Chapter 334: Blue and White Plum Vase

The night was like ink, and a black shadow quietly merged into the shadows of Xidan Xiniujiao Hutong.

He Yuzhu put on a mask and began his path of chivalry and justice.

He vaulted over the courtyard wall as nimbly as a civet cat, landing without a sound.

Four thugs in the courtyard were throwing dice around a table, completely unaware of the arrival of the Grim Reaper.

He Yuzhu's figure was like lightning, his strikes like the wind; with only a few muffled thuds, the four men collapsed to the ground, not even having the chance to call for help.

Inside the side room, four women huddled in a corner, trembling with fear at the sight of the masked He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu tied the four unconscious thugs up tightly and threw them in front of the women, saying in a deep voice: Bolihua is already dead, and I am here to save you. These men must have bullied you often; now that they are bound, they are yours to deal with.

A woman so thin she was unrecognizable asked with a trembling voice: Is that true?

It is the absolute truth.

A light of hatred suddenly erupted in the woman's eyes: It was this Xiao Laosi who caused the death of my only child! She turned, took a piece of rope from the room, skillfully tied a noose, and slipped it over Xiao Laosi's neck. She stood behind Xiao Laosi and pulled the rope with all her might using her shoulders. The noose tightened, Xiao Laosi foamed at the mouth, lost control of his bowels, and finally breathed his last in the suffocation.

The woman loosened the rope and looked around at the other three: Sisters, they treated us like playthings; today, it is time for us to take our revenge!

A plump woman in her thirties, encouraged, grabbed the scissors from the table: Liu Mazi caused the death of my parents, I want revenge! With that, she raised the scissors and stabbed fiercely into the eye of a burly man.

The burly man wanted to dodge, but he was tied up tight.

Ah—after a scream, he slowly collapsed to the ground.

Once there was a first, there was a second.

In less than an hour, all four villains had received the punishment they deserved.

He Yuzhu distributed all the money he had searched out to the four women: Take this, fly far away, and start over.

That night, He Yuzhu traveled between the various strongholds of Bolihua, and every place he went, he let the victimized women settle their own grudges.

At dawn, he finally dragged his exhausted body back to Qianmen.

How did it go? Chen Xueru asked with concern.

No one will bother you again. Don't mention the matter of people smashing your shop anymore, and if you run into my second uncle, tell him as well. I'm too tired, I'm going home to sleep, He Yuzhu instructed.

Chen Xueru nodded gratefully: Zhuzi, thank you!

There's no need for such politeness between us! He Yuzhu yawned and turned to leave.

In the Qianmen Small Courtyard, Xiaomei and Xiaoli had already prepared a table of food.

Xu Damao trotted into the room and sat down brazenly in the main seat at the Eight Immortals table: This weather, it's really hot!

Xiaomei hurriedly picked up a cattail fan to fan him.

Xu Damao picked up a cold tea and drank it in one gulp: The news is confirmed. Bolihua is dead, and those secret dens of his are all empty.

Xiaomei suppressed her excitement and asked cautiously: Did the things... really happen because of the person you mentioned?

Xu Damao put down his teacup, a meaningful smile curling the corners of his mouth: My strategy of borrowing a knife to kill, isn't it impressive? Without wasting any effort, I wiped out Bolihua's whole gang.

Xiaomei leaned in and kissed him, her tone full of awe: You solved the problem without drawing a blade; you alone are worth a million soldiers.

Xu Damao pinched Xiaomei's thigh: Remember, it was I who gave you all this. Do you know what to do from now on?

I know... I will serve you well.

At the police station, Tian Dan's office was brightly lit.

Cai Quanwu reported: Section Chief Tian, Huang Yuan has been lost, and that whole gang of Bolihua's has disappeared...

What? Dozens of people all vanished overnight? Tian Dan looked at Cai Quanwu in disbelief.

Cai Quanwu nodded heavily: I suspect they heard the wind and fled to Tianjin.

Impossible! There must be something fishy about this, Tian Dan said decisively.

Then should we continue the investigation?

Forget the investigation! Tian Dan interrupted him sharply, lowering her voice, You should go to the black market more often at night. I received a tip that someone is buying guns in large quantities; I'm afraid something big is going to happen.

Cai Quanwu understood: Understood, I will go and scout the situation tonight.

No. 95 Siheyuan.

Xu Damao knocked on He Yuzhu's door.

With a sound, the door opened.

He Yuzhu was a bit surprised to see it was him: Yo, Xu Damao? Looking for me for something?

Xu Damao shook the oil-paper parcel in his hand and smiled: I'm here to chat with you about antiques, interested in listening?

He Yuzhu stepped aside to let him into the room.

Xu Damao didn't stand on ceremony, nimbly spreading out a soy-braised pork knuckle, pig ears, and several cold dishes on the table, muttering: I haven't had a chance to eat yet, drinking alone is no fun, will you keep me company for a couple of drinks?

He Yuzhu glanced at him, turned, and took a bottle of liquor from the cabinet: We've lived in the same courtyard for so many years, and we've never actually had a drink together; today I'll let you taste my ten-year Fen liquor.

After a few cups of liquor, the atmosphere warmed up.

Xu Damao poured another cup for He Yuzhu and asked as if unintentionally: Brother Zhu, speaking of which, that sister of yours has a truly high standard. Besides ancient jade, is she interested in things like Blue and White Porcelain?

He Yuzhu picked up a piece of pig ear with his chopsticks, chewing with a crunch; hearing this, his hand paused, he raised his eyes to look at him, and asked: Yuan dynasty blue and white, or a Qing dynasty imitation?

Not bad, Brother Zhu! Xu Damao's eyes lit up, flattering him, I didn't expect you to be such an expert!

Expert or not, He Yuzhu said in a flat tone, picking up his glass and taking a sip, My sister's house has nothing else, but plenty of books about these old objects. I just flip through them when I'm bored, and I've learned a bit through osmosis.

Seeing that the groundwork was laid, Xu Damao squeezed out a look of grievance and indignation: To tell you the truth, Brother Zhu, a few days ago, your brother here suffered a big loss; I was blocked in an alley and beaten! He pointed to the bruise on the corner of his eye that had already faded, And guess what? The guy who hit me was holding a Yuan dynasty Blue and White plum vase at the time! I later had someone look into it carefully, and the ones who played dirty were that antique shop on Qianmen Street called Jubaozhai! They think our goods are cheaper than theirs and are blocking their path to wealth!

He Yuzhu put down his chopsticks, his expression already clear: You kid, going in such a big circle, it turns out you want me to stand up for you? Your business rivalries and price wars—it's not appropriate for me to intervene!

I just can't swallow this! Peer competition should be about who can attract customers with their own skills; they're playing these low-down tricks?

Do they really have Yuan dynasty Blue and White porcelain? He Yuzhu asked.

Of course, a plum vase with scrolling lotus patterns, Xu Damao said.

That really is a good item; there shouldn't be more than five hundred of them in existence, He Yuzhu said.

You really are an expert! Xu Damao slapped his thigh, Brother Zhu, I want to mess with them, please help me out! Xu Damao pleaded.

"How should we handle this?" He Yuzhu asked, raising his eyes.

Seeing an opening, Xu Damao hurriedly said: "I've figured it out; he has quite a few valuable hard assets at home, especially that plum vase, all hidden in the small Warehouse in the back of the shop..."

He Yuzhu sneered: "What use is it knowing where the things are? Do you think they wouldn't have any precautions?"

"Brother Zhuzi, I know you know people at the Municipal Bureau; if I report that 5 million has been robbed, they have to handle it, right!" Xu Damao said.

"In that case, even if the plum vase is found during a search, it won't end up in our hands," Xu Damao said.

"Then what can be done?" He Yuzhu feigned ignorance.

"If Lao Jia could send a message over, the plum vase can't just vanish!" Xu Damao said.

He Yuzhu's heart skipped a beat, and he recalled what Wang Xia had said, "The people in the courtyard aren't fools; sooner or later they'll know that letter was your doing. It has come true now."