Chapter 149: Simply Not Comparable!
Although he had come, Cao Weida was still one of the idlest people in the entire police station.
Since he had come, he couldn’t just turn around and go back immediately.
Things turned out to be quite coincidental. It was unknown whether heaven couldn’t bear to see him idle, but not long after, someone came looking for him again.
“Big Brother Cao, there’s a Li Xiangxiu here to see you.”
“Li Xiangxiu?” Hearing this name, Cao Weida felt it was somewhat familiar, but he couldn’t recall who it was.
“Yes, she is the wife of Bai Jingqi, the family head of the Bai family at Baicao Hall.”
“Oh, it’s her.” Cao Weida suddenly understood. Wasn’t she a character from that purple manor? No wonder the name sounded familiar.
“Please invite her in.”
Not long after, a woman in her twenties, quite pretty and refined in appearance, with a graceful and curvaceous figure, yet steady, reserved, dignified, and elegant, hurried in carrying a bag.
Her delicate face could not hide the fatigue, with a few bloodshot threads in her eyes, clearly having encountered something distressing.
After Li Xiangxiu entered the room, she saw Cao Weida’s appearance and clearly froze for a moment.
She hadn’t expected that the legendary figure who was so capable in Beiping would actually be such a young man.
But she quickly composed herself, first curtsied, then said: “Li Xiangxiu of the Bai family has come to see Officer Cao.”
“Madam Bai, you’re too polite. Please sit. Little Ear, serve tea.”
“Thank you, Officer Cao.”
Although anxious inside, Li Xiangxiu remained composed and proper, her dignified demeanor evident in her movements.
Tsk, as expected of someone who had managed the inner chambers for many years; this poise wasn’t something one could have out of thin air.
After sitting down, Li Xiangxiu said apologetically: “Officer Cao is so young yet holds such a high position; truly promising. I’m sorry to disturb you so abruptly today.”
“Madam Bai, you’re too polite. What promising? I’m just scraping by eating a meal.” Cao Weida was somewhat unaccustomed to such formal talk. These people who had long lived in grand courtyards still retained their old way of speaking, which sounded quite awkward.
Too lazy to beat around the bush, he got straight to the point:
“Madam Bai, you’ve hurried here; is there something wrong?”
Clearly not expecting Cao Weida to be so direct, Li Xiangxiu was stunned for a moment, then said bitterly: “Officer Cao speaks bluntly, so I’ll be straightforward.”
She took a box from her bag and pushed it over,
“My husband Bai Jingqi has been arrested by the Japanese and taken to the Military Police. I’ve heard that Officer Cao is very capable; I wonder if you could help mediate?”
After speaking, she looked at Cao Weida with hope in her eyes. The Bai family lived in the Inner Seventh District and rarely paid attention to matters in the Outer Fifth District.
Ever since her family head was arrested and taken to the Military Police, the Bai family had fallen into chaos.
Although Li Xiangxiu appeared steady and unflappable, she was actually panicking terribly inside.
It could be said that Bai Jingqi was the pillar of the Bai family. The master suddenly being arrested was like pulling out the pillar from home; how could she not panic?
Moreover, the Japanese clearly had killing intent, with an attitude of not resting until their goal was achieved.
Everyone in Beiping knew that once taken into the Military Police, it was usually a bad end.
If the master still refused to take the position of Chamber of Commerce President, the Japanese absolutely wouldn’t let him go!
At this critical moment of the master’s life and death, the eldest son Bai Jingqi returned to cause trouble, leaving the Bai family in a total mess.
Just when she was at a loss, Tian Muqing came to the door and told her a piece of news: she could try finding Cao Weida at the Outer Fifth District Police Station; it might work.
At the time, she didn’t know who Cao Weida was and even doubted if he had that much influence.
So, she sent someone to inquire about Cao Weida and learned that Beiping had quietly produced such a capable person who had more than once rescued people from the Military Police.
Of course, most importantly, she learned that Cao Weida was not some die-hard traitor and had never done anything harmful.
On the contrary, in his jurisdiction, his reputation was quite high, loved and respected by the people in the jurisdiction.
However, her family master’s matter was different from others; she didn’t dare be certain that Cao Weida had the ability to save him.
This time, the little devils had made a big move, just to force her family master to submit and to get the Bai family’s prescriptions.
Without achieving their goal, would the little devils agree to release the master?
But things had come to this; she could only treat a dead horse as a live one and give it a try—who knew, it might work.
Cao Weida glanced at the box; he didn’t even need to open it to know it must contain gold bars or a check—definitely not silver dollars.
If it were silver dollars, that would be too stingy.
The Bai family was so wealthy; if they really used just a few silver dollars to brush it off, that wouldn’t be an attitude of seeking help—it would be planning to offend someone.
“Master of the Bai family was arrested and taken to the Military Police? What did Boss Bai do wrong?” He knew the reason in his heart, but he pretended not to know and asked.
“Captain Kato of the Military Police wants our family master to be Chamber of Commerce President, but our family master refused.”
She explained the whole story without any concealment, nor did she intend to conceal it, because it couldn’t be hidden anyway.
When seeking help, one must show the proper attitude. At this point, if she still tried to scheme with others, forget whether he could be rescued—it would definitely offend this person first.
Cao Weida put on a suddenly understanding expression, “Oh, so that’s how it is.”
Then he fell into contemplation.
Li Xiangxiu’s heart suddenly tightened; she sat there anxiously, uneasy inside yet not daring to urge him, only able to wait nervously.
She had thought of every possible method, even swallowing her pride to take a gift and seek out her arch-rival Guan Jingshan.
However, Guan Jingshan was a die-hard traitor who refused her outright without hesitation.
Seeing Guan Jingshan unwilling to help, she took gold bars to beg Wang Xiguang.
The result was predictable: not only was she mocked, but she was thrown out the door, unable to even take the gold bars with her.
It could be said that Cao Weida was her only hope now; if even he wasn’t willing to help, she wouldn’t know who else to turn to.
She glanced at the box on the table, feeling even more uneasy inside, unable to stop her wild thoughts:
Does he not want to help, or does he think it’s too little?
What should I do now?
Should I remind him?
Although she had managed the Bai family inner chambers for several years, she wasn’t trained by a great clan after all; her time in power was still short, and this matter involved too much.
She couldn’t help but start panicking inside; her two hands unconsciously gripped and twisted the handkerchief back and forth, her two legs restlessly shifting.
Her lips were tightly pressed, her lip color somewhat pale; as time passed, she even began to feel some despair.
Just as she endured the torment in waiting, when the hope in her eyes was about to fade completely, Cao Weida finally spoke: “I can only say I’ll try to help, but I can’t guarantee success.”
Li Xiangxiu couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy and excitedly stood up, “Thank you, Officer Cao! Thank you!”
“No matter if it succeeds or not, the Bai family owes you a debt of gratitude!”
“These in the box are a small token from the Bai family. Don’t worry, sir; if it works, the Bai family will offer heavy thanks!”
Cao Weida smiled; this was the effect he wanted.
If he had agreed right away, how could it achieve the best effect?
Only by letting others know your difficulties, know to what extent you’re troubled by this matter—only when the other party feels despair, then giving them hope—could the merit be maximized.
Don’t blame him for scheming; human nature is like this, and he didn’t want to either.
“Madam Bai is too polite. We are all Chinese compatriots, and Shopkeeper Bai is such an upright Chinese person. If I didn’t know, fine, but now that I do, I naturally must help a bit.”
“Rest assured, even if not for anything else, just for Shopkeeper Bai’s national righteousness, I must do my utmost to help.”
“Please wait a moment; I’ll go out for a bit first.”
With that, he got up and left quickly.
Li Xiangxiu was deeply moved inside; she naturally knew Cao Weida was going to pull strings to help her.
She knew how difficult this matter was; the little devils had gone to great lengths to put her family master on the fire and get the Bai family’s secret prescriptions—how could it be so easy to get him released?
The box on the table hadn’t been touched yet, which had made her very uneasy before, but now it seemed to her the best proof of his sincere help.
She couldn’t help thinking inside: both working for the little devils, look at Cao Weida compared to Guan Jingshan—pah! Damn Guan Jingshan, damn traitor; he simply can’t be mentioned in the same breath as Officer Cao!
Comparing him to Officer Cao is an insult to Officer Cao!
Time passed minute by minute; Li Xiangxiu was extremely restless.
As time went on, her heart pounded harder and harder.
Although no matter success or failure, she would remember Cao Weida’s kindness of sending charcoal in the snow.
But deep down, she naturally hoped more that Cao Weida could get the matter done.
She didn’t know how long had passed; just as she was fidgeting anxiously, footsteps suddenly sounded.
“Madam Bai, sorry to keep you waiting.”
Seeing Cao Weida walk in, Li Xiangxiu hurriedly stood and said: “Officer Cao, you’re too polite. That you’re willing to help think of a way means the world to me and the Bai family.”
“Haha, alright, alright, let’s not be so polite with each other; it’s tiring.” He smiled and interrupted her continued thanks, walked to the stool, and sat down.
Cao Weida didn’t mind flattery; he himself often flattered others.
He was also willing to hear nice words; after all, he was just an ordinary person.
However, those who truly appreciate you don’t need to say it; they’ll remember your kindness.
Those who don’t want to appreciate you, no matter how flowery their words, it’s useless.
After sitting down, he said directly: “I’ve already pulled some strings. These two days, Shopkeeper Bai won’t be mistreated in the Military Police; someone will look after him.”
“I’ve invited a few officers to dine together tonight; I’ll ask them for help then. Whether it works or not depends on these two days; you can just go back and wait for news.”
