huang and the spy network
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... (This is the first time he's corrupted someone who didn't come pre-corrupted, isn't it. He can't say he likes it? It's an important skill but he feels kind of dirty.)

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"Sui Mei from Beijing's socks are all purple." She's friends with a Tianjin girl and they combine laundry and dump it on Huang sometimes.

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"And if I see someone with purple socks, which are quite rare in the Scholomance, I'll have good reason to think they're Sui Mei's friend or that they stole them from her. Thank you."

He pauses. "Mostly my cousin Zhang Jinye is the one who keeps track of all the information that Taipei pays for. She's not a very gifted warrior, but neither was Kongming. I can introduce you to her, if you'd like."

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"It would be my pleasure to be introduced."

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He glances at Taiyang. "Have you seen Jin-mei?"

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She'll look up from the upperclassmen she's been flattering.

"I think she's in the cafeteria, Xian-ge!"

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Then he will rise, collect his notes, and walk down to the cafeteria with Huang, making small talk as he does!

"So, while we walk - may I ask your affinity?"

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"Weather magic."

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"... You have my sympathies." Eighteen hundred years ago that would have been an extremely powerful affinity. He doesn't think saying that would do anything other than rub it in. The cost/benefit calculation to recruiting Huang to Taipei has just shrunk significantly, and he suspects Huang knows it.

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"If I get out it will be useful back home."

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"I expect so."

If she gets out.

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Yes, well. "What is yours?"

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"Lightning," he says.

And there's the cafeteria!

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Jinye is at her table next to the cafeteria, arranging her homework for sale! It is very impressive homework. There is also a list of spells she is prepared to sell with prices written on it, and she is scribbling away at the next little bit of Avicenna, and she is out there in public where it would be extremely difficult to assassinate her without anybody noticing, especially since there are Taipei seniors in earshot who would disapprove of anyone taking a shot at a Taipei frosh, just on general principles. She looks up when Xian and Huang arrive, gives them a perfectly friendly smile, and quietly shuffles through a few papers in front of her without really looking at them.

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Huang bows to her.

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Xian bows to her!

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Jinye also rises and bows back to them!

(There are times when bowing is very silly and Taipei does not mess around because handshakes and nods are simpler, and there are times when you do not lose the enclave face in front of people from Tianjin.)

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"My name is Yushi Huang. It is a pleasure to meet you."

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"I am Zhang Jinye, and I'm pleased to meet you as well." Xian, what's all this about?

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"Yushi Huang has heard that some of her fellow maintenance workers were receiving assistance from Taipei, and came to me, and I explained." The expression he is giving (turning his head so Huang cannot quite his face) is 'she is an adorable snowflake too good for this world and has no idea spying is wrong.'

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Xian, did you forget that I am not actually telepathic. I can tell you're saying either 'go easy on her' or 'she is a soft touch' but there are fifty different stories you could have told her about why spying is totally morally fine and I need to know which one.

"We certainly value staying informed," Jinye says. Hopefully that won't mess with whatever story he's using?

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"I was surprised to find out it might matter what color people's socks are."

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"Almost anything can matter," says Jinye. "Most things don't, but it's hard to tell the difference in advance."

Xian, information update?

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"The Masozi business didn't turn on anything obviously important until it was already too late," he agrees.

Does that tell you what you need to know, Jin-mei?

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Yep, thanks.

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