241: Chapter 39 A Woman’s Heart is Like a Bottomless Abyss 241: Chapter 39 A Woman’s Heart is Like a Bottomless Abyss The Qianjin Church and the Red Lantern Society, both based in Tianmen City as major secret religious societies for women, had a rather ambiguous relationship.
It could be said that there was both cooperation and mutual vigilance between them.
The root of their discord in principles lay in their differing views on women’s rights.
The Red Lantern Society, representing local traditional conservative forces, has always adhered to traditional family concepts, believing that a complete family is the greatest happiness for a woman.
As for the Qianjin Church, that has already been discussed and will not be reiterated here.
The area where both parties could understand and collaborate deeply was in the textile industry of Tianmen City.
Since ancient times in Ming Country, the traditional custom of “men till the field, women weave” has been well-established.
For women, stepping out of their homes to engage in the textile industry was the only profession that was not bound by morals and even recognized by society.
This was the highest acceptance level for the Red Lantern Society.
They had no choice but to accept it; after all, the times had changed.
In families where both spouses earned money, they could enjoy fried chicken eggs and sauce with noodles every day; but if you stayed at home taking care of children and family, you would eventually consume all your savings.
It is said that thoughts determine material conditions, but in reality, material conditions also affect thoughts consequently.
Originally, Wang Yunxiao had discussed with Veronica at the police station how to plant an undercover agent within the Red Lantern Society.
Veronica had bluntly told him that, in fact, both sides had been planting undercover agents in each other for years.
Using the word ‘undercover’ might not be quite accurate.
Among women, it’s quite normal to have twenty chat groups in an eight-person dormitory.
On the surface, your best friend despises your boyfriend as if he were worthless, advising you to break up every day, but what she really thinks might be another story.
There were indeed undercover agents, but what they could uncover was another matter.
Wang Yunxiao was very clear in his mind, and he believed that Veronica was also aware that Qin Xiangdong’s investigation was about much more than just the superficial petty fights and slapstick among these old women.
Look at this seemingly honest widow at our doorstep, who learned how to repair guns quietly.
How terrifying is that!
What intentions do you have with mastering such skills?
This is still about the church side that maintains close cooperation with the officials.
What about the Red Lantern Society?
No one knows what’s going on under the water.
This time, Veronica threw out a heavyweight lure, which was what Qin Xiangdong mentioned, the “Divine Artifact” produced by the Church.
Its side effect is beautification.
Very well, indeed no woman could resist such temptation.
So, what’s its primary function, do tell!
It was only on the way back to the police station after leaving Cui Xiaoying’s house that Veronica finally revealed the truth to Wang Yunxiao.
“Shaoguang is a mirror.”
“The user can seal their most perfect image inside the mirror, and when they open the mirror, they can revert to that perfect state.”
“The side effect is that if you look in the mirror often, your appearance will gradually be replaced by the person in the mirror—in other words, if you record your appearance when young, looking in the mirror when old can make you appear rejuvenated.”
You call this a side effect?
Wang Yunxiao felt chills just hearing it; merely from that description, he could already imagine the fierce scenes these women would create over this mirror.
“Is this the Divine Artifact you guys created?”
“Giving it to the President as a gift would be very appropriate, right?”
“Indeed, it would be…”
According to what Qin Xiangdong initially said, these three Divine Artifacts, along with the ten imitation “Quasi-Divine Artifacts,” were nominally all gifts dedicated to the President.
From the perspective of a gift, this item really is flawless.
“Is the replica also a mirror?”
“This is the replica.”
“Ah?”
“To the outside world, we always claim it’s a Divine Artifact, but Shaoguang is just a replica of the ‘Firmament Mirror’.”
“What exactly is the Firmament Mirror?”
“Uh…
that is actually top secret.”
Damn cliffhanger!
Wang Yunxiao was very angry inside, but there was nothing he could do.
The replica served as the bait thrown out, conveying bits of information through various channels to set a trap; there was nothing wrong with that.
But if information about those three real “Divine Artifacts” could be uncovered by anyone, anyone who wasn’t a fool would realize something was fishy.
“How exactly do you plan on having Cui Xiaoying act on this?”
“Didn’t you hear everything already?”
“I heard, but I didn’t quite understand.”
Wang Yunxiao thought to himself how he was supposed to know what all these women were scheming with their roundabout ways.
Directly having Cui Xiaoying communicate with people from the Red Lantern Society and even deliberately leak information, how was this an undercover operation?
“Section Chief Wang, you’ve never been in a romantic relationship, have you?”
Veronica narrowed her eyes, a meaningful smile appearing on her face: “I think both Madam Cui and her daughter have quite nice personalities and looks.
I don’t know if you prefer older or younger girls, but I can arrange something for you.”
“Thank you, but no thanks, please stick to the topic.”
“I am not changing the subject.
I merely want to tell you that a woman’s heart is a mysterious depth, and since you aren’t married, you really don’t understand women.”
Veronica spoke earnestly: “Women are emotional creatures.
If you specifically task her with something, even if she verbally agrees, she will harbor resistance internally.
So, it’s necessary that she feels it’s something she wants to do herself.
Only then will she wholeheartedly commit to it.”
“Cui Xiaoying and her sister aren’t professional intelligence agents; they can’t handle an assigned undercover task.
However, her advantage lies in her sensitive identity and her frail and honest appearance.”
“She’s a widow with a child.”
“That’s the type of person the Red Lantern Society is most eager to recruit.
When her family was in trouble, the first people who came to help her were not the church but Du Sanniang from the Red Lantern Society.”
“But in the end, Cui Xiaoying chose the shelter of the church.”
“Because she is an educated woman capable of independent thought.”
“If she joined the Red Lantern Society, her future would just be marrying another man introduced by the sisters, starting a new family, and continuing to care for her husband and teach her children.”
“If she joined Qianjin Church, she could go to vocational school with Meng Wei, get certifications, work in a factory, make money, and take control of her own destiny.
Once she had saved enough money, she could leave Tianmen anytime.
Whether moving south or to the Inland, in a new city, no one would know she was a widow.
She could discard everything from her past and start anew.”
“In the eyes of the Red Lantern Society, Cui Xiaoying’s status as a widow is her burden.
She is pitiable, in need of help, and ripe for conversion.
They have even secretly persuaded Meng Wei to their side.
By proactively sending Cui Xiaoying there now, they will have no suspicions but will see it as a godsend, eagerly welcoming her with open arms.”
After hearing Veronica’s explanation, Wang Yunxiao not only failed to understand, but he became even more confused.
Women’s hearts are truly damn complicated…