“Captain Zhou, you don’t think the higher-ups will keep us doing anti-smuggling operations indefinitely, do you?”
This was unheard of – who goes to the academy for advanced training only to keep doing anti-smuggling work? This type of training method was unprecedented.
The trainees now called Zhou Cheng “Captain Zhou,” not based on his pre-academy rank, as there were others in the same class with higher ranks. Zhou Cheng’s talent wasn’t in his position but in his precise judgment that kept the entire operation under control – rushing would have alerted the big fish, while lack of attention would have let them disguise themselves as hunters and slip away.
That ship disguised as marine police was carrying a large quantity of weapons.
Without advance precautions, if they had been caught off guard by a sudden attack, the trainee squad would have suffered heavy casualties!
Zhou Cheng’s role as ‘deputy captain automatically ended after the operation, but others still called him captain out of respect. Zhou Cheng’s tactical judgment was accurate and showed both courage and attention to detail – the marks of a true commander. At crucial moments, he could even shield his subordinates; that bullet had nearly hit the major artery in his leg. This leadership style naturally earned respect from the academy members, even those of equal rank.
Trusting Zhou Cheng’s judgment, they unconsciously sought his answers, eagerly awaiting his response.
“I don’t know,” Zhou Cheng said simply.
Though he had his suspicions, he wouldn’t share them without official orders. The most valuable lesson Zhou Cheng learned on the battlefield wasn’t shooting or tactical theory, but “caution.” His personality wasn’t naturally inclined to restraint – otherwise, he wouldn’t have gotten involved in cigarette trading – but the battlefield was fraught with danger and situations changed in an instant. If Zhou Cheng wasn’t cautious enough, he’d risk not just his own life but others as well.
Unable to get more information from Zhou Cheng, the trainees didn’t know whether to feel disappointed or reassured – at least Zhou Cheng wasn’t one to speak carelessly.
Everyone was quite curious about Peng City.
Unfortunately, the higher-ups wouldn’t let a group of trainees wander around the Special Economic Zone. Smuggling was rampant here too, and everyone’s movements had to be kept secret. Their station was in a particularly remote location, just like in Min Province, setting up camp under cover of darkness.
The sea breeze was salty.
Those who had never seen the ocean before were excited at their first sight.
Camping by the sea could be fun – that’s how it looked in movies. But with the sea wind in their faces, who said southern winters weren’t cold?
Zhou Cheng missed his wife.
If they kept “guerrilla fighting” like this, his wife would find an empty academy when she came to visit him.
Now they couldn’t even contact Beijing – not just Zhou Cheng, but all the trainees!
The wound on his leg was both itchy and painful, signs of healing.
The two packs of cigarettes Zhou Cheng had brought had already been shared among the trainees. Now thinking of Xiaolan, he wanted to smoke to calm down, but couldn’t even find a cigarette butt!
“Zhou Cheng, come over here for a moment.”
Zhou Cheng had distinguished himself in this operation.
Nobody would resist recognition for achievement. The trainee who had just been talking to Zhou Cheng winked, assuming Zhou Cheng was being called over for praise.
Zhou Cheng walked into the tent to find two stern faces waiting for him.
“Zhou Cheng, we have some questions for you. We hope you’ll answer honestly.”
Zhou Cheng sensed something was off.
“How did you determine that ship was disguised by smugglers?”
“Did you know that if your judgment had been wrong, many smuggling ships would have escaped?”
“With the smuggling ship already under control, why were people still able to escape by jumping into the sea?”
These questions weren’t right, but Zhou Cheng could only tell the truth.
Finally, they posed their last question, placing a document on the table:
“Pan Baohua – you know him, right?”
The file was several pages long, with a small black and white photo attached. In the photo, Pan Baohua looked somewhat simple, before he got the terrible scar over his eye.
When a person’s background can fill several pages in an official file, they’re extremely successful in some way.
Zhou Cheng couldn’t hesitate. He saluted and answered:
“Report! Yes, he was my former colleague!”
“Just a former colleague? After Pan Baohua violated discipline and left the unit, you maintained contact with him! He’s gathered a group of similarly discharged veterans, operating between Min Province and Southeast Asia. We suspect he’s also involved in smuggling activities!”
Zhou Cheng pressed his lips together.
Were they suspecting he and Brother San Pan were exchanging intelligence?
He had passed information about the Min Province smuggling crackdown to Brother San, allowing his people to avoid the raid.
And Brother San had provided him with inside information about smuggling operations so he could score a big achievement?
If not for the serious situation, Zhou Cheng would have almost laughed.
The logic seemed flawless!
Except Brother San would never smuggle in Min Province.
His work was dangerous survival, not just for himself but for a group of brothers. And for those brothers who didn’t make it back from the battlefield, some with elderly parents and young children to support – compensation money could only solve immediate problems, but what about the long term?
What about those who didn’t die but were severely disabled?
Zhou Cheng slowly shook his head:
“Comrade Pan Baohua was excellent before leaving the organization, and even after leaving, he would not engage in illegal smuggling activities on our nation’s territory. I received no prior intelligence from Comrade Pan Baohua, and I’m willing to accept organizational investigation on this matter!”
The file was closed again.
The stern expressions hadn’t softened at all.
“Zhou Cheng, until the investigation is complete, you are not to contact the outside world. You will not be allowed to participate in the next operation. Please be mentally prepared and cooperate with our investigation.”
When would the investigation end?
That was impossible to say.
…
Xia Xiaolan sneezed as soon as she left the courtyard.
Grandmother Yu said they needed to burn coal to drive out the dampness in the house, and they’d been burning a lot these past two days. The temperature difference between inside and outside was large, and Xia Xiaolan felt inexplicably uneasy.
She had no time to dwell on it as Tang Hongen had arrived.
In broad daylight, Tang Hongen could have been more low-key, but he still had Little Wang drive him.
The courtyard would now be home to Xia Xiaolan and Liu Fen. As outsiders and two women alone, it was better for the neighbors to suspect they had connections than to think they could take advantage of them as outsiders.
Early that morning, Tang Hongen and Little Wang had gone to the flower market to pick out several potted plants as housewarming gifts for the mother and daughter.
The house was warm inside, and Liu Fen had prepared the meal – not professional cooking, just home-style dishes from Yu’nan.
Having spent many years in Yu’nan, Tang Hongen was quite accustomed to the local cuisine.
Some said Yu’nan cuisine wasn’t sophisticated enough, but Tang Hongen wasn’t so particular – food that made people comfortable was good food. Ji Ya couldn’t cook – during their passionate early days, she had tried cooking for Tang Hongen but nearly burned down the kitchen. After that, the couple ate at the work unit cafeteria!
Walking into the house and seeing the dishes on the table, with Liu Fen still wearing her apron, Tang Hongen felt it had a homey atmosphere.
“Mr. Tang, please sit down. There’s just one more dish, and then we can eat.”
Liu Fen hadn’t expected Tang Hongen to come so early, and even bring several potted plants.
Before Xia Xiaolan could approach, Grandmother Yu pulled her into the kitchen:
“Come on, you’ll make the last dish.”
What? Given her cooking skills, was the old lady making a mistake?