Chapter 46: Return
Once out the door, a bunch of people started gossiping.
“What do you think, out of all these problems we’ve thrown out, how many can he solve?”
“He can’t solve a single one. Didn’t you hear him say it himself? The mayor only gave him three days. With that kind of relationship, asking the higher-ups for money—can he really get it?”
“That’s true. So I got excited for nothing? I was hoping a big shot would drop from the sky and get two more cars for the department. Running to the prison wears me out.”
The entire Judicial Department had only two cars: one used by the Division Chief, and the other they took turns using. With so many Section Chiefs queuing up, these Deputy Section Chiefs would have to wait eight hundred years for their turn.
“Say less.” The Head of General Affairs scolded the group of Deputy Section Chiefs. “In public like this, with the new Deputy Division Chief here, watch your mouths. Don’t get yourselves in trouble. Saying he has no connections—he was brought by the Secretary-General. Know your place.”
At the mention of the Secretary-General, the Deputy Section Chiefs’ eyes lit up, and they immediately started discussing again, but this time in a different spot, in groups of two or three, heading to the small office based on their relationships to hold meetings and talk.
Anyway, the Judicial Department right now had nothing much to do.
In the meeting room.
Just Gu Yansheng and Liu Xiaolou.
Gu Yansheng was still thinking about how to pull Lu Bowen and He Yun out of the quagmire of being tracked.
When the tracking on No. 67 would end wasn’t something he could decide with his subjective will.
To change this passive situation, what he could use was the power structure in his hands. From these myriad tangled matters, grasp one thing that could link up with Lu Bowen and the others, and in one stroke, clear their identities.
He needed an opportunity.
Gu Yansheng thought for a moment, looked at Liu Xiaolou, and said directly: “My standards for a secretary: tight-lipped, meticulous in work. For what I tell you, without my permission, whether it’s from the section or others—even if the mayor asks—you can’t say it. Can you do that?”
Liu Xiaolou thought about it, then smiled awkwardly: “That’s some pressure. If the mayor really asks, I can’t say? Then if they really ask later, what do I tell him?”
A cautious probing expression.
Gu Yansheng was expressionless: “How to respond is for you to figure out, adapt as needed. If you think you can’t do it, or if there’s pressure, I can help you change positions.”
“I can do it, definitely.” Liu Xiaolou instantly straightened his back and switched to a serious face.
“Good. Paper and pen, prepare to take notes. Content: regarding judicial reform measures.”
Gu Yansheng leaned back, clasped his hands on the table, and began to recount.
On the other side, the airport.
Wu Sibao’s feet touched solid ground, full of joy—he was finally back!
All along the way, he had been thinking nonstop about whether Gu Yansheng’s 5000 US Dollars had arrived, making him unable to eat or sleep well.
It wasn’t that he was afraid Gu Yansheng would welch; he just didn’t trust Li Shiqun’s wife.
This woman had come to Shanghai with Li Shiqun after switching sides, responsible for managing the finances of No. 67. She was sharp as a tack with accounts. If that 5000 dollars fell into her hands, who knows how much she’d skim off—that was also why he was reluctant to leave before departing, and he even got scolded by Li Shiqun for it.
From Li Shiqun’s reaction, it was clear he had lost some face too.
“Division Chief Ding, please.”
Wu Sibao greeted a nearby man wrapped up tightly and they got in the car together, which went straight to No. 67 Da Xi Road.
“Bro, I’m back.”
“Hahahaha, Division Chief Ding, long time no see—you’re still so radiant.” Li Shiqun had been waiting at the door for a bit and ignored Wu Sibao, going straight to shake Ding Mocun’s hand.
Ding Mocun had managed to become Division Chief at a key position in the National Government’s Military Department, and he wasn’t old—only 36.
For such pleasantries, Ding Mocun was naturally an expert: “Shiqun, this time your brother has come to join you, so I’ll have to rely on you for care.”
“Division Chief Ding, what are you saying? Now that you’re here, of course you’ll take care of me. Why would I need to take care of you? I said in the telegram: as long as you come, I’m your vanguard. We’ll plot our future together. Please.”
“Please.”
“Division Chief Ding, this time there was no arrangement to receive you at the airport—please don’t mind. It was mainly for confidentiality reasons.
Our plotting in Kunming this time was very successful. You disappeared from Kunming, and the Military Statistics Bureau hasn’t reacted so quickly—they can’t judge that you’ve come to Shanghai.
So the intelligence in your hands is worth its weight in gold.
Right now, what the Japanese lack most is this kind of solid intelligence. I dare say, once you make your move, you’ll become a guest of honor to the Japanese.
Later, I’ll take you to Hongkou to report. At that time, though I didn’t receive you at the airport, the Japanese will definitely hold a celebration banquet for you. In the future, it’ll be up to you, old bro, to promote me.”
“What are you talking about? Since I’ve come, we’re brothers eating from the same pot. No you or me—only us.”
“Right, us, hahahaha. The banquet is ready. We’ll eat and talk right here.”
Seeing them chatting happily, Wu Sibao waited a good while before finding an opening and immediately cut in: “Bro, didn’t I do a great job on this trip?”
“Great. According to my informant in Kunming, the Military Statistics Bureau has only just learned the person is missing. By the time they know he’s in Shanghai, it’ll be at least ten days or half a month. Sibao, you did very well this time.” Li Shiqun was not stingy with praise.
“Hehe, bro, what about my money…” Wu Sibao rubbed his hands. “Has it arrived? Where is it?”
At this topic, the atmosphere at the wine table soured.
Li Shiqun set down his wine glass, hesitated with his words, and didn’t speak right away.
Wu Sibao’s heart tightened: “What’s wrong?”
“I’m afraid you won’t get the money.”
Li Shiqun sighed and told him about Hase Jinagawa specially sending someone to warn them.
The money issue was one thing, but the hard part was that Wu Sibao still had to make an apology. Li Shiqun felt it was too awkward to say.
“What?!”
Wu Sibao exploded as expected, slamming the table and standing up, glaring at Li Shiqun. “No money for me, and I still have to apologize to that scoundrel?”
He’d thought coming back to Shanghai this time meant grabbing merit and rewards, but who knew the cooked duck would actually fly away.
“It’s not just apologize—it’s make amends and apologize. The consulate people made it very clear: make amends plus apologize.”
“Me? Why the hell should I?” Wu Sibao’s rage shot to his head. “I’ve been selling my life to the Japanese, busting my ass running to Kunming, through wind and rain, racking my brains to bring Division Chief Ding to Shanghai, earning such great merit—and I still have to make amends and apologize to others? Is that how things are done?”
“Enough, what are you yelling for! Don’t you know there are ears on the walls?!” Li Shiqun glanced toward the next room. The Japanese had given them power, but they also had people watching.
No. 67 always had two Gendarmerie Headquarters gendarmes on site—both to facilitate their activities and to monitor.
“Curse if you’re gonna curse. I won’t take this humiliation!” Wu Sibao yelled toward the next room. A jianghu man—head off is just a bowl-sized scar. If he was scared and cowardly, he couldn’t have mixed on the Shanghai Bund.
“Go on, curse louder.” Li Shiqun simply got up and opened the door. “Come on, keep cursing. I was thinking of using your merit from receiving the man this time, and when we go to Hongkou, mention you to smooth over the amends and apology. But if you keep cursing and the Japanese find out, it won’t be merit—it’ll be hard labor!”
Fine, Wu Sibao swallowed the humiliation, sat down sullenly. “Apology is off the table, but what about my 5000 dollars?”
“Don’t even think about the money.”
Li Shiqun came back and closed the door. “That was the consulate sending someone to warn us—can’t you see? They have a hard backstage.
And let me tell you, don’t think of using any shady tricks. He’s now Deputy Division Chief of the New Government’s Judicial Department. In rank, he’s higher than types like you and me doing dirty work for the Gendarmerie Headquarters.”
Wu Sibao listened and listened until he laughed in anger, then started drowning his sorrows in booze.
Ding Mocun, seeing their argument end, asked curiously: “Who is this person you’re talking about?”
Li Shiqun recounted what had happened, not even avoiding the car theft—they were all from the Party and State. What had their subordinates done? Family would know family.
Stealing a car wasn’t even a moral failing.
After hearing it, Ding Mocun quite agreed with Li Shiqun’s advice and said to Wu Sibao:
“Brother Sibao, this matter really needs to end here. The department we’re in now hooks into Japan’s intelligence agency, the Gendarmerie Headquarters. But this Gu Yansheng you mentioned—his backstage is Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the consulate. That’s a different department.
From what I know, infighting between such departments in Japan is common too. Don’t slap the face when hitting someone. They’ve said that much, and if you still insist on making trouble, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs people might not give face to the Gendarmerie Headquarters.”
“Yeah, who do you think you are? How much face do you have with the Japanese?” Li Shiqun added.
“Alright, alright, count me unlucky.”
Seeing Wu Sibao’s angry look, Li Shiqun raised his wine glass with a smile: “Brother Ding, drink up. Don’t mind his griping. We’ll walk the path ahead well, and what should come naturally will.
Major General Haruki has already told me: once you arrive, Brother Ding, he’ll present it to the Military Department to establish a dedicated agent organization, following only your lead. With that department, would we lack for money?”
“Haha, well said. Cheers.”
“Cheers.”
After the big drinking session, Li Shiqun accompanied Ding Mocun by car to Hongkou.
Wu Sibao didn’t go, drinking alone and getting more depressed and irritated with each cup.
Damn it, all because of this cursed Ding Mocun. If not for this dog-ass errand, the money would be in hand by now.
No more drinking—what lousy booze. He was going to find Gu Yansheng and have it out!
What a good person he used to be.
Calling him brother every other word—how could this man turn out like this?
