Chapter 41 There's Still a Long Way to Go
Water droplets from the eaves of the green tiles fell onto the bluestone slabs in front of the steps, splashing up tiny water droplets.
Lin Tang sat in the innermost bamboo-woven cubicle, with a cheap jasmine tea brewing in a rough porcelain bowl in front of her, the tea leaves floating up and down.
The curtain was lifted slightly by the wind, and she looked up to see Chen Mo coming in, wearing a faded long robe and his hat pulled low.
“Miss Lin,” Chen Mo took off his hat, “I’m about to leave Jiangcheng, and I’d like to say goodbye before I go.”
Lin Tang's fingertips traced the rim of the teacup. In the swirling tea steam, her face blurred into a shadow. She nodded slightly. "I never expected you to say goodbye to me."
Chen Mo looked at her and said, "Miss Lin, there aren't many people in Jiangcheng that I respect, and you are one of them. Of course, I have to tell you. Besides, I killed Qiao Yuan, and this matter has spread throughout Jiangcheng. Both the legitimate and criminal worlds want to kill me. I have to go."
Lin Tang's gaze fell on him, and after a long while, she said, "Thank you for cooperating with my plan. I've dragged you into this."
Chen Mo smiled faintly and shook his head, "Whether Miss Lin is there or not, I would still do this. I also thank Miss Lin for showing me the way."
The two picked up their teacups, toasted each other with tea instead of wine.
Chen Mo said, "Last time at the tailor shop, although we hoped that you would put aside your personal feelings and help us kill Qiao Yuan, you asked us in return, 'If we kill Qiao Yuan and replace him with someone else, like Zheng Hao from the Axe Gang, would it really be good for everyone?'"
Lin Tang sighed, "It took me a long time to understand these things. I used to hate what Qiao Yuan did, but later I realized that some things... cannot be judged simply as right or wrong."
Chen Mo lowered his head and said, "Yes... that day you said, 'Qiao Yuan protected the dockworkers, preventing the Japanese from taking their jobs; he protected the refugees in the concession, preventing the Axe Gang from burning down their houses.' I later realized that in chaotic times, 'traitors' cannot be defined by simply attaching a label." He looked up, his eyes filled with shame, "So I also realized that the so-called elimination of traitors cannot truly save this country. Our country is so weak that it cannot be influenced by one person or one force."
Lin Tang said, "It's not your fault. We are all thinking about how to move forward. I should be grateful that China still has your organization and passionate young people like you. I believe you will eventually find the right path."
A hint of guilt flickered in Chen Mo's eyes. "I'm sorry, Miss Lin, I've still caused you and Mr. Qiao a lot of trouble."
Lin Tang picked up the teacup, took a sip of the cooled jasmine tea, and felt the bitterness spread. But she shook her head. "But that day when you came to the old house in Hongkou, you also told me that Chen Kan wanted to bribe you to kill Qiao Yuan. If it weren't for your information, I would never have believed it completely. Chen Kan is no longer the person he used to be..."
Chen Mo lowered his head. "Yes. Chen Kan used to be a member of the underground organization in Jiangcheng, and he still has our contact information. When he contacted us and said he wanted to help us kill Qiao Yuan, we all thought he was genuinely indignant, but we never expected that he was doing it for his own selfish interests."
The two sat facing each other in silence for a long time.
As they were about to part ways, Lin Tang took a banknote out of her bag and placed it on the table. "Take this and use it on your journey."
Chen Mo declined, "Miss Lin, I can't accept this..."
“Take it,” Lin Tang interrupted him, her eyes filled with an undeniable tenderness. “Consider it my contribution to finding a way to save this country.”
Chen Mo stared at the silver note, hesitated for a moment, and finally accepted it. "As a man of the martial world, I will not back down any further."
Lin Tang smiled, a smile tinged with tears, yet more resolute than ever before.
The cries of a flower vendor came from outside the curtain. Chen Mo stood up, picked up his hat, and said, "I should go now. Take care, Miss Lin."
"Take care of yourself."
Lin Tang watched his retreating figure until the curtain fell, then she turned her gaze away.
Chen Mo's figure disappeared into the bustling crowd.
Lin Tang slowly walked out of the teahouse, where Ah Chen and Ah Xiu were waiting for her.
When Ah Xiu saw her come out, she quickly opened her black umbrella, the ribs casting a shadow over her head.
Lin Tang took the umbrella handle, her fingertips touching her cold hand, and said softly, "Let's go back."
Ah Xiu took her arm, and the three of them walked along the bluestone path toward the dock.
The raindrops pattered obliquely against the umbrella, making a soft, pattering sound.
Lin Tang gazed at the sails on the distant river. The ship, flying a gray flag, was slowly leaving the dock, the black smoke billowing from its chimney blending into the leaden-gray clouds.
She touched her belly, which was still flat, but she knew that a little life was slowly sprouting inside.
"Uncle Chen said the ship should arrive in Hong Kong in three days, and then transfer to the United States," Ah Xiu said softly. "Master Qiao's illness... should be curable."
Lin Tang nodded, her gaze fixed on the ship. The wind lifted the hem of her dress, and she wrapped her moon-white cheongsam tighter around herself, her fingers twisting the umbrella cord.
"Ah Xiu, do you think Qiao Yuan might be thinking of me on the boat?" she suddenly asked, her voice soft, like raindrops falling on flower petals. She spoke with such tenderness, something she would never have asked Ah Xiu in the past, but today she felt this tenderness all of a sudden.
Ah Xiu paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Of course, Master Qiao dotes on you so much."
Lin Tang smiled, but tears streamed down her cheeks, dripping onto the bluestone pavement and splashing up tiny water droplets.
She recalled Qiao Yuan's appearance before he left; he was lying in the cabin, pale-faced, and most of the sleeping pills he had prepared had now been used on him.
Uncle Chen arranged for someone to stay with him. When he woke up, he was probably in the middle of the sea, and he would see his letter. She told him that she was pregnant and hoped that he would take good care of himself for the sake of himself and the child, and stop thinking about dying.
Will he resent me?
Ah Chen said, "No, Master Qiao would be more than grateful to know that you are thinking of him like this, how could he possibly resent you?"
She smiled and said, "Ah Chen, you've really got a knack for comforting people now."
She stood by the bridge for a while longer, thinking to herself: Qiao Yuan, I hope this child will have grown up by the time you come back.
"Madam, it's getting windy, let's go back," Ah Chen reminded her.
Lin Tang looked up and saw that the dark clouds in the sky seemed to have thickened even more.
A ship in the distance sounded its horn, the sound echoing across the river.
Lin Tang stared at the ship until it became a tiny black dot and disappeared into the horizon.
She turned and walked back, leaving her shallow footprints on the bluestone path.
Waves lapped against the wooden piles of the dock, making a low, resonant sound. In the distance, a lone goose flew south, its wings sweeping across the clouds, leaving a faint trail.
...
Ah Chen drove Lin Tang and Ah Xiu back to the New Moon Gang.
Lin Tang walked through the gate of the Crescent Moon Gang, where Uncle Chen was standing waiting for her.
“Madam,” Uncle Chen said with a hint of relief, “I’ve spoken with Sato, and he said that the Crescent Moon Gang will take 30% of the opium shipments from now on. As for Chen Kan, he sent over the customs clearance documents yesterday, and the warehouses at the docks will also be under our management.”
Lin Tang smiled faintly, "I owe a lot to Uncle Chen."
"Madam is too modest."
The two talked about business in the back room of the New Moon Gang for a while, and Lin Tang couldn't help but be a little lost in thought.
"Uncle Chen," she asked softly, "what do you think would happen if Qiao Yuan woke up on the ship?"
Uncle Chen paused for a moment, then laughed. "He'll definitely slap his thigh and curse, 'How could I leave you all alone in Jiangcheng?' and then he'll jump onto the returning ship without a second thought."
Lin Tang smiled, but tears streamed down her cheeks. She raised her hand to wipe them away, her fingertips wet with tears, yet she laughed again: "You understand him best. But I hope he won't be so willful for the sake of my child. He always said he would wait for me at first, but now it's my turn to wait for him."
Lin Tang silently gazed out the window.
She sighed, "Uncle Chen, it was only that day that I understood why Qiao Yuan had imprisoned Huang Jinhu for so many years, and why he suddenly wanted to get rid of him. It was both to lure Liang Kuan to his death and because he was afraid that these people would harm me after I left. He sent Cheng Qing to provoke me, just to make me leave. But alas..."
Uncle Chen said, "Madam, you've done a great job. You've intimidated Sato with Cheng Qing and won over Chen Kan. The Crescent Moon Gang is more stable than before."
Lin Tang sighed, "If I hadn't been forced into this situation, I wouldn't have done this."
Uncle Chen said, "Master Qiao used to say that you were his weakness, but now you have become the backbone of the Crescent Moon Gang. Madam, you are stronger than Master Qiao thought."
Lin Tang looked up at the distant sky, where a faint ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds and shone on the river, creating golden ripples.
“Spring is coming soon,” she said softly. “When Qiao Yuan comes back, he should be able to see the peach blossoms blooming by the river.”
Uncle Chen smiled: "Of course you can, Madam."
Lin Tang gazed at the distant sky, a smile playing on her lips, but tears streamed down her cheeks.
The waves on the river lapped against the wooden piles of the dock, making a low, resonant sound. In the distance, a lone goose continued its southward flight, its wings sweeping across the clouds, leaving a faint trail.
Lin Tang knew she would wait.
Waiting for Qiao Yuan to return, waiting for the peach blossoms to bloom, waiting for the children to grow up, waiting for the chaos to end.
She touched her belly, where a small life was slowly sprouting, like a seed stubbornly growing in the mud of a chaotic world.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
