Archivos extraños 2 - Lo bizarro y lo real

Capítulo 5

After reviewing the deed, Zimin frowned, turned and muttered a few words to Caihua, who then headed home. A short while later, she returned, brewed a cup of fragrant Maojian tea, and asked Xiaoyu to deliver it to Boss Tang.

"Thank you!" After working for several hours, Boss Tang was thirsty, so he took the cup and drank it all in one gulp.

Yang Hong treated Boss Tang to fine wine and food for several days before seeing him off on his journey back to Guangzhou.

Listening to the clattering of the caravan gradually fading into the distance, the village woman asked Yang Hong with unease, "Does Boss Tang keep his word? What if he's lying to us?"

Yang Hong also felt uneasy: "Yes, what if he doesn't send the money on time?"

Su Zimin smiled meaningfully: "Don't worry, he can't escape our grasp."

Three months have passed, and Boss Tang has not sent any money.

Six months have passed, and there's still no sign of Boss Tang.

Nine months have passed in the blink of an eye, and there is still no news of Boss Tang.

The thing he feared finally happened, and Yang Hong was so anxious that he scratched his head and went to find Zimin. Zimin, however, was blowing smoke rings and said unhurriedly, "What's the panic? I've got you covered! An old general like me is worth two men, and the silver will be in our hands sooner or later."

Yang Hong found these words somewhat unpleasant, thinking: Could it be that he's up to something again? Is it really his responsibility to pay back the debt, a matter that's set in stone? So he patiently asked, "What do you mean?"

Seeing Yang Hong's suspicious expression, Zimin had no choice but to tell Yang Hong about how he had sent Caihua to the Gu Po in Zhushan Jie to get Gu medicine that day (actually, he went back to his own home to get Gu medicine, as he kept Caihua's ability to make Gu a secret), and how he had secretly put Gu in Boss Tang's tea. He also said that it was a local Gu, and that the poison would only take effect after ten months, and that he would die a year later.

Yang Hong said solemnly, "We are doing legitimate business, selling genuine goods at fair prices, and keeping our word. How can we use such underhanded means to coerce others? Give me the antidote quickly, and I will go to Guangzhou immediately to make him take it, so as to prevent him from taking a life."

Zimin had no choice but to ask Caihua to bring out the antidote and hand it to Yang Hong, reminding him, "We must wait until Boss Tang has paid back the money before letting him take the antidote."

Yang Hong said, "I will act according to the circumstances."

Once everything was ready, Yang Hong bid farewell to Xiaoyu and the village woman, mounted his horse, and the sound of hooves echoed along the stone-paved road.

Traveling by day and resting by night, asking for directions from everyone he met, five or six days passed in the blink of an eye. Once they left Shumuzi, they reached Guangzhou. Exhausted, he and his horse decided to rest for a while before continuing their journey.

He had just closed his eyes, leaning against the tree trunk, when he heard the terrified neighing of a horse. "We're almost at the outskirts of the city. Could there be wolves threatening us?" he vaguely thought. He opened his eyes and found himself surrounded by four or five thugs wielding gleaming steel knives.

He broke out in a cold sweat, realizing something was wrong. In broad daylight, in the vast expanse of the world, bandits were robbing people in the suburbs—something he had never expected.

A short, stout, strong man reached for the rag handkerchief at his waist with a steel knife. He straightened up and stood up: "What do you want?"

"Nonsense!" the short, stout strongman glared. "Hurry up and leave your toll money!"

He took off his handkerchief, shook it, and said, "I have no money."

"If you have no money, pay with your life!" Another burly man with a thick beard held a steel knife to his neck.

"I'll give you the money—" Yang Hong said, throwing out a handkerchief and wrapping it around the wrist of the bearded man holding the knife. With a strong pull, the bearded man fell to the ground, and the steel knife flew far away.

The short, stout strongman swung his knife at Yang Hong, who suddenly flung aside his handkerchief and blindfolded the strongman. He leaped up and kicked the strongman in the chest, sending him staggering back several steps, losing his balance, and falling backward.

The short, strongman yelled and swung his knife wildly. Yang Hong dodged left and right, seized an opening, and took the opportunity to knock him down. Then he picked him up and threw him onto the strongman who was standing there in a daze.

The stunned man was knocked unconscious and, startled, took off running. Luo Bu's handkerchief swirled after him, tripping the strongman's feet, causing him to fall forward with a thud.

Seeing that things were not going well, the last strongman hurriedly knelt down and begged for mercy.

"Impressive skills!" A man dressed in black, riding a black horse and wearing a black turban, suddenly emerged from the woods. "I've been watching for quite some time."

"Damn it—" Yang Hong dared not linger in the fight, so he mounted his horse and tried to escape.

“Don’t panic, hero,” the man in black said, his eyes filled with a chilling aura, yet his face was as beautiful as a peach blossom, his lips as red as rouge, and his voice as melodious as a silver bell. “I am just a passerby.”

Seeing that the man had an air of dominance but no weapon, Yang Hong felt relieved and said humbly, "I have only a little bit of skill. I hope you will forgive me, brother."

The man in black, with eyes as black as lacquer and handsome features, asked again:

"These are turbulent times; why don't heroes carry something for self-defense?"

Yang Hong said, "I have no intention of harming anyone, I have no extra money, I am open and honest, why should I fear those who despise me?"

The man in black nodded slightly, about to ask another question, when Yang Hong clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "I have been impolite! I must hurry on my way. Farewell." With that, he spurred his horse and galloped away...

This was the first time in Yang Hong's life that he had been to such a large city. Entering Guangzhou, the roads widened, lined with tall poles connected by wires, from which sleek, straw-hat-like appendages extended. Countless strangely styled Western-style buildings with pointed roofs, shops with arched facades built of bluestone and brick, streets teeming with people, and bustling with Chinese and foreign ladies on both sides, while carriages and horses flowed endlessly through the streets—Yang Hong was overwhelmed and dazzled by the sights. What puzzled him even more was that none of the men here wore long braids; did the government not care?

Beside the street were narrow alleyways, squeezed together by tall buildings and dark corners, turning into winding, meandering paths. Sunlight was blocked by the eaves, letting in only a sliver of yellow light, which fell crookedly on the uneven stone slabs. When the wind blew, the steel rings on the lion heads on the gates of the houses in the alleys rustled. Boss Tang's house was in one of these winding alleyways. It was an old-fashioned courtyard house, with brick walls on the outside and a small wooden structure inside; Yang Hong had found it after a great deal of effort.

After entering the gatehouse and passing through the well, the main room was the living room. Boss Tang was doing accounts when he saw that the uninvited guest was Yang Hong. He was both surprised and delighted and hurriedly asked the old maid to make tea and pour water.

"I'm so sorry, so sorry!" Boss Tang knew Yang Hong's purpose the moment they met and apologized repeatedly. "I've kept you waiting so long for the payment, and you've come all this way—"

Yang Hong washed his face and said, "Boss Tang, we trust you, so you have to keep your word. Don't let me go empty-handed this time..." Boss Tang hurriedly replied, "I definitely won't let you go empty-handed. I've already gathered the money, and I was planning to send it over soon—"

Yang Hong said with a hint of reproach, "Boss Tang, you've been dragging this out for far too long! We've been waiting anxiously for you!"

Mr. Tang spread his hands: "I have no choice, the magnolia petals are hard to sell."

“Why is it so hard to sell Magnolia Tea? Ours is ‘Royal Tea’!” Yang Hong said, taking a sip of tea.

"Hey, you're stuck in the mountains, how would you know what's going on outside? Don't even mention 'royal films'!" Boss Tang complained. "The world has changed..."

It turned out that after the Wuchang Uprising, the Xinhai Revolution, and the abdication of the Xuantong Emperor, "royal films" were no longer as popular as before. Yang Hong suddenly realized this.

Mr. Tang continued, "Magnolia slices were originally a famous dish from the imperial court. In the past, officials would buy them to give as gifts. Now they're no longer rare; they're only used in a few dishes at banquets." Mr. Tang, relying on his many acquaintances and good reputation, told everyone he met, "This is the last batch of imperial magnolia slices. You won't be able to get any more after this!" Through a combination of coaxing and persuasion, and by various means, he managed to sell all the magnolia slices, but they were no longer fetching a good price.

"I had no choice but to delay for so long," said Mr. Tang. "Things change too fast, and people in Guangzhou love to follow trends. If you're not careful, you can easily lose money in business!"

Yang Hong nodded repeatedly to show his understanding.

Boss Tang stood up and went to the inner room to open the silver cabinet; however, the silver he took out was not ingots, but rather round, flat pieces. Yang Hong was puzzled and asked, "How did the silver become like this?"

Boss Tang told him, "This is called a silver dollar, also known as a 'bright silver dollar,' 'silver-edged silver dollar,' or 'Yuan Datou.' It was just printed recently. This thing is useful; one piece is worth one tael of silver and can buy a load of grain."

Fearing he would be tricked, Yang Hong said, "I only want the silver figurine!" Boss Tang had no choice but to comply.

After counting the silver, it was already late. Boss Tang pulled a string along the wall, and a transparent, round object hanging in the middle of the room suddenly lit up. Seeing Yang Hong's wide-eyed surprise, Boss Tang told him, "This is called a light bulb, and it's lit with electricity..." This broadened Yang Hong's knowledge even further.

The old woman cooked a few dishes and brought them to the table. Mr. Tang said:

"I was worried you wouldn't like seafood, so I only prepared some meat, eggs, and things like that. Just eat whatever you like."

Boss Tang picked up a bottle of glutinous rice wine and said to Yang Hong, "I'm used to drinking this. What about you?"

Yang Hong said, "When in Rome, do as the host does."

After filling the glass, Boss Tang raised his glass and said, "Come on, drink!" "Just the two of us?" Yang Hong asked. "Where are your family?"

Not waiting any longer?

Boss Tang said, "My wife and son went to visit relatives in Shaoguan and haven't returned yet..."

Over drinks and conversation, Yang Hong learned about Boss Tang's business dealings: magnolia petals, medicinal herbs, cloth, salt… whatever was profitable, he did it. From Boss Tang, Yang Hong learned about many things that had happened and were about to happen in Guangzhou, as well as many of the secrets of doing business; the two found themselves increasingly congenial. After two drinks, Boss Tang refilled his glass. Seeing that the maid hadn't brought the seaweed soup yet, he got up to urge her. Taking advantage of the moment, Yang Hong poured the antidote into Boss Tang's glass.

Boss Tang personally brought over the seaweed soup and said to Yang Hong, "This soup is very delicious!"

As soon as Boss Tang sat down, Yang Hong raised his glass and said:

"I'm offering you this as a token of my appreciation!"

"Okay, okay!" Boss Tang quickly picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

06. Who exactly is she? Will she have bodyguards?

When Yang Hong woke up, the sunlight outside the window was already dazzlingly bright.

Having drunk too much last night and exhausted from the journey, Yang Hong went to bed early and slept soundly. He rubbed his eyes, opened the door, and was stunned: a young woman with cascading hair and a beautiful face stood smiling in front of him, bathed in sunlight.

Seeing that the woman seemed familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen her before, he was feeling awkward when the woman spoke first: "You forgot—we met yesterday."

"Li Mei, do you two know each other?" Boss Tang walked over and asked in surprise.

“That goes without saying,” the woman’s eyes blinked, like two bright, shiny black gems.

Yang Hong examined her closely. Although she had changed into women's clothing, her voice, appearance, and smile were exactly like the man in black. He sighed, "What a coincidence."

She told him that yesterday, she went out of town on business and happened to witness him fighting with a bandit.

“My brother-in-law often mentions you. He says you’re both scholarly and martial, intelligent and capable, with a straightforward personality and a steady approach to things. He’s absolutely right. I just didn’t expect you to be so young, such a handsome young man!” Li Mei’s cherry-red lips concealed two rows of pearly white teeth, her eyes darting over him with a watery gaze. Yang Hong’s face instantly flushed red.

"Don't let his young age fool you, he's still a village elder. He knows what's important and doesn't overstep his bounds," Boss Tang said to Li Mei. "Unlike you, you're so stubborn and loud, you scare people all the time."

Li Mei raised her voice and said, "I'm not some blue-faced monster, who are you trying to scare?"

“You, you,” Boss Tang shook his head and introduced her to Yang Hong, “She is my sister-in-law, named Ouyang Lihua. She is also a businesswoman, and her business is very large!”

"You're so afraid of even a falling leaf hitting your head, you're only fit for small business." Ouyang scoffed at Boss Tang, saying, "The bold get rich, the timid starve; money brings power, power brings more money. You'll never get rich because you lack guts!"

Mr. Tang said, "I don't get involved in illegal things. I feel at ease making money through honest means. Every dynasty needs businessmen, and that's how I survive."

"Breaking the law? What is 'law'? An official's word is law! Either you go along with him, or he fears you; big problems are turned into small ones, and small problems are ignored. As long as there is money to be made, everything is legal."

"Fine, fine, I can't argue with you, and you can't convince me. The guests haven't had their morning tea yet, I'll go check if everything is ready," said Boss Tang as he walked away.

Ouyang's words were sharp, and it was the first time Yang Hong had ever heard a woman speak like that, so he couldn't help but feel a bit of respect for her. Seeing that Ouyang was staring intently at the back of his head, he reached behind him and found nothing unusual.

Ouyang laughed: "What time is it? Why are you still keeping that kind of thing?"

Yang Hong didn't understand what she was saying and stared at her blankly.

"Are you a pedantic gentleman? You still can't bear to cut it off?" She tugged at his braid.

"Our bodies, hair, and skin are given to us by our parents; how can we destroy them?"

"The queue wasn't passed down from our ancestors; it was imposed on us Han people by the Manchus! Now that the Qing Dynasty has been overthrown and the revolutionaries have risen, it should be cut off!"

Yang Hong thought about it and realized it made sense. When he entered Guangzhou yesterday, people stared at the back of his head with strange looks. It turned out it was because he had a queue, so they stopped talking.

Ouyang picked up the scissors and quickly cut off Yang Hong's braid, making him feel much lighter.

Ouyang said, "You are a shrewd person, but you won't make a fortune doing business with my brother-in-law. You'd be better off doing business with me."

"I run a small business."

"I don't need you to invest the capital, I just need you to help manage it, and I guarantee you'll make money."

Boss Tang came over to invite Yang Hong to have morning tea. Upon hearing this, he said to Ouyang, "I know you need a capable and loyal helper who is both literate and skilled in martial arts, but with all this fighting and killing, don't you drag good people into it? How am I supposed to explain this to his family?" Turning to Yang Hong, he said, "Yang Hong, don't listen to her!"

Ouyang glared at Boss Tang reproachfully: "Don't judge people by their appearance. Do you think I'm a bad person? We're doing business with the government, you know that?"

Yang Hong asked, "But what can I do?"

"You can write and do math, and you have some skills, that's true, isn't it?"

"I only know the basics."

"That's enough." Ouyang's eyes were filled with excitement. "My bodyguard Ding Er will come to find you in a little while."

Who exactly is she? Does she have a bodyguard? Yang Hong, unaware of the situation, felt uneasy and said, "But my family is waiting for me to return, and I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you."

Ouyang sneered: "Are you afraid I'll eat you up?"