Two o'clock in the afternoon, Yikouxiang Teahouse.

When Liu Huilan came to the second floor of the teahouse wearing a gray coat and a white warm hat, Lao Cui was already drinking tea at a table by the window. The storyteller downstairs was telling the story of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The audience drank tea and applauded when they heard the exciting parts.

"You don't have a tail, right?" Lao Cui asked as he poured a cup of tea for Liu Huilan who had just sat down.

"No, I confirmed again and again that there was no tail before coming here!" said Liu Huilan, who had a scarf around her neck, covering her chin, mouth and nose.

Old Cui glanced out the window at the building below, then looked at Liu Huilan and said, "The organization has made a decision on your arrangements. They have decided to send you to Jiangzhou to carry out organizational and coordination work!"

"After you arrive in Jiangzhou, contact Comrade Bai Yunfeng. Here's the contact information. You have one minute to write it down!"

After saying that, Lao Cui took out a small paper roll from his sleeve and handed it to Liu Huilan.

Liu Huilan took the small scroll, unfolded it, read it, closed her eyes and took notes silently. Ten seconds later, she opened her eyes.

"Did you take note of it?" asked Lao Cui.

Liu Huilan nodded: "I'll make a note of it!"

Lao Cui took out a match and lit the note, burning it to ashes.

"Regarding your evacuation time and route, the organization has arranged this: Tomorrow night at 8: PM, you will go to the Caojia Ferry on the Suzhou River to find the boatman, Cao Laoliu, and tell him that you are Cui'e, his niece from his third aunt's family. He will let you board the boat and take you to your next destination. From then on, the organization will arrange your itinerary until you reach Jiangcheng, from which you will take a boat to Jiangzhou!"

Liu Huilan hesitated for a moment and said, "Lao Cui, regarding the evacuation route to Jiangzhou, my family has also made an evacuation plan. There is a global cruise ship from the United States docking at the pier the day after tomorrow morning, and it will depart at ten o'clock the day after tomorrow morning. He has already used his connections at Jardine Matheson to get me a crew cabin on the cruise ship. The cruise ship will dock in Hong Kong next. I can disembark there and head to Yuezhou, and then from Yuezhou to Jiangzhou!"

"If we follow the retreat route arranged by my husband, we'll basically be safe as long as we board the ship. But if we follow the organization's arrangements and go to Jiangcheng, we'll have to pass through a large area of ​​enemy-occupied territory!"

After hearing this, Old Cui understood what Liu Huilan meant. Taking a boat through the Xiangjiang River via Yuezhou to Jiangzhou would undoubtedly be much safer. He thought for a moment and said, "The route your husband arranged is indeed safer, but the biggest problem is being able to board the cruise ship smoothly. As far as I know, the Japanese have already strengthened their inspections at train stations, docks, and major traffic intersections. Even at the foreign docks, the Japanese must have sent a large number of plainclothes agents to blend in with the crowds for surveillance. I'm afraid it won't be easy for you to board the ship smoothly!"

Liu Huilan said, "My husband has already thought about the arrangements for boarding the ship. When the cruise ship arrives at the dock, some passengers will disembark and some will board, but these passengers will generally board the ship the day after tomorrow morning. My husband checked and found that the cruise ship tickets went on sale half a month ago, and there are no extra tickets. This should lower the spies' vigilance!"

"Also, my husband will arrange for me to board the ship early the day after tomorrow evening. The spies will definitely not expect me to board the ship early, so they will focus most of their attention on the morning of the day after tomorrow!"

"Boarding the ship early the day after tomorrow evening? Can we get on board?" asked Lao Cui.

Liu Huilan nodded: "My husband promised that we can board the ship early, it's just a matter of paying the crew a little more money!"

Old Cui pondered and weighed the options. He touched his chin, raised his eyelids, and looked at Liu Huilan. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "I don't know your husband very well. Is he reliable? Is he worthy of your trust and reliance on him?"

Liu Huilan didn't expect Lao Cui to worry about this. She said in a firm tone, "Lao Cui, besides the organization and you, my closest comrades, my husband is the person closest to me in this world and the person I trust the most. If I don't even trust him, who else can I trust?"

"As for whether he's reliable, I can tell you this: as long as he says something, he'll definitely do it. He never brags or makes promises lightly, but once he's promised something, he'll get it done, no matter how difficult it is!"

Seeing Liu Huilan say this, Old Cui no longer worried. "Well, since there's a better option, let's evacuate via the route your husband arranged for you. Will your husband... go with you?"

Liu Huilan shook her head and said, "I've already discussed this with him. Personally, I don't want him to go with me. After all, the fight we're having with the enemy is too intense and too cruel. He's not cut out for this kind of work, so it would be very dangerous for him to be with me. Besides, I think he can play a much greater role if he stays here!"

"He himself thinks so too. As a comprador for a foreign company, he can get a lot of supplies and medicines that ordinary people can't get, even weapons and ammunition. If the organization needs it in the future, they can come to him to purchase urgently needed supplies and medicines!"

Lao Cui took these words to heart and said, "In this case, you will have to travel alone. There shouldn't be any danger on the cruise ship. I'm worried about the journey from Yuezhou to Jiangzhou. As a woman, and pregnant, it will be very difficult for you!"

Liu Huilan said, "Difficulties are inevitable, and I'm mentally prepared! By the way, what are your plans for Xiangling? Isn't she going with me?"

Lao Cui said, "The organization has decided to let Xiangling stay undercover and continue to assist Lao Xiong with his work!"

"Xiangling will be in great danger this way, and she won't even be able to go out!" Liu Huilan said with a frown.

"There are organizational considerations. Apart from Xiangling, there's no one around Lao Xiong who can send and receive telegrams. If she evacuates, our entire Songhu comrades will lose contact with the higher-ups. And pulling a telegraph operator from elsewhere won't be a simple matter!"

……

5pm, Wenchang Primary School.

Not long after the school bell rang, the school gate opened and children walked out of the school in groups of three or five, carrying their schoolbags and chattering. The snack vendors at the school gate immediately started hawking their wares.

"Shaobing, fragrant and crispy shaobing!"

"Baked ham, salty, sweet and delicious baked ham!"

"Mutton kebabs, grilled lamb kebabs, one cent a kebab!"

The hawking sounds attracted the attention of the children who had just finished school. The aroma of food made them feel hungry, and their taste buds began to secrete saliva, stimulating their appetite.

The teachers also walked out of the school in groups of three or four to go home.

A male teacher in his thirties with unshaven beard and messy hair followed a group of students out of the school gate and turned to walk towards the street intersection.

At this time, two strong men in suits came over and sandwiched the male teacher between them. The strong man on the left asked, "Is this Teacher Chu?"

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like