Chapter Eleven: Clues
Chapter Eleven: Clues
No sooner had the two stepped into the office than Liu Peiru followed behind them. At this moment, however, his expression was far from pleasant. He glanced lightly at Baize and Liu Xiaobing, then sank into a chair.
“Uncle, we’re here,” Liu Xiaobing declared with vigor.
“Don’t call me uncle. This is the Special Affairs Division—remember, from now on, address me as Section Chief. There are no family ties here, only ranks and orders,” Liu Peiru replied sternly.
“Yes, Section Chief,” Liu Xiaobing responded, standing tall.
Liu Peiru nodded, satisfied with his nephew’s reaction. Stripping away their familial connection, Liu Xiaobing's personal qualities and abilities, as well as his conduct, were commendable.
His expression softened as he continued, “Your assignments have been arranged. Xiaobing, you’re in the Intelligence Section. Baize, you’re to report to the Action Team.”
“What? Uncle, didn’t you recruit both Xiao Bai and me? Why send Xiao Bai to the Action Team? That’s frontline—it’s dangerous!” Liu Xiaobing exclaimed, forgetting even the proper form of address in his urgency.
“Xiaobing,” Liu Peiru’s voice hardened, laden with displeasure, “Remember, you are a soldier. Obedience is your duty. Moreover, in our line of work, the worst failing is losing control of your emotions.”
“Yes, Section Chief,” Liu Xiaobing replied, now strictly formal. “Section Chief, I hope for an explanation.”
“There is no explanation. Carry out your orders immediately.” Watching Liu Xiaobing's reaction, Liu Peiru inwardly shook his head. Yet he believed that, with time, and after enduring the trials of the Special Affairs Division, Liu Xiaobing’s youthful passion and loyalty would gradually fade. He turned to the secretary and instructed, “Take him to the Action Team.”
“Yes, sir.”
Thus, Baize and the secretary ascended to the second-floor Action Team office. The secretary merely escorted Baize to the doorway, then promptly turned and left without entering.
Baize forced a bitter smile, puzzled as to how he might have offended the secretary. He knocked gently, then entered.
“Reporting in—I’m Baize, the new arrival, here to follow up with the Action Team.”
His announcement met only silence. The three or four people in the office did not acknowledge him, leaving Baize in a moment of awkwardness. Fortunately, a woman in her thirties entered from outside just then.
Upon seeing Baize, she uttered a soft “Oh,” then smiled broadly. “Well, where did this handsome fellow come from? You look familiar.”
“Good day, ma’am. I’m Baize, reporting for duty.” Baize snapped a crisp salute, speaking gravely.
“So it’s you. Come, follow me.” With that, she led the way deeper into the office.
As she entered, Baize noticed the previously aloof crowd now greeting her warmly. “Secretary Qian, you’re back!”
“Huiwen, what did Chief Wu want with you?”
“Huiwen, do you know this young man?”
…
“Get on with your work; stop nosing around,” Qian Huiwen laughed, brushing off their inquiries as she entered a private office suite.
Inside, she sat and said, “Baize, Chief Wu was arranging your assignment earlier. By the way, I am Qian Huiwen, Confidential Secretary of the Action Section.”
“Hello, Secretary Qian,” Baize replied courteously.
She quickly filled out some paperwork for Baize and tucked it into a dossier. As she worked, she explained, “Our Action Section has three teams. You’ve been assigned to Team Three.”
“Come, I’ll show you.”
They soon left the office. Once gone, the remaining staff began to gossip. Qian Huiwen’s role was far more than just confidential secretary—her personally escorting Baize to report stirred up all manner of speculation regarding his identity.
In short order, they arrived at Team Three’s office. Four men sat inside, playing poker, so engrossed they didn’t even notice the newcomers.
“Tan Haiming, is this how you manage your team?” Qian Huiwen suddenly spoke up.
“Oh, Secretary Qian, what brings you here? Please, come sit,” Tan Haiming put down his cards, instructed the others to tidy up, and invited Qian Huiwen to sit.
“No need—I’m just delivering your new member. Since he’s here, I’ll take my leave,” said Qian Huiwen. She nodded to Baize and departed.
With her gone, the four reverted to their lazy ways. Baize smiled faintly, producing a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and offering them around. “I’m Baize, just reported in. Hope you older brothers will guide me.”
“Guide you? Here in our team, there’s no point in talking about prospects. But hey, these cigarettes are good,” remarked a thin-faced man with a monkey-like look, squinting through the smoke.
“Monkey, stop with the nonsense,” Tan Haiming laughed, scolding. “Xiao Bai, don’t mind Monkey’s talk. Our situation is awkward, yes, but not as dire as he claims.”
“Chief, Monkey isn’t wrong. Our team is neglected—when there’s credit to be won, Teams One and Two take it; when there’s real danger, it’s us. Take last August 15th, when we captured the Red Party leader—our team got no recognition, not even much in the way of compensation for the fallen chief,” complained another man beside Monkey.
Hearing this, Baize felt a stir within. He hadn’t expected to glean news so soon after joining the Special Affairs Division, but he refrained from probing further, not wanting to seem too eager.
“All right,” Tan Haiming grunted. “Xiao Bai, let me introduce the team. I am Tan Haiming, deputy leader. They are Monkey, Strongman, and there’s Tiger, who’s watching over that Red Party member, so he’s not here now. Then there’s our fallen chief and another member, both gone. Usually, there’s not much to do, but when a task comes, we must respond.”
He paused, checked the time, and said, “It’s past nine. Who will relieve Tiger? He’s been on duty all night.”
“Chief, could you ask Chief Wu to ease up? We can’t keep watching that Red Party guy day and night. It’s exhausting! No recognition, and if something goes wrong, we’re the ones who suffer,” Monkey grumbled.
“Monkey, enough. I’ll go,” Strongman replied, seeing Tan Haiming’s displeasure. He stood and left.