Chapter 63: Selling Fish Bridge Wharf

“And if I had assigned someone else, would He Qichen have shown no hostility?” Yu Ping’an countered.

Seeing that Zhao Yansheng still did not quite understand, Yu Ping’an shook his head.

“You, use your brain more often. Your combat skills are good, your marksmanship is good, and you’re quick-witted when handling matters, but you don’t like thinking things through.”

“Yansheng’s duty is to protect Teacher.” Zhao Yansheng muttered.

“Hopeless.” Yu Ping’an laughed and cursed. “Think carefully. Does He Qichen feel more hostility toward Cheng Wufang, or more contempt?”

Zhao Yansheng pondered for a moment, then his eyes lit up.

“He Qichen will look down on Cheng Wufang, so he won’t pay much attention to him.”

Yu Ping’an shook his head. Zhao Yansheng still had not fully understood. He had only grasped the part Yu Ping’an had hinted he should understand.

A man like He Qichen would not simply look down on someone because he was a newcomer.

In He Qichen’s eyes, sending a rookie like Cheng Wufang rather than a seasoned agent diluted the sense of surveillance. It looked more like a small warning from Yu Ping’an, nothing more.

Both were forms of contempt, but the underlying meaning was entirely different.

This He Qichen had always been arrogant, relying on the protection of a certain influential figure from the Baoding clique.

The Huang Xifan affair was far more complicated than the official report suggested. If He Qichen had not possessed powerful backing, he would have faced prosecution long ago. Instead, only a few minor underlings had been punished.

It was true that Cheng Wufang had only just reported in as a trainee.

But if He Qichen genuinely regarded him as a rookie, that would be interesting indeed.

Hopefully this Cheng Wufang would bring him a pleasant surprise.

As the saying goes, let us leave one branch of the story there and turn to another.

After finding He Qichen, Cheng Qianfan was treated with indifference. He Qichen assigned a subordinate to take him along and then promptly dismissed him.

Cheng Qianfan did not become annoyed. He obediently followed the man, making no effort to ask questions or gather information, appearing slow and dull, as quiet and harmless as an inexperienced rookie.

After receiving a report from his subordinate, He Qichen sneered and paid no further attention.

Just as he had expected, this was merely a small warning from Yu Ping’an...

If Yu Ping’an had truly wanted to strike hard at him, He Qichen would actually have been genuinely wary.

Yu Ping’an was a ruthless figure who appeared kind but acted mercilessly.

Had that happened, the two sides would truly have torn off all pretenses.

Now, He Qichen felt he completely understood Yu Ping’an’s approach. A mild warning, neither painful nor itchy, something both sides could accept.

That fellow from Hunan really did know how to conduct himself.

In the early morning sky, the curtain of night was slowly being drawn away, and faint sunlight appeared in the east.

Xinkai Road, location of the Hangzhou District office of the Party Affairs Investigation Department.

Several Ford automobiles were parked outside a villa.

He Huan strode out of the villa, followed by a team of men.

One subordinate hurried ahead to open the car door, while several others watched the surroundings vigilantly.

He Huan bent over and got into the car. Two subordinates followed, one taking the front passenger seat and the other the rear seat as a bodyguard.

The remaining seven or eight men boarded the cars in front and behind.

The three automobiles started up and sped away.

More than ten men followed behind on bicycles.

The morning sunlight slanted through the windows, glaring into the car.

“Draw the curtains.” He Huan frowned.

Swish.

The window curtains were pulled shut.

He Huan was considering how to deploy forces for the arrest operation that morning.

Bat’s latest intelligence had arrived only ten minutes earlier.

An important Communist figure aboard the Hinomaru passenger liner was about to arrive in Hangzhou, and Gao Lan, a key member of the Communist pistol squad, would personally lead several Communists to receive and protect the individual at the wharf.

This detailed intelligence had not come easily for Bat.

The report left the district chief somewhat disappointed. He had originally hoped to catch the big fish, Fang Jinghua, directly.

Still, capturing Gao Lan, one of the leading figures of the Hangzhou Communist pistol squad, would also be a major achievement.

Moreover, the important Communist figure aboard the Hinomaru passenger liner described in Bat’s report filled He Huan with anticipation.

Selling Fish Bridge Wharf.

Gao Lan and two comrades were huddled in a corner talking. All three were dressed like impoverished dock laborers who earned their living through hard physical work.

“Fill your stomachs first.”

A comrade who had gone to buy breakfast returned.

He had bought seven or eight meat buns. There was an operation today, so everyone should eat well.

With hot buns in their stomachs, the comrades would feel warm and energized.

“Laozai, why did you buy meat buns?” Gao Lan’s expression changed as he asked in a low voice.

“I figured we had an operation today. Everyone should eat better and have more strength.” Laozai explained.

“Nonsense.”

Gao Lan rebuked him in a low voice.

Back in the mountains, the political commissar had always liked to scold him with the phrase “nonsense.” Gao Lan thought it sounded very cultured.

Although Gao Lan lacked formal education, he was intelligent, and as a Red soldier from a reconnaissance company, his vigilance was excellent.

He had instructed Laozai to buy a few baked flatbreads, yet Laozai had taken it upon himself to purchase meat buns instead.

Was that really the sort of food a dock laborer would eat?

“Hurry up and eat.”

Gao Lan spoke urgently.

He could only hope they would finish the meat buns quickly and avoid drawing attention or suspicion.

Cheng Qianfan had already changed into civilian clothing.

He was eating wontons at a food stall.

His gaze discreetly drifted toward the group huddled in the corner.

Those people had a problem.

Their clothing clearly marked them as manual laborers.

These poor workers who survived through physical labor wished they could avoid spending money on food altogether, drinking only water while saving every coin to buy rice for their wives and children.

Being able to eat a flatbread or a coarse corn bun, or even filling their stomachs with cold water, was already good enough.

They would never be willing to spend money on steaming hot meat buns.

Those people definitely had something suspicious about them.

The only question was which side they belonged to.

After all, he had only just arrived and was unfamiliar with the personnel of the Hangzhou Special Service Office.

Perhaps these people were actually on his own side.

“Brother Luo, eat. My treat.”

Cheng Qianfan glanced at the man seated across from him and smiled.

This was a member of the Hangzhou District Action Team of the Special Service Office.

His surname was Luo, and he appeared to be a somewhat taciturn man in his thirties.

He had been assigned by He Qichen as Cheng Qianfan’s temporary partner.

“It’s too hot. I’ll wait a bit.”

Brother Luo replied expressionlessly.

Cheng Qianfan curled his lips but said nothing.

The two were strangers to each other anyway.

Brother Luo pulled out a pocket watch and glanced at it.

The fourth time!

Cheng Qianfan ate a spoonful of wontons while silently calculating.

Ever since He Qichen had completed the deployment and task assignments and the two of them had come to this wonton stall to keep watch, only half an hour had passed, yet Brother Luo had checked the time four times.

“My stomach isn’t feeling very good.”

Brother Luo suddenly clutched his stomach and frowned.

“Are you alright?” Cheng Qianfan asked with concern.

“I’m going to use the toilet.”

Brother Luo spoke.

“But Brother Luo, Captain He instructed us not to act alone.”

Cheng Qianfan revealed a troubled expression.

“I’ll be right back. If you don’t tell anyone, who’ll know?” Brother Luo’s face flushed red, as though he genuinely could not hold it any longer. “Brother, help me out here. I really can’t hold it.”

“Alright then. Brother Luo, be quick.”

Cheng Qianfan nodded.

“I’ll keep watch for you.”

“Thanks, brother.”

Brother Luo was overjoyed.

Fortunately, today’s partner was this newly transferred novice. One look told him the fellow was slow and inexperienced, a complete greenhorn. Otherwise, things would have been troublesome.

He cupped his fists in thanks to Cheng Qianfan and ran toward an alley with his buttocks clenched.

Cheng Qianfan continued eating his wontons.

About half a minute later, he set down a nickel coin and quietly followed after him.