The train driver in the courtyard

Sizzle.
The incandescent bulb hanging from the ceiling flickered twice, making the already dim room even brighter and darker.

Zhou Zhigang glanced in the direction of Li Aiguo and Zhang Caixia from time to time, his eyes full of tension and anxiety.

His body leaned forward slightly, one hand unconsciously clenched into a fist, while the other hand kept stroking the corner of his clothes.

Her heart seemed to be tightly grasped by an invisible big hand, fearing that Li Aiguo's disguise would be instantly seen through by Zhang Caixia's sharp eyes.

"This guy looks a lot like an old friend of mine. I wonder if he's married?"

After staring at Li Aiguo for a long time, Zhang Caixia raised her chin slightly and a charming smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

This man was born with a good appearance, skin as white as snow, and delicate facial features reminded Zhang Caixia of a Japanese major she met when she was young.

The Eight Great Hutongs are a place of pleasure, but also a bottomless abyss. All the girls know that one day they will grow old and lose their beauty, so they all want to find a "suitable person" to take them away.

The Japanese lieutenant colonel is knowledgeable and cultured, has a promising future, and is also an important figure on the Japanese side.

Zhang Caixia tried her best to please the Japanese lieutenant colonel.

As a result, she discovered that the Japanese lieutenant colonel had turned into Li Jia in the opera.

However, Zhang Caixia did not have the awareness to become Du Shiniang. After seeing off the Japanese lieutenant colonel, she could only return to the Bada Hutongs to enjoy a life of drunkenness and debauchery.

Whenever it was late at night and everyone was asleep, Zhang Caixia would always think of that Japanese major.

Li Aiguo raised his head slightly, narrowed his eyes, and did not answer Zhang Caixia's question.

The atmosphere at the scene became a little awkward.

Li Suhua is also a woman, how could she not understand the look in Zhang Caixia's eyes.

Li Suhua felt that Zhang Caixia was going a bit too far. She treated Zhang Caixia as a friend, but Zhang Caixia wanted to be her sister-in-law?
"People in my hometown get married early. My cousin got married when he was 18 years old."

He said he was trying to smooth things over, but in fact he was warning Zhang Caixia not to have any ideas.

"You're married. But it doesn't matter, there's still a long way to go."

Zhang Caixia muttered softly, then turned to look at Li Suhua: "Sister Li, it's getting late, I'll go back first."

"Walk slowly. Or, let Zhigang take you there. Our neighborhood is not safe." Li Suhua said kindly.

Zhang Caixia lifted her hair, glanced at Li Aiguo, and seeing Li Aiguo sitting there motionless, she muttered softly, "No need," then turned around and floated away.

After the door was closed again, everyone returned to the table and prepared to continue celebrating Zhou Bingyi's birthday.

At this time, the plate of stewed tofu on the table had been eaten up, and Zhou Rong was seen pinching the last piece of tofu and stuffing it into her mouth.

The tofu was very hot. The girl kept sucking it up but was reluctant to spit it out.

Li Suhua felt embarrassed and said angrily, "Zhou Rong, we have guests today, how can you behave like this?"

"Oh, Mom, I'm so sorry, the stewed tofu you made was so delicious and fragrant, I couldn't help it."

Zhou Rong pretended to be pitiful, her eyes rolling around, and said, "Besides, uncle is not a guest, he is my real uncle."

With just one sentence, Zhou Rong resolved the embarrassment and calmed the anger of Li Suhua and Zhou Zhigang. Zhou Rong is indeed very smart.

But it doesn't change the fact that she secretly ate the tofu while everyone else was around.

You have to know that Zhou Zhigang's family is not well off. They rarely get any meat on weekdays, and stewed tofu is the best dish they can eat.

Life was hard in those days, so when there was something delicious, everyone shared it. The adults gave way to the children, and the children respected the adults, and the family lived in harmony.

After hearing the explanation, Zhou Zhigang, Zhou Bingyi and Zhou Bingkun quickly stood up to help cover for Zhou Rong, and the small disturbance quickly dissipated.

No one noticed the cunning light flashing in Zhou Rong's eyes.

Li Aiguo narrowed his eyes slightly.

This Zhou Rong is indeed as selfish as in the original book.

When she was young, in pursuit of so-called love, she abandoned her parents and eloped thousands of miles to meet a man.

When he was middle-aged, for the so-called sentimentality, he went out to travel and enjoy the scenery when his younger brother needed help the most.

Later, even the dog that had always followed her was abandoned by her without hesitation.

At that time, Zhou Rong was in danger. Mo Mo was just a dog, and his enemy was a wolf, but he bravely rushed forward.

But after two or three rounds, Mo Mo was bitten and wailing.

But its owner had already run away.

It is not difficult to imagine how desperate Mo Mo was at that time.

It can be said that Zhou Rong even felt sorry for the dog (Mo Mo).

Zhou Rong is unfilial to her parents, unjust to her brothers, and unkind to her own dog. She only lives in her own world. Such a Zhou Rong is both hateful and pitiful.

However, these have nothing to do with Li Aiguo, because he feels that after solving the case, he will no longer have any contact with Zhou Rong.

After a simple family dinner, Li Suhua helped Li Aiguo get a basin of hot water and brought it into the house.

After washing his feet, Li Aiguo closed the door, but did not open [that thing], but stood in front of the mirror.

Zhang Caixia's fiery gaze tonight made Li Aiguo feel like he was screwed.

Could it be that this human skin mask that I got was really from an old acquaintance of Zhang Caixia?

Li Aiguo touched the face that did not belong to him.

This matter started when Captain Chen and Director Bai decided to send Li Aiguo to monitor Zhang Caixia.

Li Aiguo is very suitable for this task both in terms of experience and identity.

Except for one thing - Zhang Caixia had met Li Aiguo when she was in the workshop of Beijing Cotton No. 1 Factory.

Once she sees Li Aiguo, she will definitely recognize him.

In order to solve this problem, Director Bai took out a character mask passed down from his ancestors.

Li Aiguo was completely stunned at that time.

Could this be a fantasy world, with magical spells like those in "The Thousand Faces of Dunjia", such as the art of disguise, the art of praying for rain, the art of escaping by using one's own shapeshifting, flying swords and knives, retrieving keys from a hot oil pan, and crossing a paper bridge?

This is simply great. If I learn the art of invisibility, then I can drive a train while being invisible!
Li Aiguo immediately became excited and spent a large sum of money to become Director Bai's apprentice.

Only to find out that I had been cheated.

Director Bai’s grandfather didn’t know what Qimen was or what kind of magic he was doing, but he had a very special profession: “a master of a thousand trades.”

Mr. Bai’s ancestors started from an important town in the Nine Frontiers during the Ming Dynasty. In his early years, they went to Taoist temples to make Taoist statues for captains and wealthy people.

Qian Zong and the rich people all like the face of the Taoist statue to look like themselves.

Mr. Bai's ancestors gradually showed their talent in facial shaping.

Before making a statue, preparations must be made because the customer's face shape needs to be measured, so at first a mold for the face was made of corn paste, and the earliest human skin mask appeared.

Later, the Taoist temple gradually declined. Mr. Bai's ancestors made a living by their craft. As the saying goes, "a craftsman will not starve to death even if there is a three-year drought." Therefore, his ancestors decided to change their career and make Buddha statues.

It happened that at that time a friend had committed a crime and had to be imprisoned, so my ancestor took a risk and made a piece of corn paste and pasted it on his face, and then he got out, and his fame gradually grew.

From then on, our ancestors stopped making Buddha statues and specialized in making masks to send criminals away from prison. Later, they improved the materials and making human skin masks became a special craft.

Because it is a human face, he called himself Thousand Faces to wish for good luck.

However, the human skin masks at that time were limited by the material and could only be concealed from the gate guards in dim light.

If you examine it carefully, it will definitely be exposed, and the effect is far inferior to the Douyin beauty filter of later generations.

When the Thousand Faces technique was developed in the previous dynasty, it was passed to Old Master Bai.

At that time, the situation had begun to become turbulent, and the Bai family also moved to the Northeast.

The Japanese occupied the territory of Northeast China, imposed heavy taxes and levies, and the people lived in misery.

Director Bai is a passionate young man. He joined the organization and carried out activities in the Northeast under the organization's command.

Who would have thought that he would be betrayed by a traitor and thrown into jail.

The Japanese tortured Director Bai severely, hoping that he would reveal the names of other comrades in the organization.

Director Bai was beaten all over his body, and he only said: "You can kill me or chop me up as you like. If I, Bai Zhengxing, frown, I am not a member of the organization."

Director Bai was about to be shot.

At this time, a Japanese major suddenly came to the prison and took Director Bai out under the pretext of forcing him to shoot himself.

After leaving the prison, the Japanese major took off a human skin mask from his face, and Director Bai realized that the Japanese major was actually his father.

Director Bai was interested in the human skin mask that could deceive the Japanese.

Although he did not inherit his ancestors' craft, Director Bai has seen countless human skin masks. Compared with this one, those masks are simply toys.

If we could get a batch of these masks, wouldn't it be possible to send people to sneak into the Japanese headquarters, plant explosives, and send all the Japanese there to death?

The mask was made by Mr. Bai, which required a very special material. After making that mask, he said that he would never make masks again in his life.

Director Bai had no choice but to give up.

Li Aiguo originally just thought that the mask was made somewhat realistically, but when he thought of what Zhang Caixia said today, he always felt that something was wrong.

He looked in the mirror and touched the face, and looked at the young man in the mirror touching the most taboo face, and whispered: "This thing couldn't have been peeled off the face of the Japanese major."

Li Aiguo's expression changed several times, and suddenly he looked at the young man in the mirror and smiled brightly.

"It's interesting."

Li Aiguo doesn't care about the origin of the human skin mask.

Whether this human skin mask is made of corn paste or peeled from a human face, as long as it can complete the task, that's enough.

As for things like ghosts, I, Li Aiguo, have always adhered to a principle: as long as you don't believe in it, it doesn't exist.

Night falls.

The entire photon sheet fell into silence.

Li Aiguo now keeps "that thing" on when he sleeps, and he will wake up when he hears any movement on the opposite side.

At twelve o'clock in the evening, Li Aiguo heard the sound of a door opening opposite. He opened his eyelids, yawned, and picked up the notebook.

Zhang Caixia scolded, "Why did you come here in the middle of the night?"

Gong Debao said, "You are my cousin, not my wife. If I come here during the day, Li Suying and the others will get suspicious."

Zhang Caixia said: "Hey, just talk, don't touch me."

Then there was an indescribable sound.

Li Aiguo raised his wrist and looked at his watch to count the time. When the movement on the other side stopped, he wrote in the notebook, "Including taking off clothes, a total of five minutes."

It is actually very important to record these things, from which one can infer the physical condition of the target person.

"You're getting worse and worse." Zhang Caixia was teased to no end and looked at Gong Debao with some dissatisfaction.

Seeing Gong Debao's face darken, Zhang Caixia hurriedly changed the subject: "You may be too tired recently. I'll get you some medicine when I have time. I learned a lot of prescriptions from those sisters in Hua Man Lou, and they are very effective." "Let's talk about it later." Gong Debao lit a cigarette, took a puff and said, "I've already contacted that person."

On this side of the wooden wall, Li Aiguo immediately became alert and tightly grasped the pen.

"So, when can we go out?" Zhang Caixia asked impatiently.

"The other party has already sent a telegram to the Americans. It will probably take some time."

Hearing this, Zhang Caixia was not happy, she threw off the quilt and stood on the ground barefoot, looking at Gong Debao angrily and said, "At the beginning, the other party promised us that they would send us out as long as they got the information.

As a result, it was delayed for so many days and still not done, and I was almost caught by the police.

Now he is still trying to delay time. I don’t think he has any intention of sending us out at all.”

"What are you yelling about? Keep your voice down!" Gong Debao pulled Zhang Caixia's arm and said, "Don't worry, the other party has made a guarantee this time. They will definitely send us out within a week."

"No, I want to talk to the other party face to face!"

After the words were spoken, the other side fell into silence.

Li Aiguo thought that [that thing] was broken, was shocked, and quickly adjusted the diaphragm.

As soon as my hand placed on the diaphragm, Gong Debao's voice was heard.

Li Aiguo quickly picked up the pen and continued taking notes.

"Don't you believe me?"

"What do you think? You are a drifter and I am his cousin. Do you think his cousin will trust a drifter who can just pull up his pants and walk away?"

"That person's identity is very secretive. He has been hiding in Jichun for more than three years and doesn't want to have contact with outsiders."

"I don't care. If I can't see him, I'll tell everyone about this. Then we'll both get shot at together!"

"Are you looking for death?"

Li Aiguo's comment: [Gong Debao seems angry and may take drastic actions]

At this time, Zhang Caixia suddenly laughed: "Gong Debao, do you think I came to Jichun without any preparation?
Let me tell you, I have left a letter with a lover in the capital. If anything happens to me, you know where the letter will be sent."

Li Aiguo's comment: [Zhang Caixia was in a panic when she fled the capital and had no time to write or leave a letter, but Gong Debao was not aware of this and he must have been frightened]

really.

Gong Debao's smirking voice came from the other side.

"Caixia, how could I harm you? We are husband and wife for a day and a hundred days of grace. Don't you agree? I want to go to the United States with you to live a good life."

"Come on, men's words are deceiving, please help me contact the other party."

"Okay, okay, I'll go meet him early tomorrow morning."

Gong Debao's voice was heard from the other side. Although he tried his best to suppress his anger, Li Aiguo could imagine his expression.

Then came the sound of shoes being put on, the sound of doors opening and closing, and then the sound of footsteps outside.

It seems that Gong Debao has left.

Li Aiguo closed his notebook, yawned, and prepared to take a short sleep.

At this time, a strange voice came from the other side, which contained a vague sentence: "Major Kato. You are lying next to me. I miss you so much. Ah."

The meaning of that strange voice and those unclear words was self-evident.

When Li Aiguo thought of the situation on the opposite side, he couldn't help but shudder. He looked at the wooden wall and quickly moved back.

Li Aiguo hesitated for a moment, but still recorded this passage.

Early the next morning, Zhou Zhigang came early to call Li Aiguo for breakfast.

Li Aiguo took out a pen and wrote a note, then quietly slipped it into Zhou Zhigang's hand and whispered in his ear, "Give this note to Director Ma of the Street Office right away."

"Don't worry, I promise to complete the task." Zhou Zhigang nodded heavily.

I'm so excited! I'm finally going to carry out the mission.

After confirming that Li Aiguo was going to keep an eye on Zhang Caixia, Captain Chen and Director Bai realized that someone else was needed to pass on the message.

This person is none other than Zhou Zhigang.

He is from Photon Film, and his appearance in the street office will not attract anyone's attention.

Facts have proved that Zhou Zhigang is a reliable person. When Li Aiguo picked up his bowl and prepared to eat, Zhou Zhigang had already returned.

He nodded to Li Aiguo, indicating that he had completed the task.

After dinner, Li Aiguo moved a chair and sat in the Zhou family’s campus. He chatted with Zhou Bingkun while paying attention to the situation next door.

Zhang Caixia is a lazy woman. It's already noon, but she still hasn't gotten up.

But this is no longer important. As long as Captain Chen and his team follow Gong Debao to find the mole sent by the Americans, Li Aiguo will have completed his mission.

"Uncle, what does it feel like to drive a big train? Isn't it very impressive?" Zhou Bingkun was very interested in this train driver uncle. He squatted beside Li Aiguo and asked with a smile.

"Of course. The train driver is in charge of the entire train. All he has to do is push the valve and the train will start moving. Isn't that awesome?"

Li Aiguo also had a good impression of Zhou Bingkun.

Among Zhou Zhigang's children, Zhou Bingkun is the least promising one, but also the one with the most conscientiousness.

Li Aiguo told the story of his time as a train driver. Every child has a dream of becoming a train driver. Zhou Bingkun's eyes sparkled as he listened.

"Uncle, I want to be a train driver when I grow up."

At this time, Zhou Bingyi had just returned from Hao Dongmei's house and overheard it.

He frowned and looked at Zhou Bingkun: "Zhou Bingkun, what nonsense are you talking about? What's so good about being a worker? We should be officials."

Zhou Bingkun usually respected his brother, but at this moment he was unwilling to do so: "What's wrong with being a worker? Besides, everyone is equal now, and workers are the greatest!"

"Only by becoming an official can you better realize your own value, just like Hao Dongmei's parents." Zhou Bingyi said in a deep voice.

Zhou Bingkun raised his hand: "You are just speaking sweet words. You are just envious that Hao Dongmei's parents can ride in a car."

"People take cars because it's convenient for them to work."

"Come on"

Zhou Bingkun wanted to continue speaking, but when he saw Zhou Bingyi's face turn red, he quickly shut his mouth.

Zhou Rong had been squatting under the eaves watching her brother and younger brother quarreling. The only thing in her eyes was a flower on the wall.

Li Aiguo watched this scene quietly, as if he was appreciating a period drama full of old-fashioned colors.

At noon, Li Aiguo still hadn't received any news from Captain Chen and felt something was wrong.

After lunch, Zhou Zhigang used the excuse that there were delays at the construction site and asked the section chief to give all the workers a half-day break, and then he returned home.

While Li Suhua was entering the inner room, he slipped a note into Li Aiguo's hand.

Close the door.

Open the note.

Li Aiguo frowned.

The note was written by Captain Chen.

After receiving the information provided by Li Aiguo, they immediately sent more people to monitor Gong Debao to ensure that Gong Debao was always under surveillance.

Gong Debao took half a day off in the morning and went to Songhua Lake Park in the suburbs.

Captain Chen sent people to keep an eye on Gong Debao while also sending people to contact the management office of Songhua Lake Park.

The Songhua Lake Park Management Office was very cooperative and provided cover for Captain Chen and his team throughout the process.

Therefore, ever since Gong Debao entered Songhua Lake Park, he has been under the surveillance personnel's sight.

However, a strange thing happened. After entering the park, Gong Debao did not contact anyone.

Even people who had only met once were recorded by the surveillance personnel and no problems were found.

After getting this result, Captain Chen couldn't believe his ears, and personally led people to the Songhua Lake Park Management Office to retrieve the information of these people.

These people have very clean backgrounds and work experiences, and their homes are in Jichun. It is impossible for them to be rats dropped by the Americans.

Director Bai suspected that Gong Debao had not had any contact with the American mice and deliberately set a trap for Zhang Caixia.

But Captain Chen didn't dare to take the risk.

So the heavy responsibility fell on Li Aiguo again.

Li Aiguo's opinion is opposite to Director Bai's. Gong Debao's goal is to go to the United States, and his position is consistent with Zhang Caixia's. There is no need to deceive Zhang Caixia.

"It's quite interesting that an American airdropped a mouse that could deceive Director Bai and Captain Chen." Li Aiguo also became excited.

Since Gong Debao has already contacted the American mouse, it is time for Zhang Caixia to take action.

The next morning, Zhang Caixia's actions also verified Li Aiguo's guess.

Zhang Caixia, who had been sleeping in at home, actually dressed neatly and went out.

She looked around cautiously, and when she saw that no one was paying attention, she left the yard.

Seeing Li Aiguo leaning on a chair and chatting with Zhou Bingkun, Zhang Caixia suddenly stopped, looked at Li Aiguo with a smile and asked: "Comrade Li, you are here to visit relatives, why do you always stay at home? Jichun has many places of interest, don't you want to take a look?"

"Oh, forget it. Brother Zhigang has to go to work, and Sister Suhua has to take care of the kids. Even if I want to go shopping in the city, there's no one to take me."

Li Aiguo sat up straight, smoked a cigarette, and answered lazily.

The sunlight fell on him, giving him a golden glow, especially his handsome face, which seemed to have been carefully carved, with every line just right. His tall nose looked even more three-dimensional in the halo.

Zhang Caixia pursed her lips, turned her eyes and said, "It just so happens that I'm going to Songhua Lake Park today. I heard that it's the largest park in Jichun. Do you want to go with me?"

“Walking in the park is too tiring.”

Instead of disappointing Zhang Caixia, Li Aiguo's rejection made her feel relieved.

If this person really wanted to follow her, he would have agreed by now.

Zhang Caixia had just wanted to try to leave, but now she suddenly had a new idea - if she took this person with her, she would have more cover.

You know, as a single woman going to the park, she would always attract other people's attention.

"Brother, if you accompany me to the park, I will treat you to lunch at noon. How about that?"

Li Aiguo stood up reluctantly, shook his neck and stretched.

"I've been here for several days, it's time to go out for a walk."

He looked at Zhang Caixia who was walking in front of him, and always felt as if he had betrayed his looks.

Ahem, for the sake of the mission, I, Li Aiguo, can only endure the humiliation.

(End of this chapter)