A Benevolent Man, Director Qian

Chapter 22: A Benevolent Man, Director Qian

"Jiu'er, I have some business to take care of. I'll be gone for a few days," Jiang Hao told Jiu'er.

He had only been here two days and was already leaving. Jiu'er was a little reluctant to see him go. "What business? How long will you be gone?"

"Some of my old business hasn't been settled yet. I have to wrap it up. I should be back in three to five days," Jiang Hao said.

At the mention of three to five days, she immediately nodded. "Then be careful."

Jiang Hao left Shibali Slope and walked all the way to Gaomi County. When he entered the city, he found that the gate guards had been reduced to two again. It seemed the tension caused by his gun theft had passed. The guards paid no attention at all to people entering or leaving the city.

It was nearly noon.

Jiang Hao entered a restaurant, and a waiter hurried over. "Here for a meal, sir? How many?"

"Just me."

"This way, please." The waiter led Jiang Hao to a table in the main hall, vigorously wiped it with the cloth over his shoulder, and asked, "What would you like?"

"One meat dish, one vegetable dish, and a pot of wine. You decide." As he spoke, he tossed out a Silver Dollar. It spun wildly across the tabletop before the waiter slapped a hand over it. His smile widened. "Certainly, sir. I'll arrange it right away."

The waiter left.

Jiang Hao looked around. Back then—well, just a few days ago—his pockets had been completely empty, and even getting a meal had been difficult. Now that he had money, he could dine at a restaurant openly and without hesitation. He had to admit, money really was important.

The wine and dishes arrived, and Jiang Hao ate at an unhurried pace. More customers gradually entered the restaurant, and the main hall became lively. At the table closest to Jiang Hao, two men chatted as they ate.

"Two years ago, the Japanese drove Bandit Zhang away and took over the entire Northeast. It's Japanese territory now. Business is getting harder and harder."

"What about looking south?"

"The south is chaotic too. Those warlord bosses each rule their own patch and squeeze people dry. Sigh, forget it, forget it. Drink. If it really comes to it, we'll have to think of another way."

The two clinked cups and drained their wine in one gulp.

Japan occupying the Three Eastern Provinces, warlords dividing up the country—what distant terms. To him, or to Jiang Hao's generation, they were merely records in history. Living in a stable society, they could never truly understand the struggles and suffering of the people in this era.

He remembered that at the end of the film, the Japanese Army reached Gaomi. Yu Zhan'ao and Jiu'er led a group of workers into battle against the devils, and in the end, they were all killed by the Japanese, leaving behind only their four- or five-year-old son.

But presumably, that was still four or five years away, when the Japanese Army launched its full-scale invasion of China.

Could he really let Jiu'er go through all that?

After finishing his meal, Jiang Hao wandered the streets. He was extremely familiar with Gaomi County, and when he reached a ready-made clothing shop, he bought an outfit and a hat. Once he changed into the new clothes, he looked much more spirited.

Over two days, Jiang Hao had gathered all the information he needed.

At the foot of the eastern city wall stood a three-courtyard residence belonging to Qian Donglai. However, it was not Qian Donglai's family home, but a place where he kept his mistress. His actual home was in the countryside, where his wife and children lived.

Qian Donglai was greedy for money and lustful by nature. He had people seek out beautiful courtesans still untouched, or girls from families selling their daughters if they were pretty. He would buy them and keep them in this residence. After using them for a year or two, once the novelty wore off, he would sell them off and replace them with new ones.

Jiang Hao stood at the street corner, looking at the lavish courtyard gate. Who knew how many women's blood and tears had been left here? Keeping them for a year or two before selling them off again—only a heartless, inhuman scum like Qian Donglai could do something like that.

Jiang Hao had also learned an important piece of information. Once night fell, only a mute old man remained to guard the residence; all the other servants went home.

Most wealthy households kept many servants, but the Qian family was completely different. It was rather strange, but that only made things easier for Jiang Hao.

As night fell, Jiang Hao came to the rear courtyard wall. After a short run-up, he planted a foot against the wall, grabbed the top, and flipped himself over.

Crouching on the wall, he looked down and found the entire courtyard pitch-black. Only one spot in the rear courtyard was lit. He lightly dropped to the ground, pulled out his gun, and soon made his way to the rear courtyard. Just after entering it, he heard muffled cries of pain coming from inside.

Jiang Hao was surprised. Why was a woman screaming in the Qian residence?

Following the wall to the lit room, Jiang Hao saw that wealthy households in the Republic era had already begun using electric lights. He raised his eyes and looked through the glass window, witnessing a shocking scene.

A table in the center of the room was piled with wine and food, while Qian Donglai held a riding whip and viciously lashed a woman.

Each crack of the whip brought another agonized scream. The woman was being beaten terribly.

"Fucking inhuman."

Jiang Hao abruptly threw aside the curtain and walked in. Qian Donglai was in the midst of his excitement when he suddenly noticed something wrong with the woman's expression. Turning his head, he saw a masked brute enter the room. Knowing trouble had come, he dropped the whip and lunged for the dining table.

His sidearm was on the table.

Bang!

Jiang Hao kicked Qian Donglai away. Qian Donglai was already in his forties, and drink and women had long hollowed out his body. Jiang Hao's kick landed solidly, sending Qian Donglai crashing beside the wall, sprawled at the woman's feet.

Jiang Hao took the gun from the table and aimed it at Qian Donglai.

With the black muzzle pointed at him, Qian Donglai did not dare move. He had seen enough of the world to immediately put on a different face and say cautiously, "Good sir, I, Qian Donglai, have always been kind to others. I assume you've come for money. No problem. I hold men of the martial world in the highest regard. Whenever someone has difficulties, I always lend a hand. Just name your price, and I'll offer it with both hands."

Jiang Hao looked disdainfully at Qian Donglai's cowardly appearance, then glanced at the woman hanging from the wall. Scum like this can't be allowed to live.

Qian Donglai had clearly misunderstood. Seeing the masked robber looking at the woman, his eyes shifted, and he immediately said, "Good sir, I'll give this woman to you as well. I'll give you her Contract of Indenture. From now on, her life and death will be yours to decide."