Chapter 40: Guidance for Yu Zecheng (Seeking collections, monthly tickets, and recommendation votes)

"Yours." Wu Jingzhong took out a promotion document and handed it to him.

"Lieutenant!"

Hong Zhiyou exclaimed in surprise.

"I know you don't care about this."

"But while it's one thing for you not to show off, it's often very troublesome to get things done without it."

"Especially with some particular noble families; they will think you have no future."

"Wiping out the Canal Gang and recovering the 94th Army and American munitions—you deserve the top credit, and I specifically applied for this for you."

Wu Jingzhong handed over the promotion and commendation order with both hands, his doting intent self-evident.

"Understood!"

"Many thanks to the Station Chief for the cultivation; this student will strive to perform new meritorious services."

Hong Zhiyou stood up and saluted, then solemnly accepted the order.

"Cultivation by the Party-State, personal performance!"

"Sit!"

Wu Jingzhong stood up and walked to the sofa.

"Zhiyou, having Director Yu keep an eye on Mu Liancheng over there is enough; a grasshopper after the autumn frost won't be jumping for many more days."

"Once the military mediation passes, we will uproot his nest."

"Your guns and cannons must be used flexibly; it is time to change positions."

"Ma Kui has already told you, hasn't he?"

Wu Jingzhong asked with a friendly smile.

"Yong Manzhu?" Hong Zhiyou frowned slightly.

"That's right, the daughter of that munitions broker."

"Ma Kui has an informant at Beiyang University; this Miss Yong is in close contact with the Red Tickets."

"I've seen the photo; she's very beautiful."

"Fits your taste."

Wu Jingzhong's tone was intimate, but his eyes were extremely stern.

"This student will follow the Station Chief's arrangements." Hong Zhiyou could only agree.

"Find out clearly who is in contact with her."

"Do not alert them; follow the vine to find the melon and dig out the organization behind them."

"The Red Tickets are sharper than us; they have two lines."

"The local committee isn't worth much right now; having Li Hanyuan watching them is enough."

"Your task is to pull out the nails hidden within our various levels of agencies."

"The likes of Old Kite and Emei Peak!"

Wu Jingzhong's eyes turned sharp, and he said with murderous intent.

"This student understands; I will head to the Yong residence now," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Remember, although the Yong family has fallen, Yong Jianqiu has long had dealings with Chen Bulei and Dai Jitao; be mindful of your conduct," Wu Jingzhong reminded him solemnly.

"Yes."

Just as Hong Zhiyou stood up, Wu Jingzhong gestured for him to wait:

"No rush; there is one more thing you must handle right now."

"Liu Wensheng's wife and daughter are still in Jinhai; you and Director Yu make arrangements."

"Boss Dai was very annoyed about the last incident."

"The superiors have ordered that we must crush the Red Tickets' arrogance."

"Didn't Shuitun Prison lock up a batch of Red Tickets?"

"The people on this list are of no value anymore; keeping them is a waste of food. You arrange for that mother and daughter to be sent in and have them all shot together."

Wu Jingzhong stood up and handed over a list.

"Station Chief, Liu Wensheng's young wife is pregnant," Hong Zhiyou said softly, lowering his head and raising his eyebrows.

"Zhiyou, human sentiment is for internal use—for you and for me."

"For outsiders, especially Red Tickets, one must have the spirit of an autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves."

"What, now that you're wearing this skin, you still want to be clean?"

Wu Jingzhong would not be gainsaid and placed it in his hand.

"Yes!"

Hong Zhiyou accepted the order.

No sooner had he left than Liu Xiong walked in quickly and whispered:

"Station Chief, it's been verified."

"At three minutes past twelve on the day Liu Wensheng had his accident, Yu Zecheng went to the archives room."

"According to Zhang Li, he checked the files."

"But it's not certain if he looked at Liu Wensheng's."

"Does that even need thinking? He definitely looked," Wu Jingzhong said coldly.

"Should we arrest him?" Liu Xiong asked.

"Let it go for now; the archives room is under his jurisdiction anyway, and he has a habit of checking files."

"Has the Buddha Niche replied yet?"

Wu Jingzhong asked in a deep voice.

"Not yet; Yancheng is checking strictly, and it may not be convenient for the Buddha Niche to do many things," Liu Xiong replied.

Wu Jingzhong tapped his forehead.

Yu Zecheng is currently focused on Mu Liancheng; of all things, making money is the greatest.

Investigating him openly at this time is not worth it.

"I still trust Director Yu."

"The investigation into the Liu Wensheng incident ends here; wait for the Buddha Niche's reply first."

Wu Jingzhong extended his index finger and instructed solemnly.

"By the way, when observing the execution today, pay attention to those two little brats."

"Don't forget, you are the famous 'Grey Eagle'; keep your eagle eyes wide open and don't let a single thing slip by."

After a pause, he added with a sinister smile.

"This subordinate understands," Liu Xiong replied.

……

Hong Zhiyou arrived at the confidential room.

Yu Zecheng was tearing up newspapers again.

The Station Chief issued a strict order today; never mind that his hometown is in Jibei, even if it were a tiger's den or a bear's lair, he must bring his wife over.

Sigh, I wonder how Shopkeeper Qiu has arranged things.

If this drags on any longer, Wu Jingzhong will start to get suspicious.

So annoying.

I wonder if Zuo Lan has returned from Soviet Russia yet.

Where is she now?

Is she doing well, and has she thought of me?

Just as he was lost in thought, Hong Zhiyou walked in with his hands in his pockets:

"Director Yu, busy?"

"Zhiyou, is something the matter?" Yu Zecheng swept the paper into the trash bin and prepared to get up to pour tea.

Hong Zhiyou explained the matter.

"Killing again." Yu Zecheng took off his glasses and rubbed his brow, looking slightly weary.

Truly, what one fears comes to pass!

Over a dozen comrades to be executed, and he hadn't heard a whisper of it before.

"Yeah."

"The Station Chief said that once you wear this skin, you have no choice. Let's go."

Hong Zhiyou tilted his head and walked out, feigning indifference.

The two led a team of secret agents and headed straight for the villa on Guilin Road.

Inside the car.

Yu Zecheng pretended to chat about this and that quite naturally.

But when he occasionally looked out the window, his calm eyes clearly revealed a wordless sorrow.

Terrible.

Old Yu's expression management had developed a flaw.

"Director Yu, do you believe in Buddha?" Hong Zhiyou's thoughts shifted, and he asked with a smile.

"I believe in the Chairman," Yu Zecheng turned his head, his smile as warm as usual.

"I haven't spent much time with you, but I can feel that your heart is too kind."

"You don't like killing."

"You also aren't like the other staff members at the station, extorting people or lusting after beauty."

Hong Zhiyou couldn't say it explicitly, so he decided to give him a subtle hint.

"Brother, then what do you think I look like?" Yu Zecheng asked.

"I think you look like a good person."

"But Ma Kui might think you are a Red Ticket."

"At least you look more like one than I do, or Lu Qiaoshan," Hong Zhiyou teased.

Goosebumps rose all over Yu Zecheng's body.

He realized he had made a serious mistake.

Today's events were too sudden and completely exceeded his expectations.

Involving the lives of over a dozen comrades, he had just lost his composure for a moment.

Fortunately, it was Hong Zhiyou.

If it had been the Station Master, Ma, or Lu, he might have been in danger.

"Then how do you say one can avoid looking like a Red Ticket?" Yu Zecheng quickly regained his calm and asked with a smile.

"Calmness."

"You don't look like one usually; in any case, I think you are quite steady."

"But also quite devious."

Hong Zhiyou shrugged and laughed.

Everyone has their own characteristic labels.

Yu Zecheng is slightly greedy, capable, upright, and cautious in speech.

As long as he stays true to his nature, there won't be much of a problem.

Hong Zhiyou knew that the Station Master and Liu Xiong had been secretly investigating Old Yu.

The turmoil over the Liu Wensheng affair had not yet settled.

He had to give him a nudge, or else Old Yu might end up falling into a trap.

Wu Jingzhong at this time was truly a man who would kill without blinking an eye.

"Are you implying that I am very cunning?" Yu Zecheng took off his black-rimmed glasses and asked with a squinting smile.

"Haha, that's what you said."

"Anyway, we are friends; no matter who you are devious toward, you can't be devious toward me."

Hong Zhiyou laughed out loud and said no more.

He was afraid of saying too much.

If Old Yu suspected him, it would be troublesome if he had Shopkeeper Qiu silence him.

They arrived at the villa.

Liu Wensheng's wife and daughter were watering flowers and chatting, living quite a happy life.

They didn't yet know that Old Liu was already dead.

A three-story villa, and Old Liu was a professor.

Right now, they were probably still fantasizing about a wonderful future life in Jinmen.

Sigh.

This man-eating world.

My apologies!

When one is in the world of men, one cannot always act according to one's own will!

"The two of you, come with us."

Hong Zhiyou got out of the car and played the villain.

"Who are you people? My husband is a professor at Beiyang University and a friend of Mr. Yanjie," Liu Wensheng's wife shouted sharply.

"Is that so?"

"Mr. Yanjie asked me to send you his regards."

"Take them away!"

Hong Zhiyou hardened his heart, too lazy to waste words with them.

With a wave of his hand, several secret agents stepped forward, grabbed the two by their hair and dresses, and forcibly dragged them into the car.

"Sigh, what a pity."

"That little lady of Liu Wensheng's is truly pretty; I think she's even more beautiful than Hu Die," Hong Zhiyou said, stepping on the gas with a lecherous look on his face.

"His daughter isn't bad either," Yu Zecheng rolled his eyes at him, pretending to joke.

"I still prefer someone with a bit more charm."

Hong Zhiyou smiled, then lowered his voice and said:

"Old Yu, that lady is carrying a child."

"The retribution is great."

"After watching the execution later, accompany me to a nearby temple."

"We'll see," Yu Zecheng said indifferently.

The motorcade entered the Shuitun Prison.

The prison authorities and the Jinmen Station had to verify the headcount and sign documents; these were all handled by Liu Xiong and Warden Song Mingjie.

Hong Zhiyou called for Old Yu, and they wandered over to Liao Sanmin's dormitory.

(End of chapter)