He left the small courtyard where Xian Yuping was detained and walked on the street for a while.
After walking to Datong Street, Ma Xiaoguang gradually calmed down.
"Sir, it's almost time, we should go back..."
The fat man looked around, then came up and whispered.
Ma Xiaoguang nodded and said to the two guardians: "Well, let's go and find a place to eat something good."
"Sir, this is war time..."
Lao Li admonished with some hesitation.
"What? My words are useless, sir? You have to eat whatever you do."
Ma Xiaoguang's face darkened and he said to Lao Li with some dissatisfaction.
Seeing the officer's change of expression, Lao Li did not dare to say anything. He and the fat man could only follow Ma Xiaoguang into the "Garden Hotel" not far away.
This is a Hansi-style garden villa building. At the beginning of its construction, construction technicians from Shanghai were invited to build it.
The Garden Hotel is a light-colored Western-style building, novel and unique. After its completion, it officially opened in the eighth year of the Republic of China (1919).
"Sir, are we too low-key?"
Lao Li has been following Commander Ma for a long time, and has seen many big scenes, but today is different from the past - it is during the period of the all-out Anti-Japanese War. Isn't it too out of tune to be so public?
The key is that it doesn’t fit in with Chief Ma’s always low-key personality!
"Sir, there are a lot of people watching here."
Lao Li bravely persuaded in a low voice.
"What are you afraid of? If I haven't surrendered to the enemy and betrayed my country, and I haven't been corrupt or perverting the law, why can't I go in?"
Ma Xiaoguang's face darkened, he raised his voice and shouted to Lao Li.
"Yes, you are ignorant of your humble position!"
Seeing that Chief Ma was a little impatient, Lao Li quickly stood up and apologized.
"You are the same, Lao Li. Since we brothers came to Xuzhou, we have been eating porridge and steamed buns for three meals a day, and we are almost starting to feel like birds in our mouths. Why don't you let your superiors improve our lives?"
The fat man looked like a traitor and said with a flattering smile to smooth things over.
"Well, Fatty still understands things. Lao Li, you have to keep up with the times."
Commander Ma's face softened a little, and he nodded with relief.
Old Li's face was slightly red, and he quickly said yes, smiling with him.
The meal was naturally very satisfying at the end, especially for Lao Li, who had just acted as a loyal minister, and drank to his heart's content.
"Sir...sir, it's better to follow you and have fun,"
Lao Li, who looked loyal and upright just now, now had a shiny face and spoke vaguely while picking his teeth.
"How's it going? Not bad, right?"
Ma Xiaoguang also looked satisfied. He didn't mind Lao Li's previous disobedience. Instead, he asked Lao Li and the fat man with a proud face.
"It's more than good! It's just awesome, don't jump... there are many hotels in Jinling and Shanghai that can't compare with it."
The fat man was almost done drinking. He was mixing garlic at his feet. He put one hand on Ma Xiaoguang's shoulder and said something casual.
"Alas! What a pity. Now is a special period, and our status is inconvenient... Forget it and go back."
Chief Ma glanced around with some unfinished thoughts and gave instructions to the guardians on his left and right with some regret.
Soon, the three returned to the officers' guest house.
As soon as he arrived at the lobby, he was greeted by a man in a long gown.
"May I ask if it's Staff Ma from the Military Commission?"
"I'm Ma Si Ke, what's your name?"
"I am a local businessman, Jiaxiang Company, Qiao Youjia."
Qiao Youjia took off her hat, revealing the greasy hairstyle of the local support center, and bowed in greeting.
"Boss Qiao? We don't seem to know each other well..."
Ma Xiaoguang looked at the other party and said with some suspicion.
"Haha, Counselor Ma is a noble man who is busy with other things and is dedicated to serving the country..."
Qiao Youjia had a greasy face and smooth and sophisticated speech. He neither admitted nor denied what Ma Xiaoguang said.
Ma Xiaoguang laughed and said, "Haha, Boss Qiao is a businessman, and he really knows how to talk. Why are you looking for our brothers? It's not just to say a few nice words, right?"
Regarding Ma Xiaoguang's joke, Qiao Youjia laughed unfazed and said: "Consultant Ma is joking. Of course I have something to do when I come here... Why don't we take a step to talk."
After saying that, Qiao Youjia stood on one side respectfully, looking like a sincere invitation.
Not to hit the smiling person, not to mention Chief Ma's kind-hearted personality, they exchanged glances with the guardians on the left and right, and the three of them followed Qiao Youjia and left the officers' guest house.
A black Chevrolet car was parked at the door, and the driver was standing in front of the car, waiting there.
Seeing the four people going out, he quickly stepped forward, opened the back seat door and respectfully invited Ma Xiaoguang into the car.
The guardians on the left and right, whose faces were red from drinking, had long lost their superiority and inferiority, followed closely and got into the back seat. Three big men crowded the back seat like sardines.
Qiao Youjia got into the passenger seat, gave instructions to the driver, and the car drove away from the officers' guest house, leaving only a puff of smoke.
It was already midnight when we came back from Wanxing Grand Theater.
This time Qiao Youjia didn't come back, so the driver and the guardians brought Ma Xiaoguang back.
In addition, the driver also had a heavy small suitcase in his hand.
After watching the driver leave, the three returned to the room.
The fat man stuck his head out and looked in the corridor for a while, and then locked the door after making sure it was safe.
"Stop being so sneaky, no one is following you."
Old Li sat on the single sofa, smoking a cigarette for Chief Ma, and said to the fat man.
"Sir, what you expected is true. These guys have bad intentions! Could it be a bomb?"
The fat man didn't smoke, so he sat down, put the small suitcase left by the driver on the coffee table, and said mysteriously.
"That's a bald man with obvious lice on his head. What do you think, you two, I think this is okay? It's definitely not a bomb, it's probably a gift."
Ma Xiaoguang took the "Lao Dao" card handed over by Lao Li, lit it, and asked.
"You're really blinded by this old man. Someone really gave you a gift!"
The fat man opened the suitcase and exclaimed in surprise.
"What nonsense? This is called scientific analysis!"
Hearing the fat man uttering strange words out of tune, Chief Ma became unhappy and said solemnly with a dark expression.
"Yes, the science mentioned by the chief is extremely important!"
When the fat man heard this, he quickly bowed and stood solemnly, smiling repeatedly.
He couldn't help but laugh, because the entire small suitcase was filled with ocean, which made people dizzy.
"These bumpkins don't want to do anything creative. Why don't they just give them money orders? Just put them in their pockets and leave."
Ma Xiaoguang picked up a few shining silver coins and said while looking through them.
"This guy surnamed Qiao is interceding for that Chang Weiguo. Logically speaking, he shouldn't be so generous, listening to a play and giving gifts..."
The fat man took the ocean thrown by Ma Xiaoguang and put it back in the suitcase while blinking and analyzing.
"I don't think that guy named Qiao is a good guy. He must have some tricks up his sleeve."
Lao Li frowned and said worriedly.
"The best hunters often appear as prey... This time someone is targeting the three of us, which is fun."
Ma Xiaoguang patted Lao Li on the shoulder, poured him a glass of water, and said with a smile.
