allendalepharm Chapter 78. Human growth requires hardship; without experience, one cannot gain wisdom; one must bui
Chapter 78. Human growth requires hardship; without experience, one cannot gain wisdom; one must bui
After listening to the song, Lu Yunsheng sighed, waved for the music to stop, and said to Han Zhenhua, "Nephew, thank you for your kindness!"
Han Zhenhua smiled and said, "It's nothing, as long as Uncle Lu likes it."
The conversation that followed became even more harmonious and warm.
My time in Hong Kong suddenly seemed to become much more pleasant.
As promised, Han Zhenhua gave several lectures at Victoria University, Hong Kong University, and other institutions, continuing to present the most brilliant parts and easy-to-understand explanations of the "ace lessons" from more than a dozen physics Olympiad coaches from his previous life, which once again caused a sensation, and the title of "genius physicist" became well-known in Hong Kong.
In his spare time, he would accompany Feng Chengcheng to explore Hong Kong. They would ride the Peak Tram to overlook the night view of Victoria Harbour, enjoy the sea breeze on the Star Ferry, have afternoon tea at the Peninsula Hotel, and browse for antiques on Hollywood Road... Feng Chengcheng seemed to have forgotten the shadow of war and was completely immersed in the sweetness of love and the prosperity of Hong Kong.
Han Zhenhua also relaxed for the time being, enjoying this rare moment of tranquility.
He spent two whole months in Hong Kong, maintaining contact with Feng Jingyao in Shanghai through telegrams forwarded from Feng's residence.
He gleaned key information from the telegram: Shanghai seemed calm, and the Special Higher Police had not taken any action specifically against him.
At the same time, he also learned through several telegrams with Captain Wayne and Professor Cole that everything was normal at his home at 169 Jing'an Road in the British Concession and his office at St. John's University. There were no Japanese spies or military police investigating him openly or secretly!
He carefully considered and pondered the matter repeatedly, and finally came to a conclusion that made him breathe a sigh of relief but also felt very strange: the intelligence report he had written, which was supposed to be "evidence of the crime" and consisted of thousands of words, seemed to have not fallen into the hands of the Japanese!
Otherwise, given the efficiency of the Special Higher Police, it would have been impossible for things to remain so calm. They should have already followed the clues and conducted investigations, both overtly and covertly, into St. John's University and his own villa.
"It seems... by some twist of fate, that intelligence is either still on the mail route, or... it has already been picked up by the people at the Shanghai station, or... it was simply lost in that chaos?" Han Zhenhua pondered to himself, and the biggest weight on his heart finally lifted.
Now that everything is alright, it's time for him to return to Shanghai. However, this incident has finally made this "high school student" realize his shortcomings!
To be precise, it's not even a matter of "insufficiency" anymore; my actions have made me look like a "stupid pig," and I'm only alive today thanks to "God's blessing"!
It's true that "human growth requires hardship; without experience, one cannot gain wisdom." I must build up my own power!
At least they can act as "eyes and ears," so that they can no longer be completely deaf and blind to a series of earth-shattering events that have occurred on their intelligence network!
How can I quickly build my own power amidst the machinations of the Japanese, the Military Intelligence Bureau, the Special Higher Police, the British and French, the police, the Green Gang, the Red Gang's Yi Zhan Tang, the Crocodile Gang, the Zhen Dong Gang, and the soon-to-be-established 76th Division... and so on?
This is so worrying...
I'm just a high school student, not some future "political tycoon, business elite, or former elite soldier or top agent"—a highly respected figure or a "cunning old fox"...
In central Shandong, at Daming Prefecture.
This ancient city, steeped in history, was not directly affected by the war because Han fled without a fight several months ago, but a tense atmosphere has already spread.
The city gates were heavily guarded, and Japanese soldiers could be seen patrolling the streets from time to time.
Zheng Luxian, accompanied by two capable subordinates, traveled a long and arduous journey, enduring several checks and setbacks, and finally arrived safely thanks to the secret route and rendezvous method provided by Chen Gongshu.
Following the directions, they found "Da Ming Pawnshop" located on Quancheng Road, the most bustling area in the city center.
The pawnshop has a grand facade, with a black signboard with gold lettering that exudes the gravitas of a century-old establishment. Two short-sleeved, sharp-eyed clerks stand at the entrance, clearly not ordinary pawnshop apprentices.
Zheng Luxian straightened his clothes and walked into the pawnshop alone. At the counter, an old shopkeeper wearing reading glasses and sporting a goatee was fiddling with an abacus.
"Greetings, shopkeeper." Zheng Luxian cupped his hands in greeting, his voice neither too loud nor too soft.
The old shopkeeper raised his eyelids and glanced at him: "Sir, are you here to pawn or to redeem something?"
"I will neither pawn nor redeem the item," Zheng Luxian said in the agreed-upon code. "A friend entrusted me with bringing an old item. I would like to ask your esteemed master craftsman to take a look and see if it is something that came from the Qing Dynasty palace."
As he spoke, he casually placed another token given to him by Chen Gongshu—a piece of ancient jade shaped like half a tiger tally—on the counter.
When the old shopkeeper saw the half of the tiger tally, his pupils contracted slightly, but his face remained expressionless. He reached out a finger and gently touched the broken edge of the ancient jade, feeling the unique polishing marks.
"Oh? Something from the former Qing Dynasty palace? I'd like to have a good look at it. Please come inside for tea, sir." The old shopkeeper put away the antique jade, lifted the partition on the counter, and led Zheng Luxian into a quiet, elegant room in the back hall.
The door closed, and the old shopkeeper's expression immediately became respectful and serious: "Sir, where do you come from? What brings you here?" He tightly gripped the half of the tiger tally in his hand.
Zheng Luxian lowered his voice: "I've come from Shanghai. I'm entrusted by President Chen with an extremely urgent matter, and I need to meet with Master Li Xian of 'Yun Zhong Yan'!"
After saying that, he carefully took out the "Gratitude Swallow" that was in a sandalwood box.
When the exquisitely crafted, gleaming swallow dart, engraved with the words "A drop of kindness deserves a spring of gratitude; accept the dart without asking who the owner is!" and the character "Xian" was presented to the old shopkeeper, his breathing instantly quickened!
He took the wooden box with slightly trembling hands, examined it carefully for a long time, especially the "显" (xiǎn) mark, which he repeatedly rubbed to confirm.
"That's right... It's the sect leader's 'Gratitude Swallow'! Back then, after he returned from Beiping, he said that he owed a great debt of gratitude to a righteous man surnamed Chen, and he swore an oath with this swallow!" The old shopkeeper excitedly raised his head, "Where is the righteous man Chen now in Shanghai? What difficulties has he encountered?"
Zheng Luxian briefly recounted how Wu Zhiguo became the police chief after offering a reward for the capture of "Crow" Lin Wuyai (omitting the mystery of the real and fake Crow), how the Military Intelligence Bureau wanted to clean house, but Station Chief Chen, considering his national integrity and being a disciple of Li Xian, was willing to give him a chance to redeem himself through meritorious service, and so on.
The old shopkeeper's expression shifted repeatedly as he listened, finally letting out a long sigh: "Zhiguo, that child... alas! He's gone astray! Thank you, righteous man Chen, for your leniency in giving him another chance! I will personally go to the back mountain to report to the sect leader! Please wait here for a moment, sir!"
About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the door to the private room was pushed open. An elderly man dressed in a gray, close-fitting outfit, thin but vigorous, with a sharp glint in his eyes, slowly walked in, accompanied by the old shopkeeper.
Although he was about sixty years old, he walked with a light step and had a long breath; he was none other than Li Xian, the "Swallow in the Clouds".
His gaze immediately locked onto the sandalwood box in Zheng Luxian's hand, and the swallow dart inside that he knew all too well.
"Mr. Chen... finally wrote!" Li Xian's voice was filled with excitement and emotion. He picked up the "Repaying Kindness Swallow" talisman, his eyes revealing complex emotions. "If it weren't for Mr. Chen's righteous intervention back then, I would already be a headless corpse on the walls of Beiping. I will never forget this kindness and gratitude!"
He looked at Zheng Luxian, his tone resolute: "What need does Martyr Chen have? Speak freely! The entire Yanzi Sect is duty-bound to assist you!"
Zheng Luxian explained the situation again and emphasized the urgency of the matter.
After listening, Li Xian pondered for a moment, a resolute glint in his eyes: "That child, Xiao Zhizi, alas! It's my fault as his teacher for not disciplining him properly! Guiding him back to the right path is my duty! Shanghai is a den of dragons and tigers; it's been a long time since I've stretched my muscles there!"
He turned to the old shopkeeper and instructed, "Prepare immediately! I'm only taking Feng'er and Yun'er with me, so they can broaden their horizons in the Demon City. They'll accompany this Mr. Zheng south to the Demon City right away!"
"Senior Brother, the roads are not safe these days. The Japanese are checking things very strictly. Isn't it too risky for you to go yourself? Why don't I go instead?" the old shopkeeper said worriedly.
"Hmph, those little devils can't stop this old swallow!" Li Xian smiled confidently. "Besides, Chen Yishi must have already made arrangements in Shanghai. Go and prepare!"
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