Chapter 26: Catching a Big Fish (Seeking collections, recommendation votes)

Wu Jingzhong was extremely skilled at human nature and political maneuvering; he knew well that managing subordinates required a balance of leniency and strictness, and that both favor and authority must be wielded.

But an act of such disrespect as Hong Zhiyou's had already crossed his bottom line.

If he were to let it slide, it would greatly damage his own prestige.

His subordinate was even using his personal telephone.

How would he manage things in the future?

"Station Chief, this is an informant of mine who deals in opium at the docks.

"Didn't you want to offload that batch of opium?

"I suspect the office has been bugged by Section Chief Lu. With the civil war imminent, the Generalissimo and Jianfeng are cracking down hard on discipline and corruption, and Lu Qiaoshan is one of Zheng Jiemin's men. If he were to overhear any slip-ups...

"So, I had no choice but to borrow your esteemed office.

"Of course, if you feel I have offended you, I will try my best to take such calls in the office from now on."

Hong Zhiyou explained with a look of grievance on his face.

So that was it; he was a thoughtful one after all... The chill on Wu Jingzhong's face receded, and a smile surfaced once more:

"Have you offloaded it yet?"

"It should be just about done tonight.

"This batch of goods was sent to you by Vice Prefect Qian as American stock.

"It is said to be a special supply given by Commander Daoud of Afghanistan to American officers; the quality is exceptionally good.

"It's a waste to go through those women's channels.

"Opium dens grade their sales; if this batch is sold as top-tier, the profit will be at least twenty percent higher."

Hong Zhiyou's answer was watertight.

"Hmm, I can still rest easy when you handle things..."

Wu Jingzhong was just about to speak when Liu Xiong walked in and whispered something in his ear.

"Go, tell Section Chief Yu to come over."

Wu Jingzhong gave a gentle smile and dismissed Hong Zhiyou.

"Yes."

Hong Zhiyou went to the confidential room.

Yu Zecheng was tearing up newspapers again.

The mere thought of having to accompany Wu Jingzhong to the Mu Liancheng residence today to deal with that little girl made him annoyed to death.

"Section Chief Yu, the Station Chief wants you in his office," Hong Zhiyou said.

Yu Zecheng stood up.

Once in the corridor, he whispered: "Secretary Hong, you have to save me today, otherwise I'm going to go crazy."

"Old Yu, rest assured, women are just a small matter," Hong Zhiyou nodded.

They arrived at the office.

Wu Jingzhong tidied up briefly and instructed:

"Secretary Hong, you get along well with Ma Kui. He has a hot temper and is prone to extremes; you should talk to him more when you have time.

"Also, if anything comes up, wait for me to return to handle it."

Having said this, he walked out with Yu Zecheng.

Hong Zhiyou returned to his office, closed the door, and lay down on the sofa.

He hadn't slept half the night because of Lu Qiaoshan.

He was exhausted now.

He slept until past eleven in the morning.

The door knocked.

A female telegraph operator walked in: "Secretary Hong, Section Chief Hou asked me to deliver this document; please forward it to the Station Chief."

Hong Zhiyou took it.

It was a telegram that had just been received.

"Understood, you may go," Hong Zhiyou said.

The telegram was in a red-bound folder.

Red folders were classified.

Blue folders were for routine daily work documents between internal stations and headquarters.

Hong Zhiyou always felt there was something going on between Wu Jingzhong and Liu Xiong.

But he suppressed his curiosity.

As a mere bystander.

Now Ma Kui was entrusting his wife to him.

Lu Qiaoshan was his "dear brother."

Yu Zecheng was a friend.

The Station Chief was his "foster father."

He was well-connected throughout the station and had firmly established his footing.

As long as he took down the Rowing Guild in these next few days, he could peacefully watch the show, make money, and enjoy the high life.

There was no need to get involved in these things and bring trouble upon himself.

He placed it on the table for the moment.

Just as he was about to lie down, Lu Qiaoshan walked in.

"Secretary Hong, has the Station Chief left?" he asked in a low voice.

"Yes," Hong Zhiyou nodded.

"Ai, I was scared to death just now; I was truly afraid the Station Chief would shoot me on the spot."

Lu Qiaoshan still had lingering fears.

Immediately, he fished a small gold bar out of his pocket:

"A small token, little Hong, you must accept it."

Little Hong?

Very well, very well, now it's "Little Hong" and "Secretary Hong."

What happened to the "dear brothers" and "one family" from last night?

Is the shelf life measured in hours?

Last time, in order to stabilize him, he had given away quite a few good things.

If he were truly grateful, he should have returned them intact.

At the very least, he could have given a larger gold bar.

Truly, he uses people when he needs them and discards them when he doesn't.

A refined scoundrel, a smiling tiger!

"Don't, it was just a small favor; isn't Section Chief Lu insulting me by doing this?" Hong Zhiyou hurriedly declined, his tone becoming strictly professional.

Lu Qiaoshan feigned a refusal twice more before taking it back.

"From the Telecommunications Section?"

Sensing Hong Zhiyou's coldness, Lu Qiaoshan tapped his polished leather shoe and shifted the topic, his gaze falling on the document.

"Yes, just arrived.

"Classified," Hong Zhiyou patted the folder and stood up to store it in the cabinet.

"Bullshit classified.

"Don't look at the fact that the one surnamed Hou is in charge of the Telecommunications Section; that place is full of my people.

"Isn't it just that they caught a big fish? Can this be hidden from me?"

Lu Qiaoshan gave a cold smile, intentionally showing off his capabilities in front of Hong Zhiyou.

"A big fish? The one Ma Kui caught?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"Ma Kui? He's a pig. My people have already investigated clearly; there's no Red Ticket, just a gambler from the docks.

"The one surnamed Ma is crazy about wanting to earn merit.

"However, this one is real.

"Some time ago, a local committee member of the Red Tickets in Jinhai fell ill and passed away, so they urgently transferred a new one from Beiping.

"He was spotted and caught the moment he arrived in Jinhai.

"Boss Dai personally gave the order to extract the truth from his mouth at any cost.

"It didn't pass through my or Ma Kui's hands; the Station Chief and Liu Xiong handled it directly.

"The person is being held outside; I reckon he'll be brought into the station today.

"When it comes to interrogating Red Tickets, no one is more adept than us."

Lu Qiaoshan muttered mysteriously.

"No, such an important figure was caught just like that?

"Isn't it said that Red Tickets are elusive?"

Hong Zhiyou feigned surprise.

"You really think they are an impenetrable wall?"

"This is what happens when you're sold out by your own people."

Lu Qiao pointed toward the direction of Beiping and sneered disdainfully.

"Stop right there, Department Chief Lu, I'm afraid of hearing something that will bring disaster."

"I have to go out for a bit."

Hong Zhiyou changed into a black suit jacket and tidied up his hair.

"No, Zhang Shao is watching you, and you still dare to go out and roam?" Lu Qiao asked, puzzled.

"If it's a blessing, it's not a disaster; if it's a disaster, you can't avoid it."

Hong Zhiyou smiled and walked away with a carefree air.

……

The Mu Residence.

Hong Zhiyou greeted Housekeeper Pang and walked straight into the main hall.

Wanqiu was drinking tea with Yu Zecheng.

The two hadn't said a word for a long time, and the occasional awkward glance between them was enough to make one's toes curl.

Moreover, compared to her previous low-cut dresses and cheongsams, Wanqiu was actually wearing a student uniform, buttoned up primly, and she wasn't wearing any makeup.

If you added a hat, she would look exactly like a girl delivering newspapers or flyers.

"Director Yu."

Hong Zhiyou stepped forward and patted Yu Zecheng.

"Oh, Zhiyou, you've finally arrived."

"Miss Wanqiu, your true love has arrived. Chat slowly, I'm taking off."

Yu Zecheng, who had been sitting there like a prisoner for ages, let out a long sigh of relief and stood up nimbly.

He ran out as if he had seen a ghost.

"You finally came, I've missed you so much."

Wanqiu threw herself into Hong Zhiyou's arms like a butterfly.

"Where did you miss me?"

"Here?"

"Or here?"

Hong Zhiyou smirked and poked her a few times.

"You're annoying."

"You only know how to be bad. Last time, after my uncle eavesdropped, he almost kicked me out the next day." Wanqiu pouted and acted coquettishly.

"What do they know?"

"The girls back in my hometown all call it that."

"So, Director Yu didn't give you a hard time, did he?"

Hong Zhiyou took a small sip from her cherry-red lips and asked softly.

"No, Director Yu isn't like you; he is a gentleman."

"I can tell that he doesn't have me in his eyes at all."

Wanqiu said delicately, burying herself in his arms.

"Why are you wearing this?" Hong Zhiyou found it a bit distracting.

"You know why you're asking. People are always coming and going in this house, and they all look at me like hungry wolves."

"If I weren't afraid you'd think I was ugly..."

"I would have wanted to slash my face a few times."

"A woman beautifies herself for the one she loves; without you, you bad man, my beauty has no meaning."

Wanqiu raised her head, her star-like eyes filled with tenderness.

"Me too."

"Come on, let's go upstairs. I haven't seen you in a few days and I've missed that lovely voice of yours, my treasure." Hong Zhiyou pinched her shapely buttocks and walked upstairs with her.

"It's broad daylight, and your Station Chief Wu is playing ball in the garden behind us."

"He is dead set on having me be a concubine for Director Yu; aren't you afraid he'll punish you?"

Wanqiu said this with her mouth, but her body followed him upstairs quite honestly.

"When I'm here, you can only be my main wife."

"Besides, heaven and earth are vast, but Qiuqiu is the greatest. Honestly, did you miss me?" Hong Zhiyou smelled the faint fragrance on her body while unbuttoning his shirt.

"I didn't..."

"You really didn't?"

"I did!"

"Where did you miss me?"

"You're annoying..."

Hong Zhiyou kicked the door shut, locked it, and threw Wanqiu onto the bed.

New book ranking, I beg all the big bosses not to hoard the book. If you have monthly tickets or recommendation tickets, please help boost the ranking. Thank you very much.

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(End of this chapter)