Chapter 44: Better You Die Than Me

"Continue talking to her tomorrow."

"Hong Zhiyou, the Red Ticket has the support of wealthy local magnates behind them; they are certainly not lacking in gold or U. . dollars."

"This arms deal is just a glove, understand?"

Wu Jingzhong pointed out with a shrewd look on his face.

"Understood."

"Chen Zhangjie provides the equipment, the Red Ticket provides the money, and we collect the profit." Hong Zhiyou nodded readily.

"That's right."

"Fat meat delivered to our mouths—it would be a waste not to take it."

"We must catch the big fish."

"We must achieve great merit; this is a task that kills three birds with one stone, you must grasp it."

Wu Jingzhong was very satisfied with his quick-wittedness.

"Yes, Station Chief." Hong Zhiyou accepted the order in a clear voice.

"At nine o'clock tonight, Yu Zecheng is going to arrest that Xiangdao profiteer."

"The matter is about to be settled."

"Tonight, we're having a late-night snack at my place!"

Wu Jingzhong smiled and left, humming a little tune.

Hong Zhiyou returned to his office and began to worry.

He always felt something was wrong, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

Logically speaking, an old hand like Yong Jianqiu shouldn't be this stupid.

Letting a woman with little worldly experience negotiate a deal with the Juntong Bureau.

Could it be that she really relies on her connections to be so fearless?

Hong Zhiyou could grasp a bit of the Station Chief's intentions.

Make money!

Catch the Red Ticket!

However, facing an old hand like Yong Jianqiu, where did Wu Jingzhong get his confidence?

Hong Zhiyou had a massive headache.

He could not offend the Station Chief, and he dared not offend the Red Ticket even more.

Firstly, for future business, he needed stable cooperation with the Red Ticket to make big money.

If he really relied on those small favors from Wu Jingzhong, he would be a clown once he went to the Nanyang later.

Helping the Red Ticket had nothing to do with helping "our mother" climb up; it was purely for his own long-term career.

Furthermore, if he were to be the scapegoat and end up on the Red Ticket's blacklist, he wouldn't even know how he died.

Wasn't Yuan Peilin in the original drama a bloody lesson?

Damn it!

Why does it feel like Jinhai City is just like a cesspit, where you get shit on your feet no matter where you walk?

Just as he was worrying.

The door knocked:

"Secretary Hong, are you in?"

"Come in." Hong Zhiyou took a slight breath, managing his emotions.

It was Mi Zhiguo who came in.

"Brother Hong, want to play a couple of games?" Mi Zhiguo's tone was almost pleading.

Is this guy short on money again?

"Let's play!"

Hong Zhiyou waved his hand and set up the Chinese chess.

They played two games.

Seeing that Mi Zhiguo was distracted, he simply cleared the chessboard:

"Short on money again?"

Mi Zhiguo scratched his head and said somewhat shyly: "Nothing can be hidden from you, Brother."

"That's not right."

"Didn't you just get paid?"

"You're a regular member of the Action Team, you shouldn't be this short on money, right?"

"Did the General Affairs Section hold it back from you?"

Hong Zhiyou looked at him suspiciously and handed him a cigarette.

Mi Zhiguo respectfully took it, pulled a box of matches from his pocket, lit it, and took a puff:

"Brother Hong, can you lend me a few silver dollars? I'll be sure to pay you back when I get paid next month."

Hong Zhiyou didn't say a word, picked up the matchbox, looked at it, and sneered:

"Heh, not bad, you're already visiting the Xiuchun Brothel."

"The women there aren't cheap."

"You even smell like opium; you're quite capable."

"Brother Hong, let me explain..." Mi Zhiguo was about to explain.

Hong Zhiyou shouted and cut him off:

"The station's regulations explicitly state that prostitution and opium smoking are prohibited. What do you think you are? Is that something you can afford to play with?"

"Get out, I don't want to see you!"

Mi Zhiguo was stunned by him, his eyes reddened as he said:

"Brother Hong, don't you know what kind of person I am?"

"My mother has tuberculosis, and I have a younger brother to support. I haven't even touched a woman's finger, how could I break discipline and smoke opium?"

"Then what's going on?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"It's Captain Ma."

"He..."

Mi Zhiguo looked around and said in a low voice:

"He invited someone to visit the Xiuchun Brothel, and I just happened to take these matches."

"I figured you wouldn't dare."

"What does him visiting the Xiuchun Brothel have to do with you? Where is your money?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"It was borrowed by Captain Ma."

"Xiao Wen and I didn't want to lend it, so we each got punched. Look, my shoulder was almost dislocated."

Mi Zhiguo unbuttoned his clothes, revealing the bruise on his shoulder to complain.

Hong Zhiyou instantly realized that Ma Kui was developing a secret line.

Ma Kui had recently been in charge of the Yong family case.

At such an important juncture, he still had the leisure to accompany a hoodlum to a brothel?

He even went as far as extorting money from his subordinates to treat guests.

There was a problem here.

The Yong family, Ma Kui, the hoodlum, and the Station Chief's "steady as Mount Tai" attitude.

Hong Zhiyou vaguely felt like he had touched upon something.

He quickly regained his composure and said indignantly:

"Old Ma has gone too far."

"Zhiguo, your family is in a difficult situation; the money for your mother's medical treatment cannot be cut off."

"How about this, I don't have money on me."

"Write a note and go find Department Chief Lu. While it's still before the end of the workday, have him approve my next month's salary for you."

Hong Zhiyou took out his fountain pen and scribbled a promissory note.

"Isn't the General Affairs Section managed by Xue Dongshan?" Mi Zhiguo held the note and was stunned.

"Nominally it's Old Xue, but the seal is still with Department Chief Lu; they haven't handed it over yet."

"Just go and get it done."

Hong Zhiyou smiled.

Just as Mi Zhiguo was about to leave, Hong Zhiyou called him back:

"Don't talk nonsense; Captain Ma won't spare you if he finds out."

"Thank you, Brother Hong, you're still the best to your brothers." Mi Zhiguo was moved to tears and trotted away.

Best, my foot.

Better you die than me, little brother; I have no choice but to sell you out.

Seeing him enter Lu Qiaoshan's office, Hong Zhiyou walked quickly toward Yu Zecheng's confidential office.

He knew that Yu Zecheng had to check the confidential file archives, so he usually got off work half an hour late.

When he went in, Yu was packing tea boxes into his bag.

"Director Yu, you're a man who collects gold bars, yet you're still greedy for these little perks," Hong Zhiyou said, leaning against the doorway and teasing him.

"What do you know?

"Everything the Station Master rewards is high-quality goods; you can't buy them outside," Yu Zecheng said with a smile.

"That's perfect, I'm bored, so I'll beg a cup of tea off you."

Hong Zhiyou sat down on his sofa and refused to leave.

"What's wrong? Things not going your way?" Seeing his gloomy expression, Yu Zecheng knew he must be hiding something.

"Don't even mention it!

"You're getting credit and rewards tonight, while I'm stuck catching flak from all sides.

"You have no idea..."

Hong Zhiyou looked at him, waved his hand, and stopped mid-sentence.

Only Ma Kui and the Station Master knew about his mission.

He absolutely could not speak of it.

Anything that left his lips would be evidence, easily used against him.

Yu Zecheng was skilled at observation and seizing opportunities.

As a trusted aide to Wu Jingzhong, he would certainly be a key target of Yu Zecheng's attention.

If he let even a little bit slip, Yu Zecheng could follow the trail and uncover his tracks.

"Sigh!"

Hong Zhiyou rubbed his temples and sighed, then immediately smiled with relief:

"Has your wife not arrived yet?

"I heard the Station Master lose his temper yesterday, saying if she doesn't come soon, he'll send Director Liu to your hometown to drag her here!"

"Indeed, I sent a letter to my hometown; she should be here in these next two days.

"It's a good thing you handled Miss Mu, otherwise, I wouldn't know how to answer to her when she arrives," Yu Zecheng said, squinting and smiling with his white teeth showing.

The two chatted for a while.

The sound of hurried leather shoes echoed in the hallway.

Lu must have arrived!

Lu Qiaoshan was an old intelligence agent, and his professional skills were by no means inferior to Yu Zecheng's.

With that dog-like nose of his, he would surely be able to smell the opium on Mi Zhiguo.

A "smiling tiger" is not someone to be trifled with.

Mi Zhiguo would definitely crack.

"Oh, Secretary Hong, you're here; I was just looking for you," Lu Qiaoshan said as he entered the office.

"I was just about to get off work, you two chat," Yu Zecheng said, standing up.

"Don't, Yu.

"It's perfect that you're here.

"Look at this Ma Kui!" Lu Qiaoshan pointed his index finger into the air and gritted his teeth.

Then he continued, full of resentment:

"I don't know why the Station Master dotes on him so much.

"Last time he messed up, he didn't get his head taken off, and now his tail is up in the air again.

"He's actually fraternizing with a hoodlum from the Drum Tower.

"Visiting the Embroidery Pavilion, smoking opium.

"Heh, a field officer leading the way in whoring..."

When Lu Qiaoshan said this, he shook his head repeatedly and chuckled.

Hong Zhiyou was secretly delighted.

He knew that old Lu was a gossip and would definitely come to complain.

It couldn't be helped.

In the station, only Ma Kui was a Lieutenant Colonel, qualified to compete with him for the position of Deputy Station Master.

Lu had to smear Ma Kui's reputation to win people over.

He certainly wouldn't miss an opportunity like this.

He could just use him as his own mouthpiece to help Yu Zecheng!

(End of chapter)