Chapter 241: The Taste That Isn't Intestine Noodles

"Ma Kui is not so easily fooled."

"Besides, if he goes to Xiangdao, I still won't be able to get that money."

Liu Yuzhu knitted her willow-leaf brows and said.

"Ma Hansan won't be able to walk out of Beiping!"

"Wealth is sought in danger; if you don't take a gamble, how would you know?"

You won't be able to walk out of Beiping either... Hong Zhiyou smiled and advised.

This world has always been a jungle law.

He does like making friends.

But such immense wealth was right before his eyes, and it was the fat of the people; if he didn't take it, he would feel he had failed his conscience.

"Fine, I'll try."

"But if this succeeds, I'll be relying entirely on you from now on." Liu Yuzhu kissed him coquettishly.

"Of course." Hong Zhiyou nodded.

"Remember, after you return from your inspection in Xiangdao, have the people Ma Hansan sends say this..."

Hong Zhiyou leaned into her ear and taught her everything in detail.

"Will this work?"

"Ma Kui is a cunning old fox; if I mention the Red Ticket connection, wouldn't that scare him to death?"

Liu Yuzhu frowned and said.

"It won't."

"Compared to Xie Ruo and the Xiang family, he would rather choose the Red Ticket and the Viceroy."

"Only by saying it this way will he feel at ease transferring a batch over."

"Just trust me."

Hong Zhiyou raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"Alright, then I'll try."

"I'm heading back to Beiping now."

Liu Yuzhu said.

"No."

"I haven't had enough time with my sister yet."

"Stay the night here, and leave tomorrow morning."

Hong Zhiyou held her slender waist, buried his face in her hair with a look of intoxication, and murmured.

He had planted a hook in Li Ya.

If Liu Yuzhu left now, many things would be hard to handle.

"You men are never satisfied."

"We women have such bitter lives; we have to toil for a living, and still find ways to please you stinking men."

Liu Yuzhu curled her lip and huffed.

"Bitter?"

"Who was it that just said they finally understood how to live..."

"Are you going back on your word now that you've lifted the quilt?"

"Look at you, fresh as a lotus rising from the water; I'm the one with the bitter life, okay? My hands and feet are weak, and my head is still spinning."

Hong Zhiyou stood up, stretched his arms, and smiled lazily.

"You're useless."

Liu Yuzhu winked at him playfully while helping him put on his shirt and tie his tie.

"I'll deal with you, you little vixen, tonight."

Hong Zhiyou raised his hand and gave her a slap on her perky buttocks.

"Fine then."

"I'll stay for one night."

Liu Yuzhu smiled charmingly.

She wanted to kiss Hong Zhiyou to say goodbye, but Hong Zhiyou raised a hand to block her:

"Brush your teeth."

"Be careful of illness entering through the mouth."

"You!"

"I've never seen anyone in the world worse than you; you take every advantage and then look down on me." Liu Yuzhu's pretty face turned red, and she hammered him in anger.

"I'm off; if you need anything, you can ask the waiter."

"I'll join you for dinner tonight."

Hong Zhiyou tucked his left hand into his pocket and walked away dashingly.

Watching the little bastard go down the stairs, Liu Yuzhu returned to the room and dialed a number:

"Hello, it's me."

"Can you help me check someone named Hong Zhiyou, a secretary at the Jinhai Station?"

"Yes, investigate his connections and assets in Xiangdao, especially his relationship with the Red Ticket, gangs, and Xie Ruo of the Secret Service Bureau."

"Right, especially the assets and connections part."

"Give me the answer before seven tonight."

"Thanks, I'll join you for a meal next time I'm in Yuezhou."

"Annoying."

"Let's talk when we meet."

"Alright, hanging up."

Five o'clock in the afternoon.

Li Ya returned to his room.

After pondering for a few seconds, he dialed the landline at the Mei villa:

"Yingxue, are you home?"

"Good, I'm coming over to see you about something."

Soon.

Li Ya drove to the villa on Changde Road.

Mei Shaozheng and Mei Yingxue were drinking tea in the garden.

"Mr. Mei."

"Yingxue."

Li Ya greeted them with a smile.

"Li Ya is here; you two chat, I'm going to tell the kitchen to prepare dinner." Mei Shao nodded slightly and stood up to leave.

"Why did you come?"

Mei Yingxue held his hand and sat down in the pavilion.

"Something went wrong with last night's affair." Li Ya said.

"Went wrong?"

"Was the intelligence incorrect?" Mei Yingxue asked with a frown.

"No."

"The intelligence provided by your uncle was very accurate; it was my subordinates who failed to execute it properly, and it was intercepted by Ma Hansan."

"The trouble now is that Ma Hansan insists that those were military supplies for Sun Lianzhong, accusing me of deliberately sabotaging the war zone's strategic plan, and he's reporting me to the military court."

"He even called your aunt's husband, demanding I compensate him ten thousand US dollars."

"I... I just bought a house, you know."

Li Ya said, looking quite embarrassed.

"Is Ma Hansan crazy for money? He's even blackmailing people from the Secret Service Bureau."

"No, I have to go find my aunt's husband."

Mei Yingxue said indignantly.

She was truly angry; she had wanted to use Li Ya to get at Yu Zecheng.

She hadn't expected Ma Hansan to interfere; not only was the plan ruined, but she also had to pay a huge sum—who could tolerate that?

"It's no use."

"Ma Hansan and the Station Chief have never gotten along."

"Yingxue, can you and your uncle lend me some?"

"Ma Hansan's deadline is tonight."

"If I don't resolve this, I'll be in big trouble if the matter blows up."

Li Ya held her hand and pleaded.

"Brother Ya, don't worry; I'll discuss it with my father, and if we can lend it to you, we definitely will."

"We are family, after all."

Mei Yingxue gave a gentle smile, then turned around and walked into the house with a face full of frost.

"Hmm!

"She's starting to look like a future wife." A trace of happy laughter appeared at the corners of Li Ya's mouth.

Mei Yingxue returned to her room with a gloomy face.

"Xue'er, what's wrong?" Mei Shao saw that her expression was off and asked hurriedly.

"Li Ya is a good-for-nothing waste who ruins more than he accomplishes.

"He didn't bring the goods back, and he didn't bite Yu Zecheng.

"Instead, he got blackmailed by Ma Hansan. Now Ma Hansan suspects him of smuggling and sabotaging the war zone's strategic material transport, and demands he pay ten thousand US dollars in damages before twelve o'clock tonight, or else he'll go to Jingling tomorrow to report him.

"Dad, honestly, this man is both tacky and spineless.

"I feel like vomiting every extra minute I spend with him."

Mei Yingxue complained with a look of disgust.

"Alright, Yingxue, don't say things out of anger.

"Man proposes, God disposes.

"Li Ya has ability, and he has Jianfeng behind him; if it weren't for bad luck, this man would have been a deputy station chief long ago.

"We still have to give him some opportunities.

"Without him, it would be very difficult to get rid of Hong Zhiyou."

Mei Shao said with a comforting smile.

"He wants ten thousand US dollars, will you give it to him?

"I certainly don't have it."

Mei Yingxue sat on the sofa, crossed her arms, and said huffily.

"Ten thousand US dollars.

"I could easily take it out, but it's truly not cost-effective.

"How about this.

"Didn't he just sell his house?

"Tell him to redeem it, and I'll chip in a bit for him."

Mei Shao said with worldly wisdom.

"Will he agree?" Mei Yingxue asked.

"That depends on how you say it; with your ability, I shouldn't need to teach you that, should I?" Mei Shao laughed.

"Got it."

Mei Yingxue curled her lip and walked out.

Arriving at the courtyard, she took a slight breath, and her face once again wore a charming, spring-breeze-like smile.

"Brother Ya."

She leaned against Li Ya, rested her head on his shoulder, and said softly:

"Father is also a bit tight on cash lately.

"All his money is tied up in US bonds and stocks, and he can't pull it out for the time being.

"I can scrape together a little over a thousand US dollars.

"But that's still not enough.

"Why don't you cancel the wedding house? Wouldn't that be enough once we pool it together?"

"But that house was prepared for you..." Li Ya had just started to speak when Mei Yingxue gently pressed her jade finger against his lips:

"Brother Ya.

"It's you I love, not the house.

"As long as I can be with you, even living in a cow shed or drifting on the streets would be happy and blissful, wouldn't it?

"Besides, isn't your current Western-style house quite good?

"Once you get back on your feet, manage to take down Yu Zecheng, and sit in the deputy station chief's position, couldn't we live in the best big villa just like Uncle?

"I believe in you, and I can afford to wait."

Mei Yingxue's eyes were filled with stars, brimming with adoration.

"To have such a wife, what more could a husband ask for.

"Yingxue.

"With those words from you, I can rest easy.

"I'll go cancel the house now.

"But there might still be a gap of about three thousand US dollars; I'm counting on you."

Li Ya kissed her, stood up, and walked away quickly.

"Three thousand!

"Despicable!"

Mei Yingxue took out a silk handkerchief to wipe her face, stood up, returned to the room, and reached out her hand with a haughty air:

"Your son-in-law wants three thousand US dollars, pay up."

"Three thousand.

"Fine, I suppose. I'll be able to get it back from him sooner or later anyway."

Mei Shao opened the drawer with a pained heart, took out three thousand US dollars, and handed it to his daughter.

Mei Yingxue didn't even look at it as she tucked it into her bag.

Eight o'clock in the evening.

Mei Yingxue bathed until she was fragrant, put on beautiful, fashionable clothes, and sat before the vanity to apply powder and lipstick.

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday night, she would go to the British Club to date James and enjoy their passionate time together.

It was thanks to James coming here.

Otherwise, she would have been bored to death day after day.

As soon as she thought of James's romance, she couldn't wait.

"Going to see that foreign devil again?" Mei Shao hummed with dissatisfaction from the side.

"Dad.

"What do you know? Foreigners are the ones who are popular.

"Even the Generalissimo has to cozy up to them.

"When I find you a foreign son-in-law, and he drives a jeep while smoking a cigar to take you for a spin around the main street, who in all of Jinhaicheng wouldn't envy you?"

Mei Yingxue laughed as brightly as a peach blossom.

"It's more like a disgrace."

Mei Shao couldn't win the argument against her, so he grumbled and walked upstairs.

"Don't forget to send the money to Li Ya."

"Got it."

Eight-thirty in the evening.

Hong Zhiyou stood at the phone booth at the street corner.

Soon, the phone rang.

He picked it up: "Alright, I understand."

Then he hung up quickly, glanced at his watch, bit on a cigarette, and walked quickly around the street corner to arrive at Li Ya's residence and ring the doorbell.

"Secretary Hong." Li Ya greeted him.

"Is the money gathered?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"I'm still short over two thousand US dollars. Could you put in a good word for me?" Li Ya took a box containing the seven thousand-plus US dollars he had scraped together.

"Fine.

"Liu Yuzhu hasn't left yet; she's at the British Hotel.

"Why don't you come with me.

"Let's see if we can negotiate."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Good."

Li Ya, aiming to save money, agreed quite readily.

The two got into a car and headed straight for the British Hotel.

Hong Zhiyou secretly glanced at his watch.

Lin Tian had just been tailing them; Mei Yingxue had left the house not long ago.

Arriving at the club.

He said to Li Ya: "Captain Li, wait in the lobby for a moment; I'll go up and greet Liu Yuzhu first."

"Good."

Li Ya nodded.

He casually picked up a newspaper, crossed his legs, and began to read.

From time to time, tall foreigners walked in and out.

Li Ya knew that Britain and France had recently sent an international observation mission to Jinhai; first to visit the American Marines, and second to inspect the Jinhai port and the defenses of the 94th Army.

This observation mission might even go to visit Yancheng.

The purpose was to understand the true state of the war within the country, in order to make...

Of course, there were several such observation missions.

There were some in Shanghu, Jingling, and Beiping.

Just as he was reading the newspaper, the bright headlights of a car outside shone onto the glass wall; Li Ya narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze suddenly locking onto that car.

A Studebaker automobile.

This type of car, which Chen Nade had ridden in, was very scarce on the market and rarely seen even in Jinhai.

The license plate... it was Yingxue's car.

Why had she come here?

Soon, Li Ya saw Mei Yingxue, dressed beautifully, walking in while carrying her bag and looking radiant.

Even though she was wearing a hat and the collar of her trench coat was turned up high.

Her snow-white skin remained visible.

As well as her familiar round earrings.

Even the scent of perfume carried over by the north wind was so familiar.

It was Yingxue.

Li Ya hurriedly raised the newspaper to cover his face.

Tick-tock, tick-tock.

Mei Yingxue pulled up her collar, glanced stealthily around, and went straight to the hotel stairs.

Why did Yingxue come here?

While curious, Li Ya felt a bit panicked inside.

He did not call out to her openly.

The philosophy Yingxue had instilled in him the most these days was freedom and personal space.

This was also the point he felt most comfortable with.

He was busy with missions every day and didn't have that much time for intimacy.

Furthermore, Yingxue was a devout Catholic.

She had strict religious requirements regarding relations between men and women.

She had not even crossed the line with him yet.

How could she be doing such sordid things behind his back?

Thoughts aside, Li Ya's body stood up very honestly.

He stealthily followed her to the third floor.

Just as he reached the stairwell.

He saw Mei Yingxue enter one of the rooms.

Li Ya wanted to walk inside.

Immediately, foreign bodyguards in suits in the hallway pulled out their sidearms from their waists and aimed at him with both hands.

"What are you doing?"

Among these people, a local youth with a center-parted "traitor" hairstyle asked.

"I took the wrong hallway." Li Ya raised his hands, signaling that he posed no threat.

"Didn't you see the sign at the entrance to the hallway?

"The third floor is off-limits to outsiders.

"This is where the British and French international observation mission is staying; is this a place you can just barge into?"

The center-parted youth said with a look of disdain.

"Apologies, apologies!" Li Ya was not a reckless man; he smiled, nodded, and apologized.

"Get lost," the center-parted youth cursed.

Li Ya turned and walked quickly downstairs.

As a national, being ordered around by foreign dogs on his own turf.

His usually proud self-esteem felt like it had been trampled into a pile of dog excrement at this moment, an incomparable humiliation.

Thinking of those superiors in Jingling who were treated like gods also being so servile.

He couldn't help but tremble with rage, secretly clenching his fists.

Son-of-a-bitch foreigners.

When would these days of living under others' breath and watching the faces of foreign masters ever end!

It was also at this moment.

He suddenly felt that he and Yingxue had grown distant.

Li Ya did not stay in the lobby.

He stood outside, letting the biting north wind blow, his heart in a state of chaos.

Yingxue had gone to the third floor in the middle of the night.

What was she doing there?

Was she a student meeting a friend?

Or...

Li Ya dared not think further.

"Captain Li, why are you standing outside? Be careful not to catch a cold." Just as he was feeling depressed, Hong Zhiyou walked over and patted him on the shoulder.

Seeing Li Ya's devastated expression, Hong Zhiyou knew the plan had succeeded.

Li Ya must have seen Mei Yingxue.

Hmm, this was just the beginning; it wasn't enough to make Li Ya take the risk of killing someone, it needed more brewing.

"It's nothing.

"How did the talk with Secretary Liu go?" Li Ya asked with a smile.

"Regrettably, it didn't work out.

"Ma Hansan won't budge a cent; you'll still have to find a way to scrape together the remaining three thousand dollars.

"However, I have already extended the deadline for you a little bit, until twelve o'clock tomorrow noon."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Thanks," Li Ya smiled.

"Hey, I'm a bit hungry, and I happen to be dining with Secretary Liu. Shall we go together?" Hong Zhiyou said.

"Brother.

"Could you accompany me? I want to talk.

"I know a place nearby that has good pork intestine noodles; my treat."

Li Ya thought for a moment, then suddenly said.

"That works too.

"I'll go to the front desk and make a call to Secretary Liu."

Hong Zhiyou returned to the lobby, finished the call, and got into the car.

Sure enough.

Li Ya found that pork intestine noodle shop on the road Mei Yingxue had mentioned.

"Boss, two bowls of pork intestine noodles," Li Ya called out.

"Captain Li, you like this too?" Hong Zhiyou asked with a smile.

"No.

"To tell you the truth, it's my first time eating it.

"I always felt this stuff was dirty, but I couldn't resist someone saying it tasted good.

"You know, I've always found it hard to refuse good food.

"Since you're here, consider it giving me some courage."

Li Ya smiled.

Once the noodles were served.

Li Ya couldn't wait to pick up a mouthful with his chopsticks and began to eat the noodles and intestines together.

Just after taking a bite.

He chewed carefully, savoring it.

His expression changed instantly, a fierce light flared in his eyes, and his entire face tightened.

"Captain Li, wh-what's wrong?

"Is the taste bad or..."

Hong Zhiyou saw that his expression was wrong.

Before the words had even faded, Li Ya turned and rushed out, crouching by the side of the road and retching violently.

"It's not...

"I cleaned these pork intestines very thoroughly, they're freshly braised, an old established shop, there's no smell."

The shopkeeper stood to the side, busy explaining.

"It's fine."

Hong Zhiyou smiled and walked quickly to Li Ya's side: "Captain Li, what's wrong with you?"

"The smell, the smell is wrong," Li Ya said through gritted teeth.

"What smell is wrong?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"The smell is wrong..."

Li Ya shook his head and muttered resentfully.

Blegh!

He started vomiting again.

Not until he had vomited up even his bile did he straighten up: "Brother, can you give me a cigarette?"

Hong Zhiyou lit one and handed it to him.

Li Ya smoked while coughing.

"Captain Li, let me take you home," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Why go home?

"The pork intestine noodles taste good.

"Shopkeeper, serve me another bowl."

Li Ya flicked away the cigarette butt and returned to the shop.

He poured in a lot of chili.

Eating until he was drenched in sweat, many things suddenly became clear, and he felt extremely relieved.

"Secretary Hong, I'll give you the money tomorrow morning, I'm heading out first."

Seeing that there wasn't much left in Hong Zhiyou's bowl, Li Ya shoveled down the rest in a few bites and stood up nimbly.

"Alright, see you tomorrow."

Hong Zhiyou smiled.

Li Ya got into the car and sucked on his cheeks.

He was certain.

What was in Yingxue's mouth last night was not the smell of pork intestines.

It was more like the smell of when he developed photographs.

Meeting with a foreigner in the middle of the night.

Heh.

This kind of unique, distinct scent—did she take him for a fool?

Furthermore.

Thinking back on everything, Mei Yingxue didn't seem like an ordinary woman at all.

She and Mei Shao were actually able to obtain secret intelligence from Ma Han's subordinates.

If that route was truly a smuggling channel for Yu Zecheng or the Red Party, the level of secrecy must have been very high.

Where did the father and daughter, Mei Shao, get that information?

Also, these past few days, Mei Yingxue had been using the name of his girlfriend to frequently enter and exit high-end places like the Shangquan Society, the Military Families Association, and clubs.

Most of the people she contacted were municipal officials, military officers, and the like.

At first, Li Ya thought she wanted to be a lieutenant colonel's wife and get familiar with people.

Now that he thought about it carefully.

This didn't look like something a normal woman would do at all.

What on earth was she trying to do?

Right now, there was one more thing he urgently needed to verify.

Thinking of this, he drove quickly toward Number 1 Changde Road.

He had to see the Station Chief and clarify one thing.

As long as he unraveled this point, Li Ya would be able to figure out what this pair of father and daughter were really up to!

(End of chapter)