Chapter Twenty-Two: Reprimand and Reward

Chapter Twenty-Two: Warnings and Rewards

The Party Affairs Office.

Zheng Zhibin from the CC Division walked out of the office with a somber expression. Everything stemmed from the morning’s newspaper—Factory Director Wu had indeed been their Party Affairs Office’s undercover agent within the Red Party, but now he had fallen into the hands of the Special Affairs Office.

Given Wu’s temperament, he would certainly confess once interrogated. When that happened, the Special Affairs Office would not miss the chance to claim credit by pinning the Red Party label on Wu and asking for rewards. They would also take the opportunity to slander the Party Affairs Office to their superiors. Most importantly, this move by the Special Affairs Office would sabotage their carefully laid plans.

After all, the Party Affairs Office had invested immense effort, time, money, and even sacrificed many of their own to help Wu rise to his current position.

Yet, even so, the Special Affairs Office would never hand Wu over to them. Likewise, if the situations were reversed, the Party Affairs Office would not give up their own to the Special Affairs Office.

The Special Affairs Office’s methods for dealing with Red Party members were crude and brutal—torture and threats against loved ones. The Party Affairs Office, however, was much more patient and gentle, and as a result, their success rate was higher.

In the past few years, the Party Affairs Office had been quite effective in disrupting the Red Party, but lately, the Special Affairs Office had grown adept as well, with increasingly sophisticated tactics and experience. For the sake of their own advancement, both sides were locked in a bitter rivalry over the Red Party, sometimes even sabotaging each other’s efforts, even at the risk of letting the Red Party slip away.

Because of all this, Zheng Zhibin had just been scolded by his superiors over Wu’s situation. Now, he had to eliminate Wu before he woke and spoke. Although the Party Affairs Office would be left with grievances they could not voice, it was still better than being mocked by the Special Affairs Office.

It was past seven in the evening and darkness had already fallen.

On his way to Wu Zhengke’s office, Bai Zeshao ran into Qian Huiwen. Seeing that no one else was around, he called out, “Sister.”

Yet, despite Bai Zeshao’s cheerful greeting, Qian Huiwen only nodded lightly, then asked with a complicated expression, “Xiao Bai, do you have any aspirations? Or, what was your original reason for joining the military academy?”

Bai Zeshao was caught off guard by this question, not expecting Qian Huiwen to ask something like that.

But before he could answer, Qian Huiwen continued, “Xiao Bai, I read today’s paper. Even though your name wasn’t mentioned, many in the Special Affairs Office already know about you. Congratulations—Captain Wu is probably calling you in to promote you.”

“It was just a coincidence,” Bai Zeshao replied casually. Still, he sensed that even though Qian Huiwen said congratulations, she didn’t seem genuinely happy. This puzzled him, but he didn’t dwell on it.

Qian Huiwen looked at Bai Zeshao deeply, then said slowly, “Go on in, don’t waste time.”

“Alright,” Bai Zeshao nodded, shaking his head as he watched Qian Huiwen’s departing figure. He then knocked on Wu Zhengke’s office door. After hearing a response from inside, Bai Zeshao entered. It was his first time in Wu Zhengke’s office.

The layout was much like Liu Peiru’s, except that behind Wu Zhengke’s desk was a gun rack holding a gleaming, polished pistol. Shifting his gaze away, Bai Zeshao faced Wu Zhengke. “Reporting in, Third Team, Action Squad, Bai Zeshao.”

“Very good—you’ve got spirit, worthy of being first in your class at the academy,” Wu Zhengke said as he stood up and nodded, then smiled, “What, do you like the gun on my rack?”

As he spoke, Wu Zhengke picked up the pistol, saying softly, “This was a gift from the Chief three years ago.”

Bai Zeshao looked at Wu Zhengke in puzzlement, not sure why he had been called in, so he remained silent and simply waited.

“I was given this because I once shot and killed a high-ranking Red Party member—someone who had long been the Chief’s most troublesome opponent. The Chief was delighted, so he personally rewarded me,” Wu Zhengke’s words were cold and ruthless, and the room seemed to grow chillier with each syllable.

Suppressing his inner anger, Bai Zeshao forced a smile. “Congratulations, Captain, on earning the Chief’s favor.”

Wu Zhengke chuckled, setting the pistol back on the rack. Turning to fix his gaze on Bai Zeshao, he abruptly asked, “Do you know what kind of person I hate most?”

Bai Zeshao shook his head, bewildered.

“I hate double-dealers the most—even more than traitors. Do you understand what I mean?” Wu Zhengke said casually.

“I understand,” Bai Zeshao replied loudly.

Having long heard of the discord between Wu Zhengke and Liu Peiru, Bai Zeshao was now certain that the rumors were true. He understood Wu Zhengke’s implication well enough: although he had been recruited into the Special Affairs Office by Liu Peiru, now that he was in the Action Squad, he was under Wu Zhengke’s authority.

Just like the former leader of the Third Team, who had been killed by Wu Zhengke simply for being Liu Peiru’s man. After his death, even the condolence payment was embezzled by Wu Zhengke and Qian Yihai; all that was sent to his family was a simple letter and a hundred in cash—a miserable end indeed.

“I hope you truly understand,” Wu Zhengke said, pulling out a stack of crisp banknotes from a drawer and holding them out to Bai Zeshao. “This is your reward for capturing Factory Director Wu—a token of my appreciation. Remember, in our Action Squad, merit is rewarded, mistakes are punished.”

Bai Zeshao glanced at the money—it was a substantial sum. Yet it wasn’t what he truly wanted; money he could obtain elsewhere. But it was clear that the position of Third Team leader would not go to him.

Though he felt regret and dissatisfaction, Bai Zeshao knew he’d only just joined the Action Squad, had no background, and that even with merit, promotion was difficult. So with a humble word, he pocketed the money.

“By the way, you probably haven’t heard—I just got word that the Red Party’s Factory Director Wu you caught has woken up. Come, let’s go to the hospital together. Perhaps we’ll have a major breakthrough tonight.”

“Yes, sir.”

Bai Zeshao and Wu Zhengke left the office and headed by car to Yaren Hospital. At the same time, the Red Party Action Group, led by Guo Xiaofei, was also racing there, as was Zheng Zhibin with his Party Affairs Office team.

Yet none of the three sides—the Red Party, the Party Affairs Office, or the Special Affairs Office—could have anticipated just how lively the hospital would be that night, all because of Factory Director Wu.