Aunt Li and Jinbao busied themselves carrying the table out to the yard, setting up the copper pot on it, and the meat broth that had been simmering for a while began to steam gently. Jinbao put the dishes that had already been prepared aside and then busied himself cutting meat for Aunt Li.
The neighbor, Sister Chen, was quite different from Aunt Li. When she saw Mu Xing, she just smiled shyly and busied herself tidying up her chairs and stools before silently going into the kitchen to prepare side dishes.
Everyone was busy, so Mu Xing, as a guest, followed Bai Yan into Jinbao's house.
Jinbao's little room was separated only by a curtain, revealing the entire interior. Although sparsely furnished, it was clean and tidy. Little Zhen, who had been lying on the bed reading comic books, called out when the two entered, "Sister Yan! Brother Mu...!"
Mu Xing handed her the candied fruit with satisfaction: "Good girl."
After exchanging a few words with Xiao Azhen, Bai Yan went to wash the fruit by the water vat. Mu Xing followed her out, reaching out to help her wash the fruit while whispering, "Does Jinbao...have a job?"
Bai Yan pulled the basin over, making her reach for nothing: "Don't let your hands get cold... Jinbao was originally a maid at Yuhua Study, she's been with me ever since I first entered the study."
Then it's no wonder that Miss Bai and she have such a good relationship.
Persistently snatching the basin away, Mu Xing rubbed the apple and asked, "And then what happened?"
Helplessly handing the basin to Mu Xing, Bai Yan stood aside, took out a handkerchief to wipe her hands, and said, "Later... her father owed gambling debts, so he took her back home..." She paused, then said softly, "He made her work as a prostitute at home to pay off his debts, right here in this courtyard."
Mu Xing's hand slipped, and the apple fell hard into the jar, splashing water everywhere.
She frowned, looking at Bai Yan in disbelief. She didn't speak, but Bai Yan knew what she wanted to say.
Bai Yan tried to explain, "This...is actually quite common in places like this..."
"Common! How can you say it's common! How..." Mu Xing growled in a low voice, and Bai Yan shut up.
how…
Mu Xing couldn't continue speaking.
She knew she shouldn't easily voice any doubts, especially when she wasn't in that position.
But she suddenly couldn't help but wonder what it was like for Xiao Azhen in that narrow, unpartitioned room when Jinbao had guests.
Bai Yan glanced at Mu Xing, lowered her eyes, and continued, "Later, Jinbao's father was beaten to death in the casino. A client and I paid off some of her debts, and Jinbao stopped doing it. Now she just does some odd needlework."
She smiled and said, "She was lucky to escape the mire in the end."
And what about you?
Mu Xing looked at Bai Yan, his throat tightening.
Were you also "commonly" sent to the brothel?
Can you also be so "lucky" as to escape the mire?
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The two people by the water tank fell silent for a moment and did not continue speaking.
Mu Xing had always wanted to know why Bai Yan had fallen into prostitution, but just hearing about Jin Bao's experience had already filled her with horror and anger. What if Miss Bai had also suffered a similar fate…
She dared not think about it, dared not hear it, and could not bear to let Bai Yan reopen her wounds for her to see.
With a sigh, Mu Xing rolled up his sleeves, reached into the water tank, and took the apple out, then poured out the water from the basin.
Bai Yan took the apple and then handed a handkerchief to Mu Xing: "Wipe yourself."
Sitting back down at the small table, Bai Yan picked up a knife and started peeling an apple. Mu Xing didn't know how, so he could only watch from the side.
Bai Yan held a small knife, and the bright red apple peel gradually rolled out from her two nimble hands, hanging long.
Mu Xing looked at him and said admiringly, "Such skillful hands."
Bai Yan glanced at her and laughed, "That's just a joke. Young Master Mu is a doctor. When he picks up a scalpel, he works on bones and muscles. Isn't that more skillful than peeling an apple?"
Mu Xing said, "That's really not true. Although I studied medicine for four years, I've never actually performed a surgery. I'm even more afraid to dissect rabbits in class. Sometimes the anesthesia doesn't work properly, and the rabbit wakes up halfway through, running all over the classroom, staining the floor with blood..."
After slicing the apple and placing it in front of Mu Xing, Bai Yan asked curiously, "What was your university like, Young Master Mu?"
Mu Xing described his alma mater, and Bai Yan listened attentively, saying with envy, "I've never seen such a good school before."
Hearing her say that, Mu Xing suddenly remembered that Bai Yan had mentioned attending middle school. She must also be very much looking forward to university life.
Thinking this through, Mu Xing racked her brains to recall the interesting things that happened at school and recounted them in detail.
"...That person claimed to have a degree from one of the top eight universities, yet he did such a shameless thing. That day in the classroom, someone deliberately asked him, 'You've studied abroad for many years, surely you haven't been to Germany yet?' Guess what that meant?"
Bai Yan thought for a moment, then burst out laughing: "Does this mean he's immoral?"
Mu Xing nodded: "That man didn't realize what was going on for a moment, and even said with great pride that he had always disdained to learn the medical skills of the German and Japanese schools, and went on and on. He only realized what was going on when he went to bed at night. He was so ashamed and angry that he rushed into the other man's dormitory and started a fight, which led to his dismissal."
Bai Yan shook her head: "Such a mediocre person is really wasting his opportunity to study."
The people around the table were chatting animatedly, and the copper pot on the table joined in the fun, gradually bubbling and releasing a rich, oily aroma from the pork bones that filled the courtyard. The women in the kitchen worked quickly and efficiently, soon bringing out plates of thick, fatty meat.
Just then, Sister Chen's husband returned from work, and Aunt Li's son arrived. After everyone in the courtyard was seated, Sister Chen and Jinbao busied themselves adding rice and pouring wine. The large group of people chatted and toasted each other, introducing themselves to one another.
Aunt Li said with exceptional generosity, "It's such a coincidence that we have such a delicious meal and such distinguished guests today!" She pointed at Mu Xing, who could only smile and say modestly, "It's nothing, it's nothing."
Aunt Li nodded with satisfaction: "We're all familiar faces, so please don't be shy and eat more!"
No sooner had she finished speaking than Aunt Li took the lead and sat down, dipping her chopsticks into the copper pot. A mouthful of steaming hot fatty meat was already gone, and with one gulp, a cup of sweet and spicy old wine was almost empty.
That imposing presence was truly like a thousand troops charging forward at once. Even Brother Chen and Little Brother Li beside her didn't have Aunt Li's aura. Mu Xing was filled with admiration. If all the ladies in the mansion had Aunt Li's appetite, they probably wouldn't need to take vitamin injections every day.
After a busy day at the clinic, Mu Xing was already hungry. Just as he was about to start eating, a hand suddenly reached out from the side and placed a full glass of wine in front of him.
It turned out to be Aunt Li's son. Although he wasn't as bold as his mother, he was close. Li Xiaodi placed the wine in front of Mu Xing and said with wide eyes, "Drink this! We're brothers now! Cheers!" He then downed the wine in one gulp, looking very pleased with himself.
Brother Chen and Sister Chen were both taciturn. They silently raised their glasses to Mu Xing and toasted him, finishing every last drop, which made Mu Xing's legs go weak.
Does she still remember how she got drunk and passed out at the restaurant last time?
Bai Yan whispered, "This wine isn't very strong, a little won't hurt. But if you can't handle it, I'll drink it for you."
This won't do!
Upon hearing this, Mu Xing didn't hesitate any longer and downed the cup in one gulp. The bitter and spicy liquor had been frozen in the well, and it was cool and emitting a chilling aura. As soon as it entered his throat, it sent shivers down his spine, making Mu Xing feel breathless from the spiciness.
But once the wine entered my stomach, a sweet taste emerged, whether from the tip of my tongue or my teeth, making me want to linger on it.
"Awesome!" After finishing his drink, Mu Xing slammed the glass on the table. "One more!"
Li Xiaodi laughed heartily and turned to fill Mu Xing's cup.
Perhaps it was the pleasant atmosphere, or perhaps it was the initial taste of the wine, but Mu Xing drank several glasses as if she were tipsy. Bai Yan, sitting beside her, busied herself piling food into her bowl, saying, "Eat some food, or your stomach will hurt later..."
As the meal drew to a close and night fell, the lingering aroma of the food dissipated, and the bougainvillea quietly bloomed, reclaiming control of the courtyard with its delicate fragrance.
The children had all eaten and fallen asleep. Jinbao carried Xiao Azhen back to her room to wash up, while Sister Chen and Aunt Li busied themselves clearing the table and washing the dishes. Little Brother Li pulled Mu Xing and Bai Yan aside to drink and chat, talking about everything from female celebrities to American movies.
Just then, Brother Chen, who had been drunk and slumped on the table, suddenly leaped up and began to sing at the top of his lungs: "I am a carefree man from Wolonggang! I rely on Yin and Yang! I can control the world with ease!"
Mu Xing and his group were stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"Great! Great! This guy is almost as good as Qilin Tong!" Little Brother Li exclaimed with a laugh.
Not only did he sing, but Brother Chen also started dancing: "...He was granted the title of Marquis of Wuxiang, wielding the command seal, fighting battles east, west, north, and south..."
Mu Xing smiled and was about to turn to talk to Bai Yan when suddenly her stomach churned, and she felt dizzy. Bai Yan was startled and quickly supported her, asking Sister Chen to bring out a bowl of hot tea.
After slowly sipping her tea, Bai Yan said, "It's almost time. There was thunder just now, so it might rain soon. Shall we go back?"
Mu Xing calmed down a bit and nodded: "Let's go."
Bai Yan got up and said goodbye to everyone. Aunt Li and the others hurriedly came out of the kitchen, chatted for a while about how often they came to visit, and then let Mu Xing and Bai Yan leave.
After leaving the courtyard, Mu Xing's legs were still a little weak, so Bai Yan helped her walk forward.
All was quiet; the sky was a deep, dark black, without a sliver of moonlight. Even after walking quite a distance, one could still hear Brother Chen singing, as if weeping, "...I lack a kindred spirit before me..."
“There are no rickshaws here. Shall I call one for you when we get to the main road over there? Or should we have the Mu family come and pick you up?” Bai Yan asked.
Although Mu Xing felt dizzy, she still had some sense of what was going on. She shook her head: "No, no, don't call my family, my mother..."
Bai Yan laughed: "Are you afraid of your mother?"
Mu Xing laughed drunkenly, "Of course I'm scared! She's like Guanyin Bodhisattva. We got scolded by her a lot when we were kids, like a tight headband..."
The two stood close together, their body heat mingling as they whispered to each other, their voices echoing softly through the alley.
Once they reached the main road, the cool breeze picked up, blowing in gusts and instantly dispelling the midday heat. Perhaps it was about to rain, because Bai Yan searched for a while but couldn't find a rickshaw, so she had no choice but to help Mu Xing continue walking.
"If you can't find it, forget it. I need to take you home first." The cold wind made Mu Xing feel even more dizzy, but she still managed to say, "Otherwise, how can I feel at ease..."
Just as Bai Yan was about to speak, a bolt of lightning suddenly flashed across the sky, illuminating almost half of it. Immediately afterward, a thunderclap boomed overhead, startling Mu Xing awake instantly.
"...Is it going to rain?" The two looked at each other, knowing full well that neither of them had brought an umbrella. They were already quite a distance from Jinbao's house, and going back was impractical.
"Let's go, hurry up, let's see if we can find a car," Mu Xing said.
The two hurried forward, but before they could even leave the street, a sudden downpour began.
"Run!"
The heavy rain pounded down, stinging the skin. Mu Xing draped his suit jacket over Bai Yan and, disregarding any impropriety, grabbed her and ran forward.
The shops on both sides were all closed, and only the dim streetlights shone through the rain, their orange glow shattered by the rain.
Bai Yan, wearing a cheongsam and high heels, couldn't run very fast, and in no time, both of them were soaked to the bone.
"There's a restaurant up ahead! Let's hide inside!" Mu Xing shouted.
"Okay!" Bai Yan replied, clutching her coat tightly.
After running for a while, the two finally rushed into the restaurant. Standing in the lobby, looking at each other's disheveled appearance, they couldn't care less about complaining and started laughing for no reason.
"This weather is so strange, it suddenly started raining." Mu Xing shook off the drizzling rainwater, and a drop of water accidentally got into her eye. Just as she was about to raise her equally wet sleeve to wipe it, a warm handkerchief landed on her face.
Bai Yan gently wiped the rain off her face. Seeing this, Mu Xing remembered to take out a handkerchief from her pocket. But just as she was about to move, Bai Yan suddenly said, "Don't move."
Mu Xing then obediently stopped moving.
"Be careful not to splash water from your hair into your eyes, it will cause inflammation," Bai Yan said, gently wiping Mu Xing's face with a handkerchief.
Because Mu Xing's coat covered her, she wasn't completely wet. Her makeup was still intact, but her body was damp. Her oil-green cheongsam had a strange color, like a siren from Western mythology or a female demon in a bamboo forest after the rain in Liaozhai.
Mu Xing looked at her and suddenly whispered, "You look like a female demon right now."
Bai Yan: "..." Is this considered a compliment?
Just as Bai Yan was about to speak, the hotel manager walked up to the two of them and said, "Good evening, gentlemen. It's raining so hard. Would you like to stay at our hotel?"