Chapter 10: A Somewhat Familiar Back
Chapter 10: A Somewhat Familiar Back
Upon hearing Cheng Qianfan tell him not to worry, He Guan said nothing more.
Based on his understanding of Cheng Qianfan, this truly was not someone who acted impulsively.
At the very least, he was far more mature and steady than He Guan himself.
“If anything happens, just say the word,” He Guan said quietly.
Cheng Qianfan nodded.
Looking at Old Mo lying steadily unconscious on the stretcher, looking like a drunkard with a face smeared red with blood, he let out a long breath.
The irritation, oppression, and near-maddening suffocating feeling brought about by Old Liao’s sacrifice yesterday had eased considerably after this outburst.
With such an incident having occurred, the atmosphere became noticeably silent and oppressive.
Before figuring out why Little Cheng had suddenly “gone insane,” everyone wisely decided not to get involved.
What Little Cheng had done was too strange.
Who knew whether there were powerful figures secretly fighting behind the scenes?
Moreover, this version of Little Cheng made even these seasoned veteran policemen somewhat wary.
The armed policemen escorted Zhu Yuan out of the room.
A stretcher carrying a blood-covered unconscious man followed behind.
The tranquility of the Shuanglong Lane Residence was broken.
The timid shut their doors and peeked through cracks.
The bolder ones stuck their heads out.
Some tenants who had just returned home from outside stared at the scene in surprise, instinctively moving to both sides of the corridor while whispering among themselves.
“Poor fellow.”
“Oh dear, how frightening.”
“Did they beat him to death?”
“Teacher Ma, what’s going on?” A man wearing a gray long gown was silently observing the scene when someone beside him asked.
“Mr. Fu, you’ve returned.” Teacher Ma replied, “They say they’ve arrested a violent criminal.”
“A violent criminal?” Mr. Fu sneered. “Either a Communist or an anti-Japanese activist.”
Hush~
Teacher Ma’s expression changed as he quietly advised him, “Mr. Fu, watch your words.”
“Fine, I won’t say anything. I won’t.” Mr. Fu sighed.
“And this is?” Teacher Ma glanced at the unfamiliar young man standing beside his new neighbor.
“A friend. He’s helping me organize my lecture notes.”
As he spoke, a subtle change appeared in Mr. Fu’s eyes.
A set of lecture notes in his hand accidentally fell to the floor.
He bent down to pick them up.
His friend quietly stepped forward, perfectly blocking his bent-over figure from view within the crowd.
“You there, stop.”
Liu Bo suddenly shouted at a bystander.
Cheng Qianfan instinctively turned his head.
He saw Liu Bo stopping a middle-aged man of average height.
The man wore a knitted cap and appeared startled by the shout.
Cheng Qianfan frowned.
His hesitant gaze swept once more toward a certain spot.
Just now, from the side, he had caught sight of someone’s back that seemed somewhat familiar.
But that person could no longer be found.
He silently committed the matter to memory.
“Officer, were you calling me?” the stopped man asked nervously.
“Raise your head,” Liu Bo said.
Cheng Qianfan saw a sallow face.
The man was unshaven and untidy.
The left side of his face appeared to have suffered a burn and was covered by a medicinal plaster.
He coughed repeatedly.
“Name.”
“Kang Erniu.”
“Where do you live?”
“Cough, cough, third room on the left up ahead.”
Everything about him appeared identical to an ordinary Shanghai resident.
Even his Xujiahui accent was completely authentic.
“You can go.”
Liu Bo waved him away.
After this disturbance, the spectators scattered.
Everyone realized that watching the excitement carried the risk of becoming collateral damage.
No one wanted to be questioned by the police.
After Cheng Qianfan and the others left, Kang Erniu, who had been cautiously moving along the wall, quickened his pace toward a door.
He knocked twice lightly.
After pausing for three seconds, he knocked four rapid consecutive times.
The door opened.
Kang Erniu slipped inside.
A man in the room was about to speak.
Upon seeing Kang Erniu’s stern expression, he immediately understood something and shut his mouth.
Two minutes later, the door quietly opened again.
Someone poked his head out and checked the corridor.
After confirming there was nothing unusual outside, the door was quietly closed once more.
“What happened?”
“The police arrested two people. One of them was badly injured. I suspect he’s one of our comrades.”
“Do you recognize him?”
“One had blood all over his face, so I couldn’t tell. I’ve never seen the other one.”
Kang Erniu shook his head solemnly.
“Has the investigation into yesterday’s shooting on Avenue Joffre been completed?”
“A reporter friend from Shen Bao went to the scene. He took photographs of the deceased. I’ll retrieve them tonight.”
“It needs to be done quickly.”
“Understood.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Fu returned to his room with his friend.
The two discussed lecture materials loudly.
After about two or three minutes had passed, Mr. Fu lifted the curtain and saw the policemen escorting the suspect away.
Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.
“Shadowsa-kun, just now...”
“I never expected Shanghai to be so small. I ran into an acquaintance immediately after returning.”
Yingzuo Eiichi shook his head.
“Kouji, prepare a new residence for me.”
Although Yingzuo Eiichi believed he had reacted quickly enough and hidden before Cheng Qianfan noticed him, making it unlikely he had been recognized, an intelligence operative had to remain highly vigilant.
One could never rely on luck.
“Time is short, so let’s keep it brief. Can you really obtain the defensive deployment map of the Hongqiao Airport Security Regiment?” Yingzuo Eiichi asked.
“The chances are very good. Plum Blossom Nine says he can provide not only the deployment map but also the unit roster, firepower distribution, and logistical reserves.”
Kouji spoke excitedly, then showed a troubled expression.
“It’s just that Plum Blossom Nine is asking an outrageous price. It’s daylight robbery.”
“Money is not a problem.”
Yingzuo Eiichi was overjoyed.
“Those foolish and greedy Chinese will pay for their greed.”
“There’s one more thing.”
Kouji hesitated.
“What is it?” Yingzuo Eiichi immediately asked.
“I suspect someone was following me today.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where did you go today?”
“I...”
Sweat covered Kouji’s forehead.
“I went to the consulate.”
Smack!
Yingzuo Eiichi slapped him across the face.
“I repeatedly instructed you not to make contact with the consulate. Those locations are already under surveillance by Chinese intelligence agents. That is one of the reasons the Empire transferred us here from North China. Kouji, you disobeyed orders and acted on your own!”
“My apologies, Shadowsa-kun. It was my mistake.”
“Move residences immediately,” Yingzuo Eiichi said coldly.
“Chief Qin, many thanks.”
From a second-floor window of a row of shikumen residences, Wu Shanyue watched the policemen escort Zhuang Ze out of the apartment building.
Smiling, he cupped his fists in thanks toward Qin Detai.
“Arresting subversives is our duty.”
Qin Detai waved his hand, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
The two exchanged glances and smiled knowingly.
Qin Detai was a seasoned schemer.
Naturally, he could see the unusual aspects of this affair.
Even the true identity of this arrested Communist was likely open to question.
However, he would not investigate the deeper reasons.
The important thing was that he had helped the Party Affairs Investigation Department, and they now owed him a favor.
Qin Detai took his leave.
Wang Kangnian, who had been standing silently nearby all along, stepped forward and respectfully reported:
“Section Chief, the bait has been released.”
“Mm.”
A trace of delight flashed through Wu Shanyue’s eyes.
He patted Wang Kangnian on the shoulder.
“Kangnian, this plan is very good. You’ve done very well.”
“Section Chief had everything under control. I dare not claim credit.”
“You.”
Wu Shanyue chuckled softly.
“If it’s your achievement, then it’s your achievement.”