Chapter 57: Assassination

Upon hearing "one Big Ocean," the rickshaw puller's eyes lit up instantly, and he pulled the rickshaw and ran.

The wheels carved two deep tracks into the snow-covered street, and the kicked-up snow foam scattered continuously behind.

About twenty minutes later, the rickshaw stopped at the entrance of a small alley near Gongwangfu.

Xiao Hong jumped off the rickshaw and lightly knocked on a mottled wooden door.

The door opened with a "creak," and Zhao Datou poked his head out wearing an old cotton-padded jacket, his face still carrying sleepy drowsiness.

Xiao Hong hurriedly leaned into his ear, her voice kept extremely low: "Brother Datou, Sun Qiang went to Fragrant Joy Courtyard in Rouge Alley, he just went in not long ago."

Zhao Datou didn't say a word, took a handful of Big Oceans out of his pocket and stuffed them into Xiao Hong's hand, "You wait here, we'll leave together in a while! Keep your mouth tight, don't mention it to anyone."

Xiao Hong nodded in agreement, and Zhao Datou turned and went back into the house.

Not long after, he walked out—a Box Cannon tucked behind his waist, and his head wearing a signature Northeast dog-fur hat.

He pulled the brim of his hat very low, covering most of his face, revealing only a pair of eyes that exuded ruthlessness.

The two got back on the rickshaw and hurried toward Yanzhi Hutong.

Perhaps because the murder that happened during the day had scared off the patrons, Yanzhi Hutong appeared exceptionally deserted at this time.

Only a few red lanterns swayed back and forth in the cold wind, barely reminding people that this was still a place of pleasure.

Zhao Datou held Xiao Hong and walked toward the depths of the hutong.

When passing Fragrant Joy Courtyard, he took a simple glance and saw Sun Qiang and his two Bodyguards in the main hall, flirting with a few girls wearing cheongsams.

Zhao Datou slipped into the rouge shop opposite, and the shop Boss was yawning while settling accounts.

He gave Xiao Hong a wink and whispered: "Pick some rouge and powder, choose slowly, don't rush."

Xiao Hong understood in her heart, picked up a powder box on the counter, slowly tested the colors, and even haggled with the Boss, deliberately dragging out the time.

At this moment, He Yuzhu was lying on the roof ridge of a brothel, rubbing his small hands that were frozen red.

He had actually seen that man with killing intent again. If he guessed correctly, the person the other party wanted to kill was likely also inside Fragrant Joy Courtyard.

Over an hour passed, and the door of Fragrant Joy Courtyard finally opened.

Sun Qiang was supported by two Bodyguards, walking out drunk, his footsteps unsteady, and he was still humming a little tune.

Zhao Datou hurriedly took a few Big Oceans out of his pocket and slapped them on the counter, whispering to Xiao Hong: "You go back first, I'll come after I handle some business."

He quietly followed behind the three of Sun Qiang, his footsteps so light there was almost no sound.

Just as they were about to reach the hutong entrance, he was about to touch the Box Cannon behind his waist when suddenly a sharp whistle came from afar, followed by a First Team of Japan soldiers running across the intersection.

Zhao Datou hurriedly dodged to the side, flashing into the shadows of a wall corner, watching helplessly as a squad of military police carrying guns ran toward a Silk Store.

Sun Qiang did not notice anything unusual; he sat down at a wonton stall on the side of the street and ordered three bowls of wontons.

The water in the big pot was boiling with a "gurgle," and the heat rose in wisps in the cold night.

"Damn it, this Fragrant Courtyard is too much of a rip-off, twenty Big Oceans, gone in one meal!" He complained while picking up a spoon to scoop up wontons and putting them into his mouth, exhaling from the heat.

The Bodyguard next to him hurriedly flattered: "Brother Sun, the one you ordered was Greenie, she is the top headliner, she's worth this price!"

"Boring, she's okay with clothes on, but once she's stripped, she's just a skeleton frame!" Sun Qiang seemed dissatisfied with what he had just done.

Zhao Datou took advantage of this time to quietly climb into a small courtyard nearby, peeking out through a crack in the wall.

Sun Qiang finished the wontons, took out money to pay the bill, and walked toward the main street.

He waved to call a rickshaw.

Just at the moment he lifted his foot to get on the rickshaw, Zhao Datou's Box Cannon rang out.

"Bang!"

Sun Qiang fell to the ground in response, the fresh blood splashing from his chest landing on the snow, red and blinding.

The two Bodyguards hadn't reacted yet when two more gunshots rang out, and both of them also fell into the snow, motionless.

Zhao Datou put away his gun, nimbly climbed over the courtyard wall, and slipped into the crisscrossing small hutongs, his footsteps as fast as a gust of wind.

Badahutong was suddenly in chaos, the courtyard doors of every house closed with "bangs," and the screams of women and the cursing of men rang out together.

When He Yuzhu heard the gunshots, he knew that person had already made a move.

He had originally wanted to follow Boss Ma home, but it seemed there was no chance, so he could only act immediately.

He quickly jumped off the house and, with a few leaps, snuck into Fragrant Courtyard.

Through the window, he saw Boss Ma's fat body working hard at doing "push-ups," and the sounds emitted were also quite soul-stirring.

He Yuzhu took out his Box Cannon and fired a shot at Boss Ma's Big Head.

"Bang!"

A hole suddenly appeared on Boss Ma's head, fresh blood splattered, staining the window lattice paper red.

On the main street, Sun Qiang lay there, fresh blood staining the ground red.

He breathed with difficulty, reached his hand out to the side, and shouted: "Brothers... are you... are you still alive?"

But the only answer to him was the "woo-woo" sound of the cold wind blowing through the hutong, and the snowflakes drifting across the sky, slowly landing on his face and body.

Zhao Datou ran for a long time in the maze-like small hutongs, finally climbing into a dilapidated courtyard.

Half of the house in the courtyard had collapsed, leaving only a broken wall still standing.

He leaned against the broken wall, panting heavily, his chest heaving violently.

He looked up at the snowy sky, his voice hoarse: "Daobalian, Brother has avenged you..." Tears mixed with the coal ash on his face flowed down, "That beast ruined you like that, making a fake tail to pretend to be Huang Daxian... Brother didn't have the ability to snatch your body back, but at least I got justice for you..."

He Yuzhu returned to that Yinding Bridge at Shichahai and happened to run into the panting Chen Qingshan.

"You kid ran too fast, I couldn't even catch up!" Chen Qingshan said.

"I originally wanted to follow Boss Ma to see his house, but I didn't expect someone to make a move first, so I had no choice but to use my gun," He Yuzhu replied.

"I saw that kid; he killed three people on the main street, his skills are not bad," Chen Qingshan said.

"Siqiang, you also know that the person we saved last time was my uncle, they should be from Eighth Master's side. I don't want them to know it was us who intervened in the future."

Chen Qingshan nodded, "Zhuzi, don't worry, I know the limits."

"Then I won't go home first; I want to go to the Courtyard to collect some protection money. If I can get the money, our whole family will go eat at Bianyifang."

"Alright, come back early," Chen Qingshan said as he walked forward.

In the 95 Courtyard, Lao Jia pushed open the door, dejected; the snow foam stuck to his cotton shoes melted as soon as he entered, leaving wet marks on the floor.

Jia Zhangshi was sitting by the edge of the kang mending a shoe sole, the needle and thread in her hands making a "shila shila" sound. As soon as she saw his appearance, she hurriedly put down her needlework: "Head of the house, what happened? Your face is pulled so long."

Lao Jia sighed, sat on the edge of the kang, and said in a listless voice: "Three workshops in the factory were blown up, so they have to stop work. Half the people can't go to work and are waiting at home for now."

The needle and thread in Jia Zhangshi's hands fell onto the kang with a "plop," and she widened her eyes: "What are we supposed to do? The New Year is right around the corner, we haven't even prepared the New Year goods, how are we going to get through this year-end?"

"How else can we get through it?" Lao Jia looked at the snowflakes drifting outside the window, his brows locked tight, "After the New Year... I'll go find some odd jobs to do; every bit I can earn counts."

At this moment, the door to Xu Damao's house was knocked on with a "bang bang."

"Who is it! Knocking on the door like you're announcing a funeral!" Xu Damao opened the door in a bad mood.

"He Yuzhu, it's you, I was just wondering where to find you!"

"Let's go, go to my place." He Yuzhu pulled Xu Damao to his own home in the Zhongyuan.

Xu Damao hopped around in the room, "Your place is really cold."

"Nonsense, it's cold because the kang isn't lit. I'll make a long story short, has your dad decided to spend the money to have me offer a solution?"

Xu Damao rolled his eyes and said: "My dad said, you have to tell me what to do first before he can give the money, otherwise if your method doesn't work, who would I go to to get the money back?"

"Still no sincerity, let's not do this business then, bye-bye to you!" He Yuzhu stood up and was about to leave.

Seeing that he hadn't bluffed He Yuzhu, Xu Damao hurriedly grabbed his hand, "Give half first, give half first, wait until the matter is settled, then give the other half."

He Yuzhu shook his head helplessly, "I'll give you some face; give forty yuan first, and give ten yuan after the matter is done. If it's not done, I'll return the money; if I don't return it, you can burn down my house!"

Xu Damao thought for a long time and nodded, "Deal, I'll go find my mom for the money now."

Not long after, Xu Damao returned with a small bag.

"This is our whole family's entire savings, you can't lie to me!"

"Look at what you're saying, am I that kind of person? If your family is finished, there would be a lot less fun in this courtyard!"

He Yuzhu tucked the money into his chest and said: "Go tell your mom..."

After listening, Xu Damao immediately said in a bad mood: "Just this? It's worth 40 Big Ocean? This money is too easy to earn!"

"You don't know a damn thing, go back and tell your dad, see what he says!" He Yuzhu pushed Xu Damao out the door, locked it, and walked out.

"Today is a good day, things I think about can all come true..." He Yuzhu sang as he walked away.

Jia Zhangshi looked at He Yuzhu's back and cursed: "Little beast! Why hasn't he died yet!"

He Yuzhu returned home and slapped the forty Big Ocean down for Shen Guizhi.

Shen Guizhi was full of surprise, "Zhuzi, is this from Boss..."

"Mom, what are you thinking! This is the consultation fee Xu Damao gave me!"

"What! What is a consultation fee?"

"It means his family had an incident they couldn't solve, I offered an idea, and the matter can be solved!" He Yuzhu said: "But a portion of this money is for our family's meal tomorrow!"