Chapter 43: The Naked Eye Wants to Play Tricks

  "Are you determined to confront the people to the end?" Li De-li said with a smile, stroking his whiskers. He was an old official slicker and naturally knew that the best way to deal with someone was to generalize and label them.

  "Don't throw your hat around, it's just going to the police station, right? I'm still worried that walking home is too hot, so you can send me back with your special car later." Xue Xiang knew that resisting now was not a solution, surrounded by so many people, and decided to go with him. He made up his mind that this time he must teach these blind guys a lesson.

  "Third Brother, what are you doing?" Hao Yunlai wore a white sun hat and was followed by several young men wearing vests, rushing to greet Xue Xiang from afar. Since attending Xue Xiang's banquet, his "jianghu" status had been significantly elevated. He returned to West City and bragged about the grand occasion of the banquet, which had forty tables, focusing on the wine pool and meat forest, especially the fact that he and Third Brother drank three cups together. After a round of boasting, he stunned many unqualified masters who didn't attend the banquet, and as a result, he gained many followers. Now, he was leading his followers to find food under the Tianqiao Bridge, coincidentally running into Xue Xiang, which was perfect for showing off in front of his followers and letting them witness his level and strength, thereby increasing their loyalty to him.

  Xue Xiang turned his head and saw him, smiling: "Nothing's wrong, this comrade asked me to accompany him to the police station for a stroll. By the way, Haozi, you take this old lady to the clothing store later, buy her some clothes, and send her back home, huh, make sure to send her all the way home." Xue Xiang pointed to the anxious-looking old lady by the car door.

  Hao Yunlai knew that someone must have crossed paths with San Ge, he was clear about San Ge's abilities. On the day of the banquet, many officials and nobles came, including the Prefectural Magistrate's son and the Provincial Governor's son. Since San Ge had given an order, Hao Yunlai would carry it out.

  Hao Yunlai shouted loudly: "San Ge, is someone not seeing eye to eye? I'll arrange for a few brothers to send the old lady back home, that's all. I'll go and gather people to get rid of this police station. What are they pretending to be? In previous years, we wouldn't have let them off without parading them through the streets."

  After Hao Yunlai finished speaking, he turned his head to face four or five young men behind him: "This is the famous San Ge I told you about, aren't you guys eager to meet Big Brother? What are you still standing there for, hurry up and call people!"

  Several people were about to kneel and call out, but Li Deli interrupted them: "What's going on? In front of our People's Police, you're still playing the big brother game from the rivers and lakes? I'm telling you, this group of hoodlums, now it's the people who are in charge, so be honest with me and get out of here!!!" Li Deli had lost his patience a long time ago. If he hadn't seen that Xue Xiang's legs were quite powerful earlier, he would have probably arrested them by force. But now, some unknown bugs appeared out of nowhere, young but with big mouths, daring to say they wanted to abolish the police station and even dared to call someone "big brother" in front of him. He had known that the tall guy wearing leather shoes wasn't a good person, but he hadn't expected him to be a small-time gang leader. However, since there was a case file on him, it would be easy to handle, and he wouldn't let him off until he peeled off his skin.

  Here is the translation:

  Hao Yunlai's gang of younger brothers were indeed the big shots in the local underworld, and the police didn't count for anything. Even if soldiers came, they would still have to be shouted at. Just a few years ago, hadn't their gang even stormed the military district command center? The crowd saw that Lao Hu Zi was actually daring to show off in front of them, just as they were about to chat with the big brother they had admired for so long, but he suddenly interrupted them and broke the mood. They were already furious, so why be polite to him? Suddenly, a cacophony of curses erupted from their mouths. This gang was used to roaming the streets and alleys, and their insults in the local dialect came naturally. Their cursing skills were endless, with each person speaking as if they had a river in their mouth, their tongues flashing like lotus flowers. They cursed until their saliva flew everywhere, and amazingly, not one sentence was repeated. At this moment, the bus was already approaching its final stop at Lao Tian Qiao. Lao Tian Qiao was originally a bustling place, although street performers were no longer allowed to set up shop here. However, many state-run shops still operated in this area. Before long, the crowd of onlookers grew larger and larger, with those who couldn't squeeze inside thinking that it must be a lively performance by a storyteller who had returned. Even an elderly man in his nineties shouted: "Li Er Ye, Li Er Ye, don't push, don't push! Hurry back home and grab a stool! It's definitely the Lao Tian Qiao street performers selling their art again! It hasn't been this lively here for many years! Quickly go occupy a spot!"

  Xue Xiang gave Hao Yunlai a signal, indicating that he should lead the brothers to see someone off. Hao Yunlai took orders and stopped several guys who were scolding with relish. Xue Xiang turned around and walked to the old lady's side, saying that he was worried about her carrying so much money being unsafe, and arranged for someone to escort her all the way. The old lady now knew that the young man in front of her was a good kid, where else would she not depend on him? She was worried about the safety of the money in her pocket too.

  Hao Yunlai and several others led the old lady who was about to leave, but were stopped by Wang Xi: "The old woman can't go, she's the main culprit." He didn't care whether the old lady was the main culprit or not, what he cared about was that basket of treasures.

  "Keep your mouth clean, don't provoke me. What you want is here with me." Xue said, lifting the basket in his hand.

  Wang Xi saw Xue Xiang's gloomy face and didn't dare to speak again. He was really afraid that Xue Xiang would rush towards him without caring about anything, he had experienced Xue Xiang's strength and methods, his own group of people would definitely not be able to stop him. He thought: Forget it, as long as the thing is here, once it gets to the courtyard, it will still be up to Laozi to handle it.

  Seeing Wang Xi no longer blocking the way, Hao Yunlai led the crowd away. Xue Xiangchong stood not far from Liu Yinger and smiled, indicating that there was no need to worry, then got on the car with Li Deli.

  ………….

  Tianqiao Police Station is one of the eight police stations under the Dongcheng Branch, located near Tianqiao Theater, and it's only a four or five-li walk from where Xue Xiang was taken away. The Tianqiao Police Station is an independent two-story small building with a grayish-white exterior and mottled walls. As the car approached, the large iron gate creaked open, covered in rust.

  Xue Xiang was pushed by the crowd to the second floor, and as soon as he stepped into the stairwell, he heard the sound of beating and screaming. At this moment, there was no civilized law enforcement, only class enemies, and once caught, it was a fatal blow.

  "You're scared now, huh? Let me tell you, once you're at my brother's place, it's a dragon that'll be wrapping around you, and a tiger that'll be lying in wait for you. Just wait and see how I'll deal with you." Qian Dabiao said with a sinister smile.

  Xue Xiang lazily kicked open the interrogation room door and walked in: "What's the matter, ask quickly, and then send me home."

  "Good kid, today I really opened my eyes. Now that you're in my territory, you're still so arrogant." Li De-li walked to the front of the interrogation desk, sat down in the middle, turned on the lamp and adjusted the angle to shine it at Xue Xiang.

  Xue couldn't take it anymore, put down the suitcase and basket in his hands, walked up and broke off the flashlight, then sat back on the black lacquer stool opposite the interrogation table with a big smile. Li Deli was really shocked this time, having never seen anyone enter a police station as if they were entering their own home so casually.

  In a moment, six or seven more police officers rushed in, all holding plastic batons, waiting for Li De-li's order to take action against Xue Xiang. Wang Xi and Qian Da-biao also followed, with Wang Xi being the last one to enter, locking the large iron door of the interrogation room behind him.

  "Little Li, go get the loot next to him and bring it over to me." Li Deli was very clever and immediately figured out what Xue Xiang wanted.

  Xue Xiang thought it was a good opportunity to try out the thing in his hand, so when Xiao Li walked up close, he proactively handed over the basket and suitcase together.

  ………..

  "Good fellow, I didn't expect you to be not only a thief but also a leader of thieves. You stole three or four thousand taels of silver without saying anything, and even dared to steal the official military uniform, Brother-in-law, this time you have achieved great merit, you will definitely be promoted one level!" Qian Dabiao was excitedly waving his arms, Li Deli and others were also greatly stirred up, they didn't expect that helping their elder brother find a place would catch such a big fish.

  "Director, I think this matter needs to be settled quickly, the case must be nailed down. If word gets out upstairs, they'll definitely come to take credit for it. Such a big achievement, our Tianqiao Police Station has never seen anything like it before." Little Li was indeed well-versed in the art of currying favor and quickly spoke up to flatter his superior.

  Li Deli was overjoyed when he heard this, and patted Qian Dabiao's shoulder, saying with a laugh: "Haha, good kid, I didn't think you were a lucky star! If I get transferred to the branch office, I'll also find a job for you. By the way, go back and ask your uncle to help me pave the way, it's not enough just to have achievements, I also need to be seen by those above." Qian Dabiao's father was the director of Wang Xi's subordinate department, in charge of the financial office, with a modest official position but considerable power. All the grassroots officials in Beijing had to show some respect when they saw him.

  "Don't worry, brother, your business is my business, do I need to remind you? " Qian Dabiao replied with a grin, he was obviously eager to put on the tiger skin. From now on, when I beat people it's law enforcement, and when I take things it's confiscating stolen goods, what's more awesome than that?

  Xue Xiang was leaning on the armrest with his legs crossed, smoking a cigarette. He couldn't help but find it amusing to see the group of people in front of him who were acting like they had just cracked a big case. At this moment, no one paid attention to him, and everyone was busy rummaging through his black leather suitcase. Even the basket with musk fragrance was tossed aside and ignored.

  "Director, what is this?" A police officer handed Li Dali a blue hardcover ID card the size of a palm, with a bright red party emblem in the center, and below it were three black characters "Military Officer's Certificate", without any other words.

  "There must be something good-looking that was stolen along with the clothes." Li Deli concluded without even taking the hardcover ID.

  "Ah.... something's wrong here, this ID photo is of this person, even the clothes in the photo are the same."

  Li De-li snatched the documents and read: "Central... Military Commission... An... Yangyang Office... Special Staff Officer... Xue Xiang, seventeen years old..." Li De-li stuttered as he spoke, sweat rolling down his forehead, his face deathly pale with no hint of blood color.

  Li De Li's stuttering voice was heard by everyone, not weaker than the thunder of nine days! This news is too shocking, who is An Yan Yang? No one in the scene didn't know him, just hearing these three words might be enough to make them give up their last bit of luck. Wang Xi took the certificate with an incredulous face, carefully flipped through it, and exclaimed: "This doesn't add up, this thing isn't right, it's totally wrong! Maybe this certificate is fake!"

  Li Deli heard this and straightened up, hoping that Wang Xi could say something. Qian Dabiao listened to Li Deli read the information on the document and was also afraid, fearing that if his father found out he had offended General An's people, he would be beaten to death. At this moment, hearing Wang Xi say that the document was fake, he jumped up from his chair and pulled Wang Xi's hand, saying: "My brother, it's urgent, you must speak quickly."

  Wang Xi said: "First of all, a seventeen-year-old lieutenant colonel, is this possible? What era are we in now, and without any battles to fight, where did he get the opportunity to make meritorious achievements and be promoted?"

  Everyone nodded in agreement, looking at him, hoping he would continue speaking.

  "Secondly, everyone can see that he even forged a special advisor of An Bang, which is even more unreliable. What does General An need a 17-year-old kid as an advisor for? How can an advisor be fighting in the alley?"

  "Haha, haha, Xi Ge said it too well."

  "Look, the boss's son is really something else!"

  "I was almost caught by her, Director, let me go first later and give her a massage."

  "Everyone, don't be in a hurry, listen to me finish speaking. The biggest flaw in this certificate is on this photo. Everyone look, this photo is obviously newly taken, and the clothes on the person in the photo are still on this kid's body. I judge that he must have stolen the clothes and then made the certificate. It's very likely that it was made today. But the quality of the certificate is too poor, the background of the photo even has flowers and grass, it's ridiculous! Maybe it was made by a crippled Zhang from under the bridge... Haha...

  It has to be said that Wang Xi is a meticulous person, his reasoning is seamless. However, no matter how hard he tries, he won't guess that it's such an absurd thing. It's just a painting, three chess moves, and a few words of effort, but something unexpected happened.

  The photo was taken by Old Wang when Xue Xiang was chatting with General An in the pavilion. He knew that the certificate given to Xue Xiang by the leader had very little value, it was just for convenience to enter Songbai Study, so he didn't care about the background of the photo being empty."