Chapter 287: Heart That Big?
“Section Chief Guang.”
A call startled Guang Yuhua, his mind racing with complaints, but his face quickly showed a humble attitude:
“Director, your orders.”
He didn’t want to be as stubborn as Wen Yongwang, what benefits were there in clashing head-on with Cao Weida!
Even if Cao Weida’s building collapsed later, that was a future matter; he had to get through the present first!
In his view, one should yield when it was time to yield; that was the way to survive.
Seeing his respectful appearance, Cao Weida suddenly felt like laughing.
Look at him, he didn’t seem like someone preparing to oppose him at all?
However, since he hadn’t come to ‘report work,’ he still needed to be warned and scolded.
His knuckles lightly tapped the desk, his voice flat yet carrying a hint of chill:
“Has your Supervision Office been too comfortable lately? I was wondering if you’re all keeping a bunch of masters in there.”
Cold sweat broke out on Guang Yuhua’s forehead in an instant; he kept wiping it, cautiously saying: “Forgive me, Director. Our work wasn’t done well; I bear responsibility for not managing the subordinates. After I return, I will strictly.”
“By your logic, the Supervision Office’s incompetence means all the crime is on the people under you?” Cao Weida unceremoniously interrupted his evasion, staring at him coldly,
“You’re good at shirking responsibility. When there’s merit, it’s your leadership; when something goes wrong, it’s the subordinates’ fault. Are you a non-stick pan?!”
“As the Section Chief of the Supervision Office, shouldn’t you take the lead?!”
He pulled out a document and slapped it forcefully into his hand,
“Open your dog eyes wide and see clearly what it says!”
Guang Yuhua fumbled to steady the file, opened it, and his eye twitched; he nearly flung it away.
“What’s this, still want to shirk responsibility?” Cao Weida glanced at him sideways, lit a cigarette, took a drag, and blew the smoke toward Guang Yuhua:
“The Mishi Hutong grain depot theft—your Supervision Office investigated for five days without even tracing the tire tracks of the stolen grain truck, yet the Japanese Military Police found some leads on the black market.”
He grabbed the enamel mug from the desk and drank some warm water:
“Before I took office, Officer Ono told me face-to-face that our District Office’s supervision staff are all blind and deaf. Doesn’t that slap me in the face?”
Sweat trickled down Guang Yuhua’s temples; he hurriedly wiped it with his sleeve, bowing as he replied: “Director, this subordinate has already sent six plainclothes officers; we’ve questioned every patrol station near Mishi Hutong and detained two grain dealers.”
“Grain dealers?” Cao Weida sneered, pinched his shoulder, and said softly: “Does Section Chief Guang think I’m young and easy to fool?”
“Are you really investigating the stolen grain, or grabbing two truck runners as scapegoats to cover up the grain depot theft? You should know that yourself.”
“From what I know, the people you sent barely investigated the case; with investigation warrants, they ate three bowls of zhajiang noodles at Qingfeng Tower without even clarifying the grain depot guards’ native places.”
“Come on, explain to me how exactly they investigated and where exactly this grain went?”
Guang Yuhua’s face turned pig-liver colored; his hand gripping the case file trembled slightly: “This subordinate failed to control those below; this subordinate was foolish and was deceived. I’ll remove those negligent patrolmen right away and add more manpower to investigate.”
“Investigate? Are you sure you want to? Or do you really dare to?” Cao Weida sneered mockingly:
“You know who the real culprit is; tell me, how do you plan to investigate, and how will you handle it once you find the mastermind?”
Guang Yuhua was speechless; of course he knew who the real culprit was. Precisely because he knew, he truly didn’t dare investigate; he feared disappearing mid-investigation.
Seeing Guang Yuhua trembling in fear, Cao Weida flicked some cigarette ash and said indifferently:
“After the meeting ended, every section reported work: Public Security Section reported on the western suburbs guerrilla team movements, Household Registration Section cleared the jurisdiction’s vagrant roster, even Finance Section sorted this month’s accounts clearly—yet no sign of the Communications Group Deputy Group Leader or your Supervision Office people.”
“I originally thought you really had things to do and it was due to heavy workload.”
“But now it seems you’re not just busy—you’re extremely busy!!”
Such sarcastic harsh words made even more sweat bead on Guang Yuhua’s forehead.
He felt bitter inside; he wanted to cry.
He couldn’t afford to offend Ji Hongxin, and he certainly couldn’t afford to offend the man before him; he was truly experiencing what it meant to be caught between two pressures.
“Director, this subordinate knows his mistake. This subordinate will re-verify right away and deliver the ‘detailed report’ tomorrow morning for a proper report to you.”
Yo, quite sensible.
Seeing him so sensible, Cao Weida softened his stern gaze, extinguished the cigarette butt in the ashtray, and glanced at the pale-faced, sweat-drenched Guang Yuhua:
“Section Chief Guang, plenty in Beiping City want this section chief position. Don’t make me think someone else is more suitable!”
Guang Yuhua froze in place until Cao Weida impatiently waved him away; then he staggered out of the office.
The corridor wind blew on his face, giving him some coolness; he adjusted his collar and moved bitterly toward his office.
He felt somewhat relieved; though scolded harshly, he was perceptive enough not to be overly humiliated.
Sigh, who knows how the days ahead will be—one emperor, one policy. He somewhat missed the previous director.
Heads poked out from nearby offices, faces showing schadenfreude.
The bright, clean corridor carried a faint smoke smell; clearly, there were plenty of heavy smokers working here.
“Yo, Section Chief Guang is out?” Logistics Section Chief Du Chengye from two doors down leaned on the railing cracking sunflower seeds, spitting the shells on the floor:
“Everyone knows a new official lights three fires; two were lit at the meeting, and Director Cao is handing you a ladder—why not take it?”
These sarcastic mocking words made veins jump on Guang Yuhua’s forehead, but he didn’t respond. As he was about to go down the stairs, Public Security Section Chief Ding Yingfa from across leaned in.
He leaned closer, voice low but deliberately audible: “Our new director isn’t some easily fooled young kid. You really think being young means you can treat him like that? He doesn’t even bother fooling you.”
“Deputy Director Ji was cocky before, but that was because the old director didn’t care. Now this District Office bears the surname Cao!”
At the stairwell tea urn, two young police officers whispered and snickered.
“Usually so imposing, but turns out he’s blind to the situation,” one said: “The director soft-confined the deputy director right away, yet he still dares oppose the director. I’d say he’s more filial to Deputy Director Ji than to his own parents.”
The other chimed in: “Exactly, look at him—you know he got reamed hard. I heard the roaring from the office even out here in the corridor; he totally deserved this scolding.”
“Not just Director Cao—if it were me, I’d scold even harsher, make him shed a layer of skin.”
Guang Yuhua didn’t stop, his leather shoes thudding on the wooden stairs.
Behind him, Du Chengye’s voice floated over with blatant mockery: “Some people, relying on a certain someone’s past power, got carried away—forgot who’s the top superior now. This rice bowl is about to cool~~ Heh, truly doesn’t know good from bad!”
Guang Yuhua paused his steps, then continued down.
He had actually regretted it before even coming to the office; after this harsh warning, he regretted it even more.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so perceptive, planning to ‘report work’ first thing tomorrow morning.
Though these people’s words made him feel stifled, they further solidified his resolve to ‘surrender.’
He pondered inwardly: simple ‘showing respect’ no longer carried enough weight; he needed a more ‘substantial’ gift to make up for past mistakes and gain the director’s acceptance.
“.”
That evening after work, back home eating, Cao Weida clearly sensed something off in Liu Rusi’s expression.
After dinner, Cao Weida went to Liu Rusi’s room, pulled her onto his lap, kissed her fair rosy-cheeked face twice, then asked: “What’s wrong? Something happen? You’re so distracted.”
Liu Rusi leaned her head into Cao Weida’s chest, coquettishly saying: “I’m at least a trained agent; was it that obvious?”
“Listen to you—however well-trained you are, in our I-know-your-depths-and-you-know-my-lengths relationship, can you hide from me?” He slapped her perky butt, feeling the waves undulate, and asked:
“Tell me, what exactly happened? Homesick or bored staying here?”
“With you by my side, how could I be bored?” Liu Rusi nuzzled in his arms, sniffed his scent, and showed an infatuated, enjoying expression,
“Not homesick; headquarters gave me a mission—I need to go out.”
“Hm? Weren’t you done with missions? Why assign you one now?” Cao Weida’s brows furrowed, his face showing displeasure and some anger.
What did the Military Statistics Bureau mean, treating words like farts?!
This old man handled things for you, the covert transportation line nearly set up—then you turn hostile?!
Seeing her master unhappy, Liu Rusi was thrilled inside—this meant he cared about her!
“Aiya, master~~ don’t be mad; it’s just a pickup, no danger.”
“Pickup without danger?” Cao Weida glared, slapped her perky butt again: “Don’t you know if the contact has issues, rashly going could put you in danger!”
“Tell me, why send you for this pickup?”
“Are all the Military Statistics Bureau infiltrators in Beiping dead or what?!”
Punched, Liu Rusi let out a whimper, cheeks flushing, eyes watery as she breathed into his ear:
“It’s fine; I’m just assisting from the side. Besides, as a Military Statistics Bureau member, I can’t really do nothing.”
“Moreover, the Military Statistics Bureau infiltrators in Beiping are indeed few, each with tasks; sending me is a last resort.”
“Master, tonight it’s my turn to serve you; with warm jade in arms, let’s not talk those mood-spoilers~~”
Feeling the wriggling delicate body in his arms and her seductive eyes state, what could Cao Weida do?
Of course, satisfy her!
No excessive foreplay; he scooped up the beauty in his arms and placed her on the bed.
“.”
Due to the Military Statistics Bureau’s ‘going back on their word,’ Cao Weida’s anger was especially fierce tonight.
Though he vented on the two women, the fury in his heart hadn’t fully dissipated.
Nighttime.
Dressed in night-walking clothes, Cao Weida emerged from the room, secured the door, and leaped onto the rooftop.
With Dragonfly Touching Water, he moved across the rooftop as if on flat ground.
Patrol teams with dogs on the street were nothing to him; he headed straight for tonight’s target.
Soon, he arrived near that traitor’s courtyard.
Just approaching, his ears twitched; heavy panting came.
Not human— a dog.
He was used to it; the traitors he’d targeted these days all kept dogs precisely to guard against him.
But useless against Cao Weida with Azure Nether Soul Lock skill.
One needle killed the dog; he flipped over the wall, stored the dog in space, and stealthily headed to the master bedroom.
Nearing the master bedroom, his ears twitched; he heard three breathing rhythms—two from the master bedroom, one from next door.
He ignored the next door’s; solving his target first was key.
He drew his dagger, inserted into the door crack—unexpectedly, the door pushed open.
Just like that??
Cao Weida paused, thinking this traitor was bold; maybe a trap inside?
Peering through the open door, with top-tier physique his hearing and sight were sharp, plus top-tier criminal investigation ability for details; observing over a minute with peripheral vision, he saw no trap traces.
He clearly heard two even breaths from the master bedroom; evidently deep asleep.
“Really that bold?” Cao Weida was baffled; good grief, he’d scared himself into freezing for over a minute.
Amused and annoyed, he slipped into the room; at the master bed, he discovered something unexpected: on the bed wasn’t his target, but a little devil!
Why so sure?
This little devil had bowlegs, short stature, and a mustache!
Most crucially, a pair of fundoshi lay messily on the bed.
