The Republic of China: I, Xiangzi, a Hero in a Chaotic Era

He weighed the five heavy silver dollars in his hand, feeling their coolness and solidity, then strode across the dimly lit corridor toward his small patrol officer's office.

Xiao Fuzi was huddled awkwardly on a peeling wooden stool against the wall, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, her knuckles turning white from the force.

Hearing the door open, she abruptly raised her head, her pale face and clear eyes filled with immense fear and helplessness, her lips pressed tightly together as if awaiting the final verdict.

Zhang Kui closed the door behind him, walked to his desk piled with clutter, pulled out a chair, and sat down, deliberately making a little noise.

Looking at Xiao Fuzi's tense and almost suffocating expression, he put on a deliberately crafted expression of "thank you for your hard work and great achievements."

"Little Fuzi,"

Zhang Kui's voice slowed down, carrying a tone of earnestness.

"I've really had to talk myself hoarse about this."

He sighed, as if he were under immense pressure.

Xiao Fuzi trembled, her eyes filled with even more fear, and she barely dared to breathe.

Zhang Kui continued, his tone carrying a barely perceptible exaggeration:

"What kind of status and position does our director have? Originally, he planned to go directly to the brokerage firm and pick two quick and efficient maids and old women with clean backgrounds. It would be much easier and more efficient. Why bother getting involved in this quagmire of yours when a little money can solve the problem?"

The light in Xiao Fuzi's eyes dimmed instantly, her head drooped even lower, and her body trembled uncontrollably.

"But I, Zhang Kui, am a soft-hearted person."

Zhang Kui changed the subject, raising his voice slightly, with a sense of "speaking out for justice".

"For the sake of us being old neighbors in Maojiawan, and also because you and your mother are truly pitiful and have nowhere else to turn."

"I went to the director and pleaded with him, explaining all the difficulties your family had gone through: your father was gone, your younger brother was missing, and your mother was dying. I told him everything in detail."

"I said that Xiao Fuzi is hardworking and honest, and her mother is also a hard worker, but she just has bad luck..."

He paused, observing Xiao Fuzi's reaction, and only nodded in satisfaction when he saw a faint, incredulous glimmer of hope rekindle in her eyes.

"Sigh, I've almost run out of things to say."

Zhang Kui sighed heavily again, as if he had exhausted a great deal of energy.

"Our director is a kind-hearted man after all. Seeing how pitiful you and your child were, he finally agreed to take you in!"

The overwhelming surprise, like a surging tide, instantly broke down Xiao Fuzi's tense defenses.

She slid off the stool and knelt on the cold floor with a thud, about to kowtow to Zhang Kui, tears streaming down her face, her voice choked and broken:

"Thank you... thank you, Officer Zhang... thank you for your great kindness... I... I, Xiao Fuzi, will repay you with my life..."

"Hey, get up! The ground is cold!"

Zhang Kui quickly stood up and gave her a slight support, preventing her from actually falling.

He wore a benevolent smile, like that of a benefactor.

"From now on, you'll be serving the director. What kind of behavior is it to kneel down all the time?"

Xiao Fuzi was helped back to the stool, still unable to stop crying, but her tears were filled with gratitude for being saved from a desperate situation.

Zhang Kui then took out the five silver dollars Liu Jiaxiang had given him and placed them on the table. He then took out two more silver dollars, still warm from his body, from his pocket. The seven gleaming silver dollars stood out conspicuously in the dim light.

He pushed all seven silver dollars in front of Xiao Fuzi.

Here, take it.

Zhang Kui's voice carried an undeniable gentleness.

"These five yuan are a resettlement allowance given by the director."

"I'll have you get medicine and take your mother to the doctor. As for the rest, do as the director says and buy two clean and decent sets of clothes. Make sure you and your mother are clean and tidy. The director likes people to be clean and tidy. And these two pieces of paper are for you."

"Please accept this as a small token of my appreciation. Use it to buy your mother some nourishing food to help her recover."

"Your mother's health is such that she needs some nourishment."

Looking at the seven heavy silver coins in front of him, Xiao Fuzi felt as if he had seen a life-saving elixir, but he was too frightened to reach out.

"Officer Zhang... this... this won't do... you've helped us so much... I... how can I take your money again... no... really no..."

She waved her hands frantically, her voice trembling with tears.

Zhang Kui waved his hand, a friendly smile on his face that suggested he was mentoring a younger generation.

"Take it. From now on, you'll be working closely with the director, close to someone important."

"I'm just a lowly patrol officer who runs errands."

He lowered his voice, his tone carrying a hint of sincerity.

"I just hope that when you have some free time, you can put in a good word for me, Zhang Kui, with the director. That would be enough to settle our old neighborhood friendship, wouldn't it?"

His meaning was clear: these two dollars were not only a gesture of appeasement and an investment, but also a debt of gratitude.

"Officer Zhang... your great kindness... Xiao Fuzi... will remember it for a lifetime..."

She choked back tears, large drops falling onto the back of her hand clutching the silver coins.

"Alright, alright, go ahead."

Seeing her like this, Zhang Kui's scheming seemed to be touched, and his tone softened even more, "Go back and take care of your mother. Do as the director said, and clean yourself up properly."

"I'll pick you up tomorrow afternoon and take you to the house in Lingjing Hutong."

"Uh-huh!"

Xiao Fuzi nodded vigorously, wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve, and carefully stuffed the seven silver dollars into the pocket closest to her body, clutching it tightly.

It was as if it wasn't money, but rather the heavy weight of her and her mother's lives and their uncertain yet real future.

She bowed deeply to Zhang Kui again before turning around, her steps unsteady yet filled with an unprecedented urgency, and opened the office door.

The light from the hallway outside streamed in, elongating her slender figure.

She didn't look back, but moved step by step toward the dilapidated door of the police station, a door that symbolized despair but had just given her a glimmer of light.

With each step, the heavy silver coins in her arms pressed against her chest, reminding her of this hard-won livelihood and the invisible yet quietly tied rope leading to the deep mansion.

As for Zhao San, after arriving at a secluded house in the western part of the city, Zhao San was helped off the rickshaw.

Two thugs carried him, stumbling through the overgrown yard, and threw him into the main house.

The room was dimly lit and simply furnished, with only a square table and a few benches.

Hai Gouzi sat in the main seat with his hands behind his back, his lean face expressionless, his eyes sweeping over Zhao San like knives.