Chapter 281: Chapter 116 Miao Liangfang_3
He glanced at Lu Tong and drawled, "A female doctor... who wants to use the status of a Medical Officer to climb the social ladder." Then he looked at Du Changqing and flashed a grin, his smile tinged with mockery, "A profligate who has idled his life away and suddenly decides to turn over a new leaf." Finally, he shook his head and concluded, "No prospects, stop wasting your time."
Despite his effort to be civil towards this man, Du Changqing didn’t expect his warm approach to be met with cold indifference and mockery. He immediately flared up in anger, "What nonsense are you spouting..." only to be pulled back by Lu Tong.
Lu Tong looked at the man sitting on the ground, intently watching the porridge in the pot. The rice porridge had more water than rice, just a handful of grains, so thin that the bottom of the pot was visible. He stared at it as if it were a delicacy, his gaze almost drooling.
"So, you refuse to agree to our request today?" she asked.
The man shooed her away like one would a fly, too lazy even to speak to her.
Lu Tong nodded, "I understand, we’ll take our leave."
She bowed and left the room. Du Changqing followed her out, muttering angrily, "We’re just letting this go? Is this man insane? Did you see anything but weeds in front of his door? If he knew anything about medicine, how could he live like this, with even his pot broken? Even a beggar lives more decently!"
Lu Tong halted in her tracks and looked back.
The daylight lingered in front of the house, where weeds thrived profusely under the door, like dark tangled threads ready to swallow up the dilapidated, greasy, and dirty house.
The window they had opened upon entering was now quietly shut again. The dark room and the person inside slowly rotted and grew mold in the sunlight, like the dark moss that thrived in the moist and sunless corners of the house.
Du Changqing was still fuming, "Just like a ground mole, burrowing in holes, not coming out into the dark and dingy, not even bothered by the claustrophobia."
Lu Tong watched for a while before withdrawing her gaze, "He doesn’t want to leave this place."
"Is that even a question?"
"Then we’ll force him out," she said.
...
Two days had passed, and after several sunny days, the snow on West Street had melted somewhat.
The thatched hut next to the rice shop was warmed by the sun, and the ice at the door had turned to dirty snow water, seeping into the expanse of weeds, making it appear even damper and colder.
In the hut, the man turned and sat up, scratching his bird’s nest-like untidy hair and squinted his eyes to look around.
The room was dark, with empty wine jars everywhere. The half-bowl of yellow wine left on the table from the night before, Miao Liangfang picked up the bowl, tilted his head back, and drank the remainder clean. Then he slowly got out of bed and, steadying himself on the wall, walked to the low table.
The sack of rice was placed on the table. Miao Liangfang stood still, picked up the cloth sack, shook it out, and only a few broken grains fell out. He sighed and, after rummaging in his bosom for a long time, managed to find a few copper coins. Then he grabbed his cane leaning against the wall and hobbled out the door.
It was noon and the sun was shining hotly.
Having spent a long time in the darkness, the abrupt sunlight upon stepping outside forced him to squint.
Miao Liangfang, with the aid of his wooden stick, slowly made his way along the end of West Street.
The rice shop was closed today. After consuming a month of plain porridge, he decided to indulge his stomach today and planned to have a bowl of soup noodles at the small stall at the front end of the alley.
West Street was bustling with passersby. Miao Liangfang leaned against the wall, careful not to be knocked over by the pedestrians. He walked slowly; what took others the time of half an incense stick, took him more than the burning of a full stick.
Because of his ragged clothes, even the beggars by the temple dressed better than him. Normally, the vendors on West Street would avoid him, afraid of dirtying their goods. Today, however, it seemed to Miao Liangfang, as if there were more eyes gauging him, and their gaze seemed different from the usual disdain.
Miao Liangfang was puzzled, but when he looked again, those people shifted their gaze away as if his earlier impression were a mere illusion.
After walking for a while, the shadow of the noodle shop started to appear at the end of the alley.
The noodle shop was small, with two or three tables inside leaving no room for more. The owner had placed the remaining tables outside and put up a thatched awning to shelter them from rain and snow. Miao Liangfang went over and examined the menu board hung at the entrance.
Besides noodles, the shop also sold flatbreads, meat skewers, and various cooked rice dishes. Miao Liangfang looked for a long time before finally pointing to the cheapest item on the menu board, "A bowl of saltwater noodles!"
The shopkeeper acknowledged, Miao Liangfang found an empty table to sit down. It was noon, and laborers from all around were eating there, creating a lively atmosphere. As soon as Miao Liangfang sat down, he saw someone from the opposite table looking his way. When he looked back, the person quickly averted their gaze.