Chapter 81: The Ingenious Schemes of Hong Zhiyou

Hong Zhiyou rushed over, snatched the flashlight from Li Ping's hand, and shone it on Shopkeeper Qiu.

The man had been nearly riddled with bullets.

"Is he still breathing?" he asked.

"Probably not," Yu Zecheng said coldly.

"Damn it."

Hong Zhiyou stood up and backhanded him across the face.

The muscles in Yu Zecheng's cheeks tightened; it felt good!

"Secretary Hong, what happened..."

Li Ping had just started to speak when Hong Zhiyou kicked him over.

"Boss Dai has ordered that not a single hair on Qiu Ji's head be harmed; send this man to Jingling immediately.

"What are you standing there for?

"Hurry up and load him into a car to the hospital.

"If Qiu Ji dies, the Station Chief will have your head first."

Hong Zhiyou pointed at Li Ping and turned to leave.

"Quick!

"Quick!"

Li Ping panicked.

Several men scrambled to lift the fading Qiu Ji into a car.

"You go to the hospital first.

"I'll take a car with Section Chief Yu."

Hong Zhiyou ordered.

Li Ping didn't dare to object.

He knew Yu Zecheng had an upset stomach; if the rescue were delayed, he would be the one held responsible.

He immediately took the order and rushed Shopkeeper Qiu to the Army Hospital.

"Sorry, I'm late.

"I hope Shopkeeper Qiu can be saved, otherwise the Station Chief will bury you all alive."

Hong Zhiyou started the car and glanced at Yu Zecheng.

Fearing the car was bugged, this was the only way he could offer comfort.

Yu Zecheng looked bitterly out the window, his eyes already red with tears.

"Stop the car, my stomach hurts..." he said, turning his head.

Hong Zhiyou understood.

Old Yu had exhausted every means; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to drag it out until now.

He lit a cigarette and handed it to Yu Zecheng.

Yu Zecheng shook his head and refused.

He found a spot where Hong Zhiyou couldn't see him and let his tears fall freely.

Infiltration is cruel.

But Shopkeeper Qiu, this comrade he had known for less than a hundred days,

had shown him what a warrior forged in fire truly was.

Faith is an incomparably powerful force.

His grief could only stop here.

Fight.

Continue to fight.

Until, like Shopkeeper Qiu, he died in silence and peace.

Yu Zecheng pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his tears, regaining his calm.

"Let's go."

He returned to the passenger seat, his gaze fixed forward, resolute and steady.

They arrived at the hospital.

The man had already been wheeled into the operating room.

Wu Jingzhong was throwing a tantrum in the hallway, shifting the blame onto Song Mingjie and Li Ping:

"Warden Song, I told you to watch one person.

"And you watched him so well that you had him beaten into this state.

"Now look, Boss Dai wants the man, how am I supposed to explain this?

"He's going to die.

"You might as well go to Jingling and treat Boss Dai, Chen Bulei, and Lady Jiang yourselves."

Song Mingjie hung his head, not daring to make a sound.

But inside, he was cursing.

You were the one who ordered him into the special cell.

Don't you know what kind of place that is and how things are done there?

You have the nerve to make me the scapegoat.

No choice; rank crushes people.

This is just standard operating procedure for the Party-State's officials.

Stand at attention and take the beating.

Seeing Yu Zecheng and Hong Zhiyou, Wu Jingzhong glared at them but didn't have the heart to scold them; instead, he pointed at Li Ping's chest and demanded:

"Why didn't you stop Section Chief Yu?

"What did I tell you? You had to ensure Qiu Ji's safety.

"Did you hear me?"

"Yes... yes," Li Ping said, lowering his head.

"If you heard me, why did you open fire? This is attempted murder!" Wu Jingzhong picked up a massive pot of blame and slammed it onto his head first.

"Who told you to open fire?"

He asked Yu Zecheng again.

"It was, it was Little Li.

"He set the trap and told me to fire."

Yu Zecheng knew he had to be on the same side as the Station Chief at this moment.

It would be fine if Qiu Ji didn't die.

If he died, someone had to be punished.

Old Wu had privately ordered him to eliminate Qiu Ji.

But on the surface, he would never order a non-confidant subordinate like Little Li directly.

This is the art of leadership.

Little Li must have received the message from Liu Xiong.

Unless Liu Xiong jumped out to implicate the Station Chief.

But that was impossible.

Because the Station Chief was not a Red.

Executing Shopkeeper Qiu was also what Liu Xiong wanted most to see.

With Liu Xiong's stubborn nature, he would rather take the blame and die than betray his old brother and old leader, Wu Jingzhong.

"Did you order the fire?" Wu Jingzhong asked Little Li.

"Yes."

Li Ping was tough; he gritted his teeth and admitted it.

Station Chief Wu indeed hadn't ordered him.

It was a secret order from his master, Liu Xiong.

"You bastard, you have some nerve.

"Someone, take him to the interrogation room and keep him under guard."

Wu Jingzhong ordered furiously.

Security guards immediately dragged Li Ping away.

"And you!

"Don't just spend your days playing cards and drinking; take your eyes off those women's chests and clean them out.

"Keep a close watch on that bunch of pigs under you.

"Find a few scapegoats so I can report back to my superiors."

Wu Jingzhong pointed at Song Mingjie and ordered coldly.

He was teaching him the way... Song Mingjie breathed a secret sigh of relief and stood at attention:

"Yes, Station Chief Wu."

"I shall strictly rectify discipline and style now, and give you and Boss Dai an explanation."

Wu Jingzhong did not directly manage the prison.

But like the Gendarmerie Headquarters and the Police Bureau, he had the power of supervision and dispatch.

If he really wanted to get someone, sending them in to rot for a few years would be easier than crushing an ant.

"Go and handle it."

Wu Jingzhong waved his hand, his tone softening slightly.

"Yes."

Song Mingjie walked away quickly.

"You two, come here."

With no outsiders left, Wu Jingzhong called the two of them into the lounge.

"Station Chief, this... what exactly is going on?

"Why did Boss Dai suddenly ask for someone?

"And it even involved Chen Bulei and Lady Jiang."

Yu Zecheng feigned a look of puzzled shock as he asked.

"It's all because of that Hu Die.

"Women, at critical moments, they are bound to ruin things.

"She followed Boss Dai to Shancheng, and while chatting with Lady Zhang Qun, she said that Qiu Ji was some kind of damn miracle doctor, and that just a few doses of medicine cured Boss Dai's chronic rhinitis.

"Zhang Qun's wife is a notoriously big mouth; she turned around and spread it everywhere.

"The Generalissimo and Lady Jiang found out too.

"So, they had Boss Dai and Chen Bulei come to me for the person."

Wu Jingzhong slapped his palm in frustration.

He was determined to kill Qiu Ji.

Firstly, to retaliate against Qiu Ji for ruining his poison scheme.

Secondly, this person was suspected of being a Red, and keeping him was a disaster; at the very least, it was disadvantageous to Yu Zecheng and affected his own fortune.

Hong Zhiyou felt secretly grateful in his heart... Hu Die really did things after receiving the script.

"You say this Miss Hu... I was just one shot away from blowing Qiu Ji's head off to get revenge." Yu Zecheng frowned and complained unhappily.

"Forget it.

"If it weren't for my driving skills and loud voice, Qiu Ji's head would have blossomed half a second earlier." Hong Zhiyou smiled, taking the opportunity to claim some credit for himself.

"No wonder you pray to Buddha so well.

"Go back and pray more tonight, let your Buddha show mercy and bless this Qiu Ji so he can survive."

Wu Jingzhong stood with one hand behind his back and laughed.

"Zecheng, aren't you being a bit too ruthless?"

Turning his head, he gave Yu Zecheng a commendation that was a mockery on the surface but praise in secret.

"Teacher, he's allowed to spout nonsense, but I can't fire a few shots?" Yu Zecheng laughed.

"Your shot was well-placed; at least you left a glimmer of life."

Wu Jingzhong nodded.

"Who is the lead surgeon, and are they reliable?" Yu Zecheng asked.

"His name is Meng Jun.

"Ding Defeng said this person is excellent at practical operations.

"Previously, Liu Pu from the municipal government was shot by a stray bullet, and it was this Meng Jun who snatched him back from the hands of the King of Hell."

Wu Jingzhong said.

Meng Jun, he also saved me before... Yu Zecheng was immediately relieved.

He had been measured when firing his gun and hadn't hit any vital organs.

Back in the day, Qin Chi, the head of the action section under Wan Lilang, had aimed every single shot at his chest.

And hadn't he been saved by Meng Jun too?

Qiu Ji must have great fortune and a long life; he would surely survive.

"Don't worry, Teacher.

"I see that this man surnamed Qiu has a deep-set brow and a full forehead; it's the face of a long life, he won't die." Hong Zhiyou poured them hot tea and said with a smile.

"Zhiyou, you're praying to Buddha and telling fortunes; I think you should stop being a secretary and go set up a stall at the overpass instead." Yu Zecheng teased while holding his teacup.

"The ladies at the club all believe in this.

"I specifically found a few books to read, otherwise I wouldn't be able to chat with them.

"This is called having a specialty in one's field."

Hong Zhiyou said with a thick-skinned smile.

"I hope your 'Half-Immortal Hong' prediction is accurate, otherwise we'll be in trouble." Wu Jingzhong nodded and sighed.

"Teacher, it shouldn't be that bad, right?" Yu Zecheng said.

Wu Jingzhong shook his head and let out an "Aiya":

"You don't understand.

"In Jinhai, others see us as the supreme authority.

"In the eyes of the Ministry of National Defense in Jingling, Boss Dai, and Lady Jiang, we are just little ants; they can crush us with a single word.

"They don't care whether you live or die.

"What do people with money and power fear most?

"Sickness and death!

"I'm busy running around every day for those scraps, but they've already made enough and don't care about that.

"They value this Qiu Ji far more than gold or dollars.

"Red or black, who the hell cares? What they want is immortality.

"This person is a hot commodity.

"I'll bet you, as long as he doesn't die, he'll definitely be transferred to Jingling to become the 'imperial physician' for those high-ranking officials."

Wu Jingzhong shook his finger at the two of them, looking as if he had it all figured out.

"Teacher.

"I think they are right.

"Having money is good, but you have to be alive to spend it.

"Nowadays, skilled traditional Chinese medicine doctors are harder to find than pearls in the ocean; who doesn't want to live a few more years?

"Take your wife for example; at your age, you should both be properly looked after.

"Ruirui will be counting on you to help raise your grandchildren in the future."

Hong Zhiyou added fuel to the fire to score points for Shopkeeper Qiu.

At the mention of his daughter, Wu Jingzhong's heart softened:

"That's true, my prostate has been acting up lately; I have to run to the restroom several times a night.

"To have a miracle doctor and not use him, and then almost lose him.

"And you two, always wise after the event.

"Now the man is half-dead, and even if he lives, he'll be transferred to Jingling.

"The duck at my lips has flown away!"

Wu Jingzhong spread his hands, still shifting the blame.

"Yes, yes!

"It's my fault for not having rhinitis." Hong Zhiyou nodded and decisively shifted the blame to Old Yu.

Yu Zecheng took it steadily:

"Yes, it's all this student's fault.

"It's my fault for having rhinitis, and the treatment was so effective that I didn't report it to you, Teacher, sooner."

"Forget it, are we going to stop eating pork just because the butcher is gone?

"There are plenty of good doctors in Jinhai; just keep your eyes open in the future.

"I can't take it anymore.

"Zhiyou, don't forget your vegetarianism and prayers; pray for the one surnamed Qiu."

Wu Jingzhong gave an order and walked out.

Once he was gone.

Yu Zecheng loosened his collar and sprawled out on the sofa in a relaxed manner.

"Why are you still standing there?" He looked at Hong Zhiyou.

"What do you mean?" Hong Zhiyou didn't understand.

"Go back and pray to your Bodhisattva." Yu Zecheng urged with a smile.

What happened to the "steel red current" we talked about?

"You believe in this too?" Hong Zhiyou laughed.

"I don't, but I believe in you."

"Really, I'm impressed."

"The Jinmen Station needs a hundred, a thousand Secretary Hongs."

Yu Zecheng looked as if he had seen a ghost; he sat up straight abruptly and stared at Hong Zhiyou with a squinting, strange smile.

"Then aren't you going to take off?"

Hong Zhiyou couldn't be bothered with him; he shoved his hands into his pockets and walked out: "Go find Physician Ding and get some medicine."

"I'm not having diarrhea anymore," Yu Zecheng said.

"It's for pain relief and reducing swelling."

Hong Zhiyou gave a lazy smile, *clack*, and left, closing the door behind him.

Only then did Yu Zecheng feel that something was wrong with his cheek; he touched it and it was swollen high.

"Hiss!"

It hurt so much.

That goddamn Hong Zhiyou, he really hit him.

Yu Zecheng applied the medicine.

Thinking of Shopkeeper Qiu lying in the hospital bed next door, now with hope for survival.

His mood instantly improved a lot.

He reached out and turned on the radio.

News of the Party-State came from inside:

"The Chairman has issued a statement; the Double Tenth negotiations are imminent. To commemorate all the heroes who sacrificed themselves in the War of Resistance, the work of purging traitors must be strictly enforced to the end."

"Specially ordered Deputy Director Dai Li to form inspection teams for purging traitors in every province."

"Appointed Wang Puchen as the leader of the Beiping inspection team."

"Appointed Wu Jingzhong as the leader of the Jinmen inspection team."

"Appointed Mao Sen as the leader of the Shanghu inspection team."

"And specially ordered Major Wei Guilong to serve as the special commissioner of the headquarters inspection office, to head to Shanghu to supervise the work of purging traitors..."

No way!

Was Wei Guilong really sent to Shanghu to deal with Wanlilang?

Yu Zecheng felt his sense of security explode instantly.

How could there be a living immortal like Hong Zhiyou in this world?

As long as you pay him.

There is simply nothing he can't get done.

No, he still had to find Hong Zhiyou.

Ma Kui had been in contact with Chen Meizhi, and he was still in the inspection office crying injustice at this moment.

If Wanlilang fell into the hands of the headquarters, there was no telling what explosive information he might spill; Mao Renfeng would surely kill him.

He had to get to Wanlilang and finish him off before Wei Guilong did!

Dear Commanders, let me report first: the end of the previous chapter has been revised according to the opinions of the big bosses. There is another chapter this afternoon. I won't eat; I'm going to keep writing.





(End of chapter)