Chapter 82: Missing Person

The next day.

Hong Zhiyou arrived at the station, looking refreshed.

Yu Zecheng was eating fruit in the station master's office, and the two were chatting happily.

"Station Master, what are you and Director Yu chatting about? You look so happy."

Wu Jingzhong was always happy to share good news, and Hong Zhiyou dared to ask.

"Two pieces of good news.

"First: Qiu Ji has woken up; his life has been saved.

"Second: Zecheng's wife has already left the mountain area and is expected to arrive in Langfang by noon today.

"A few days ago, Section Chief Xue's wife also arrived.

"With Zecheng's wife coming, all the staff in our station will have their families here. Isn't that a great thing?"

Wu Jingzhong was in a great mood and laughed heartily.

"Yes, indeed.

"As the saying goes, men and women working together don't tire; with his wife here, Director Yu can work with more peace of mind."

Hong Zhiyou flattered and agreed.

Yu Zecheng's face flushed slightly, and he smiled brightly, though he felt more bitter than anyone inside.

Shopkeeper Qiu had gotten into this mess.

He had lost his superior.

This comrade named Cuiping might be very troublesome to deal with later.

"What else do you need to settle in at home?

"The station has funds; go to the International Market, pick the best, don't be afraid to spend money."

Wu Jingzhong turned his head and said to Yu Zecheng.

"Thank you, Station Master.

"The station has already taken good care of me. My wife is a mountain person and isn't that particular," Yu Zecheng said.

Just as they were chatting, the phone rang.

"Believe it or not, it's Director Dai," Wu Jingzhong said, pointing at the phone.

"Must believe it," Hong Zhiyou and Yu Zecheng said in unison.

Wu Jingzhong stood up nimbly and answered the phone:

"I am Wu Jingzhong!

"Madam!"

The smile on his face turned solemn, he stood straight, and at the same time, he raised his eyebrows in shock at Hong Zhiyou and old Yu.

"Madam, please listen to my explanation.

"Qiu Ji was framed by Ma Kui as a Red agent; I was just following standard procedure. Miss Hu Die can testify.

"I absolutely did not use torture; he was sent to the Shuitun Prison in one piece.

"Documents were issued that very day to release him.

"Who knew those people in the prison were dishonest and beat him."

When Wu Jingzhong said this, he nodded like a chicken pecking at rice:

"Yes, we must punish them severely and rectify the work style.

"Yes, use the best medicine; I will call a foreign doctor from Beiping.

"Madam, Qiu Ji has already woken up.

"It's just that his hands and feet were injured a bit.

"Disabled? There... there is a possibility.

"Madam, please don't be angry, listen to me. He is a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, not a soldier holding a gun. His brain is perfectly fine; it won't affect his pulse-taking or prescribing at all.

"Whether he limps or not doesn't affect his medical skills.

"Yes, give me two months, and I guarantee he will be jumping and hopping when he goes to Jingling.

"Alright, goodbye."

Wu Jingzhong hung up the phone, already covered in cold sweat.

"The Madam of the Generalissimo."

He had just raised his eyebrows, and before his words fell, the phone rang again.

"Mr. Yanji, hello. It's like this."

"Director Zheng, my old classmate, please listen to my explanation."

"Director, it's Jingzhong. The one surnamed Qiu has already woken up."

The phone didn't stop all morning.

Wu Jingzhong hung up the last call, his face full of fatigue as he cursed bitterly:

"Ma Kui, that idiot who belongs in a museum.

"After poking a hornet's nest, he ran to the headquarters' inspection office to cool off, and I'm the one who has to clean up his mess.

"Now everyone is pinning the blame on me.

"Zheng Jiemin even questioned if I was intentionally targeting Madam Jiang; he's really dumped a bucket of filth on me.

"Back at Sun Yat-sen University, when he had a high fever and was unconscious, it was me who carried him to the hospital in the heavy snow.

"Damn it, he's really not a decent person!"

Wu Jingzhong pointed at the ceiling and cursed for a long time.

"Station Master, please calm your anger.

"They still know to look for Qiu Ji for medical care; you must not harm your own health.

"Wouldn't that just grieve our loved ones and gladden our enemies?"

Yu Zecheng hurriedly offered words of comfort.

Hong Zhiyou poured him a cup of hot tea.

"Zecheng, Qiu Ji's safety and nutrition must be kept up.

"We must make him recover as soon as possible and throw this hot potato to Jingling."

Wu Jingzhong instructed.

"Later, before you go to pick up your wife, go to the hospital to see him first," he ordered Yu Zecheng.

"Station Master, I shot him a few times; that is an irreconcilable hatred.

"It wouldn't be good for me to go."

Yu Zecheng smiled bitterly.

"A gentleman is open and honest.

"Shooting him is shooting him; they are two different things. Go!" Wu Jingzhong pointed at him and ordered sternly.

"Yes!" Yu Zecheng accepted the order.

"Station Master, can I go?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"If you don't go accompany your little girlfriend to keep an eye on Mu Liancheng, why are you running there to breathe in disinfectant?" Wu Jingzhong glared with dissatisfaction.

"Station Master, didn't you say Qiu Ji is a hot commodity?

"Heaven knows if that foul mouth of his will run to the headquarters and spout nonsense.

"I have no grudges with him.

"Some things can be smoothed over.

"Besides, if he really becomes prominent in the future, I can also establish a connection.

"Not just anyone can hire a royal physician."

Hong Zhiyou leaned in closer and said with a worldly smile.

"Hmm, your idea is correct.

"When you see him, speak nicely, and take that bag of fruit from Wandao that Master Zhang gave me to him."

Wu Jingzhong nodded happily.

"Oh, Station Master, I drove my car too fast yesterday, and this morning I saw it had a flat tire.

"Do you think you could let Section Chief Xue approve a car for me?"

Hong Zhiyou asked.

"What's the use of finding him? He has no courage at all, and the seal is still being held by others.

"Go find Lu Qiaoshan."

Wu Jingzhong snorted coldly.

Just as the two were about to leave, Liu Xiong walked in, looked at them, and hesitated to speak.

Damn it, trying to be sneaky again?

"Station Master, then we'll be going," Hong Zhiyou said, showing he knew how to read the room.

"Go ahead," Wu Jingzhong nodded with a smile.

Hong Zhiyou took the fruit and walked out of the office with Yu Zecheng.

Wu Jingzhong watched Hong Zhiyou's retreating figure, a trace of appreciative, affectionate amusement appearing at the corners of his mouth.

It was as if he were seeing his younger self.

Skilled in human relations, slick and sophisticated.

Have you not seen Wang Tianmu and Chen Gongshu? One fell, the other died.

Only he remains evergreen and unfading.

What does he rely on?

It is nothing but the ways of the world.

Juntong agents are human, and Boss Dai, the Chairman, and Sun Ke are also human.

When human relations are handled well, there are fewer missions that cost one's head.

Hong Zhiyou has already obtained his true teachings; with this skill, he will be able to get by anywhere in the future.

It is a pity that his own Rui Rui found such a piece of "foreign-ink" trash like Su Jianhua; otherwise... if he and Hong Zhiyou, father-in-law and son-in-law, joined forces, not to mention comparing themselves to the Rong family, their future wealth and honor would be beyond words.

"Is something the matter?" Wu Jingzhong asked after coming back to his senses.

"Station Chief, Xu Bin has been arrested by Song Mingjie and Liao Sanmin," Liu Xiong said.

"No, why are they arresting Xu Bin?" Wu Jingzhong did not understand.

"Didn't you ask Warden Song to severely punish the Qiu matter?"

"Xu Bin led the extortion of Qiu Ji and broke several of his ribs."

"When Qiu Ji left, he made a fierce threat that even as a vengeful ghost, he would not let him go."

"Xu Bin is now crying injustice, saying he is one of our people; Warden Song doesn't know how to handle it."

"Should we fish him out or not?"

Liu Xiong asked.

"What a pig-brained fool."

"He's already shouted it out, how can I save him?"

"If I fish him out, it becomes the Jinhai Station extorting money, and me deliberately harming Qiu Ji."

"Wouldn't that just give Zheng Jiemin and Mao Renfeng a handle against me?"

"Tell Song Mingjie that there is no such person at the Jinhai Station."

"Execute him on the spot and publish it in the newspaper."

"The headline should be: 'Rectification: Cleaning up Prison Bullies, Corruption, and Extortion,' and he can write the content himself."

"Also, notify the Jinhai Daily; I want to personally review the article before it is published."

"This concerns our attitude toward Jingling, so we must be cautious."

Wu Jingzhong's eyes turned cold with killing intent as he gave the capable order.

"Yes!" Liu Xiong nodded to accept the order.

"Anything else?" Seeing the hesitation in his large eyes, Wu Jingzhong asked again.

"It's... it's about Li Ping."

"Station Chief, I have no son; he is someone I trained from the ground up." Liu Xiong rarely pleaded for personal favors.

Wu Jingzhong looked at him and laughed: "I didn't expect the 'Gray Eagle' to have a day where he would show favoritism."

"The Station Chief mocks me; I only ask that you consider all these years..."

Before Liu Xiong could finish, Wu Jingzhong gestured for him to sit.

He peeled an orange himself and handed it to him:

"You and I have been through life and death for many years; we are old brothers."

"This matter is easy to handle."

"As long as Director Yu doesn't talk nonsense, he will be fine."

"Tell him to apologize to the person properly and soften his tone."

"Thank you, Station Chief." Liu Xiong took the orange and said respectfully.

"Eat, don't be so formal with me."

"Back when we were fighting the Japanese devils, we hid in the sewers of Beiping; you took a bite of an apple, then I took a bite—how bitter those days were."

"Now that conditions are better and the devils have run away, we must learn to live like human beings."

"Don't act like an ascetic monk all day long."

Wu Jingzhong reminisced about the past, intentionally or unintentionally giving him a hint.

"Thank you, Station Chief." Liu Xiong smiled and began to eat it in large, simple bites.

"Li Ping is just like you, his loyalty is commendable, but he just doesn't understand human relations."

"Usually, when he sees me, he keeps his chin up, as if I owed him his salary."

"Toward Yu Zecheng and Secretary Hong, he treats them even less like people."

"You are all colleagues; you must remind him."

"Otherwise, he will be isolated by others later, and many things won't get done."

Wu Jingzhong continued to remind him.

"I don't understand these things."

"But I will definitely pass the Station Chief's words to him word for word." Liu Xiong nodded and said.

"Go, have Old Wu give Li Ping a hard time."

"Otherwise, I can't answer to Director Yu, and it will also dampen his arrogance." Wu Jingzhong ordered.

"Yes."

"Station Chief, I have one more thing; I must speak my mind."

Liu Xiong paused, then said it anyway.

"What is it?" Wu Jingzhong asked.

"Li Ping said that as soon as Yu Zecheng hit the road, he had diarrhea and squatted thirteen times in total."

"He suspects that Yu Zecheng was deliberately stalling for time."

"Li Ping checked the gunshot wounds; the shoulder was grazed, the leg didn't hit the knee, and the hand was also muscle tissue on the inner side above the elbow."

"Except for the left arm hitting the bone, the others were all through-and-through grazes."

"Li Ping believes Yu Zecheng held back."

"He deliberately dragged it out until Hong Zhiyou came to the rescue."

Liu Xiong analyzed.

Wu Jingzhong shook his head.

He was truly sick and tired of the hornet's nest that was Qiu Ji and just wanted this plague of a matter to pass quickly.

Moreover, this matter was very suspicious.

"Liu Xiong, use your brain... think about it carefully, is Hong Zhiyou some kind of great immortal?"

"Can he command Madame Jiang, Chen Bulei, and Bureau Chief Dai to set up a scheme together to help Yu Zecheng save someone?"

Wu Jingzhong suppressed his anger and analyzed the situation earnestly.

Liu Xiong was also so frustrated that he furrowed his brows:

"That is the strange part; I can't figure it out."

"If you can't figure it out, then don't think about it." Wu Jingzhong raised a hand to stop him.

After a pause, he pointed at Liu Xiong with dissatisfaction:

"Look at you; it was fine to keep an eye on Yu Zecheng because he had the dirty background of Zuo Lan and Lu Zongfang."

"Now you're biting onto Secretary Hong as well."

"Secretary Hong is from the Sino-American Special Training Class, transferred from thousands of miles away; I've investigated his hometown—his family has been farmers for eight generations. Is there anyone in the station with a cleaner background than him?"

"Are you only satisfied if everyone in this station is a 'Red'?"

"Fine, from today on, you take over all the work of the secretary and the confidential office."

"I will file a report immediately and send both of them to the Inspection Office."

After Wu Jingzhong finished speaking, he threw the banana he had just peeled heavily into the fruit tray.

Liu Xiong looked at him, his gaze firm, remaining silent.

"Alright, I know you also have good intentions."

"Don't you want to investigate Yu Zecheng?"

"Follow the car to Langfang to pick up the person, and investigate to your heart's content."

Wu Jingzhong knew this man was stubborn and that reasoning was useless, so he took the initiative to soften his tone.

"Yes!"

Liu Xiong hung his head and walked out.

Wu Jingzhong watched him leave coldly, then turned his head to look at the large characters on the wall:

"Consolidate the will, protect the leader."

"Is there any damn way to protect the leader like this?"

The night-shining pearl from the Empress Dowager that Yu Zecheng gave him—he hadn't even warmed it up yet.

The Chenghua chicken cup from Hong Zhiyou—he hadn't even looked at it enough.

Ma Kui is a fool.

Liu Xiong and Li Ping are simply idle.

This won't do; I must find something for Liu Xiong to do.

I need someone to properly grind down this foul and stubborn rock.

The only old-timer left in the station is Lu Qiaoshan.

His background is solid enough, and his methods are ruthless.

He's the one!

……

Inside the car.

Yu Zecheng sat in the passenger seat, humming a little tune and tapping his fingers to the beat.

"Heh."

"Your wife is coming, you're so happy."

Hong Zhiyou glanced at him and smiled.

Yu Zecheng's face sank instantly, and his interest vanished completely.

Damn it, he really doesn't know how to chat.

"Zhiyou, about that money matter..." Yu Zecheng hurriedly changed the subject.

"Twenty thousand US dollars, five gold bars."

"Not a cent less."

Hong Zhiyou said quickly.

"Heh, then you'd better hurry; my wife loves money," Yu Zecheng said.

"If a single cent is missing, I'll throw a grenade through your window tonight."

Hong Zhiyou wouldn't indulge him.

Arriving at the hospital.

The two entered the ward.

Meng Jun was talking to a nurse.

Shopkeeper Qiu lay on the bed, his face deathly pale.

"Dr. Meng, how is Qiu Ji?" Yu Zecheng asked, suppressing his heartache.

"No fatal wounds, but his ribs and hand bones are severely damaged, and he has lost too much blood; he may need to rest for a while," Meng Jun looked at the chart and handed it to the nurse nearby.

"Will he be disabled?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"His left hand may be crippled, and there is trauma to the leg bone."

"After he recovers, he will likely limp."

"Of course, it depends on the specific recovery."

Meng Jun said.

"Dr. Meng, thank you."

Yu Zecheng stepped forward to shake his hand, feeling sincere gratitude.

"Saving lives and healing the wounded is my duty."

"No matter who it is, once they are on the operating table, I will spare no effort," Meng Jun said indifferently.

"You go prepare the medicine first."

As he spoke, he waved his hand to dismiss the nurse.

"My wife is dead; someone snapped her neck in the street," Meng Jun said, looking at him.

The killer was very professional.

Chen Meizhi died without a hint of pain.

"My condolences," Yu Zecheng didn't know how to comfort him.

"I followed Mr. Tie for three years; he is the person I admire most."

"As for this wife of mine, I'm sure you all know her reputation."

"Meeting this end is retribution."

"Thanks."

Meng Jun patted Yu Zecheng's shoulder and turned to walk out.

"I can tell, the old brother has been quite stifled lately."

"If it weren't for Old Zhou, he might have had to pull a 'Golden Lotus, it's time to take your medicine' move."

Hong Zhiyou joked.

Yu Zecheng smiled and pulled a chair to sit by the bed.

Qiu Ji, who had been feigning unconsciousness, opened his eyes, a look of vigilance appearing on his face.

"You two talk."

Hong Zhiyou walked out very tactfully.

Qiu Ji's lips moved slightly, a pale smile appearing on his face.

Fearing surveillance, Yu Zecheng held Qiu Ji's hand and said in a business-like tone:

"Shopkeeper Qiu, the Station Chief said."

"I must visit you diligently and provide you with the best recovery conditions."

"Once your illness is cured, I will send you to Jingling."

"Lady Jiang and Chen Bulei want to recruit you as a royal physician; you must be cautious when you get there."

Yu Zecheng spoke as he talked.

Qiu Ji quietly wrote two characters in his palm:

Huang Zhong.

"Shopkeeper Qiu, rest well."

"If you have any requirements, just tell Dean Ding; he will satisfy them."

Having received the information, Yu Zecheng prepared to get up and leave.

Outside the door.

Ding Defeng and a man in a Zhongshan suit were talking to Hong Zhiyou.

"Zhiyou, who is this?" Yu Zecheng asked.

"Officer Liu from the Leader's Aide-de-Camp Office," Hong Zhiyou introduced.

The man took out his credentials and showed them to Yu Zecheng.

Yu Zecheng looked at them and returned them with both hands:

"Officer Liu, is there something?"

"The superiors have ordered that Qiu Ji be taken to Jingling for recuperation," the officer said.

"But his condition..." Yu Zecheng said with some concern.

"Military aircraft transport."

"The documents have already been sent to Station Chief Wu," the officer said coldly and proudly.

"Then send him."

"The conditions in Jingling are better than in Jinhai."

Yu Zecheng nodded in cooperation.

Someone immediately carried a stretcher inside.

Qiu Ji was carried out while lying down.

He did not open his eyes.

Yu Zecheng knew he was afraid of revealing flaws in his emotions or eyes.

Farewell.

Comrade Qiu Ji!

Yu Zecheng silently watched him go to say goodbye.

"Old Ding, is the person I asked you to help last night still here?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"Yes, in Special Care Ward No. 2," Ding Defeng said hurriedly.

"Please send this fruit basket over."

"It was air-freighted from the island; it must be eaten soon, don't let it rot."

Hong Zhiyou gave the prepared fruit basket directly to Ding Defeng.

"Alright, I'll send it over now," Ding Defeng said.

"Let's go, Old Yu, it's time to pick up your wife."

"It takes over two hours to get to Langfang from here."

Hong Zhiyou looked at his watch and urged.

"What's wrong, still want to take revenge for someone?" Once in the car, Hong Zhiyou laughed.

This is a public vehicle.

There is a high possibility of surveillance, so words must be spoken carefully.

"Yeah, not being able to blow his head off with one shot, I'm not satisfied," Yu Zecheng said, catching his meaning.

"Rest assured."

"The waters in Jingling run deep; there are plenty of people who will deal with him," Hong Zhiyou said, lighting a cigarette and taking a drag.

"I hope so," Yu Zecheng nodded.

Noon.

Following the location agreed upon in the letter from home, the two drove to an intersection between the mountainous areas of Langfang and Cangzhou.

Just as they arrived.

They saw Liu Xiong leaning against his car smoking.

Yu Zecheng's face sank instantly.

A persistent ghost.

Hong Zhiyou cursed under his breath as well.

With Ma Kui gone, an even tougher thorn had appeared.

This guy's nickname was Goshawk.

He was not someone that common trash like Ma Kui could compare to.

Liu Xiong had been staring fixedly at Yu Zecheng from the start.

If there were any more slips, it would be a fight to the death.

Reporting to all the commanders, today's 12, 00-word update is complete. Asking for a wave of monthly tickets and tips. Also, a special thanks to all the big bosses for pointing out errors and corrections, as well as book friend 20190627202009485 for the coin tip, mwah.

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(End of chapter)