Chapter 65: Shopkeeper Qiu Has Confessed

Yu Zecheng was all too familiar with the torture methods of the Juntong Bureau.

On that terrifying electric chair, countless heroes and brave men had broken, eventually becoming traitors to the organization.

Gu Shunzhang and Liu Wen were bloody examples.

He did not want Shopkeeper Qiu to suffer.

He was even more afraid that Shopkeeper Qiu would not be able to withstand the pressure and would sell him out.

Ke Gong had repeatedly urged him back then:

Safety first!

When necessary, one could even do things detrimental to the organization to cover one's own identity.

Yu Zecheng had not been in contact with Shopkeeper Qiu for long.

Heaven knows if this person would become the next Liu Wen.

The only thing to be glad about now was that Ma Kui did not possess any substantive evidence.

The Station Chief had accepted the red coral and was currently in a "honeymoon period" with him.

There was also Hong Zhiyou, whose identity was unknown, who had been "providing cover" from the shadows.

He had to try.

Otherwise, if Shopkeeper Qiu confessed, he would be a dead man too.

He closed his office door, quickly dialed a number, and a smile appeared on his face:

"Hello, Madam, I am a mountain goods dealer."

A woman's soft voice came from the other end: "Is something the matter?"

"It is like this, Madam, didn't you want a batch of old ginseng?

"I am sorry, but Officer Xiong has recently sealed the border and cleared the manifests, so the batch of goods you wanted cannot get out.

"Yes, yes.

"Perhaps you should ask another shop, Madam.

"Apologies!

"Alright, goodbye."

After speaking, he hung up the phone.

This code, Shopkeeper Qiu had only told him to use in an emergency, without explaining the reason in detail.

Who was on the other end?

Could they save Shopkeeper Qiu?

Yu Zecheng knew nothing at all.

He could do nothing now.

He could only suffer and wait.

……

Station Chief's office.

Wu Jingzhong stared at the slogan about protecting the leader for a long time.

Then he turned his head and dialed a number, which was for his wife, Mei Qiuju:

"Did you receive Zecheng's item?

"What did Appraiser Li say?

"Authentic!

"That is great, have your brother send someone to pick it up immediately and take it to Yuezhou.

"What? Keep it at home?

"What is there to look at? It won't bring any damn luck.

"Can that thing be used as a decoration?

"I am raiding others today; who knows if it will be someone else's turn to raid me tomorrow.

"Stop talking nonsense and do as I say."

Clack!

He hung up the phone, his brows furrowed, but a smile he could not stop appeared on his face:

"Women, long hair and short insight.

"A priceless red coral, and she thinks of it as a mascot or an ornament; I can't believe she thought of that."

"Heh, who doesn't want to look at beautiful things a few more times?"

Hong Zhiyou, who was serving him on the side, brought over some freshly brewed tea.

"What is your take on Director Yu's situation?

"Could he be a Red?"

Wu Jingzhong looked at him with a meaningful expression.

"I hope he is, and yet I hope he isn't," Hong Zhiyou laughed.

"How so?" Wu Jingzhong raised an eyebrow and asked seriously.

"If Director Yu is a Red and he is gone, I can take on more work for the Master.

"That is naturally beneficial to me.

"It is just that everyone has their own specialty.

"I am good at handling the madams.

"But when it comes to shaking down the wealthy, Director Yu is much better at it than I am.

"At the very least, I might not be able to squeeze out a treasure like red coral."

Hong Zhiyou said this while washing fruit at the sink on the side.

"Why do you also hope he isn't?" Wu Jingzhong asked again.

"Still the same old saying.

"If Director Yu leaves, what if another Lu Qiaoshan or Ma Kui comes along?

"The student wouldn't be as comfortable or at ease as I am now."

Hong Zhiyou explained indifferently and brought over the cut fruit.

Crunch!

"You are sympathizing with and favoring him," Wu Jingzhong said while chewing on a crisp apple.

"The student is just speaking the truth.

"Honestly, Captain Ma is just a mad dog.

"He even called me to his office last night and wouldn't let go of the matter of my meeting with Yong Jianqiu.

"Station Chief, heaven is my witness.

"I was acting under your orders to collect those thirty thousand dollars in military expenses.

"Just you wait, he might just grab someone from the Yong family and use the student as a target."

Hong Zhiyou feigned a tone of someone whose life was in danger.

"He wouldn't dare!" Wu Jingzhong slammed the table.

"This Ma Kui is indeed annoying.

"He doesn't report his operations.

"And he is just a stinking rock in a latrine, impossible to enlighten."

"He is making things very difficult for me."

Wu Jingzhong ate a few bites, wiped his hands, and said.

"Let's not talk about these things anymore.

"Master, a disciple of Mei Lanfang is coming to Jinhai to perform soon.

"How about I book a few tickets for you and your wife at the Shengping Theater?"

Hong Zhiyou changed the subject.

"We'll talk about the theater later.

"How about this, you go call Ma Kui..."

Before Wu Jingzhong could finish his sentence, Ma Kui walked in with a triumphant look on his face:

"Station Chief, the one surnamed Qiu has confessed."

"Confessed!"

Wu Jingzhong was greatly shocked.

Hong Zhiyou's heart also skipped a beat.

Immediately, he felt it was unreasonable.

Shopkeeper Qiu was a notoriously hard nut to crack; how could he have confessed just after the first interrogation?

"Go, call Director Yu to the interrogation room."

Wu Jingzhong felt a chill in his heart and ordered sternly.

He had the intention to protect Yu Zecheng.

But the rules of the house were clear, and it was Ma Kui who had made the arrest.

If one is linked to the Reds, even the Son of Heaven would have to have them executed.

With Mao Renfeng in the way, he didn't even have the chance to plead for mercy.

……

Yu Zecheng was in his office reading the newspaper.

"Old Yu, let's go." Hong Zhiyou walked in and gestured behind him.

"Go where?" Yu Zecheng asked with a smile.

"The interrogation room!"

"Qiu Ji has confessed," Hong Zhiyou said.

"He... he confessed?"

Yu Zecheng's legs went weak, and his heart felt so tight he could barely breathe.

Shopkeeper Qiu, how could you...

Sigh, a man who was usually so sharp and capable, how... in the end, he still couldn't withstand the torture.

The terrible thing was, in order to survive, Qiu Ji would definitely sell him out.

In an instant, Yu Zecheng felt his heart turn to ash; his mind was a mess, and he couldn't think of any way out.

A dead end.

An unsolvable dead end.

"Director Yu?"

Hong Zhiyou's expression turned stern, and he raised his voice.

Damn it.

Old Yu was panicking.

Hong Zhiyou secretly thought this was bad.

He could understand Old Yu.

Old Yu had only recently gone undercover in Jinmen, and his skills had not yet reached the level of perfection they would later attain.

Furthermore, he hadn't been in contact with Shopkeeper Qiu for long.

He didn't know the script like he did, nor did he understand Shopkeeper Qiu's character.

Anyone in his position would be scared out of their wits.

"Oh!"

Yu Zecheng was brought back to his senses by this shout, and he smiled with a hint of panic:

"Little brother.

"You don't think this medicine seller will just spout nonsense, do you?"

"Hard to say.

"Let's go, the Station Chief and Captain Ma are urging us.

"If you keep dragging your feet, Ma Kui will say you have a guilty conscience."

Hong Zhiyou smiled brightly and pointed at him.

"Yes, yes.

"There are many people who see doctors, they can't all be Red Tickets.

"Don't you think?"

Yu Zecheng took a slight breath and regained his composure.

"Of course." Hong Zhiyou stared into his eyes and nodded firmly.

The situation was not something he could control.

He could only hope for Old Yu's good luck.

……

They arrived at the interrogation room.

Shopkeeper Qiu was covered in blood.

The sight of the shocking wounds and the flesh burned by branding irons made Hong Zhiyou's scalp tingle.

"Station Chief, it is just as I expected.

"This person has admitted with his own mouth that he is a Red Ticket."

Ma Kui greeted Wu Jingzhong as he sat in the seat of honor, his face full of joy as he claimed credit.

"A blind cat bumping into a dead mouse, he actually guessed right."

Lu Qiaoshan curled his lip and muttered, looking very displeased.

"Captain Ma has worked hard."

Wu Jingzhong sat down in the seat of honor:

"Speak, who is your superior, and who has been in contact with you?"

"Officer.

"Can you give me a pen? I... I will confess everything."

Shopkeeper Qiu swallowed a mouthful of blood and begged bitterly.

"Hmm." Wu Jingzhong tilted his head.

Lu Qiaoshan hurriedly stepped forward, took out a fountain pen, and spread paper on the desk.

"Don't leave anyone out, or I'll have your head," Lu Qiaoshan threatened coldly.

"Yes, officer."

Shopkeeper Qiu began to write, trembling with fear.

The first name that caught the eye was, shockingly, Director Yu.

……

(End of chapter)