Chapter 2: Sympathetic Heart

  Ren Xiao Tian listened to the team leader's questioning and smiled, saying: "It is clearly written in the materials that Xiang Ziliang's hometown is in Yanjing, his wife and children are in France. After being released, he neither returned to his hometown nor rushed to reunite with his family abroad, but instead came to settle in a small prefecture-level city like ours, which is not economically developed as a third-tier city. There must be some unknown inside story behind this."

  "What do you think, is there any inside story that attracted him to our coastal city? Is it still related to his past espionage experience?" Song Branch Director continued to ask calmly.

  Ren Xiao Tian touched his nose with his hand. After a slight hesitation, he firmly replied: "I don't think that's very likely."

  "What's the reason?" Song Zhi asked without stopping, and then he immediately followed up with another question.

  "I think, no matter what secrets Xiang Ziliang has, no matter how many secrets he has that we don't know about, I believe that after being squeezed for over thirty years, the security department's agents should have already extracted everything. Since Xiang Ziliang can openly come to our place to settle down, it means there's nothing worth the security bureau's attention. If there was, they should be the ones to take care of Xiang Ziliang's settlement, not us. Simply put, they should also actively contact our police department. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to sleep at night either."

  "Hmm, Xiao Tian, you make sense." The team leader's always serious face finally revealed a smile of appreciation.

  Ren Xiao Tian said with a smooth mouth, and his thinking gradually opened up. He pinched his nose and said: "I think that the seaside is definitely a place where Zhang Ziyang has something to worry about. As people get older, they want to settle all matters, which is in line with the mentality of the elderly. Especially for this kind of old agent who is very determined, it should be so. However, his wish is estimated to have nothing to do with security work. We just need to conduct general monitoring and grasp the relevant situation in time."

  "Haha, Little Tian, your analysis is not bad. Your superior sent you over here, which is a very good thing. Alright, since you passed the test, I'll assign this task to you. You will be in charge of Zhang Ziliang's resettlement work in Haibin City. Start by considering his housing needs and see if there are any suitable houses, then help him rent one first." Song Branch Director threw another cigarette to Ren Xiao Tian.

  After receiving the hand, he ran over to help the squadron leader light a cigarette. Then, while lighting his own cigarette, he smiled and said: "Hey, Squadron Leader, this thing is just right for you to say. In my jurisdiction, there is a 42-square-meter house. It's an old office building converted into a dormitory, with two and a half rooms per household, kitchen, bathroom, just right for the old agent to live in."

  "Would anyone be willing to rent out their house? And where would the owner live?" The squadron leader asked with concern. At that time, people's housing conditions were not very good. It was impossible for one person to have hundreds of houses in their hands and easily take them out for rent.

  At the team leader's question, Ren Xiaotian smiled confidently: "No problem, the owner Wang Dabo and his wife went to France to visit their son who is studying there. They said they would live there for a few years and asked my sister to find a reliable person to rent out the house."

  "Your sister! Who is your sister? Quickly tell me the truth." Captain Song knew about Ren Xiaotian's family situation, he only had a younger sister studying in Yanjing University, and no older sister. Originally, he wouldn't have bothered with such trivial matters. It was just because Ren Xiaotian's previous answer pleased him, and his mood lifted, so he started joking with Ren Xiaotian.

  When the squadron leader asked, Ren Xiatian hurriedly explained: "Squadron leader, she is a sister I know, her name is Shuixiuqin. She works in the city discipline inspection commission and lives next to Wang Dabo. With her help, we can also conveniently grasp and control the situation in time. Squadron leader, do you think this house is okay?"

  "Uh, good, good. Then hurry up and get in touch with your sister, first rent the house and then talk about it." By saying this, Captain Song reminded again: "If there's anything, report to me in time. Others, don't intervene in this matter."

  Upon hearing the squadron leader's orders, Ren Xiao Tian naturally nodded repeatedly. After leaving the Public Security Squadron, he pedaled his own bicycle towards the direction of the Municipal Government.

  "Xiao Tian, sit down quickly. On such a hot day, why don't you know to find a place to rest for a while? Look at the sweat on your head." Shui Suqin was also surprised to see Ren Xiao Tian come to her office, but she didn't have time to ask questions. While wiping away sweat, she grumbled a few sentences.

  After all these were busy, Shui Yun Qin sat down and asked: "Xiao Tian, what's the hurry, why did you rush to me?"

  Xiao Tian smiled and said, "Shui Jie, isn't the house next to your place, Wang Da Bo's house, up for rent? I have a colleague who needs a place to stay. That's why I came looking for you."

  He briefly introduced the situation of Xiang Ziliang and said, "Sister, since you live next to the old agent, if there's anything going on, we can also grasp it in time. Sister, isn't that right?"

  Shui Yuqin smiled and said: "Xiao Tian, you helping Wang Dabo's family rent out the house is fake, but pulling your sister's errand is true."

  "Of course, of course. Who made you my sister? When something like this happens, what kind of person can be relied upon with a sister's identity?" Ren Xiao Tian gave Shui Su Qin a small slap on the backside.

  On such a hot day, coming out to do official business, no one's mood would be good. Originally, Ren Xiao Tian was just carrying a resentful mentality, planning to go to the Public Security Brigade to deal with the official business and that would be it.

  Who would have thought that after accepting the task from Song Branch, his mentality had undergone a huge change. After helping the old agent to settle down the rental house, Ren Xiao Tian did not directly go to report to Song Branch about the completion of the task, but instead took the key from Shui Da Jie and rushed to the rented house.

  Xie Xitian first opened the doors and windows to let out the musty smell that had built up inside the house from not being lived in for many days, allowing the air to circulate well with the outside. Then he took off his uniform, rolled up his sleeves, picked up a broom and rag, and thoroughly swept and cleaned the entire house from top to bottom.

  After finishing the cleaning, Ren Xiao Tian carefully checked the household items again and went to the street shops to replenish rice, flour, oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. After busy for half a day, he finally finished all the chores and considered it as one task completed, then he returned to the Municipal Police Bureau with peace of mind.

  After listening to the report, Song branch commander narrowed his eyes and looked at Ren Xiao Tian who was busy with sweat dripping down his face and a face full of dust. He nodded in satisfaction. This young man always did things with precision, never sloppy. For some reason, this kid's fate had always been so smooth sailing?

  He let Ren Xiao Tian sit next to the electric fan and blow for a while, before intentionally asking: "Xiao Tian, is it worth doing this just for an old special agent like him?"

  Ren Xiao Tian was taken aback by the sudden question from the team leader, and he hesitated for a moment. Was it necessary to do so much for an old agent? But thinking of the few pieces of paper he had seen earlier, he subconsciously nodded his head.

  Ren Xiao Tian learned from the materials that, just a few years after liberation, the old agent was put in prison. After being released from prison, he neither went abroad to reunite with his family nor returned to his hometown of Yanjing City to retire, but instead settled in Haibin City.

  That Zhang Ziliang, although he's a bit older, can still spend a few peaceful days with his family. I really don't know what kind of idea this old special agent has, why would he run to a poor coastal place like this?

  The old spy is also human, a man in his seventies who has spent over thirty years in prison. More than half of his life was buried in the dark place of the prison, where he could not see the sun. To be able to walk out of prison alive is not an easy thing, and even if he committed a great sin, it should be enough to make up for it.

  Besides, they have done a lot of good things for the great cause of the nation. In that era of war and fire, when killing devils, they didn't pretend to be cowardly, but showed the national spirit of Chinese men. Letting the old man live a little better is also a matter of reason and emotion.

  "Deputy Captain, I don't have any other reason, it's just a hidden thought. Although Xiang Ziliang is from an opposing camp, he has already paid the price for his past sins with several decades of his life. In my mind, as long as he doesn't continue to commit crimes, he's just an old man in his twilight years." Ren Xiaotian frankly expressed his inner thoughts.

  Song Zhi nodded, this is a kind-hearted good kid. Next, he reported the situation on this side to the Provincial Police Department's Public Security Bureau by phone. The rest of the things were simple, that is, waiting for the arrival of the old spy with peace of mind.

  It wasn't long before Song Zhidui received a call from the telephone switchboard, saying that the Provincial Police Department's Director's office had an internal call for him. Before he could think clearly about what was going on, a gentle voice came through the receiver, saying: "Is this Comrade Song Mingda? I am Luo Dingshan, Secretary to Director Zhou."

  "Secretary Luo, hello. I'm Song Mingda. Are there any instructions from the leader?" Song Mingda of course knew the rules of officialdom, and Luo Ding-shan's phone call was equivalent to Director Zhou Shao-song issuing instructions.

  "There's something I need to inform you about. Around 4 pm this afternoon, the head of the Jinling Military Region will send a car specifically to take Xiang Ziliang to Haibin City for resettlement. Comrade Mingda, you must pay close attention to this matter and ensure that the reception and arrangement are done well, absolutely no mistakes can be made."

  After a while, the deputy director in charge of public security also called and repeatedly instructed that the newly appointed Director Zhou was very concerned about the resettlement work for Xiang Ziliang.

  Song Mingda felt a bit inexplicable, what's going on? An old spy who had been in prison for half his life suddenly wanted to settle in Haibin City, which itself was full of suspicious colors. Since it was a settlement, there shouldn't be anything serious, so why would it cause such concern from the top?