My Principal Is Chiang Kai-shek

Zhao Ding did not bother responding to Fang Jibai's cynical mockery. He had his men form a tight circle to block Fang Jibai's line of sight. Dongfang Xu unwrapped the oil-paper package, revealing the codebook inside. He flipped through it, then quickly wrapped the codebook back up in the oil paper. "Rest easy, Brother Fang," Dongfang Xu said with a smile. "Regarding the recovery of the Japanese codebook, I will report your meritorious contribution here faithfully to Boss Dai." A complacent grin stretched across his face. "I am hardly the petty sort to swallow up credit due to a sister service." "If at all possible, I would prefer that Mr. Dongfang leave my name out of it," Fang Jibai said with a sigh, feigning an expression that was three parts resentful, three parts vexed, two parts grudging, and two parts furious. Dongfang Xu burst into hearty laughter. He naturally understood Fang Jibai's meaning: if word got around, the police would hardly sympathize with their fellow officer over having his hard-earned credit snatched away. They would most likely reproach and mock him for letting it slip through his fingers, turning it into an ongoing joke and a blemish on his record! "Very well," Dongfang Xu said, nodding. "I will give due consideration to Brother Fang's position and circumstances." He cupped his fists toward Fang Jibai, carefully stowed the codebook away, and turned to leave. "Sir," a voice called out. Dongfang Xu looked over in confusion. It was an unassuming, short subordinate who would blend into any crowd. Zhao Ding glared at the man. "Xiaoliu." Though he did not know what Xiaoliu intended to say, Zhao Ding was displeased. The fellow had addressed Dongfang Xu as "Sir" rather than coming to "Second Brother Zhao." He was either asking for instructions or trying to report directly to Secretary Dongfang. With his immediate superior standing right there, Xiaoliu's behavior bordered on outright insolence. "Sir, should we...?" As Xiaoliu spoke, his eyes darted toward Fang Jibai and the other two, brandishing the pistol in his hand. "Heh—" Dongfang Xu chuckled. Ignoring Zhao Ding's visibly idiotic lackey, he looked straight at Fang Jibai. "Brother Fang, such a massive achievement invites plenty of covetous eyes. Tell me, should I silence you?" Dongfang Xu asked in a loud, amused voice. "My principal is Chiang Kai-shek," Fang Jibai replied flatly. Dongfang Xu shot Xiaoliu a sideways glance and took the lead, striding out. Such petty underlings often fancied themselves clever, when in truth they were utter fools. If silencing them had been necessary, or even possible, was Dongfang Xu an idiot? Zhao Ding turned, cupped his fists toward Fang Jibai, and Fang returned the gesture. Zhao Ding then glared fiercely at Xiaoliu, let out a cold snort, and walked away. Xiaoliu froze where he stood. Watching the others walk away into the distance, he turned toward Fang Jibai with a crestfallen face. "Fourth Brother Fang, C-Chiang Kai-shek, that's..." "Don't worry, we're not close," Fang Jibai said with a smile. "I've only met him two or three times." Xiaoliu's eyes went wide, feeling as if the sky were falling on his head. His legs stiffened as though stricken by paralysis, and he stumbled away, barely able to walk. ... "Too smart for his own good." Fang Jibai looked at Tang Yan in surprise; the kid was far sharper and more perceptive than he had initially assumed. "Fourth Brother probably doesn't remember much about him. That fellow is called Xiaoliu," Tang Yan said. "Full of wicked schemes." "Why do you say he's too smart for his own good?" Fang Jibai sat down on a bench, flicked the ash from his cigarette, and asked. "The ones Xiaoliu should be worried about right now are you and Zhao Ding. Chairman Chiang is so far away," Tang Yan said. "Even if you're softhearted enough not to stoop to his level, Zhao Ding won't let him off easily." "You really do have a sharp head on your shoulders," Fang Jibai praised with a chuckle, before his expression darkened. "Tang Yan, Xiao Mi." "Fourth Brother." "Fourth Brother." "Remember this," Fang Jibai said flatly. "Never believe in being softhearted. When someone aims to take your life, repaying evil with kindness is for fools—they deserve to die." He looked at Tang Yan. "That..." "Xiaoliu." "Xiaoliu." Fang Jibai clicked his tongue. "It seems my long absence from Lücheng has made some folks forget what I'm capable of." The three left Anggong's house. "Fourth Brother." "Hmm?" "I remember Section Chief saying that a codebook is even more important than a radio transmitter. With such a massive achievement in our grasp, having it snatched away by the Secret Service like that..." Tang Yan asked in a low voice, "are you really satisfied, Fourth Brother?" "Tang Yan." "Yes?" "If you had been the one to find the codebook today, without me by your side," Fang Jibai patted Tang Yan's shoulder, "you would already be a corpse by now. They might have even slapped a traitor's label on you." "I... I'm not a traitor..." Tang Yan stammered, terrified, his lips trembling for a good while before finding the words. "If you're not a traitor, how did you know the codebook was there? And why were you sneaking around to retrieve it?" Fang Jibai shot Tang Yan a cool glance. Tang Yan fell silent. "Finding the codebook makes me happy; it is indeed a major achievement," Fang Jibai said slowly. Flicking his wrist, he tossed the cigarette butt into the roadside ditch. "The codebook belongs to the Secret Service now. I'll be angry, of course, but after the anger passes, I'll only feel fortunate—fortunate that I still have some backing and connections." Tang Yan said nothing. He furrowed his brow and pondered. He understood some of what Fourth Brother said, yet didn't grasp all of it. But he knew Fourth Brother was definitely right, so he needed to turn it over carefully in his mind. In just a few short days following Fourth Brother, he felt he had made tremendous progress. Fang Jibai stretched his arms and returned greetings from neighboring villagers. He was actually in quite a good mood. Strictly speaking, this whole turn of events had been completely unexpected. Back at Taiding Bridge, he had seen Zhao Ding, the deputy leader of the Secret Service in Lücheng, standing guard on the perimeter like a common lackey, and Zhao Ding's direct superior was on the perimeter as well. On the bridge stood two men, one bowing and scraping before the other. He knew right then that things in Lücheng had blown wide open, and that someone had arrived from the Secret Service's Jiangsu Station—no, most likely directly from Nanjing. Fang Jibai didn't doubt for a moment that the Secret Service possessed the reach and capability to grasp the situation at the Capital Police Department so swiftly. In fact, had they failed to obtain that intelligence so quickly, that would have been the true anomaly. He had two choices at the time: Give up on going to Anggong's house in Jiangjia Village, abandon the search for the codebook, or wait until his next return home to seek another opportunity. Or proceed to Anggong's house according to the original plan... He had made a decisive move, and fortunately, Dongfang Xu proved reasonably sharp, arriving in the nick of time and making the wait worthwhile. Not only did he offload the hot potato of the codebook, but he also smoothed over any potential friction with the Secret Service, forging a favorable connection instead. Fang Jibai stroked his chin, quite pleased with his performance. Dongfang Xu had surely formed a direct, initial impression and assessment of him by now. ... "Xiaoqing," Dongfang Xu said offhandedly once he had slipped the oil-paper-wrapped codebook into his briefcase, fastened the clasps, and locked it, finally setting his mind at ease. "Brother Dongfang." "Tell me your impressions of this Fang Jibai," Dongfang Xu said. Xiaoqing was a trusted subordinate he had brought along from Nanjing. "Quite capable, and reasonably lucky," Xiaoqing said after a moment's thought. "Fang Jibai must have played a role in Chen Xiuqi's capture of the Japanese spy, and recovering this codebook now was done entirely on his own." "Mm." "Still, he's too young and lacks real experience," Xiaoqing said. "He let us tail him and corner him right at the scene, letting all that hard-won credit slip right through his fingers." "Listen to you," Dongfang Xu said with a laugh. "If he were a cunning old fox, do you think this credit would have fallen into our laps?" "Pack up. We return to Nanjing immediately." He patted the briefcase. "Time to report the good news to Boss Dai!"