Chapter 126: Reporting for Duty

Pete was from Marseille, France. Pete’s father was a good friend of Xi Neng, the head of the French Concession Political Department’s Investigation Unit.

After retiring from the French Foreign Legion, Pete, a carefree adventurer who loved excitement, came to Shanghai two years ago and joined the French Concession Political Department through Xi Neng’s introduction.

Although this former French Army lieutenant was tall and powerfully built, he was not crude.

On the contrary, he was articulate and refined, making him very popular with the French wives and young ladies of the French Concession.

In just over a year, Pete successfully rose to become Deputy Head of the French Concession Political Department’s Investigation Unit.

Before joining the police station, Cheng Qianfan had met Pete through Xiu Gongshen’s connections.

Although there was a five-year age difference between them, under Cheng Qianfan’s deliberate efforts to cultivate the friendship, the two quickly became close friends.

Financial interests played a crucial role in the rapid development of their friendship.

Well-connected and resourceful, Pete could obtain goods that were scarce on the market, while Cheng Qianfan had channels for selling those sought-after products on the black market.

The reason Cheng Qianfan had the financial means to prepare several safe houses for the Jiangsu Provincial Committee, the Shanghai Communists, and himself was that most of his wealth came from the black-market business he jointly operated with Pete.

Last autumn, Pete returned to France to get married, and Cheng Qianfan had found that rather regrettable.

He had assumed Pete would remain in France, marry, raise children, and never return to Shanghai.

To his surprise, shortly after getting married, the fellow brought his new wife back to Shanghai.

“The goods are stored in the dock warehouse,” Pete said in a low voice.

Then he cursed and complained that during the mere half-year he had been away from Shanghai, warehouse storage fees at the docks had doubled.

“What is it this time? Wine? Perfume? Radios?” Cheng Qianfan asked.

French red wine and second-hand radios were among their regular businesses.

Wine was a luxury item.

Marketed as premium imported French wine, it was constantly in short supply.

There was no need to mention perfume.

It was a favourite among many wealthy ladies and young women.

Radios were also highly sought-after goods.

Although they were second-hand, their quality was good, and many Shanghai residents who could not afford new radios were eager to buy them.

“Secret.” Pete kept him guessing, looking smug. “This shipment will definitely surprise you.”

Cheng Qianfan punched him lightly in annoyance.

Pete merely laughed proudly and refused to say more.

This only made Cheng Qianfan even more curious about the shipment.

Cheng Qianfan picked up the cigarettes on Pete’s desk and casually stuffed them into his own pocket.

“You bandit!” Pete shouted.

“The Louvre contains quite a lot of Chinese artefacts,” Cheng Qianfan shot back.

“Sorry, I wasn’t responsible for that.” Pete shrugged. “If I had authority over those things, I could give you a discount.”

“Bastard.”

Cheng Qianfan cursed, opened Pete’s desk drawer, and selected a bottle of perfume from among the various containers.

Pete was not angry.

He merely shouted, “I’ll deduct it from your share of the profits.”

Cheng Qianfan raised his middle finger.

After leaving Pete’s office, Cheng Qianfan did not go downstairs.

Instead, he headed to the office of Chief Inspector Qin Detai, which was also on the third floor.

“Clerk Peng, is Chief Qin inside?” Cheng Qianfan walked into the clerks’ office opposite the Chief Inspector’s office, whose door stood open.

As he spoke, he pulled out a bottle of perfume from his pocket.

“Genuine French goods, obtained from Lieutenant Pete.”

Cheng Qianfan felt he would never understand women’s love for perfume.

Before he had even finished speaking, Clerk Peng had already snatched the perfume bottle into her hand.

Her peach-blossom eyes practically sparkled.

“Little Cheng is the sweetest.” Clerk Peng tossed him a flirtatious glance.

Seeing the young man become slightly embarrassed, she giggled.

She placed the perfume bottle in a drawer and even remembered to lock it.

Only then did she leisurely leave the office, swaying her hips as she walked to the Chief Inspector’s door and knocked gently.

“Who is it?”

“Chief Qin, Officer Cheng Qianfan requests an audience.”

“Let him in.”

Clerk Peng quietly said to Cheng Qianfan, “Chief Qin isn’t in a very good mood.”

Her lips silently formed a single name:

He Guan.

Cheng Qianfan immediately understood and nodded.

“Reporting to Chief Qin, your subordinate Cheng Qianfan has returned from official duty in Hangzhou and has come to report.”

Cheng Qianfan saluted respectfully and spoke.

Qin Detai rose from his chair and sized him up.

“Pete already questioned you?”

“Reporting to Chief Qin, Lieutenant Pete questioned me regarding Officer He Guan’s whereabouts yesterday.”

“And what did you say?”

“Your subordinate spoke truthfully.” Cheng Qianfan’s expression was serious. “Yesterday, between two and three in the afternoon, Officer He Guan was with me.”

“Was that truly the case?”

“Your subordinate would not dare conceal the truth.” Cheng Qianfan said, “When Officer He Guan left, a neighbour saw him.”

Hearing this, Qin Detai looked deeply at Cheng Qianfan.

At last he nodded with satisfaction and smiled.

“Very good.”

He examined him again and said with a smile, “A trip away really does broaden one’s horizons. Not bad. You look energetic. How did the assignment go?”

“Reporting to Chief Qin, everything went smoothly.” Cheng Qianfan smiled. “Mr. Campbell completed his inspection work and has already returned to France by ship. Before leaving, he asked me to convey his gratitude for your thoughtful arrangements.”

“As he should. Mr. Campbell is too polite.” Qin Detai smiled.

He knew perfectly well that whatever-that-fellow Campbell certainly had not spoken such flattering words.

Still, hearing Cheng Qianfan say them was pleasing.

“Have you gone to see Director Xi Neng yet?” Qin Detai asked.

“Not yet.” Cheng Qianfan shook his head. “Your subordinate serves under Chief Qin. Having returned from official duty, naturally I should report to Chief Qin first.”

“You, honestly.” Qin Detai pointed at Cheng Qianfan and laughed while scolding him. “This assignment was personally ordered by Director Xi Neng. Can’t you tell what’s important? Hurry over there.”

Cheng Qianfan did not immediately leave.

He took a box from his briefcase and placed it on the desk.

“Your subordinate picked up this little item in Hangzhou. I don’t understand such things, but Chief Qin is an expert. Please help me take a look.”

Qin Detai accepted it and opened the box.

Inside was a snuff bottle.

His eyebrows rose.

Picking it up, he examined the painted artwork and let out a surprised sound.

“Where did you find this?”

“At a street stall in Hangzhou. Two French francs.” Cheng Qianfan held up two fingers.

“You’ve got good luck, kid.” Qin Detai clicked his tongue. “A snuff bottle by Zhu Zhongyuan. Good stuff.”

As he spoke, he returned the snuff bottle to its box and handed it back to Cheng Qianfan.

“Chief Qin, fortunately you recognize its value. Keeping it with me would be like burying a pearl in the dust.” Cheng Qianfan’s expression was utterly sincere. “I’ve heard that items like this can only reveal their full brilliance in the hands of a virtuous connoisseur. Please do your subordinate a favour and nurture it for a while.”

“You little rascal.” Qin Detai pointed at Cheng Qianfan. “Crooked schemes.”

Cheng Qianfan chuckled.

“Your subordinate just wants to bask in some of your good fortune.”

“Enough with the grins. Get lost already.” Qin Detai cursed. “Translator Xiu should already have mentioned it to you. I’ll say only one thing. Pay attention to the affairs of the Third Patrol. If anything goes wrong, you’ll be held responsible.”

“Yes. Your subordinate will devote himself wholeheartedly and will not disappoint Chief Qin’s earnest instruction.”

Cheng Qianfan’s expression turned solemn as he snapped to attention and saluted.

“Off you go.”

Qin Detai waved his hand.

“Yes, your subordinate takes his leave.”

After Cheng Qianfan left, Qin Detai turned the snuff bottle over in his hands and chuckled softly.

The kid really was clever.

To say the snuff bottle was valuable, it was not all that valuable.

It was worth only a little over one hundred French francs.

After all, Zhu Zhongyuan was not considered a truly great master.

Among Qin Detai’s collection, this piece ranked only in the lower-middle tier.

However, Qin Detai had always been fond of Zhu Zhongyuan’s works.

The young man had clearly put thought into it.

When Xiu Gongshen wanted to promote his student to Deputy Chief Inspector, Qin Detai had only reluctantly agreed and had remained somewhat dissatisfied.

Still, this Little Cheng, though young, understood how the world worked and had always treated him with respect.

Qin Detai took a magnifying glass from the drawer and carefully admired the inside-painted artwork of the snuff bottle.

The longer he looked, the more he liked it.

“Old fox, you got off cheap.”

Qin Detai snorted.