Chapter 72: Appreciation

Wan Delong glanced at Cheng Wufang and said, “Cheng Wufang, your performance today was very good. I look forward to seeing your results in the Special Training Class.”

“It’s all thanks to Group Leader Wan’s excellent command.”

Cheng Qianfan immediately stood at attention and replied.

Watching Wan Delong’s departing figure, Cheng Qianfan pondered his words.

It seemed there was something more behind them.

“Group Leader Wan is the firearms instructor for the Special Training Class.”

Wu Yuanfang, who had just arrived with his team, walked over and said quietly.

Cheng Qianfan first showed understanding, then thanked Wu Yuanfang.

This man had repeatedly shown him goodwill, and Cheng Qianfan appreciated it.

I don’t think I’ve offended Instructor Wan, have I?

Why did those words sound a little sarcastic?

Cheng Qianfan thought carefully.

Suddenly, he turned and glanced at Yang Million’s corpse not far behind him.

A thoughtful expression appeared on his face, followed by a bitter smile.

The most likely source of resentment from Instructor Wan was probably this incident.

What an undeserved disaster.

“Group Leader Wan is a very strict instructor. Good luck to you, little brother.”

Wu Yuanfang patted Cheng Qianfan on the shoulder and said sympathetically.

Cheng Qianfan curled his lips but said nothing.

If Wan Delong truly held a grudge against him because of today’s events, it would only prove that the man was narrow-minded and lacked perspective.

If the other party really went too far, Cheng Qianfan was not without means of fighting back.

He judged that Wan Delong would not be so foolish.

“Take him away.”

Wu Yuanfang glanced at the small-round-glasses gentleman, whose face was now a bloody mess, and waved his hand.

This Cheng Wufang kid, who would have thought?

He’s ruthless enough.

Wan Delong personally opened the car door.

Yu Ping’an got into the Ford sedan parked outside.

Wan Delong entered from the other side.

The car did not start.

“Deputy Director Yu, regarding what happened today...”

Wan Delong began.

“You don’t need to explain.”

Yu Ping’an smiled and shook his head.

“I understand you, and I trust you. You should stop reporting every little matter to me. It damages your authority within the Special Service Office.”

“I have always reminded myself to be loyal to Deputy Director Yu and loyal to the Party and the Nation. I never dare forget it.”

“You...”

Yu Ping’an chuckled and pointed a finger at Wan Delong.

Then he changed the subject.

“What do you think of Cheng Wufang?”

“An excellent prospect.”

After thinking for a moment, Wan Delong replied.

“Good skills, accurate shooting, decisive action, quick mind, ruthless enough.”

“Ruthlessness is good.”

Yu Ping’an glanced at him.

“In our line of work, a soft heart won’t do.”

“Not bad.”

Wan Delong understood that the latter comment referred to him.

He smiled bitterly.

“Deputy Director Yu, I’m not that petty.”

He truly had not excessively blamed Cheng Qianfan.

At his level, if he were to take revenge against the innocent Cheng Wufang over such a minor matter, both his superiors and subordinates would see it clearly.

A reputation for being narrow-minded would be unavoidable.

Besides, Cheng Wufang’s decisive shot that killed Yang Million had prevented the Japanese spies from using a hostage to delay the operation.

The Special Training Class Operations Group, which had suffered several casualties, owed him for that.

Wan Delong was the leader of that group.

If he targeted Cheng Wufang afterward, it would amount to repaying kindness with hostility.

It wasn’t worth it.

Still, Wan Delong felt somewhat displeased.

Being stricter with Cheng Qianfan during instruction was merely an instructor’s affection for a student.

That was perfectly reasonable, wasn’t it?

At that moment, someone gently knocked on the car window.

Yu Ping’an rolled it down.

“Deputy Director Yu, we’ve discovered a large quantity of legal tender, foreign currency, gold, antiques, and valuables inside the Yang residence...”

The agent outside lowered his voice as he reported.

Yu Ping’an lightly tapped his fingers.

Tilting his head slightly, he said to Wan Delong, who sat on his right:

“Here’s what we’ll do. You handle it. Inventory everything, seal the storage rooms, and lock up the property. The assets of a traitor to the nation are to be confiscated.”

“Yes, sir!”

Wan Delong was overjoyed.

Not only because there was substantial profit to be made from confiscating property, but also because Yu Ping’an was entrusting him with the task.

That meant he had passed the test.

The minor flaw in his performance had not affected his standing in Yu Ping’an’s eyes.

“Yes, sir! I guarantee it will be done perfectly.”

“Go ahead.”

Watching the excited Wan Delong step out of the car, Yu Ping’an rolled the window back up.

A cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Was Wan Delong’s conduct today really a mistake?

Not really.

It could not even be considered a flaw.

When uncertain, consulting one’s superior was not wrong in principle.

But Yu Ping’an did not like it.

Without Cheng Qianfan as a comparison, he might not have minded.

But comparison changed everything.

After pondering for a moment, Yu Ping’an chuckled softly.

“He actually asked whether his contribution was great enough.”

“Quite a decisive and clever little fellow.”

What Yu Ping’an appreciated most was Cheng Qianfan’s question about whether his contribution was large enough.

It was not boasting.

It was a request for instruction.

The young man was clever.

By asking in that manner, he was really asking Yu Ping’an:

“If I kill this man, will it have any negative consequences for you?”

Yu Ping’an’s answer had been:

“Great.”

That was tacit approval.

It meant:

“You may do it.”

Had Yu Ping’an disagreed, he could simply have scolded him and ordered him to stay put.

That would have meant no.

The hidden request for instruction both demonstrated respect toward Yu Ping’an and removed suspicion from him.

Of course, it was also possible that the boy had genuinely acted out of righteous anger and truly intended to kill Yang Million.

Perhaps he had genuinely been willing to exchange his achievements for punishment.

Yu Ping’an did not dislike that possibility.

In fact, he admired it even more.

Such conduct was also a form of requesting instruction:

This subordinate dares to bear responsibility for his own actions. It has nothing to do with his superior.

Decisive.

Smart and quick-witted.

Loyal.

Yu Ping’an liked Cheng Qianfan.

Acting decisively out of righteous indignation was something Yu Ping’an also appreciated.

A man who could become angry and take action over the death of colleagues he had only just met, people who had previously been complete strangers to him, was probably someone of genuine temperament, someone whose loyalty was beyond doubt.

Of course, the greatest prerequisite behind this appreciation and affection was that the intelligence had been accurate and the operation to capture Kawada Eikichi had been a complete success.

As for Wan Delong, he had not actually done anything wrong.

Yu Ping’an would not be dissatisfied with him.

On the contrary, he would continue to show even greater favor toward him.

The lockdown of Yulu Alley had not yet been lifted.

Agents of the Special Service Office were still conducting searches nearby.

The explosion and concentrated gunfire would inevitably attract attention.

Among those drawn to the scene, there might be Japanese spies observing the situation.

Although the possibility was small, procedures still had to be followed.

Who knew, perhaps luck would be on their side.

Cheng Qianfan lit a cigarette.

He was not participating in the search.

Nor were any of the agents who had taken part in the frontal assault.

A piece of glass had cut his shoulder.

The wound had been simply treated with medicine and wrapped with adhesive bandages.

What Wen Changjian had revealed had shocked him.

He was considering how to warn the Communists in Hangzhou.

Yes.

Even though Wen Changjian had been captured by the Special Service Office and the Japanese plan had failed.

Cheng Qianfan still intended to warn the Hangzhou Communists.

Because the traitor and collaborator Wen Changjian had fallen into the hands of the Special Service Office.

That made him an even greater threat to the Hangzhou Communists.

Cheng Qianfan was certain that the Special Service Office’s interest in the Japanese plan, the underground Communist codenamed Butterfly Flower, and the codebook of the Anti-Japanese United Army was no less than that of the Japanese.

In fact, it was probably even greater.

“Before resisting foreign aggression, internal enemies must first be pacified.”

This instruction from the Leader hung on the corridor wall of Number Thirty Xiongzhen Tower.

It served as a reminder to every Special Service Office agent.

The Japanese were currently the greatest external enemy.

But they must not forget their fundamental mission of eliminating Communist insurgents.