Spy wars start with lurking Secretary Hong

Chapter 494 Let's take a look, is it real or fake?
late at night.

Zhou Yi returned home reeking of alcohol, his steps unsteady.

Gu Qiuyan quickly stood up from the sofa in the living room to greet him, helped him up, and took off her coat and boots.

"Why did you drink so much?"

Zhou Yi waved his hand to indicate that he was fine, and glanced at Liu Ma's room downstairs.

Gu Qiuyan said softly, "Aunt Liu has already gone to sleep."

Zhou Yi then sat down on the sofa, his whole body trembling slightly uncontrollably, the chill brought on by his old illness seeping out from his bone marrow.

Seeing that his expression was not right, Gu Qiuyan quickly turned around and went to the kitchen to bring out the ginger tea that had been warmed up. She also quickly brought out a basin of hot water, intending to squat down and serve him.

Zhou Yi quickly stopped him: "You're pregnant, don't squat and hurt the baby."

He took off his socks and soaked his cold feet in the basin.

As the warm steam rose, Zhou Yi's expression softened slightly.

He held the ginger tea, watching the rising steam, and asked, "Didn't you have a classmate named Liu Ping in college?"

"She also trained with you at intelligence headquarters."

Liu Ping?

Gu Qiuyan was massaging his shoulders when she stopped, pondered for a moment, and then a look of surprise appeared on her face.

"Yes, she was also my roommate, and we got along very well."

“When Pingru and I were dating…when she came to visit me in Moscow, it was Liu Ping who offered to give up her dorm room for us.”

Zhou Yi's gaze darkened: "So, you two have a very good relationship? She knows everything about you, and has even met Zhang Pingru?"

"Yes." Gu Qiuyan nodded.

She suddenly realized something, and the color drained from her face instantly, her voice filled with undisguised panic:
"She...she wouldn't have come to Harbin to identify me, would she?"

"Then wouldn't I..."

Zhou Yi took a sip of the piping hot ginger tea, which warmed his throat considerably.

He said in a deep voice, "This woman betrayed the underground organization in Beiping and defected to the Military Intelligence Bureau. She was captured by the Japanese and is now very likely in Gao Bin's hands."

Gu Qiuyan swayed, feeling dizzy.

"She knows a lot about me; she's met Pingru..."

"Don't be afraid."

Zhou Yi put down his teacup, his voice remaining calm.

"What I'm worried about now is that Gao Bin will ask you to confront him."

“Remember this: you can admit that Liu Ping is your classmate, and you can even admit that you had a boyfriend from Harbin when you were in Moscow.”

He took a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Gu Qiuyan.

"Here is that person's information. Take a quick look."

"His name is Zhang Chengxiang."

“If Gao Bin asks, just say that the man was involved in reselling goods in Harbin and has been executed by the Japanese.”

“His whole family was executed, and he had a very messy private life. He also had frequent dealings with people in Fengtian. Even if Gao Bin sent people to investigate, they wouldn’t find anything useful.”

"Moreover, he looks somewhat like the Zhang Pingru brothers, so there shouldn't be any major problems."

"Apart from these two points, you should not admit anything else."

"If she insists on identifying you, just cry and say your stomach hurts."

Zhou Yi stared at her and instructed her word by word: "Remember, in front of a cunning fox like Gao Bin, you must not say too much. The more you say, the more mistakes you will make."

Gu Qiuyan pursed her lips tightly and nodded vigorously: "I understand."

"do not be afraid."

Zhou Yi reached out and gently patted her shoulder:

Even if Gao Bin doesn't care about you, he still has to care about the baby in your belly.

"Now, in his eyes, that is the only offspring of the Gao family."

Gu Qiuyan nodded again, a hint of composure returning to her eyes: "Mm."

……

The next day.

As dawn broke, Gao Bin got up especially early.

Hong Zhiyou had just stepped out of the gate with a yawn when he saw his uncle's black sedan parked on the side of the road. The window was rolled down, and Gao Bin's expressionless face was looking at him.

Hong Zhi knew exactly what was going on and quickly walked over.

The driver, Xiao Jin, wisely got out of the car.

Hong Zhiyou opened the car door and got into the driver's seat, then stepped on the gas and the car slowly started moving.

With no outsiders around, Gao Bin got straight to the point with a stern face: "Your aunt saw everything at the hospital."

"Hey kid, tell me straight today, did you get together with Gu Qiuyan before Captain Zhou was transferred back?"

Hong Zhi nodded, somewhat embarrassed: "Yes."

He had anticipated this, and his explanation was flawless.

"When I came back from Shanghai, I went to Fengtian at the request of a friend to bring some things to the Gu family."

"That's when I met her, and then...and that's how we started dating."

"How could I have just gotten back? I had no idea she was Zhou Yi's wife. I thought she was a recent college graduate. What a mess this is."

Gao Bin listened intently, his eyes fixed on him, and pressed for an answer: "That child..."

Hong Zhiyou subtly revealed a hint of difficulty and uncertainty, and he sighed, "Judging from the month, it seems... it seems somewhat possible."

Gao Bin also sighed, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his temples.

“Zhou Yi is no good person. There are quite a few people who know about this now, and there are rumors going around. He will hear about it sooner or later.”

Hong Zhi lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and his tone hardened:

"If that day ever comes, Qiu Yan and I have already discussed it and decided to confront him directly."

"If he wants to fight to the death, I won't be afraid of him."

"The child must be saved."

These words were exactly what Gao Bin wanted to hear.

He nodded, a hint of approval on his face: "Well, let's leave it at that for now and see how it goes."

"But you're right, the child comes first. No matter what grudges adults have, they should not hurt the child."

Hong Zhi couldn't help but laugh: "Uncle, aren't you being too biased?"
"Two months ago, you said I was number one, but now that the baby isn't even born yet, the baby is the most important thing?"

Gao Bin glanced at him and sneered, "You brought this on yourself. Tell that Gu Qiuyan to keep her snacks to herself and not to mess up the baby."

"Otherwise, don't blame me for turning my back on you!"

……

Jihong Bridge, an old-fashioned small Western-style building.

After Zhou Yi finished his breakfast, Gu Qiuyan saw him off to the courtyard gate as usual.

"Listen carefully to the phone; they might call you to the police station today," he whispered to Gu Qiuyan.

"Mm." Gu Qiuyan nodded.

"Don't be afraid, I'm leaving."

Zhou Yi grabbed his briefcase, got into his car, and headed straight for the police station.

……

Police Department.

Gao Bin immediately ordered Liu Ping to be taken from the detention room to the interrogation room, as he wanted to interrogate her personally.

The interrogation room was cold and damp, with bloodstained whips hanging on the walls.

Liu Ping was brought in by two policemen and forced to sit in a chair. She was so frightened that she was trembling all over.

Gao Bin did not begin the interrogation immediately, but instead handed a lunchbox and placed it on the table in front of Liu Ping.

"Pan-fried dumplings, still hot."

He opened the lunchbox, and the aroma of meat and noodles instantly filled the air.

"Let's eat first and then talk."

Having been starving all night, Liu Ping no longer cared about being scared. She grabbed the fried dumplings and stuffed them into her mouth, wolfing them down until she almost choked.

Gao Bin watched her finish eating quietly, then offered her a cigarette.

Liu Ping shook her head; she didn't smoke.

Gao Bin then slowly got to the point. He took a photo out of his pocket and pushed it in front of Liu Ping: "Do you recognize the person in the photo?"

Liu Ping glanced at it and immediately nodded: "I know her, Xu Qingqing, my former college classmate."

"very good."

Gao Bin nodded, leaning slightly forward, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's.

"I know you received training at the Soviet Red Army intelligence headquarters. So, does this Xu Qingqing have that training?"

Liu Ping's heart clenched, and her breath caught in her throat for half a second.

She hesitated.

As a defector from the Kuomintang secret service, she had seen her share of storms.

She knew perfectly well that every word she uttered next could determine her life or death.

In the prison in Beiping, the whispered messages from the jailers battled through her mind.

Some things she could say, others she could shut up.

Some offered her money, others threatened her life.

Liu Ping stared intently at the man in front of her, the head of the secret service of the Harbin Police Department, completely unable to guess what he wanted to hear.

Gao Bin noticed her fear and hesitation, and he smiled, softening his tone.

"Don't be afraid, in Harbin, what I say still counts."

"As long as you answer my questions honestly, I promise you that I can let you return to Beiping safely."

Immediately, Liu Ping's mind flashed back to the words the policeman had relayed the previous night, Cao Zhiqing's promises, money, and the promise of fleeing far away...

She steeled her heart, gritted her teeth, and decided to go all out.

"Yes."

She raised her head and looked directly at Gao Bin.

"Xu Qingqing is my classmate. She is the best telegraph operator in our batch."

Her number is 0326.

"We went to St. Petersburg in August, yes, in the summer."

"After graduation, we returned to China together. She was sent back to Fengtian and assigned to the Manchurian Provincial Committee."

"I returned to the Beiping Transportation Station, and later... later I followed my husband and surrendered to the Military Intelligence Bureau."

Gao Bin's smile deepened. He stood up, slowly walked to Liu Ping's side, leaned down, and whispered in her ear:

"I can tell you with certainty that the Xu Qingqing you mentioned is now called Gu Qiuyan."

"Her man is Zhou Yi, the captain of the action team of the Special Operations Section of our police department, second only to me in rank."

Boom.

It felt like a bomb had exploded in Liu Ping's head, and her face turned deathly pale instantly.

She never imagined that her former classmate would become the wife of the second-in-command of the Special Affairs Department!

Gao Bin straightened up, the smile on his face gone, replaced by a cold scrutiny:

"I believe what you're saying is true. But I hope you can provide evidence."

“You need to understand that the police department is a place that values ​​evidence. Your memoirs alone cannot prove anything.”

Liu Ping panicked completely and hurriedly said, "Section Chief Gao, everything I said is true! Every word is true!"

"Let's talk about the evidence."

He returned to the interrogation table, interlaced his fingers, and leaned slightly forward, exerting invisible pressure on Liu Ping.
"In Moscow, can anyone prove that you and Xu Qingqing, also known as Gu Qiuyan, participated in intelligence training together?"

Liu Ping shook her head, a troubled look on her face:
"The Soviet intelligence organization was very cautious. We were trained in secret, and not many people had seen us."

She racked her brains, and suddenly her eyes lit up.

"However, Professor Mosileschi, the school's vice dean, can attest to this!"
“He knows us; we once asked him for a long leave together.”

A barely perceptible sneer appeared on Gao Bin's lips.

Mosileschi?
That drunkard?

Someone who, given enough vodka, can portray Stalin as a worthless piece of trash, like your father.

"Is there anyone else?" Gao Bin asked with a hint of mockery.

Liu Ping was taken aback by his question. After thinking about it carefully for a long time, she still shook her head.

"The other classmates are either foreigners or people I don't know well and aren't close to, so I can't really say who they are."

Looking at Gao Bin's expressionless face, she grew increasingly panicked, fearing that she wasn't important enough and would be treated as useless trash.

In desperation, she thought of another crucial point.

"correct!
"I've met Gu Qiuyan's boyfriend! I can draw what he looks like!"

Gao Bin raised an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued.

He called out towards the door, and soon a guard brought him paper and pen.

Liu Ping took the pen and quickly sketched on the rough paper.

It's clear that she has a certain level of painting skills.

Before long, the outline of a young man appeared on the paper, with clear eyebrows and eyes and a vivid expression.

Gao Bin picked up the portrait and examined it carefully.

The man in the portrait has delicate features, but his eyes reveal a stubbornness and drive.

He felt that the face looked familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before, perhaps in a photo in a case file, or perhaps on a wanted poster.

But for a moment, I just couldn't remember.

He put down the portrait, looked up at Liu Ping, and asked, "Is there any other evidence?"

Liu Ping shrugged, pointed to herself, and said with a hint of resolute determination:

"there is none left.

"Section Chief Gao, aren't I a witness? I'm the best evidence!"

“Very good.” Gao Bin nodded, a mysterious smile on his face.

"You are very smart."

He stood up, paced a couple of steps, then stopped and looked at Liu Ping.

“Alright, I’ll bring Gu Qiuyan, no, Xu Qingqing here, and the two of you can face each other one-on-one.”

Liu Ping immediately straightened her back, her eyes filled with confidence: "Of course, no problem!"

"it is good."

Gao Bin nodded in satisfaction.

"You can rest here for a while."

He walked to the door, then turned back, as if to kindly remind him.

"Let me remind you again, Xu Qingqing is now Captain Zhou's wife."

"Tell the truth about everything. Don't make up any baseless accusations, or you'll get yourself into big trouble."

Liu Ping nodded quickly: "I understand, I understand."

Watching Gao Bin's figure disappear outside the door and the iron gate close again, a deep sense of confusion flashed in Liu Ping's eyes.

She found herself completely unable to understand this man.

This head of the Harbin Police Department was even more cunning and unpredictable than Chief Qiao of the Beiping Military Intelligence Station.

From his eyes and questions, Liu Ping could clearly sense that he wanted to prove that Xu Qingqing was the red ticket.

Yet, the tone of some of his words subtly revealed a contradiction: he didn't want to see this outcome.

What a strange man.

……

Ten o'clock in the morning.

Police Department Special Affairs Division, Chief's Office.

After finishing several urgent official tasks, Gao Bin leisurely pressed the alarm bell under the table.

Xiao Li pushed the door open and came in.

Gao Bin instructed, "Go and call Captain Zhou over."

Soon, Zhou Yi walked in. He stood straight, his expression as calm as ever.

"Section Chief, you're looking for me."

Gao Bin pointed to the sofa opposite him, a relaxed smile on his face.

"Sit, sit."

"Oh dear, Zhiyou has had so many troubles lately, you must be exhausted."

He pointed to Zhou Yi's sideburns.

"Look at your gray hair, you should dye it."

Zhou Yi sat down as instructed, raised his hand to touch his graying temples, and smiled as well:
"Yes, last time I accompanied Qiuyan to Harbin Institute of Technology, people thought I was Qiuyan's father."

Gao Bin sighed, leaned back in his chair, and spoke as if making casual conversation:
"Yes, everyone has aged very quickly in the past two years."

"I have the same problem, high blood pressure, fatty liver, a whole host of illnesses."

He picked up his pipe and filled it with tobacco: "I've already made a promise with Zhiyou that once I have my grandson, I'll retire and go home to take care of his child."

Zhou Yi's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes flickered slightly: "Then it will be soon."

"Here comes Master Xu. With his physique from running in the mountains, he looks like he'll be able to have children. He'll definitely give you a big, healthy son."

Gao Bin looked at him and chuckled dryly twice.

"Yes, it will be soon, it will be soon."

He lit his pipe, took a deep drag, and the atmosphere in the office seemed to become heavy.

He placed his pipe on the ashtray, his tone softening somewhat:
"How is Qiu Yan...?"

Zhou Yi replied, "It's alright, but he's a bit restless. He's always acting like an immature child, always thinking about going out to play."

"Captain Zhou."

Gao Bin suddenly changed his form of address, and his expression became serious:

"Well, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

Zhou Yi immediately sat up straight, his face showing just the right amount of respect: "Section Chief, you're too kind. Please don't hesitate to ask if you need anything."

Gao Bin pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke:
"The North China intelligence agency recently arrested a female Kuomintang agent named Liu Ping."

"According to this woman, she has a classmate named Xu Qingqing, who is... your wife, Gu Qiuyan."

"She said that Gu Qiuyan had received training with her at the intelligence headquarters of the Soviet Red Army and was very likely a member of the Red Ticket."

Zhou Yi's expression changed instantly, and his brows furrowed tightly.

Seeing this, Gao Bin quickly waved his hand and reassured her, "Of course, of course, we were just talking about a possibility."

"Shan Ming, the head of the Special Higher Police Department in Harbin, takes this matter very seriously."

"His idea is to invite Qiu Yan over so she can meet with Liu Ping in person and see if there's any misunderstanding."

Gao Bin spoke in a gentle tone, as if he were discussing something.

But those sharp eyes held an unquestionable command.

Zhou Yi's brows furrowed even deeper.

He remained silent for a few seconds before speaking, "Since it is Section Chief Shanming's wish, I will naturally comply."

"only……"

He looked troubled.

"Qiuyan is timid, and now she's pregnant. I'm afraid she'll be frightened and it will affect the baby."

"How about changing places?"

"No need to change locations," Gao Bin interrupted him directly, picking up his pipe again.

"Who in our line of work isn't covered in blood?"
"Their wives will have to get used to it sooner or later."

"Let's do it in the interrogation room."

Zhou Yi's fist clenched almost imperceptibly on his knee: "Alright then."

He stood up. "I'll go get her right now."

"no need."

Gao Bin called him back again, a shrewd glint in his eyes.

"You just wait here."

"It would be good if you stayed with her during the interrogation, so she wouldn't be scared being a woman all alone."

As he spoke, he called Xiao Li in again and directly instructed, "Have driver Jin go to Captain Zhou's house and bring Mrs. Zhou over."

"Yes."

Xiao Li accepted the order and left.

Only Gao Bin and Zhou Yi remained in the office.

The air seemed to freeze.

A moment later, Gu Qiuyan was taken to the police station.

She was clearly a little flustered, and when she saw Zhou Yi, she quickly walked over.

Zhou Yi briefly explained the situation to her, telling her not to be afraid and to cooperate with Section Chief Gao's investigation.

Gu Qiuyan's face was filled with displeasure and grievance.

Gao Bin, however, was not going to tolerate her delicate manner. He stood up and walked silently toward the interrogation room.

Zhou Yi took Gu Qiuyan's cold hand and followed.

Stepping into that cold, damp interrogation room, a strong smell of blood and mildew hit you.

The various instruments of torture hanging on the wall gleamed with a chilling light under the dim lamplight.

Gu Qiuyan was so frightened that she trembled all over, her face turned pale, and she instinctively hid behind Zhou Yi.

Her gaze swept around the interrogation room and quickly landed on the woman in the chair.

She pretended to be curious as she looked at the other person, her eyes filled with unfamiliarity and inquiry.

Liu Ping also saw her.

She brushed aside her messy hair, revealing a haggard but still pretty face.

She looked at Gu Qiuyan, a complicated smile tugging at the corners of her lips:

"Qingqing, it's been a long time."

……

(End of this chapter)