Chapter 68: Boss Dai's Thunderous Wrath

Cell Number Eight, Shuitun Prison.

The stench of scale, urine, and mold was so pungent that the three noble ladies vomited up their entire afternoon tea.

The night grew deeper.

The autumn chill, mixed with the cold drafts in the corridor, burrowed straight into their bones.

Mei Qiuju and the other two, hungry and freezing, huddled in the corner of the wall, shivering.

"Sister Mei, a-are we going to die here?"

Zhu Jiu rubbed her hands and said in a trembling voice.

"N-no... we won't. It must be a case of mistaken identity. Once someone from the station comes, it will be fine." Mei Qiuju's teeth chattered uncontrollably from the cold.

As she spoke.

"Squeak, squeak."

Several fat rats scurried out from the corner of the wall.

"Ah!"

Hu Die and Zhu Jiu screamed and huddled together in terror.

"It's just a rat, d-don't be afraid."

Mei Qiuju took off her high heel and threw it, scaring the rats away.

"I'm sorry, I've caused you two sisters to suffer." She apologized with a forced, miserable smile.

"Waaah!

"Wu Jingzhong, he must be insane. I'm not done with him.

"I want to see Yunong!"

The delicate Hu Die wiped away her tears while shouting toward the door:

"Someone!

"I am Hu Die, I know Officer Dai Li.

"Someone, help!"

She shouted for a long time, but no one paid her any mind.

"Sister, stop shouting, it's useless.

"These prison brutes don't even know who we are.

"Just wait. Once Old Wu can't find me tonight, he'll come looking. Just endure it a little longer."

Mei Qiuju knew her husband had caused a massive disaster and could only try to soothe them carefully.

"Endure? I have never suffered such an indignity in my life.

"Is this even a place for humans?

"I'm telling you, this isn't over."

Hu Die began to sob.

After Wu Jingzhong enjoyed a satisfying time in his secret room, he returned to his quarters and saw the alarm clock read ten-thirty.

Usually, when Qiuju went out to play mahjong, she should have been back by nine at the latest.

Something wasn't right today.

A sense of foreboding welled up in Wu Jingzhong's heart.

Not long ago, he had offended Mao Sen and the Boatmen's Guild.

Jinmen was a place where dragons and snakes mingled, and red agents were active.

Could she have been...

"Chou'er, where did the Lady go?" Wu Jingzhong asked.

"After lunch, she said she was going to Wu Taixun's house to chat with Lady Zhu Jiu." Chou'er served him tea.

"Wu Taixun!"

Wu Jingzhong picked up the receiver and dialed the number:

"Hello, Brother Wu, this is Wu Jingzhong. Is Qiuju with your wife?

"Right, I see.

"Goodbye."

With a few brief words, he hung up the phone.

This was trouble.

Wu Taixun was a notorious playboy.

His wife, Zhu Jiu, was also a loose woman; her affair with the young master of the Yuan family had once caused a city-wide scandal.

The two of them lived their own separate lives now.

Wu Taixun hadn't seen Zhu Jiu for over half a month.

Where could he look?

"Section Chief Xiao, take a team immediately and go find the Lady.

"Check the clubs and the military dependents' associations.

"Ask around at the places she frequents."

Wu Jingzhong hurriedly summoned Xiao Guohua and gave his orders.

"Yes." Xiao Guohua took his men and left.

"Qiuju, you must not have anything happen to you.

"If something happens to you, the assets I registered under your brother's name will be in trouble."

Wu Jingzhong prayed anxiously to himself.

One o'clock in the morning, at the prison.

"It's getting late, you guys keep playing."

Liao Sanmin threw down his cards, stood up, and left the guard room.

He carried a boxed meal and walked straight to Cell Number Eight.

"Three ladies, have some late-night snacks."

Liao Sanmin knocked on the cell door and called out.

"Officer.

"I am Hu Die, you've seen my movies, right?"

Hu Die rushed over as if she had seen a savior, her curves pressed against the bars in a truly striking display.

She was doing it on purpose.

There was no one in this world who could resist her beauty.

As long as she could persuade this man, she could call Dai Li for help.

She really didn't want to stay in this damned place for even one more second.

"Never heard of them." Liao Sanmin looked straight ahead, his expression blank.

"You..."

Hu Die was stunned.

This guy actually had zero reaction to her charm?

Was he even a man?

What a waste of that face.

"I have money. If you let me go, I'll give you one thousand US dollars." Hu Die pleaded again.

"There are regulations; I cannot accept it." Liao Sanmin shook his head, making a move to leave.

"I, I know Director Dai.

"Dai Li.

"Let me go, and I guarantee you'll be promoted three ranks."

Hu Die grabbed his sleeve, refusing to let go.

"Heh, why don't you say you know the Generalissimo?" Liao Sanmin laughed.

"It's true.

"If you don't believe me, she is Wu Taixun's wife, and this is the Jinmen Station... the wife of Station Chief Wu.

"You must know that, at least."

Hu Die was about to go crazy, speaking hurriedly.

"Yes, Officer, I really am..."

Sister Mei and Zhu Jiu hurriedly stepped forward to explain.

Liao Sanmin raised a hand to stop them and made a quiet gesture for silence:

"Three ladies, just by the way you're dressed, you're clearly not ordinary people.

"The problem is, I'm just a low-level worker.

"Even if you were Madame Jiang, I wouldn't dare let you go.

"Captain Ma Kui of the Jinmen Station gave a death order: anyone who dares to let one of you go will be executed on the spot."

"That is a Lieutenant Colonel of the Juntong Bureau; how could I possibly afford to offend him?"

"I beg the three ladies, please do not make things difficult for me."

He wore a troubled expression as he poured out his grievances.

"Damn that Ma Kui, that idiot again!" Mei Qiuju gritted her teeth in hatred.

Ma Kui!

Hu Die also etched this name into her memory.

"How about this, we won't leave."

"And we won't make things difficult for you!"

"Can you find a way to let me make a phone call?"

"If I can get out, I will certainly compensate you well."

Hu Die puffed out her chest, her tone becoming a bit more coquettish.

"Fine, only one person can go." Liao Sanmin signaled for her to be quiet again.

Then, he opened the cell door with light, cautious steps.

"Miss Hu, it is windy outside, put this on." He took off his coat and draped it over Hu Die's shoulders.

This young man is actually quite nice... Hu Die smiled gratefully: "Thank you."

"You're welcome, follow me."

Liao Sanmin looked left and right, leading her cautiously to the office.

"I will go to the door to keep watch, Miss Hu, be as quick as you can."

He pointed to the telephone, then pulled the door open and walked out.

Hu Die picked up the receiver with trembling hands and dialed Dai Li's private number.

As soon as the call connected, she began to cry:

"Yunong, save me quickly, I am so scared here, please come and save me."

"I am in Jinhai."

"What could I be doing? It was just to get that folk remedy for your rhinitis."

"I wanted to give you a surprise, I feel bad for you."

"And you are scolding me, wuwu!"

After acting spoiled for a while, she did not forget to stir up trouble:

"It is all Wu Jingzhong's fault; he said I was a communist agent and threw me and your sworn brother's wife, Zhu Jiu, into prison together."

"He even said he would execute me by firing squad tomorrow morning."

"Wuwu, Yunong, I suppose I can only accompany you in the next life."

Hanging up the phone, Hu Die wiped away her tears, a satisfied smile appearing at the corners of her mouth.

Yunong was furious on the other end of the line.

Hmph!

Wu Jingzhong!

Let you mess with me.

Let's see Yunong slap you to death!

No. 1 Changde Road.

Ring-ring!

The phone rang.

Wu Jingzhong sprang up from his rattan chair and walked quickly to the telephone:

"Hello, how is Section Chief Xiao doing?"

"Ah, Bureau Chief!"

"It is so late, why are you..."

A violent, angry roar came from the other end of the phone:

"Wu Jingzhong, I am asking you, where is that bumpkin wife of yours?"

"I, I don't know."

"She went to Wu Taixun's house during the day and hasn't returned yet; I am currently looking for her." Wu Jingzhong stood straight and replied respectfully.

"Let me tell you then."

"She is currently at the Shuitun Prison catching rats!"

"You bastard, you caught red agents all the way to my doorstep, and you even want to execute Hu Die? You have some nerve!"

"Go to Shuitun Prison immediately and bring the person to me."

"If she loses a single hair, I will hold you accountable."

"If I weren't busy with the old man's Double Tenth meeting, I would fly over right now and shoot you dead!"

Bang!

The phone was hung up.

Wu Jingzhong was covered in cold sweat, completely stunned.

Wasn't this supposed to be catching red agents?

How did he end up getting his own wife and Dai Li's lover into prison?

This bunch of clumsy idiots!

"Guohua, call Li Hanyuan immediately."

"Tell him to personally escort that bunch of idiots who made the arrests to the station."

Wu Jingzhong roared, put on his coat, and rushed toward the station in a panic.

(End of chapter)