Chapter 168: Dead Drop

Nanjing, Xu Mansion Lane, headquarters of the Special Service Office.

Dai Chunfeng looked at the two telegrams in his hand.

One of them was the telegram Cheng Qianfan had sent to Xiongzhen Tower in Hangzhou for forwarding to the Special Service Office headquarters in Nanjing.

The other was a telegram personally drafted by Yu Ping’an.

“Another brat who knows how to hold out his hand for money.”

Dai Chunfeng glanced at Cheng Qianfan’s telegram and shook his head with a smile.

The Special Service Office had successfully captured Kawada Eikichi, the head of Japanese intelligence operations in North China and an assistant to Dofihara Kenji.

Afterward, they cracked the Endo Hiroshi espionage case in Hangzhou and even uncovered traitors within the National Revolutionary Army who had been collaborating with Japan.

These two cases had earned Dai Chunfeng considerable prestige in front of the Old Man.

Cheng Qianfan had rendered great service in both cases.

As for this young fellow countryman and descendant of an old acquaintance, Dai Chunfeng was extremely fond of him.

Reading Yu Ping’an’s telegram again, Dai Chunfeng’s spirits lifted.

Sulfanilamide, a new Western medicine, highly effective against infections from gunshot wounds and similar injuries?

His interest was immediately piqued.

Picking up Cheng Qianfan’s telegram again, he read it more carefully.

His appreciation for Cheng Qianfan increased even further.

The boy was not simply obsessed with asking for money.

He possessed keen instincts and had immediately recognized the importance of this new Western medicine.

Good, very good.

Yu Ping’an’s telegram requested instructions and asked the Nanjing headquarters of the Special Service Office to investigate the authenticity of this new medicine, sulfanilamide.

Furthermore, he proposed that, “If this miraculous medicine truly exists, it should be purchased decisively and incorporated into military preparedness.”

Compared to Cheng Qianfan’s suggestion, Yu Ping’an’s recommendation demonstrated a broader strategic vision.

His attention was not limited to the small quantity of medicine available on Shanghai’s black market.

Instead, he proposed that the National Government should decisively purchase the drug directly from Europe and had even elevated the matter to the level of military preparedness.

“Qi Wu, take a look at these two telegrams.”

Dai Chunfeng handed the telegrams to Qi Wu.

“A medicine with such miraculous effects actually exists?”

Qi Wu carefully read the telegrams.

“Professor Xiao Yifan of National Central University is an expert in Western medicine. We can consult him to verify this matter.”

“I’ll leave this matter to you.”

Dai Chunfeng nodded.

He had heard somewhat of Professor Xiao from National Central University.

The man specialized in Western surgical medicine and was a leading authority in the field.

“If it is confirmed, then this Cheng Qianfan will have rendered another great service.”

Qi Wu said with a smile.

“He’s also a restless little brat.”

Dai Chunfeng replied with a laugh.

Qi Wu’s heart stirred.

The Director’s attitude toward this young fellow countryman already carried a hint of indulgent affection.

After leaving Route Père Robert, Cheng Qianfan did not return home directly.

Instead, he hurried through the night to a warehouse by the docks and collected five boxes of sulfanilamide.

Each box contained five doses of sulfanilamide powder.

Avenue Massenet, Peng Yu’ou’s residence.

Peng Yu’ou had not yet gone to sleep.

His mind was full of worries.

Several hours earlier, he had received news that Kang Erniu’s and Dazhuang’s conditions had worsened.

Both had begun running high fevers, signs of infection from their gunshot wounds.

Most critically, Hans had said that if sulfanilamide could not be obtained before dawn, Ah Hai’s life would be in grave danger.

In the stillness of the night, a gentle knock at the door awakened Aunt Shao downstairs.

“Who is it?”

“Qian Xinghuo.”

Aunt Shao was instantly startled.

She signaled for the comrade outside to wait and immediately went upstairs to notify Peng Yu’ou.

By then, Peng Yu’ou had already been alerted by the sounds below.

Carrying a revolver, he came downstairs.

“It’s Comrade Xinghuo,” Aunt Shao whispered.

Peng Yu’ou quickly walked to the door and quietly opened it a small crack.

The two men once again spoke through the partially opened door.

A box was passed through from outside.

Peng Yu’ou accepted it.

“This is sulfanilamide. It has remarkable effects in treating gunshot wounds.”

Cheng Qianfan said in a hoarse voice.

“Sulfanilamide!”

Peng Yu’ou was both shocked and delighted.

He had been worrying about where to obtain the medicine, yet Comrade Xinghuo had unexpectedly delivered it right to his door.

“Where did this medicine come from?”

“That batch of medicine I mentioned on the black market earlier. I happened to learn that it included the new Western medicine sulfanilamide. I purchased a box overnight and brought it here. The wounded comrades should urgently need it.”

“Wonderful. Comrade Xinghuo, on behalf of the comrades, thank you. This medicine arrived at exactly the right time.”

Peng Yu’ou said excitedly.

“This medicine is extremely valuable. I suggest the organization raise funds and purchase it as soon as possible.”

Cheng Qianfan said.

He was slightly surprised.

He had originally assumed that Peng Yu’ou knew nothing about the medicine and that he would need to spend considerable effort explaining it.

“You’re right. This medicine is incredibly valuable. I will arrange this matter as quickly as possible.”

Peng Yu’ou glanced around and, seeing that Aunt Shao was standing some distance away, asked quietly,

“Regarding the message delivered through Aunt Shao during the daytime...”

“The situation was urgent. There was no other choice.”

Cheng Qianfan said.

“Thank you.”

Peng Yu’ou expressed his gratitude sincerely.

Comrade Xinghuo had taken a risk to deliver the warning and save a comrade who had been on the verge of walking into an enemy trap.

“As for Ah Hai’s ambush, I suspect the agents were monitoring Fang Muheng at Shen Bao and noticed Ah Hai through him.”

“Do you have any concrete evidence?”

Peng Yu’ou asked urgently.

The reason for Ah Hai’s exposure was the matter that concerned him most.

He had even begun suspecting that an enemy spy might exist within the organization itself.

“No. It’s only a suspicion.”

Cheng Qianfan replied.

“I understand. I’ll pay attention to it.”

“As for Yang Ximei in Pingjiang Village, I will arrange for someone to rescue her. The organization must not send anyone there again.”

Cheng Qianfan said.

“Absolutely not.”

Peng Yu’ou said.

Comrade Xinghuo was one of the organization’s trump-card agents embedded deep within the enemy.

He would not allow Cheng Qianfan to take such risks.

“Professor Peng, don’t worry. I won’t appear personally. I already have a relatively safe plan.”

Cheng Qianfan said.

“Yang Ximei’s situation is critical. A little girl cannot hold out alone for much longer. There is no time to wait.”

Peng Yu’ou remained silent for a moment before finally nodding.

“Be careful in everything. If it cannot be done, do not force it.”

“I’ll be careful.”

Cheng Qianfan had a small walnut in his mouth, and the bitterness made his lips feel sour.

He shifted the walnut to the other side of his mouth and continued,

“This method of contact between us is unsafe. I propose establishing a dead drop. In the future, we can communicate through the dead drop.”

“A good idea.”

Peng Yu’ou had been thinking the same thing.

Comrade Xinghuo had visited twice in the middle of the night.

This was extremely dangerous both for himself and for Comrade Xinghuo.

One feared not the ten thousand possibilities, but the one possibility.

If someone happened to pass by the street outside the door, the risk of exposure would be far too great.

“On Honolulu Road, there is an alley to the left of Huiya Bookstore. Several dozen steps from the alley’s exit on the left side stands a concealed abandoned mailbox. I will use a magnet to attach intelligence materials to a hidden spot on the inside. Someone can check it once every morning and evening.”

“Honolulu Road, alley beside Huiya Bookstore, abandoned mailbox, checked once every morning and evening.”

Peng Yu’ou repeated it once.

The two then discussed and coordinated the operational details of using the dead drop.

“Professor Peng, take care.”

Cheng Qianfan took a deep breath and said slowly.

“Comrade Xinghuo, take care!”

Peng Yu’ou extended his hand through the doorway.

Cheng Qianfan was momentarily startled.

The two men’s hands clasped firmly together.

With a dead drop in place, unless an emergency arose or the organization specifically authorized direct contact, it would be difficult for the two of them to meet again.

In the perilous world of clandestine work, after this parting, no one could predict when they would meet again.

About twenty minutes after Cheng Qianfan left, Peng Yu’ou quietly departed from his home.

He needed to rush the medicine to Hans’s clinic immediately.

Meanwhile, Cheng Qianfan hurried back home without pause.

He had already devised a plan to use Fang Muheng to rescue Yang Ximei.

However, after returning home and meeting Li Hao, Li Hao informed him of a piece of news that greatly surprised him.