Chapter 65: Promotion, New Identity, New Mission!

The old man really values him, actually letting me personally confer a medal.

He's reminding me to treat A Ren well.

Even if the old man doesn't say so, I'll still treat him well.

Shen Mingchen?

Since what is sensed is the inner voice, Chen Yongren can also hear a person's tone.

Seeing the two tense people inside, Chen Yongren didn't have time to think further and said reassuringly: "Don't worry, they're our own."

Having said that, he opened the door.

One of our own?

The two had strange expressions, but when they saw the person outside the door, they were instantly stunned, their faces showing a hint of surprise.

Section Chief Shen?

"You really are here." Shen Mingchen didn't waste words, immediately saying: "You three, come with me right away!"

Lin Dayou, bewildered: "Where to?"

"Cut the nonsense, just follow me!" Shen Mingchen snapped.

The three straightened up and got into a car with Shen Mingchen.

"Drive." Shen Mingchen told Lin Dayou: "Go to Suzhou."

"Huh?" Lin Dayou froze for a moment, then straightened up and said: "Yes!"

Lin Dayou clambered into the car and headed for Suzhou.

Everyone in the car remained silent.

Chen Yongren immediately focused his sensing on Shen Mingchen.

"This kid, he's getting more spirited; the more I look at him, the more pleasing he is."

"Going straight from second lieutenant to major is unheard of in the entire military, let alone the fact that the Military Intelligence Bureau daily serves as a chamber pot for the old man, doing these trivial tasks, making promotion even harder."

"Although Boss Dai is nominally a lieutenant general, his assigned rank is only a colonel, and who knows when he'll be promoted to major general."

"He's only twenty; who knows, A Ren might still be promoted to an officer in the Military Intelligence Bureau, becoming the youngest major general in history, and it damn well better be an assigned rank, not a meaningless honorary rank."

"The Bureau Chief of the Military Intelligence Bureau personally came to confer the medal—this is unbelievable!"

This time, we actually went to see Boss Dai.

After nearly three hours, the car arrived beside a Western-style villa.

Several men in Zhongshan suits stood inside and outside the villa, each holding a shell gun.

Then Shen Mingchen also got out of the car and whispered: "Come with me."

The three entered the villa and, under Shen Mingchen's leadership, came to a room.

"Boss, everyone's here!" Shen Mingchen declared upright.

Zhang Haifeng and Lin Dayou only felt their heads buzzing, their whole bodies as if in a dream.

They never expected that Shen Mingchen would actually bring them to see the boss.

Boss Dai actually came to Suzhou?

Zhang Haifeng and Lin Dayou knew they didn't have that much influence, and they both turned their gazes to Chen Yongren.

Chen Yongren already knew who they were coming to see, felt no psychological disturbance, and casually focused his sensing on Boss Dai.

"The Military Intelligence Bureau has never had such a young assigned-rank major."

"I really picked up a treasure this time; I never expected his relationship with the old man to be so close."

"I've never seen the old man so happy when mentioning someone."

"Haha."

"This guy, as a kid, wasn't only held by the old man, he even pissed all over him—this really is damn…"

No, absolutely cannot laugh.

Boss Dai looked at Chen Yongren.

Shen Mingchen immediately understood, stood up and said: "Dayou, Haifeng, you've rendered great service this time; the Party and the state will certainly not shortchange you. Come with me, and I will personally commend you!"

Zhang Haifeng and Lin Dayou scratched their heads and walked out.

Shen Mingchen carefully closed the door.

Seeing the door closed, Lin Dayou couldn't wait to say: "Section Chief, we didn't even tell you our hiding place—how did you find us?"

Shen Mingchen snorted coldly: "Wherever you hide, you can't escape our eyes."

Lin Dayou shrank back and said: "How did Boss Dai come in person?"

"You'll find out when the time comes." Shen Mingchen gave a mysterious glance at the door.

The two looked at each other, their curiosity growing even stronger.

Inside the room.

Boss Dai sized up Chen Yongren from head to toe.

Knowing what Boss Dai was thinking, Chen Yongren felt no fear, straightened up and kept a calm expression.

"You've worked hard during this period." Boss Dai stood up, patted Chen Yongren's shoulder, and said satisfied: "Your performance has directly increased the weight of our Military Intelligence Bureau."

"Your intelligence is very important."

"Especially you, you actually killed a pangolin—this is the highest-ranking Riben spy we've ever killed in history!"

"Serving the country is my duty; it's not hardship." Chen Yongren, with a solemn expression, straightened up and said again: "Reporting to the Bureau Chief, the hardship is not mine, but ours."

"It's the result of our Military Intelligence Bureau being united, presenting a united front outward, and working hard together."

That sure sounded pleasant to hear, but Boss Dai always felt Chen Yongren was being sarcastic in some way.

But upon further thought, such a sharp agent as Chen Yongren surely sensed the Military Intelligence Bureau's suspicion of him; having some resentment is understandable.

Damn.

Besides, this kid has that old man's background, so letting him complain a bit is no big deal.

"I heard you were hiding with a Party Affairs Office agent during your stay in Songhu?" Dai Laoban asked again.

"Fortunately, Liu Ying and the others died in the Japanese retaliation, making A Ren's identity perfect, and no one in Songhu will know his identity."

Hearing this inner voice, Chen Yongren's heart jolted—had they died?

What does a perfect identity even mean?

"How could they be Party Affairs Office people?" Chen Yongren feigned panic: "I didn't know they were Party Affairs Office agents. I have no connections in Songhu, so I could only ask her for help."

I've never done anything to betray the Military Intelligence Bureau.

Although we'd had deep exchanges, they were only deep exchanges, all for the mission.

"These don't matter." Dai Laoban waved a hand: "First, you'll be awarded and promoted—this is an order the old man himself issued."

You'd even dare to kill a pangolin—how could a mere Party Affairs Office agent scare you like this?

Hearing that, Chen Yongren's face changed instantly, and he straightened up with a solemn expression.

Damn it, seeing Chen Yongren's face change so fast, he's clearly faking it—Dai Laoban muttered a curse, too lazy to dwell on it, and spoke seriously.

"Military Intelligence Bureau agent Chen Yongren performed exceptionally in the Songhu counterintelligence operation, safeguarding Party and state interests; his military rank was promoted from second lieutenant to major by special order, and he was awarded the Sixth‑class Baoding Medal."

"A Ren, going straight from second lieutenant to major—and still holding a military rank—has never happened before in the entire Military Intelligence Bureau, let alone the Military Department."

"The old man trusts you greatly and has high hopes; you must achieve new merits in Songhu and not let him down."

"Yes!" Chen Yongren stood at attention: "I, your humble servant, will surely not fail the mission."

But right after that, he felt something was off.

"And Songhu?"

Dai Laoban simply nodded: "I came this time not only to award and commend your rank, but also to give you a new mission."

"The Military Intelligence Bureau's Songhu Station must be rebuilt; from now on you'll take over the post of station chief."

"I will arrange a very suitable identity for you, ensuring your work in the Songhu region proceeds smoothly."

Hearing that, Chen Yongren inexplicably thought of a phrase.

Three years later, another three years…

"If we win this battle, everything can be discussed…" He trailed off, then Dai Laoban changed tack and added:

"If we lose, you must use your new identities to go underground secretly and continue serving the country."

"During the underground period, you must remember your identities!"

"You must never let down the leader's and the Party‑state's expectations!"

"Yes!" Chen Yongren stood at attention and saluted: "No matter how perilous the situation, I, your humble servant, will surely not fail the mission, serve the country loyally, and devote myself to the nation."

He paused, then Chen Yongren asked again.

"What is our new identity in Songhu?"