radiothebook Chapter 10, I'll leave it as a memento!
Chapter 10, I'll leave it as a memento!
The next morning, Zhou Xiao stood at the school gate waiting for the bus, carrying a canvas suitcase.
"Zhou Xiao—"
A clear voice called out from behind.
He turned around, and there stood Yu Manli in the morning light, dressed in a crisp military uniform with her hair tied high in a ponytail.
She took a few steps closer, raising an eyebrow slightly: "You've only been here for half a month, and you're already leaving?"
"Yes, I'm leaving school today."
"I've been stuck here for over a year, and I haven't even passed the graduation exam." She gave a slight, faint smile. "But... it'll be over soon."
Zhou Xiao looked at her: "You'll be able to get out of here soon."
Yu Manli nodded, took out a plain satin sachet from her inner pocket. The sachet was finely embroidered with a budding winter plum blossom, and she gently placed it in his palm: "I don't have much to give you, so keep this as a memento."
"Thank you." Zhou Xiao lowered his head and examined the embroidery for a moment, his fingertips tracing the surface. "The stitches are really good."
After seeing Yu Manli off, Zhou Xiao jumped into a military truck and drove towards the mountain city – his first journey down the mountain after graduation.
……
The mountain city, nestled deep in the southwest, is surrounded by towering peaks and winding streets and alleys, making it one of the most solid fortresses in the rear during wartime. However, the sky above is often torn apart by enemy planes, and air raids become a sharp blade hanging over the city.
To protect against bombing, air-raid shelters, as dense as a spider web, were carved into the surrounding mountains, some reaching depths of hundreds of meters and connecting to the depths of the rock strata.
Before the air raid sirens sounded, the mountain town remained vibrant: teacups jingled in the teahouses, boatmen's chants echoed on the docks, neon lights floated in the thin mist, wine flags fluttered, and the town was bustling with noise, making one almost forget that artillery fire was burning thousands of miles away.
But once the air raid siren blared, the entire city collapsed suddenly—people carrying bundles and holding children ran towards the mountainside, only to be met with the deafening crash of bombs. Debris flew everywhere, broken beams pierced the gray sky, and the smell of burning mixed with dust lingered in the wind for a long time.
At this moment, in the ruins of an old courtyard that had been bombed and collapsed in the west of the city, two men stood quietly.
A man in a sharp suit, top hat pulled low, and snow-white gloves stood tall and straight, his brows revealing a cold and unyielding air that commanded respect.
The other man was around fifty years old, wearing a faded blue indigo long gown, with round-framed glasses perched on his nose. He was thin and spoke with an old-fashioned Chongqing accent, slowly and deliberately, each word resonating deeply.
The man in the suit was none other than Zheng Yaoxian, known as "Sixth Brother" of the Military Intelligence Bureau.
The man in the long gown was named Lu Hanqing, a renowned traditional Chinese medicine doctor in the mountain city. His family had been practicing medicine for three generations, and the aroma of aged angelica and perilla wafted from his medicine cabinet.
He was immersed in the recitation of the Analects and Mencius from childhood, and the virtues of "benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness" were engraved in his bones. The scholar's integrity of "not being swayed by poverty and lowliness, not being subdued by power and force, and not being corrupted by wealth and honor" had long been as natural as breathing.
Judging by his appearance alone, he was a refined and gentle old-fashioned scholar—unassuming and unassuming, even when the house was about to collapse, he would only gently push up his glasses and smile. No one could have imagined that the hands resting on the medicine box held the lifeline of the underground Communist Party in their hands.
Zheng Yaoxian and Lu Hanqing have been partners for over ten years and know each other's temperaments inside and out. They often bicker and tease each other, and a simple "You've been stealing my goji berry tea again" can ease the tension that has been building up for days.
"Old Zheng, what's the matter this time?" Lu Hanqing's voice was extremely low, his Sichuan accent carrying a hint of tension. "Your status is so important now, the less you show your face, the safer you'll be. If we bump into each other every now and then, you'll become the target if you're not careful."
He was Zheng Yaoxian's only contact, with direct access to the headquarters' secret communications room. In the entire mountain city, only he knew Zheng Yaoxian's true nature; in the eyes of others, "Sixth Brother" was just a ruthless character in the Military Intelligence Bureau, known for his ruthless methods, quick thinking, and cunning.
To ensure everything went smoothly, Zheng Yaoxian's entire past file was burned clean before he even joined the organization.
Zheng Yaoxian remained calm, lit a cigarette, the flame licking the rolled paper as wisps of smoke rose. "Old Lu, what's the rush? I'd only call you if something really important happened."
"I've got my eye on someone—he's got a solid foundation, a sharp mind, and a strong backbone. I want to recruit him into the team."
Lu Hanqing frowned, his voice suddenly turning serious: "Absolutely not! Your status is already precarious; adding another layer of uncertainty is like creating another crack. This isn't venturing into a dragon's den; it's walking into the line of fire!"
Zheng Yaoxian suddenly chuckled, twirling a cigarette between his fingers: "After following you for over a decade, you still don't trust my judgment?"
"This kid... really has a bit of me in him back then. If he's properly trained, he might just be able to hold up half the sky in the future."
Lu Hanqing paused, his gaze sharpening slightly: "Old Zheng, you're usually tight-lipped, this is the first time I've heard you praise someone so sincerely."
"That's right." Zheng Yaoxian took a deep drag, a cloud of smoke billowing out, then stubbed out his cigarette, the sparks grinding heavily against the ground with the sole of his shoe. "So, what are your plans?"
Lu Hanqing didn't reply, but just stared quietly at the collapsed courtyard wall in the distance.
He understood Zheng Yaoxian all too well—he had managed to hold a high position for ten years in a den of wolves not because of luck, but because he had forged every emotion into a scabbard and calculated every move before his opponent made it. If he were to risk reaching out, what he held in his palm would surely be a rough gem, uncarved yet already showing its sharpness.
Moreover, Zheng Yaoxian never did anything without being sure of success. He would never approach someone, pat them on the shoulder, and ask, "Brother, wanna pull off a big heist with me?"
After a long silence, he finally spoke: "Give me the information. I'll report it to headquarters tonight and start tracing the background. But... it will take at least thirty days."
"Okay!" Zheng Yaoxian pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper from his inner pocket and handed it over.
Lu Hanqing glanced at the document, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, and murmured, "Zhou Xiao?"
……
After leaving the military academy, Zhou Xiao took two different trains before finally stepping into the city gate of the mountain city.
The streets were still bustling: rickshaw bells rang, long queues formed in front of sugar-coated glutinous rice cake stalls, and indigo coarse cloth hung to dry in front of cloth shops. Vendors' shouts pierced through the shadows of sycamore leaves, and steam rose from the air.
War is like a dark cloud, pressing down on the sky, but it cannot suppress the warmth of human life.
I arrived at noon, and my stomach was rumbling.
Zhou Xiao glanced at his watch, looked around, and spotted the faded signs of "Heart Heart Cafe" on the street corner. He then stepped inside.
"Welcome, sir! This way, please—" A waiter approached with a warm smile. "How many of you are dining?"
"One."
"Alright, please come in!" The waiter led him to a seat.
Zhou Xiao flipped open the leather menu and ordered, "One steak and a glass of orange juice."
"Alright!" The waiter turned and left.
Just then, two figures came into view—
One wore a sharp, black overcoat, carrying an old leather suitcase in one hand; the other wore a floral dress, exuding gentle elegance, her hair still dappled with sunlight. The two chatted and laughed as they walked straight to a booth not far from him.
Although he was a newcomer, Zhou Xiao recognized him at a glance: Zhang Li and Yu Xiaowan!
How did they get here?
Heart Heart Cafe?
His heart skipped a beat, and he instantly realized—this was the crucial turning point in "The Awakening of Insects"!
He had watched the entire series and remembered it clearly: Zhang Li, codenamed "Dandelion," was an underground party courier; Yu Xiaowan was a skilled surgeon and a key figure in the handover of the radio. According to the original plot, the two were to hand over a shortwave radio here today—but in the shadows all around, Kuomintang agents were already lying in ambush, waiting for the moment of the handover to close the net and capture them.
The system had already revealed the true nature of this place—it was a living theater woven from countless lights and shadows. Therefore, it was not surprising that Yu Xiaowan and Zhang Li appeared here.
"Interesting." Zhou Xiao's lips curled up slightly, a hint of sharpness in his smile.
Yu Xiaowan and Zhang Li were sitting by the window, chopping lightly with their chopsticks and chatting happily, enjoying their meal in a warm and relaxed manner.
Zhou Xiao's gaze swept across the entire room, and he gestured to the waiter carrying a tray diagonally in front of him: "Could you please come over here for a moment?"
At this critical juncture, he absolutely cannot stand idly by.
He was an underground party member, and Zhang Li was his old partner in fighting alongside him—even with a knife to his throat, he would lend a helping hand.
But now, ambushes are everywhere, and the Kuomintang's spies are like nails driven into every corner of the table and behind every door. To speak out rashly would be to expose our whereabouts. We have no choice but to find another way.
The waiter quickly approached and gave a slight bow: "Sir, what can I do for you?"
Zhou Xiao took out a plain note from his pocket, wrote a few lines, folded it, and handed it over: "I find that lady in the blue cheongsam pleasing to the eye and would like to say hello—please deliver this note to her for me."
"Okay."
Heart Heart Cafe has always been a gathering place for wealthy young men and socialites in Chongqing. Striking up a conversation is as common as ordering a meal, and the waiters don't even bother to look up.
He gently placed the note beside Zhang Li: "Miss, a gentleman asked me to deliver this."
"For me?" Zhang Li was slightly taken aback, his fingertips flipping open the page—
You admire this virtuous lady, we are of one heart and mind, I cherish you with all my heart, I long to remember you, and my heart aches with sorrow at your departure.
The words are gentle, like an old-fashioned love poem: I am devoted to you and wish to get to know you; if I cannot see you, I will be restless and uneasy.
But her gaze darkened, and she picked up the first word of each sentence: Jun, Tong, Fu, Pan, Li.
The homophone struck me: "Military Intelligence Bureau in ambush, hoping for departure."
It couldn't be clearer: this place is surrounded by the Military Intelligence Bureau, retreat immediately!
It was hidden so cleverly that even if someone intercepted it, they would only think it was a flirtatious joke.
"What did it say?" Yu Xiaowan leaned closer for a peek, then burst out laughing. "Sister Li, someone fell in love with you at first sight!"
"Waiter, where is that gentleman?"
She stood on tiptoe and peered around, filled with curiosity as to which young master dared to so boldly express his love here.
The waiter turned around and pointed, but then froze: "Huh...the person was just there, but now it's empty."
"She probably ran away because she was shy." Zhang Li chuckled, but her fingertips unconsciously traced the edge of the paper.
On the surface, it was a flirtatious note, but in reality, it contained hot-button information—her heart skipped a beat, and she guessed that the sender was no ordinary person.
Now that the intelligence was in her hands, Zhang Li knew that handing over the radio at this moment was tantamount to walking into the line of fire. She pretended to make a mistake, and with a flick of her wrist, the whole glass of orange juice spilled onto her skirt with a "splash".
"Oh dear, this is bad!" She frowned and turned to Yu Xiaowan. "Xiaowan, I need to go to the restroom to change my dress." Before she finished speaking, she had already picked up the black leather suitcase and walked quickly towards the back room.
……
Zhou Xiao stepped out of Xin Xin Cafe and headed straight for the Military Intelligence Bureau headquarters without pausing.
The intelligence has been delivered. If Zhang Li still insists on forcing her way to the handover point, then she is no longer worthy to hold this knife.
In front of the Military Intelligence Bureau headquarters, two sentries blocked the way: "Identity."
Zhou Xiao handed over the booklet, his voice steady: "I'm looking for Sixth Brother."
"Sorry." The sentry glanced at it, shook his head, and said, "Without a pass, you can't get in."
A pass? He never applied for one.
"Zhou Xiao?"
A familiar voice cleaved through the air.