Chapter 13: A Bystander in the Spy World of the Republic of China (13)
After finishing breakfast, Jiang Yue went to work. After checking the inventory at the pharmacy, she called Chen Xin and used code words to tell her that the area around her home was not safe. After receiving a reply from Chen Xin that she understood, she chatted for a while and then hung up.
Around noon, a car drove by, and the men in the car carried the medicinal herbs into Jiang Yue's shop. Chen Xin also came over, and the two went into the shop. They walked to a spot with a good view, and Chen Xin asked, "What happened? Is it not safe at home?"
While taking inventory of the medicinal herbs, Jiang Yue said to Chen Xin, "Aunt Fang told me this morning that she found a lot of strangers on my street, and many of the stalls that used to be there have been taken over by different people."
Chen Xin followed in Jiang Yue's footsteps, occasionally picking up the medicinal herbs to examine them: "What does that have to do with you?"
"Probably not. I've been living a very regular life lately and haven't been doing anything. There must be something else going on. I'm calling you today just to remind you and see if anyone is there."
Chen Xin said she would verify it later. After all the herbs were packed, Chen Xin got into the car and left together. Jiang Yue added herbs to the empty Chinese medicine cabinet and taught her apprentice how to distinguish herbs. After packing up the herbs, Jiang Yue hung up a sign that said "Resting and Going Out for Dinner" and took her apprentice out for dinner. On the way, she also observed whether anyone was following her, but unfortunately, she had not been trained in counter-surveillance and could not see anything.
After finishing our meal, we went to the pharmacy and spent the afternoon as usual. When it got dark, we took our apprentice home.
In the following days, Aunt Fang saw strangers still there every day when she went out to buy groceries. Chen Xin called Jiang Yue the next day and said that she had nothing to do with them, so Jiang Yue didn't pay attention and continued to go to get off work on time every day. Not long after she started work today, a few people came and said that they should record what kind of medicine someone buys. After saying that, they left after seeing that Jiang Yue agreed.
After everyone left, Jiang Yue found the situation even more serious, and some people became even more arrogant. Today, these people even tried to harass Jiang Yue, but their captain stopped them. It seemed that she would need to find a shopkeeper and a doctor in the next few days. Without hesitation, she picked up the phone and asked a few acquaintances if anyone knew of a doctor who was available at home. In the afternoon, someone came to interview her. Jiang Yue asked a few questions and then hired him.
After explaining the shop's affairs to him, I took my apprentice and went home. When I got home, Aunt Fang asked, "Why are you back so early today? Did something happen?"
Jiang Yue recounted what had happened that morning. Aunt Fang scolded her a few times and told her not to go. She then called Chen Xin to explain the situation and told her to call home if she needed anything.
Chen Xin has been very busy lately, and her grain business is failing. Fortunately, Jiang Yue had secretly donated the goods earlier, otherwise they would have been forcibly confiscated. Now, medicines, especially sensitive Western medicines, are basically unavailable. Jiang Yue's medicines in her space have also been completely used up and have not been replenished.
Jiang Yue stayed in the study for a while, thinking about what she should do. Finally, she decided to study Western medicine. Her master had introduced her to a few elders before. Jiang Yue found their contact information and chatted for a while before getting down to business. The other party thought for a moment and said that they would call Jiang Yue back later.
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yue gazed into the distance. After a while, the other person gave her a definite answer. It was only the beginning of the semester, and Jiang Yue was to start classes next week. The other person then inquired about Jiang Yue's master. Jiang Yue said that she had not received a reply. The other person sighed and said, "I don't know if I will ever see him again in this lifetime."
After thanking the other party, Jiang Yue began to prepare for her studies next week. She had bought books on Western medicine before and had read quite a few over the years, but she had never studied them systematically. Since she couldn't go to the clinic now, learning Western medicine would be a good way to improve her skills.
Unfortunately, plans never keep up with changes. Before the next day even arrived, near dusk, the phone rang urgently. Jiang Yue answered the phone, but before she could speak, she heard Chen Xin's deliberately hushed voice on the other end: "Hurry up."
Those two short words conveyed a weighty message. Jiang Yue immediately stood up and called out, "Aunt Fang! Aunt Fang, grab your suitcase and let's go!"
Upon hearing Aunt Fang's panicked voice, Jiang Yue had already stored the important books and other items in her spatial storage, quickly entered the bedroom, picked up a box, and left. Knowing this day would come, Jiang Yue had told Aunt Fang long ago to prepare a box that could be carried at any time, containing only necessities, just like a modern post-apocalyptic survival kit. Aunt Fang and Jiang Yue each had one, and even her little apprentice had one.
Jiang Yue changed her clothes and steadily went downstairs. Aunt Fang and her apprentice were also changing clothes.
After they changed their clothes, each carrying a suitcase, they locked the gate, casually hailed two rickshaws, gave an address, and set off.
As soon as they stepped out of the street, they saw several cars heading towards Jiang Yue's house. Not far ahead, they saw a roadblock set up. Jiang Yue quickly told the rickshaw to stop and said that she had forgotten something.
After the rickshaw stopped, Jiang Yue paid the fare and got off with the two men. She thought for a moment and decided that they couldn't go together. Perhaps their whereabouts had already been discovered, and going together would be like walking into a trap.
Jiang Yue led the two into an alley and asked them to give her the suitcase: "Aunt Fang, you go first. After you get through the checkpoint, go to Safe House No. 2."
Aunt Fang knew what was important, so she didn't say anything and walked out of the alley and merged into the crowd. Jiang Yue, with her little apprentice, found a secluded corner, opened the box (actually taking out makeup tools from her spatial storage) and began to do her makeup.
Jiang Yue decisively cut off both of their hair, took out two sets of men's clothing, and urged her apprentice to change quickly. Thanks to her previous training in makeup and disguise under Chen Xin's men, Jiang Yue was able to transform into a man once she finished dressing up.
She tucked the forged documents into her pocket, took her apprentice's hand, and calmly walked out of the alley, blending into the crowd. She even bought a string of candied hawthorns for her apprentice to try. At first glance, she looked like a father taking his child out for a stroll.
As they approached the street, numerous secret agents began checking them one by one. Jiang Yue took a few deep breaths to calm herself.
She didn't know if Aunt Fang had gotten out safely.
After queuing for a while, it was finally Jiang Yue and her apprentice's turn. The person checking the photos took out a photo, and Jiang Yue looked at it; it was indeed her.
After comparison, it was found that the gender did not match, so Jiang Yue was asked to show her identification.
Jiang Yue handed him the forged document, and the inspector glanced at it briefly before returning it to her.
After passing through the checkpoint, Jiang Yue breathed a sigh of relief. The first hurdle was over. Next, she would head to the second safe house to meet Aunt Fang, if Aunt Fang also arrived safely.
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