Chapter 54: Screwdriver Stabbed by a Screwdriver

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Li Haibo arrived at the tailor’s shop carrying a hundred silver dollars. Upon seeing Tailor Zhao, he handed over the money and said, “Old Zhao, take this hundred silver dollars and split it evenly with Xiao Wang.”

Tailor Zhao’s eyes immediately lit up, his face beaming with smiles as he hurriedly took the money, repeatedly expressing his gratitude. “Ah, thank you, Officer Li! I’m truly grateful. This helps us so much! After all these years of undercover work, we’re finally seeing some reward. With this money, our lives will be a lot easier. Rest assured, I am absolutely loyal to the Party and the nation. I will work hard from now on and won’t make any mistakes. Xiao Wang and I will accomplish our group’s mission perfectly.”

Li Haibo patted Tailor Zhao’s shoulder with a smile, encouraging him, “Old Zhao, I know working behind enemy lines is tough, dangers everywhere. But for the sake of our nation’s great cause, we persevere through grit and determination. If you’re facing any difficulties, don’t keep it to yourself. Tell me. We’re all grasshoppers on the same rope now and must support each other.”

“Don’t worry, Officer Li. If there’s anything I can’t handle, I’ll definitely report it to you!”

On this perilous covert front behind enemy lines, money matters were far from trivial. Li Haibo understood deeply that no comrade fighting alongside him should be burdened by worries of livelihood. Especially those on the Military Intelligence side; their resolve wasn’t as steadfast as the Red Party comrades, nor could they endure hardship as well. Otherwise, pushed by life’s pressures, a single slip could trigger unforeseeable danger, dragging the entire undercover group into ruin.

After Li Haibo left, Old Zhao entered the inner room and placed fifty silver dollars on the table. “Big Sister, he brought a hundred silver dollars, to be split evenly between us and Xiao Wang.”

Zhu Yunxiu, busy trimming her nails, paused in surprise and sighed, “Looks like you really like this young man!”

“Heh, I see a reflection of my younger self in him.”

Zhu Yunxiu seemed momentarily dazed, “You were much more handsome when you were young!”

“Heh.”

“Well, if there’s a chance in the future, we should help him whenever we can.”

Looking at the silver dollars on the table, Old Zhao hesitated, “Big Sister, many of my poisons have expired. What do you think—”

“Go wash the dishes!”

“All right!”

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...

“Li Haibo!”

As Li Haibo neared home, a woman’s voice echoed faintly from a narrow alley.

“Who’s there?” The fading light made it hard to see; Li Haibo could only respond to the voice, which sounded strangely familiar, stirring a trembling sensation deep within him.

“It’s me! Don’t you recognize me?” The voice drew closer.

Puzzled, Li Haibo walked toward the alley. In the dim light, he finally made out the figure. “It’s Xiao Bai! Why are you out so late—”

Before he could finish, a sudden, muffled sound—“pfft”—and a screwdriver plunged straight into his chest in the stunned gaze of Li Haibo.

His eyes wide with disbelief, he grasped the screwdriver embedded in his chest, looking at Bai Jie in shock. “Xiao Bai... why...?”

Bai Jie showed no mercy. Clutching the screwdriver firmly, she pushed it deeper with all her might. “You dog traitor, today is the day you die.”

The force pushed Li Haibo backward step by step until his back hit the wall hard. “I... I’m not... you’ve misunderstood...”

“Hmph, no more lies! You traitor, I will kill you to avenge all our fallen comrades,” Bai Jie screamed fiercely.

She pushed the screwdriver further inside, the harsh scrape between metal and bone chilling to the bone.

Li Haibo let out a pained groan, his body swaying unsteadily.

At this critical moment, a middle-aged woman happened to pass by the alley.

With a cigarette dangling from her mouth, she looked leisurely, but upon seeing the bloody scene, her face instantly drained of color.

She spun around and sprinted away, shouting at the top of her lungs, “Murder! Murder!”

Her piercing scream shattered the alley’s silence, echoing long into the night air.

Despite the tidal waves of agony surging from his chest, Li Haibo gripped Bai Jie’s hands like iron tongs. His voice trembled but held urgency. “Bai Jie, you have to run now. The Japanese troops are coming.”

Bai Jie was consumed by a frenzied obsession, her hands gripping the screwdriver tightly. Through gritted teeth, she said, “I won’t run. If I run, won’t they come after me? Today, we die together.”

Sweat beaded down Li Haibo’s forehead. Summoning his last strength, he said, “Trust me, I won’t betray you to the Japanese, but you can’t go home. Someone has seen your face. You must leave Shanghai immediately. Go to Dingjia Village in Jiangqiao Town. There’s a lame man named Ding Dashuan there. Tell him: Mr. Hai sent you to offer incense to the Earth God. He’ll take you to the guerrilla fighters. You’re a doctor—they’ll find a way to settle you.”

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Bai Jie felt as if struck by lightning; her heart was tossed into a storm, her thoughts swirling in chaos. “It’s over! Did I kill the wrong person? Old Zhang said only he and the chief knew this route. Could he be the chief Old Zhang mentioned?”

At that moment, Ma Quanyi, nearby pulling a cart, heard the commotion and hurried over.

Seeing Li Haibo with a screwdriver in his chest, he was shocked. Instinctively, he drew his pistol, aiming at Bai Jie, voice full of anger and fear, “Brother Bo, what happened to you? Bai Jie, what have you done?”

Bai Jie was utterly distraught, eyes vacant and wandering, stammering, “I... I don’t know!”

Using his last breath, Li Haibo struggled to say, “Xiao Ma, put the gun away. Take Bai Jie to Dingjia Village immediately.”

Bai Jie seemed to awaken from a nightmare, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed, “Haibo, did I kill the wrong person?”

Ma Quanyi, anxious, stepped forward and shouted, “Brother Bo, you’re bleeding. Let me take you to the hospital first!”

Li Haibo’s face was pale as paper, yet he forced calm, “I won’t die. Take Bai Jie away first or it’ll be too late.”

At that moment, the piercing sound of a police whistle came from afar. Ma Quanyi frowned, clenched his teeth, and stomped his foot. He lifted the limp, seemingly soulless Bai Jie and fled.

Watching their receding figures, Li Haibo breathed a sigh of relief.

The excruciating pain made his legs give way; he slid down the wall to the ground.

Wiping cold sweat from his brow, he murmured with lingering fear, “Damn it! I was careless—almost went under in the gutter. Luckily, I reacted quickly and avoided the fatal spot; otherwise, I’d be dead. That girl... she hit hard.”

“Ah… it hurts so much!… Help!”

A squad of Japanese soldiers followed the harrowing cries, storming toward the source. They held flashlights, the harsh beams flickering in the darkness.

When the light fell on Li Haibo, they saw a policeman slumped against the wall, drenched in blood. The soldiers were startled by the sight. The leader barked sharply, “What… what are you doing here?”

“Sir! I... I was attacked by anti-Japanese elements!”