Chapter Twenty-Four: Hala Shao

Head Constable Li grabbed Jiang Xiaodao by the collar and cursed, "Listen here, you little brat! How dare you try to turn the tables on us? Head Guard Hu is a man of the Changfeng Escort Agency; why would he sabotage his own business?"

Jiang Xiaodao hopped with anxiety. "I’m telling the truth! Everyone in the South City knows I’m an orphan. Without this gap-toothed old man’s help, how could someone with my scrawny build break into the Wang residence? I just happened to be passing by and was forced into it by him!"

Head Guard Hu’s eyes widened as he pointed at Old Cui. "Nonsense! That is clearly your accomplice!"

"Are you kidding me?" Jiang Xiaodao retorted on the spot. "Everyone take a look—this old geezer can barely climb onto a bed, let alone have the skills to pull off a heist!"

The crowd looked at Old Cui and couldn't help but nod in agreement.

"The old man was acting blind just now, but at his age, he certainly doesn't look like a cat burglar."

"Could it really be an inside job? Is the thief crying 'stop thief'?"

"That seems unlikely, doesn't it? The Changfeng Escort Agency is a reputable old firm. Would they really stoop to such tactics?"

"Bah! The escort business isn't what it used to be. Once the trains arrive, they’ll have even less work!"

Seeing the tide of public opinion turning, Jiang Xiaodao immediately added fuel to the fire. "Listen up, folks! As the old saying goes, to catch a thief, you need the stolen goods! If there's no loot, on what grounds am I a thief? If I actually had the skill to steal, would I be out here begging for scraps?"

Head Guard Hu could no longer contain himself. He grabbed Jiang Xiaodao’s queue and demanded, "You little mule! Tell me! Was it Jiang Chenghai who taught you to say this?"

Sensing the momentum was in his favor, Jiang Xiaodao stiffened his neck. "Who’s Jiang Chenghai? Your father is Jiang Xiaodao!"

A surge of blind rage flared up in Head Guard Hu. His face turned deep red, making his pockmarks stand out prominently, and his large head shook like a strawberry. "Listen here, kid! Don't play dumb; I know who your backer is!"

Jiang Xiaodao didn't back down. "I’m talking about the theft at the Wang residence, so why are you rambling about backers? Everyone look, who is the one really playing dumb here?"

The onlookers whispered in agreement. "The kid makes sense. Why does Head Guard Hu keep trying to change the subject?"

Just then, a voice drifted from the crowd: "Then just search them on the spot. If you don't find anything, go search their home!"

The crowd turned to see a man with sparse eyebrows, stroking his thin beard as he sauntered over.

Head Guard Hu narrowed his eyes. "Ninth Master Zhang?"

Ninth Master Zhang cupped his hands in a salute and smiled. "Head Guard Hu, we are old acquaintances. This kid is here spouting nonsense and spewing filth, tarnishing the reputation of the Changfeng Escort Agency. I simply couldn't stand by and watch!"

Jiang Xiaodao glanced at the newcomer. He didn't recognize him, and while the man seemed to be helping, his tone didn't sit right. "Who the hell are you?"

"Never mind who I am. I won't stand for anyone splashing mud on the Changfeng Escort Agency!" Ninth Master Zhang sneered. "Watch your mouth, kid. If your tongue is itching, go find a grindstone to rub it on, don't just stand there farting and annoying people!"

"Search away, do you think I’m afraid?"

Jiang Xiaodao turned his pockets inside out and even took off his shoes. All he had to show for it were a few copper coins he’d begged for while playing the fool.

"Nothing on him, then let's search his home!" Erqiang was confident he hadn't mistaken the person.

"Wait!" Jiang Xiaodao raised his chin. "You haven't searched this gap-toothed old man yet!"

The onlookers chimed in, stirring up trouble. "That's right! Search everyone!"

Head Constable Li raised his brows and barked, "This is official government business, what are you all shouting about? We will search the Head Guard later ourselves!"

"Slow down!" Head Guard Hu interrupted. "Head Constable Li, I appreciate your kindness, but I cannot leave the people with any room for gossip. If they are to be searched, I shall be searched too!"

Hu Biao turned out his pockets on the spot—not out of bravado, but because he had no choice. For him, catching the thief was a minor matter; the priority was to use this to restore the reputation of his agency. If he backed down now, the hard-earned recovery of his firm's image would vanish amidst the crowd's skepticism. Although Ninth Master Zhang’s sudden appearance gave him an ominous feeling, he had to bite the bullet.

And indeed!

As his hand reached into his inner lining, Head Guard Hu froze. The ring was right there in his coat!

He was wearing a thick, padded cotton jacket. Someone had planted the evidence on him without his knowledge. He glared at Ninth Master Zhang and roared, "Zhang! So it was you!"

Ninth Master Zhang was so agitated he nearly pulled out his own beard. "Hey! Head Guard Hu, why are you coming at me? Everyone is watching! I just came from the storyteller’s booth in the south! The day the Wang residence was robbed, I was drinking with Manager Qian from the antique shop!"

Head Guard Hu turned, eyes blazing, and scanned the crowd. "Which bastard did this?"

The crowd was baffled.

"Head Guard Hu, what exactly is it you’re hiding in your coat?"

"Yeah, why don't you take it out and let us see?"

"Stop stirring the pot, isn't it obvious?"

Seeing this, Jiang Xiaodao’s eyes darted around. He realized what had happened and shouted along, "What’s wrong? Gap-tooth, did you lose your nerve? What’s hidden in your coat? Why are you afraid to show it?"

The bailiffs also saw the signs, but they didn't care about the truth. In these parts beyond the pass, the Qing government existed in name only, and the administration was paralyzed. Military pay was tight, and they hadn't received their salaries in ages—naturally, they sided with whoever could pay.

Head Constable Li quickly pulled Hu Biao aside and whispered, "Head Guard Hu, we don't care about your situation. But I advise you to let us take these two back to the yamen first to discuss it. As for Ninth Master Zhang, we can't touch him."

Hu Biao felt miserable but had no choice but to nod.

Head Constable Li immediately grabbed Jiang Xiaodao and Old Cui, cursing, "You little brats, what are you squawking about? Move! We’ll see what you have to say at the yamen!"

Jiang Xiaodao was terrified. He knew that once he entered the yamen, he would have no chance to speak, so he struggled with all his might.

The onlookers erupted in boos, venting the pent-up resentment from the past two years of the Qing government’s failure to resist the Russians.

"Running dogs! Lackeys!"

"You only recognize money, not justice! You deserve to be low-born for the rest of your lives!"

Seeing the public anger intensifying, Head Constable Li drew his broadsword, his face twisted in rage. "Damn it! This is official business! Why are you inciting trouble? Do you want to rebel? If you keep running your mouths, I’ll have you all arrested!"

However, the public anger could not be appeased, and the cursing continued.

"Lackeys! If you’re so capable, why don't you go fight the foreigners?"

"Exactly! You only know how to bully us, so why do you turn into cowards when you see the Russians?"

Head Constable Li spat on the ground. "Damn it, a bunch of unruly peasants! If we can’t handle the foreigners, we can’t even handle you lot?"

"Foreigners?" Jiang Xiaodao’s eyes lit up. He took advantage of the chaos to break free from the bailiffs, dashed toward the two Russian soldiers in the crowd, and shouted, "Hello, sir!"