The Ashtray that Wang Tianfeng spoke of is Guiwan, a lecturer in the University of Paris*. In Paris, she met Ming Cheng, who was studying there, and successfully converted him to join her. In October 1934, Ah-Cheng officially joined the CCP. His nickname, Jade Porcelain .
Tonight is the night where Jade Porcelain and Ashtray meet up.
Because their team had a traitor, they were ordered quick evacuations for all members by the organization. Ah-Cheng is the last to receive the orders to evacuate. Little did he know that someone would leave with him tonight.
A hour before midnight. The wind chilled the bones. Snowflakes floated in the sky, cold to the touch. Ming Lou and Wang Tianfeng have visited no less than eight flower shops. Ming Lou know that whenever there’s a CCP meeting spot, there’ll be a place for food and lodgings, so he purposefully took Wang Tianfeng on a detour, going to small flower shops.
Wang Tianfeng is a hound. He began to say, “Something’s not right.”
“What?” Ming Lou asked.
“I fell like there’s a pair of eyes behind me, like …”
“Kou Rong’s men?”
Wang Tianfeng nodded.
Kou Rong, Harbin police assistant director, has been following the lead of this CCP location. Hearing this from Wang Tianfeng, Ming Lou’s heart sunk a bit. If it’s really Kou Rong who’s come to kill, things are bad.
“Let’s split up.” Wang Tianfeng suddenly requested.
That’s what Ming Lou had wanted as well, but it coming from Wang Tianfeng is safer.
“Alright,” Ming Lou agreed.
“Be alert.”
“You, too.”
After the two left, Ming Lou walked around, took a few turns, and then walked to a pink two-floored flower shop after making sure no one was following him.
Ming Lou was just about to observe and check the place out when he saw a much too familiar silhouette. A handsome and dashing man walked in the flower shop. This silhouette caused Ming Lou to be filled with shock, surprise, and an uncontrollable sense of nervousness.
It can’t be true! Could he have ever thought this docile, quiet, scholarly child back at home would step into the bloody gyre of espionage? Certainly it can’t be true. Ming Lou looked around. The surroundings were too quiet, so quiet that it’s suffocating.
Something’s about to happen! Ming Lou’s heart sunk. Suddenly, he thought of his identity as a double-agent, perhaps he can use the identity as a member of the Blue Shirts to save his true comrade, to save his family.
Without another thought, Ming Lou walked into the back alley of the flower shop. As he reached the bottom of the staircase, a forceful blow came to his face. Ming Lou unconsciously turned to the left and avoided the fist. As he did, he saw Ah-Cheng attacking him. Ming Lou pulled on his gun box and took out his gun. Ah-Cheng came from above him and tried to grab the gun. Ah-Cheng’s cold face made Ming Lou shocked. They stared into each other’s eyes for a moment, then attacked each other.
Ah-Cheng was light as a feather.
Ming Lou was solid as a rock.
The two were neck-to-neck. Ming Lou attacked and made Ah-Cheng defend himself. As he did, Ming Long’s gun pointed at Ah-Cheng. At the same time, a black pistol was aimed at Ming Lou.
With a head of black tresses and a robe of silk, Guiwan pointed her gun at Ming Lou. The three became a triangle.
“It’s you?” Guiwan said with surprise.
“It really is you.” Ming Lou was not as surprised.
Guiwan took a clear look at Ming Lou and retracted the gun.
“Aren’t you in Harbin?” Ming Lou asked.
“We wanted to open a new line of communication. This station reports directly to Central Intelligence.” Guiwan said. “His name is Ming Cheng, he’s under me.” She meant for Ming Lou to put the gun down.
Ming Lou stared Ah-Cheng down. Ah-Cheng realized in an instant Ming Lou’s true identity and was suddenly apprehensive and scared. Ah-Cheng didn’t know that Ming Lou was an agent for the Blue Shirts, nor did he know he was a CCP agent. He had anticipated Ming Lou’s strong reaction once Ming Lou knew he had involved himself in politics, but never did he think it would be as strong as the meeting tonight.
Ming Lou retracted his gun and threw it at Ah-Cheng. Ah-Cheng caught the gun.
Ming Lou walked upstairs, Ah-Cheng followed. “Kneel here!” Ming Lou stopped, turned, and hurled the cold words at him.
Ah-Cheng knelled fearfully.
Guiwan looked at the the two, lit a cigarette, and poured a cup of rose tea for Ming Lou. “You know each other?” Guiwan asked.
“Don’t pretend. You took him under you without knowing who he is?” MIng Lou sat and drank the tea.
“We met a year ago at a book club in the University of Paris.”
“A year ago?!” Ming Lou smashed the teacup and stood up immediately to look for something around the room.
“What are you looking for?”
“Do you have a stick?”
“No.” Guiwan answered.
Ming Lou saw an umbrella in a flower vase, he picked up the umbrella and walked toward Ah-Cheng. Guiwan blocked him.
“Put it down.” Guiwan yelled.
“Move away.” Ming Lou’s voice was steady but fierce.
“He works for me,” Guiwan said,” I have a right to protect him.”
“He’s my brother.” Ming Lou said coldly as he pushed Guiwan away. Because he pushed too hard and Guiwan was wearing heels, she made clanking sounds as she fell backwards.
Ming Lou took the umbrella and began hitting Ah-Cheng without mercy. This time, Ah-Cheng was too scared to avoid, but instead faced Ming Lou’s wrath head-on. Guiwan walked over and stopped the umbrella with force, “That’s enough. Stop hitting him. He has to leave tomorrow, he has an important mission.”
“What mission?”
“The Jade Porcelain has to send Number 43 to Moscow.”
“Get somebody else to do it.” Ming Lou refused.
“It can’t be done.”
“It has to be done.” Ming Lou pulled back the umbrella. Guiwan pulled harder and took the umbrella in her hand.
Guiwan enunciated clearly. “Listen, Number 43 is Jade Porcelain. He’s sending himself off, understood?”
“A******s.” Ming Lou cursed and let go.
“We had a traitor in our team, so we let out a false thread.” Guiwan said,” We made the enemy think there are two people leaving. But really, because of the betrayal, we’re sending Jade Porcelain to Moscow to study and temporarily disbanding this station.”
“How is he leaving?” Ming Lou asked.
“Tomorrow morning, he’s leaving from the North Station to Berlin. There someone will meet him, and then he’ll go to Moscow.”
“He’s going so soon?” Ming Lou looked at Ah-Cheng. Ah-Cheng’s head was down, for he was afraid to look Ming Lou in the eye.
“Yes, on the Trans-Siberian Railway*. He’ll stop in Berlin and get his visa into the Soviet Union there.”
“Can he do it?” Ming Lou couldn’t believe it..
“This isn’t his first time on such a mission.”
Guiwan’s words made Ming Lou suddenly understand. He realized that Ah-Cheng has done a lot without him knowing. He asked, “How many people has he sent away?”
“Three this year so far. This time he’s sending himself off, so he’s the fourth.”
Ming Lou’s heart sunk like it was hit by a rock. He muttered, “The fourth!”
He stood up, “Your team had a traitor. The secret police in Harbin has already begun hunting. This place could already be watched. How can you leave?”
“I know!” Guiwan is especially calm.
“You know?”
“Yes, but I have to stay here. My husband is the head of this communications station. He’ll come and meet me at two o’clock today. Of course, it could be a trap. My missions today are first to make sure Ah-Cheng evacuates safely, and then to wait for my husband.”
“The moment Ah-Cheng walked in this place was his death sentence.” Ming Lou said.
“Since you were able to find us, you can save him.” Guiwan said.
“And you?” Ming Lou asked.
“As for me, if my husband didn’t get captured, we can escape from here tonight. If my husband has died or betrayed us, I’ll be captured or killed by two today.” Guiwan said. “You know I’m scared of death.”
“Let’s retreat together.” Ming Lou decided.
“No, I have to wait for my husband,” Guiwan rejected him.
“Even if it’s a trap?”
“What’s coming is coming. Help me send Jade Porcelain off safely.” Guiwan’s breathing is a bit irregular by now.
“You’ve decided?” Ming Lou asked again.
“Yes.” Guiwan is confident. She looked at Ah-Cheng, then told Ming Lou, “Don’t blame him.”
“I’ve never blamed him.” Ming Lou looked at Ah-Cheng, too.
“Don’t blame me, neither.” Guiwan sighed.
As Ming Lou walked closer to Ah-Cheng, Ah-Cheng raised his head to look at him. Ming Lou grabbed him. “You remember. Even if you died tonight, don’t yell.”
Ah-Cheng nodded.
“Don’t blame me!” Ming Lou’s voice was somber.
Ah-Cheng suddenly felt his heart ache. The line between life and death is so thin yet so clear.