K《Hibiscus Noodles》

Chapter 14

Twenty-three

A beautiful sunny day.

The sky was cloudless, and the sun shone brightly. The asphalt road, softened by the heat, reflected the bright sunlight and radiated heat. From a distance, the road appeared to be puddled with water due to the sweltering heat. Only upon closer inspection did one realize that their eyes had been deceived. The hotter it was, the more excited the cicadas became, hiding behind the dense foliage, working together to amplify the oppressive heat with their songs.

Lotus seed, lily bulb, and mung bean soup, served in a thin-walled porcelain bowl, resembles a soft, jade-green color.

"Xiuqing, have some mung bean soup." Xiaoju brought out the mung bean soup and parted the curtain made of grass beads.

"Don't bother with your work in this hot weather." Luo Xiuqing put down her book and took the bowl from Xiaoju's hand.

Since Luo Xiuqing was discharged from the hospital, the two seemed to have grown distant, always speaking to each other with unusual politeness. Luo Xiuqing knew he had lost a piece of his memory; the lost memory wasn't completely gone, but rather constantly reminded him that some things were rather inappropriate. When he asked Xiaoju about it, she refused to say. Most importantly, he felt that his wife was different from before, and occasionally felt a sense of unfamiliarity. But he couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong.

The doorbell rang. Why would there be a guest on such a hot day? Xiaoju looked out the window. It was her brother. The girl beside him made Xiaoju's heart skip a beat—it was Jian Rou.

Luo Xiuqing no longer recognized Jian Rou. He only felt that the girl was familiar, but he didn't know why. Xiao Ju looked at Jian Rou with such complicated eyes, and Luo Xiuqing swallowed back the question he was about to ask.

The four of them were at a loss for words. Jiaming tried desperately to find a topic, but his mind went completely blank.

Fortunately, the awkward silence was broken by the doorbell. A small figure ran ahead.

Xiaoju and Jianrou both recognized Xiaotong. Then, Doctor Yu and Chen Fengxi entered.

"Sister Rou! I've come to see you!" Xiao Tong ran all the way.

"You little rascal, I miss you too." Jian Rou smiled and squinted her eyes.

"Mr. Luo, Miss Lin, I'm sorry to bother you. It's all because my little grandson kept asking to see Jian Rou, so I had no choice but to ask Feng Xi to bring us here." Doctor Yu exchanged pleasantries with Mr. and Mrs. Xiao Ju.

"Please don't be so polite. Xiaoju would love to invite you." Before Xiaoju could reply, Fengxi took Doctor Yu's arm and went into the house with Xiaoju.

“Ms. Lin, you haven’t come for your follow-up appointment these past few days, and I’ve been worried about your condition. I thought I’d come and see you.”

"There have been a lot of things going on at home these past few days, and I've almost fully recovered," Xiaoju replied.

Just then, the doorbell rang again.

Xiaoju frowned. What day was it today? Why were there so many guests?

Xiaoju disliked all three people who came in this time: Howard, Li Tongtian, and Zhang Zhi.

I don't know when, but the weather had changed. Thick, dark clouds filled the sky, with only occasional glimpses of sunlight peeking through, casting still dazzling rays that gave the clouds a golden, silvery edge. Faintly, a distant rumble of thunder echoed; even in the northern summer, the weather could be so unpredictable. The humidity had reached its peak, making everyone feel sticky and uncomfortable. The air already smelled of rain.

Xiaoju ordered her servants to prepare various chilled drinks, and for a while, they were quite busy.

The wind has picked up. No wonder myths say the wind is stored in a cloth bag belonging to the Wind Goddess; this wind seems to have come out of nowhere. It sweeps in, gathering small grains of sand and leaves, mixed with large raindrops, and roars in all directions.

Everyone hurriedly helped the owner close all the doors and windows, the banging and crashing sounds filling the air. Just as the windows were closed, hailstones the size of plums began to fall from the sky. In no time, the outside world had become a watery wonderland. Xiaoju stood by the window, quietly watching the continuous rain, a thin layer of condensation forming on the glass.

As if influenced by the atmosphere, the people in the room lowered their voices and chatted quietly in twos and threes.

“Everyone,” Jiaming greeted them, “it’s raining so hard outside, why don’t we listen to a story here?”

"Jiaming, are you going to be a storyteller? Which story are you going to tell today? Zhao Yun, Zhao Zai Long? Hahaha." Li Tongtian laughed lively, imitating the tone of a crosstalk performer.

"Let's not talk about ancient stories today, let's tell a story based on a real event, okay?"

"Why not? Lin, I never knew you had this talent. Let's all give you a round of applause!" Howard said enthusiastically.

Standing beside the fireplace, Zhang Zhi was carefully admiring the exquisite carvings. At this moment, he gently tapped the mantel with his fingernail, as if keeping time for Jiaming.

“Then I’ll play the role of a storyteller for once,” Jiaming said with a smile. “But you’ll have to cooperate with me when we get to the exciting parts.”

“Yes, a storyteller should act like a storyteller. Come on, Jiaming, here’s the gavel and the fan. Ah, I’ve prepared all the props for you.” Li Tongtian handed Jiaming a marble paperweight and a gold-leafed folding fan.

"Alright, I can't afford to be lazy this time. Okay, I'll put on a show." Jiaming took the props and placed them on the desk in front of him, then bowed to everyone like a storyteller.

Xiaoju and Luo Xiuqing exchanged a knowing smile as they looked at Jiaming's serious expression. This familiar, knowing smile sent a jolt through them both.

Twenty-four

"Alright, enough of the chit-chat. This story takes place in Tianjin, a famous port city in the north. On this day, Feng Bingde, a lobby employee of the Bohai Hotel, took leave early to go home. He was overjoyed all the way home; it really is possible for good fortune to fall from the sky. He had a large amount of money in his pocket; he had never imagined in his life that he would have the opportunity to get so much money."

Hearing Jiaming's words, everyone exchanged bewildered glances. He was referring to the waiter and his mistress whose sudden death had been reported in the newspaper a few days prior. The case was still unsolved; what was Jiaming trying to say?

Li Tongtian felt a slight itch in his throat and tried to clear it.

Doctor Yu and Feng Xi were talking in hushed tones, presumably about the latest fashion trends.

Only Luo Xiuqing seemed a little bewildered. He was very curious about when his brother-in-law had changed careers to become a storyteller.

"However, what Feng Bingde did not expect was that he was not destined to enjoy this wealth. Just as he and his lover were counting their money, they both died. This ill-fated couple could only regret it in the underworld."

Just then, a thunderclap suddenly erupted, as if rising from nowhere. A fireball the size of a watermelon fell from the sky, rolling rapidly across the lawn in the yard, scorching everything in its path.

Xiaotong burst into tears and buried her head in her grandmother's arms. Everyone was stunned by this sight. According to folklore, this rolling thunder is meant to strike down evil people.

"Dr. Yu, I think you should take Xiaotong to the guest room and coax him to sleep," Xiaoju said with concern.

"Sigh, I won't mince words. This child gets a fever when he's scared." Doctor Yu picked up Xiaotong and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Xiaotong was already tired from crying and was sobbing softly.

After watching the grandmother and granddaughter go upstairs with Xiaoju, everyone gradually came to their senses.

“Lin, continue. I’m very curious about this case. Do you know the outcome?” Howard spoke first.

“Chairman, you may not know this, but what you just saw was called ‘ground thunder,’ and it’s very fierce. I think we shouldn’t talk about such frightening things in this weather,” Li Tongtian said in a low voice with a forced smile. “In my opinion, Jiaming, let’s talk about something more interesting.”

“Li, what you’re saying is incredibly foolish. Thunder and lightning are just nature’s symphony, what’s there to be afraid of?” Howard said dismissively, clearly believing the Chinese idea to be both stupid and ridiculous.

"You're right, you're right." Li Tongtian was caught in a dilemma, his face ashen and forced a smile. The room was stuffy, probably because all the windows were closed. Li Tongtian, being overweight, was at a disadvantage; his white shirt collar was soaked with sweat, turning yellow and limp.

“There are many things in this world that we still can’t explain. In China, there are indeed stories of snow falling in June. People interpret this as divine wrath, but it’s not all just superstition. On the contrary, it reflects people’s hope for justice.” Zhang Zhi pondered for a moment. “Mr. Howard’s understanding of nature is indeed novel. So, shall we continue to listen to Jiaming’s story, accompanied by nature?”

“Okay, I’ll continue. This case hasn’t been solved yet, but justice will prevail. Even the most cunning criminal will leave traces. And these clues remind me of Wu Dazhong’s murder case a few days ago. Although the tools were different, the characteristics of the crimes were exactly the same: audacity and a desperate attempt to cover it up!”

Xiaoju came downstairs and sat down next to Luo Xiuqing again.

"Xiaoju, this case is related to me, isn't it?" Luo Xiuqing asked his wife in a low voice, he had a vague feeling that this matter was related to him.

Xiaoju remained silent, looking at her brother with a complex mix of emotions. Did her brother truly have a clue that could uncover the truth? But what would the truth be? Xiaoju was afraid to think about it. As she pondered this, a large hand tightly grasped her small hand, so tightly that it hurt. She looked up and met her husband's gaze. Tears welled in Xiaoju's eyes, but she forced them back, smiled at her husband, and squeezed his hand in return.

"Speaking of the murder of Wu Dazhong, some people may ask, did his daughter mistake him for someone else? His daughter clearly saw the murderer and even suffered a mental breakdown due to excessive stimulation. But the facts prove that Wu Xia's eyes were not the problem, and that someone deliberately framed her."

Listening to her brother speak, Xiaoju's heart pounded; his voice was so loud it felt like it would rupture her eardrums. "Don't bring up that night again! No!" Xiaoju cried out in her heart.

Jian Rou seemed to hear Xiao Ju's thoughts, and her expression became very uneasy. She stood up, walked to the window, and traced patterns on the glass with her finger. Through the carved courtyard wall, the street outside was faintly visible. Suddenly, she noticed something and wiped the condensation off the glass.