Chen Zikun drew his dagger and was about to chase out, but Zhao Dahai stopped him: "Don't be impulsive, even with a knife, you can't save Xing'er."

  "They still have guns? If you're cowards, I'll go myself!" Chen Zikong glared and said fiercely.

  "Xing'er was sold to the Ma family by her father for 200 silver dollars, and the contract has been stamped with fingerprints!" Zhao Dahan's eyes blazed with anger, his iron fists clenched with a loud crackle.

  Bao Qing gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, his eyes were red-rimmed, but his face was full of helplessness.

  Chen Zikong finally understood that it wasn't Dahai Ge and Baoqing who were useless, but rather they really couldn't help.

  When the father sells his daughter, it's a matter of course, reporting to the government is useless, other fathers don't care, and neighbors can only stand by and watch.

  Apricot's home came the heart-wrenching and lung-splitting cries, Chen Zikun heard his heart aching, went in to take a look, the family was smashed into chaos, Apricot's mother sat on the ground wailing with tears, with a shoe print still on her body, Guo'er crouched in the corner sharpening a kitchen knife, the "whooshing" sound sending chills down one's spine.

  "Dry mother, rest assured, I will definitely bring back Xing'er." Chen Zikong helped Xing'er's mother onto the kang, saying solemnly.

  "Child, don't bother going against them, the Ma family is a powerful force in Tianqiao, we can't afford to provoke them. Poor Xing'er, born with such a father, it's also her fate." Xing'er's mother tears fell streaming down.

  "Brother Tuo, I'll go with you!" Guo Er jumped up, the five finger marks on his face were exceptionally clear.

  "You stay home with your mother." Chen Zikun patted Guoer's shoulder and got up to leave, just in time to meet Xiao Shunzi returning home from work, who was anxiously asking Baoqing about what had just happened.

  Xing'er was sold by her father, and even the backbone of her brothers, Da Hai Ge, was helpless. The neighbors were all sighing and talking about the overwhelming power of the Ma family.

  The Ma family was an old household in the capital, and Old Man Ma used to be a soldier at Shanpu Camp. He had some skills under his belt, but when the imperial court started training new troops, he was too old, so he was laid off and became a hoodlum instead. He colluded with a group of rascals, cheating and swindling people without any scruples, gradually accumulating some wealth. At the age of fifty, he opened a carriage factory, producing over a hundred foreign-style carriages, either Dongfuxing or Shuangheshun brands, and even the old ones were 70% new.

  The old man married three wives in his lifetime and had six sons, none of whom were energy-efficient lamps.

  The eldest of the Ma family followed the Boxers in the year of the Gengzi riot, smashing churches and killing foreigners. He died in the chaos; The second son is now the eldest at home, spending his days hanging out on Tianqiao, playing tricks with his friends in the morning and getting into fights in the afternoon; The third son hangs around the Front Gate train station, all the pickpockets and thieves are under his control; The fourth son runs a usury business, supporting a group of idle men; The fifth son is more capable than his three older brothers, working at the Beijing Police Department, contributing to the Ma family's influence; The sixth son is the most formidable, only in his early twenties, an outstanding student at the Imperial Academy, a genius.

  "I heard that Old Master Ma has been in poor health lately and wants to take a young concubine to improve his luck." said one of the neighbors.

  "Yes, the Ma family is not short of money. Spending 200 big yuan to buy a Huang Hua girl is like playing a game for them." Someone echoed in agreement.

  Everyone sighed, Xing Er's fate was really bitter. An 18-year-old girl had to marry a half-buried old man. Even if she enjoyed the favor of being able to eat and drink well for these two years, once the old man died, the several madams in front, as well as those six wolf-like sons, would not spare her life.

  "Chen Baipi is really not a thing." This was the final conclusion reached by everyone, but no one mentioned how to rescue Xing'er, as if this matter had already been nailed and could not be reversed.

  Chen Zikun walked over and patted Xia Shunzi's shoulder, then went into the house with him. He rummaged out his old sheepskin coat and dog skin hat, as well as a pair of yellow woolen horse pants, and asked Xia Shunzi: "Do you have any matches?"

  "Yes." Little Shunzi hastily took out a box of matches and handed them over.

  Chen Zikong changed into his own clothes, put the matches in his pocket, tied the dagger to his leg and calmly said: "Call in Dahan Ge and Baoqing."

  Without much ado, the brothers arrived, and Chen Zikun ordered Xiao Shunzi to close the door and said: "I'm going to rescue Xing'er."

  "Are you crazy? The Ma family is so powerful, you can't defeat them." said Da Hai Ge.

  "I have my own ideas, you just need to say whether you'll help me or not." Chen Zikun remained calm and composed.

  "Brother, what do you say we do? I'd risk my life to rescue Xing'er," Baoqing was the first to respond.

  Xiao Shunzi also gritted his teeth and said: "Let's fight it out with them!"

  Zhao Dahai frowned and said, "The Ma family is a dragon's lair, we can't do anything if we go. Actually, I've already thought of a solution, let's ask my master to make an appearance, the old man's face will be enough, Old Man Ma won't refuse."

  "Big Brother Hai, I'm not going to risk my life with them, I have a limit, just trust me."

  Zhao Dahi has also mixed in the world for over a decade, his ability to read people is absolutely not bad. Chen Zikun's calm demeanor doesn't seem like it's put on, there's no such thing as a diamond that can't be paired with porcelain, this brother must have seen big scenes outside of Guan.

  Thinking of this, Zhao Dahai also gave up and said: "You say what to do, we'll cooperate with you."

  Chen Zikun said: "The Ma family is powerful, and there are business contracts involved, so this lawsuit will be difficult to win. However, it's not like we have no room for maneuver. Baoqing, go find your father and ask him to get Xue Junzhang to intervene. Xiao Shunzi, later you bring Guoer to capture Chen Sanpi. If he doesn't listen, beat him to death. Da Haige, you continue with the original plan, let's try to resolve this matter without resorting to violence, and only use force if absolutely necessary."

  All three nodded.

  Chen Zikun also said: "Let's gather all the lamp oil at home and find a glass bottle with a lid to fill it up."

  "Ah...!" Big Sea Brother was about to say something but stopped himself, raising his thumb instead. "You're ruthless, Zhunzi!"

  Several families' kerosene lamps were all emptied, and a full bottle of kerosene was gathered. Chen Zikun found a piece of cloth to block the mouth of the bottle and carried it on his body, with his belt tightly tied. After asking for the address of the Ma family, he proudly left the big courtyard and went straight there.

  ……

  Old Master Ma's full name is Ma Shi Hai, a man approaching seventy years old who still has a straight back and a voice like thunder. Today is a doubly joyful day for the Ma family, not only is it Old Master Ma's 68th birthday, but also the auspicious day of the new young concubine entering the household.

  Ma Shihai, wearing a brand new black satin jacket with a bright green jade button on his new melon-shaped hat, stood spiritedly at the gate to welcome guests. Originally, as the host, he didn't need to stand at the gate personally, but this time the guest was Lao Wu's superior, Li Jingzheng from the Metropolitan Police Department. Mr. Ma had understood a principle since the Qing dynasty: no matter how the world changes, it's always right to curry favor with those who hold guns.

  The sky was gray and hazy, with a few snowflakes drifting down. In the courtyard, the Taoist priests were chanting away. He turned his head to look at the brightly painted red gate of his own home, and couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. This house had been bought from a declining member of the royal family, General Zhen Guo, and it was a grand mansion with five courtyards and a large gate - what a magnificent sight! In the Qing dynasty, only people of high rank were allowed to live in such a place... Ah, the Republic is indeed a good thing...

  The snowflakes were getting denser, and the third aunt came out from inside with a fox-fur cloak, carefully wrapping it around Ma Shihai's shoulders. The old man wrapped himself in the fox fur and coughed several times.

  "Master, go inside and wait, Li is so busy, who knows when he'll come?" The third wife advised, holding up an oil-paper umbrella to shield the master's head.

  "You're just a housewife, what do you know!" Ma Shihai scolded.

  The headlights of a distant car pierced the darkness, and the dense snowflakes were exposed in the light. A black Ford sedan stopped at the entrance of Ma's residence, and the driver got out to open the door. A middle-aged man wearing a black woolen police uniform got out of the car, pulled down his hem, and suddenly saw Old Man Ma standing at the gate. He hastily stepped forward and exclaimed, "Old sir, how dare you do this? You're killing me!"

  Ma Shihai smiled and said: "No need for that, I'm afraid I've been remiss in welcoming you from afar. Please forgive me, Lord Li."

  Li Jingzheng smiled and said: "Old Shouxing is joking, come on, bring me my gift."

  A soldier on duty brought over a lacquered tray, covered with a red velvet cloth. Li Zheng pulled off the red velvet cloth, revealing rows of neatly stacked foreign coins inside, totaling over a hundred pieces.

  "Governor Li is willing to visit my humble abode, and I am already grateful beyond words. How can I possibly accept such a thick gift?"

  "Take it, take it! Ma Shihai and I are good brothers, and the old man is like my elder. " Li Jingzheng chuckled and took Ma Shihai's arm, walking together into the mansion. The police officer arranged by Old Five saluted loudly, shouting: "Attention!"

  Li Jingzheng's arrival brought the birthday banquet to a new level. Today, all sorts of people are present, including those who run wine houses, gambling dens and opium dens, as well as storytellers, performers and acrobats. However, there are even more idle and unemployed young rascals. The five-compartment courtyard is filled with tables of food, four plates and eight bowls, with chicken, duck, fish, meat and other delicacies, all laid out in abundance. Old Master Ma doesn't care about anything else, just wanting a joyful celebration.

  The courtyard was filled with the sound of people's voices, and the sound of fists being drawn, Li Jing was invited into the main house living room. The dishes here were different from those outside, they were made by the chef of Dongxing Building, eight big yuan per table, extremely expensive. Five brothers sat around in a circle, the second, third and fourth elders all wore brand new satin jackets, the fifth elder wore black police uniform with a leather belt, with a box gun hanging on his waist, the sixth elder was the most elegant, wearing a Western-style suit with a tie, and a shiny parting.

  Li Jingzheng saw the big longevity character posted on the wall and joked: "It should be a double happiness instead."

  Ma Shi Hai was not a refined person to begin with, and seeing Li Jingzheng joking around, he also laughed and said: "This second son is such a prodigal, buying a concubine for the old man to warm his feet. At almost seventy years old, he's still taking on a new concubine, making fun of Lord Li."

  Li Jingzheng had read a few books and had some ink in his belly, so he smiled and said: "This is called 'one tree's pear blossoms overpowering the sea of peach blossoms', Old Master Ma's precious sword is still not old!"

  The five sons of the Ma family sitting around the large round table all burst out laughing, and the fourth son sneered: "Second brother bought a concubine who is not good enough, Dad, I spotted a girl selling art on Tianqiao Bridge, her figure is absolutely stunning, let's buy her back for you to try."

  "Cut it out, you're just a worn-out good-for-nothing from the streets. Keep it for yourself, my dad only likes untouched yellow flower girls."

  Ma Shihai's face sank, and he feigned anger: "How dare you, there are still guests here."

  Li Jingzheng burst out laughing: "Both brothers are men of great passion, I like that."

  A burst of laughter, joyful and harmonious.

  ……

  In a room in the backyard, Xing'er was tied up with five flowers and thrown on the bed, with a cloth stuffed in her mouth, a red cloth with tassels covering her head, and two stout old women sitting beside her, cracking melon seeds and chatting idly.

  "This girl is quite fierce and even wants to die."

  "It will eventually fall into Lao Ye's hands, and that fiery girl will sooner or later become obedient."

  Inside the red hood, two streams of tears flowed out from under Apricot's eyes.

  ……

  When Chen Zikun arrived at the gate of Ma's residence, the snow had already fallen heavily. He shook off the snowflakes from his hat and fur coat, and walked into the gate with an air of confidence. The police at the door didn't bother him. The five brothers of the Ma family were acquainted with people all over the world, who could recognize them?

  After entering the gate, a square table was placed in front of him, covered with red cloth. Two accountants sat there, fiddling with an abacus and writing. It seemed to be the place where gifts were received. Chen Zikong nodded at them: "I am the second master's friend." Then he swaggered in.

  The accountant glared at him and cursed, "Friends of Master Er are really unscrupulous, coming to eat for free!"

  However, they didn't stop Chen Zikun either, because Old Master Ma had said that today was just for the excitement and celebration. If someone gave 100 yuan, it wasn't too much; if someone gave two big coins, it wasn't too little. Even if someone didn't give a single cent, just kowtowing would be enough.

  Chen Zikong walked into the Ma's house with a bright and upright attitude. Outside, the courtyard was filled with banquet tables, with dozens of tables set up. He plopped himself down at a nearby table, patted the person next to him on the back: "Old buddy, it's been a while since we last met, let's have one together." Without caring about the astonished gazes from others, he picked up his wine bowl and poured it into his mouth, with half of the wine spilling onto his clothes.

  They thought he was drunk, so they didn't bother with him. He pretended to be drunk and looked for the toilet, stumbling around in the Ma family's house, but secretly memorizing the layout in his mind.

  The layout of the quadrangle courtyard in Beijing is neat and tidy, with a clear hierarchy and distinction between the noble and the humble. The position of the master of the house is fixed. Today, Ma's residence has many guests, and it's easy to get lost in the crowd. Chen Zikun easily mixed into the fourth courtyard, but was stopped at the gate.

  "This is where we entertain honored guests," a servant said with a bow. "Please, this way."

  "I have something to discuss with Second Master." Chen Zikong pretended to be drunk, deceived the guard and struck him on the neck with a palm knife, knocking him unconscious. He dragged the guard into hiding and rushed straight to the main house.

  Ma Shihai, Li Jingzheng and others were having a good time drinking and chatting, when suddenly the door burst open, wind blowing in with snowflakes, the flames of the red candles flickered several times, and a tall figure appeared at the entrance.