The two first raised their glasses and clinked them together, then Ning Zhiheng offered his chopsticks to Ning Zhiheng, saying, "This is Jinxiulou's specialty braised fish. It's made with the finest Yangtze River carp, using the best ingredients and cooked to perfection. You should try it!"
Lin Mucheng picked up a piece of fish, put it in his mouth, and savored it. He immediately felt the unexpected deliciousness. The fish was elastic and chewy, and the spicy aroma was mixed with a sweet fragrance, leaving a lingering aftertaste. He couldn't help but nod repeatedly and exclaimed, "It is indeed a great dish. Zhiheng, you have a discerning eye. This trip has been worthwhile!"
Both men had a hearty appetite and raised their glasses to each other, drinking heartily until they stopped eating and started chatting.
Ning Zhiheng put down his chopsticks, leaned back in his chair, and spoke first: "Brother Mucheng, I have always admired you. Although you come from a prominent family, you have no spoiled habits whatsoever. You started your military training early on, working your way up from the bottom. Your achievements today are all due to your hard-earned military merits. Since the start of the full-scale war, you have participated in several major battles against the Japanese army, always leading from the front. You are truly heroic. Every time Lord You mentions you, he is filled with pride. He is genuinely proud of you!"
Lin Mucheng had already lowered his guard somewhat, and when he heard Ning Zhiheng's praise, he was all smiles. Even he couldn't help but feel happy to receive such praise from a junior of such high status.
He waved his hand modestly and said with a smile, "Zhiheng, you flatter me too much. It is a time of national crisis. Alas! It is a pity that the country is poor and the people are weak, and the war is difficult. I come from a military family, and I can only fight on the battlefield with all my heart to protect my country. It is only right and proper for me!"
Ning Zhiheng could tell that Lin Mucheng's words were sincere and without any falsehood, so he nodded to himself. Lin Mucheng had made mistakes before, but after the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War, he had indeed shown bravery in fighting the enemy on the battlefield and could be considered an excellent soldier.
If possible, Ning Zhiheng really didn't want to expose his wounds to his face, but he had no choice today. Human hearts are the most unpredictable thing. He couldn't guarantee that Lin Mucheng would still be able to stick to his principles and not do anything that would harm the country and the nation under the threat of the Japanese. You have to know that if he really defected to the enemy, the consequences would be unimaginable. Ning Zhiheng didn't dare to gamble!
So even without the matter of his senior brother, he wouldn't leave this uncertain hidden danger. The matter must be settled. He must confront Lin Mucheng today and dispel Lin Mucheng's worries to avoid a tragedy in the future where loved ones are hurt and enemies are happy.
Thinking of this, he stood up, walked to the window, looked at the setting sun, and after a long while, turned back to Lin Mucheng and slowly said, "Brother Mucheng, to be honest, what I said just now was not just polite talk. I know you very well, and before today, I had conducted a very detailed investigation on you. The results of the investigation all show that you are indeed a loyal and patriotic outstanding soldier."
At this point, Ning Zhiheng sighed again, his tone extremely deep, and asked, word by word, "I just really don't understand how someone like you could possibly be a Japanese spy?"
Ning Zhiheng's words struck Lin Mucheng like a bolt from the blue. The moment they left his mouth, Lin Mucheng was stunned. His wine glass tilted and nearly slipped from his hand, spilling the wine everywhere.
Lin Mucheng never expected that Ning Zhiheng, who had just been drinking and chatting with him, would suddenly utter such shocking words. Even though he was a composed person, he was still terrified and uneasy when his deepest secret was suddenly exposed. For a moment, he was so shocked that he was at a loss for words and lost his composure.
"you…"
Lin Mucheng had a good mental fortitude. In his haste, he quickly regained his composure, his expression returned to normal, and he forced a smile, saying, "Zhiheng, what nonsense are you talking about? Let me tell you, this joke is not good, it's not funny at all."
“I also hope it’s a joke!” Ning Zhiheng’s gaze sharpened as he stared intently at Lin Mucheng.
"Unfortunately, that's not it! Brother Mu Cheng, perhaps you still harbor some hope, thinking I'm just talking nonsense, thinking I'm testing you, but this is indeed the undeniable truth. In fact, I've kept this secret for you for three whole years. Now, I really don't want to hide it anymore. For three years, I've been looking for such an opportunity to talk to you frankly, but things have dragged on until today due to various circumstances. I think you also need such an opportunity to explain things to me clearly, don't you?"
After hearing these words, Lin Mucheng lost all the composure he had been putting on. He stared at Ning Zhiheng with wide eyes, as if he were looking at a complete stranger, and for a moment he didn't know what to say!
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