Chapter 61: Being Bullied

In November in Beiping, the autumn wind already carried a biting chill.

He Yuzhu followed two soldiers through the dim corridor, the wooden floorboards beneath his feet creaking with every step.

The interrogation room was lit by only a single dim electric bulb, the mottled water stains on the walls appearing and disappearing in the light.

A thin, middle-aged man sat behind a dilapidated wooden desk, thin wisps of smoke rising from the cigarette held between his fingers.

He scrutinized He Yuzhu and spoke slowly: "I am Zheng De. The questions I ask you today," his voice was hoarse, "you must answer truthfully; otherwise, you will pay the price for your lies."

…

He Yuzhu straightened his back, his gaze like a torch: "Mr. Zheng De, let's speak plainly. Tell me, how did that Siheyuan get involved with the Japanese?"

Zheng De sneered, ash falling in a flurry: "Oh, you're just a kid, yet you're quite bold." He stood up and paced in front of He Yuzhu, his shadow looming over him: "To tell you the truth, your property has already been registered by someone else. The person who registered it said this house was owned by his older brother before he died, and that his brother was killed by the Japanese..."

"Without a title deed, you can just let someone else register it? Then I also say the Forbidden City is my family's! Will you register that for me too?" He Yuzhu curled his lip in disdain: "Your way of handling things isn't even as good as the little devils!"

Zheng De slammed the table, making the teacup on it clatter: "If you keep talking like that, I'll have to use heavy torture!"

"As expected, all crows under heaven are black," He Yuzhu remained calm: "Tell me, what benefits did that person give you? I will give you the same."

Zheng De narrowed his eyes: "I see you won't shed tears until you see the coffin. Then tell me, where did Chen Qingshan get the title deeds for those houses?"

"That goes without saying, he bought them!"

"I think he stole them!"

"If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext," He Yuzhu sneered: "With the Party and State in the hands of people like you, I don't think it has many years left."

"You dare to curse the Party and State," Zheng De gritted his teeth: "I see you are simply lawless. Your Siqiang is even less of a good bird; he must have been an accomplice to the Japanese."

He Yuzhu took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart: "Could you tell me who said my Siqiang wanted to swallow these assets alone, so that I can die knowing the truth?" His voice was somewhat agitated. He had thought that after the devils left, life would be better, but he hadn't expected it to be the same old thing in a new bottle. Of course, his own title deeds hadn't been obtained cleanly either, but the lamp-shade man wasn't a good person either; if he hadn't sent people to kidnap him, none of what followed would have happened.

"I'll tell you straight," Zheng De sat back in his chair and crossed his legs: "The person who registered this Siheyuan is an anti-Japanese hero. The evidence they provided is reasonable and legal!"

"A hero can be without a title deed, but why does my Siqiang become a lackey of the little devils just because he has one?"

Zheng De sipped his tea unhurriedly: "Because the people living in that Siheyuan all say that this 'hero' has always been the one collecting the rent."

"Let me tell you," He Yuzhu clenched his fists: "When the devils were in our country, they also collected taxes from our people. Does that mean this country is theirs? Does your reasoning hold water?"

Zheng De was stunned, his hand holding the teacup frozen in mid-air.

"What is your relationship with this hero?" He Yuzhu asked.

Seeing Zheng De did not answer, He Yuzhu sneered: "Not saying, right? Then there must be something fishy between you. I'll just ask you, besides this place, is there anywhere else one can reason?"

Zheng De put down the teacup and said faintly: "You can go to the commissioner in charge of enemy assets to file a complaint."

"What's his name?"

"Shen Shichang, Commissioner Shen."

"Can you release my Siqiang first? He can't run away anyway, and isn't it the world of the Party and State now?" He Yuzhu pressed.

"Chen Qingshan has already been sent to Jingshi Prison," Zheng De said.

"Fine, understood. Can I leave now?"

Zheng De smiled grimly: "Within 7 days, if you don't provide evidence, Chen Qingshan will be taken out and shot."

"I'll go find someone with a higher rank than you. Isn't that what you people talk about?" He Yuzhu nodded and took his leave. He knew time was tight and he had to find Jin Hai, the Prison Warden of Jingshi Prison, so that his Siqiang wouldn't suffer any grievances. This time it really was his own carelessness; he should have gone with his Siqiang!

In Pingyuan Alley, fallen leaves swirled in the autumn wind.

He Yuzhu carried a heavy cloth bag on his back and knocked on the wooden door of courtyard number 32.

The person who opened the door was a woman of twenty-five or twenty-six, wearing a thin navy blue cotton-padded jacket, with a round face and large eyes; it was Jin Hai's younger sister, Jin Ying.

"Who are you looking for?" She sized He Yuzhu up.

"Is Brother Jin Hai in? My Siqiang was framed and is now locked up in Jingshi Prison. I want to ask Brother Jin Hai to take care of him," He Yuzhu said sincerely.

"He's not here, go back!" Jin Ying was about to close the door.

"Sister Jin Ying," He Yuzhu hurriedly handed over the cloth bag: "This is a small token of my appreciation."

The bag contained fine candies and pastries.

Jin Ying looked at it, her expression softening slightly: "My brother won't be back for another hour, and it's not appropriate for you to be at my house."

Seeing that this woman hadn't refused, it meant he could see Jin Hai, and He Yuzhu was quite happy.

He Yuzhu said: "You take my gift inside first, I'll walk around the small shop on the street and come back to find him later."

Just as he was about to turn around, Jin Ying saw he was still young and said: "Fine, it's freezing out, come in. You're just a kid anyway. It's not easy for you!"

The room was heated by a coal stove, feeling warm and cozy. Jin Ying lifted a kettle from the stove and brewed a cup of flower tea for He Yuzhu.

"What's your name?"

"He Yuzhu."

After this question, the woman had nothing more to say. The atmosphere was a bit awkward for a moment.

He Yuzhu took the initiative to speak: "My family opened a restaurant over at Qianmen called He Ji Restaurant. You can go and taste it when you have time; I'll treat you for free."

Jin Ying's eyes lit up: "What kind of food do you make?"

"Beijing, Lu, and Sichuan Cuisine. We've also innovated a few dishes that are especially delicious, like pickled fish and Boiled Fish; many customers say it's good."

Jin Ying rubbed her hands, feeling both expectant and hesitant: "No one goes with me, I'm a bit afraid to go alone."

He Yuzhu smiled and comforted her: "Your house isn't far from our shop. If you really don't want to go, I'll send someone to deliver it to you."

"Really? That would be great!"

"I'll send you a few dishes tomorrow. Whenever you want to eat something, just tell a rickshaw puller to go get it, treat it like a delivery. I've been wanting to talk to Brother Xu Tian recently; I'll pay him to have his rickshaws deliver my food."

"You know Xu Tian too?"

"I know of him, he doesn't know me. But we've been wanting to cooperate with the rickshaw companies in Beijing!"

The two chatted happily from food to storytelling in Qianmen, and then to Beijing Opera.

Outside the window, the sun set, dyeing the old locust tree in the courtyard gold.

At this moment, a knock came from outside the door.

Jin Ying went to open the door, and He Yuzhu also stood up to follow.

Jin Hai stood at the doorway, his gaze like a blade, sweeping over He Yuzhu.

"My name is He Yuzhu, and I came here today to ask Master Jin for a favor," He Yuzhu said, neither humble nor pushy.

Jin Hai frowned: "What is the matter?"

"It is for my Siqiang, Chen Qingshan."

Jin Hai's eyes flickered slightly: "It seems you are also a practitioner of Kung Fu."

"What does that mean? Has someone touched my Siqiang?" A murderous aura suddenly radiated from He Yuzhu's entire body.

Jin Hai nodded: "He got into a fight with Xiao Erduo's younger brother and beat up everyone in the cell block. He is in solitary confinement now."

"Is he injured?"

"He was beaten as well, but it's not serious," Jin Hai said indifferently.

He Yuzhu took out 200 Big Ocean: "Is this money enough to get him released?"

Jin Hai shook his head: "He is a person sent in by Section Chief Zheng De; he is a serious offender. I can promise you to take good care of him until he is brought out."

"Then thank you. With these 200 Big Ocean, please help my Siqiang get some good food. Also, let me ask one more thing: who can get him released?"

"If Zheng De doesn't agree, you'll have to find Mr. Shen."

"Shen Shichang?"

Jin Hai nodded.

"Master Jin, then I'll trouble you. I don't want my Siqiang to suffer any more. If this money isn't enough, I will give more."

Jin Hai waved his hand: "To take care of him, this is enough. But let me say one more thing: this Zheng De has a significant background."

"I know," He Yuzhu gritted his teeth, "but I am not afraid of him. At worst, we'll both go down together."

Jin Hai sneered: "You have a big mouth."

He Yuzhu gave a playful smile: "Then I'll be going. Sister Yingzi, I'll bring you food tomorrow."

Jin Hai looked bewildered: "What's the situation?"

Jin Ying laughed: "I think this kid is quite fun."

Jin Hai watched He Yuzhu's retreating back and said in a low voice: "Don't provoke him if you don't have to; this kid's Kung Fu is very high, even I cannot beat him."

"You're just spouting nonsense; look at his small arms and legs."

"You don't understand, his Siqiang fought eight people by himself."

"I actually quite like him."

Jin Hai glared: "How old are you?"

"You're annoying, that's not what I meant. I just think he is very loyal; look at how he bought gifts and the way he brought the money. He is much more masculine than that idiot Tie Lin."

"You're already divorced, why are you still bringing him up?"