Spy wars start with lurking Secretary Hong

Chapter 515 Gift Giving is an Art

Mu Liancheng's heart skipped a beat when he saw his niece's obviously strange walking posture, and his eyes were full of complicated emotions.

Huizi's smile froze.

She never expected that Hong Zhiyou would actually make a move against Wanqiu.

Is he doubting himself and trying to plant a spy?
"This girl has no manners at all. It's all my fault for spoiling her."

"Please forgive me, Mr. Hong."

Mu Liancheng said politely.

Hong Zhi smiled and explained casually, "Perhaps the piece I taught today was a bit difficult, and Wanqiu couldn't learn it right away, so she's feeling down."

Mu Liancheng didn't dare to offend him, and nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes."

"Mr. Hong, please have some tea."

Hong Zhi took a sip of tea, turned his gaze to Huizi, and smiled:

"I never expected that Boss Mu is also a seasoned womanizer."

"You won the heart of Lady Huizi in less than a year after she came to Tianjin."

"When news of your marriage spread in Harbin, many people couldn't sleep at night."

Mu Liancheng broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe it away.

"It's all thanks to Madam's favor."

"Of course, it is also thanks to Mr. Hong that I have many opportunities to meet and interact with your wife. It was only after my sincere pursuit that I was able to have this good fortune."

Huizi knelt beside him, her voice so soft it could melt water:

"Mr. Hong, Mr. Mu has been running around doing business these past few days, which has been really hard work."

"I was moved by him because I saw that he was a sincere and dedicated person."

As she spoke, her gaze shifted, carrying a perfectly measured tenderness, as she looked at Mu Liancheng and said:

"Furthermore, I also thought that it would be more convenient for the two of us to communicate and coordinate business when we were together."

"So, by sheer coincidence, they ended up together."

Hong Zhi sneered inwardly.

Husband and wife in harmony.

They really acted convincingly.

Given Huizi's ambition and greed, all of this was already part of his plan.

The more greedy and ruthless they are, the more money they can amass.

Some people sow, and some people reap.

She took care of all the hard work, from fertilizing to transplanting rice seedlings. What could Hong Zhiyou say besides offering his blessings?

More importantly, only a woman like Huizi could keep Mu Liancheng, that old fox, in check, and prevent other women or "relatives" from getting involved and disrupting her plans.

He genuinely hoped that the two of them could make their business thrive and generate a lot of wealth.

That way, the harvest will be more enjoyable in a few years.

Hong Zhi put down his teacup and calmly changed the subject:
"It's getting late, let's talk about business."

"I've looked at the ledgers, and the profits are pretty good."

"But it seems like shipments haven't been high these past two months?"

Mu Liancheng's throat tightened, unsure how to answer. Seeing this, Huizi chuckled and sighed.

"Mr. Hong, you can't blame Old Mu for this."

"He ran around tirelessly to find sales channels."

"As you know, business is tough these days."

"Things like leather goods and wild ginseng are generally easier to sell in winter."

"Furthermore, the price is too high; even rich people can't eat this every day."

Mu Liancheng nodded in agreement, his face filled with deep distress.
Yes, yes.

"Recently, Commander Tada Shun launched a 'security enhancement campaign' in North China, and most of the wealthy people in the surrounding areas of Hebei and Shandong have fled there."

"I've already begged and pleaded with everyone I know to make this deal happen."

Hong Zhi smiled, a look of understanding on his face: "I see."

"Mr. Mu and his wife have worked hard."

Mu Liancheng bowed and smiled apologetically, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."

Hong Zhiyou stood up and dusted off the corner of his clothes.

"Alright, it's getting late, I should go."

Huizi covered her chest and gave a slight bow, but made no attempt to get up to see her off.

Seeing that she was sitting steadily, Hong Zhi spoke again.

"Oh, I brought something for the lady."

"Come with me to get it."

A hint of helplessness flashed in Huizi's eyes. She glanced at Mu Liancheng beside her before softly replying:

"it is good."

The two walked out of the living room one after the other and came to the car outside the yard.

Hong Zhi opened the car door and got in first.

Huizi hesitated for a moment outside the car door, gritted her teeth slightly, bent down and followed her inside.

The moment the car door closed, the air inside seemed to freeze.

Hong Zhi turned to the side and reached out to lift her chin:

"The lady has become increasingly plump and beautiful lately."

"It seems the Mu family is living a very comfortable life."

Huizi trembled slightly. "Zhiyou, I...I'm about to marry Lao Mu."

Hong Zhiyou sneered, placed his hands on the lapels of his kimono, and the exquisite fabric opened to the sides, revealing a glimpse of snow-white skin.

"It seems that Madam has forgotten me and is becoming increasingly distant from me."

Huizi's breath hitched, and she quickly grabbed his hand, urgently explaining, "How could that be?"

I think about you all the time, especially at night.

Hong Zhi raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Those words made me quite angry."

Huizi immediately understood, two blushes rising on her face, and she bent down to skillfully unbuckle his belt:
"I swear to Amaterasu, even when I'm with Mu, I'm thinking of you."

Hong Zhi closed his eyes in enjoyment, but his words were icy cold:

"I passed by the China Merchants Building today, and they said that Mu Liancheng has already bought it."

"It seems you've ignored what I said."

Huizi looked up, a hint of panic in her eyes.

"Believe me, Mu Liancheng bought it on his own initiative."

“I’m not married to him yet, and I’m not at the point where I can be in charge of the household, so there are many things I can’t say, because he’ll be wary if I do.

Hong Zhi opened his eyes, his gaze calm and unwavering: "Hmm."

"It's good that you haven't forgotten why you're here."

Keiko breathed a sigh of relief, lifted her skirt, and seemed to want to sit down.

Hong Zhiyou reached out and gently pushed her away.

He was truly exhausted; after all, people aren't machines.

"Let's get down to business."

"From now on, all payments to me will be made in gold bars."

"Of course, it would be great if we could get US dollars."

A deep sense of disappointment and resentment flashed in Huizi's eyes.

She sat up straight and straightened her clothes. "Okay."

"You...you're with Wanqiu?"

"I can smell her perfume on you."

Hong Zhiyou made no attempt to hide it.

"yes.

"So you'd better treat her better."

"I will come to visit her in Jinhai often in the future."

Huizi's eyes instantly reddened, looking heartbroken.

"knew.

"You said you would come to see me often, and now you come often, but you're seeing someone else instead."

Hong Zhiyou was too lazy to expose her acting skills, so he waved his hand and said, "I'll leave the company matters to you and Lao Mu."

"Go ahead, if you stay too long, Old Mu will get worried."

He paused for a moment, then added:
"Oh, right.

"I have something to do these few days, so I won't be able to attend the wedding."

"You can take an extra 10% of next month's profits; consider it a gift from me to you both."

Huizi feigned sadness and said:
"You men are so fickle."

"They didn't even come to the wedding, is it really necessary to be so heartless?"

Hong Zhi smiled. "It's not heartlessness."

“You have a new life, and I'm here. Boss Mu must be feeling really uncomfortable.”

"Since you're Mrs. Mu now, you should act like Mrs. Mu."

He pinched her cheek like he was soothing a kitten, straightened her clothes, and gestured for her to proceed.

Huizi bit her lip and stared at him for a few seconds.

"Ok."

Take care, I'll miss you.

Hong Zhi smiled and nodded.

Huizi opened the car door and got out.

The moment the car door closed, she let out a long sigh of relief, as if a huge burden had been lifted off her shoulders.

Fortunately, Hong Zhi didn't pester him relentlessly.

If we were to stay in this car for two or three hours, Old Mu would be anxious to death.

Huizi knew very well what she wanted.

Mrs. Mu's distinguished status meant she had inexhaustible wealth.

Of course, she did miss the happy times she spent with Hong Zhiyou. Even just smelling a trace of his scent was enough to make her lose her mind.

But compared to money, those are secondary.

After all, Old Mu has medicine, so it's not like it can't be used even if it's not perfect.

Inside the car, Hong Zhi watched Hui Zi's swaying waist as she walked away, a cold smile appearing on his lips.

Stupid woman, work harder to make money!
He started the car and sped away.

……

In the hall.

Mu Liancheng paced back and forth like a caged beast, sweat pouring down his forehead.

He kept clenching his fists and striking his palms, making a dull sound.

He had already found out everything about Huizi and Hongzhi's affair in Harbin through someone else.

But so what.

Keiko treated him with gentleness and consideration, and she was extremely supportive in his business dealings, further aided by her brother Sakata Hideo's status.

Compared to his previous wife, the harlot Du Juan, she was a million times better.

At least after Huizi came to Jinhai, she was always devoted to him, and her behavior was dignified and virtuous, both internally and externally.

He truly loved Keiko.

Mu Liancheng desperately wanted to rush out and call Huizi back.

But he couldn't afford to offend Hong Zhiyou, and he was even more afraid of embarrassing his wife if he made things clear, so he could only keep this humiliation to himself.

The thought that Huizi might be in that car right now... made Mu Liancheng feel like his heart was being torn apart, filled with pain and anxiety.

Just as he was filled with worry, Huizi pushed open the door and walked in.

Mu Liancheng rushed over and anxiously grabbed her hand.

"Ma'am, are you okay?"

Huizi pulled her hand away, poured him a cup of tea, and gave him a reproachful glare.

"What could possibly happen to me?"

"He's my boss, not a man-eating tiger."

"But you, why do you look so pale?"

Mu Liancheng took the teacup, his voice trembling, "I...I'm just worried he's a tiger and will eat you, Madam."

Huizi helped him sit down and gently scolded him:

"Hate.

Am I that kind of person?
"No matter how young and handsome Hong Zhi is, he is still a playboy, but you are the only person in this world who is truly good to me."

How could I not know what's important and what's not?

She changed the subject, her tone becoming somewhat aggrieved.

"If I still had feelings for him, would I risk my life to help you falsify accounts and stuff money into your pocket?"

"You just don't trust me."

As she spoke, her eyes reddened, and glistening tears welled up in them. Mu Liancheng saw that her hair was perfectly styled and her clothes were neatly arranged; it had only been five minutes since then. His anxiety immediately subsided.

He understands his wife.

The lady still has requirements for quality.

Otherwise, I wouldn't be taking so many medications.

If Hong Zhi had only a few minutes, his wife in Harbin would never have taken a liking to this young man.

Mu Liancheng quickly apologized:
"Please forgive me, Madam. I was overthinking things. I deserve to be punished."

He grabbed Huizi's hand and gently slapped himself twice on the face.

Huizi then smiled:
"Okay, okay."

"I know you're worried about me, so I forgive you."

Mu Liancheng felt relieved and then asked about another important matter.

"The deal went smoothly, didn't it?"

Huizi shook her head: "Probably not."

“We made a lot of profit, but Hong Zhiyou also earned quite a bit.”

"And he seems to trust Xiao Xie a lot."

"Now it seems that Xiao Xie did a good job and didn't betray us."

"I was thinking, doesn't he like cars? Anyway, you can't drive all the cars you have, so why not just pick an older one for him?"

"Only by keeping him calm can we achieve long-term success."

Mu Liancheng chuckled twice: "What you say is very true, Madam."

"I'm tired of my old Ford, so I'll just give it to him."

Huizi picked up her teacup, then remembered something else.

There's something else I need to tell you.

“Hong Zhiyou and Wanqiu are together.”

Mu Liancheng was shocked, and almost dropped his teacup: "Wh...when did this happen?"

Huizi rolled her eyes at him. "You can tell, it's just today."

"Hey, this silly girl just walked right into my trap. Have you ever seen a tiger that doesn't eat rabbits?"

Mu Liancheng stood up anxiously, "What should we do?"

Huizi put down her teacup, a kind and generous smile on her face: "What else can we do?"

"Wanqiu is the apple of your eye, how could we possibly kick her out?"
"From now on, when she's home, let's keep our business matters under wraps."

"Just don't let her know."

"After all, the girl is naive and easily sided with outsiders."

Mu Liancheng sighed deeply, slumped onto the sofa, his face full of worry.

"Sigh, this girl is really stupid. Throwing herself into Hong Zhiyou's arms at this time is just throwing herself away."

Huizi, holding a cup of tea, gently massaged his shoulders and back: "What do you mean?"

Mu Liancheng lowered his voice, his face showing a complex expression of lingering fear and schadenfreude:
“I’ve heard some rumors that Shibayama Kenshiro has laid a trap in Tsukai, supposedly specifically targeting Koji Yu.”

"Some people in Tokyo dislike him and want to undermine Hong Zhiyou's prestige."

"Moreover, they suspected that Hong Zhi might be a member of the Military Intelligence Bureau."

He leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"Whether Hong Zhiyou can leave Jinhai alive this time is still a question."

Huizi chuckled softly, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes:
"I advise you not to think that way."

"Shibuya Saburo once thought the same thing, but he died in the end."

Her voice was soft, yet it carried a convincing power:

“I know Hong Zhiyou. Despite his young age, he is very steady.”

"He wouldn't have come to Jinhai if he wasn't absolutely certain."

Upon hearing this, Mu Liancheng felt a sense of relief, followed by a feeling of regret, but mostly relief:

"Well, that's good. I was really afraid he would die."

He picked up his teacup, as if trying to convince himself.

"With his death, half of the great treasure trove of the three northeastern provinces will be wasted. Where will we get such cheap mink fur and deer antlers again?"

Huizi smiled charmingly and handed him a teacup. "Let's drink tea instead of wine and wish him a long and healthy life."

Mu Liancheng raised his glass and gently clinked it against hers, saying, "May Hong Sang live a long and healthy life."

The two exchanged a smile, and all their troubles vanished.

……

The next day.

Kazuo Hongang entered the intelligence agency building early in the morning.

He took off his trench coat, hung it on the hanger, and looked at his assistant beside him.

"Has Shibayama-kun arrived?"

The assistant bowed and replied, "Not yet."

Kazuo Hongang nodded, his tone icy. "He's here. Tell him to come to my office immediately."

After his assistant left, Motooka Kazuo closed the door, picked up the phone, and skillfully dialed a number in Harbin.

Once the call was connected, his tone immediately became respectful.

"Mr. Miyagawa, good news, the fish has taken the bait."

"According to my people's investigation, Hong Zhiyou visited Zeng Che and two other detained Kuomintang agents' homes in the past two days, and accepted nearly several thousand taels of gold and antiques."

After hearing something said on the other end of the phone, Kazuo Motooka smiled confidently.

"That's right, he made a lot of money."

"One of Li Rupeng's relatives revealed that Hong Zhi had guaranteed that he would do his job if he took the money, and that he would definitely get the person out today."

“As long as we block anyone else from interceding, Hong Zhiyou will have no choice but to take matters into his own hands.”

"At that time, he will have no choice but to walk into the trap."

He paused for a moment, listening attentively.

"Yes, Miyagawa-kun, just wait for my good news."

"Goodbye."

Just as he hung up the phone, the office door was pushed open, and Kenjiro Shibayama walked in.

He seemed to have slept poorly; a hint of irritation lingered between his brows, and his tone was quite displeased.
"Mr. Hon'gaoka, what brings you here so early?"

Hon'oka Kazuo stood up from his seat, his expression serious. "I have received intelligence that Hong Zhiyou is very likely to come today to rescue Zeng Che and the others."

Kenjiro Shibayama raised his hand to interrupt him, his face full of contempt.

"Bengang-kun, as I've said before, Hong Ji-yoo is my friend."

"I probably know him a little better than you do."

"Please believe me, he is not an idiot."

"Given your poor acting last time, I think he's already realized it's a trap."

His voice was filled with undisguised sarcasm.

"Do you think someone who can take down Shibuya Saburo would be so foolish as to jump into a fire pit?"

Kazuo Motooka's face darkened, but he still suppressed his anger:

"Chai Shanjun, please calm down."

“I have accurate intelligence sources; Hong Zhi will definitely come.”

Kenjiro Shibayama waved his hand impatiently, "Just tell me, what do you want me to do?"

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Kazuo Hon'gao's eyes:
“I need to install a bugging device in your office.”

"I also hope that Mr. Shibayama will prioritize national affairs and the Emperor, consider the overall situation, and not show any favoritism."

Kenjiro Shibayama stared at him coldly, remained silent for a moment, and finally squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth.

"it is good."

After saying that, he turned and left without looking back.

Motooka Kazuo watched his retreating figure, feeling both annoyed and helpless.

Hong Zhiyou truly had extraordinary connections; not only was he well-connected in Harbin, but he also had extensive influence in Tianjin and Shanghai.

If this man is not eliminated, the empire is in grave danger.

Soon, under his orders, technicians installed state-of-the-art eavesdropping equipment in Kenjiro Shibayama's office.

This includes wiretapping on phones and real-time wiretapping inside homes.

……

Lishun Hotel.

Hong Zhiyou leaned back comfortably on the sofa, a cigar dangling from his lips, looking at the neatly stacked gold bars and several valuable antiques on the table.

The golden light was dazzling.

He never leaves empty-handed.

Boss Dai is just making empty promises without spending any money; he can't possibly pay out of his own pocket to bail people out.

After all, not everyone is Lao Yu.

After deducting the 1,700 taels of gold to be given to Ding Mocun, there are less than 2,000 taels left, plus some antiques.

He took out five hundred taels of gold bars, picked out two antiques of good quality, put them into an exquisite leather case, and then called Peng Hu in.

"Give these to Commander Tada Shun as a token of my appreciation."

"Also, tell him to invite Chai Shanjun to his office for a chat tonight."

Peng Hu took the box, accepted the order, and left.

Hong Zhiyou then took out another portion, also five hundred taels of gold bars, and instructed Xiao Guohua to accept it.

"For Masaharu Honma."

Xiao Guohua hesitated for a moment, "I tried to give it to him last time, but he wouldn't accept it."

Hong Zhi smiled, smoke escaping from the corner of his mouth, his eyes gleaming with a penetrating light:
"Last time is last time."

"Just tell him that Commander Tada Shun will be having a couple of drinks with me tonight, and ask him if he wants to go. He'll naturally accept."

Xiao Guohua immediately understood and was completely convinced.

"clear.

"Gift giving is an art, just like playing the piano!"

“That’s right, Lao Xiao, you’ve got it.” Hong Zhiyou said with a smile.

After doing all that, he stretched and lay on the bed in a starfish shape.

The faint fragrance of Mu Wanqiu still lingered on the pillow, causing his heart to flutter.

Wanqiu's strength lies in her versatility.

Whatever you teach her, she always does it very well.

Unfortunately, it's still several years before the restoration of the People's Republic of China, and it's too dangerous for her to stay with me, so I can't take her with me.

Otherwise, it would be one of the greatest joys in life.

He sat up, initially intending to find those two beauties, Fang Min and Ji Qing, to relieve his boredom, but then he thought better of it.

Right now, Kang Zuoren and his gang of traitors are riding high. I don't plan to stay here for long. I'm not of much value to the Kang family or the owner of Renji. They are unlikely to be willing to let their concubine come and keep me company.

Sigh, I wonder how Rui Rui is doing in Chongqing?

With Rui Rui's learning ability and Lao Wu's connections, she should have been thriving at Chongqing University long ago.

Moreover, Rui Rui isn't the kind of stunningly beautiful woman, so she should be safe.

Madam, you must stay calm.

Bored, he compared Wanqiu and Ruirui in his mind again, and after thinking it over, he realized that they each had their own charm.

In a daze, he actually fell asleep.

It was past 7 p.m. when Hong Zhiyou slowly woke up.

He got up, took a shower and changed his clothes, poured himself a glass of red wine, and had the waiter bring him a steak, which he then slowly enjoyed.

A moment later, Xiao Guohua walked in.

"Has the stuff been delivered?"

Hong Zhi asked without looking up.

Xiao Guohua nodded, "It's been delivered. Honma Masaharu received it personally."

Hong Zhiyou smiled slightly. "Very good, it's time to get down to business."

He wiped his mouth with a napkin, got up, picked up the phone, and dialed Shibayama Kenshiro's number.

The call was answered quickly.

"Lord Shibayama, is now a convenient time to meet?"

"Still in the headquarters?"

His tone carried a perfectly timed hint of surprise.

Okay, I'll be right there.

"No, no, your office is fine. There's no need to move. It's perfectly good here!"

"see you later."

After hanging up the phone, Hong Zhi put the last piece of gold on the table into a briefcase.

Five hundred taels is no small sum; even if each large yellow croaker weighs ten taels, it would still require fifty of them.

He carried the heavy suitcase into the car and headed directly to the Tianjin Special Service Agency.

(End of this chapter)