Chapter 0009: Breaking Through the East (Part One)

Luo Lie originally intended to leave some money for the Gospel Primary School, but upon arrival, he discovered that all the children at the school were already wearing new cotton clothes, and each classroom and dormitory was equipped with heating stoves. It turned out that this was arranged by Mu Sanshou, who also donated 1,000 silver dollars for the school to repair dilapidated buildings and improve the children's meals. This made Luo Lie feel a bit more favorable towards this powerful figure who had a significant presence in the French Concession.

At least for the time being, their transaction does not seem to have incurred significant losses, and it appears they have gained quite a bit from it

Luo Lie set down the book in his hands and turned his gaze to the window, where he saw the snow-covered mountains and rivers. The sun was gradually shifting, and through the car window, he could clearly see the shadows on the ground running parallel to it. Suddenly, Luo Lie recalled the letter he had received before leaving Huangpu.

Mu Sanshou walked towards the front door and paused for a moment, as if recalling something: "Right, little fatty, I will have someone take care of your grandmother properly, so you need not worry."

He took out the letter from his pocket; the paper had already yellowed, yet the handwriting was fresh, and he could even smell a faint scent of ink. The small, meticulous characters were written with great care, indicating considerable effort. The letter must have aged, but it was written not long ago. This letter was from a distant uncle of his. If it were not for this unexpected correspondence, Luo Lie would have never known that he had such a relative in Manchuria. This distant uncle had lost all his family, and the only possible relative he could reach out to was Luo Lie. He must have been on the verge of death when he wrote this letter. After a lengthy preamble and self-introduction, he used equally lengthy content to prove his kinship with Luo Lie. Finally, he clarified the purpose of the letter: he had fallen gravely ill and would soon pass away. He hoped that Luo Lie could make a trip to Fengtian if possible, as there were some important matters he wished to discuss and some ancestral items he wanted to pass on to Luo Lie.

Ye Qinghong said: "There are two identical keys."

For them, it was the first time sitting in such a luxurious compartment; in the past, they rarely even traveled in second-class seats, let alone a compartment meant for just two people. Although this mission stemmed from coercion, one cannot deny that Mu Sanshou was generous in his approach, providing them with an advance of three hundred silver dollars, not including the several outfits he arranged for them before their departure

The train is traveling on the South Manchuria Railway, with their final destination being Yingkou, the earliest port opened in Northeast China. It was first occupied by the Russians, and after their defeat in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, it was taken over by the Japanese, who established the Yingkou Military and Political Administration, initiating their military colonial rule. After two and a half years of military governance, negotiations led to an agreement to return Yingkou to the Qing government. However, the Japanese were duplicitous, only returning half of Yingkou. Now, with the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China, areas such as Xinshi Street, Erben Town, and Niujia Tun have not been returned and remain under the actual control of the Japanese. Furthermore, the majority of railway rights in Manchuria are still in the hands of the Japanese.

Mu Sanshou laughed heartily, completely ignoring the blind man's shouting, and opened the church's large door, striding away.

Ye Qinghong moved the dagger away from the blind man's jaw and turned completely to Luo Lie: "Are you threatening me?"

Ye Qinghong said: "It is not as complicated as you think. The whereabouts of these two keys have already been grasped by us. You only need to retrieve the keys, and that will complete the task"

The blind man said with skepticism: "Is it really that simple?"

Luo Lie smiled and said: "I just want a little respect, for in the eyes of the Lord, everyone is equal"

The blind man's emotions gradually returned, just like his flushed complexion, and his rationality fully came back. Accepting reality, he could only confront the conditions set by the other party, weakly asking: "What exactly do you want us to do?"

With a flash of cold light, a thin and sharp dagger appeared in Ye Qinghong's hand, pressing against the blind man's chin, forcing him to bear the weight of his own excess flesh on his toes. Ye Qinghong said coldly: "You remember two things for me. First, do not shout at me again; do you know you have bad breath? Second, do not stare at me! I detest the lecherous look in others' eyes the most"

Luo Lie's heart trembled violently; Mu Sanshou was indeed cunning and resourceful, having uncovered so many matters related to himself. He even resorted to threatening the lives of the children from the Gospel Primary School, which was truly despicable. However, if it were not for such tactics, how could he force himself to easily submit? The higher the path of virtue, the greater the power of evil; dealing with this long-established rogue in the underworld felt like walking on thin ice, each step fraught with anxiety.

Manchuria

Luo Lie has never understood why his grandfather chose to commit suicide after the fall of the Qing Dynasty. The old man, seemingly rigid and traditional, not adept at expressing emotions, devoted everything to his grandson. Although their communication was limited, he knew that deep down, his grandfather yearned for a prosperous nation and the rejuvenation of the ethnic group. Despite his talents, he never served in the Qing court, fundamentally due to his profound disappointment in the decay of the Qing Dynasty. The fall of the Qing and the establishment of the Republic of China should have ignited hope in this old man; unexpectedly, he chose the path of sacrificing himself for his country, ending his life alongside the already decayed empire of the Qing Dynasty.

Luo Liedao: "Only women who lack confidence are afraid of being stared at by others"

The blind man said, "Do you want us to find those two keys?" A chill ran through my heart; if that were the case, searching for two inconspicuous keys in the vast expanse of the world would be akin to finding a needle in a haystack

The blind man said: "Provide us with the clues!"

Ye Qinghong suddenly turned her charming face, her beautiful eyes flashing with a cold light, fixating intently on Luo Lie.

Luo Lie, however, did not believe Ye Qinghong's words at all. If the matter were truly as simple as she claimed, why would they go to such lengths to seek them out? Why not take action themselves?

Ye Qinghong said: "Prepare yourselves, we will set off for Manchuria in three days"

After Mu Sanshou left, Luo Lie finally walked over and set the blind man down. As soon as the blind man's numb limbs regained their mobility, he charged at Ye Qinghong like an enraged hippopotamus, opening his mouth wide and roaring: "You can deal with us in any way you want, but you must not harm my grandmother!"

Everything is relative. You may think you have grasped others' shortcomings and weaknesses, but if you wish to control others, you must protect these well, hoping to use them at a critical moment. However, everything carries risks. Luo Lie is reminding Ye Qinghong of this principle. If anything were to happen to those whom he and the blind man cherish, they would retaliate at any cost.

After passing through Shanhaiguan, the temperature suddenly dropped. Looking out from the train window, a scene of silver-clad beauty unfolded. Luo Lie had already changed into a fur coat, sitting by the window reading, enjoying the midday sunlight streaming in. Having not slept all night, he felt no fatigue at all; instead, he realized that the insomnia that had troubled him for many years was becoming more severe again.

Luo Lie had little interest in this letter filled with unexpected elements. He had never met this distant uncle, and moreover, his father had passed away when he was very young. His mother also died of illness when he was seven, after which he lived with his grandfather. His grandfather was a former scholar of the Qing dynasty, who never held an official position but was well-educated and placed great importance on education. Therefore, he devoted all his resources to support Luo Lie's schooling, sending him early to a school that combined Chinese and Western education. At the age of thirteen, he put him on a ship bound for America. The ability to make such a decision in that era proved that his grandfather was quite progressive.

The sound of the train's whistle interrupted Luo Lie's contemplation. He put away the letter; this time they would stop in Fengtian for a day, meeting with the person arranged by Master Mu in advance. Perhaps he could find time to visit this distant uncle whom he had never met before

Luo Lie smiled and said: "You might as well understand this as advice and counsel. From today onwards, it is best that all the children at Gospel Primary School remain safe and sound. If even one of them has a fever or cold, or if one misses classes or skips school, I will be the first to hold you accountable. Granny Chen has reached her seventies, and I hope she lives a long life. However, if anything happens to her during our collaboration, we will most likely attribute the responsibility to you. In fact, everyone is under considerable pressure."

The blind man shouted, "Do not harm her, old lady..." The blind man had only this one relative; five years ago, he carried his paralyzed grandmother on his back as they fled to Huangpu. Little did he expect that Mu Sanshou had thoroughly investigated even this background.

Luo Liedao: "If one wishes for others to work for them, it is best to be a bit more polite. Cooperation for mutual benefit is certainly ideal, but if one truly turns hostile and is prepared to fight to the bitter end, how confident does Miss Ye feel about walking out of here alive?"

Ye Qinghong nodded and said, "Now that you mention it, I am indeed a bit scared!"

Ye Qinghong disdainfully remarked: "Such complex matters are likely beyond your capabilities to handle!"

Luo Lie got up and gave the blind man a light tap. The blind man, feeling impatient, turned over on the bed, facing away, and continued his deep slumber. Luo Lie, feeling helpless yet somewhat envious, raised his wrist to check the time; it was already 12:30, and he had not yet had breakfast. Feeling quite hungry, he stood up and walked out towards the dining car

The blind man's grandmother was admitted to Ren'ai Hospital, not due to any acute illness, but because she suffered from persistent coughing and shortness of breath at this time every year. It is possible that Luo Lie's words to Ye Qinghong had an effect; they also realized that in order for Luo Lie and the blind man to work diligently, they must protect the two cards they held in their hands. Thus, they arranged for Grandma Chen to be placed in a high-end ward for recuperation, while also treating her chronic bronchitis that had troubled her for many years

The blind man still had not awakened from last night's hangover, his mouth agape, emitting a deafeningly sweet snore