Chapter 9: Happiness Comes Too Suddenly

"You have an axe, I have a gun!"

"You have six thousand brothers, but the garrison, the police, and the Security Brigade aren't pushovers either."

"Don't forget, this is the Party-State's world!"

Hong Zhiyou said calmly.

"Do you believe that?"

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

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

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

Of course, Hong Zhiyou did not believe it.

He just wanted to let Zhang Shaobai say it himself to confirm it.

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

"Of course not."

"For a general-rank officer like Station Chief Wu Jingzhong, I certainly wouldn't dare make a move."

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

Zhang Shaobai sneered coldly.

"So you've decided you have me cornered?" Hong Zhiyou said.

"Let's make a bet, you won't live past seven days!" Zhang Shaobai threatened him bluntly.

"I'd like to try," Hong Zhiyou shrugged.

"Fine!"

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

"Don't be fooled by the cheap suit he's wearing."

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

"In Jinhai, I am the only one who can save your uncle."

"Think about what I said last time again."

He was not exactly bragging.

Why was Fourth Master Zhang able to summon wind and rain in Jinhai? Besides the thousands of members of the Cao Gang, his eldest son, Zhang Shaojie, was a Whampoa graduate currently serving in the Ministry of National Defense.

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

With Lu Qiaoshan acting as a go-between, as long as the money was right, getting a foot in the door with Zheng Jiemin was possible.

Wanqiu lowered her head, clasped her hands, and bit her lip in silence.

"I'm off, Secretary Hong, take care."

Zhang Shaobai gave Wanqiu a playful look, then swaggered away with the cigar in his mouth.

"Still going?" Hong Zhiyou looked at Wanqiu.

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

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

"Wanqiu, he's right, I'm actually just an errand boy," Hong Zhiyou said as they walked.

"My uncle is a traitor."

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

"My uncle probably won't escape this catastrophe."

"So, whether you are an errand boy or an honest official doesn't matter to me."

Wanqiu said in a low voice.

"Then why are you still coming tonight?" Hong Zhiyou was puzzled.

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

"I have to do something."

Wanqiu replied.

Thinking of how Mu Liancheng later took women to the island nation, and how Wanqiu married Xie Ruo and lived a life of displacement.

In this world, you treat someone like a father.

They might just treat you like a fool to be exploited.

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

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

A second wife?

Hong Zhiyou frowned tightly.

Not only was the Cao Gang blocking his path to wealth, but now they were eyeing Wanqiu too.

What a damn nemesis.

"What does your uncle think?" he asked.

"My uncle doesn't trust the Zhang family."

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

"A few days ago, the Cao Gang even set fire to the Merchant Shipping Bureau building; it almost burned down."

"My aunt says everyone in Jinhai is fake, and the only one who can save us is Station Chief Wu."

Wanqiu said with a pained expression.

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

But Hong Zhiyou knew this was a smokescreen by the Japanese woman.

On the surface, she was sparing no effort to curry favor and get the "traitor" label removed.

In reality, it was just to make the Station Chief lower his guard so they could escape to the island nation like a cicada shedding its skin.

"But my uncle can't reach him."

"My aunt's idea is that if I could marry someone from your Jinhai Station, perhaps as a family member, we could get the label removed."

"So, I came today, for you."

Wanqiu's pretty face flushed slightly, and she looked at Hong Zhiyou with eyes full of tenderness.

"Just an errand-running paparazzi, disappointed?" Hong Zhiyou said.

"You are not a paparazzi."

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

"Really, I have never heard such beautiful music."

"Not even in my dreams."

Wanqiu smiled very sweetly.

"Wanqiu, that wasn't a dream, and even if it were, it will come true."

Hong Zhiyou felt a sudden, inexplicable heartache and gently took her hand.

"Will it really come true?" Tears welled up in Wanqiu's eyes.

Hong Zhiyou opened his mouth but said nothing.

He could lie to her.

Lie to her heart, lie to her body.

But the reality was that the situation in Jinhai was far more complex than in the original story.

Even the Americans were helpless against the mountain that was the Zhang family.

Although Hong Zhiyou had plans in his heart, he had no absolute certainty of getting through this.

Wanqiu read his eyes, and a trace of sorrow appeared at the corners of her mouth: "They all say my uncle has two faults."

"He shouldn't have money."

"He shouldn't have a niece like me."

"Money and beauties have been the source of disaster since ancient times."

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

"If that day comes, perhaps it could come true, right?"

She really was a freedom fighter.

"That's just moaning without an illness; pessimism is no good."

"At least you'd be marrying an old man, and no matter how bad it gets, you'd still be a second wife with food and drink."

"As for me, Zhang Shaobai has issued a death warrant."

"Seven days!"

"But... who cares?"

Hong Zhiyou held her smooth shoulders and blinked with a smile.

"Wanqiu, you've seen my intentions."

"Don't panic, let's keep moving forward; perhaps it won't be that bad."

His tone was gentle, melting into her heart.

"Hong, thank you," Wanqiu felt a warmth in her heart and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him.

"Go find a room, I'll accompany you... to sleep."

She bit Hong Zhiyou's ear and murmured.

"What?" Happiness had come too suddenly, and Hong Zhiyou was a bit dazed.

"I am very happy today; while I am still a free woman, I shall be the master of my own choices for once."

"Besides, I... have never been with a man."

Wanqiu whispered softly.

"Then you're at a loss; haven't you heard what they say about me?"

"The Jinhai Cannon... King."

Hong Zhiyou held her round, perky bottom and smirked.

"Whether you are a saint or a cannon... king, it doesn't matter."

"Who cares?"

Wanqiu followed his lead and chuckled softly.

As she spoke, her stomach let out a rumble.

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

Saying this, he pulled Wanqiu and walked outside.

He opened Fang Min's car.

He retrieved the sealed box and the suitcase, then returned to his own car.

"Where are we going?" Wanqiu asked.

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

"No! Tonight, I leave myself in your hands," Wanqiu looked at him and said with a playful smile.

"As you command!"

Hong Zhiyou drove directly to a small restaurant in an alley and ordered a few home-style stir-fried dishes.

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 finishing the meal, Hong Zhiyou planned to take her to the Naval Club to avoid running into Fang Min.

After all, he wasn't made of steel.

"Have you thought it through? You weren't just lightheaded from hunger earlier, were you?" Hong Zhiyou paid the bill and rubbed her small hand in his.

"Mm." Wanqiu nodded, her shyness tinged with a hint of nervousness.

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

If tomorrow was destined to be dark, why not cherish this last bit of light before them and indulge just once?

"A beauty like jade, a lovely lady with an appointment."

"For a man about to die, this is the best encounter."

After Hong Zhiyou finished speaking, he took her hand and led her out of the restaurant.

Just as they were about to get into the car.

A dark mass of people rushed out from both ends of the alley.

They were all burly men wearing coarse cloth clothes, each holding a short axe.

"Hong Zhiyou!" the leader of the burly men roared.

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

"It seems some people just couldn't wait. Stay down and don't show your head," Hong Zhiyou smiled, quickly pulled open the car door, and pushed Wanqiu inside.

"Hack them to death for me."

Damn it!

Zhang Shaobai is a real beast; he doesn't let a grudge last overnight!

Under the moonlight, things were sparkling and shimmering.

So many, such sharp axes!

(End of chapter)