Chapter 27: Killing Two Birds with One Stone

The trainees were all assigned tasks by Zhang Anping.

There was a lot to do.

For instance, investigating sixteen suspicious individuals, inspecting the clientele of the photography studio, probing into Yin Liming’s background, and interrogating suspects.

In Interrogation Room No. 2, two suspects were hung up.

With their mouths gagged, they kept whimpering nonstop, but Zhang Anping remained unmoved. After dipping his whip in water, he struck without hesitation. After a series of sharp lashes, Lu Qiaoshan untied the cloths covering their mouths.

The moment the cloth was removed, they shouted out:

“I’m not a Communist! I’m from the Party Affairs Action Team! Brother, I really am from the Party Affairs Action Team! Please stop beating me!”

Of course, Zhang Anping knew they belonged to the Party Affairs team; otherwise, he wouldn’t have singled them out for such treatment.

But the performance had to be maintained.

“A misunderstanding! Brother, this is truly a misunderstanding!” Zhang Anping, with his clumsy acting, expressed that this was just a case of the wrong person being punished, offering them heartfelt consolation.

The two were moved to tears with gratitude. Nearby, Lu Qiaoshan nearly burst into laughter—he could clearly see that the teacher was deliberate, yet these two foolish agents from the Party Affairs team failed to notice.

Could such intellect really make them spies?

After comforting them, Zhang Anping pulled out some money he had prepared in advance and placed it on the table:

“This matter is full of misunderstandings. Brothers, please don’t take offense—consider this thirty yuan as compensation from me to you.”

The amount was small—after splitting it, it barely covered two months’ salary for each.

The two quickly shook their heads: “Section Chief Zhang, you’re too kind. We should be thanking you for your keen insight. No matter what, we cannot accept this money!”

A joke—taking money from a harbinger of plague was tantamount to courting death!

“Huh? You look down on me?”

The two agents shook their heads vigorously before cautiously accepting the money.

“Section Chief Zhang, sorry to trouble you this time. We brothers are truly flustered. Perhaps we can treat you to a drink sometime?”

Zhang Anping smiled and shook his head: “No need for drinks. I actually have a small favor to ask from you two.”

Here it comes! Sure enough!

The two Party Affairs agents cautiously replied, “Section Chief Zhang, just say the word.”

“How about enduring a bit more hardship these days and continuing to play the role of suspicious individuals?”

“Ah?”

“No problem!”

Their reactions were completely different, but the first one quickly caught on and then assured he had no problems.

“Keep a close watch on them these days. Observe carefully if there are any Communists among the remaining fourteen. If you can root out a Communist, I will reward you handsomely!”

They cursed in their hearts but outwardly remained respectful and said they dared not.

After further instructions from Zhang Anping, the two were escorted back.

Once they left, Lu Qiaoshan earnestly flattered, “Teacher, brilliant! Truly brilliant! I’ve learned a lot!”

“Brilliant? Not really. I’m just the butcher and they’re the fish on the chopping block. Remember these two. Every so often, have a chat and a drink with them. If they face financial difficulties, help them out. If they need money, come to me—I’ll reimburse you.”

Lu Qiaoshan was baffled by Zhang Anping’s instructions but nodded in agreement.

Seeing Lu Qiaoshan still didn’t quite understand, Zhang Anping said nothing further—Lu Qiaoshan was still too inexperienced.

Besides, no matter how seasoned he became, he still wouldn’t be a match for Yu Zecheng.

...

The first group of trainees interrogated Yin Liming all day.

Naturally, they gained nothing.

With Yu Zecheng, Xu Zhongyi, Gu Yufei, Lin Nansheng, and if Mingcheng joined, the five underground operatives from the four departments would be complete.

Such a lineup made it nearly impossible to extract any intelligence through interrogation.

Even Yin Liming had not endured much torture.

But Yin Liming’s luck seemed to run out the next day, as the core members of the second group were all outsiders—Li Bohan, Li Ya, Song Xiao’an, Gong Shu, and Lu Qiaoshan. This lineup was truly daunting.

As soon as Yin Liming arrived, he was viciously beaten by Lu Qiaoshan—who fancied himself as Zhang Anping’s favored disciple and eagerly took the role of first torturer.

Lu Qiaoshan showed no restraint; his cruel methods made the other inexperienced trainees wince, but he grew more excited, ignoring their pleas to stop.

Suddenly, Gong Shu shouted, “Lu Qiaoshan! Stop!”

Lu Qiaoshan refused to stop and continued whipping.

Gong Shu rushed forward, grabbed Lu Qiaoshan, and dodging the lashes, pushed him aside. Then he checked on Yin Liming’s condition, his eyelids twitching uncontrollably.

Li Bohan anxiously asked, “Brother Gong, what’s wrong with him?”

“Maybe... he’s dead.”

Gong Shu’s face darkened as he glared angrily at Lu Qiaoshan.

Lu Qiaoshan finally calmed down. Upon hearing “dead,” he hurried to check. Finding no breath, his head began to buzz.

He wasn’t worried about having beaten Yin Liming to death; he realized that his mistake would displease Zhang Anping.

It wasn’t only Lu Qiaoshan who feared incurring Zhang Anping’s wrath; the others were panicked too, for Zhang Anping had instructed that any torture was permissible as long as the person remained alive.

Song Xiao’an shouted, “Quick, call a doctor!”

...

Time rewound to the previous night.

Zhang Anping came to inspect the first group’s interrogation results. Seeing Yin Liming, who had not endured much torture, he flew into a rage and reprimanded the entire group harshly, berating them mercilessly.

Even the seventeen-year-old Gu Yufei was reduced to tears.

Yet Zhang Anping showed no pity, instead punishing all members of the first group.

The punishment was simple—I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.