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

A moment later, the office door was gently pushed open a crack, and patrol officer Zhang Kui peeked in with his usual respectful yet shrewd face.

He quickly glanced around the room, saw that only the director was there, immediately slipped inside, gently closed the door behind him, and strode to a spot about three steps away from the desk. He stood up straight, his voice not loud but clear enough:

"Chief, you wanted to see me?"

Liu Jiaxiang's gaze fell on Zhang Kui's face, his eyes calm yet carrying an undeniable command. "Go, find a quick-witted newcomer. His hands and feet must be clean, and his mouth must be sealed."

He paused, tapped his finger lightly on the table, and fixed Zhang Kui's eyes with a gaze as sharp as a hawk's.

"Keep an eye on Tiger Girl. From the moment she leaves the police station, record in detail where she goes, who she meets, and what she says, even if she just squats by the roadside and cries. I need to know every single thing she does."

Zhang Kui felt a chill run down his spine and instantly understood the director's intention.

"Yes, Chief! Don't worry, I'll personally select the people. I guarantee it will be handled perfectly, without leaving any loose ends!"

Liu Jiaxiang nodded slightly, letting out a barely audible "hmm" through his nose, which was considered his approval.

Zhang Kui said no more, bowed deeply to Liu Jiaxiang's back, his movements filled with unprecedented respect. He moved with utmost lightness, taking two steps back like a cat, before turning around, opening the heavy wooden door, and silently slipping out, then gently closing the door behind him.

Inside the office, only Liu Jiaxiang remained. Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting distinct shadows on him.

He sat upright, his fingers tapping lightly on the smooth tabletop again, tap, tap, tap... The rhythmic soft sounds spread in the silence, as if silently counting down to some predetermined ending.

The following morning, in the visiting room of the Second Police Station on the Right in the capital.

The room was small and cold, with mottled gray-white walls. A small window with iron bars high up let in a few sparse rays of light, and the air was filled with the musty smell of dust and old wood.

A heavy wooden table divides the room in two, with a hardwood chair on each side.

Tiger Girl sat on the outer side, her hands tightly twisting the hem of her clothes, her knuckles turning white from the force.

She was still wearing the same floral-patterned jacket as yesterday, but it was all wrinkled, and there were dark circles under her eyes, clearly indicating that she hadn't slept all night.

The door opposite opened, and two prison guards in black uniforms escorted Master Liu in.

In just one day, Master Liu seemed to have aged considerably. His sapphire blue silk robe with floral patterns was now covered in dust and wrinkles, losing its former luster.

The deep wrinkles on his face seemed even deeper, and his eye bags were puffy, but the glint in his cloudy old eyes had not been completely extinguished; instead, it lit up for a moment when he saw Tiger Girl.

He walked with a slight limp, but he still tried his best to straighten his back and maintain the last bit of dignity.

The prison guard pressed him down onto the chair opposite Tiger Girl, the cold iron handcuffs clanging against the wooden chair with a dull thud.

The prison guards then retreated to the doorway and stood watch, their eyes alert.

Master Liu sat down, quickly glanced at the doorway, then leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and spoke with a slightly rapid breath.

"Tiger Girl, how is it?"

His voice was dry, hoarse from not having drunk water all night.

"Have you seen Chief Liu? What did he say?"

Seeing her father's slightly haggard but still spirited appearance, Tiger Girl felt a little relieved after a night of worry.

She leaned forward, speaking in a very low voice and very quickly.

"Yes, I've given him the money... those two silver notes, as you instructed."

"After receiving the money, Chief Liu immediately went to the police station to inquire about the matter."

"That night...that night he sent someone to deliver a message to the car factory."

Liu Siye's cloudy eyes were fixed on his daughter.

"What did you find out? What exactly happened to that bastard Zhao San?"

Tiger Girl licked her chapped lips, her voice lowered, tinged with lingering fear.

"Father, Zhao San dared to file a complaint, and it wasn't his idea alone. He... he got involved with a thug named Hai Gouzi."

"Sea dog".

Master Liu repeated the name in a low voice, his brows furrowed, his eyes filled with confusion and contemplation.

He quickly ran through the names of the thugs on Xi'anmen Street and even in the western part of the city in his mind, but it seemed that there was no such person.

"Which gang are you from? Never heard of that name before. Some thug..."

Master Liu paused, a look of disbelief on his face.

"If you're not thinking about ways to make money, like opening a casino or running shady businesses, why are you even involved in this lawsuit?"

This didn't fit his perception of those local thugs and ruffians; they were after money, but even more afraid of dealing with officials.

Tiger Girl shook her head, her face displaying a complex expression that mixed fear and understanding.

"Running a shady gambling den is risky, the money comes slowly, you have to bribe officials at all levels, and there are many people watching you. It's not as quick as suing someone to extort money."

She recalled the cold analyses Liu Jiaxiang had relayed and imitated that tone.

"Especially those who try to extort money from people like us who have businesses and are afraid of lawsuits."

"By submitting a petition and getting in touch with people in the government, one can legitimately arrest people and extort money."

"If things go well, they take the lion's share; if things go wrong, it's those good-for-nothings like Zhao San who file complaints who suffer. They stay behind the scenes and don't face any risk."

As Liu Siye listened, the muscles on his face twitched slightly. He had spent most of his life in the underworld and had seen all sorts of shady dealings, but such a direct approach, such use of the government's power, still sent chills down his spine.

This is no longer a simple street extortion; it has the shadow of "officials" involved.

After a moment of silence, Old Master Liu finally managed to squeeze out a sentence through gritted teeth:

"So... how much money does this sea lion want?"

Tiger Girl looked at her father, her lips trembled, and then she uttered the number:

"Three thousand silver dollars."

"How many."

Master Liu thought he had misheard, and leaned forward abruptly, causing the handcuffs to snap open.

"Three thousand yuan."

Tiger Girl repeated it, her voice as soft as a mosquito's hum.

The color drained from Master Liu's face instantly, followed by a surge of black mist.

His eyes widened, his chest heaving violently, as if he had been punched hard in the chest.

"Three thousand yuan."

Master Liu repeated, his voice trembling with extreme anger, yet he had to suppress it, turning it into a hoarse growl.

"Is he obsessed with money? Three thousand silver dollars... three thousand dollars is enough to buy ten of his lives."

He was breathing heavily, his eyes bloodshot.

"They're going to confiscate my property and wipe out my family line!"

Tiger Girl felt a chill run down her spine as she looked at her father's dark face. She waved her hand, signaling him to calm down, and lowered her voice to almost a whisper:

"Father, don't worry. This money... isn't just for this sea dog."