The Great Worm Lich

The blonde young lady before him changed her expression faster than a person who was flipping a page from a book. Zhang Lisheng fell silent for a moment and sighed helplessly as he said, “Perhaps I shouldn’t have saved you.” He then skipped school for the first time in America and had gotten himself into a brand new red BMW TT parked by the street.

Tina started the engine and drove at speed limit immediately. She asked proudly, “Mr. Worm, I wonder what’s your real name?”

Zhang Lisheng who was sitting in the passenger’s seat watched the people going by outside in the city streets that had just woken up. He said softly, “You had someone to follow me but you don’t know my name, is that possible?”

Tina smiled awkwardly, “I know that’s a little ridiculous. Okay Lisheng, I’ll tell you where we’re going today. First, we’ll grab breakfast at the Goose Pond Restaurant, then I’ll get myself a short, fresh, commoner’s hairstyle at a barber shop in the blue-collar district so that I’ll give a good impression to the civil court’s judge. They’ll definitely favor people of the same level if I look like a hardworking handyman…”

“Wait, we’re not going to the court now?”

“Of course we are. The ticket that I got is for 1:30 p.m. later, it’s still early.”

“Sh*t,” Zhang Lisheng cursed while frowning, he said nothing since then. Just like that, Tina spoke occasionally to Zhang Lisheng who was silent all throughout their trip. They then arrived at Goose Pond Restaurant in New York’s Upper East Side.

The Upper East Side was where the richest New Yorkers lived. If Manhattan was New York’s crown, then this was the most dazzling gem on the crown, especially this little area stretched from East Fifth Avenue to West Lexington Avenue. If one was rich enough, living here would feel like the world was in their hands. One could say that this was heaven on earth as long as Goose Pond Restaurant was located here.

The restaurant looked small while the exterior looked rather old. Classic pillars and sculptures embellished the walls outside, there seemed to be no feeling of sophistication. The doorman was a tall, skinny old man with white hair. He wore a silly blue hat and he had a holy and serious expression that nobody would dare offend. There was a long queue before him. A lot of foreigners who were rather rich would want to enjoy an expensive and flashy breakfast at this place during their spare time. The place where travel guides gave five stars and named it the best breakfast restaurant in New York.

When Tina parked her car in front of Goose Pond Restaurant’s door, a lot of people in the queue showed an expression as if they were ready to watch a good show. They were waiting for another person who would be taught a lesson by the old doorman. Unfortunately, they were destined to be disappointed.

Tina got off the car with Zhang Lisheng and walked to the restaurant’s entrance arrogantly. She then tossed her car key to the old doorman directly and showed a long face, “Arthur, park my car for me and get me a can of diet coke across the road to freshen up. Do you know that I’ll have to be questioned at the civil court this afternoon? The judge might revoke my license because of illegal parking.”

“Oh, New York court’s too much but God’ll definitely bless such a kind and beautiful girl like you. Everything will be fine,” The seriousness on the old doorman’s face melted right away as he comforted with sympathy. He then bowed courteously and opened the restaurant’s door, “Welcome Ms. Tina and honorable sir to dine at the Goose Pond Restaurant.”

“Thanks, Arthur,” Tina grabbed Zhang Lisheng’s arm and just when she was walking into the restaurant, the dissatisfied people queuing at the back shouted suddenly, “Hey Mr. Doorman, didn’t you say Goose Pond Restaurant doesn’t accept reservation and there’s no valet service? Why is that girl an exception! You…You’re even getting her a diet coke? Oh my god, is this just a burger store or the best breakfast restaurant in New York Upper East?”

“Her family name’s Douglin, sir,” The old doorman responded to the customer’s accusation with a tone of as if he was right, “The street was the Douglin family’s barn over 100 years ago while this Goose Pond Restaurant was the goose pond in the barn. Since the day of Manhattan’s establishment, the Douglin family have had their free pass entering any stores around here. They don’t need a reservation and all attendants are happy to serve them. I’m sorry, I’ll have to park Ms. Tina Douglin’s car now.”

He then walked to the red BMW TT slowly and got into the car strenuously. He drove the car away slowly. Tina turned her head to look at the queue behind and showed an apologetic expression. She grabbed Zhang Lisheng and walked into the restaurant, leaving the customers who had their jaws dropped at the entrance.

As soon as Tina walked into the restaurant, a female attendant welcomed and greeted them showing eight teeth, “Welcome, Ms. Tina. Do you want your usual seat?”

“Yes, Tiffany. Thanks.”

“You’re too polite, please follow me,” The female attendant brought Tina and Zhang Lisheng to a small table by the window. The table gave them a direct view of the New York Central Park. She showed them to their seats and handed them the menus.

Tina did not even look at the menu and ordered a normal Italian beef bolognese spaghetti right away. Zhang Lisheng then said all of the sudden, “So this is the America that claims to be free, democratic and fair huh.”

Tina waved ignoring what he said, “Don’t hate the world, Lisheng. There are exceptional orders everywhere we go. And the unfairness that you’re talking about is just breakfast. What would you like to get? I recommend you to go for the Italian beef bolognese spaghetti that I ordered, it’s delicious.”

“I had breakfast at home.”

“So are you just going to watch me eat?”

“Forget it, I’ll order that then. Please get me an Italian beef bolognese spaghetti too.”

“Please give us a moment,” The female attendant who had been seeing Tina bringing different male partners to the Goose Pond Restaurant had never thought she would date a skinny young Asian. She nodded professionally and left.

“So that’s New York Central Park?” Zhang Lisheng asked after turning his head to gaze at the vast land outside the window that seemed chilly.

“Of course it is. How long have you been in New York that you’ve never been to Central Park?”

“I’ve been here for two to three months but I’ve never had the chance to come to Manhattan.”

“You’ve been in New York but you’ve never been to Manhattan, you’re so weird. It seems like you’re living in your own world, you’re not interested in anything around you. Also, I’ve just noticed this. Why do you keep carrying a canvas backpack? Why didn’t you put it in the car?”

“I’ve got an auspicious toy in my backpack that I bring with me wherever I go,” Zhang Lisheng said wearing a smile after a moment of being stunned, “You know what, Tina? Sometimes you look smart and sensitive.”

“That doesn’t sound like a compliment. Do you mind showing me what your auspicious toy look like? I’m very curious about it. Also, do you really not have any troubles or anything that you want? With my family name Douglin, there are countless things that I could help you with.”

Zhang Lisheng was moved, he put down his backpack and showed Tina his Mountoad inside. He said after hesitating for a bit, “I really do have a weird request, could you help…help me…forget it, I don’t think you can help me.”

“It doesn’t hurt to tell me since you’ve got nothing to lose,” Tina said wearing a smile.

At that moment, the waiter served two piping hot Italian beef bolognese spaghetti and two glasses of diet coke. The sirloin that was cut into cubes looked smooth and shining after drizzling with the sauce. The beef laid on a mush of fresh tomatoes that were blended so fine that it was almost a sauce. It was extra appetizing in the green and red tomato mush.

Zhang Lisheng twirled a fork-full of pasta and scooped a spoonful of sirloin as well as tomato into his mouth. His taste bud was dancing happily.

“It’s so delicious, no wonder so many people are queueing so early.”

“Those who queue usually wouldn’t order such ordinary dish but they don’t know that only the Italian pasta and grilled pork chop’s Goose Pond Restaurant’s signature dishes. Okay, tell me, what can I help you with?”

“I need a massive amount of meat. The reason why I’m working at Dan Souza Butcher Shop’s because I can get some expiring meat occasionally,” Zhang Lisheng finally told her.

“Why do you want so much meat?” Tina was stunned hearing Zhang Lisheng’s ridiculous request that was so different from what she imagined. She asked in shock while holding the twirled spaghetti instead of shoving it into her mouth.

Zhang Lisheng fell into silence for a moment and came out with nonsense, “You know I grew up in a mountain village so I’ve been in touch with nature since I was young. I love mother nature and the colorful ecology in it. My dream is to become a biologist since I was a kid. Ever since I came to America, I realized that my dream isn’t too far away as if I could even get into it now. The first topic that I chose is to study mutated insects. Do you remember the giant centipede that I used as my gundog back in Western Sichuan jungle?”

“Of course, I’ll never forget that for the rest of my life! Do you still have the centipede with you? If you do, I hope that you could show it to my two best friends. They thought it was my illusion whenever I told them about it.”

“Of course it’s not with me, it’s impossible that such a gigantic centipede could pass airport security. However, I would like to cultivate one in America. Since New York doesn’t have a jungle that’s as dense as Western Sichuan’s jungle, I must use a very mysterious and ancient way of worm-growing including selecting and cultivating if I want to make my dream come true. I’ll need a massive amount of meat for it.”

“Wow, seems like you’re aiming for a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for your first topic. How much meat exactly do you need to cultivate such a centipede?”

“The more, the better.”

Tina thought for a while and laughed out loud all of the sudden, “That’s why you’re working at the butcher shop to steal that expired raw meat that was dumped in the trash. Lisheng, do you not know how silly you are?”