My spy diary

Chapter 649 Showing Off (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
As night deepened, Zhang Yi watched Zheng Huhe's departing figure and smiled with mixed feelings.

He thought for a moment, then took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and smoked three or four at once, biting them between his lips. The lighter clicked and ignited a pale blue flame. He lowered his head and took a deep drag, the smoke rushing into his lungs and slowly escaping with the humid air.

The firelight flickered in the darkness until he was soaked in the acrid smell of smoke, then he tightened his clothes and headed home.

Shen Ruozhu was indeed still awake. Seeing him come in, she asked:
"Who was that just now?"

Zhang Yi said sullenly, "He's just a gift-giver; I don't know how he found his way here. Aren't you going to sleep?"

"I was going to sleep right away. Why were you gone for so long?"

Zhang Yi realized she was suspicious of the matter, so he replied evasively, "I smoked a few cigarettes at the door and was thinking about something."

After saying that, he plopped down on the sofa.

Shen Ruozhu sensed his perfunctory attitude and felt quite uncomfortable. She caught a whiff of the strong smell of cigarettes on him and glanced at him.
"How many cigarettes have you smoked?"

"Just a few pieces, and the smell is so strong?"

"I hate it when people smoke," she said coldly, then turned and went into the bedroom without looking back. Zhang Yi smiled sullenly, continued drinking water and reading the newspaper, thinking that it was time to give this woman some serious work, since people tend to overthink when they're idle.

Silent all night.

As soon as it was light, Zhang Yi took Monkey's car and headed to the Military Intelligence Bureau's rural office at the silk reeling factory, about 20 miles outside the mountain city.

In the spring of the year before last, in order to avoid Japanese bombing, the Military Intelligence Bureau, under the name of the "Military Commission Battlefield Service Corps", requisitioned houses in the Wulingguan and Ciqikou area at the foot of Gele Mountain and set up an office there.

Later, two luxurious Western-style bungalows were built on Yangjiashan next door as the general office of the rural office, one of which was Dai Chunfeng's mansion.

The infamous Bai Mansion was built on the mountainside of Yangjiashan and was named after Bai Ju, the former commander of the Sichuan Army.

This area boasts a beautiful and tranquil environment with pleasant scenery, featuring mountain streams, waterfalls, rocky cliffs, and winding paths, all possessing natural charm.

Although the scenery is beautiful, it is not as spacious as the office area of ​​Luojiawan, which covers about 200 acres.

Therefore, the Military Intelligence Bureau used its privileges to continuously expand its territory, forcibly seizing and purchasing large tracts of land in nearby Songlinpo, Zhongjiashan, Yujiayuanzi, Zhazidong and other places.

The car reached Yangjiashan, where the road became rugged, winding its way up the mountain. Zhang Yi drifted off to sleep amidst the swaying and rocking.

A few gunshots could be faintly heard in the distant sky, startling a large flock of birds roosting in the mountains into taking flight.

Zhang Yi was a light sleeper. When he opened his eyes, he was greeted by a breathtaking view of lush greenery outside the window. The roadside was lined with dense, large pine trees and red plum blossoms, verdant and fragrant. Mountain streams gurgled and waterfalls cascaded down, birds sang and cicadas chirped—it was as if he had entered another world.

But after driving a short distance, the scenery changed dramatically. In the once beautiful and quiet woods, a camouflaged bunker appeared, exuding a chilling atmosphere.

Further ahead lies the Bai Mansion, a two-story building with three visible floors and six hidden floors, featuring a small courtyard nestled deep within the lush forest.

It looks like a traditional courtyard house from the outside.

The four large characters "Xiangshan Villa" are carved above the gate, and there is a couplet on both sides of the gate.

"The scenery of Luoshe is a place for casual conversation, and the clouds over Bashan can be seen in the distance."

The entrance is a tall and imposing black wrought iron gate with intricate carvings, flanked by several armed guards.

Zhang Yi came here to see Wang Xinheng, the head of the Party and Government Intelligence Department, but after contacting the guard at the gate by phone, his secretary informed him that Wang Xinheng had already gone to the Dai Mansion in Yangjiashan. He had hoped to take the opportunity of visiting Wang Xinheng to explore the interior of the Bai Mansion, but after receiving this answer, he had no choice but to go back.

Upon arriving at the silk reeling factory's office, just as they stepped across the courtyard, Mao Zhongxin, looking smug, came out carrying documents, and their eyes met unexpectedly.

Zhang Yi did not stop, as if he didn't see it, and walked directly to his office.

"Deputy Director Zhang!"

Mao Zhongxin smiled brightly and stuck to Zhang like a leech. "Deputy Director Zhang, by order of Director Mao, I will be your secretary in Room A. From now on, you can leave all the miscellaneous tasks to me. Don't treat me like an outsider; you can tell me anything!"

Zhang Yi showed no reaction to Mao Zhongxin's flattery. He took the two boxes of tea from the monkey and walked forward without looking to the side.

Upon seeing the tea leaves, Mao Zhongxin continued to try and ingratiate himself with conversation:

“Deputy Director Zhang also likes Biluochun tea. I happen to have a few boxes of new tea. I’ll bring you a box to try later.”

Zhang Yi snorted, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Just as he reached the office door, he raised his chin:
"Open the door!"

Mao Zhongxin quickly took out his key and opened the door: "Deputy Director Zhang, please. There are three keys in total. I will bring them to you in a moment." Zhang Yi stepped in and slammed the door shut, almost bumping into Mao Zhongxin's nose.

Mao Zhongxin's face immediately turned as red as a pig's liver. He boasted that he was a rising star of the "Jiangshan Gang" and used Dai Chunfeng and Mao Qiwu's names as "protective charms". He was unruly in the Military Intelligence Bureau and treated everyone except Dai, Mao and a few senior section chiefs. He had never suffered such a great grievance.
However, thinking of Mao Qiwu's sinister and fierce face, and the task he had been given, he had no choice but to suppress his anger and respectfully say through the door, "Deputy Director Zhang."

Before he could finish speaking, the door opened.

Zhang Yi looked at him coldly: "Is there anything else?"

Mao Zhongxin said cautiously, "Here are a few urgent documents delivered by field staff. Please have Deputy Director Zhang handle them immediately so that I can send them to Director Mao for review and then submit them to Mr. Dai for a decision."

"Urgent?" Zhang Yi looked puzzled, took the so-called urgent document, glanced at it a few times, and then handed it back to him.
"I thought it was something big. This is such a trivial matter. The field director can handle it, and if that doesn't work, there's the section chief. Do you think I have nothing better to do?"

His tone was so contemptuous that Mao Zhongxin was stunned for several seconds.

"Deputy Director Zhang, since the report has already been submitted, shouldn't we issue a reply and a receipt?"

"Are you teaching me what to do?"

"This subordinate wouldn't dare!" "I see you have quite the nerve." Zhang Yi's face darkened. "Secretary Mao, don't you know you should salute and address your superiors with humility?"

Mao Zhongxin was somewhat stunned, not knowing what Zhang Yi was planning to do. After a moment of hesitation, he realized what was happening and quickly stood up and saluted.
"Mao Zhongxin, the confidential secretary of Room A, greets the superior."

"Loose and sloppy, awful, what kind of look is this? Didn't you learn how to salute?"

"Your subordinate."

"What subordinate? You should call yourself 'this humble servant,' hmph!" Zhang Yi pulled over a chair and sat down, crossing his legs arrogantly. "Alright, I'll have Monkey demonstrate for you, so you can see what a proper salute is, what a soldier should look like! Monkey!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the monkey stepped forward. He stood still, feet together, his posture as upright as a pine tree, chin slightly tucked in, his gaze firm and unwavering. His right arm rose swiftly in a perfect arc, fingers together and straight, fingertips precisely touching his brow bone, wrist taut and in line with his forearm, elbow hanging naturally at his side, without the slightest deviation.

The entire movement was clean, crisp, and powerful, without any unnecessary hesitation.

"See that? This is what a soldier should look like: strong and solemn, not like you, just going through the motions. Do you see clearly? Do it again!" Zhang Yi said, standing up and returning the monkey's solemn salute before sitting down again, coldly staring at Mao Zhongxin.

This righteous and serious behavior left Mao Zhongxin completely bewildered.

"What? Do you want me to demonstrate it for you myself?"

"No need. Your subordinate, no, your humble servant," Mao Zhongxin smacked his lips and hesitated for a moment, then said sullenly, "Deputy Director Zhang, I'm just an office clerk, is there any need to be so strict?"

"Oh, if that's your attitude, then the problem is serious!" Zhang Yi snorted coldly and said sternly with a straight face, "The headquarters requires internal staff to prioritize practicality. Although front-line combat is not emphasized, they must have basic military skills and emergency response capabilities."

Requirements included mastery of basic drills and etiquette, impeccable military bearing, adherence to intelligence agency discipline, and a strong sense of organization. Other requirements included basic firearms handling, emergency and self-defense skills, and a basic understanding of military knowledge. Need I say more?

Mao Zhongxin dared not utter a sound.

"Alright. Chairman and Director Dai pay great attention to appearance and demeanor when it comes to personnel matters, placing great importance on appearance, demeanor, and spirit. Director Dai often says that without spirit, there is no order in things, and without discipline, there is no reverence in the heart—he requires his subordinates, whether in office or in the field, to be well-dressed, have a clean face, and stand tall, avoiding any sloppy or listless state. I also dislike people who lack military bearing. Now, get out."

Mao Zhongxin stood still.

Zhang Yi was getting angry: "Get out! Come see me again when you've learned how to salute." He walked up to Mao Zhongxin and looked at him with a chilling gaze. "Go back and copy the internal affairs work guidelines ten times. Hand them in before you leave work. If you can't finish them, go to the personnel department and resign!"

Mao Zhongxin blushed crimson from Zhang Yi's blunt reprimand. He was overwhelmed with a mix of anger, frustration, hatred, and fear. He wanted to jump up and slap Zhang Yi, but dared not. His lips twitched, and he feigned fear.

"Yes, I guarantee that the mission will be accomplished."

"go out!"

Mao Zhongxin turned and left angrily, closing the door respectfully behind him. As the door closed, the hatred on his face could no longer be concealed; his lips turned blue with rage, his whole body trembled, and he silently cursed:
"Damn it, he really is a wolf in sheep's clothing. He became arrogant as soon as he found out. What a piece of trash! Just because he got a few good words from Mr. Dai, he dares to put on airs and act tough in front of me. Look at you! You really think you're something special? Even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner. Bah, you little brat, wait until you lose power one day, and see how I deal with you. I'll make you wish you were dead!"

Mao Zhongxin gritted his teeth and went to find Mao Qiwu. From the moment he entered the Military Intelligence Bureau, his first reaction when encountering difficulties was to seek help from Mao Qiwu, as if Mao Qiwu was not only his uncle and superior, but also his mentor in life.

"Uncle, I don't want to do this anymore. This is too infuriating. If he has the guts, he should go and show off to Boss Dai. Who does he think he is, putting on airs in front of me?"

Mao Qiwu, of course, understood Zhang Yi's purpose; it was a veiled attack, a roundabout way of criticizing. In his view, Zhang Yi's attitude was far too ugly. Did he think that by controlling Mao Zhongxin, he could make him back down? What a joke!
The scheme has already been set up. Qian Xiaosan is monitoring him from the outside, Mao Zhongxin is keeping a close eye on him from the inside, and he himself is secretly hindering him. He is now surrounded by enemies and in a dilemma.

If work can't be carried out, if you can't win people's hearts, and if you have no authority, where will you continue to show your power? Since Zhang Yi thinks this will make him feel better, then let him feel better. As for Mao Zhongxin, getting rid of him won't be any harder than getting rid of a dog.

Seeing his resentful, anxious, and easily angered expression, Mao Qiwu, though despising him from the bottom of his heart, was still his nephew, so he sighed and said:

"Alright, you're giving up already? What's a little hardship? As the sages said, to accomplish great things, one must first endure hardship and toil." You are a Jiangshan native, someone destined for greatness. This ordeal is merely a touchstone on the road to success. Once you get through it, everything will be alright. With that, he spat a mouthful of tea leaves onto the ground. "Go on, keep a close eye on him, find something to hold against him as soon as possible, and get rid of him!"

"Yes." Upon hearing the second half of the sentence, Mao Zhongxin seemed to be injected with chicken blood and perked up again. He hurriedly returned to his small secretary's room next to Zhang Yi's. Before entering, he looked around, then went in, closed the door, and locked it. His movements were light and skillful, much more practiced than saluting.

He then sat down in front of his office, opened a drawer, took out a pair of headphones, put them on, and after a simple adjustment, heard the synchronized sound from Zhang Yi's office.

A "click" sound came from the earpiece, the call was connected, but a series of noisy sounds came through the earpiece.

Then, Zhang Yi's voice came through the earpiece:
"Lieutenant Jia?"

"Deputy Director Zhang, I can tell what's wrong? Is there something you need?" Deputy Officer Jia replied over the phone.

Mao Zhongxin listened intently and carefully.

"When are you free, Director? I have something important to report." Zhang Yi's tone sounded somewhat anxious.

"Deputy Director Zhang, Mr. Dai is busy right now and has instructed that no one should disturb him. Why don't you talk to him later?"

"Alright, that's settled then. Thank you, Brother Jin Nan."

"Why are you being so polite with me? See you later!"

"See you!"

The phone clicked off, and Zhang Yi said to Monkey, "Get the car ready, we're going to find the Director now."

Upon hearing this, Mao Zhongxin hurriedly put away the eavesdropping device, frantically found some tea leaves, and prepared to brew tea. After placing the tea leaves and pouring water, he suddenly paused, a playful smirk appearing on his lips, his eyes filled with disdain and hatred. He then spat into the teacup, poured in boiling water, and quickly carried the teacup out of the room to Zhang Yi's office.

Upon hearing the door open, Mao Zhongxin, who had been standing outside for a while, immediately put on a big smile, feigning surprise.

"Deputy Director Zhang, are you going out?"

As he spoke, he respectfully handed over the teacup, "Director, this is some Biluochun tea that I just brewed. Please have a taste."

(End of this chapter)