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

Zhao San curled up on the cold ground, like a lump of mud.

The burning pain from his severed leg and the faint stench of decay made him tremble all over. His sallow, sunken face was covered in dirt and bits of grass, and his cloudy eyes were filled with fear and confusion.

He struggled to lift his head, his voice hoarse and broken: "You must be Master Hai. I wonder... what brings you here?"

The sea lion did not answer immediately.

He slowly picked up the rough porcelain bowl on the table, took a sip of water, and his gaze lingered for a moment on Zhao San's broken leg, which was haphazardly fixed with rags and crooked wooden sticks, before sweeping over his withered, ghost-like face and his tattered coat that revealed the dirty cotton wadding.

After a long pause, he finally put down his bowl, his voice carrying a condescending calm:

"Zhao San, I know everything about your situation."

"Look at you now, holed up in that rat hole, your wounds are festering and you stink to high heaven. If no one takes care of you, in a few days you'll be lying on the side of the moat, waiting for the corpse-collecting team to roll you up in a straw mat and throw you into the mass grave."

Zhao San's body trembled violently, his dry, straw-like hair clung to his sweat-dampened forehead, his lips moved but no sound came out, only his cloudy eyes revealed a deeper despair.

Sea Dog leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on his knees, staring intently into Zhao San's eyes:

"I'm giving you a chance now. I'll treat your injuries, look at your leg, and get you a proper doctor. I'll even help you get revenge. Do you want that?"

Zhao San was suddenly jolted, his bloodshot eyes widening in disbelief as he stared at the sea dog, as if he had heard a fairy tale.

He made a few gurgling sounds in his throat before finally managing to squeeze out broken syllables:

"Hai...Master Hai...you...you must be joking...I...I deserve what I have today...it's all my own fault...I deserve it...it's retribution..."

He took a breath, the immense confusion overwhelming any glimmer of hope.

"Besides...we're not related...you...you're helping me like this...what's in it for you?"

The sea lion twitched the corners of its mouth, revealing a cold, mocking smile:

"You're quite clever, kid. Of course, I'm not some reincarnated bodhisattva, I don't have the time or inclination to do any good deeds."

He stood up, walked over to Zhao San, and a shadow fell over him.

"I know you've offended Master Liu from the car factory. He hired someone to break your legs and sold your wife and children. You probably want to skin Master Liu alive, but now that you're a cripple, there's not much you can do about it, right?"

As Zhao San listened to Hai Gouzi casually recount his bloody and tearful history, his body convulsed uncontrollably. The excruciating pain of his broken leg and the agony of being separated from his wife and children surged and churned, contorting his sallow face, and turbid tears mixed with grime flowed down his cheeks.

"And me?"

The sea lion looked down at him, its voice even lower, carrying a naked calculation.

"I want to use this incident to my advantage and extort some money from Master Liu."

He crouched down, looking directly into Zhao San's terrified eyes.

"It's very simple. You just need to cooperate with me, put your fingerprint on the complaint, sign your name, and sue Master Liu at the Second District Police Station, accusing him of hiring someone to injure you and break your leg, and also accusing him of human trafficking and selling your wife and children."

"It's all in black and white, the evidence is irrefutable. As for the rest, you don't need to show your face. I'll have someone submit the complaint and spread it around the streets. Someone will take care of it."

Seeing the intense fear and struggle flashing in Zhao San's eyes, Hai Gouzi emphasized in his voice:

"As long as you cooperate obediently, I will arrange for someone to call a traditional Chinese medicine doctor to clean your wounds and set your bones."

"After it's all done, I'll give you a few dozen silver dollars. Take the money, find a place where nobody knows you, and run away. It's better than rotting away in a shack, isn't it?"

Zhao San's facial muscles twitched violently, and sweat mixed with tears etched deep lines into the grime.

His lips trembled, his eyes darting between his survival instinct and fear of the unknown punishment, and he hesitated to nod.

Upon seeing this, the sea dog let out a very soft sneer, its eyes filled with undisguised contempt.

He lightly tapped the cold ground beside Zhao San's swollen, purple broken leg with his toe, his tone icy and cruel:

"Kid, look at yourself now. You're worse than a mangy dog ​​in the gutter."

"Listen to me, even if life gets worse, it can't be worse than what you're doing now."

"Whether you rot and stink to death, or get treatment, take the money, and fly away, the choice is yours."

Although the sea dog's toe didn't touch the wound, it felt like a cold awl piercing Zhao San's already fragile nerves. He shuddered violently, and immense fear instantly overwhelmed all hesitation.

He struggled to get up and kowtow, but only twisted his body in vain, his voice trembling with sobs and desperate attempts to explain:

"Master Hai...Master Hai...It's not that I'm unwilling to cooperate...You...you don't understand..."

Zhao San, panting heavily, spoke haltingly, his eyes filled with a profound fear of that name:

"The reason I was beaten so badly by Master Liu... and had my wife and children torn apart... is because I was blind to his greatness and offended Chief Liu of the Xisi North Police Station... Lord Liu Jiaxiang."

"Master Liu did this to avenge Chief Liu... You... you want me to go to the police station to file a complaint... to file a complaint against Master Liu... That... that would be the same as dragging Chief Liu into this as well."

"At that time... Master Liu will find Chief Liu... Chief Liu will then lobby the police station... They... They'll protect each other... I... I'm afraid I'll die an even more miserable death... Not even a bone will remain, Master Hai..."

The sea lion listened quietly, its face showing no surprise or tension.

After Zhao San finished speaking, he slowly shook his head, a faint smile with a hint of mockery and control returning to the corner of his mouth:

"You're such a blockhead. You just don't get it."

He sat back down in his chair, crossed his legs, and tapped his fingers lightly on the table, as if he were giving Zhao San a lesson.

"Those old men at the police station,"

The sea dog spoke slowly and confidently.

"What's the closest thing to me? Silver. Shiny silver dollars are the closest thing to me."

"You've submitted this complaint accusing Master Liu of hiring thugs to injure people and trafficking people. You have both witnesses and physical evidence, which is a ready-made handle. It's like handing those officials a knife to ruthlessly exploit Master Liu."

"They're overjoyed, they'd love for such a fat sheep to come to their door. They talk about officials protecting each other. They're protecting money, not people."

Seeing the lingering doubt in Zhao San's eyes, he continued to offer his guidance:

"Besides, you're suing Master Liu, not Chief Liu of the Xisi North Police Station."

"Director Liu is completely innocent and clean in this matter."

"Guess what he'll do when he sees this complaint and the police station wants to make an example of Master Liu."

"Will he protect Master Liu, or will he take this opportunity to squeeze another penny out of Master Liu?"

"After all, Renhe Auto Factory is located within the jurisdiction of his Xisi North Police Station. When Master Liu 'committed a crime,' it is perfectly justified and reasonable for him, as the station chief, to 'enforce the law impartially' and 'fine' Master Liu a huge sum of money."

"He'll only think you haven't sued hard enough, and he'll be eager to squeeze more money out of Master Liu."