Su Ning had the leisure to look forward to a Republican-era New Year, which felt quite different from the modern one, but for some people, they wished time would just stop and never move forward!
There was no other reason than the situation growing increasingly unfavorable.
Very few people could resist the offensive of silver dollars and British pounds. One after another fell to the temptation, and Vice Mayor He was so anxious that he tried every possible means to stop it.
As for the effect, well, you could say there was some.
But not much.
Things like favors, connections, and picking sides were fine to talk about in ordinary times, but when push came to shove, money was still the most lovable and desirable.
"They are all a bunch of profit-seeking, ungrateful dogs."
"Damn them, damn them!"
Vice Mayor He had the door slammed in his face again. His subordinate slipped some money to the gatekeeper to fish for information—sure enough, Su Ning and Chen Huaiqian had just been there that morning.
Along with several large, tightly covered boxes.
How much money must that be!
When the gatekeeper spoke, his face was full of envy. Seeing Vice Mayor He storm off angrily, he even curled his lip, weighed the single silver dollar in his hand, and stuffed it into his chest pocket with dissatisfaction.
Normally, he definitely wouldn't have this attitude upon receiving a silver dollar, but comparisons are odious.
How generous Miss Su was.
The assistant beside her didn't even need a hint before handing out a red envelope, and spoke so pleasantly, saying, "It's almost the New Year, share the joy and accumulate good karma."
The amount was indeed joyous too.
Six silver dollars! A lucky number for smooth sailing.
Vice Mayor He had no idea that a mere gatekeeper dared to look down on him. If he knew, he would have exploded with anger. He stormed home and threw a massive fit, smashing everything in his study to pieces.
This was still not enough.
When the concubine in charge of the household came to ask for instructions regarding the New Year arrangements, he found fault with her and whipped her ruthlessly. After the whipping, he sat in his chair, listening to the concubine's cries, and impatiently scolded:
"Shut up, crying right before the New Year is such bad luck!"
Seeing his dark expression, the concubine gritted her teeth, endured the pain, and stopped crying. She struggled to get up from the floor and was about to leave when she was called back:
"Has Hutou gone out these past two days?"
He acted extremely doting towards his son, always calling him by his childhood name at home.
The concubine hastily stated that the young master had been at home the whole time. After hesitating for a moment, she whispered, "These past few days, the young master has been smoking more and more opium. He smokes in the morning, he smokes at night, and he won't even eat."
"I'm afraid it won't do if he keeps smoking like this."
"What?"
Vice Mayor He frowned at first, then relaxed, and said lightly, "Opium is a good thing that prolongs life. Let Hutou smoke if he wants to. Tell the servants to be more attentive and prepare more of his favorite foods."
The concubine hesitated to speak.
Prolongs life? One only needed to take a single look to see that the young master had smoked himself into a near skeleton. A short life was more like it... Did the master truly dote on this son?
"Alright, you may leave."
Knowing that his son was still safely at home, Vice Mayor He pondered for a moment, sat in front of the telephone, and dialed that familiar string of numbers.
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep.
It rang for a long time without connecting. Vice Mayor He was not in a hurry and waited patiently—finally, it connected.
"What are you calling for?"
The female voice on the other end was impatient and anxious. "Didn't I tell you not to call unless it's a major issue?"
"I am your own brother!"
Even though he was mentally prepared, Vice Mayor He was still angered by his sister's attitude. Thinking of his current predicament, he softened his tone and described how he had been driven to the brink by Chen Huaiqian and Su Ning these past few days, sounding as pitiful as possible.
After a long time, a sneer came through the phone.
"I knew this would happen."
"The Marshal shouldn't have entrusted the heavy responsibility of Peiping to a useless piece of trash like you just for my sake. With so many people on your side, you still managed to mess things up!"
"Say whatever you want."
Vice Mayor He was angered to the extreme, but instead he calmed down, speaking to his sister in a near-commanding tone:
"Anyway, you have to help me. Don't forget that Hutou is still being raised by this 'useless trash.' If I'm finished, you can of course still be the high-and-mighty Marshal's woman, but Hutou's fate will be hard to say."
The other end instantly fell silent.
"This again."
The female voice was utterly exhausted. "Brother, sometimes I really think your heart is made of iron. Even if he isn't your biological son, you've raised Hutou for so many years. Is there not even a bit of affection?"
"I provide him with fine clothes and rich food, and everyone knows he is the sole heir to the He family. You call that no affection?"
Vice Mayor He replied perfunctorily.
Although, if it weren't for the fact that he had never been able to father a child, and that his sister had such incredibly good luck—using her face to bewitch the Marshal, enter his mansion as a concubine, and enjoy enduring favor.
He would have thrown away this bastard long ago.
Ruthless people can always get more—the female voice fell silent for a moment, then rapidly and urgently rattled off a few addresses and names, saying coldly:
"These are the hidden agents and personnel the Marshal planted in Peiping. You can only use them once. Remember to clean up your tracks after using them. If the Marshal finds out, neither of us will be able to bear the consequences."
"I know."
Vice Mayor He felt a bit regretful, but he also knew that his sister had truly taken a risk. These agents were planted very deeply, and he found some of the names unbelievable when he heard them.
The Marshal definitely had great uses for them.
Using them to deal with a mere Su Ning was like using a butcher's knife to kill a chicken.
It was really letting her off too easy!
The phone call had been disconnected at some point. Vice Mayor He casually tossed the receiver aside and happily fantasized about the situation after Su Ning's death, completely unaware of the faint static sound in the telephone line.
...
"The call has ended, no need to monitor anymore."
This was a dimly lit room, filled with wires and glowing buttons. Su Ning sat on the only clean chair and said in amazement:
"Old Dog He's only son is actually not his biological child?"
After thinking for a moment, she added:
"Spoiling a child is like killing a child. He spoils his son to the heavens but never teaches him how to conduct himself in the world. Has no one ever suspected anything before?"
"Actually, no."
The one who replied was the Secretary-General, who added:
"People outside all think that the man surnamed He only had one son after so many years, which is why he holds him in the palm of his hand. It's an only son, so it's normal to dote on and spoil him a bit."
Who knew the inside story was like this.
Everyone loves gossip. Su Ning and the Secretary-General enthusiastically began discussing the relationship between the He family's aunt who married into the Marshal's mansion, Old Dog He, and Young Master He.
Then they unanimously concluded.
They couldn't be sure who Young Master He's biological father was—ruling out Vice Mayor He—but his biological mother was definitely the He family's aunt. After all, the one who gave birth would know.
"There will be plenty of time to discuss this later."
Chen Huaiqian stood up and helplessly interrupted them. He looked up at Su Ning, excited and joyful:
"What's important are those names!"
The hidden dangers had been caught in one fell swoop, which would save them an untold amount of trouble and disaster in the future.
"This time, thanks to Miss Su once again."
After Chen Huaiqian finished speaking, he felt these words couldn't be more familiar. Meeting the Secretary-General's teasing eyes, he also thought of the previous joke about being a creditor from a past life.
Even with his firm materialistic beliefs.
He couldn't help but wonder.
Could it actually be true?
"It was just a small effort." Su Ning didn't mind too much. Telephones were rare items nowadays, and very few people realized they could be wiretapped. It would be different in a few years when the war fully broke out.
If there was one thing she had truly put her heart into, it was plucking the "talent" who possessed this technology straight out of the original novel.
Seeing the scrawny figure nearby desperately trying to hide himself in the dark corner, occasionally stealing glances at them before quickly darting his eyes away, Su Ning deliberately flashed a smile at him.
"Ding! Detected that the host has maliciously intimidated a level-three plot character, causing immense psychological trauma. Reward: ten thousand yuan!"
So timid.
No wonder he was expelled even after making it into college, Su Ning thought without a shred of guilt as she retracted her gaze. She beckoned him over like a puppy and said in a neutral tone:
"Chu Yan, come here."
The figure in the shadows trembled and stepped forward, slowly emerging into the light. It was a pale, delicate face with long, drooping eyelashes that cast soft shadows over his features.
"A specialized skill goes a long way."
Su Ning did not even look at him, remarking casually:
"In all of Beiping City, the number of people with this kind of technical skill can be counted on one hand, and he is probably the best among them."
"However, there is no guarantee he will not be discovered. Do not use this method unless absolutely necessary. Also, Chu Yan's potential goes far beyond just wiretapping. Use your own discretion."
Although he died early and had very little screen time in the original plot, Chu Yan was indeed a true genius in the novel.
Decades later, the notes and data he left behind after his death were unearthed and still held immense value, even filling a void in certain technological fields.
Unnoticed by anyone, Chu Yan's eyes trembled violently upon hearing Su Ning's words.
"I will cultivate him well."
Chen Huaiqian nodded, turning to discuss with Su Ning about tightening the security around them. A cornered dog would jump over a wall, and that guy surnamed He would definitely go mad once pushed to the brink.
After a short while.
"...It is about time. Let us call it a day."
Su Ning stood up. Just as she was about to leave, she casually pulled a stack of bills from her handbag and stuffed it into the hands of the dumbfounded Chu Yan:
"Take this to calm your nerves."
Her smiling voice gradually faded into the distance.
Chu Yan clutched the bills tightly. Just as he blankly wanted to say something, he realized she was already long gone. A strange and complex emotion welled up in his heart—when suddenly, his shoulder was slapped hard:
"Hundred-dollar bills? And so many of them. It seems you have really caught Miss Su's eye, kid."
The Secretary-General said enviously.
"Really?"
Chu Yan looked up in pleasant surprise, pursing his lips as he whispered, "Everyone outside says I am ugly. Why would Miss Su like me?"
No, the point was the US dollars, the money. How did the topic suddenly shift to his looks? The Secretary-General was completely baffled. Looking at Chu Yan's now fully revealed face, he felt even more strongly that the kid must be joking.
"Alright, let us go too."
Chen Huaiqian interrupted the conversation.
