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

The sign for Renhe Car Factory is still hanging there, its white paint somewhat glaring in the early winter sun.

However, the people and things inside had already changed quietly.

Liu Jiaxiang arranged for Zhang Kui to select two clever and tight-lipped police officers from the former Xisi North Police Station who had been tamed by him. They changed out of their police uniforms, disguised themselves as ordinary managers, and moved into the car factory.

The ledgers, driver rosters, and daily "car share" income flowed openly through the channels and then secretly into new ones.

The workshop continued its daily operations as usual, with wheels still creaking over the cobblestones. However, a small, fixed amount would appear in the monthly "car allowance," which, through Zhang Kui's hands, would eventually fall into Liu Jiaxiang's control.

This is just the first step.

What Liu Jiaxiang wanted was more than just the car factory's fixed monthly income.

He instructed Zhang Kui to carefully sift through the dozens of rickshaw pullers at the depot again. He told them to discard the glib and cunning ones and focus on those who seemed quiet and honest, focused on pulling the rickshaw, and who, though not talkative, had sharp ears, to gather information from them.

Renhe Car Factory, the most inconspicuous yet ubiquitous business next to Xi'anmen Street, was no longer just a car factory that made money by picking up passengers.

It became Liu Jiaxiang's ear embedded in the western part of the capital, primitive yet hidden enough to penetrate deep into the streets and alleys.

Those coachmen crisscrossed the streets and alleys every day, visiting teahouses, restaurants, government offices, mansions, inns, and theaters—they were everywhere. The snippets of information they overheard were gathered by Zhang Kui, who then sorted them out and presented them to Liu Jiaxiang. This resulted in the most vivid yet chaotic intelligence drafts in the capital.

Liu Jiaxiang himself has been busy for the past two weeks.

On Director Zhang Tiancheng's side, the matter of securing the position of Director of General Affairs has reached a critical juncture.

Liu Jiaxiang, this newly promoted capable assistant, was naturally taken by Zhang Tiancheng's side and frequently appeared at various events.

Today it's a banquet for a powerful section chief in the police department; tomorrow it's accompanying a visit to a director in the State Council; the day after tomorrow it's supporting a newly opened silk shop. In reality, it's a "chance encounter" with the owner behind the scenes—a businessman with ties to the Ministry of Finance.

At the banquet, Liu Jiaxiang didn't say much. He always sat perfectly to the left of Zhang Tiancheng, with a straight posture and a respectful expression that carried a hint of youthful vigor.

She knew when to offer a toast and when to agree, showing great insight without ever overshadowing Zhang Tiancheng.

He personally handled the gift-giving and tidying up process.

He handled everything perfectly, from choosing which gifts to give to whom, to deciding when and what to say, and how to hand over the banknotes discreetly.

Zhang Tiancheng observed this and felt that this young man was not only capable in his work, but more importantly, he was knowledgeable, tactful, and knew how to maintain proper boundaries. He was a confidant who could be cultivated.

Over the course of half a month, Liu Jiaxiang's face, which was originally only known within the police stations of the Inner Right Second District and the Xisi North Police Station, gradually became familiar to the Beijing Police Department and some key government offices of the State Council.

Many people know that Director Zhang has a new young deputy surnamed Liu, who is steady in his work, tight-lipped, and quite a character.

On this day, as dusk approached, the office of the police chief of the Second Inner District was brightly lit.

Zhang Tiancheng sat behind his large mahogany desk, his well-maintained face glowing red, not from alcohol, but from barely suppressed excitement.

Two newly delivered official documents were laid out in front of him, stamped with the bright red seal of the Capital Police Department.

One of them was the promotion of Zhang Tiancheng, the head of the Second Inner Right District Police Station, to the head of the General Affairs Department of the Beijing Police Department.

The other document appointed Liu Jiaxiang, the former head of the Xisi North Police Station, as the deputy head of the Neiyou Second District Police Station, while retaining his position as the head of the police station.

Zhang Tiancheng's fingers gently caressed the two official documents, feeling the unique crispness of the paper and the slight bulge of the inkpad. The smile on his lips widened, eventually turning into a deep and hearty laugh.

Zhang Tiancheng finally secured the coveted position of Director of General Affairs, a post that oversaw personnel, finances, and resources for the entire department.

There was a gentle knock on the office door.

"Come in."

Zhang Tiancheng suppressed his smile somewhat, but the light in his eyes remained bright.

Liu Jiaxiang pushed open the door and entered, still wearing a crisp black police officer uniform, the insignia on his shoulder straps gleaming coldly under the light.

He walked steadily to the desk, stopped about three steps away, straightened his back, and looked calmly at Zhang Tiancheng.

"Director."

"Jiaxiang, come here, take a look at this."

Zhang Tiancheng pushed the appointment letter belonging to Liu Jiaxiang forward, his smile revealing undisguised admiration and closeness.

"Your appointment as deputy chief has been approved. From today onwards, you will be the deputy chief of the Inner Right Second District Police Station. You will also continue to handle the Xisi North Police Station duties concurrently. It's a heavy responsibility, but I believe you can handle it."

Liu Jiaxiang's gaze fell on the appointment letter and lingered for a moment.

He then stepped back, put his feet together, and gave Zhang Tiancheng a proper and respectful bow, the movement precise and powerful.

"Thank you for your guidance, Director Xie."

Zhang Tiancheng smiled, walked around the large desk, stood in front of Liu Jiaxiang, and patted him on the shoulder forcefully.

"You're my right-hand man. I just took over the General Affairs Department, and there's a ton of work to do, with countless eyes watching both inside and outside the office. Please take good care of things here at the department. With you here, I feel at ease."

"Don't worry, Director, I understand."

Liu Jiaxiang nodded slightly.

Zhang Tiancheng offered a few more words of encouragement, nothing more than platitudes like "work hard" and "you have a bright future," but the closeness and reliance in his tone were genuine.

Liu Jiaxiang maintained a respectful listening posture throughout, nodding in agreement when appropriate.

A moment later, Liu Jiaxiang took his leave, carrying the letter of appointment as deputy director, and walked steadily out of the director's office.

The heavy wooden door closed gently behind him, shutting out the still-lingering atmosphere of excitement inside.

The corridor was dimly lit, and occasionally people in police uniforms would hurry by. When they saw Liu Jiaxiang, they would subconsciously slow down and cast a glance at him with either curiosity or awe.

The appointment of the deputy director has not yet been officially announced, but in this government office, news always spreads faster than the wind.

Ignoring the stares, Liu Jiaxiang walked straight back to his newly assigned deputy director's office on the second floor of the police station.

The room was much more spacious than the police station chief's office, with mahogany desks and chairs, filing cabinets against the wall, and dark carpets on the floor.

The window faces south, and the afterglow of the setting sun is streaming in through the glass, casting warm golden patches on the smooth tabletop.

He sat down behind his desk, placed the appointment letter on it, and unconsciously tapped his fingers lightly on the edge.

Outside the window, the winter twilight of the capital was deepening, and the outlines of the distant streets and alleys were gradually blurring in the dim light of the day.

The people and the car factory became his eyes and ears in the shadows, while the position of deputy director further enhanced his power in the open.

On the chessboard of this chaotic capital, he has placed another solid piece.

He has taken a solid step up the ladder in the police system.

What follows is a more complex situation, a more covert struggle, and even greater interests.