Chapter 30: Smart People Often Overthink
“Master Duo, you’re awfully angry today. What’s this, did my brother offend you?”
The good-natured Master Duo rarely lost his temper, but actually Sang Liuji didn’t really want to provoke him. Everyone was a patrol captain, so they had to give each other some face no matter what.
But he was still Xiao Zhou’s boss, so he always had to stand up for him.
“Master Sang, your brother spoke too harshly. It’s not that I’m unforgiving when I have the right on my side; it’s just that he went too far.”
Master Duo was uncharacteristically tough this time, his eyes fixed on Sang Liuji, waiting for the other to give an explanation.
Sang Liuji was somewhat displeased. “Master Duo, the underlings are ignorant. It was just a little joke. Why be so aggressive?”
“You also know that these days we’re cooperating with the Imperial Army to arrest anti-Japanese elements. The brothers get up earlier than chickens and sleep later than dogs. It’s not like you two, who spend the whole day wandering east and west, tired like dogs all day, so it’s inevitable to have some temper. Please bear with us.”
The sarcasm in Sang Liuji’s tone was clear to Master Duo, and naturally Cao Weida heard it too. Seeing that Master Duo wanted to say more, Cao Weida stopped him and gently shook his head.
“Master Duo, forget it.”
It was just a war of words on both sides, no need.
And it was right at the main gate of the police station. If they really argued loudly, it wouldn’t look good.
For scum like Sang Liuji, he had long wanted to deal with him, but if it was just arguing, or at most beating each other up, it really wasn’t what he wanted.
Let him strut around for a few more days. When he had time, he’d see how to deal with him!
Sang Liuji had no idea what Cao Weida was thinking. He only thought they were backing down, and immediately laughed smugly.
“Master Duo, even your lackey said so. How about we just let it go like this?”
Cao Weida’s cheek muscles tightened, his fist unconsciously clenching.
This dog thing really couldn’t spit out ivory from its mouth. Just you wait!
Master Duo was equally angry but was stopped by Cao Weida.
“Master Duo, let’s go.”
Seeing that Cao Weida didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, Master Duo hesitated but ultimately didn’t struggle, letting Cao Weida pull him away.
Once they left, Sang Liuji still thought the two were afraid of him, his attitude even more smug. Xiao Zhou beside him flattered a couple more times, his face beaming with delight.
“Cao’er, don’t take it to heart. That funeral stick, that dog thing, has done all kinds of bad deeds. Sooner or later someone will take him down!”
“Hey, it’s nothing. I didn’t take it to heart anyway, it’s just…” Turning back to look at the resentful and helpless backs, Cao Weida said helplessly:
“We as patrolmen, yet… alas~~”
“Think positively. Sometimes, we have to play dumb and act naive. We’re just small fries; we can’t manage everything.” Master Duo felt uncomfortable too, but what could be done?
If the crime scene was in their jurisdiction, it would be fine, but this happened in the area managed by Sang Liuji. If he didn’t want you to interfere, you could only glare helplessly.
Cao Weida understood Master Duo’s meaning. Nowadays with the little devils in charge, Beiping saw deaths almost every day, sometimes even a bunch in one day.
With the little devils’ nature, they couldn’t care less whether Chinese people lived or died.
On the streets, swindling, abduction, robbery, arson, and murder happened from time to time. The police station maintained surface public order, but its greater role was controlling the people. Those gangsters and such had ties with the police station or puppet army, colluding black and white, intertwined.
Just like this murder case—who knew if it was done by someone with connections? It couldn’t even rule out private assassinations by little devils or Kuomintang people.
If nothing was found, fine. But if something was uncovered, wouldn’t it be asking for trouble?
Therefore, the vast majority of police, when encountering such matters, following the principle of less trouble is better than more, would just brush it off.
But for the parties involved, it was utterly despairing. But… who cared.
“When it prospers, the people suffer; when it perishes, the people suffer.” Cao Weida shook his head inwardly. Those with power and influence, no matter the era, lived dissolutely, indulging in debauchery day and night. In the end, only the common people suffered.
Master Duo patted his shoulder in silent comfort. “Us? We’re just ordinary people at the bottom. Helping within our ability already counts as having a conscience.”
“Having a conscience is good, but in this world, too much conscience can harm yourself.”
Cao Weida smiled. “Master Duo, don’t worry. Do you really think I’m suicidal? It’s just pointless sighing.”
“As long as you can think it through.”
Over the next two days, Cao Weida clocked in and went home every day. In between, he helped a few ‘friends’ resolve misunderstandings with little devil forces, earning money easily and happily.
But he kept thinking about what Ono Shiota mentioned about the Osaka Division people. Nearly three or four days had passed with no movement, and he couldn’t help but wonder if Ono Shiota was just bragging while drunk.
Just as he was thinking this, early on the third day, after Cao Weida finished roll call, just as he was about to go out to see if there was anything to eat on the street, someone notified him that Ono Shiota wanted him to come over.
Just arriving at Ono Shiota’s office and greeting him, Ono Shiota smiled broadly and spoke first.
“Cao Sang, not busy today, right? Even if busy, best to push it off after work. I want to take you to meet a friend—from Osaka!”
Cao Weida immediately realized: the Osaka Division people had arrived!
This was the rhythm of getting rich again!
“Of course. Then, should I arrange a private room first, or is Youtaojing fine?”
“No, Cao Sang, no need for you to arrange this time. Just come with me directly then.”
Cao Weida of course had no objection. If he didn’t have to spend money, he was all for it.
In the afternoon, at the police station gate, Cao Weida got into Ono Shiota’s car laughing and chatting, speeding away. This scene was just seen by Bureau Chief Xu Hancheng on the second floor.
“So Cao Weida really latched onto Taijun’s thigh.”
Xu Hancheng thoughtfully returned to his seat. The entire Fifth Branch Bureau was under his control. Other patrolmen were either on duty, patrolling, or helping the Military Police and Special Higher Police arrest anti-Japanese elements. Only Cao Weida and Master Duo were specially excused from duties.
Someone had reported it to him before, but he hadn’t paid much attention at first. Taijun using police station people as coolies was commonplace; he thought it was the same as before.
But now it seemed not. Seeing how happily they talked, their relationship seemed pretty good.
“No, why him!”
“San’er~!”
“Here!” A loud voice exploded by his ear.
“Ouch!” Startled, Xu Hancheng couldn’t help cursing: “You plague, you nearly scared me to death, you know! Bastard!”
“Yes! Bureau Chief, bastard!”
“…” Xu Hancheng was stunned, then slapped San’er’s head. “You little bastard, who are you calling bastard!”
San’er shrank his neck. “Bureau Chief, I… I’m the bastard.”
“That’s more like it.” Xu Hancheng’s anger eased a bit and said grumpily: “Speak, what is it.”
San’er looked baffled: “Bureau Chief, wasn’t it you who called me?”
“Right right right, you pissed me off and muddled my head.” Xu Hancheng patted his forehead, then glared at San’er again, leaving San’er looking innocent.
Seeing his expression, Xu Hancheng said grumpily: “Go, bring me Cao Weida’s file.”
San’er looked puzzled: “Bureau Chief, why do you suddenly want his file?”
Seeing his dumbstruck look, Xu Hancheng got annoyed and cursed: “Where’s all that crap coming from? I’m the bureau chief, you’re not. Go get it! Hurry!”
San’er shrank his head and scurried off.
“This kid.” Xu Hancheng shook his head helplessly. “All Three Cowards of the Rat’s Gallbladder, how come the gap is so big.”
Though San’er was slow on the uptake, though San’er was timid as a mouse, the good thing was San’er was loyal and from the same hometown as him. So despite always scolding him daily, he actually saw San’er as one of his own.
Having been bureau chief for so many years, he knew all too well: sometimes ability was secondary; loyalty was most important!
Otherwise, with so many in the bureau, why pick San’er to follow and run errands?
Soon, a file was placed on his desk.
Xu Hancheng picked up the file and examined it carefully, but no matter how he looked, he saw nothing special.
“Could it be, he’s not from the countryside, these files are fake, and he actually has another background?”
Xu Hancheng wasn’t exceptionally capable, but he was absolutely smart. Idiots couldn’t reach the bureau chief position.
And smart people often overthought when they didn’t know.
Thus, all sorts of guesses flooded his mind.
Cat-substituting-prince plots, surrendered anti-Japanese elements, secret missions, and such.
“So, should I get closer to him or not?”
Xu Hancheng was in a dilemma.
After pondering a moment, touching his still faintly aching slapped face, he finally decided to make more contact.
Beiping dance hall.
“Ono-kun, long time no see.”
“Hahaha, Mr. Nakamura, hope you’ve been well.”
Ono Shiota pulled Cao Weida to a middle-aged man in his forties and introduced:
“Mr. Nakamura, this is the Cao Weida I told you about, Cao Sang.”
“I can guarantee Cao Sang is absolutely a great partner.”
Nakamura glanced at Cao Weida, nodded faintly, and smiled: “Since Ono-kun says so, Cao Sang must be a good partner. Nakamura Jiro, from Osaka. Cao Sang, pleased to meet you, please take care of me.”
“No no, it should be Mr. Nakamura taking care of me. Mr. Nakamura, pleased to meet you, please take care of me.” Cao Weida politely replied, but his eyes kept watching the other’s every move.
“Mr. Nakamura, let’s go in first. The feast is ready, your favorites, and I specially reserved Beiping’s famous stinky tofu for you!”
“Yōshi, thank you for the generous hospitality, Ono-kun. Please.”
Beiping dance hall was part of Beiping Hotel, one of Beiping’s few high-end consumption venues. Those coming and going were basically upper-class notables.
After all, consuming here once wasn’t something ordinary people could afford.
