Chapter 72: Snatching Food from the Mouth of Ma Prince

Hong Zhiyou, having nothing to do, went straight to Yu Zecheng's office.

Old Yu was tearing up newspapers again.

"Director Yu, it's almost lunchtime. Do you want to go to Hongyun Restaurant for a meal to shake off the bad luck?" Hong Zhiyou asked with a smile.

"No."

"Zhiyou, thank you for this time. I escaped a disaster," Yu Zecheng said with a bitter smile, rubbing his brow wearily.

"Alright, you rest first."

Hong Zhiyou knew he needed quiet, so he walked out with his hands in his pockets.

Yu Zecheng closed the door, sat on the sofa, and pounded his head in pain.

He was in a chaotic state now.

With the Station Chief's shrewdness, it was not hard to see through Shopkeeper Qiu's scheme.

In other words.

Shopkeeper Qiu had executed a suicide mission.

He had dragged the Station Chief's wife and Hu Die into the water to force Wu Jingzhong to release him.

The only thing to be thankful for was.

Ma Kui and the others had not found the radio.

On the day of the incident, the shop assistants were not there.

There was neither human evidence nor material evidence.

As long as he could still bring in money, the Station Chief would at least not move against him for the time being.

Shopkeeper Qiu.

Zuo Lan.

Lü Zongfang.

Liu Wensheng.

There were loopholes everywhere.

Yu Zecheng felt like he was walking on a tightrope, and he was already teetering.

He wanted to save Shopkeeper Qiu, but he did not know how to contact the organization.

And he could not contact them.

Wu Jingzhong had not killed Qiu Ji; perhaps he had a backup plan.

At this time, any move he made would be magnified.

It was too dangerous.

Perhaps he could look for Liao Sanmin.

"Zhiyou, come, try this. It's a durian shipped from the Philippines; Madame Jiang likes this fruit the most.

"Your sister-in-law left it behind.

"Eat it quickly, don't let it go bad."

Wu Jingzhong called Hong Zhiyou to the coffee table and took out the peeled durian.

"Master, this is nourishing.

"You have been working hard lately, you should eat more," Hong Zhiyou said, flattered.

"I'm not used to this taste," Wu Jingzhong said, waving his hand.

"Station Chief, seeing you smile makes me feel at ease," Hong Zhiyou said while eating.

"That's life.

"We must pursue the struggle, but life must also go on.

"Have you not been to the Yong family's place lately?

"You pricked that little girl so badly last time, you should go and see her."

Wu Jingzhong leaned in closer, hinting with a smile.

"The Yong family is suspected of having ties to the Reds, so I'm afraid of inviting criticism.

"Just because of this trivial matter, Captain Ma has been biting at me and won't let go."

Hong Zhiyou feigned difficulty.

"With Ma Kui gone, who knows if Boss Dai and Mao Renfeng will have him secretly executed.

"I have temporarily let Qi Physician take over the Action Team.

"He is timid and won't dare to act recklessly."

Wu Jingzhong said, lowering his voice:

"Yesterday, your sister-in-law went to Liuwei Road and heard that Yong Jianqiu bought a lot of good things from Sun Dianying's adjutant.

"Since you're free, go and sound them out.

"Sun Dianying stole national property; if you don't take action, it will flow into the hands of the Reds and be exchanged for cannons and bullets. Then you and I will be sinners of the Party and State."

"Understood, I will go investigate right away," Hong Zhiyou quickly put down his fork.

"Also, Mu Liancheng's niece, you must talk to her properly.

"Once Ma Xieer's son-in-law clears out, we will immediately clear the inventory," Wu Jingzhong said with satisfaction.

"Master, actually, I have a job here that I wanted to tell you about.

"But you were busy, and I never found the time."

Hong Zhiyou got up, closed the door, and began to whisper.

"What job?" Wu Jingzhong was no longer concerned with rules now.

As long as he could make money, he would not turn anyone away.

"You know the Rong family in Xiangdao, right?

"The Rong family that is on brotherly terms with your old classmate, Xiangdao Station Chief Xie Ruo," Hong Zhiyou said.

"I know them.

"What about them?" Wu Jingzhong asked.

"The Rong family's second young master, Rong Bin, has a relative who is in the Beiping Overseas Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Some time ago, Ma Hansan extorted the Chamber of Commerce President Li Guanhua and arrested a large group of people.

"His unlucky relative was also arrested.

"Originally, Ma Hansan used the excuse of them being traitors, but it turned out there was a Red courier among them who wouldn't break under torture and confessed voluntarily.

"Now the person is being detained and could be executed as a Red at any time.

"Rong Bin wants to ask you to help save the person for the sake of Station Chief Xie.

"This amount."

Hong Zhiyou said, spreading his five fingers.

"Five thousand ocean dollars?" Wu Jingzhong frowned.

"Master, look at what you're saying. Would five thousand ocean dollars catch your eye?

"Fifty thousand US dollars.

"And that's just the initial deposit; once the person is rescued, another fifty thousand will be given."

Hong Zhiyou said with a fawning smile.

"One hundred thousand US dollars!" Wu Jingzhong's face glowed red.

He liked antiques.

But the procedures to liquidate those items were troublesome; they were mostly kept as heirlooms and hobbies.

But gold and US banknotes were urgently needed for the company that Ruirui and Jianhua were starting.

One hundred thousand US dollars.

That was enough to start a new company.

"I could find a way at any other station, or even at headquarters.

"But for this 'Ma Prince' with three eyes, I really have no way to deal with him.

"This man is greedy.

"He has locked onto Li Guanhua, and who knows, others might be killed as examples.

"If I open my mouth, the person Rong Bin wants to save will become a hot commodity.

"Ma Hansan could demand five hundred thousand from him!

"That wouldn't be saving someone; it would be harming them."

Wu Jingzhong shook his head and sighed.

Money was naturally good.

But it depended on how it was earned and from whom it was earned.

He didn't want to touch a single cent of Ma Hansan's money.

"Master, is it really impossible?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"It's difficult.

"Ma Hansan is the Director of the Beiping-Tianjin Traitor Purge Committee and the Juntong Office; his rank is one level higher than mine.

"Last time, with the Liu Wensheng affair, I made him take the fall.

"He has already called to curse me out."

"If I go to ask for people now, I can't bring myself to say it."

Wu Jingzhong stood with his hands behind his back, shaking his head repeatedly.

"Why not have Boss Dai step in?"

"Just say it's your relative, detained by Ma Han."

"Ma Han is in Beiping taking over Japanese and puppet assets; I hear he's raked in enough wealth to rival a nation, he can't be allowed to eat all the fat meat himself."

"Teacher, Li Guanhua and those people must have plenty of good things."

"Boss Dai already has opinions about the Hu Die matter."

"You can use this batch of people to curry favor with Boss Dai."

"Even if all the good things are handed over to Bureau Chief Dai in the end, so what?"

"These one hundred thousand US dollars will be firmly in your pocket."

"Money in the pocket is what matters."

Hong Zhiyou set his cunning mind in motion and began to speak sweet words.

"Wait, let me think."

Wu Jingzhong paced back and forth a few times, stroking his chin:

"Boss Dai is indeed a connoisseur of collections."

"In this Beiping wave, he misjudged and trusted Ma Han, so he didn't get any benefits."

"Your method is worth a try."

"The Rong family gave you quite a bit, didn't they?" He paused and asked with a smile.

"Ten thousand for Teacher, ten thousand for me!" Hong Zhiyou said hurriedly.

"Ten thousand!"

"People from Xiangdao are certainly generous."

Wu Jingzhong clicked his tongue twice, then his eyebrows arched, his face full of difficulty:

"I heard there's a new type of phonograph from Xiangdao that's quite good."

"My wife is always complaining that the piece of junk we have at home has poor sound quality."

"You ask that Rong Bin how much it costs later; I'll buy one for your sister-in-law."

Damn it!

"Teacher."

"Do you really need to ask him for this kind of thing?"

"I'll call the Americans right now and get the most fashionable, high-end one to send to sister-in-law."

Hong Zhiyou said, showing he understood the situation.

"You have a heart." Wu Jingzhong smiled with satisfaction.

"Hey, calling Boss Dai..."

He shook his body lazily and relaxed, walked to the telephone, and dialed the number:

"Bureau Chief, it's Jingzhong."

"It's like this, I have a relative in the Beiping Overseas Chinese Chamber of Commerce who was detained by Director Ma..."

"My dear Bureau Chief, ninety percent of the people in Director Ma's prison are businessmen; where would they get any red tickets?"

"You know his methods, don't you?"

Saying this, he drew out his tone:

"Bureau Chief."

"Jingzhong was wrong about the Miss Hu matter."

"Since the restoration, Director Ma has made countless contributions; please show some mercy and give me a chance to perform meritorious service and repay you."

"Convenient, it's convenient."

"There are people from Jinhai in there."

"Isn't it only right and proper to transfer them to Jinhai for investigation?"

"Don't worry, every cent of the property embezzled by these traitors must be turned over to the Party and the State."

"That works too."

"Then I will sit and wait for Division Chief Shen to come and provide guidance."

Clack!

Wu Jingzhong hung up the phone and curled his lips in a cold smile:

"The Bureau Chief agreed."

"He sent General Affairs Division Chief Shen Zui over to keep an eye on me."

Hong Zhiyou laughed along: "Teacher, it's even better that Division Chief Shen is coming, it saves you from getting dirt on yourself."

"I'll get the initial payment of fifty thousand US dollars, the phonograph, and the latest records ready and send them to sister-in-law later."

"Good."

"You take Division Chief Yu to go and get to know the Yong family first."

"Your connections are wider than his, but when it comes to picking the pockets of the wealthy, he is more ruthless than you."

Wu Jingzhong signaled for him and Yu Zecheng to join forces to take down Yong Jianqiu.

"Understood."

"As long as you are happy and satisfied, Teacher, this student will not refuse even death." Hong Zhiyou stood at attention and saluted.

"Young man, don't always talk about death."

"Bad luck!"

"There are great days ahead, we must all live well!"

Wu Jingzhong patted his shoulder and smiled dotingly.

"Teacher, then I'll go to Rong Bin's to collect the money first." Hong Zhiyou stood up, preparing to leave.

"No rush."

"Go to the Security Section first and have Little Li lock the one surnamed Qiu in the special-class cell of the Shuitun Prison."

Wu Jingzhong instructed.

"Understood." Hong Zhiyou accepted the order.

"Oh, right."

"Call Division Chief Yu, you go together."

Wu Jingzhong glanced at the large characters on the wall and added another instruction.

Then, a cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Zecheng, take care of yourself.

I've given you the opportunity, you must seize it.

(End of chapter)