Freeze to death

The daughter's red wine was so strong that even Wen Jingzhao was a little tipsy. He sent everyone away, locked the noodle shop and went home.

The original house has not been vacated yet, and my mother said that she would live there for a while. Firstly, it is closer to the noodle shop, which is convenient for her to open it in the morning. Secondly, Gesan and Mimi can stay there with her, so that the two of them can enjoy their own world.

He Yingchun couldn't persuade her, so she just stayed like this for the time being.

She had also drunk some wine in the evening, and her head was dizzy at the moment, but she was still worried about Yuling.

She rummaged through boxes and drawers and finally found the poetry collection in a dark mahogany box. She remembered that it was placed in a special place. The poetry collection seemed to have the fragrance of a woman and the smell of burning fire.

She turned a page and stroked the words on it, wondering who had given the poetry collection to Yuling.

When she opened it again, she felt bitterness in her heart. She escaped, her mother escaped, but Yuling didn't, and so many women who were shackled by the cannibalistic system didn't.

In the next life, I would rather be an animal or a tree than suffer the humiliation of being a woman.

These were Yu Ling's last words, so humble that they pained and moved tears to those who heard them.

Wen Jingzhao walked into the room after taking a shower. He Yingchun was sitting with her back to him, slender in figure, with her head lowered. It was unknown what she was looking at. The light shone on her, and a yellow glow seemed to dispel all the darkness.

His heart softened and he hugged her from behind, "What are you thinking about?"

He gently rubbed her face with his fingers and felt something wet.

"Are you crying?" He lifted her face and wiped away the tears with his fingertips. "Why are you crying?"

He Yingchun hurriedly wiped her face, not realizing she was crying. She closed the poetry collection, feeling drawn into Yu Ling's body and grieving for her.

"Do you think there are really ghosts and gods in this world?" He Yingchun looked up and asked Wen Jingzhao, her eyes washed clear and bright by tears, like a child seeking knowledge.

"I've never seen it." Wen Jingzhao poured her a glass of water. "Maybe, otherwise why would so many people pray to gods and Buddhas?"

He Yingchun was indeed thirsty. She tilted her head back and took a big sip of water, looking at him in surprise. She had thought that someone like Wen Jingzhao would not believe in ghosts and gods but only in himself.

"Are you thinking about the haunted thing they talked about today?" Wen Jingzhao asked her, playing with her hair with his slender fingers. "Are you scared? That shouldn't be the case." He looked He Yingchun up and down and pinched her cheeks.

Being interrupted by him, He Yingchun forgot what she was going to say. "Oh, no, I know the Yu Ling they are talking about. She was burned to death in the fire before."

She told Wen Jingzhao the whole story of her meeting with Yu Ling. After listening, Wen Jingzhao picked up the poetry collection, put it down again, and fell silent.

"If you are not at ease, I will go and ask where she is buried, and I will accompany you to pay her respects."

"Okay." He Yingchun nodded and put the poetry collection back into the box.

The two of them lay in bed. He Yingchun touched Wen Jingzhao's arm, rubbing along the blue veins on it, and said, "I can't sleep."

Wen Jingzhao took a deep breath and squeezed her hand, "Do you think I can sleep?"

He stroked He Yingchun's cheek and said, "Go to sleep, don't think too much." He raised his fingers and gently stroked her hair. His movements were gentle and his palms were warm. He Yingchun slowly closed her eyes as she felt sleepy.

The haunted incident in the brothel lasted for a while, and then it died down again. After dinner and tea, the topic of conversation changed to something else.

"Have you heard that someone was stripped naked and left on the street to freeze to death?"

"You're talking about the incident in Xishi, right?"

"I also saw it, with its big butt facing upwards. From a distance I thought it was someone's pig left outside."

"Hush, keep your voice down. He seems to be a captain."

…

These days, people in the noodle shop have been talking about people freezing to death in Xishi. He Yingchun's right eyelid twitched and she felt a little uneasy.

"Boss! Give me two braised pork trotters, take them away!"

"Okay!" He Yingchun packed the food in paper bags. Recently, more and more people have come to the restaurant, and some customers have no place to sit. They don't want to sit outside when the weather is bad. She bought some paper bags. If it is dry food like fried chicken, she will use paper bags.

The weather was getting better, and two more noodle shops had opened in the East Market. Her business hadn't decreased, but she was a little worried that the same thing as last time with Roujiamo might happen again.

"Brother, let's eat here. I ate here last time and it tasted pretty good." A tall man walked in. He had a long face and red marks on his cheeks, which only people who often run around outside would have.

Next to him was a burly man, about the same height as him, and exceptionally strong. "Okay, let's do this."

A group of people walked in, about eight or nine of them, all dressed similarly, with sharp eyes. A glance at them was like a hurricane passing by.

"Sir..." He Yingchun's eyes froze when he saw this group of people. He turned slightly and said with a smile, "Please come inside. We can share a table."

"Here's the menu, take a look at it first, and call me if you want to order something!"

Yu Dabiao picked up the menu, which was a wooden plaque with holes punched through it so that the pages could be turned. It had not only the names of the dishes and prices, but also simple illustrations. Its crudeness revealed a refined quality. "It's quite interesting."

"Hey, have you changed owners? I remember it was run by a couple before." Long-faced asked He Yingchun. He looked around and said, "The decoration seems a little different too."

"Yes, Madam Wang rented it to me before. If you still want to eat noodles, we have both. We also have new dishes. You can just look at the menu and order."

Yu Dabiao looked at He Yingchun and suddenly asked, "Are you a chef?"

When he looked at her, He Yingchun felt a little guilty. She nodded and said, "Yes, I'll make it for everyone, just take a look at what you want to eat."

The escorts ate a lot, so Yu Dabiao ordered a large bowl of noodles for each person and a few side dishes. "Okay, these for now. You can order more if you're not satisfied."

"Okay, please wait a moment."

He Yingchun returned to the kitchen and wiped the sweat from her forehead. She didn't expect to meet these escorts again. When they parted, the handsome backs of each other seemed to be still vivid in her mind. Meeting them again now was really fate.

Huo Saner came several times but failed to recognize her, and it seemed that the same was true for these bodyguards who met by chance.

Since he didn't recognize her, she just pretended not to know and continued on her way.

Nine large bowls of noodles were served, one for each person. "Please wait a moment for the food, it will be here soon."

"Okay." Yu Dabao glanced at her and lowered his head to eat noodles.

"Boss, boss! Come here! Hurry up!" A short and fat man at the door shouted at the top of his voice.

"I'm coming!" He Yingchun asked him what was the matter.

"Look! There's a fly in the noodles, and you serve it to me right away?" The man picked up a fly from the bowl and almost poked it into He Yingchun's face, his voice very loud.

Where did the flies come from in such a cold day? He Yingchun thought he was being scammed.

Everyone who was eating noodles around stopped and looked at the two people. Food hygiene has always been a concern for everyone. Food is the most important thing for people. Before someone finished eating the noodles, he found a fly in his food and didn't know whether to spit out or swallow it.

"Sir, look, I'll take this bowl and make you another one, okay?" He Yingchun smiled. In the service industry, there's nothing you can do about it, so you have to suffer in silence.

"What? Just make another bowl? You have to compensate me ten taels of silver. Who knows if I have eaten other insects just now? I have to go to the clinic to have a good check-up, so that I don't get sick!" The other party slammed the chopsticks on the table, looking like he would not give up.

"Sir, let me change your bowl for you. If you really feel uncomfortable because of the noodles you just ate, I will take you to the clinic and let the doctor check you out. What do you think?" He Yingchun continued to smile.

"Everyone, come and take a look. This store is big but it's bullying its customers. A big fly was found in my noodles and they won't compensate me! Come and take a look!" The other party was shouting at the top of his lungs not only in the noodle shop but also outside. He was definitely here to cause trouble.

Is the store bullying customers because of its size? He Yingchun could no longer maintain her smile. Her noodle shop was just a small place, and they really looked down on her.

"Since the guest is so unreasonable, I can only go to the government for justice. Look at how cold the weather is, where did the flies come from? Who ordered you to put flies in my noodles?" He Yingchun's face turned cold. Since the man was shameless, there was no need for her to be nice to him.

"Mom, go report the case!" He Yingchun said in a deep voice.

"Hey! You bitch! Who released the fly! Who released the fly! I must beat you today!" The other party was annoyed after being exposed and rushed up to slap He Yingchun.

He was immediately stopped by a big hand. "Hey, let me take a look at this fly." Yu Dabiao picked up the fly and looked at it. "Isn't this the one you just took out of your arms and put back in? I thought you were just trying to take advantage of it, but you wanted to frame me. Brother, this is not fair."

"Who the hell are you? I... woo woo" Yu Dabiao didn't waste any words with him and stuffed the fly directly into his mouth. "Since you like eating this fly meat, enjoy it. What are you talking about? Still not satisfied? If you are not satisfied, I will find you a few more. Erzi, stuff the freshly caught snake into his mouth. If you are not satisfied with the fly meat, try snake meat?"

"No, no, no! I was wrong, I was wrong! I really brought this, I was wrong!" The other party burst into tears, swallowed a fly, and felt nauseous. When he heard that he was going to eat snake meat, he crawled away.

"Good!" Erzi, the one with the long face, led the applause, and everyone in the noodle shop followed suit, clapping, "That's how he should be punished!"

"Who are you? I've been here so many times and it's always clean!"

“That’s right!”

"I'm sorry to bother you all! Enjoy your meal!" He Yingchun said to everyone. To work in this line of work, one must have a strong mental quality. When his father first opened the store, there were people who hired people to smash the store, some put cockroaches in the dishes, and some even harassed the girl at the next table. There were all kinds of people.

A small dish of pickled vegetables was served to each table to appease the guests. He Yingchun quickly thanked Yu Dabiao, "Thank you very much, big brother. Otherwise, I would have been beaten this time. I will waive the meal fee for you. I am grateful to you for being my friend."

"No, no, it's just a small favor. I just can't stand people like this. I just want to eat my food quickly." Yu Dabiao waved his hand and went back to sit.

"Okay, I'll cook for you right away." He Yingchun nodded and went back to cook.

"This noodle tastes really good, even better than last time, and the dishes are fragrant too! I don't even want to leave." Erzi burped. He hadn't eaten so full in a long time since he had been sleeping outdoors.

"Hurry up and get going when you're almost done. Stop dawdling." Yu Dabiao patted him on the back of the head. "Look at how little you've accomplished!"

Yu Dabao was probably afraid that He Yingchun would not accept the money, so he left the meal money on the table.

He Yingchun ran after him, holding the packed roujiamo and fried chicken, and said, "Thank you for your help just now. I'll take this little bit of food for the way!"

The second son looked at Yu Dabao and tried to make a move.

"Then we'll take it." Yu Dabiao said, and Erzi took it. "Thank you, big sister!"

"It's okay. I have to thank this big brother for his help just now."

"No need to be polite, little chef. It's been a long time since we last met. I hope you will appreciate my improved cooking skills." Yu Dabao looked at her and said.

"You, recognized me." He Yingchun scratched his head and smiled awkwardly.

"I recognized the dish you cooked, haha." Yu Dabiao laughed heartily. Before He Yingchun could react, he led the horse and said, "Let's go! See you again if we're lucky!"

The second son was still confused. What kind of dish was it? "Brother, do you know it?"

…

It was still the same group of people, walking towards the sun, their backs broad and elegant, gradually turning into black dots.

"Okay, see you again if we're lucky." He Yingchun nodded.

She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't notice someone behind her staring at her with a deep gaze.