Chapter 43

"Hong Zhiyou?" Zhou Yunyi frowned slightly.

The name sounded a bit familiar, but he didn't have much of an impression.

"He is a favorite in front of Wu Jingzhong."

"He has connections with the garrison, the Americans, and the Cao Gang; he's very well-connected."

"If we can have his help, getting arms and medicine shouldn't be difficult."

Yong Manzhu had clearly done her homework.

"Are you sure?" Zhou Yunyi asked.

"I've inquired; Hong Zhiyou is a notoriously lustful man."

"His intentions in sending a calling card at this time are self-evident," Yong Manzhu said with quite a bit of disdain.

"Hong Zhiyou is a man from the Jinhai Station."

"No."

"Dealing with such a person is too dangerous," Zhou Yunyi shook his head in rejection.

Yong Jianqiu nodded in deep agreement: "Third one!"

"You just joined the organization and don't understand the dangers inside; it's better not to participate."

"Dad, which soldier isn't tempered through fire and blood?"

"Even if it means bleeding or sacrifice, your daughter will never blink an eye."

Yong Manzhu curled her lips, her attitude very firm.

She had lived in luxury since childhood and always felt that life was like a stagnant pool.

Ever since she found out her sister was a Red and her father was a friendly merchant, her blood had been burning every moment, and she dreamed of becoming a heroine.

"Besides, our family smuggling arms and medicine is an old tradition."

"Dad, you are an old friend of Uncle Kong and Mr. Dai."

"Even if they catch me, at most I'll just be printing leaflets or reselling some goods."

"With them covering for me, who in Jinhai would dare touch me?"

Yong Manzhu argued coquettishly.

"You don't understand..." Yong Jianqiu was just about to lecture her when the door rang.

Knock knock!

"Master, Mr. Hong is here," the butler Old Liu called out from outside the door.

"Mr. Zhou, you leave through the secret room first."

Yong Jianqiu didn't answer, first settling Zhou Yunyi to leave.

"Old Liu, tidy up."

A moment later, he opened the door and gave the instruction.

The father and daughter immediately went downstairs.

Butler Liu Zhong, over sixty years old, had been with the Yong family for decades and was long since as close as family.

This butler, with a slightly hunched back and an honest face, entered the tea room.

While tidying the tea tray, he noticed an extra cup on the table.

Liu Zhong picked up the cup and sniffed it, his brow furrowing: "Smell of smoke?"

The master and young lady didn't smoke.

Someone had been here!

That shouldn't be; there were no guests today.

Could it be...

Liu Zhong swept his gaze around the tea room, feeling a secret joy in his heart:

"Master, forgive me, I too was forced to go to Mount Liang; I have to rebel."

……

Hong Zhiyou, carrying gifts, arrived at the Yong family.

It was worthy of being a great wealthy family from the Beiyang period.

A style of Chinese luxury.

The furniture was all high-end wood.

Inside the house, all kinds of porcelain looked like extraordinary pieces at a glance.

Don't look at it as declining; they were still rich.

"Mr. Hong!" Yong Jianqiu came forward to greet him, cupping his hands.

Hong Zhiyou glanced at the two.

Yong Jianqiu was in a Tang suit, slim in build, with a scholarly, fair-skinned appearance, glasses on a gold chain—a typical big-shot businessman.

Yong Manzhu was in a white dress.

Tall, with a fair and rosy oval face, almond eyes that were dark and bright; she looked a bit like Yingbao.

Moreover, her chest was equally barren.

Almost graduating from college and still this size, it was estimated there wasn't much room for development.

Bad review!

"Mr. Yong."

"I've long heard that the Yong family has three golden flowers, but I don't know who this young lady is..."

Hong Zhiyou asked with a graceful smile.

"This is my third one, Manzhu," Yong Jianqiu introduced.

"Mr. Hong, are you a reporter for the Jinhai Daily?" Yong Manzhu blinked and asked with a smile.

"Yes."

"The newspaper office wants to interview Old Yong..."

Hong Zhiyou professionally took out his credentials, paper, and pen.

Everyone understood each other without speaking.

After finishing the interview with perfunctory politeness, Yong Jianqiu said:

"Manzhu, you young people chat; I'm going upstairs to rest for a while."

"Mr. Hong, let's go for a walk in the back garden," Yong Manzhu suggested.

The back garden.

The two walked slowly, and Hong Zhiyou started flirting:

"What does Miss Manzhu usually like?"

"I like selling arms."

Yong Manzhu turned her head, her beautiful eyes looking straight at him:

"You are a man from the Jinhai Station, a friend of Long Er and the American."

"Commander Yang is pursuing my second sister."

"Last time he came, he said you and the American swindled him out of a large batch of military supplies."

"He also said there's nothing in Jinhai you can't get done."

"Is that right?"

No, young lady, are you being this direct?

"What do you mean swindled? That's Party-State property," Hong Zhiyou corrected with a smile.

"Just tell me if you're selling or not."

"I'll offer a profit 20% higher than the market rate, how about that?" Yong Manzhu playfully held up two fingers.

"Third Young Lady, listen carefully."

"Standing before you is a Lieutenant of the Jinhai Station, Secretary to Station Chief Wu, the Jinhai Cannon... please mind your words," Hong Zhiyou felt this conversation couldn't go on.

"What are you afraid of?"

"Our family was a big arms dealer during the Beiyang period."

"Even in front of your Station Chief Wu, I would bargain the same way."

"Old Yang said that now, everyone from top to bottom is reselling military supplies."

"Whose money you earn isn't earning money; wouldn't it be better for us to cooperate?"

Yong Manzhu felt that for a petty person like Hong Zhiyou, there was nothing money couldn't solve.

Stupid woman!

"No," Hong Zhiyou shook his head in refusal.

"I'll offer 30% more."

"40%."

"50%."

Yong Manzhu held her proud chin high and continued to raise the price.

"How about you sell yourself to me instead?"

Hong Zhiyou suddenly pinched her buttocks and asked with a wicked smile.

"You, bad egg, scum," Yong Manzhu was so scared she almost screamed.

"Don't worry, I'm not interested in scumming you!"

"It feels too dry; I'm not interested."

"Third Young Lady, goodbye!"

Hong Zhiyou laughed dryly a few times and ran away.

He just wanted to stay far away from this crazy woman now.

It wasn't the Beiyang period anymore; reselling military supplies and medicine was a capital offense.

Let alone 50%.

He wouldn't dare sell it for ten times the price.

Not to mention the Yong family had long been targeted by Ma Kui.

And this kind of goods is fit to be a Red?

Truly dying and not knowing it.

Yong Manzhu wouldn't let it go; she had never suffered a loss in her life.

Who wouldn't spoil and follow her?

She angrily lifted her skirt and chased him to the door:

"What do you mean? Are you selling or not?"

"Take your head out of your heels and wash it well," Hong Zhiyou didn't bother with her, opened the car door, and prepared to get in.

"Mr. Hong, Young Lady, what's for dinner?"

Liu Zhong happened to walk out and called out at the door.

Hong Zhiyou glanced at him, dove into the car, stepped on the gas, and fled in a panic.

……

Back at the station.

Wu Jingzhong was preparing to get off work.

"What, didn't get a date for a few drinks?"

"I heard the three Yong young ladies are all great beauties."

"Rich young ladies are all very open."

Seeing Hong Zhiyou looking dispirited, he put down his briefcase and asked with a smile.

Hong Zhiyou answered truthfully, not daring to hide anything.

"Clumsy woman!"

"The Yong family used to eat from all sides and indeed had dealings with the Reds."

"To deal with this kind of stupid woman, you have to be simple and brutal."

Wu Jingzhong sneered, then waved his hand:

"Doesn't she want to buy arms and medicine?"

"Sell!"

"The Reds are already desperate, so we'll use this batch of arms to wipe them all out in one go."

"Station Chief, the problem is we don't have any arms either," Hong Zhiyou said with a smile.

"Long Er raided the wharf warehouse, didn't he leave anything?"

"Doesn't your American friend have any ways?"

Wu Jingzhong looked at him with a half-smile.

"Station Chief, Yang Wenquan's stuff was all resold to the Gui Army; wasn't the account already split?"

"Not to mention the American, General Butler is a die-hard; he watches that stuff more closely than a family heirloom."

"I'm truly at my wit's end."

Hong Zhiyou said with a natural smile.

Wu Jingzhong didn't know about the arms.

Old Yu and Liao Sanmin wanted to make a contribution and couldn't sell to him; Wu Jingzhong was clearly fishing for information.

"Is that so?"

Wu Jingzhong's eyes sank, staring at him coldly.

"Teacher, if a student can pick up some of your wisdom in this life, it's enough for wealth and honor."

"I have a good life, why would I risk my head to do this stuff? Wouldn't that be sick?" Hong Zhiyou explained, feigning nervousness.

"Good to know."

"You're amazing now; you're familiar with the garrison, the wharf, and the municipal government everywhere. Your words are even more effective than mine, the Station Chief."

"Outside, they say you're no longer called the Cannon King, but the Jinhai Expert!"

Wu Jingzhong pointed at him half-jokingly.

"Teacher, being the Jinhai Expert is too tiring; it's better to be the Cannon King."

"Besides, isn't all that relying on your tiger's might?"

"Starting tomorrow, the student will be by your side every step of the way, dedicated to serving you tea and water for the rest of my life."

Hong Zhiyou chuckled and started flattering him.

"Having ability is good."

"You can do big things!"

A loud drum doesn't need a heavy hammer; Wu Jingzhong made his point and picked up the phone to dial a number:

"Commander Chen? This is Wu Jingzhong."

"The station needs to borrow a batch of military supplies to carry out a mission."

"Don't worry, those broken fire sticks of yours are useless to me; I'll return them to you as soon as I catch the people."

……

(End of chapter)