Chapter 118: Night Conversation

Cheng Qianfan cooked four dishes, two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes.

Stir-fried pork slices with green peppers, pan-fried small yellow croaker, shredded salted mustard greens with broad beans, and stir-fried celery with pressed tofu.

He had made these four dishes because that afternoon he had seen a newly opened column in Shen Bao.

The column was written by an author using the pen name Madam Jin Guo, and she recommended daily menus to city residents.

Basically, each day’s menu was arranged as two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes.

“For a family of eight eating two meals a day, with two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes, two bowls of each dish are sufficient. If you buy the ingredients yourself at the market, sixty or seventy cents is entirely enough.”

Therefore, Cheng Qianfan cooking two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes for only two people could be considered rather extravagant.

Cheng Qianfan enjoyed buying groceries and cooking.

Carrying a vegetable basket and strolling leisurely to the market, selecting ingredients according to the dishes he planned to prepare.

Whether it was the emerald-green vegetables, the live fish in the fishmonger’s basin, or the pork hanging from iron hooks in the butcher’s shop, all of it appeared warm to him.

This was the warmth and bustle of everyday life.

After bringing the ingredients home.

Personally washing and preparing the vegetables, humming a little tune while cooking.

These were moments when his heart felt especially peaceful.

Countless times he had dreamed of finishing a meal in the kitchen and calling out, “Dad, Mom, little sister (little brother), time to eat.”

His family would answer cheerfully, wash their hands, gather around the dining table, and chat together.

His mother would scold his younger sister (or brother) for being naughty.

He would raise a cup and clink glasses with his father, sharing a small drink.

Unfortunately, even in dreams, all of this was difficult to realize.

Watching Li Hao eat with such enjoyment, Cheng Qianfan felt quite happy as well.

In his heart, Li Hao was like a younger brother to him.

Li Hao was telling him about everything that had happened during Cheng Qianfan’s absence from Shanghai.

About every four or five days, he went to Saint Peter Church’s orphanage to visit Sister Ruolan, Xiaobao, and the other children there.

“Everything is fine on Sister Ruolan’s side. Although she doesn’t say it, you can tell she’s very worried about you, Brother Fan.”

“Xiaobao is learning to draw from Sister Ruolan. She said that once she learns how to draw, whenever she starts forgetting what her father and mother looked like, she can draw them immediately and won’t forget them anymore.”

Pretending to get up and turn around to pour himself some water, Cheng Qianfan did not let Li Hao see the flash of sorrow in his eyes.

“Adai is still working odd jobs at Sanweiheng.”

The owner of Sanweiheng, Fan Laosan, was very satisfied with Adai.

The half-grown boy might eat a lot, but he looked simple-minded and worked hard.

Fan Laosan had no idea that the seemingly dull Adai had already thoroughly figured out the entire Sanweiheng operation.

If Cheng Qianfan were a corrupt policeman and instructed Adai to do something, such as slipping a laxative into the food or even poisoning it, Fan Laosan could be ruined financially and lose his entire family.

“Let Adai continue making a living at Sanweiheng for now,” Cheng Qianfan said.

Zhu Yuan had been deliberately placed by the Special Service Office in the Shuanglong Lane Residence apartments on Route Père Robert.

According to Song Fuguo, Yingzuo Eiichi had also stayed at the Shuanglong Lane Residence apartments.

In response to this situation, Cheng Qianfan had conducted some investigation afterward.

Why had these people with concealed identities all “coincidentally” chosen to stay at Shuanglong Lane Residence?

That certainly could not be a coincidence.

There had to be a reason.

The explanation Cheng Qianfan came up with was that Shuanglong Lane Residence was a rather interesting apartment complex in the Central District.

The building had been around for many years and was somewhat run-down, making the rent relatively affordable.

However, as one of the earlier apartment buildings in the French Concession, Shuanglong Lane Residence was also quite famous.

That was what made it special.

People without much money could choose to stay there.

People short on money but unwilling to lose face could also choose it, since it was an old and established name.

People who were not short on money but preferred not to attract attention could also choose it.

From university professors, literary figures, and minor National Government clerks, down to merchants and down-and-out travelers, whatever hidden identity you wanted, it could fit there.

That was why staying there always seemed appropriate.

Cheng Qianfan believed that Shuanglong Lane Residence was a place worth monitoring.

As for Sanweiheng, being a restaurant relatively close to Shuanglong Lane Residence, its food was clean and reasonably priced.

In particular, Fan Laosan’s braised pig’s trotters with tofu pudding were renowned for their exquisite flavor.

Its reputation was widespread.

There was a good reason for Adai to remain at Sanweiheng.

Adai was a clever child.

Although he had never attended school, he quietly kept count in his head and discovered that nearly half of the boxed meals delivered from the restaurant were sent to Shuanglong Lane Residence.

In fact, given Adai’s cleverness, as long as he remained at Sanweiheng, Cheng Qianfan could learn not only what was happening at Shuanglong Lane Residence but also practically every development along Route Père Robert.

“Have you gone to see He Guan?” Cheng Qianfan asked.

“No.”

Li Hao shook his head.

When Cheng Qianfan had left Shanghai, he had told Li Hao to seek out He Guan if he encountered any problems he could not resolve.

Over the past month or so, it was not that he had encountered no trouble.

Rather, he had been able to handle everything himself and therefore had not sought out He Guan.

“However, I suspect Officer He helped behind the scenes,” Li Hao said.

The matter itself had not been significant.

Two three-lights drifters had wanted to squeeze some money out of Li Hao.

Naturally, Li Hao refused and got into a fight with them.

Knowing they would not let the matter go, he contacted several friends from the underworld and prepared for retaliation at any moment.

However, afterward everything remained peaceful.

“I asked around and heard that some police officers warned them.”

Cheng Qianfan nodded.

He knew that He Guan must have intervened quietly.

Although Li Hao had not gone looking for He Guan, He Guan knew that Li Hao was one of Cheng Qianfan’s people.

If He Guan heard about such a matter, he naturally would not stand by and do nothing.

A smile appeared on Cheng Qianfan’s face.

Not saying a word, quietly helping out, and then not mentioning it afterward even when meeting Cheng Qianfan.

That was He Guan.

Had Li Hao not guessed what happened, Cheng Qianfan might never have known about it.

“Has anything unusual happened recently?” Cheng Qianfan asked.

“Anything involving He Guan.”

“Brother Fan, how did you know Officer He got himself involved in something?” Li Hao asked in surprise.

“I guessed.”

Cheng Qianfan said, “I don’t know the details yet. Tell me about it.”

Hangzhou, Xiongzhen Tower.

The Little White Building.

Besides Yu Ping’an himself and Zhao Yansheng, who was responsible for his protection, there was also a short, thin young woman in Yu Ping’an’s office.

The woman appeared to be about twenty-three or twenty-four years old.

She had short hair, wore black round-framed glasses, possessed ordinary features, and had a rather frail build.

Yu Ping’an gazed at her for a long time.

The young woman appeared slightly nervous, though she was still barely able to remain composed.

Yu Ping’an nodded inwardly in satisfaction and said sternly, “Zhou Ru, your performance in communications studies has been excellent. I am very pleased. Do you still remember the oath made when the communications class first began?”

“Loyal to the Leader, devoted to the Party and the Nation, applying what we have learned, and willing to die for the country!”

Zhou Ru’s voice was not loud, but it was filled with strength.

“Well said.”

Yu Ping’an applauded.

“I summoned you here because of your work assignment. You are going to Shanghai.”

“The situation in Shanghai is extremely complicated. You will join a highly secretive infiltration team. I can tell you clearly that this assignment is extremely dangerous. You may have to pay with your life at any time. Have you prepared yourself for that?”

“To eliminate the subversive elements, I would not hesitate even if it meant death ten thousand times over,” Zhou Ru said seriously.

“Very good.”

Yu Ping’an nodded with a smile.

“However, this time when you go to Shanghai, your enemy will be the Japanese. Their cunning and brutality are no less than those of the Communists.”

“Zhou Ru does not fear death. I would rather die in battle than live as a slave of a conquered nation!”