Facing the first instance of extortion in his life, Chen Ke was, truth be told, quite apprehensive. He glanced at Hua Xiongmao, only to find him wearing an expression of utter nonchalance, looking every bit the experienced hand who had everything under control. He couldn't tell if this fellow was a frequent extorter of others or a frequent victim himself.

Noticing the peculiar way Chen Ke was looking at him, Hua Xiongmao laughed. "Wenqing, you’ve been overseas for so long that you don't understand the situation back home." He began to explain the general rules of the underworld. These days, no matter who you were or what business you ran, you had to know people. The "brothers of the path" would at least get things done once they took your money. Without their protection, you’d simply become a target for every ruthless thug out there.

Seeing that Chen Ke remained skeptical, Hua Xiongmao assured him that based on their earlier exchange of "cant"—the secret slang of the underworld—he was certain these two were formal members of the Heaven and Earth Society. The Society was effectively a "unit with guaranteed credit," and their fees were usually reasonable.

Since Hua Xiongmao had put it that way, Chen Ke naturally had to respect the "expert." He nodded in agreement, then turned to Zhou Yuanxiao. "Brother Zhou, don't worry. I'll cover the cost of the 'gift.' We’ll keep the dyeing going just as we have been. If we rush it, we won't do a good job."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuanxiao remained as silent as ever, merely nodding. The three returned to the table; Zhou and Hua promptly slumped over and went back to sleep. Stimulated by the night's events, Chen Ke found his drowsiness completely gone. Watching the other three sleep soundly, he truly envied their broad-mindedness. Since he couldn't sleep, he didn't want to waste time. He stood up and began to work quietly—cleaning the furnace, treating the wastewater; there was plenty to do. The Zhou family workshop was well-designed; the courtyard even had a hidden drain leading directly to the outer ditch. As he lifted the wooden cover and poured the wastewater in, Chen Ke couldn't help but think that in his own era, those two from the Heaven and Earth Society would have been arrested, imprisoned, or even executed long ago.

Zhengzhou, as a railway hub, had once been incredibly chaotic. Before the "Strike Hard" campaign of the 1980s, "thief kings" from all over had even held a "national conference" there. Under the iron fist of that campaign, stealing a watch could get you shot, let alone those pretentious bandits and "heroes of the greenwood," who were wiped out entirely. The social environment had been palpably refreshed.

Chen Ke had never been extorted growing up. The only extortion he’d ever seen was a handful of minor incidents in school. Even then, it was never something done in the light of day. If a student was caught extorting others, the school’s punishment was swift and severe.

Later, from the late nineties to the first few years of the twenty-first century, crime had seen a resurgence, but it remained within a tolerable limit for the public. After 2003, following several major robbery cases, criminals—organized or otherwise—were once again met with the crushing blow of the state’s iron fist. And since that crackdown began, it had never let up.

Specifically targeting "organized crime" involved in extortion, several precision strikes were carried out. Dozens were executed, and hundreds were arrested. Those caught, even if they escaped the firing squad, received a minimum of seven years. Such severe measures made extortion a thing of the past once again. The surviving "heroes" of Zhengzhou either washed their hands of the life or "left their ancestral homes to seek development elsewhere."

Chen Ke was never a "humanitarian" who advocated for the rights of criminals; he fully supported the crackdown on crime. Being extorted today made him miss that "iron fist" intensely. But that fist didn't exist in 1905. The only way to see it again was for Chen Ke himself to build that power through revolution.

He tidied up while lost in thought. Looking at the cloth hanging all over the yard, he felt uneasy. If someone really came to cause trouble tonight... He had originally intended for everyone to go back and rest, but that wouldn't do now. Starting today, they would have to take turns keeping watch at night.

It wasn't until nearly dinnertime that everyone woke up. You Gou stood to take her leave. After she left, Chen Ke announced the night watch rotation. Zhou Yuanxiao gave his usual silent nod. Seeing that Chen Ke was still worried, Hua Xiongmao suggested talking to Xu Xilin to see if they could use the Restoration Society's local influence in Shanghai.

Chen Ke didn't think it was necessary yet. Using connections cost money. If the cost of the favors exceeded what the two thugs wanted—on top of owing a debt of gratitude—it would be a losing bargain. "Let's talk to them first and see," Chen Ke said.

The following day at noon, the two parties officially began negotiations in a restaurant near the workshop. They exchanged names; the tall one was Wu Xingchen, a "Lodge Master" of the Heaven and Earth Society.

"Brother Chen, it's not that I just want some gift money—that's pittance. Let’s speak plainly. I see your dyeing business is doing well, and I’d like to cooperate with you."

"If you want goods on credit, then there's nothing more to discuss," Chen Ke cut him off instantly. "If you’re buying cloth with cash, then we can talk."

Wu Xingchen hadn't expected Chen Ke's attitude to be so firm. He tried to persuade him. "Which house doesn't offer credit these-days? Surely Brother Chen doesn't distrust the Heaven and Earth Society?"

"My cloth is cheap; naturally, I can't offer credit," Chen Ke replied.

"How cheap?" Wu Xingchen asked.

"For you, one tael and seven mace of silver per bolt," Chen Ke stated.

Before Wu Xingchen could speak, his lackey's face lit up with joy. He muttered a few words to Wu Xingchen in the Shanghai dialect. A trace of anger flickered across Wu Xingchen’s face, which he suppressed a moment later.

Chen Ke saw this clearly. He was reminded of the famous mob movie *The Godfather*, specifically the scene where the Don's eldest son expressed a differing opinion during a negotiation. This revealed internal discord. Consequently, the rival immediately organized an assassination attempt on the Don. Once the old man was out of the way, they could negotiate with the family member who shared their view. This lackey of Wu Xingchen’s was a local Shanghainese; before Wu had even spoken, the man had taken the initiative to advise him. It seemed their relationship wasn't a simple hierarchy of the secret society. He decided he had to gamble on this point.

Thinking of this, Chen Ke suddenly asked, "Brother Wu, which Hall did you originally belong to? A Northern one, I presume?"

At these words, Wu Xingchen’s expression changed sharply. Chen Ke breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed his guess was correct. Wu Xingchen’s status as a Lodge Master within the Shanghai branch of the Society was delicate.

The rest of the negotiation became quite dull. The subordinate, however, was eager and took it upon himself to discuss business with them. By this point, Hua Xiongmao had also seen through the situation. Since he spoke the same dialect as the local man, he took the lead, playing along with Chen Ke. They ordered food and wine; after a few cups of yellow wine, the fellow’s mouth became even looser. His name was He Yifa, a generation junior to Wu Xingchen in the Society's hierarchy, but he was a local member. In his drunken excitement, He Yifa accidentally revealed that Wu Xingchen was actually the Lodge Master of the Beijing branch and was only in Shanghai temporarily.

It seemed He Yifa had been dissatisfied with being subordinate to this "outsider" for a long time. In a secret society, your income was heavily tied to who you followed. As a stranger in town, Wu Xingchen had likely hit many walls in Shanghai.

Wu Xingchen looked angry at first, but by the time He Yifa started talking nonsense, he knew this venture had failed. He was a man who could let things go; he simply focused on eating and drinking. When He Yifa began to lose himself in his own arrogance, Wu Xingchen even offered subtle "praise," calling him "vibrant" and "full of grand ambition." He Yifa felt immensely proud, his grin nearly reaching his ears. Chen Ke and Hua Xiongmao listened to Wu Xingchen’s double-edged words and shared a secret smile, though they didn't expose him. Instead, they followed suit with some flattery of their own. When Chen Ke toasted Wu Xingchen, Wu drained his cup every time, appearing quite gallant.

To be able to endure and adapt, and to decisively accept the outcome when things didn't go his way instead of making a scene with He Yifa on the spot—Chen Ke found himself quite impressed with Wu Xingchen. He actually felt a desire to befriend him.

Just as He Yifa stepped out to relieve himself, Chen Ke spoke seriously to Wu Xingchen. "Brother Wu, it seems you are someone who has seen great things. Could you come here alone tomorrow at noon? I am also a Northerner, and it is rare to hear a Northern accent in Shanghai. I would like to host you and share a drink. I hope you will do me the honor."

Wu Xingchen smiled. "Brother Chen has quite the moves. Having secured that one, you now want to appease me? I’m afraid I haven't the face to trouble you for that drink."

Chen Ke smiled. "I secured that one for the sake of business. I am inviting you because I admire your temperament. Remaining calm in the face of change, knowing when to yield and when to stand—I have seen that spirit. To me, befriending a hero like you is more joyful than a bit of money. Brother Wu, I won't eat anything all day tomorrow; I will wait for you to come and drink with me."

Wu Xingchen only smiled and didn't speak. A moment later, He Yifa returned, and the table became lively once more.

After seeing the two off, Chen Ke said to Hua Xiongmao, "Zhenglan, can you find someone to look into Wu Xingchen’s background? I don't think this man is simple."

"Wasn't his background made clear already?" Hua Xiongmao asked, somewhat puzzled.

"We must never underestimate this man. If I don't clear up his origins, I won't feel at ease. Zhenglan, please make sure to give me a definitive answer tonight on whether you can find anything. If your friends can't, I'll ask Mr. Xu to have Tao Chengzhang help." Chen Ke spoke with great gravity.

Looking at Chen Ke’s serious expression, Hua Xiongmao nodded. "I’ll see to it now. I’ll come to the workshop to find you tonight."

Returning to the workshop, Chen Ke tried to sit still for a while, but he couldn't find peace of mind. Facing Wu Xingchen, he had appeared effortless, but he couldn't be certain his judgment of the man was correct. If Wu Xingchen was indeed a man of character as Chen Ke suspected, and since things weren't going his way, he would gracefully accept the failure. But if Chen Ke was wrong, what followed would be Wu Xingchen’s retaliation.

Best to be prepared. Chen Ke made up his mind. He asked Zhou Yuanxiao nearby, "Brother Zhou, are there any vulnerable spots here where someone could easily break in?"

Zhou Yuanxiao glanced at him. "This is an old workshop; those vulnerabilities were mostly accounted for. If someone wants to barge in, they’d have to use the main gate. As for climbing the walls, they’re high enough that an ordinary person wouldn't find it easy."

Chen Ke wanted to ask what would happen if someone broke in to set a fire, but he thought the phrasing might be too alarming. "That's good, then," he said.

You Gou didn't quite know what had happened. Overhearing their conversation, she came over and asked, "Is someone looking for trouble with us?"

Chen Ke didn't want to drag her into this mess easily. He gave a few evasive answers, but she was persistent. Seeing that Chen Ke wouldn't talk, she pulled Zhou Yuanxiao aside and began badgering him in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang dialect. Zhou Yuanxiao refused to say anything as well. Seeing this, You Gou simply announced, "I’ll stay here too, then."

"Will your family really let a girl like you stay out all night?" Chen Ke was quite surprised.

"They can't control me." At the mention of her family, her expression turned cold.

"Ask Brother Zhou. If he agrees, I have nothing to say." Leaving it at that, Chen Ke went outside to survey the surroundings.

Zhou Yuanxiao’s workshop was at the entrance of an alley, covering nearly 400 square meters. It was a typical old-style Shanghai *lilong*, with high courtyard walls. Chen Ke picked up a brick and threw it with all his might; only then did it clear the height of the wall. He considered that given the density of the cloth in the yard, if he were the one causing trouble, he’d just hurl torches over the wall. Or even Molotov cocktails. Then he reconsidered: everyone was here for profit, not a life-and-death struggle. What good would that do Wu Xingchen? Even a temporary defeat wasn't worth escalating to such a bridge-burning degree.

With that thought, Chen Ke looked at those towering walls again. A normal person would find them extremely difficult to climb, even with a rope. It seemed that guarding the gate and doing regular patrols would suffice.

Still, Chen Ke wasn't entirely at ease. He went back to tell Zhou Yuanxiao he was stepping out for a bit and headed toward his lodgings. As he entered, he saw Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin in the courtyard talking to Hua Xiongmao. Noticing Chen Ke, Xu Xilin called out with a smile, "Wenqing, tomorrow I’d like to introduce you to Mr. Cai Yuanpei."

Chen Ke remembered his appointment with Wu Xingchen. If he went to see Cai Yuanpei, that meeting would surely fall through. Which was more important: Cai Yuanpei or Wu Xingchen? It was a difficult call. After a moment's thought, Chen Ke said apologetically, "Brother Boxun, I’ve already made plans to meet someone tomorrow. Could the meeting with Mr. Cai be pushed back a few days?"

Xu Xilin was quite taken aback. Seeing the troubled look on Chen Ke’s face, his suspicion grew. When Chen Ke had first sought him out, he had specifically asked for an introduction to Cai Yuanpei. Now he wanted to delay it? Had he run into some old friend or relative? At this thought, Xu Xilin spoke more firmly. "Wenqing, this is a rare opportunity. You should think it over."

"Brother Boxun, please wait a moment." Having said that, Chen Ke turned to ask Hua Xiongmao, "Zhenglan, what news do you have?"

Hua Xiongmao said, "I have word; I was planning to tell you tonight." Before he could continue, Chen Ke interrupted, "Zhenglan, do you know where Wu Xingchen lives?"

"I don't know the exact spot, but I should be able to find it," Hua replied.

Chen Ke turned back and said, "Brother Boxun, I met a man named Wu Xingchen today and asked him to meet me tomorrow. I’m going with Zhenglan now to find him and let him know I have something tomorrow. I’ll be back early tomorrow morning to go with you to pay our respects to Mr. Cai." After saying this, seeing Xu Xilin’s astonished look, Chen Ke felt he needed to say more. He added quickly, "Brother Boxun, I didn't think it through just now. You’ve gone to such trouble to arrange this, and yet I was so ungrateful. I hope you can forgive me. I offer you my sincere apologies." As he spoke, Chen Ke bowed deeply.

Chen Ke kept his head down for quite a while before he heard Xu Xilin sigh. "There's no need for that, Wenqing. All things have their priorities. I admire that you don't want to break your word. But sometimes, you must consider things more clearly."

With his head still lowered, Chen Ke replied, "I will certainly keep that in heart."

After another silence, Xu Xilin finally spoke. "Don't stand on ceremony, Wenqing. Just come back early tomorrow morning. And..." Hearing the first half, Chen Ke was about to straighten up, but at the word "And," he lowered his head again. A moment later, he felt someone helping him up; it was Xu Xilin. Xu said with a smile, "And, let Xiongmao go with you tomorrow. You both come back early."

"Uncle, I understand," Hua Xiongmao answered.

With the matter settled, Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin returned to their rooms. Chen Ke went to his own room and grabbed two flashlights, loading them with batteries. Watching Chen Ke test them, Hua Xiongmao whispered in delight, "Wenqing, you really do have many treasures."

Chen Ke waved him off, and the two headed out together to find Wu Xingchen.

They first went to Hua Xiongmao's friend to ask for Wu Xingchen's address, then followed the directions through the winding streets and alleys until they finally found the courtyard where he was staying.

"Brother Wu, I apologize for the sudden intrusion," Chen Ke said earnestly.

Wu Xingchen was very surprised by Chen Ke's sudden appearance. His tall, sturdy frame stood in the doorway, looking down at the two uninvited guests. His burly body almost blocked the entire entrance, clearly indicating he had no intention of letting them in.

Chen Ke naturally had no plans to enter the house. "Brother Wu, I invited you to my place for a drink tomorrow. But something has come up suddenly, and I won't be able to wait for you. I will definitely be waiting for you at the workshop the day after tomorrow. I spoke too boldly before; I hope you can forgive me."

Wu Xingchen looked Chen Ke up and down, trying to figure out his angle. After a while, he couldn't see any malice or ulterior motives. But he still wasn't at ease and couldn't help asking, "Brother Chen, you came all this way just for this?"

"I truly wish to befriend you, so when my plans changed, I had to come in person. I hope you understand." Chen Ke said. Seeing Wu Xingchen remain noncommittal, he added, "Brother Wu, I still have things to do today. I will wait for you at the workshop the day after tomorrow. I’ll take my leave now."

Watching the retreating backs of Chen Ke and Hua Xiongmao, Wu Xingchen felt both surprised and annoyed. He hadn't actually planned on going to see Chen Ke tomorrow anyway, but Chen Ke’s formal visit made him very dissatisfied. Was Chen Ke’s visit a show of respect, or was it a threat? Wu Xingchen couldn't quite tell. He decided he’d go in person the day after tomorrow to see exactly what Chen Ke was up to.

Chen Ke and Hua Xiongmao had dinner out and bought some late-night snacks. By then, it was completely dark. There weren't many people on the streets, though red lanterns were hanging outside a few doors. They could be seen from a distance, with people occasionally going in and out.

"Brother Chen, take out the flashlight, let’s try it," Hua Xiongmao said excitedly.

"The batteries are limited; use them sparingly," Chen Ke warned. He pulled out a flashlight and handed it to Hua. It was a common two-AA-battery model. Hua pushed the switch, and a bright circle of light suddenly illuminated the dark ground in front of him. He shone it here and there, as happy as a child. The surrounding pedestrians were clearly startled by the two of them. Chen Ke had heard a rhyme: "The poor play with rings, the rich play with watches, but those who play with flashlights are something else." He wondered if it had started appearing in this era.

Regardless, Hua Xiongmao was having a great time. Seeing him like that, Chen Ke remembered playing with flashlights when he was a kid. He felt a sudden surge of playfulness himself. "Zhenglan, give me the flashlight for a second," Chen Ke said.

Once he had it, he turned it off. Then he placed it under his chin. "Zhenglan, look at me." In the darkness, once he was fairly sure Hua was looking, he suddenly switched it on. "Whoa!" Hua shouted. Not far away, there were other gasps of surprise, and even a child’s scream.

It was a common little trick from the future; shining a light upward from the chin made a face look hideous and terrifying. "Is it scary?" Chen Ke asked with a laugh.

"When you talk, your chin moves, and it's even scarier. Give it back to me," Hua said. Just as Chen Ke expected, once Hua took the flashlight back, he did the same thing. Looking at Hua’s "ghost face," Chen Ke laughed loudly. "You can't scare me, and you can't even see what you look like. Go find a mirror."

Hua suddenly turned the flashlight off. The glow-in-the-dark casing emitted a faint greenish light. Hua looked at it from every angle, baffled. "Wenqing, why make the flashlight like this?"

"It's pitch black at night; how would you find it after you turn it off? Like this, it's easy to spot."

"So that’s it. Truly thoughtful," Hua praised. He tossed the flashlight into the air; the slender, greenish-glowing object spun, creating a wheel of light. There were more sounds of surprise from the surroundings.

The two of them were like children, using the flashlight to light their way all the way back to the workshop, laughing and talking. When Zhou Yuanxiao opened the door, Hua didn't care that there was an oil lamp inside; he shone the flashlight directly in. It gave Zhou a start, but then they heard You Gou’s voice from within. "So you’ve got a flashlight, big deal? What are you showing off for?" Before she’d even finished, she’d rushed to the door, snatched the flashlight from Hua’s hand, and started shining it all over the courtyard.

"Miss You, let me show you a trick," Hua said. Chen Ke sighed helplessly; Hua was definitely going to do *that* again. Just as he turned to close the door, he heard You Gou scream, followed by Hua’s eerie, trembling voice: "I—am—a—ghost!" By the time Chen Ke turned around, You Gou had already started punching and kicking Hua.

As the night grew deeper, the four of them sat around the table without lighting the oil lamps. In the center of the table lay the greenish-glowing flashlight. "Brother Chen," You Gou said, leaning on the table with her nose buried in the crook of her arm, her voice muffled. "When will we be able to make flashlights like this ourselves?"

"At least twenty years," Chen Ke answered.

"That long?" You Gou asked. "I’ll be an old woman by then."

"And that’s only if we start working hard right now. If we don't, it’ll be eighty years." Chen Ke finished and took a sip of tea.

"This world is so decadent. I thought that by studying chemistry overseas, I’d be able to do something when I came home. But I can't do anything at all." You Gou’s tone became melancholic. "It’s the same for me, for Brother Zhou, and for many people I know. Dyeing cloth here, even though I’m exhausted every day, I’m happy. If I could one day stand in front of a giant chemical plant like they have in Germany and say, 'This is my life’s work,' that would be enough."

"Then have a revolution," Chen Ke suddenly blurted out.

Hearing this, the other three didn't show much surprise. "How do we have a revolution?" You Gou asked, still in that same melancholic tone.

"Revolution is work—building a new world according to the blueprint designed for it," Chen Ke replied.

You Gou gave a dry laugh. "You say it like you’ve seen that new world. I’ve seen what Germany looks like, and when I came back, I tried to do things the way I’d seen them there. It was an utter failure. Can it really be done just by having a revolution?"

Listening to her, Chen Ke felt a sense of helplessness.

"Isn't revolution just about overthrowing the imperial court and then doing it ourselves? That’s all I know about revolution." You Gou buried her nose in her arm again, her voice muffled. "But it’s strange. I just can't accept it. Why is it that things that work perfectly fine abroad are impossible here? Good things turn into a complete mess the moment they reach China."

Chen Ke felt he couldn't explain it all in a short time, and he was even more uncertain about whether he should talk about revolution with these colleagues he’d worked with for half a month. After some thought, he said, "I’m going to do a patrol. Do you remember our signal for the door?"

You Gou tapped out three long and two short knocks on the table. After a moment, she did it again.

"Good, that’s it." With that, Chen Ke stood up and went out. The gate closed behind him, and he heard the sound of the bolt sliding home.

The night was deep, and there were almost no pedestrians on the road. Chen Ke circled the workshop once and then hid in a dark corner. These past ten or so days felt both like a long time and a blink of an eye. He’d met Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin, and become friends with Hua Xiongmao and You Gou. He’d met so many people. In this dark corner, it all felt like a dream. Perhaps if he just leaned against the wall and fell asleep, he’d wake up in his bed in the twenty-first century. It was all just an illusion.

When he first returned to this era, Chen Ke had found it inconceivable, yet he was also very excited. Back then, after much thought, he’d felt that his only path was to join a grand, sweeping revolution. But after all this time, let alone a revolution, he could barely take care of himself. He had to survive and prepare for the future revolution simultaneously. He had to work hard every moment; only when he was asleep could he rest. In the twenty-first century, sleep was just because you were tired; when you woke up, a bustling, prosperous world unfolded before you. Now? He woke up to this dead, stagnant China. Chen Ke truly wished he could just keep sleeping, sleep for a hundred years, and then go back to his own world.

As he thought, his eyelids grew heavy. He nearly fell asleep leaning in the corner, until he was startled awake by a rustling sound. Across from him, a person was sneakily doing something on the wall. The sound was coming from their hands.

"Who’s there?" Chen Ke asked. The person hadn't expected a voice from behind them; they froze on the spot, trembling all over. Chen Ke walked up in a few strides, the beam of his flashlight shining directly on the person's face. In the harsh light, he saw a head of short hair. They say you shouldn't judge color under a lamp; Chen Ke saw a pale face, but he couldn't be sure of its actual complexion. Caught suddenly by the light, the person instinctively raised an arm to shield their eyes.

Chen Ke asked again, "What are you doing?"

The person said nothing and suddenly turned to run. The items tucked under their arm clattered to the ground. The person hesitated, wanting to pick them up, but at that moment, Chen Ke shouted again. "Stop!" He closed in on the fellow as he shouted.

The flashlight beam seemed to have dazzled the man's eyes; he didn't care about the things on the ground anymore and ran blindly into the alley. It was a dead end. Chen Ke thought he was about to catch a rat in a trap. Just then, the workshop door burst open, followed by the sound of something whistling through the air, then the sound of an impact. A moment later, the fleeing man was on the ground. A flashlight beam shone from the workshop entrance, vaguely illuminating You Gou’s face.

Seeing the man captured, Chen Ke went to see what he had dropped. A pile of paper was scattered on the ground. Upon closer inspection, it was nothing but leaflets, one after another.