Chapter 56: Are You a Party Member (of the Nationalist Party)?
Chapter 56: Are You a Party Member (of the Nationalist Party)?
Cheng Qianfan revealed a strange expression as he glanced at Kawada Eikichi.
“Kawada-kun truly has been away for a long time. Mr. Uu passed away five years ago. Later, the chief caretaker of the shrine raised a Little Mr. Take.”
“I see.”
Kawada Eikichi nodded.
“I have been away from home too long. I truly miss it.”
As he spoke, he smiled.
“Miyazaki-kun, farewell. I hope that when we meet again, you and I can drink and celebrate together.”
“Kawada-kun, I look forward to that day as well.”
Cheng Qianfan bowed slightly.
“Take care.”
“Take care.”
Kawada Eikichi returned the bow.
Carrying his suitcase, Cheng Qianfan quietly watched Kawada Eikichi depart surrounded by his companions.
Mr. Uu was a raccoon dog.
He was the sacred cat of Erimatsu Shrine and was beloved by the people of Fukushima.
Little Mr. Take was also a raccoon dog.
Imai Futoshi had once told him about it as an amusing anecdote.
Fine beads of cold sweat covered Cheng Qianfan’s back.
Kawada Eikichi’s caution and cunning exceeded his expectations.
Fortunately, he knew about this matter.
Just then, the young man in the Zhongshan suit whom he had seen before jogged over and said in a low voice,
“Mr. Miyazaki, Kawada-kun asked me to tell you that if you encounter any difficulties in Hangzhou, you may take this business card to the Japanese concession and seek Major Okada Toshihiko.”
As he spoke, he handed a business card to Cheng Qianfan.
“Kawada-kun is very thoughtful. Please thank him on my behalf.”
Cheng Qianfan accepted the card with both hands and said.
Only after Kawada Eikichi and his group had boarded the automobiles that came to receive them did Cheng Qianfan examine the card.
“Director of the Manzhou Kyomaru Trading Association, Kawada Eikichi.”
From the Northeast?
A thought stirred in Cheng Qianfan’s mind.
He put away the business card, slipped it into his pocket, carried his suitcase out of the station, and hailed a rickshaw.
“To Zhijiang University. Find me a clean and tidy inn near the school.”
The streets of Hangzhou were bustling and lively.
Street vendors carrying shoulder poles called out as they sold their wares.
Children surrounded a sugar figurine stall, sucking their fingers as they drooled.
Outside a storefront bearing the sign of the YMCA, a billiards table had been set up.
Several young men in suits and sunglasses stood there with cigarettes dangling from their mouths, laughing and chatting loudly.
“Sir, this Yunlong Inn is the best in the area.”
The rickshaw puller stopped in front of an inn.
Cheng Qianfan got out.
The attentive puller wanted to help carry the suitcase, but Cheng Qianfan politely declined.
The man laughed awkwardly and led the way.
“Keep the change.”
“Thank you, thank you, sir. You are a kind-hearted man.”
After paying the fare, Cheng Qianfan watched the puller bow and scrape as he quietly spoke with the innkeeper.
The innkeeper tossed him two twenty-cent nickel coins.
The puller happily caught them, grinned at Cheng Qianfan, bowed, and only then cheerfully pulled his rickshaw away.
“Sir, our establishment offers first-, second-, and third-class rooms. Which would you prefer?”
“A first-class room. I don’t like noise. Somewhere quiet.”
“Certainly. Please follow me.”
Inside the room, Cheng Qianfan did absolutely nothing.
He pulled the blanket over himself and pretended to sleep.
About two hours later, he got out of bed and opened his suitcase.
Inside were some spare clothes.
There was also a wooden box.
He opened the box.
Inside was a brand-new Mauser pistol and a spare magazine fully loaded with ammunition.
After carefully inspecting everything, Cheng Qianfan picked up the wooden box, wrapped it in kraft paper, and casually placed it inside a cloth bag containing books.
Then he leisurely left the room, greeted the innkeeper, and exited the inn.
After circling around several times, he arrived at a secluded alley several streets away from the inn.
Using a dagger, he pried loose bricks from an earthen wall, dug out the packed soil, created a cavity, stuffed the box containing the pistol inside, and then replaced the bricks.
After taking a few steps, he picked up some dog excrement from the ground and casually smeared it over the bricks.
He then went to a nearby riverbank to wash his hands and hailed a rickshaw.
First he went to the bustling Imperial Street, which was quite far away.
After strolling around for a long while, he emerged from another alley and hailed another rickshaw.
“To Xiongzhen Tower.”
Only while sitting in the rickshaw did Cheng Qianfan finally let out a long breath.
He did not know whether Kawada Eikichi truly believed him, nor whether he had continued to have people follow him after he left the station.
Therefore, he dared not go directly to Xiongzhen Tower.
Regardless of how the other side acted, he himself had to remain sufficiently cautious.
“That’s enough. Stop here.”
Cheng Qianfan got out and paid the fare.
After walking several dozen meters, he arrived before the gate of a courtyard with a signboard hanging outside.
“Halt! Who are you?”
A guard carrying a Chiang Kai-shek rifle barked at him.
Cheng Qianfan was just about to produce his letter of introduction when he saw three men approaching.
One of them was Nag.
“Someone’s here to receive me.”
Cheng Qianfan pointed toward them.
Nag greeted the guard.
The guard waved his hand, and Cheng Qianfan stepped through the gate.
“Mr. Cheng, why have you arrived so late?”
“My apologies. Something delayed me.”
Cheng Qianfan cupped his fists in greeting.
After walking a short distance, Cheng Qianfan’s expression changed.
“Nag, what is the meaning of this?”
The three men had already formed a triangular formation around him.
“Mr. Cheng, Deputy Director Yu wishes to see you. Please surrender your sidearm.”
Nag’s expression remained blank.
“This seems less like an invitation and more like an escort under arrest.”
Cheng Qianfan said angrily.
“Please surrender your sidearm.”
The man on his left suddenly drew a Type 10 pistol and pointed it at Cheng Qianfan.
Cheng Qianfan coldly examined the man and moved as if to draw the Mauser pistol at his waist.
“Don’t move.”
The man waved the pistol.
Cheng Qianfan raised his hands.
The man on his right stepped forward, removed the Mauser pistol from his waist, then searched him further and pulled a dagger from his trouser leg.
“This way, Mr. Cheng.”
Nag gestured with his left hand.
“Hmph.”
Cheng Qianfan snorted coldly and walked forward in silence under the escort of the three men.
His thoughts raced.
A trap?
Had his identity as a Communist been exposed?
Not likely.
He immediately rejected that possibility.
Then there was only one possible explanation.
Nag had reported the events on the train.
Furthermore, this man was dissatisfied that Cheng Qianfan had suppressed him with an order.
He might have exaggerated the circumstances or even claimed to suspect that Cheng Qianfan was colluding with Japanese agents.
Having figured out the crux of the matter, Cheng Qianfan calmed down.
During the journey, he had already considered how he would report and explain the incident.
They arrived before a heavily guarded small white building.
A young man wearing a National Revolutionary Army uniform with the rank of lieutenant emerged.
He coldly sized Cheng Qianfan up, apparently surprised by his handsome appearance.
“Cheng Wufang?”
Cheng Wufang was the temporary alias Song Fuguo had chosen for him.
Before Cheng Qianfan could speak, two soldiers stepped forward and searched him again.
They removed his wallet, business card, notes, and other items from his pockets and placed them on a tray.
“Mr. Cheng, this way.”
Cheng Qianfan stopped, adjusted his suit, straightened his slightly crooked tie, and only then followed the man inside.
“Report.”
“What is it?”
“Reporting to Deputy Director Yu, Cheng Wufang has arrived.”
“Send him in.”
“Mr. Cheng, please.”
The young officer opened the door.
Cheng Qianfan strode inside.
A soldier carrying the tray followed him in.
Someone inside accepted the tray.
The soldier saluted, turned around, left, and closed the door.
Cheng Qianfan surveyed the room.
Behind the central desk sat a man in a Zhongshan suit, bent over paperwork.
The desk was piled high with documents.
There were also two young men in Zhongshan suits wearing Leader badges on their chests.
One of them stood respectfully to the right of the desk, staring straight ahead.
The other gently placed the tray on the corner of the desk and carefully inspected its contents.
He picked up Kawada Eikichi’s business card, examined it, and revealed a strange expression.
“Are you a party member?”
Without looking up from his writing, the man at the desk suddenly asked.
“Reporting to Deputy Director Yu, I am a party member.”
Cheng Qianfan replied respectfully.
“I joined the party at the Central Military Academy in the twenty-third year of the Republic.”
“Hm?”
The man picked up a sheet of paper from his desk and examined it carefully.
Then he raised his head, revealing a surprised expression.
“The Central Military Academy? Which class?”