Chapter 210 - 208: A Night of Fish and Dragon Dance (Part 1)

Chapter 210: Chapter 208: A Night of Fish and Dragon Dance (Part 1)

Fu Juemin had seen a similar protest once before, back in Luan River, but its scale was nothing compared to this.

As the primary window to the Far East, Shenghai still attracted many students every year.

Through the car window, he watched the young faces in the distance. Their hands, feet, and faces were red from the harsh winter cold, but that couldn’t suppress the passion and fervor in their hearts. Suddenly, the images of two girls in student-style Indanthrene blue cheongsams flashed through Fu Juemin’s mind.

When Luan River City fell, Jiang Yao and Zhou Yunzhi had taken a boat to Yingjing. Fu Juemin was certain he would have to make a trip to Yingjing someday, but whether he would be able to see them again was hard to say.

The motorcade followed the crowd slowly for a while before the protesters at the front suddenly began shouting slogans.

Fu Juemin rolled down the window and listened quietly for a moment, only to realize they were shouting things like, "The government must reinstate Li Mingyi!"

He couldn’t help but chuckle.

"Li Mingyi... Li Mingyi..."

Fu Juemin’s knuckles tapped lightly against the leather seat beneath him as he recalled what Aunt Ding had told him before.

’Those people outside probably don’t realize that the louder they shout, the more the Xin Republic will fear the "Mr. Mingyi" they’re clamoring for.’

The situation in the Southwest was a disaster, a total military rout. He guessed it wasn’t just Shenghai; the entire South was probably shouting the same slogans.

’If they push the Xin Republic too far, make them too anxious, they might just get ruthless, brave the world’s condemnation, and have Li Mingyi killed.’

Speaking of which, it was only a few days ago that Fu Juemin read in the newspaper that Song Zhenyuan had actually switched sides and surrendered to the Northern Army.

’For me, personally, that’s actually good news...’

It took the car nearly half an hour just to get through Shengwu Road.

Judging by the direction the protesters were heading, they were probably on their way to the Public Concession.

Fu Juemin had the driver change course, taking a detour through the old city district to get back to the Western Realm.

Without the student protesters, the streets were filled with a festive atmosphere for the coming new year.

Every household was busy with "Kitchen God worship," "sending off the Kitchen God," and "sweeping the dust." Many people had set up altars right on the street, burning incense and offering wine. Nearby, women were cutting paper window decorations.

The southern goods shops and incense stores were bustling with people. At a street corner, a candy maker was pulling sugar, a crowd of eager children gathered around his sugar stove.

As they drove, Fu Juemin rolled down the window, smelling the fragrant aroma of incense, malt sugar, and fried cakes wafting from street after street.

As they turned onto an old street, suddenly, without any warning, everyone on the street began rushing like mad toward the nearby riverbank.

Seeing their frantic haste, as if they would miss something crucial if they were a step too slow, Fu Juemin felt a stir in his heart. He called out to the driver, bringing the entire motorcade to a halt.

Five minutes later, by an old bridge.

Fu Juemin stood on the stone arch, looking down. His gaze hardened as he watched the common folk below, who were wading in the river with washbasins, baskets, and buckets. They completely ignored the bitter cold, their faces ecstatic as they scooped up crucian carp from the water.

He glanced at Big and Little Kitty and the other Qinglian Gang members beside him; they all wore expressions of utter strangeness.

After a long moment, someone finally couldn’t help but mutter, "Are... are all these fish crazy?"

Yes.

It wasn’t the people who were crazy.

It was the fish in the Su River!

All the fish in the Su River had gone mad. They swam from who knows where, swarming toward one spot, packed into this narrow channel where residents usually did their laundry and washed vegetables. You could scoop up several fish just by dipping anything that could hold water into the river.

It was practically like picking them up for free.

In just a few moments, everyone from the old street where Fu Juemin’s group was had "charged" into the river to catch fish. In the crush, a few people lost their footing and fell in, but since today was the Little New Year, the most common cries were things like, "Thank you, Kitchen God!" and "Lord Stove is showing his power!"

"Young Master..."

Someone started to speak, but Fu Juemin shook his head. "Don’t ask me. I don’t know either."

He knew that some fish species had migratory instincts, but it was nothing like this, where all types of fish gathered together as if they had lost their minds.

Besides, the way the fish were acting didn’t look like migration.

It was more like....

’Something is constantly driving them, or perhaps, luring them forward!’

’A Demon?!’

The word slammed into Fu Juemin’s mind.

If a Demon was causing trouble, then even the strangest phenomena could have a rational explanation.

He snapped his head up, his gaze sweeping past the chaotic street scene to the gloomy sky above.

The numerous dormant Demon Soul Seeds within him stirred faintly, but they couldn’t pinpoint the source of that unseen pull within the vastness of Shenghai City—Shenghai was simply too big.

After standing quietly by the river for a while, Fu Juemin finally waved his hand, signaling for everyone to get back in the cars.

He ordered the motorcade to proceed slowly, specifically following the tributary of the Su River that ran through the city.

However, after crossing just two streets, the bizarre spectacle of the "pilgrimage of fish" abruptly vanished. It was unclear whether the fish in the river had all been caught, or if the source of the "attraction" had quietly moved or temporarily subsided.

....

「That night, at the Ink Garden.」

Inside the parlor, under the soft light of a crystal chandelier, a raspy, lazy melody flowed from the large horn of a gramophone.

Fu Juemin, Madam Ding, and Xu Xinyi sat together, a rare, warm Little New Year’s family dinner laid out before them.

The table was laden with dishes. Besides the usual fare that Fu Juemin was almost tired of eating, the most eye-catching item was a massive lobster, over two feet long, steamed to a glistening crimson.

Fu Juemin had rarely seen such a thing even in his past life; in this era and at this time of year, it was even more of a rarity.

Even in all of Shenghai, few people could afford to enjoy it. Only an organization like the Qinglian Gang, which controlled the waterways, would have the means to acquire one.

Seeing the steamed shad on the table, Fu Juemin was reminded of the bizarre scene he had witnessed in the old city district that day, and he considered whether he should mention it to Aunt Ding.

But Madam Ding spoke first, placing a piece of food in his bowl with her chopsticks. Her voice was warm.

"What are you thinking about?"

Fu Juemin looked up. The light of the chandelier made Madam Ding’s features appear especially gentle and kind.

He hesitated for a moment, suppressed the words that were on the tip of his tongue, and said casually, "I was thinking about my father.

I wonder if he’s eating well tonight, all the way in the Southern Ocean?"

Madam Ding shook her head, her tone indifferent. "With his wife and child by his side, he’s certainly doing better than you are."

Fu Juemin chuckled at her words and couldn’t help but nod. "You’re right, Aunt Ding. He doesn’t care about me, so I can’t be bothered to care about him.

From now on, I’ll spend every New Year with you."

"I’ll spend it with you too, Aunt Ding,"

Xu Xinyi chimed in obediently from the side.

A smile spread across Madam Ding’s face, and she couldn’t resist reaching out to gently stroke Xu Xinyi’s hair.

She had always doted on Fu Juemin, and this affection naturally extended to Xu Xinyi. She would often give Xu Xinyi little gifts and spending money, and Xu Xinyi, being clever and perceptive, knew how to please Madam Ding. As a result, the two had always gotten along well.

Of course, in Madam Ding’s heart, Xu Xinyi’s humble origins meant she could only be a junior wife to Fu Juemin at best. Xu Xinyi was well aware of this and never brought up the topic of official status—which was precisely what Madam Ding liked most about her.

"Do you know who I’m thinking of right now?"

Madam Ding spoke up suddenly.

Fu Juemin was slightly taken aback. "Who are you thinking of, Aunt Ding?"

"I’m thinking of your mother."

Fu Juemin fell silent.

Madam Ding also put down her chopsticks, her soft gaze falling upon a spot on the table—there, a simple porcelain plate, completely out of place amidst the lavish feast, was piled with golden, crispy kitchen candy.

"In the past, around this time every year, Dongdong would sneak a big handful of malt candy from her house and stuff both my pockets full."

Madam Ding’s voice was very soft, as if she were recalling memories she feared might fade. "As long as I ate them sparingly, those two pockets of candy would last me from the Little New Year all the way to New Year’s Eve..."

Fu Juemin listened quietly. His memories of this body’s birth mother remained as faint as mist. He suddenly felt the urge to ask Aunt Ding about her and his mother, Wan Qingdong.

Just then, a servant hurried over and whispered a few words in Madam Ding’s ear.

An almost imperceptible flicker crossed Madam Ding’s eyes. She then smiled at Fu Juemin and Xu Xinyi. "You two eat first. I’m going to take a call."

Fu Juemin and Xu Xinyi acknowledged her.

Five minutes later, Fu Juemin was casually eating and humoring Xu Xinyi, who, after two glasses of red wine, was now clinging to him and murmuring sweet nothings in his ear.

Madam Ding, finished with her call, returned to the parlor.

Though she had only been gone for a moment, she seemed like a different person.

All traces of gentle nostalgia had vanished from her face. She had reverted to her usual swift and decisive demeanor.

"Lingjun."

She stood at the edge of the crystal chandelier’s halo of light, her shadow stretching long behind her. "Aunt Ding is afraid she won’t be able to finish this meal with you tonight."

Fu Juemin detected an unusual undercurrent in Madam Ding’s words.

CLICK—

His expression calm, he set down his silver chopsticks and gently guided the half-drunk Xu Xinyi to sit properly to one side.

"Is there anything I can do to help you, Aunt Ding?"

Madam Ding’s eyes showed a moment of hesitation, but then she nodded decisively.

"There is indeed something I need you to do for me. I wouldn’t trust anyone else with it."

"What is it?"

"I need you to take Big and Little Kitty and go up to Purple Cloud Mountain again, immediately."

Madam Ding’s tone was calm as she said, word by word, "And bring Li Huaisuang down."