My years of espionage

Chapter 660 Found it!
Spring Breeze Building.

"The mutton is good today." Cheng Qianfan picked up the handkerchief and wiped the corners of his mouth. The clean white handkerchief was stained with oil, and Xiao Cheng casually threw it on the table.

"It's really delicious." Hao Zai put down the big bones he had gnawed clean, wiped his mouth, and said with a smile.

Then he pushed open the door of the private room and walked out.

After a while, Hao Zai's voice came from downstairs, "Where are you, go clean up and serve a pot of good tea."

"Okay, let's go." The guy downstairs quickly agreed.

Xiao Cheng is always an honorable guest who can't afford to offend, so naturally he has to serve him well. However, Xiao Cheng doesn't like people waiting outside the private room, so the host arranges a clever young man to be there at any time on the first floor.

Soon, a pot of good West Lake Longjing tea was brought up.

"Go down." Hao Zai took the teapot, waved his hand to drive the boy away.

After the footsteps went away, Haozai gently opened the door and took a look to make sure that no one was eavesdropping outside, and then closed the door.

……

"Brother Fan, there's no one left." Hao Zai said, he went out just now, on the surface he was calling for tea, but in fact he checked the surroundings carefully to make sure there was no suspicious person.

"What did you find?" Cheng Qianfan asked.

"Zhao Changgeng is from Wenzhou, Zhejiang. He came to Shanghai three years ago. He is the deputy manager of Pearson Co., Ltd. He has two sons and a daughter at home." Haozai said.

"What else?" Cheng Qianfan nodded, took a sip of tea, and asked.

What Haozi said are superficial facts that are easy to find out. If Haozi only found out these, it would disappoint him.

"The subordinate also found out a very interesting thing." Hao Zai said.

"Tell me." Cheng Qianfan glanced at the street downstairs, and saw Yuan Kaizhou's car honking its horn and passing by, with the window down, Yuan Kaizhou made an irregular salute gesture to him.

Cheng Qianfan smiled and bowed his hands in return.

"The subordinates found out that Zhao Changgeng had been to Xiapi Lane in Peitang District a few days ago." Haozai said.

"Oh? Confirmed?" Cheng Qianfan, who was leaning on the chair, straightened his figure and asked with a serious expression.

Because Xia Houyuan lives in Xiapi Lane, Beitang District.

"Confirmed." Haozai nodded, "Brothers secretly inquired about a detail, Zhao Changgeng bought cigarettes in Xiapi Lane that day, it seemed that he bought fake cigarettes, the peddler who sold cigarettes disappeared in a blink of an eye, Zhao Changgeng stomped angrily scold."

"Zhao Changgeng appeared in Xiapi Lane." Cheng Qianfan said thoughtfully, holding a teacup in his hand, he suddenly asked, "Have you heard about any contact between Zhao Changgeng and Xia Houyuan?"

"I didn't find out." Hao Zai shook his head, and then explained, "It's not that the two of them have no contact, it's that the brothers didn't find out about this situation."

Cheng Qianfan nodded. Haozai's explanation is very necessary. The same sentence may have two meanings. It must be explained clearly. This is especially important in spy work.

……

Zhao Changgeng, the Shanghai station agent suspected of being under house arrest.

Xia Houyuan, an agent of the Nishimura Squad of the Japanese Army's Secret Service Department.

Cheng Qianfan was wondering, what kind of connection would there be between these two people, who could even be said to be completely hostile?

Although Hao Zai reported that he did not know whether Zhao Changgeng and Xia Houyuan had contact, but when such two people with special identities appeared at the same place, this in itself was enough to arouse vigilance and various speculations.

Cheng Qianfan picked up the cigarette case on the table and took out a cigarette.

Haozai lit a match for Cheng Qianfan.

Cheng Qianfan took a puff of cigarette lightly, leaned back, raised one foot, looked at the bustling crowd downstairs, and fell into deep thought.

He didn't know much about Zhao Changgeng's situation.

On the contrary, in Xia Houyuan's case, he has more knowledge.

Under the assumption that there is some kind of connection between these two people, and unable to make further breakthroughs from Zhao Changgeng, Cheng Qianfan chose to study Xia Houyuan who had more information.

Xia Houyuan is an agent of the Xicun class.

Cheng Qianfan didn't know this person's rank and status in Nishimura's class, but judging from Nishimura Ozo's attitude after Xia Houyuan's death, Xia Houyuan himself was not important, what was important was the jewelry box in Xia Houyuan's hand.

What does this mean?
It shows that Xia Houyuan was participating in a secret operation before he was killed by the Shanghai Special Intelligence Team!

No, judging from the importance Nishimura Ozo attached to this matter, Xia Houyuan should have a special or important role in this secret operation, rather than an insignificant participant.

What kind of connection will there be between such an important participant in the "secret operation" of the Japanese special agency and a secret agent at the Shanghai station?
With too little information at hand, it was difficult for Cheng Qianfan to analyze further.

However, the identities of these two people alone mean that this matter is definitely not simple.

……

"Brother Fan, could it be that Zhao Changgeng secretly threw himself into the sun?" Haozai asked.

"It's not very likely." Cheng Qianfan shook his head. Judging from his secret observation that day, it is unlikely that Zhao Changgeng has defected to the Japanese.

Cheng Qianfan knew about the Japanese secret service, if Zhao Changgeng really took refuge in them, then they would not be indifferent to Lu Xingge, the fat fish that came to their door that day, and even if they did not arrest him secretly, they would secretly send people to follow him.

Lu Xingge was not followed, and this detail shows that Zhao Changgeng did not seek refuge with the Japanese.

Of course, it is also possible that Zhao Changgeng did seek refuge with the Japanese, but the Japanese side decided to take a long time to catch big fish. In order to avoid alarming the enemy, they did not send anyone to follow Lu Xingge.

There was one more detail that caught his attention.

According to his observations and the situation provided by Preserved Egg, Zhao Changgeng had indeed passed on the information.

Lu Xingge also successfully obtained the information.

This seems to prove that Zhao Changgeng did not treason.

Cheng Qianfan flicked the cigarette ash, took another drag on the cigarette, and then pressed the cigarette butt out in the ashtray.

"Brother Fan, little Taoist priest." Hao Zai reminded him softly.

Cheng Qianfan turned his head to look down, and saw a figure disappearing into the crowd. From the back, it was a little Taoist priest.

"Let's go." President Xiao Cheng grabbed a handful of melon seeds and walked while eating them.

"Yes!" Haozai took off his top hat, swept the melon seeds and peanuts into the hat with a skillful sweep of his hands.

……

About 20 minutes later, Xiao Cheng and Hao Zai walked around to a storytelling place.

The city god's temple has the most storytelling halls in Shanghai, because this is the birthplace of the Shanghai beach storytelling hall. It can be said that most of the good storytellers in the early years were concentrated here.

The bookstore that Xiao Cheng always comes to is called Qunyulou.

In the lobby on the first floor, many listeners are listening mesmerizingly, and some seem to be dozing off, but when someone applauds the wonderful part of listening, this person will be able to catch up in time.

There are also fine ghosts who listen attentively and don't hesitate to applaud the wonderful parts, but rarely reward a few nickels.

Mr. Cheng went up the stairs, and there was an endless stream of people standing up and bowing their hands to salute along the way.

Cheng Qianfan always responded with a smile, and when he met a familiar 'helping the elderly', he went up to say a few words of greeting and asked him for his consumption, which won a burst of admiration and neat thumbs up.

On the second floor, the host had prepared the private room early.

President Xiao Cheng has just taken his seat here, and the good tea and exquisite snacks are ready.

Licorice plums, golden camellia tea, twig mushroom slices, glutinous rice cakes, Jiaxing rice dumplings, smoked frogs, smoked eggs, lotus root starch, unique flavors, whatever you want.

The clever little guy asked if he wanted a girl to accompany him to listen to the book.

Seeing President Xiao Cheng help his waist subconsciously, saying that he would be free for today, the boy nodded and stepped back, showing a strange smile.

……

The private room in Qunyu Tower is very private, and if the distinguished guests want to watch the storyteller's rhythmic performance, they can pull back the curtain and have a clear view.

If you just want to listen to books and don’t want to be peeped by idlers, you can draw the curtain and put down a row of wooden planks hanging from the beams, which can completely cover it and form a private room with good privacy.

Then press the button, and the electric speaker on the wall can hear the voice of the storyteller downstairs.

Although most of the time, the voice is a bit distorted, but the tone of this picture of listening to the book with the door closed is really good, so many wealthy people like it quite a lot.

About half an hour later, Haozai went out for a walk, and when he came back, the door was ajar.

After a while, a figure opened the door, stepped in, and closed the door behind him.

The little Taoist came in.

……

The little Taoist priest was dressed in a bunt, a top hat, and his clothes were open, with a toothpick in his mouth. He looked like a gang hacking and killing a man.

"Wipe it off." Cheng Qianfan raised his eyes and said, pointing at the little Taoist's neck.

"Huh?" The little Taoist was taken aback.

"Lipstick marks." Cheng Qianfan shook his head and said with a smile.

Then he saw the little Taoist blushing and said something like 'he didn't do anything', 'this was accidentally touched', 'it wasn't bitten by a woman' and so on.

Haozai covered his mouth and held back his laughter, but at last he didn't hold back, and burst out laughing. After being glared at by Cheng Qianfan, he turned around and covered his mouth.

"Tell me, what did you find out?" Cheng Qianfan asked, throwing a cigarette to the little Taoist priest.

He also found it quite interesting. The Shanghai Special Affairs Team arranged for the little Taoist priest to pretend to be a blind fortune-teller to go to Mrs. Hong, who lives next door to Xiahouyuan, to inquire about the situation.

Lu Dazhang made a plan to obtain a jewelry box, which was also implemented in the way of blind fortune-telling.

Unexpectedly, the two of them thought of going together.

Lu Dazhang's actions took advantage of Tian Dai's mother-in-law's belief in numerology.

The situation on the little Taoist's side is slightly different. This Mrs. Hong who had an affair with Xia Houyuan also believed in fortune-telling, but she only believed in good-looking blind men.

……

"That lady is indeed having an affair with A Yuan." The little Taoist said.

A Yuan is Xia Houyuan, the little Taoist is very cautious.

Cheng Qianfan nodded, he could see that the little Taoist priest had a flash of 'shame', he didn't ask the little Taoist priest how to find out the situation, what he wanted was the result.

"The lady said that A Yuan once told her that he has a big business to do recently. After the matter is completed, he will let his wife and husband divorce, and A Yuan will marry her." The little Taoist priest said.

"Big event?" Cheng Qianfan's heart skipped a beat.

After thinking for a moment, he asked, "A Yuan said that he would marry her, how credible do you think this is?"

"It's fake." The little Taoist said, "This lady herself knows it's fake, she said it too, and she knows it's fake, but she just likes to hear it."

"Do you know what a 'big event' is?" Cheng Qianfan asked.

"I don't know the specifics. There are only sporadic information. I don't know if it is valuable." The little Taoist shook his head. "I judge that A Yuan is very cautious and did not disclose more information."

Cheng Qianfan glanced at the little Taoist priest, it seems that this kid has eaten that Mrs. Hong to death, and there is another implication in this statement that Mrs. Hong will not hide anything.

"What sporadic information?" Cheng Qianfan asked.

"My subordinates listened in on the sidelines and secretly inquired about the 'big event' that Xia Houyuan said. It seems to have something to do with a visitor." The little Taoist said.

"Visitor?" Cheng Qianfan's eyes lit up and asked, "Be specific."

"According to what the lady said, a guest came to A Yuan's house one day. After the guest left, the two had a tryst that night. A Yuan said, 'A good thing will come to you', saying that he would do a big thing to become famous. gone."

'To succeed'?
Cheng Qianfan tapped the table lightly with his fingers.

Considering Xia Houyuan's status as a traitor spy, he thought for a moment, and automatically translated the word "getting ahead" into "rewarded for meritorious service".

Visitors.

Good things come to you.

Awarded for meritorious service.

Cheng Qianfan lit a cigarette, took a puff, and then stopped smoking. He is now trying to control smoking as much as possible. Ruolan is pregnant, and the smell of smoke makes him feel uncomfortable. He doesn't want to go home with smoke.

……

"What day was the visitor at A Yuan's house?" Cheng Qianfan thought of a key question and asked.

"The first day of the seventh month." The little Taoist thought for a while, then counted with his fingers, and said.

"Are you sure?" Cheng Qianfan asked with a serious expression.

"That's right, it's the first day of the seventh month." The little Taoist said, "That lady remembers clearly what happened on the first day of the seventh month when the gate of hell opened."

When the little Taoist spoke, he snorted in his heart: rape corrupt silver woman.

At that time, he falsely claimed that someone must have done the indiscriminate thing, which would lead to the severing of this marriage.

Mrs. Hong turned pale, and stammered that the two people's tryst that day coincided with the opening of the ghost gate.

Cheng Qianfan turned to look at Haozai, "Do you remember when that gentleman bought fake cigarettes?"

"Let me think about it." Hao Zai said quickly, he frowned and thought, "It should be the first day of July, but, just to be on the safe side, I have to check it out."

"The sooner the better!" Cheng Qianfan said with a serious expression.

"Yes!" Hao Zai nodded respectfully, "It's the subordinate's dereliction of duty."

Strictly speaking, this incident was just one of many intelligence clues, not because he didn't remember the time, but because his subordinates were not so precise when they scouted for information.

However, Haozi knows the temper and character of the team leader, and the team leader treats them very well, just like brothers. This is the best officer Haozi has ever seen and heard. However, the team leader is also extremely demanding of them. Strict, if you don't do it well, you just don't do it well, it's better not to quibble.

Cheng Qianfan extinguished the cigarette butt that was still burning, with a confident smile on his face.

Although there is still a specific time that needs to be further verified, he is already [-]-[-]% certain in his mind:

His previous speculation was confirmed——

The link between Zhao Changgeng and Xia Houyuan has been found!

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(End of this chapter)