Chapter 198: An Extraordinary Younger Brother

Cheng Min was shocked to her core.

One could even say that turbulent waves were raging within her heart.

She had known that for her younger brother to become the ace Special Branch operative personally remembered by Comrade Nongfu, he must possess extraordinary abilities and outstanding achievements.

Even so, the things Cheng Qianfan reported still far exceeded her imagination.

After his sole contact, Old Liao, was killed.

Cheng Qianfan continued his undercover work.

He tracked down Old Mo, the traitor who had murdered our Party’s anti-Japanese cadres, personally carried out the elimination mission, and completed the task Comrade Zhulin had entrusted to him before his sacrifice.

He discovered the Party Affairs Investigation Department’s plot to infiltrate the organization through the traitor Zhu Yuan and promptly warned the Shanghai Communists.

Following arrangements made by Comrade Zhulin before his death, he was invited by the National Government’s Special Service Office and joined the Special Service Office.

He survived an assassination attempt arranged by the Japanese agent Yingzuo Eiichi.

He went to Hangzhou to receive training at the Special Service Office’s special training class.

During the journey, he discovered the Japanese agent Kawada Eikichi and ultimately succeeded in destroying that Japanese spy group.

He uncovered the conspiracy of the traitor Wen Changjian and warned the Hangzhou Communists.

He exposed a spy hidden within the National Revolutionary Army in Hangzhou.

He repeatedly rendered meritorious service in the Special Service Office and was even personally received by Dai Chunfeng, the head of the National Government’s intelligence apparatus, who granted him the rank of captain.

Using the identity of Miyazaki Kentaro, he befriended the Japanese noble youth Kawada Atsuto.

He even earned the preliminary trust of Japanese officials such as Okada Toshihiko, the Japanese military attaché stationed in Hangzhou, who issued him Japanese diplomatic credentials.

After returning to Shanghai, he single-handedly rescued Wang Jun and other senior officials of the Shanghai Municipal Committee.

He also established a degree of contact with Peng Yu’ou, a senior Communist leader in Shanghai.

He operated black-market transactions and sold a batch of medicine to the Shanghai Communists.

He uncovered the Party Affairs Investigation Department’s trap involving Yang Ximei and once again warned the Shanghai Communists.

He became a trusted confidant of both Dai Chunfeng and Yu Ping’an within the Special Service Office and independently led an undercover group in Shanghai under the codename Bluebird.

He eliminated Miyazaki Kentaro, the Japanese who had murdered anti-Japanese compatriots.

Faced with a situation in which Yingzuo Eiichi was determined to kill him, he decisively devised a plan, assuming the identity of Miyazaki Kentaro and then impersonating Cheng Qianfan.

Cheng Qianfan recounted these events calmly.

Yet every one of them sounded thrilling and perilous to Cheng Min.

She looked deeply at her younger brother, overwhelming pride surging from the depths of her heart.

This was her younger brother.

Such an outstanding younger brother!

An extraordinary younger brother!

She was proud of him!

Only...

Cheng Min asked, “That Japanese man, Miyazaki Kentaro, really looked exactly like you?”

“Like a twin,” Cheng Qianfan nodded.

“That’s unbelievable.” Cheng Min shook her head, then suddenly said, “I never imagined that Comrade Flame would be you, Younger Brother. Otherwise, when I passed Tanxiangshan Road today, I would have bought some malt candy from Old Mai’s shop for you. You loved it when you were little.”

Looking at his sister, Cheng Qianfan gave a bitter smile.

“After I turned eight, I never ate Old Mai’s malt candy again. Big Sister, you’re just like Ruolan, you both had to test me.”

Earlier, when he had been impersonating Cheng Qianfan while using Miyazaki Kentaro’s identity, he had deliberately acted as though he were gradually becoming familiar with this person in order to avoid arousing Yingzuo Eiichi’s suspicions, and especially those of the Japanese agent Liu Bo.

During that period, he visited Bai Ruolan and Xiaobao at the orphanage.

Subconsciously, he displayed that sort of behavior.

Then, while walking with Bai Ruolan, she had “accidentally” spotted a centipede and become frightened.

When she was little, Bai Ruolan had once been frightened by a centipede and carried lingering trauma because of it.

Almost instinctively, Cheng Qianfan stepped on the centipede and killed it.

He even placed three stones on top of the corpse.

Then, the moment he turned around, Bai Ruolan came over and wrapped her arm around his.

For the pure-hearted Ruolan, that was an extremely bold action.

She held his arm tightly, as though afraid he might disappear.

Cheng Qianfan immediately understood.

Bai Ruolan had noticed something unusual and was deliberately testing him.

Killing the centipede and pinning it down with three stones was something Cheng Qianfan had done at the orphanage long ago to comfort Bai Ruolan.

The young Cheng Qianfan had told the young Bai Ruolan:

“With three stones pressing it down, you don’t have to worry about the dead centipede coming back for revenge.”

Cheng Qianfan understood Bai Ruolan’s feelings.

As long as he was there, as long as he was himself, the skies would be clear.

If Bai Ruolan had subconsciously sensed that something was wrong and tested him because of it.

Then his sister’s test came from the caution required of a revolutionary.

Cheng Qianfan did not believe that his sister had failed to recognize him as the real Cheng Qianfan.

However, this was the kind of caution an underground worker had to possess.

Cheng Min smiled.

She smiled very happily.

She offered no explanation.

Nor was one needed.

She knew her younger brother understood.

When her brother was eight years old, Old Mai’s family had accused him of stealing their malt candy.

His sister had firmly believed that her brother was no thief and had gone to Old Mai’s house to argue fiercely.

Later, it was proven that Old Mai’s own son had stolen the candy and exchanged it for money to buy steamed rice cakes from a neighboring shop.

The wrongly accused boy had felt deeply wronged and furious.

He swore never to eat their malt candy again.

His sister, who had also loved Old Mai’s malt candy, never bought it again either.

She had always believed that the person before her was her younger brother.

Now she was more certain than ever.

This was the younger brother she loved most and was proudest of.

An extraordinary younger brother!

Her pride!

Father, Mother, can you see this from heaven?

I found Younger Brother.

He’s doing well.

He’s outstanding.

Like me, and like both of you, he became a glorious Communist, fighting for the great cause of national liberation!

He is remarkable.

Truly remarkable.

I am proud of him.

I believe you would be proud of such a son as well!

Father, Mother, don’t worry.

I will protect Younger Brother well!

Together, Younger Brother and I will remain loyal to the Red cause and loyal to the people.

Together we will welcome the victory of the revolution.

When that day comes, we will go to your graves together and personally tell you the good news of the revolution’s triumph.

That day will certainly come.

In Cheng Min’s view, her younger brother had performed exceptionally well.

Especially during the period when he had been cut off from the organization.

Even then, he had repeatedly used the temporary identity Qian Xinghuo to warn the Shanghai Communists and had established contact with Peng Yu’ou, a senior Communist leader in Shanghai.

All of this demonstrated his loyalty to the Party.

In addition, while in Hangzhou, he had warned the local Communists there.

This further proved that after joining the National Government’s Special Service Office under orders, he had remained black-skinned but red-hearted.

These were not things that could be fabricated.

All of them could be verified.

Furthermore, according to Cheng Qianfan’s account, his infiltration of the Special Service Office had been approved by Comrade Zhulin before his death.

Comrade Zhulin had reported and registered the matter with the Central authorities.

That too could be verified.

As for killing Miyazaki Kentaro and then being “forced” to impersonate Miyazaki Kentaro in order to impersonate himself and escape Yingzuo Eiichi’s murderous intentions.

Those actions had indeed been undertaken independently by Flame.

However, they would not result in disciplinary action.

As long as comrades who had lost contact with the organization had not violated the Red cause’s discipline, conscience, or morality during that period, their actions could be accepted and recognized.

And judging by the results, Cheng Qianfan’s actions had brought merit rather than fault.

Yes, Cheng Min personally trusted Cheng Qianfan.

Nevertheless, all of this still had to be verified.

This had nothing to do with whether the organization trusted him.

It was simply a necessary investigative procedure whenever a comrade returned after losing contact.

Moreover, Cheng Min had a feeling.

The fact that Comrade Nongfu had personally ordered her to bring Comrade Flame back already demonstrated an extraordinary degree of trust in Flame.

The fact that her brother’s organizational affiliation was directly with the Central authorities said a great deal by itself.

It showed that Comrade Nongfu, and perhaps even Comrade Xiangwu, understood and trusted him deeply.

Furthermore, both Comrade Xiangwu and Comrade Nongfu had watched him grow up.

That too would help him pass the organization’s investigation smoothly.

“Comrade Flame, please confirm once more that everything you have stated is true,” Cheng Min said with a serious expression.

“I confirm it,” Cheng Qianfan nodded.

“Very good. The organization will verify everything you have said. The organization is willing to believe in every comrade’s loyalty to the Red cause,” Cheng Min said earnestly.

“Flame is willing to accept the organization’s investigation and trusts the organization completely.” Cheng Qianfan’s expression became exceedingly solemn. “I believe the organization will uncover the truth, accept me, and recognize me.”

The brother and sister shook hands again with utmost solemnity.

After official business had been concluded.

“Younger Brother, how are things between you and Ruolan?” Cheng Min asked with sparkling eyes and a smile in her brows.