The Mysterious Soldier of the Anti-Japanese War

Chapter 217: Secret Training Between Meals: Lei Ge's "Business Skills" Behind Enemy L

Hu Hansi's cheerful voice came from outside the door: "Brother Lei, it's me, Old Hu. You said you would treat us to a big dinner tonight, and now I'm hungry."

Immediately afterwards, Li Shuiniu's big, honest voice rang out: "Yes, Brother Lei, we haven't had a proper meal for a long time.

Lei Tao's frayed nerves finally relaxed. He sheathed his pistol and opened the door. Hu Hansi and Li Shuiniu stood at the door. Hu Hansi was smiling, his eyes narrowed to slits; Li Shuiniu clutched his stomach with both hands, looking starving. Behind them, Huang Hu, Chen Feiyang, Lu Ming, Liu Zishan, Li Shuiniu, and others were also standing, their faces expressing varying expressions.

Huang Hu smiled carelessly, patted Li Shuiniu on the shoulder and said, "Old Niu, don't just think about eating, leave a few bites for the brothers too."

Li Shuiniu rolled his eyes and replied, "You're the only one who talks too much. When the food comes, will you be left out to eat?"

Chen Feiyang crossed his arms, a faint smile on his face, and said, "Brother Lei, we're almost starving. We have to satisfy our cravings today."

Lu Ming stood aside, pushing his glasses up, and said softly, "Yes, Brother Lei, everyone has worked hard on the mission recently. This feast is absolutely necessary."

Liu Zishan rubbed his hands excitedly, his eyes full of anticipation: "I heard there's a restaurant nearby that has delicious signature dishes. Today I finally get to try them."

Li Shuiyang, who was a little younger, stood shyly at the back and whispered, "I can already imagine the aroma of the food."

Lei Tao looked at the team members, his heart filled with emotion. He smiled and said, "Okay, everyone, stop standing and go eat together. Let's eat as much as we can today!"

The crowd cheered and surrounded Lei Tao as they headed towards the restaurant. Along the way, everyone chatted and laughed. Li Shuiniu and Huang Hu argued endlessly over who could eat more meat, drawing laughter from the crowd. Chen Feiyang and Lu Ming discussed which restaurant had the most authentic dishes. Liu Zishan enthusiastically shared gossip he'd heard about the food, and Li Shuiyang would occasionally chime in, his face beaming with joy.

Arriving at the restaurant, Lei Tao requested a private room upstairs. They went upstairs and sat around a few tables pushed together. The waiter hurried over and handed over the menu. Li Shuiniu snatched it up and shouted, "Let me order, let me order!" He muttered as he quickly ordered a bunch of meat dishes.

Huang Hu saw this and reached out to grab the menu: "Don't just focus on your own favorite food, you have to order some for your brothers too."

While the two of them were fighting over the food, Lei Tao took the menu, ordered a few more vegetarian dishes and soup, and said to the waiter, "Bring me a few more jugs of good wine."

The food and wine were quickly served. The steaming hot meal exuded an alluring aroma, instantly drawing everyone's attention. Li Shuiniu eagerly picked up a piece of braised pork, put it in his mouth, chewed it contentedly, and mumbled, "Mmm, it's delicious, exactly the way it tastes."

Huang Hu was not to be outdone, eating the food with big mouthfuls, and did not forget to greet everyone: "Come on, come on, don't be polite, eat more."

Chen Feiyang picked up the wine glass, stood up and said, "Come, let's toast Brother Lei. Thank you for taking us to eat delicious food and drink spicy drinks. I also wish us all the best in carrying out our missions in the future!"

Everyone raised their glasses and said in unison: "Cheers to Brother Lei!"

Lei Tao smiled as he clinked glasses with everyone, then drank the whole thing in one gulp. Putting his glass down, he straightened his expression, slowly scanning the group. He said, "Now, let me teach you my second lesson. Behind enemy lines, we must be extra cautious. We can't just talk about the mission; we need to talk about business."

The team members instantly fell silent, their ears pricked up, and they listened intently. Li Shuiniu swallowed the braised pork in his mouth, scratched his head in confusion, and asked, "Brother Lei, what's going on? Why are you talking about business?"

Lei Tao patiently explained: "We are in enemy-occupied territory, surrounded by enemy eyes and ears. If we accidentally mention sensitive words like mission and intelligence, and are heard by traitors or Japanese spies, it will be a big trouble. But if we talk about business, others will just think we are ordinary vendors, which can greatly reduce the risk of suspicion."

Hu Hansi pushed his glasses up, suddenly realizing, "So that's how it is. This is just like the secret code we used when we met before. It's a cover-up."

Lei Tao nodded and looked at Chen Feiyang: "For example, when you just said that you wish us smooth missions, in this county where the Japanese brigade's headquarters is located, you should say 'I wish us a prosperous business and smooth trade in the future.' Do you all understand?"

Everyone nodded, indicating their understanding. Liu Zishan said eagerly, "Brother Lei, I understand. If anyone asks us why we're here, we'll say we're discussing business. If they ask us why we're here, we'll say we're here to gather intelligence, so we'll just go and find out about business trends."

Lei Tao showed an approving look: "Indeed, Zishan reacted quickly. Remember, details determine success or failure. Behind enemy lines, any small mistake could put us in a desperate situation. Our identities could be exposed at any time, so every word and every action must be extremely cautious."