Spy wars start with lurking Secretary Hong

Chapter 575 Mind Your Own Business

It's dark.

The lamplight from the eaves shone into the courtyard, exuding a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Gu Qiuyan and Sasha were building a snowman in the yard, and the girl's clear laughter was like sharp knives stabbing into Zhou Yi's heart.

"Daddy," Sasha greeted him.

He played with Sasha for a while, then subtly gave Gu Qiuyan a look.

Gu Qiuyan's heart skipped a beat. She brought Sasha into the house and handed her over to Aunt Liu.

The two walked slowly along the street.

"It's been a long time since we went for a walk together."

Zhou Yi's voice was flat, revealing no emotion.

Seeing that he looked somewhat gloomy, Gu Qiuyan asked, "Pingru, how is he? He should have left Harbin by now."

"I listened to you today and didn't go to see him."

"Oh, he also called, but I didn't call back."

Zhou Yi stopped, took out an exquisite cigarette case from his pocket, and lit one.

He took two breaths, stopped, and stared into Gu Qiuyan's eyes, saying:
Zhang Pingru has been arrested.

“Last night, Gao Bin sent Lu Ming to keep an eye on him. They kept me, the head of the special operations section, in the dark. This morning they took action.”

Gu Qiuyan felt as if she had been struck by lightning; the whole sky had collapsed.

Zhou Yi offered no comfort; his eyes were devoid of any warmth.

He Qinghua is stupid.

Zhang Pingru and his ilk are arrogant.

Any act of underestimating the enemy or being careless will inevitably come at a bloody price.

Gu Qiuyan's face was ashen, and she gripped Zhou Yi's arm tightly, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

"Zhou Yi, please, Sasha can't live without her father, and she can't live without him in the mountains."

"You have to help us."

Zhou Yi said coldly, "You look like this, it's easy for people to see you."

Gu Qiuyan quickly let go of his hand, hastily wiped away her tears with her sleeve, and followed closely beside him:

"What should we do now? Pingru... has he suffered?"

"Definitely.

"Gao Bin personally interrogated him."

"Gao Bin is a master at winning people's hearts."

“What I’m worried about now isn’t whether he can endure hardship. It’s that he won’t be able to handle it and will sell you and Lao Wei.”

Zhou Yi said as he walked.

"No! No!"

Gu Qiuyan quickly explained:
“Ping Ru isn’t that kind of person. He’s just like Ping Jun, a man of steel. He would never confess!”

"You...can you try to go see him?"

Zhou Yi abruptly stopped, turned around, and his gaze was like a knife:

You're always so self-righteous!

"When you sent Pingjun to Jiamusi to deliver the message, you swore that it was a clandestine operation and that nothing would go wrong!"

"The results of it?

"The entire transportation station in Jiamusi was uprooted, and Zhang Pingjun, his fiancée, and Big Beard and the others all lost their lives!"

"Now, you're making promises to me again!"

"Why do we have to meet before we've achieved absolute victory? Is it really worth just one or two days?"

"You, Lao Wei, all of you have made the mistake of opportunism!"

"We always thought the enemy was a fool... In fact, they are constantly laying a large net, waiting for us to walk into it!"

A barrage of questions rained down on Gu Qiuyan's heart like hailstones.

She could no longer hold back, covered her face, and her shoulders began to tremble violently.

"Zhou Yi, I was wrong, I was really wrong."

"Please...please think of a way."

"Zhiyou, Zhiyou is incredibly resourceful, he'll definitely find a way, right?"

"There is no way."

Zhou Yi regained his mechanical calm, each word as cold as ice.

"Zhi has his difficulties. Don't forget, he's a businessman."

"He Qinghua is a cautionary tale."

"Anyone who crosses his boundaries, including me, will be in trouble."

"Gao Bin has already ordered the retrieval of Liu Ping and Zhang Pingjun's files. Your father-in-law, Mr. Zhang Zhongnian, will probably be invited to the police station for questioning soon as well."

"Alas, in the end, he escaped the first day of the month, but not the fifteenth."

"This time, no one can protect him."

He paused, his gaze fixed intently on her.

"Now, I must determine the most crucial point."

"Zhang Pingru, just how much do you know about us?"

How much does he know about me?

Gu Qiuyan took a slight breath and calmly said:
He doesn't know who you are.

"Even if he has a slight suspicion, he would never know that you are Lao Wu."

"That's good."

Zhou Yi breathed a slight sigh of relief, but his expression remained serious.

"You should also be prepared to be arrested at any time."

"If... you really can't take it anymore, then confess."

"If you confess, at least you'll have a chance to live. As long as you're alive, Zhiyou and I will find a way to rescue you."

A look of utter despair flashed in Gu Qiuyan's eyes: "Zhou Yi, is there really... really no way at all?"

"No."

Zhou Yi's voice left no room for negotiation.

“Right now, there are countless eyes watching this house. If you dare to leave even half a step, someone will immediately follow you, and you won’t be able to escape.”

"Similarly, I am also prepared to die at any time."

Gu Qiuyan swayed slightly. "Where's Lao Wei? Did you notify them?"

"When I came back, I threw a red paper strip in the park that read 'Emergency Evacuation'."

"Plus, there was shooting at the hotel this morning, so he must have received the news by now."

Zhou Yidao.

Gu Qiuyan slowly lowered her head.

Tears of regret fell silently.

She never imagined that her momentary indulgence in so-called family bliss would push everyone into an abyss of no return.

After a long while, she finally raised her head again, staring blankly at Zhou Yi.

"Zhou Yi, if... if I and Ping Ru are both gone, please take good care of Sasha."

Zhou Yi was silent for a moment: "Don't worry."

“Sasha is also my daughter.”

“Even if we were all gone, Gao Bin wouldn’t go so far as to harm a child.”

"After all, he treated Sasha like his own granddaughter for three years. Zhiyou will take care of the funeral arrangements for us."

"All we can do now is pray!"

……

night.

Gao Bin, carrying the chubby-cheeked Chengzong, knocked on Liu Zhenwen's door.

"Oh, the young master of the Gao family has arrived."

"Chengzong, call her Grandma Li."

Li Lan happily accepted Cheng Zong's gift.

"What Grandma Li? She's Granny Li." Liu Zhenwen glared at his wife.

"Yes, yes, from now on I'll be Grandma." Li Lan quickly corrected herself and kissed the chubby-faced Chengzong.

"Grandma, Grandpa," Chengzong called out obediently.

"Yes," Li Lan and Liu Zhenwen quickly and happily replied.

This child does indeed resemble his bandit mother in his features, exuding a wildness.

Li Lan didn't really like it that much.

But now that my daughter is going to be this child's mother in the future, I have to bite the bullet and like her even if I don't like it.

"Chengzong!"

"I've missed you so much, my little darling!"

Upon entering the living room, Liu Yawen heard the noise and rushed downstairs like a bird, grabbing the child and giving him several big kisses.

"Auntie."

Chengzong loves the beautiful Aunt Yawen the most. He can snuggle into her arms because she is so fragrant and soft.

After the servants served tea, the group exchanged a few polite words.

Liu Zhenwen winked at his daughter and wife.

"You two take Chengzong upstairs to play. I need to say a few words to Director Gao."

The two understood each other and carried Chengzong upstairs.

Liu Zhenwen smiled and poured tea for Gao Bin.

"Brother, with the snow and slippery roads, why did you bring the child along? Aren't you afraid he'll fall?"

Gao Bin picked up his teacup, blew on the steam, and slowly smiled, saying, "There's nothing I can do. This child doesn't want to be with his father; he just wants to stick to me, his grandfather."

"Furthermore, Chunxiang mentioned to me today that we should seriously consider Zhiyou and Wenwen's marriage."

"That's why I brought Chengzong along, so he can get to know Wenwen better beforehand."

Liu Zhenwen's smile deepened:
"So, you, brother, also approve of and agree to this marriage?"

“As long as you don’t think we’re trying to climb the social ladder, I’d be more than happy to accept it.” Gao Bin put down his teacup, adopting a very humble posture.

"Oh, what are you saying?"

Liu Zhenwen waved his hand.

"We've been colleagues for so many years, why are you saying such formal things?"

"To be honest, I would love to see the two of them together."

"You know our Wenwen, she has very high standards. She looked down on both Yu Jingtao and Wei Huanzhang's sons."

"It's rare that I've found someone I like."

"If I were to break them up again, this girl would definitely be stuck with me and become an old maid who can't get married."

Hearing this, Gao Bin chuckled twice and said, "Brother, now that we're family, I'll be frank with you. Let me first report on today's work."

Liu Zhenwen leaned back on the sofa, adopting a posture of listening attentively.

"I let that kid Lu Ming catch a real big fish today."

"According to the identification of several traitors from the Anti-Japanese Allied Forces in Zhuhe, this person is the captain of the Second Brigade of Zhuhe, named Zhang Pingru, codenamed Pangolin."

Gao Bin took a sip of tea and continued:
"This guy is stubborn and inflexible, just like Zhang Pingjun back then."

"However, based on my deductions from multiple sources, he is very likely to be Sasha's real father."

"Of course, whether he and Gu Qiuyan are lovers or have some other relationship remains to be investigated."

"In addition, he looks almost exactly like Zhang Pingjun, so they are very likely brothers."

Liu Zhenwen tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of the sofa a few times, then asked with an air of maturity:

"When Zhang Pingjun was executed, he never revealed who the 'noble lady' Sister Lan, who sent him to Jiamusi to deliver intelligence, was."

"Now it seems, could it be Gu Qiuyan?"

Gao Bin nodded: "If Zhang Pingru and Zhang Pingjun are brothers, then Gu Qiuyan is very likely the one."

"It's not easy for a woman to make two brothers risk their lives for her."

Liu Zhenwen's eyes sharpened: "If Gu Qiuyan has a problem, what about Zhou Yi?"

"A red ticket has been lurking around him for so many years, and you're saying he didn't know anything about it?"
“Isn’t this very strange?”

Gao Bin pondered for a moment and said, "This is indeed very strange."

"Of course, there is also the possibility that Zhou Yi is rather oblivious when it comes to matters of love and sex, and was completely kept in the dark."

"slow?"

Liu Zhenwen shook his head.

"Don't forget about the telegram incident at Laotuo Mountain last time."

“A woman fell off a cliff, and her companion hid in a tree. Later, we all said that they disappeared without a trace.”

He turned his head and continued:
"Now think about it again, did that person really disappear without a trace, or were they right next to us at the time?"

Gao Bin's pupils contracted slightly.

Liu Zhenwen's voice became lower and more penetrating.

"Brother, sometimes when there are too many coincidences, then it's no longer a coincidence."

"It's evidence."

Gao Bin slowly exhaled: "I agree with your deduction."

"Zhou Yi and his wife are like someone with a veil over their face, always mysterious, unlike Liu Kui and Lu Ming, who are easy to understand at a glance."

Liu Zhenwen laughed and said, "Yes, sometimes a person's intuition is the most truthful."

"Oh, you brought Chengzong here specifically for this purpose, right?"

"That's what they say, birds of a feather flock together. Nothing can be hidden from you, brother," Gao Bin said.

"What I'm worried about now is that if this case is investigated further, it will implicate Zhiyou."

Liu Zhenwen stopped flicking the tea leaves. "Are you worried about Zhiyou's pass?"

"That's impossible!"

Gao Bin quickly waved his hand, his tone resolute.

“I know Zhiyou better than anyone else. He loves money and women, but he would never touch anything red.”

"Do you remember when Zhang Tao said that Zhi had done business with that Lao Wei?"

“I’m afraid that he might be taken advantage of by someone without even realizing it because of business matters.”

Liu Zhenwen's face darkened: "So what is his attitude now?"

"His attitude was alright," Gao Bin said.

"He didn't pay much attention to Zhang Pingru's case. He ate and drank as usual, and it seemed that he was not familiar with Zhang Pingru and did not show any special concern."

"I'm afraid that some messy things will be dragged into his name by someone with ulterior motives."

He changed the subject, his worried expression deepening.

"The newly appointed Chief of Staff of the Kwantung Army, Yukio Kasahara, has recommended Zhu Yi from Jiamusi to Zhang Jinghui to serve as the Deputy Director of the Police Department and a First-Class Advisor of the Security Bureau, to assist Yoshio Miyagawa."

"Zhu Yi and I have been rivals for a long time. He's always been secretly competing with me and dreams of getting ahead of me."

"This time, he finally got what he wanted."

"He became the Deputy Commissioner of Police and a counselor of the Security Bureau, which are all real powers."

"Last time he tried to transfer to Harbin but failed, and he even lost his trusted confidant, Lao Cui. He will definitely take revenge for this."

“I’m afraid he’ll get involved in this matter and make an example of Zhiyou.”

Liu Zhenwen nodded. "We must be vigilant."

"Old Gao, if I were you, I would give up investigating Zhou Yi right now."

Gao Bin was stunned.

Liu Zhenwen continued, "The Japanese are now suffering setbacks on both the battlefields inside and outside the Great Wall, and on the Pacific battlefield."

"Once the Soviets recover, the situation in Harbin will change in an instant."

"At this point, you should take a longer-term view."

"Give young people like Zhiyou a more relaxed space for development."

"Think about it, if Wenwen gives birth to a whole bunch of kids for him in the future, and you don't have a solid family business to pass on, will you be able to manage?"

"In this world, it won't last more than two generations before it has to beg on the streets."

Gao Bin's expression was extremely complicated, and he was surprised: "Brother, this... before, you were the one who told me wholeheartedly that I should not leave any regrets in the police department and that I must find the mole."

"Now that the meat is almost in my mouth, you're telling me to spit it out?"

Gao Bin had actually been waiting for him to say that, but he was just pretending to be surprised and dissatisfied.

Liu Zhenwen smiled shrewdly:
"Times change, and so do circumstances."

"Once Wenwen and Zhiyou's wedding date is set, we'll be in-laws. Young people these days are so clingy; I might become a grandfather tomorrow."

"Aren't you just creating trouble for the children at this time?"

He patted Gao Bin's knee: "Last time Zhiyou came to visit, he said he wanted to go to Hong Kong, to the mainland, or even to make a living abroad in the future."

"What if the Japanese and Puyi really leave? Wouldn't our two families have to rely on him?"

"Brother, forget about your crazy stuff."

"Let him relax and make more money."

"Can't it be done for Chengzong's sake, for my grandson who hasn't even been born yet?"

Gao Bin's lips twitched slightly:
"Brother, you're right no matter what you say."

"Among all the people here, am I the one causing all the trouble? Am I not human?"

Liu Zhenwen laughed and waved his hand: "We're all family now, why bother with who pays attention to whom?"

"I simply see things more clearly than you. Besides, as people get older, they don't ask for anything else but for their children and descendants to have a good life."

"Given the current state of the battle, do you really think you can get promoted by making meritorious contributions?"

Gao Bin remained silent for a long time, then said dejectedly:
“Okay, okay, you’re the director and the eldest brother, I’ll listen to you.”

"Then give me a definite answer, what should we do about this?"

Liu Zhenwen smiled with satisfaction.

"Since Zhang Pingru is an important figure in the red ticket, let's not let him suffer any more. Let's send him on his way as soon as possible."

"Furthermore, don't let Lu Ming conduct the trial; let Zhou Yi do it."

"Zhou Yi is Lu Ming's direct superior. He can't find anything wrong with Lu Ming's interrogation, so he'll just give him a bigger bonus."

"He's the kind of person who likes to take advantage of small things. If you don't steal his credit, he won't cause any trouble."

"At most, we can also send Zhang Pingru's father, Zhang Zhongnian, to his death, which would be considered to eliminate the root of the problem and close the case."

"As for Gu Qiuyan, Zhou Yi, and the like, let's put them aside for now."

"At worst, we'll just send someone to keep a closer eye on them from now on."

"In this way, we can avoid getting involved with people and things that shouldn't be involved."

At this point, he said in a low voice, "Besides, Old Zhu is about to take office, and he's going to be the head of the Special Affairs Section of our police department. Isn't that just putting our faces up for someone to slap?"

Gao Bin said somewhat unwillingly:

"Brother, if we dig any deeper, Zhou Yi might be completely exposed."

Liu Zhenwen looked at him and shook his head.

"What difference is there between him now and when he has revealed his true form?"
"Brother, let go of your obsession."

"Consider it as accumulating good fortune for our children and grandchildren."

Gao Bin sighed deeply, feigning resignation: "Fine, you're a living saint, and I've become the villain."

"Then let's do as you instruct."

As the two were talking, footsteps came from the living room doorway.

A servant bowed and led Hong Zhiyou in.

"Oh, Director Liu, Uncle, you're both here."

Hong Zhiyou had a smile on his face and was carrying a beautifully packaged gift box in his hand.

Gao Bin's face hardened: "What are you doing here?"

Hong Zhi chuckled and handed the gift box to the servant next to him.

"Look at what you're saying, of course I came to find Wenwen."

Liu Zhenwen's eyes were full of smiles as he gestured towards the upstairs with his chin.

"They're upstairs, go ahead."

Upon receiving the order, Hong Zhiyou immediately went upstairs with a beaming smile.

Upstairs in the room, Li Lan and Liu Yawen were playing with Chengzong.

Hong Zhi went in and first greeted Li Lan respectfully, "Auntie."

"Daddy!" Chengzong stretched out his arms, asking for a hug.

Hong Zhiyou simply ignored him; the little brat was nothing more than a nuisance.

"Why don't you hug your son?" Liu Yawen glared at him.

“Why hug him? It’s not like we’re going to…” Hong Zhiyou gave an awkward laugh in front of Li Lan, not daring to be too forward.

When Liu Ya-wen saw his strange appearance, she knew he was up to no good.

She stood up quickly.

"Mom, take Chengzong downstairs to play for a while. I need to talk to Zhiyou for a bit."

Li Lan pulled her aside and, in a low voice, scolded her with exasperation:
"You brat, I haven't even dealt with you for what happened last time!"

"You want to cause trouble at home again? No way!"

Liu Yawen blushed and decided to ignore her mother, walking over and grabbing Hong Zhiyou's arm.

"Let's go see a movie."

Upon hearing this, Li Lan was so angry she almost fainted.

Before she could say anything more, Liu Yawen had already grabbed Hong Zhiyou and ran downstairs.

"She's not even married yet, and she has no manners at all!"

Li Lan angrily pursed her lips at the empty stairwell and muttered a curse under her breath.

……

(End of this chapter)