Chapter 042: The First Step to Survival

On the evening of December 22, 1928, across from the Fengtian City Police Bureau, a small restaurant bustled with activity. Cups clinked, dice rattled, and the drink flowed freely. Today, Liu Junze was fishing like Jiang Taigong, waiting for someone willing to take the bait.

But how to coax Zhao Ruilong into speaking, and then smoothly steer the conversation toward the detained suspects, still required the right opportunity. Creating opportunities and seizing them was Liu Junze’s specialty.

“I’ll tell you all, I have a way to make some money! Last time, I delivered goods to Rehe and met a wealthy boss. He’s come to Fengtian looking for someone—his nephew came here to buy supplies, but has been missing for days. Whoever finds him will get a hefty reward immediately!”

“Sounds easy, but Fengtian is a big city with so many people—where would you even start looking?”

As the others bantered and toasted with Liu Junze, Zhao Ruilong, the one-eyed man, glanced at Liu Junze and silently drank half a bowl of wine.

“So, after all this, Liu Junze, you’re here for me,” Zhao Ruilong realized in an instant. This gathering wasn’t incidental—it was arranged specifically for him! If not a trap, it was close enough.

Yet Zhao Ruilong said nothing, offering a wry smile. He thought to himself, it seems I still have some value to my brothers—not entirely useless after all.

Those thirteen were beaten already; nothing more could be extracted from them. Let’s see what price Liu Junze is willing to offer.

Meanwhile, Liu Junze was still performing energetically, unaware that Zhao Ruilong had already seen through his intentions!

An hour passed.

“Alright, brothers, it’s getting late and the weather’s cold. Head home early! I won’t see each of you off, but here’s a little something—grab a rickshaw on your way out!”

Liu Junze handed each man three silver dollars.

Zhao Ruilong took the coins, tossing them in his hand, but didn’t leave.

When the noisy crowd finally dispersed, Zhao Ruilong silently dragged Liu Junze straight into the police chief’s office across the street.

“Speak, Liu. We’ve known each other a while. You went to all this trouble tonight for me, didn’t you?”

Liu Junze was stunned. Damn, this one-eyed fellow is too sharp!

He stared dumbly at the somewhat unfamiliar Zhao Ruilong, unsure what to say, when Zhao continued, “Don’t rush to deny it. I may be blind in one eye, but my heart isn’t blind. Your wine tonight was good, but I didn’t drink myself stupid.”

As he spoke, Zhao poured water. “Half a year ago, you suddenly vanished from the Young Marshal’s side without a word. Now you’re back, throwing banquets and handing out money, bringing those fools right across from the police bureau for drinks. It’s obvious as lice on a bald head!”

“It’s just the two of us here. If you have something in mind, say it now. If you keep hiding, I won’t bother anymore.”

Liu Junze recovered from shock and embarrassment. At this moment, reputation meant nothing—saving lives was more important, especially as Zhao was offering him a ladder to climb.

“Zhao, since you’ve said so, I won’t hide it. The person is real. I don’t know how he learned I served under the Young Marshal, but he asked me to help rescue some people inside.”

“He’s offering a lot! So I want to give it a try.”

Hearing “offering a lot,” Zhao Ruilong’s single eye gleamed—a detail Liu Junze noticed.

Money, that’s negotiable!

“How much? What are the terms?”

Liu Junze dared not hesitate; this fellow seemed smarter since losing an eye, and was hard to handle.

“Ten silver dollars per person!”

“Ten each? Just get them out?”

“Zhao, are you trying to trick me? If they’re sent out only to be shot, and the family gets a corpse, that won’t do. The requirement is to deliver them out of the city and hand them over to their own people, money and people exchanged on the spot.”

“I’m not that dirty! Giving them to you is fine, but getting them out is difficult. Some are badly injured—those boys hit hard.”

“Can you let me see them first?”

Zhao Ruilong thought for a moment. “Alright, you can have a look, but don’t say much or mention money.”

“Don’t worry, Zhao, I understand.”

In the underground temporary interrogation room of the Fengtian Police Bureau, each cell was packed, two people per cell, with nothing but some straw on the floor—not even blankets.

Wounds from the beatings were exposed, oozing pus, and many huddled together for warmth. Liu Junze could hardly bear the sight.

“Zhao, this is too cruel! How about this: I’ll pay, you get some cheap mats and blankets for them.”

“Also, there’s some medicine left at the pharmacy. I’ll fetch it and bring it over for basic treatment, at least to keep them alive!”

“Ten silver dollars each! Dead, they’re useless!”

The last sentence was whispered close to Zhao Ruilong’s ear. This final remark moved the one-eyed man, and he nodded in agreement.

Seeing Zhao Ruilong agree, Liu Junze didn’t linger to look further. He pulled Zhao back upstairs. “Zhao, can you arrange mats and blankets?” As he spoke, he slipped a silver dollar into Zhao’s hand. “It’s heavy, I didn’t bring much. I’ll get medicine and bring two more later—this is just for mats and blankets!”

“Alright, go get the medicine. I’ll arrange mats and blankets. Hurry back.”

Liu Junze jogged out, passing a familiar steamed bun shop, waking the owner and ordering three trays of buns, handing over three silver dollars. The owner was happy to oblige.

Liu Junze then ran back to Aoki Pharmacy, gathered some medicinal supplies, took five silver dollars, locked up, returned to the bun shop, and took the hot buns back to the police bureau.

Sweating from his run, he couldn’t tell if the heat was from his own effort or the buns.

Upon arrival, Zhao Ruilong hadn’t returned yet, but the two policemen guarding the basement recognized Liu Junze—he’d been with the chief earlier, and his generosity in handing each a silver dollar made them eager to help.

“Brother, could you fetch a cup and some hot water?”

“Of course, I’ll get it.”

“Brother, can you point out which cells hold the thirteen people arrested together last time?”

“You’ve come to the right person! To prevent collusion, they were separated—my arrangement! Cells 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 all hold those men, plus one alone in the interrogation room.”

“Alone—hanged up?” Liu Junze was stunned. Hanged up? In this cold, could he survive?

“Yes, hanged up. No empty cells left.”

“Then let’s go to that interrogation room first!”