Spy wars start with lurking Secretary Hong

Chapter 514 Teaching Wanqiu a Lesson in Life

Ding Mocun was an extremely intelligent man.

Now that things have come to this point and the money has been received, it's time to show off our skills.

He tilted his head back and downed the drink in his glass in one gulp, put the glass down, reached for the phone, dialed the international number, and began speaking fluent Japanese:

"Hello, I am Ding Mocun, the director of No. 76 Shanghai. Please transfer me to Prime Minister Nobuyuki Abe. I have an urgent matter to ask you."

A confirmation tone came from the other end of the phone.

"okay, I get it."

Ding Mocun waited patiently with his legs crossed, his fingertips lightly tapping on the mahogany table. He jokingly said to Hong Zhiyou, "The Japanese are such a pain to deal with. When Dai Li went to see Chiang Kai-shek, it was a matter of minutes."

“It’s alright, once Mr. Wang recovers, you will too,” Hong Zhiyou said with a smile.

After a series of tedious transfers, the call finally went through.

Ding Mocun quickly stood up, bowed, and put on a humble and respectful smile as he asked for instructions into the microphone.

“Your Excellency, I am Ding Mocun.”

"Yes, I am already in Tianjin, and I will be meeting with the Kuomintang representative tomorrow."

"That's right. In order to show our sincerity in persuading them to surrender, I suggest releasing a group of detained Kuomintang agents and some Nationalist Army officers to demonstrate our sincerity."

He paused for a moment, as if listening to the other person's response.

"Yes, we Chinese have always valued politeness and courtesy. We prioritize etiquette and morality, which is beneficial for negotiations."

"Please grant my request, Your Excellency."

"Thank you, sir."

He was about to hang up when he seemed to suddenly remember something.

"Wait, but I see that the Tianjin Navy and intelligence agencies attach great importance to these people. I'm afraid there will be obstacles in promoting them. I would appreciate it if Your Excellency could mediate."

"Okay, okay, it's no problem that Commander Tada Shun is willing to come forward, thank you."

Ding Mocun hung up the phone, and the humility on his face vanished instantly. He walked back to the sofa and sat down with a relaxed expression.

"nailed it."

He picked up the bottle and poured some more wine for Hong Zhiyou.

"Prime Minister Nobuyuki Abe agreed to my plan and released a group of Military Intelligence Bureau personnel."

Ding Mocun casually took a cigar from the cigar box, cut it open with delicate scissors, and handed it to Hong Zhiyou.

Hong Zhi lit up and took a deep drag:
"Old ginger is indeed spicier."

"With Director Ding's help, things that countless people in Jinhai couldn't accomplish were easily achieved."

Ding Mocun crossed his legs and smugly exhaled a puff of smoke:
"In politics, as long as there are interests involved, there's nothing that can't be discussed."

"For the Japanese upper class, if a few Kuomintang agents could be exchanged for Chiang Kai-shek's surrender, it would be a very worthwhile deal."

He flicked the ash from his cigarette.

"Please draft a list for me."

Hong Zhi smiled and said, "It's been prepared for a long time."

He took a folded note out of his briefcase and handed it over.

Among them were several key members of the Military Intelligence Bureau, including Zeng Che, Li Rupeng, and Ding Minchen, who were involved in the anti-Japanese and anti-traitor campaigns.

Of course, he also casually included some of the members who wanted to win over the top votes in the list.

At the end of the list are several Nationalist Army officers who were captured on the battlefield.

Ding Mocun, with a cigar in his mouth, took the note: "You seem to trust me quite a bit, don't you?"

Hong Zhiyou wore a perfectly timed, flattering smile:
"When it comes to networking and networking skills, if you, Director Ding, say you're second, who dares to claim first place in the world today?"

"Saving a few insignificant Kuomintang agents is as simple as dusting them off for you."

Ding Mocun unfolded the note, his gaze sweeping over each line. His brow furrowed slightly, then relaxed, transforming into a meaningful smile.

"I think you've surpassed your teacher."

"Brother, you've earned more than three hundred taels of gold this time, haven't you?"

He pointed to the list with his cigar.

"The people up here are all sons of wealthy and powerful families, true young masters."

"Although I am not in Tianjin, I still know some people there."

"Your brother is not being fair."

Hong Zhiyou's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm: "Director Ding, the others are just Zeng Che's side help."

"In that case, to show my respect for you, senior, I will also present you with my three hundred taels of gold."

Ding Mocun waved his hand and said with a smile:

"No need, it was just a joke."

"In life, the key is to treat everyone equally, give and take, and let things flow like a gentle stream."

Hong Zhi immediately bowed, "Director, your thoughts are so insightful, I admire you greatly."

Ding Mocun gave him a deep look.

"I thought your reputation was a bit undeserved before, but now I see you really are a talent."

He changed the subject.

"How about this, I'll include you in this negotiation with Zhang Qun."

"Anyway, you and Chief Doihara are fellow students, and you are also top students from the Japanese Army Academy. You have enough qualifications and experience."

"You'll have to coordinate with Tada Shun and Shibayama Kenshiro yourself regarding the people on the list. I won't get involved."

"I'll go to the Japanese military office tomorrow to register your identity card and get everything done."

Hong Zhi immediately understood that this guy wanted to find someone to share the responsibility.

He quickly declined with a smile.

"Director, I have to attend a friend's wedding, so I won't participate in this."

Ding Mocun waved his hand, his expression leaving no room for argument.

"Alas, the rise and fall of a nation is the responsibility of every citizen."

"You're still young, it's good for you to gain experience. It's no fun for Lao Pan to fight in that small place like Harbin. It'll be good for him to see the world."

Hong Zhiyou wanted to say something more.

Ding Mocun raised his hand to stop him: "Brother, if you take money, you have to do things. Even a penny is still money."

"These are the rules. If you don't follow the rules, no one will want to play with you in the future."

"That's settled then."

"I have a meeting tomorrow, so I won't keep you."

After Ding Mocun finished speaking, he lazily got up with his wine glass in hand and went straight upstairs.

Damn, you old fox!
These old foxes are really something else; they won't take the slightest loss.

Old Xie is the most professional and reliable.

……

The next afternoon.

Xiao Guohua pushed open the door and walked in, carrying a brown paper document bag in his hand:
"Mr. Hong, Director Ding sent this over."

Hong Zhiyou took it and opened it.

Inside the document bag was a gold-embossed certificate bearing the words "Peace Negotiation Committee," which, when opened, revealed his photograph and the title of "Committee Member."

There was also an official document issued by the Japanese Army Ministry, which was a list of some Nationalist Army prisoners to be released. The bright red seal of the Japanese Army Headquarters in North China was stamped in the lower right corner, which was particularly eye-catching.

After Hong Zhi finished reading, he put the document into his inner pocket and looked up at Xiao Guohua.

"Old Xiao, are you home yet?"
"Everything is alright."

When his family was mentioned, a rare hint of tenderness appeared on Xiao Guohua's usually stern face.

"That's great. Thanks to you, we have enough money at home."

"I'm now afraid that my wife's extravagant spending will give people away and they'll notice something's up. Luckily, she's easy to manage."

Hong Zhi shook his head. "Having money but not daring to spend it is also a problem."

“I was thinking of having someone send her a truckload of rice, but then I realized that there was a food shortage in North China and the Japanese army was controlling the country strictly. It would be a problem for my sister-in-law and her children to eat and live.”

"Staying in Tianjin is not a long-term solution."

Xiao Guohua sighed: "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Hong."

"These days, just being able to survive and having a bowl of coarse rice to eat is good enough; there's no need to be so picky."

Hong Zhi put the documents in his hand on the table and said, "If all else fails, we'll take your sister-in-law and child to Harbin first."

"Putting aside everything else, there's enough meat, rice, cotton, and oil over there, so the children won't lack nutrition."

Xiao Guohua was stunned for a moment, then waved his hands repeatedly.

"This...this can't be done without the stationmaster's permission."

"Besides, I work and get to eat plain rice, while they do nothing and don't work hard. I feel guilty eating this."

Hong Zhiyou frowned:
"madness!
"Conscience and face are the least valuable things. When the Japanese devils were eating rice and stealing women, did they talk about conscience?"

“Even if you don’t eat, my money and the stationmaster’s money will still be taken away by Boss Dai.”

"In this world, good people can't survive."

"If you are not prepared to be a hero and sacrifice yourself."

"Then eat and drink as you please. The most important thing is to keep your family alive and well."

His tone softened somewhat.

"I happen to have plenty of housing in Harbin, so it's no problem to give one to my sister-in-law and her child. As for food, that's even less of an issue."

"If you really feel bad about it, then ask your sister-in-law to help out at the leather goods shop."

"The stationmaster always says that Xiao Jia's cooking is terrible, and that his wife used to be able to improve the stationmaster's life."

"It's her, it's settled then."

What a joke! Duoduo is my future daughter-in-law.

If children don't have a good foundation now, they'll be sickly in the future. How will we raise them then?
Xiao Guohua's eyes reddened, deeply moved by these words, but he still hesitated with his head down:

"The station manager probably won't agree."

“He has always had reservations about my close relationship with you.”

Hong Zhi curled his lip and said disdainfully, "He's just a busybody."

"I've always been fair to everyone, and I haven't shortchanged him."

"You've been spending most of your time with me now, so I'll take care of your affairs from now on. That's settled."

"I'll talk to him about it."

Xiao Guohua clenched his fists tightly, his mind in turmoil.

The thought of his wife and daughter living in danger every day kept him awake at night.

He gritted his teeth and finally made up his mind.

"Alright, then I'll have to trouble you, Mr. Hong."

Hong Zhi patted him on the shoulder:

"Just call me Zhiyou."

There's no need for us to be so polite and distant.

"Moreover, in terms of military rank and position, we are both majors, so there is no superior-subordinate relationship between us. Let's just treat each other as friends and brothers."

Xiao Guohua opened his mouth, the word "good" rolled in his throat several times, but he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Just then, Peng Hu pushed open the door and walked in:
"Young Master Hong, there's a female student outside looking for you named Mu Wanqiu."

Hong Zhiyou's eyes lit up.

I've been so busy lately, I'm really feeling restless.

It's like giving me a pillow when I feel sleepy.

He quickly said to Peng Hu.

"Quickly, call her in."

"Oh well, I'll go greet her myself."

Hong Zhiyou came downstairs and immediately saw the figure outside the door.

She wore a pure white dress, the hem of which swayed gently in the breeze, and her two playful ponytails bounced as she looked around with slight unease, exuding youthful energy.

It was Mu Wanqiu.

Hong Zhiyou stepped forward, feigning a chance encounter: "Miss Mu, are you waiting for someone?"

When Mu Wanqiu saw it was him, her eyes lit up instantly, but then she pretended to be angry and pouted cutely, saying:

"Yes, I'm waiting for a scammer."

"Someone promised to give me a new song last time, but then left without even saying goodbye, leaving me worried for so long." She blinked her clear, watery eyes.

"I thought that since you came to Jinhai, you would at least come to my house for a visit, but I waited and waited and waited and you never showed up."

"Ask my uncle, ask Mrs. Huizi, but they can't explain it either."

"So, I had no choice but to come to them myself."

These words, tinged with a hint of reproach, were gentle yet sweet with youthful tenderness, causing Hong Zhi's heart to flutter. Instantly, he was transported back to his student days, when he wore white shirts and felt the stirrings of first love.

Hong Zhi smiled and said, "Sorry, I've been busy with mundane matters lately."

He gestured for him to proceed.

"Miss Wanqiu, let's talk upstairs."

Mu Wanqiu's pretty face flushed slightly, and she hesitated for a moment, "Should I not bother you?"

Hong Zhiyou's smile was incredibly clear:
"Of course I won't bother you, I'd be more than happy to."

Once upstairs, Xiao Guohua and Peng Hu tactfully withdrew, closing the door behind them.

With no outsiders around, the atmosphere immediately became more relaxed.

Hong Zhi poured her a glass of red wine and chatted with her about literature, movies, and music.

He asked with a smile, "I heard from Xiao Xie that you performed the piano at the school's welcome party? Which piece did you play?"

Mu Wanqiu took a sip and looked at him, saying, "It's 'Starry Night'."

Hong Zhi gazed into her eyes, his tone both elegant and refined:
"The starry sky, hmm, not quite right in the mood."

"This starry sky has long been stained with blood, making it suffocating."

"But I believe that one day, it will become as clear and bright as your eyes, Wanqiu."

Mu Wanqiu's heart felt as if it had been gently tickled by a feather, sending a tingling sensation through her.

Her cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head shyly.
“Mr. Hong, I think you are even more talented than the professors at Beiyang University. You speak so eloquently.”

Hong Zhiyou swirled his wine glass and chuckled, "I wouldn't dare accept that."

Mu Wanqiu raised her head, her eyes filled with admiration and curiosity.

"You can compose incredible music, and you speak elegantly yet in a way that is easy to understand, just like... just like a poet from the future."

Hong Zhi raised an eyebrow. "Why is it from the future?"

Mu Wanqiu tilted her head and thought for a moment.

"I can't quite put my finger on it, maybe...maybe it's that you have a sense of ease and freedom that people of this era don't have."

"It's just a feeling."

Hong Zhi raised his glass and gently tapped it against hers, producing a crisp sound.

"Cheers to freedom."

Mu Wanqiu took an elegant sip, and her already excellent health made her face even more rosy and radiant.

Hong Zhi raised his hand in a gesture of invitation.

"Sit down. It's been a long time since I played. It's a pleasure to have Miss Wanqiu here. I'll play a piece for you."

"Great, I'm all ears." Mu Wanqiu sat down on the sofa excitedly and obediently, her beautiful eyes unable to leave the man.

He was like a god, handsome and radiating a captivating glow.

Hong Zhiyou walked to the piano, slowly lowered his rolled-up shirt sleeves, carefully fastened his cufflinks, and then gently placed his slender fingers on the black and white keys.

As each slow, low note flowed out, Wanqiu's heart tightened instantly.

The melody was filled with sorrow, helplessness, and struggle, as if telling a love story destined to be tragic.

When the song ended, her eyes were already brimming with tears.

"Mr. Hong, what a sad tune."

Hong Zhiyou stood up and walked up to her:

"Yes, it's called Romeo and Juliet."

Mu Wanqiu murmured, "I know, they are a tragic love story in Shakespeare's works."

"To love someone you cannot have is the greatest tragedy in the world."

"The country is destroyed and the family is ruined, this is nothing but a tragedy..." Hong Zhi smiled, slowly leaned down, and whispered in her ear:
"Just like my longing for you, Miss, it lingers in my mind day and night."

Mu Wanqiu was stunned by his sudden confession, and was overwhelmed with joy.

She slowly raised her head and met his affectionate gaze.

Hong Zhi lowered his head.

Wanqiu also tilted her head slightly, her red lips trembling as she went to meet her.

The two kissed each other.

After a long, passionate kiss, Hong Zhi picked her up, kicked open the bedroom door, rushed in, roughly threw her onto the soft bed, and quickly started taking off his clothes.

Wanqiu trembled with nervousness, instinctively wanting to refuse.

But she simply couldn't resist Hong Zhiyou's gentle yet skillful advances.

Soon, she was completely immersed in this ocean of joy.

……

Outside the door, listening to the bursts of laughter and occasional suppressed sobs coming from inside, Xiao Guohua leaned against the wall and couldn't help but sigh.

Peng Hu stood to the side, watching him expressionlessly.

"Old Xiao, what's wrong?"

Xiao Guohua glanced at him. "Didn't you hear me?"

Peng Hu countered, "What did you hear?"

Xiao Guohua was speechless for a moment, then waved his hand.

"Forget it, there's no point in arguing with a brute like you."

He lit a cigarette, turned around, and went downstairs dejectedly.

Mr. Hong is good in every way, except that he is too young and can't control his lower body.

Dealing with Japanese women can be explained as being for business or for personal gain, no doubt about it.

The fact that the female bandit was pregnant had already made the station chief so angry that he hadn't slept well for several nights.

Now they've also gotten involved with the niece of a major traitor.

These women were all beautiful and charming.

Rui Rui is such a clean and well-behaved child. If she really goes with Hong Zhiyou, how will things be arranged in the future?
Xiao Guohua knew that although Rui Rui's figure and appearance were not bad, they were not good enough to make Hong Zhi think about her day and night.

Most likely, he was a victim of Hong Zhiyou's desire to deeply bind himself to the station manager.

Hey!
The thought of Rui Rui, such a wonderful girl, having given her heart away in vain filled Xiao Guohua with inexplicable worry and anxiety.

Then I thought about how my own daughter, Duoduo, is also a girl.

He rushed in and beat Hong Zhi severely.

……

Nine p.m.

Wanqiu lay in Hong Zhiyou's arms like a docile cat, gently wiping away her tears while sobbing softly.

Hong Zhi stroked her smooth back and asked with a smile.

"Regret it?"

Wanqiu shook her head and buried her face in his chest.

"No, it's just that I'm thinking about how you'll be leaving again in a while, and then I won't be able to see you anymore."

She looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears, and asked, "How about you take me to Northeast China?"

Hong Zhi readily quoted Shakespeare: "Marriage is the tomb of love; only distance can create beauty."

"If we're together every day, the joy of missing each other disappears."

"Besides, Harbin is covered in ice and snow for most of the year, and it's desolate everywhere. You, a cheerful little bird, will soon become mute if you go there."

"If you stay in Tianjin, you will be sad because of missing it; if you go to Harbin, I'm afraid you will be bored and develop depression."

Wanqiu clearly hadn't heard of this term: "Depression?"

"Don't I still have you? With love, life will never be boring or depressing."

Hong Zhi sneered, his smile carrying an undisguised mockery: "Love? That's a lie."

Life is just about the mundane things like firewood, rice, oil, and salt.

"Without your uncle's money, would you be dressed so smartly? If you were wearing shabby clothes, barely eating three meals a day, and were skin and bones from hunger, do you think you would be qualified to lie in my bed?"
"Xu Zhimo doted on Lu Xiaoman so much, but in the end he still had to struggle to make ends meet and ended up dying in a plane crash."

"Where are all those romantic tales?"

Wanqiu stared blankly at his mercenary, snobbish, and cold eyes, feeling completely numb.

Fairy tales, princes, poets, musicians...

All the positive qualities she had of this man shattered at that moment, shattering her heart into pieces.

Hong Zhi deliberately ignored her and slowly put on his clothes.

"Hurry up, I'll take you home."

"After I've finished with the romance and fun, I still need to make money."

He didn't even offer a word of comfort.

If this girl doesn't learn her lesson, she might really be sold out by Huizi. It's good to give her a good scolding today to wake her up.

Wanqiu bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes.

"I...I'm going to wash up."

After washing up, Wanqiu followed him downstairs with difficulty and got into the car.

She sat in the passenger seat, looking at the man beside her with a cigar in his mouth and a cold profile, and felt completely unfamiliar with him.

It turns out that he, like his uncle and Mrs. Huizi, was a calculating person who prioritized profit above all else.

Wanqiu's nose tingled, and a feeling of grievance, as if she had been deceived, welled up in her heart. She felt so bad that she wanted to cry. She turned to look out the window and felt a kind of pain as if the world had been destroyed.

Hong Zhi glanced at her, secretly amused.

Silly girl, go ahead and cry.

Flowers grown in a greenhouse will hardly thrive unless they are subjected to harsh treatment.

……

Mu House.

Hui Zi and Mu Liancheng were sitting in the living room drinking tea.

Mu Liancheng looked worried and kept glancing towards the door.

"It's so late, why hasn't Wanqiu come back yet?"

Huizi refilled his tea and gently advised, "Wanqiu is all grown up now. She's an eighteen-year-old young woman. It's normal for her to have her own social circle and friends."

Mu Liancheng sighed.

"The problem is, she is my niece, Mu Liancheng's niece, and there are many people watching me."

"What if something happens to her? How can I face her deceased parents?"

Just then, the steward, Old Pang, walked in and bowed to report.

"Master, Madam, Mr. Hong has arrived. He came back with Miss."

As soon as he finished speaking, Hong Zhiyou and Mu Wanqiu walked in one after the other.

"Mr. Hong! Oh, distinguished guest, distinguished guest! What brings you here? You didn't even let me know in advance. Look, I haven't prepared anything..."

Upon seeing Hong Zhiyou, Mu Liancheng quickly ran into the courtyard to greet him, his face full of fawning smiles, wiping his sweat as he spoke.

He hadn't forgotten that this seemingly harmless young man had killed people like chickens in this courtyard.

Hong Zhi smiled faintly, "Mr. Mu, you're too kind. Wanqiu went to learn the piano from me. It's me who has taken the liberty of coming to bother you."

As he spoke, he glanced at Huizi.

"Boss, it's been a long time." Huizi covered her chest and bowed gracefully to him.

Damn it!
Hong Zhiyou laughed and said, "Yes, in the blink of an eye, Madam is already the mistress of this Mu family. Congratulations!"

Seeing the sullen look in Hong Zhi's eyes, Mu Liancheng was secretly delighted and quickly said, "Thanks to your good fortune, Mr. Hong, please come inside."

Upon entering the living room, Mu Liancheng hurriedly instructed, "Wanqiu, why don't you serve Mr. Hong some tea?"

"Uncle, Madam, you two talk, I'm tired."

Mu Wanqiu's eyes reddened, and without even glancing at Hong Zhiyou, she went straight upstairs.

Seeing the unusually awkward way she walked, Mu Liancheng and Huizi exchanged a glance, their hearts sinking at the same time.

This is... they've made their move!

That guy surnamed Hong is a beast!
(End of this chapter)