Chapter 297: Are We A Pair Of Lovers Who Bicker?
Sure enough, when Cao Weida arrived at the agreed location, he saw Tada Naoyoshi with a dead mother’s expression.
Tsk, I’m delighted, you’re worried, are we two a pair of joyous enemies?
He chuckled inwardly, but before entering the door, he suppressed all the laughter in his eyes, leaving only a face full of solemnity.
Pretending to be anxious, he jogged two steps into the room, nimbly closed the door, sat down opposite Tada Naoyoshi, and said urgently: “Mr. Tada, I’m really sorry, I’m late. Is the news you mentioned on the telephone true?”
“Absolutely true!” Tada Naoyoshi furrowed his brows, his face anxious as he said:
“The Tenth Regiment’s people have already broken through the outer defenses. Our transit station hidden behind the mountain god temple is only eight kilometers from the front line!”
“The military only deployed one security squad at the Thirteen Tombs, which is simply impossible to defend against the Tenth Regiment’s attack!”
Tada Naoyoshi clenched his fists and scratched his scalp hard again. “Those medicines, khaki cloth, and mechanical parts transferred from Zhangjiakou—if they’re intercepted by the Communist Party, not only will all my business over this time be finished, I won’t be able to explain to the ‘friends’ either!”
These supplies aren’t his alone; a large group of people behind him are waiting eagerly to be fed and to divide the profits.
If they knew he had lost the capital of the business, wouldn’t that bunch eat him alive?!
He irritably pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a puff, but the thick nicotine couldn’t reduce the anxiety in his heart even a little.
He suddenly looked up at Cao Weida: “This idea was yours. You must find a way to get the contact person to move the supplies out, even if it’s just to the warehouse in the Beiping suburbs first!”
“Don’t worry.” Cao Weida furrowed his brows tightly, reached into the other’s cigarette pack to take one out and light it, pondered for a moment, then said: “Mr. Tada, don’t worry first. Listen to me.”
“We’ve been doing business with the Communist Party for a while now, from grain to cotton to other supplies. Which time haven’t we delivered on time and on schedule?”
“The Communist Party has always kept their word. They know this transit station is the foundation of our cooperation; they won’t destroy the Great Wall themselves.”
Though he said that, Tada Naoyoshi still wasn’t reassured. After all, this concerned his life and fortune, so he had to be cautious:
“I understand the reason you said, but this time it’s war!”
“Soldiers on the battlefield won’t care about your business exchanges. They might just take the supplies when they see them!”
Not afraid of ten thousand, he was now afraid of that one in ten thousand!
Who dares to guarantee things on the battlefield?
He didn’t want to entrust his life and fortune to something completely uncertain.
There’s an old saying in China: when a xiucai meets soldiers, reason can’t be explained.
Those big-headed soldiers, especially the Communist Party ones who are starving mad and terrified of poverty, who knows if they’ll lose their heads in a heat and seize the supplies regardless?
“It won’t happen.” Cao Weida’s face was solemn, but in his heart, he was already laughing heartily.
Seeing Tada Naoyoshi’s anxious and uneasy appearance made him feel comfortable inside.
However, though he laughed in his heart, he definitely wouldn’t let the Communist Party loot the supplies at the transit station.
First, because doing so would be like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.
How much supplies is one transit station? Compared to future transaction goods, this bit is not worth mentioning.
Second, because this matter also concerned him. After all, he had facilitated this transit station. If something really happened, he would definitely be implicated, and it wouldn’t be worth the loss.
Of course, not skimming off a bit wouldn’t do either. Wouldn’t that be too cheap for this old devil?
He had to think of a way to make this old devil feel heartbroken yet willingly give up a small portion of the supplies!
He lowered his voice and said: “Mr. Tada, you should know that I have some contact with the Communist Party.”
Tada Naoyoshi naturally knew that. Since they had business dealings with the Communist Party, it would be strange not to have contact with them.
But he didn’t care about these things. Having realized he had no room for advancement, he had woken up. What bullshit loyalty to the emperor? How could it compare to the dollars and gold already in his pocket?
He no longer cared about the situation of the invasion of China. He just wanted to make money now!
Seeing this, Cao Weida chuckled inwardly and continued: “Here’s what I’m thinking. To guard against any mishaps, we need to take the initiative.”
“I have a way to contact the contact person. I have an idea: we’ll pass a message to the contact person saying that part of the goods in the transit station are relief supplies prepared for the people in the mountainous area.”
“The Communist Party has always protected the people. Even if they really find the transit station’s supplies, they’ll verify the situation first and won’t rashly touch our things.”
He straightened his back, looking confident,
“Moreover, our transit station is in a dilapidated mountain god temple, with the entrance covered by firewood stacks and only a ‘mountain goods store’ sign outside. Unless someone points it out, it can’t be found at all.”
Tada Naoyoshi’s brows gradually relaxed. After pondering for a moment, he hesitated: “Is what you said true? Will they really consider our past business ties?”
“Of course.”
Cao Weida took paper and pen, wrote a few lines on the paper. “I’ll write a letter to the contact person right now, have him take our token to the front line, and say hello to the Communist Party people.”
“As long as the token arrives, they’ll naturally understand these are our supplies and won’t touch a bit.”
“Once the fighting subsides, we’ll move the supplies out and continue our business.”
He folded the note and put it away. “We Chinese people don’t lack smart ones. They’ll definitely know that killing the goose that lays the golden eggs is unwise. After we show some sincerity, I believe the Communist Party people won’t be so shortsighted.”
After chewing over these words in his mind, Tada Naoyoshi admitted he was convinced and finally breathed a sigh of relief, the anxiety on his face dissipating by more than half.
Although having to pay a ‘sincerity fee’ made him feel some pain, losing just a small portion was still acceptable to him.
He began calculating in his heart how to expand the ‘business’ scale after the war to recoup this loss early.
“.”
That evening, Cao Weida visited Xiaguang Garden again, and it was another night of romance.
Unfortunately, the moment today still hadn’t appeared.
This made him couldn’t help but furrow his brows. This hidden hand was really patient enough, not making a move even now.
Could it be planning an assassination on his way to and from work?
It wasn’t impossible. After all, assassination is assassination, however it’s done.
Who says assassination has to be at night?
“Cao Ye, this is our Xiaguang Garden’s morning dew brewed tea, the best for relieving fatigue. You’ve been busy these two days; have a taste.”
Han Lu walked up close, bent her knees halfway to hand over the tea tray, the fine lines at her eyes soaked in smiles.
“Yesterday I heard Mrs. Shuyi say you found the jasmine scent too strong, so this morning I specially instructed the kitchen to stew tangerine peel on the stove. Does it feel more comfortable to the breath?”
“No wonder today’s taste is different. Boss Han is thoughtful.” Cao Weida smiled, took the teacup and drank a sip, praising:
“Not bad, Biluochun! Hard to buy these days, must have taken some effort?”
“Indeed it took some effort.” Hearing Cao Weida’s praise, the crow’s feet at Han Lu’s eyes deepened:
“Pre-Qingming Biluochun, I asked someone to bring it from Suzhou, specially instructed to get some aged three years. It took a lot of searching to luckily get a bit, just afraid the new tea’s heat would harm your stomach.”
“Boss Han is thoughtful.” Cao Weida couldn’t help but admire inwardly. This Han Lu was no ordinary person. With her meticulous care and clever mouth, she could thrive in any era.
“As long as Cao Ye likes it, it wasn’t in vain for my little thoughtfulness. If you find Xiaguang Garden passable, come often in the future. Xiaguang Garden will always have an upper room prepared for you.”
Cao Weida nodded slightly. “When I have time in the future, I’m just afraid official duties will be too busy, not so much free time to come.”
He liked smart people and hoped she wouldn’t become one who was too clever for her own good.
Han Lu inwardly grumbled a bit: Don’t think I don’t know you’re the idlest person in the district office.
“No matter how busy official duties are, you have to take care of your health, right? You’re a big shot, with so many matters in the twelve districts waiting for your decisions. If you wear yourself out, it’d be a loss for the entire twelve districts.”
“In the future, even if you just come for a cup of tea or to rest half an hour, I’ll always have hot water and hot tea ready here, never daring to neglect you.”
She didn’t say things like Little Ear is also here. She was smart and knew what to say and what not to say.
Cao Weida smiled and handed the teacup back to her. He neither agreed nor refused: “It’s getting late. I should head back to the office.”
Han Lu hurriedly followed, holding the tea tray steady: “I’ll see you down. The coachman is already waiting at the door. I specially had him pad thick cotton cushions in the car. It’s a bit cool in the morning, and it’ll be more comfortable on the bumps.”
Outside the door, Little Ear was already waiting.
On the road, Cao Weida smiled at Little Ear: “This woman is no simple character. Keep that in mind.”
“No matter how not simple, she’s still a woman. She can’t flip the sky. I’ll be careful.” Little Ear bared his teeth. In this era, women basically lived depending on men.
Want to rise by her own efforts?
Heh, that’s no simple matter.
Without a solid backer, she’s just a piece of meat others can covet anytime!
“Moreover, she’s a smart person and won’t do anything unwise.”
“As long as you know it in your heart.”
“.”
After arriving at the police station for roll call, Cao Weida directly called Tada Naoyoshi on the telephone and told him things were progressing very smoothly, so not to worry.
Wasn’t it smooth? There was an Underground Party member right beside him; one sentence and it was done, very convenient.
Night fell.
Inside the private room at Xiaguang Garden.
Cao Weida lay on his side, with two women breathing evenly at his side, their soft hair occasionally brushing his arm, looking like he was sunk in a gentle land.
Around three in the morning, the candle flame suddenly flickered—not a through draft, but an extremely light air current stirring.
Cao Weida, with eyes closed, had his lips curve slightly.
After waiting three nights, this damned killer had finally appeared!
He was really cautious enough!
But no matter how cunning the fox, it still couldn’t escape the hunter’s trap in the end?
A shadow seeped in from under the door crack, like ink dropped into clear water.
The killer had a somewhat burly build, approached stealthily in a cat step, his black short shirt almost blending into the night. The dagger in his hand was wrapped in black cloth, flashing only a cold, piercing light when the candle flame flickered occasionally.
He stopped at the bedside, eyes scanning Cao Weida’s neck exposed outside the thin quilt—that was the neatest place to strike.
The killer didn’t hesitate. Seeing the chance, he instantly swung the dagger out.
Just as the dagger was about to cut through the air, Cao Weida suddenly opened his eyes, his left hand fiercely grabbing the killer’s wrist holding the knife.
At the same time, a blue and white porcelain bowl was smashed to the ground with a ‘crash’ by him, shards scattering everywhere.
This was the signal to act!
The private room door was instantly burst open. Little Ear rushed in with four plainclothes patrolmen, their guns aimed squarely at the killer’s lower back.
“Don’t move!” Little Ear shouted, reaching to grab the killer’s arm.
But that person actually had some skill, dodging sideways.
But Little Ear didn’t come in alone. Just as the killer dodged, a fist smashed down on his head.
At the same time, the dodged Little Ear, in anger, kneed the killer in the stomach. The killer’s eyes bulged, nearly dying on the spot, and ‘thud’ knelt to the ground.
Little Ear cursed as he went forward and tied the killer securely with rope.
“I’ve been waiting left and right, and finally got you here.”
Cao Weida waved his hand, having people drag the killer out.
After comforting the two women who woke up scared pale, he put on his coat and walked out.
In one room, Cao Weida sat on a chair with legs crossed, looking down at the killer pressed to his knees on the ground by two plainclothes patrolmen: “Let me see who it is.”
The black cloth was pulled off, revealing a quite familiar face.
Cao Weida was surprised and couldn’t help laughing: “Heh, it’s an old acquaintance! Isn’t this our Kui Biao Biao Ye? Who would’ve thought—I never imagined it would be you.”
“Hmph!” Kui Biao snorted coldly quite toughly. “Being caught by you just means I’m not as skilled. Kill or carve as you please!”
“What right do you have to be arrogant!” Seeing him caught yet still so arrogant, Little Ear was immediately unhappy and gave him several loud slaps across the face.
Finger marks quickly appeared visibly on Kui Biao’s cheeks. They say don’t hit the face when beating, don’t expose shortcomings when scolding. Kui Biao, in anger, got angry for a moment, snorted coldly again, closed his eyes, and pretended to be dead.
His attitude was clear: hit if you want, curse if you want, do whatever. I absolutely won’t hit back or curse back!
He knew clearly in his heart that since he was caught, his little life was probably gone. No need to seek verbal pleasure then, lest he suffer worse than death before dying.
But he had obviously overthought it. Even if he didn’t curse out loud, until he spit out what Cao Weida wanted, he would still suffer worse than death!
“Say, who sent you.” Cao Weida didn’t bother with pretense and directly asked.
“No one sent me! I just wanted to kill you myself!” Kui Biao stuck his neck out angrily: “Before, I followed my Big Brother eating well and drinking spicy. Don’t think I don’t know—just because of you, my Big Brother was killed by that bastard Wu Dalaizi, leaving me living precariously, hiding everywhere!”
“I’ve wanted to kill you for a long time, just never had the chance!”
“I still say the same: kill or carve as you please!”
