Period drama: Old Cao's carefree life

Chapter 302 He wouldn't feel at ease if he didn't get rid of Cao Wei Da.

The next morning, the weather was overcast with a gentle breeze.

Cao Wei Da woke up under special service and praised Du Shiniang's service skills for improving day by day before going to the district office to report for duty.

Then, dressed in a crisp police uniform, Xiao Erduo, carrying a pistol at her waist, and Zheng Chaoyang got into the car and headed straight for Song Yusheng's residence.

The car stopped in front of Director Song's residence. The gatekeeper, seeing a car parked at the gate, asked a couple of questions respectfully.

Those who can be doormen are all discerning; if someone is brainless, the master of the house would never put such a person in that position.

These days, people who can afford to drive cars are no ordinary people.

Moreover, the flag hanging on the car also indicated that the person who came was no ordinary person.

After asking a couple of questions, they didn't dare to delay and quickly reported it inside.

Before long, the gatekeeper returned, followed by a man in a dark blue silk robe. The man in front had a professional smile on his face: "Director Cao, please forgive me for not greeting you sooner. I am the steward of the mansion. The master is already waiting in the front hall. Please follow me."

Cao Wei Da nodded slightly and followed, without even offering a few words of feigned special regard.

As he walked through the courtyard filled with pomegranate trees, his gaze swept over the surrounding buildings, and he was amazed. This Director Song had planted so many pomegranate trees in his house. Did he like to eat pomegranates or admire pomegranate blossoms?
Inside the front hall, Song Yusheng was sitting at the octagonal table, sipping tea, but his mind was not on the tea.

He naturally knew about Kui Biao's assassination attempt on Cao Weida the night before last, but Kui Biao had not returned since he left, and had not even sent a single message.

Yesterday, Cao Weida went to the district office as usual, but Kui Biao was nowhere to be found. He could roughly guess that something must have happened to Kui Biao.

I just don't know whether Kui Biao was beaten to death on the spot or arrested.
It would be fine if I were beaten to death, but what if I were caught?
He secretly sent someone to inquire, and news came that Kui Biao was an anti-Japanese element and had been shot dead on the spot.
This news brought him a slight sense of relief; with the man dead, the secret was kept.

However, a vague unease lingered in his heart.

Cao Weida's sudden visit today intensified his unease.

Could it be that Kui Biao vomited something before he died?
He felt a growing sense of unease.

He wasn't afraid of offending Cao Wei Da, who was just a peasant with no real power base. But he was very wary of Ono Oda, who was behind Cao Wei Da.

Despite being the head of the police department and a prominent figure in Beiping, Beiping was ultimately controlled by the Japanese, especially majors like Ono Oda, who held real power and were whom he dared not offend.

What is the purpose of Cao Weida's sudden visit today?
Does it mean Ono Oda?

"Sir, the guests have arrived."

Just as he was deep in thought, the steward led Cao Weida and others in.

Song Yusheng snapped out of his thoughts and put on a practiced smile: "Director Cao's presence is an honor to my humble abode."

"Please sit down, serve tea, serve the best tea, the top-grade Tieguanyin I just got a few days ago!"

He gestured for the steward to serve tea, but his eyes were subtly observing Cao Weida's expression.

Cao Wei Da, with a lukewarm smile, walked to the chair opposite him and sat down. His gaze swept over Song Yusheng, and he chuckled:

"Director Song is really joking. I am just a mere department head, and I am not worthy of the words 'honoring your humble abode'."

"I apologize for disturbing you today, Director Song."

"Not at all, not at all. I'm more than happy to welcome Director Cao. How could I possibly find it strange?" Song Yusheng pursed his lips secretly. This Cao Weida was not like the typical young man who showed his joy so openly.

"Welcome? I also hope that Director Song is genuinely welcoming me."

Cao Wei Da picked up the teacup handed to him by the steward with a half-smile, but did not drink it immediately. Instead, he slowly and deliberately stirred the floating tea leaves with the lid.

"I'm here today for two reasons. First, I haven't reported to Director Song since I became the director. Second, I was asked by Mr. Ono to bring you something."

Song Yusheng's expression stiffened slightly, then quickly returned to normal. "Oh? It's Ono-sama who's thinking of me. I'm truly flattered. May I ask what it is?"

Cao Wei Da took out the brocade box that Ono Oda had given him from his bosom, placed it on the table next to him, and pushed it towards the other party.

The moment the brocade box was opened, Song Yusheng's gaze fell on the bronze badge engraved with 'Police Section'. His face instantly paled, and his hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, causing a few drops of tea to spill out of the cup.

“Ono-sama said,” Cao Weida observed all of this, a half-smile playing on his lips, his voice low but carrying a heavy weight.

"He is very concerned about Director Song's health recently and urged you to take good care of yourself and not to worry about trivial matters, so as not to overwork yourself."

He deliberately emphasized the words 'concern' and 'health,' and Song Yusheng could easily understand the meaning behind them.
His Adam's apple bobbed a few times, and he finally found the reason for his unease.

Damn!

Kui Biao is definitely in trouble!
He even suspected that Kui Biao was not dead at all!
He forced a calm smile, his voice a little hoarse: "King Ono is so busy with his affairs, yet he still thinks about my health. I am truly humbled."

"I'm also grateful to Director Cao for making this trip in person. I have indeed been quite overworked lately, and I will definitely pay more attention in the future."

Actually, he was holding onto a sliver of hope. He believed that even if something went wrong with Kui Biao, given the current situation, Ono Oda might just try to smooth things over.

But now it seems that Cao Wei Da's importance in Ono Oda's mind was far greater than he had imagined.
Warning him is one thing, but having Cao Wei Da personally issue the warning is another!
Seeing that Song Yusheng had backed down, Cao Weida understood, but did not stop there.

This bastard is willing to die, how could he possibly let him go just because the other party backs down?

Cao Wei Da was no saint!
I can't repay evil with kindness!
"Ono-kun also asked me to pass on a message to you: At next week's security enhancement meeting, Ono-kun specifically instructed that you be the main reporter."

"They also said they hoped you would prepare well and show the Imperial Army the 'loyalty' of our Beiping government!"

Upon hearing this, Song Yusheng's face instantly turned ashen.

He wasn't stupid; he knew perfectly well that this so-called 'loyalty' was utter nonsense, and that Ono Oda was trying to embarrass him in public!
His chest heaved. After all, he was a prominent figure in Beiping. If he were publicly humiliated, what would others think of him?
"I understand!" Since the other party wasn't willing to let the matter rest, Song Yusheng stopped pretending to be amicable and stared coldly at Cao Weida with a stern face.
"Director Cao, is there anything else? If not, please leave. My small Song residence cannot contain such a great figure as you, who has a name on the Imperial Army's radar!"

Look, he's angry! He's actually angry!

Despite the blatant attempt to shoo him away, Cao Weida showed no anger whatsoever. He stood up with a smile and said, "Then I won't bother Director Song any longer. I'll take my leave now. No need to see me off. Please stay."

Song Yusheng sneered, "I never intended to give you anything! We've already fallen out, and you still expect me to give you something?"

I want to eat fart!
Just as Cao Weida reached the door, he suddenly stopped and turned back, saying, "Oh, right, I almost forgot. Ono-sama asked me to pass on a message to you: if the director has anything on his mind, he can talk to him about it. He doesn't need to keep everything bottled up inside; it's easy to get sick from bottling it up!"

After saying that, the two of them turned and left with Xiao Erduo.

Song Yusheng's eyes twitched slightly, and his heart sank.

He understood what was being said; it was a warning, a final ultimatum—to stop any further underhanded tactics.
Seeing that Cao Weida had already walked away, Song Yusheng could no longer contain his anger and knocked the tea that Cao Weida had just been drinking to the ground, scattering small pieces of porcelain all over the floor.

Hearing the commotion, the butler rushed in. Seeing that his face was turning pale and then red, he didn't dare to ask any more questions and could only cautiously ask, "Master, are you alright?"

Song Yusheng suddenly raised his hand and overturned the table to the ground, the loud noise particularly jarring in the quiet front hall.

"What are you looking at!" he growled, his eyes filled with anger and regret. "That bastard Cao Weida, I really underestimated him!"

"That idiot Kui Biao, what a bastard!!! I really want to kill him with my own hands!!"

He was panting heavily as he reached for the badge; the cold metallic touch calmed him down a little.

He knew that Ono Oda hadn't taken action against him for two reasons: first, the current situation required stability in Beiping; and second, he needed Ono Oda's position as a government official to maintain the appearance of order in Beiping.

But this badge is both a warning and an ultimatum.

If he dares to make any further moves, he will inevitably face fierce retaliation from Ono Oda.

"Cao Weida, you really are a good dog that your master cares about!"

A cold glint flashed in Song Yusheng's eyes. Since the two sides had already broken off relations, and Cao Weida didn't seem like he could reconcile, he had to get rid of Cao Weida to avoid future retaliation!
Otherwise, he wouldn't feel at ease!
"Go and call Lieutenant Luo here."

An hour later, Lieutenant Luo arrived at the Song residence.

Lieutenant Luo was his absolute confidant, with whom he had a life-or-death bond. What he was about to do was extremely important. If the Japanese found out, they would probably skin him alive!

Therefore, this task must be done by someone who is absolutely trustworthy.

After hearing the general outline of the matter, Lieutenant Luo frowned. "Chief, as far as I know, Cao Weida has been working for the Japanese. Those transport convoys and routes that bypassed our police department are basically all related to him."

"Not only Ono Oda, but even the Military Police Headquarters turned a blind eye to this, and even helped cover it up."

"It can be said that the relationship between him and all the Japanese officers in Beiping was very delicate."

"If we touch Cao Wei Da, I'm afraid..."

Before he could finish speaking, Song Yusheng forcefully interrupted him, "Precisely because he is highly regarded and trusted by Ono Oda and his men, I must get rid of him as soon as possible!"

"I've completely broken ties with him. If I don't get rid of him, there's no guarantee he won't try to kill me later!"

“These little devils are ruthless. Don’t think that just because I’m a department head now, they need me to maintain order in Beiping and appease us Nanjing government officials.”

"But once the war stabilizes, who knows if they'll still take me seriously?"

"I have to take this risk!"

His eyes flashed with a cold light. "But you're right, since we can't do it openly, let's use someone else to do the dirty work!"

This was also the reason he summoned his adjutant, Luo.

"Cao Weida is a staunch supporter of the Japanese, constantly helping the little devils make money. The Military Intelligence Bureau hates such die-hard traitors the most and will never let him go!"

"Military Intelligence Bureau?!" Lieutenant Luo was shocked. Colluding with anti-Japanese elements was a major taboo. If the Japanese found out, the consequences would be unimaginable!
Song Yusheng noticed his surprise and said calmly, "What's the big deal? It's just a matter of each getting what they need."

"If we're talking about anti-Japanese elements, who can be more frequent than the Japanese?"

"You think the Military Intelligence Bureau was fighting the Japanese to the death, but in reality, they had already been exchanging information and making a fortune in secret."

"Such a thing exists?!" Lieutenant Luo's worldview seemed to shatter. The Military Intelligence Bureau and the Japanese were actually doing business together in secret?!
He would never have imagined this!

"Heh, so there are a lot of things you don't know." Song Yusheng curled his lip. The ones who really fight to the death are always the underlings. The big shots at the top, no matter what the situation, still live a life of peace and prosperity.

Having reached his position, his vision has long surpassed that of those below him.

The dark and dramatic aspects of society can shock most people!

Of course, it's their business if they contact the Japanese, but if you contact the Military Intelligence Bureau privately, that's a major taboo.

Even after reaching the level of a department head, Song Yusheng dared not openly have any connection with the Military Intelligence Bureau.

He pulled out an iron box from the bottom of the bookcase. Inside was a half-broken silver note with the four characters "Guangji Teahouse" written on it in secret.

"This is proof of our contact with the Kuomintang informant. You go and tell him you have news of a big fish, someone who wants to exchange Cao Weida's life for his!"

He paused, his eyes turning sinister: "Tell him I will give him Cao Weida's whereabouts. Make sure the Japanese know it was their Military Intelligence Bureau who did it!"

On the other side, Cao Weida did not return directly to the district office, but instead went to a teahouse.

He arranged to meet Naoko Tanen here because Zheng Chaoyang told him that everything was ready in Changping.

Inside the teahouse, Naoko Tenjo had been waiting for a long time. As soon as Cao Weida entered, she eagerly asked, "Cao-san, how did it go? What was their reply?"

He couldn't help but be anxious, as this matter involved his life and fortune!

"I have not failed you." Cao Weida smiled, handed him a cigarette, and even kindly helped him light it.
"The Red Party said that they appreciate our help to the people and our previous pleasant cooperation. As long as we leave a small portion of the supplies to distribute to the people, they will not touch the rest of the supplies, and we can continue doing business as usual."

Hearing this, Nao's nerves, which had been tense for two or three days, finally relaxed. She let out a long sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from her forehead: "That's great, that's really great. I can finally rest assured, Cao-san. Thanks to you for everything this time."

(End of this chapter)