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

The office returned to silence.

Zhang Tiancheng strolled back to his large mahogany chair, a symbol of power, and sat down comfortably.

He looked in the direction of the door where Liu Jiaxiang had disappeared, his satisfied smile deepening, even showing a hint of understanding of how easily young people could be "easily swayed by passion."

Zhang Tiancheng picked up the covered teacup on the table and took a leisurely sip.

Hmm, he's young after all. Just a promise from a deputy director gets him this excited; it makes him even more motivated to get things done. Good, very good.

After putting down his teacup, Zhang Tiancheng's relaxed and contented expression was gradually replaced by a shrewd calculation.

He opened the drawer, took out a thick account book, and then a small, locked iron box. Inside the box were several banknotes of varying amounts and some house and land deeds.

He opened the ledger, picked up a pen, and began to carefully calculate the wealth he had accumulated over the years, silently reciting the numbers, his eyes focused and eager, as if he could already see the seat of the head of general affairs beckoning to him.

Every silver dollar on his path to promotion now gleamed with an alluring light in his eyes.

The next morning, as dawn broke and Xi'anmen Street was still shrouded in a hazy mist, the two heavy wooden doors of the Renhe Car Factory creaked open.

The drivers, rubbing their sleepy eyes and yawning, filed out one after another. Their tattered cotton-padded coats wrapped their thin bodies, and their breath condensed into wisps of mist in the cold air.

They skillfully inspected their respective rickshaws, oiling the axles and inflating the tires. The white "Renheche Factory" logo on the rickshaws stood out brightly in the morning light.

The soft clatter of handlebars, the creaking of wheels rolling over frozen earth, mixed with a few suppressed coughs, formed the unique prelude to the early morning at the bicycle factory.

With his hands behind his back, Master Liu stood on the bluestone slab in the middle of the courtyard, like a stone statue that had taken root.

He wore a brand-new royal blue silk robe with floral patterns, over which he wore a dark black mandarin jacket with subtle patterns. His deeply lined face was expressionless, except for a pair of old eyes that swept over the busy coachman like a hawk.

A young driver frantically adjusted the cart's seat, his movements a bit too forceful, causing the cart to sway. Old Master Liu strolled over, his toes lightly tapping the cart shaft, his voice low and heavy, like pressing down on a stone.

"What's the rush? Are you in such a hurry to be reborn? This car is your livelihood. If you're so clumsy and you hurt the gentleman in the seat, you'll pay with your life."

His eyelids drooped, and he didn't look at the driver. His tone was flat and straightforward, but it made the young driver freeze instantly, cold sweat beading on his forehead, and he stammered, not daring to utter a sound.

Old Master Liu snorted a puff of white breath, then ignored him and turned to stroll under the eaves. The old rickshaw pullers exchanged knowing glances, their movements becoming even more stealthy.

The atmosphere in the courtyard tensed up a bit because of this silent reprimand.

As rickshaws creaked and groaned their way out of the courtyard gate, mingling with the rising sounds of the city outside, Old Man Liu slowly strolled back to the main house.

On the octagonal table, a bowl of steaming hot rice porridge, a dish of pickled cucumbers, a dish of fried peanuts, and two steamed buns were already laid out.

Tiger Girl stood to one side, her face bearing her usual fierceness, but her eyes kept glancing towards the courtyard gate, appearing somewhat absent-minded.

Master Liu lifted the hem of his long robe and sat down steadily in the armchair.

He picked up a white porcelain spoon and slowly stirred the porridge in the bowl, the aroma of rice mixed with the salty and savory scent of pickled vegetables rising gently.

Sunlight streamed through the windowpane covered with Korean paper, casting distinct shadows on half of his face, making the wrinkles appear even deeper.

Just as he finished half a bowl of porridge, a series of hurried and heavy footsteps suddenly came from the courtyard gate, followed by Old Li, the gatekeeper, calling out in a changed tone:

"Fourth Master! Fourth Master! Someone's here!"

Liu Siye paused slightly as he stirred the porridge with his spoon, without even lifting his eyelids.

Tiger Girl jumped up as if pricked by a needle, rushed to the door, lifted the cotton curtain and looked outside.

Upon seeing this, all color drained from her face.

Three police officers in dark black uniforms were striding across the front yard.

The leader was a burly man with a dark face; the insignia on his shoulder straps was cold and glaring, and the baton at his waist swayed with his steps.

They stared straight ahead, their faces bearing the cold indifference of business, their leather shoes clicking crisply on the frozen mud, like stepping on the tip of someone's heart.

At the entrance of the courtyard, several neighbors who had been peeking out to watch the commotion were immediately shrunk back by their fierce glares.

Tiger Girl gasped, abruptly pulled down the curtain, turned and strode quickly to Master Liu's side, her voice low and filled with barely concealed panic:

"Old man, three people from the police station have arrived. The one leading them is a dark-faced patrol officer who looks like he's up to no good."

Master Liu slowly put down the spoon, and the white porcelain clinked against the rim of the bowl, making a soft "ding" sound.

A sharp glint flashed in the depths of his cloudy old eyes, so fast that it was almost impossible to catch.

"What's the rush? Open the door and welcome the guests."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable power.

Tiger Girl composed herself, took a deep breath, forced a stiff smile, and stepped forward to lift the curtain.

Only then did Master Liu stand up, his face instantly spreading into a warm smile, like a meticulously crafted mask, where even the deep wrinkles seemed to smooth out.

He strode to the door, bowed deeply to the dark-faced inspector who had just stepped onto the steps, his waist bent at just the right angle, his voice loud and clear, filled with utmost warmth:

"Oh my! What a rare treat! It's such an honor to have you, esteemed bosses, grace my humble workshop with your presence! Please, come in, please come in! It's freezing outside, have some hot tea to warm yourselves up!"

He stepped aside and eagerly guided his arm inside.

The dark-faced patrolman stopped at the doorway without entering the house. His hawk-like eyes swept sharply over Liu Siye's smiling face, then glanced inside. There was no warmth in his eyes, only cold scrutiny.

Two young patrol officers stood on either side of him, their hands on their batons, their faces expressionless.

"You must be Liu Si."

The dark-faced patrol officer spoke, his voice as flat as scraping iron, completely interrupting Master Liu's polite conversation.

"We won't have any tea. We're on a mission and don't have time to waste."

The smile on Master Liu's face did not diminish at all; on the contrary, it became even more enthusiastic, and he bent his waist even lower.

"I am Liu Si, boss! I don't know what brought you all here. If you need anything, just let me know! I will do my best to cooperate without hesitation!"

The dark-faced inspector pulled a folded piece of official paper from his pocket, unfolded it with a swish, and the paper made a crisp "whoosh" sound in the cold wind.

His gaze was like a knife, fixed on Liu Siye's face, and he announced clearly and coldly, word by word:

"Liu Si, listen up."

"A rickshaw driver named Zhao San has filed a complaint with the Inner Right Second District Police Station, accusing you of hiring someone to injure him, breaking his right leg and causing him permanent disability; further accusing you of trafficking his wife and children, causing his family to be separated! The evidence is conclusive!"

"We've come to arrest you! Come with us to the police station!"