Spy War: My Cheat Code is a Rat

"Xiao Jie, just leave the parchment by the door. No one in the French Concession should steal it."

Lu Chen asked Liu Jie to put the kraft paper at the door, since it wasn't expensive and Lu Chen thought no one would care about it.

Liu Jie helped him carry the quicklime into the house, since it was already autumn and he was worried that it would rain and he wouldn't be able to use it then.

"Brother, you're back so early today?"

Lu Xiulian, holding a spatula, came out when she heard the noise and saw Lu Chen.

Lu Chen usually comes home very late, so her surprise at him coming home so early today was quite unexpected.

"Nothing much to do today, so come back early. Xiao Jie, move to that room."

Lu Chen gave a simple reply and told Liu Jie to move all the quicklime to his room.

Lu Xiulian greeted Liu Jie again. She remembered this man; he had helped her at the casino last time.

"So much stuff? What did you buy?"

Lu Xiulian watched curiously as Liu Jie carried bags inside, then looked at Lu Chen and asked.

"It's just a small gadget, something I need for work, and it doesn't take up much space in my room."

Lu Chen casually explained and told Lu Xiulian to hurry up and cook.

Lu Xiulian said "oh" and turned to go into the kitchen to continue cooking.

"Brother Chen, everything's moved."

Liu Jie wiped the sweat from his forehead. Lu Chen had bought quite a lot of kraft paper and quicklime this time, a lot, since they would be used in the entire sewer system.

"Stay for a meal, it's almost lunchtime anyway."

Lu Chen tried to persuade Liu Jie to stay, but out of the corner of his eye he saw Xiao Yao playing not far away.

"Forget it, Brother Chen, I won't bother you anymore. I'd better go home first."

Liu Jie glanced at Lu Xiulian in the kitchen, then at Lu Chen and Xiao Yao, and politely declined. How could he, an outsider, refuse when the other family was eating together?

"Oh, it's nothing, Brother Jie. I haven't thanked you yet for helping me last time. Besides, I've already done everything I could, it would be a waste if you just left."

Lu Xiulian came out carrying dishes and happened to overhear the two's conversation. She quickly asked Liu Jie to stay.

"Well... okay then."

Liu Jie scratched his head, but stayed despite Lu Chen and Lu Xiulian's urging.

"Brother Chen, is it okay to smoke inside?"

Liu Jie took out a cigarette case, handed one to Lu Chen, glanced at Xiao Yao not far away, and asked.

"Go outside and smoke."

Lu Chen and Liu Jie started smoking at the door. Xiao Yao was a child, and her younger sister Lu Xiulian didn't smoke either, so Lu Chen would usually avoid smoking in front of the two of them.

Looking at Liu Jie, Lu Chen thought of his brother-in-law, whom he had never met and who was already dead.

After spending so much time together, Lu Chen felt that Liu Jie was a good person. He was a bit simple-minded, loyal to him, but reckless and didn't really consider the consequences of his actions.

"Xiao Jie, do you have a girlfriend?"

Lu Chen exhaled a puff of smoke and looked at Liu Jie.

Liu Jie is twenty years old this year, only two years younger than Lu Chen's body. The two are considered to be the same age. His younger sister, Lu Xiulian, is also twenty years old this year, the same age as Liu Jie.

"not yet."

Liu Jie's expression remained unchanged as he gazed at the horizon, exhaling smoke rings one after another.

Although he is already twenty years old, he has never been in a relationship and has absolutely no interest in such matters.

"My whole family depends on me for food. With a family like that, what girl would dare to marry me?"

Liu Jie chuckled self-deprecatingly. With a family like that, he didn't want to be a burden to others.

Hearing his words, Lu Chen also felt that they made sense.

Although the current view of love is much better than the millions of dollars spent on marriage in later generations, Liu Jie's family situation is so dire that no girl would want to marry him.

"Haven't you thought about helping your parents find jobs or something?"

As soon as he said this, Lu Chen shook his head helplessly.

Liu Jie's parents are in poor health, so what kind of work can they do? Not to mention they have a younger brother who needs to go to school.

"Brother Chen, I'm not afraid to admit it, but those debt collectors came again a few days ago. I don't even know how they got into the French Concession. My dad still wants to make a comeback through gambling. I'm not going to bother with him anymore. Let him fend for himself. When he dies, I, as his son, will just collect his body."

"My mother's health is getting worse and worse. The doctor said she probably won't make it through this winter."

Liu Jie took a deep drag on his cigarette, his eyes bloodshot as he spoke.

Gambling debts accumulate rapidly, and at this point, there's no reliable judicial body to intervene. Besides, the other party must have some influence to run a casino, while he, a low-ranking officer in the military police, is utterly useless.

"Tell me if you have any difficulties, and I'll do my best to help you."

After stomping the cigarette butt out on the ground, Lu Chen sighed and patted Liu Jie's shoulder heavily.

He genuinely thought Liu Jie was remarkable. Faced with such a family, he was able to persevere and still harbored hatred for the Japanese invaders. If it were him, he would have given up long ago and died.

Liu Jie didn't say anything. After finishing his cigarette, he went back into the house with Lu Chen.

"Brother, Brother Jie, come and eat."

Lu Xiulian brought the last dish to the table, and after Xiao Yao washed her hands, she called Lu Chen and the other person.

"The food is pretty good today."

Lu Chen's eyes lit up when he saw the steaming food on the table.

Steamed fish, romaine lettuce, pork ribs, leafy greens, and a soup I don't know what it was made of.

"Brother Chen, your food is really good."

Just looking at Liu Jie made me swallow hard. At this time of year, meat is definitely a luxury. Ordinary people can only afford to buy a little bit on important days. But Lu Chen's family has two meat dishes for just an ordinary dinner.

"Eat quickly, it'll get cold soon."

Lu Chen didn't have time to say much, and picked up his bowl and chopsticks to pick up food one after another.

"Brother Jie, eat more. I spent a long time picking out this fish."

Seeing that Liu Jie was only picking at his vegetables, Lu Xiulian knew he was embarrassed, so she used her chopsticks to put a large piece of fish into his bowl.

"Alright, girl, you should eat too."

Liu Jie was flattered and accepted the bowl, hesitating for a moment before putting it in his mouth.

While eating, Lu Xiulian would occasionally glance at Liu Jie out of the corner of her eye.

Lu Chen, who was sitting between the two, had noticed this long ago. Could it be that his younger sister was interested in Xiao Jie?

If that's the case, Lu Chen would be quite willing to bring the two together, since Liu Jie is responsible towards his family and isn't a frivolous person.

Lu Xiulian ate her rice in small bites, and as soon as she saw Liu Jie finish the meat in his bowl, she put another piece of meat on his plate.

Although Lu Xiulian was married into a wealthy family, she had no status at home and was not even considered the principal wife. She was just a second wife and had to do chores every day, though it was a little easier than those of the servants.

The last time Liu Jie stood up for her when someone harassed her, she had never felt this way except for her own brother Lu Chen.

She sensed a ruthlessness in Liu Jie; in short, she quite liked him.