Chapter 29: Hong Zhiyou's Troubles

Hong Zhiyou had a massive headache.

Reality is cruel; in the original story, Yu Zecheng's office maneuvering seemed dangerous but ultimately safe.

In truth, once you are in the station, you are not your own master, and things go far beyond just that.

At this time, Wu Jingzhong has Dai Li and Jiang Jianfeng as his backers, and his future is limitless.

Moreover, the Nationalist Army's strength is far greater than that of the Red side.

Wu Jingzhong has not yet considered retiring and remains keen on strangling the Red side.

Not to mention him, even if Yu Zecheng were exposed right now, he would be executed without mercy.

Hong Zhiyou decided to do something.

Yes, just a little bit.

Absolutely not too much.

If he can save someone, he will; if he can't, so be it.

He certainly doesn't want to sit in that electric chair and enjoy the "set meal" service.

Liu Wensheng drank a few sips of water, trembling.

Wu Jingzhong exchanged a look with him and waved his hand:

"You all get out."

"Yes, Station Chief." Several thugs quickly retreated.

Liu Xiong closed the door properly and prepared paper and pen.

"Speak. Who are your superiors and subordinates, and what is your mission here in Jinmen?" Wu Jingzhong asked in a deep voice.

"Wait." Hong Zhiyou stopped him.

"What is it?" Wu Jingzhong asked with dissatisfaction.

"Station Chief, I request to recuse myself," Hong Zhiyou said righteously.

"Hmm?" Wu Jingzhong said.

Hong Zhiyou glanced at Liu Xiong, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

Wu Jingzhong opened the door, and the two walked one after the other into the corridor.

"Secretary Hong, why do you want to recuse yourself?" Wu Jingzhong asked with his hands behind his back.

"Station Chief, I... I only want to be loyal to you; I don't want to get involved in the major affairs of the Party and State," Hong Zhiyou said.

"You still don't understand what I mean.

"Why did I let you participate?

"Your rank is too low. Red agents like this are harder to catch than eagles in the sky; getting them to confess anything is a monumental achievement.

"Listen to me, you just pour the tea and water.

"Once the merit is recorded, I will report it for you, and you can be promoted to Lieutenant.

"This is a great opportunity; you must seize it."

Wu Jingzhong rolled his eyes at him, feeling a bit annoyed that this kid didn't know what was good for him.

In fact, he was also panicking inside.

Hong Zhiyou had helped him rake in plenty of gold and silver over the past few months.

As the saying goes, those who take bribes are soft-spoken and weak-handed.

Plus, Lady Mei kept urging him to promote Hong Zhiyou quickly, so Wu Jingzhong really took it to heart.

Furthermore, Hong Zhiyou had a low rank and no factional ties.

He was purely one of his own.

If there are benefits, why not give them to him?

"Station Chief, with you here, I am more prestigious than Lieutenant Colonels like Section Chief Lu.

"Whether I am a Lieutenant or a Lieutenant Colonel makes no difference to me.

"Liu Wensheng is too important, and there are many eyes and ears in the station. If something goes wrong with this person, as a participant, I will inevitably face suspicion.

"It is better to recuse myself.

"Really, with you shielding me from the wind and rain, even picking up the scraps is enough to make me a person above others.

"I ask for your approval."

Hong Zhiyou looked at Wu Jingzhong, his gaze firm.

Wu Jingzhong looked at him for a long while.

Only then did he sigh slightly and say with an approving smile, "Rare is the state of being muddled; good, good!"

"How about I call Section Chief Yu to take your place?

"Right now, the Cao Gang is eyeing us like tigers. Although Section Chief Lu's words may not be true, we still need to be on guard.

"Section Chief Liu and Section Chief Xiao of the Security Section need to be responsible for your safety.

"You can't just disregard your own safety for the sake of Liu Wensheng."

Hong Zhiyou offered his opinion very sincerely.

Hmm?

Wu Jingzhong looked at him with sharp, piercing eyes.

This kid is something; he said he wouldn't participate, yet he's already making arrangements.

"Station Chief, please don't look at me like that; I'm scared.

"This student has only one wish in this life: that you may live for ten thousand years!"

Hong Zhiyou laughed.

Wu Jingzhong's gaze softened, and he smiled and nodded: "You certainly have a heart.

"Go, call Ma Kui here."

Ma Kui?

Sure enough, Wu Jingzhong still had his own scale of judgment.

Old Yu has the "dark history" of Zuo Lan; he is not as reliable as Ma Kui, who acts as his foil.

"Go."

Seeing him stunned, Wu Jingzhong barked.

"Yes."

Hong Zhiyou took the order and left.

"Phew!"

He exhaled slightly and tapped his forehead.

He had temporarily stepped out of the situation, but how could he help Old Yu?

For now, he could only take it one step at a time.

He arrived at Ma Kui's office.

One had to say, Ma Kui was truly dedicated.

After being scolded to tears by the Station Chief, he didn't go out to drink away his sorrows but was actually reading.

*China's Destiny*, author: The Leader.

"Captain Ma, the Station Chief wants you to go to the interrogation room," Hong Zhiyou said with his hands in his pockets and a faint smile.

"What, are you here to interrogate me?" Ma Kui sneered.

"If I were to interrogate you, Section Chief Liu would be the one coming.

"Go on."

Hong Zhiyou gestured with his hand, palm inward.

Ma Kui inserted a bookmark, carefully closed the book, put it in the drawer, snorted coldly, and strode away.

Hong Zhiyou returned to his office.

Just as he sat down, Lu Qiaoshan poked his head through the crack in the door: "Brother, you're not busy, are you?"

"Not busy," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Didn't I say so? Is it a big fish?" Lu Qiaoshan scanned his surroundings and asked in a low voice.

Hong Zhiyou smiled and said nothing.

"You, I say you're clever, but sometimes you're not sharp at all.

"Such a good opportunity, why let Ma Kui take it?" Lu Qiaoshan pointed at him and chuckled craftily.

"My rank isn't high enough.

"I'm not a Lieutenant Colonel like you and Captain Ma," Hong Zhiyou shrugged and smiled bitterly.

"Tell me.

"Why does the Station Chief value this mad dog so much? Even after such a big argument today, he still let Ma Kui..." Lu Qiaoshan slapped his thigh, his face full of jealousy.

This fat fish would definitely lead to the capture of many Red agents.

If Ma Kui made a great contribution this time and was promoted to Colonel, would there still be a spot for him as Deputy Station Chief of the Jinhai Station?

"The Station Chief also wants to execute you," Hong Zhiyou joked.

"Sigh, my eyes as Intelligence Section Chief must be blind," Lu Qiaoshan shook his head and smiled.

"Section Chief Lu, please don't be blind.

"I'm still counting on you for the good life," Hong Zhiyou teased.

"That's easy to say; we're like brothers, you really should put in a good word for me with the Station Chief."

"Oh, I have so many men on my hands just sitting around drinking tea every day."

"It's time to get them moving."

Lu Qiao tapped his chest, reminding him.

Damn it, now we're "like brothers" again when he needs something.

"Don't, there's no way to put in a good word for this."

"The Station Chief won't let me get involved."

"I'm only interested in money and protection from my superiors," Hong Zhiyou said in a low voice.

"That's true."

"If it were me, I'd have to keep you tucked away too; once your wings are strong, you'll fly off."

"Damn it, if I were rich, who would still be a secret agent?"

"Sigh, it looks like there's no hope for me to become a Deputy Station Chief."

Lu Qiao sighed, straightened his clothes, and stood up.

"Not necessarily."

"You don't necessarily need the Action Team to arrest someone," Hong Zhiyou said with a smile.

Lu Qiao's eyes darted around.

He understood.

"That's interesting, that's quite interesting."

After saying this, he left in high spirits.

Hong Zhiyou saw him to the door.

Then, he returned to his post outside the Station Chief's office.

He waited for about half an hour.

He saw Deputy Director Xiao Guohua walking hurriedly out of the Security Section.

Hong Zhiyou just nodded to greet him.

As someone in the know, any word at this moment would arouse suspicion.

Director Xiao was the Station Chief's personal attendant.

The Station Chief must have gone out.

There was a corridor in the interrogation room with a secret passage inside that led directly outside.

It was only used for top-secret missions.

Clearly, the Station Chief and Liu Wensheng had already left.

This is dangerous!

He began to worry, wondering how he could convey the news of Liu Wensheng's arrest to Yu Zecheng.

Just as he was worrying, Yu Zecheng walked out of the Confidentiality Room.

"Secretary Hong, I just got some good tea, care to come over for a cup?" he invited with a refined smile.

"Sure."

Hong Zhiyou strolled over.

Once the tea was served and they had chatted for a bit, Yu Zecheng asked with a smile:

"Top-grade Longjing, not bad, right?"

"Not bad, better than Ma Kui's," Hong Zhiyou evaluated truthfully.

"By the way, it's almost lunchtime. The Station Chief hasn't made any arrangements, right? How about I treat you to a meal?" Yu Zecheng glanced at his watch and asked with a smile.

Hong Zhiyou immediately realized that Yu Zecheng was fishing for information.

"No thanks, I still have some things to take care of. The tea is good, I'll take it with me." Hong Zhiyou picked up the tea box directly, not giving him a chance to press further, and stood up to leave.

Yu Zecheng was very smart and extremely vigilant; he had clearly sensed something.

He was asking about the Station Chief's whereabouts.

The more cautious he acted himself.

The more suspicious Yu Zecheng would become.

Furthermore, Hong Zhiyou was absolutely certain that Yu Zecheng had already invited Lu Qiao for "tea."

With that old Lu's mouth, which was as bitter as a resentful woman's, he would surely show off about the "big fish" and complain about Ma Kui along the way.

Hong Zhiyou needed to leak information, but definitely not directly.

He didn't want to fail to save him.

And end up being sold out by old Yu first.

After all, brothers are meant to be sold out.

"Don't go, finish your tea first," Yu Zecheng said, unwilling to give up.

"Can't, I have to go to the archives room," Hong Zhiyou said, a flash of inspiration hitting him.

Liu Wensheng was a university professor.

His official files must have been transferred from Beiping to the Municipal Personnel Bureau. If Wu Jingzhong wanted to protect him, he would definitely have the files transferred from the Personnel Bureau.

The Personnel Section Chief was Sheng Xiang.

That guy was someone who sold intelligence.

If old Yu was smart enough, this hint would be enough to uncover the information.

(End of chapter)