Boss Dai

Roughly half an hour later. Wei Shigeng, Chang Naiyun, and Jiang Wendao all emerged from the commissioner's office with smiles on their faces. "Brother Zilong, Brother Jiang." Unable to conceal his elation, Wei Shigeng smiled and said, "Congratulations to you both, my brothers!" "The congratulations belong to all of us," Chang Naiyun replied. "We were mere guests at the table—you, Brother Zhijie, are the guest of honor who took the top prize." "Branch Chief Wei, now that the Special Operations Branch has scored such a massive achievement, you ought to host a celebration," Jiang Wendao chimed in, seized by an idea. "Indeed, absolutely," Chang Naiyun agreed with a chuckle. "A banquet to share our good fortune!" Wei Shigeng gave a hearty laugh. "The day after tomorrow, at Xianrenju. My treat, and no one goes home sober!" He cast a glance at Jiang Wendao, his impression of the tactful and sensible director of Jiangjun Temple Police Station growing even higher. *** The door to the commissioner's office remained slightly ajar. A young man stepped quietly over to the door and shut it gently. He then returned to his seat before a side table and resumed studying the document in his hands. A few minutes later, he laid the document down, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. "Finished it, Young Qi?" Wu Panshi's voice was deep and commanding. "Yes, Commissioner, I've finished." Qi Nanqiao returned the document to Wu Panshi's desk with both hands. "Tell me what you think." Wu Panshi took the document, flipped through it casually with downcast eyes, and inquired. "Judging from the facts presented in the file—or rather, from the account of the case submitted by the Special Operations Branch—the Special Operations Branch undoubtedly deserves the primary credit for cracking this major Japanese espionage case," Qi Nanqiao said. "In addition, the Inspectorate Division contributed through its supervisory role." "As for the Jiangjun Temple Police Station and the Lücheng Station of the Danyang Police Bureau, they also played a certain supporting role throughout the operation," Qi Nanqiao continued. "Is that all?" Wu Panshi looked up, gave Qi Nanqiao a sideways glance, and asked. "Uncle Wu, do you really want my honest opinion?" Qi Nanqiao paused for a few seconds before asking with a smile. "What are you dawdling for?" Wu Panshi glared at him, making a show of preparing to toss the cigarette case in his hand. "I studied this case file very carefully and made a startling discovery," Qi Nanqiao said with a smile. "Fang Jibai, an officer from Jiangjun Temple Police Station. His name appears only six times in the document. It's not a frequent appearance, and on the surface, it doesn't seem remarkable at all." He addressed Wu Panshi, "However, as I mulled it over, I developed a distinct feeling that every single time Fang Jibai appeared, it was at a pivotal turning point in the case." Qi Nanqiao refilled Wu Panshi's teacup and continued, "At first glance, the case file doesn't seem out of the ordinary. But the more you examine it, the more you can feel Fang Jibai's vital role." "To verify my hunch, I tried a simple, clumsy trick," he said with a chuckle. "I attempted to strip Fang Jibai's name from the record—more precisely, to remove every passage where he appears and delete all his words and actions. And to my astonishment—" "Guess what?" Qi Nanqiao clapped his hands together. "The case falls apart completely! It couldn't have been solved at all!" *** Xufuxiang. Qi Shanyu was hunched over his desk writing, his brow faintly furrowed. Right then, a knock sounded at his office door. "Section Chief Yiyan, it's me." "Enter." Qi Shanyu put down his fountain pen, capped it carefully, and only then looked up. "What is it?" "Section Chief, fresh intelligence from Pear Garden." Dongfang Xu stepped forward and delivered a low-voiced report. "Is it confirmed that those prisoners were escorted from Lücheng in Danyang?" Qi Shanyu's face shifted, and he asked in a heavy voice. "Confirmed," Dongfang Xu nodded. "Our contact, Big Duck Pear, reported from Pear Garden that the man who escorted the prisoners to Nanjing was a squad leader from the Lücheng Station of the Danyang Police Bureau named Chen Xiuqi." "Is it confirmed to be connected to Japanese espionage?" Qi Shanyu pressed. "Big Duck Pear says it's confirmed," Dongfang Xu said. "Jiang Xingzhi, leader of the third squad of the Capital Police Department's Special Operations Branch, personally took custody of the prisoners. According to him, Jiang Xingzhi was grinning so hard his mouth was almost crooked with joy. Most importantly, he overheard Jiang Xingzhi identify the radio as a Japanese Showa Year 10 model." "A radio!" Qi Shanyu's expression turned increasingly solemn. "A Japanese radio, Japanese spies, Danyang, Lücheng..." He stared at Dongfang Xu. "Do you know what this means?" "I don't know, sir." Dongfang Xu shook his head. "You don't know, or you don't dare to say?" Qi Shanyu demanded. Dongfang Xu lowered his head. "Has Zhang Minquan at the Danyang Station telegraphed any updates on his progress?" Qi Shanyu asked. "A telegram came early this morning," Dongfang Xu answered. "Station Chief Zhang reported that he arrived in Lücheng last night and would begin a thorough investigation and search today, confident he would pick up the scent of the Japanese spies." "'Confident'? 'Confident'!" Fury flared in Qi Shanyu's eyes. "The police department has already stewed the meat to perfection and served the whole pot over at Yihe Road, and he's still running around sniffing for dog droppings!" With that, Qi Shanyu pushed back his chair and stood abruptly. "Section Chief?" Dongfang Xu looked at him. "Go keep an eye on Pear Garden, and watch No. 32 Yihe Road closely as well," Qi Shanyu commanded in a low voice. "I'm going to report to Boss Dai." "Section Chief, shouldn't we verify the details more thoroughly before going to Boss Dai...?" Dongfang Xu trailed off, silenced by the piercing, deadly serious gaze Qi Shanyu turned on him. "Remember this: in the Secret Service, the single rule is honesty, honesty, and honesty," Qi Shanyu said with absolute gravity. "Loyalty to the Party-State, and loyalty to Boss Dai! Cut out all that hollow maneuvering!" "Understood, sir," Dongfang Xu said, hurriedly stiffening his expression. *** Dai Peilin's office in the Secret Service was the third room on the south side of the second floor. With a file tucked beneath his arm, Qi Shanyu walked down the corridor wearing a gentle smile. Whenever staff members passed and greeted him, he nodded back with a mild, polite expression. "Is Boss Dai in?" Qi Shanyu asked upon reaching the office door. He knew very well Dai Peilin was inside, but every time he arrived at this threshold, he always made a point of politely asking the guard. "Yes, Section Chief Yiyan," the sentry replied. Hearing this, Qi Shanyu meticulously straightened his tunic collar hook, then crouched down, pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, and wiped a speck of mud from his leather shoe. Folding the handkerchief neatly and returning it to his pocket, he offered the guard a warm nod. "Please announce me." The guard tapped lightly on the door, waited three seconds, and announced, "Sir, Section Chief Yiyan is here." "Enter." A steady, authoritative voice carried from inside the room. Only then did the guard push the office door open. Qi Shanyu nodded to the guard and strode inside. "Ah, Yiyan, what is it?" Dai Peilin was standing before a wall adorned with a map of the Republic of China, holding a magnifying glass in one hand and a pencil in the other. "Sir." Qi Shanyu assumed an attitude of utmost respect. "Word has come back from Danyang." "Oh?" Dai Peilin turned around, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes. "Zhang Minquan at the Danyang Station is fairly capable after all, isn't he? To catch the culprits so swiftly—not bad, not bad at all."