Chapter 211: The Flame Undercover Group

“The organization has decided to establish the Shanghai Flame Undercover Group,” Cheng Min said excitedly. “The Flame Group will report directly to Comrade Xiangwu. Comrade Xiangwu has entrusted Comrade Nongfu with responsibility for direct contact and guidance.”

“Comrade Wu Huan, Comrade Xie Ruonan, and Comrade Cao Yu are being assigned to join the Flame Group.”

Cheng Min paused briefly.

“Comrade Cao Yu is currently in Shanghai. Comrades Wu Huan and Xie Ruonan are presently in Nanjing. The organization has arranged for them to pose as husband and wife, and they will arrive in Shanghai three days from now.”

“Comrade Cao Yu will handle external liaison and courier duties.”

“Comrade Wu Huan will serve as the radio operator for the Flame Group’s secret radio station.”

“Comrade Xie Ruonan will be responsible for internal administrative work.”

Cheng Qianfan nodded.

One courier and external liaison officer, one radio operator, one administrative worker, plus himself as Flame.

Though small, the group possessed all the essential functions.

A small-scale undercover group had thus been formed.

“On the Shanghai Party organization side, Comrade Peng Yu’ou of the Shanghai Municipal Committee will serve as Flame’s direct superior through a single-line contact channel.”

“These are the contact times, methods, and recognition codes for Comrade Peng Yu’ou.”

Cheng Min handed Cheng Qianfan a slip of paper.

Cheng Qianfan accepted it and studied it carefully.

After confirming that he had firmly memorized everything, he struck a match and burned the note.

Although he and Peng Yu’ou were already “very familiar strangers,” contact still required vigilance and strict adherence to organizational procedures.

Cheng Min glanced at her younger brother.

She realized that caution had already been carved into his bones.

“Comrade Cheng Min.”

His sister revealed a gentle smile and pointed at herself.

“That is to say, me.”

“I am the emergency contact for the Flame Group.”

Cheng Min had her own assignments.

She was not a member of the Flame Group, only its emergency contact.

Such emergency contact procedures would generally be used only under the most critical circumstances.

For example, if something happened to Peng Yu’ou, Flame’s superior.

Or if the Flame Group’s secret radio station was discovered by the enemy and direct communication with the Central Committee became impossible.

Or if a member was arrested and the group faced the danger of being exposed.

Or even if Cheng Qianfan himself were killed.

Under such circumstances, urgent reports to the Central Committee could be sent through this secret contact channel.

If possible, Cheng Min hoped the Flame Group would never need to use the emergency contact signals to reach her for revolutionary work.

Their use would signify crisis, bloodshed, and sacrifice.

Cheng Qianfan carefully memorized the emergency contact codes connecting him to his sister.

There were two sets of codes.

One was for him personally contacting Cheng Min.

That one was relatively simple.

The other was more complicated.

It was intended for situations in which he could not contact Cheng Min personally and another member of the Flame Group had to do so under his instructions.

The most likely circumstances for that were his arrest or death.

As Cheng Qianfan silently committed the emergency codes to memory, Cheng Min prayed inwardly.

She prayed that the more complicated contact code would never be needed.

She imagined an unfamiliar comrade making contact using that code and telling her:

“Comrade Flame has been martyred.”

The mere thought made it difficult for her to breathe.

Their brief reunion soon reached the moment of parting.

Cheng Qianfan asked his sister for paper and a pen.

Out of habit, he held the pen in his left hand and wrote an address in crooked handwriting.

Then he took a key from his pocket.

“36 Avenue Taisdre.”

Cheng Min accepted the note.

At first she was puzzled, but she quickly understood his meaning.

“You want me to go here.”

“Yes, Sis. You can’t stay here overnight. It’s too dangerous,” Cheng Qianfan said. “This is a safe house I reserved for myself. It’s extremely secure. From now on, it will be your safe house.”

As he spoke, he drew a floor plan on a sheet of paper with a pencil.

While drawing, he explained:

“The wardrobe in the bedroom on the left can be moved aside. There’s a concealed cavity behind the wall where one person can hide temporarily. Once inside, there’s a rope that lets you pull the wardrobe back into place. The rope is detachable. Remember to pull it back inside.”

“This is the storage room. One of the window latches can be removed. If you pry it loose, the window can be pushed outward. Stand on a stool and climb out through it. Outside is a dead-end alley beside a river. Because the river is wide, people assume there’s no escape route there. The enemy usually won’t pay much attention to it.”

“Don’t swim across. The purpose of exiting through the window isn’t to cross the river. You can create the illusion that you’ve done so. After jumping out the window, take three steps to the left. There’s a sewer manhole cover there. Lift it up...”

Cheng Qianfan’s voice was low and serious.

As Cheng Min listened to her brother’s instructions, a smile appeared at the corners of her lips.

Being cared for and fussed over by her younger brother felt wonderful.

However, as she watched him speaking in a low voice, Cheng Min shook her head.

“Little brother, keep this safe house for yourself. Your sister has her own place to stay. I’ll make do here for one night.”

She knew Cheng Qianfan too well.

He had undoubtedly offered her the safest, or at least the best, safe house he possessed.

What was a safe house?

It was the final means of preserving one’s life when circumstances became desperate.

“No.”

Cheng Qianfan’s tone was firm.

“This place is too dangerous. You cannot stay overnight here. Sis, do you know how worried and terrified I was when you and my brother-in-law vanished overnight five years ago?”

He looked directly at her.

His expression was stern, and his attitude utterly resolute.

“You must accept this safe house.”

Seeing that Cheng Min was about to speak again, Cheng Qianfan put on a serious face.

“Comrade Cheng Min, in my capacity as leader of the Flame Group, I order you to obey.”

Cheng Min had originally wanted to point out that she was not actually a member of the Flame Group.

However, seeing the exceptionally serious expression on her brother’s face, she ultimately swallowed the words.

“All right. I accept.”

Cheng Min did not hesitate or act coy.

She nodded.

She chose to accept for several reasons.

First, after careful consideration, she decided to trust her brother.

If Cheng Qianfan said the place was dangerous, then it deserved serious attention.

There could be no further delay.

Earlier, when she had said she could make do for one night, she had been relying on a certain degree of wishful thinking.

Now Cheng Min reminded herself:

Revolutionary work allowed no room for wishful thinking.

Furthermore, Cheng Qianfan’s mention of her and her husband’s overnight evacuation from Shanghai in the twentieth year of the Republic deeply moved her.

She could truly feel her younger brother’s concern and affection.

And she knew his temperament.

If she refused, he would never let the matter rest.

Hearing Cheng Min agree to move to the safe house, Cheng Qianfan revealed the delighted smile of someone who had won an argument.

His sister promptly flicked him on the forehead.

Cheng Min packed her belongings.

There was not much, only a leather bag of personal items.

She burned both the note containing the address and the floor plan her brother had drawn.

Then, under Cheng Qianfan’s guidance, she conducted another inspection of the premises.

They turned off the lights, locked the door, and left together.

“Old Yang, this place isn’t safe. We won’t be staying here tonight,” Cheng Min told the white-haired old man.

“All right.”

Old Yang raised no objections.

He simply nodded.

“You two leave first. I’ll conduct an inspection and then withdraw.”

As he spoke, he opened the iron gate.

“You should leave quickly as well. This place can’t be used again.”

Cheng Min nodded and shook hands with Old Yang in farewell.

Cheng Qianfan lowered the brim of his hat.

He offered neither comment nor greeting and simply followed his sister out.

He did not ask why Old Yang was not leaving with them.

Underground work operated under strict organizational discipline.

Questions that should not be asked must not be asked.

When unnecessary interaction was to be avoided, one had to control both one’s mouth and one’s eyes.

This protected oneself and other comrades alike.

The moment the brother and sister left, Old Yang quickly withdrew in another direction.

What he had said about conducting an inspection had been intended for Cheng Qianfan’s ears.

He trusted only his comrade Cheng Min.

Toward any unfamiliar person, he maintained the highest degree of caution.

That was the reality of underground work.

Any comrade you did not truly know, any comrade whose trustworthiness you could not personally vouch for, any comrade not assigned to you by your superiors, was effectively a stranger.

More than ten minutes later, several streets away from the residence, Wang Kangnian personally led a team of Nationalist agents.

Holding flashlights and riding bicycles, they arrived at rapid speed like troops on a forced march.