Upon hearing the sound, a woman slowly walked out of the room, as if she had stepped out from the depths of time.
She looked to be in her sixties, with the years leaving deep marks on her face, each wrinkle telling a story of the past.
She moved somewhat slowly, her back slightly hunched, as if the burdens of life had bent her back.
The greasy and worn-out rag in her hand wiped the table back and forth as she moved, as if she were caressing a familiar old friend.
Ma Linghua's gaze fell on the old woman, a complex look flashing in her eyes, and she asked softly, "Is Yu Niang still alive?"
The old man paused abruptly as he wiped the table, and a flicker of emotion seemed to appear in his previously cloudy eyes.
She slowly raised her head and looked at Ma Linghua, her eyes filled with surprise and memories.
After a moment, she silently found a stool and sat down, still clutching the sour-smelling rag tightly in her hand, and fell into silence.
The air around her seemed to grow heavy with her silence.
"Hey! We have guests. How big of a fish would you like?" A clear voice broke the silence.
A young woman came out of the house, her face beaming with warmth, a stark contrast to the old man's slowness.
Ma Linghua quickly said, "Just kill five fish weighing about six pounds each, make them slightly spicy, add pickled cabbage, and some glass noodles."
"Okay, I got it." The young woman replied and quickly turned to go inside to prepare.
Ma Hehua looked at Ma Linghua with suspicion and couldn't help but ask, "Mother, you... have eaten here before?" Her tone was somewhat doubtful, as if she was guessing whether her mother had secretly come to enjoy the food behind their backs.
Ma Linghua said calmly, "I came here when I was young. This shop has a history of several hundred years."
Her gaze was somewhat distant, as if she had traveled back in time.
Li Zhongguo listened from the side, his heart filled with curiosity.
He found it hard to imagine that Linghua, in her youth, had left her mark in such a remote place.
This place is so hidden that unless you're familiar with it, you'd never know there's a grilled fish restaurant here.
Li Zhongguo found it even more unbelievable, especially considering that Linghua had no sense of direction.
He couldn't help but wonder to himself, how exactly did Linghua remember this road?
Was it a special experience she had that left a deep impression on her, or was it someone who brought her here that allowed her to find this place even after so many years?
His gaze remained fixed on Ma Linghua, trying to find the answer in her expression.
Ma Linghua seemed lost in her own memories, unaware of Li Zhongguo's probing gaze.
The old man remained seated on the stool, staring blankly ahead, as if recalling the moments that had once occurred here.
Perhaps she witnessed the rise and fall of this shop and saw countless customers like Ma Linghua come and go.
The sounds of the young woman bustling about inside the house mingled together with the clatter of pots and pans and the sound of running water, giving the somewhat simple little shop a touch of warmth and life.
The alley outside the shop remained quiet, with the occasional breeze stirring up a few fallen leaves.
The walls of the alleyway appear somewhat dilapidated under the erosion of time, yet they possess a rustic charm.
This grilled fish restaurant is like a hidden gem, radiating a unique light that attracts those who are destined to find it.
“My mother, she’s dead! She’s been dead for over fifty years, but why haven’t you aged yet?” The old woman’s cracked lips trembled as she uttered these words, her eyes sharp as a drawn blade, piercing straight at Ma Linghua.
Time has etched countless lines on her face, each one concealing deep resentment.
Ma Linghua wore a smile, but it was colder than the ice of winter. Her gaze fell on the old man like frost and snow, as if she were looking at a clown making a scene.
"She's dead! She deserved it. I told her not to give birth to you, but she wouldn't listen. Defying fate is no easy feat, and she couldn't afford the price." Her voice seemed to come from the deepest hell, devoid of any warmth.
The old man's body jerked violently, as if struck by lightning.
Then, like a long-suppressed volcano suddenly erupting, she cried out, "No, it wasn't me, it was you! You didn't save my mother! She could have lived! It was your Ma family that cut off her path! Back then, I saw you take the Blood Jade with my own eyes. That was my mother's life! Why did you do that? Why?" Her eyes burned with fury, her hands clenched tightly, her knuckles turning white, and her body swayed slightly with agitation.
"Why? Of course I have a use for the Fish Maiden's Blood Jade. It was originally a magical artifact used by my Ma family to nurture a fetus. If I don't take it back, what will I use? Lending it to her for a few years is the greatest favor I can do."
Ma Linghua responded coldly, her face still cold, but there was a subtle ripple in the depths of her heart.
She wasn't entirely cold-blooded; she was simply forced to make a choice between her family's mission and her cruel fate.
The fish girl insisted on giving birth to the undead child who should not have been born, and was destined to suffer this tragic end. But who can truly say what is right and wrong in this matter?
A resolute glint flashed in Ma Linghua's eyes. If she hadn't taken back the jade blood back then, the lotus flower wouldn't have been born, nor would the pear flower. So... what did the life or death of the fish girl have to do with the Ma family?
If a person doesn't look out for themselves, they'll be punished by heaven and earth.
"This is the last time I'll eat fish at this restaurant. The fish lady said that if I ever have the chance to come to Kyoto again, I'll come and eat the fish she makes. It's such a pity! I won't be able to eat the fish she makes herself anymore."
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