Chapter 90: Bad Luck
Cheng Qianfan remembered what the nurse had said to the doctor earlier:
“Doctor Gu, a Mr. Liu is here. He specifically asked to see you.”
It was a very ordinary sentence.
However, Cheng Qianfan had extracted several pieces of information from this ordinary exchange.
The nurse had said, “a Mr. Liu.”
Not “that Mr. Liu.”
If this patient had visited before, the nurse could not possibly have had no impression of him.
This was the nurse’s unconscious choice of words.
The implied meaning was:
She did not know this patient.
The patient had likely just identified himself as surnamed Liu.
He had never come for treatment before, yet specifically requested Doctor Gu.
There were two possibilities.
One was that Doctor Gu’s medical skills were outstanding, and the patient had come because of his reputation.
The other possibility was that although this was a new patient, Doctor Gu knew immediately who he was upon hearing his name.
The two shared an unspoken understanding.
If Doctor Gu truly was only a doctor, there would be nothing improper about this sentence or this matter.
However, Cheng Qianfan had already concluded that Doctor Gu was suspicious and had identified him as the impersonator, Agent Six.
As a result, the matter attracted his interest.
What sort of person would arrive uninvited yet with a tacit understanding to meet a “spy”?
His instincts told him that this was not a simple matter.
Most likely, this middle-aged man was also a spy.
Quite possibly a Special Service Office agent as well.
He was very interested in this.
If he could use this opportunity to uncover a hidden Special Service Office operative, it would be extremely important intelligence for the local Communist organization in Hangzhou.
Most importantly, Cheng Qianfan was currently undergoing a course examination.
Any investigative actions he took were permitted and would not arouse the Special Service Office’s suspicions.
“I became suspicious of Doctor Gu and suspected he was Agent Six, therefore I investigated one of his patients as a reference point for my judgment.”
Was that reasonable?
Very reasonable.
Inside the room.
“Doctor Gu is certainly a busy man. I suppose you’ve already forgotten an old friend.”
The middle-aged man sat on a stool, holding his fedora and smiling without warmth.
“I have chest tightness and shortness of breath. May I ask whether Doctor Gu has any good medicine?”
Doctor Gu’s expression changed slightly.
He understood Endo Hiroshi’s meaning.
The man was implying that he had not gathered any intelligence for him recently.
“Mr. Liu, I prescribed medicine to soothe your lungs and improve your breathing last month.”
Doctor Gu deliberately raised his voice.
Then he lowered it.
“Mr. Endo, last month I already gave you the roster of the 343rd Regiment. We agreed that the transaction was complete once the payment was made.”
“Doctor Gu, that isn’t enough.”
Endo Hiroshi shook his head.
“We have received information that the Garrison Division recently held a military conference. We need the records of that conference.”
“How is that possible?”
Doctor Gu’s face changed drastically.
He was so startled that he nearly stood up.
Only under Endo Hiroshi’s sinister gaze did he force himself back into his chair.
“I believe Doctor Gu will find a way.”
“I’m only a doctor.”
Doctor Gu gritted his teeth and subconsciously glanced toward the door.
“My brother-in-law is only the deputy commander of the 343rd Regiment. He isn’t qualified to attend high-level divisional meetings.”
“I believe Doctor Gu will find a way.”
Suddenly, Endo Hiroshi grabbed the doctor’s collar and patted his cheek.
“Doctor Gu, you and your brother-in-law have already passed the point of no return. Remember this, now your only hope is for the Empire of Japan to occupy Hangzhou, occupy all of China, and win this war. That outcome best serves your interests.”
“If the Nationalist government’s secret service ever discovers what you’ve done...”
Endo Hiroshi released him, smiling as he carefully straightened the doctor’s collar.
“You know what kind of ending awaits you.”
As he spoke, he formed a pistol with his fingers and aimed it at the doctor’s head.
His mouth opened, forming the shape of a silent Bang!
“People die.”
Looking at the sweat-soaked doctor, Endo Hiroshi took out a bank draft from his pocket.
“This is a draft for two hundred silver dollars. After the job is done, there will be another three hundred.”
“I want two thousand.”
Doctor Gu stared fixedly at the draft on his desk.
Then he suddenly raised his head and spoke through clenched teeth.
“What?”
Endo Hiroshi’s eyes narrowed.
“I said I want two thousand silver dollars.”
Because he was speaking through gritted teeth, the doctor’s face appeared twisted and fierce.
His eyes had even reddened from bloodshot veins.
“One thousand for me, one thousand for my brother-in-law.”
“Fine!”
Endo Hiroshi stared at him.
“Two thousand silver dollars. I agree. And...”
“And what?”
“If you can obtain the hydrographic records of Hangzhou Bay, I’ll give you another five hundred silver dollars.”
“I can’t get them. I don’t have connections there.”
“One thousand silver dollars.”
“One thousand five hundred! Three thousand five hundred in total!”
Doctor Gu’s eyes burned with intense greed.
“Of that amount, exchange one thousand silver dollars into gold bars for me.”
“No problem.”
Endo Hiroshi looked deeply at the doctor.
A delighted smile appeared on his face.
“Doctor Gu, that’s the right attitude. As long as you sincerely cooperate with the Empire of Japan, we Japanese never mistreat our friends.”
Knock knock knock.
“Doctor Gu, I’ve fetched a kettle of hot water. May I come in?”
Medical assistant Xiao Li knocked on the door from outside.
Doctor Gu quickly stuffed the silver-dollar draft into his desk drawer.
He gave a light cough.
“Come in, Xiao Li.”
Xiao Li pushed the door open and smiled politely at both doctor and patient.
“Mr. Liu, this is the medicine I’m prescribing for you this time.”
Doctor Gu quickly wrote out a prescription.
“You must take it on schedule. Remember, no alcohol and no sexual activity while taking the medicine.”
“Doctor Gu, you’re making things difficult for me. No drinking and no marital relations, that’s practically taking my life.”
Boss Liu accepted the prescription and shook his head with a bitter smile.
Standing nearby, Xiao Li instantly blushed bright red.
No. 30 Xiongzhen Tower.
The Little White Building.
Yu Ping’an had organized a mahjong game and invited the instructors of the Special Training Class to play cards and strengthen their relationships.
“How are things going?”
Yu Ping’an asked.
“So far, Chen Linsheng has performed the best. He seems to have already become suspicious of C-3.”
Qiu Yunjie, the Forgery Methods instructor, played a tile.
“Three Bamboo.”
Yu Ping’an nodded noncommittally.
“Deputy Director Yu, Cheng Wufang’s luck is pretty bad.”
Wan Delong said.
“Luck is just as important to an agent as ability. In some cases, it’s even more important.”
Yu Ping’an shook his head.
The Guangji Hospital assignment that Cheng Wufang had drawn actually did not contain any impersonator.
Each class had one empty slot.
That empty slot guaranteed that the trainee assigned to it could never successfully capture an impersonator and therefore had no chance of earning an excellent evaluation.
That was what Wan Delong meant by Cheng Wufang’s bad luck.
Among dozens of trainees, there was only one empty slot.
Yet he had drawn it.
His luck was indeed terrible.
Just then, Wan Delong drew a Seven Dots tile and immediately discarded it.
“I win!”
The Automobile Studies instructor, Zeng Liuming, pushed over his tiles and laughed as he clapped his hands.
“Old Wan, what does a trainee’s luck have to do with you? All I know is that your luck isn’t very good. Hahaha.”