Chapter 358: Temple Street Jianghu

He Yuzhu followed Zhang Shuying to what she called her "home."

It was a five-story old tenement building with mottled exterior walls and a narrow, steep stairwell.

There were quite a few sundries piled up at the corners, and many doorways had small shrines, adding a touch of illusion to this cramped living space.

"This place is a bit messy, don't mind it," Zhang Shuying said.

"The pot shouldn't call the kettle black; the large communal courtyards in Si Jiu Cheng aren't much better," He Yuzhu replied.

Reaching the fifth floor, Zhang Shuying took out a key and opened a wooden door with peeling paint.

The room was not large, about eight square meters, and had no windows.

The only light source was a small ventilation window on the ceiling; sunlight cast down from above, landing right on the small round table in the center of the room.

Although the room was small, it was kept clean and tidy.

The walls were covered in old newspapers, a narrow single bed was placed against the wall, covered with a brand-new floral thin quilt; besides that, there was only a bamboo chair.

The ceiling was lower in the front and higher in the back; one had to bow their head to walk further in.

"I'm so heavy, can this bamboo chair hold me?" He Yuzhu asked with a smile.

"Bamboo has great resilience; construction sites in Hong Kong use it to build scaffolding!" Zhang Shuying answered with a smile.

"How much is the monthly rent for this place?"

"It costs 50 Hong Kong Dollars! I don't have hot water to make tea here, let me give you a beer to quench your thirst." Zhang Shuying took a bottle of beer from the corner and handed it to him.

"You really are something special!" He Yuzhu bit off the bottle cap and took a sip.

"This beer was given to me by an old man who listens to my singing," Zhang Shuying said.

"Do you have a lot of questions you want to ask me? Don't hesitate, just ask!" He Yuzhu said.

Zhang Shuying smiled: "You shouldn't be one of those who 'fled to Hong Kong,' right?"

"How could a big hero like me do such a thing?" He Yuzhu said with a proud tone.

"When are you leaving?"

"At most, I'll stay for a month." He Yuzhu unbuttoned his collar, feeling that the room was a bit stuffy.

"My questions are finished; if you have anything to ask me, just say it!" Zhang Shuying said with a smile.

"Has anyone bullied you?" He Yuzhu stared at her and asked.

Zhang Shuying shook her head: "I'm quite lucky; when my parents left, they left me a contact, and he was the one who brought me out."

He Yuzhu nodded, took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a few deep puffs.

"After leaving Beijing, I thought about it for a long time. No matter what, I deceived you, and I never properly apologized to you." She stood up as she spoke and gave He Yuzhu a deep bow, "I'm sorry."

"I told you, those things are in the past, I really don't mind anymore." He Yuzhu threw the cigarette butt into the empty beer bottle.

Hearing this, Zhang Shuying felt a sense of relief.

She stared at He Yuzhu's face for a few seconds, then suddenly seemed to have made up her mind, walked over, and threw herself into his arms: "I really... like you."

He Yuzhu held her, patted her back gently, and said slowly: "Actually, I came here to find someone..."

He told her the whole story about looking for Liu Rusi.

Zhang Shuying didn't react at all; after a long while, she suddenly looked up and kissed He Yuzhu...

There was no other sound in the room, only the sound of their breathing.

The light gradually faded from the skylight, and the two woke up on the small bed.

"I'm going to cook!" Zhang Shuying tied up her hair and got up.

"Let's go out to eat instead; it must be quite troublesome to cook in your place," He Yuzhu said.

"No, I know you're a great cook, but I want to make you some hometown dishes." Zhang Shuying pulled him downstairs, "Let's go buy groceries; I want to make West Lake Vinegar Fish, Dragon Well Shrimp, and Dongpo Pork."

There was a small market not far downstairs, and the supply of ingredients was quite complete; everything she wanted to buy could be found.

After buying the items, the two began to get busy in the kitchen.

The so-called kitchen was actually a water room for the building:

One wall was fitted with a large sink with several faucets; the other wall was divided into small cubicles, each with a small table holding a kerosene stove—this was the cooking equipment.

He Yuzhu skillfully prepared the ingredients and placed them on the small table next to Zhang Shuying.

Zhang Shuying was quick and nimble, and soon the three dishes were ready.

The two sat opposite each other at the small dining table to eat; He Yuzhu tasted the Dongpo Pork and said: "Your cooking is good."

"I'm very satisfied to get this evaluation from you," Zhang Shuying said.

After the meal, He Yuzhu stood up: "I should go."

Zhang Shuying's eyes turned red instantly, and tears fell like broken beads: "Are you not coming back? You promised to teach me how to sing!"

He Yuzhu said: "I'm not that shameless to just walk away after getting what I want. However, I have to go back eventually..."

"I'll go with you." Zhang Shuying became happy all of a sudden, picked up her guitar, and walked out.

"Why are you still bringing this?"

Zhang Shuying smiled: "I have to keep singing tomorrow! Otherwise, what will I eat?"

He Yuzhu truly admired her; she never thought about relying on a man.

"Let's go, I'll accompany you to sing for money tomorrow."

"Really? That's great! I'll sing that new song tomorrow; someone will definitely give me 10 dollars!" Zhang Shuying said excitedly.

The next day, He Yuzhu accompanied Zhang Shuying to Temple Street, but a complex emotion arose in his heart, feeling that he had somewhat let down Liu Rusi.

"... The spring breeze blows the flower buds red again, you have added another year, you are about to change your heart like time that cannot be reversed, I can only lean on you in my dreams..."

The nostalgic singing voice drifted slowly from Zhang Shuying's lips, and those listening were deeply moved.

Several middle-aged men had red-rimmed eyes, thinking of many past events; several elderly men dressed in decent clothes took out handkerchiefs, pretending to wipe sweat, but were actually secretly wiping away tears.

As the song ended, Zhang Shuying took her tattered straw hat to collect money.

Just as she had thought, several old people took the opportunity while shaking her hand to slip 10-Hong Kong-dollar banknotes to her.

A smile rippled across Zhang Shuying's face.

Near noon, when the two were preparing to go eat, she counted the small change in her straw hat and there was actually 83 dollars.

"I've never earned this much money in a single day!"

He Yuzhu smiled and said, "You will earn even more money in the future."

Zhang Shuying pursed her lips: "This song can only be sung for a month; next month's income definitely won't be as good."

"Have you ever thought about releasing a record?" He Yuzhu asked.

"Can I do it?" Zhang Shuying asked, pulling on his arm.

"Get rid of that word 'can'! With me here, you can!" He Yuzhu said firmly.

Just at this moment, a group of fierce-looking thugs ran over.

A short man with yellowing front teeth shouted: "Stop! Little lady, it's time to pay the protection fee! 10 dollars today."

"Didn't you collect for this month the day before yesterday? Why are you here again?"

"I heard you've been making big money, so the fee is naturally different. From now on, you have to pay 10 dollars every day." Dabanya spat a mouthful of phlegm hard onto the ground.

"On what grounds?" Zhang Shuying questioned.

"On what grounds? On the grounds that this territory was conquered by us!" Dabanya said barbarically.

"Brothers, which gang are you from?" He Yuzhu asked.

"14K, ever heard of it?" Dabanya said smugly.

"What should I call you, brother? How about I treat you to lunch?" He Yuzhu said.

"Get lost, get lost, get lost! I'm busy! I don't have time to eat with a stinking beggar like you!" Dabanya said impatiently.

"Fine, consider it my own wishful thinking!" He Yuzhu's gaze suddenly turned cold.

"Little lady, if you can't afford the protection fee, sleeping with our boss will do too!" Dabanya looked at He Yuzhu and provoked him.