Chapter 333: The Flower in the Mirror, Shushan

Soon after, Cao Mengqi snatched back the phone.

He heard the girl grunt, as if she had stomped off in a huff.

'I'll be right back!'

'Good!'

Zhang Yong didn't change his mind.

He still wanted Cao Mengqi to come back.

It's not safe out there at this time. What if the Japanese invaders set their sights on him?

After all, Cao Mengqi has killed many Japanese invaders. He is probably on the blacklist of Japanese spies. Hurry back!

The longer you stay at home, the more dangerous it is. There are still other matchmaking targets.

They, the agents of the Restoration Society, are destined to be lonely. Because of their occupation, it is easy to put their families in danger.

The head of the agency later banned members of the Army United Front from getting married, presumably to avoid similar tragedies.

As long as they don't have a family, don't get married, and don't have children, they won't have any weak points...

'Be careful on the road!'

'I will!'

'Contact me if anything happens!'

'Okay!'

Cao Mengqi promised.

Zhang Yong was relieved.

It should be fine.

Zhang Yong slowly put down the phone. He looked at Chen Mei, who had not left.

'Team Leader Chen, what else is there?'

'The Creeper's radio station repeatedly mentioned a term: 'The Flowers in the Mirror'.'

'What?'

Zhang Yong looked at the other person blankly.

'What's Mirrored Flowers by the Edge?' What's this nonsense?

What was that thing again? It sounded like a romance novel.

'Mirrored Flowers by the Edge.'

'You've already deciphered the secret message from Creeper?'

'No. The obvious phrase in the telegram is Mirrored Flowers by the Edge. I deduce that the other party must be using Mirrored Flowers by the Edge as the key.'

'What's the key?'

'It's a code book. You can translate the message by comparing it with the Mirrored Flowers.

'So decrypt it quickly!'

'But we can't break the encryption. And we don't know which edition of Mirrored Flowers was printed by which publishing house.'

'Then buy them all.'

'We already have. Li Jingzhi is trying to decipher it.'

'Why is she involved again?'

'She's new. She's not restricted by all kinds of rules and regulations. Maybe she'll have a flash of inspiration and crack it.'

'This...'

Zhang Yong felt his head spinning.

To let Li Jingzhi decipher the secret telegram. It's still the Creeper's. What's wrong with that.

It feels like it's all a conspiracy against Li Jingzhi. But then I thought about it. I don't think the Director would waste his time on a rookie like that.

True?

False?

Ugh, this is really nerve-wracking.

It feels like no one with an IQ of less than 150 can survive a spy war.

To speculate in the words of a later era, is the Director playing a very, very big game? Are all these people just pawns?

'Anything else?'

'Yes...'

'If it's confidential, don't say it. If it's not, then speak up.'

'I have a vague hunch. I find this secret key very strange. Who would read a novel like 'The Flowers in the Mirror'? It's a ridiculous story!'

'It's just a password book. No need to read it.'

'No, I think this Creeper should be familiar with the novel. Or maybe the person he's in contact with is familiar with it.'

'I wouldn't read it anyway. I'd rather read Jin Ping Mei if I had the time.'

'Have you finished reading the Romance of the Three Kingdoms?'

'Er...'

Zhang Yong suddenly choked.

Well, she actually knew about this matter.

It seems that she really is the heart and soul of the department manager. Maybe she even has some kind of ambiguous relationship with the department manager...

Stop.

Stop.

You mustn't think too much about things like this.

No matter whether someone is telling the truth or not, you mustn't speculate. And you definitely shouldn't say anything.

'Sigh...'

He slumped. He ran a hand over his forehead. Damn Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Okay. I've got nothing to do for the next three days. I'll take this opportunity to catch up on it. I don't want the department manager to ask me if I know anything.

'Is there any more information?'

'No. If there is any new information, I will report it at any time.'

'Goodbye...'

Zhang Yong didn't even say thank you.

He really didn't want to thank her. Unless it was to thank her whole family.

For no reason at all, she had given him an extra task. It was difficult. It was not beneficial. It made enemies.

He might become the target of everyone's criticism.

That was for sure.

There was no wall in the world that could keep out the wind and rain.

No matter how the department head kept the secret, the news would eventually leak.

By then, everyone will know that he is in charge of the investigation into the climbing plant. The result will definitely be alienation.

Keep your distance.

Avoid at all costs.

What a mess. Can't even have some peace and quiet.

'I'll be going then.'

'You go!'

Zhang Yong waved his hand.

Chen Mei smiled and left.

Zhang Yong was annoyed. Sit down. No mood for a foot massage either.

No more free time.

No peace of mind.

Irritated.

Stands up. Shoves the address book back into Li Boqi's drawer. Then goes back to his office.

Everyone he sees along the way is very happy. It's like an elementary school composition, the festive atmosphere is everywhere. When they see him, they all smile, stand at attention, salute, and then say hello.

'Hello!'

'Hello!'

Zhang Yong mechanically returns the greetings.

Strives to force a smile. So as not to affect the festive atmosphere.

He returned to his office. He sat down. He leaned over his desk and looked blankly at the wall opposite. The wall was also blank.

Climbing plants...

A Dream in Red Mansions...

Should he read The Legend of the Condor Heroes again?

Wait.

He did have some interest in The Legend of the Condor Heroes.

In his previous life, he hadn't even finished reading it. Maybe he could now. It would be more interesting than reading A Dream in Red Mansions.

He looked up.

He was about to ask someone to go buy The Legend of the Condor Heroes...

Suddenly, he has a feeling. There are footsteps. Could it be Li Jingzhi?

Sure enough, Li Jingzhi turns and enters his office. She is a little surprised to see him.

'I thought you were busy over there!'

'Are you reading 'The Flowers in the Mirror'?'

'No, I'm not reading it. I'm pondering it. Combining it. Analysing it. Trying to see if I can piece together the contents of the telegram.'

'The telegram from the Japanese spy?'

'Yes! Team Leader Chen said it was a beginner's telegram from the Japanese spy. He told me to try to find a pattern in it.'

'So did you find it?'

'No. I'm at a loss. I don't know where the numbers have changed.'

'Not the slightest clue?'

'None.'

'That's good...'

'What do you mean, that's good?'

Li Jingzhi frowned. She felt that he was gloating.

Zhang Yong realised that he had made a mistake.

Li Jingzhi had no idea that this was the Creeper's telegram.

He couldn't tell her either.

Otherwise, everyone would know immediately that it was him who had leaked the information.

That would be the end.

Although he didn't want to arrest the Red Party, he couldn't leak the information. Otherwise, he would be suspected of helping the Red Party. Then someone would investigate him behind his back.

At that time, the cruelest thing might happen.

The boss would send a few Red Party members over for him to execute personally. Should he kill them or not?

This was a matter of loyalty.

If he didn't kill them, he would fail the test.

Espionage warfare was always very ruthless. There were many cruel realities in espionage dramas that were afraid to be filmed directly.

To put it plainly, sometimes people really do die at the hands of their own people.

Or, they may do it to their own people...

'It's very difficult to decipher. It's a real Japanese spy telegram.'

'Can you do it?'

'I don't know anything about telecommunications.'

'But it's too hard if I'm the only one working on it.'

'The beginning of everything is difficult!'

'You're not being sincere when you try to comfort me. You're just being perfunctory.'

'I really don't know anything about it!'

'Forget it!'

Li Jingzhi went out.

Perhaps she felt that it was indeed useless to ask him for help.

It would be better to hurry back and work on it herself. Slowly put the pieces together.

'Wait!'

'What?'

'Tell Shen Dong'er to go buy me a few books on the Legend of the Condor Heroes when she has time.'

'What did you say?'

Li Jingzhi turned back curiously. She looked at him doubtfully.

Zhang Yong: ?

Was I not clear enough?

'Legend of the Condor Heroes!'

'Legend of the Condor Heroes!'

'Shushan Swordsman Biography!'

I'll say it three times. Did you get it this time?

However, Li Jingzhi still looked confused. It was as if he were looking at a monster.

Zhang Yong: ...

What did I say wrong? Nothing!

"The Shushan Swordsman Biography was only serialised. There is no book. Where are you going to buy it?'

'There is no book?'

'Only Tianfeng Bao in Tianjin serialised it. There is no such thing on this side of the Songhu.'

'Really?'

Zhang Yong was doubtful. In the end, he chose to believe it.

It was indeed not easy to print the complete Shushan Swordsman during this period of chaos.

Fine, if it's not available, forget it. We'll talk about it when I finish writing.

Then it suddenly occurred to him that Shi Bingdao's Shèhuì Shēnwén Bào (Society News) might be a good place to serialise Shushan.

"I'm leaving!'

'Good!'

Li Jingzhi turned around and left.

Zhang Yong was also getting ready to leave. He was going to the hospital to visit Wu Liuji and the others.

They're injured. They're still at the Tzu Chi Hospital. Although they're not in serious condition, as a leader, I definitely have to visit them at this time...

'Ring ring ring...'

'Ring ring ring...'

Suddenly the phone rang again.

He picked up the receiver.

'Hello...'

'Shaolong. It's me.'

'Hello, Secretary Mao. What are your instructions?'

'Tomorrow night, there's a ball in the Treasury Department. Deputy Minister Min Gang has sent us an invitation for you to attend.'

'Me? In the Treasury Department?'

'Yes. The Director has already said yes. He said you'll be there on time.'

'Ah...'

Zhang Yong was speechless.

The Director had actually said yes? He was stunned. He didn't even ask himself.

Of course, he would never dare say such a thing out loud. Backbiting the boss, you're asking for it! The Treasury Department is behind Madam. The Director definitely has to say yes.

Other people flatter the boss. The boss flatters the wife. It's understood.

'What? Are you uncomfortable?'

'No. It's just a bit of a surprise. Boss, I've never been to a ball like this before. Is there anything I should be careful of?'

'I've never been to one either. So I can't tell you. But just listen, watch and don't say much.'

'Thanks for your guidance, Boss!'

'You did a great job last night. The boss is very pleased.'

'It's all thanks to your leadership, Boss.'

'The Director is also very happy. He is working on your third medal.'

'Thank you!'

'Okay. Get ready. Take the car to Jinling tomorrow morning. Go to the ball on time in the evening. Take more people with you on the way. Be careful.'

'I will. Thank you for your concern.'

'By the way, bring the various materials you have seized. You don't need to send someone from the headquarters to receive them.'

'Understood!'

'Okay. That's all.'

Mao Renfeng hung up the phone.

Zhang Yong also put down the receiver.

He despised him.

The point of the phone call was in the last sentence!

Bring the seized goods there.

That means all the money is included.

Well, it seems that Koxingde has already reported honestly. Headquarters is worried that they will all be divided up, so he was told to escort the goods back to headquarters immediately.

Attending the ball may just be a pretext.

Also, the Department of Air Operations has to be guarded against.

It feels like every time I go to the empty fund department, nothing good happens. Something always happens.

I'm worried that under the guise of inviting me to the ball, I'll be asked to take on some private work again. Then I really won't get any pay for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The department head is really something. He's using himself as a tool to please the wife.

As soon as there's a phone call from the empty fund department, this side immediately cooperates in every way.

Sigh...

Fortunately, the food in the empty fund department is pretty good.

When you go there yourself, listen more, watch more, speak less, do less, and be a quiet and handsome man.

Yes!

That's it.

'Ring ring ring...'

'Ring ring ring...'

Suddenly, the phone rang again.

Zhang Yong: ?

What's going on?

I'm fucking busy!

One call after another? It's never-ending, isn't it?

No way.

I need to get myself a secretary. Just like the Director of the Department...

He picks up the phone.

'Captain Zhang?'

It's Yang Lichu's voice.

Oh, dear. All his anger has vanished.

It's a beautiful woman calling!

'Yes. Section Chief Yang, what can I do for you?'

'Director Min asked me to invite you to the ball tomorrow night in the Air Supply Department.'

'Really? Do you have a dance partner?'

'What kind of dance partner do you want?'

'How about you?'

'I'll go ask my father...'

'No, no!'

Zhang Yong's true colours suddenly came to light.

Oh, my, I just remembered, her father is the deputy director!

Which department? It seems to be the Ministry of Justice?

Huh? Which deputy director was killed in the train derailment?

It seems to be the Ministry of Justice as well?

Wait. How many deputy directors are there in the Ministry of Justice?

I'm curious.

'Let me ask you something.'

'Go ahead!'

'Just how many under-secretaries are there in your father's Ministry of Justice?'

'Three.'

'Oh, so there are three!'

Zhang Yong nodded thoughtfully. He had thought there was only one. He had never imagined there were three.

Okay, that's fine. This is a rose with thorns.

It can be admired from afar, but not handled.

'Tell Minister Min that I'll be there tomorrow night, on time!'