Chapter 557: Xu Damao Breaks His Leg

The Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant was brightly lit, the large ceiling fans were turning with a "creak-creak" sound, and waves of fruitwood aroma drifted from the roast duck ovens.

Xu Damao chose a seat by the window and diligently arranged the bowls and chopsticks for Zhang Baofang opposite him.

"Comrade Xiao Zhang, let's have a good meal today!" He beckoned the waiter, "One roast duck, one serving of salted duck liver, one serving of mustard duck webs, one serving of braised duck tongues... and make soup with the duck rack!"

Zhang Baofang watched him order four or five dishes in one breath and hurriedly waved her hand: "That's enough, that's enough. My appetite is very small; it would be a waste if I can't finish it."

"What does that count for?" Xu Damao leaned back smugly, "Once we get married, I'll take you out to eat every day; there's no need for you to be choked by smoke and fire at home."

Zhang Baofang pursed her lips and smiled: "Where would you get so much money? Matchmaker Wang said you only make twenty-some yuan a month at the Rolling Mill."

"Heh!" Xu Damao lowered his voice and said: "A man won't get rich without windfall, and a horse won't get fat without night grass. I have a way to flip antiques and jade; sometimes a single deal is this much—" He held up two fingers and flipped them twice.

"Eight hundred?" Zhang Baofang widened her eyes.

Xu Damao smiled without answering.

"You'd better be careful! That's speculation and profiteering; if you get caught, you'll be executed!"

"I know my limits..." Before Xu Damao could finish his sentence, his eyes suddenly went straight.

The shop door was pushed open, and four people walked in one after another—He Yuzhu led the way, Chen Xueru was holding his arm, and Tian Dan and Li Xiangxiu followed behind.

The four of them were talking and laughing, clearly there to eat.

Xu Damao's heart gave a "thump," especially when he saw Tian Dan's public security uniform; fine sweat immediately broke out on his forehead.

He squeezed out a smile and went up to greet them: "He Yuzhu! When did you get back? You didn't even tell your buddy. Tonight's meal is on me."

He Yuzhu stopped in his tracks, his gaze shifting between Xu Damao and Zhang Baofang, and he laughed: "Xu Damao, not bad, a new girlfriend? She looks pretty good."

Xu Damao's eyes narrowed into slits, "Introduced by Matchmaker Wang, we're... we're currently seeing each other, planning to get married."

"Married?" Chen Xueru suddenly spoke up, "If you get married, what about Xiaomei? Still want to have a foot in two boats?"

Several tables of guests in the shop turned to look.

Xu Damao's face turned red with a "whoosh": "Chen Xueru, don't you go slandering people! Xiaomei just helps me with housework; in the old society, that was called a servant, now it's called a helper!"

"A helper?" Chen Xueru sneered, "Does a helper need to live in the same room as you? Xu Damao, Xiaomei has already come to me to complain, and I support her going to the Rolling Mill tomorrow to expose you!"

Zhang Baofang stood up with a "whoosh," pointing at Xu Damao: "You, you're a liar! I won't let you off!"

"No, Xiao Zhang, listen to my explanation—"

"Don't touch me!" Zhang Baofang shook off his hand, tears swirling in her eyes, "Shameless!" After saying this, she grabbed her bag and rushed out.

"Hey! Comrade, you haven't paid the bill yet!" The waiter hurriedly chased after her.

Xu Damao wanted to chase, but was blocked by the waiter: "This comrade, please settle the bill for the dishes first..."

By the time Xu Damao paid and rushed out of the shop door, the No. 4 bus had just closed its doors and pulled away.

He watched helplessly as Zhang Baofang rode away.

"Damn it..." Xu Damao cursed through gritted teeth and turned back into the shop.

The roast duck had already been served, but he had lost all appetite.

He sat down and tore off a duck leg fiercely, chewing while cursing in his heart: Chen Xueru, you just wait for me; see if I don't fix you!

The alley was pitch black, with only the dim yellow light cast from a distant streetlamp.

Xu Damao was riding his bicycle home.

He calculated in his heart: If it's over with Zhang Baofang, then so be it. This girl's temper is too fiery, and marrying her would be trouble, especially with the things he's been doing; if she found out, something would definitely go wrong.

Just as he turned into a narrow alley, five black shadows suddenly appeared in front and behind him!

Xu Damao's heart tightened, and he braked hard.

Under the moonlight, five masked strong men blocked the road, front and back, all holding sticks in their hands.

"What do you want to do?" Xu Damao quickly pulled an iron whip from his waist, swinging it with a "whoosh-whoosh-whoosh" sound.

The five men didn't answer at all and lunged at him simultaneously!

Xu Damao, after all, had no experience in fighting; he struck one person on the back with the iron whip, but immediately received a heavy blow to his head, followed by a kick that sent him to the ground.

A sack was quickly pulled over his head.

The sticks fell like raindrops; Xu Damao curled into a ball inside the sack, screaming repeatedly.

Finally, a particularly sturdy man stomped hard on his lower leg.

"Crack!"

Xu Damao let out a loud wail.

With a "thud."

Xu Damao took another punch to the back of his neck, his vision went black, and he passed out completely.

The five men dispersed quickly, and one even rode away on his bicycle.

A few seconds later, another bicycle sped into the alley like a bolt of lightning and braked with a "screech."

The rider was wearing a mask; he jumped off the bike and crouched down beside Xu Damao.

He held a small military flashlight in his teeth to illuminate Xu Damao's pale face, quickly pulled a silver needle from a leather holster at his waist, and steadily pierced it into the Fengfu Point.

Xu Damao's body trembled slightly, and his last bit of consciousness dissipated.

The masked person took out a few more silver needles and pierced them in turn into the Qihai Point Point Point, Guanyuan Point Point Point, Sanyinjiao Point Point Point, Taixi Point Point Point, and other acupoints.

His fingers twisted the ends of the needles with fast and steady movements.

Suddenly, the sound of a bicycle bell came from afar.

The masked person's eyes turned sharp; he quickly withdrew the needles, jumped onto his bicycle, and sped away. The entire process took less than two minutes.

A bicycle rode past Xu Damao, saw a person lying on the ground, but didn't stop and rode straight past.

Ten minutes later, an old man out for a stroll walked into the alley carrying a kerosene lamp.

"Oh my! How is there someone lying here!"

Xu Damao was shaken awake, grimacing in pain: "Grandpa... I, I was robbed, and my bicycle is gone... Please take me to the Beijing hospital, I will thank you heavily..."

The old man shook his head: "How could I carry you? I'll go outside and call someone!"

Before long, the old man returned with a man pedaling a tricycle.

The headlight shone on the newcomer's face, and Xu Damao's eyes were dazed: "Uncle He...?"

"You've mistaken me for someone else," the newcomer said in a flat voice. "He Daqing is my brother; my name is Cai Quanwu."

Only then did Xu Damao see clearly that it was indeed Cai Quanwu—He Daqing's half-brother; he used to come over often when He Daqing was around.

"Uncle Cai... hurry and take me to the hospital... my leg is broken..."

The hospital corridor lights were ghastly white, and the smell of disinfectant was pungent.

Cui Xiu hurried over with her two daughters, Xu Xiaoyun and Xu Xiaoling; seeing Xu Damao's leg in a plaster cast, her eyes immediately turned red.

"Damao, who did you offend? How could they be so ruthless just for robbing you?"

Xu Damao gritted his teeth: "It must be that woman Chen Xueru! I was eating with Zhang Baofang, and she came to stir up trouble. I got beaten the moment I stepped out the door; how could there be such a coincidence in this world!"

"Don't talk nonsense," Cui Xiu wiped her tears, "Xueru isn't that kind of person."

"If it isn't her, then who could it be?!" Xu Damao became agitated, "Mom, hurry and call the Police! My bicycle was stolen; this is a major case!"

"It's already been reported..."

East Cross Courtyard, under the grape trellis.

Chen Xueru fanned herself with a cattail-leaf fan, listening to He Yushui talk about Xu Damao being beaten.

Chen Xueru asked in surprise: "Yushui, you're saying Uncle came over to send word to Cui Xiu!"

He Yushui nodded, "Uncle said that Xu Damao was miserable; his leg was broken by someone."

"Who would be so ruthless?" Chen Xueru asked, puzzled.

He Yuzhu picked up his tea mug and took a sip of water: "Tian Dan said that while Si Jiu Cheng seems calm on the surface lately, there are quite a few things being stolen in the shadows. However, those remnants of the old nobility who lost antiques and jade mostly dare not speak up, so the Police have no leads even if they want to investigate. I suspect... Xu Damao is likely mixed up in it. He probably offended them!"