Chapter 028: Getting Fake Documents Made

In the eyes of the Japanese gendarmerie commander, Wu Yi had already become notorious in Hangzhou. However, Shanghai, as the premier metropolis of Asia, was so vast and populous that his past misdeeds would likely remain unknown there. Upon hearing this suggestion, Wu Yi was overjoyed, as if he could already see a brilliant future of wealth and status awaiting him in Shanghai.

To him, Shanghai was a place brimming with opportunity and temptation. In his mind, landing a position as a deputy mayor there would be far more prestigious than anything he could achieve in Hangzhou. Armed with a letter of recommendation, a heart full of anticipation, and a stash of gold bars, he set off for Shanghai with great enthusiasm.

Upon his arrival, Wu Yi began his relentless networking campaign. Day after day, he scurried about like a headless chicken, brandishing his recommendation letter and pulling every string he could find. He frequented various officials and Japanese officers, indulging in nightly revelries and drowning himself in decadence to curry favor with powerful factions, rarely returning home at night. Ten days had passed, and he remained utterly immersed in this life of dissipation, unable to tear himself away.

Li Haibo, meanwhile, was trapped in a predicament, his heart heavy with anxiety. As long as Wu Yi stayed away from his villa, there was no suitable opportunity to strike. He had considered other approaches, such as tailing Wu Yi, but the man visited a different place every day—mostly red-light districts and brothels. With the chaotic, crowded, and noisy nightlife in those areas, it was impossible to find a clean opening for an attack. Attempting anything during the day seemed even less prudent; many of his advantages would be neutralized, the risk of exposure would be too high, and any mishap would make a swift escape nearly impossible.

With no other choice, Li Haibo had to resort to the most primitive method: waiting for his prey to return. "I refuse to believe you can spend every single night drinking and whoring," he thought. "Even if an iron liver can take it, a body of steel surely can't!"

Yet, Li Haibo knew he could not wait blindly. The "good citizen" certificates and related files for Fatty Liu had already been prepared and returned. According to the plan, he had to sneak into the Zhabei Police Station the following night to finish the key steps—stamping the documents and properly archiving them—to ensure the certificates were valid and could withstand future scrutiny. The task was urgent, and he needed an assistant. After much deliberation, he thought of Ma Quanyi, who was hiding out at a comrade's home. The next morning, Ma moved into a small inn across from Wu Yi's villa.

Li Haibo’s task for him was simple: if the car at the villa across the street didn't leave in the evening, notify him immediately. Late that night, Li heard nothing from Ma, which meant Wu Yi was undoubtedly out carousing again. Without delay, Li grabbed the newly crafted key and crept into the Zhabei Police Station.

He went to the records department first, finding the signature of the local precinct head on file. Following the residency information, he forged the signature on each certificate. Though the handwriting wasn't an exact match, it would be enough to fool the Japanese. He then stamped the documents and photos with the official steel seal, slipped into the public security department to apply the prominent red stamp, and returned to the records office to fill in the file numbers according to the clerk's habits, neatly tucking the files into the cabinet. With this, the certificates were effectively "authentic." He only needed to meet Fatty Liu the next day to settle the final payment.

The next day, under a pleasant sun, Li Haibo used a routine patrol as a pretext to meet Fatty Liu in a small park. Li was delighted to receive the final payment; three hundred silver dollars was no small sum. Fatty Liu was equally pleased, grinning at the success of producing thirty verifiable certificates and the hefty profit he had made.

Li Haibo pulled back his smile and whispered a reminder: "Remember to age them when you get back. The dates on these are from several months ago, and they look too brand new—it's too suspicious and bound to be noticed."

Fatty Liu waved him off dismissively, tucking the certificates away. "Don't worry, I know that much. By the way, how is the situation with Wu Yi coming along?"

Li Haibo’s brow furrowed, and he sighed helplessly. "I can't find an opening!"

Fatty Liu stomped his feet in frustration. "Oh, come on! You have to hurry; the higher-ups are breathing down my neck every single day."

Li Haibo retorted sharply, "What do you want me to do if there's no opportunity? If they're in such a rush, why don't they send other brothers from the Shanghai Station to do it?"

Fatty Liu curled his lip, his face pained. "Don't even mention it! There was a traitor recently, and the Shanghai Station suffered heavy losses. It's in the middle of a massive reorganization—a total mess."

Li Haibo asked nervously, "A traitor? Are you in danger? Let me tell you, don't drag me into this. I have elderly parents and young siblings depending on me for their survival!"

Fatty Liu patted his chest. "Don't worry! I'm just a peripheral figure; no one cares about someone like me."

Li Haibo’s eyes darted as he suggested, "What about the two guys you have under you? Have them look for a chance."

Fatty Liu’s face turned awkward, and he gave a hollow laugh. "Well... heh heh!"

Li Haibo’s heart sank at the expression. "They're dead too? You... does that make you a commander without an army again?"

Fatty Liu chuckled sheepishly. "Well... at least I still have a lone sprout like you."

"Get lost!"

After Fatty Liu left, Li Haibo rejoined his shift of slackers. Xiong Kui slunk over, whispering, "Brother Bo! How about we go to the shooting range for some practice?"

Li Haibo glanced at him. "The range? Didn't we just go a few days ago? Are you addicted? We aren't supposed to go back until next month! Stop daydreaming and just wait."

Xiong Kui replied smugly, "No need to wait! I’ve checked—as long as we pay, we can fire as many rounds as we want, no limits. The only catch is we can't take the bullets home, and we have to return the casings. What do you say? It's a rare chance!"

A glint of surprise flashed in Li Haibo’s eyes. "Is that so? Won't it be expensive?"

"It's the truth! One silver dollar for a hundred rounds, and they take legal tender too. It’s not expensive at all!"

Li Haibo waved his hand. "Let's go! At that price, I'll shoot until you throw up! But let's be clear: I'm fronting the money, and it's coming out of your share of the certificate money!"

Abandoning their duties, the group rushed to the Municipal Police Department’s shooting range. Upon arriving, Li Haibo didn't hesitate to hand over a stack of legal tender and even rented a pristine 98K rifle specifically for Xiong Kui.