Chapter 55: Arrival in Hangzhou

Chapter 55: Arrival in Hangzhou

Cheng Qianfan had purchased a first-class compartment, and first class was naturally the most comfortable.

The facilities were luxurious, the seats spacious, carpets covered the floor, and dressing rooms, lavatories, and other amenities were all provided.

In his youth, Cheng Qianfan had read the fairy tale Mimosa and seen a description of the comfort of first-class rail travel:

“The chairs are stuffed with goose down. The moment you sit down, they fit snugly around your whole body, soft and yielding, supporting you completely.”

The young boy had been very envious.

On his tenth birthday, Cheng Wenzao and Su Zhifu had promised that once they had saved enough money, they would take him to experience a first-class carriage.

Cheng Qianfan emerged from the lavatory.

He knocked on the dressing-room door.

A yawning attendant opened it and immediately put on a smile when he saw the handsome young first-class passenger.

“Bring me a clean towel.”

Cheng Qianfan raised his chin as he gave the order.

“Certainly, sir.”

“Warm it with salt water.”

Cheng Qianfan handed over one French franc.

“Your tip.”

The attendant happily went to prepare hot water and warm the towel.

Cheng Qianfan stood at the dressing-room entrance, his body conveniently blocking the attendant’s line of sight as the man busied himself inside.

He lit a cigarette.

One of the bodyguards came over and lit a cigarette as well.

Just as the man was about to speak, Cheng Qianfan gently shook his head.

Campbell had four bodyguards.

Song Fuguo had secretly introduced Cheng Qianfan only to the bodyguard nicknamed “Nag.”

Only this man was an agent of the Special Service Office.

The other three were professional bodyguards with no connection to the Special Service Office.

Though nicknamed “Nag,” he was actually taciturn and extremely steady.

Cheng Qianfan took a note from his pocket.

He unfolded it for Nag to read.

“Do not speak. Nod or shake your head only. You want to ask what happened during the day?”

Nag nodded.

As Cheng Qianfan slipped that note back into his pocket, he produced another.

“There is indeed a situation. There are Japanese agents aboard this train.”

Nag’s expression changed.

He scrutinized Cheng Qianfan.

“I understand Japanese, which is how I noticed.”

“Can you find a way to contact the Hangzhou side?”

The notes in Cheng Qianfan’s hand kept changing.

Nag shook his head.

“Remember, only the two of us know about this matter. Do not go to that carriage. Do not have any contact with them. Do not even look at them.”

Nag frowned and shook his head.

“Southern land, white hair grows. This is an order.”

Upon seeing the words on that note, Nag’s expression changed.

He nodded.

“Southern land, white hair grows” was a code phrase.

Song Fuguo had informed Cheng Qianfan of it.

Displaying that code phrase effectively granted him command authority, and Nag was obligated to obey.

This had been Song Fuguo’s carefully considered decision.

Nag had more seniority than Cheng Qianfan and was also highly capable.

However, his strengths lay in action rather than planning and strategy.

Cheng Qianfan’s cautiousness and intelligence, though lacking grand strategic vision, possessing plenty of practical cleverness, was precisely Song Fuguo’s assessment of him.

“From now on, we pretend not to know each other. Campbell is your responsibility. Keep his mouth shut.”

“You may leave.”

Nag cast Cheng Qianfan a cold look, nodded, and turned away.

Cheng Qianfan gently shook his head.

Song Fuguo’s arrangement giving Nag a means to obey his orders was also a reminder that matters needed to be communicated to Nag.

At the same time, it implied that Nag had a mission to observe him secretly.

Not everything needed to be explained clearly.

Certain things could remain concealed.

But basic communication was a rule.

It was also a form of self-protection.

If he concealed everything:

You had contact with Japanese people, and you claim you were impersonating a Japanese man. Who could verify whether that was true or false?

After all, he was still only a very inexperienced rookie agent in the Special Service Office.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Cheng Qianfan took a deep drag from his cigarette.

As smoke swirled around him, he turned around.

“Sir, your hot towel.”

Cheng Qianfan nodded, accepted the towel, and walked away directly.

He entered the lavatory once more and locked the door.

Taking the notes from his pocket, he turned on the tap and washed them.

Only after they had all dissolved into pulp did he throw the pulp into the toilet bowl and flush it out of the train.

This time he had not eaten the notes because there were too many of them.

Moreover, the ink seemed inferior.

The last time he had eaten such paper, his stomach had felt unwell.

Returning to his berth, Cheng Qianfan stretched lazily before closing the soft-sleeper compartment door and drawing the curtain.

He gently laid the still-scalding towel across the side table.

After waiting a short while, Cheng Qianfan carefully lifted the towel.

A somewhat blurry palm print had appeared on the tabletop.

The corners of Cheng Qianfan’s mouth rose.

Just as he had expected.

When he had left earlier, he had deliberately placed his notebook deep in the corner beside the berth.

The most convenient way to retrieve it was to brace one hand on the side table while reaching for the notebook with the other.

His precaution had proven effective.

Yet Cheng Qianfan felt no joy.

Instead, his expression grew grave again.

Cold sweat even appeared on his back.

This indicated that Kawada Eikichi was still probing him.

The only uncertainty was whether this suspicion was merely the routine caution of an experienced agent or whether genuine doubts had arisen.

What frightened him in retrospect was that, fortunately, he had always been sufficiently cautious and had decisively abandoned any idea of further contact with Kawada Eikichi.

Otherwise...

Nothing happened throughout the night.

The following morning, the train arrived at Hangzhou Railway Station.

The distinguished passengers of the first-class carriage were in no hurry to disembark.

Cheng Qianfan adjusted his suit and tie, put on his hat, picked up his small Australian leather suitcase, and leisurely made his way toward the carriage exit.

As he passed Kawada Eikichi’s berth, he saw that it was already empty.

A look of disappointment, followed by acceptance, crossed Cheng Qianfan’s face.

Behind him, in the opposite direction, Nag and the other three bodyguards escorted, or rather “protected,” Campbell as they exited through another carriage door.

The moment Cheng Qianfan stepped off the train, he spotted Kawada Eikichi’s group on the platform.

Earlier, Cheng Qianfan had estimated that there were four of them aboard the train.

Now it appeared his estimate had been slightly off.

There were actually six people.

This meant that four had been operating openly on the train while two had remained hidden.

And from a superficial observation, aside from the gentleman with the small round spectacles, whose combat ability seemed somewhat weaker, the other five were all formidable fighters.

Kawada Eikichi in particular gave Cheng Qianfan a distinctly dangerous feeling.

The disparity in strength was enormous.

Cheng Qianfan displayed mild surprise.

He nodded toward Kawada Eikichi.

Kawada Eikichi nodded in return.

Just as Cheng Qianfan picked up his suitcase and prepared to leave, he saw Kawada Eikichi approaching him, accompanied by two subordinates.

Cheng Qianfan halted.

Maintaining an expression of surprise, he watched Kawada Eikichi draw closer and closer.

His heart was far less calm than his face suggested.

He could not understand why Kawada Eikichi, who had repeatedly reminded him not to “disturb” them, was now approaching him.

The two accompanying men suddenly moved their right hands toward their waists.

Cheng Qianfan noticed the movement.

Had he been exposed?

He maintained his smile and forcibly suppressed the urge to draw his gun and open fire.

Even if he were to die on the spot, he had to endure.

Only then did he pretend to realize something.

His smile faded.

Looking around in confusion, he displayed an uneasy expression.

At that moment, two boys of sixteen or seventeen ran past them while playfully chasing one another.

The two escorts withdrew their right hands from their waists and visibly relaxed.

Kawada Eikichi had been observing his fellow townsman’s facial expressions the entire time.

He could notice trouble immediately, his reactions were not too bad.

However, the confused look and uneasy expression demonstrated that Miyazaki-kun was exactly what he claimed to be: merely a wandering poet, without professional military training.

Looking at Kawada Eikichi standing before him, Cheng Qianfan suppressed his excitement and said with a smile,

“Kawada-kun, this is...?”

“Miyazaki-kun, I never imagined I would encounter someone from home here in China. Once we part today, who knows when we shall meet again.”

Kawada Eikichi smiled.

“It has been a long time since I heard any news from home. How is Mr. Uu of the Erimatsu Shrine?”