Idealist
The sharp whistles of police blared incessantly, and the fleeing people scattered like a flood, their footsteps, shouts, and cries creating a cacophony that drowned out the loud chirping of cicadas.
Amid the turbulent crowd, several reporters raised their cameras and frantically pressed the shutter, hoping to capture the most breathtaking moment and make tomorrow's headlines.
The flashes of light were like thunderbolts from the sky. With a loud "bang," time seemed to freeze into a portrait as Qingcheng and Gao Junxiao hid in the shadows of the building, trying to get away from the camera's field of view.
This place is Chinese territory, and the situation is unclear. It's best to avoid a direct confrontation. Gao Junxiao quickly glanced at the chaotic street and then turned to his fiancée beside him. Qingcheng was dragging an organ case, which would be too easy to expose her. Thinking of this, Gao Junxiao grabbed the handle: "Give me the case, you go first."
"You can't leave. Look over there." Qingcheng pointed east. Roadblocks had been set up at the intersection, and several police officers with batons stood behind them, conducting body searches before letting people pass. A white-gloved man with a gun was giving instructions to a neatly organized squad; he must have been an officer.
They just sent a small patrol team to investigate the explosion, which was clearly a case of shirking their duties. How did the main force arrive so quickly? It seems there's some powerful figure putting pressure on them.
Before she knew it, Qingcheng seemed drawn by something and walked straight towards the center of the chaos. Gao Junxiao grabbed her arm: "Are you crazy! That's dangerous!"
"It's alright, come with me." Qingcheng's eyes and the corners of her mouth turned up at the same time, and Gao Junxiao reluctantly let go under her insistence.
The two walked against the flow of people, their eyes blurred by the smoke. Gao Junxiao could even smell the dry earth, giving him a sense of being back on the battlefield. Qingcheng finally squeezed into the main road and swung her arm around him, saying, "Xiao Li, aren't Tianming and Xiaohao on duty tonight? What brings you here?"
A fleeting look of surprise crossed Reporter Li's face behind his black-rimmed glasses, before he complained, "Editor He, stop talking. There were only two people in the collapse. Tianming fainted from fright, and Xiaohao went to buy him medicine. The editor-in-chief asked me to fill in for him."
"Oh dear, you're such a scaredy-cat! Where's our interview vehicle? I'll help you." Qingcheng said casually, as if it were water.
"Okay, okay." Reporter Li nodded excitedly, but the next second she shook her head violently and said incoherently, "No, no, no... I... well... Editor He, I'm disturbing your date, don't mind me."
Qingcheng winked at him and said in a relaxed tone, "You know my Xiao, right? We're all so familiar with each other, there's no need for so many taboos. We're comrades-in-arms from the same unit. If there's an emergency, I can leave you to fight alone. Give me the car keys, I'll go get the equipment."
“Okay.” Reporter Li generously took out his keys. “Tianming is still dizzy in the car. You’d better slap him twice to wake him up. I can’t manage to take pictures and conduct interviews all by myself.”
"Don't rush. There are a lot of reporters today. If we want to grab the headlines, we need to find a sensational angle." Qingcheng gestured towards the roadside. "I just found out that the Green Gang was discussing underground business at the Shikoku Flour Mill, but they were ambushed by someone. I suggest you take some pictures of the wounded and try to get some information out of them. I'll go interview the police officers at the intersection."
Gao Junxiao, unsure of He Qingcheng's intentions, could only suppress his anxiety and let her do as she pleased. She even managed to manipulate Xiao Li, her closest friend. He was truly becoming more and more unable to understand He Qingcheng.
After exchanging some details with Qingcheng, Xiao Li and Qingcheng went their separate ways. As soon as Xiao Li left, Qingcheng gave him a wink and headed straight for the interview vehicle with the organ case.
The interview vehicle stopped a little far from the factory, right outside the northern checkpoint. Qing stomped her foot in frustration. Gao Junxiao could probably guess what she was thinking; she probably wanted to mix the accordion case with a bunch of photography equipment and take it out.
Plans can't keep up with changes, Gao Junxiao suggested in her ear. "How about we throw the box in some corner, go out first, and come back for it later?"
“It was fine when we first came downstairs, but now a lot of people have seen us dragging boxes around. It’s risky not to take them. I have a solution. Do you have a notebook and a pen?” Kiyosumi asked earnestly.
What's going on now? Gao Junxiao took out a notebook and pen from his pocket and handed them to her. Qingcheng opened the notebook and chatted easily with the police officers at the door. The officers were initially a little resistant, but soon Qingcheng had completely taken control of the situation. As they talked, they let her go without even searching her.
A short while later, Kiyosumi returned, carrying a heavy metal box. She made a point of showing the contents of the box to the police officers as she passed through the checkpoint.
Looking at the organ case in his hand, Gao Junxiao suddenly realized that the little girl was playing magic tricks. Before Qingcheng could speak, Gao Junxiao, understanding the situation, pulled her into the shadows, rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, and quickly exchanged the items under the streetlights.
The dust in the air gradually cleared up. When Qingcheng passed through the checkpoint again with her suitcase, the police officer had no suspicions and waved her through without question. "Professionals use professional tools, right?"
"Stop! Come over here for inspection." The police officer wasn't so lenient with Gao Junxiao.
With a helpless expression, Gao Junxiao turned and glanced at Qingcheng, who was standing innocently to the side, still chatting with the police officer: "Officer, based on my past experience, those bombers and arsonists like to return to the scene after committing the crime to admire their work. You should investigate this carefully, as the safety of Shanghai citizens depends on you."
Upon hearing this, the police officer's face lit up with pride: "You, open the box. Hurry up!"
Gao Junxiao reluctantly walked over, dawdled, and opened the organ case. With a clang, several brass pipes slid out. He hurriedly pressed them down, realizing he hadn't set them up properly in his haste.
"Clumsy," Qingcheng scolded as she calmly stuffed the copper tube back in. "These are all German-imported tripods; you couldn't afford to pay for them even if you had your entire salary deducted."
Calling a gun barrel a tripod—what a modern-day Zhao Gao! Knowing she was acting, Gao Junxiao swallowed the bitterness in his throat after hearing those harsh words. Humph, what kind of attitude is that? She even has a temper now.
"Hurry up, we still need to go back and develop the film." Qingcheng's fingertips accidentally touched the back of his hand, and Gao Junxiao quickly withdrew his hand as if he had been burned.
How many of the woman's words were true and how many were false? Qingcheng's face gradually blurred, as if she were wearing a white mask.
Gao Junxiao sniffed and watched her performance quietly. A dull pain shot through his chest. The last time he went to sea with Zhang Chong was also part of her plan to fight against CC! It turned out that he was nothing special to her.
There were also two cameras and some accessories in the box. The police officers stirred it around with their batons, but found nothing unusual, so they waved them away.
The two walked quickly away until they could no longer see the checkpoint. Gao Junxiao kept walking forward without stopping, and Qingcheng ran behind him, but he kept walking faster and faster.
His palm warmed as Qingcheng took his hand and scolded him playfully, "Why are you running around like that? Do you know where you're going?"
"It's getting late, I need to go back and rest." Gao Junxiao used all his strength to restrain the urge to shake hands with her, shoved the organ case in his hand into Qingcheng's hands, and turned away gracefully without looking at her astonished expression.
Suddenly, he didn't want to know Qingcheng's secret anymore. What if all the tenderness, sweetness, companionship, and promises were fake...? His throat suddenly went dry. He dared not think about it. The thought would turn his mind into a tangled mess.
But Qingcheng held him tightly: "Why won't you come with me? You're a grown man, are you afraid I'll eat you up?"
"Someone like you, who would use anyone to achieve his goals, never telling the truth, what kind of man can stand your tantrums!" Gao Junxiao's emotions were completely ignited.
Qingcheng was stunned, her eyes sparkling with tears. After a long while, she managed to squeeze out a trembling sentence: "Why do you miss me so much?"
The worst thing is to doubt what you once firmly believed. Gao Junxiao couldn't bear to see Qing Cheng's sorrowful gaze, and he didn't know what was wrong with him or how to react. He shook off her hand and left.
His soul felt as if it had been ripped away, making even breathing difficult. He desperately wanted to be alone, to find a new anchor for his soul.
"Don't leave! Explain yourself." Qingcheng pursed her lips, forcing herself not to let the tears fall. "I know you're upset about hiding my identity, and I apologize. Let's find a quiet place so you can tell me your grievances, or... do you feel that my abilities have offended you?"
Faced with the questioning, Gao Junxiao looked up at the night sky. The moon hid behind the clouds, just like his blank mind.
Perhaps seeing that he didn't answer, Qingcheng wiped the corner of her eye with the back of her hand and stepped forward: "If you can't think of anything, then as a friend, I'd like to ask you to do me one last favor. Could you please help me carry these two boxes upstairs? I can't carry them by myself."
Gao Junxiao's heart suddenly clenched. He had never experienced such intense pain before. What did she mean? What did she mean by "as a friend"?
A strong sense of betrayal welled up inside him, and Gao Junxiao stared at Qingcheng, asking hesitantly, "Do you have even the slightest bit of real feeling for me? Did you only get close to me because of the mission...?"
Qingcheng interrupted Gao Junxiao, her voice firm and resolute: "I'm not a block of wood. I won't choose someone I don't like to spend my life with just because of a mission. I'm telling you now, you are my choice, and it has nothing to do with anyone or any organization!"
If Qingcheng had chosen him so firmly the day before, he would have been too excited to sleep. But now… should he believe her or not? Gao Junxiao swayed uncontrollably for a few moments, when suddenly the voices of opposition from his teacher, father, and Li Sheng rang out: You two are not suitable!
The unspoken part of their statement was, "He Qingcheng can't possibly live a stable life like others." Thirty years of self-confidence crumbled in an instant. Gao Junxiao suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly. They seemed to be lamenting Qingcheng's plight, but in reality, they were pitying themselves, being sold out and still counting the money for others.
"You're lying to me." Gao Junxiao stared blankly at Qingcheng.
Qingcheng's face grew paler and paler. Even though she tried her best to hold back, large tears still slid down her cheeks. She handed over the suitcase again and choked out, "If you're really angry, go back and report me now. Also, send out all those magazines and papers I showed you before. I guarantee it will get you a promotion and make you rich."
"What good will it do you if I get promoted and make a fortune like this?" Gao Junxiao shouted excitedly. He felt that either he was crazy or He Qingcheng was crazy.
“It’s not good for me personally, but it’s great for the Chinese revolution. You’re a progressive and patriotic officer, which is evident from your genuine efforts to suppress bandits. The higher your position, the greater your positive influence on the revolution.” Qingcheng’s eyes were red and swollen, but he spoke the most rational words. “I hope you can stay true to your original aspirations and not be corrupted by the corrupt atmosphere of officialdom, even if I’m not by your side in the future.”
Suddenly, the street became so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Tears still clung to her cheeks, and her words carried a sense of farewell. Gao Junxiao's heart involuntarily clenched: "Is there no one in this world you care about?"
“Yes, there are many.” Qingcheng stared at him calmly. “I want to enjoy the flowers in spring, eat melons in summer, admire the leaves in autumn, and play in the snow in winter with them. I want to work hard every day, complain to you about how hard it is to work overtime, and when I’m happy, we can cook at home. When I’m not happy, we can go out for a big meal, or invite relatives and friends to watch a movie or go dancing.”
"Isn't this the kind of life you're living now? Wouldn't it be better to live like this forever?" A frown crept up Gao Junxiao's brow.
After a moment's thought, Qingcheng said softly, "Perhaps. If we were born in a peaceful environment, without the oppression of foreign powers, without floods or droughts, with electricity in every village, tiles in every house, and meat at every meal, our compatriots could all live such a good life. I would be at peace with myself."
Her stubbornness, blooming amidst the thorns of night, speaks of the beautiful wishes bathed in the illusory moonlight. Then she changes the subject: "But hypotheticals are just hypotheticals. We were born in a chaotic world. If we abandon the responsibility of revitalizing China and only seek the safety of our own families and our own well-being, that would be pure escapism. You are not a deserter, and I, He Qingcheng, am not a coward. I have already found the path forward."
Qingcheng's words pierced his heart like a sharp blade. He wanted to refute them, but ultimately he was speechless. In today's officialdom, demons run rampant. As long as there is profit to be made, who cares about principles or ideologies? Making money is their duty, and doing the work is a favor.
Some beasts don't even care about human feelings, taking pride in exploiting and devouring the flesh and blood of the people for their own pleasure.
The neat rows of brick houses in Shanghai stood in stark contrast to the dilapidated wooden huts in the countryside of Xuzhou that Gao Junxiao remembered. The narrow, difficult road was the right one, and Gao Junxiao's mood darkened further. The life and death of a thousand-year-old China rested on his shoulders. If he couldn't even shoulder this responsibility, he wouldn't be worthy of being a true revolutionary soldier!
He knew perfectly well that He Qingcheng and he were the same kind of people. Gao Junxiao said with great distress, "Progress is a tortuous one, and the great cause of national rejuvenation cannot be rushed. We can clearly do revolution together, so why do you have to separate us so clearly?"
“Because there is a division of labor in the revolution, not everyone can receive medals. Aren’t you afraid that our work will interfere with each other?” Kiyosumi spread her hands and forced a smile.
"You've already interfered." Gao Junxiao's tone was so cold it seemed to freeze the air.
"The Nanjing government insists on pacifying the country before resisting foreign aggression. The overall situation is what it is, and conflicts will become more and more frequent in the future. There's nothing I can do about it." Qingcheng pinched her red nose. "If you still have any feelings for me, please let me leave Shanghai. You can report it again in three days. The effect will be the same, but I can live. I still have a lot of things to do."
No way! Gao Junxiao suddenly realized, and pulled Qingcheng close to his chest: "Are you stupid? You're my wife. If you run away, who will I marry?"
"There will be new people. No one in this world is irreplaceable." Qingcheng's voice gradually faded until it disappeared.
"Nonsense, who dares to replace me? If you're not happy, come and fight me one-on-one. I'll give you three moves for your sake." Gao Junxiao rubbed Qingcheng's head, thinking that a man can't give up halfway. He promised to take care of the other person for life, and he must keep his promise, no matter what the other person becomes.
Gao Junxiao took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears. Qingcheng trembled in his arms, then hugged his waist tightly, her tears soaking his shirt. He didn't know when it started, but he had always carried two handkerchiefs with him; habit is a terrible thing.
Finally, as always, Kiyosumi blew her nose to end the conversation, and asked in a hoarse voice, "You're not angry anymore?"
"No. I'm angry." Gao Junxiao snorted through his nose.
"Oh." He Qingcheng pouted helplessly and stopped talking.
"What's your attitude?" Gao Junxiao gritted his teeth and spat out the words. "Shouldn't you find a place to reflect on your mistakes to me? Especially the situation in Xuzhou, what a mess you've made, you should explain it all to me right now."
"So fierce~ You denied it before, but now you want to hear it again. Even Sun Wukong can't transform like you." Kiyosumi muttered aggrievedly.
"Try saying one more word, and I won't help you carry them." Gao Junxiao couldn't stand her tearful appearance and impatiently picked up the two suitcases, urging, "Lead the way!"
Qingcheng obediently responded and walked ahead. The evening breeze ruffled her hair, and she secretly glanced back, a smile involuntarily creeping onto her lips.
There were only the two of them on the street. They didn't speak, but just listened quietly to the chirping of insects and the gentle breeze. Everything was enveloped in the soft light.
As soon as the door opened, pistols, rifles, and scattered bullets were strewn all over the floor, among which were a few grenades. Gao Junxiao's lips twitched as he examined the scene closely.
The room was no more than ten square meters, stuffy and hot. Gao Junxiao fanned himself with his hand. He was very curious about what kind of people would live in an armory.
"Sorry, the house is a bit messy." Kiyosumi quickly picked up the weapons on the ground and stuffed them into her suitcase one by one. A few minutes later, the weapons were all piled up in a corner.
"Sit anywhere, what do you want to talk about?" Qingcheng moved a square chair over and sat on the bed herself.
"Did you buy or rent this house?" Gao Junxiao wiped the stool surface; it was relatively clean and free of dust.
"Premarital property," Kiyosumi said very seriously. "I'm not trying to upset you, but my money is the organization's money, so it's fairer for you to keep the finances separate."
That made sense, and Gao Junxiao's anger, which had just been ignited, was extinguished: "Let me confirm again, are you really from that side?"
"I am! A genuine member of the Communist Party of China." Qingcheng said with a proud look.
Hearing her admit it, Gao Junxiao was calmer than he had expected: "What position do you hold inside?"
"I have no official position, just an ordinary courier," Kiyosumi said confidently.
"From what I just saw, a dozen or so men were at your beck and call yourself a courier. Do you think everyone else is stupid?" Gao Junxiao narrowed his eyes and questioned.
Qingcheng shook his head repeatedly: "I really don't have any official position. As for commanding, you're giving me too much credit. I was just guiding them. The duties of a courier are to scout locations, guide them, and deliver things."
Gao Junxiao took a deep breath: "Okay. I'll take your word for it. You're quite capable, aren't you? You've even become a courier in Xuzhou. Aren't there any couriers in Xuzhou? Why did you have to travel all that way there?"
"Yes, you've met him, Hu Yukun. But we don't have enough manpower in this small place." Qingcheng lowered her head, a faint sadness flashing in her eyes.
The name that had been buried in the file was mentioned again, and Gao Junxiao was suddenly overwhelmed with a strange emotion. He quickly unbuttoned the first button to calm himself down: "What...what are you doing in Xuzhou?"
"We received intelligence that local bandits in Xuzhou were colluding with the Japanese to manufacture weapons, so we went to destroy that workshop. You and your crooked-butt senior brother should know that we're cooperating," Qingcheng answered honestly.
"Other journalists are all fast runners, but you're fast talker, and you've even learned to answer before others," Gao Junxiao teased. "No answering before others."
"There are no secrets in the world. Besides, Uncle Hao is one of our people. You can find out with just a few questions. It's just that your Senior Brother Qin and our Comrade Xiangyu are alumni of Nankai University and have a good personal relationship. Commander Qin helped us buy weapons, and our local comrades assisted you in suppressing the bandits. What's wrong with fair trade?" She insisted on saying more, not letting her answer first.
Gao Junxiao's temper flared up again, and he clicked his tongue sarcastically: "Tsk~ Comrade Xiangyu, calling him so affectionately, are you very familiar with him?"
“You’re not as familiar with him as he is,” Qingcheng blurted out.
Gao Junxiao glared at him, asking, "What do you mean by that?"
"It's nothing. You two worked together at Huangpu for half a year, so you must know them well. As a grassroots party member, I can't even get a chance to see a high-ranking leader." Qingcheng tilted her head, looking regretful.
Gao Junxiao swallowed hard, forcibly steer the conversation back on track: "What exactly did you do to those six cannons from the Japanese devils?"
"It's not my place to tamper with things. I just heard that the local comrades don't trust you, so I suggested they take precautions to prevent you from taking the benefits and then not doing anything for us." Kiyosumi's smile deepened.
"So it really was your idea!" Gao Junxiao jumped up, wishing he could strangle the woman in front of him.
"Hey, hey, don't get excited. You didn't lose anything, and I even left you a bonus." Qingcheng pressed Gao Junxiao back into his chair. "You really think that kid is stupid, bringing a smoke bomb up the mountain to give you leverage? I was the one who had him bring it up the mountain and deliberately break the jar when he had the chance. Hehe, that thing was useful, wasn't it!"
So this woman had been plotting against him all along. Gao Junxiao felt a chill in his heart: "Hmph, not bad. I thank you on behalf of the local bandits. They can come after you to take your life from now on."
"It's fine. Anyway, we'll be sleeping in the same bed from now on. After they've finished visiting my place, they can go to yours. It'll be like a casual visit, and they'll be more efficient at getting their revenge." Kiyosumi was truly impervious to reason.
Gao Junxiao glared fiercely at Qingcheng and said in a deep voice, "You've completely fooled me. You're too cunning."
Qingcheng retorted, "I'm definitely no match for your cunning. Besides repelling mosquitoes, the floral water can also help you create the initial impression of a refined young nobleman. Team Leader Dai will definitely look down on you as soon as he smells it, making it easier for you to divert the agents' attention, maintain better contact with us, and seize the opportunity to send out the representative and codebook."
"You're right about the effects of floral water; spies are no different from flies. But I don't know about other things. Maybe it was a favor my senior brother did for me. You can pay him back later; don't worry about it." Gao Junxiao propped himself up on his arm, refusing to curry favor with the Communist Party.
"Are you sure?" Kiyosumi suddenly leaned in, their noses almost touching. "I actually have a question that has been bothering me for a long time. If I don't know the answer, I won't be able to die in peace."
"Hehe, that's going to be tough." Gao Junxiao raised an eyebrow and stared at her. "Go ahead and tell me, I'm all ears."
Qingcheng asked earnestly, "I want to know, were you and Bai Haoyue by Hu Yukun's side when he died?"
In an instant, Gao Junxiao's eyes widened, and the blood in his body boiled.
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