Chapter 44

"Continue talking to her tomorrow."

"Zhiyou, the Reds have support from wealthy families everywhere; they aren't short on gold or US dollars."

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

Wu Jingzhong pointed out with a shrewd face.

"Understood."

"Chen Zhangjie provides the equipment, the Reds provide the money, and we get the profit," Hong Zhiyou nodded happily.

"Exactly."

"Fat meat delivered to the mouth, don't take it for nothing."

"The big fish must be caught."

"The big merit must be established; this is a beautiful job that kills three birds with one stone, you must grasp it."

Wu Jingzhong was very satisfied with his spirit.

"Yes, Station Chief," Hong Zhiyou accepted the order loudly.

"Tonight at nine, Zecheng is going to catch that Xiangdao speculator."

"If things go well."

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

Wu Jingzhong smiled and left, humming a little tune.

……

Hong Zhiyou returned to the 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 who hasn't seen much of the world negotiate a trade with the Military Statistics Bureau.

Could it be that she really relies on her connections and is fearless?

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

Making money!

Catching Reds!

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

Hong Zhiyou had a headache.

He couldn't offend the Station Chief, and he dared not offend the Reds even more.

First, for future business, he needed stable cooperation with the Reds to make big money.

If he really relied on Wu Jingzhong's little favors, he would be a clown even if he went to Nanyang later.

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

Furthermore, if he ended up on the Reds' blacklist as a scapegoat, he wouldn't even know how he died.

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

Damn!

Why does Jinhai City feel like a cesspit, where you get shit on your feet wherever you walk?

Just as he was worrying.

The door rang:

"Secretary Hong, are you there?"

"Come in," Hong Zhiyou took a small breath and managed 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.

This guy is short on money again?

"Play!"

Hong Zhiyou waved his hand and set up the chess.

They played two games.

Seeing Mi Zhiguo was distracted, he simply put away 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 your salary?"

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

"Did the General Affairs Section block you?"

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

Mi Zhiguo took it respectfully, 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 definitely 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 ladies there aren't cheap."

"You still have the smell of opium on you; you're really capable."

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

Hong Zhiyou shouted and cut him off:

"The station regulations explicitly state that prostitution and opium smoking are prohibited. What kind of thing are you? 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 here?" Hong Zhiyou said.

"It's Team Leader Ma."

"He..."

Mi Zhiguo looked around and said in a low voice:

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

"I believe 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 Team Leader Ma."

"Xiao Wen and I didn't lend it, and we each got a punch. Look, my shoulder was almost dislocated."

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

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

Ma Kui had been focusing on the Yong family case recently.

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

Even going so far as to extort money from his subordinates to treat guests.

There was a problem here.

The Yong family, Ma Kui, the bum, and the Station Chief's stability like Mount Tai.

Hong Zhiyou vaguely felt like he had touched upon something.

He quickly regained his senses, indignant and seeking justice:

"Old Ma is going too far."

"Zhiguo, your family's conditions are difficult; 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, go find Section Chief Lu, and while it's not off work yet, have him approve my next month's salary for you."

Hong Zhiyou took out his fountain pen and scribbled an IOU.

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

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

"Just go handle it."

Hong Zhiyou smiled.

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

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

"Thank you, Brother Hong, you're still the best to the brothers," Mi Zhiguo was moved to tears and went off happily.

Best what.

Death to the friend, not the monk; brother, I can only sell you out once.

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

He knew Yu Zecheng had to check confidential file archives and usually got off work half an hour late.

When he entered, Old Yu was packing tea boxes into his bag.

"Director Yu, you're a man who collects gold bars, yet you're still greedy for this little bit of profit," Hong Zhiyou leaned against the door and teased.

"What do you know."

"What the Station Chief rewards are all good goods; you can't buy them outside," Yu Zecheng smiled.

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

Hong Zhiyou sat on his sofa and refused to leave.

"What's wrong, something not going your way?" Seeing him like this, Yu Zecheng knew he must be hiding something.

"Don't mention it!"

"You're getting merit and rewards tonight, while I, your brother, can only suffer the squeeze."

"You don't know..."

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

Only Ma Kui and the Station Chief knew his mission.

He absolutely couldn't say a word about it.

Anything said is evidence, easily giving people something to hold against him.

Yu Zecheng was good at observing and opportunistic.

As Wu Jingzhong's confidant, he would definitely be a key target of Old Yu's attention.

If he leaked even a little, he could follow the vine and find his tracks.

"Sigh!"

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

"Sister-in-law hasn't arrived yet?"

"I heard the Station Chief get angry yesterday, saying if she doesn't come, he'll send Director Liu to your hometown to kidnap her!"

"Yeah, I sent a letter to my hometown; she should be here in the next couple of days."

"Thanks to you for handling Miss Mu, otherwise if she came, I wouldn't know how to answer to her," Yu Zecheng showed his white teeth and smiled with narrowed eyes.

The two chatted for a while.

The sound of hurried leather shoes echoed in the hallway.

Old Lu must be here!

Lu Qiaoshan was an old secret agent, and his professionalism was definitely no less than Yu Zecheng's.

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

A smiling tiger is not to be trifled with.

Mi Zhiguo would definitely spill.

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

"I was just about to get off work, you guys talk," Yu Zecheng stood up and said.

"Don't, Old Yu."

"It's perfect that you're here."

"You talk about this Ma Kui!" Lu Qiaoshan pointed his index finger in the air and gritted his teeth.

Then he said with resentment:

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

"Last time he smashed the craft, he didn't get his head pulled off, and now his tail is up again."

"He's actually calling a bum from the Drum Tower brother."

"Visiting the Xiuchun Brothel, smoking opium."

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

Lu Qiaoshan shook his head and laughed mockingly as he said this.

Hong Zhiyou felt a secret joy in his heart.

He knew Old Lu was a chatterbox and would definitely come to complain.

No way.

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

Old Lu had to smear Ma Kui and win over people's hearts.

He wouldn't miss this kind of opportunity.

It was just right to use him as his own mouthpiece to help Old Yu!

……

(End of chapter)