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

Zhang Tiancheng's hand stopped above the telephone receiver, and he turned to look at Liu Jiaxiang.

He had just received five thousand silver dollars and was extremely pleased with himself. He found his capable subordinate even more pleasing to the eye.

Upon hearing this, he smiled, waved his hand, and spoke in a very magnanimous tone.

"Hey, Jiaxiang, what are you saying?"

"What's there to say or not say? You're someone I personally promoted, my trusted confidant. If you have any thoughts, just say them. There's no need for these kinds of concerns between us."

Liu Jiaxiang bowed slightly to show his acceptance of this "trust".

"Director, in my humble opinion, Liu Si is a seasoned veteran who has been navigating the underworld for decades."

"He had experienced firsthand the rules of the government office and the methods of torture."

"If we were to use torture on him right now to extract a confession..."

"Then, he will immediately understand one thing—regardless of whether he confesses or not, or how much he confesses, since we have used such methods, we will never leave him a way out. He is going to die either way."

Liu Jiaxiang’s voice was calm and unhurried, yet he clearly and explicitly analyzed the stakes involved.

"Given that, he will inevitably choose to put up a stubborn resistance. He'd rather die than let us get what we want. That's the typical mentality of these seasoned veterans."

As Zhang Tiancheng listened, the anxious look on his face subsided slightly, his brows furrowed slightly, and his fingers unconsciously tapped on the armrest.

He had to admit that Liu Jiaxiang's words made sense.

Dealing with a tough nut like Liu Si by simply resorting to brute force would likely be counterproductive.

"certainly,"

Liu Jiaxiang changed the subject slightly, but his tone remained calm.

"As the chief said, there must be a truth beneath Miki. With the police department's methods, it's inevitable that we'll eventually pry him open and get him to confess. After all, Liu Si is getting old and isn't made of iron."

"but,"

He emphasized his words.

"This process will likely take much longer. A day, two days, or perhaps even longer."

"If he fails to withstand the torture and dies suddenly, or if he becomes delirious and talks nonsense, the real clues to the treasure may be cut off. Moreover, making too much noise will inevitably attract attention and cause complications."

Liu Jiaxiang laid out all the possible risks, each one hitting the nail on the head regarding Zhang Tiancheng's most important concerns—time, efficiency, stability, and most importantly, ensuring that the unknown huge fortune could be safely pocketed.

Zhang Tiancheng leaned back in his chair, his excitement replaced by deep thought.

He paused for a moment, and the rhythm of his fingers tapping on the armrest gradually slowed down.

"Hmm...you're right. This old coffin stuff really can't be judged by ordinary standards."

"Then... in your opinion, what should we do? We can't just let it go, or we should try to reason with him."

Liu Jiaxiang knew the time was right. He wore a confident yet humble expression, leaned forward slightly, and lowered his voice.

"Chief, I have an idea. It might be faster and more reliable to get Liu Si to talk and reveal what we want."

He then told Zhang Tiancheng about his plan.

As Zhang Tiancheng listened to Liu Jiaxiang's brief explanation, his eyes gradually lit up.

The deep thought on his face was replaced by a smile of sudden enlightenment and increasing satisfaction.

"Okay, okay."

Zhang Tiancheng couldn't help but clap his hands, his smile widening, and his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at Liu Jiaxiang.

"As expected, heroes emerge from among the young. Jiaxiang, you not only know how to get things done, but also how to get them done well. You are meticulous and plan carefully before acting, even better than I was back then."

He completely relaxed, leaning back with a relaxed and trusting posture.

"In that case, I'll leave the rest to you. You can arrange the department's cooperation as needed, or have Zhou Chengan coordinate it. All I want is results—to dig up as much of Liu Si's past as possible, as quickly as possible."

Liu Jiaxiang immediately stood up, his posture as straight as a pine tree, and gave Zhang Tiancheng a proper bow, his face showing just the right amount of solemnity and gratitude.

"Thank you for your trust, Director. I will do my utmost and will not let you down."

His voice was steady and powerful, carrying a reassuring certainty.

Zhang Tiancheng waved his hand in satisfaction.

"Go for it, go for it. I'll be waiting for your good news."

Liu Jiaxiang bowed slightly again before turning around and leaving the director's office with steady steps.

The heavy wooden door closed gently behind him, separating the inside from the outside.

Inside the office, Zhang Tiancheng sat alone in a large mahogany chair, his gaze returning to the stack of five thousand silver dollars on the table, a smile lingering on his face. He picked up the silver dollars, examined them carefully once more, and then cautiously opened the drawer, placing them alongside his other "savings."

The soft sound of the drawer closing sounded to him like the pleasant clinking of gold coins.

As Liu Jiaxiang walked out of the police station, the respect and solemnity on his face had long since faded, replaced by his usual calm and profound expression.

The afternoon sun was a bit too bright, so he squinted slightly and gestured with his hand.

The rickshaw driver who had been waiting outside the office immediately picked up the handlebars and jogged over.

Liu Jiaxiang got into a rickshaw and headed to the police station.

The wheels rolled over the bluestone pavement, making a soft creaking sound, and headed back the way they came.

For the next three days, Liu Jiaxiang went to work and ate and drank as usual, seemingly having completely forgotten about Liu Siye, leaving him to fend for himself in the police station cell without any concern.

This really made Old Man Liu's heart flutter.

For the past three days, Liu Siye felt like each day was an eternity in his cell. He waited and waited, but no news came from his daughter, Hu Niu, who was trying to rescue him. No one paid any attention to him either, which made Liu Siye restless and unable to eat or sleep.

That morning, the cold prison cell was still only letting in a meager amount of light through the small window with iron bars high up.

Old Master Liu huddled in the haystack in the corner, his sapphire blue silk robe with floral patterns was filthy and wrinkled like a rag.

His face was ashen, his deep wrinkles were even more pronounced, his eye bags were puffy and bluish, and his once gray hair had turned completely white in just three days, clinging haphazardly to his scalp like withered straw.

His eyes were fixed on the direction of the prison door, his lips were dry and cracked, and he was trembling slightly, like a dried clay sculpture.

The sound of leather shoes tapping on the cement floor came from the corridor outside the door, approaching slowly and steadily.

Liu Siye's cloudy eyes suddenly rolled, his body subconsciously leaned forward, and a soft hoarse sound came from his throat.

The footsteps stopped in front of the prison door.

The key was inserted into the lock and turned, producing a harsh metallic scraping sound.