Wearing heavy makeup while riding the car

July 10, 1940. Morning. Nanjing Passenger Terminal.

Nanjing, known as one of China's four "furnaces," was already unbearably hot in the early morning.

A damp wind blew from the southeast, across the crisscrossing waterways and rice paddies of the Jiangnan region, across the bullet marks left by the tragic battle three
years prior , carrying the scent of loquats from the farmers' baskets under the city gates, into the still
empty and dilapidated streets of the ancient capital, stirring the Wang Jingwei version of the Blue Sky with a White Sun flag (with an added
triangle embroidered with "Peace, Anti-Communism, National Salvation") fluttering atop government buildings, tilting the smoke plumes of passing ships on the river, and fading
the cries of newsboys in front of the passenger terminal: "Read the newspaper! Read the newspaper! The flower monk's trap in Confucius Temple! Read the newspaper! Read the newspaper! The Anglo-French naval battle in North Africa! Read the newspaper
! Read the newspaper! The internal strife between the KMT and the CCP in northern Jiangsu!"

A young couple, arm in arm, walked into the terminal hall, looking like a Westernized couple. The two looked somewhat alike,
both with large eyes, long eyelashes, and straight noses, their handsome features exuding a spirited air. The man wore a white shirt and black trousers, appearing
refined . The woman had a parted hairstyle, a white shirt, a black pleated skirt, and high heels, making her appear
even taller than the man.

The man said softly to the woman, "It's still early, let me see if there are any new newspapers for sale."

"What's so interesting about those fake news stories?"

"News about the European war is still reliable."

"The European war? Why are you so concerned?"

"Global power struggles, a single move affects everything. You think Europe is far away and unconnected, but I
think there are both opportunities and crises for China..."

"Alright, alright, go ahead."

"Thank you, sister."

"Hey." The short-haired woman's eyebrows furrowed slightly, her expression stern yet tender.

"Thank you, madam." The man looked around to make sure no one was watching, playfully kissed her cheek, and
quickly walked towards the newspaper vendor on one side of the hall. The woman blushed and turned her face away.

These two were not actually husband and wife, but a brother and sister. The woman was named He Yuxiu, 25 years old, and the man was named
He Tianbao, 21 years old. They were agents of the Military Intelligence Bureau (MIB).

In late 1938, Wang Jingwei fled abroad to begin his "peace movement." He had initially had an understanding with the Konoe
Cabinet , but just as he arrived in French Indochina, the Konoe Cabinet suddenly resigned. The succeeding
Tojo Cabinet refused to acknowledge the verbal agreement between the former cabinet and Wang Jingwei, leaving Wang Jingwei in a predicament and stranded in Hanoi, then a French
colony .

To get close to Wang Jingwei, the MIB arranged for a group of young agents to go to France for intensive French language training. The He siblings,
young and with some linguistic talent, learned the language fastest and were selected. He Tianbao kept his original name, while He Yuxiu changed her name to Yu Xiu,
posing as a returned overseas Chinese couple and ending up in Hanoi. He Tianbao sought refuge at Wang Jingwei's residence as a translator—though his work
was more like running errands. After the success of the Xinhai Revolution, Wang Jingwei and his wife briefly studied in France. There, they met a young
couple felt a connection, gradually becoming acquainted with He Tianbao. Wang Jingwei was trapped in Indochina for over a year, suffering
multiple assassination attempts by the Military Intelligence Bureau (MIB). However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the attempts always failed. To make it convincing, the MIB assassins were unaware that He Tianbao was
one of their own. He Tianbao was wounded in a firefight, and Wang Jingwei

, believing this to be a testament to his loyalty, took him as a trusted confidant. In March 1940, with no other options, Wang Jingwei accepted new and even more humiliating
conditions and became a traitor in Nanjing. He Tianbao and his siblings followed him.

At that time, the Japanese had more than just Wang Jingwei as a traitor. With Emperor Puyi in Manchukuo,
traitors in the five provinces of North China established the "Provisional Government of the Republic of China" after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. Wang Jingwei accepted Manchukuo,
intending to "reclaim" North China. However, the traitors in Beiping (Beijing) considered themselves more senior than Wang and completely ignored Nanjing's orders.
The two sides continued to argue, a situation the Japanese were happy to see. They outwardly pretended to mediate, but secretly fueled the flames.
Wang Jingwei, being more famous, finally forced the Japanese to make some concessions, ordering the "Provisional
Government " in Beiping to change its name to the "North China Political Affairs Committee." However, this was merely a change in name; the Nanjing government's orders did not extend beyond
the Huai River.

But both sides were traitors and neighbors, and some matters needed to be coordinated. Now that Beiping had
nominally been downgraded, the Nanjing government naturally felt it should send a commissioner or inspector. Beiping, however,
refused to allow Nanjing to send anyone. The Japanese troops stationed in North China supported them, and Nanjing was unwilling to lower itself by sending a delegation
—that would be tantamount to acknowledging Beiping as an equal.

Finally, in desperation, Nanjing decided to first send people to Beiping to establish a merchants' guild of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces. Then, under
the name of this guild, they could coordinate some practical issues that needed to be resolved, such as currency exchange between the North and South and
de facto customs duties.

This position was delicate, the task arduous, but a successful performance could lead to a high-ranking
official in Beiping (Beijing). Several leaders of the Wang Jingwei regime engaged in a power struggle, unable to decide on a candidate. For reasons unknown,
Shao Shijun, the director of the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Anhui Tax Bureau, recommended He Tianbao. Wang Jingwei immediately agreed.

He Tianbao went to Chen Gongbo to decline, arguing that he was a spy sent from Chongqing to Nanjing, and going to Beiping would be beneath him.
Chen Gongbo had no choice; it was Wang's wife, Chen Bijun's, intention to repay He Tianbao for his service in protecting him in Vietnam. Wang Jingwei
was probably the only one among the various figures of the Republic of China—loyalty, treachery,
left and right— who was afraid

of his wife. Chen Bijun was the de facto ruler of the Nanjing court, her word was law. Between He Tianbao and He Yuxiu, this fake couple, He Yuxiu was, by family terms, his elder sister who had raised him;
within the Military Intelligence Bureau, she was his superior. Therefore, he went home to report to He Yuxiu formally first.
It was common for agents infiltrating the enemy to be transferred around frequently. He Yuxiu could only report to Chongqing through secret channels
. The superiors responded by providing contact information for the Military Intelligence Bureau's Beiping station, but solemnly warned
against contacting them without crucial intelligence. They advised her to act like a genuine member of the Wang Jingwei regime and then find an opportunity to
return to .

The siblings prepared gifts to thank Shao Shijun, who said his relative, Sheng Wenyi, wanted to do business with the North and
asked He Tianbao to give him preferential treatment. Sheng Wenyi was a Japanese opium broker who monopolized the opium
trade in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region. He Tianbao reluctantly agreed.

Leaving the Shao family home, He Tianbao guiltily criticized himself, saying that since he had agreed to Shao Shijun's request, he shouldn't have put on such a sour
face. He Yuxiu didn't criticize him; after all, they were "playing" young overseas Chinese, not seasoned Shanghai veterans.

The siblings packed their things until late that night and set off early the next morning.

Passenger terminal.

The crowd parted, and a group of people in Zhongshan suits emerged, each sporting an enthusiastic, bureaucratic smile. These were
secretaries to key figures in the Wang Jingwei regime, such as Zhou Fohai and Li Shiqun, but not in charge; they were low-
ranking officials.

The He siblings exchanged a glance, understanding that these officials were subtly reminding He Tianbao of his position.

He Tianbao warmly and politely greeted the secretaries, promising to mentor and support each other. The secretaries
escorted them to the ship, standing on the pier until the steamship departed with its whistle,
still waving.

He Tianbao waved back for several minutes from the deck, until the group and the dock became
a black dot on the river's edge, before returning to his cabin. The ship sailed for half a day, arriving in Shanghai. The siblings disembarked
there and transferred to the Jinpu Railway to travel to Beiping.

This train had no sleeper berths; the so-called first-class carriages were simply partitioned compartments. He Tianbao had reserved a private compartment,
but upon boarding, he found a middle-aged man with a mustache, upright posture, and a beaming smile already sitting in the carriage. He
was clearly Japanese; only a Japanese person could smile so arrogantly.

The train conductor appeared abruptly, bowing and scraping, saying many nice things. This was a guest added at the last minute,
and coincidentally, their compartment was the only one with two people in the entire carriage.

The Japanese man also came out, bowing, and said, "I'm sorry to have troubled you."

He Tianbao reluctantly accepted the situation, let the conductor leave, and went inside to sit down.

The Japanese man offered He Tianbao cigarettes and beer, introducing himself as Inoue Taro. He Tianbao
introduced He Yuxiu and himself.

Inoue Taro spoke fluent Chinese and was very talkative, constantly engaging He Tianbao in conversation. The two men were about the same age, but
the Japanese man was more experienced and
worldly-wise. He avoided discussing current events and the war, but noticing He Tianbao's interest in trains, cars, and machinery, he chatted with him about these things. Before the train even left Hubei, the two were already engrossed in conversation, as if they were bosom friends.

While the Japanese man went to the restroom, He Yuxiu reminded He Tianbao, "Be careful."

He Tianbao replied, "Don't worry, he can't bewitch me—even if I'm young and naive, I won't be seduced by a man."

He Yuxiu said, "I'm confident that Japanese women can't seduce you either—you've seen it all in
France . What I want to say is, we have a mission; don't let small things ruin the bigger picture."

He Tianbao rolled his eyes and said, "Don't worry, I won't neglect my duties."

He Yuxiu said sternly, "Lieutenant He Tianbao, I'm ordering you now: do not assassinate this Japanese man."

He Tianbao smirked and said, "Yes, sir."

The two chatted about various fabricated family matters until Inoue returned.

The train kept stopping and starting. The next day at noon, they passed Xuzhou. Inoue sent his servants to buy lots of local
snacks and wine, and he and He Tianbao drank and chatted. That evening, when the train reached Dezhou, Shandong, he was already quite drunk.
Seeing the Dezhou station sign, he said, "You know what? Before I was twenty-two, I was very pessimistic
about China is so big, and Japan is so small; it seemed impossible."

"So, what happened when you were twenty-two?" He Tianbao asked, reluctantly but
outwardly feigning curiosity.

"When I was twenty-two, I was serving in the military in Shanghai. I took a vacation and traveled, passing through Dezhou for the first time."

Just then, a group of vendors rushed in from outside the carriage, carrying baskets and oil lamps, hawking the famous Dezhou braised chicken.

He Tianbao said, "Dezhou braised chicken is very famous, let me treat you."

"I object," Inoue said, leaning halfway out of the carriage window, drunk. "
What are you selling?"

"Dezhou braised chicken, famous in Shandong,"

Inoue said. "Give me one, and let me make it clear beforehand, I won't pay if it's not chicken."

"This guy... is he drunk?" "What else could it be but chicken?" The vendors, carrying their baskets, laughed at Inoue,
but no one offered him a chicken, and they all seemed to be backing away intentionally or unintentionally.

After the vendors left, Inoue smiled smugly and returned to his carriage. He called his servant, gave him some Japanese military notes,
and told him to go to the platform and buy two braised chickens.

"So... these people aren't really selling chickens?"

"No. When I was twenty-two, I was on vacation traveling in China. I passed through Dezhou and bought a chicken. After the vendor left and
the train started moving, we tore the chicken open to taste it, and guess what?" Inoue said, "It was roasted crow." He
laughed leaned back in his chair. "Roasted crow... haha... after that, I knew that Japan would definitely conquer
China. China has no shortage of clever people, but unfortunately, you've used all your cleverness on roasting crows."

He Tianbao stood up: "That's a fascinating story. I have to buy one to see how they use crows to
impersonate chickens." Inoue said: "Indeed fascinating—I'll go with you."

The two left the compartment less than five minutes before the train started moving. He Tianbao didn't return for more than ten minutes,
placing an oil paper package on the table.

He Yuxiu leaned on He Tianbao's shoulder, feigning exhaustion, and whispered in a voice only He Tianbao could hear,
"Kill him, I've given my permission."

He Tianbao scratched his head and said, "Sorry, I acted first and reported later again—I've already broken his neck and stuffed him
under . I reckon someone will find the two pieces of his body tomorrow morning."

He Yuxiu was a little angry and said, "You're so hot-tempered... Didn't I say you weren't allowed to kill that Japanese?"

He Tianbao placed an ID on the table and said, "He's not Japanese, he's a naturalized citizen from Dalian, originally
surnamed Yu."

He Yuxiu sighed, took He Tianbao's matches, lit the ID, burned it halfway, and threw it out the train window.

He Tianbao tore open the oil paper package and smiled bitterly. Inside the oil paper package was a burnt crow.

The train traveled for three days and three nights, stopping at Zhengyangmen Station in Beiping.

The He siblings walked out of the station, facing the 500-year-old Ming Dynasty city wall, its battlements stained blood red by the rising sun. The two
exchanged a glance. He Tianbao's expression was grim, while He Yuxiu's eyes glistened with tears. The siblings shared the same sentiment, both thinking of their fallen
comrades from the Military Intelligence Bureau who had died here.

After the full-scale outbreak of the War of Resistance against Japan, the Military Intelligence Bureau was very active in the occupied areas, especially in the Beijing-Tianjin region, assassinating many traitors
and Japanese officers. Last autumn, Wang Tianmu, one of the four top generals of the Military Intelligence Bureau, betrayed them. The Japanese launched a massive raid during the Mid-Autumn Festival,
destroying most of the Military Intelligence Bureau's organization in Beijing and Tianjin, and many comrades died for their country.

After standing for a few minutes, He Yuxiu said softly, "Let's go."

The two exited the station but saw no one to meet them. Before Wang Jingwei even arrived in Shanghai, Zhou Fohai had already found a Manchu named Jin Qiqing in
Beiping as an informal liaison, providing him with a suite at the Six Nations Hotel and a small amount
of operating funds. According to the previous arrangements in Nanjing, he was supposed to come and greet the "He couple."

Many rickshaw pullers were waiting for fares in front of the station, and upon seeing the two well-dressed, Westernized figures emerge, they greeted them
warmly .

He Yuxiu frowned and said, "This Jin guy is trying to give us a hard time."

He Tianbao said, "It's common for members of the Wang puppet regime to fight like dogs; if he's obedient, it'll be suspicious
."

He Yuxiu said, "If Jin doesn't come, we won't bother him. Let's just find a place to set up our own office."

He Tianbao said, "Let's find a hotel to stay in first. Are you really that enthusiastic about working for the Wang family?" He raised his voice and
said to the rickshaw puller standing at the front, "We need two rickshaws to…" He paused,
looking at the street in the distance, and He Yuxiu followed his gaze. A rickshaw sped by, carrying a
woman with permed hair and red lips on the back. She held a four-inch-long ivory cigarette holder and wore a white cheongsam with red flowers. The rickshaw
was brand new , and the driver, a strong middle-aged man, sped along. The siblings only caught a glimpse of the woman
's profile for two seconds before the rickshaw turned away from them, revealing only a bright yellow parasol behind her head.

"Sir, are you visiting relatives or staying at an inn?" the driver asked He Tianbao warmly.

He Tianbao's gaze remained fixed on the rickshaw. It turned and stopped at the intersection of Dashilan Road. The woman got off,
her head still obscured by the parasol. Suddenly, she turned and glanced in their direction, revealing a
beautiful oval face that looked to be in her thirties, heavily made up. She only glanced at him before turning and disappearing into the crowd at Dashilan
.

He Tianbao looked at He Yuxiu, forcing himself to remain calm and keep his voice from trembling, and said, "It's her."

He Yuxiu shook her head and said, "You've mistaken her for someone else. She's over forty years old, how can she look so young?"

He Tianbao said, "I know it's her. She's thirty-nine years old this year. If she's wearing heavy makeup and sitting in
a car , it's not surprising that she looks young."

He Yuxiu said, "That's not her."

Since the traitor surnamed Jin didn't appear, the two pretended he didn't exist. They went to the Beiping Hotel and booked a suite. He Yuxiu
changed clothes and settled her luggage in the inner room, while He Tianbao said at the door, "Xiuer, I'm going out for a walk." "Buy a newspaper."

He Yuxiu opened the door, her face serious as she asked in a low voice, "You want to go find that woman?"

He Tianbao smiled bitterly, "Beijing is so big, do you think I can just wander around the streets and bump into her?"

He Yuxiu scrutinized him, not speaking for a moment, staring at him for a few minutes before saying, "Go ahead."

He Tianbao left the restaurant, first buying a pack of cigarettes by the roadside, and asked the cigarette vendor for directions to Dashilan.
His mother was from Beijing, so although he grew up in the south, he spoke with a Beijing accent. The vendor
looked completely bewildered to see someone speaking fluent Beijing dialect asking him about a place like Dashilan. He Tianbao walked south for a street,
then stopped, knowing that wandering around in the vast sea of people would be a waste of energy, so he bought a few zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) by the roadside and
slowly walked back to the hotel.

The door wasn't locked. He Yuxiu had already washed and dressed, looking refreshed. She was sitting by the window flipping through a book. Hearing
him come in, she turned around and said, "Are you cured?"

He Tianbao said, "Can't you have a little faith in me? I just went out for a walk. Here, some Beijing rice dumplings."

Before he could finish his sentence, He Yuxiu had already picked up a rice dumpling and started peeling it. She frowned from the heat, but her face lit up when she smelled the aroma. She
peeled it open, took a bite, and said, "It's so fragrant and sweet... You said you were going to buy a newspaper, where's the newspaper?"

He Tianbao gave himself away, but he remained calm and waved the paper package in his hand, saying, "I used it to wrap rice dumplings."

He Yuxiu couldn't help but laugh.

He Tianbao, seizing the opportunity, sat down next to He Yuxiu and said solicitously, "Let me peel some zongzi for you, they're fragrant and sweet."

He was pushed away, and He Yuxiu said, "Eat the zongzi later—I have something to
ask ."

He Tianbao stood up and asked, "What?"

He Yuxiu asked, "If you really met the woman you're thinking of, what would you do?"

He Tianbao was stunned.

"Remember! If it really is her…" He Yuxiu pulled a US-made M11911 pistol from under the table
and slammed it on the table, "—This Mid-Autumn Festival, let's go to Dad's grave together."

September 26th, 1931, the Mid-Autumn Festival on the 15th of the eighth lunar month.

The He family, usually bustling with guests, suddenly became deserted due to their involvement in a communist espionage case. Their father locked himself
in his study, drank heavily for half a day, and then a gunshot rang out.
The next day, the "He couple" directly began visiting political figures in Beiping, the first being the most popular and powerful
traitor, Qi Xieyuan.

After Wang Jingwei raised the banner of "Republic of China" in Nanjing this year, the traitors in Beiping removed the signboard of "Provisional Government Committee
of the Republic of China ," nominally merging with Nanjing, but in reality, they simply changed the signboard
to "North China Political Affairs Committee." Under the new name, everything remained the same, and they continued to consider themselves the sole puppet emperors of North China. Qi Xieyuan
was in charge of military affairs and had also cultivated a relationship with the newly appointed head of the Japanese Beiping Special Service Agency. As the new Director of the Public Security Bureau, he held supreme power, controlling both
the military and police . Before He Tianbao arrived, Zhou Fohai instructed him that the first person to
contact among the puppet governments in North China was this Director Qi.

Qi Xieyuan's family was settled in the Tianjin Concession, and he lived alone in a courtyard outside Di'anmen. He Tianbao
hadn't expected to meet with Governor Qi. Zhou Fohai had sent him to see Qi Xieyuan first, partly to convey Nanjing's
high regard for Governor Qi, and partly to elevate He Tianbao's own status, implying that although he lacked an official title, he was
a quasi-imperial envoy sent by the Nanjing government, qualified to be on equal footing with Qi Xieyuan. Normally, dealing with
someone like He Tianbao—lacking qualifications, reputation, and title—Qi Xieyuan would simply send a secretary or a nephew to receive and relay messages.

He Tianbao hadn't expected that after submitting his and Chen Gongbo's documents, a secretary would emerge, saying,
"The Governor requests your presence."

The courtyard wasn't large, nor deep, only two sections. Qi Xieyuan's study was behind the gatehouse.

Qi Xieyuan wasn't in military uniform, but in a long gown. He sat in a grand chair, with writing implements and a
half-written, still-wet paper on the table in front of him, suggesting he had just been practicing calligraphy—a rather scholarly air about him. He Tianbao knew...
This traitor wasn't just putting on an act; he was a genuine scholar who had passed the imperial examinations in the late Qing Dynasty, eventually joining
the army at the Baoding Military Academy. He was quite literate.

Seeing that Qi Xieyuan didn't intend to stand up, He Tianbao clasped his hands in a slight bow and said, "He Tianbao greets
Your Excellency, the Military Governor." Qi Xieyuan came from the Zhili clique of warlords and had risen to the position of Governor of Jiangsu during the chaotic Republican era.
Hence, he was addressed as "Military Governor."

Qi Xieyuan shrugged and said, "Mr. He, please sit down."

The two chatted casually about the weather in Beiping and the products of Nanjing. Qi Xieyuan was from Tianjin, a
city known for its sharp tongues, on par with the notorious "slickers" of Beijing. General Qi was witty, enthusiastic, and
humorous , making everyone feel at ease.

Gradually, the conversation turned to the topic of merging the two governments. Qi Xieyuan said, "We are all Chinese, and I admire Mr.
Wang very much, but whether in Beiping or Nanjing, the Japanese are the ones who keep their word. The Japanese want to
divide and rule us, and the Beiping secret service won't let us obey Nanjing."

He Tianbao nodded and said, "Yes, Beiping has its own difficulties."

Qi Xieyuan looked at He Tianbao, his eyes flickering, and asked, "Mr. He, do you agree with what I'm saying?
Or does Mr. Wang agree with what I'm saying?"

"Actually, what Mr. Wang is doing now is knowingly doing something impossible, and he knows it himself
. He sent me to Beiping just to do his best." He Tianbao had no intention of persuading these Beiping traitors to defect to
Nanjing . From the perspective of the War of Resistance, the more factions within the traitors, the better; from his personal mission perspective, being
transferred back to Nanjing as soon as possible would make it easier for him to play a role.

"Brother, you're quite a straightforward man," Qi Xieyuan said. "Who else do you want to see during your trip to Beiping?
What ? If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask.

" "Then I thank you in advance. If I need anything, I'll trouble the Governor again."

Qi Xieyuan's gaze became wary again: "So, brother, you plan to stay in Beiping permanently?"

"I'll probably stay in Beiping for a year or two, making connections with the business communities in the north and south." He Tianbao knew that the other party wanted to
see him off, but he himself couldn't leave.

"Jiangnan is wonderful. If I hadn't lost to Zhang Zongchang back then, I might have spent my remaining years in the south." Qi Xieyuan
looked leisurely and longing.

He Tianbao said, "Nanjing has its advantages, and Beiping has its advantages."

After chatting for more than ten minutes, Qi Xieyuan served tea and personally escorted him to the second gate. Before parting, he pulled He Tianbao
a few steps and whispered, "Don't blame me for being nosy, but Brother He is a modern man and may not know that Beiping's customs are
not as civilized as those of Nanjing and Shanghai. Visiting guests is a man's business; female guests can only visit the inner quarters. So since you
are going to stay in Beiping for a long time, please don't bring your family—we're just casual acquaintances, so please don't take offense." He Tianbao sincerely thanked him,
took his leave, and went out to discuss with He Yuxiu where to have lunch. He Yuxiu first asked Qi Xieyuan what he had whispered to him. After
listening, her eyebrows furrowed, and she said resentfully, "That old feudalist, that traitor!" He Tianbao said, "He's
right. Northern customs are more conservative than those in the south. He reminded us; he's a kind person."

"You're envious, aren't you? Don't worry, in a few days I'll personally go to Tangshan and Baoding to find you a
virtuous illiterate concubine, with bound feet."

He Tianbao said seriously, "I'll make sure you never miss out."

He Yuxiu laughed, reaching out to pinch his arm, but suddenly noticed people on the street staring at them. She quickly stopped and
asked, "Where do you want to eat?"

"I heard there are many famous Beijing-style restaurants near Dashilan, offering cuisines from all provinces. Let's go there
and have a look."

Perhaps because of the crowd, He Yuxiu agreed without saying anything, only giving him a slight wink out of the corner of her eye.

Dashilan was still bustling, but the goods in the shop windows on both sides were noticeably scarce, and opium dens openly selling
opium were springing up like mushrooms after rain. He Tianbao stood in the crowd, searching for the woman from yesterday, but
he could hardly find anyone wearing a cheongsam. Autumn in Beiping was much cooler than in Nanjing, and many people were already wearing padded jackets.

Suddenly, a faint fragrance wafted through the air.

He Tianbao wasn't exactly a womanizer, but he wasn't exactly a paragon of virtue either. He had been a womanizer during his studies in France and knew a little about
perfume. He could tell that this scent wasn't a mass-produced Shanghai imitation, but rather a high-end product from overseas.

He Tianbao turned his head, and a woman in a white cheongsam with red flowers walked past him, her head bowed. Her dark
hair was beautifully permed, and her face, hidden in the shadows of her hair, had soft features. Her lips were an unusual red—it was
the woman he had caught a glimpse of in the rickshaw earlier.

In the instant they passed each other, she whispered, "You all need to leave Dashilan quickly; it's a trap."

Before she finished speaking, a man in a black silk jacket and trousers, with a gold watch chain around his neck, stepped out from the crowd
, carrying a pistol.

"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"

He Tianbao didn't know who fired first, or even who was firing at all. He only felt
gunshots coming from every corner of the streets and alleys, from shops and stores to windows hidden behind signs.

The He siblings weren't carrying guns. They ran with the surrounding civilians and took refuge in a teahouse. It was early summer, and
the teahouse had a tall awning set up at the entrance, water sprinkled on the ground, and dozens of tables set up, seemingly for a storytelling performance.
Hearing the gunshots outside, the storytellers got up and went outside to see what was happening, while pedestrians on the street pushed and shoved to get back inside
to avoid the bullets. In the chaos, the He siblings' hands were torn apart, and when He Tianbao turned around, his sister was gone.

He Tianbao stood in the teahouse for a while, listening to the street outside gradually return to calm, but still couldn't find
He Yuxiu . Suddenly, several fake policemen came running along the street, shouting, "Mr. He Tianbao!
Is Mr. He Tianbao here?"

He Tianbao steeled himself, raised his hand, and said, "That's me!"

The policemen were overjoyed, saying, "It's good that you're alright. Our chief ordered us to find you at all costs."
A young man with slicked-back hair and a silk jacket squeezed through the crowd, sweating profusely and looking anxious. He bowed to He Tianbao
and said, "Hello, Mr. He, my name is Zheng Zhonghui, you can call me Huizi. I'm Master Jin's
driver . Master Jin instructed me to wait for you at Zhengyangmen Station early this morning. I arrived early, but I happened to have drunk too much tea
and went to the toilet, so I missed you..."

He Tianbao knew that Master Jin was Jin Qiqing. He waved his hand to interrupt Huizi and asked, "Have you met my
wife?"

"You and your wife got separated?"

"Yes, it was our first time in Beiping. We were going to stroll around Dashilan when we were caught in the shooting and got
separated ."

Hui Zi turned around abruptly, his expression changing instantly. He shouted at the police, "What are you all standing there for
? Go find Mrs. He!"

The policemen nodded but didn't move.

Hui Zi felt a little embarrassed. He reached into his pocket and whispered to He Tianbao, "Director He, the police in Beiping
have strict rules. This kind of thing might require a little bribe..."

He Tianbao asked, "How much?"

"Two silver dollars will suffice."

He Tianbao took out two silver dollars and handed them to Hui Zi. Hui Zi patted the older patrolman on the shoulder, and the dollars
fell into his uniform pocket. He said, "Second Master Ha, please." Second

Master Ha beamed and said, "Don't worry, Mr. He. Hui Zi's business is our business. We have
a good relationship. In Beiping, let alone losing a person, even losing a hair, I can find it for you!"
With that, he waved his hand, and the patrolmen swaggered off along the Dashilan, shouting, "Mrs. He! Mrs. He!"

Hui Zi said to He Tianbao, "Mr. He, it's chaotic today. Let's not wait on the street; it'll only cause
trouble . Let's go to the liaison station. There's a telephone there, so we'll get news faster."

He Tianbao was worried about his sister but didn't want to appear too brave, so he nodded in agreement.

The Beiping liaison station was located in the Six Nations Hotel, in a large suite.

The stationmaster, Jin Qiqing, who called himself the fifth son, had a courtesy name and a pseudonym. He Tianbao, anxious and preoccupied, paid him no heed. Jin Qiqing was in his forties or
fifties, unremarkable in appearance, with recently dyed, greasy black hair. His voice was loud and clear, with a crisp, clear Beijing accent.

"Don't worry, Brother He—I think I'm a few years older than you, so calling me 'Brother' is fine—my family has been in Beijing for generations ,
and I have connections in all walks of life. Your wife will be absolutely safe." "

Thank you in advance, Brother Jin the Fifth."

"Jin the Fifth is what outsiders call us. It's the eldest son in our branch, but now that our stable income is gone,
and the whole family has separated, it's meaningless. If you think highly of me, just call me Brother Jin the Eldest."

He Tianbao, anxious and preoccupied, nodded in agreement, only drinking tea and smoking. His silence didn't matter;
Jin Qiqing could still chat animatedly on his own.

Everyone says that people from Beiping are good at talking, and He Tianbao certainly had his eye on it today. Jin
Qiqing talked
on and on, his words flowing like a storyteller in a teahouse. He talked for half an hour straight, recounting the Jin family genealogy. It turned out that Jin Qiqing was a member of the Manchu imperial family, a direct descendant of the Qianlong Emperor. Jin means Aisin Gioro, making him
a . However, this Prince Jin was loyal and patriotic, refusing to go to the Northeast to become a Japanese vassal, so he joined the revolution under Mr. Wang
.

Mr. Jin finally steered the conversation back to the main point: "I only became the stationmaster because Mr. Wang and Mr. Chen asked me to.
Now that you're here, I can finally relax after handing over my duties."

He Tianbao was about to reply when Jin Qiqing noticed that his teacup was empty and called out, "Go to the kitchen and get some tea from the big teapot
to make a new pot." The door to the inner room opened in response, and a dirty
child , followed by an old woman. They grabbed the child and took the teapot with them. It turned out that Jin Qiqing's
family lived in the inner room.

He Tianbao pretended not to see them, chuckled, and said that he and Jin Qiqing were not doing the same thing in Beiping, and that
Jin Qiqing would probably have to carry this burden for a few more days. "Even if you want to resign, please ask Mr. Chen to resign.
I am far from qualified."

Jin Qiqing was half-convinced, but his mood improved a bit. The old woman brought out a pot of tea. Jin Qiqing said that
you could Old Beiping people didn't brew tea fresh; they used to brew a
pot full of tea leaves and use this to make tea all day long, keeping the temperature and concentration just right. He Tianbao politely flattered,
"I've long heard that Beiping people know how to live, they're really particular."

"Things have changed since the Republic of China. If we're talking about being particular, that was back in the Qing Dynasty." Jin Qiqing then talked about how Beiping people were particular about
summer , how to build a sunshade in the courtyard, how to chill watermelon in well water, and how many kinds of side dishes to prepare for noodles with soybean paste.

He Tianbao suddenly felt uneasy, vaguely sensing that something was amiss in the house, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Just then, the phone rang. Jin Qiqing said a few words, then smiled broadly at He Tianbao, saying, "We've found her.
Your sister-in-law ran from behind Dashilan into the alley and somehow ended up outside Xuanwu Gate."

He Tianbao took the phone. He Yuxiu walked out of the police cordon in the alley and
borrowed a phone at a restaurant outside Xuanwu Gate to let them know she was safe. Jin Qiqing had Huizi drive to pick her up and take her directly to the house. Jin Qiqing then
said to He Tianbao, "I heard you two were coming, so I took the liberty of renting a courtyard in Dongcheng for you .
I've repainted it, re-plastered the awnings, and even rented furniture—if you're not satisfied, you can call him to come and change it. The furniture
store owner is a friend of mine..."

He Tianbao thanked Jin Qiqing and prepared to leave to settle in.

Jin Qiqing firmly tried to persuade him to stay: "Your sister-in-law can handle this. You're new here, so I must
treat you to a welcoming feast. I've prepared the wine; it's not new, but a homemade Greenery Chen from one of my cousins."

He Tianbao knew that in Beiping, men were more patriarchal and wives were treated like clothes, but he couldn't care less at this moment.
He said, "Please excuse my presumption, Jin Qiqing. My wife is young; I'd better go see her myself before I bother you with this feast."

"Newlyweds, I understand, I understand." Jin Qiqing surprisingly had a straightforward side, saying, "Hui Zi, you
go with Mr. He. After you take Mrs. He to the house, make sure to bring Mr. He back for me."

The old car at the liaison station was extremely difficult to start. Hui Zi fiddled with it for a long time, but everything except the engine made noise.

He Tianbao helped tinker with it. Although he didn't know how to repair cars, he was observant and suspected that Hui Zi was being
instructed to delay and deliberately not start the car.

He Tianbao, growing impatient, insisted on taking a rickshaw, but Hui Zi refused, saying it was improper and he
wouldn't be able to explain it when he returned.

"What do you mean by improper? My wife is a woman, all alone, in this chaotic world, unfamiliar with everyone..." He
Tianbao stammered, initially acting, but his voice trembled involuntarily as he spoke,
revealing .

Just then, the rickshaw finally started moving, but they kept encountering checkpoints set up by Japanese and puppet troops and police.
Fortunately, the Japanese army didn't recognize the various passes they obtained from the Beiping Police Station and still
checked them . The journey from the Six Nations Hotel to Xuanwu Gate was only a few miles, but they arrived after forty minutes.

He Tianbao was extremely anxious the whole way, muttering curses under his breath in the passenger seat: "Damn Japanese,
little devils, Japanese pirates..."

Hui Zi comforted him, "It'll be over soon, it's all because of that gunfight at Dashilan."

He Tianbao suddenly asked, "Have you found out who attacked whom at Dashilan?" "

It was the Japanese who ambushed and captured students from the Anti-Japanese Resistance..." Hui Zi casually replied, then realized
he had misspoke; as a driver, he knew far too much.

He Tianbao sneered, "Whose idea is this, playing tricks on yourselves? Zhou Fohai or
Li Shiqun ?"

Wang Jingwei's intelligence network was established at No. 76 Jessfield Road in the foreign concession, known as "Number 76."
While it was rumored to be incredibly powerful, it was actually a chaotic mess. It had three leaders: Ding Mocun, Zhou Fohai, and Li Shiqun. None
of them trusted anyone else and refused to relinquish control, each having their own group of loyal followers who distrusted one another. He Tianbao and his sister had
been directly chosen by Wang Jingwei and his wife in Vietnam, and the three leaders of Number 76 were likely all suspicious of them. He
Tianbao had inquired and learned that the Beiping liaison station was initially arranged by Zhou Fohai, but later, due to Zhou Fohai's busy schedule, Li Shiqun took over.
Regardless of whether Hui Zi reported to Zhou or Li, they wouldn't trust this "Vietnamese boy."

Hui Zi maintained his usual warm, unassuming smile, a typical Beijing native, and said, "You're in politics, we're in intelligence.
It's better for you not to tell you these things."

He Tianbao sneered, "That's for the best. If my wife loses a single hair, you'd better watch out. I
might not be able to handle that Jin guy, but I can certainly handle a small fry like you."

Hearing this, Hui Zi hesitated, pulled the car over, and said with a forced smile, "This has nothing to do with Mr. Jin
. He doesn't know about my connections with Nanjing. I believe you and your wife are both innocent people. You'll
be reunited soon, and I guarantee your wife will be safe and sound."

"Safe and sound? What do you mean?"

"We dare to test Mrs. He once."

He Tianbao asked angrily, "Since you've already scared us once, why are you going to scare my
wife ?"

Hui Zi said, "We're being cautious—this time, amidst the hail of bullets, Mrs. He, unfamiliar with the area,
managed to cross the police and military cordon at Dashilan and reach Xuanwu Gate. Although it might have been a coincidence,
we're still worried."

"Then what will put your minds at ease?"

Hui Zi pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to He Tianbao. He Tianbao took it and looked at it; it was
a blank bullet used in theatrical performances. He pretended not to understand and asked, "What does this mean? Are you trying to scare me with a bullet? Since I dared to
risk being condemned by everyone and follow Mr. Wang in the revolution, I'm not afraid of losing my head!"

"Mr. He, you misunderstand." Hui Zi pulled out another bullet and handed it over, explaining, "This is
a real bullet. The bullets we'll be using later have the bullets removed."

He Tianbao's expression was uncertain.

Suddenly, gunshots rang out ahead.

He Tianbao jumped out of the car and stood by the roadside, his heart pounding in his chest.

Their car was parked on the side of Luomashi Street. A hundred meters ahead was the intersection of Luomashi Street and Xuanwumenwai
Street . A short-haired woman ran across the intersection; her figure was He Yuxiu, holding a short gun in her right hand,
firing back as she ran. He Tianbao noticed something odd about his sister's gait. Upon closer inspection, he saw that her right shoe and sock appeared to
be stained red, indicating she was injured.

Looking at his sister, He Tianbao's mind went blank, a jumble of thoughts racing through his head:
Who was exchanging fire with his sister? Was it the Military Intelligence Bureau, people from Beiping, or people from Nanjing? His sister had been exposed, but to
what extent? Could he distance himself and continue his undercover work?

A soft click sounded beside him—the sound of a pistol's safety being released. He Tianbao turned to see Hui Zi had also gotten out of
the car, hands gripping a pistol, elbows propped on the roof, looking at He Tianbao.

He Tianbao then realized he had lost what might have been his only chance. He should have immediately subdued Hui Zi, seized the car,
and rescued his sister. But instead, he coldly stared at Hui Zi: "What do you mean by this?"

Hui Zi still wore the gentle smile of a Beijing native. He pulled out a pair of handcuffs, placed them on the roof of the car, and pushed them forward.
The handcuffs slid to He Tianbao's side. He said, "Mr. He, I'll say it again: true gold fears no fire. If
you are innocent, go and explain yourself to the people above."

He Tianbao slammed his hand on the roof of the car and said sharply, "How dare you!" "

I heard Mrs. He is a female student who returned from studying abroad. How come she carries a pistol? Even if I shoot
you today, the people of Shanghai won't blame me."

"Who said she's my wife? Didn't you say yourself that Japanese agents are arresting members of the resistance?"

Hui Zi nodded honestly. "In that case, you don't need to worry anymore. Don't make things difficult for me. Quickly put on the handcuffs
and get in the car, otherwise, when the Japanese arrive, I'll have to act first and report later."

He Tianbao wanted to stall until the Japanese arrived, but he didn't expect Hui Zi to actually shoot him on the spot. This agent named Hui Zi
was far more capable than the double agent, his amiable demeanor masking a chilling aura.

As the two were locked in a stalemate, a woman's scream rang out from the side: "Tianbao!"

They turned to see a beautiful woman in a white cheongsam standing by the roadside, heavily made up, her bright red
lips trembling with fear and shock, staring intently at them. It was the same woman the He siblings had seen that morning in Dashilan.

The woman ran across the street, throwing herself into He Tianbao's arms, shielding him with her back, and turned to Hui Zi, shouting:
"You pointed a gun at him in broad daylight…you…do you still have any law in Beiping?"

He Tianbao was initially stunned, instinctively wrapping his arms around the woman's back, embracing her soft, warm body. The woman
whispered, "If you don't want to die, pretend I'm your wife."

The woman was panting from running, the silk covering her breasts rubbing against He Tianbao's chest. A
connection formed in their hearts; he instantly recognized her, his heart pounding uncontrollably.

The woman turned and stood in front of He Tianbao, spreading her arms wide, glaring at Hui Zi like a mother beast protecting her cubs. He
Tianbao stared blankly at the dark, cloud-like hair before him.

He Yuxiu also saw He Tianbao and the woman, paused for a moment, then raised her gun at them. Hui Zi raised his gun...
He Tianbao stepped forward, using his left arm to shield the woman as he shot He Yuxiu, while his right hand deflected Hui Zi's gun.
He Yuxiu glared at He Tianbao hatefully, then turned and fled into an alley.

Several plainclothes officers on bicycles, armed with guns, gave chase, firing wildly into the alley before following them inside.

Hui Zi looked at He Tianbao, who, regaining his composure, whispered, "Do you want to expose yourself?"

Luomashi wasn't a bustling area, but in broad daylight, a crowd of onlookers quickly gathered. Hui
Zi, puzzled, tucked his pistol into his sleeve and asked, "Are you... Mrs. He?"

He Tianbao finally snapped out of his daze and scoffed, "Nonsense!"

Hui Zi asked, "Then who was that female bandit who fired the gun just now...?"

He Tianbao looked at him, offering no answer.

Hui Zi awkwardly engaged the safety on his pistol, avoided the gazes of those around him, put his hands back on his hip, walked over, bowed
deeply, and said, "Mr. He, Mrs. He, I'm truly sorry for the misunderstanding today. Please get in
the car, we'll talk there."

The woman said, "I won't ride in his car!"

He Tianbao said sternly to Hui Zi, "Mr. Zheng, I'm very sorry, my wife has been through a lot today, so we'll
take our leave now. We can discuss the rest another day."

Hui Zi was quite straightforward, nodding and saying solicitously, "Please wait a moment, I'll go call a rickshaw."

He Tianbao... Bao said, "No need to trouble yourself. Who knows what you're up to in the car! We'll walk there ourselves
—follow us if you want to! No, I advise you to go to the hotel first and check our luggage! Be careful,
I have a Chongqing spy hidden in my suitcase!"

Hui Zi slapped himself and said, "I was reckless. I'll come to apologize tomorrow! We've
prepared a house for you at No. 24 Jinyu Hutong. The luggage should have been delivered by now. Here's the key and
address."

He Tianbao didn't say anything, but took the key and the note with a stern face.

Hui Zi drove away dejectedly. The woman took He Tianbao's arm and walked into a small alley next to them. Once inside,
she let go of his arm and walked ahead alone. Chinese women in high heels and cheongsams walk so gracefully,
their waists swaying, the creamy white silk embroidered with red flowers taut around their rounded hips.

Seeing that no one was around, the woman stopped and turned around, looking He Tianbao up and down. Her eyes, surrounded by heavy eyeshadow
, were filled with mixed emotions. She forced a smile on her

pale face: "Hello, Xiaobao." He Tianbao replied expressionlessly: "Hello, Mother."

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