Period drama: Old Cao's carefree life

Chapter 287 Such a big heart?

"Chief Guang."

The call startled Guang Yuhua, who inwardly cursed but quickly adopted a humble attitude on his face.

"Chief, what are your instructions?"

He didn't want to be as headstrong as Wen Yongwang; what good would it do to confront Cao Weida head-on?
Even if the Cao Wei dynasty collapses in the future, that's a matter for the future. We still need to get through the present!

In his view, one must yield when necessary; this is the way to survive.

Seeing his respectful demeanor, Cao Weida suddenly felt like laughing.

Look at him, he doesn't seem like he's going to go against him.
However, since they didn't 'report their work' to me, I should still give them a good talking-to and scold them as needed.

His knuckles tapped lightly on the table, the sound flat yet carrying a hint of coldness:
"Is your inspection office a little too comfortable these days? I was wondering if you have a bunch of lords working for you."

Cold sweat instantly broke out on Guang Yuhua's forehead. He kept wiping it away and said cautiously, "Director, please forgive me. It was our fault for not doing our job well. I also bear responsibility for not managing my subordinates properly. I will definitely crack down on them when I get back."

"So, you're saying the Inspection Office's incompetence means all the blame lies with their subordinates?" Cao Weida interrupted his sophistry without any politeness, looking at him coldly.
"You're good at shirking responsibility. If there's success, it's because you're a good leader; if something goes wrong, it's because your subordinates didn't do a good job. Are you a non-stick pan?!"

"As the section chief of the inspection office, shouldn't you set an example?!"

He pulled out a document and slammed it into his hand.

"Open your dog eyes and take a good look at what's written on it!"

Guang Yuhua hurriedly steadied the document, opened it, and his eyes widened in surprise; he almost dropped it.

"What, are you still trying to shirk responsibility?" Cao Weida glanced at him sideways, took out a cigarette, lit it, took a drag, and blew it towards Guang Yuhua.

"Your inspection office investigated the theft at the grain depot in Mishi Hutong for five days, but you couldn't even find the tire tracks of the stolen grain. Instead, the Japanese military police found some traces on the black market."

He picked up the enamel mug on the table and took a sip of warm water:
"Before I took office, Chief Ono told me to my face that all the inspectors in our district were blind and deaf. Don't you think that's a slap in the face?"

Sweat streamed down Guang Yuhua's forehead and temples. He quickly wiped it with his sleeve and bowed, replying, "Chief, I've already dispatched six plainclothes officers who have questioned all the police officers near the Rice Market Alley and even detained two grain dealers."

"A grain dealer?" Cao Weida scoffed, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder, and said softly, "Does Section Chief Guang think I, Cao Weida, am young and therefore easy to fool?"

"Are you investigating the stolen grain, or are you trying to frame two drivers to cover up the theft from the granary? You should know the answer yourself, right?"

"As far as I know, the people you sent didn't investigate the case much. They just ate three meals of noodles with soybean paste at Qingfeng Restaurant with the case investigation notice, and didn't even find out the origin of the grain store guard."

"Come on, explain to me how they're investigating, and where all this grain went?"

Guang Yuhua's face turned a deep purplish-red, and his hand gripping the file trembled slightly. "It was my fault for not managing my subordinates properly. I was foolish and was deceived. I will dismiss those negligent patrol officers immediately and send more people to investigate."

"Investigate? Are you sure you want to investigate? Or do you really dare to investigate?" Cao Weida sneered, his face full of mockery.

"You should know who the mastermind is, right? Tell me, how do you plan to investigate? And what do you plan to do after you find out who's behind it all?"

Guang Yuhua was speechless. Of course he knew who the person in question was, but precisely because he knew, he didn't dare to investigate. He was afraid that if he investigated, the person would disappear.
Looking at Guang Yuhua, who was already trembling with fear, Cao Weida flicked his cigarette ash and said calmly:
"After I finished the meeting, all the departments came to report on their work. The Public Security Department reported on the movements of the guerrillas in the western suburbs, the Household Registration Department cleared up the list of refugees in the jurisdiction, and even the Finance Department sorted out the accounts for this month clearly, but the deputy head of the Communications Group and the people from your Supervision Office have not come."

"I originally thought you were genuinely busy, and I even thought it was because you were too busy with work that you were delayed."

"But now it seems you're not just busy with work, you're far too busy!!"

Such sarcastic remarks caused Guang Yuhua to sweat even more.

He felt a bitter taste in his mouth and wanted to cry.

He couldn't afford to offend Ji Hongxin, and he couldn't afford to offend this man in front of him even more. He had truly experienced what it meant to be caught in the middle.
"Director, I know I was wrong. I will re-examine the matter immediately, and after the re-examination, I will send you a 'detailed report' first thing tomorrow morning to give you a proper report."

Wow, that's pretty sensible.

Seeing how sensible he was, Cao Weida softened his stern gaze, stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, and glanced at Guang Yuhua, who was pale and covered in sweat.

"Section Chief Guang, there are quite a few people in Beiping who want to be this section chief. Don't let me think that someone is more suitable than you!"

Guang Yuhua stood frozen in place until Cao Weida impatiently waved him away, at which point he staggered out of the office.

The wind in the corridor blew on his face, making him feel a little chilly. He tightened his collar and moved toward the office with a bitter expression.

He felt somewhat relieved. Although he had been criticized, he was sensible enough not to be made too difficult by the authorities.

Sigh, who knows what the future holds? It's true what they say, every emperor has a different minister. He was starting to miss his former director.
Many heads peeked out from the nearby offices, each with a gloating expression on their face.

A faint smell of smoke wafted through the bright, clean corridors, clearly indicating that there were quite a few long-time smokers working here.

"Hey, Section Chief Guang's out?" Du Chengye, the head of the logistics section next door, was leaning against the railing, cracking sunflower seeds, spitting the shells onto the ground.
"Everyone knows that a new broom sweeps clean, and you lit two of those during the meeting. Director Cao was offering you a way out, so why didn't you take it?"

These sarcastic and mocking words made the veins on Guang Yuhua's forehead throb, but he didn't reply. Just as he was about to go down the stairs, Ding Yingfa, the head of the security department across the street, came over.

He leaned closer, lowering his voice so that those around him could hear: "Our new director isn't some young guy who's easy to fool. Do you really think he's young enough to treat people like this? And that he's too lazy to even try to fool us?"

"Deputy Director Ji used to be arrogant, but that was because the old director was too lazy to manage things. Now, this district office belongs to Cao!"

Beside the tea stove at the corner of the stairs, two young police officers were whispering and chuckling to each other.

"He's usually so arrogant, but I never expected him to be so clueless," one of them said. "The director put the deputy director under house arrest as soon as he arrived, and he still dares to go against the director. If you ask me, even his own parents wouldn't be as filial to Deputy Director Ji as he is."

Another chimed in, "You bet he was really badly scolded. I could hear the yelling from the office from here in the hallway. He deserved it."

"Let alone Director Cao, if it were me, I would have scolded him even more harshly, and he would have been skinned alive."

Guang Yuhua didn't stop walking; his leather shoes made a dull thud on the wooden stairs.

Behind him, Du Chengye's voice drifted over again, laced with blatant sarcasm: "Some people, relying on someone's previous power, have become so arrogant that they've forgotten who their boss is now. Their job is probably in trouble... Ha, they really don't know what's good for them!" Guang Yuhua paused, then continued downstairs.

He had already regretted coming to the office, and after being severely reprimanded, he regretted it even more.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so sensible as to plan to 'report for work' first thing tomorrow morning.

Although his words just now made him feel aggrieved, they also strengthened his determination to 'surrender'.

He pondered to himself, realizing that a simple act of 'filial piety' was no longer sufficient; he needed a more substantial gift to make amends for his previous mistake and gain the director's acceptance.
"."

When Cao Weida returned home for dinner after his shift that evening, he clearly noticed that Liu Rusi's expression was unusual.

After dinner, Cao Weida went to Liu Rusi's room, picked her up and sat her on his lap. He kissed her fair, rosy cheeks twice, then asked, "What's wrong? Is something the matter? You seem distracted."

Liu Rusi leaned her head against Cao Weida's chest and said coquettishly, "I am a trained agent, after all. Is it really that obvious?"

"Look at what you're saying. Even if you're well-trained, with our relationship—I know your strengths and you know mine—you can't hide anything from me." He slapped her shapely buttocks, feeling the rise and fall of her breasts, and asked:

"Tell me, what happened? Are you homesick or bored here?"

"With you by my side, I won't feel bored at all." Liu Rusi snuggled closer to him, inhaling his scent, a look of adoration and enjoyment on her face.

"It's not that I miss home, it's just that I've been given a mission by my superiors, and I have to go out for a while."

"Huh? Didn't you stop needing to go out on missions? Why are you being assigned a mission again?" Cao Weida frowned immediately, his face showing displeasure and even anger.

What does "Military Intelligence Bureau" mean? Do they think their words are worthless?!

I've taken care of everything for you, and the covert transportation line is almost complete. Now you're turning your backs on me?!

Seeing that her husband was unhappy, Liu Rusi was overjoyed, as it meant that her husband cared about her!

"Oh, sir, don't be angry. It's just a head-connecting procedure; there's no danger."

"No danger at the rendezvous?" Cao Weida glared at her and slapped her on the buttocks again. "Do you know that if the person you're meeting with has a problem, it will be dangerous for you to go and meet them anyway!"

"Tell me, why were you sent to make contact this time?"

"Are all the Kuomintang agents hiding in Beiping dead, or what happened?!"

Liu Rusi, who had been hit, let out a soft "ooh," her cheeks gradually turning red. With her eyes filled with spring water, she leaned close to his ear and breathed:
"It's alright. I'm just there to assist. Besides, as a member of the Military Intelligence Bureau, I can't just do nothing."

"Moreover, there are indeed not many Kuomintang agents left in Beiping, and they all have their own missions. My contact with them was a last resort for the higher-ups."

"My lord, tonight I am the one serving you in bed. With such a beautiful woman in my arms, let's not talk about those unpleasant things, shall we?"

Feeling the squirming body in his arms and seeing her seductive eyes, what could Cao Weida do?
Of course, to satisfy her!
Without much romantic encounter, he simply picked up the beauty in his arms and placed her on the bed.

"."

Because of the Military Intelligence Bureau's "going back on its word," Cao Weida was exceptionally angry tonight.

Although he had vented his anger on the two women, the fire in his heart had not completely dissipated.

at night.

Cao Weida, dressed in a set of night clothes, came out of the room, blocked the door, and leaped onto the roof.

With the grace of a dragonfly skimming the water, he moved across the rooftop as if it were flat ground.

The patrol teams with dogs on the street were nothing to him; he headed straight for his target for the night.

Not long after, he arrived near the courtyard of the traitor.

As soon as I got close, my ears twitched slightly, and I heard a heavy breathing sound.

This wasn't spread by a person, but by a dog.

He was already used to this. These past few days, all the traitors he had found kept dogs at home, just to keep an eye on him.

However, it was completely useless against Cao Wei Da, who possessed the Cangming Soul-Locking skill.

He killed the dog with a single needle, climbed over the wall, and casually put the dog into his spatial storage before quietly sneaking towards the master bedroom.

As he approached the master bedroom, his ears twitched. He heard three breathing sounds: two from the master bedroom and one from the next room.

He paid no attention to the breathing sounds from next door; solving his own goal was the key.

He pulled out a dagger and inserted it into the crack in the door, but unexpectedly, the door was pushed open without the knife.

He just pushed it away like that?

Cao Wei Da was taken aback, thinking to himself that this traitor was quite audacious. Could it be that he had set up some kind of trap?

He peered through the open door, his superior physique giving him exceptional hearing and eyesight, along with his top-notch criminal investigation skills. His attention to detail was undoubtedly excellent. Yet, after observing for over a minute out of the corner of his eye, he couldn't find a single trace of a trap.

Two even breaths could be clearly heard from the master bedroom, indicating that the two people were in a deep sleep.

"Really that carefree?" Cao Weida was a bit dumbfounded. Good heavens, he had been so scared by himself that he had held his breath for over a minute!
He was both annoyed and amused. He slipped into the room and, upon reaching the bed in the master bedroom, discovered something unexpected: the person on the bed was not the target he was looking for, but a Japanese soldier!

Why are you so certain?

Because this Japanese soldier had bowlegs, was very short, and had a mustache!
Most importantly, a wad of diapers was lying haphazardly on the bed.

(End of this chapter)