GHLCS Chapter84

The day after Zhang Xiuming arrived in Hezhou, he went to the red-light district.

 

Naturally, the ones who invited him were a few playboys in Hezhou City. He was willing to give them the opportunity to flatter him, just to find out the situation in Hezhou City through their mouths.

 

Several beauties snuggled in Zhang Xiuming’s arms and fed him grapes with their mouths. Zhang Xiuming ate them and then reached his hand into the mouth of one of the beauties and touched her teeth.

 

“Just like woven shells… really a good set of teeth.”

 

The beauty has always been proud of her white teeth. Guests love to see her smile. Now she is even more delighted being praised like this.

 

Zhang Xiuming asked, “How much are you selling for?”

 

When the beauty heard this, she knew that he was going to redeem her, and she was overjoyed: “Five hundred silver dollars.”

 

Zhang Xiuming took out a stack of banknotes from his pocket and stuffed it into her collar, between her breasts: “This is one thousand. Go tell your mother that I will take you away soon.”

 

The beauty was so happy that she couldn’t hide her smile. She thanked him profusely and trotted out.

 

The dandies that came with him all laughed: “Young Master Zhang is such a playboy, you just casually took a beauty away. If you stay two more days, won’t all the beauties in this red-light district follow you! Huh? Hahahahaha!”

 

Unexpectedly, Zhang Xiuming drank a glass of wine and licked his lips: “It is reasonable to spend a lot of money for beautiful things.”

 

Another person commented, “But the one you just bought doesn’t look as nice as the top brand.”

 

“Beauty lies in the bones, not in the skin.” Zhang Xiuming’s eyes became like a wolf’s. “I don’t have any other hobbies, but I like to collect things on… the beauties.”

 

“I like this kind of collection too, haha.”

 

The crowd didn’t pay much attention to the true meaning behind Zhang Xiuming’s words. After sharing a round of drinks, they slowly drifted away.

 

When Zhang Xiuming was the only one left, he knocked on the table, and his men came up with a tray.

 

On the tray was a set of freshly extracted teeth.

 

It was indeed neat, white, and clean, with a little blood on it.

 

Zhang Xiuming examined it for a moment, as though admiring a rare antique, then nodded in satisfaction. “Not bad—better than the one I have at home. Looks like Hezhou City has its hidden treasures. Hmm… but the hand bones of that embroidery lady I picked up a few days ago weren’t quite right. I’ll need to keep looking.”

 

Zhang Xiuming is truly a terrifying person, as he can appreciate this horrible thing and take pleasure in it.

 

Even the servant holding the plate couldn’t help but feel scared.

 

“What about that woman?”

 

The servant replied, “We gave her money to find a doctor herself. She is lying downstairs now.”

 

“She’s already useless trash. Let her be. Let’s go.” Zhang Xiuming loosened his collar, put on his coat and prepared to walk down the stairs.

 

People in these red-light districts live hard and humble lives. A pair of delicate arms may have served as a pillow for thousands, and lips once red have been kissed by tens of thousands. What’s the point in mourning their deaths?

 

Just as he was about to step out of the door, he saw a small circle of people surrounding the door. Inside was the beauty who had her teeth pulled out, lying on the ground vomiting blood, with people around her pointing and talking.

 

He would stop, not out of compassion, but because someone had called a physician.

 

Most doctors are reluctant to treat those who make a living with their bodies, leaving prostitutes to buy medicine and treat themselves as best they can. This particular beauty, though redeemed, but she was abandoned and is now considered a free woman. But since the madam refuses to spend money on her, she was simply thrown out.

 

In the entire Hezhou city, only Heming Medical Hall does not look down on others.

 

Zhang Xiuming took just one look and couldn’t look away.

 

The doctor’s hands were slender and well-jointed. A point longer would be too long, and a point shorter would be too short but this is perfect. They seemed to be made of glutinous rice. His fingers took pulses and quickly gave acupuncture, like fluttering butterflies. Under the skin and flesh, one could tell how nimble the bones were.

 

He was fascinated by it, and then he moved his gaze from the hand to the face.

 

The young man is as beautiful as jade.

 

“Who is this person?” Zhang Xiuming handed a silver dollar to the tea boy beside him.

 

“This is Xu Hang, Physician Xu. The most honest medical hall in Hezhou City is his Heming Medical Hall.”

 

Zhang Xiuming nodded, licked his lower lip with his tongue, and played with the tooth in his hand.

 

At last, the bones of a true beauty had been found.

 

While Xu Hang was busy rescuing the person, Shen Jingmo was in some trouble in Jinyan Tang.

 

It turned out that Shen Jingmo could not do anything because he was blind. He had nothing to do all day and could only think about his future plans.

 

Although Xu Hang had told him to stay there in peace, he wasn’t Xu Hang’s relative, after all. Taking advantage of a favor to ask for rewards would make him truly shameless. There was still a long road ahead, and he needed to find a way to support himself.

 

After thinking about it, he suddenly remembered a place.

 

Behind the school where he used to teach, there was Jici Courtyard, which was a government-run home with many orphans and disabled children in it. They often needed a teacher, and he used to go there often.

 

Although he couldn’t see, but he could play the harmonica, so it was easy for him to tell stories and lecture on the text. The requirements of that place were not high, and even though the salary was little, food and accommodation were provided, which was enough for a single person like him to survive.

 

Having made up his mind, he tried calling Chan Yi. He called out a few times, but she was busy working in the back kitchen and didn’t hear him. Not wanting to trouble her while she was so occupied, he simply picked up the bamboo stick and headed out on his own.

 

He had lived in Hezhou for twenty-seven years, knowing every street and brick by heart. But after losing his sight, the city felt as unfamiliar to him as if he had just arrived in a completely new town.

 

He vaguely recalled that after leaving Jinyan Tang, he needed to turn two corners, walk down the long street, cross the bridge, and pass through an alley and he would reach his destination.

 

Because the place was remote, as Shen Jingmo walked, the noise on the street became quieter and quieter. He walked very slowly, and it took him half an hour to walk a distance that others walked in five minutes.

 

Knock, knock, knock…

 

He used the bamboo stick to feel his way along the ground, helping him avoid many potential dangers.

 

As he crossed an intersection, someone bumped into him, causing him to fall to the ground. The person cursed, “Are you blind or what?!”

 

Shen Jingmo apologized repeatedly, then stood up. The collision had knocked out his sense of direction, and he was suddenly at a loss.

 

A vegetable vendor who was closing her stall and going home saw that he was in trouble and asked, “Child, are you lost?”

 

“Grandma, how do I get to Jici Courtyard?”

 

The vegetable seller turned him around and gave him a gentle pat on the back. “There you go,” She said, “Just keep going straight and cross the bridge!”

 

Shen Jingmo bowed slightly: “Thank you, Grandma.”

 

Seeing that he was polite and good-looking, the vegetable seller said, “Young man, if you’ve got nothings to do, it’s best to head home early,” The vegetable seller warned. “There are people in the city looking for blind men these days, so you’d better be careful!”

 

“Is someone… looking for a blind person?” Shen Jingmo’s heart tightened.

 

“That’s right,” The vegetable seller added, shaking her head. “The blind boy next door, the one who was born blind, had his house broken into two days ago and was nearly taken away! You’d better watch out!” With that, the old woman grumbled and left.

 

Shen Jingmo stood there, his throat dry, his back sweating, and he felt like he had fallen into an ice cave even in the hot weather.

 

Is it them? It must be them…

 

It’s over—he realized they must be here to catch him, but he hadn’t expected them to be this quick. He hadn’t even had a moment to catch his breath.

 

His hands were shaking, and he quickened his pace, trying to find Jici Courtyard as quickly as possible. Now he was standing alone on the street, which was as scary as being stared at by eyes in the dark.

 

Because of nervousness, he fell more frequently, stumbled down the bridge, and turned into the alley.

 

The quietness of the alley made him feel at ease.

 

He held onto the wall with one hand and walked forward. He remembered that the main gate of Jici Courtyard was just outside the alley.

 

His steps quickened, and the sound of the bamboo stick tapping the ground also became much faster.

 

Just as his hand grazed the end of the wall, the corners of his mouth relaxed slightly, and he exhaled, ready to step out of the alley. But suddenly, someone yanked him back by the shoulder, pressing him against the wall.

 

“Ugh!”

 

Just as he was about to open his mouth, a broad palm covered his mouth and a strong knee pressed against his, pinning him down tightly!

 

Shen Jingmo felt a sharp tingling on the top of his head, as blood rushed backwards through his limbs, and his heart nearly leapt out of his chest.

 

Is this just a typical robbery?

 

Or are they after him specifically?