"This subordinate understands." Zhang Jiaju looked visibly energized as he said to Yang Shutong, "The fact that 'Great Sage' chose Zou Deben as a tripwire means he knows Zou Deben—or at least knows of him. No, more precisely, he understands him."
His voice carried a trace of excitement. "'Great Sage' is familiar with Zou Deben's habits. He even knew what brand of cigarettes he smokes, and that he had taken sick leave. Then 'Great Sage' disguised himself as Zou Deben to lure us into the trap."
The more Zhang Jiaju spoke, the more invigorated he became. "It's clear that 'Great Sage' has been watching from the shadows all along. He's very likely right at Zou Deben's side!"
"Since you know what to do, what are you standing around for?" Yang Shutong scoffed, waving a hand. "Get out there and get to work."
"Yes, sir," Zhang Jiaju replied. "This subordinate takes his leave."
Emerging from the District Chief's office, Zhang Jiaju wore a troubled, downcast expression. He glanced around, rubbed his face, forced himself back into a state of calm, and walked away feigning composure.
Returning to his small office, he closed the door. The corner of his mouth curled into a slight smirk, and he let out a soft chuckle.
The instant Chen Cang from the Lixingshe Special Services Department barged in demanding the prisoner, Zhang Jiaju had realized he had been duped—thoroughly played for a fool by 'Great Sage.'
Yet he had deliberately pretended not to grasp it right away. After clashing with Chen Cang and ultimately having the man 'snatched away,' he went along with the situation, putting on a show of indignation and anxiety.
Only in that way could a subordinate who thought himself clever—only to fall right into the Red Party's trap and outsmart himself—earn the District Chief's reprimands and pointers, thereby safely passing this test.
If he had realized the truth immediately and turned around to tell Yang Shutong, *District Chief, it was my fault, I was duped,* Yang Shutong would have been the first not to spare him:
*You bloody idiot, where was your head earlier? Only figuring it out now!*
***
"Section Leader, it's me," Cao Anmin called from outside.
"Come in."
"Section Leader, are you all right?" Cao Anmin asked with concern.
"I'm fine." Seeing the genuine worry on Cao Anmin's face, Zhang Jiaju smiled. "The District Chief chewed me out a bit, but the storm has passed."
"That's good, that's good," Cao Anmin said, relieved.
"Two things," Zhang Jiaju said in a low voice.
"First," he told Cao Anmin, "discreetly arrange for men to investigate Zou Deben. Find out who he associates with closely, or if anyone has been watching him in secret."
Pausing, Zhang Jiaju continued, "Have Xia Yu handle this. He's sharper than you."
"Understood." Cao Anmin blinked, then nodded vigorously. Though he did not quite understand the reason, he simply had to obey the section leader.
At the same time, a hint of slighted pride showed on his face. "Section Leader, I might not be as sharp as Xia Yu, but I take orders well and have strong follow-through."
"Look at you, even knowing a fancy term like 'follow-through.' You're making progress." Zhang Jiaju smiled at first, then gave a sharp grunt.
Seeing his superior's expression darken, Cao Anmin immediately fell silent.
"Second thing," Zhang Jiaju said gravely. "Assign men to secretly keep watch on Liu Antai."
"Section Leader, do you suspect Liu Antai of feigning surrender?" Cao Anmin asked in surprise.
"Fool!" Zhang Jiaju finally snapped, cursing, "'Great Sage' can now be certain there's a problem with Liu Antai. Who knows, 'Great Sage' might make a move on him."
"Right now, Liu Antai is our bait—the bait to lure 'Great Sage' onto the hook!" He sneered. "We may have lost the first round, but..."
Zhang Jiaju slammed his fist onto the desk. "The tables have turned!"
After Cao Anmin departed to carry out the orders, Zhang Jiaju sat in his chair.
Suddenly, he shot to his feet and moved to the window. Watching Cao Anmin's receding back down in the courtyard, his brow furrowed.
He had just remembered something.
When Cao Anmin entered the room, his very first words were, *Section Leader, are you all right?*
That was off.
From what he knew of Cao Anmin, this thickheaded subordinate should have been furious right now:
A Red Party member they had worked so hard to catch had been snatched away by their rivals in the Secret Service.
When Cao Anmin came to see him, he ought to have been fuming, or at least whining and complaining.
Yet Cao Anmin's first instinct had been to ask whether he had faced punishment.
Zhang Jiaju had been touched at the time and had paid it no mind.
Now, turning it over carefully in his head—
What did that mean? It meant Cao Anmin already understood they had fallen for 'Great Sage's' trick, and that there was a strong chance Zhang Jiaju would be reprimanded for the failure.
Zhang Jiaju's brow knit tightly as he turned the matter over.
There were two possibilities.
Either Cao Anmin was one of those fellows who looked like a pig but had a keen heart—feigning stupidity all along, only to slip up this once.
Or else the man had learned some analytical assessments from someone else in advance, lacking the brains to deduce any of it himself.
Zhang Jiaju rubbed his chin. Unable to tell which was the case, he could only file it away in his mind, reminding himself to keep a closer eye on Cao Anmin from now on.
***
Xufuxiang.
Dai Peilin's office.
Dai Peilin looked Zou Deben up and down.
Zou Deben stood at attention. Since Boss Dai had not asked any questions, he remained entirely respectful, uttering not a word.
"What did Chen Cang say to you? Did he ask you anything?" Dai Peilin asked abruptly.
"He asked one question," Zou Deben replied. "And said two things."
"What did he ask, and what did he say?"
"Team Leader Chen asked if I was with the Red Party. I said no."
"And then?"
"Team Leader Chen pointed at my nose and said, 'Just playing with you.'" Zou Deben continued, "Then he mocked me, saying that if the Party Affairs Investigation Department catches me again next time, all I have to do is call him 'Grandpa Chen' and he'll come save me again."
"Nonsense! Utter arrogance!" Dai Peilin scoffed, tossing out a reprimand.
Yet though his tone was sharp, his expression bore no real anger.
Zou Deben said nothing.
"Why did Yang Shutong's men arrest you?" Dai Peilin asked. "What did you do to draw their interest and attention?"
"This subordinate did nothing at all," Zou Deben replied after a moment's thought. "Boss, you never sent anyone to make contact with me either. Everything was normal."
Dai Peilin nodded. He knew Zou Deben was telling the truth.
Zou Deben had remained in deep dormancy. With no activation orders, he had no need to do anything, carrying on as usual. Objectively speaking, there was no reason he should have drawn the notice of the Party Affairs Investigation Department.
"A misunderstanding, perhaps," Dai Peilin said.
He gave Zou Deben a few more instructions before dismissing him.
Once Zou Deben had departed, the office door was pushed open, and a young man entered.
"Arrange for someone to tail him for a while," Dai Peilin said in a low voice.
"Yes, sir."
***
The following day.
The fine rain that had fallen throughout the night gradually ceased.
A rainbow arched across the sky.
Qi Shanyu had been waiting early outside Dai Peilin's office door.
"Yiyan?" Dai Peilin walked over, glancing at Qi Shanyu in surprise. "Have you been waiting for me? If there was something, you could have had someone call me, and I would have come earlier."
The guards had just told him that Section Chief Yiyan had already been waiting at the door for ten-odd minutes.
"This subordinate only just arrived as well," Qi Shanyu said with a faint smile. "Fortunately, I wasn't late, or I would have faced a scolding if you asked, Boss."
Dai Peilin glanced at the document folder in Qi Shanyu's hands, his eyebrows lifting. "You got it?"
"Yes, sir."
Dai Peilin did not ask how Qi Shanyu had managed to obtain a report reviewed by the chief of the Capital Police Department. He gave a slight nod. "Come inside and speak."
A moment later.
Dai Peilin set down the document in his hands, uttering a soft murmur of surprise, then lowered his head to read it carefully once more.
Soon, he let out another soft exclamation, looking up at Qi Shanyu.
"Does Brother Yunong wish to ask about this Fang Jibai?" Qi Shanyu asked with a subtle smile.
Chapter 32