My spy diary

Chapter 220 Warmth (asking for monthly ticket)

(The previous chapter was edited and deleted, so I can't edit the typos and grammatical errors. If I edit them, they will be edited again. Sorry!)

It’s freezing cold in Wuhan in winter.

As soon as Zhang Yi came out of the house, he shivered in the cold wind. As soon as the air he exhaled came out, it immediately turned into white mist.

Even though he was wearing a thick woolen coat, a thick woolen hat and leather gloves, he still couldn't block the biting cold wind in the early morning.

The streets and alleys were exceptionally quiet in the early morning, as if people had disappeared and there was very little smoke from cooking.

Zhang Yi finally found a simple noodle stall at the corner of an alley. The gray-haired owner was curled up in a chair in a daze, with steam coming out of a pot on the coal stove next to him.

Zhang Yi walked over and asked, "Boss, do you have noodles?"

The boss smiled bitterly: "Only pickled vegetable noodles."

Looking at the simple appearance of the noodle stall and the hopeful look in the boss's eyes, Zhang Yi nodded and said:
"Have a bowl."

The boss quickly stood up, grabbed two handfuls of noodles and put them into the pot, then prepared a bowl, scooped out a piece of lard, a spoonful of pickles, poured a spoonful of hot soup, and finally took the slippery noodles out of the pot and put them into the bowl.

A bowl of steaming hot pickled vegetable and lard noodles was placed in front of Zhang Yi.

Zhang Yi took a bite and found it tasted good. He asked:
“How’s business now?”

The boss sighed and said, "It's a tough year.
I don’t know what’s going on now, money is getting thinner and thinner. I remember two years ago, 100 yuan could buy a cow, but now I can buy 30 kilograms of noodles in the morning, but at noon, I can’t even buy 20 kilograms. That’s not all, the key is that there are fake coins. Alas, I can’t understand this world anymore.”

Hearing about the counterfeit money, Zhang Yi was startled and asked quickly:

"And counterfeit money?"

He didn't expect that just after he had seen Yamamoto Kenzo in Nanjing, counterfeit money had already appeared in Wuhan.

Once the Japanese spy agencies launch a large amount of counterfeit currency into the Chinese market, especially the Japanese army uses the counterfeit currency to buy large quantities of gasoline, medicines, gunpowder and other scarce wartime materials from some Chinese businessmen who are greedy for money and profit-seeking, the Kuomintang’s military supplies will become more scarce and the prices of scarce materials will skyrocket.

"Is this fake?" The boss angrily took out a crumpled 5-yuan French franc from his pocket.

Zhang Yi took a closer look and couldn't help but laugh: "This 5 yuan legal tender has long been invalidated. Is there anyone who still uses it?"

"Who says it's not? Any reasonable person knows it's fake money. But if someone uses this money to bully you, you don't know where the money came from, and the government doesn't do anything about it."

“Where does your money come from?”

The boss tried to pout, glanced at the grocery store behind him and cursed softly:

"It's this fellow named Qian who bullies me because his son works at the police station."

"Mr. Li, you old fool, stop gossiping behind my back."

Just as the boss finished speaking, he heard the door of the grocery store behind him open with a bang.

A man in a long gown and a mandarin jacket with a bald head, who looked like a shopkeeper, lifted the heavy door curtain and walked out. He was holding toothbrushes and a water cup in his hands. He glanced at the boss and Zhang Yi, then squatted at the door and started brushing his teeth.

Seeing the real culprit appear, the boss shrank back in fear and said nothing more.

Seeing this, the grocery store owner Qian was even more proud. He spit out his mouthwash and spat again, saying shamelessly:
"Who told you that you don't have a good son? Scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans, understand? My son is now on the government payroll, so I'll turn the tables, humph."

As he spoke, he staggered into the grocery store. After a while, the sound of a radio came from the store. A female voice was playing the news from the "Zhong X Daily" in an excited tone:

".After the military court trial, Han Fuqu, who was absent from his post, was executed. The chairman called for it."

After hearing the news, Zhang Yi paused slightly. There is a saying that goes, it doesn't matter if your head is empty, but you must not let water in it.

This Han Fuqu was a stupid man with a brain full of water. As a soldier he didn't even have the basic ethics. When the Japanese army came, he openly disobeyed military orders, gave up the natural barrier of the Yellow River and retreated without a fight, resulting in the loss of most parts of Shandong.

He wanted to learn from Zhang to preserve his strength, but he did not consider the timing. Since the full-scale war of resistance against Japan, even the most rebellious warlords and princes did not dare to openly disobey orders and leave their posts.

In order to make an example of him, Chang held a Hongmen Banquet for him and arrested him in front of hundreds of division commanders. He was escorted to Wuhan and quickly executed.

This man used his head to sacrifice for the Battle of Xuzhou, which was also a token of his loyalty to the anti-Japanese war.

While listening to the news, Zhang Yi finished his noodles and handed a bill to the boss. He stood up and walked into the grocery store. He was ready to meet this guy who "turned the tables", and he turned out to be another guy with water in his brain.

Zhang Yi had never seen anyone dare to spit in front of him. To use the tone that Zhuge Liang used when he scolded Wang Lang, he had never seen anyone so arrogant and domineering.

This guy claims to understand the principles of “scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans”. Hasn’t he heard that “the only thing a Chinese businessman does not need to understand is business, but besides business, he must understand everything else”?
Zhang Yi lifted the door curtain and saw the boss sitting by the stove drinking tea and reading a newspaper. On the counter next to him was a half-old German cat's eye tube radio. If a diode was added to this thing, it could be converted into a radio station. He couldn't help but take a closer look.

Seeing that he was not buying anything but looking around, the boss shook the newspaper, examined his clothes, and asked impatiently:

"What exactly are you buying?"

Zhang Yi was not angry. He leaned against the counter with a smile on his face, took off his felt hat, patted his gloves, and asked:

"Tell me about the counterfeit five-dollar bill."

The shopkeeper squinted his eyes and looked at Zhang Yi a few more times, and said deliberately:

"What do you mean by counterfeit money? Are the ones circulating in the market also counterfeit money? Besides, how could you see that I have counterfeit money? Don't make trouble for no reason, or I'll sue you for disturbing the peace."

"Really?" Zhang Yi smiled and took out a certificate from his pocket and slapped it on the counter:

"Zhang Qiang from Wuhan Police Headquarters."

The shopkeeper's heart skipped a beat and he jumped up from his chair. How did he attract the police? His son had spent a lot of money to get into the police station...

He took the certificate with great trepidation and looked at it carefully for a few times, then bowed repeatedly and said:

"I'm sorry, Officer Zhang. I didn't know you were from the General Administration. Please take a seat. We are all family. I'll make you some tea."

Zhang Yi glanced outside casually, waved his hand to stop them, and said:

"Let's talk about the counterfeit money."

As soon as he finished speaking, a voice came from outside: "Boss, give us each a bowl of pickled vegetable noodles, and remember to add two eggs to each bowl!"

"Two eggs? Oh, I don't have any eggs here."

"You better behave yourself, old man. If you don't have eggs, go buy some. Why are you talking so much nonsense? I've been on duty all night. Don't make things difficult for me."

As we were talking outside, a sharp-nosed and monkey-faced trainee police officer lifted the door curtain and cordially invited us:

"Captain Ma, please come in."

As he invited, he called out:

"Dad, our Captain Ma is here, bring the tea quickly."

Halfway through his words, he noticed Zhang Yi in the room. He walked over suspiciously, glanced at the ID in his boss's hand, and read out: "Zhang Qiang from the Criminal Investigation Department of the Wuhan Police General Bureau."

Captain Ma, who walked in from behind with a cigarette in his mouth and a face full of flesh, quickly put out his cigarette upon hearing this, walked over with an apologetic smile, glanced at the ID and said respectfully to Zhang Yi:

"Why are people from the General Administration here so early? Thank you for your hard work." As he spoke, he suddenly saw the date on Zhang Yi's ID and stared at him questioningly:

"You've only been in the bureau for one day?"

Zhang Yi: “Yes.”

This certificate was actually obtained yesterday when I returned to Wuhan. It is just a way to conceal my identity.

Captain Ma's face changed, he sneered, and in an instant his back straightened up. He snatched the ID and threw it to the police officers who were looking in, saying disdainfully:

"What the hell, you're pretending to be from the General Administration with this ID?"

As he said this, he went to the chair where the shopkeeper had just sat, warmed himself by the fire, and spat out a mouthful of phlegm:

"Pah, did you know that the main entrance to the headquarters opens in that direction when you first entered? You think you're someone important."

A few ugly police officers nearby passed the ID around and started laughing.

At this time, Qian Zhangui handed a cup of hot tea to Captain Ma respectfully, pointed at Zhang Yi and said:

"Boss, this guy looks shady and he's obviously not a good person. I think his ID is fake too."

He lowered his voice and said, "This fellow is still asking about the counterfeit money."

When Captain Ma heard this, he squinted his eyes and looked at Zhang Yi again, and said solemnly:

"Boy, I advise you not to meddle in other people's business. I have confiscated your documents. If you want to get them, let your superior come to me."

Zhang Yi was almost laughing out of anger. He had met too many awesome people today.

But now is not the time to get angry, he decided to play along and see who is the big shot backing Captain Ma and what his relationship is with counterfeit currency.

Zhang Yi pointed to the phone on the table and asked the shopkeeper: "Can I make a call?"

The shopkeeper glanced at Captain Ma and saw that he was smiling contemptuously, so he also laughed and said:

"Of course, we're open for business. It's ten dollars a minute, you can call as much as you want."

"." Zhang Yi took out ten yuan from his pocket and threw it on the table, then picked up the phone: "Gather people immediately."

As he spoke, he glanced at the sign lying on the ground next to the grocery store door and continued, "Qian's Grocery Store."

Seeing Zhang Yi so tough, Captain Ma couldn't help but look at him a few more times and smiled arrogantly: "I'll wait and see who in the General Administration will stand up for you."

He waved his hand and said, "Eat noodles."

Then he led his people out of the grocery store, and there was chaos outside again.

Soldiers are like bandits, bandits are like combs, officials are like razors. Zhang Yi shook his head. Life is really difficult for ordinary bosses these days.

The sun came out, shining brightly, casting a layer of golden light between heaven and earth.

At the noodle stall outside, Captain Ma was eating a bowl of noodles with sweat all over his forehead. A few ugly policemen next to him followed suit, sitting all over the place, making a mess on the ground.

Captain Ma sat with his horse and sword in his arms, basking in the sun, looking majestic.

He was picking up an egg and putting it into his mouth, eating it happily when he suddenly heard the sound of a car brakes. He saw a group of plainclothes officers in black clothes walking towards him, and he couldn't help but feel confused.

At this time, Zhang Yi walked over with a cigarette in his hand, took out a certificate from his pocket, and asked calmly:
"That one doesn't work, how about this one?"

Captain Ma wiped the sweat from his forehead and rubbed his eyes. Just as he saw the words "Secret Service Department", he saw Zhang Yi put away his ID and asked:

"Do you want to make a phone call too?"

"No, no." Captain Ma wiped his mouth with his sleeve in panic, shuddered all over, and saluted quickly:
"Sir."

He wanted to die at this moment, and cursed in his heart, you are obviously a spy, why do you pretend to be a policeman.

Zhang Yi just glanced at him calmly. Monkey waved his hand and asked the plainclothes officers to control all the police officers at the scene, then walked up and saluted:
"Report to the section chief, please give instructions!"

Captain Ma, who was standing next to the "Section Chief", was completely dumbfounded and began to tremble all over. He could never have imagined that this young guy was not only a member of the Secret Service, but also a section chief. This meant he should be at least a lieutenant colonel, right?

If this offended an ordinary spy, he could just talk to him and smooth things over with his brother-in-law, and the matter would be resolved. But now...
Beads of sweat the size of beans kept dripping down his forehead, his eyes rolled around, and suddenly he walked up to a police officer, raised his hand and slapped him in the face, then took out the ID that had just been confiscated from Zhang Yi and handed it over respectfully.

The monkey snorted and took it, watching his performance.

Captain Ma glanced at Zhang Yi secretly and saw that he had no expression on his face and didn't even look at him. He became even more frightened and hurriedly walked up to the escorted Qian and his son, jumped up and started punching and kicking them.

"You are so blind that you dare to offend even the head of the Secret Service. What are you yelling about? Why don't you go make some tea for the head?"

"Hey hey hey" The shopkeeper Qian, who was so arrogant just now, covered his swollen cheek and hurried inside.

After arranging all this, Captain Ma trotted over to Zhang Yi, smiled flatteringly, and asked with trepidation:
"Sir, if there is anything else you can help me with, please let me know. I am willing to help you."

There is a saying that those who flatter their superiors will bully their subordinates, and those who make promises lightly will be taciturn. Zhang Yi looked at him indifferently:
"Captain Ma, let's talk about the counterfeit currency. This is not as simple as disrupting the financial market and destroying the economy. I suspect there are Japanese spies behind this."

Upon hearing the words "Japanese spy", Captain Ma's legs softened and he knelt on the ground, saying with a look of horror:

"Sir, you misunderstood. We don't know any Japanese spies. This money was given to me by my brother-in-law."

"Who is your brother-in-law?"

"My brother-in-law is the deputy chief of the police station, Commander Qian Zhikang. I am willing to take the lead in assisting you in arresting him."

"Really?" Zhang Yi laughed in surprise. It is said that husband and wife are birds of the same forest, but they fly away separately when disaster strikes. This is the first time he has seen his brother-in-law sell out his brother-in-law so easily.

"Yes, sir. That old man found a little girl outside and beat and scolded my sister at every turn. I have wanted to report him for a long time."

"Wait a minute." Zhang Yi interrupted him.

"Do you have anything else?"

"Did you eat noodles without paying?"

"I always pay." Captain Ma quickly took out a stack of money from his pocket, thought for a moment, stuffed the money back, took out a few dollars from his pocket and put them in the hand of the frightened boss, saying:
"I'm sorry for offending you before."

After saying that, he glanced at Zhang Yi, and seeing that the other party did not express his opinion, he took out a stack of money from his other trouser pocket and stuffed it into the boss's hand, then bowed to him.

The white-haired boss was trembling with fear, his face flushed: "This..."

Zhang Yi looked at him and said, "Take it."

Then he pointed at the Qian family father and son and said, "Take them together. Captain Ma, lead the way."

"Yes"

Watching a group of plainclothes officers get on the car and leave, the noodle stall owner had tears in his eyes. He raised his head and looked into the distance. The sunlight shone through the eaves and onto him. At this moment, he felt particularly warm.

(End of this chapter)