The train driver in the courtyard

Around 3 p.m., Deputy Factory Director Li received a phone call and rushed back from the ministry.

Upon hearing that a Dieter had emerged from the factory, Deputy Factory Director Li was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat.

Now the steel rolling mill is thriving thanks to these orders, while Director Yang can only continue to fall ill.

He originally wanted to advance further by producing engines and oust Director Yang.

They were almost there when something went wrong.

If this matter really blows up, Director Yang might be able to seize the opportunity to launch a counterattack.

Deputy Factory Director Li got out of the car and rushed to Li Aiguo's office without even taking a break.

"Comrade Patriot, what are the specific details?"

Li Aiguo handed him a cigarette, then stood up with his notebook in hand: "Comrade Li Huaide, according to organizational regulations, the case is under investigation, and specific details cannot be disclosed to the public."

Deputy Factory Director Li realized his rashness and quickly smiled awkwardly, nodding, "Yes, yes, we will fully cooperate with the investigation. Please feel free to ask if you need anything."

"The workers in the factory can't leave for the time being, so we can't be careless with the logistics."

"I immediately contacted the canteen and asked them to organize people to deliver meals to the workers."

Li Aiguo had reached the door when he suddenly stopped, turned around, and said, "Your factory's security measures are not very good."

There are more than 10,000 workers in the steel rolling mill, and it is impossible for them to stay in the factory for an extended period of time. We need to find out the truth about the leak as soon as possible.

After leaving, Deputy Factory Director Li quietly repeated what he had just said.

"Inadequate security measures"

"The leader in charge of maintaining secrecy was Hu Deli."

Deputy Factory Director Li felt a chill run down his spine.

Everyone in the factory knew that Hu Deli was one of his men.

Hu Deli is indeed useful; he can get things done and knows how to get things done.

It's just that it's become a burden now, so we have to cut ties with it as soon as possible.

At that moment, the factory's public address system was broadcasting a notice that "loitering in the factory area is prohibited, and leaving the factory is also prohibited."

Security officers patrolled the area from time to time, and the huge factory area appeared empty and somewhat desolate.

Li Aiguo went to the personnel department to retrieve Lu Shichang's personnel file, and then sent someone to investigate the address of Lu Shichang's distant relative listed in the file, obtaining an unbelievable result.

"There is no such person as Lu Laoshuan at all?"

"No, I went to the No. 3 courtyard in Qian'er Hutong. Old Lu Suan passed away three years ago, and there's no one left in the Lu family. The house was given to the lumber mill workers," replied Section Chief Ma of the Security Department.

Li Aiguo frowned: "Didn't you investigate Lu Shichang when he joined the company?"

Section Chief Ma gave an awkward smile and didn't reply.

Li Aiguo understood: "Could this be Hu Deli's responsibility?"

When Section Chief Ma saw the unfriendly look in Li Aiguo's eyes, he was startled and quickly said, "Actually, this is not Hu Deli's fault. Lu Shichang is just a temporary worker. Our factory has more than 10,000 employees, so it is difficult to check them all."

The two meteorologists standing nearby shook their heads in disbelief.

If secrecy is handled like that of a steel mill, it won't be long before the capital is riddled with holes by the enemy.

A person with no identity transformed himself into a film projectionist in just a few months, gaining access to classified areas.

Can you even imagine it?
After Captain Liu escorted Lu Shichang back to the weather station, he had already returned.

"Team Leader Cat is currently interrogating Lu Shichang and has asked us to start our own interrogation as soon as possible so that the testimonies from both sides can be easily verified."

“I interrogated Xu Damao, who was Lu Shichang’s mentor.”

"Old Liu, go and greet Hu Deli."

"Yes!"

The two of them split up.

There was a security officer at the door of the detention cell who opened the door.

Li Aiguo turned on the lights as soon as he entered the room.

Xu Damao was squatting in the corner when the light was suddenly turned on, causing his eyes to water profusely, and he kept wiping them with his sleeve.

It took me a while to get used to it before I saw Li Aiguo standing at the door.

"Patriotism, I...I really don't know anything. Could you give me some water?"

The security department was very careful; they put shackles on Xu Damao's feet, which made a rattling sound when he walked.

Li Aiguo ordered the security officer to unlock Xu Damao's chains. The officer then grabbed Xu's shoulders and forced him into a chair.

Captain Liu poured a glass of water, handed it to Li Aiguo, and then sat down behind the interrogation table with him.

Xu Damao drank a few sips of hot water, and a rosy glow appeared on his face. His hands stopped trembling.

Li Aiguo looked at Xu Damao and said, "How much do you know about Lu Shichang? Who does he contact? Who is his superior? Tell me everything you know."

Xu Damao handed the enamel mug back, licked his lips, and said with a wry smile, "We're neighbors in the same compound. You know me, I'm extremely timid. If I had known that Lu Shichang was Dieter, I wouldn't have dared to take him as my apprentice. I really don't know anything about him."

Xu Damao was now filled with regret, wishing he hadn't taken on this unfortunate apprentice.

"I won't go into the principle of leniency for those who confess and severity for those who resist. If you're going to be stubborn, you'll regret it later."

"I...I really don't know anything."

Xu Damao was so startled by Li Aiguo's glance that he couldn't help but shudder.

He never expected that his seemingly harmless good brother would have such a dignified side.

Xu Damao felt a little breathless and flustered under the cold gaze.

"Patriot, leader, I really don't know anything. I said that Lu Shichang was introduced to the factory by Deputy Section Chief Hu, who arranged for me to be his apprentice. I couldn't refuse."

Xu Damao was terrified; even his voice was trembling.

Captain Liu grinned as he listened, no longer looking at Xu Damao's timid appearance, and focused on taking interrogation notes.

Li Aiguo knew that Xu Damao, despite his many minor flaws—lust and greed—did not have the guts to get involved with Dieter.

Xu Damao was just a projectionist; he couldn't possibly bring temporary workers into the factory.

If they really had that skill, all those old flames in the countryside would have been playing mahjong in the steel mill's canteen long ago.

Xu Damao spoke more and more fluently, and even began to speculate that Deputy Section Chief Hu had taken money from Lu Shichang, and said that he had seen Deputy Section Chief Hu and Lu Shichang go to see Banyanmen together.

"I absolutely did not contact any patriotic leaders!"

"What's the name of the person who lives in that half-closed door? Where do they live?"

"It was in the Shui Da Yuan compound. Her name was Liu Cui. Before liberation, she was said to be the top courtesan in the Eight Great Hutongs. After the Eight Great Hutongs were gone, Liu Cui took a two-year break and then went back to her old profession. This woman was especially good at singing."

"how do you know?"

"."

Xu Damao felt like something was wrong with him today; how did he end up saying these things? It was as if his mouth was out of his control.

Li Aiguo did not pursue Xu Damao's responsibility further, but only inquired about Liu Cui's details.

After signing and pressing his fingerprint, Xu Damao was chained up again.

Li Aiguo left the detention room with his statement and inquired about the situation with Captain Liu.

"Captain Liu hasn't come out yet. I went to check on him just now. Hu Deli is very stubborn and won't admit to anything."

Li Aiguo did not immediately go to support Captain Liu.

People like Hu Deli are seasoned veterans with years of experience in the security department, making them far more difficult to deal with than Xu Damao. Without evidence, it would be a waste of effort.

Li Aiguo picked up the phone and contacted the weather station; Lao Mao's interrogation of Lu Shichang was still ongoing.

Just as Li Aiguo had predicted, Lu Shichang had remained silent ever since he was brought back to the weather station. Lao Mao planned to have the drug team intervene, but the farmer refused.

“The drug team cannot guarantee 100% safety right now, and the farmer thinks we should use traditional methods to find a breakthrough.”

Medicine is not a panacea; sometimes it can even have adverse effects.

Since the establishment of the drug group, the farmers have been farsighted, stipulating that the drugs should not be abused, and even more so, that a dependency should not be developed.

"I've made some discoveries; I'll try to find a breakthrough," Li Aiguo said over the phone.

"I'm waiting for your good news."

Old Cat had complete confidence in Li Aiguo's abilities. After hanging up the phone, he strode into the interrogation room to continue his interrogation.

Solving a case is similar to climbing a mountain. Some places are particularly steep, so you have to go around them and find a small path to climb up.

This path is now the one with the half-open door.

Li Aiguo wasted no time. After contacting the local street office, he called over a few team members: "Come with me to the Shuidayuan compound to arrest people. This time, the target is a half-closed door. Don't shoot unless absolutely necessary."

"understand!"

The weather station has now been equipped with new gear, and the action team is equipped with mountain bikes, two people per bike, which roared out of the steel mill.

Shui Dayuan is actually the name of a hutong (alleyway) located near the Compilation Bureau. The hutong was mainly inhabited by craftsmen who did odd jobs.

In those days of scarcity, people lived a very hard life. To make a living, they were very frugal and made the most of every item.

If a bowl is broken, a pot leaks, or a kettle is seeping from the bottom, you won't throw it away because it can be repaired and reused.

These craftsmen were known as "bowl menders," "pot menders," and "tin kettle welders."

They went from street to street, pushing carts or carrying loads, repairing broken items from household to household.

When they arrived at the entrance of the alley, two staff members from the neighborhood committee were already waiting for them.

Li Aiguo showed his credentials, and the two officers immediately got to work.

"The Liu Cuier you are investigating lives in the No. 3 compound in front."

“Our neighborhood office has also received reports from the public that she is having illicit relationships, but we have never been able to find any concrete evidence.”

Seeing that more and more people were gathering at the entrance of the alley, Li Aiguo, worried about disturbing Liu Cuier, waved his hand and said, "You all lead the way!"

"Yes!"

The alley was cramped and cluttered with debris, so motorcycles could only be parked on the side of the road.

Two street office officials led the way, with Li Aiguo and his team following behind. In no time, they rushed into the courtyard at the end of the alley. An elderly woman was washing clothes in the courtyard. Startled by the commotion, she was about to stand up when the two street office officials quickly gestured, and the woman covered her mouth in fright.

The most crucial thing now is speed. Li Aiguo didn't waste any time. After finding out that Liu Cui lived in the backyard, he led his men and rushed over.

He held the pistol in his hand and fired a signal at one of his teammates.

The player took a deep breath and kicked the door in the middle!
With a loud crash, the already rotten door latch broke off, and the door panel, along with wood chips, fell into the house, raising dust mixed with a strange smell.

It wasn't the smell of coal smoke, but a mixture of cosmetics, paint, and mold, so cloying it made you feel uneasy.

Before the smoke and dust had cleared, the team members rushed forward, with Li Aiguo close behind.

"Charge!" Li Aiguo shouted, stepping over the threshold first, followed closely by his teammates, their flashlight beams sweeping wildly through the room.

But the room was darker than I had imagined, and the windows were covered with three layers of newspaper.

The beam of light shone on it, but only the blurry print on the newspaper was visible; not a single ray of light could penetrate it.

Upon entering the inner room, the flashlight illuminated a figure.

"Hands up!" A team member immediately raised his pistol.

The beam of the flashlight slowly focused, and a woman in a kimono was sitting on a chair in the corner of the room.

The kimono was dark purple, with delicate white flowers embroidered on the collar and cuffs.

She stood with her back to the door, her long, black hair cascading down to her waist. She held a wooden comb in her hand, slowly combing her hair, the "shush-shush" sound the comb making as it brushed against her hair. The slow, deliberate motion was unsettling.

"Liu Cui?" Li Aiguo asked in a deep voice, his fingers tightening on the gun handle.

The woman didn't stop; she continued combing slowly until the very last stroke. Then, she gently brushed her hair behind her shoulder before slowly turning her head back.

"I've been waiting for you."

The flashlight beam shone directly on her face, and Li Aiguo's scalp tingled instantly, making him forget to breathe.

Imagine you're watching a heartwarming period drama, and suddenly a strange, eerie clown's face appears on the screen. How would that feel?
Indeed, the woman's face was painted deathly pale, but it didn't look like white makeup; rather, it had a bluish tinge.

What's most frightening is her mouth; her teeth are painted black, and when she opens and closes her mouth, it looks like a dark hole, and even her breath smells of paint.

Several team members had seen blood before, and they were so shocked that their hair stood on end; two of them even raised their pistols.

"Don't worry, she's alive!" Li Aiguo immediately stopped them, and the two team members then noticed that the woman's chest was rising and falling, indicating that she was breathing.

While having someone keep an eye on "Liu Cui," Li Aiguo turned on a flashlight. The white paper bulb hanging from the ceiling hissed twice, and the dim yellow light dispelled the darkness in the room.

Li Aiguo walked over and carefully examined "Liu Cui": "What are you wearing on your face? Makeup? You're not that white, are you?"

"I bought the white paint from the paint factory, but I didn't expect the effect to be a bit bad." Liu Cui wasn't afraid at all when facing the gun barrel. Instead, she turned her head to look at herself in the mirror, sniffed, and seemed very dissatisfied with her makeup.

She picked up a brush, dipped it in white paint, and started brushing it onto her face. However, this white paint wasn't a skincare product, and before it was completely dry, it looked bluish, which greatly displeased Liu Cui. She kept brushing it on and on.

"Is this woman crazy?" one of the team members whispered.

He had seen countless Dieters, some who begged for mercy after being captured, some who tried to slip through the net, and some who were prepared to fight to the death. He had never seen one so bizarre.

"She's not crazy, she just doesn't want to live anymore."

Li Aiguo scrutinized Liu Cui for a moment, then pulled up a chair and sat down in front of her: "You can buy white foundation from Xiaobenzi in Hong Kong. That stuff makes your face look especially white."

"I know it's a pity that it can't be bought in China."

“I can buy it.”

Liu Cui stopped writing with her brush, looked up at Li Aiguo in a daze: "You're willing to help me?"

"What do you think?" Li Aiguo didn't answer her, but asked instead.

Liu Cui put down her brush, leaned back in her chair, and said with a wry smile, "You came here because of Lu Shichang, right? I knew something had happened to him today because he didn't deliver the film on time."

"So, you sent Lu Shichang?"

"The white foundation you promised me?"

“I promise I’ll get it for you before you die,” Li Aiguo replied directly.

That stuff isn't exactly rare in Hong Kong; we can just have someone send some over.

“You’re an honest person.” Liu Cui picked up a cigarette case from the table and waved it at Li Aiguo.

Li Aiguo nodded. Liu Cui took out a cigarette, lit it herself, took a deep drag, and then said, "I've been looking forward to this day for a long time."

Li Aiguo did not respond, but simply gestured for one of his teammates to open their notebooks and take notes.

"Guess who I am?" Liu Cui didn't continue speaking, but instead asked Li Aiguo.

"Little notebook."

Upon hearing this, the team members were stunned.

They reviewed Liu Cui's file. She was a native of Beijing who married an opium addict at the age of eighteen. The opium addict sold her to the Eight Great Hutongs.

How did it turn into a notebook?

To their surprise, Liu Cui not only didn't refute them, but instead asked curiously, "How did you guess?"

"These white paints are quite nice. If I'm not mistaken, you're putting on geisha makeup, aren't you?"

And your teeth, painted all black, that's something geishas do too.

Liu Cui was clearly stunned: "But I'm not a geisha."

Li Aiguo stood up and looked down at Liu Cui: "You are indeed not a geisha, but becoming a geisha is the dream of every Japanese woman. Japanese women will put on geisha makeup when they get married. Combined with your kimono, it all becomes obvious."

Liu Cui fell silent.

In the dim light, only the flickering glow of the cigarette butt could be seen.

The team members exchanged glances, all seeing amazement in each other's eyes; the train driver had actually guessed Liu Cui's identity.

Cigarette butts always burn out eventually. Liu Cui threw away the cigarette butt and sighed, "That's right, I did come from the notebook."

That was over a decade ago. I had just turned eighteen and had a childhood sweetheart fiancé. If it weren't for the war, we would definitely be married by now, with a bunch of children.

Perhaps knowing she had nowhere to escape, Liu Cui made no attempt to hide anything, lit another cigarette, and told everyone what had happened.

Liu Cui's original name was Inoue Chiyoko. She was born on Rebun Rishiri Island, located at the northernmost point of Hokkaido. Although life there was simple and frugal, it was free from much trouble.

After the outbreak of war, her fiancé, Inoue Seiichi, suddenly postponed their wedding and enthusiastically joined the ranks, becoming a lieutenant in the Japanese army.

Before parting, Inoue Seiichi said that he would make great achievements and provide a good life for Inoue Chiyoko, and then he was never heard from again.

Chiyoko Inoue wrote to her fiancé's team several times but received no response. Instead, she was invited to join the "National Defense Wives Association".

This is a women's organization established specifically to encourage those Japanese devils and give them the opportunity to go here.

Chiyoko Inoue joined the "National Defense Wives Association" with high hopes, and because of her good looks, she successfully obtained the opportunity to go there.

She had thought she would finally see her fiancé, but instead received devastating news: her fiancé, who had always vowed to achieve great things, had died in the war, and his body had never been found.

Chiyoko Inoue was utterly despondent and asked to return to her peaceful life.

But at this point, she had no choice.

“I was chosen by the Bamboo Bureau, and they put me to serve.”

Her fingers curled up, and she only snapped back to reality when the cigarette butt burned her palm: "What can a woman like me do?"

“Kagesa from the Bamboo Agency told me that it is precisely because I am a woman that I am suited to do this kind of work. I am doing my duty to Tenkai and fulfilling Inoue Seiichi’s last wish.”

"After much hesitation, I agreed and stayed here, receiving language instruction while learning how to eavesdrop."

"I've always been curious about what my future missions will be like, whether I'll be carrying out all sorts of difficult tasks like those people in the Special Higher Police."

"Until one day, Yingzuo brought over a brothel madam from the Eight Great Hutongs... The cheap smell of rouge on that woman mixed with the salty smell of the sea breeze from my hometown, making me nauseous all night."

Upon hearing this, the team member taking notes paused, and a drop of ink smudged on the interrogation record paper.

The team members' expressions changed slightly. They had all experienced that era and knew the ruthlessness of the Japanese devils, but they never expected that the Japanese devils would be so beastly towards their own people.

"Have you been helping the Japanese spy on intelligence in the Eight Great Hutongs all these years?" Li Aiguo asked calmly.

Liu Cui—no, she should now be called Inoue Chiyoko—nodded with a wry smile.
"The guests in the Eight Great Hutongs came from all walks of life, including rickshaw pullers and warlords. When these people got drunk, they inevitably revealed some secrets."

I held out there for several years until they surrendered. I contacted Kagesa and planned to return to my hometown and forget everything that had happened there.

But to my surprise, Kagesa ordered me to stay here and continue gathering information.

"You're still willing? Haven't you seen the true colors of those beasts?" one of the team members couldn't help but ask.

“What can I do? Kagesa threatened me that if I escape, he will tell my hometown everything I’ve done over the years and send people to kill my few remaining relatives.”

Chiyoko Inoue paused for a moment at this point, then said slowly:
"Actually, I'm quite grateful to you. If you hadn't banned the Eight Great Hutongs, I might still be suffering now."

Li Aiguo continued, "So you later started doing business behind closed doors to gather information. What's the deal with Lu Shichang?"

"Six months ago, I suddenly received a telegram from over there. Kagesa wanted to send people here to carry out a mission and asked me to cooperate. I was terrified at the time, worried that I would be discovered, and asked Kagesa to cancel the mission, but Kagesa wouldn't listen."

Inoue Chiyoko said with a wry smile, "The person sent this time is Lu Shichang. He is also a member of the Bamboo Agency, similar to me. He was left here after surrendering over there."

"So, Yingzuo's purpose in planning this mission is very clear: to obtain the blueprints for the motorcycle engine?" Upon hearing this, Li Aiguo frowned.

Six months ago, the prototype of the mountain motorcycle had just been manufactured. How did the Japanese get the news?
No, it should be why the Japanese value mountain bikes, since they come up with many new products every year.

“I don’t know. I’m just a pawn. Kagesa won’t tell me the reason.” Inoue Chiyoko shook her head.

"Where is that telegram?"

"It's already burned."

Although they didn't get the telegram, the team still found some clues after searching the house.

An old-fashioned telegraph machine, two pistols, dozens of bullets, and a team member even found several kimonos in the box, which looked like they were sewn by Inoue Chiyoko herself.

The most important one is the travel permit that Lu Shichang used when he first came to Beijing.

By this time, a large crowd had gathered outside, and the residents were pointing and whispering about the house.

Li Aiguo stood up and looked at Inoue Chiyoko: "Please come with us."

Chiyoko Inoue raised her head and looked at Li Aiguo, pleading, "Can't you just give me a quick death? All I want now is to go down and keep Inoue company."

"Don't you need white foundation anymore?"

Worried that Inoue Chiyoko's appearance might frighten people, Li Aiguo found a burlap sack and put it over her head.

(End of this chapter)