Chapter 30: Beads, Thread

Yihe Road is a very famous street in Songhu.

The people who live here are either rich or noble. On both sides of the road are various small Western-style buildings.

Most of them are two-storeyed. Some are three-storeyed. They are all single-family homes.

This is also the first time Zhang Yong has been here.

Lou Qicheng's home is at No. 76. A very coincidental number.

It is a red brick building. It is surrounded by tall flowers, plants and trees. It is shady and green. You cannot see what is going on inside.

Zhong Yang and Wu Liuqi are both worried about an ambush and are extra vigilant. They hold their guns in their hands.

Zhang Yong is also not taking this lightly.

He can only find Japanese people. If it is not Japanese people, it will be bad.

The map shows that there are no Japanese inside. But there may be hired watchmen or caretakers. These people also have guns in their hands. It would be troublesome if they got shot.

Better to be safe than sorry.

Technically unlock the door.

Enter.

It's quiet inside, no one is there.

Keep going until you reach the door of the small Western-style building. A young woman comes out.

Early twenties. The most beautiful time in a woman's life. She was wearing a light blue cheongsam. Her slender figure swayed attractively.

He cursed under his breath.

What a waste of a beautiful woman.

Lou Qingcheng, this hidden Japanese, had married such a beautiful Chinese girl.

Damn it.

No.

When he got back, he would have to personally beat him up.

'You are...'

'Oh, we are friends of Lou Qingcheng.'

'Friends?'

The young woman was suspicious and frightened.

But she saw the guns in the men's hands. They came armed to her door and said they were friends of Lou Qingcheng?

"Let's talk inside.'

'No...'

'Miss, we are from the Secret Service Agency.'

'Huh?'

The young woman was very surprised.

She never would have imagined that the man she lived with would be involved with secret agents.

She didn't dare to stop them. Her heart was pounding.

They entered the small Western-style building.

The interior was very ornate. It was obvious that a lot of money had been spent.

Damn it.

She was determined to go back and beat Lou Qingcheng up.

'You're here...'

'Miss, what's your last name?'

'My surname is Pei.'

'Pei what?'

'Pei Lan.'

'Miss Pei Lan, when did you marry Lou Qingcheng?'

'We didn't get married...'

'Then when did you start living together?'

'Six months ago...'

'Have you noticed anything unusual about Lou Qingcheng?'

'You want to know...'

Pei Lan frowned.

She couldn't figure out the reason Zhang Yong and the others had come.

Zhang Yong went straight to the point, 'Lou Qingcheng is Japanese. He has been hiding here for many years, disguised as a Chinese.'

'What?' Pei Lan's eyes widened in disbelief.

Lou Qingcheng is Japanese?

And he's hiding?

She sensed something was wrong. She almost expected the worst.

'I hope you will cooperate with the investigation.'

'I, I don't know anything. Really, I don't know anything...'

'Calm down. Miss Pei.'

Zhang Yong remained calm. His face gradually grew cold.

You don't know anything?

Do you expect me to believe that?

"Search!'

'Yes!'

Zhong Yang and Wu Liuqi began searching.

Pei Lan looked uneasy. She kept rubbing the hem of her clothes. And kept biting her lips.

Zhang Yong also didn't say a word.

He was the apple that had fallen into the chessboard. He didn't know how to play chess.

But what he was best at was knocking the chess pieces flying. On the chessboard, no chess piece was his match.

To put it bluntly, he was now completely beating the Japanese spy.

'Report! We found the radio!'

Suddenly, Zhong Yang called from the second floor corridor.

Zhang Yong nodded. He was calm on the inside. This was nothing new.

Lou Qingcheng was definitely a Japanese spy. He definitely had a radio.

He was hiding so deeply, and it was only natural that the radio would be in his house.

Who would dare to go to his house and search it?

It was probably only Zhang Yong.

ADVERTISEMENT

He was also the only one who dared to drag Lou Qingcheng back to the Lixing Club without saying a word.

He didn't care about the other person's identity or background. As long as they were a hidden Japanese, they were immediately arrested. If they were hiding their identity, they were either traitors or thieves, and there was no way they could be arrested by mistake.

You see, this is the case now.

The radio has been found. Even if there were a hundred Lou Qings, they would be dead.

'Ah...'

'He...'

Pei Lan suddenly turned pale.

At this moment, even if she were an idiot, she knew the gravity of the situation.

There was actually a radio hidden in the house!

'But no code book was found,' Zhong Yang reported shortly afterwards.

Zhang Yong looked at Pei Lan.

She was already paralysed on the spot. She was too frightened to control herself.

'I don't know...'

'I don't know...'

She kept mumbling. But she was really scared.

Zhang Yong also didn't say anything.

When she had calmed down a little, he said slowly, "Did Lou Qingcheng have any dealings with Meng Chaowei?'

'Who is Meng Chaowei?" Pei Lan looked puzzled.

'What about Lin Xiaoyan?'

'Lin...you mean the music teacher at Yinghua Primary School?'

'Yes.'

'He, he...'

Peilan paused, then finally gritted her teeth.

She stood up.

'Go on.'

'I know them. They often secretly dated. I even followed them twice. They thought I didn't know. Hmph, I...'

'When and where did they date? Write it down.'

'Okay!'

Peilan really got a pen and paper and started writing.

She could read. And her handwriting was not bad at all. Neat and tidy. I reckon there were not many people in the entire secret service who could write as well as her.

'What do you do?'

'I used to teach at Jinling Girls' High School. I taught ancient Chinese literature.'

'Oh...'

Jinling Girls' High School. Very famous.

But, two years later, it was also very tragic. I hope that historical tragedies will not repeat themselves.

We must do our part to evacuate all the innocent people of Jinling City in advance. So that they will not suffer at the hands of the Japanese invaders.

We can do as much as we can.

Soon, Peilan finished writing and handed it to Zhang Yong.

Zhang Yong took it and looked at it carefully. He discovered that Lou Qingcheng and Lin Xiaoyan had a really high number of dates.

Basically, it was once a week. No wonder Peilan was jealous. Any woman would be.

Very good. This time, we have gained a lot.

Lin Xiaoyan and Lou Qingcheng. They're connected.

I'm sure this Lou Qingcheng is definitely a member of some Japanese spy ring.

Perhaps it's Lin Xiaoyan's own ring.

When others crack Japanese spy cases, they follow the thread and string the beads together. But Zhang Yong, on the contrary, first finds each bead and then finds the thread.

Different paths lead to the same result. The outcome is the same.

Continue scanning Lou Qingcheng's circle of friends, and other Japanese spies will continue to reveal themselves.

'I won't arrest you. Just cooperate.'

'Tell me.'

'Don't let the cat out of the bag. Just say that Lou Qingcheng went to Guangzhou. You don't know what he went there for. If anyone comes looking for Lou Qingcheng, just give me a call.'

'Okay.'

'Write down all the people Lou Qingcheng has social connections with, the people he usually interacts with, as long as you know them, and hand it over to me.'

'Okay.'

'You're a smart guy, you don't want to risk your life, do you?'

'I understand!'

'Good!'

Zhang Yong nodded.

Talking to smart people is simple.

He wasn't afraid of what Pei Lan would do behind his back either. The Japanese had been arrested, so what was she?

Bring the radio with you. Then leave. Come back and report to Li Boqi.

'Don't report this for now,' Li Boqi whispered.

'Understood,' Zhang Yong nodded.

'What do you understand?'

'I...'

'First squeeze Lou Qingcheng for all he's worth. Cash and valuables, put it in your pocket. When you've squeezed him dry, then report it. Last time with Meng Chaowei, we lost out. Other people got the lion's share. This time, we can't be so stupid. There are some things you can't be magnanimous about. Some interrogations, don't record them.'

'Understood.'

Zhang Yong nodded. This time, he really understood.

It's good to have such a boss.

This is what motivates people!

Let's go squeeze Lou Qingcheng for all he's worth!