Chapter 42: A Thoughtful Gesture

"Why, do you want me to stay and keep you company?" Wu Yaqing asked.

"I live in such a huge house all by myself; it's lonely, cold, and desolate. Can't you take pity on me?" Xu Ruiyang reached behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and whispered into her ear.

"I'll consider it. My mother told me that things obtained too easily are rarely cherished, and she warned me not to move in with you too soon," Wu Yaqing said with a smile.

"Your mother is absolutely the best mother-in-law. Did she agree to let you move in with me?" Xu Ruiyang asked, overjoyed.

"Her daughter has been so utterly captivated by you that she runs here every single day. Would opposition even be useful?" Wu Yaqing replied while scooping out the dumplings.

After finishing their meal and taking a short nap, the two drove to the main thoroughfare of the International Settlement—the most prosperous street in the city. Yet, Xu Ruiyang’s eyes were drawn to the refugees scattered everywhere.

Entire families, old and young, were huddled along the roadside or at the base of building walls and steps. With no means of survival, their only possessions were a few bundles and tattered straw mats. They were gaunt and listless from hunger, and the sound of wailing children was particularly heart-wrenching.

Many were selling their own children; parents desperate to save them from a certain death. There were even young women and new brides among them. This prosperous concession was now the stage for a truly miserable scene.

Xu Ruiyang was not cold-hearted. Several times he wanted to pull money from his wallet, but he held back. Faced with such an overwhelming number of refugees, he was powerless.

The Settlement was incapable of handling over a million refugees. It wasn't just the locals; as the war engulfed the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions, a massive influx of refugees had poured in. While the International Settlement and the French Concession had cleared out some schools and public venues to serve as temporary shelters, most people still remained displaced.

The shortage of grain and vegetables severely constrained the capacity to house them, as the war had created a massive gap in the city's supply chain.

Xu Ruiyang stopped the car. Through the lowered window, he heard a burst of crying.

By the side of the road, a group of about twenty refugees—a mix of old, young, men, and women—had gathered.

Nearby, a few small shacks had been erected out of broken mats and wooden boards. Even this meager shelter against the wind and rain was something most refugees couldn't afford.

Several men in their thirties stood in a circle. Listening to their conversation, it seemed someone had been injured, yet they had no money for medicine. Meanwhile, the women were trying to persuade a woman holding a child; she seemed to be considering selling herself to buy medicine to save the man.

"Ruiyang, let's help them. They are so pitiful!" Wu Yaqing said, shaking his arm.

Xu Ruiyang observed them closely. He concluded that these men had once been soldiers or police officers, perhaps even veterans of combat. Their worn-out clothes could not hide the scars on their bodies—scars that were clearly from gunshot wounds. He had learned how to identify such marks during his time as a police officer.

He opened the car door, stepped out, and approached the group. "What's going on?"

"Sir, one of our brothers was stabbed by a thug from the Green Gang, but we have no money to take him to the hospital. Please show some kindness and save him! Our brothers are willing to work for you like beasts of burden to repay you!" A man who appeared to be the leader knelt directly, as if he had just seen a savior.

"Get up. A man's knees are made of gold; kneeling won't buy you anything. Pick two men to carry him into the car. I'll take you to the hospital, and I will pay the medical expenses!"

"Here is two hundred legal tender. Everyone, buy some food and keep waiting, but don't eat too much at once; your stomachs can't handle it. Since I’ve chosen to be kind, I will see it through to the end. I will make arrangements for you later," Xu Ruiyang said sternly.

After two men carried the wounded man into the back seat, he accelerated toward the hospital.

Once again, he found that money could perform miracles. With funds provided, the hospital quickly performed surgery on the young man, whose name was Mo Haichang, and his life was saved.

The leader, Tang Shenglin, and a young man named Fan Tongde showered Xu Ruiyang with endless gratitude.

"How did you get into a conflict with the Green Gang?" Xu Ruiyang asked.

The Green Gang was the largest criminal organization in Shanghai. It was said to have originated during the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty, founded by three patriarchs: Weng Yan (courtesy name Fuming, Daoist name Dehui), Qian Jian (courtesy name Fuzhai, Daoist name Dezheng), and Pan Qing (courtesy name Xuanting, Daoist name Delin), with Pan Qing being the most famous.

When Green Gang disciples used secret handshakes or code phrases, claiming their "surname is Pan" referred to Pan Qing, as the first two patriarchs had passed away shortly after the gang's formation.

In Shanghai, the Green Gang was deeply entrenched. They colluded with officials, exploited the common people, and engaged in illicit trades such as opium trafficking, running opium dens, and operating gambling houses. Even President Chiang was a student of a Green Gang boss.

After the failure of the Battle of Shanghai, Boss Du had gone to Hong Kong, and Boss Huang had shut his doors. The one who dominated the Shanghai underworld was Zhang Xiaolin, known as the "Three-Color Tycoon."

He had chosen to become a collaborator, using his disciples to coerce various industries into bowing to Japanese rule. He ruthlessly suppressed anti-Japanese resistance and hunted down patriots. He dispatched men to acquire grain, cotton, coal, and medicine for the Japanese army, often through forced price-cutting or armed robbery.

Supported by the Japanese, Zhang Xiaolin seized the opportunity to recruit followers, doubling his influence. It was no wonder the refugees had suffered for clashing with Green Gang thugs.

"We were just trying to earn a living by carrying sacks at the Shiliupu Pier. We never expected the Green Gang thugs to withhold our wages, so we ended up with a grudge," Tang Shenglin explained.

"Earlier, some men from the pier were wandering through the Settlement and recognized Mo Haichang. They made lewd remarks to his wife. Haichang couldn't hold back, so he got into a fight with them, and one of them stabbed him. We were all out begging on the streets, and when we returned, this is what we found," Tang continued.

"You were soldiers before, weren't you?" Xu Ruiyang asked while smoking.

"It’s shameful to admit, but we were part of the Shanghai Police Corps. Our homes were here in Shanghai. During the Battle of Shanghai, we fought the Japanese with our guns. The unit retreated too quickly, and there was no time to take us with them."

"The Japanese bombing destroyed our homes. For over a year, we've been drifting in the Settlement, working as laborers at the pier," Tang Shenglin said with a bitter smile.

"I am the newly appointed Special Police Chief of the Municipal Police Department. I haven't officially taken office yet, and I am currently short on men. Would you be willing to follow me and serve as police again?" Xu Ruiyang asked.

Lu Ying's words had given him inspiration. He truly intended to separate the Special Police Corps from the main Municipal Police Department to create a force under his own control. These former police officers of the Chongqing government could be utilized; at the very least, they had been tested in real combat, and their fighting spirit and psychological resilience met his requirements.

"As long as there's a bite to eat so our wives and children don't starve, we can do anything. Since you have provided a path for us, our lives are yours to command!" Tang Shenglin said with a firm tone.