Chapter 77: Too Regular, and Thus Unusual

Shortly after eleven in the morning, the sunlight was strong and enveloped everything in a warm embrace. Li Wensheng led Bai Yan out from the Central Bureau, got into the car, and headed back to Division Two.

When they arrived downstairs at Division Two, Li Wensheng didn't immediately get out of the car. Instead, he turned to Bai Yan and said, "Hand me the interrogation record."

Taking the record Bai Yan passed over, Li Wensheng studied it carefully.

He made sure he hadn't overlooked anything, then returned the record to Bai Yan, his mind troubled.

Baotian Yoshimi's confession about the plan was identical to Cong Wanyun's account.

Yet Li Wensheng was certain Cong Wanyun had concealed someone. Their plan required every step to be flawless; if Liu Zukang hadn't sent a woman to Ebert, Ebert wouldn't have slept so deeply, and Qingying's theft of the file might have been discovered.

Liu Zukang had clearly stated he decided to send a woman to Ebert because of a conversation between Yu Haofeng and Nose, not because of Liu Wei.

Someone had to ensure Liu Zukang would indeed send a woman to Ebert.

Earlier, Li Wensheng had sensed something odd about Cong Wanyun's testimony. After interrogating Liu Zukang and on the way back to Division Two, he suddenly realized what had been bothering him.

Cong Wanyun's confession made it easy to trace that the Military Command had assigned Liu Zukang to guard Ebert—this was the source of his unease.

Even if Military Command wasn't strict about security on this matter, they wouldn’t broadcast it openly; this information would circulate only among the upper ranks.

The members of the Wild Goose Returning group, given their identities, couldn’t access Military Command's upper echelons.

Someone had to approach those upper ranks to uncover this information.

Li Wensheng suspected that person was Ren Zuhong.

Ren Zuhong was an old hand in Military Command, widely connected, and could easily find out Liu Zukang was assigned to protect Ebert.

Among the two who made Liu Zukang decide to send a woman, Yu Haofeng was from the General Affairs Section.

Adding Ren Zuhong's previous abnormal behavior, if it wasn't him, who else could it be?

After pondering for a moment, Li Wensheng got out of the car and walked toward the building.

Inside the Counter-Espionage Section, many people had already returned, indicating Shi Xiaozhen and her team were back.

"Go and bring Deputy Section Chief Shi and the others," Li Wensheng instructed Bai Yan.

Soon, Shi Xiaozhen and her colleagues arrived at Li Wensheng’s office.

"How did the investigation go?"

"Chief, the two ticket sellers at Guotai Cinema were highly alert and detected us in advance. They burned the codebook," Shi Xiaozhen said, her head bowed.

Gun Enthusiast quickly added, "Chief, it was my oversight. When I approached with my team, they noticed us."

"Alright, losing the codebook is unfortunate, but what's done is done; there's no need to dwell on it," Li Wensheng turned to Scholar. "What about your situation?"

"Chief, the sales clerk at the Xianshi Company hasn't been interrogated yet. As for Cong Wanyun, no matter how I interrogate her, she insists she's confessed everything."

"Interrogating the Japanese spies is all yours, Scholar. It'll be tough, but please get to the bottom of those three from the Wild Goose Returning group as soon as possible. For Cong Wanyun, don't rush—administer some pain from time to time to keep her suffering."

"Yes, Chief, I'll handle it promptly."

Li Wensheng shifted his gaze toward Shi Xiaozhen and her colleagues. "Deputy Section Chief Shi, take everyone in the Counter-Espionage Section to the garbage disposal station and search for the file. The file was thrown into the garbage truck together with dog fur; it surely has dog blood and hair on it. Also, the file content is entirely in English. Use these clues to find it as quickly as possible."

"Understood!" Shi Xiaozhen replied instantly.

After Shi Xiaozhen and her group left, Li Wensheng pondered for a moment in his office, then got up and departed.

At the main entrance of Division Two, Li Wensheng glanced around, then walked toward the tea house across the street.

There were few people in the second-floor lounge of the tea house. After scanning the room, Li Wensheng approached the table by the window.

As he drew near, Old Niu, who was sitting at the window table, immediately stood up. "Chief!"

"Sit down—no need for such formality outside."

After settling in, Li Wensheng took a teacup from the tray on the table, poured himself some tea, and asked, "Has Ren Zuhong shown any unusual behavior these past few days?"

"Chief, nothing out of the ordinary; his routine is very consistent. He leaves home at six in the morning to buy groceries at the market, then has breakfast by the roadside, and arrives at the office at seven-thirty. In the evening, he leaves at six, spends some time at the Xianle Hall, returns home around seven, and by ten-thirty the lights in his house are off."

"Old Niu, remember this: for people with some authority, a routine life often signals a problem."

Li Wensheng stood up and continued, "Come, take me to Xianle Hall!"

Anyone with a bit of power seldom leads a routine life. For Ren Zuhong, it's normal to negotiate some business from time to time, or spend nights at entertainment venues.

Xianle Hall was a dance hall, but it was only one in the afternoon—the hall hadn't opened yet.

Looking at the tightly closed doors of Xianle Hall, Li Wensheng turned to leave. "Let's go, let's get something to eat first."

After their meal, Li Wensheng instructed Old Niu, "Go find Sixth Brother, tell him I need to see him..."

Before he finished, Li Wensheng’s attention suddenly shifted to the entrance.

A trace of surprise flashed across Li Wensheng's face; he withdrew his gaze and quickly changed his mind.

"No need to look for Sixth Brother anymore."

Old Niu was puzzled for a moment, then became even more confused.

"Mr. Li." Chen Wenqi strode over, her long legs carrying her gracefully.

Li Wensheng looked up at the radiant and striking Chen Wenqi and smiled, "Miss Chen, what a coincidence—you're here for lunch too?"

"No, I'm here specifically to see you."

Li Wensheng was momentarily stunned. He turned to Old Niu, "Wait outside for me."

"Oh," Old Niu replied, still dazed.

Once Old Niu left, Li Wensheng asked directly, "Miss Chen, what brings you here?"

Chen Wenqi sat across from him, her expression solemn. "Mr. Li, let's get married."

Her words were so shocking that Li Wensheng was frozen for a moment.

"Well... Miss Chen, you’re so beautiful, surely you have no shortage of suitors."

"Suitors, yes, but none are suitable. Mr. Li, you are perfectly suited to me—your background, family, and career all fit."

A thought flashed through Li Wensheng’s mind. He instantly became serious. "Miss Chen, don’t act impulsively because of influence from my aunt. You’re still young; marriage can wait. I’m not the right match for you. In a few years, you’ll meet someone far more suitable."

"Marrying you is my own decision."

"As for the reasons..." Chen Wenqi drew out her words with deliberate significance. "Yes, your aunt’s influence is part of it, but that’s not the main reason. The main reason is that I am now a section chief, and to be promoted to division chief, I must have a family. No matter how capable, if I’m single, I can't be promoted. You surely understand this, Mr. Li. The Military Command officially says no one may marry until the traitors are eliminated. But in reality, aside from your boss, all division chiefs are already married, with their families in the National Occupied Zone."

Li Wensheng’s brow furrowed. His previous favorable impression of Chen Wenqi, born of her beauty, instantly vanished.

He hadn’t expected Chen Wenqi to be a power fanatic, willing to use her marriage as a bargaining chip for advancement.

"Miss Chen, we are not suited for each other; you should seek someone else."

He stood to leave, but Chen Wenqi’s next words stopped him.

"I don’t know why you won’t marry me, nor why your aunt is so invested in your marriage. But I do know, if you don’t marry me, your aunt will start to suspect you."

Confident in her victory, Chen Wenqi was certain Li Wensheng would agree.

Staring at the dazzling Chen Wenqi, Li Wensheng gave a cold laugh. "Miss Chen, what difference does it make if my aunt suspects me? All of us—my aunt and her family included—are playing dumb while we know the truth. If I marry you, they’ll be reassured; but if I don’t, they won’t do anything."

Chen Wenqi stiffened, her gaze complex—anger, surprise, defeat, and anxiety all mingled.

"Miss Chen, you’d best find someone else. I will not marry you."

Watching Li Wensheng’s departing figure, Chen Wenqi bit her lip, her expression turning ominously dark.