Chapter 20: Different Times, Different Measures
Cao Weida waved his hand impatiently, “Just forget it. Shashahai has always been under the control of the Japanese Army. Be careful not to get caught. If you’re caught, who will take care of your family?”
“I’ve already given you everything. You should focus on taking care of your wife during her postpartum confinement first.”
This stingy Yan is truly something else.
Normally it’s fine, but now that the little devils are searching everywhere, especially waterways like Shashahai, which are blockaded by the little devils, they fear that resistance fighters will escape via the water routes.
If you go to Shashahai now, aren’t you asking to be caught?
Yan Bugui shrunk his neck, gave an embarrassed smile, and looking at Jia Zhangshi, who looked miserable, couldn’t help but shiver.
That’s right, that’s right, I’ll wait a while longer. If I get caught, it’ll be all over.
However, he did keep the matter of fishing in mind, and made up his mind to buy a fishing rod and go fishing after the blockade by the little devils was lifted.
After Cao Weida finished speaking, he couldn’t be bothered with him anymore and said to Jia Zhangshi, “Jia Zhangshi, let’s go. We’re going to the Matsui Special Agency now to get your man out first.”
“Xiangzi, I’ll have to trouble you again. Later, your man will probably need a car, so please help pull him one more time.”
“Yes, master. Please get in, I’ll pull you there.”
“No need, let’s walk. You’ve already worked hard coming back and forth, and it’s not good for three people to ride.”
Xiangzi’s heart warmed, and he was especially happy. He had met such a kind master, and it seemed his future days would be much better.
Little Ear saw all of this and his resolve to cling to Cao Weida’s coattails grew even stronger.
For no other reason than Cao Weida’s character, he wasn’t the type to discard someone after they were no longer useful!
He trusted this kind of person!
They arrived at the Matsui Special Agency and stated their purpose.
Apparently, Matsui Koji had already made arrangements, and the procedures were even completed.
In a moment, a person covered in ragged clothes and riddled with wounds was dragged out.
Who else could this person be but Jia Guangzheng?
Jia Guangzheng’s appearance at this moment was truly miserable. His face was pale, his lips were cracked and dry, his clothes were torn in many places, and his blood had almost dyed his clothes red.
You didn’t need to look to know he had suffered a lot inside.
As soon as Jia Zhangshi saw him, she let out a cry and rushed over, tears gushing out, wailing, “My dear, how were you beaten like this? Is there no justice?”
“Cough, cough!” Cao Weida immediately coughed to stop Jia Zhangshi’s wailing, winked at her, and said in a stern voice:
“Jia Zhangshi, what nonsense are you speaking! Don’t you know where we are! Hurry up and help your man into the car and take him to the hospital!”
“Xiangzi, go up and help.”
Xiangzi obediently ran up. Jia Zhangshi, after being reprimanded, also came to her senses. Although she secretly resented the little devils for being so brutal, she dared not make a scene anymore. Sobbing, she and Xiangzi worked together to help her husband into the car.
Cao Weida took out several packs of cigarettes and stuffed them into the hands of the little devil special agents, whose faces had darkened after being scolded. At the same time, he didn’t forget to hand over two packs to the translator beside him.
“Taijun, my wife is a bit uneducated and speaks carelessly. Please don’t mind her.”
“Thank you for your trouble today. Please take these cigarettes. It’s a small token of my appreciation. By the way, what are your noble surnames? I’m having dinner with Matsui-kun tonight, so I can thank you properly.”
When the translator translated, upon hearing that Cao Weida was having dinner with Matsui Koji that evening, the expressions of the two special agents immediately changed. Their previously somber faces instantly turned warm, and their attitude became more friendly.
“Oh, Cao Sang, you are too kind. We are truly sorry that your friend has suffered such great injustice. My name is…”
After exchanging pleasantries with the little devils, Cao Weida found an excuse and left.
He first went to the Gendarmerie Headquarters to present Matsui Koji with a gold bar, and they arranged to meet at Youtaojing that evening.
Afterward, during lunch, he and Little Ear and the brothers who had worked with him last night went to a reserved restaurant for a big meal.
After they were full and had drunk their fill, he directly told Little Ear to take the brothers to Bada Hutong, where each was arranged to have a girl accompany them. They all laughed with joy.
After making the arrangements, Cao Weida returned first. He had to accompany Ono Shiota and the others that evening. Compared to the girls in Bada Hutong, he preferred to go to Youtaojing to bring glory to the country and needed to conserve his energy.
After Xiangzi pulled him back to the courtyard, Cao Weida gave him 120 silver dollars.
“This is the money to buy a rickshaw. The amount will be adjusted if it’s more or less. Buy a good one, and get a soft cushion. A man’s backside can’t handle hardness.”
Camel Xiangzi’s rickshaw was rented from a rickshaw agency. Since it was a monthly contract, the master had to provide the vehicle.
This small amount of money was no longer significant to Cao Weida. He had over seventy thousand silver dollars lying in his space.
Xiangzi obediently took the money. He felt incredibly warm inside from the master’s trust.
In the afternoon, Cao Weida was basking in the sun in the small courtyard when he saw Duomen walk in.
“Master Duo, why did you take so long?”
“Sigh, don’t even mention it. I’ve been busy until now.” Duomen walked over, sat on a stool nearby, picked up a spoon, scooped some spring water from the jar, and gulped it down.
After catching his breath, he continued, “Fortunately, you sent someone to the hospital. He Daqing’s wife had severe postpartum hemorrhage, and she was saved at the hospital. If she had been delivered at home by a midwife, she might have died right then.”
“So, she was saved?”
“Of course she was saved. Later, her husband came over, learned about the situation, and immediately knelt down to me. I tried my best to persuade him, but he still kowtowed to me a few times.”
“It’s good that she was saved. Master Duo, as the saying goes, saving one life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. You have accumulated great virtue.”
“Speaking of saving, you deserve the most credit. Sigh, at least the person is saved. Whatever happens in the next life, we’ll talk about it in the next life.”
Cao Weida said with a smile, “If there is a next life, with this single act of virtue, you’ll definitely be reborn into a good family.”
It’s true that quite a few things have happened during this trip to the siheyuan.
Not to mention Yan Bugui, but just the two main characters from “Love Full Courtyard”, two people who should have died were saved because of his arrival. Would “Love Full Courtyard” still be the same siheyuan?
Would the plot in the future still unfold?
He found it quite interesting to think about.
He took out a cloth bag from his pocket. A crisp clinking sound was heard. It contained prepared silver dollars. He handed it over, saying, “This is your share. As agreed, a fifty-fifty split. Please count it.”
“Are you slapping me in the face? Counting what?” Duomen rolled his eyes and unceremoniously reached out to take it.
The silver dollars, which were initially cool, felt warm in Duomen’s hands.
“It’s settled then. Tomorrow at noon, we’ll go to Quanjude for a meal. I’ve been craving Quanjude’s duck for a long time. I’m lucky to be able to eat well thanks to you. I can have a good meal from time to time from now on.”
“It’s Master Duo’s treat, how can I refuse? Alright, then tomorrow noon it is.”
“You know, Master Duo, your lounge chair is really comfortable. Where did you buy it? I’ll buy one too.”
“I had someone custom-make it for me. If you want it, I’ll give it to you. I’ll have someone else make one for you.”
“Then I won’t be polite.”
“Between us, why are you being polite?”
As they were talking, Third Sister-in-law crossed the threshold, her arm hooked through her vegetable basket, and said, “Oh, Master Duo, Cao’er, you’re back so early.”
Duomen smiled and replied, “Third Sister-in-law, are you going to buy groceries? Yes, we’re back a bit early today, just returned from attending to official business.”
“I’ve done more than just go grocery shopping. I also ran an errand for someone.” Third Sister-in-law glanced at Cao Weida with a mischievous smile on her face.
“Oh, something good has happened!” Duomen teased, looking at Cao Weida. He knew that the third daughter-in-law was going to introduce a woman to Cao Weida.
“Isn’t it good news? Cao’er, Du Shiniang has agreed, but it will cost Cao’er some money.” Third Sister-in-law held out a hand, palm up, with a hint of helplessness. “Du Shiniang has agreed, but the opera troupe leader is a bit reluctant to let her go. He said that if you want to redeem her, it will cost fifty silver dollars.”
Du Shiniang was an opera singer in the opera house, and the idea of wanting to learn opera required a deed of sale!
Many children from poor families were sent to opera troupes due to hardship. Their parents would sign a contract with the troupe leader, which was in the nature of a deed of sale.
For example, in the early Republic of China, when Tan Fuying joined the Fuliencheng troupe, there was a similar contract stipulating that apprenticeships were for six years, during which time the master had authority over all aspects of the apprentice’s life. All money earned went to the master, and they were not allowed to go home.
In the Purple Sister Opera troupe in Zhangqiu, child apprentices had to go through “three years of apprenticeship and one year of thanking the master,” and they wouldn’t earn wages for four years.
The troupe rules stipulated that the troupe leader was not responsible for beatings, illnesses, or even death. If an apprentice ran away or disappeared, the parents had to pay compensation.
Although after the Republic of China, some enlightened Peking Opera actors and progressive literati and scholars founded schools and opera schools to train Peking Opera actors, gradually eliminating these old malpractices, contracts of this nature, which were like deeds of sale, still existed to some extent.
Especially for actresses like Du Shiniang, who were already adults, they were basically guaranteed to have signed a deed of sale.
Even though she had passed her childhood, did she want to leave the opera house freely?
No way!
Du Shiniang’s opera house was considered kind, only asking for fifty silver dollars. If you encountered a black-hearted owner, or someone with significant commercial value, they might not be willing to let go for even a hundred silver dollars!
“No, wait, Third Sister-in-law, the woman you’re talking about, is she that opera singer named Du Shiniang?”
“What are you saying, Master Duo? When I discussed this matter with Cao’er before, you were here. Why are you asking now as if you don’t know?”
“Is that the same? This is a different time!” Hearing that it was indeed that opera singer, Duomen immediately became displeased.
