“Please repeat your itinerary one more time.”
In the interrogation room of the police station, Captain Adam said once again.
“After I left Paris, France, I first went to…”
Once again, Li Yi’an repeated the experience of how he left France and fled to Britain.
Actually, how was this his experience?
It was his college classmate’s experience.
Unlike all the other classmates who worked like horses and mules, that second-generation rich classmate, born in Rome, went backpacking after graduation and traveled the world.
Not to mention Europe, the guy even crossed Africa…
He traveled to almost the whole world, missing hardly any place.
Because he envied his classmate’s experience, Li Yi’an would occasionally check his WeChat Moments.
When that guy crossed Africa, he entered Spain via North Africa, and then went to France.
Reversing this route made it his escape route.
As for the language barrier, Li Yi’an was even less worried.
When in college, to be able to enter a big company after graduation, besides English, he specially learned French and German.
Among them, his English and French were the strongest; communication and report writing were not a problem.
As for the details, thanks to that guy constantly posting pictures of food, squares, churches, and other things on his Moments, having seen them a lot, he remembered them.
After all, many small towns in Europe haven’t changed in hundreds of years, which also gave him a lot of room to play.
Even if some places couldn’t be completely logically consistent, Li Yi’an didn’t know, and the handlebar mustache might not necessarily know the detailed situation of every place either.
Finally, after Li Yi’an repeated his experience again, Captain Adam, finding no suspicious points, left the interrogation room.
After thinking for a while, he began to mutter to himself.
“Perhaps, he really did escape from France.”
Subsequently, he ordered:
“Notify the embassy to come over and verify his identity.”
…
No.
49 Portland Place.
Li Guoren, pushing his bicycle, was still muttering to himself until he walked to the embassy.
“It’s really strange that someone could actually escape from France.”
Right now, the Germans were blockading the French coast, and the British were blockading the British coast.
Not to mention a person crossing the English Channel, even if a fish crossed, it would probably need to submit a report.
However, in this day and age, all sorts of strange things happen.
As a third secretary, he didn’t think too much about it.
Currently, the ambassador was in the United States, and the counselor sent him to go take a look, so he would go take a look.
But it was merely routine business.
Arriving at the police station, after Li Guoren stated his purpose, he quickly met the person in charge.
Just like usual when dealing with the British, he just said politely:
“I’m sorry to have caused you trouble.”
Aside from being polite, he added:
“However, sir, I can’t help you prove anything.
At most, I can only chat with him.”
“Because he doesn’t have any identification documents, we are not certain of his identity.
That’s why we need you to chat with him to confirm his identity.”
“Alright, alright…”
Confirm his identity?
Who could confirm his identity?
If confirmed wrong, who would bear the responsibility?
This guy, not staying put in France, running around blindly during wartime to bring trouble to himself.
Upon meeting, Li Guoren said straightforwardly:
“Look at you, not staying put in France.
What are you running around blindly for in this chaotic era?”
As he spoke, he threw his bag on the table, his tone seeming somewhat impatient.
The familiar language carrying a slight Jiangsu-Zhejiang accent sounded intimate to the ear, but the words were very grating.
Looking at this guy wearing gold-rimmed glasses and sporting a three-seven parted hairstyle, Li Yi’an said flatly:
“Are you from the embassy, sir?
May I ask if Ambassador Gu is at the embassy?”
“Ambassador Gu?”
Li Guoren’s expression changed slightly.
He seriously evaluated him for a moment, and not only did the impatience on his face disappear, but he even revealed a smile.
“You know Ambassador Gu?”
Ambassador Gu was Gu Weijun, who refused to sign at the Paris Peace Conference!
Li Yi’an certainly didn’t know him, but he had read a report about his wife, Huang Huilan, and knew that she had served as the ambassador to France before the war, and transferred to Britain after France surrendered.
Of course, in that report, what was described was not only Huang Huilan’s luxurious life but also the experience of accompanying her husband on a diplomatic mission to Europe.
From France to Britain, from Britain to the United States.
If he remembered correctly, they should be in the United States right now accompanying the First Lady on her visit.
“I met Madame Huang briefly at a banquet at the Paris embassy.”
Li Yi’an also specifically mentioned:
“My family has had some business dealings with the Huang family.”
Why mention the Huang family?
Because the Huang family had a massive business.
Madame Huang’s father was the famous “Sugar King” of Nanyang, and his family was also the richest in the Dutch East Indies.
The surname Li is also a big surname, and having business dealings with someone surnamed Li was simply entirely normal.
That was why Li Yi’an dared to rashly say he had old ties with the Huang family.
And because Japan had occupied Nanyang, the two sides couldn’t contact each other now.
Even if Madame Huang came face to face, he wasn’t worried about being exposed.
And more importantly, only by flying the flag of the Huang family would the people from the embassy step in to save him, and even give him legal identification.
Otherwise, given his impatient demeanor just earlier, how could he possibly help him?
“Oh, so that’s how it is!
I’ve been disrespectful!”
Li Guoren’s attitude became increasingly enthusiastic.
After all, someone who could have business dealings with the Huang family was definitely from a wealthy Nanyang family.
No wonder he was able to escape from France.
This guy has money!
Almost subconsciously, Li Guoren’s tone became very respectful.
After all, this was an old friend of his top superior’s wife.
More importantly, he had money!
Money and power!
Missing this opportunity, there would be no more chances to befriend such a figure!
“Mr.
Li might not know this, but Ambassador Gu and his wife are currently in the United States accompanying Madame Song on her visit, and they are not in the embassy.”
“Ah, what should I do.”
Li Yi’an furrowed his brows and said quite helplessly.
“Now the British suspect me of being a spy.
Without Madame Huang to testify, how can I prove my innocence…”
Before he could finish speaking, Li Guoren said straightforwardly:
“The British are bullying us too much.
Mr.
Li is clearly a Chinese compatriot, yet he is smeared as a German spy.
It’s a wonder the British could think of this.
Please rest assured, Mr.
Li, let alone that you and I are brothers of the same surname, even for an ordinary compatriot, since I am bound by my duty, how could I tolerate the British framing you?
I will definitely negotiate with the British.
These British blokes are all old imperialists.
If we don’t show them some toughness, they will only look down on us!”
With that said, Li Guoren stood up, pounded vigorously on the iron door, and shouted loudly in English:
“Open the door, open the door,”
As soon as the door opened, before Captain Adam could speak, Li Guoren, no longer timid and compliant like before, questioned loudly:
“Captain Adam, what exactly is the meaning of this?”
“What?”
“On what grounds do you detain citizens of an allied nation?
Our compatriot suffered all kinds of bullying under German rule, managed to escape to Britain with great difficulty, yet is accused of being a spy, detained, and held in custody by you.
How absurd is this?
I will go protest to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to Downing Street.
Is this how your noble country treats its allies?”
Captain Adam, having hats of accusation thrown on his head by Li Guoren like this, hurriedly asked:
“Secretary Li, didn’t you just say earlier that you couldn’t prove anything?”
“Prove?”
Li Guoren said with righteous indignation.
“Mr.
Li’s family is a prominent overseas Chinese family in Nanyang, and they are old family friends with the Ambassador’s wife’s family.
How could I not be able to prove it!”
Instantly, Captain Adam understood.
After all this fuss, this kid had a background too.
Well, let him go.
(END CHAPTER)