Chapter 39: Truly Foolish Or Just Playing Dumb?
Police Station office.
Xu Hancheng personally poured a cup of water for Cao Weida, saying with utmost care:
“Come on, Cao’er, have some tea to moisten your throat, be careful it’s hot.”
Cao Weida looked flattered and surprised, quickly standing up and leaning forward to take the tea. “Bureau Chief, how can you pour tea for me? This would embarrass me to death! Let me do it, let me do it.”
“Haha, we’re all brothers eating from the same pot. Why be polite with me? Sit down quick, don’t be reserved, treat it like your own home.” Xu Hancheng was very satisfied with Cao Weida’s attitude. No wonder young people are great—they have simple minds.
If it were an old fox like Duomen, it wouldn’t be so easy to handle.
First he chatted about family matters, then asked about Cao Weida’s work, and finally brought up this case, sighing incessantly:
“Cao’er, you know, in our bureau, Duomen has the strongest case-handling ability. This time the Taijun lost a lot of face—they absolutely must find the culprit. Your Bureau Chief me, I’m under immense pressure.”
“Don’t think I seem all glamorous every day. Actually… look, take a good look!”
He pointed to his face that hadn’t fully subsided from swelling. “What’s this? It was beaten by Ono Taijun!”
“…” Cao Weida was speechless. Damn you Xu Hancheng, you’re really shameless!
Getting beaten and secretly crying about it is one thing, but showing off to me? No, it’s embarrassing!
He gave an awkward smile, his eyes drifting. “Ahem… Bureau Chief, Ono Taijun was indeed a bit excessive. This matter isn’t your fault. We did our best to cooperate, but those resistance members are all professional experts. There’s the saying: there’s no thief for a thousand days, but no one guards against thieves for a thousand days.”
“Who says otherwise!” Xu Hancheng slapped his thigh hard, making a loud ‘pa’ sound. Cao Weida felt the pain just hearing it.
But Xu Hancheng remained unfazed. “Tell me about it, brother me is really caught between a rock and a hard place!”
“The brothers have been working dawn to dusk these days, non-stop arrests, and in the end? Nothing found.”
“Clearly they’ve come again. The brothers under me are exhausted, grumbling everywhere. I can hear it even in my office!”
“Can’t explain to the brothers below, and the Taijun above are pressuring me. My situation… sigh, don’t mention it, too much talk brings tears…”
So, what does this have to do with me?
Cao Weida rolled his eyes inwardly. When you were flaunting your power and raking in money at home, you didn’t look worried.
Oh, now that trouble comes, you’re all frowning and complaining?
Where does such good luck come from!
“Rest assured, I will do my utmost to cooperate with the Captain, cooperate with the Police Station, and use all I can to arrest the resistance members!”
“…” Xu Hancheng looked at Cao Weida suspiciously. This kid—is he really that naive or playing dumb?
I’ve said it so bluntly, and Duomen brought out this blockhead?
“Ahem, as expected of the man I favor. I really appreciate this drive of yours.” Xu Hancheng coughed, smiled and patted Cao Weida’s shoulder encouragingly, then changed the subject.
“But sometimes, some things don’t need to be taken so seriously. We can take a roundabout way. After all, the overly rigid breaks easily.”
“Cao’er, I heard you’re quite close with our Officer Ono?”
“I have some local specialties I want to give to Officer Ono, but he’s in a bad mood right now. You see, can you help me deliver them?”
Whether he’s really dumb or faking it, Xu Hancheng couldn’t care less now.
His official hat is secondary; he’s just afraid that old devil Ono Shiota will take it out on him, and he might not even keep his head.
So, he could only make it even clearer. This shouldn’t be incomprehensible now, right?
Did Cao Weida understand?
He understood long ago!
Or more precisely, he had anticipated it when Duomen told him.
He knew a bit about Xu Hancheng’s past. The man wasn’t really bad—plenty of minor flaws, but not one who harmed the locals.
It wouldn’t be right to say Xu Hancheng only knew flattery; the man had real skills.
Of course, getting to the Police Chief position wasn’t due to his ability.
Before the little devils came, he relied on family background—some money at home, some connections.
Kuomintang, you know—spend money.
Later the little devils came, and Xu Hancheng was very cooperative, keeping his position low.
There’s a saying: in little devil words, those who know when to yield are the true heroes.
Xu Hancheng fit that perfectly—supremely adaptable.
And it worked: to show their ‘Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere’ goal and ‘use Chinese to control Chinese’ policy, the little devils were quite restrained with non-resisting Chinese officials, not interfering or dismissing too much.
Of course, placing some ‘consultants’ in there was normal procedure.
Xu Hancheng was clever; he knew the little devils were petty. If he did nothing, they’d be dissatisfied.
But if he did everything outstandingly, forget whether the little devils would suspect him—the Exterminate Traitors Squad wouldn’t sit idle.
He didn’t want to get ambushed on the way home someday, or wake up to a hero who killed him at his bedside.
So, every time he handled things, he seemed diligent but always fell one step short.
This way, he handled matters dutifully without offending the resistance members.
Plus usual flattery—the little devils would only think he was a bit incompetent, but his loyalty to the Imperial Army was unquestionable.
With that, his easy life was pretty good. The downside? After botching things, his cheeks often got extra close to little devil officers’ palms.
So, deep down, Cao Weida didn’t dislike Xu Hancheng.
Seeing him lay it out so clearly, Cao Weida stopped playing dumb and acted enlightened.
“So, you mean…”
“Not to make it difficult, right?”
“It’s not difficult, but as you said, Ono Taijun is in a bad mood. If I go over now…”
‘Clunk’, a bag was pushed over. “Here are some snacks. I’m old, can’t eat these. Take them back and try them.”
Cao Weida glanced at it. By the shape, two gold bars. You’d need good teeth for that, or risk chipping them…
“You’re too polite. You’re my respected Bureau Chief. Going through fire for you is my honor. How can I accept your gift?” He pushed the bag back and said righteously:
“Rest assured, I understand your meaning. I’ll definitely deliver the gift!”
No matter what, Xu Hancheng was at least decent.
It wasn’t that he was so kind-hearted to help Xu Hancheng. If Xu Hancheng really lost his hat, who knows what monster might become Bureau Chief?
Better the known devil than an unknown one.
Moreover, building ties with Xu Hancheng now—after the little devils’ defeat, in the original story Xu Hancheng still became Police Chief. With this connection, he’d have to remember the favor, right?
Connections are built bit by bit. It’s never wrong to befriend people in any position.
Cao Weida’s actions made Xu Hancheng a bit embarrassed, and he patted his shoulder hard.
“Rest assured, whether it works or not, I remember this favor!”
“Bureau Chief, you’re too serious. Shall I go now?”
Xu Hancheng quickly went to the desk, took a small box from the cabinet, and handed it to him. “Thanks for the hardship, brother. I’m counting on you for this!”
Youtaojing Restaurant.
Cao Weida invited Ono Shiota to drink alone.
As usual, he ordered two hostesses for Ono Shiota. When drinking to his heart’s content, Ono Shiota couldn’t help humming little devil songs.
That wailing like ghosts crying and wolves howling really gave Cao Weida a headache.
Midway, Cao Weida went out to settle the bill. When he returned, he had an extra small box in hand.
“Cao Sang, you treated us again today. Next time, next time it must be me!”
Heh, what false sincerity!
I remember you said that last time too. Put it into action!
“No, no, Ono-kun honoring us with a meal is already my great fortune.”
“Your care for me lately—I’ve always kept it in mind. I must express some gratitude, or I’ll feel uneasy.”
“Hahaha, you, you… fine, I can’t outtalk you.”
It was just polite talk, but Ono Shiota ate it up.
His gaze turned to the box in Cao Weida’s hand, puzzled. “Cao Sang, this is…”
No danger—he wasn’t worried. Anything brought into the private room must have been checked by Youtaojing Boss Lady.
Ono Shiota and others came here often for a reason.
“Ono-kun, this is from our Bureau Chief Xu Hancheng.”
The smile on Ono Shiota’s face gradually faded. Seeing his sour expression, Cao Weida continued:
“He means nothing else. Recently he got a Ming Dynasty official kiln porcelain from Jingdezhen, or so he says. But he’s a rough man, doesn’t know authenticity. I’m a big oaf too, how would I know?”
“Ono-kun, your vast knowledge is renowned, so I boldly brought it for you to appraise.”
“What?! Ming Dynasty Jingdezhen porcelain?! Oh, I must appraise it!”
Seeing Ono Shiota’s excitement and eager reaching hand, Cao Weida knew it was a done deal.
Cao Weida smiled and handed it over, not feeling it was a waste for Chinese treasures to fall into little devil hands.
After all, it was just temporarily in his keeping.
Ono Shiota ignored the two hostesses, waved them all out, then carefully took out a bright red-glazed porcelain piece from the box. As he examined it, he kept saying “Yōshi, Yōshi,” eyes glued, clearly loving it.
