Chapter 302: He Won’t Rest Easy Until Cao Weida Is Taken Out
The next morning, the weather was overcast with a gentle, warm breeze.
Cao Weida woke up under special service, praised Du Shiniang’s service skills for improving day by day, and went to the District Office to check in.
Afterward, dressed in a crisp Police Station uniform, he took Little Ear and Zheng Chaoyang, who were wearing sidearms with short guns, into the car and headed straight for Song Yusheng’s mansion.
The car stopped in front of Director Song’s mansion main gate. The gatekeeper saw the car parked at the door and asked a couple of questions with a respectful attitude.
Anyone who could be a gatekeeper had sharp eyes. If they had no brain, the master would never place such a person in that position.
In these times, anyone who could afford to drive a sedan was no ordinary person.
Moreover, the flag on the sedan also indicated that the visitor was no simple man.
After asking a couple of questions, he didn’t dare to neglect and hurried inside to report.
Not long after, the gatekeeper returned following a man wearing a dark blue satin long robe. The man ahead had a professional smile on his face: “Director Cao, forgive my poor hospitality. I am the butler of the residence. The master is already waiting in the front hall. Please follow me.”
Cao Weida nodded lightly and followed, without even exchanging false pleasantries.
Passing through the courtyard planted full of pomegranate trees, his gaze swept over the surroundings, marveling inwardly. Director Song had actually planted so many pomegranate trees in his house. Was this because he liked eating pomegranates, or did he like admiring pomegranate flowers?
In the front hall, Song Yusheng was sitting by the Eight Immortals table sipping tea, but his mind was not on the tea.
He naturally knew about Kui Biao’s assassination attempt on Cao Weida the night before last, but since Kui Biao left, he still hadn’t returned, not even sending a single message.
Yesterday, Cao Weida went to the District Office as usual, but Kui Biao had vanished. He could roughly guess that something had happened to Kui Biao.
He just didn’t know if Kui Biao had been killed on the spot or captured.
If he was killed on the spot, that was fine, but if he was captured…
He had secretly sent someone to inquire, and the news came back that Kui Biao was an anti-Japanese element who had been shot dead on the spot.
This news let him breathe a slight sigh of relief. With the man dead, the secret was safe.
But he still felt an inexplicable unease lingering in his heart.
Today, with Cao Weida suddenly visiting, the unease in his heart intensified even more.
Could it be that Kui Biao had spilled something before he died?
More worries filled his heart.
He wasn’t afraid of offending Cao Weida—a mere farmer with no roots—but Ono Shiota behind him made him extremely wary.
Don’t think that as the director of the Police Department, he was a big shot in Beiping. After all, Beiping was under Japanese control, especially someone like Ono Shiota, a major who was at the core of the power holders. He absolutely dared not offend him.
What was the purpose of Cao Weida’s sudden visit today?
Was it Ono Taijun’s intention?
“Master, the guests have arrived.”
Just as he was lost in thought, the butler brought Cao Weida and the others in.
Song Yusheng collected his thoughts and put on a practiced smile: “Director Cao honors us with your presence; my humble house is beaming with light.”
“Quickly, sit. Serve tea, the best tea—the top-grade Tieguanyin I got a few days ago!”
He gestured for the butler to serve tea, while his eyes subtly observed Cao Weida’s expression.
Cao Weida wore a bland smile, walked to the chair opposite and sat down, his gaze sweeping over Song Yusheng, chuckling:
“Director Song loves to joke. I, a mere director, cannot claim the words ‘beaming with light.'”
“I apologize for disturbing you unannounced. Please don’t take offense, Director Song.”
“Not at all, Director Cao. I’m delighted you’re here—how could I take offense?” Song Yusheng pursed his lips inwardly. This Cao Weida didn’t show his joy like an ordinary young man.
“Delighted? I also hope Director Song is genuinely delighted to see me.”
Cao Weida picked up the teacup handed by the butler with a half-smile, not drinking immediately, but slowly skimming the floating leaves with the lid:
“I’m here for two reasons: first, since becoming director, I haven’t reported my work to you, Director Song. Second, Ono Taijun entrusted me to bring you something.”
Song Yusheng’s expression stiffened slightly, then quickly returned to normal. “Oh? Ono Taijun is thinking of me? I don’t deserve it. What is it?”
Cao Weida took out the brocade box Ono Shiota had given him from his pocket and pushed it across the table beside him.
The moment the brocade box opened, Song Yusheng’s gaze fell on the bronze badge engraved with ‘Police Department.’ His face instantly paled, and his hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, spilling a few drops of tea.
“Ono Taijun says,” Cao Weida took it all in, his face half-smiling, his voice low but weighty,
“he is very concerned about Director Song’s recent health and urges you to take good care of yourself. Don’t trouble your mind with trivial matters, lest you wear yourself out.”
He emphasized ‘concerned’ and ‘health’ deliberately. How could Song Yusheng not understand the implication?
His Adam’s apple bobbed a few times; he had finally found the source of his unease.
Damn it!
Something must have gone wrong with Kui Biao!
He even suspected that Kui Biao wasn’t dead at all!!
He forced a calm smile, his voice somewhat hoarse: “Ono Taijun is busy with myriad affairs yet thinks of my health. Yusheng is truly apprehensive.”
“Thank you for making the trip personally, Director Cao. I have indeed been overworking lately and will certainly pay more attention going forward.”
In truth, he harbored some luck in his heart, thinking that even if something had gone wrong with Kui Biao, given the current situation, Ono Shiota might just let it slide.
But now it seemed that Cao Weida’s importance in Ono Shiota’s eyes was far greater than he had thought.
Warning him was one thing; having Cao Weida deliver the warning in person was another!
Seeing Song Yusheng back down, Cao Weida understood, but he didn’t stop there.
This damn bastard wanted his life—how could he let him off just because he backed down?
He, Cao Weida, was no saint!
He couldn’t repay evil with good!
“Ono Taijun also asked me to tell you that at next week’s public order reinforcement meeting, he specifically instructed you to give the main report.”
“He also said he hopes you’ll prepare well to show the Imperial Army the ‘loyalty’ of our Beiping government!”
At these words, Song Yusheng’s face turned ashen.
He wasn’t a fool; he knew this talk of showing ‘loyalty’ was bullshit. Ono Shiota wanted to humiliate him in public!!
His chest heaved. After all, he was a prominent figure in Beiping. If slapped in the face publicly, what would others think of him?!
“I understand!” Since the other side wouldn’t let it go amicably, Song Yusheng dropped the pretense of civility, his face stern as he coldly stared at Cao Weida:
“Does Director Cao have any other business? If not, please leave. My humble Song residence can’t accommodate a big Buddha like you who has a title with the Imperial Army!”
Look, he was angry—he was actually angry!
With such an overt dismissal, Cao Weida showed no anger, chuckling as he stood: “Then I won’t disturb you further, Director Song. I’ll take my leave—no need to see me out.”
Song Yusheng snorted coldly. I wasn’t planning to anyway!
With faces torn, did you expect me to see you out?
In your dreams!
Just as Cao Weida reached the door, he suddenly paused, turning back: “Oh, right, almost forgot. Ono Taijun had one more message: if the director has any ‘worries,’ feel free to chat with him. No need to keep everything bottled up—it might make you sick!”
With that, he took Little Ear and the other and turned to leave.
Song Yusheng’s eye twitched, his heart sinking.
He understood the meaning—this was a warning to stop any little moves, and the final ultimatum.
Seeing Cao Weida had gone far, Song Yusheng could no longer hold back his anger and smashed the teacup Cao Weida had drunk from onto the floor, shattering porcelain everywhere.
Hearing the noise, the butler rushed in. Seeing his face alternating between pale and green, he didn’t dare ask, only cautiously said: “Master, are you alright?”
Song Yusheng abruptly flipped the table over, the huge crash piercing the quiet front hall.
“What are you looking at!” he growled, eyes full of fury and regret. “That bastard Cao Weida—I really underestimated him!”
“That idiot Kui Biao—what a bastard!!! I really want to shoot him myself!!”
Breathing heavily, he picked up the badge. The cold metal touch calmed him slightly.
He knew Ono Shiota hadn’t acted against him for two reasons: the current situation required stability in Beiping, and his position as government director was needed to maintain surface order.
But this badge was both a warning and the final ultimatum.
If he made any more moves, he would face Ono Shiota’s full retaliation.
“Cao Weida, Cao Weida, you’re truly a fine dog that has caught your master’s eye!”
Cold light flickered in Song Yusheng’s eyes. Since they had torn faces and Cao Weida didn’t seem open to reconciliation, to avoid future revenge, he must eliminate Cao Weida!
Otherwise, he couldn’t rest easy!
“Go, call Deputy Officer Luo.”
An hour later, Deputy Officer Luo arrived at the Song residence.
Deputy Officer Luo was his absolute confidant with a bond of life and death. What he was about to do was extremely important; if the little devils found out, they’d skin him alive!
Thus, it had to be someone absolutely trustworthy.
After hearing the general situation, Deputy Officer Luo frowned tightly. “Director, from what I know, Cao Weida has been working for the little devils. Those convoys and routes bypassing our Police Department are mostly connected to him.”
“Not only Ono Shiota, even the Gendarmerie Headquarters turns a blind eye, even helping cover for them.”
“One could say his relationship with all the Japanese Army officers in Beiping is quite delicate.”
“If we move against Cao Weida, I’m afraid…”
Before he finished, Song Yusheng cut him off forcefully. “Precisely because he has their favor and trust, I must eliminate him sooner!”
“I’ve completely torn faces with him. If I don’t get rid of him, who knows when he’ll strike me down!”
“These little devils recognize no kin. Sure, I’m director now, and they need me for Beiping public order and to placate us Nanjing government officials.”
“But once the war stabilizes, who knows if they’ll still take me seriously?”
“This risk, I must take!”
Cold light kept flashing in his eyes. “But you’re right. Since we can’t act openly, we’ll borrow a knife to kill.”
This was also why he called Deputy Officer Luo.
“Cao Weida is a staunch Japanese collaborator, always helping the little devils make money. The Military Statistics Bureau hates such die-hard traitors most and won’t let him off!”
“Military Statistics Bureau?!” Deputy Officer Luo was shocked. Privately contacting anti-Japanese elements was a grave taboo; if the little devils found out, the consequences were unimaginable!
Song Yusheng saw his shock and said flatly: “What’s with the fuss? It’s just mutual benefit.”
“When it comes to contacting anti-Japanese elements, who interacts more frequently than the Japanese?”
“You think the Military Statistics Bureau fights the little devils to the death? In reality, they’ve long been trading under the table, each making a fortune.”
“There’s such a thing?!” Deputy Officer Luo’s worldview seemed shattered. The Military Statistics Bureau trading with the Japanese in secret?!
He never would have imagined it!
“Heh, so you have a lot you don’t know.” Song Yusheng curled his lip. The ones truly fighting to the death were always the underlings. The big shots above, no matter the situation, still lived in singing and dancing.
Having reached his position, his perspective far surpassed those below.
The darkness and drama of society would shock most people!
Of course, the Japanese contacting them was their business, but if you privately contacted the Military Statistics Bureau, that was a grave taboo.
Even at the director level, Song Yusheng dared not have any overt ties with the Military Statistics Bureau.
He retrieved an iron box from the bottom of the bookcase, containing half a torn silver note with the words ‘Guangji Teahouse’ written in code.
“This is the token for meeting the Military Statistics Bureau contact. You go for me and say there’s news of a big fish—in exchange for Cao Weida’s life!”
He paused, his gaze sinister: “Tell him I’ll provide Cao Weida’s whereabouts. Make sure the Japanese know it was the Military Statistics Bureau who did it!”
Meanwhile, Cao Weida didn’t go straight back to the District Office but arrived at a teahouse.
He had arranged to meet Tada Naoyoshi here because Zheng Chaoyang told him that things in Changping were ready.
In the teahouse, Tada Naoyoshi had been waiting a while. Seeing Cao Weida enter, he immediately asked eagerly: “Cao Sang, how did it go? What was their response?”
He couldn’t help being anxious—this matter concerned his life and fortune!
“Mission accomplished.” Cao Weida smiled, handed him a cigarette, and thoughtfully lit it:
“The Communist Party said, in gratitude for our aid to the people and our previous pleasant cooperation, as long as we leave a small portion of supplies to distribute to the people, they’ll leave the rest untouched. And we can continue business as usual afterward.”
Hearing this, Tada Naoyoshi’s nerves, tense for two or three days, finally relaxed. He let out a long breath, wiping the sweat from his forehead caused by tension: “Great, that’s really great. I’m finally relieved, Cao Sang. This time, it was all thanks to you.”
