Chapter 173: The Third Division Is About to Change

Cheng Qianfan’s speech received thunderous applause.

Qin Detai was extremely satisfied.

He shook hands separately with Ma Yishou and Cheng Qianfan, offered each of them a few words of encouragement, and only then departed with his entourage.

The officers noticed that, besides shaking Cheng Qianfan’s hand, Chief Qin had also patted Deputy Chief Cheng on the shoulder and quietly given him a few instructions, all while smiling broadly.

“Chief Ma, congratulations.”

“Ma Tou, you’ll have to treat us.”

Ma Yishou was in high spirits as he exchanged pleasantries with everyone.

Soon, the crowd surrounding Ma Yishou shifted over and gathered around Cheng Qianfan instead.

“Little Cheng, congratulations.”

“What do you mean Little Cheng? It’s Deputy Chief Cheng now.”

Everyone stepped forward to offer their congratulations.

“Qianfan lacks experience. I hope all you elder brothers will continue to support me.”

“Of course.”

“Definitely.”

Watching Cheng Qianfan being surrounded by well-wishers, Ma Yishou felt somewhat sour.

“Master, your tea.”

Breaking away from the crowd, Cheng Qianfan skillfully refilled Ma Yishou’s teacup and said with a smile.

Ma Yishou looked deeply at Cheng Qianfan.

“Qianfan.”

“Master, Qianfan is listening.”

“Master’s health isn’t very good. I’ll have to trouble you to devote more effort to the affairs of the Third Division.”

Ma Yishou spoke slowly.

“Master, what are you saying? With you overseeing the Third Division, Qianfan still has much to learn by your side.”

“I’m old, old. You’ll have to shoulder more of the burden.”

“Yes, Master, rest assured. Qianfan certainly won’t disappoint you.”

Cheng Qianfan replied with a smile and a respectful tone.

The surrounding officers pricked up their ears and exchanged glances.

The Third Division was about to change.

No. 34 Route Père Robert.

This was a two-story Western-style building facing the street.

The usually quiet little building was unusually lively today.

Two brand-new automobiles were parked outside, giving the place an impressive appearance.

Most eye-catching of all was that the French flag, German flag, British flag, American flag, Blue Sky White Sun flag, and the Japanese Rising Sun flag were all hanging outside.

Passersby stopped to watch and discussed it among themselves.

Could this be a newly established office of the League of Nations in Shanghai?

Then someone with sharp eyes pointed it out, and only then did the crowd notice a banner hanging beside the row of flags.

It read:

“Making Friends Through Literature, Western-Style Salon, Wenyou Society Welcomes All Guests.”

The spectators smacked their lips and gradually dispersed.

It was only a literary society.

They had made it look as though the Eight-Nation Alliance had marched into Shanghai.

What was the big deal?

Had Shanghainese not seen foreign spectacles before?

Inside the little building, the first floor had been converted into a lounge.

More than a dozen men and women were chatting.

The men wore suits and ties and carried themselves with elegance.

The women were fashionably dressed and exceptionally charming.

These were all wealthy young heirs and socialites of Shanghai who had come to show support and join the excitement.

In the office on the second floor, interviews were underway.

Liu Mingfei wore gold-rimmed glasses.

His complexion was fair, and his speech and mannerisms were refined and scholarly.

To his left sat a gentle middle-aged man wearing black-rimmed glasses and a well-tailored suit, with a white silk handkerchief tucked into his pocket.

To his right sat a smiling man in his thirties.

The three were quietly discussing the three interview candidates before them.

“This one is excellent. The young lady is as gentle as water, and her eyes seem to whisper softly. She reminds me of that poem by Mr. Zhimo.”

The refined gentleman said.

“No, no, no. I think this one is better. Her face is as smooth as jade, and her bosom rises in splendid peaks. I’ve always been a staunch supporter of Mr. Shizhi’s Great Bosomism.”

The smiling man said.

Liu Mingfei calmly glanced at the two of them.

He very much wanted to say:

Damn it, you two old lechers!

I invited you here to accomplish important work.

We’re hiring female clerks, not selecting concubines.

Yes, Liu Mingfei genuinely and sincerely wanted to work for the Japanese.

He predicted that Japanese occupation of all China was only a matter of time.

Since that was the case, joining them early was the smart move.

In the old dynasties, that would have made him one of the first ministers to support a conquering emperor.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

The two men who had been arguing so enthusiastically immediately fell silent and straightened their postures.

“Please come in.”

Liu Mingfei called out loudly.

Then the three men saw a rather ordinary-looking woman push open the door and enter.

McKee Road.

Doug Private Clinic.

Wang Kangnian was performing surgery on a patient.

The patient was a cat.

Doctor Wang of Doug Private Clinic had become especially famous for neutering pets.

The news had spread among many wealthy wives, young ladies, and socialites.

As a result, more and more cats and dogs were being brought here for operations.

At first, Wang Kangnian had been quite impatient and even somewhat disgusted by it.

He was a doctor.

A doctor who healed the sick and saved lives.

A Kuomintang agent dedicated to cutting away the rotten flesh from the body of the nation.

Not some ridiculous veterinarian for cats and dogs.

However, when Wu Shanyue, chief of the Operations Section of the Shanghai Special District of the Party Affairs Investigation Department, learned of the situation, he sternly ordered Wang Kangnian to take the matter seriously.

Though reluctant at heart, Wang Kangnian was rational.

He had also realized the advantages of treating pets.

The cultured, handsome, Western-educated Doctor Wang was quite popular among wealthy wives, socialites, and young ladies.

Wang Kangnian could subtly steer conversations and thereby obtain useful information from these women.

Thus, the first private clinic in Greater Shanghai specializing in pet treatment spread rapidly among the circles of wealthy women and socialites.

For a time, business flourished unexpectedly.

Wang Kangnian treated cats and dogs equally.

The cat, already injected with anesthetic, lay spread-eagled on the operating table.

Holding a sharp scalpel, Wang Kangnian glanced at the cat’s vital region and considered how to complete the operation with the smallest possible incision.

At that moment, there was a gentle knock on the operating room door.

“Come in.”

“Reporting, Group Leader.”

“Bai Pang and Xiao Ou have returned.”

“Send them in.”

Wang Kangnian’s spirits immediately rose.

Bai Pang and Xiao Ou had been assigned by him to wait at Yang Ximei’s shack, practicing waiting beside a tree stump for a rabbit.

They were not allowed to return without orders.

Unless there was one possibility:

The two men must have made a major discovery.

“Send them in.”

Wang Kangnian skillfully made a small cut in the cat’s vital region and spoke.

Looking at his two foul-smelling and miserable subordinates, Wang Kangnian, who was known for his obsession with cleanliness, walked around the operating table.

Without the slightest hesitation, he patted their filthy, stinking clothes and said gravely,

“You’ve worked hard.”

“We dare not claim credit.”

Bai Pang said.

“We are willing to die for the nation and the Party.”

“Excellent.”

Wang Kangnian nodded in satisfaction.

“If everyone possessed your endurance and spirit of sacrifice, why should we fear that the bandit menace could not be eradicated or that the nation and Party could not prosper? I will request merit awards on your behalf.”

“We are willing to die for Group Leader!”

The two men said excitedly.

“Tell me, what did you discover?”

Wang Kangnian asked.

“Group Leader, as you predicted, a Communist did indeed come to take Yang Ximei away.”

Xiao Ou said.

“Did you determine this person’s identity?”

Wang Kangnian was overjoyed.

“Group Leader, you’ll never guess who it was.”

Xiao Ou said proudly.

Bai Pang glanced at his partner.

Idiot!

“Who was it? Could it be an old acquaintance?”

Wang Kangnian’s expression remained unchanged as he asked gravely.

“It was Fang Muheng.”

Xiao Ou said happily.

Wang Kangnian’s face darkened.

It was Fang Muheng, and you’re happy about it?

That fellow wasn’t a Communist at all.

Even if there were a one hundred percent chance that he was a Communist, an idiot like that was more useful left unarrested than arrested.