Chapter 305: Arresting Xie Ruo

Wang Cuiping was no longer the naive girl she had been when she first arrived.

"A photo, of whom?" She smiled, but did not take it.

"Your sister?" Li Ya said.

"Nonsense. My old Yu has entrusted people to search all over Jibei, and there hasn't been a whisper of news. You think you can find her?" Wang Cuiping curled her lip in disdain.

"Why not take a look and see for yourself?"

"It wouldn't hurt to take a look at your own sister."

"If it's fake, just take it as a joke."

"If it's real, I'm not asking you for money."

As a veteran agent, Li Ya's professional competence was quite solid; his words came one after another, leaving Wang Cuiping with no grounds for rebuttal.

"Is it really?"

"If it's my sister, I'll give you a red envelope."

Wang Cuiping took it, and one look at the photo confirmed it was indeed Chen Qiuping.

However, Chen Qiuping was working in security at the Border Defense Bureau.

Where did this guy get the intelligence?

Could it be... there was a mole for Li Ya in Yancheng?

She lowered her eyelids, pretending to examine the photo very carefully to avoid eye contact with Li Ya, and after slightly calming her emotions, she looked up and said excitedly in a boisterous manner:

"This, this isn't me?"

"Captain Li, I, why did I end up in a photo? No, that's not right, I've never worn clothes like this."

"I've read the newspapers; this is the clothing of the Reds."

"Li Ya, you can bicker with my old Yu all you want, but damn it, don't go framing people."

Still quite good at acting... A cold sneer appeared on the corner of Li Ya's mouth: "Whoa, Mrs. Yu, don't get excited."

"Look closely, her mouth isn't as big as yours."

"Are you looking to die, mocking me?" Wang Cuiping was furious the moment she heard this and grabbed the photo to throw it at Li Ya.

"Heh heh."

"Is this you getting anxious?"

"I'm just curious, you take everything upon yourself, don't you wonder what your sister is doing right now?"

"Or did you know all along, and you're just feeling guilty and trying to cover it up?"

Li Ya was not annoyed; he picked up the photo, patted it, and put it into his pocket.

"Chen Qiuping."

"Clerk of the Sixth Section of the Border Defense Bureau."

"You aren't called Wang Cuiping either, but Chen Taohua, and you used to stay in the mountains. I don't need to say anything more, do I?"

He smiled and continued.

"You just grab some lousy photo and say it's my sister."

"Oh, my sister has been missing for so many years, and the moment she gets to you, she becomes a Red."

"I even changed my surname along with it."

"Look at you, looking like a human but acting like a dog, how can you be so shameless?"

"Isn't it just because you want to replace my old Yu as the deputy station chief?"

"Stop trying to pass off dung balls as medicine pills and making up stories with me here."

"Believe it or not, I'll cut you down!"

Wang Cuiping pointed at him and said angrily.

"Just chatting."

"What are you rushing for?" Li Ya loved to see her angry.

"I said you were a Red, of course I'm rushing."

"This is a matter of losing one's head."

Wang Cuiping cursed.

After saying this, she turned and walked away.

"Notice regarding Chen Qiuping."

"The mission for the urgent transfer of Comrade Chen Qiuping is to rush to Jinhai and, under the guise of being married to Emeifeng, cover his undercover work. Please be sure to report to the Social Department of the Branch Bureau before September 28th."

"Top Secret."

Li Ya took out the handwritten note from Shang Bo and began to recite it.

Wang Cuiping did not dare to turn around, but her heart felt as if it had fallen into an ice cellar, turning cold from head to toe.

After a slight hesitation, she continued walking.

"Walk slower, there's more."

"Obituary!"

"Comrade Chen Qiuping of the Sixth Section of the Border Defense Bureau, on September 26th, the 24th year of the Republic, unfortunately died in the line of duty while on the way to execute a mission for the Northern Branch Bureau, at the age of twenty-five."

"The memorial service for Comrade Chen Qiuping will be held on the morning of October 3rd at eight o'clock, in Wangfanling Village..."

Li Ya raised his voice another octave.

"Little sister... is... dead."

The sudden bad news was like a thunderclap; Wang Cuiping was completely stunned, and her body began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Chen Taohua."

"After your sister died, Jinhai was pushing hard, and the Red organization, considering that you and your sister looked extremely similar, urgently transferred you to Jinhai on the 28th."

"It was precisely because of the suddenness of the work and the conflict between the mountain life and the undercover work style that you didn't have the 'newlywed' honeymoon period, but instead argued frequently."

"And you argued quite fiercely, right?"

As Li Ya spoke, he slowly walked up to Wang Cuiping, shaking the materials in his hand, and circled around her with one hand behind his back:

"When Section Chief Liu went to pick you up, you were suspected of hiding a hand grenade on your person."

"And there's more."

"Qiao Sanmei and Duan Gui were once Red guerrillas."

"Many people in the action team witnessed you chatting happily."

"That carriage driver of yours, Xiao Wuzi, is also no ordinary person."

"A normal person simply cannot withstand the torture of the Military Statistics Bureau."

"Yet he didn't utter a single word until his death."

"I ask you, besides a Mobile Corps Commander who has been brainwashed by the Red faith, who could have such courage and will?"

Li Ya stopped his steps and stared into her eyes as he spoke.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Xiao Wuzi was robbed by bandits halfway."

"This so-called sister you're talking about, she's just a fellow villager of mine, what's wrong with chatting a few words when we meet?"

"I even chat with the people selling green onions on the side of the road."

"Does that mean the green onion sellers are also Reds?"

Wang Cuiping sneered.

"You're just quibbling."

"But it doesn't matter anymore; your eyes and your performance just now have already given me the answer."

Li Ya smiled.

"Your mouth is on your own body, say whatever you want to say."

"However, a petty person like you who lacks virtue and returns evil for good..."

"Just wait, there will be a time when you get your retribution."

Wang Cuiping couldn't be bothered to deal with him anymore and walked quickly toward the exit.

"Wait."

"Mrs. Yu, you forgot your bag."

Li Ya shouted.

"That's right."

"Why should I leave?"

"Are you staying to watch the baby? If not, get lost quickly."

Wang Cuiping turned back, glaring and cursing.

"Fine."

"I'll get lost."

Li Ya smiled brilliantly.

"Yo, you two are chatting quite happily."

Mei Qiuju had heard enough from inside and hurried out to smooth things over.

"Master's wife, it's getting late, I'll head back to the station first," Li Ya said indifferently.

"Don't go yet."

"Since you've come all this way, stay for lunch before you go."

Mei Qiuju said with a smile, trying to persuade her to stay.

"No, thanks."

"There's a pile of work at the station, I'll be off," Li Ya said.

"Alright then, take care, come by often when you're free." Mei Qiuju saw him to the door.

"Sister, why did you get into an argument with him?" Back inside the room, Mei Qiuju whispered to comfort Wang Cuiping.

"That Li fellow is a lunatic."

"He insisted on saying my old Yu is a Red, and if it weren't for being at your place, I would have definitely slapped him outside," Wang Cuiping cursed indignantly.

"Don't pay him any mind, people like that are just full of hot air," Mei Qiuju nodded and said.

"Sister Mei."

"He babbled a whole bunch of nonsense; you say, if Big Brother finds out about this, will it affect my old Yu's advancement?" Wang Cuiping asked worriedly.

"It won't."

"Old Wu has a scale in his heart; he knows who is light and who is heavy."

"It's just that this Li Ya relies on that connection with Jiang Jianfeng, so sometimes your Big Brother can't be bothered to argue with him."

"Rest assured."

"Like this kind of mad dog, if he really had something, his tail would have been wagging in the sky long ago."

"Why would he need to come here to bark?"

"Don't take it to heart."

Mei Qiuju said.

"Mm, I'm relieved with those words from you."

"Ever since old Yu sat in this position of Deputy Station Chief, Li Ya has been constantly finding fault with him."

"If I had known, it would have been better not to take it in the first place."

Wang Cuiping said with great dissatisfaction.

"Sigh."

"Your Big Brother is the same; being an official, where does it end? Even above the Leader, there are the North American devils pressing down, you have to look at people's faces."

"You'll get used to it."

Mei Qiuju smiled and said.

Li Ya returned to the station.

Wu Jingzhong was drinking tea with Hong Zhiyou.

"Captain Li is here." Hong Zhiyou greeted him but did not rush to leave.

If he left as soon as Li Ya arrived, it would easily make Li suspicious, as if he knew something.

When to leave.

When to stay.

These are all matters of detail; dealing with a schemer like Li Ya requires caution.

Observing words and expressions is not just as simple as looking and watching; you have to put your heart into it.

Therefore, not only could he not leave.

He had to pretend to be very interested to prove that he didn't know about Li Ya investigating "Deep Sea."

Li Ya couldn't just kick people out the moment he arrived.

After patiently chatting for a few sentences, he gave Wu Jingzhong a look.

"Zhiyou, there are still a few documents that Deputy Station Chief Yu hasn't collected yet; go and urge him," Wu Jingzhong said.

"Alright."

"Captain Li, you two chat."

Only then did Hong Zhiyou stand up and walk out.

Li Ya glanced outside and closed the door:

"Teacher, there are some leads."

"Speak," Wu Jingzhong said.

"I tested Mrs. Yu at your house today."

"She was very panicked and anxious."

"Especially when I showed the top-secret documents and the obituary of Chen Qiuping, her body even started to tremble."

"Therefore, this woman definitely has a problem."

"She is the one who replaced her sister Chen Qiuping to come to Jinhai to carry out an infiltration mission with Yu Zecheng."

"Yu Zecheng is Deep Sea."

Li Ya said.

"These are not direct pieces of evidence."

"If Yu Zecheng were a Red, if he were Deep Sea, why would he clash with Ma Kui?"

"Ma Kui was the Red spy 'Emei Peak' personally designated by Bureau Chief Mao."

"Deep Sea biting Emei Peak."

"This doesn't make sense."

Wu Jingzhong seized on this point about Ma Kui, leaving Li Ya with nothing to say.

"Teacher, is there such a possibility?"

"Ma Kui and Yu Zecheng were not on the same line; they didn't know each other's identities, so it was a case of friendly fire."

"Furthermore, there was Section Chief Liu investigating Wang Cuiping."

"Yu Zecheng couldn't cover it up anymore, so Ma Kui, in order to prove his own innocence, directed a scene to use his death to cover for Yu Zecheng."

"Actually, the real Emei Peak is Yu Zecheng."

"Ma Kui was just a scapegoat?"

Li Ya rubbed his nose and analyzed with a frown.

"That is indeed a possibility," Wu Jingzhong said.

"By the way, I also have a..." Li Ya was just about to speak, but Wu Jingzhong raised his hand to stop him:

"I have said, as long as it is reasonable and compliant internal supervision, I will definitely support it with all my strength."

"When the evidence is sufficient, show it to me again."

"Forget about the scattered bits."

"Don't repeat Ma Kui's old mistakes; without ironclad proof, all you know is how to be rash, and in the end, you expose your own identity."

"Teacher, rest assured, I am not a Red," Li Ya smiled, and the hand he had tucked into his pocket came back out.

"Ma Kui said the same thing in front of Bureau Chief Mao."

"Bureau Chief Mao even conferred some bullshit title of Special Commissioner on him."

"What was the result?"

"Emei Peak!"

"Jianfeng also trusts you very much; don't end up doing the same thing and follow in Ma Kui's footsteps."

"You must know that you returned from Yancheng."

"Infiltrating Yancheng is your merit, but it is also your weakness."

"The Red propaganda over there is very powerful; it's easy for people with ulterior motives to grasp your sore points."

Wu Jingzhong said earnestly.

"My heart is with the Party and the State; I have a clear conscience."

"Teacher, now that the student movement has subsided, I would like to formally apply to arrest Xie Ruolin of the Dangtong Bureau; I ask for your approval."

Li Ya decided to continue digging deeper.

He had already seen the dawn; there was no reason not to pursue it.

"Mm, you handle it."

"Remember."

"Secret arrest, secret interrogation."

Wu Jingzhong nodded and said.

"Beep, beep!"

Nankai, a small alley.

Inside the woodshed, Tang Dachun wore headphones and skillfully sent a telegram.

Soon, he put down the headphones, hid the radio, and walked out.

"Brother, the telegram you wanted to send to the south is done," Tang Dachun said, holding a pipe, as he came into the courtyard to the man in the suit who was drinking tea.

"Thanks to Old Zhou's introduction, yours is still cheap."

"If it were the telegraph office, at this time of year, it would be several times more expensive, not to mention they ask this and that."

"With my little business, how could it see the light of day, right?"

The man in the suit took silver dollars from his pocket and placed them on the wooden table.

"Easy enough.

"If you need anything in the future, just give me a shout," Tang Dachun said, shaking the coat draped over his shoulders.

"Easy enough.

"If anyone in the circle needs to send a telegram from now on, I'll take care of it for you."

The man in the suit exchanged a few polite pleasantries and walked out with a smile.

Tang Dachun picked up the silver dollars and weighed them in his hand, unable to help but smile triumphantly.

People, after all, who doesn't want to seek a little advantage?

It was the same back in Yancheng when he took extra soap and matches; now that he had come to Jinhai, if he had to rely solely on the tips Li Ya gave him—which were rare even once every few months—he would have starved to death long ago.

Doing manual labor at the docks was out of the question.

It was all thanks to meeting Old Zhou at the black market.

Old Zhou was also from Yancheng originally; once Hu Zongnan's cannons started firing, many people over there took the opportunity to run away.

The two of them connected and began conducting this business in secret.

Needless to say, with the Secret Service Bureau tightening control and supervision over the sending and receiving of telegrams, civilian telegrams had almost come to a complete halt.

For Tang Dachun, earning a living through this was still easy and effortless.

Of course.

He was very cautious and did not send many.

At most two per week, and only short telegrams at that.

This was the best way to ensure the safety of the radio station and himself.

Beep-beep!

Inside the surveillance vehicle.

The technician put down his headphones, picked up a scale and other tools, and began measuring rapidly; after comparing the data several times, he finally pinpointed a location.

"Is it locked in?" Lu Qiao asked excitedly.

"Section Chief Lu, it can basically be locked in; it's among these few households in this area," the technician said, circling a spot on the map.

"Very good.

"Do not speak a word of this to anyone."

Lu Qiao instructed.

"Understood," the technician nodded.

"Drive the car back to the Garrison Headquarters to avoid alerting the enemy," Lu Qiao said, then climbed out of the surveillance vehicle.

Back at the Garrison Headquarters.

He sat on the sofa, reached into the drawer for a box of matches, and struck them one by one.

He liked flames.

The light was small, yet it held the potential to burn everything.

A single match could ignite a pile of firewood.

It could also ignite an entire city.

The flickering flames helped him maintain a clear train of thought and brought him endless confidence and strength.

"Brother Shan, you were looking for me?"

Lu Yuxi walked in, his face full of smiles, his waist bent like a mantis shrimp, nearly ninety degrees.

He was truly afraid.

When Lu Qiao first returned, he hadn't taken it seriously and had even mocked him a little.

He had assumed Lu Qiao's talk of returning to the Jinhai Station was just child's play.

He never expected that the man would take full control, directly replacing Bai Shiwei to become his immediate superior.

He understood Lu Qiao.

He was a man who would return every slight.

With this return, he feared there would be no shortage of trouble for him.

"What is your current position?" Lu Qiao said.

"Deputy Captain of the Inspection Brigade," Lu Yuxi said.

"Captain Hao is in poor health and is currently on leave; he is one of Bai Shiwei's men and will eventually have to go to the police department.

"I intend to promote a new captain; who do you think is suitable?"

Lu Qiao blew out the match in his hand and sat with his legs crossed.

"Brother Shan..."

"Use my official title."

"Section Chief Lu, as the saying goes, to fight a tiger you need your own brothers; we are from the same hometown, and I was promoted by you personally, so isn't it just a matter of you pointing and me striking?" Lu Yuxi said obsequiously.

"Is that so?

"The responsibility of a Brigade Captain is heavy; it's not easy.

"If you get too tired or too busy.

"I'm afraid your wife will make you kneel on a washboard again; that wouldn't be appropriate."

Lu Qiao had not forgotten the smug, dog-like behavior Lu Yuxi had displayed that night.

"She wouldn't dare.

"A mere woman, I can handle her in a minute.

"Brother Shan, as long as you say the word, I, Xizi, will certainly go through fire and water."

Lu Yuxi said hurriedly.

"That mouth of yours is only good for being torn off," Lu Qiao snorted coldly.

"Hehe, Brother Shan.

"No need for you to tear it; I'll do it myself."

Lu Yuxi shamelessly pinched the corners of his mouth, then bowed to pour tea for Lu Qiao:

"Brother Shan, my Yuzhi has invited your wife to our house to play cards tonight.

"Don't you worry, I guarantee your wife will be served comfortably and be satisfied."

Lu Yuxi blinked, wearing a fawning smile that said, 'you know what I mean.'

"Hmm.

"That sounds more like human speech.

"I am now appointing you as the acting Brigade Captain of the Inspection Brigade, with full authority to manage the brigade and assist me in my duties.

"Go to Nankai and keep a close watch on that spot, and wait for my instructions to make arrests at any time.

"You might just land a big fish.

"When that time comes, I will submit a request for your merit and let you secure this position permanently."

Lu Qiao instructed.

"Understood.

"Brother Shan, you are like a reborn brother to Xizi.

"Don't you worry, from now on I am the bullet in your gun; wherever you point, I will strike. As long as you say the word, even if it's a mountain of blades or a sea of fire, I will charge in."

Lu Yuxi made another "bold" promise.

"Is that so? My leather shoes are a bit dirty."

Lu Qiao had long since grown tired of hearing this; he crossed his legs and said coldly.

Lu Yuxi glanced at him, immediately understood, took a few quick steps to squat by his feet, knelt on one knee, and began wiping them with his sleeve, not forgetting to blow on them when he was finished.

"Brother Shan, take a look, is it clean?" he asked, looking up with a servile smile.

"Hmm.

"It'll do.

"Go do your job."

Lu Qiao tapped his leather shoe and said with a disdainful smile.

"Yes, Brother Shan."

Lu Yuxi left, overjoyed.

Once he was out the door, the smile on his face turned gloomy, his teeth clenched tight, and his eyes flashed with murderous intent.

Hot pot and gold bars.

Polishing shoes.

What kind of "hometown brother" is that?

The man surnamed Lu clearly didn't treat him like a human being.

"Lu Qiao, you just wait.

"One day, I will dig up the graves of your ancestors for eighteen generations."

That evening.

Xie Ruolin arrived at the corridor of the Jinhai Art Museum, clutching his briefcase.

The moonlight is bright tonight.

From afar, he saw the figure of Li Ya standing behind a round stone pillar.

"Why did you choose to meet here?"

"I originally wanted to treat you to some mutton hot pot, but it seems you don't have the appetite for it."

Xie Ruo walked over with a smile.

"Is there really no room for negotiation regarding the white sugar?" Li Ya walked out from behind the pillar and asked straight to the point.

"No... no room for negotiation."

"I told you, this stuff is hard to move right now; your little bit of money can't afford to play this game."

Xie Ruo laughed.

"Fine."

"Setting aside the white sugar, I invited you here today mainly to talk about the intelligence you bought from Shang Bo."

"Who exactly bought it?"

"And as Shang Bo mentioned, are there any original records?"

Li Ya had his hands in his pockets, his voice chillingly cold.

"I said, it's... it's impossible to tell you." Xie Ruo looked left and right, realizing something was wrong.

As soon as he finished speaking, he reached for his gun.

However, it was already too late.

Li Ya drew his gun faster, the muzzle already pressed against his forehead.

(End of chapter)