Espionage: You're tasked with spying, but you'll blow up the Special Higher Police?

123. Share, share

That evening, Zhou Hongyi specifically instructed his team members not to go to the New Paramount for the time being, leaving it to Manyu and Chen Xiaodao to manage. The group closed the doors and windows, sat around a bubbling, warm hot pot, and held a short meeting.

Everyone knew that Zhou Hongyi had something important to say. Except for Fusheng, who kept eating, everyone else sat up straight, waiting for their leader to give instructions.

Zhou Hongyi glanced around and said with a smile, "We don't need to be so serious when we're alone. Let's do what Fusheng does and chat while we eat."

Zhou Hongyi took the initiative to put some cooked meat slices or vegetables into everyone's bowls with his chopsticks, and then said, "A lot of big things have happened in Shanghai recently. Our new Paramount just opened yesterday, and the response on the first day was very enthusiastic. Everyone did a great job, and I saw your hard work. I've decided to put more burdens on everyone's shoulders. Hehe~ Actually, I'm just too busy. Brothers and sisters, help me share the burden."

Qingxia held the child in her arms, rocking him gently while saying, "What are you saying, little brother? Helping you out? We're all friends here, we're all in this together, we're all in this together. If you need anything, just tell us, we'll do it without hesitation, are you blind?"

The blind man took off his fogged-up sunglasses, wiped them on his clothes, and hurriedly replied, "Yes, that's right, Brother Zhou. Just give us any tasks you have. Don't do everything yourself; your health is the most important thing."

Zhou Hongyi patted him on the shoulder and said, "That's right. The people sitting in this room are the ones I, Zhou Hongyi, trust the most and are closest to. I won't stand on ceremony with you. Blind Man, from today onwards, you don't need to go to the Paramount for the time being. I need you to represent me and liaise with Gu Tianbo and the others, and be responsible for the transportation and smuggling of supplies at the dock and along the northern route."

Dealing with those businessmen should be second nature to you. Boss Gu and Boss Qiao share a secret with us, so they shouldn't betray us, but we need to keep an eye on the people around them. Observe Boss Qiao's henchman; he's actually a small-time spy. However, he's been very cautious lately and hasn't shown himself, but we can't be on guard all the time, so I need you to keep an eye on him for me.”

The blind man patted his chest and said, "Brother Zhou, don't worry. I used to work at the docks, so I know the area well. Boss Gu and the others know me too. I'll be careful. If there's any suspicious activity or suspicious people, I'll let you know immediately."

“Okay.” After Zhou Hongyi finished speaking, he looked at A Gui and said, “You’ve already become quite skilled at driving and shooting. It’s a waste for you to stay in the police station. You need to practice more. Starting tomorrow, I need you to select some tough guys from among the prisoners we’ve caught in our dungeon, from refugees or deserters, and train them properly.”

Although we have the police and the Axe Gang members we can mobilize, they're not truly our own people. If something really happens, we'll just fall apart. Therefore, I need a force entirely of our own. My sister has arranged for a school to be built near the Guanyin Temple, and I plan to build a factory next to it. Ostensibly, that factory will produce farm tools and ironware, but actually, I want to manufacture a batch of weapons for future operations. Take the selected people to the factory, posing as workers as a cover.”

"Understood, brother. We've arrested a lot of passionate young people in the police station's dungeon. They are all patriots, but they are like a pile of loose sand because they have no leader. As long as you step in and gather them together and train them, they will definitely become a force to be reckoned with."

Zhou Hongyi nodded. He felt that it was appropriate to entrust this task to A Gui. He used to be from the Guanyin Temple area, and many of the survivors from there were his acquaintances and fellow villagers. He could gain their trust without much effort, and he would find this force very useful in the future.

Zhou Hongyi paused for a moment and then said, "Xiao Bei, from now on, you only need to appear at the Paramount once a week on weekends. Even as a big star, you can't be seen by everyone. You still need to maintain a certain air. I've met a few local directors and producers before, and they are all interested in having you act in movies or commercials. I will selectively take on some jobs for you and use that as a cover."

Actually, I hope you can lead the children in the church, teaching them to read and write, and to teach them basic wound care and first aid, especially the girls, how to save themselves in dangerous situations. Also, I need to trouble you with something else: please look after my sister. She's quite emotional and prone to impulsive actions. I'm really afraid something might happen to her if someone isn't there to keep her in check.

Xiao Bei nodded in agreement. In fact, she had been helping Zhou Pan'er take in orphans and run free schools recently. She also knew Zhou Hongyi's older sister. Unlike other wealthy ladies who were pretentious, she was very soft-hearted despite her refined manners. Whenever she saw those children, she would secretly shed tears and couldn't help but send money and food to them.

After Zhou Hongyi finished explaining the tasks to the three of them, Fusheng suddenly put down his chopsticks, looked left and right, and asked, "Brother, what about me?"

Zhou Hongyi shook his head and smiled wryly. He tore off a piece of paper and wiped the sesame paste off Fusheng's mouth. He said earnestly, "Fusheng, your strengths and weaknesses are too extreme. I don't trust you to go out on business alone. You should stay with me and help me fill in any gaps. Sister Qingxia, we must properly thank the neighbors who helped us last time. I have a hundred silver dollars here. You can decide what to buy for them and what gifts to give them. The New Year is coming soon, and we can't let good people feel disappointed."

Qingxia was quite straightforward in this regard. She reached out and put the hundred silver dollars Zhou Hongyi gave her into her pocket, chuckling as she said, "Good brother, you can actually arrange some tasks for your sister. I'm just taking care of the kids all day, and I'm so bored. I just walk around on the street, it's so boring."

Zhou Hongyi's eyes darted around, and he said, "Then, Sister Qingxia, you can dress yourself up like a wealthy lady. When you have nothing to do, you can hang out with the other wealthy ladies here, play mahjong, have afternoon tea, eat desserts, and try to get some gossip out of them. Maybe one piece of information will be of great use to me."

“That works too!” Qingxia’s eyes widened, and then she said happily, “Oh, I’m good at that. It’s so easy for me to get along with those rich ladies. Just leave it to me, and I guarantee that in a few days they will be willingly calling me ‘sister’.”

Zhou Hongyi had no doubt about Qingxia's social skills. After assigning tasks to everyone, he went through the tasks in his mind again. There was no one who could replace him for the time being from the Special Higher Police, No. 76, Sakura Chamber of Commerce, Military Intelligence Bureau, and the Red Party. He had to deal with them personally. But no matter what, assigning tasks today would make things much easier for him, allowing him to focus on dealing with the Japanese.