Chapter 23: The Thief Blossoms

The temple fair was bustling with activity. Not only were merchants and pedestrians thronging the streets, but even the Russian soldiers—stationed on the west side to oversee the railway construction—had come out in force.

Hu Biao, of the Changfeng Escort Agency, was patrolling the streets with a team of guards, helping the local authorities maintain order. Ever since he had gathered information about Jiang Chenghai from Old Lady Feng, Hu had been keeping a close watch on all the beggars in the city.

Spotting Old Cui with a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy in tow, he grew suspicious and immediately headed toward them. Hu Biao’s face was distinctive; once seen, it was impossible to forget.

The moment Jiang Xiaodao caught sight of him, he recognized the "Big Gapped-Tooth." Then, looking at the man with the flushed red face beside him—clearly the security guard from the Wang residence that fateful night—his mind spun in confusion. How did these two end up together?

The newcomers arrived with an aggressive air, radiating a palpable sense of menace. Hu Biao strode to the center of the street and shouted, "Hey! You two beggars, come here!"

The shout caused nearby pedestrians to cast curious glances. Old Cui rolled his eyes and kept up the act. "Son, is that the official coming for us?"

Jiang Xiaodao stood frozen, not knowing how to respond.

Hu Biao followed up with a command: "Erqiang! Come identify him. Is this the brat?"

The red-faced man stepped up to Jiang Xiaodao, scanned him up and down, and suddenly flared with rage. He raised his hand and struck him across the face. "You little bastard! I’d recognize you even if you were turned to ash! Still playing dumb, are you?"

At the sound of the slap, passersby of all ages gathered in a circle, standing on their tiptoes and craning their necks to watch the spectacle. Two Russian soldiers in the crowd, cigarettes dangling from their lips and rifles slung over their shoulders, began jeering and shouting, "Duel! Duel!"

Stung by the blow, Jiang Xiaodao’s face straightened out, and he clutched his cheek, cursing, "Where did this bastard come from, hitting your father in the middle of the street?"

"Ho! Still have a sharp tongue, eh?" Erqiang moved to strike again, but Hu Biao stopped him.

Just then, several yamen runners arrived at the scene. Hearing the commotion, the crowd quickly cleared a path.

"Out of the way! Let me see who’s itching for a fight on New Year’s Day!" The head constable pushed through the crowd, looked up, and smiled. "Oh, Head Escort Hu, Happy New Year!"

Hu Biao calmly cupped his hands. "Constable Li, Happy New Year to you, too!"

Seeing this, Jiang Xiaodao felt a sinking sensation. It was clear these two were acquainted, and he was likely about to be made a scapegoat by the Big Gapped-Tooth. It made sense; under the Qing Dynasty, yamen runners were considered social outcasts with meager salaries, barely enough to survive. They relied on bribes and extortion to get by. Most people in such positions were shiftless scoundrels or street thugs, and they often maintained close ties with the underworld.

Constable Li chuckled. "Head Escort Hu, why are you locking horns with a couple of beggars?"

"Not long ago, a thief hit the Wang residence in the South City," Hu Biao replied. "Erqiang can testify—these two were the ones who did it!"

A gasp rippled through the crowd. Old Cui immediately waved his hands. "Wait! Head Escort Hu, this has nothing to do with me! I’ve been begging for forty years and have never done anything crooked. Don't you go framing me!"

Constable Li rubbed his hands together with a grin. "Old Hu, we at the yamen heard about the theft at the Wang residence, but since the owner didn't report it, my men have no grounds to intervene."

This was a hint to Hu Biao: if he wanted the yamen to step in, it would cost him. As the saying went, the yamen gate faces south; if you have justice but no money, don't enter.

The wealthy Wang Youcai hadn't reported the crime because the loss was minor, he wanted to save face for the Changfeng Escort Agency, and most importantly, he didn't want to get the yamen involved. In the local vernacular, yamen employees had a method of profit-making known as "making the thief bloom."

Whenever a theft was reported, the runners would indiscriminately arrest all the neighbors under the guise of an investigation, even brazenly seizing "stolen goods." Innocent civilians would be tortured in the cells, and the only way to get out was to bribe the runners. If a family was poor and couldn't pay, they were destined to be the scapegoats. Whether it was the lash, the cage, or even a wrongful execution, they had no recourse. Even if there were a sharp, upright official, the commoners rarely got to see him. Once in a cell, they could languish for years without ever seeing the magistrate. The runners would squeeze both the victim and the accused until there was nothing left. Once the case was "solved," the magistrate got credit for his performance, the runners got their bribes, and everyone was "happy."

Wang Youcai had lost two jade rings; while it stung, it was a drop in the bucket for him, and he didn't want to offend his neighbors. Since he didn't report it, the yamen saw no profit in acting.

Hu Biao understood this perfectly. He immediately declared, "Constable Li, don't worry. If Wang Youcai won't report it, I will! Not for anything else, but to restore the reputation of the Changfeng Escort Agency! Folks, listen to me: in this world, everyone has their stumbles, but our agency won't suffer in silence. We will give our client an answer! I hope you all will continue to support our business!"

The speech drew applause from the onlookers. The reputation of the Changfeng Escort Agency improved instantly.

"That's the Changfeng Escort Agency for you! True professionals!"

"Indeed! It's been so long, I thought they’d never catch these thieves!"

"Come on! Let’s follow them to the yamen and see how it ends!"

Constable Li was pleased. "With Head Escort Hu's word, that’s all I need! Hey, you two, come with us!" He reached for his shackles.

Old Cui began to weep. "It’s a misunderstanding! Truly! Take him, but not me! Red-face, you saw him, not me!"

Erqiang cursed, "Stop the act! You’re both in on it. One acts as a decoy, the other steals. It’s a classic misdirection!"

Seeing the situation spiral out of control—knowing that once he entered the yamen, he would at best be stripped of his pride—Jiang Xiaodao struggled. "Wait! I have something to say!"

Constable Li sneered, "Save it for the yamen!"

"I'll say it right here!" Jiang Xiaodao yelled at the top of his lungs. "Big Gapped-Tooth, you are truly shameless! You were the one who broke into the Wang residence that night and promised to split the loot with me fifty-fifty! Now you're using me as a scapegoat? Go to hell!"

"Big Gapped-Tooth?" Hu Biao paused, looking at his men. "Who is he talking about?"

Erqiang stammered, "It seems... well... it might be you..."