Habitación número 143

Capítulo 1

Introduction (1)

"Mother, we'll be home once we cross this mountain. It was all worth the long trip to gather these herbs. Look at all we've collected!" A clear, melodious voice, like a nightingale's song, echoed through the deep mountains, startling an old crow in the woods into taking flight with a shriek as it flew away into the distance.

The girl who spoke looked to be about sixteen or seventeen years old. She was carrying a bundle of grass roots or something similar on her back, her trousers were rolled up high, revealing a section of her fair calves, and she walked briskly and lively along the mountain path in straw sandals. Her face was rosy and she was very pretty. The girl was talking to a middle-aged woman behind her.

The woods were gloomy, and the midday sun struggled to shine through the thick, intertwined leaves, but only a small white spot fell on the two people, slowly shimmering.

“Child, let’s sit on this rock for a while. Here, have some water,” the middle-aged woman said. Her voice was low, and she was dressed in black with a white handkerchief wrapped around her head. She watched as the girl obediently put down the herbs, her eyes filled with tenderness. She gently reached out and removed some grass from the girl’s hair, then took out a wooden comb from her bosom and said to the girl, “Sit down. You’ve only been picking herbs for half a day, and your hair is already a mess. Let me comb it for you.”

The girl sat obediently in front, while the woman slowly combed her hair with a black wooden comb behind her. The girl's hair was jet black and shiny, the strands flying in the wind. The mother remained silent, while the daughter carefully examined an ant scurrying about on a leaf at her feet. The mountains were generally very quiet; this mountain path was one that the mother and daughter had discovered while gathering herbs, and it was rarely visited. Birdsong occasionally echoed through the tranquil forest, and behind them stood a huge locust tree, its roots intertwined and covering a large area.

The girl was talking about the fun she had gathering herbs that day when she suddenly felt the atmosphere behind her turn icy cold. When she turned around to see what was going on, she heard a dull thud on the back of her head and fell unconscious after being hit hard.

A cold wind blew, and when the girl awoke, the forest had become gloomy and desolate. She moved and found herself tightly bound to the large locust tree with vines. She looked around carefully and cried out in terror, "Mother, Mother, where are you?"

She heard a soft sharpening sound beside her. She tried to turn her head to look, but a sharp pain shot through the back of her head. She then realized that not only was her body tightly bound to the tree, but her hair had also been divided into two strands and tied to the tree, making it impossible for her to move her head.

She was terrified and cried out, "Mother, where are you? Come save me!"

A familiar voice came from beside her: "Listen to me, don't shout, it won't hurt in a little while."

Upon hearing this, she forgot her fear and cried out, "Mother, Mother, let me go! It hurts!"

The sound of sharpening the knife was still clear, echoing powerfully through the forest, stroke by stroke.

"Be good, just bear with it a little longer, Mommy will be done soon."

"Mother, what are you trying to do? Why are you tied to this tree?" The girl was already sobbing uncontrollably.

At that moment, through her teary eyes, the girl saw her mother standing before her, holding a gleaming, pointed shovel used for digging medicinal herbs. She smiled sadly and stroked the sharp shovel.

"I've been sharpening it for a long time, hoping to make it faster. I've heard that if a knife is sharp, it won't hurt as much."

The girl stared at her mother in disbelief. "Mother, are you going to kill me?"

"Child, you should never have come into this world. You were blind and born into the wrong family. There's no point in saying more now. Rest in peace!"

The woman raised the sharp-tipped shovel in her hand and began to gouge at her daughter's eyes, shouting after each gouge, "You're blind! Don't blame me, don't blame me!"

The moon hid behind the clouds, as if unable to bear witnessing this human tragedy. The girl's desperate and shrill screams startled the birds, and the forest was filled with an eerie stench of blood. The girl, her face covered in blood, stood dying on a tree, her eyes now two bloody holes from which blood gushed.

The woman carefully wrapped the removed eyeballs in the handkerchief on her head, gently placed them in her bosom, slowly packed her bundle, and began to turn and descend the mountain. Behind her came the girl's voice, as faint as a whisper: "I want revenge! I want revenge! Revenge!"

A smile flashed across the woman's face, a smile that carried a chilling hatred, yet also a hint of helplessness.

It was a bright and beautiful day. The sky over the small town was exceptionally clear. On a single bed in a resident's house, Qin Jin was drooling and dreaming, enjoying the dream to the fullest.

Suddenly her phone rang urgently. She pulled it out, closed her eyes, and cursed, "Who is it?! In the middle of the night, can't a person live in peace?"

A shrill female voice came from the other end: "Midnight? The sun's already high in the sky! Get out here right now, come to my house at noon today, I'm back."

Qin Jin was wide awake, thanks to Tang Shishi—his best friend.

She cursed angrily, "You damned woman, everything was peaceful when you left, but now that you're back, it's like a plague has descended upon the world, throwing chaos into the land! Fine, you're back, but do you expect me to run naked down the street to welcome you?"

The phone call had already ended. Qin Jin lay on the bed, feeling miserable. Tang Shishi was not someone to be trifled with. If he dared to stand her up, his future days would be difficult.

A black cat jumped onto the bed and stared at her expectantly, clearly there to ask for breakfast.

She stroked the black cat's fur and called out gently, "Blackie, Blackie, good morning. We're going to see that fierce old woman, Shishi, today."

Hei Bao is Qin Jin's beloved pet, a stray cat that Qin Jin found by a trash can one winter night. Now it's incredibly well-off, with all sorts of cat food, cat beds, and cat toys, and they're all brand names.

After taking a shower, Qin Jin spent a long time applying makeup in front of the mirror. A beautiful woman appeared in the large dressing mirror in the room. She was tall, well-dressed, with a jade-like neck and a noble air. Unfortunately, Qin Jin sighed to herself. With such good qualities, she still couldn't find a boyfriend. She wondered if she was too picky or if the men in this world had become too bad.

Tang Shishi is a wealthy spendthrift. Her family has a large inheritance, enough for her to dress up, date, travel all over the country, not work, go to high-end clubs, and travel independently. Just now, she traveled all over the country again. Whenever she is in a bad mood, she drives around aimlessly, going wherever she wants without a destination. Every time she comes back, she brings back a lot of gifts. Rare treasures from all over the country are her favorites.

Qin Jin arrived at Tang Shishi's house. After passing through the beautiful private garden, he found three people already seated in the spacious hall. Qin Jin took Hei Bao out of the cat basket and tossed it to Tang Shishi, who hugged the cat and cried out affectionately for it.

Lan Qi stood up, brought a glass of water, and handed it to Qin Jin. Lan Qi had a unique sense of style; she could practically be called a fashion icon. Just by looking at her clothes, you could tell what was trending this year. Lu Yingqi was fiddling with a piece of silverware in the corner. When she saw Qin Jin, she smiled and greeted her. She was Tang Shishi's cousin, but she truly inherited all the qualities of Tang Shishi's scholarly and aristocratic family—gentle, poised, and elegant; she was clearly a lady.

Tang Shishi returned from her self-guided tour, and everyone gathered together again. Qin Jin ate fresh strawberries in Shishi's huge dining room while listening to her stories of what she had seen and heard on her journey, the customs and legends, and the ways of the world. With her vivid expressions and exaggerated gestures, the listener felt as if they were there.

"I went to western Hunan this time. Apart from the mountain roads being a bit difficult to travel, it was a truly beautiful place. The mountain villages there were very peaceful. When the evening breeze blew, the stars seemed within reach. At dusk, you could see the smoke rising from the chimneys of the small villages. Really, you must come with me again next time. It's simply paradise."

After talking for a while, everyone started asking for gifts. Shishi really enjoyed the moment and took out all her favorite things to share with everyone.

The three of them sat around the sofa. Tang Shishi, beaming, presented a box and slowly untied its thin thread. Everyone was stunned by her earnest demeanor, and several pairs of eyes stared at the box. Inside the box was a paper package. She took out the package and slowly unwrapped it layer by layer. Finally, Tang Shishi gave it a vigorous shake, as if unleashing a burst of red clouds, instantly filling the room with shimmering light. Even Lan Qi, who was used to grand occasions, widened her eyes in astonishment.

Qin Jin looked closely and saw that it was a piece of red cloth. Red cloth was not unusual, but what was unusual was the color of the red. It was a red that was so beautiful that it was impossible to look away. All four of them stared at the cloth as if they were frozen in place.

The stalemate was broken by Hei Bao, which leaped from Qin Jin's arms with a shriek, startling them. Hei Bao then turned and darted out the window.

Qin Jin was the first to react. She rushed to the window and saw Hei Bao, its fur standing on end, staring at their window from the far end of the road. She shouted, "Hei Bao, don't run away! I'm coming to get you!" But by the time she ran out of the house and onto the road, Hei Bao had vanished without a trace.

Qin Jin almost burst into tears, but she couldn't show it.

The red cloth that had been opened on the sofa lay there quietly, its color so gentle, like a sky full of stars, that it could draw anyone into that color.

Lu Yingqi sighed, "I never expected such a beautiful color!"

"Shishi, where did you find this treasure?"

Tang Shishi said with a smug look, "I saw it in a small town. There was only one of them, hanging in front of someone's door. It was so beautiful that I insisted on having it."

They sat down and gently stroked the fabric, as carefully as if they were caressing their own babies. The fabric felt cool to the touch, yet was incredibly smooth.

"Is it satin? It's so silky smooth. I wonder what it's made of to be so densely woven and to feel so good."

"Once you put your hand on it, you don't want to take it off. How can it be so comfortable?"

These three friends never agree on anything. Tang Shishi didn't expect this piece of cloth to receive such high praise. She hardened her heart and said, "I want to have a fashionable cheongsam made from this piece of cloth. You can take the rest and divide it up! It's such a big piece of cloth, there should be a lot left over."

This piece of red satin, like a bright yet gentle knife, pierced into their lives.

Part One of "Red Satin"

Chapter 1 Washing Away the Dust (1)

Nowadays, women rarely have their clothes custom-made. Aren't there enough clothes in the thousands of stores for them to choose from? But some clothes can make a woman stunningly beautiful. Everyone should have one truly beautiful outfit in their lifetime that can bring out all of a woman's beauty. Its existence is like a platinum ring set with diamonds. Only platinum can make diamonds stand out and become more dazzling.

Every woman needs clothes like this.

Tang Shishi, carrying the design sketches from the city's best designer, drove with Qin Jin and the others to a small town to find a tailor. She was quite dissatisfied, saying as she drove, "Why do we have to go to town to find a tailor? What a hassle! Why do skilled people always hide in the deep mountains and forests, making themselves seem so aloof?"

“Those who achieve something must have a special passion. If they don’t know how to interact with people, they will naturally never become famous,” Lan Qi replied. She was adept at interpersonal relationships and only wanted to climb the social ladder.

Qin Jin remained silent, thinking of the black cat that had run away. It was her precious darling. The scenery outside the window flashed by, and the beautiful view was only a fleeting glimpse. Could it be that Blackie was just a passerby in her life?

The town was quiet, perhaps because the people there had a habit of taking a nap. A few children were running around in the depths of the alley, their footsteps echoing on the bluestone pavement as they approached.

The town is small; after walking a few alleys, you'll find a tiny tailor shop. The shop is filled with colorful fabrics, and there are scraps everywhere. A large pair of scissors sits on a very old sewing machine.

"This is where the master is hiding?!" Shishi couldn't believe it.

With a knock at the door, everyone looked up at the small door and saw a middle-aged man standing there. He was dressed plainly, honest and unassuming, a little bald, and had slightly dark skin. This was the genius tailor they had been searching for all this way.

They stammered out their purpose and showed him their carefully crafted design, but the man only glanced at it briefly.

"My surname is Hu. I'm a tailor here. Let me look at the fabric first," the man said woodenly.

Lan Qi opened the box triumphantly and carefully unwrapped the paper package. She found that the edge of the satin she was holding was almost alive, as if it wanted to unfold on its own. With a graceful gesture, the satin was fully unfurled.

Master Hu stood there, stunned, as if under a spell, unable to move for a long time. Lan Qi was even more smug; it seemed that the magic of this satin was irresistible even to someone accustomed to the most beautiful fabrics in the world.

The four of them smiled at each other, and the little silver bells of happiness in their hearts were already ringing.

Master Hu deliberately took the satin out into the sunlight to examine it. The satin emitted a dazzling light, a light like the shimmering decoration on the navel of a seductive dancer on stage, possessing an almost fatal attraction for men. He held the fabric and gestured to the design, completely forgetting the presence of the four people around him.

Lu Yingqi asked softly, "Does he really like that piece of satin?"

"Nonsense!" the three answered in unison.

Lu Yingqi, feeling rebuffed, curiously walked towards the back of the shop. Passing through a small door, the light became even dimmer. Clutter was laid out in the passageway, flanked by wooden houses. Lacking skylights, these houses were all very dark, and she examined them one by one, finding the small-town items fascinating. Having been a pampered young lady since childhood, she had never had the chance to visit such places; even a dressing table seemed novel. So, when she saw the small dressing table at the far end, she curiously went inside. The room was sparsely furnished, containing only a bed, a chair, and an old dressing table. The mirror was covered in dust, indicating that the room hadn't been used in a long time. Seeing a small stool beside the mirror, she sat down and examined the old dressing table. The carvings were beautiful, made of mahogany, large and sturdy. The mirror was round, and a comb lay beside it.

She noticed her hair was a little messy, so she picked up the comb and started combing it in front of the mirror. Her hair was beautiful, smooth and shiny black, reaching her shoulders; she had loved it since she was little. She touched her hair, looked at her pretty face in the mirror, which appeared bright and charming in the dimly lit room, and smiled slightly.

Just as a smile appeared on her lips, she saw a figure flash in the mirror. Although it was fleeting, she could still make out that it was an old woman with a white headscarf and black clothes. She was hunched over and had her head down so she couldn't see her face. She walked past the door.

Startled, she grabbed the comb and turned back, only to find the door empty. She tried to chase after it, but a chilling wind swept through the corridor, and there was no one there. Even more terrified, she turned and ran towards the shop door. Just as she was getting close, a withered hand suddenly reached out from behind the wooden door. She abruptly pulled her foot back, watching incredulously as a figure emerged from the doorway—it was the old woman from before. Her white headscarf was pulled low, obscuring her face. The old woman slowly dragged her feet, walking towards her step by step.

Lu Yingqi was so terrified that her mind went almost blank, and she stood there motionless. The old woman raised her left hand, her withered hand stretched out towards her, and a voice faintly said, "Give it back to me! Give it back to me!"

She yelled and plopped down on the ground.

Hearing the noise outside, the tailor put down the cloth and rushed over. Qin Jin and the others followed behind and hurried forward to help Lu Yingqi up.

Master Hu stepped forward and gently called out to the old woman, "Mom, why did you come out?"

The old woman stubbornly stretched out her hand and said to Lu Yingqi, "Give it back to me!"

"What is that? Give it back to her quickly!"

"I didn't," Yingqi panicked, her voice trembling with tears as she tried to explain.

Qin Jin noticed that she was waving a comb in her hand, snatched it from her, and asked, "Where did this come from?"

Yingqi hurriedly handed the comb to the old woman who exuded an eerie aura, then quickly withdrew her hand. Tang Shishi glared fiercely at Lu Yingqi.

Lu Yingqi said anxiously, "I saw that the mirror on that dressing table was covered in dust, so I thought it was an uninhabited room."

"My mother's eyesight is poor, she can't see things, so Miss Lu misunderstood. It's alright, everyone, let's not crowd in the aisle, let's help Miss Lu outside to calm down!" said Master Hu.

The group walked back, with the old woman following slowly behind.

Back inside, Lu Yingqi sat down in a chair. The old woman didn't say anything, but just touched around in the room for a while. Her steps became heavier and heavier, and finally she stopped in a corner.

To comfort his mother, Master Hu carried the red satin towards her, saying as he walked, "Mom, feel it, this fabric is wonderful! I've never seen such fine fabric before."

A sharp, piercing voice suddenly rang out: "Put it down!"

Everyone was startled and looked at the old woman in the corner. Unexpectedly, she started screaming again, "Put it down! Put the cloth down!"

Master Hu also got anxious: "Why?"

The old woman suddenly raised her head, revealing a pair of eyes covered in white spots with almost no black pupils. Her wrinkled face looked bitter and resentful, and her gaze could almost fixate on her son. "Give it back to them!"