."

"He really has no shame at all."

After Li Ya left, Yu Zecheng cursed in a low voice.

It was clearly his own shipment.

Li Ya actually had the nerve to claim it as his own.

Yu Zecheng had no doubt that if the goods were really brought back from Beiping by him, Li Ya would definitely claim them as his own and sell them off privately.

He deserved to be taken for a ride by Ma Hansan.

Li Ya turned left after leaving the door and headed straight for Hong Zhiyou's office.

Hong Zhiyou was on the phone and gestured for him to sit.

"Nice sock color."

Hong Zhiyou hung up the phone and sat down on the sofa with a smile.

"Yingxue gave them to me. She said my temperament was a bit gloomy and that green could add some warmth." At the mention of Mei Yingxue, Li Ya's eyes were full of happiness.

"Hmm, Miss Mei's taste is definitely something ordinary people can't compare to."

"Tea or coffee?"

Hong Zhiyou pointed at the coffee machine.

This was a gift from Lu Qiaoshan, who couldn't conveniently take it with him when he left.

"Coffee, I guess. I've been drinking it often lately while keeping Yingxue company, so I've gotten used to it," Li Ya said.

"Having a stylish girlfriend really makes a difference. Captain Li is looking radiant these days."

"Between us, old brother, I'm truly envious."

"I've met so many women in Jinhai."

"There are pretty ones, but none have that temperament of Yingxue's."

"Stylish, noble, just like a princess."

Hong Zhiyou mimicked Mei Yingxue by puffing out his chest and lifting his chin, teasing with a smile.

"Heh, she just read some foreign books for a few days, it's just pretentious nonsense."

Li Ya smiled with self-satisfaction and brought up the real business.

"Old brother, to tell you the truth, that phone call just now was from Ma Hansan."

"What kind of person is Ma Hansan?"

"He eats people without spitting out the bones. He's already sent Liu Yuzhu out from Beiping."

"She's here specifically to collect money from you."

"He even told me to urge you; if Liu Yuzhu doesn't see the money after twelve o'clock tonight, she'll see you at the Jingling Military Tribunal."

"Money doesn't stay overnight—classic Ma Hansan style."

"The Station Chief doesn't like him, so this thankless task fell on me."

Hong Zhiyou shrugged and sighed helplessly.

"Really, is there really no room for maneuver?" Li Ya asked, frowning with his fist pressed against his lips.

"Captain Li, go raise the money."

"Look at how much Ma Hansan has scraped together lately; never mind money, he'd even scramble to sniff a piece of excrement to see if it was gold."

"Once he's latched onto you, even if you asked the Chairman to intercede, it wouldn't work."

Hong Zhiyou shook his head.

He paused and looked at Li Ya with sympathy:

"My Captain Li, you were doing just fine in Jinhai, why did you run to Beiping to provoke him?"

"Sigh."

"I'm just unlucky. Forget it, let's not talk about this, I'm going to go raise the money."

Li Ya said, somewhat annoyed.

"Heh, would you, Captain Li, ever be short on money?"

"The money Yingxue's father made in Yuezhou is enough to buy half of Jizhou City, and he has branches in Xiangdao, dealing in nothing but gold, US dollars, and antiques."

Hong Zhiyou looked around and leaned into his ear, whispering:

"I'm not bragging, but I'm afraid the US dollars in your future father-in-law's pocket are more than what the Jinhai branch manager has."

"What are you worried about?"

"Just leak a little bit, and won't that solve it?"

Li Ya's eyes lit up, and he stood up, saying, "That makes sense. Should I go try?"

"Try it!" Hong Zhiyou nodded solemnly.

"Thanks, little brother, I'll treat you to steak another day." Li Ya patted his shoulder and turned to walk out.

Noon.

Hong Zhiyou went to pick up Liu Yuzhu.

Liu Yuzhu was not wearing a uniform, but a very fitting white floral dress, draped with a warm trench coat, a pearl necklace, a brooch, and a sun hat embedded with white roses, looking very fashionable and exquisite.

"Sister Yuzhu, long time no see. I've been waiting and hoping, and finally, you've arrived."

"To tell you the truth."

"Ever since we parted last time, I've been haunted by thoughts of you; my mind has been full of your image."

As soon as they met, Hong Zhiyou spoke with honeyed words to express his lovesickness.

Both of them knew what kind of person the other was.

When they spoke, there was naturally no need to hide anything.

"Could I not come?"

"When you, Young Master Hong, get angry, even the King of Hell is afraid."

"You've become stylish, even wearing gold-rimmed glasses. Such fake refinement."

Liu Yuzhu smiled charmingly.

"So, sister, is this official business, or are you here to keep your promise?"

"Last time you came to Jinhai, you promised me a favor, but as soon as you returned to Beiping, you played dead and wouldn't even answer the phone."

"That's not very nice."

Hong Zhiyou took the opportunity to pat her shapely buttocks lightly and winked mischievously.

"You're getting bolder." Liu Yuzhu gave him a coquettish glare.

"If I weren't bold, would I dare to defy the boss for you, sister?"

"Would I dare to keep thinking of you, sister?"

Hong Zhiyou whispered.

"I'm here this time both for official business and, of course, to keep my promise."

"Let's go, we'll talk at the hotel."

Liu Yuzhu laughed coquettishly.

Hong Zhiyou drove her to the Navy Club and opened a room.

He had always been interested in this woman.

After all, she was a woman who could make Boss Dai dream of her; Hong Zhiyou did not believe she lacked some special skills.

Men, after all.

Who doesn't crave something fresh and curious?

Not only that.

Ma Hansan sent Liu Yuzhu to probe Hong Zhiyou's attitude.

If he distanced himself from Liu Yuzhu, it meant he truly did not want to continue this friendship.

If he remained as greedy for beauty as before, it meant this business could continue in the future.

To put it plainly.

It is the same logic as "wife diplomacy."

One must offer, and one must accept.

Only then can everyone sit at the same table and eat from the same pot.

Arriving at the hotel.

Hong Zhiyou couldn't wait to embrace her, and the two quickly rolled into a heap.

It must be said, Yuzhu had some real moves.

The training from her background as a secret agent gave her abundant stamina, and paired with that lovely voice, it was simply lethal.

If it had been old Xie.

I fear he wouldn't have even lasted until the count of "three, two, one."

Hong Zhiyou's performance clearly satisfied Liu Yuzhu.

The two tossed about for nearly two hours before finishing, panting for breath.

"It's over." Hong Zhiyou held her, leaning against the headboard to light a cigarette to recover his senses.

"What's over?" Liu Yuzhu looked at him like a lamb, blinking her large eyes.

"Having been with you today, I fear I will find everything else tasteless in the future.

"I don't have the ability of Boss Dai to have you serve by my side every day.

"Sigh, how will I live my life from now on?"

Hong Zhiyou exhaled a puff of smoke at her, his face full of deep, sentimental emotion.

"Stop it!

"If I were to stay by your side every day, you'd probably get annoyed."

Liu Yuzhu giggled and pinched him in passing:

"You don't even dare to take a plane."

"Then I won't take one; I'll take the train. Since you've agreed, let's talk business." Hong Zhiyou joked, then turned to the main topic.

"I heard you have connections in Xiangdao.

"Right now, the Generalissimo and the Jin-Sui faction's Fu Zuoyi are pressing very hard on Beiping.

"Director Ma is afraid Li Delin won't be able to beat Jingling, so he wants to plan an escape route in advance and have me go to Xiangdao to lay the groundwork first.

"If you really acknowledge me as your sister, you must help me."

Liu Yuzhu held his handsome face and acted coquettishly.

"Do you know how to raise pigs?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"Raise pigs?" Liu Yuzhu didn't understand for a moment.

"It means fattening the pig up and slaughtering it when the New Year comes.

"Who doesn't know now that old Ma is the best at skimming? The reason no one bothers him is because there are people who want to see him skim.

"This person might be Mao Renfeng.

"Or it might be Jiang Jianfeng.

"Or even the Generalissimo.

"When the time comes, with the white blade going in and the red blade coming out, hasn't old Ma spent his whole life working for others?"

Hong Zhiyou laughed.

He knew a little about the history of Beiping.

At the very least, Wang Puchen was the nail Mao Renfeng had planted beside Ma Hansan.

And there was the future Garrison Commander, Chen Jicheng, who was about to take office.

These people were all destined to bleed Ma Hansan dry in the future.

Whether it was old Ma or Liu Yuzhu, neither could escape the fate of being tried and executed in the end.

The matter of Dai Li seemed to have sunk to the bottom of the water for now.

But it would be dug up eventually.

And there was still Kawashima Yoshiko, who was currently imprisoned.

These things could send Ma Hansan to his death at any moment.

"I understand what you mean.

"Old Ma has also seen this, which is why he is thinking of an escape route.

"Otherwise, he wouldn't have sent me..."

Liu Yuzhu smiled and didn't finish the sentence.

"Sent to keep the appointment, otherwise sister would have stood me up forever," Hong Zhiyou said with a smile, finishing it for her.

"You are truly wicked, just like those tricks of yours, always picking on people's difficult spots."

Liu Yuzhu pouted and rolled her eyes at him.

"I bought a small island in Xiangdao.

"I've built quite a few underground vaults and houses; they were originally for old Wu and myself.

"In the future, there will be private armed guards from the Cao Gang.

"If you don't mind, come be my neighbor.

"It's not like we're short on land.

"It'll be livelier with more people together."

Hong Zhiyou kissed her and said.

"Old Ma is suspicious; I'm afraid he won't agree.

"And he is a very cautious person."

Liu Yuzhu said.

"If you stay in Beiping, you'll be dead in the future.

"And I can guarantee that old Ma won't leave Beiping alive, but you can.

"So, sister, you must plan your escape route early.

"If I were you, I'd take as much as I could.

"If you can move all of Ma Hansan's assets over, you'll at least be set for the rest of your life."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Are you suggesting I betray old Ma?" Liu Yuzhu frowned.

"I didn't say that.

"I'm only talking about the situation.

"Besides, you've risked your life for old Ma; you've done all that duty requires.

"I'm only advising you because I can't bear to lose your skills.

"How you choose is your business.

"It's nothing more than me going to your grave later to burn a few extra sticks of incense for you, sister."

Hong Zhiyou brushed her hair and said it very casually.

Liu Yuzhu fell silent.

"Whether you believe me or not, or whether you have great confidence in old Ma's methods, it's always good to leave yourself an escape route.

"Besides, I doubt old Ma lets you touch even a tenth of his wealth.

"You're just wading in the water.

"Go there and test the waters; you won't lose anything."

Hong Zhiyou continued to persuade her.

"Don't forget, a woman's shelf life is very short. You can't keep your youth; only real gold and silver are things you can truly control.

"I truly cherish you, sister; think it over clearly."

He continued to smile.

This sentence was like a sharp knife, instantly piercing through Liu Yuzhu's hesitation and confusion.

"Give me the address. I'll go to Xiangdao in a few days, and you can arrange for someone to accompany me to inspect it.

"It's best to choose a more secluded corner.

"Ma Hansan will definitely send his son or a trusted aide to accompany me."

Liu Yuzhu's tone became firm.

"Isn't that heaven helping you?"

"If you can't handle his son, you must find a way to make him send a trusted aide."

"With your methods, sister, plus the thick scent of money in Xiangdao, I believe any trusted aide would be intoxicated in your embrace."

"Wouldn't that settle the matter?"

Hong Zhiyou smiled.

He knew that Liu Yuzhu would likely be unable to escape Beiping in the future.

If he could use some schemes in this matter.

If Ma Hansan's wealth were "sunk" in Xiangdao, couldn't he just pick it up for free?

Another Mu Liancheng!

Rather than leaving it for Mao Renfeng to slaughter, it would be better to wield the knife himself and have a prosperous new year.

(End of chapter)