Chapter 196: Bringing Flame Back

Cheng Qianfan’s gaze remained fixed on that short essay.

An extremely intense, extremely blazing emotion surged within him.

His fists clenched, relaxed, then clenched again.

He forcibly restrained this sudden, violent, excited emotion.

The farmer searches for the Flame!

If that essay were summarized in a single sentence, it would be:

The farmer searches for the Flame!

This was a response to the missing-person advertisement he had published in Shen Bao.

This was his former leader in the Central Special Branch, Comrade Nongfu, personally issuing an order to recover the lost-contact Flame!

Cheng Qianfan gritted his teeth tightly.

The cigarette in his mouth had long since fallen away.

He released the handbrake, stepped on the accelerator, and drove.

The car window was half open.

The wind from outside blew through, stirring his hair.

His eyes seemed to shine.

He drove straight back to Yande Lane.

Amao was leading a group of children circling around the car.

Cheng Qianfan rubbed Amao’s head and instructed him not to run around.

His pace was neither hurried nor slow.

However, seeing his back, one would have the impression that his steps were light and brisk.

Returning home, he opened the door, closed it, and fastened the bolt.

Cheng Qianfan went directly upstairs to the second floor.

Lying on the bed and staring at the ceiling beams, he split into a grin.

A foolish smile appeared on his handsome face.

Meow.

The cat lightly jumped onto the bed.

Curling up in his arms, it rubbed against him.

As if it had found a comfortable position, it soon became motionless.

Cheng Qianfan gently stroked the cat.

From side to side, up and down, forwards and backwards.

He was too excited.

Very soon, the intense excitement gradually subsided.

Leaning against the headboard, Cheng Qianfan quieted down.

His expression became sorrowful.

His eyes reddened.

Too many things had happened during the period when he had lost contact with the organization.

During the major roundup last winter, large numbers of comrades had been arrested and killed.

Among them were six of the eight top operatives of the Special Branch, including Comrade Zhulin, his direct superior and a senior leader of the Shanghai Special Branch.

Afterward, the follow-up arrests continued day after day.

Every day people were arrested.

Every day people were sacrificed.

Including Old Liao, he had lost two couriers in succession.

From that point onward, he completely lost contact with the organization.

Then came eliminating the traitor Old Mo.

Seeing through the Party Affairs Investigation Department’s conspiracy.

Warning the Shanghai Communists.

Following the arrangements left by Comrade Zhulin before his sacrifice, he joined the Nationalist Special Service Office.

Training in Hangzhou.

Eliminating traitors.

The comrade at Selling Fish Bridge Wharf who had calmly embraced death.

Returning to Shanghai.

Killing Miyazaki.

Impersonating Miyazaki.

In less than a year, the disconnected Cheng Qianfan had experienced more joys and sorrows, deception and intrigue, bloodshed and sacrifice than many intelligence agents would experience in an entire lifetime.

Throughout all this, Cheng Qianfan had remained incomparably strong and exceptionally capable.

Yet at this very moment, learning that the organization had begun contacting and reawakening him, this young agent, as solid as rock and extraordinarily talented, experienced a brief moment of weakness.

He was no longer the person endlessly persevering through boundless darkness while yearning for the light.

He was about to return to the embrace of the organization.

The weakness was only momentary.

Tenderness was a luxury.

After calming his emotions, Cheng Qianfan became busy.

This essay was the organization’s response to the signal he had previously sent.

He had to provide a response in return.

Afterward, both sides would continue communicating through newspaper publications, confirming the final contact arrangement.

That evening, Cheng Qianfan arranged for Zhou Ru to send a telegram to Hangzhou, strongly condemning the Party Affairs Investigation Department for stealing the operation and surrounding Communist Liu Bo.

The next day, on the missing-person advertisement page of Shen Bao, Huo Miao, who had previously been searching for his elder family friend Zhu Lin, published another missing-person notice.

It stated that he would remain in Shanghai for two more days and hoped that his elder family friend Zhu Lin would reply through the newspaper as soon as possible.

This was Cheng Qianfan’s response to the organization:

Activate Contact Plan Number Two.

The Central Special Branch had four contingency plans for reactivating their ace agent Flame.

Based on his circumstances, Cheng Qianfan could randomly respond to the organization by selecting a particular plan.

The reverse was also true.

The organization could specify which contact plan should be used.

Everything was subject to the organization’s decision.

The following day, Cheng Qianfan saw Flame II in Shen Bao.

The rough story was that the farmer tried four different methods and finally succeeded in starting a fire.

Overjoyed, he prepared to cook a pot of rice.

Only to discover sorrowfully that he had no pot.

The pot had long ago been pawned.

This was the organization’s response:

Use Contact Plan Number Four.

At noon the next day, Cheng Qianfan left work early.

He first returned to his residence in Yande Lane to disguise himself and change clothes.

This was an extremely strict contact procedure.

He would wear the stylish attire of a fashionable young gentleman.

A black short-sleeved shirt on top.

A pair of white trousers below, with the hidden stitching on the white trousers required to be black.

On his feet were handsome brown calfskin shoes.

A stylish pair of sunglasses rested on the bridge of his nose.

“Brother Fan, has the deal been settled?”

Seeing the handsome and energetic young man, Granny Ma spoke in an exaggerated tone.

Smiling, Cheng Qianfan greeted the old neighbors.

Then he left the alley entrance and drove away.

About twenty minutes later, after passing an intersection, Cheng Qianfan pulled over to the roadside.

He beckoned to a flower-selling girl and bought a rose.

Returning to the car, he drove a little farther and arrived at a hotel on Avenue Père Robert.

Cheng Qianfan stepped out of the car with an air of elegance.

A rose was tucked diagonally into the pocket of his black short-sleeved shirt.

He raised a hand and adjusted his sunglasses.

The left cuff revealed an embroidered peony blossom.

Beneath the right side of the collar was pinned a badge bearing the portrait of Dr. Sun.

“Sir, are you checking in, or do you have an appointment?”

Lifting his chin and putting on an arrogant expression, Cheng Qianfan surveyed the hotel lobby.

Apparently finding the surroundings acceptable, he nodded slightly.

“I have an appointment. A lady surnamed Kang has already reserved a room.”

The attendant checked the guest register.

“Hello, sir. Miss Kang is staying in Room 304. This way, please.”

Cheng Qianfan nodded.

As he walked, he pulled several silver dollars from his pocket and tossed them over.

“I don’t wish to be disturbed.”

“Please rest assured, sir. Absolutely no one will disturb you.”

Cheng Min stood by the window.

She looked outside.

One could see the prosperity of Greater Shanghai.

One could also glimpse the poverty and chaos hidden behind that prosperity in the roadside beggars and crying homeless children.

During her previous contact meeting with Sister Jiashang, Sister Jiashang had informed her of the communication channel and latest contact schedule with the Central authorities.

After being cut off from the Central authorities for more than half a year, and after dispatching multiple comrades to travel to the northwest, the Shanghai Provincial Committee and Jiangsu Provincial Committee had finally reestablished contact with the Central authorities through overland routes.

The intelligence courier returned by land.

He brought back a radio set, as well as the communication frequency and designated time periods for contacting the Central authorities.

At the beginning of the year, Cheng Min had been assigned by Comrade Xiangwu to join the Comintern Sorge Group.

She was responsible for communications between the Shanghai bureau of the Comintern and the Central authorities.

Afterward, Cheng Min established contact with the Central authorities during the agreed time period and received a new assignment:

On behalf of Comrade Nongfu, bring back Comrade Flame, who had lost contact while operating in the field.

Cheng Min was somewhat surprised.

Strictly speaking, helping a disconnected comrade restore organizational affiliation was not part of her duties.

However, since the organization had selected her to carry out this task, there must be organizational considerations and reasons behind it.

All Cheng Min needed to do was successfully bring back this comrade from the hidden front.

Bang!

Bang bang bang.

Bang!

Bang bang!

A rhythmic knocking sounded at the door.