Courtyard House: I, the eldest son of the Jia family, have returned from the battlefield.

Having obtained the information he wanted, Zhang Handong put on a warm smile and extended his hand to Jia Dongming: "Section Chief Jia, we really owe you a lot this time! If it weren't for your decisive action, who knows how deep the mines of enemy agents in our factory would have been—it's terrifying to think about."

As he spoke, he softened his tone slightly and added considerately, "I know you're busy, so I won't bother you any longer."

Jia Dongming smiled and shook his hand, saying repeatedly, "Secretary Zhang, you're too kind. Let me see you off."

After watching Zhang Handong walk away, Jia Dongming turned around and strode back to his office.

He pressed one hand on the telephone on the table, cranked the handle vigorously, then picked up the receiver and said in a calm tone, "Comrade, please connect me to the Beijing Public Security Bureau, Deputy Chief Ma's office."

"I am Ma Weidong."

A deep, solemn voice quickly came through the receiver.

Jia Dongming immediately changed to a cheerful tone and reported: "Vice President Ma, our operation at the factory is going very smoothly."

Inside the hideout in Mao'er Hutong, two radios, a batch of guns and ammunition, 30 kilograms of gold, 20,000 silver dollars, and some foreign exchange were found.

He paused slightly, then lowered his voice: "But none of these are the most important things."

A map was found in the secret room, marking all the enemy's strongholds in Beijing, as well as... the location of the secret arms depot left by the Japanese back then.

The special ammunition we've been looking for is also on it.

"What?!"

Ma Weidong on the other end of the phone stood up, his voice brimming with barely suppressed excitement, "Dongming, are you sure? You've found the location of the special missile?"

"Absolutely true."

Jia Dongming answered decisively, "I carry the map with me at all times."

"I'll send it to you as soon as I've settled things with Corey."

"Don't move!"

Ma Weidong's tone suddenly turned serious, "I'll personally bring the car to pick up this important Dongxi."

Wait for me at the security office.

Just as Jia Dongming was about to respond, Zhang Guoping pushed open the door and came in, his face beaming.

He quickly put his index finger to his lips, signaling the other person to be quiet.

Then he said to the person on the other end of the phone, "Vice President Ma, please bring a few more cars."

The supplies seized from enemy agents will also be taken away, saving us the trouble of transporting them separately.

Ma Weidong hadn't mentioned the supplies before, keeping a watchful eye on them. But when Jia Dongming brought it up, a smile appeared on his face, and his tone softened considerably: "Okay, I'll take them with me."

I will report the merits of your security department truthfully this time, and you will certainly receive the recognition you deserve.

"Section Chief, the inventory is complete."

After Jia Dongming hung up the phone, Zhang Guoping leaned forward, his voice trembling with barely suppressed excitement, "A total of 3,300 jin of rice and noodles, plus 30 boxes of canned beef."

Seeing his excitement, Jia Dongming waved his hand and said, "Mingtian will have extra food at the cafeteria at noon. Open a case of canned food and let everyone have a taste."

"Mingbai!"

Zhang Guoping nodded immediately.

When Jia Dongming remembered that Ma Weidong was coming, his expression turned serious, and he instructed, "Guoping, Deputy Director Ma from the General Administration will be here soon."

Tell everyone in Corey to keep their mouths shut—not a single word about the supplies we intercepted is allowed to escape.

"Don't worry."

Zhang Guoping quickly assured him, "Captain Guo has already given us a unified statement; the items on the truck are all the spoils we seized tonight."

Jia Dongming nodded, pondered for a moment, and then whispered, "Also, make an overtime pay form for the money in your office as soon as possible."

Those who are present tonight will receive 30 yuan each, and those who are absent will receive 15 yuan each.

The money will come from the proceeds seized tonight.

Zhang Guoping had a premonition that Jia Dongming must have had a reason for withholding that money.

But hearing the other party's arrangements with his own ears still made him feel a surge of secret joy.

He suppressed his emotions, stepped forward, and asked, "Section Chief, what should we do with the remaining funds? What about the receipts and vouchers that were turned in?"

Jia Dongming hesitated for a moment, then tapped his fingertips lightly on the table twice: "The remaining money should be deposited in the department's reserve account."

As for the tickets, go and sort them out, separating those nearing their expiry date from those without an expiry date, and then we'll make further plans.

Zhang Guoping nodded in agreement.

Then, changing his mind, he spoke again: "Section Chief, if it weren't for your strategic planning tonight, how could our section have achieved such a great result? In my opinion, you should receive an extra overtime allowance from the section."

Jia Dongming raised his hand to stop him. "No need."

His voice was steady but unquestionable: "Comrade Guoping, I don't care about what happened in the past."

But from today onwards, all assignments within the security department will be treated equally—whether I'm the department head or a regular team member, there will be absolutely no special treatment.

Zhang Guoping's gaze sharpened, a hint of respect flashing in his eyes.

He straightened his back and solemnly replied, "Understood, Section Chief."

I'll take care of it right away.

Jia Dongming nodded: "Go ahead."

About half an hour later, a jeep led a truck into the steel rolling mill and stopped in front of the security office building.

Upon receiving the news, Jia Dongming quickly went to the door and gave a proper salute to Ma Weidong, who was getting out of the jeep: "Welcome, Vice President Ma, to the steel rolling mill security department for guidance."

Ma Weidong returned the greeting, his expression gentle: "Comrade Dongming, according to the intelligence you provided, tonight's operation was a complete success. We captured 27 spies, killed five, and seized a large quantity of weapons and ammunition."

Jia Dongming turned to the truck beside him and reported with a smile: "Deputy General Ma, our department has seized 30 kilograms of gold, 20,000 silver dollars, two radios, two mortars, three heavy machine guns, five light machine guns, 30 rifles and pistols, and other supplies in the secret room of the secret agents."

As he spoke, he handed over a detailed list with both hands.

Ma Weidong took it, carefully scanned a few lines, and then handed it to the accompanying police officer: "Xiao Zhang, you are responsible for completing the handover with the comrades from the security department."

After the handover was completed, Jia Dongming took out a roll of map from his pocket and respectfully presented it: "Vice President Ma, this is a map found in the secret room. It marks several enemy agent strongholds and the detailed location of a secret warehouse."

Ma Weidong took it, but did not unfold it immediately. He carefully put it into his briefcase before looking at Jia Dongming: "Comrade Jia Dongming, the situation is urgent. We must rush back to the headquarters immediately."

The security department of the steel rolling mill has made a significant contribution this time, and I will report the truthfully to my superiors after the entire operation is completed.

While a collective second-class merit cannot be guaranteed, a third-class merit is almost certain.

Jia Dongming's face turned solemn: "Protecting the safety of the people is our duty, it is our responsibility, and we dare not take credit for it."

Ma Weidong nodded, then his expression turned serious as if he suddenly remembered something: "In addition, I received a call from General Manager Kou of the Ministry of Industry before I came here."

He requested that Yang Weimin be transferred to the disciplinary inspection department of the Ministry of Industry for investigation, and I have agreed.

Mingtian Industrial Department will send someone to pick it up; you can simply hand it over.

Jia Dongming originally thought that the General Administration would investigate Yang Weimin personally, but unexpectedly the case was handed over to the Ministry of Industry.

However, this matter did not concern him much, and he immediately replied, "Yes, Vice President Ma."

As soon as the comrades from Mingri Industrial Department arrived, we immediately began the handover process.

After seeing off the group from the General Administration, Jia Dongming turned around and looked at the team members who had not yet dispersed in the courtyard. "It's getting late,"

He called out, "Everyone except those on duty tonight, go back and rest."

Before he finished speaking, he was about to turn back to his office to organize his belongings when he suddenly remembered something. He stopped and added loudly, "Comrades who need to go home, please go to Section Chief Zhang of the Logistics Section to collect your night shift allowance for tonight."

Those who went on the mission received 30 yuan each, while those who stayed behind received 15 yuan each.

In addition, Mingtian's cafeteria offers a lunch break with meat and vegetables.

The security team members who participated in the operation tonight had already heard rumors from Zhang Guoping about the 30 yuan subsidy. Now, hearing Jia Dongming confirm it with their own ears, smiles appeared on their faces. They exchanged glances and headed towards the logistics section.

"Section Chief! Yang Weimin has woken up and says he wants to see you."

Just as Jia Dongming finished tidying up the winter trinkets in his office and picked up his bag to leave, a security guard hurried up to him and gave a formal report.

Upon hearing that Yang Weimin had regained consciousness and requested a meeting, Jia Dongming smiled knowingly and instructed the young security guard who came to deliver the message: "Xiao Liu, all comrades who participated in the operation tonight will receive a night shift allowance of thirty yuan each."

Go directly to Section Chief Zhang in the logistics department; he will distribute it.

Xiao Liu and another colleague stayed up all night in the infirmary to watch over Yang Weimin, completely unaware of the allowances being distributed outside.

Upon hearing this news from Jia Dongming, he was taken aback, almost doubting his own ears. He quickly asked, "Section Chief, you mean... those who go on the mission tonight really get thirty yuan?"

Seeing Xiao Liu's surprised and doubtful look, Jia Dongming nodded firmly: "Absolutely true."

However, we should keep the details of receiving the money to ourselves and not spread it around.

Xiao Liu nodded quickly and replied, "Mingbai, Section Chief."

I'll go see Section Chief Zhang right now.

After giving his instructions, Jia Dongming headed towards the infirmary.

Meanwhile, in the logistics section office, the security team members who came to collect their money were surprised to learn that Jia Dongming had received the same amount as everyone else. They couldn't help but feel a sense of respect for the new section chief who had only been in office for a week.

As Xiao Liu jogged towards the logistics department, Jia Dongming had already hopped on his bicycle, rolled across the empty cement road in the factory area, and stopped outside the infirmary.

Upon seeing him arrive, the security guard standing at the entrance of the infirmary immediately straightened his back and saluted: "Section Chief!"

Jia Dongming raised his hand in return, then pushed open the door and went inside.

He walked through the quiet corridor and pushed open a half-closed door.

This is a rest room used for temporary observation. Yang Weimin is sitting on the hospital bed, staring blankly at a certain spot on the wall, as if his soul has not yet returned home.

Jia Dongming entered the room, stopped a few steps away from the hospital bed, and broke the silence with his voice: "Yang Weimin, I heard you wanted to see me."

I'm here. What do you want to say?

Upon hearing the sound, Yang Weimin trembled slightly, and his unfocused gaze slowly refocused.

He turned his neck to look at Jia Dongming standing in front of him—his crisp police uniform seemed particularly striking at that moment.

After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice hoarse and dry like sandpaper: "Jia Dongming... they told me that my wife... Zhang Huizi, is a Japanese spy."

Is that true?

Jia Dongming did not answer immediately.

He gazed at Yang Weimin's withered and ashen face and said slowly, "Yang Weimin, I guess you've already made your judgment, but you just won't admit it to yourself."

These words were like a fine needle, gently puncturing Yang Weimin's last bit of self-deception.

The last light in his eyes went out completely, and his shoulders slumped down.

Fragments of the past few years spent with Zhang Huizi flashed wildly through my mind—those gentle words and considerate details, all now tinged with an eerie color.

He couldn't understand or accept that the woman who would tuck him in at night and always remember his stomach problems and cook porridge in the morning was actually a carefully disguised shadow.

Silence filled the room.

Finally, when Yang Weimin raised his head again, his face was expressionless, a blank, lifeless void.

He asked, "So, what do they plan to do with me?"

Jia Dongming shook his head almost imperceptibly. "Over the years, you should know better than anyone how much information Zhang Huizi has extracted from you by taking advantage of your position as the factory director's wife."

What do you think the higher-ups will do?

He paused, then added in a calm tone, "Just before I came to see you, General Manager Kou of the Ministry of Industry already knew about this matter and personally called Deputy Director Ma of the Public Security Bureau, requesting that you be transferred to the relevant departments of the Ministry of Industry for processing."

As for what happens next, that's beyond my control.

After saying that, Jia Dongming stopped looking at the person on the hospital bed who seemed to have all his life drained away in an instant, turned around, opened the door, and walked out.

It was nearly 11 p.m. when Jia Dongming finally returned to the alley where the courtyard house was located.

The courtyard gate was tightly closed, and the inside was bolted shut.