Chapter 171: Fang Muheng and Yang Ximei

This letter mainly discussed two matters.

First, Ah Hai had already escaped danger, no need to worry.

Second, Ah Hai’s previous work had involved rescuing and helping child laborers. There was now a young girl named Yang Ximei in the shantytown of Pingjiang Village. Her elder sister, Yang Damei, had been driven to death by capitalists, and her seriously ill mother had also passed away.

Because Ah Hai was hiding from secret police pursuit and could not show himself, he requested that Fang Muheng help Yang Ximei and send her to the orphanage in Nanshi.

Was the Nanshi Orphanage connected to the Communists?

Liu Bo pondered secretly before rejecting that judgment.

He knew of this orphanage in Nanshi.

The orphanage was quite famous in Shanghai, received considerable attention from Madam Sun, and many Shanghai residents donated money and supplies to it, so conditions there were fairly good.

The Communists choosing this orphanage seemed reasonable enough.

However, no matter what, the fact that the Communists had sent someone to contact Fang Muheng was good news.

Through Fang Muheng, he could gain further access to the Communists.

Within the Japanese military, the Communists generally were not taken very seriously.

Many believed that this red armed force, driven by the National Government into the barren lands of northern Shaanxi, was not worth mentioning.

Liu Bo did not share that view.

He had always remained wary of the Reds.

As far as he knew, many anti-Japanese groups in Shanghai were connected to the Communists.

Compared to enemies carrying knives and guns on the battlefield, the Communists tirelessly promoted anti-Japanese sentiment among ordinary Chinese people and fostered pride in the Chinese nation.

This kind of subtle influence was, in his view, even more deserving of vigilance.

Learning that Ah Hai had escaped danger put Fang Muheng in a much better mood.

As for Ah Hai still worrying about Yang Ximei in the shantytown under such circumstances, Fang Muheng admired him immensely.

This was also precisely why he wanted to move closer to the Communists.

“Brother Liu, I plan to bring Yang Ximei home, give her the best life possible, teach her to read, send her to school, and let her live the kind of life a Chinese child should have.”

Fang Muheng said excitedly.

“No!”

Liu Bo objected immediately.

“The letter says Yang Ximei is to be sent to the Nanshi Orphanage. We must follow the arrangements in the letter exactly.”

“Why?”

Fang Muheng argued.

“The children in orphanages are too pitiful. At my home, she could live a much more comfortable life.”

“Muheng, your intentions are good.”

Liu Bo said earnestly.

“But remember, you must strictly carry out orders.”

Seeing that Fang Muheng still wanted to argue, Liu Bo adopted a stern expression.

“Have you forgotten what I told you? Patriotic action isn’t about doing whatever you want. You must strictly observe discipline. Do you know why Ah Hai has never taken the next step and brought you into their organization?”

“Why?”

Fang Muheng asked.

“Your patriotism is admirable, but Muheng, you must get rid of this undisciplined way of doing things. You must be cautious and careful, and restrain yourself with strict discipline.”

Liu Bo’s expression remained serious.

“If you can’t do that, Ah Hai and his organization will never truly accept you.”

Hearing Liu Bo’s earnest advice, Fang Muheng froze.

After careful thought, he finally nodded slowly.

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

“I hope you truly understand.”

Liu Bo sighed.

He felt as though he had worried himself sick over Fang Muheng.

Fang Muheng was an idiot, and Liu Bo was pleased about that.

It meant he could manipulate Fang Muheng with ease.

Yet at the same time, he had no choice but to guide and cultivate him.

Only if Fang Muheng continued to improve would he eventually be accepted by the Communists, allowing Liu Bo to successfully infiltrate their ranks.

Even Liu Bo himself found it absurd.

As an outstanding agent of the Empire, he was actually forced to go to great lengths to help the Communists cultivate a revolutionary.

On the banks of Suzhou Creek.

In the shantytown, Pingjiang Village.

“Eat slower. Don’t choke.”

A Party Affairs Investigation Department agent smacked Yang Ximei on the head.

Yang Ximei raised her head and gave him a grateful grin.

Over the past two days, she felt as though she had been living in heaven.

This was the first time in her life that she had consistently eaten her fill.

“You look like a little dirty cat.”

The agent frowned in disgust, picked up his towel, and wiped the mud from her face.

“Fatty, have you gone stupid? Are you really raising this girl like your daughter now?”

Another agent, a thin man, cursed and glared at Yang Ximei.

Yang Ximei shrank timidly into a corner, guarding the steamed bun in her hands.

That uncle was a bad man who always hit her.

The other uncle also hit her, but he gave her food, so he was a good man.

“Where does Yang Ximei live?”

A man’s voice asking for directions came from outside.

The two agents exchanged glances.

Finally, they’ve come!

“Little girl, take your time eating.”

Fatty said.

“Fatty, what the hell are you dawdling for?”

The thin man cursed.

The two lifted the tattered bamboo mat serving as a door, crawled outside, and hid themselves while keeping watch.

Yang Ximei looked at the half-eaten steamed bun in her hand, then at the empty, filthy, chaotic shack.

Fear welled up inside her.

The little girl suddenly felt the same panic as if she had lost family members.

“Uncle, Uncle.”

Yang Ximei called out.

“Shut up or I’ll beat you.”

The thin man whispered threateningly.

Yang Ximei was terrified.

She dared not make another sound.

Looking at the half bun in her hand, she became helpless and confused.

Then she suddenly began trembling in fear.

Were they here to steal her bun?

She wanted to hide it.

She looked around frantically but found nowhere to conceal it.

In panic, the little girl desperately rolled the bun through mud and dirty water, then hid the filthy, foul-smelling bun behind her back.

Surely nobody would want to steal it now.

The earth-dragon-style shack was less than a meter high.

Liu Bo did not enter.

He remained outside, observing the slum while waiting.

Without the slightest concern for his immaculate suit, Fang Muheng crouched halfway and crawled inside.

Immediately, he saw a little girl staring at him with eyes full of terror.

“Are you Yang Ximei?”

A smile as bright as sunshine appeared on Fang Muheng’s face as he asked softly.

The frightened little girl hid both hands behind her back and retreated desperately.

She immediately fell over.

The filthy half bun dropped into the muddy water as well.

“My bun! My bun!”

Yang Ximei lunged forward, grabbed the filthy bun, and desperately stuffed it into her mouth.

Fang Muheng rushed over and hugged her.

Yang Ximei struggled with all her might, yet she never stopped eating.

“It’s dirty, dirty. Don’t eat it.”

Fang Muheng tried to pull the bun from her mouth.

Instead, the little girl clamped down hard on his right hand with her teeth.

Fang Muheng had been afraid of pain since childhood.

Yet at this moment he neither cried out nor pulled his hand free from Yang Ximei’s mouth.

Holding Yang Ximei with one arm, he sat down directly in the muddy water.

Then he took a fruit candy from his suit pocket.

Still smiling, he said,

“Eat this.”

Yang Ximei stared blankly at the fruit candy wrapped in colorful paper.

She froze.

Then she loosened her bite.

Fang Muheng looked at the bloody bite marks on the back of his right hand.

His heart ached terribly.

Not because of himself, but because of Yang Ximei.

Carefully peeling away the wrapper, he placed the fruit candy into Yang Ximei’s mouth and gently asked,

“Ximei, is it sweet?”

The terrified eyes of the little girl widened.

Suddenly, an indescribable delight flickered within them.

“Come on, Ximei. Uncle will take you home.”

Remaining half-kneeling, Fang Muheng picked Yang Ximei up with both hands.

Carefully and slowly, he backed out of the shack as though carrying the most precious treasure in the world.

Behind him, beyond the bamboo mat, two pairs of eyes silently watched everything.