Chapter 75: Xu Baofeng

Yu Zecheng walked out of the office, the smile on his face turning into ice.

He returned to his room.

He felt a bit breathless.

He loosened his collar and stood with his hands on his hips, looking out the window.

He had thought that by spending a large sum of money, he could rescue Shopkeeper Qiu.

He hadn't expected it to be all for nothing, like drawing water with a bamboo basket.

In the end, he had underestimated the ruthlessness and shamelessness of Wu Jingzhong.

……

Hong Zhiyou took a trip to the Navy Club.

He met with Anderson and Jack, the sales representative for Falanxi Hennessy stationed in Jinmen.

With Anderson paving the way.

Jack, who had been a gambler for years, agreed quite readily.

They would use the Axe brand label of the Hennessy company, bypass the Longdong Company, and have Jack handle the distribution personally.

The Navy Club would provide the endorsement and procurement.

Of the profits, Jack would take forty percent.

Hong Zhiyou would take twenty percent.

Colonel Philson of the Marine Corps and Anderson would take forty percent together.

After finishing the business discussion, Hong Zhiyou called Xie Ruo.

Old Xie gave him an address.

The place this guy rented was not far from Yu Zecheng's courtyard.

Once inside.

Just as he reached the door, Hong Zhiyou heard the sounds of a man and a woman rolling in the sheets inside.

It was immoral to interrupt someone's good time.

After waiting less than a minute, he heard the woman cursing:

"You really are a piece of trash."

"Every time you stir things up, you go limp."

"So I'm just here to let you get your kicks, and then you pull up your pants and don't do your job, you bastard."

"Oh, my dear lady."

"I've been busy making money lately, so my body is a bit weak."

"I'll take some tonic tomorrow and I'll be fine."

Xie Ruo chuckled dryly.

"You say that every time, and I haven't seen you improve."

"Don't bother me in the future, you useless thing."

"Damn it, you've got some nerve, don't you."

"If you don't want to play, get out, do you really think I care about a piece of trash like you?"

……

"Knock, knock!"

Hong Zhiyou knocked on the door.

After a flurry of rustling sounds, Xie Ruo opened the door with his shirt unbuttoned.

Inside, there was a woman wearing a dress.

She had an oval face and was actually quite pretty.

It was just that her eyes were hooked when she looked at people; she was clearly not a decent woman.

She looked a bit familiar.

Hong Zhiyou couldn't remember who she was for a moment.

"You must be Secretary Hong, you really are handsome and dashing." The woman circled him, looking him over with watery eyes.

"Who is this?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"My friend, Xu Baofeng!" Xie Ruo introduced.

"It's fine."

"She's one of us, let's chat together, maybe you'll find her useful." Xie Ruo pinched her perky buttocks, signaling for Xu Baofeng to go pour tea.

Xu Baofeng!

The woman who framed Cuiping?

No wonder she looked familiar.

"It's a bit messy at home, make yourself at home, brother."

"How about it, the... the business last time went well, right?"

After serving tea, Xie Ruo began to claim credit.

"It was alright."

"It was worth my US dollars," Hong Zhiyou praised without hesitation.

"That goes without saying."

"Take people's money, solve people's problems. In business, what you... what you need is efficiency."

"I'm not bragging, there isn't a thing in all of Jinmen that I don't know about."

"Go ahead."

Xie Ruo laughed smugly.

"Ma Kui went to the Xiuchun Pavilion recently, help me check who he met," Hong Zhiyou said.

During the interrogation yesterday.

Ma Kui had hesitated to speak several times.

And he claimed that as long as he had some time, he could find evidence.

Liu San was already dead.

Logically speaking, Ma Kui had no reason to go to the Xiuchun Pavilion again.

The only possibility.

He was hiding something there that was very detrimental to Yu Zecheng and Shopkeeper Qiu.

Of course, it could also have something to do with himself.

After all, the secret treasury.

The label-swapping liquor sales.

The arms smuggling on Long Er's side.

These businesses done behind the station master's back could not be leaked.

Hong Zhiyou had to be cautious.

"Xiuchun Pavilion, I know it well," Xu Baofeng said with a beaming smile, leaning in close to Hong Zhiyou.

Her mouth smelled of birdseed.

Hong Zhiyou moved to the side: "Name your price."

"One hundred US dollars?" Xu Baofeng asked charmingly.

"Deal."

Hong Zhiyou took out the US dollars and counted out a few bills for her.

"Ma Kui went to see Mrs. Meng," Xu Baofeng said.

"Mrs. Meng?" Hong Zhiyou frowned.

"Her husband used to be with the Shaanxi Guild Hall in Jingling."

"Wasn't the Shaanxi Guild Hall wiped out by Zhou Fuhai's Political Security Bureau before?"

"Her husband then came to Jinmen."

Xu Baofeng coquettishly pinched the US dollars with her orchid-shaped fingers.

Shaanxi Guild Hall?

If he remembered correctly, Yu Zecheng had once been saved by Boss Tie.

This person was very dangerous.

"As for this..." Xu Baofeng smiled sweetly, keeping him in suspense.

Hong Zhiyou sneered and gave her another two hundred US dollars.

"Her husband works at the Army Hospital now, he seems to be a surgery director named Meng Jun," Xu Baofeng said.

"Why would Ma Kui want to find him?" Hong Zhiyou asked deliberately.

"How would I know that."

"That Mrs. Meng owes a mountain of debt from playing mahjong and often smokes opium at the Xiuchun Pavilion."

"By the way, she's quite good-looking, and when she's out of money, she occasionally sells herself too."

Xu Baofeng reached out to flirtatiously touch Hong Zhiyou's face.

"Don't make me slap you across the face."

Hong Zhiyou slapped her hand away.

"Tsk tsk, rumor has it Secretary Hong is a romantic man; I didn't expect you to be so unappreciative of the mood," Xu Baofeng pouted.

Hong Zhiyou could not stand the smell all over her.

He simply stood up and walked to the side, pretending to look around.

"Enough, stop acting like a slut."

"The people they deal with are high-end goods; you should go pee and look at your own reflection to see what kind of trash you are."

Xie Ruolin was very annoyed that his business had been snatched away.

"Mind your own business, you loser."

"You..."

Just as the two were about to bicker, Hong Zhiyou said, "Can we still do business properly or not?"

"Let me tell you."

"Yu Zecheng, codenamed Crab, was spotted by Wan Lilang after assassinating Li Haifeng in Jingling, and was shot near the Shaanxi Guild Hall."

"It is said that Situ Guangzong saved him."

"The one who testified at the time was named Tie Bosong; he was the manager of the Shaanxi Guild Hall."

When Xie Ruolin said this, he smiled, shook his head, and stopped talking.

"Name your price."

"Director Yu is the Station Chief's favorite; if I can take him down, it will be a good thing for me."

Hong Zhiyou turned around and said directly.

"Straightforward enough."

"Three thousand US dollars," Xie Ruolin said, holding up three fingers.

"No problem."

"I only have this much in my pocket today; once the intelligence is confirmed to be accurate, I will give you the rest."

Hong Zhiyou took out his wallet and threw it directly to him.

Xie Ruolin took a look and smiled with satisfaction:

"Refreshing!"

He continued:

"Wan Lilang sensed something was wrong, raided the Shaanxi Guild Hall, and found some documents inside that hadn't been destroyed."

"Although he didn't catch anyone, it confirmed that this guild hall was a contact station for the Reds."

"After the victory, Boss Dai chose Shanghai."

"The Dangtong Bureau took over Jingling."

"Wan Lilang handed all these materials over to the Dangtong Bureau to save his own skin."

Xie Ruolin laughed arrogantly.

"That doesn't prove anything," Hong Zhiyou shook his head.

"That Boss Tie was a Red; after he finished testifying for Yu Zecheng, Situ Guangzong moved his whole family to the Philippines not long after. This is clearly a... a cover-up," Xie Ruolin inferred.

It was a pity this guy didn't become a detective.

"So what?" Hong Zhiyou said.

"Mrs. Meng revealed that her husband had performed surgery on someone at the Shaanxi Guild Hall."

"As long as he can point out Yu Zecheng, wouldn't the evidence be obvious?" Xie Ruolin said.

"If it's as you say, the Dangtong Bureau should have taken action by now," Hong Zhiyou was very curious.

"Old brother."

"These old pieces of intelligence were hidden away by the subordinates of our Bureau Chief Ye back then."

"The originals!"

"I spent a lot of money on them."

Xie Ruolin patted his brown leather bag and chuckled dryly.

"I paid the money, give them to me," Hong Zhiyou frowned and said.

"Well, that will cost extra," Xie Ruolin raised the price on the spot.

"How much?" Hong Zhiyou felt inexplicably angry.

"Ten thousand US dollars."

"Ten thousand US dollars?"

"That's right. Once Yu Zecheng is gone, you will be the only favorite in front of the Station Chief. Isn't that worth it?" Xie Ruolin gave a crafty, wicked smile.

Hong Zhiyou pondered for a moment, gritted his teeth, and said:

"Fine."

"I'll go to the car to get it."

He turned and walked out.

"How about that? I told you Secretary Hong would buy it."

"Ten thousand US dollars—even if you, little bitch, sold yourself for a lifetime, you wouldn't earn that much."

Xie Ruolin put his arm around Xu Baofeng's waist and laughed triumphantly.

"Oh, Brother Xie."

"I was with you back when you were studying in Beiyang; don't forget, I was the one who taught you how to be a man."

"I don't care, you said we would share the wealth."

"You have to give me some."

Xu Baofeng immediately sat in his lap and began to act coquettishly.

"Didn't you think I was a loser?" Xie Ruolin sneered.

"I just like how straightforward and efficient you are."

"Brother Xie, I was wrong, okay?"

Xu Baofeng opened her mouth and gave him a few kisses in a syrupy voice.

"That's more like it."

"Take it."

Xie Ruolin picked up Hong Zhiyou's wallet, took out a few banknotes, and stuffed them into her neckline.

"Take it!"

Hong Zhiyou returned and handed him a stack of banknotes.

"Damn, he's rich!"

"If our Station Chief Sun had half the guts of Wu Jingzhong, would I still need to do this?"

Xie Ruolin took the money enviously and pulled a stack of materials out of his leather bag to hand over.

Hong Zhiyou took a look; the paper, the seals, and the signatures were all fine.

They were indeed the originals.

Regarding this kind of authentication.

There was no need to find anyone else; he was the expert.

"How did Ma Kui find Mrs. Meng? Did you leak it?" Hong Zhiyou asked, puzzled, as he put the documents away.

"He's worthy of that?"

"How could I leak such important intelligence to that poor wretch?"

"I'm also very curious how he found out."

"Maybe he found out about the guild hall affair while on a mission in Jingling?"

Xie Ruolin was also completely confused.

Hong Zhiyou could roughly understand a little.

One: Ma Kui assassinated Lu Zongfang.

Lu Zongfang was on the same line as Boss Tie; perhaps Ma Kui had found some clues.

Two: Ma Kui had once been captured by Wan Lilang.

Besides confessing, perhaps someone inside the Political Security Bureau had protected him.

Maybe that person leaked the information.

This Meng Army is very troublesome.

"Thanks."

Hong Zhiyou stood up to leave.

"Don't be in such a hurry. I heard Captain Ma caught a medicine seller and reported Director Yu," Xie Ruolin took two quick steps to block him.

"Hmm," Hong Zhiyou nodded.

"Yu... it's obvious there's a problem. He used to be close with someone named Zuo Lan in Shancheng."

"Zuo Lan went to the Soviet Union for advanced studies; she's a proper young backbone of Yancheng."

"Moreover, she is also the military mediation representative for the Reds this time."

"Just wait, there will definitely be a show to watch when they come to Jinmen this time."

"Are you sure you don't want to work together and play with this Zuo Lan?"

Xie Ruo raised an eyebrow and asked with a sly, crafty smile.

"You know quite a lot," Hong Zhiyou said curiously.

"That's a must.

"Do you really think our Vice Prefect Society is a pushover?

"It's a pity Ma Kui is too poor.

"Otherwise, we two would be a match made in heaven."

Xie Ruo sighed with emotion.

Hong Zhiyou couldn't be bothered to waste words with him; he stood up and walked out.

"Secretary Hong, where are you going? Give me a ride."

Xu Baofeng shamelessly chased after him, pulling at her collar to reveal a large patch of snow-white skin.

"Get lost!"

Hong Zhiyou offered only one word before driving away.

He liked women, but he had no interest in trash.

It might even be poisonous.

"Tch, what a piece of work. Just because you have a little stinking money, do you really think I'm dying for you?"

Xu Baofeng cursed as she returned to the room.

"Hey.

"Old Xie, do you think we could set a trap to catch Secretary Hong and fleece him for a fortune?"

Xu Baofeng had a flash of inspiration and suggested.

In the past, they hadn't set few traps for those mid-level municipal officials.

"Keep dreaming.

"The Juntong Bureau's methods are beyond what you can imagine.

"Not to mention this person has deep ties with the Boat Gang; if he has someone bury you alive one of these days, you'll know you messed up."

Xie Ruo mocked her coldly as if looking at an idiot.

He was truly at a loss with Hong Zhiyou.

With Wu Jingzhong and Long Er covering him, he had both the underworld and the authorities on his side.

Yet he was still a smart man who was greedy for money and lustful.

A person like this had no flaws, making it very hard to strike.

It grew dark.

When the Station Chief passed the confidential office after work, he specifically reminded Yu Zecheng not to forget his errand.

Yu Zecheng sat in the dim light.

His heart was anxious and panicked.

He wanted to save Shopkeeper Qiu.

He had to do something.

Perhaps Hong Zhiyou could help him and think of a way.

Moreover, he had leverage on Hong Zhiyou.

Click!

He heard the sound of the door opening.

Hong Zhiyou had returned.

Yu Zecheng took a deep breath and walked quickly toward the door.

"Zhiyou, you're back?"

Yu Zecheng called out with a beaming smile.

"Old Yu, it's so late, you're still not done?" Hong Zhiyou said.

"No, the Station Chief assigned some night work.

"To pick up Shopkeeper Qiu for a secret execution."

Yu Zecheng whispered into his ear.

"That's a good thing.

"Isn't it exactly what you want, for someone who goes around biting people to be dead?

"To take revenge with your own hands, how satisfying.

"It can also clear your name with the Station Chief."

Hong Zhiyou didn't take the bait and just chatted aimlessly with him.

"It's not that simple.

"This person is a divine physician and is very famous locally in Jinhai.

"Don't you believe in Buddhism?

"Killing such a person will bring retribution.

"You... you think he's a traitor like Li Haifeng who deserves to be executed by everyone?"

Yu Zecheng said with a depressed look.

"You haven't eaten dinner yet, right? Let's go to a restaurant," Hong Zhiyou said, waving his hand.

"Alright.

"I've been relying on you for help lately, brother, and I was just thinking of treating you to a meal."

Yu Zecheng knew he had something to say and was happy to agree.

They arrived at the restaurant.

They got a private room and ordered a couple of small dishes.

"Old Yu, how much money do you have?" Hong Zhiyou made a money-counting gesture.

"Definitely not as much as you," Yu Zecheng smiled.

"Keep some for your wife as living expenses; I want the rest."

Hong Zhiyou didn't do business at a loss; he took the folded document from his pocket and handed it to Yu Zecheng.

When Yu Zecheng saw it, his face turned pale.

"Framed.

"This is definitely the Political Security Bureau; those people under Wan Lilang are deliberately smearing me to avenge Li Haifeng."

For a moment, Yu Zecheng had the urge to draw his gun.

"The original is here.

"They didn't catch Boss Tie," Hong Zhiyou revealed proactively, fearing he would overthink it.

"That's good, that's good.

"If another Shopkeeper Qiu popped up, I wouldn't be able to explain myself even with a hundred mouths," Yu Zecheng said, his back breaking out in a cold sweat from fear.

He didn't know where Hong Zhiyou had gotten the document.

If this fell into someone else's hands, the trouble would be huge.

The only consolation was that the witness was gone and the original was here, so he was at least still safe.

As a hero personally commended by Boss Dai.

Without direct evidence, it was very hard to convict him directly.

"There actually is one.

"Even more dangerous than Shopkeeper Qiu.

"There's someone named Meng Jun who once performed surgery at the Shaanxi Guild Hall.

"Ma Kui went to find his wife.

"They probably didn't pry out any solid evidence, otherwise you'd be in the interrogation room right now."

Hong Zhiyou immediately poured a bucket of cold water on him.

"This... where is this person?

"Brother, Captain Ma is like a piece of stinking dog-skin plaster; it'll be very troublesome if he targets you," Yu Zecheng frowned and complained.

"Money.

"Even brothers must settle accounts clearly.

"Just buying these things cost me twenty thousand US dollars," Hong Zhiyou said.

"We'll talk about money later; I have some dirt on you too," Yu Zecheng picked up some food, trying to appear as relaxed as possible.

"What dirt?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"I went to the Station Chief's house to deliver something today and accidentally saw a document.

"It's Section Chief Liu's investigation report regarding you, brother. Want to hear it?"

Yu Zecheng asked, sitting firmly in his seat.

(End of chapter)