Chapter 39: Zheng the Hunchback’s Tavern

"Oh, coming, coming!" Old Zhao gave a sheepish laugh and hurried inside to help.

Damn it, a shrew—and the type who only knows how to bully those at home! This kind of person has no real ability; she’s as timid as a quail when out in public, but once she’s home, she torments her husband, screaming and shouting at him regardless of who is around, showing him no respect whatsoever. She is utterly unreasonable! To put it bluntly, this kind of woman is a jinx to her husband. So, it turns out Old Zhao’s dark circles aren’t from being excited about being reactivated by the Military Statistics Bureau, but from being tormented by his wife every single day! I feel sorry for Old Zhao for three seconds.

This is a potential instability factor. In the world of undercover agents, there are many unwritten rules. Generally speaking, undercover agents are not permitted to marry while on assignment. Those who were already married before taking on a mission are required to leave their families in a safe zone and are not allowed to keep them nearby. This is because family members often become an agent's most fatal weakness, easily becoming the perfect entry point for an enemy to break their defenses. Once an agent unfortunately falls into enemy hands, there is no need for brutal interrogation; simply bringing their wife and children before them is enough to make even the most resolute tough guy waver and see his defenses collapse.

Old Zhao’s situation, however, is unique. He received his infiltration orders during the First Battle of Shanghai, but since Shanghai didn't fall after that battle, the so-called infiltration mission became moot. Furthermore, the Lixingshe (the predecessor to the Military Statistics Bureau) didn't even pay him his salary later on. Under such circumstances, one could hardly demand that Old Zhao stay on standby indefinitely. Old Zhao himself thought he had been fired by headquarters, so he got married, had children, and started living the life of an ordinary person. It is fortunate that he hasn't moved in all these years; otherwise, tracking him down would have been as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Come to think of it, the Military Statistics Bureau is quite shameless. They ignored him for years and even stopped paying his salary, but now that they need him, they’ve reactivated him with total disregard for propriety. As for the back pay—that’s a joke. What was the purchasing power of the old legal tender back then? And what has the currency devalued to now? It’s only because Old Zhao is honest—or perhaps too cowardly to refuse—otherwise, he could have sold them out in a heartbeat.

Unlike Old Zhao, Li Haibo was viewed by the Bureau from the very beginning as expendable cannon fodder, used only for some disposable tasks. His connection to his superior was strictly a one-way street: only the superior could initiate contact, while Li had no way to find them, nor did he know their real name. Even if he did, it was likely just a false identity. For instance, his former superior, Fatty Liu—to this day, Li doesn't even know his real name, only that his surname is Liu, and even that is questionable. For an agent like Li Haibo, his capture would cause almost no substantive loss to the Bureau.

But who could have predicted that the cannon fodder would turn the tables, perfectly executing two assassination missions, catching the eye of Boss Dai, and becoming an elite killer? Perhaps it is for this reason that the Bureau headquarters acted so quickly to transfer the only person in the Shanghai Station who knew Li’s identity and took all his relevant files away, seeking to protect him in the most thorough manner possible.

Old Zhao’s situation is like a hidden bomb that must be handled properly sooner or later, otherwise, it will always feel like a sharp blade hanging over one's head, ready to fall at any moment and bring about disaster. As it stands, the ideal solution would be to escort Old Zhao’s wife and children to a safe rear area. However, judging by his performance in front of his wife today, it seems unlikely that they can be sent away so easily. If that plan proves impossible, perhaps the only option is to request headquarters to transfer his entire family to the rear and appoint a new liaison officer to take over.

...

The moment Li Haibo’s figure disappeared from view, Old Zhao’s wife emerged from the back room. Old Zhao hurried over to meet her, his face showing a look of deference as he asked in a low voice, "Big Sister, what did you think of that man just now?"

She frowned slightly, her tone full of disdain. "Hmph, he’s a total amateur! To come for a rendezvous without even the most basic disguise, and even bringing his family along so brazenly—he has no common sense at all. That’s just courting death!"

Old Zhao wore a fawning smile and quickly added, "Hehe! Not everyone is like you, capable of mimicking anyone to perfection with such divine makeup skills!"

She shot him a glare and warned sternly, "You’d better start thinking about an exit strategy. With someone like him, he’ll get us all killed sooner or later!"

Old Zhao nodded repeatedly. "Understood, I have it in mind."

She paused and asked, "Did you see that telegraph operator?"

Old Zhao’s expression turned serious. "I did. He’s very young, but there’s something about him—he seems to hide his wisdom behind a dull exterior. He’s not someone to be trifled with. I tried to probe him earlier, to test his skills, but I couldn't even fathom his depth. If it really came down to a life-or-death struggle, I’m afraid I wouldn't be a match for him."

She was slightly taken aback, surprised. "You were known as invincible in close-quarters combat back in the day. You couldn't even gauge his skill level?"

Old Zhao shook his head with a bitter smile. "Big Sister, how could I be called invincible in close-quarters combat? At most, I could bully a few trainees from my own class. Nowadays, the Military Statistics Bureau is full of hidden talents; there are plenty of people with better skills than me."

She sighed softly, looking weary. "Sigh! When will this life ever end? These damn Japanese invaders!"

Seeing this, Old Zhao quickly comforted her. "Don't be angry, Big Sister. With the nation in such dire straits, we are doing this for..."

"Go wash the dishes!"

"Right away!"

...

Feeling depressed, Li Haibo didn't go home, but instead invited Hou Yong and a few others out for a drink.

These scoundrels were thrilled to hear there was alcohol to be had. The place they headed to was quite remote, located in Pengpu Town, north of Zhabei. This area was already on the outskirts of Shanghai; further north would lead to Baoshan County. The surroundings were nothing but slums, filled with dilapidated shacks built by migrants, the environment looking somewhat chaotic and run-down.

There, they found Zheng the Hunchback’s wine shop. It was a fairly large establishment with four spacious storefronts and a large courtyard in the back, which served as a brewery where they operated on a self-produced, self-sold model. Zheng the Hunchback’s shop was a long-standing local brand. When Li Haibo was a child, he would often follow his father there to drink. Back then, he was too young to drink, so he mostly tagged along to snag some food and, on the way back, to safely lead his drunken father home. By the time he was fourteen or fifteen, he began sitting at the table to drink with the adults.

They often came to this shop, partly because the liquor was affordable, and partly because of their good relationship: if they got drunk, they didn't have to pay immediately. Of course, it wasn't really defaulting on the bill; they would either pay it back when sober or settle it the next time they