Chapter 49: Suspicion
Chapter 49: Suspicion
“Spring has arrived. The weather is warming, flowers are blooming, and animals are becoming restless as well.”
“This is animal instinct. Mechanical training cannot solve it.”
“So I chose a permanent solution.”
“Doctor Wang, you know so much.”
Mrs. Ruth spoke softly. She glanced at the dog being held by her maid and, perhaps because the topic was too suggestive, revealed a shy expression.
“Doctor Wang, you had an appointment with Dr. Ma today. It’s almost time,” the nurse came over and reminded him.
“My apologies, Mrs. Ruth. I have something to attend to.”
Wang Kangnian picked up his hat.
“I’ve prescribed some medicine. Take it home, grind it into powder, mix it into the dog’s food, and feed it to him.”
“All right. Thank you, Doctor Wang.”
“Goodbye.”
Wang Kangnian bowed slightly, put on his hat, stepped out of the clinic, hailed a rickshaw, and waved farewell to his female customer.
“Arrange for someone to watch this Mrs. Ruth,” Wang Kangnian said softly.
“Understood.”
The rickshaw puller nodded and made a hand signal. A young man near the clinic understood and nodded before following Mrs. Ruth and her maid.
“Team Leader, is there something wrong with this woman?”
“I’ve caught the scent of something familiar.”
Wang Kangnian smiled.
Mrs. Ruth had said the dog was irritable and restless, but Wang Kangnian had noticed that when the dog was brought in, it had been very obedient beside her.
More accurately, it had been afraid.
The dog was afraid of her.
This was not a dog’s respect for its owner. It was a reaction of terror.
Just like the way the dog had trembled in fear when facing Wang Kangnian.
Dogs were extremely sensitive to scents.
Wang Kangnian knew why dogs were afraid of him.
He carried the smell of blood.
A bloody scent that could never be washed away, a bloody scent that had seeped into his very bones.
He had become suspicious of the seemingly delicate and fragile Mrs. Ruth.
“Keiko, you shouldn’t be meeting this person directly.”
The maid’s expression was unpleasant.
“We have reason to suspect that this man is an agent of the National Government.”
“Don’t you think taming a Zhina agent is a very satisfying achievement?”
Holding a parasol, Keiko pursed her lips into a smile.
“Or do you not believe in my charm?”
“Keiko, you’re too stubborn.”
“Be quiet. The Section Chief assigned you here to be my assistant, not for me to listen to your opinions.”
The maid’s expression changed repeatedly before she ultimately swallowed her anger.
“Keiko, Major Yingzuo Eiichi wants to see you.”
“I understand.”
Keiko revealed a trace of disgust.
She had a very poor impression of Yingzuo-kun, that neurotic man.
At Spring Breeze Satisfaction House near the City God Temple.
“Teacher, it was you who recommended me to Mr. Xi Neng?”
Cheng Qianfan rose and poured tea for Xiu Gongshen.
“You guessed it?”
Xiu Gongshen asked with a smile.
“A young policeman, speaks French, native of Zhejiang.”
Cheng Qianfan smiled.
“In the entire Central Police Station, I’m the only one who fits those requirements.”
“You really are a clever lad.”
Xiu Gongshen burst into hearty laughter and pointed at Cheng Qianfan.
“Yes, it was I who recommended you to Mr. Xi Neng. This is an opportunity for you. Do your work diligently.”
“Yes.”
Cheng Qianfan said gratefully.
“I will certainly not disappoint Teacher’s painstaking cultivation.”
“You’re a smart young man with your own ideas. That much reassures me. However, when you’re away from home, be careful in everything.”
“I understand.”
“Go. You leave tomorrow, so return and make your preparations.”
“Yes.”
Cheng Qianfan agreed, then poured himself a cup of tea and drained it in one gulp.
“Hey, hey, hey, you brat. Vulgar, vulgar.”
Xiu Gongshen cursed affectionately in distress.
“Such fine tea has been wasted on you.”
“Teacher is being too stingy.”
Cheng Qianfan chuckled.
Before Xiu Gongshen could scold him again, he hurriedly fled.
“Little rascal.”
Watching Cheng Qianfan escape in panic, Xiu Gongshen laughed and cursed.
Xiu Gongshen poured and drank tea by himself, seemingly preoccupied.
About fifteen minutes later, a man in a long gown entered the private room.
“Director.”
“You’re here. Sit.”
Xiu Gongshen nodded.
“Try this, Longqingxiang Double-Scented Orchid Pu.”
Su Zhikang took a sip and savored it carefully.
“The fragrance lingers on the lips and teeth. Excellent tea.”
“Do you think the boy Qianfan has guessed something?”
“Cheng Qianfan is an exceptionally intelligent young man.”
Su Zhikang nodded.
“Song Fuguo arranged for him to go to Hangzhou for training, and then you recommended him to Xi Neng. It’s only natural for him to have some suspicions. Director, there is one thing that has always puzzled me.”
“Go ahead.”
“I can tell that Director likes Cheng Qianfan very much and holds him in high regard. You’ve taken great care of him.”
Su Zhikang carefully chose his words.
“If that’s the case, why not simply tell him everything directly? From what I’ve observed, Cheng Qianfan is also a patriotic young man. He certainly wouldn’t refuse to serve the Party-State.”
“Zhikang.”
“Yes?”
“We walk along the edge of a cliff.”
Xiu Gongshen spoke slowly.
Su Zhikang glanced at him and nodded thoughtfully.
Xiu Gongshen let out a long sigh inwardly.
He felt that he was deceiving himself.
His heart was conflicted.
Cheng Wenzao and Su Zhifu had sacrificed themselves for the nation. He felt obligated to protect the orphaned son of his close friend and fellow Nationalist comrade, allowing him to live a stable and peaceful life.
Yet he greatly admired Cheng Qianfan’s talent.
He felt it would be a tremendous waste for such a young man not to serve the Party-State.
Caught in this contradiction, he chose to have Song Fuguo approach Cheng Qianfan.
He told himself that if Cheng Qianfan chose, of his own accord, to devote himself fearlessly to the cause of the Party-State, then it would be the young man’s own decision, and his own guilt would be somewhat lighter.
But Xiu Gongshen himself knew that he was merely deceiving himself.
“Director, Wang Kangnian came to see me this morning.”
“Wang Kangnian?”
Xiu Gongshen frowned.
“What did he want with you?”
He had never liked the people of the Party Affairs Investigation Department.
The Party Affairs Investigation Department was the territory of the Chen brothers, and the Special Service Office had never gotten along with them.
Of course, regarding the suppression of bandits and the struggle against the Communists, the Special Service Office and the Party Affairs Investigation Department shared the same position.
“Wang Kangnian asked me about Cheng Qianfan.”
Observing Xiu Gongshen’s expression, Su Zhikang spoke cautiously.
“He suspects Cheng Qianfan is a Communist!”
“Absurd!”
Xiu Gongshen snorted angrily.
“In their eyes, everyone is suspected of being a Communist.”
“Some time ago, when Wang Kangnian was arresting Communists, Cheng Qianfan happened to appear at the arrest scene and was photographed by Wang Kangnian’s men.”
Su Zhikang said,
“That is why Wang Kangnian suspects him.”
“Hm?”
Xiu Gongshen’s expression changed slightly.
After a moment of silence, he finally spoke.
“Why did Wang Kangnian come to you? What is your view of this matter?”
“On that day, Cheng Qianfan came to drink with me.”
Su Zhikang said,
“He knew that I enjoy the pig trotters from Wanzhenxing, so he went to Avenue Joffre to buy some. It was merely a coincidence and nothing suspicious. I have already explained this to Wang Kangnian.”
“In your opinion, is there any suspicion of Communist involvement on Cheng Qianfan’s part?”
Xiu Gongshen took a sip of tea and asked seemingly casually.
“He should not be suspicious.”
Su Zhikang pondered before answering.
“As far as I know, Cheng Qianfan has always held a hostile attitude toward the Communists. In previous police operations, he personally arrested Communist members.”
“Hmm.”
Xiu Gongshen nodded and said nothing further.
At that very moment, with arrangements made through Xiu Gongshen, Wang Kangnian arrived at the police detention center to secretly visit Zhuang Ze.
After meeting with Su Zhikang, Wang Kangnian’s suspicions toward Cheng Qianfan had lessened.
However, he still could not completely set his mind at ease.
Compared to the plan involving Zhu Yuan’s infiltration of the Communists, he was far more interested in the mysterious Communist behind Old Liao.
His instincts told him that this was a Communist ace agent hidden extremely deeply.
He wanted to hear Zhuang Ze’s opinion of Cheng Qianfan.
It was said that Cheng Qianfan had also been present when Zhuang Ze was arrested.
As a Communist defector, Zhuang Ze should be the most qualified person to comment.