Ghost Stocks

Chapter 64

Feng Junzi sighed inwardly: "Heavenly Swordswoman, don't be in a hurry. Sit down and let me explain slowly... The name of this quest is 'You Are Her Dream.' After I tell you the story of this quest, you can decide whether to accept it or not..."

Zhao Lei and Feng Junzi both sat down, and Feng Junzi slowly told him a story:

Once upon a time, there was a small mountain village, and in that village lived a little girl. This girl had a tragic past; she became an orphan at the age of five. Fortunately, her neighbors, a kind couple, adopted her. They also had a little boy, four years younger than her, and they grew up together. The girl's adoptive parents treated her very well, not as an outsider, but as their own child. At five years old, the girl was old enough to remember things, so the better her adoptive parents treated her, the more uneasy she felt.

Later, the girl and boy grew up. Due to their family's financial situation, the girl went to work in another city, while the boy went to school and did quite well academically. At that time, the world was in a state of confusion and uncertainty, and government-run academies were expanding their enrollment and tuition fees were skyrocketing, producing more and more useless scholars. However, the people in the mountain village did not understand these changes and still believed that their child entering a government-run academy was a sure path to success. So, the whole family supported the boy's education. The boy lived up to expectations and actually passed the exam.

His older sister, who had always struggled academically, could only dream of attending the academy. Now that her brother was going, she was naturally overjoyed, as if she herself had entered the academy. However, lacking any particular skill or education, she faced hardship making a living away from home. She didn't want to tell her family, always claiming she was doing well and frequently sending money home.

What was she doing? It turned out that, with her pretty face and good figure, she had entered a brothel and become a prostitute. As with any profession, prostitution meant certain death, but she still had a glimmer of hope amidst this depravity: her younger brother. After her brother entered the academy, she sent money home to buy him a computer and a cell phone—basically, she believed her brother should have everything the other students at the academy had. And the money for her brother's academy tuition was all sent to their foster parents.

In the same brothel, a close friend once asked her why she would choose to be a prostitute. "Sending money home would be enough," she said, "there's no need to go through all this trouble." But she replied, "I feel I see no hope, and my brother is that hope. To be someone recognized and respected by society is my dream. My brother achieving this dream is like me achieving my own."

A psychologist once said that this is a form of vicarious psychology, a kind of life's sustenance. However, her younger brother was a troublemaker at the academy, even going to brothels with his classmates. Later, his classmates discovered that his sister looked like a prostitute and told others at the academy, resulting in the brother getting into a fight with his classmates and facing expulsion. Upon hearing this, his sister disguised herself as a respectable woman and slept with the academy's headmaster, thus resolving the matter.

Later, the younger brother discovered his sister's identity as a prostitute and felt ashamed in front of his classmates. He started skipping classes, playing computer games, and isolating himself. As a result, he couldn't escape his isolation; he became hopelessly lost in his own world. Meanwhile, his sister stayed by his bedside, crying for three days and three nights. "...And the task I'm giving you today is to take a younger brother back to his sister... Will you accept? Heavenly Swordsman? Or I might as well call you Zhao Lei!"

At this point in Feng Junzi's story, Zhao Lei was already in tears, his sword nowhere to be seen. He sobbed, "So, what happened at school last time was also because of my sister... It's all my fault, it's all my fault, I'm useless, that's why I dragged her into this..."

Feng Junzi looked at Zhao Lei: "I thought you hated her, but it turns out you don't. What are you thinking? She's been with your classmates and your teachers. How do you face all of this? Are you going to shut yourself off?"

Zhao Lei raised his head and hissed, "Stop talking!...It's all because of me, I hate them!"

Feng Junzi shook his head: "Holding a grudge is useless, and there's no need to seek revenge. Since it's all because of you, you should think about what you should do."

Zhao Lei: "I'm not going to university. I'm going to go out and work to support my sister and stop her from doing this!"

Feng Junzi shouted, "Bullshit! If you think like that, you'll just become another Zhao Xue. Don't forget, you are her dream. If that dream is shattered, she will be completely devastated. Don't be so cruel, okay? There's no need to hold your head high and be arrogant, nor is there a need to bow your head and endure humiliation. Just do what you're supposed to do, pull yourself together, go back to school, and become a person recognized and respected by society. That's how you'll be worthy of Zhao Xue… Now come back with me, let her see that her dream is still alive…"

Zhao Lei: "I know I was wrong. I'll log off now to see her."

Feng Junzi finally couldn't hold back any longer and rushed over to slap him: "Wake up, you son of a bitch!"

...

Feng Junzi and Zhao Lei sat and lay silently in the hospital room, one in a chair and the other in a bed. Xiao Yunyi and Zhao Lei both watched them nervously. Suddenly, Feng Junzi, sitting in the chair, abruptly waved his right hand, and Zhao Lei, lying on the bed, cried out in pain. Both of them woke up.

"Zhao Lei, I'm finally awake! I was so worried..." Zhao Xue cried and rushed to Zhao Lei when she saw him open his eyes.

"Sister, I was wrong..." Zhao Lei opened his eyes and saw Zhao Xue's face covered in tears. The siblings hugged each other and cried bitterly. Seeing this, Feng Junzi gestured to Xiao Yunyi, and the two quietly left the ward.

Part 5, Goddess's Heart, Episode 23: Three Purple Clay Teapots

It was an afternoon when Feng Junzi sat in his office, watching the stock index trends on his computer while scribbling something on paper that he himself wouldn't understand even three days later. Just then, there was a knock at the door. Feng Junzi called out, "Come in," and looked up to see Zhao Lei walking in.

"Zhao Lei? What are you doing here? How did you find me?"

Zhao Lei: "Brother Feng, don't forget I'm a student at the University of Finance and Economics. My sister doesn't know what you do, but I found out who you are by searching online. It's not hard to find you. Last time I left without even asking your name. I came here today specifically to thank you for pointing me in the right direction."

Feng Junzi didn't want Zhao Lei to come to his office, but since he was already there, he didn't say anything and politely said, "Zhao Lei, please sit down... No need to thank me, thank your sister... How is your sister? You haven't made her worry anymore, have you?"

Zhao Lei sat on the sofa, somewhat excitedly saying, "No, I won't let her worry anymore! Thank you, Brother Feng. I've figured it out. From now on, I'm going to pull myself together, seize the time to learn everything, and prepare for my future."

Feng Junzi smiled, feeling a little pleased. He thought his efforts hadn't been in vain; the boy was finally starting to understand. He said with a smile, "That's the right way to think. Your sister will be happy too."

Zhao Lei's expression suddenly turned serious. He leaned forward slightly on the sofa and said, "Brother Feng, I have a question for you. You've helped my sister so much, what's your relationship with her? Do you like her?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Junzi quickly shook his head: "Zhao Lei, you've probably misunderstood. We're just friends who met by chance. There's no relationship like you're imagining, nor any feelings like you're talking about."

Zhao Lei's face darkened upon hearing this: "I didn't misunderstand, I knew it was like this. Whether you were her customer or not, there's nothing I can do about it. I think someone like you would never like a prostitute."

Zhao Lei's tone was strange. Feng Junzi didn't know how to answer. He suddenly thought of Han Shuang. And Xiao Wei. His former lover, and she and Zhao Xue had both worked at the same nightclub. If Han Shuang hadn't left, or if Xiao Wei were still in Binhai, what would he have done? He probably couldn't even answer that question himself. To say he didn't care would be impossible. Although he sympathized with Zhao Xue's situation and was willing to help her, he had never considered developing a deep relationship with such a woman again.

Zhao Lei didn't seem to expect Feng Junzi to answer, and continued, "Brother Feng, you've been in this business longer than me. You've seen more of the world. Can I ask you a question? What kind of ending do young ladies like my sister usually have in the future?"

Feng Junzi stared at Zhao Lei, seemingly trying to glean something from his expression. After a long while, he sighed and said, "Zhao Lei, do you really want to know? Do you want to hear the truth?"

Zhao Lei: "You must tell the truth."

Feng Junzi: "Actually, I'm not entirely sure either, but from what I understand, there are essentially three outcomes: best, worst, and worst. The best outcome is to save up some money, conceal this past, find a man to marry, and live a normal life as a wife and mother, or do something else. This is the best ending, but it's also dangerous; she has to constantly worry about her past being brought up again. The best outcome is to make a name for herself in this line of work and become a madam herself. Or she might be taken in by a wealthy man, but these are not easy, and the outcome is unpredictable; many do not have a good ending. The worst outcome is to grow old and lose her beauty, spend all the money she earned in her youth, or be swindled out of it, and completely sink to the bottom of society—this is the most tragic fate."

Zhao Lei: "According to your idea of the best ending, she finds a good man to marry, hides this history, and always worries about it being brought up again. So why can't she find a man who knows about this history, truly loves her, and is able to forgive her?"

Feng Junzi: "While the scenario you described is beautiful, it's impossible in reality! This ending only exists in our lives. I admit there are examples of clients falling in love with prostitutes and eventually getting married. This shows that momentary passion can temporarily encompass everything, but it doesn't mean conflicts don't exist. When the passion fades and everything settles down, love needs to transform into kinship and responsibility. Small, trivial matters in life can then trigger major conflicts, because both people harbor shadows in their hearts that can't be erased. Even if the man can outwardly forgive, the woman will feel psychologically burdened and resentful; such a life is not happy. Moreover, it's not necessarily the man who will bring it up again; it could be an unexpected relative or friend, making it very difficult to face... Therefore, the kind of man and the kind of beautiful life you described doesn't exist."

Zhao Lei suddenly became agitated: "Who says it doesn't exist? I say it does! I don't want Zhao Xue to live like this in the future. None of the endings you described would bring her happiness. I want to be the man you said doesn't exist... I want to marry her!"

"What did you say!" Feng Junzi was startled by Zhao Xue's words and involuntarily stood up from his chair. He was a little unsteady on his feet, and the purple clay teapot he was holding fell to the ground. The teapot shattered, and shards of pottery and wet tea leaves were scattered all over the floor.

Zhao Lei was also startled by the sound of the teapot hitting the ground and stood up as well: "Brother Feng, are you alright?"

Feng Junzi: "I'm fine! Kid, do you know what you just said? You want to marry Zhao Xue? That's incest! How could you even have such a thought?"

Zhao Lei: "You can't say that. We're not siblings! I have no other way to repay her except by marrying her and giving her a lifetime of happiness."

Feng Junzi looked at the broken pieces of the purple clay teapot on the ground with infinite heartache, then sat down again, gathered his thoughts, and said to Zhao Lei, "Give her a lifetime of happiness? That's a wonderful idea, truly wonderful. If you really do that, won't Zhao Xue become your family's child bride? Don't you even ask her if she's willing?"

Zhao Lei: "I will definitely find a way to make her agree, as long as I have genuine feelings and sincerity..."

Feng Junzi waved his hand to interrupt him: "Stop talking nonsense. What good is true love and sincerity? I don't care what your relationship is. I'll just say one thing: you want to marry her? You're just a poor student, and you even paid for your studies with money she earned from working as a prostitute. What makes you think you can marry her?"

Zhao Lei: "When I get to..."

Feng Junzi quickly interrupted him again: "Don't talk about the future yet. Focus on doing your current job well. Don't make empty promises about things you can't do now, or everyone will be disappointed. Since you have this idea, how about I give you some advice? Keep this idea to yourself. When you are qualified to do all this in the future, look back at your heart and see if you still think this way. Then make a decision!"

Zhao Lei: "Brother Feng, your suggestion is good. I will listen to you. There's no need to look back in the future; my heart will never change."

Feng Junzi smiled faintly: "That's not necessarily true! Nobody knows what the future holds. Alright. If you want to marry Zhao Xue, then you should start preparing now. If a man wants to give a woman happiness, he must first secure his own livelihood. Starting a family and establishing a career are not separate. At least you need to have a stable life before you can talk about giving anything to others. ... Zhao Lei, let me ask you, you haven't told Zhao Xue about this yet, have you?"

Zhao Lei lowered his head: "I haven't said it yet, I don't know how to say it."

Feng Junzi: "That's right. You should prepare now. When you're able to do it someday, then tell her. Don't tell Zhao Xue you're thinking about these things now, or you'll scare her! Zhao Lei, do you understand? I think you'll graduate from university in a little over a year, right? Don't think about this again during this time."

Zhao Lei looked up again: "Brother Feng, thank you. I understand. I know what I should do."

Feng Junzi said calmly, "Good to know. I'm tired. You can leave now." As he spoke, he looked down at the broken purple clay teapot on the ground, his expression extremely weary. He was genuinely a little afraid of Zhao Lei.

...

The next afternoon, Feng Junzi was sitting in his office when there was another knock at the door. Looking up, he saw Zhao Xue enter. Zhao Lei had just come to his office yesterday and said some unexpected things; he hadn't expected Zhao Xue to come again today. Feng Junzi was quite annoyed and didn't really want to see the siblings. But Zhao Xue entered with a beaming smile, greeting him and repeatedly apologizing for disturbing his work. One can't refuse a smiling face, so Feng Junzi couldn't very well ask her to leave.

"Zhao Xue, what brings you here? Did your brother tell you about my office?"

Zhao Xue: "Yes, if Zhao Lei hadn't told me, I really wouldn't have known about your background, Brother Feng..."

Feng Junzi: "Speak, what brings you here? It's not like Zhao Lei has gotten into trouble again, is it?"

Zhao Xue quickly waved her hand and said, "No, no, I can't always cause you trouble. I heard from Zhao Lei that he came to see you yesterday and accidentally broke one of your Zisha teapots. ... I spent a long time in the mall today and picked out what I think is the most beautiful Zisha teapot set to bring to you, Brother Feng."

As she spoke, Zhao Xue took out a large, exquisitely crafted wooden box and placed it on the coffee table. Feng Junzi opened the box with some curiosity; it had a yellow silk lining and contained a finely shaped purple clay teapot and six cups. Feng Junzi never used a set of teapots, so without looking at the cups, he took out the teapot.

He glanced at the teapot; it was a deep purple with a glossy sheen, the purple tinged with black. The clay was impure, with a noticeably high clay content! He opened the lid and smelled it; a strong clay-like odor emanated from it, indicating a significant amount of glue mixed into the clay. While clay mixed with glue is easier to shape and less prone to cracking during firing, such teapots have poor breathability and lack the delicate aroma characteristic of Yixing teapots. He tapped the surface with his finger; the sound was crisp and sharp, lacking depth, indicating excessive hardness and over-firing. Finally, he touched the teapot; it was very smooth, lacking the pleasant astringency of a handmade piece, more like a molded design.

Feng Junzi was examining a teapot, observing and inquiring about its properties, when Zhao Xue asked, "Brother Feng, what do you think of this teapot? Do you like it? I've been looking for it all morning, in several shopping malls."

Feng Junzi thought to himself, "Even if you search the entire coastal area, it's useless. You don't even recognize this thing! This pot is no match for brewing tea; it's more like a chamber pot! The packaging is indeed exquisite; it looks like a lot of money was spent on it... Sigh!" He thought to himself, but said aloud, "Thank you so much. This is truly a fine pot! It's kind of you to go to so much trouble. Please, please, please don't buy me anything again in the future; I would really feel very embarrassed."

Zhao Xue smiled and said, "It's just a teapot. Brother Feng has helped me so much. I don't even know how to thank you."

Feng Junzi put down the teapot. He didn't want to bring up the topic of the teapot again: "I'll accept the teapot. Thank you for your kindness. By the way, did Zhao Lei say anything to you yesterday? I mean, did he say anything else special?"

Zhao Xue happily replied, "Yes! He told me that he would work hard from now on and give me the greatest happiness in the future. He told me to wait for him."

Looking at Zhao Xue's happy face, Feng Junzi sighed inwardly, feeling unsure whether to be happy or regretful, a strange feeling welling up inside him.

...

On the afternoon of the third day, Feng Junzi was sitting in his office when someone walked in without knocking. The person said with a grin, "Teacher Feng, are you busy? May I bother you for a moment?"

Feng Junzi looked up and saw that it was Xiao Yunyi! What was this girl doing here? He quickly stood up to offer her a seat and pour her some water, asking, "Xiao girl, why aren't you at work and are you here instead? Aren't you afraid the boss will punish you for being absent?"

Xiao Yunyi: "I was on fieldwork today, and came over as soon as I finished. Feng Junzi, let me ask you, did you call Chang Wu to ask him to compensate you for the teapot?"

Feng Junzi did indeed call Chang Wu to complain, saying that Chang Wu should compensate him with a purple clay teapot. His logic was: if he hadn't accompanied Chang Wu on his investigation, he wouldn't have met Zhao Xue. If he hadn't met Zhao Xue, he wouldn't have summoned Zhao Lei to his office. And if Zhao Lei hadn't come that day, his purple clay teapot wouldn't have broken! So, ultimately, Chang Wu owed him a purple clay teapot. Unexpectedly, this matter reached Xiao Yunyi's ears.

Feng Junzi nodded a little embarrassedly: "That's true, I was just joking with Chang Wu!"

Xiao Yunyi: "Chang Wu is your high school classmate? I heard from Chang Wu that you've been using that teapot for over ten years. Is that true?"

Feng Junzi: "To be precise, I started using it in the third year of junior high school, so this year marks exactly eighteen years." As Feng Junzi spoke, a look of regret appeared on his face.

Xiao Yunyi laughed: "No wonder you called to complain about Chang Wu. Feng Junzi, is your tea taste particularly bland now?"

Feng Junzi: "You're still laughing? If you've been using the same teapot to brew tea every day since you were a teenager, for eighteen years straight, and now that teapot is gone, do you think your tea will taste any better?"

Suddenly, as if by magic, Xiao Yunyi produced a dark brick-colored teapot. The teapot had no packaging, a simple, antique design, decorated only with a few simple bamboo leaf patterns. She held it up in her hand. Feng Junzi, seeing the teapot, reached out and took it, looking at it, smelling it, listening to it, and touching it, and couldn't put it down. He exclaimed with surprise and delight, "Purple Qi Red Cloud Sand! Just like my old teapot. This kind of clay is almost impossible to find now! Where did you find it? You can't find this in the flea market anymore… No, although this is an old teapot, no one has ever used it."

Xiao Yunyi said smugly, "I stole it from my grandfather. It was his treasure. A friend gave it to him before the liberation, but he never used it."

Feng Junzi: "No wonder! I was wondering where this good stuff came from! You have some nerve, aren't you afraid your grandpa will beat you up!"

Xiao Yunyi: "How could he possibly discover something that hasn't been used for decades? Besides, if he really did discover it, I'll just say that you stole it from my house."

Feng Junzi: "Alright, alright, even if I stole it. Was this pot a gift for me?"

Xiao Yunyi: "I've already brought them all, who else would I give them to if not you?"

Feng Junzi went to flush the toilet and returned to the room to see Xiao Yunyi examining the black double-dragon ruyi scepter that was on his computer. Seeing Feng Junzi return, Xiao Yunyi asked, "Feng Junzi, why do you have so many strange things? This ruyi scepter is so weird. When I hold it, I feel like there's something inside that's scary."

Feng Junzi smiled: "What's there to be afraid of? I've kept this black Ruyi with me for over ten years. I think I had it when I was in high school, but I forgot where I picked it up. I usually use it to crack walnuts..."

Xiao Yunyi put down the black Ruyi and said to Feng Junzi in a coquettish tone, "Feng Junzi, I risked everything to steal this Purple Qi Red Cloud Sand for you, how will you thank me?"

Feng Junzi: "Go ahead and say it. I'll accompany you to dinner, movies, and bars, and I'll pay for everything... just don't take me clubbing!"

Xiao Yunyi: "Okay, call me when you get off work. I'm going shopping now."

After Xiao Yunyi left, Feng Junzi took out the teapot Zhao Xue had given him from the drawer again. He placed the two teapots, one purple and one red, together, gazing at them thoughtfully. In life, the most important thing is understanding what you want, just like this teapot. Whether Zhao Lei's thoughts were right or wrong, at least he had thought about it!

Part 5: Goddess's Heart, Chapter 24: Lingering Poison

Liu Xin had been feeling unwell these past few days, and the environment always felt somewhat unfamiliar when she went to work. Mainly because Zhao Xue wasn't at Hanhao. After her brother's coma, Zhao Xue realized that continuing to work there might cause trouble for her brother, so Sister Chen introduced her to a different place—a bathhouse further away—to continue working as a prostitute.

The turnover rate in this industry is already quite high, and it's very rare for someone like Liu Xin to have worked at Hanhao for four years. The main reason is Sister Chen, who hasn't moved either. That afternoon, Liu Xin arrived at the Hanhao Bath Center's changing room early and found that someone else had arrived even earlier. This was the new girl, number 18, Mengmeng. Mengmeng arrived after Zhao Xue left, using the key tag and locker that Zhao Xue had left behind, and also inheriting the number 18.

At the far end of the young lady's changing room was a bed, where anyone tired during the night shift could lie down. Mengmeng was lying on this bed now. Liu Xin was startled when she saw Mengmeng's appearance. Her face was deathly pale, and her eyes were dark-rimmed. She lay there motionless, panting. Liu Xin reached out and touched her chest; her heart was beating fast but irregularly.

"Mengmeng, you're having another party? What are you fantasizing about this time? Cat face or Holland?"

Mengmeng mumbled, "It's the thumb. I was high from early yesterday morning until this morning, and I took two pills. They didn't come out, and I feel so uncomfortable. My chest feels so tight."

Cat Face, Holland, and Thumb are all names for ecstasy pills. Liu Xin was shocked to hear Mengmeng's words: "Are you crazy? Thumb and the others only take half a pill at a time, and you took two! Where did you get so high?"

"It's right downstairs. Hanhao International Club. Those customers were crazy. Some brought their own female companions, and those who didn't went to the club to ask for female companions. At the end, a bunch of men and women wanted to have an uncensored party, and I ate one more pill."

"Unrestricted Gathering" is a classical term often seen in martial arts novels. It refers to a gathering outdoors, in the mountains or fields, rather than in a hall. However, the "Unrestricted Gathering" Mengmeng described refers to a group of men and women gathering in a private room, eventually ending up completely naked. Like a pig being skinned naked. Hanhao International Club advertises itself as a high-class, successful social venue for leisure and entertainment, but in reality, it's just a place for the wealthy. It offers many services, but only members are allowed; ordinary customers can only frequent places like bathhouses, not the club itself.

There are some good girls here, and they're occasionally called to work at the club, where they usually get more tips. However, Liu Xin has never been. Even when she went downstairs to ask Sister Chen for help, Sister Chen never recommended Liu Xin. There's a reason why Liu Xin doesn't want to work at the Hanhao Club and is rather afraid of that place.