A Sleepless Night (Part 1)

"Comrade Wu Hao, come here quickly! If you don't come to see me soon, I'm going to come to you in my dreams!" Wang Renyong excitedly patted the mattress, inviting his comrades to sit down.

"Then you'll be disappointed, I'm on French time now." Wu Hao smiled and walked towards the bed.

The arrival of the high-ranking leader completely dispelled Qingcheng's drowsiness. She had been frantic when she went missing, because the organization stipulated that if someone went missing for more than a certain period of time, they would automatically be removed from the party.

Now that he was under the same roof with so many comrades, Qingcheng felt inexplicably at ease, but then began to worry about their safety. Was it safe for them to swagger over to Xu Xi's house? Although it was dark under the lamplight and the secret agents had all withdrawn, so no one dared to monitor Xu's mansion, there were still tabloid reporters hiding in the shadows.

Kiyosumi pondered what title she would give if she took a picture of the two of them.

A famous male celebrity secretly meeting with multiple friends late at night—this kind of headline might have a conspiracy theory feel to it in the political and economic section, but it's too clean in the entertainment section and is quickly overshadowed by dirtier and more sensational headlines.

Wu Hao, dressed in a white bamboo gauze long robe and holding a walnut wood cane, and Jiang Yun, dressed in a black and white checkered suit, were both dressed in the usual attire of people in the arts and culture circles. They must have put in a lot of effort to prepare before coming. As long as it wasn't a headshot, even if they were photographed by tabloid reporters, it wouldn't cause a stir.

But... just in case, Qingcheng decided to go downstairs to keep watch. She pulled Liu Hui and Xu Xi into the living room, and after a brief discussion, they decided that Xu Xi would stay on the second floor to observe from a high vantage point, while she and Liu Hui would go downstairs to keep watch. If there were no problems, she would leave.

"He Qingcheng, where are you, young lady? Come over here and take meeting minutes!" Old Wang shouted.

Having anticipated this line, Qingcheng lip-synced and exaggeratedly imitated Lao Wang's expression, making the two people next to her burst into laughter. Lao Wang always made her his secretary. If she was caught going back late, how was she supposed to explain it to that troublesome person downstairs?

Unfortunately, no one answered his question. Inside the room, Old Wang urged Qingcheng again: "Hurry up, hurry up! Stop laughing and joking. Comrade Wu Hao's time is very precious."

"Oh my god, you're driving me crazy!" But when Qingcheng thought of Wu Hao, she clenched her fists and stomped her feet, forcibly suppressing her dissatisfaction. Xu Xi, with his keen eye, handed her paper and pen. After thanking him, Qingcheng turned and went into the bedroom.

Someone had dragged the tea table and chairs from inside the room to the bedside. Wu Hao and Jiang Yun opened their notebooks, and Wang Renyong shifted his sitting position near the edge of the bed. They were all in position.

"Let me report first..." Wang Renyong pulled the blanket off his legs.

"Wait a minute." Wu Hao stopped Lao Wang from speaking and asked gently, "Comrade Xiao He, is it alright if you go back later?"

Faced with Wu Hao's intelligent gaze, Qingcheng dared not meet it directly and answered with a lack of confidence: "I guess so."

“Then there’s a problem. Why don’t you go back first? Liu Hui will still be working at the Xu mansion for a while. You can contact him if you need anything,” Wu Hao continued. “I will find another suitable time to talk to you alone.”

Old Wang on the bed hurriedly waved his hand, his speech quickening: "No, no, Comrade Wu Hao, what I need to report is for Comrade Qingcheng to report on my behalf. Secretary Yu's safe return to the Soviet area was all arranged by Qingcheng. I don't know the details."

"What! Secretary Yu has already returned to the Soviet area." Wu Hao turned to Jiang Yun with a surprised look, but Jiang Yun shook her head, indicating that she had not received any news about Secretary Yu either.

Someone is deliberately blocking the news. This thought popped into Qingcheng's mind. She glanced at the faces of the three comrades. They were all worried. Of course, they were worried about Secretary Yu's safety and how far the black hand had infiltrated.

Actually, this matter has both advantages and disadvantages. Judging from Qingcheng's mission to eliminate traitors, the "Camphor Tree Project" was very successful. Some deeply lurking traitors began to emerge, and they couldn't hold back any longer.

Moreover, once the higher-ups find out about this, they will definitely intervene. Qingcheng glanced at Wu Hao, who was leaning forward involuntarily, his brows furrowed as if he were thinking. Suddenly, he asked Jiang Yun, "When will Fengnian return to Shanghai?"

Jiang Yun, who was standing next to him, flipped through his notebook and replied, "Tomorrow. He'll go to Hangzhou Station early in the morning to catch the first train back, and he's expected to arrive around 1 p.m.

"Go quickly and send a telegram to intercept him. Tell Fengnian to return to the Soviet area immediately and await orders. You and Renyong will handle the matters of the Second Section for now." After giving the orders, Wu Hao left without stopping.

Is he just standing by? What about Secretary Yu's safety? Qingcheng really couldn't figure out what Wu Hao was up to, so she could only quietly wait for the leader's instructions.

Wu Haomian, who was standing close to her, smiled, his tone tinged with helplessness: "You little comrade, I was hoping to let you go home early, but now you've got some work to do. Tell me, what have you been doing right under the noses of the spies?"

She had rehearsed the content of her report countless times in her mind, but when she actually faced the big leader, she couldn't help but feel uneasy and presented her "Camphor Tree Plan" in a proper and respectful manner.

The story begins with a forged list. Kiyosumi used a traitor to deliver the letter and a courier to retrieve it, and challenged the CC and the secret investigation team to a battle of wits. Unfortunately, the difference in strength between the two sides was too great, and the secret investigation team was defeated.

Later, Qingcheng and her colleagues reviewed the situation and realized that they should distribute the false information evenly. If they gave CC information, the secret investigation team should also give CC information, and they should give them more information to balance the gap between them.

As soon as Qingcheng finished speaking, Wu Hao and Lao Wang burst out laughing, making Qingcheng even more nervous. She didn't think her words were funny at all.

As expected, human joys and sorrows are not shared. Under Wu Hao's comforting words, Qingcheng shifted her hips to keep her back straight, then cleared her throat and continued her story.

From the moment they learned that Station Chief Cao of the secret investigation team's Shanghai station was a traitor to CC, Qingcheng and Chen Caiyun intentionally approached his wife. Since circles are not closed off, the two of them entered Mrs. Cao's circle without much effort.

From mahjong partners to close confidantes, Mrs. Cao was open and honest about almost everything in the household. She was always resentful about her husband's drinking and staying out all night. As the saying goes, patience brings peace, but taking a step back only makes her angrier. The more Sister Chen and Qingcheng advised her to be patient, the more aggrieved she felt.

People either explode in silence or perish in silence. Madam Cao's family was powerful, and she was never one to suffer in silence. After their "well-intentioned" reminder, she went home that night and scratched her husband. The two had a big fight, and Station Chief Cao couldn't stand it and left home in anger.

After receiving Mrs. Cao's tearful phone call, Comrade Chen Caiyun went to the small building opposite the secret investigation team to conduct reconnaissance. According to Station Chief Cao's usual routine, he should have been working overtime in his office.

Knowing he didn't have many coins in his pocket, Station Chief Cao bought a pack of cigarettes, wandered around the streets for a while, and then went to his office to work overtime. This was exactly what Qingcheng wanted. Didn't that dog of a spy like to eavesdrop? Then let's give him a target to eavesdrop on.

So Qi Xiang, a young comrade in their group, acted as a telegraph operator, sending out the coded coordinates compiled by Qing Cheng. She pretended that Secretary Yu wanted to take a radio back to the Soviet area. The radio was a military-grade scrapped radio that Comrade Li Sheng had bought in advance, which could be repaired and reused.

As expected, after the telegram was sent, the secret investigation team and the CC's action team were in an uproar. However, what they didn't know was that this was a diversionary tactic arranged by Kiyosumi.

Before CC's main force arrived at the dock for the large-scale search, Secretary Yu, using his size advantage, disguised himself as an old woman and got into Li Sheng's car. In fact, the real Granny Li had taken a boat back to her hometown the day before, a little earlier than them.

Thanks to Comrade Li Sheng's special status, they successfully passed through the inter-provincial checkpoints, while the main force of the CC had already gone out to sea to pursue them.

With only Li Sheng and Secretary Yu left in the car, everyone naturally assumed that Secretary Yu was Li's grandmother.

When passing through Li Sheng's hometown, he specially asked Secretary Yu to pretend to be a servant from his hometown and pick up his mother at the ferry. He then accompanied his mother to show her face at the ancestral hall, and then took his mother to a nunnery on the mountain to recuperate, claiming that it was to pray for his deceased father.

Comrade Li Sheng then continued to escort Secretary Yu. The two traveled by rail for a while, then by water for a while. The journey was relatively safe and uneventful. They then drove back to his hometown to pick up Aunt Li, and the mother and son returned to Shanghai together.

As for the sea voyage, Qingcheng entrusted the entire operation to her fiancé. He had many capable subordinates who could easily orchestrate a small-scale divisive scheme. Captain Shen of the secret investigation team was young but highly experienced, making him the most suitable impulsive scapegoat.

After Xiangxiang finished sending the message, she met up with her fiancé's men, along with the radio. Qingcheng, disguised as a police officer, went to the dock to control the situation, lest Captain Shen's mission fail before it even began.

"Oh? You're even using your fiancé now." Wu Hao's eyes lit up.

A sudden pang of pain pierced her heart. A bitter smile appeared on Qingcheng's lips. Even her superiors probably thought she was despicable. She lowered her head deeply, and the floodgates of memories burst forth. Gao Junxiao had taught her to learn to utilize all available resources around her.

She was truly a worthless wretch! She learned it and immediately used it against him. Knowing Gao Junxiao didn't want to side with Principal Jiang, she still pushed him forward step by step. Knowing Gao Junxiao disliked spies, she encouraged him to befriend Zhang Chong.

Reality doesn't spare any adult; no one can live entirely according to their own preferences. She, too, had to be the parasitic plant she once despised, drawing nourishment from her fiancé's power to support their entire group.

But... if she could, she wanted to push her lover far away, away from that dark vortex that could crush bones. Drinking, raising birds, traveling—anything he liked to do.

That might be a long, long time from now, and I might not even be able to see it. As Qingcheng raised her head, clarity replaced her emotions, and for the first time, she looked into Wu Hao's eyes and said, "The intelligence department must not be left hanging outside, otherwise it will be worthless."

"Assuming the organization doesn't contact you, what will you do next?" Wu Hao's determined eyes seemed to hold another vast world.

After thinking for a few seconds, Qingcheng carefully chose her words and replied, "Use that fake list to lure the spies into stealing the corresponding codebooks."

"Don't use a fake one, I'll give you a real list." Wu Hao's resounding words stunned Qingcheng.

Huh? She didn't hear wrong, did she? A real list! Isn't this making her a traitor?

Even Old Wang was so frightened he couldn't close his mouth. It took him a while to come to his senses: "Oh dear, I'm dizzy! Comrade Wu Hao, stop keeping me in suspense. My brain is about to explode. Let me lie down for a while."

Wu Hao pulled the blanket up for Lao Wang and asked with a smile, "Tell me, who are we ultimately going to deal with in this plan?"

"A spy, to be more specific, a spy lurking in the Soviet area." Old Wang lay on his side on the bed like a concubine, his leg in a cast had no beauty at all, but rather looked like a fat seal sunbathing on a rock. Qingcheng glanced at him sideways, wondering if he even remembered that he had just had surgery, and if he could stop acting like nothing had happened.

“Not entirely correct, Xiao He, you tell me.” Wu Hao looked at Qing Cheng, a hint of expectation in his eyes.

"What we need to deal with are the fake comrades around us. They may have been Party members longer than me, love the masses, are helpful, have excellent conduct, and live a simple and frugal life, more like Bolsheviks than a real Bolshevik." Her clear, red lips parted slightly, her thoughts flowing smoothly.

Wu Hao nodded repeatedly with a gratified expression: "I have always emphasized that you should not underestimate any reactionary. After all, their enthusiasm for reaction is very high in order to get promoted and make money."

Unexpectedly, Wu Hao would joke and say the opposite of what he meant. Qingcheng's awkwardness eased slightly. Wu Hao patiently added that the battle between the enemy and ourselves is always long, complex and tedious.

The person Xiao He introduced is the hardest to find right now. We don't need to focus on finding the hardest people right away. If we can't find anyone, it will only dampen the enthusiasm of our comrades.

To weed, you must first loosen the soil!

Actually, there is a type of person who is easier to identify. They are very good at hiding the ugliness in their hearts. They can work diligently and respectably in public, but in private they scheme and flatter, forming their own cliques. And it's not like there aren't upright comrades who expose them.

However, such people are very good at using their connections within the Party, especially their powerful backers, to escape accusations and criticisms that are unfavorable to them.

When they hold important positions and no one dares to criticize them, they no longer hide their bad habits, and the stench spreads far and wide, attracting flies that smell it.

“I know the answer to this question. Once these people collude with spies, they become even more vicious lackeys than the reactionaries. But they’ve been studying interpersonal relationships for years, so they can spot a fake list at a glance and won’t take the bait,” Old Wang interjected, pointing to the ceiling.

Wu Hao wasn't angry at Lao Wang's interruption. Instead, he smiled at Qingcheng and said, "So using the real list seems to be at a disadvantage for us. But as long as we cleverly take advantage of the time difference in information transmission, we can eliminate these fake comrades first."

"Comrade Wu Hao, I understand the principles, but I just want to know what Secretary Yu should do before eliminating the fake comrades. He's in danger." Old Wang's voice rose uncontrollably.

In contrast, Wu Hao calmly explained: "What's the rush? When dealing with the enemy, we must be both sharp and flexible. I sent Feng Nian back to await orders so that he could deter those restless reactionaries on my behalf."

In an instant, Qingcheng suddenly understood, her eyes filled with admiration. So this is how master strategists play! Wu Hao's refusal to issue orders merely implied his knowledge of the matter, leaving the reactionaries unable to predict his next move. This deterred them from acting rashly, lest they expose themselves.

“If the line is pulled too tight, it will break. Even if we catch a few people, we can’t close the net immediately. We need to keep them under control in secret and follow the clues to find out who’s behind them.” Wu Hao paused slightly, his face showing a convincing seriousness. “They could very well be the upright comrades that everyone talks about.”

"No, didn't you forbid us from conducting internal party investigations? Theoretically, if the investigation goes to the Soviet area, it's no longer under our jurisdiction." Old Wang yawned, his speech becoming somewhat slurred.

With his smile fading, Wu Hao bent down and stared at Wang Renyong, asking in return, "We've already confirmed that there are fake comrades causing trouble, isn't that enough to raise our awareness? Don't forget that your primary task is to protect the Central Committee. You must take care of anything that threatens the security of the Central Committee, and see it through to the end."

"Alright, that's exactly what I wanted to hear! If the leader isn't conflicted, then I'm even less conflicted." Wang Renyong smiled broadly and tapped the table with his hand. "Qingcheng, you're my witness. The imperial sword was personally granted by Comrade Wu Hao. We can't let him renege on it later."

Old Wang, with his sly grin, practically had "I'm trying to trick you into talking" written all over his face. Suddenly, everyone burst into laughter. Wu Hao, seemingly noticing everyone's fatigue, offered to take a ten-minute break to have some water and clear his head.

As soon as the door opened, the cold wind blew her clear consciousness into disarray. She realized that there were already undercurrents surging in places she couldn't see. It wasn't until Xu Xi handed her a cup of hot tea that she came back to her senses.

Xu Xi picked up the plate with both hands, a blush spreading across his handsome face: "Director Zhou, please have some tea."

Taking the teacup, Wu Hao said gently, "Xiao Xu, from now on, just call me Comrade Wu Hao like everyone else. I'm no longer the director."

"I wouldn't dare," Xu Xi said with a shy smile, like a young girl who had bumped into her crush on the street.

Seeing Xu Xi's expression, Wang Renyong was the first to lose his temper, and he teased with a face full of disdain: "Hey~ what do you mean by dare or not? I told you to call out, so call out. What's wrong with you two? One of you is pretending to be profound, and the other is pretending to be introverted. Have you both changed your personalities?"

"Perhaps it was my blue face and fangs, and my late-night visit, that scared them," Wu Hao said seriously. "Don't worry, I don't eat people. I'm just an ordinary Chinese person who believes in Marxism-Leninism and I just drink tea."

After speaking, Wu Hao took a sip of tea and let out a long laugh. Everyone burst into laughter at the sight. Qingcheng had long heard that Wu Hao's meeting style was serious yet lively, and today she witnessed his witty remarks firsthand.

The atmosphere inside was much more lively than when Wu Hao arrived. Just as everyone was chatting, Jiang Yun returned after sending a telegram.

He had received a reply from Comrade Feng Nian, who would be setting off back to the Soviet area tonight. Upon hearing this good news, Wang Renyong and Qingcheng both breathed a sigh of relief; Secretary Yu was saved.

After eating a few more cookies, Wu Hao restarted the meeting: "Renyong, is there any problem you need me to solve for you?"

Wang Renyong replied decisively, "Yes. Besides the list, Secretary Yu also brought a document exposing wrongdoing. Qingcheng, you come here."

At the crucial moment, Wang Renyong pushed Qingcheng to the forefront. Qingcheng's teeth tingled for a moment, but he quickly recovered. The opportunity was rare, and since he had compiled the materials himself, he naturally had to report to the higher-ups himself.

Under the watchful eyes of his comrades, Qingcheng suddenly stood up and took a few steps back: "Comrade Wu Hao, before I report the contents of my accusations, please allow me to request a punishment from the organization. I have violated the Party's discipline that prohibits investigations."

The room fell silent. Wu Hao and Jiang Yun exchanged bewildered glances. Only Wang Renyong, who knew the truth, defended Qingcheng, saying it wasn't her who violated the rules, but one of her subordinates, who was forced to act against her will. Moreover, that comrade wasn't Xiao He's subordinate when he was conducting the Party's internal investigation.

“Now it is. I have to take responsibility for him. This matter concerns principles and must be taken seriously.” Qingcheng’s feelings were complicated. This matter was like a boulder pressing on her chest, and every breath was excruciating.

"Xiao He, let's discuss this later. Let me hear the details first." Wu Hao's confusion deepened as he opened his notebook, waiting for Qingcheng's report.

Looking around at everyone, Qingcheng rolled a piece of paper into a cylinder, and while gesturing, recited a poem with great emotion: "A bamboo spear, scattering wives and children, yet no sound of cannons shaking the earth; a half-burned copper lamp, burning down fields and houses, yet no smoke rising into the sky."

After listening, you should know today's topic—opium, the culprit that led to the decline of our national strength and the contemptuous labeling of our people as the "Sick Man of East Asia" by foreign powers.

This poem was not written by He herself, but was a doggerel passed down by word of mouth among the elderly, children and women in the southwestern provinces. It is also a true reflection of families addicted to opium.

Today, I, He Qingcheng, am going to expose, by name, that Nationalist government agents, backward masses in the Soviet areas, and some military personnel are colluding to plant tobacco seedlings on the outskirts of the Soviet areas and to sell and circulate opium in the Soviet areas, thereby disrupting the social order of the Soviet areas.

After finishing her speech in one breath, Qingcheng quickly glanced at Wu Hao, whose usually friendly face now showed barely concealed anger.