Chapter 9: Happiness Came Too Suddenly

"You have axes, I have guns!"

"You have six thousand brothers, but the garrison, police, and security brigade aren't vegetarians either."

"Don't forget this is the party-state's world!"

Hong Hong Zhiyou said calmly.

"Do you believe it?"

"The garrison and police station all have dividends at the docks."

"I think they would be very happy to watch the show."

Zhang Zhang Shaobai snapped his fingers, and immediately a subordinate handed him a cigar.

Hong Hong Zhiyou naturally didn't believe it.

He just wanted to let Zhang Zhang Shaobai say it himself, so he could be sure.

"Young Master Zhang, are you threatening our Jinhai Station?" Hong Hong Zhiyou's expression turned gloomy.

"Of course not."

"For a general like Station Chief Wu, I naturally wouldn't dare to move."

"But a tiny second lieutenant... if a dog dies on the side of the road, do you think Wu Wu Jingzhong would care?"

Zhang Zhang Shaobai sneered coldly.

"Are you determined to eat me?" Hong Hong Zhiyou said.

"Let's make a bet; you won't live past seven days!" Zhang Zhang Shaobai threatened nakedly.

"I want to try." Hong Hong Zhiyou shrugged.

"Good!"

Zhang Zhang Shaobai turned to look at Miss Wanqiu: "Miss Miss Wanqiu, talent doesn't necessarily mean a long life; you must keep your eyes open."

"Don't be fooled by this cheap suit on him."

"He's just a sesame-sized second lieutenant, a character who serves tea and water at the Jinhai Station."

"In Jinhai, the only one who can save your uncle is me."

"Consider what I said last time again."

He wasn't bragging.

Why Fourth Master Zhang could rule Jinhai, besides the thousands of gang members, was that his eldest son, Zhang Zhang Shaojie, was a Whampoa graduate and currently served in the Military Commission.

Although the official position wasn't high, he had many connections in the middle and upper echelons.

With Lu Lu Qiao pulling strings, as long as the money was in place, recognizing a door at Inspector Zheng's place was possible.

Miss Wanqiu lowered her head and clasped her hands, biting her lip without speaking.

"Let's go, Secretary Hong, take care."

Zhang Zhang Shaobai looked at Miss Wanqiu playfully, bit his cigar, and swaggered away.

"Still want to go?" Hong Hong Zhiyou looked at Miss Wanqiu.

Miss Wanqiu's eyes were full of determination: "Of course."

Hong Hong Zhiyou nodded slightly, and the two went to the small garden in the back for a walk.

"Miss Wanqiu, he's right; I'm just a runner and a miscellaneous worker." Hong Hong Zhiyou said while walking.

"My uncle is a traitor."

"Too many people have come to the house these days—municipal, police, military police; they are all watching my uncle, and I know it's all for money."

"My uncle is probably doomed this time."

"So, whether you are a miscellaneous worker or a clean official, it doesn't matter to me."

Miss Wanqiu said in a deep voice.

"Then why did you come tonight?" Hong Hong Zhiyou asked.

"My parents left early; my uncle has always taken care of me, and I treat him like my own father."

"I have to do something."

Miss Wanqiu answered.

Thinking of Mu Liancheng taking women to Japan later, and Miss Wanqiu marrying Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin and living a displaced life.

In this era, you treat people like a father.

People might treat you like a fool to be used.

"When disaster strikes, everyone flies their own way; you are kind-hearted, what did Zhang Zhang Shaobai say to you?" Hong Hong Zhiyou sighed in his heart and asked with a smile.

"He, his father, Fourth Master Zhang, wants to marry me as a second wife." Mu Miss Wanqiu answered.

Second wife?

Hong Hong Zhiyou's brows locked tightly.

The Cao Gang was blocking his path to wealth, and now they were even eyeing Miss Wanqiu.

Truly a nemesis.

"What does your uncle think?" He asked.

"Uncle doesn't trust the Zhang family."

"He still loves me very much and has been bearing the pressure to protect me."

"The Cao Gang people even set fire to the front of the China Merchants Bureau building a few days ago, almost burning it down."

"Aunt said that everyone in Jinhai is fake, and the only one who can save us is Station Chief Wu."

Miss Wanqiu said with a bitter expression.

"She's right; Station Chief Wu can indeed save him." Hong Hong Zhiyou nodded.

But Hong Hong Zhiyou knew this was the Japanese woman's smoke bomb.

On the surface, they were sparing no effort to curry favor and seek survival and remove the label.

In reality, it was just to make the Station Chief relax his vigilance and escape to Japan like a cicada shedding its skin.

"But my uncle can't reach him."

"Aunt's meaning is that if I can marry someone from your Jinhai Station, maybe I can remove the label as a family member."

"So, I came today, for you."

Miss Wanqiu's pretty face flushed red, and she looked at Hong Hong Zhiyou with spring breeze in her eyes.

"A runner and a dog, disappointed?" Hong Hong Zhiyou said.

"You are not a dog."

"You are Beethoven, you are Mozart, you are light, you are wind."

"Really, I've never heard such beautiful music."

"Even in my dreams, I haven't."

Miss Wanqiu smiled very sweetly.

"Miss Wanqiu, that's not a dream; even if it is a dream, it will come true."

Hong Hong Zhiyou felt a pang of heartache for no reason and held her hand gently.

"Will it really come true?" Miss Wanqiu's eyes welled up with tears.

Hong Hong Zhiyou opened his mouth but didn't speak.

He could lie to her.

Lie to her heart, lie to her body.

But the reality was that Jinhai's situation was far more complex than in the original show.

This big mountain of the Zhang family even made the Americans helpless.

Hong Hong Zhiyou had plans in his heart, but he didn't have the absolute certainty to get through it.

Miss Wanqiu read his eyes, and a trace of sorrow appeared at the corner of her mouth: "They all say my uncle has two 'should-nots'."

"Shouldn't have money."

"Shouldn't have me as a niece."

"Money and beauty have been disasters since ancient times."

"Derrida said that maybe we can't control life, but we can control death; this is the last and absolute freedom humans possess."

"If that day comes, maybe it can come true?"

You really are a freedom fighter.

"You call this moaning without an illness; pessimism is not allowed."

"At least you are marrying an old man; no matter how bad it is, you can still eat and drink well and be a second wife."

"What about me? Zhang Zhang Shaobai issued a death warrant."

"Seven days!"

"But... who cares?"

Hong Hong Zhiyou held her smooth fragrant shoulders and winked with a smile.

"Miss Wanqiu, you've seen my heart."

"Don't panic, let's walk a bit further; maybe it won't be that bad."

His tone was gentle, melting into her heart.

"Hong, thank you." Miss Wanqiu felt warm in her heart and stood on tiptoe to kiss him.

"Find a room, I'll accompany you... let's sleep."

She murmured in Hong Hong Zhiyou's ear.

"What?" Happiness came too suddenly, and Hong Hong Zhiyou was a bit stunned.

"I'm very happy today; while I'm still a free person, I'll take charge once."

"Besides, I... haven't had a man yet."

Miss Wanqiu whispered.

"Then you're at a loss; didn't you hear what they called me?"

"Jinhai Cannon... King."

Hong Hong Zhiyou hugged her round little buttocks and smiled wickedly.

"Whether you are a saint or a Cannon... King."

"Who cares?"

Miss Wanqiu followed suit and laughed lightly.

As she spoke, her stomach rumbled.

"Even if we sleep, we have to eat first; you must be starving, I'll take you to eat." Hong Hong Zhiyou said.

Saying that, he pulled Miss Wanqiu and walked out.

He opened Fang Min's car.

Took the sealed box and suitcase, and returned to his own car.

"Where to?" Miss Wanqiu asked.

"You'll know when we get there; do you need to say hello to your aunt?" Hong Hong Zhiyou asked with a smile.

"No! Tonight, I'm your responsibility." Miss Wanqiu looked at him and smiled playfully.

"Yes, sir!"

Hong Hong Zhiyou drove straight to a small restaurant in a hutong and ordered a few home-cooked dishes.

Miss Wanqiu felt very relaxed with him.

She didn't put on any airs of a young lady at all, eating until her mouth was oily, extremely happy.

After eating, Hong Hong Zhiyou planned to take her to the Navy Club to avoid running into Fang Min.

After all, he wasn't made of steel.

"Have you thought it through? You weren't just hungry and dizzy, right?" Hong Hong Zhiyou paid the bill and rubbed her little hand.

"Hmm." Miss Wanqiu nodded, shy and slightly nervous.

Deep down, she had a longing and pursuit for freedom.

If tomorrow was destined to be dark, why not cherish this last bit of light and let go?

"Beauty is like jade, a beautiful woman has an appointment."

"For someone who is about to die, this is the best encounter."

After Hong Hong Zhiyou finished speaking, he held her hand and walked out of the restaurant.

Just about to get in the car.

People rushed out from both ends of the alley.

All were burly men in coarse clothes, each holding a short axe.

"Hong Hong Zhiyou!" The leader roared.

"Hong, what to do?" Miss Wanqiu was a bit panicked.

"It seems some people can't wait! Stay down and don't show your head." Hong Hong Zhiyou smiled, quickly opened the car door, and pushed Miss Wanqiu in.

"Kill!"

Damn!

Zhang Zhang Shaobai is truly a beast; he doesn't wait until tomorrow to settle a grudge!

Under the moonlight, it sparkled and shone.

So many, so sharp axes!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 10 =====