Chapter 5, the visitor comes with ill intentions
As I had just reached a corner and was preparing to search the tall pile of firewood beside me, suddenly a masked man sprang out from behind the pile and fired a shot at my forehead. Before I could draw my gun, I quickly raised my hand to block it. The masked man, like a raccoon, swiftly climbed up the high pile of firewood and escaped over the wall.
Understanding, understanding, Brother Zhang, you are still quite thoughtful. You know that my marksmanship and skills are lacking, and you even specially sent two brothers to ensure my safety. Wang expresses gratitude to you, Brother Zhang, and how could I not understand this
However, one thing that Zhang Mingyi found somewhat rewarding was that Wang Feng, the head of the General Affairs Department who usually excels at flattery, had recently climbed the social ladder by befriending the director of the Mei Agency, Shōji Ono. This Shōji Ono intended to match Wang Feng with his sister, Seiko Ono, in a happy union. However, Wang Feng already had a fiancée studying at Shangjiang Normal University, and he himself seemed to have no particular interest in Seiko Ono, which provided him with an opportunity.
Moreover, my seven deceased brothers were all executed by communist elements with a single shot, the bullets striking either their foreheads or their chests. It seems that the communist forces in Shangjiang City are indeed formidable, possessing such precise marksmanship. For your safety, Brother Wang, I have decided to assign two additional personnel to protect you; I trust you can understand this. Upon realizing that Wang Feng was merely a fictitious rival in his eyes, Zhang Mingyi hurriedly apologized to Wang Feng. However, recalling the complete annihilation of his subordinate's action team the previous evening, he felt a sense of melancholy.
You cannot imagine, yesterday, I learned from a recently defected Communist Party member that there is a secret contact point of the Communist Party in the French Concession. I dispatched Action Team 2 to eliminate this Communist stronghold. However, to my surprise, all seven brothers of my Action Team 2 were killed by the Communist members, leaving not a single survivor.
Brother Zhang, you truly are a man who treats your subordinates like your own brothers. Just for this statement of yours, I agree.
Where, where, it is nothing worth mentioning, just a small effort. If you truly wish to thank me, Brother Wang, I lost seven brothers in the action team yesterday. When you are discharged and return to the department, please provide additional compensation to the families of each of them; that would be my repayment. Brother Wang, does that sound acceptable to you?
After listening to Wang Feng's calm and composed account, Zhang Mingyi pondered for a moment, feeling that what he said was in line with the situation he had observed, and the scene was very much in agreement; he had not yet discovered any flaws.
Brother Wang, after hearing this account, I couldn't help but break into a cold sweat for you. You mentioned that you are the head of the General Affairs Section in our office, and you usually do not participate in our action team's operations to apprehend communist elements. You said that you took the risk to support our action team yesterday, which was indeed a good intention, and I understand that. However, what if something were to happen to you? If there were any unfortunate incidents, I would have no way to explain it to the director.
Oh, I see. It seems that, Brother Wang, this time you have indeed found a young and beautiful woman like my sister-in-law, who is also cultured. Such encounters are truly rare, so you must cherish her well. As for me, I see that you are in good health, which puts my mind at ease. I still have tasks to attend to in my team, so I will not delay your time together any longer. I will take my leave now and come to visit you another day. Zhang Mingyi felt that if he continued to ask questions, it might arouse Wang Feng's suspicion. Even if he pressed further, he feared that he would not uncover any valuable clues, so he immediately cupped his hands and took his leave.
"Ah, sister-in-law, why are you so concerned about the two old communists who died yesterday?" As Zhang Mingyi was speaking, he felt something was off midway through his words. He quickly changed his tone and turned to Liu Min, who was beside him, waiting for her with a pair of astonished eyes, and inquired.
I saw that I had been shot in my left arm, so I quickly took out the towel I always carry with me to perform a simple bandage. As for what happened later, I fainted on the ground and remembered nothing. When I woke up, I found myself lying in this hospital room. After that, my fiancée came to fetch water to wash my face, and shortly after, you, Brother Zhang, arrived with several brothers from the action team to visit me
After finishing the service at noon, I went to a small tea house not far from the church with a few familiar church friends to have tea and chat for the entire afternoon. Around 5:15 PM yesterday, I vaguely heard several gunshots coming from a grocery store diagonally across the street. I thought it was quite audacious for someone to fire a gun in this French Concession and wanted to go see what had happened
However, Zhang, you can rest assured that, to my knowledge, Miss Sadako is still single. If you have developed feelings for Miss Sadako, I can introduce you to her when I have some free time.
Hehe, Brother Wang. After all, you are the head of the General Affairs Section in our department, and all the expenses in our department need to be reimbursed by you. Today, since you have moved into such a large single patient room, the expenses incurred must be covered by yourself. Our action team's activity funds are already very limited, so I hope Brother Wang will not take offense. Zhang Mingyi, upon hearing this, quickly laughed and hurried to clarify the issue of medical expenses with Wang Feng face to face. After pausing for a moment, as if he had thought of something, he changed the subject and continued, "By the way, Brother Wang. How did you end up at the crime scene yesterday evening? Weren't you on leave from the director to go to church for the service?"
Well then, Brother Zhang, you go ahead and get busy, I won't see you off. Your sister-in-law is here to keep me company. Wang Feng finally breathed a sigh of relief and quickly clasped his hands in insistence.
As for Zhang Laodi, regarding the young lady Shōya Shōko you just mentioned, my relationship with her is quite innocent. I only go to the kindergarten where Miss Shōko teaches every now and then to practice Chinese calligraphy with her. Moreover, I do not go there for free; I happen to want to learn some Japanese from her. You also know that her brother is the head of the Japanese consulate in Shangjiang City. This head insisted that I teach his sister because he found my calligraphy acceptable. How could I dare to refuse him?
"Brother Zhang, you are being too formal. Every time your action team reports the activity expenses, none of them are less than 10,000 dollars. I have never deducted a single cent from the funds with *Tu* *Shu*. You are really being quite stingy. Never mind, I will cover the hospitalization expenses myself. Your action team is out running around all day, which is not easy either. Consider the remaining money as my contribution for the tea money for the brothers in the action team." After listening to Zhang Mingyi's question, Wang Feng's resolute face still showed no signs of surprise or fear. He calmly replied, "Brother Zhang, this is how it is. Yesterday was Sunday, and I took a day off from our director to go to St. Maria Church at 412 Changjiang Road in the French Concession, where I often attend services."
Oh, haha, Brother Zhang, how could she be concerned about the Communist Party? She is concerned about me. When she saw my arm was injured by a gunshot, wasn't it all caused by those Communist elements? Just now she told me that in the future, she would stand against the Communist Party. If she knew that some of those Communist elements from yesterday were still alive, she would take my gun and go find them to avenge me
Haha, I see now, I was overthinking it, and I underestimated your character. I am just a rough person, and I hope you, Brother Wang, will not hold it against me. By the way, Brother Wang, how do you feel about living here? If you have any requests or needs, please feel free to mention them. I have arranged for two capable brothers outside to ensure your safety.
"Zhang, Captain Zhang, is that correct? I would like to ask, the two communists you captured in front of the grocery store yesterday, are they still alive?" Liu Min, who had been standing by, had not spoken a word from the beginning, listening intently. When she saw Wang Feng and Zhang Mingyi stop, she seized the opportunity to timidly ask.
If you do not ask, and I were to take the initiative to speak about it, wouldn't that just be boasting? As far as I know, in our department, apart from the director, there are still two to three hundred people who are single. I dare not bring up any sensitive topics in front of you all. Wang Feng, supported by Liu Min, leaned against the inverted white pillow. Without changing his expression, he smiled at Zhang Mingyi, who was standing at the foot of the bed, pointed at Liu Min in front of him, and continued, "Brother Zhang, she is still studying at our Shangjiang Normal University. I do not want to be labeled as an old cow eating tender grass."
Even though Wang Feng was anxiously aware in his heart of the possibility of his and Liu Ming's identities being exposed at any moment, he remained calm and composed on the surface, his expression as tranquil as water
It had only been three to five minutes since Zhang Mingyi, accompanied by the four Japanese puppet agents who had barged in with him, left the ward. Liu Min, who had been standing dumbfounded in front of the bed, was overwhelmed with sorrow at the thought that yesterday, he had been killed by these traitors who sold out their country and deserved to be cut into a thousand pieces. Tears streamed down his face as he wept silently.
Leaning against the pillow, Wang Feng gazed at Liu Min, who had already turned into a tearful figure. Whether it was due to being deeply moved or the emotions of the moment, his eyes also began to well up with tears
Hehe, Brother Zhang, you said that as a female student, she wouldn't know how to shoot at all. Isn't that just complicating our work here? Fortunately, Brother Zhang, you informed her that the Communist Party is already dead; otherwise, she might have really gone ahead with it. After listening to Liu Min's question beside him, Wang Feng immediately felt a cold sweat break out in his palms. Before the trembling Liu Min could respond, he took the initiative to laugh it off, forcing a smile and saying.
Thank you for your concern, Brother Zhang. I suppose it was you who brought me to this hospital. If you had come a little later yesterday, I might not be lying here; I would have been dead long ago. I will remember this kindness, and once I have recovered from my injuries, I will certainly pay you a visit to express my gratitude, Brother Zhang. Upon seeing that Zhang Mingyi had no suspicions, Wang Feng's previously tense emotions finally settled down. He cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and said gratefully.
Coincidentally, as I entered the front gate of the grocery store, I saw an old man and a woman lying on the ground, both shot dead. I felt something was amiss and quickly followed the chaotic footprints on the ground to the backyard. Upon arriving at the backyard of the grocery store, I found the group leader of Action Team 2, Zhang Mingfa, and six other brothers lying on the ground, just as Zhang had described earlier. Each of them had been shot in the forehead and chest. Upon seeing this situation, I quickly drew my gun and searched the backyard to see if any communist elements were still hiding there.
Fortunately, Brother Wang, you are not seriously injured; you only sustained a gunshot wound to your arm. The bullet was removed by the doctors at St. Maria Hospital last night. The injury is not very deep. With some dressing changes in a dark room and a few days of rest, you should be able to be discharged.
So it turns out to be Captain Zhang, your statement is somewhat defamatory towards me. We have worked together in the department for three years now, and if I am not mistaken, Brother Zhang, you have never inquired about whether I have a family or not
The St. Maria Hospital is indeed a well-known hospital in Shangjiang City. I, Wang, am already very content to be arranged for treatment here by Brother Zhang, especially to have such a spacious single room. With such high-quality care, I have no other demands. Wang Feng, who possesses a strong psychological quality, at this moment, still maintained his composure and chuckled, saying this.
Zhang Mingyi stood in front of the bed, his two eyes sharp as a hawk, fixated on the expression on Wang Feng's cheek. He intended to disturb Wang Feng's state of mind with his earlier deliberately sarcastic remarks. However, to his great disappointment, he found no signs of any abnormality in Wang Feng's demeanor from the moment he began to speak.
However, due to his professional habits, he felt that Wang Feng being shot in the arm and fainting at the crime scene was not as simple as he described. As for how to clearly understand the situation at that time, he believed that questioning would probably not yield any results, so he decided to send someone to investigate and gather information.
If our people are capturing the communists, once the French Concession's police are summoned, I might be able to assist. As you know, as the Chief of General Affairs, I frequently interact with various aspects of Jiang City. I am well acquainted with Mr. York, the consul in charge of the French Concession. In the event that the police from the police station obstruct us from taking the communists away, I can step forward to request Mr. York to allow them to hand over the communists for us to deal with.
The two communists found in front of the grocery store had already been killed by the members of Action Group Two, who had previously sacrificed themselves, before I arrived. Their bodies were disposed of by us at the mass grave to the north of the city