Period drama: Old Cao's carefree life

Chapter 189 The Great Traitor Wang Kemin

Zheng Chaoyang's network of information within the police station was naturally incomparable to Xu Hancheng's. When he asked that question, Cao Weida knew that Zheng Chaoyang definitely didn't know the details.

Without any concealment or exaggeration, Cao Weida recounted the entire story in its entirety.

Finally, he asked, "Chaoyang, these beasts have so cruelly abused children, causing them to die or be maimed. Do you think I should have them executed by slow slicing?!"

Zheng Chaoyang opened his mouth. He was a very principled person, and his heart was filled with justice.

He was optimistic and cheerful, brave and resourceful, quick-witted and decisive, and eloquent, but at this moment he didn't know how to answer.

His previous indignation and arrogance were gone. After stammering for a long time, he finally stammered, "That's true, but... you can kill them."

"Moreover, people's hearts are unpredictable. If this gets out, it will tarnish your reputation."

"The organization has always wanted you to join the Party; even the leader personally wrote you a letter praising you. But after this incident, the situation has completely changed. You..."

"Hey, I thought it was a big deal. If you can't join the Party, you can't join the Party." Cao Weida didn't seem to care at all, casually putting his arm around his shoulder.

"With my greedy and lustful nature, I'm not suited to join you."

"Besides, contributing to the people and to China doesn't necessarily mean you have to join us, like right now."

"Even if I join the Party, I can't do any more, right?"

"..." Zheng Chaoyang sighed. He rationally disagreed with Cao Weida's approach to the matter, but he wasn't entirely opposed to it.

We can't expect him to speak well of those heartless human traffickers, can we?
If he really did that, his conscience wouldn't allow it!
Besides, what's done is done, so there's no point in saying anything more.

To his relief, it was clear from his strong sense of justice that Cao Wei Da was still the same Cao Wei Da, and his character had not changed despite his high position.

"Alright, stop thinking about all that nonsense. Come on, buddy, I'll treat you to a shower." Without giving him a chance to think, Cao Weida ushered him forward.

Having been busy all day, plus spending so much time in the interrogation room, I'm already itching all over.

Zheng Chaoyang sighed inwardly and followed him to the bathhouse.

The Cao Wei Da of today is no longer the same as the Cao Wei Da of the past, so naturally he would no longer force himself to go to the low-end bathhouse.

Dongshengping Bathhouse, located on Yangmeizhu Xiejie Street in Qianmen Dashilan, was the most upscale bathhouse in all of Beiping.

Don't assume that the environment of bathhouses is inferior to that of later times just because it is now the Republic of China era.

The Dongshengping Bathhouse has three floors and features advanced facilities. It was built in the style of Shanghai bathhouses.

It is equipped with modern facilities such as lighting, running water, and enamel fish tanks. The private rooms are heated by steam and have beds and recliners. Tea, snacks, soap, cosmetics and other items are provided for customers.

Their services are also very comprehensive, offering not only bathing services but also tea, hairdressing, facials, body scrubbing, pedicures, massages, manicures, and treatments for athlete's foot.

In addition, it is equipped with a guest meeting area and a mahjong room to meet the diverse needs of guests.

At the same time, a rest area is also essential.

It can be said that, apart from the lack of many electronic products due to the technological gap, the service here was no worse than that of high-end bathhouses in later generations, and was even better.

Of course, you get what you pay for, and the bathing fee here is not cheap either, costing one silver dollar per person, and this is only for a second-class ordinary government hall.

Even the most luxurious brothel charges at least two silver dollars for a bath; other services are priced separately.

It can be said that those who come here to bathe are all high-ranking officials, capitalists, government officials, and so on.

"Master Cao, this is too extravagant!" Zheng Chaoyang said with a pained expression in the private bath room.

Two silver dollars!
If it were sent to the base, it would be enough to feed many brothers several full meals!
If it were him, he definitely wouldn't be willing to give it up.

It's just taking a bath. Going to a cheap bathhouse won't make you feel unclean.

Upon hearing this, Cao Weida rolled his eyes in annoyance, lay comfortably in the pool, letting the warm water spraying from the nozzle wash over his body, closed his eyes comfortably, and replied lazily with a look of enjoyment: "Come on, I didn't ask you to spend any money, and you're already feeling the pinch."

"It's a good thing I didn't join you guys. If I had, you would have lectured me to death."

Zheng Chaoyang looked embarrassed. "That's not what I meant."

"I was just joking with you, why did you take it seriously?" Cao Weida opened his eyes, tilted his head and looked at him: "I'm not the kind of person who would endure hardship without suffering, I'm just someone who loves to enjoy life."

“If I don’t have the ability, no matter how difficult your organization is, I will not sacrifice my own interests to help you.”

"But I'm not a very greedy person. As long as I can make a living, I'll help as much as I can."

Zheng Chaoyang was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed. His body relaxed, the stiffness from before gone. He exhaled and said, "You really have to admit, with your personality, you're really not suited to join the Party. If you did, it wouldn't be long before you were carrying a sack full of disciplinary actions." He shifted his body to make himself more comfortable. "You've done so much already. I and my organization have kept track of your contributions one by one."

With a 'whoosh,' he sat up straight and said in a very serious tone, 'On behalf of the soldiers who fought and bled, and the people around the base area, thank you!'

"Lie down, lie down." Cao Weida was both amused and exasperated by his sudden seriousness. "I was just doing what a Chinese person should do. Victory in the War of Resistance is just around the corner, but who will rule China in the future is very important. Compared to the Kuomintang, I hope that you will win the final victory."

He looked up at the misty rooftop, where a few drops of steam condensed on the water surface, dangling precariously but playfully refusing to fall.

Zheng Chaoyang looked at Cao Weida in surprise; this was the second time he had heard similar words from Cao Weida.

"You trust us that much? What if the Kuomintang still comes to rule China in the end? Wouldn't all your efforts have been for nothing?"

Although he was very firm in his faith in the Party, he was actually quite uncertain about the future.

After all, the disparity in strength between the two sides is too great.

Based on the current troop strength comparison between the two sides, the Kuomintang's participating troops number approximately 6 million, while the Red Party's army numbers only 500,000!
Even with the addition of the 250,000 troops of the New Fourth Army and the 20,000 troops of the South China People's Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Force, the total strength was only 770,000.

With a troop ratio of one to ten and a significant disparity in weaponry, such a vast difference in strength cannot be bridged by blind confidence.

Cao Wei Da picked up the tea beside him, took a sip, and said slowly, "There is a saying in our China: He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world."

"Given the rampant bureaucracy and blatant extortion of the Kuomintang, they would have lost the hearts of the people long ago if it weren't for the war of resistance against Japan."

"On the contrary, your party is the one that truly serves the people and is in charge of everything. This is the party that belongs to us ordinary people."

"If a team like this can still fail, then God is truly blind."

At this point, he shrugged. "Of course, if God really is blind and the Kuomintang eventually wins the government, then I can only accept my bad luck."

"Given the disgusting behavior of those bald-headed Kuomintang members who grovel and fawn on the international stage, if they were to actually win, our China would have plenty of miserable days ahead."

"You really dare to say that." Zheng Chaoyang was both amused and exasperated. The fact that this person dared to directly call that guy bald showed that he really didn't have a good impression of the Kuomintang.

At the same time, I felt a great sense of pride.

He felt honored to be recognized and supported by the people, as a member of the Red Party.

At the same time, it further strengthened his deepest beliefs.

"Alright, enough with the nonsense, let's go get a scrub." He jumped up with a splash, proudly displaying his well-endowed masculine assets.

"It's my treat today. I'll show you all the services here, and I guarantee you'll be completely satisfied!"

"Why don't we soak a little longer? We've only been running for a dozen minutes, it's such a waste." Zheng Chaoyang was reluctant to get up. Two dollars for such a short time, what a loss!

If possible, he should spend the whole day here.

It is expensive, but there is a reason why it is expensive.

Unlike cheap public bathhouses where there's a layer of dust and the water is murky, the water here is constantly being changed and is so clear you could cup your hands and drink it!

"Look at you, so pathetic. Hurry up and get going. The best is yet to come," Cao Weida mocked, dragging him up by force. Ignoring his embarrassed expression as he clutched his penis, he led him to the massage room.

High-end bathrooms offer high-end services, and the same applies to body scrubbing.

Previously, the masseuses at low-end bathhouses were already very helpful, but compared to the masseuses here, the difference is obvious.

You don't even need to say anything; the bath attendant will observe your reaction and control the pressure with great precision.

After rubbing his back and taking a shower, Cao Weida pulled him towards the rest area.

On the way, Zheng Chaoyang kept looking around. It was his first time visiting a high-end bathhouse. Low-end bathhouses didn't have so many options, so he was naturally curious.

Just as he was observing, his gaze swept over a figure, then quickly turned back, uttering a surprised sound.

"What's wrong? Who are you looking at?" Cao Weida stopped and followed his gaze. In the distance, two men were opening the door and entering a private room.

"you know?"

"Of course I know him, he's very famous!" A flash of murderous intent crossed Zheng Chaoyang's eyes as he said in a low voice, "He is Wang Kemin, the current Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Beiping Government!"

"It's him?!" Cao Weida's mind instantly flashed back to the person Xu Jingge had asked him to help investigate—it was none other than Wang Kemin!

This guy is a complete traitor!

(End of this chapter)