The rain was drizzling. Today was the Lantern Festival in Sea City, but unfortunately, the heavens were not kind; a misty rain enveloped the entire city, creating a desolate and chilling atmosphere.
A black Ford slowly drove down the main road paved with bluestone.
“Madam, the Elder Master over there said he wants you to return to South City.” Old Fu, driving the car, glanced at the woman in the rearview mirror.
The woman was half-veiled in black gauze, a snow mink shawl draped over her shoulders, her red lips slightly pursed. She looked at the newspaper in her hand without raising her head, “Old Fu, I have my own plans. We can talk about returning in a couple of days.”
“This…” Old Fu sighed helplessly, then exclaimed in surprise, “Madam, there’s someone collapsed in the middle of the road ahead… and it’s a young woman.”
Gong Yan’s eyebrows slightly furrowed. She shifted her gaze from the newspaper page, which read, “Sea City tobacco warlords Hua and Yuan families being raided for smuggling and their homes confiscated,” and called out a low, stern “Old Fu.”
The implication was to not meddle in other people’s business.
Old Fu immediately fell silent, said no more, and turned the car around, bypassing the disheveled young woman sprawled on the cold pavement.
The Ford continued on. In the rearview mirror, the girl who had been left behind seemed to have been awakened by the rain. She was dressed in extremely thin and tattered clothes. Even through the misty rain and the icy cold, her shapely figure was unmistakable.
She moved with difficulty, turning her head, her wet black hair sticking to her face. Half-opening her eyes, she watched the Ford car grow smaller in the distance.
In a certain moment, it seemed their eyes met with a woman’s gaze.
Inside the car, Gong Yan leaned back against the seat, her expression complex as she withdrew her gaze and took the thin cigarette from her lips.
“Old Fu, stop the car.”
…
Inside the Feng Hai Dance Hall, singing and dancing were in full swing. Young men in suits, vests, and leather shoes were drinking and bragging in the corners. On the stage, the lead dancer sang popular songs of the time into a golden microphone, a scene of noise, revelry, and decadence.
When Hua Manyi woke up, the room was lit with an unfamiliar yet pleasant-smelling incense, and she felt as warm as she would at home.
Soon, she was fully awake.
This wasn’t her home…
She no longer had a home…
Hua Manyi threw off the quilt and stood up barefoot. She was wearing only a thin, plain-colored nightgown, the skirt reaching her knees, with two thin straps resting on her delicate, boneless white shoulders, making her look both slender and tall.
The brass mirror on the dressing table captured a fleeting glimpse of her frail figure. Soon after, the room was left with only the empty scent of the incense.
“Good flowers do not bloom often, Good times do not last forever. Sorrow piles up, hiding the smiling brow, Tears spill, carrying the ribbon of yearning. After this farewell tonight, When will the gentleman return? …”
In the first-floor lobby, waiters carrying trays of drinks weaved through the crowd. Xiaoxiao hurried down from the second floor, grabbed a waiter, and asked, “Ahua, have you seen a tall, thin girl in a nightgown?”
The waiter, named Ahua, shook his head, “No, I haven’t, Sister Xiaoxiao. What happened?”
Xiaoxiao anxiously waved her hand, “I’ll keep looking. You go and pour drinks for the guests first.”
Ahua: “Then I’ll get back to work, Sister Xiaoxiao. Oh, right, Sister Fangyu said she saved some tangyuan (sweet glutinous rice balls) for you in the kitchen and told you to remember to eat it when you have time.”
“Got it, I’ll thank Sister Fangyu later.”
Now that the person was missing, how could she be in the mood to eat tangyuan? If Mama Gong came back and she still hadn’t found the girl, she’d likely be flayed alive!
“Mama Gong!” Xiaoxiao turned a corner and saw the woman who had just returned from outside. She walked in with a lazy elegance, followed by Old Fu.
Old Fu took the gloves Mama Gong had removed and said to Xiaoxiao, “Xiaoxiao, why are you so reckless?”
Hearing the reprimand, cold sweat broke out on Xiaoxiao’s back. She lowered her head, even more afraid to meet Mama Gong’s eyes, “Mama Gong, Old Fu…”
Mama Gong said coldly, “What happened?”
Xiaoxiao braced herself and answered, “Mama Gong, the one you brought back—”
Before she could finish, a woman’s loud cry suddenly rang out in the distance, “Oh no! Young Master Zhao is fighting someone!”
Xiaoxiao followed the crowd and was stunned by the sight inside.
“This…” Old Fu, despite his age, was seeing a situation like this for the first time.
Young Master Zhao’s face had several fingernail marks, looking quite disheveled and comical, while behind him stood a young woman, glaring at him fiercely like a wild cat.
When she noticed more and more people watching, a flicker of fear appeared in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it. Sticking out her neck and lifting her chin, she looked at everyone as if she were in the right.
“Mama Gong, you judge this. What do you say about your person scratching me?” Young Master Zhao, covering his face, was forced to swallow the harsh words that were on the tip of his tongue when he saw the newcomer, appearing somewhat timid.
Mama Gong indifferently lit a cigarette, her languid gaze sweeping lightly over Hua Manyi, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, “Young Master Zhao, perhaps you should say why she didn’t scratch anyone else, but chose to scratch you?”
Hua Manyi looked over in surprise. The woman was tall, wearing an elegant qipao (cheongsam), her hair pinned up in a bun, black gauze covering her forehead. What was most striking were the red lips holding a gold-tipped cigarette holder, mature and full of allure.
Perhaps her gaze was too obvious, inadvertently meeting the other woman’s. Hua Manyi’s heart thumped, and she quickly looked away.
Young Master Zhao’s anger was a little lacking, and he muttered, “Who, who knows why this crazy woman scratched me?”
“If Young Master Zhao won’t explain clearly, then this matter is concluded. Old Fu, take Young Master Zhao to the clinic.”
Old Fu bowed, “Young Master Zhao, this way please.”
“She was seducing me!” Young Master Zhao, furious and exasperated, pointed at Hua Manyi and yelled, “This crazy woman came out wearing a nightgown, and when she saw me, she came right over! What is that if not seduction? When I refused, she clawed me! How unlucky, I don’t know where this crazy b*tch came from!”
“Brother Zhao… don’t say any more.” Someone next to Young Master Zhao pulled him and quietly advised him to just let the matter rest.
Zhao Zhuo didn’t listen. He even shook off the person’s hand, “Mama Gong, if my father sees my face scratched up like this, it won’t be easy for me to explain when I go back, right?”
“You’re lying!” Hua Manyi’s eyes widened. It was the first time she had seen someone so shamelessly twist the facts. She was so angry that she raised her hand to scratch him again, “It was clearly, clearly…”
“Oh dear,” Xiaoxiao quickly intervened, restraining the girl.
“Clearly what?” Zhao Zhuo was startled by her stance and stepped back two paces, “Everyone look, look quickly! This crazy woman is turning to rage out of shame! Everyone saw it, didn’t you?!”
At this, the entire hall burst into an uproar.
Hua Manyi struggled. Two more women came up and held her, pinning her tightly. Hua Manyi felt increasingly wronged, her eyes reddened, but she still stubbornly defended herself, “I didn’t! How could I possibly seduce you!”
It was clearly this person who had suddenly hugged her from behind and tried to touch her, and after she hit him, he became angry out of frustration.
“Enough,” after a sharp rebuke, silence descended. Mama Gong looked at the nearly exposed Hua Manyi and asked coldly, “How does Young Master Zhao want to resolve this?”
Zhao Zhuo proudly straightened his suit, glancing at the friend who had tried to restrain him, seemingly implying that the situation was now his to control.
That friend looked hesitant, unsure what to say.
Zhao Zhuo didn’t care. He turned to look at Mama Gong, then at Hua Manyi, “Mama Gong, you know I’m not an unreasonable person. How about this: I want her to drink three bottles of wine with me!”
“Delusional!” Hua Manyi was disgusted by his lewd, greasy gaze, “You toad want this young lady to be your drinking companion? You must be dreaming!”
Zhao Zhuo was insulted like this for the first time, his nose nearly twisted with anger, “You!”
He took a closer look and suddenly realized, “Oh, I knew you looked familiar! Everyone, come and see! Isn’t this the Hua family’s pampered daughter whose house was raided two days ago?! What was her name… Hua… Man… Hua Manyi! Tsk, to think she’s fallen so low as to become a dancer in a dance hall! Her ancestors must be furious enough to jump out of their coffins!”
“Madam, this might not be appropriate…” Old Fu looked at Mama Gong with some difficulty.
Mama Gong frowned, waved her hand, “Old Fu, prepare the wine.”
“Young Master Zhao, I hope you understand clearly that this is not your Zhao family’s turf.”
Zhao Zhuo, seeing that not many people nearby were watching the spectacle, was slightly chastised by Mama Gong’s remark and awkwardly touched his nose. However, the thought of this woman, Hua Manyi, drinking with him later made him happy again. He thought, he’ll make sure to teach her a good lesson then.
“Miss, please go over there.” Xiaoxiao suddenly felt a little sorry for her. Although she didn’t know this daughter of the Hua family, she was, after all, a young lady from a prominent family. Asking her to entertain a guest with drinks would probably be unacceptable to her.
“As long as you drink well with him, with Mama Gong here, he wouldn’t dare do anything to you.” Xiaoxiao stood beside her, thought for a moment, and quietly gave her a few words of advice. Without waiting for Hua Manyi to speak, she quickly followed the group led by Mama Gong up the stairs.
“I didn’t do anything wrong! Why should I have to drink with him?!” Hua Manyi shouted loudly at the tall figure in the qipao. She couldn’t believe this whole farce would end with her being forced to drink with someone.
The woman in front paused, ignored her accusation, and without turning her head, stepped onto the wooden stairs and walked away.