Chapter 113: Visitation

Yam, millet, and pumpkin porridge, paired with pickled baby cucumbers in sauce—both nutritious and sweet, and quite appetizing. Zhou Sen drank two large bowls in one go.

“Go lie down for a while. I’ve invited someone from Fucheng Company to measure the house. We need to discuss our design with them and calculate the total contracting cost,” Bai Yulan said.

“Do you need me to be there?”

“Not yet.”

“All right then, I’ll go lie down. Find me a radio, will you? I can’t do anything lying in bed, but at least I can listen to the broadcast.”

“Okay, I have one in my room. I’ll have A Xiang bring it to you.”

“Good.”

...

“Brother, Miss Anna is here,” Wen said, standing outside the door.

Why did she come?

“Hurry, help me back to bed...” Zhou Sen quickly signaled A Xiang, needing to play the wounded role a bit more convincingly.

“A Xiang, do you have any powder? Put some on me?” Zhou Sen asked as he lay down.

“Brother Sen, are you really planning to pretend to be hurt?”

“If I don’t look a bit pitiful, how else can I have an excuse to take more leave and avoid work? Hurry up.”

“All right, right away!”

...

“Miss Anna, over here,” Wen ushered Anna inside and led her to the room where Zhou Sen was recuperating.

The moment Anna entered, she was hit by a strong herbal scent, which made her a little uncomfortable. The smell was pungent and choking.

Anna saw Zhou Sen lying on the bed, his face pale as paper, lips dry, looking gravely injured and near death.

She was startled.

Yesterday, when he called, he sounded full of vigor. How had he deteriorated so much overnight?

“Zhou Sen, how are you? Is your injury serious?” Anna asked anxiously as she approached.

“Wen, pour a cup of hot water for Miss Anna,” Zhou Sen opened his eyes slightly and motioned to Wen.

“Okay, brother.”

“No trouble, Wen. I’m not thirsty,” Anna said after scrutinizing Zhou Sen’s complexion, unable to suppress a smile and a sigh.

He had applied a layer of powder on his face, but it seemed rushed and patchy. From afar, it looked scary, but up close, it was obvious it was fake.

“Mr. Zhou, is this really necessary?” Anna asked.

“Anna, what do you mean? I’m this injured, and you’re making sarcastic remarks?” Zhou Sen realized his disguise had been seen through and that continuing would only be embarrassing.

“All right then, what do you want?” Anna sighed.

Zhou Sen’s lazy nature left her feeling a bit helpless. She truly didn’t understand why Mr. Shibuya entrusted such a crucial task to him and intended to train him thoroughly.

She was now certain: even if Anthony Robin might be a mole within the action team, this guy definitely was not.

A lazy, pleasure-seeking fellow whose only merit seemed to be a handsome face.

And Bai Yulan—what on earth attracted her to him? What use is a man’s good looks?

“I am indeed injured. My ribs are broken. I can only lie in bed now and even have to be fed. If you don’t believe me, check at the hospital where I had my scans,” Zhou Sen said plaintively.

“All right, I believe you’re injured, but it can’t be that serious, right?”

“My life isn’t in danger, but internal injuries won’t show immediately. So, I need to take sick leave,” Zhou Sen explained.

“For how many days?”

He held up three fingers.

“Three days?”

“Three months!”

“Impossible. At most three days!” Anna retorted.

“Bone injuries take a hundred days to heal. Taking three months off is reasonable, isn’t it?” Zhou Sen defended himself.

“Mr. Shibuya said you must find the roster within a week. Otherwise, you, I, and Front will all be in trouble,” Anna said firmly.

“One week? That’s asking too much. I don’t even know what the roster looks like. How am I supposed to find it?” Zhou Sen complained.

“You know Shibuya’s nickname, so you understand how serious this is. If he really gets angry, the consequences will be unpredictable,” Anna warned.

“The truth is, I have no idea where the roster is. You can’t expect me to conjure one out of thin air or make one up,” Zhou Sen said aggrieved.

Anna was momentarily stunned.

Indeed, they had searched Zhou Sen’s home thoroughly. His ‘Sen’ notebook was open to them, leaving no secrets.

She even secretly checked his clothes and belongings, finding nothing.

Besides being diligent at the incense parlor, this lazy guy showed no signs of being concerned about anything.

He was a freeloading parasite seeking comfort.

Of course, calling him a freeloader was a bit harsh. Anthony Robin had left him enough wealth to live comfortably for life, as long as he didn’t squander it.

Bai Yulan’s ability to fend off Su Wenqing and Old Qin’s pressure probably had much to do with Zhou Sen’s financial backing. It seemed Bai Yulan’s union with him was motivated by his wealth, which helped her through current difficulties and allowed her to rise again.

Zhou Sen was just a small-time policeman, alone, without complicated backing, and thus easier to control—no one more suitable for the task.

Bai Yulan really knew how to choose her men!

Zhou Sen was unaware of Anna’s thoughts. If he were, he would certainly give her a thumbs-up for her insight.

That was exactly the effect he wanted.

“Could you please talk to Mr. Shibuya and ask for a few more days? I have to lie in bed for at least three days before I can get up. This is a bone injury. If it were just a surface wound, I wouldn’t even be asking,” Zhou Sen pleaded.

“All right, I’ll speak for you, but I don’t know if Mr. Shibuya will agree,” Anna replied.

“As long as you speak for me, I’m sure he’ll understand.”

“By the way, Mr. Shibuya asked me to tell you: if something like this happens again, don’t act alone. If it does, you won’t be so lucky next time,” Anna warned.

“This is my personal matter. I can’t use official resources for private affairs,” Zhou Sen explained. “I know my limits.”

“You’re no longer just representing yourself. Your safety concerns the empire’s grand plan. If you act recklessly, not only you but also Boss Bai will be implicated!” Anna said sternly.

“All right, I get it. Next time, I’ll inform you first,” Zhou Sen said impatiently.

...

“Did you and Qin Lang arrest Su Wenqing’s men?”

“Yes.”

“Do you intend to settle this with punishment and prison, or by compensating and making peace?” Anna asked.

“Do you think there’s any chance of making peace between Su Wenqing and me?” Zhou Sen responded. “Besides, I didn’t provoke him; he provoked me first.”

“If you’re willing, Mr. Shibuya is ready to negotiate. If Su Wenqing continues to trouble you and Boss Bai, he’ll be considered an enemy of the empire. Then, you won’t need to act; someone else will take care of him,” Anna said as if discussing something trivial.

Zhou Sen knew well that, being so powerless now, even if he reached the level of Old Qin or Su Wenqing, he could not openly oppose the Japanese unless he took to the mountains for guerrilla warfare.

With the government’s strike force in control, ordinary people opposing them were like a mantis trying to stop a chariot—a doomed tragedy.

He had always been “weak and timid” by nature; there was no need to openly confront the Japanese. It was a strategy.

After all, the wise adapt to circumstances.

He was just a small policeman. To openly oppose a big figure like Su Wenqing, he still had use to Shibuya. Once that value was gone, what would he be to the Japanese?

No need to rely entirely on Japanese power, but occasionally borrowing some influence was not forbidden. As long as he could connect with the “Soviets,” everything would be easier.

He actually preferred to contact the “Chinese Communist Party,” but had no way in. Even isolated underground party members found it hard to reconnect with the organization. He wasn’t even a party member—how could he find a way?

Luck, perhaps?

The Soviet Consulate was in Ice City; that was his only hope.

The problem was, now that he was injured, he couldn’t move freely. Even if Armand sent a meeting request, he might not receive it.

No choice—his luck was just that bad.

He had to win Shibuya Saburo’s trust; otherwise, he’d lose even the little freedom he had, and then things would be difficult.

“Am I just going to suffer losses for nothing...” Zhou Sen said plaintively.

“Don’t worry. If Su Wenqing dares to attack you, he’ll definitely pay a price,” Anna could tell Zhou Sen was softening. He probably held back a lot, fearing an endless feud with Su Wenqing.

“All right, then it depends on how much Su Wenqing is willing to pay to settle this. But I have one condition: a written guarantee that he will no longer harass me or Yulan. Otherwise, it’s a fight to the death!” Zhou Sen declared.

“Fine. If he can’t even do that, Mr. Shibuya won’t spare him,” Anna nodded.

“Then thanks, Miss Anna. I’m injured, so I won’t see you out,” Zhou Sen said.

“No need,” Anna said. Her purpose was achieved, and she didn’t plan to stay. That would be awkward. Better to leave directly.

Shibuya Saburo still thought the shot came from Su Wenqing’s men. Well, let him go find Su Wenqing—that’s more effective than anything Zhou Sen could do.

At least while she was away, this guy wouldn’t dare bother Bai Yulan again.

As for Qin Xiong?

He definitely could not let him off easily!

The Yuan Wenfu case seemed like something they could exploit. Yuan Wenfu died in Peach Blossom Alley, where the biggest brothel was Qunfang Tower, owned by Old Qin and managed by Qin Xiong.

Then they would strike from Qunfang Tower.

Yuan Wenfu apparently was killed after leaving Qunfang Tower, so the brothel was likely involved...

“Wen, come here. Run an errand for me. Go to Nangang Police Station and bring Assistant Jin here. Tell her I have important business,” Zhou Sen instructed.

Not long after Wen left, Ye San’er unexpectedly showed up.