THE WHITE FILES: THE MANY
LIVES OF LU HERUO, TAIWANS
FIRST LITERARY TALENT

Chapter Twenty-Two: Two Living Pieces Placed in Lukeng Village

77

On a misty morning in the mountainous area of Xindian, the office of the Investigation and Defense Section of the Garrison Command was dimly lit by yellowish lamps. A map of the Republic of China hung on the wall. The windows were tightly shut, and the curtains were slightly parted, allowing only a faint trace of dawn light to seep inside. Thick stacks of case files covered the desk. An old-fashioned standing fan in the corner creaked as it turned. The air was filled with the mixed odors of paper, tobacco, and mildew.

Colonel Gu Zhengwen sat behind his desk, his brows slightly furrowed. With a quick movement of his fingers, he tore open a blank envelope. He pulled out the sheet of blank paper inside, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously curled into a smile. Then he reached for a red candle beside his desk and lit it. As the candlelight flickered, he carefully held the paper above the flame. The surface gradually turned yellow, and flowing, elegant handwriting slowly emerged. Line after line of writing appeared. His eyes remained fixed on the page, and a trace of satisfaction crossed his face.

After reading it, he leaned back in his chair, took out a Long Life cigarette, and lit it with a brass lighter. He drew deeply on it, a cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. White smoke curled upward in the dim yellow light, spreading throughout the room as though shrouding an intelligence war that had yet to begin.

He picked up the telephone receiver and spoke in a low voice that nevertheless carried the force of a command.

"Have Xing Aihua come here."

Before long, the door was pushed open with a clatter. Xing Aihua, dressed in a neat military uniform, walked in with steady steps. After giving a crisp military salute, he approached the desk.

"Section Chief, you wanted to see me?"

Gu Zhengwen exhaled a mouthful of smoke. His eyes were sharp as knives, but his tone carried a hint of pleasure.

"Aihua, do you know where Lü Heruo and that National Taiwan University lecturer, He Yunxuan, are hiding now?"

Xing Aihua shrugged and spread his hands with a wry smile.

"Section Chief, Im no Buddha who sees everything. How would I know which holes those two foxes have crawled into?"

Gu Zhengwen grinned, a stream of smoke slipping from his nostrils.

"Theyve both gone into the mountains near Xizhi, to a mountain village called Lukeng."

Xing Aihua raised both eyebrows, immediately perking up with surprise.

"Oh? That kid Dong Zhiqian reported back so quickly?"

Gu Zhengwen nodded smugly and flicked away his cigarette ash. The glowing cigarette butt traced an arc through the air before landing in the ashtray.

"Thats right! This living piece has turned out to be quite useful."

Xing Aihua walked over to the desk, leaned forward, and lowered his voice.

"That means we can finally give our director an answer. Section Chief, should I take a team and arrest those two foxes?"

Gu Zhengwen suddenly narrowed his eyes, his tone turning stern.

"Aihua, youre working for the Garrison Command. How come your thinking is still so straightforward? Cant you think a few steps ahead?"

As he spoke, he stood up, walked around the desk, and approached Xing Aihua. He patted him on the shoulder, his eyes filled with meaning.

Xing Aihua smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of his head.

"Section Chief, I understand now. Its not time to close the net yet."

"Exactly. If we go in and arrest them now, well only alert the enemy. If that whole nest of snakes and rats scatters, wont all our efforts have been wasted?" Gu Zhengwen turned and walked back to his seat, a smile returning to the corners of his mouth.

"Then... when will we be able to close the net and arrest them?" Xing Aihua took a step forward and asked tentatively.

Gu Zhengwen raised a finger and gestured in the air as he spoke slowly.

"Once the people weve planted inside send out the roster of the base members, well be able to cast our net and haul them all in."

His tone was firm, as though he could already see his prey caught in the net.

Then he raised the half-smoked cigarette to his mouth, rolled it with his tongue, and extinguished the burning end right inside his mouth. He immediately spat it out.

"Just like this half-smoked cigarette. Well make sure they all go out for good!"

Xing Aihua quickly gave him a thumbs-up and said with a broad grin, "Brilliant, Section Chief!"

Gu Zhengwen tossed the cigarette pack back onto the desk, his expression becoming more serious.

"Aihua, I didnt call you here today just to talk about those two little foxes, Lü Heruo and He Yunxuan."

A flash of excitement appeared in Xing Aihuas eyes.

"I know. You must have a more important assignment for me, Section Chief."

Gu Zhengwen gave him a knowing, calculating look and nodded.

"Through a special channel, Ive found another living piece—Liao Qingwen and his wife."

Xing Aihua frowned, his mind racing.

"If my guess is right, this man surnamed Liao must have some special use?"

"Youre right." Gu Zhengwen took a file from his drawer and tapped it with his hand. "This Liao Qingwen is the brother-in-law of Chen Qiwang, the village chief of Lukeng."

"Section Chief, do you have an assignment for Liao Qingwen?"

"Of course. Dong Zhiqians assignment is to collect the roster of the base members. As for Liao Qingwens assignment..." He pressed his finger firmly against the file. "His job is to cut off Chen Qiwangs financial support for the people at the base."

As he spoke, his voice was low, but it carried a chilling coldness that seemed to penetrate to the bone. The air in the entire office felt several degrees colder than before.

78

Back at the base, inside the thatched hut used by the Organization Department, the rain outside had just stopped. Water was still dripping from the roof, and the edges of the bamboo walls gave off a damp, musty smell. A small kerosene lamp burned inside. Its flickering light made the shadows on the walls gather and scatter, like the ghosts of two conspirators. A straw hat and a completely soaked long towel hung beside the window. The steady dripping of water seemed to keep time for the conversation that was about to begin.

Dong Zhiqian stepped into the hut across the slippery mud, kicked off his straw sandals with a heavy motion, and splashed a few drops of mud. He brushed the water droplets from his broad-brimmed straw hat, while the corner of his eye watched Chen Danghe, who was sitting at a low table reading documents.

"Director..." He lowered his voice. His tone was tactful, yet concealed a trace of mockery. "I just went to the Earth God Temple and witnessed quite a little drama. Im afraid youll need to prepare yourself for what Im about to tell you."

Chen Danghe raised his head, frowning. He gripped the pen in his hand so tightly that his fingers curled into a fist.

"What happened?"

Dong Zhiqian approached him, deliberately speaking in an unhurried manner.

"Lü Heruo and Chen Ruyu were sitting side by side in front of the altar, chatting and laughing affectionately... The way they looked at each other was hardly what youd expect from two people who had merely come to worship the Earth God."

Chen Danghes expression darkened. He suddenly stood up, and the legs of his chair scraped against the bamboo floor with a piercing sound.

"Are you sure?"

"I saw it with my own eyes." Dong Zhiqian deliberately emphasized his words. With his hands on his hips, he shook his head in feigned helplessness. "Director, if you dont act soon, that Lü Heruo may well steal Chen Ruyu away and make her his woman!"

"Shut up!" Chen Danghe slammed his palm against the desk. The teacup on it trembled, spilling a few drops of tea. He walked to the window, lifted the straw curtain, and looked outside. Then he lowered his hand and spoke in a subdued voice. "What do you suggest we do?"

"I suggest we go to Village Chief Chen Qiwang and expose the whole story of Lü Heruos womanizing past." Dong Zhiqian deliberately stepped closer and lowered his voice, as though revealing a secret. "Let the village chief become the wall that stands in his way."

Chen Danghe nodded.

"That is indeed an idea. But... what if Ruyu insists on going away with Lü Heruo?"

Dong Zhiqian gave a cold laugh and leaned closer to him, his voice chilling.

"Then well have to think of another way. Director, surely you can see it by now? As long as Lü Heruo is still alive in this world, her heart will never return to you."

Chen Danghe took a step backward, his eyes becoming wary.

"Little Dong... Are you saying—kill him?"

"Am I wrong?" Dong Zhiqians tone became firm, and his speech quickened. "At first, you wanted to force him out of the base. But now hes a fugitive, and if he runs away with Ruyu, youll be left with nothing."

"Hmm... That really could happen." Chen Danghe bit his lower lip and lowered his head, thinking for a moment.

"Since were doing this, we might as well go all the way." Dong Zhiqian braced both hands against the desk and leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. "Get rid of Lü Heruo. Whatever method we use, the best thing is to leave no evidence."

Chen Danghe remained silent for a long while. At last, he slowly raised his head, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

"All right... Ill take your advice. Do you have a good plan?"

Dong Zhiqian smiled, bent down, and leaned toward his ear.

"Director, lend me your ear."

He covered his mouth with his palm and whispered a few words. After listening, Chen Danghe frowned and asked, "Will that really work?"

Dong Zhiqian straightened up and patted him on the shoulder.

"If the first strike misses, I still have another move."

Chen Danghe nodded, as though gritting his teeth.

"Then lets go to Village Chief Chen Qiwang first and lodge a complaint. Well lay the groundwork for this whole plan."

Just then, the bamboo shadows outside swayed slightly. A figure suddenly darted past and hid beneath the banana leaves beside the wall. Liao Xueli was bent over, pressed tightly against the bamboo wall, holding his breath as he listened. He had merely been passing by the thatched hut and had never expected to overhear this conversation.

His fingers trembled slightly, and his heart pounded like a drum. Every word he had just heard was alarming enough to make his scalp tingle.

From the outside, this thatched hut looked like a revolutionary base. But inside, it was more like a pot of poison, its black waters boiling.

Afternoon sunlight slanted beneath the eaves of the wooden house. Smoke filled the room, and the aroma of tea was strong. The living room of Village Chief Chen Qiwangs house was spacious but simple. A yellowed calligraphy piece of the Memorial on Sending Troops Out hung on the wall, while several sacks of sweet potatoes and farming tools were piled in the corner. In the center stood an old elmwood square table, holding a steaming teapot and several coarse pottery teacups. Four people sat around it.