[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-spy-survival-guide":3,"chapter-spy-survival-guide-spy-survival-guide-chapter-34":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Spy Survival Guide",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2366350,4634,"Chapter 34: Extorting Lu Qiao (Please Favorite, Please Recommend)","spy-survival-guide-chapter-34",34,"\u003Cp>On the balcony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Jingzhong stared with grim, icy eyes as the car disappeared into the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Chou'er, change the carpet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Kang called out, then walked onto the balcony carrying tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Old Wu, this Secretary Hong is getting bolder and bolder.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He actually dared to ask you for money.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Kang did not understand politics; what annoyed her was that Hong Zhiyou had come to their own doorstep to extort them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One thousand US dollars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just thinking about it made her heart ache.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're a woman, what do you know?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't talk about one thousand; even if it were five thousand, I would be happy to give it to them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Small-minded people who love money are not scary.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's scary are those who want nothing, but want... your life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Jingzhong sighed heavily with his hands behind his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What does that mean? I don't get it.\" Mrs. Kang pouted, displeased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A while back, there was a meeting at the Beiping Pacification Headquarters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ma Hansan told everyone a joke about the Ministry of Military Orders.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He said Lieutenant General Liu Fei and Guo Rugui of the Third Department tore into each other, accusing the other of being a Red.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can you guess the reason Liu Fei and Deng Wenyi, one of the Thirteen Guardians, used to report Guo Rugui?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Jingzhong leaned back slowly in his recliner, turned his head, and asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What reason?\" Mrs. Kang asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They said Guo Rugui's sofa had patches on it, and that Guo Rugui actually wasn't corrupt!\" Wu Jingzhong laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is quite strange; in this day and age, where is there a general who isn't corrupt?\" Mrs. Kang said dismissively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the end, the Generalissimo and Bai Chongxi both came out and gave them each a slap on the wrist.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Generalissimo said we cannot treat all honest people as Reds, while Bai Chongxi said Liu Fei is extravagant and couldn't possibly be a Red.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This matter is not simple.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The corrupt are definitely not Reds, but the uncorrupt might be.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now do you understand?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Jingzhong sighed and looked at his wife with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you put it that way, Hong Zhiyou and Yu Zecheng are definitely not Reds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They are quite greedy, and their methods for raking in money are ruthless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Kang suddenly realized and began to laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hong Zhiyou is definitely not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for Yu Zecheng...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Jingzhong gazed into the pitch-black sky in the distance, a cold sneer appearing at the corner of his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou drove to Lu Qiao's mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not rush to get out of the car.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dealing with Wu Jingzhong required intuition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Jingzhong had learned that Lu Qiao participated in the secret meeting with Yang Wenquan and Zhang Si, yet he only had Director Xiao detain him and kept it a secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This showed that Old Wu did not want to kill Lu Qiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the tape in hand and the Boatmen's Guild eliminated, Lu Qiao would be fish on the chopping block for him to handle as he pleased in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were handled publicly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the house rules, even if Lu Qiao wasn't executed by firing squad, he could forget about being an official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the higher-ups would send someone else to take the position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was something Wu Jingzhong did not want to see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou understood immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His role could only be that of a peacemaker, helping Lu Qiao find a reasonable way out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This would not only demonstrate the Station Chief's majesty but also teach Lu Qiao a lesson, while incidentally making him owe a massive favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having figured it out, Hong Zhiyou rang the doorbell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao, his wife, and several servants were already under the control of Xiao Guohua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou walked into the living room with his hands in his pockets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao, as if seeing a savior, shouted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Secretary Hong, what is going on here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"On what grounds are Director Xiao and his men detaining me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director Xiao.\" Hong Zhiyou gestured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Guohua led his men out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is too much.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am a field-grade officer; they detain me without any reason—what do they want?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want to call Director Zheng!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao clamored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's useless, the phone line has been cut.\" Hong Zhiyou spread his hands, saying helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Secretary Hong, what exactly did my Old Lu do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's terrifying in the middle of the night like this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guifang asked in a panicked, tearful voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's right, there has to be a reason to arrest someone; what is this supposed to be?\" Lu Qiao demanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A reason?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother, you're in big trouble.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou shook his head with a sigh and turned on the tape recorder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After listening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat poured down Lu Qiao's face, and his entire spirit collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the secret meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he did not express support for killing Wu Jingzhong, he was indeed a participant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially his words targeting Hong Zhiyou, which were very explicit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother, you, you must believe me, this is a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding.\" Lu Qiao was completely rattled and panicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At that time, we weren't brothers yet, but you didn't take action against me, and you even sent word to save my life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I remember this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou pointed to his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, his expression became troubled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But assassinating a general and betraying one's own side—there's no way to explain this to the Station Chief.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If this tape is sent to Boss Dai's desk, guess whether Zheng Jiemin would dare to save you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thump!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao's body went limp, sliding off the sofa and collapsing onto the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zhiyou, Zhiyou!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We are our own people, we are brothers; you are a magnanimous man, you must help our Old Lu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He was just confused, blinded by Zhang Si.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His, his heart is loyal to the Station Chief and the Party-State.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I beg you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guifang grabbed Hong Zhiyou and knelt directly before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sister-in-law, don't humiliate me like this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This matter was handled personally by Director Liu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If it weren't for thinking of Brother Shan, I would have avoided this, and I wouldn't be here now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou hurriedly pulled her up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother, I know the Station Chief; he is someone who kills without blinking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are smart and have a sharp mind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Quick... quickly think of a way for me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As long as I don't have to eat a lead bullet, anything will do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao was completely flustered, his legs trembling as he begged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Shan, before I came, I argued strongly on your behalf.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the recording, you only said to consider it long-term, and didn't truly state your position.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That night, you turned against Zhang Si, which shows your heart is still with the Jinmen Station.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fortunately, the Station Master is merciful; he, the old gentleman, felt compassion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Otherwise, would he have let me come?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou slowed his tone to comfort him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sigh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As long as you're not dead, it's fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that... is it a demotion, or the Water-Tunnel Prison!\" Lu Qiao let out a breath, his face full of dejection and a bitter smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother, you still don't understand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why it was me who came.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am the Wealth-Bestowing Boy; you have to burn incense and worship Buddha.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou raised an eyebrow, hinting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao opened his eyes wide, and with a pained expression, nodded: \"I understand... I understand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Guifang, bring out the things Secretary Hong sent last time,\" he shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guifang retrieved them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not a single cent touched, returned perfectly intact,\" Lu Qiao said respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother, if you're going to talk like that, I'm leaving right now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou threw his hand out, extremely indignant:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean, insulting me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are a Colonel, the future Deputy Station Master; I'm still counting on you to look after me, yet you make it seem like I'm blackmailing you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, who in the station doesn't want you dead? Only I, your younger brother, hope you live a long life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This money of yours is for...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forget it, my words carry little weight; since that's how you see me, I'll just go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou pointed upward, turned around, and walked away in a huff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao's expression changed drastically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he left, whether it was Liu Xiong or Ma Kui, whoever replaced him would tear him to pieces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother, wait.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was wrong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was me using a petty mind to judge a gentleman; I am not a decent person.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Guifang, why aren't you going quickly!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao grabbed Hong Zhiyou to apologize, while ordering Li Guifang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Very quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guifang brought out several more gold bars and thousands of US dollars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou glanced sideways and shook his head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guifang added more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou still did not state his position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Added more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Added more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It kept increasing until it reached twelve thousand US dollars, thirteen gold bars, eight hundred silver dollars, plus a crate of opium.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A box of jade, gemstones, and gold and silver bracelets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother, that's about enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There's a saying, what is it? Anything that can be solved with money is not a problem.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just treat it as losing wealth to avoid disaster.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stay at home for now, don't think about anything, eat well and sleep well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When the time comes, I'll give you an errand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you handle it well, your younger brother guarantees you'll be safe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou packed the boxes while giving instructions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My life and your sister-in-law's life are all in your hands now!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao, like a drowning man, tightly gripped Hong Zhiyou's hand, not daring to let go for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He trusted Hong Zhiyou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To outsiders, Hong Zhiyou was a playboy blinded by greed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that night, Hong Zhiyou had risked his life to save him, ignoring past grievances, and silenced the killer in front of Ma Kui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao knew that regardless of whether Hong Zhiyou was slick and cunning or had other motives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His desire for him to stay alive was sincere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was also the only person he could trust at the moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today I had a bit of writer's block, so it's a bit late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thank you to all the big bosses for the monthly tickets, recommendation tickets, follows, and reading along. I love you all... although it's very cheesy and not fresh, I still have to insist on giving you all a little kiss every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of this chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1763,"2026-06-25T10:22:48.848Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","ff186f95a53b51f64cfd37a5d0b40cb292f9fb6d781ee9a9714e56c6ede0c2a2","spy-survival-guide-chapter-35","spy-survival-guide-chapter-33",395,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fspy-survival-guide-cover.jpg"]