Chapter 73: Chen Wenqi

After chatting desultorily for a while, as they reached the second floor, Chen Wenqi suddenly said, “Mr. Li, are you investigating something?”

A flicker of surprise crossed Li Wenqiang’s eyes. “Miss Chen, how did you notice?”

“I work in the Political Department. My powers of observation are no less than those of you from the Military Intelligence Service. While we spoke, your gaze was constantly scanning the surroundings. Of course I could tell,” Chen Wenqi replied coolly.

The Political Department!

Damn, that scheming aunt of mine really pulled it off, actually trying to plant someone from the Political Department at my side! Li Wensheng couldn’t help but curse inwardly.

The Political Department of the Nationalist Party was responsible for the political ideology of party members and wielded considerable power. In some areas, its functions overlapped with those of the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics and the Military Intelligence Service, but unlike those agencies—which sometimes had to act covertly—the Political Department could openly arrest anyone, anywhere.

“Mr. Li, can you tell me what you’re investigating?”

“I can.” Li Wensheng shifted slightly, inhaling the faint fragrance emanating from Chen Wenqi, and said in a low voice, “I arrested a Japanese spy. She often comes to Sincere Company to shop. There may be a contact here.”

Chen Wenqi glanced around, then said, “Mr. Li, come with me.”

Seeing her stride ahead with her long legs, Li Wensheng hesitated for a moment before quickly following.

At the counter in the upper left corner, Chen Wenqi looked over the items inside and said to the salesgirl, “Please take out item number 56 for me to see.”

“I’m sorry, miss, but we can’t show the merchandise unless you pay for it first,” the salesgirl replied. “Once you’ve paid, I can take it out for you.”

Though only twenty, Chen Wenqi had given Li Wensheng the impression of someone several years older, perhaps twenty-six or twenty-seven. But at this moment, she seemed like a young woman her age, her cheeks flushing instantly at the salesgirl’s words.

“Then I’ll buy it,” she said awkwardly.

“That will be twenty-one yuan.”

Li Wensheng took out his wallet, counted out twenty-one yuan in legal tender, and handed it over.

After purchasing the lipstick, Chen Wenqi stepped aside, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and said shyly, “Thank you!”

“You’re welcome, Miss Chen. Did you notice anything?”

Chen Wenqi immediately regained her usual cool composure. “I already took a look around before you arrived. Downstairs, there are too many people—conversations draw too much attention. It’s not suitable for a rendezvous. Upstairs, with fewer people, a meeting is more likely. There are four corners suitable for a secret exchange on this floor.

“If I were the spy, I’d avoid the corner near the stairs—Japanese agents sometimes need to hand over items, and that spot is too easily observed. Similarly, the corner diagonally opposite the stairwell isn’t ideal either: anyone coming upstairs with a slight shift of their gaze can see straight into it.

“That leaves the other two corners, both shielded by columns from the staircase—perfect for a discreet hand-off.”

She suddenly changed the subject. “Mr. Li, who do you think would act as a lapdog for a Japanese spy?”

Li Wensheng smiled faintly and replied in a low voice, “Miss Chen, you don’t need to test me with such questions. High-level traitors working for the Japanese do so for power, but their status is important—they’d simply join the Japanese outright, not remain here as spies. The ones who become Japanese agents are from the lower rungs of society, either for survival or for money.

“In Chongqing, the wartime capital of the Nationalists, there’s no need to betray one’s country for survival—the only motive is money. But a traitor for money wouldn’t become a sales clerk here: the job doesn’t afford them the chance to enjoy their earnings without risking exposure. Besides, the Japanese wouldn’t fully trust someone who defected merely for money.

“So, the person meeting with the Japanese agent here must be Japanese.”

A trace of satisfaction appeared on Chen Wenqi’s face. “Exactly. The Japanese spy here is Japanese. Did you notice that the salesgirl just now spoke with a Chongqing accent?”

A light sparked in Li Wensheng’s eyes; he instantly understood her meaning.

“Sorry, I’m not from Chongqing, so I don’t recognize the accent.”

“Mr. Li, as a member of the Military Intelligence Service, you should familiarize yourself with various regional accents—it will be a great help in your work. No matter how hard Japanese spies try to master Chinese, the accent is rarely authentic. Nowadays, Japanese spies either speak perfect standard Mandarin or with a Northeastern accent, since the Japanese have occupied that region for some time and usually train their agents there.”

Li Wensheng rolled his eyes inwardly—this girl was lecturing him now.

“Yes, Miss Li, you’re right. When I have time, I’ll study the regional accents. Miss Li, could you wait a moment? I’d like to probe the salesgirl in the other corner.”

With that, he walked toward the diagonally opposite corner, glancing back to see Chen Wenqi following.

“Don’t underestimate women, Mr. Li,” Chen Wenqi whispered. “I’ve been learning Western boxing and fencing since I was fifteen.”

“A strong-willed woman,” Li Wensheng muttered to himself, but said nothing aloud. If she wanted to come, so be it.

The salesgirl at this corner’s counter was a young beauty with a fine figure. After a quick, discreet assessment, Li Wensheng fixed his gaze on the mascaras in the display.

After glancing at them, he casually pointed at one. “I’ll take this one.”

“That’s fifteen yuan, sir.”

Li Wensheng’s pupils narrowed slightly; he took out his wallet and handed her fifteen yuan.

After receiving the small paper bag with mascara, Li Wensheng handed it to Chen Wenqi. “Miss Chen, a gift for you.”

“Thank you.”

They moved naturally to other counters, browsing a few more before heading toward the stairs.

With no one else on the staircase, Chen Wenqi whispered, “Aren’t you going to make an arrest now?”

The salesgirl just now had spoken with a Northeastern accent.

“No rush. I only arrested the spy yesterday—they’re bound to take action. I want to cast a long line for a bigger catch.”

“That spy you caught yesterday—was she Mrs. Zhai Dongyuan?”

Li Wensheng turned, surprised. Raiding Zhai Dongyuan’s residence had been a public affair and news would spread, but for her to know so soon meant her position in the Political Department was not low.

“My advice: don’t dig too deeply into Zhai Dongyuan. The Kong family is involved.”

Li Wensheng frowned slightly. He had suspected powerful figures were behind Zhai Dongyuan, but hadn’t expected it to be one of the four great families.

“Thank you for the warning, Miss Chen.”

After leaving Sincere Company, Chen Wenqi said, “Thank you for the gifts, Mr. Li. I won’t keep you from your fishing; I’ll take my leave.”

“Miss Chen, could I trouble you with one thing?” He saw her clear, bright eyes blink, as if to say, “Go on.” He lowered his voice. “I can’t leave right now. Could you help me find Zheng Yaoxian from the Military Intelligence Service and ask him to come here?”

“No problem, Mr. Li. Anything else?”

“That’s all. Thank you, Miss Chen.”

Lifting her two small bags, Chen Wenqi’s brilliant face broke into a soul-stirring smile. “I’ll count these two bags as my errand fee.”

After Chen Wenqi left, Li Wensheng got into his car to wait.