When Wang Donglu appeared before Security Bureau Director Wang Bin again, it was already August 1919. Wang Bin had just finished an official task and returned to the bureau when someone informed him that Zhao Tianlin had arrived. The first thought that popped into Wang Bin's mind was: had a spy appeared in the school?

The Security Bureau had analyzed the security situation in the Northeast, and schools were a relatively low-risk area. Foreign teachers in the Northeast were basically concentrated in the Foreign Language Department; there were only a few dozen of them, and they dealt with teaching materials accessible to hundreds of thousands of students. Even if they knew the Northeast's education system, it had nothing to do with national security.

With puzzlement, he went to see Zhao Tianlin. Zhao Tianlin was with a student. Seeing Wang Bin, they exchanged greetings and names, and Zhao Tianlin asked the student to wait outside first.

"Do you have an impression of Wang Donglu?" Zhao Tianlin asked.

Wang Bin shook his head; he had absolutely no impression of that student. Zhao Tianlin laughed. "Three months ago, you arrested that Wang Donglu just now. He came from Beijing..."

Wang Bin suddenly realized. "I remember the name now. But I only saw him once and didn't remember his face. Is this Wang Donglu closely related to Director Zhao?"

"Wang Donglu was implicated because he ran around protesting against the Paris Peace Conference handing over Shandong's rights and interests to Japan. I don't know who mentioned that he was arrested in the Northeast, but his qualification to study in the United States was cancelled." Zhao Tianlin recounted Wang Donglu's experience.

Wang Bin nodded, fully understanding the matter. Tsinghua School was a preparatory class for studying in the US, and those who could qualify for the preparatory class were all excellent students. After Zhao finished speaking, Wang Bin sighed, "That's quite a pity."

Zhao Tianlin didn't discuss the relationship between this matter and Wang Donglu at all. He asked, "Director Wang, the Security Bureau is a technical department. I want to recommend Wang Donglu to work on your side. I wonder what assessment he needs to pass?"

Wang Bin was speechless for a moment. The Security Bureau engaged in analysis, and after analyzing everything, they found that apart from specific operations, there was actually nothing confidential in the Security Bureau. As for the work content, every country caught spies and investigated and monitored suspicious personnel. After spies were caught, they would even be publicized through newspapers and other media.

So the core requirements for the Security Bureau to select people were just two: one was personal willingness—whether they wanted to engage in this rather arduous work. The other was having a reliable person as a guarantor.

If Zhao Tianlin was willing to guarantee, the hardest problem would probably be solved. So Wang Bin said tactfully, "Our department requires openness and uprightness. If one harbors resentment, it certainly won't do."

Zhao Tianlin nodded. "I was also worried about this and recommended other majors to Wang Donglu. However, Wang Donglu is very enthusiastic about the Security Bureau, which is currently fighting against foreign spies and saboteurs from other domestic forces."

Wang Bin felt he had to be clearer. "Director Zhao, could it be that the elders in this student Wang Donglu's family have old ties with Director Zhao?"

"Wang Donglu's grandfather was my mentor. I have truly received too much kindness and have to help."

Since Zhao Tianlin stated this relationship so frankly, Wang Bin could only arrange an interview for Wang Donglu.

It was already evening when the interviewer sent the report to Wang Bin. Wang Bin inserted the report into the last position among the documents that must be processed today. At 7:30 PM, after eating, he held a meeting. At 9:30 PM, before preparing to leave, looking at several tasks that must be completed, Wang Bin turned on all the lights, washed his face with cold water, lit a cigarette, and began processing these documents.

At 11 PM, opening the interview report, Wang Bin yawned widely. Thinking that he still had to walk a distance to go back, Wang Bin had the impulse to sleep in the office. But there was absolutely no bed in the office, and the Security Bureau now had a rule prohibiting sleeping in the office.

Yawning slowly, Wang Bin read the report. When he finished reading, his nerves, numb from fatigue, could no longer get excited. Wang Bin picked up a pen, wrote the approval 'Recommend for Probation' at the back of the document, yawned, stood up, and ended his work.

At this time, Wang Donglu was lying on the school bed arranged by Zhao Tianlin. There were no fewer mosquitoes in the Northeast than in Beijing. Lying inside the mosquito net brought from home, he could get some peace.

Regarding his running to the Northeast, some people at home thought Wang Donglu was acting out of spite. Wang Donglu was indeed very angry, but not against the people of the Northeast Security Bureau. Wang Donglu's anger lay in the current situation of China. China had been sending students to study in Europe and America for more than thirty years, but apart from becoming more chaotic, China hadn't gotten better.

Studying abroad cannot solve China's problems!

A sentence from Wang Bin, Director of the Northeast Security Bureau, deeply moved Wang Donglu: "What we want to maintain is the normal operation of society."

Only by restoring normal operation can China move toward rejuvenation. Wang Donglu hadn't expected to encounter a force worth following in the Northeast.