Chen Zikun did not go home, but went to the Xiong Mansion, where he thanked Xiong Xiling in person. When borrowing a car, he did not hide anything and said that a friend had committed a crime and was wanted, and needed to use Mr. Xiong's reputation as cover to escape Beijing. Xiong Xiling was also a sentimental person, and without asking any questions, he agreed.

  When Chen Zikun came to thank him, Xiong Xiling smiled and asked: "Is your friend all right?"

  Chen Zikun said: "Thanks to Master Xiong's blessing, I have safely left Beijing."

  Xiong Xiling nodded, "It's getting late, you should also go back and rest."

  Chen Zikong stood up to bid farewell, and the housekeeper sent him out. After returning, he asked: "Master, why didn't you ask who helped him? What if it's a notorious thief, wouldn't we be implicated?"

  Xiong Xiling stroked his beard and smiled with great self-satisfaction, saying: "The friendship between gentlemen is something that you ordinary people cannot understand."

  ……

  After leaving the bear house, Chen Zikun rushed to the big miscellaneous courtyard of Liu Shu Hutong outside Xuanwu Gate. Everyone gathered here to discuss how to rescue Zhao Dahan. Dahan's parents were worried and his wife was hiding in the room crying non-stop. The youngest son didn't shed a single tear, like a little man.

  It wasn't until they asked that they found out today that everyone went to the detention center for a visit, and the police said that Zhao Dahai was a major offender, not allowed to visit, and not allowed to send bedding or quilts. Xue Pingshun used to be a patrol officer and knew the rules and inside story of the detention center, and it's no exaggeration to describe it as Yanwang Temple. The people working there are a group of prison guards left over from the Qing dynasty, who are particularly skilled at bullying prisoners. Even death row inmates can't escape their exploitation. If they don't send some benefits, they will collude with the executioner to cut off a few more knives, making the death row inmate suffer even more before dying.

  As for ordinary prisoners, the means of extortion are even more numerous. All personal belongings will be confiscated, and by the time you come out, they will all be gone. During detention, food and bedding must be provided by family members, but it's not certain that they will actually reach the prisoner. Only when these comforts have been fully provided will these old masters consider giving the prisoner a brighter or drier cell. In short, they have many ways to make you willingly hand over your money.

  This time, unexpectedly, they didn't allow a visit, which means Old Ma must have made arrangements beforehand to make Zhao Dahan suffer inside. So the Zhao family and neighbors are all worried. The detention center is like a devil's den, even the strongest man will be tortured until he's not human anymore. This time, Dahan has fallen on hard times, if he doesn't die, he'll at least lose a layer of skin.

  Chen Zikun brought good news, Ma Lao Wu has been dismissed and investigated, the big yard suddenly became noisy, Xue Shu took out his tobacco pouch and knocked on the sole of his shoe, saying: "Let's go, let's visit him in prison."

  The visiting team consisted of Da Hai's wife, Gou Sheng, Xue Pingshun and Chen Zikong. They carried bedding rolls on their backs, bought two cans of 50-pack mid-range cigarettes at the hutong entrance, and also bought some cooked beef, braised pork belly and other meat dishes before rushing to the detention center.

  Ma Lao Wu was removed from his post and the news spread quickly. The detention center had already received the message, and these guys were very selfish. The words of the Fifth Master immediately became worthless, and of course, they still didn't loosen their mouths, saying that Zhao Da Hai was a major offender who was ordered by the higher-ups to be strictly managed and was not allowed to visit.

  Xue Ping Shun finished speaking, the prison guards took the cigarettes and extorted a few more dollars before one of them, with a ferocious face, carried a bunch of keys to take them for a visit.

  The detention house used the former Qing dynasty's prison cells, damp and low-lying dungeons, dark without sunlight, with black holes on both sides, vaguely visible with straw mats on the ground, prisoners huddled in the corners, disheveled and dirty, not human-like, some prisoners had been locked up here since the Guangxu years, neither transferred to a regular prison nor released, just waiting for death in the detention house.

  Zhao Dahai was locked in a large cell, and it seemed that he had not suffered much. The prisoners looked at him with reverence, and when they saw Zhao's relatives come to visit, they retreated to the corner of the room.

  Family reunion, tears streaming down their faces. Even Dog Left rubbed his eyes and cried out "Dad!" once. Zhao Dahai, however, remained true to character, chatting and laughing: "What's there to cry about? It's not like you've been sentenced to death. You'll be out soon, and they'll even provide bedding - what a waste."

  Xue Ping Shun said: "Hai, don't worry, tomorrow we will go to the police station to bail you out and let you out early."

  "Thanks for your trouble, guys."

  ……

  After the visit, everyone felt more at ease and slept better. The next morning, Xue Pingshun and Chen Zikong went to the police station again to try to bail out Zhao Dahi. According to the situation, Zhao Dahi didn't have any clear charges and shouldn't be detained in the first place. Moreover, the main culprit Ma Lao Wu had already been dismissed from his position, so this matter should be easily resolved. However, reality was not like that.

  Ma Lao Wu has been removed from his position, but he still has connections. Moreover, the police officers are all lazy and only do the bare minimum required by their superiors. They can delay or shirk their duties, let alone deal with a case that is not even within their jurisdiction. Nobody pays attention to them. Xue Ping Shun had to swallow his pride and finally found a patrol officer who could communicate with him. When he asked, he discovered that nobody was in charge of this matter. When they arrested people, they didn't follow any procedures. If they wanted to release someone, they still had to go through Ma Lao Wu.

  Looking for Ma Lao Wu to release the person, isn't that like plotting with a tiger for its skin? Xue Ping Shun and Chen Zi Kun were anxiously turning around in circles, desperately seeking medical attention. Chen Zi Kun took out Xiong Xi Ling's business card, wanting to try his luck, but unexpectedly the police officer didn't fall for it, speaking in an official tone: "Even if Old Xiong himself came, we as police officers wouldn't dare to be partial or corrupt."

  Since ancient times, government offices have been places where reason is useless without money, and no matter how clean the officials are, they are as slippery as oil. These police officers have inherited the wisdom of exploiting ordinary people that has been passed down through thousands of years of government clerks, and if you don't take out some real goods, it's absolutely impossible to get things done.

  "Rally around! Whatever it takes, we must get Big Brother Hai out!" Chen Zikun said with a stern expression, but Zhao Dahi's family was penniless, and the neighbors in the big courtyard were also poor to the point of being destitute. Where would they find the money to grease palms? The heavy burden still rested on Chen Zikun's shoulders.

  Back to the Zi Guang car factory to gather money, taking out all the cash on the cabinet is still not enough, helplessly can only sacrifice the treasure again, pawn it!

  When the pawnshop is in use, it's for emergency purposes. From imported alarm clocks and sable fur coats to worn-out cotton jackets and tattered leather shoes, everything can be exchanged for money. The loan period ranges from three months to a year and a half. If the item is not redeemed by the deadline, it becomes a "dead pawn" and belongs to the pawnshop. In fact, this is equivalent to a kind of mortgage loan, but with a lower threshold than banks or financial institutions.

  Chen Zikun had two rickshaws pulled to the pawnshop, but only got 100 yuan in exchange. The two rickshaws were originally bought for 120 yuan, and now each one can only be exchanged for 50 yuan. This is the black-heartedness of the pawnshop. Of course, when redeeming them, it won't be just this price, at least they have to pay an additional 5 yuan.

  "Let's go all out again!" Chen Zikun was determined, even if it meant selling everything to bring Big Hai back.

  ……

  At the same time Chen Zikun was busy raising funds and rescuing people, a special examination was being held in the Peking University campus, attracting countless students and professors, even President Cai Yuanpei was shocked.

  This exam originated from a bet between Professor Gu Hongming and his students at the end of last semester. He promised to raise the Latin level of a rickshaw boy from scratch to no less than that of a university student during the winter vacation. Later, this gamble expanded to include liberal arts, with Hu Shi, Liu Shipei, Huang Kan and others joining in, and another test subject was added, who was also a rickshaw boy.

  Another rickshaw boy was Xu Er, under the drive of Da Yang and Cui Lian, Xu Er could be said to have hung his head in shame, using up all his energy before the wedding day, studying day and night without distinction, Young Master Xu not only gave him time off but also taught him lessons together with classmates Fu Si Nian and Luo Jia Lun, after one winter break, Xu Er felt that his belly was already filled with ink.

  The exam was held in a classroom in the Red Building, with two tables placed in the center of the room. On each table were two test papers, one for Chinese and one for foreign languages, but with some differences. Xu Er took the modern Chinese and classical Chinese tests, while Chen Zikun took the classical Chinese and Latin tests. The test questions were jointly set by professors from Peking University, taking into account the fun of gambling and the level of the examinees. The questions were not very difficult.

  The exam time is approaching, but only one examinee has arrived. Xuer wears a long shirt and sits behind the desk with glasses frames on his face, looking very pleased with himself.

  The table next to him was still empty, Chen Zikun had not arrived yet, and the onlookers were getting impatient. Gu Hongming kept glancing at his pocket watch, complaining in his heart that this young Chen really had no sense of time, knowing today's exam was scheduled, how could he still not be here?

  Liu Shipei was also anxious, he knew Chen Zikun's level, let alone this simple test paper, even the Peking University entrance examination, Chen Zikun could easily pass, so this gamble was a sure win for their side, but if the person didn't show up, no matter how well they studied, it would be useless.

  Lin Wenjing in the crowd was even more anxious, secretly wondering why Uncle Ah hadn't arrived yet, had something happened?

  Just then, Liu Shipei raised his hand and said: "I propose to postpone the exam time by half an hour to wait for another candidate."

  Some students made a disturbance, but the chief examiner Cai Yuanpei said: "Alright, let's extend it by half an hour."

  Time passed minute by minute, and people occasionally glanced at the wall clock. Half an hour soon arrived, but Chen Zikun had not yet arrived. Liu Shipei raised his hand again: "I hope to extend it for another 20 minutes."

  This time Cai Yuanpei did not agree: "If it were the imperial examination in ancient times, and a candidate was late, I'd like to ask Shu uncle, would the Imperial Academy postpone the exam for this one person?"

  Liu Shipei was speechless.

  Cai Yuanpei said: "Of course, this exam is not a formal test, and it's okay to make an exception. If the candidate arrives late, I'll let him in."

  Then the exam started. Xu wrote quickly with his brush, sometimes tapping his pen on the desk, deep in thought, showing off in front of everyone.

  ……

  At this time, Chen Zikong was still busy in the Beijing Detention Center. The 200 yuan spent had an effect, and Zhao Dahai was finally released. However, the silver-cased Hamilton pocket watch given by Zhan Tianyou was gone from his personal belongings. When he asked the prison guard, he only received a dismissive scolding: What pocket watch? You haven't seen one before, you're here to extort people, and you don't even know what kind of place this is!

  Chen Zikong wanted to hit someone on the spot, but was pulled back by Zhao Dahai: "Dakongzi, calm down." He dragged him away.

  "Behave!" The prison guard glared at them with a fierce gaze, his silver watch chain gleaming on his chest.

  On the way back, Chen Zikun suddenly thought that today was the day of the Beida exam. This exam not only affected several hundred yuan in income but also related to the face of two teachers, Gu Hongming and Liu Shipei. He couldn't not go no matter what.

  It seems there's still time, he said to Xue Ping and Zhao Dahai: "You two go back first, I have something to take care of." As soon as the words left his mouth, he vanished into thin air.

  ……

  The examination in the Red Building of Peking University has been going on for a long time, and there are only ten minutes left before it ends. The other examinee will probably not show up, and even if he rushes here, he will not be able to finish the paper. So this examination, this gamble, will end with the complete victory of the New Culture Movement.

  Gu Hongming and Liu Shipei looked a bit ugly, originally thought they had the upper hand, but unexpectedly lost due to a small mistake. Although it was just a playful gamble, it also implied the struggle between the conservative faction and the new culture faction, so the relationship is important, otherwise they would not have spent so much time teaching a coachman.

  Just as everyone was convinced that Xu Er would win, the classroom door suddenly opened and Chen Zikun appeared at the entrance, panting: "Sorry, guys, I'm late."

  He looked like he had just been pulled out of a water tank, his face was covered in sweat, and steam was rising from his head. His outer clothes were off, and he was only wearing a tight-fitting vest, looking as if he had just finished running a marathon.

  Tsai Yuan-pei reminded: "The exam time is almost over, are you sure you want to continue taking the exam?"

  Chen Zikun walked straight to the table, sat down, first squeezed his eyes at Xu Er's astonished face, then said loudly: "Of course I want to take the exam, please give me another pen."

  Everyone didn't know what he was selling in his gourd, only to see a female classmate standing out from the crowd, taking out a fountain pen and saying: "Use mine."

  Taking the red fountain pen with body temperature handed over by his dream lover, Chen Zikun nodded gratefully to Lin Wenjing, put the Latin test paper on his left hand, held a pencil in his right hand to do the Chinese test questions, and held the fountain pen in his left hand to do the Latin test questions, with both hands moving simultaneously, writing fluently.

  For a moment, the classroom was silent, from Principal Cai Yuanpei to the servant who served tea water, everyone was stunned.