Chapter 83: Cuiping Arrives

"Damn it!"

Yu Zecheng rubbed his face, composed his expression, and stepped out of the car with a beaming smile.

Today, Liu Xiong had made a change from his usual self and shaved off his thick beard.

His Zhongshan suit was clean and neat, and his leather shoes were polished to a shine.

He had even put on a slightly curly wig over his naturally bald head.

He looked ten years younger, and standing there next to Yu Zecheng, the two of them were practically cut from the same cloth in terms of clothing and hairstyle; they really did look somewhat alike.

He'd even put on makeup!

Hong Zhiyou secretly felt that things were taking a turn for the worse.

Given Yu Zecheng's status, a mere county brigade couldn't possibly have his files or photos, but Cuiping might very well be tricked.

Yu Zecheng naturally saw through Liu Xiong's malicious intent and stepped forward to ask with a smile:

"Section Chief Liu, why are you here?

"Are you on a mission in this getup?"

Liu Xiong puffed on a cigarette and said:

"The Gendarmerie Headquarters is escorting a batch of Japanese prisoners, and I just happened to be passing through Bawang Village.

"As for the getup.

"Old Xiao's wife introduced me to a woman, and we met up; I was too lazy to change when I left the city because it was a hassle.

"How is it? Not bad, right?"

He even intentionally turned around to show it off.

"Not bad, not bad."

"It's a blessing for any girl to be able to marry Section Chief Liu."

Hong Zhiyou and his companion offered their praise.

"Director Yu, what about you two?"

"Oh, my wife is coming, so I'm here to pick her up," Yu Zecheng said.

"That's great, the Station Chief has been looking forward to this for a long time.

"I'll just happen to meet my sister-in-law and get familiar with her."

Liu Xiong laughed.

He's usually cold-faced and quite dull, but he comes back to life the moment he smells a promotion... Hong Zhiyou thought to himself, feeling even more wary of this man.

"Section Chief Liu is a busy man; I wouldn't want to delay your important business," Yu Zecheng said.

"Actually, it's just a formality.

"Nothing major," Liu Xiong made it clear he didn't want to leave.

"My wife will surely be happy when she sees you later."

Yu Zecheng offered a hollow compliment.

Afraid of being probed for information, he turned his head to the side and pretended to polish his shoes.

"Section Chief Liu, I heard from the Station Chief that you once crossed swords with Division Chief Shen.

"Tell me about it.

"I just love hearing about your past exploits in the martial world."

Seeing that the conversation was about to stall, Hong Zhiyou stepped forward and handed Liu Xiong a cigarette.

"Division Chief Shen follows the lineage of Dong Haichuan.

"I am from Cangzhou.

"I learned my family's style."

Liu Xiong rubbed his smooth chin out of habit and began to chat.

"Then between you and Division Chief Shen, who is..." Hong Zhiyou asked with a wink.

"Naturally, he is the stronger one.

"Back when the Station Chief and I were assassinating traitors and Japanese in Northern Manchuria, I suffered a lot of old injuries.

"I'm not bragging, but ten years younger.

"Just like this!"

Liu Xiong held out one hand, signaling he could take him down with one hand.

"Since we're just idling, why not show us a trick to open our eyes?"

Hong Zhiyou keenly captured that Liu Xiong was not without his weaknesses.

He liked to chase promotions.

And he seemed to be a martial arts enthusiast.

This might be a point that could be exploited.

Liu Xiong also intended to intimidate these two sneaky fellows, so he didn't decline and said:

"Easy enough.

"Watch closely!"

He leaned over and picked up two small pebbles.

Swish!

With a flick of his wrist.

The pebbles shot through the air like feathered arrows.

The sparrows in the tree scattered in a flurry.

Pop! Pop!

Two dead birds fell to the ground.

What incredible hand strength!

Shen Zui cracking walnuts with one hand was already impressive enough.

This trick of Liu Xiong's was even more terrifying.

If these stones hit someone's head, it would surely smash it to pieces.

"Section Chief Liu is truly a man of extraordinary talent," Hong Zhiyou exclaimed in surprise.

He exchanged a glance with Yu Zecheng, both of them feeling a deep sense of dread.

To be targeted by such a ruthless man was truly the worst luck in eight lifetimes.

"A mere parlor trick.

"The Station Chief used to have some skills too, but now that he's older and has put on weight, he just doesn't like to move much," Liu Xiong said indifferently.

Judging by the Station Chief's booming, full-chested voice, Hong Zhiyou believed this.

Just as they were talking.

"Giddy up, giddy up!"

A horse-drawn cart slowly drove over from the west end of Bawang Village.

The driver was a round-faced, slightly chubby young man in a coarse hemp outfit, wearing a dirty headscarf.

The cart was piled with a few bags of grain.

A woman in a coarse blue-flowered, white-based cloth garment sat on the cart smoking a dry pipe, with a tarnished silver longevity lock hanging around her neck.

Liu Xiong became alert in an instant.

"Sister-in-law is here."

Seeing that Yu Zecheng was a bit stunned, Hong Zhiyou quickly reminded him.

Yu Zecheng really hadn't recognized her.

The Cuiping in the photo had a fierce look in her eyes, but her appearance was passable.

This woman's complexion was sallow, and she looked much older.

If it weren't for that big mouth.

Yu Zecheng would have been afraid he'd recognized the wrong person.

Just as he was about to step forward, Liu Xiong took a step ahead of him and walked up with a smile:

"Cuiping, you've arrived."

Last time they ate at the Station Chief's house, the Station Chief had asked Yu Zecheng for Cuiping's name; Liu Xiong had deliberately memorized it, and today was the perfect time to test him.

Chen Cuiping had slept the whole way and was still feeling dazed from the jolting.

Seeing three men in Zhongshan suits, all about the same age, she couldn't help but be confused.

When she came, Political Commissar Yuan hadn't told her what Yu Zecheng looked like at all, only instructing her to act as a fake couple in Jinhai and that Old Yu would come to pick her up himself.

Now this was great, three of them had come at once.

God knows who Yu Zecheng was.

This one with the curly hair was calling to her.

Could it be...

Seeing that things were going wrong, Yu Zecheng shouted: "Cuiping, why aren't you getting off the cart? What are you staring at?"

Cuiping's heart skipped a beat, but fortunately, she reacted quickly.

She hurriedly gave Liu Xiong a simple, honest smile:

"You must be Station Chief Wu, right? Zecheng mentioned you in his letters; you're his superior and have always taken such good care of him."

As she spoke, she walked quickly to Yu Zecheng's side, tapped his arm with her pipe, and said fiercely:

"What are you doing? Why did you call Station Chief Wu over just to pick someone up?"

"I—I haven't even washed my face."

"If I'd known, I would've worn that outfit you gave me when we got married. It's so embarrassing to look this dirty."

The corners of Yu Zecheng's mouth twitched:

"Cuiping, this isn't the Station Chief; this is Section Chief Liu from the Security Section."

"He's here on business. It's a coincidence, just a coincidence."

"Aren't you going to greet Section Chief Liu and Secretary Hong?"

"Big Brother Liu, hello." Cuiping grinned and laughed.

"Sister-in-law, what kind of fabric was that dress you bought when you got married? Can you still wear it after keeping it for so long?" Liu Xiong asked, following the conversation.

Just now, there had been a trace of panic in this woman's eyes.

Her interaction with Yu Zecheng was also a bit awkward and forced; it didn't look like a long-awaited reunion.

He might be able to squeeze something substantial out of this.

"I don't know."

"My old Yu bought it. His family used to have land, so they could afford good fabric." Cuiping giggled foolishly.

"Sister-in-law, you've had a bumpy journey. Let me carry that for you."

Seeing the cloth bag slung over Cuiping's arm, Liu Xiong reached out to take it.

"No need, I can carry it myself." Cuiping pushed his hand away twice.

"Sister-in-law, you've got quite a grip." Liu Xiong exerted force and yanked it over.

Cuiping's expression turned somewhat displeased.

Yu Zecheng hurriedly interjected: "Women in the mountains are good at everything—cutting pig feed, growing vegetables, working the fields. My wife here can do the work of a man."

"That's right, our mother-in-law took a liking to me back then because I was so strong." Cuiping hurriedly chimed in.

"Indeed."

Liu Xiong reached out and felt the bundle.

It felt like he was touching a gold nugget—round and plump.

And quite heavy, too.

He just couldn't tell what it was for a moment.

Hong Zhiyou, standing to the side, shouted internally that it was bad.

He had missed a detail.

It looked like Cuiping had a hand grenade in her bundle.

Liu Xiong had likely noticed.

Sure enough, Liu Xiong's hand shook; he was about to pretend he couldn't hold it steady and spill the contents of the bundle.

Cuiping had long arms; with quick eyes and fast hands, she exerted force and snatched it back: "Section Chief Liu, there are women's scarves in the bag. It's bad luck, so I won't trouble you."

Liu Xiong was a bit stunned.

With his skills, he hadn't been paying attention for a second and had actually lost his touch in front of a village woman.

What the hell!

"Fine..."

Liu Xiong couldn't just snatch it openly.

Seeing his attention about to shift to Xiao Wuzi, who was driving the cart, Yu Zecheng hurriedly signaled Hong Zhiyou and stepped sideways, pulling Cuiping to block Liu Xiong's line of sight:

"Doesn't Section Chief Liu have a mission to attend to?"

"We won't bother you any longer and delay your important business."

Hong Zhiyou walked quickly to Xiao Wu, pulled out a handful of silver dollars, and stuffed them into the pocket where the handle of his gun was showing:

"Big brother, thanks for your hard work."

"It's not peaceful in the mountains here. Don't dawdle, be careful on the road."

The man called Xiao Wu was suddenly startled.

Seeing Hong Zhiyou frown and signal with his eyes, he realized he had almost slipped up and broke into a cold sweat:

"Thanks, brother. I'm off."

He deftly turned the horse around.

"Xiao Wuzi, when the New Year comes, we're slaughtering that big fat pig of ours. Remember to smoke a few pounds of bacon and send it over!" Cuiping waved and shouted at the top of her lungs.

"Got it." The man replied, whipping the horse and disappearing at the end of the road.

"Mrs. Yu, get in the car."

Liu Xiong decided to probe Cuiping's background further and took the initiative to open the car door.

"Section Chief Liu."

"A couple newly reunited after a short separation surely has endless whispers to share."

"You haven't taken a wife, so you don't know the joys of a man and woman sitting in a car."

"Let's not disturb them."

"Are you heading back? I'll ride in your car instead."

Hong Zhiyou stopped pretending and stepped forward, ready to climb into the car.

The Station Chief had made it clear now: he wanted him and old Yu to join forces to rake in money.

They were close, after all.

Old Liu could think whatever he wanted.

In that guy's eyes, everyone was just a source of profit anyway.

"Oh."

"I just remembered, I have some business over there that isn't finished yet."

"Secretary Hong, you go with their car. I'll head off first."

Seeing he had no chance, Liu Xiong pulled Hong Zhiyou, causing him to stumble, and slammed the car door shut in frustration.

Then, he got into the driver's seat and sped off with a stomp on the gas.

Yu Zecheng pulled Cuiping into the back seat.

After such a scene.

Hong Zhiyou had no heart left to go eat mutton soup and pancakes or watch the Japanese repair cars.

He took a direct detour and returned to the city.

Upon arriving at the entrance.

Lu Qiaoshan was directing the construction workers to move things inside.

"Department Head Lu, what is this?"

Yu Zecheng brought Cuiping forward to greet him.

"Sister-in-law is here. The Station Chief asked me to purchase some daily necessities for you."

"And some for little Hong, too."

"Sleeping in the office every day won't do, so I took care of it all at once."

"Once your parents arrive in a couple of days, this courtyard will be quite lively."

Lu Qiaoshan said with a beaming smile.

"Department Head Lu, these glasses of yours are nice. They shine just like gold. They must have cost a lot of money."

Before Yu Zecheng could speak, Cuiping started examining the foreign spectacles.

"The same model as Marshall's, a gift from the Station Chief." Lu Qiaoshan showed off as usual.

"Ma Xieer?"

"Aren't scorpions used for medicine? Can they be made into glasses?" Cuiping blinked, looking like someone who had never seen the world.

"Sister-in-law, you..." Lu Qiaoshan lost face and felt somewhat annoyed.

"Old Lu, she's from the countryside and hasn't seen much. Don't take offense."

Yu Zecheng gave an apologetic smile, picked up a pen to sign, and hurriedly pulled Cuiping upstairs.

"Little Hong, you say Director Yu's wife..." Lu Qiaoshan laughed, speechless.

"Well, naturally, she can't compare to your Lady."

"Department Head Lu, the latest batch of foreign liquor is arriving soon. The Falanxi Axe brand, the best-selling one from the Longyang Company. It's excellent."

"I've reserved twenty cases for your wife, for when Mrs. Kang returns from Shanghu."

"I'll have her call your wife. Same as usual, a twenty percent discount."

Hong Zhiyou pulled Lu Qiaoshan to the side to whisper.

"Brother, no wonder they say we're like real brothers."

"Thanks. Come to my place for dinner another day."

Lu Qiaoshan smiled with satisfaction.

"What are you thanking me for?"

"I'm not blind. Right now, the two sections and the Seventh Section in the station are all resting on your shoulders. If I remember correctly, the commendation for the last raid on the red-ticket printing factory should be announced soon."

"By then, you might just become a Colonel and Deputy Station Chief."

"Following you, Brother Shan, means I'll be living the high life."

Hong Zhiyou said with fawning flattery.

"Sigh, the greater the ability, the greater the responsibility."

"You see this Xue Dongshan, I've urged him hundreds of times to come and take the seal for the General Affairs Section."

"He just plays dumb and pretends to be deaf to shirk his duties."

"I am truly exhausted day after day."

Lu Qiaoshan felt puffed up by the flattery and started putting on airs again.

"The capable have more to do, the capable have more to do." Hong Zhiyou played along with his posturing.

"Brother, have you heard any wind of it?"

After a pause, Lu Qiaoshan brought up serious business.

"What wind?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"That goddamn Ma Kui, the Headquarters Inspection Office only locked him in solitary for a few days, and he was released without a scratch."

"I heard Mao Renfeng even personally invited him to a casual meal."

Lu Qiaoshan said, his ears and eyes well-informed.

"He used to be Mao Renfeng's bodyguard; isn't it normal for Director Mao to protect him?" Hong Zhiyou said.

"It's not normal."

"Wasn't it him who arrested Qiu?"

"Lady Jiang even called the Station Chief directly, yet Ma Kui, the primary culprit, is completely fine."

"This is clearly Director Dai protecting him, shifting the blame onto the Station Chief and Warden Song."

Lu Qiaoshan lived up to his status as a veteran; his analysis was incisive.

"No, why would the Bureau Chief want to protect him?" Hong Zhiyou was puzzled.

"Heaven knows."

"He must have leaked some information at headquarters."

"I have a premonition that this man will sooner or later return with the Imperial Sword in hand."

Lu Qiaoshan adjusted his glasses and said in a low voice.

"Let him come if he wants to." Hong Zhiyou said.

"The problem is that I was the one who interrogated him. He is a Lieutenant Colonel; if he comes back to stab me in the back, my position as Deputy Station Chief will surely be in jeopardy."

"It's a pity that the evidence I kept back then was destroyed by the Station Chief."

"Otherwise, with those photos, I could have crushed him."

Lu Qiaoshan said with a sinister look.

"Ma Kui is just a flea; how could he be a match for you, Section Chief Lu?"

"Besides, the Station Chief finds him annoying."

"Even if he returns, he won't be able to stir up any waves."

Hong Zhiyou comforted him.

"You don't understand."

"Ma Kui is willing to do the dirty work, and the Station Chief likes people like that."

"Moreover, Section Chief Liu and Ma Kui have met in private several times."

"Both of them are in charge of operations and hold guns in their hands."

"Especially Section Chief Liu, who has his own intelligence network; if they join forces, there will be nothing left for me, the Intelligence Section Chief, to do."

"If they target me together, it will be very troublesome."

Lu Qiaoshan said, feeling troubled.

"Brother Shan, as a veteran like you, can't you handle Section Chief Liu?" Hong Zhiyou probed.

"This man doesn't drink, gamble, or visit brothels, he isn't greedy for money, and he's a bachelor."

"Who could kick such an iron plate?"

Lu Qiaoshan shook his head helplessly.

"Let's take it one step at a time; it's not certain whether Ma Kui can even come back." Hong Zhiyou said.

Just as they were speaking.

They saw a man carrying a suitcase step down from a rickshaw.

He got off and checked the house number.

Seeing so many people in the courtyard, he looked a bit bewildered.

Hong Zhiyou took a look.

Isn't this the eavesdropping fanatic Zhou Yafu?

His timing is impeccable.

Cuiping has just arrived, and he's already impatient to come and eavesdrop.

It seems Liu Xiong has already become suspicious of Cuiping.

He is going to watch her to death.

……

Dear commanders, there will be two more updates during the day. The group has already been created. Update times and notifications for additional chapters will be posted in the group first. Everyone is welcome to join the group to point out errors and discuss the plot and historical figures. Thank you.

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(End of this chapter)