Chapter 28: Two Hundred and Fifty Bucks

The time returns to noon.

Zhang Anping made a call to the Guard Division of the Secret Service.

"Brother Yao, it's me, Zhang Shihao!"

Upon hearing Zhang Anping identify himself, Yao Jiangjie immediately said with enthusiasm, "Brother Zhang, long time no see! How is your recovery coming along? I’ve been thinking of you day and night!"

"Brother Yao, that kind of talk doesn't suit two men; it's going to cause a misunderstanding!"

"Haha, Brother Zhang, you laugh at me. I'm just a rough fellow, I must have used the wrong idiom!"

"Brother Yao, since we're our own people, I'll be blunt. I need a favor. If we succeed, we share the credit; if it’s just a thankless task, I’ll treat you to drinks at Anle Restaurant!"

"Hey, Brother Zhang, we’ve been through life and death together fighting Japanese spies! Just say the word. As long as it’s within my power, if I even frown, I’m not a man!"

"Brother Yao, that’s too kind. Here’s the thing: I’ve killed a Communist. I’ll have people bury the body this afternoon in the woods west of the city. I need you to send men to guard the spot in advance. If anyone comes to move the corpse or leave a mark, take them all down!"

"Piece of cake!" Yao Jiangjie agreed readily.

He immediately gathered a dozen guards and headed straight for the woods to set up an ambush—catching a Communist meant merit! Even if he caught no one, he would gain a favor from Zhang Shihao, which was a good deal either way.

At Guanwang Temple, Zhang Anping hung up the phone. Xu Baichuan, standing nearby, sighed, "Brother Shihao, you really spare no effort when it comes to catching Communists!"

"Brother, don't mock me. I'm just trying to make amends for my past mistakes. Besides, if we really catch a Communist, we’ll have to vet all the students who went out today; surely some of them are problematic!"

"That’s the job of the Vetting Division. You’ll be responsible for digging out the Communists hiding among the trainees when the time comes!"

"No problem!" Zhang Anping promised firmly.

After leaving the office, Zhang Anping reviewed his plan once more. It was a strategy to kill multiple birds with one stone. He had to dig out Yin Liming, who was faking his death, tonight, but how could he do it without being caught? Furthermore, he never believed the Party Affairs Office would give up on investigating him. Since they hadn't caught anyone at the photo studio, they were surely suspicious of his interference. Yet, they had delivered Yin Liming to him. If Yin Liming was clean, what was their purpose? There was only one possibility: they were testing to see if he would save him! Therefore, they must be watching.

Zhang Anping had devised a way to break the deadlock: Let the Party Affairs Office see the body being buried. If they got suspicious and went to investigate, they would be nabbed by the Guard Division, leaving the Party Affairs Office with a bitter pill to swallow. If they didn't check, he would sneak over at night to dig the man up, knocking out or silencing the guards left behind—and he wouldn't take the blame for that either. Instead, he could clear his name: the conclusion would be that the underground party had dug up their martyr to prevent a shallow burial. This way, there would be no repercussions.

And it turned out that Zhang Anping’s scheme had hit the jackpot. The Party Affairs Office, impatient, went to dig up the body and was promptly rounded up by the lurking guards.

Yao Jiangjie was overjoyed: "One, two, three, four, five! Five Communists! Haha! It’s my time for a promotion! Arrest them!"

Tian Hu hurriedly identified himself: "It’s a misunderstanding! We are from the Party Affairs Office! Here are my credentials!"

But his move to reach for his ID drew the guards' attention, and before he could pull it out, a rifle butt smashed him to the ground. After tying up the five agents and finding their IDs, Yao Jiangjie’s scalp tingled. They really were from the Party Affairs Office!

Yao Jiangjie’s eyes rolled: "No! Brother Zhang said he leaked the news, and anyone coming to dig is definitely a Communist! I’m not listening to your excuses! Men, take them to Guanwang Temple!"

As the guards forced the five to move, a quick-witted subordinate whispered, "Boss, they really are from the Party Affairs Office!"

"No kidding, you think I don't know? Damn it, I’ve been played by that kid Zhang Shihao! Is it because I forgot to mention his contribution to the Director back then? I didn't think this brat would hold a grudge!" Yao Jiangjie cursed, "He dug such a massive pit for me!"

"Wait, this is a trap?"

"Most likely! But I’m no pushover! Didn't I tell them we were acting under orders? Go! Send them to Guanwang Temple. Let the big shots fight it out; we small fry don't need to get involved!"

...

The Guard Division delivered the prisoners to Guanwang Temple. Zhang Anping came out to meet them and, seeing the five men, exclaimed in shock, "Tian Hu?!"

"Wait, let me get this straight! Damn it, you were spying on me?"

Zhang Anping feigned a moment of calculation, then, looking absolutely furious, kicked Tian Hu. Less than 60 hours later, Tian Hu took another kick from Zhang Anping. Yao Jiangjie, seeing Zhang’s reaction, thought, *Did I misunderstand?*

Tian Hu didn't fight back this time; as he fell, he scrambled to explain, "Section Chief Zhang, this is truly a misunderstanding!"

"Misunderstanding your mother’s head!" Zhang Anping cursed, kicking Tian Hu several more times for good measure. "I’m fishing for Communists, and you bastards ruined my plan! Damn it, I’ll kick you to death!"

After Zhang Anping kicked him a dozen times and panted in exhaustion, he angrily ordered the trainees to take the men away. He then regained his composure and took Yao Jiangjie’s hand: "Brother Yao, I really didn't expect this! No more words—once this is settled, I’ll host a feast to thank you!"

Yao Jiangjie was fooled by Zhang Anping’s performance, thinking he had indeed misjudged a gentleman. He sincerely promised to go back and keep watch on the woods for the Communists.

"The Communists aren't fools; they won't dare dig openly now."

Yao Jiangjie feigned regret, "This is on me! If I had known, I wouldn't have nabbed these bastards from the Party Affairs Office!"

"It’s fine! Catching the tail of the Party Affairs Office is a good thing!" Zhang Anping waved it off. "Actually, I should thank you, Brother Yao. If you hadn't caught them, I wouldn't have known those bastards were tailing me!"

Yao Jiangjie took the opening, "Brother Zhang, you owe our brothers in the Guard Division a good drink, don't forget!"

Zhang Anping agreed instantly. After sending Yao Jiangjie away, Zhang Anping went to find Xu Baichuan, reported the situation, and asked for his advice.

"These bastards are endless!" Xu Baichuan was also angry and suggested, "Brother Anping, I suggest you ask the Director to step in. Since the Party Affairs Office started this, we need to teach them a lesson!"

Zhang Anping was naturally willing; in fact, this was his goal. He immediately left Guanwang Temple for headquarters to complain to his cousin-in-law, the Director. Facing his relative, Zhang Anping naturally told the "truth," explaining the Communists were killed by his trainees, that he had set up the trap to make amends, and that the Party Affairs Office had ruined it.

In fact, the Director had already received reports from his men. He was satisfied with Zhang Anping’s stance on the Communists—even though they were killed, they had no value, so it wasn't a mistake. He also knew the details of how Zhang Anping handled the aftermath and thought it was done well. But on the surface, he naturally had to reprimand Zhang Anping.

Facing the lecture, Zhang Anping could only nod submissively, finally cheekily mentioning that he would visit the Director’s home tonight to see his great-aunt. The Director let him off, promising, "I will communicate with Director Xu. What are your demands?"

Zhang Anping said with a grievance, "I was docked two months' pay."

"Hmph, is that my fault? Go away, stop being an eyesore!" The Director waved him off. Zhang Anping left with a smirk, but once outside, he broke into a radiant smile.

The secretary was puzzled and asked the Director later what made Zhang Shihao so happy.

"Happy? I helped this brat slash a piece off the Party Affairs Office, of course he’s happy!" The Director curled his lip. "Little guy, getting carried away over such a small amount of money—he really needs more tempering!"

...

Director Xu received the call he least wanted. His face turned dark, and after agreeing, he hung up with a fiery temper, grinding his teeth as he spat out two words: "Plague god!"

Zhang Shihao was a pure plague god! Last time they arrested him, they not only paid 500 but also "lost" the Third Division. This time, his men investigated him, got caught red-handed, and then he shamelessly demanded compensation.

The secretary, seeing the Director’s rage, wanted to flee, but as he reached the door, Director Xu spoke: "Go to the General Affairs Office, draw 200 yuan, and send it to the plague god at Guanwang Temple."

"Plague god?"

"That's the one!"

The secretary agreed. "Wait—make it 250!"

The secretary was stunned. How much resentment did his boss have to spend money just to insult someone? He didn't dare ask and left.

Director Xu’s arrangements weren't over, his grinding voice came again: "Tell Tian Hu to roll in and see me the moment he gets back!"

"Yes!"

...

After the 250 yuan was delivered to Guanwang Temple, Tian Hu returned, bruised and battered. The trembling Tian Hu met the dark-faced Director Xu.

Director Xu suppressed his anger: "Tian Hu, you insisted on investigating Zhang Anping. Come, tell me your conclusion."

Tian Hu said cautiously, "Director, after my investigation, Zhang Shihao is not a Communist."

"That's it?"

Tian Hu didn't dare breathe.

"Go to Xi'an."

Tian Hu had been prepared—when he insisted on the investigation, the Director had warned him that if he found no evidence or if the "plague god" turned out to be innocent, he should prepare himself. That was why Tian Hu had dug up the grave even when he was almost certain Zhang Anping was innocent—only to end up in this mess.

"Thank you for your mercy, Director." Tian Hu was genuinely grateful; he thought he would be finished, but instead, he was just being sent to Xi'an. At least he would have Gao Zhanlong for company.

"Get out! Get out!"

...

At Guanwang Temple, Zhang Anping looked at the 250 yuan on the table and felt the Party Affairs Office was cursing him.

Xu Baichuan laughed, "Brother Anping, you’re something else! The Party Affairs Office is notoriously stingy; I never expected you to fleece them twice in a row!"

Zhang Anping spread his hands, "If I say I’m innocent, would you believe me?"

"Believe? Of course I believe you!" Xu Baichuan laughed heartily.

Zhang Anping rolled his eyes. *Believe your head.*

"Brother, I don't have much, but take these fifty. Give forty to Brother Zheng, tsk, and fifty for the Guard Division as a reward. I have to visit the old lady at Ji'e Lane tonight, that's at least fifty. Tsk, and sixty for Anle Restaurant tomorrow night—Brother Xu, that’s the sixty-yuan standard, not a penny more!"

(The purchasing power of legal tender in 1936 was strong; 60 yuan was equivalent to six months' salary for a private—and at that time, the Central Army privates were only paid 70% of their "national distress" pay.)

Zhang Anping babbled on about the accounts, his miserly appearance making Xu Baichuan laugh uncontrollably. He hadn't realized his brother Anping had such a stingy side.

Xu Baichuan waved his hand: "Just count my and Old Liu's portions as a contribution to the Anle Restaurant."

"Don't, those are the rules, can't break them!"

"Then Brother Anping, you’ll have to bleed cash. I won't be polite! You’re going to the Director’s house tonight, you need to prepare gifts. Leave early; I’ll handle the trainees with Old Liu."

"You got it!"