Chapter 269 Tracking
Yoshiko Tanaka cut her hair short and looked completely different. She wore a plain grey work suit, no longer charming, with clear eyes, like a good girl. Her current image is simple and fresh, which makes people feel refreshed.

After meeting Liu Zhiye, Yoshiko Tanaka was very excited. She bowed respectfully and said, "Mr. Liu, we meet again. Thank you very much." Her voice was soft but firm, full of respect and gratitude.

Liu Zhiye responded to her bow with a smile and said, "It's a pleasure to see you again, Ms. Tanaka Yoshiko." His words were gentle and kind, giving people a warm feeling.

Tanaka Yoshiko smiled and asked, "Mr. Liu, you came to see me today, I guess you have something to ask? Please speak frankly, I will tell you everything I know."

At this moment, she had a positive attitude. She was grateful for Liu Zhiye's previous help, but also wanted to do more meritorious deeds to atone her sins and gain freedom as soon as possible.

Liu Zhiye nodded, feeling very relieved. He had originally planned to execute this woman directly after trial, after all, she had been our enemy and had committed many crimes.

However, considering our party's policies, our party usually shows leniency to those enemies who voluntarily surrender and come to their senses.

Tanaka Yoshiko did not disappoint him. After she surrendered, she actively confessed everything she knew, assisted the relevant departments in uncovering many escaped enemy spies, and revealed many secrets of enemy spies. Her contribution cannot be ignored.

"Ms. Yoshiko Tanaka, we are here to see you today for something. Take a look at this envelope and see if it has any impression on you." Liu Zhiye said as he handed her the envelope that he had searched from her home.

Yoshiko Tanaka took the envelope seriously, held it with both hands, and responded instinctively: "Hayi! Your Excellency!" This is the obedience that is deeply rooted in her bones, which cannot be changed overnight.

She pondered for a moment, her eyes falling on the envelope. She said clearly: "Mr. Liu, this is not an ordinary communication envelope. There is nothing inside. It is used to trigger a special contact signal for hidden agents."

"I used to be one of the so-called [Cold Chess] members. When there is no activation signal, we are just like ordinary people and will never attract attention."

“Whenever they receive the activation order, these people will immediately wake up from their slumber and become active, as if [a hibernating snake] is waiting for the arrival of spring.”

She then briefly explained the ingenuity of its construction and how it could be used in an emergency so that hidden agents could pass information to each other.

Liu Zhiye nodded and asked hopefully, "Then do you know who mailed you this envelope and activated your account?"

But to his disappointment, Tanaka Yoshiko shook her head regretfully and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Liu! The person who activated me was not my superior. We communicated through code words and he didn't know me before." Tanaka Yoshiko added, "The person who activated me was someone else or an organization, because I found that many spies were activated in this way."

Liu Zhiye and Chen Wusheng exchanged a glance. He still asked unwillingly, "Ms. Tanaka Yoshiko, please think about it again and see if there are any other clues you can provide. This is very important to us, and it will be a great achievement for you as well."

Yoshiko Tanaka was thinking hard, her brows furrowed. Suddenly, she had a flash of inspiration and remembered something: "Mr. Liu, my superior once mentioned that the enemy seems to have a mysterious organization called 'Migratory Birds'. They may be the ones who use us as sleeper agents."

"But there has been no contact between us. From the day I was activated, they have never appeared in my life again. It's like a postman who only delivers letters to me."

Liu Zhiye and Chen Wusheng looked at each other again and confirmed that they could no longer obtain any valuable information from Tanaka Yoshiko.

They sighed helplessly, perhaps they needed to find other ways to uncover the truth.

So Liu Zhiye stood up, took the initiative to shake her hand, and said: "Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Tanaka Yoshiko, we have no more problems. Goodbye!"

Tanaka Yoshiko looked at Liu Zhiye, shook her head with a complicated expression, and said regretfully: "I'm sorry, Mr. Liu, I can't help you at all!"

When facing Liu Zhiye, her eyes were filled with complex emotions, and her shaking head also showed her helplessness about the matter.

Although she tried her best, she still couldn't seem to provide them with any substantial help. This made Tanaka Yoshiko feel quite guilty, and she really wanted to do something to help Liu Zhiye.

…………

After being released from Qincheng Prison, Chen Wusheng and Liu Zhiye sat in the same car.

"Old Chen, we are not without gain. At least we can confirm that the Migrant Bird Organization did transmit messages through envelopes and activated the hidden enemy agents. This provides important clues for our next action."

"We just need to confirm whether the envelope found in Wang Ba Ye's house is the same as the envelope that activated [Cold Chess] to determine whether Wang Ba Ye is a member of the Migratory Birds, right?"

Chen Wusheng was instantly refreshed after hearing Liu Zhiye's words. He patted his thigh and said with emotion: "Hey! You really hit the point. There must be something wrong with those envelopes in Wang Baye's house. They are all new envelopes. [Wenkuitang]'s things are not cheap. Ordinary people, who would be willing to go to such a high-end place to buy envelopes?

Those who were willing to buy stationery at Wenkuitang were all respectable people, intellectuals, and government officials at that time.

Besides, these envelopes are worth at least a few dollars. I don’t believe that an old scoundrel who can’t read a single word would be willing to buy them!”

Liu Zhiye nodded in agreement and said, “Let’s go to [Wenkui Hall] first to check the buying and selling records of envelopes before the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

I believe it is rare to buy so many envelopes at one time in Wenkuitang, so they should have corresponding records. "

Wenkuitang is a century-old bookstore that specializes in printing and selling old and second-hand books. It was founded in the seventh year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty by Wang Yunduan, a native of Shulu, Hebei.

The original site of "Wenkuitang" was on the south side of Jiangfusi Street in Dongcheng District. After the establishment of New China, the government reorganized and adjusted the bookstore industry and Liulichang Cultural Street in Beijing. Wenkuitang was then moved from Longfusi Street to Xiliulichang and reopened.

In addition to selling newly printed ancient books, old books and periodicals, new books on literature and history, stone tablets and picture albums, it also sells culturally related products such as calligraphy, painting and seal carving works, the four treasures of the study, seal stones, as well as porcelain, jewelry, and small cloisonné items.

Liulichang Street is located outside Hepingmen in Beijing. It is a famous cultural street in Beijing. It originated in the Qing Dynasty. At that time, most of the candidates who came to Beijing to take the imperial examinations lived in this area. Therefore, there were many shops selling books, pens, ink, paper and inkstones here, forming a strong cultural atmosphere.

Liu Zhiye and his companions drove to the "Wenkuitang" after the public-private partnership. As soon as they entered the door, they saw a wide variety of books, study treasures, and other cultural supplies.

Chen Wusheng called over a male clerk who looked older, "Comrade, could you please take a look at this envelope? Is this one sold in your store?"

As for why he didn't ask the younger clerks, it was because he was afraid that the young ones were not old clerks who had been there before the founding of the People's Republic of China, and he would not be able to get any valuable information.

The 40-something-year-old shop assistant took one look and said, "Wow! This is indeed our old-style envelope, but it was sold before the founding of the People's Republic of China. It was revised after the founding of the People's Republic of China. I didn't expect you still have it in your hands?"

Chen Wusheng was delighted when he heard this. "Yes, comrade, we are from the Public Security Bureau and we are investigating a case. We need your cooperation. I hope..."

When the old clerk heard that they were police officers investigating the case, he immediately showed an active attitude of cooperation. He quickly replied: "Okay, okay, we will definitely cooperate with you fully."

Chen Wusheng continued, "Then think about it, before the founding of the People's Republic of China, were there people who came to the store to buy such envelopes in large quantities?"

The man frowned and thought for a moment, then said, "This is a wide range. There are so many people who have bought our envelopes."

"Let's not talk about anything else. Just look at the purchasing department of Beijing University. They can buy hundreds of them at a time."

Liu Zhiye frowned when he heard this and asked, "Do you remember the customer who bought so many envelopes at once?"

The clerk was stunned and said, "Well, this happened more than ten years ago. How can I remember it?"

"But you can ask the old shopkeeper. He's been in this store the longest and knows many of the old customers. Maybe he knows something."

Liu Zhiye followed the clerk and found the old shopkeeper. His surname was Li and he had worked in "Wenkuitang" for half his life.

He saw that the public security personnel were here to investigate the case, so the old shopkeeper did not dare to neglect them. But he tried to think for a long time, but could not think of much useful information.

"Shh! I remember someone seemed to have bought a lot of envelopes and stationery, but it may have been so long that I can't remember."

"Then I'll check the old account book and see the sales records!"

My goodness, the entire room was filled with old account books of "Wenkuitang" from ten years ago. Just looking at it made people's mouths water and their scalps tingle.

(End of this chapter)