Chapter 90: Reluctant to Leave

Chapter 90: Reluctant to Leave

In the bedroom, Lin Yufan lay on a luxurious chaise lounge while Zhao Zhiao trimmed her toenails with a nail clipper.

Zhao Zhiao explained in detail the backgrounds of Geng Dongping and Chen Dandan.

Geng Dongping was the second wife of the undercover party member Bai Geng, while Chen Dandan was the daughter of the patriotic businessman Liang Xiwen.

After Liang Xiwen and Bai Geng were arrested and killed by the Nationalist Party for their uprising, Chen Dandan and Geng Dongping were secretly sent to Hong Kong by the organization for refuge.

Since Liang Xiwen had once done a favor for Zhao Zhiao, Zhao Zhiao took on the responsibility of caring for them.

Lin Yufan asked curiously, "Do they know each other's identities?"

Zhao Zhiao replied, "Geng Dongping and Chen Dandan are aware of each other's identities because they were rescued together and sent to me together. Zhang Aiming knows their identities clearly, but they don't know that Zhang Aiming is an undercover party member. They thought Zhang Aiming was just like them, a family member of a patriot."

Footsteps could be heard outside, probably Gui Xiang.

They didn't continue the topic.

Gui Xiang came in and saw her son-in-law trimming her mistress's nails. She stifled a laugh and acted as though she hadn't noticed.

Two days later, the organization sent word, and Ms. Guan promptly shared the good news with Geng Dongping and Chen Dandan.

Ms. Guan said, "The organization hopes to bring you to Beijing for care, of course, with your own willingness as the priority."

When Chen Dandan heard they would be staying in Beijing long-term, she hesitated.

She was a southerner and had never been to the north. She was worried she wouldn't adjust.

Geng Dongping was also reluctant to leave Hong Kong, but after all, this was not her home. Staying in the Zhao family garden for a long time and bothering others was not a long-term solution.

In a soft voice, she asked Ms. Guan, "When do we leave?"

Ms. Guan replied, "If you can confirm, I can arrange it, and we can leave as early as next week."

Next week?

That was too soon.

Geng Dongping nodded, "Alright. Let's get this over with quickly."

Chen Dandan, holding the white cat raised by Zhang Aiming, said, "It's too sudden. Let us think it over first."

Ms. Guan said, "Alright, if you have any concerns, feel free to tell me."

"I've never stayed in the north before, and I don't know anyone there. I have no relatives..." Chen Dandan had lived a privileged life since childhood and had never suffered. She was afraid she wouldn't adjust to the lifestyle and climate in Beijing and wouldn't know how to get by.

Geng Dongping advised her, "But Dandan, staying here is not a long-term solution either. Zhi Ao has his own family, and our long-term stay in the Zhao family garden is not good for them."

Chen Dandan muttered, "What difference does it make? We're just the madam's mahjong partners."

But after all, they held the status of Zhao Zhiao's concubines.

Geng Dongping didn't say it explicitly, only saying, "Do you expect the Zhao family to support us forever?"

"That's not what I mean," Chen DanDan said anxiously, tears streaming down her face. "I know I have to leave someday, but I don't want to go to the north. I... I'm just a capitalist's pampered daughter. What could I possibly do in the liberated area? I don't have any skills."

Geng Dongping said, "Maybe there’s a chance for a fresh start?"

Ms. Guan understood their hesitation and confusion and comforted them, "It’s okay if you don’t have any skills yet. The liberated areas have several women’s schools. You can pick up a trade there, and the organization will arrange suitable jobs for you so you’ll have a steady income and security."

Chen Dandan didn’t want to go to Beiping at all. "I’d rather wait for the south to be liberated and go back home. I don’t want to go to Beiping."

Geng Dongping also nodded, "Can we wait until the south is liberated to go back home?"

Even though there’s no family left back home, at least it’s a place they know.

Ms. Guan didn’t push further. "I’ll report this to the organization—it shouldn’t be an issue. However, it’s still uncertain when the south will be liberated. You’ll have to wait a bit longer."

Geng Dongping had been keeping up with the news. "From what I’ve seen in the news, it shouldn’t be long now."

After Ms. Guan left, Chen Dandan stroked the soft long fur of the white cat and said reluctantly, "The cat gets to stay, but we… we can’t."

"Let’s look forward—when we go back home, we’ll have each other."

Geng Dongping gazed out the window at the lush greenery and let out a soft sigh.

*

In the living room, Lin Yufan was talking to Mrs. Peng on the phone.

The Mingli Academy they funded in the wooden house village was just finished, and before the school opens, they’ll hold a dedication ceremony.

Mrs. Peng asked Lin Yufan if she would attend.

Lin Yufan was far along in her pregnancy and didn’t feel up to attending crowded events. "I won’t be going—Fifth Brother will represent me."

"You’re right—you should be taking it easy at home now," Mrs. Peng said. "After the ceremony, Mrs. Luo and I will come to see you, and we can settle the accounts for the Mingli Academy. We might need to chip in a bit more ourselves."

Lin Yufan agreed. "The gap isn’t huge—the three of us can handle it."

Mrs. Peng wasn’t as well-off, so Lin Yufan and Mrs. Luo would cover most of it.

After hanging up the phone, there was a knock at the door.

It was Geng Dongping and Chen Dandan, each holding a wooden box.

"Ma’am..."

Lin Yufan quickly motioned for them to sit. "What’s going on? What’s this?"

As she spoke, she signaled for Gui Xiang to leave.

Geng Dongping and Chen Dandan placed the wooden boxes on the coffee table.

Geng Dongping opened the lid of her box, inside were rolls of US dollars, Hong Kong dollars, and bankbooks.

Geng Dongping smiled, "Thanks to your care over the years, we’ve had everything we needed—food, clothes, and more. The family gave us monthly allowances. These are the savings I’ve accumulated over the years. We’d already decided we’d give this money back to you."

Chen Dandan also opened her box and said with slight guilt, "I’m not as careful with money, so I haven’t saved as much. Please don’t mind."

Lin Yufan couldn’t possibly accept it, and she didn’t care about the money. She pushed the boxes back. "Since it was given to you, there’s no reason to take it back. Please take it back."

Geng Dongping said, "We won’t be able to spend this money when we return. I saw in the news that there’s a unified currency in the liberated areas..."

Lin Yufan suggested, "You could convert it into gold bars—they’re accepted anywhere and can even be used for protection."

Geng Dongping said honestly, "We’ve kept some gold bars for emergencies, that’s enough. Bringing too much money back would actually be risky."

Chen Dandan’s face was clouded with worry, "I heard that in the liberated areas, they don’t even allow wearing nice clothes or perming hair. Just eating doesn’t require much money."

Geng Dongping also said, "Yes, we have no relatives back home, no one to support, so we really don’t need much money."

Lin Yufan knew that life would be tough after the liberation in the country, and for these two women to return like this, they would indeed have to endure hard times.

She originally thought they would be happy to return, but now, hearing their tone and seeing their expressions, it was clear they were reluctant to leave.

Lin Yufan couldn’t help but feel compassion.

"You’ve thought it through, but going back isn’t the only option."

Geng Dongping and Chen Dandan’s eyes lit up slightly, they glanced at each other, as if seeing a glimmer of hope.

Chen Dandan asked, "Madam, what do you mean?"

Lin Yufan couldn’t let them continue to waste away in this house, she said, "There are many independent professional women in Hong Kong, like in our publishing house, there are widows raising children, divorced female editors, and women who support their families despite their husbands’ disabilities... They rely on their own hands and live well in Hong Kong. If you return to your hometown, you’ll also have to rely on yourselves. If you want to stay, it would definitely be easier to establish yourselves in Hong Kong than back home. Plus, being close to us, we can look out for each other."

Yes, women can also rely on their own hands to support themselves.

Geng Dongping and Chen Dandan were both tempted.

They were literate, cultured, and it wouldn’t be impossible for them to find jobs.

Lin Yufan continued, "Of course, the prerequisite is that you have no personal safety issues staying here."

Chen Dandan said, "There’s no problem with safety. Those who handled my father’s case are basically all dead. In Hong Kong, I go by Chen, no one knows my original surname is Liang."

"Yes, safety is quite alright." Geng Dongping worried, "But how do we explain it to everyone? After all, in everyone’s eyes, we are Zhi Ao’s concubines."

That wasn’t difficult.

Lin Yufan said, "If you suddenly leave, we also need to find reasons to explain to everyone why you left, why you disappeared."

Chen Dandan suddenly excitedly said, "Then let’s announce to the public that we are divorced!"

Geng Dongping softly reminded, "We don’t even have a concubine document, how can we divorce?"

They didn’t even have the qualification to divorce.

Chen Dandan somewhat awkwardly responded, "That’s true."

Lin Yufan said, "Actually, as long as you don’t suddenly disappear, we don’t need to explain much to the outside world, just make it clear to the people at home."

Geng Dongping nodded repeatedly, "That makes sense. We still have time, during this period we should think carefully, whether to go back or stay. If we stay, how to explain? How to survive in the future? We need to consider everything clearly."

Chen Dandan's complexion was much more relaxed than when she first came in, she said, "We’ll think about it carefully."

Lin Yufan’s hand gently patted the two wooden boxes again, "Take them back."

Geng Dongping and Chen Dandan somewhat embarrassedly took back the wooden boxes.

Since Lin Yufan wouldn’t accept them, they could only hand them over to Ms. Guan.

Before leaving, Geng Dongping said, "Starting from September, don’t give us any more pocket money. Even if you give it, we won’t accept it."

Lin Yufan didn’t insist, she smiled and saw them off, "I’ll tell Ms. Guan later."

*

Inside the Hong Kong Office building.

After the last mission failed, although Xiao Zepeng wasn’t demoted, he was given fewer responsibilities. Now he only oversees the work of Special Operations Team 1, while Dong Yushan continues to lead Special Operations Team 2. Wang Liu, meanwhile, was walking on eggshells, afraid that the higher-ups might suddenly take notice and make an example of him.

That day, during a meeting in the conference room, Director Gao, his face marked by a white scar and an unreadable expression, scanned the room.

"Our recent focus remains on keeping a tight watch on the supply shipments. We can’t be sure if the Communists will strike again and seize the supplies. Additionally, we must find out who killed Longjing. Deng Kuan and his accomplices—none of them can be spared!"

Everyone chimed in with agreement.

Director Gao looked at Wang Liu and shouted loudly, "Wang Liu!"

Wang Liu snapped to attention, startled. "Director..."

Director Gao asked him, "Has Deng Kuan contacted you?"

Wang Liu quickly shook his head in denial. "No! Not at all! How could he contact me? Truth be told, we were never that close. His people even killed Longjing, and next it might be my turn."

Director Gao shot him a piercing look. "If he contacts you, you must report it immediately. Otherwise, the end result might be that you don’t even know how you died! Understand?"

Wang Liu nodded vigorously. "Understood."

After the meeting, Wang Liu stepped out of the office and lit a cigarette in the stairwell with his sidekick, Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu tried to lift his spirits. "Brother Liu, don’t be so upset. What’s done is done, and there’s no turning back. You should think positively—when the cat’s away, the mice will play! You’ll definitely climb up in the future."

Wang Liu shot Xiao Wu a dirty look. "Who are you calling a monkey?"

Xiao Wu realized he had said the wrong thing and chuckled. "Just a figure of speech!"

Wang Liu smoked in silence.

The janitor, Uncle Tan, hauled a bucket of office trash from the hallway to the stairwell.

Xiao Wu greeted him. "Uncle Tan, is anyone in the office of Team 1?"

Uncle Tan gave a simple smile and shook his head. "I didn’t notice."

After Uncle Tan went downstairs, Wang Liu asked Xiao Wu, "What do you want to do?"

"I wanna sneak out to grab something, but I’m scared that brown-noser will rat me out to Deputy Director Xiao," Xiao Wu replied.

The brown-noser Xiao Wu mentioned was Chai Ronghui, who had been suppressed by Deng Kuan before.

Wang Liu waved him off. "Go ahead, I’ve got your back if anything comes up."

"Thanks, Brother Liu. You’re the one who always has my back." After stomping out the cigarette butt, Xiao Wu ran downstairs in a few steps.

Wang Liu spent the afternoon half-heartedly sorting through documents in the office. After work, he headed out alone to a food stall near the dorms and ordered a plate of chow mein.

During the dinner rush, the food stall was a haze of smoke and a hive of activity.

After finishing the chow mein, Wang Liu ordered a plate of fried snails and a bottle of beer, drinking by himself, feeling utterly alone. Back in the day, there were Cui Yuan, Deng Kuan, Longjing, and the rest of the crew.

But now, Cui Yuan has left, Deng Kuan is missing, Longjing is dead, and the other teammates have gradually drifted apart from him. Work and life have been getting more and more boring, and hope feels further and further away.

"Hey!" Someone tapped his left shoulder.

Wang Liu jumped and whipped his head around, but there was no one on his left.

When he turned back, he found Cui Yuan sitting at the table to his right.

It had been ages since he’d seen Cui Yuan, and Wang Liu was a little excited. "Brother! You nearly gave me a heart attack."

"What’s on your mind? I called you from afar, but you didn’t hear me," Cui Yuan said, signaling the waiter for another glass.

Wang Liu handed Cui Yuan a pair of chopsticks. "What’s there to think about? Now I’m on my own. Director Gao’s always watching me, Xiao Zepeng doesn’t like me, and this job’s losing its meaning. Brother, maybe I should just go out and join you. Is your chapter still recruiting?"

Wang Liu eyed Cui Yuan up and down. His slicked-back hair gleamed, a large gold ring adorned his finger, and a thick gold chain hung around his neck—looking like a big shot.

Cui Yuan advised him, "It’s tougher out here. I have no choice; I can’t go back. You’re different. You at least have a formal job inside, and you’ll have a pension when you’re old. Plenty of people would kill for a job like that. Don’t lose heart. If you’re not happy with your work, go do something you enjoy."

Wang Liu knew what Cui Yuan meant by "something you enjoy."

He poured Cui Yuan a drink and sighed, "I’m broke now, and I’ve lost interest in women. Since the last time I went out with you, I haven’t been with a woman. It’s just not the same."

They clinked glasses, and talking to an old friend put Wang Liu at ease.

After chatting for a while, Cui Yuan suddenly asked, "Any news about Deng Kuan?"

Wang Liu cautiously glanced around. "No news. I think he’s already left Hong Kong."

Cui Yuan said, "If he comes to you, remember to secretly let me know."

"Okay. No problem," Wang Liu thought for a moment. "If he hasn’t left, he would definitely look for you, not me. Our positions are different now."

"Don’t overthink it. Let’s drink."

Wang Liu took a gulp of his drink. "Brother, stay at our dorm tonight? Let’s drink until we pass out."

Cui Yuan shook his head. "No, I have something to do later. I’ll have a couple more drinks with you, then I have to leave."

At that moment, Director Gao, who had been working overtime, came out of the restroom and returned to his office.

He picked up his briefcase and was about to leave when he noticed a note slipped into the seam of the briefcase.

He unfolded it and saw it read: Wait for a call at home at 9 PM.

The signature was a sketch of an eagle's head.

The eagle was reaching out to him!

Director Gao, a mix of nerves and excitement, glanced at the wall clock. It was almost 8:30.

He had to rush home.