Chapter 279: Chapter 116: Miao Liangfang_1
Lu Tong and Du Changqing arrived at Yazhai Bookstore to find the owner, Luo Dazui, eating at the doorway.
Seeing Du Changqing running over with an unfriendly expression, Luo Dazui thought he was looking to pick a fight, and only after hearing the purpose of their visit did he let down the sleeves he had rolled up.
Lu Tong asked, "Mr. Luo, do you know who the author who writes books is? When will he come to the bookstore to deliver books again?"
Faced with a young and beautiful girl like Lu Tong, Luo Dazui’s attitude improved significantly compared to when he dealt with Du Changqing, and he amiably replied, "This person has trouble with his legs and doesn’t visit my bookstore often. He used to write some medical treatises, look, those scraps of paper. As you know, West Street is full of small businesses, and those scraps couldn’t sell, so I stopped taking them, and he left."
"Mr. Luo, do you know where he lives? Where can I find him?"
Luo Dazui thought for a moment, "I heard his family is poor, but he writes well. Later, he made a living by copying books for others. He used to live in a room next to the rice shop on Rouge Lane, West Street. I don’t know if he has moved away or not. You might as well try your luck there."
Lu Tong nodded, thanked Luo Dazui, and was about to leave with Du Changqing.
But Luo Dazui, after pondering a while, suddenly grabbed Du Changqing and asked in a low voice, "Old Du, what’s the deal with that man, and why are you going out of your way to find him?"
Du Changqing gave him a look, "Didn’t you see what’s written above? ’An unnamed master!’ You’re the only one who doesn’t recognize a gem."
Having said that, he dusted off his sleeves and left with Lu Tong.
It was still early, and in the past few days, there had been few patients in the medical hall, so Lu Tong decided to check out the place Luo Dazui mentioned with Du Changqing first. Fortunately, Rouge Lane was not far from Yazhai Bookstore, and after walking for about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the two had already spotted the rice shop Luo Dazui mentioned.
It was noon, and the sun above one’s head was shining down, casting a warm hue over Shengjing’s winter. The rice shop was small, with a square window opened on the wall by the owner, who had placed a blue banner with yellow characters on top, particularly eye-catching.
Du Changqing stopped and looking at a spot about ten steps away from the rice shop, muttered to himself, "This looks way too dilapidated..."
Lu Tong followed his gaze.
Just ten steps away from the rice shop, there stood an old thatched cottage, standing bluntly on the open ground. Although West Street was mostly commoner vendors and certainly not rich or luxurious, every shop and dwelling, regardless of size, was kept clean and tidy. The thatched cottage where Wu Youcai from the temple gate lived was also old, but at least the chicken coop in the small courtyard in front was tidy, and the fence was completely repaired.
But the thatched cottage in front of them was excessively decrepit.
There was no courtyard, no fence, and wild weeds grew lush at the doorway, reaching nearly half a person’s height, almost engulfing the half-broken wooden door. The weather was clear today, and the sunlight should have been bright, but as it reached halfway to the door, it abruptly stopped, leaving only a dark and gloomy shadow of the room cast on the ground. The long shadow of the eaves on the ground created a lonely and abrupt old silhouette, as if one could smell the mustiness emanating from inside, even through the door.
Du Changqing looked at it with disdain, "Doesn’t look like anyone lives there; they might have moved out long ago."
Lu Tong glanced at the messy weeds at the door without saying anything and moved forward.
Du Changqing had no choice but to follow.
Upon reaching the door, Lu Tong tapped lightly on the door twice. There was no response from inside, but the dilapidated wooden door couldn’t withstand the knocking and let out an aged, muffled sound, slowly opening a crack.
The door opened by itself.
"Is anyone there?" Du Changqing called out twice.
No one answered.
After a pause, Lu Tong pushed the door and went in on her own.
The room was dark, it was unclear if there were any windows, and it was illuminated solely by a sliver of sunlight coming through the door, lighting up half the floor. Upon entering, they were greeted with a strong smell of alcohol.
Du Changqing followed in and immediately covered his nose.
Lu Tong had taken only a step when she tripped over something at her feet and looked down to find several empty wine jars.
Looking up, she could see, using the scant light, many empty wine jars haphazardly strewn about on the table and the floor. Some had spilled, and the smell of alcohol mixed with the mustiness of the room was enough to make one dizzy.
The place looked like the dwelling of a drunkard.
As Lu Tong looked towards the tightly shut small window, suddenly a hoarse voice rang out from deep inside, "Who’s there?"
The voice emerged so abruptly that it startled Du Changqing.
Then came a rustling sound, and on the bed deep within the room, a shadowy figure seemed to sit up, moving slightly as if turning its head towards Lu Tong and Du Changqing and asking again, "Who’s there?"
The voice was as raspy as a broken gong.