Chapter-10

The train slid through the green rice paddies. Jiang Yue Lou sat on the lower berth of the sleeping compartment, reading a newspaper. Chen Yu Zhi, on the bunk across from him, slept soundly under a thin quilt.

The door was slowly opened, and Sun Yongren poked his head incautiously.

“Not awake yet?”

Jiang Yue Lou shook his head and raised his finger to signal him in a low voice, “He will, soon. Go get some food and hot water.”

“Sure.” Sun Yongren retracted his head, gently closed the door, and left.

Although he closed it gently, the door frame still made a little rattle. Chen Yu Zhi moved and groaned slightly. Jiang Yue Lou put down the newspaper, leaned over him, and put his hand on his forehead to check his temperature. The thick eyelashes quivered gently in his palm, making him feel as if he was holding a moth. Jiang Yue Lou quickly withdrew his hand, sat back to his position, and pretended to read the newspaper, but his eyes flicked over the newspaper continuously, observing Chen Yu Zhi's movements.

After a while, Chen Yu Zhi finally woke up. He slowly opened his eyes, which were as black and misty as those of a newborn child, and he couldn't figure out where he was. Jiang Yue Lou cleared his throat and turned over another page of the newspaper. Chen Yu Zhi slowly turned his head over him.

Jiang Yue Lou put down the newspaper and glanced over at Chen Yu Zhi as if nothing had happened, “Are you awake? You slept for almost two days. We should arrive in Jingcheng in four or five hours.”

Chen Yu Zhi was stunned for a while before he understood what he meant. He abruptly stood up from the bed, but his painful wound stopped him, and he fell back with a grunt.

“You should stay still, there is no bone injury but you lost a lot of blood. I couldn’t find a doctor on time so I had to bandage you myself.”

Chen Yu Zhi furrowed his eyebrows, couldn't help feeling angry and tried to sit.

“Jiang Yue Lou, how can you decide on your own? I haven't found Keying yet, I can't return to Jingcheng now!”

Jiang Yue Lou continued to read the newspaper unconcerned and just raised his chin.

“If you’re unhappy, you can jump from the train? The window is there, just open it, and jump.”

“You!” Chen Yu Zhi was angry to feel so helpless but managed to stay calm.

He looked at his wrists wrapped in gauze and tried to move them. Although the wound was still painful, he didn't feel hot, numb, or itchy. He was handled properly. Chen Yu Zhi tried to stand up by leaning on the upper berth, but the rail connection made the car sway, his feet were still weak and he almost fell.

Fortunately, Jiang Yue Lou's eyes were quick to grasp. He threw the newspaper on the table, held Chen Yu Zhi’s shoulders, pressed him on the bunk, and said angrily, “Do you want to jump off the train? You lost so much blood and you were burning all night. It’s a blessing that we can bring you back to life. What is wrong with you? Do you think your life is too long?”

Chen Yu Zhi stubbornly wanted to break free, “A gentleman shouldn’t make other people’s life difficult. Jiang Yue Lou, Lucas's problem has been already solved, so you and I should part ways. I still have my own business to do.”

"Parting ways?" Jiang Yue Lou was stunned, “I think we can now say that our friendship goes beyond death and you are planning to walk away just like this?”

Chen Yu Zhi wanted to stand up again, but couldn't escape Jiang Yue Lou's iron fist, and started feeling angry again.

“What friendship do I have with you? Ms. Cheng is right. We were just partners who have traveled together for a while. Now that your purpose has been achieved, we should go our separate ways. You will be in your environment in Jingcheng and you’ll no longer need my assistance. As for what I want to do, it is my freedom, and you have no right to intervene.”

Yue Jiang Lou was irritated by these words, and he couldn't help but snort coldly after hearing them, “I am perfectly aware whether my purpose has been achieved or not. As for what you want to do with your life, as long as I want to manage it, I will manage it. So now, just lie down for me!”

“Let me go!”

“Lie down!”

It just so happened that Sun Yongren opened the door at that time, holding a cup in one hand, and smilingly raised the paper bag in his hand.

“Oh, the hero is awake? I brought you something to eat.” He looked at the two a little surprised, “Is something wrong?”

Jiang Yue Lou released Chen Yu Zhi, sat down, and started to read the newspaper again. Chen Yu Zhi was sulking and did not speak.

Sun Yongren understood what was going on, and quickly handed the cakes in his hand to Chen Yu Zhi, put the warm water close to him, and whispered, “Doctor Chen, don't blame our boss. He is doing this for your good. Lucas is dead. Yes, but his subordinates are not dead yet. This group of people listed you on their wanted list as the second target. Who killed you will be rewarded with a reward of 30,000 HK$. Now think about it, do you think you can stay in Hong Kong?”

Chen Yu Zhi bewildered, glanced at Jiang Yue Lou but the latter ignored him and buried himself in the newspaper.

Chen Yu Zhi suddenly remembered something, “Then..., what about Miss Cheng?”

Jiang Yue Lou snorted, “After Sister Xiaofeng and Lucas died, no one cared about her anymore. Besides, her school is protected by a real church, so she will be safe. She will also graduate in half a month, so for her, it is not worth leaving now.”

Chen Yu Zhi remained silent for a moment. He already understood that Jiang Yue Lou was right, and he couldn't stay in Hong Kong anymore.

But what about Keying? He remembered his dream when he was unconscious, where his sister was saying goodbye, and that she was going to find the master and his wife... He felt a sharp pain in his heart, and could hardly control these emotions.

“As soon as I arrive at Jingcheng, I’ll immediately write to the Hong Kong Police Station, and will ask them to look after Chen Keying.” Jiang Yue Lou seemed to understand what he was thinking, put down the newspaper, and said, “Now please, eat something.”

Chen Yu Zhi thanked him in a low voice, stopped talking, and took a sip from the cup.

At Jingcheng, near the pier, one of the warehouse entrances seemed quite suspicious with all the windows smeared with newspapers and was completely hidden. This shady establishment was an underground casino, not particularly luxurious but roughly the scale of a small family business.

A few tables were surrounded by furious gamblers who were yelling while rolling the dice. Passing through the gaming table there was a long corridor where both sides were divided into small boxes, dedicated to the guests who wanted to smoke opium. Gambling and drugs have always been mixed in this kind of place.

These boxes were really small, with only a bed against the wall and a small table close to it. The guests were laying there, with a crazy look, and there were some opium pipes and oil lamps on the small table. Through the large corridor, there were also some secret doors if someone wanted to enjoy the sensual pleasure.

At the end of the corridor, a quiet accountant was sitting in the dimly lit room, a lean and capable man in his thirties who was talking to another man while smoking a cigarette.

“How much do we have left?”

A gentle-looking man replied, “Brother Huo, the Hong Kong supply was cut off, and our loss is huge. If we only supply the Nianchun Pavilion it may last half a month, but if you supply all the others, only three days at most.”

Lao* Huo yelled in a melancholy voice, "This Jiang rascal, he just deprived us of the Lao Tzu's fortune*."

“After the bastards who competed with us were taken over by this Jiang Yue Lou, all their customers are coming here now and the demand is higher than before. Shall we ask San Ye* for advice?"

Lao Huo shook his head, "San Ye had made some arrangements, but Jiang Yue Lou will soon be returning to Jingcheng. After his success in Hong Kong, I’m sure he will take some actions in Jingcheng.”

“Han Zhong, please tell the brothers to stay low-key for now.”

“Yes.” Han Zhong agreed and withdraw from the room.

Lao Huo paced in the study, pondered for a moment, and walked to the telephone.

When the train arrived in Jingcheng, it was already late. Chen Yu Zhi was looking for his medical kit and his luggage that Sun Yongren hurriedly packed for him in Hong Kong. Since he was young, Chen Yu Zhi always felt cold and the winter in Jingcheng was much colder than that in Hong Kong making it hard for him. Fortunately, he always carries a jacket with him. He took it out from his luggage, put it on, and was trying to fasten a button, but couldn’t do it because of his cold fingers.

Jiang Yue Lou stood up and without saying a word buttoned his jacket for him. The two stood very close to each other. Jiang Yue Lou was only wearing a thin leather jacket but didn't feel cold at all, and Chen Yu Zhi could feel his fingers exuding a warm heat, making him a little envious.

“There must be someone in Jingcheng who secretly communicated with Hong Kong. Once you go back, if someone asks you, you will say that you went to Suzhou to look for your sister." Jiang Yue Lou said while fastening the buttons, “You never went to Hong Kong, let alone meeting me there, understood?”

“Mmmh.” Chen Yu Zhi nodded, “About your injury… please make sure to see a doctor.”

“No need.” Jiang Yue Lou grinned, "Besides, I'm afraid this new doctor will also not be willing to give me anesthetics.”

Chen Yu Zhi's face blushed, and he quickly turned around and continued to pack his things. Jiang Yue Lou picked up the newspaper, tore a corner of one of the pages, and wrote a few words with a pen.

“This is my address and my phone number. If there is something urgent when we are in Jingcheng, just …”

“No need.” Chen Yuzhi said nonchalantly, “Nothing good happens when I’m with you, so it's better not to meet in the future.”

Jiang Yue Lou's anger, which had just subsided, had resurfaced, and he was on the verge of losing his temper. This person was unable to tell good from bad *! Did he already forget who risked his life to save his?! And how can he change his mind that easily?! He clearly said that he was willing to accompany him on the Huangquan Road*!

Jiang Yue Lou was annoyed and vented. He stuffed the paper back into his pocket and snorted angrily, “As you wish!”

He turned around and got out of the car. It happened that they arrived at the station at this time. Sun Yongren and Song Rong, who was waiting outside, saw their Boss rushing away angrily and both of them were at a loss. Chen Yu Zhi, also confused, shook his head at Sun Yongren, as he didn’t understand either how Jiang Yue Lou had been offended.

Sun Yongren sighed and added, pretending to be knowledgeable, “For ordinary people, it’s easier to enjoy the good things than sharing the hardships. But for the Boss and Dr. Chen, it’s the opposite, they don't know how to enjoy the good times together but they can become one when they have to face danger together.”

Song Rong shook his head and ignored him, and went to Jiang Yue Lou to carry his luggage.

Almost all the passengers were gone. Jiang Yue Lou jumped out of the carriage first, followed by Sun Yongren and Song Rong. He didn't want to leave already and wanted to see Chen Yu Zhi leaving before going himself, to be sure the people who would come to pick him up from the police station would not notice him. Chen Yu Zhi was very tall and straight and he was standing out from the crowd. His steps were a little slow but except for his pale face, there was almost no sign of injury on him. When he got off the train, he didn't even look at Jiang Yue Lou and walked up the platform’s station without looking back, as if they were perfect strangers who didn't know each other, but who just happened to be on the same train.

And even though this was Jiang Yue Lou’s arrangement, watching Chen Yu Zhi's back slowly disappear into the night, his heart was inexplicably empty.

"Boss, shall we go?" Song Rong added after a while, “Doctor Chen has already gone far.”

“Let’s go.”

Bai Jinbo was sitting on the sofa with his eyes closed when a familiar “Here to report” came from outside the door.

“Come on in!”

Bai Jinbo opened his eyes with excitement and got up to open the door in person but Jiang Yue Lou had already pushed the door vigorously and entered.

“Director! I'm back!” Jiang Yue Lou was also very happy to see Bai Jinbo, “Fortunately, I will live a little longer!”

Bai Jinbo grabbed the young man by his shoulders, and patted him with relief, “My boy is finally back! You want me to die early!”

He pulled Jiang Yue Lou onto the sofa, sat down with him, and looked at him carefully, "Come to the house tonight! Dinner is on me! I'll make it up to you!”

Jiang Yue Lou smiled but seemed disappointed: “Unfortunately, I couldn’t find much information in Shengde Hall. I came to Hong Kong unannounced. Once the people from the consulate and police station arrived, they took the lead. I only managed to find out that there is a mysterious leader in Jingcheng. I think this person, who was running opium together with Lucas, is highly capable and intelligent. As for who he is, I haven't figured it out yet. We only succeeded to temporarily paralyze the transit through Hong Kong, but the entire opium transportation network is not destroyed yet, so this mission can’t be counted as a victory.”

Bai Jinbo patted him and encouraged him, "Now that Lucas is dead, there is no leader in Hong Kong and this opium transportation line will be paralyzed for a while. You should consider this a success. Yue Lou, you have done what the Republic of China government couldn’t. The days are still long, so take it slowly and don't put too much pressure on yourself.

The fierce pride in his tone made Jiang Yue Lou's heart warm, “Director, don't worry, I will find this mysterious person. However, there is still something that bothers me.”

“Oh?”

“There is a rat in the police station.”

“A traitor?” Although Bai Jinbo looked solemn, he was not surprised, “When you cut off contact with me, I suspected there should be a reason.”

Jiang Yue Lou nodded, “Sun Heming called once asking information about Chen Yu Zhi when we were separated in Hong Kong. The only one that might leak the news is the person who answered the phone.”

Bai Jinbo asked, “What do you think we should do?”

“No need to think more about it.” Jiang Yue Lou's eyes were burning and unwavering, “What should we know is...”

When the rickshaw stopped in front of the courtyard, Chen Yu Zhi couldn’t remember where he put this wallet. He slept on the train and even his clothes have been changed by Jiang Yue Lou when he treated his wounds. Chen Yu Zhi hurriedly touched his pocket and fortunately, the wallet was still in his coat with his sister's hairpin placed in it. Chen Yu Zhi breathed a sigh of relief, and when he took a closer look, he found a neat stack of banknotes inside. Chen Yu Zhi frowned but saw a note in the hairpin with the word “consultation fee” written on it.

Chen Yu Zhi felt helpless, he paid the fare, got off the car, and walked to the house. He didn't eat anything on the train and started to feel a little hungry. He bought a few buns in the alley and carried them in a lotus leaf bag and went home. He left Jingcheng less than half a month ago, but the moment that he was back, it was like he had been gone for a lifetime, and his steps were as heavy as lead-filled. The courtyard door was still locked, and it was quiet inside. He took the key from the crack in the brick and opened the door.

As soon as the door opened, he heard a "meow". A white cat with a long fluffy tail was basking in the sun in his yard. It was a very cute cat. Seeing Chen Yu Zhi, the cat not only didn't leave but instead rubbed around his legs, as if wanted to greet him.

Chen Yu Zhi smiled slightly, “It's you, long time no see.”

The cat smelt the aroma of steamed buns and made a meowing noise. Chen Yu Zhi turned around, took a bowl out of the kitchen, and put a steamed bun in it. The cat squatted on the steps to eat.

Sitting on the steps, Chen Yu Zhi smiled and watched the cat-eating. While caressing the cat's smooth fur he said with a sad voice: “If Keying was there, she would say that you are fat again.”

He took out the wallet, grabbed Keying's hairpin in his hand, and stared at it. He felt like his sister was still there somewhere not far from him, but he didn't know if they would be able to ever meet again.

The morning sun once again enveloped Jingcheng. In the police station building, Jiang Yue Lou headed to the stairs when he met Jin Dacheng at the corner of the stairs. This guy was short and was always looking at people with drooping eyelids as if he wanted to look down on them.

“Oh, Chief Jiang, I heard that you returned victoriously. Congratulations.”

Jiang Yue Lou faintly nodded and started to walk away. Unexpectedly, Jin Dacheng refused to give up and blocked his way with his own body, "Chief Jiang, is this your attitude toward your benefactor?"

Jiang Yue Lou frowned, “What do you mean?”

Jin Dacheng was extremely proud, "I cooperated with Director Zhan on a big mission and put down two large opium dens, did you hear about it?"

Jiang Yue Lou pretended to be fascinated before abruptly sliding with a harsh expression, "I didn't."

“You!"

“I have something to do, get out of the way.”

Jin Dacheng still refused to give up, "I heard that Section Chief Jiang went to Linjiang County for an official business, but I have a brother of mine there and he said he never saw you."

Jiang Yue Lou showed an impatient look.

Jin Dacheng leaned forward and whispered, “Could it be that Chief Jiang has another secret mission somewhere else?”

Jiang Yue Lou mocked, “Want to know? It's a pity your rank is not enough.”

He bypassed Jin Dacheng and went straight upstairs. Jin Dacheng stood silly and alone downstairs and his nose crooked in anger.

Song Rong took the report in his hand and gave it to Jiang Yue Lou, “Boss, I have checked it, and the record of the phone calls made that day is empty. But looking at the schedule, it was Zhao Xiaochun who was on duty that day.”

“Anything more?”

Sun Yongren said, "I heard he was on sick leave, but I have been to his house, and no one was there."

“Missing?”

Song Rong thought for a while, “He is very suspicious, perhaps because he felt he had been exposed and he decided to run away.”

Jiang Yue Lou nodded, “It’s not easy for a person to completely disappear, and there are always relatives. We need to find him. Go investigate.”

“Yes.” The two turned to leave but were stopped again.

“There is something more. In the name of the director, I sent a letter to the Hong Kong Police Station asking them to cooperate with us in investigating girl trafficking cases.” Jiang Yue Lou added, “There must be more than one victim like Chen Keying, and we must find them as soon as possible.”

Song Rong and Sun Yongren glanced at each other, “Yes!”

Only Jiang Yue Lou remained in the office. After thinking for a moment, he picked up the phone and dialed it out. The phone rang three times, and Zhan Jun Bai's elegant and calm voice came from the receiver.

“Hello? Who is it?”

Jiang Yue Lou felt that he didn’t need to say more and simply said, “It's me. Thank you.”

Zhan Jun Bai's voice paused, and he replied with a smile, "Yue Lou, you are too concise when you don't know what to say. No one can understand it if you don’t say more."

Jiang Yue Lou also smiled, “You can understand it.”

“The patrol team encountered a smoker at night and found two underground smoking halls along the way. As you were not there, I have no choice but to call Chief Jin for assistance. Do you mind?”

Jiang Yue Lou didn’t care, “As long as we are destroying them, I don’t mind.”

“I give it to someone else, and feel that you have been robbed of the credit.”

Jiang Yue Lou smiled and said again, “Thank you, let's have dinner together another day.”

“Sure.” Zhan Jun Bai thought for a while, then said, "Let me invite you, I will be the host, and I will ask Zhao Jingming to join us also for dinner.”

Before Jiang Yue Lou could refuse, he said, “Yue Lou, we are all working in the government, don't be so stiff.”

Jiang Yue Lou gave a noncommittal “Hum” and hung up the phone. Zhan Jun Bai was not annoyed, he just shook his head with a smile, and hung up the phone helplessly.

Chen Yu Zhi went back to the Nianchun Pavilion at night. He waited for a long time in the backyard, and finally found the woman he saw the other day. The other party was really surprised when she saw him.

“Why are you here again? I told you everything. I don’t know more about your sister. I don't know who bought her.”

Chen Yu Zhi took out two silver dollars and handed them to her, “Miss, this time I came to ask you who sold her.”

The woman looked at the silver dollars a little tempted, but she hesitated, “I..., I don't know.”

Chen Yuzhi took out two more silver dollars and stuffed them all in her hands, “Please, please tell me! I’m begging you, please!”

The woman gritted her teeth, quickly took the silver dollars, glanced at Chen Yu Zhi, and whispered, “This was Jinmatang.”

After speaking, she quickly returned to the courtyard and closed the back door.

Chen Yu Zhi felt like he was struck by a lightning strike. He remembered that the gangsters he was treating that night were from Jinmatang, and that same night, his sister was abducted by the same gang! Didn’t he act as an accomplice to the tiger*?

“Only those who treat good people are called doctors, and those who serve bad people are called accomplices." He thought of Jiang Yue Lou's accusation, and he suddenly couldn't face himself anymore. Chen Yu Zhi's heart became heavy, he hated Jinmatang, and he hated himself even more.

The bright moonlight enveloped the sky and the earth, Chen Yu Zhi raised his head and looked at the silver-white moon, and tried hard to blink back his tears. With his legs unable to support, he fell to his knees, pounding the ground hard.

“Keying, Keying, your brother failed you…, your brother feels so sorry for you...”

The moonlight shined in the night and was reflected on the surface of a silvery lake. The lake was quiet and empty, only Lao Huo was there with a man in a large coat and a hood covering his face.

"If you have something to say, why didn’t you say anything on the phone before? Why should I run into this cold wilderness to meet you?”

The invisible mysterious man has a hint of impatience in his tone. Lao Huo was still very respectful. “Master has his plans, and I can only follow the arrangements. Some things were not clear on the phone, and many things are invisible to you who are standing in the light. Only us who are underground can clear the way...”

The other party snorted, "I didn't come out to listen to your nonsense. Be quick and say what you have to say.”

The eyes of Lao Huo showed a hint of anger, but he quickly refrained himself, “Lucas is dead, and the entire transportation route is almost broken. Our goods in Jingcheng cannot last long. Once those smokers are out of opium, I'm afraid this could become problematic."

“Well, what are San Ye instructions?”

“San Ye said that we should be discreet for a while. New products should arrive soon, and we will be the first to receive them. We will have to wait until next month to see if the situation is getting better.”

The mysterious man sneered, “San Ye initially sent Jiang Yue Lou to Hong Kong so that he and Lucas will kill each other, and that way San Ye could have killed two birds with one stone. But he didn’t expect Lucas would propose Jiang Yue Lou to work with him.”

“It was all because of Lucas's self-conceit. How dare he try to go against San Ye? He's nothing like him, he is just a Hong Kong landlord and cannot become a Master.”

The mysterious man nodded, apparently agreeing with Lao Huo's words, “It's fine if you know, anyone who betrays San Ye will have to die. Anyone who stands in the way of San Ye will also have to die…”

Jiang Yue Lou did not go to Bai Jinbo's house for dinner that night. He found an excuse to dodge, saying that he hadn't been home for many days and he wanted to come back to have some rest. He didn't want to go to Bai Jinbo’s house. Since Mrs. Bai passed away, Bai Jinbo has found a new wife, and since she was there Jian Yue Lou no longer felt at home in this house.

His house was very clean as the aunt who does housework comes over every day to help him clean and feed the cat.

Xiao Bai*?!

Jiang Yue Lou jumped up from the steps and looked around. He completely forgot about Xiao Bai. Fortunately, Xiao Bai was also used to being independent. When Jiang Yue Lou was busy, he was often away from home for days. As if he knew he was looking after him, a big white shadow suddenly flashed from the wall covered by the night and fell in front of Jiang Yue Lou in a flash.

“Meow……”

Jiang Yue Lou picked up the white cat and scrubbed his little white round face affectionately, "You, silly cat! You won't go back home again! Where have you gone? Did you eat somewhere else again? Hmm?”

He hugged the white cat and looked at the courtyard wall thoughtfully. There was a tall sweet-scented osmanthus tree in the yard next door, which was quite old, and its green and slender branches crossed the wall, sending gentle greenness in his backyard. Jingcheng was neither in the south nor the north, but still, winter was cold in the city and it snowed quite often. The fact that this osmanthus tree can grow so luxuriantly despite the cold weather, showed the owner's care. Jiang Yue Lou bought his house back then because he loved this tree.

At this time, Xiao Bai rubbed in his arms a few times, and Jiang Yue Lou looked down at the fluffy cat, revealing a rare gentle expression. While following the cat's snow-white hair, he looked up at the treetops hanging over the moon.

“People say that the lifespan of a cat is only twelve or thirteen years. You have been with me for ten years. So, stay with me for a few more years...” Xiao Bai seemed to understand, curled up on his lap, warming his master's knee calmly.

The shadow of the tree whirling, the wind blowing in the late autumn, and the pulse of the night moving and lonely. At this time in Jingcheng, no one knows how many people are looking up at the bright moon, thinking about the people who left them.

Footnotes

*Lao: nicknamed for old

*Lao Tzu fortune: reference from a famous quote from Lao Tzu: “Upon disaster depends good fortune; within good fortune hides disaster.”

*San Ye: Third Master

*Huáng quán (黄泉): is the underworld of Chinese mythology, the equivalent of Hades or Hell.

*bùshí hǎodǎi (不识好歹) Chinese idiom which can be translate in English as “unable to tell good from bad, cannot discriminate.”

*wèi hǔ zuò chāng (为虎作伥): Chinese idiom which can be translated in English as “to act as accomplice to the tiger; to help a villain do evil.”

*Xiǎo bái (小白) : a slang meaning novice, fool or idiot.