noveltune Chapter 39 The Storm Is Brewing
Chapter 39 The Storm Is Brewing
As Chen Feng left the hotel, he looked up at the sky, which was overcast and looked like it was about to rain at any moment.
The streets were deserted, with only a few pedestrians hurrying by, all with their necks hunched and their steps quick.
Inside the third-floor window, Marilyn's blonde hair was casually draped over her shoulders, and she wore only a white tank top that outlined her undulating curves.
Her fingertips pressed against the windowsill, her gaze fixed on Chen Feng's departing figure, her brows furrowed, as she murmured, "Just what is this Chinese man's identity?"
"This awful weather!"
Chen Feng cursed inwardly, turned around and went back to the hotel, where he borrowed a black umbrella from a waiter.
Unlike yesterday's quietness, Zheng's Trading Company was much busier today. Two locals were haggling with their shop assistant at the entrance, and several other figures could be vaguely seen inside the store.
The moment the shop assistant caught sight of Chen Feng, he immediately shook off the local and ran wildly into the shop.
In an instant, Zheng Mingsong strode out to greet him.
He was impeccably dressed today, with his shirt buttoned all the way up and his slicked-back hair neatly combed in the middle, without a single stray hair.
"Brother Zheng, I have something important to discuss with you." As Chen Feng spoke, his gaze passed over Zheng Mingsong and caught sight of two completely unexpected figures.
It was the blond, middle-aged English man who called himself Jerwell, and the brown-haired Middle Eastern woman.
When Jerwell saw Chen Feng, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He nodded slightly to Zheng Mingsong and then left with his female companion.
Chen Feng entered the shop, his gaze sweeping in the direction the two men had left, and asked casually, "Brother Zheng, what are those two foreigners doing here?"
"Buy some small gadgets for self-defense." Zheng Mingsong's eyes flickered, clearly hiding something.
Seeing his expression, Chen Feng knew he wouldn't get any answers from him, so he lowered his voice and said, "General George Dewey will see you tonight."
"Really?" Zheng Mingsong's eyes lit up instantly, and he immediately asked, "Where shall we meet?"
Chen Feng didn't know where they would meet, so he could only say, "Get ready, just follow me later."
"Alright! I'll go back to my room to get some gifts. Brother Chen, please wait a moment."
No sooner had Zheng Mingsong finished speaking than he strode into the back room.
Chen Feng shouted from afar, "Go quickly and come back quickly!"
"I'm very fast!"
Zheng Mingsong was indeed very fast. In just five minutes, he came out carrying a bulging oil paper package and had changed his clothes.
His yellowish-brown coat was crisp and neat, his shirt collar was ironed, a black belt with a revolver strapped to his waist, and he wore a pair of brand-new high-top leather shoes.
"Is this all you're wearing?" Chen Feng raised an eyebrow.
Zheng Mingsong smugly straightened his middle-parted hair. "How about it? Pretty smart, right? This is the standard uniform for our Zheng family guards, designed and tailored to resemble military uniforms."
"Looks great!"
Chen Feng nodded helplessly, tucked the umbrella under his arm, and turned to walk towards the city gate.
The guards at the city gate were the same two natives as yesterday, except for the addition of a Spanish officer.
They rigorously inspected everyone entering the city and forbade anyone from carrying weapons, not even melee weapons.
There was no check upon leaving the city; Zheng Mingsong simply walked out with a pistol slung over his waist.
The rain started suddenly.
Large raindrops pelted down, instantly soaking the people queuing to enter the city.
Chen Feng quickly opened his umbrella and ran into the pavilion two hundred meters away.
Zheng Mingsong brushed the water droplets off his coat and said worriedly, "With such heavy rain, will General Dewey cancel the meeting? Will we be late for the meeting if we take shelter here?"
Seeing his anxious and uncertain look, Chen Feng said irritably, "What's the rush? We're waiting for someone here."
"Waiting for whom?"
"Colonel Connor, U.S. military intelligence officer."
"Colonel?"
Zheng Mingsong narrowed his eyes, and his tone instantly became serious: "It seems that the US military is about to take a big step in Malolos City, otherwise they wouldn't risk sending a colonel."
Chen Feng's heart skipped a beat, and he asked, "Have you found out any other information?"
"Didn't I tell you everything I know?" Zheng Mingsong lowered his eyelids, avoiding Chen Feng's gaze.
This guy is incredibly cunning.
Even after helping so much, you're still keeping it a secret.
Chen Feng's face darkened with displeasure: "Brother Zheng, you don't treat me like one of your own!"
"How could that be?"
Zheng Mingsong chuckled dryly, hesitated for a moment, and then said in a low voice, "Brother Chen, I heard that the Independent Army is going to move ahead of schedule. You should be careful and not stay in Marolos City recently."
Chen Feng was taken aback and immediately asked, "Ahead of schedule? Aren't they supposed to be moving at the end of the month?"
The specific reason is unclear.
Zheng Mingsong lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled smoke, saying, "I also heard that you not only offended Lieutenant Colonel Marialo Alvarez of the Independent Army, but you also provoked Liu Hengfu."
"You're quite well-informed!" Chen Feng chuckled.
Alvarez and Liu Hengfu were both military leaders in the Independent Army, each commanding several thousand troops.
The reason he offended the two men was because he had previously clashed with their subordinates in the conscription camp over the conscription of men.
Zheng Mingsong flicked his cigarette ash and advised, "Brother Chen, my father and Liu Hengbo have a good relationship. Should we put in a good word for you? We're all Chinese; infighting will only make us a laughingstock to the foreigners."
Chen Feng crossed his arms and said disdainfully, "No need! If Liu Hengfu holds a grudge against me just because I robbed a few dozen able-bodied men, then I'm not afraid to take on that grudge."
Zheng Mingsong stubbed out his cigarette, threw it on the ground, and ground it under his foot. "Liu Hengfu has always been generous. Although he may be a little unhappy, he won't really hold a grudge against you."
The two chatted idly until dusk, when the rain still hadn't stopped. However, Connor did come out of the city with an umbrella and two attendants in raincoats.
Let's go!
Connor's face was gloomy, clearly things hadn't gone smoothly. He waved to the two men and headed west along the road.
As expected of an intelligence officer, he didn't even need a map; relying solely on a kerosene lamp, he navigated the winding paths.
Chen Feng was agile and could see the road clearly even with just a little bit of peripheral vision.
On the other hand, Zheng Mingsong is in a much worse situation.
He held an umbrella and stumbled through the rain, occasionally falling down, until he was covered in mud and water.
Connor noticed his expression and his tone softened considerably. He slowed his pace and said, "You are the next head of the Zheng family?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Feng's heart skipped a beat. He wanted to interject, but couldn't find a suitable reason.
Zheng Mingsong's eyes lit up, and he immediately followed up, saying, "Colonel Connor, my name is Zheng Mingsong, and I am the eldest son of the current head of the Zheng family."
"I know your Chinese customs, only the eldest son can become emperor." Connor was good at making up stories and justified it himself.
Chen Feng secretly breathed a sigh of relief and took the opportunity to flatter him: "Colonel Connor, you are truly an expert on Chinese people. I'm afraid no one in the entire US military understands our Chinese customs better than you."
Connor's face lit up with smugness. "There's nothing I can do about it. After all, I'm the head of intelligence for the Pacific Fleet across Asia."
He had barely finished speaking when more than a dozen hurried footsteps suddenly appeared in the darkness behind him.
"Be careful!"
Chen Feng gave a reminder and looked back, only to see a dozen or so points of light alternating between light and dark in the darkness.