Chapter 217: Hoping For More ‘hard Times’
“No problem! Of course no problem!”
“Silver Dollars, gold, all fine!”
Yan Zhensheng hurriedly agreed, his heart filled with excitement.
He was a man with a sense of justice, full of patriotic fervor in his heart!
With the national crisis at hand, as a Chinese person, he was willing to contribute his strength to the country!
If not for reasons like age, physical condition, and primary family responsibilities binding him, he would actually prefer to enlist and serve the country himself.
But reality had no so many ifs; bound by reality, he couldn’t enlist personally, so he could only pin his hopes on his son.
However, he knew even better that war meant death!
So, within his capabilities, he also hoped his son could receive some preferential treatment.
Thus, finding a way to prepare some supplies for the anti-Japanese team became the best method he could think of.
Between national righteousness and love for his son, this was the most he could do!
“As long as the money is in place, I’ll give you all the supplies without missing a single one.” Cao Weida promised with a hearty laugh,
He could understand a bit of the other party’s complex feelings; if there was no worry at all about letting his son enlist, he absolutely wouldn’t spend such a large sum.
Such is the heart of parents the world over.
After eating and drinking their fill, Cao Weida left Dongxing Tower, got into the rickshaw pulled by Xiangzi and was just about to head home when someone called out to him.
“Cao Ye!”
“Hm, what is it.”
He remembered this person; he was a brother under Yan San, called Guo Piezi.
He didn’t know his real name; everyone called him Guo Piezi.
Guo Piezi leaned in closer and said quietly: “Cao Ye, Big Brother is looking for you.”
Looking for me now?
Cao Weida’s heart stirred. “Get on, give the address.”
After giving the address, Xiangzi pulled them to the location at the fastest speed.
Seeing that night was falling, he waved for Xiangzi to keep his mouth shut and go back first, then the two entered the room.
Inside the room, Yan San, who had been waiting for a long time, heard the special knocking rhythm and quickly stepped forward to open the door.
“Cao Ye, you’ve come!”
“Hm, speak, what’s the situation?”
“Cao Ye, the brothers scouted some news: Liu Xiangting has been active at the Unnamed Pier between Datong Bridge Pier and Qingfeng Gate Pier these past two days, and then he went to Dachuan Trading Company again,
We observed from afar; Dachuan Trading Company is bustling intensely, seeming to plan to move things out.
I suspect they plan to transport this batch of supplies via the Unnamed Pier tonight or tomorrow night, so I had Guo Piezi notify you to avoid delaying the big event!”
Unnamed Pier?
Cao Weida couldn’t help but fall into thought.
The so-called Unnamed Pier was just a nameless small pier; normally, hardly anyone used such a pier to transport goods, unless for smuggling or the like.
These little devils transporting things, bypassing a big pier like Datong Bridge Pier and choosing the remote, obscure Unnamed Pier—this was how cautious they were!
“You’ve done well; I know about this matter. After it’s done, I certainly won’t treat the brothers unfairly.” Cao Weida patted his shoulder.
When this batch of supplies arrived, it was transported in the pitch black of night, via the Unnamed Pier.
Even thinking with one’s butt, one knew this batch of supplies was definitely not simple, very important to the little devils—perhaps antiques calligraphy and paintings or some Chinese artistic treasures, Kui Bao.
Actually, no matter what it was, he was very happy to sabotage anything unfavorable to the little devils.
Yan San seemed to remember something else and hurriedly added: “Oh right, Cao Ye, one more thing: yesterday and today, a bucktoothed woman in male disguise has frequently entered and exited Dachuan Trading Company; those Japanese seemed very familiar with her, with extremely respectful attitudes, even saluting.
Cao Weida was stunned; why did it sound so familiar?
He pressed: “You’re sure that was a woman?”
“Of course I’m sure; she’s a woman! I’m very certain!”
Yan San nodded immediately, very confidently: “Men and women are very easy to distinguish. Though that woman looks a bit rough, she has no Adam’s apple, and her chest protrudes somewhat. If even that can’t be identified, then my years in the jianghu were wasted.”
“Alright, I got it.” Cao Weida smiled playfully; if he wasn’t wrong, this person should be Kawashima Yoshiko.
He hadn’t expected this matter to involve even Kawashima Yoshiko; then this batch of supplies absolutely couldn’t be ordinary goods.
Interesting, truly too interesting.
What exactly were these little devils transporting?
Whatever, no matter what they’re transporting.
No matter what goods they’re transporting, just rob them and see, then we’ll know everything.
“Got a map?”
“Yes.”
Yan San immediately pulled out a map and handed it to him.
“Where’s the Unnamed Pier.”
Yan San pointed on the map: “Here, this one between Datong Bridge Pier and Qingfeng Gate Pier.”
Cao Weida followed his finger, examined it carefully for a moment, then tapped near the Unnamed Pier with his finger.
After a while, he stood up and said:
“Alright, I got it. I’m taking this map. Also, have all the brothers withdraw completely; tell them to keep their mouths shut tight—no one is to leak a single word!”
Yan San nodded firmly: “Rest assured, Cao Ye; these brothers are all loyal and devoted brothers, steady and reliable people; they absolutely won’t say a word.”
He wasn’t stupid; he naturally knew Cao Ye must be planning some action, and this matter was of great importance—mess it up and it could stir up a hornet’s nest.
Cao Weida nodded, patted his shoulder heavily, and said gravely: “I won’t hide it from you; this matter is of great importance, and there can’t be the slightest flaw.”
“I trust the brothers’ character, but I’m afraid of loose talk after drinking, so I can only trouble the brothers a bit.”
“Like this: convene all the brothers. For the next half month, no one goes out alone. I’ll arrange a courtyard for them to stay in.”
“Serve them good food and meat every day; they can drink, but absolutely not get drunk, and no whoring!”
“If they have families, they can call home or have family move in together, but once in, no going out again.”
“After the matter’s done, I’ll give each brother a big red envelope!”
If the matter succeeded, it would have quite an impact; he absolutely wouldn’t allow any flaws!
The best way was naturally to silence them, but Cao Weida wasn’t the type to kill the donkey after unloading it; he couldn’t do something like harming his own brothers.
Moreover, so many deaths at once might attract others’ attention, resulting in more loss than gain.
Transporting them out of the city wouldn’t work either; it would easily arouse suspicion.
So, the best current method was to gather them all up, treat them well, and after the storm of this matter passed, give them a generous hush money.
“Alright, everything as you say, Cao Ye!”
In total, only five or six people knew about this, all his own brothers; gathering and watching them wasn’t difficult.
Moreover, treating them to good food and meat daily without work, plus a big red envelope at the end—what a sweet deal, where to find it?
When the brothers heard, not only wouldn’t they feel it hardship, they’d probably all hope for more such ‘hard days’!
Seeing Yan San understood the priorities, Cao Weida contentedly patted his shoulder again, gave the house address and handed over the key.
After leaving the room, Cao Weida hurried nonstop to Old Luo’s place.
Night had fully fallen, the streets exceptionally quiet, occasional dog barks breaking the night’s tranquility.
Pedestrians were long gone, hiding at home awaiting the dawn’s light to shine on the earth again the next day.
Since becoming the shopkeeper of Ruixin General Store, Old Luo had rented a house in the Laojuntang Hutong behind Ruixin General Store.
At this time, Old Luo had just finished dinner, sitting on the lounge chair in the courtyard smoking, quietly watching the gradually brightening stars in the sky.
Since joining the Communist Party and becoming underground party, he had been infiltrating Beiping for many years.
During those infiltration days, he lived in constant fear every day, not daring the slightest carelessness.
Because once a flaw was exposed, what awaited him was endless pursuit, or inhuman torture after arrest.
But he hadn’t expected Cao Weida’s appearance to completely change his previous life.
Not only quickly identifying and eliminating the traitor, but also providing such favorable conditions.
While continuously providing the organization with various supplies, he no longer had to live in fear like before.
Good food and drink every day—such days were practically immortal bliss!
“Wonder how long this peaceful life can last~~”
He leisurely picked up the teacup beside him for a sip; just as he was about to set it down, a special knocking came from the door.
After the final knock fell, Old Luo sprang up like a spring.
He quickly went forward to open the door, let Cao Weida in, looked around left and right, then swiftly shut the door.
“Cao Ye, what’s happened?”
Normally, if there was no emergency, Cao Weida absolutely wouldn’t come find him after dark; something must have happened.
“We’ll talk inside.”
Hearing this, Old Luo didn’t dare delay and hurriedly led him into the room.
After entering and closing the door, Cao Weida didn’t waste words and got straight to the point:
“Old Luo, there’s indeed an urgent matter to discuss with you: Dachuan at Chang’an Avenue”
After hearing Cao Weida’s description, Old Luo immediately realized the oddity of the situation.
He said gravely: “Your analysis is probably right; with the little devils being so cautious, this batch of supplies must be extremely precious!”
“No matter what this batch of supplies is, they can’t be allowed to leave Beiping!”
After pondering a moment, he said: “Beiping has a guerrilla team of our underground party. No time to lose—delays breed changes. I’ll contact them right now to have them cooperate with you!”
The little devils might transport the supplies in the next day or two; time was tight—they had to start action immediately.
Cao Weida nodded. “Good. By the way, does the guerrilla team’s firepower need help?”
“With the little devils valuing this batch of supplies so much, there might not be many escorts at the time, but firepower will definitely be ample.”
“If we can’t take them out immediately and let them react, we’re in trouble!”
