Chapter 96: Arrest at the Teahouse

“According to his own account, he’s buried in debt now. Having no other options, he planned to come back to the hospital and make trouble again, hoping to squeeze some money out of Doctor Gu.”

“Courting death.” Cheng Qianfan shook his head. He had seen plenty of gambling addicts like this in Shanghai. Once they lost their minds over gambling losses, they recognized neither family nor friends.

According to the intelligence gathered during the investigation, Gu Changyou’s brother-in-law, the deputy regimental commander, had already stepped in and settled the matter of the doctor prescribing the wrong medicine and causing a death.

For this man to come back and cause trouble again, he was truly risking his life for money.

For a deputy regimental commander of the National Revolutionary Army, killing a destitute nobody whom everyone despised would be effortless.

“You handled this very well,” Cheng Qianfan said with a smile.

Haozai had done an excellent job in this matter.

By bringing the man under control in time, he had prevented him from potentially ruining a major operation.

Upon hearing Cheng Qianfan’s praise, Haozai was overjoyed.

He had never attended school and had risen from the ranks as an ordinary agent.

Without educational credentials, the difficulty of climbing the ranks was self-evident.

Although those transferred to serve under such a young agent would not necessarily neglect orders or disobey commands, many of them inevitably harbored some degree of disdain.

Haozai was different.

He was extremely conscientious and carried out every assignment Cheng Qianfan gave him with exceptional care and thoroughness.

Although he did not know Cheng Qianfan’s background or identity, the fact that someone so young had been entrusted with such important responsibilities naturally meant he was no ordinary person.

Wholehearted obedience and diligent work could never be a bad thing.

What if this turned out to be Haozai’s opportunity?

“Orders have come down from above. Tomorrow our group will participate directly in the arrest operation,” Cheng Qianfan said with a serious expression.

“Yes, sir!”

“Bring this fellow along tomorrow. He may prove useful.” A thought occurred to Cheng Qianfan. Pointing toward the inner room, he said to Haozai, “You will personally guard him.”

“This subordinate understands.” Haozai immediately declared, “I guarantee this fellow will behave himself.”

“When you handle things, I’m at ease.” Cheng Qianfan patted Haozai on the shoulder.

Haozai instinctively bent slightly, allowing his superior to pat him more comfortably, feeling delighted inside.

The next day.

At dusk.

Secret agents maintained strict surveillance around Guangji Hospital.

The area around Qijia Alley had also been quietly encircled by agents and police.

Dressed in a smart Western suit, Gu Changyou exited the hospital gates and waved a hand.

“Rickshaw!”

A rickshaw puller hurried over with his vehicle.

“Where to, sir?”

“Qijia Alley, Hengrun Teahouse.”

“Right away, sir. Please sit tight.”

After the rickshaw departed into the distance, an agent hurried into the hospital.

He emerged shortly afterward and made his way to a public telephone office.

Inside a small restaurant across the street from Hengrun Teahouse.

“Agent Six has already set out and is heading this way,” an agent entered and reported quietly.

Wan Delong looked at Cheng Qianfan.

This did not match the time indicated by their intelligence.

Could something unexpected have happened?

“Half an hour early.” He Qichen also frowned. “The hospital isn’t even off duty yet.”

“The telephone report says Agent Six requested leave from the hospital and got off work early,” the agent reported.

“This man has considerable backing, so he enjoys a great deal of freedom at the hospital,” Cheng Qianfan thought for a moment and said. “He has left work early before. There shouldn’t be anything suspicious about it.”

Wan Delong nodded and checked his pocket watch.

“It’s a half-hour journey from Guangji Hospital to here. Pass the order, full alert.”

At Wan Delong’s command, the atmosphere around Qijia Alley immediately became tense.

Twenty-eight minutes later, a rickshaw stopped in front of Hengrun Teahouse.

A young man with slicked-back hair and a powdered face stepped out, paid the fare, picked up a leather bag, and walked straight into the teahouse.

“It’s Agent Six, no doubt about it,” Cheng Qianfan said with a nod.

Wan Delong and He Qichen both breathed sighs of relief and were overjoyed.

Previously, what everyone had feared most was some unexpected complication causing Agent Six not to appear.

Now the merit they sought was right before their eyes.

The three men left the small restaurant and prepared to direct the operation.

Wan Delong was the overall commander of the action.

Three minutes later.

At his command, the agents began moving, gradually closing in on Hengrun Teahouse.

Just then, an agent seated by a window inside the teahouse extended a hand and discreetly gave a signal.

“Team Leader Wan.”

Walking over to Wan Delong, Cheng Qianfan lowered his voice.

“My man is signaling. There are lookout personnel inside the teahouse.”

Wan Delong waved his hand.

The agents who had been approaching the teahouse halted their advance and instead strolled past the entrance disguised as ordinary pedestrians.

“Captain He, what’s your assessment?” Wan Delong asked He Qichen.

He Qichen was the operations captain of the Special Service Office’s Hangzhou District and knew the local situation better than anyone.

“Hengrun Teahouse has only one front entrance. The back door opens into a narrow alley that’s usually very quiet with almost no foot traffic.”

Wan Delong frowned.

He had already investigated the location and knew that was true.

The alley’s emptiness meant few people passed through it, which actually made it unsuitable as an avenue of attack.

The moment unfamiliar individuals appeared at the back entrance, the enemy lookouts would immediately become alert.

“We can’t force our way in.” Wan Delong nodded. “Our mission is to catch them with both suspects and evidence intact and, if possible, capture them alive. A direct assault could easily result in casualties.”

The casualties he referred to were not only those of the agents but also those of the enemy.

The ideal outcome of this operation was the live capture of Japanese agents, enabling them to extract information about other individuals involved.

With some luck, they might even uncover an entire dormant Japanese espionage cell.

That would be the truly significant achievement.

“How about having our man inside start a disturbance?” He Qichen suggested.

Wan Delong was initially tempted, but then shook his head.

It was not a good idea.

The Japanese were highly vigilant.

A customer suddenly causing trouble in the teahouse would only arouse their suspicion and alertness.

They would have ample time to destroy evidence and prepare armed resistance.

“This subordinate has an idea.”

A thought seemed to strike Cheng Qianfan.

Excitement flashed in his eyes as he lowered his voice.

Wan Delong and He Qichen immediately looked at him.

Their reactions were noticeably different.

Wan Delong’s gaze carried surprise and anticipation.

He Qichen’s expression, however, clearly showed impatience and skepticism.

As for this young man who had previously been assigned by Yu Ping’an to have his subordinates obey him and effectively monitor him, He Qichen had never been pleased.

Now that the young man had suddenly been entrusted with important responsibilities and even shared a degree of operational command authority with him, He Qichen felt both displeased and resistant.

“Cheng Wufang, do you understand how important this operation is? This isn’t your...” He Qichen glared at Cheng Qianfan.

“What’s your idea? Let’s hear it,” Wan Delong said, ignoring He Qichen.

Cheng Wufang had performed exceptionally well in the special training class, and Wan Delong held the young man in high regard.

“Agent Six once prescribed the wrong medicine and caused a patient’s death.”

Cheng Qianfan spoke quickly but clearly.

“If we arrange for a member of the deceased’s family to come and cause trouble, Agent Six has seen him before and won’t become suspicious.”

“Excellent idea.” Wan Delong’s eyes lit up. “Where is this man? Can we get him here in time?”

“As luck would have it, the man tried to cause trouble at the hospital yesterday and happened to be captured by my people,” Cheng Qianfan said.

“Where is he?” Wan Delong asked excitedly.

“Thinking he might prove useful, and also to prevent him from ruining things just in case, I brought him along.” Cheng Qianfan beckoned.

Haozai, who had been waiting for a long time, quietly escorted the man over.