Chapter 48: Refusal (Begging for Bookmarks)

  After being taught a lesson, he turned around and taught others. Huang Li returned to the hotel with some satisfaction, gave the toy doll to Niu Niu, and then went back to his room to flip through the book he had just bought.

  Unconsciously, it was already nearing noon. The knocking sound from outside made Huang Li wake up. Opening the door, it wasn't Zhen Niang, but a fellow worker, with a stranger behind him.

  "Sir, there is a visitor." The shop assistant nodded and bowed in greeting.

  Huang Li looked at the young man in front of him, wearing a blue shirt and yellow pants, looking very spirited, as if he had seen him somewhere before, hesitated and asked: "You are——"

  "Hello Mr. Huang." Zeng Che enthusiastically extended his hand and introduced himself: "I'm Zhou Shilong, we're fellow passengers on the Shuntian wheel, do you remember?"

  Oh, Huang Li squeezed out a smile and shook hands with Zeng Che, who was disguised as Zhou Shilong. However, he was puzzled in his heart and secretly on guard. Although this person had some impression, they were not familiar with each other. This time, what was the purpose of his visit?

  Zeng Che turned around and didn't see anyone outside, after shaking hands, he said very straightforwardly: "I want to borrow a step with Brother Huang to have a chat, I don't know if it's convenient or not."

  Huang Li hesitated for a moment and didn't answer immediately.

  "There's a Western restaurant just across the street, you can get there by going downstairs." Zeng Che explained clearly, with the intention of reassuring Huang Li.

  At this time, the door next to it opened, and Zhen Niang and Niu Niu came out. They seemed to be looking for Huang Li to eat, but when they saw a stranger, they immediately stopped in their tracks.

  "Alright!" Huang Li saw them and made up her mind to avoid the mother-daughter pair as much as possible, entanglements would only scare them.

  "That's all for now, I'll wait outside." Zeng Che smiled and nodded his head, turned around and left, seemingly not worried that Huang Li would stand him up.

  Huang Li instructed his assistant to buy some food and send it to Zhen Niang's room, then calmly handed over a few words with Zhen Niang before turning around and going downstairs.

  The Western restaurant wasn't crowded, after all this kind of enjoyment is a place for fashionable rich people to come. Two people sat down in a quiet corner and ordered food and drinks from the waiter.

  Zeng Che had been smiling and staring at Huang Li, while Huang Li was also calm and collected. Both of them were thinking deeply, guessing each other's thoughts.

  "I'll start by punishing myself with a cup." Zeng Che took up his wine and drank it all in one gulp, saying: "Punish me for having eyes but failing to recognize gold and jade, and instead brandishing a big knife in front of Lord Guan's gate."

  "What does Mr. Zhou mean by this?" Huang Li asked in confusion.

  Zeng Che stretched out his hand and knocked on the backrest, and two people stood up from the small compartment on the other side. One of them was surprisingly the follower who had been taught a lesson by Huang Li.

  "Does Mr. Huang understand now?" Zeng Che gestured to the two men to sit down, smiling as he said: "I am one of the investigators for the Shun Tian Lun incident, these two are my assistants. Although following Mr. Huang is a bit rude, it's also our duty."

  Huang Li nodded and said with a smile: "So Mr. Zhou is on the government's payroll, I apologize for my mistake."

  Zeng Che waved his hand and smiled: "What's the point of eating official food, just muddling through life. The investigation into Mr. Huang is now over, and nothing like this will happen again in the future."

  "Oh, Mr. Zhou has already cleared me of suspicion?" Huang Li's expression was ambiguous, seeming to smile yet not quite smiling.

  "What's suspicious or not, Zhou just went through the motions." Zeng Che said with a big smile: "As for me, I most admire and respect heroes, there is one on the boat, Mr. Huang is also one, and Zhou is someone I really want to befriend!"

  Facing Zeng Cheng's gaze, Huang Liqian humbly shook his head and smiled: "Mr. Zhou is too kind to me, I'm just a mediocre person, how dare I be called a hero?"

  "Three-legged cat? Mr. Huang is too modest." Zeng Che stretched out his hand and pointed to the private room behind him, "My assistant, also a bodyguard, has undergone rigorous training, but was twisted into a neck by Mr. Huang, yet didn't even see your shadow, such skills are indeed somewhat frightening!"

  Huang Li smiled and said, "He was off guard, just a momentary lapse."

  Zeng Che also laughed and changed the subject, saying: "Mr. Huang, today Zhou has come to apologize, secondly to make friends, and thirdly, he is sincerely inviting you. Now that the country is in danger, it is the time for us to work hard and serve the country!"

  Huang Li pondered, but this grand principle didn't seem to have much effect on him. Moreover, he still had his guard up against Zeng Che.

  "Even if Mr. Huang didn't have such grand ambitions, even just for his own sake, he wouldn't be buried in the mundane and unknown, ending his life like that!" Zeng Che continued: "Now is exactly the time for a good man to show off his skills and create a future, don't waste your intelligence and talent, and especially don't waste that great physique of yours!"

  Huang Li smiled wryly, pointed to his own head and said helplessly: "Intelligence and talent, really flattered me. To be honest, Huang has amnesia, is looking for a doctor everywhere, and also has unfinished business entrusted by others, I'm afraid I can only disappoint Mr. Zhou's good intentions."

  Zeng Cheng fell silent, gazing thoughtfully at Huang Li. Huang Li met his gaze without a hint of fear or guilt.

  After a while, Zeng Che smiled and said: "Since that's the case, Zhou can't force it either. However, this friend of mine, I consider him a friend now. Come on, let's have a drink, hoping we'll have another chance to meet again."

  Huang Li was very satisfied with Zeng Che's attitude and had a good impression of him. He didn't force himself, although he felt disappointed in his heart, but he did a perfect job on the surface. This person has rich social experience and is very mature in dealing with people, which is worth learning from. So, he also smiled and raised his glass to lightly touch Zeng Che's, showing enough kindness.

  The dishes arrived, and the two of them ate while chatting, only discussing some light topics to get closer. What made Zeng Che feel slightly surprised again was that Huang Li used his knife and fork very skillfully, without any signs of awkwardness. He's really a strange guy, Zeng Che thought to himself wisely.

  As for Huang Li, Zeng Che was not very reassured, so he reported a fake name and did not expose his true identity. As for inviting him to join, of course, it would not be the real core organization.

  In view of the current complex situation in North China and Tianjin, Zeng Qi had thought about it several times and decided to establish an external organization. This idea was also learned from the Japanese.

  It is well known that Japan's intelligence agencies are complex, with one part being the central intelligence agency, mainly including the Japanese Army General Staff and the Navy Command Department separately established intelligence departments, as well as government-affiliated ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Colonial Affairs, the Asia Development Board, and the Great East Asia Ministry established intelligence agencies. Another part is the intelligence agency established by some colonial companies or large capital companies, among which the most notorious one is the Investigation Department of the South Manchurian Railway Company.

  In order to facilitate their activities, these intelligence agencies also have peripheral organizations that use social groups, magazines, and economic entities as cover for espionage activities. These peripheral organizations are active everywhere, but in order to strike at them, it is necessary to grasp concrete evidence to expose the disguises of these intelligence agencies. Even with evidence, Japanese officials often deny and refuse to acknowledge.