Cruel Romance Chapter 1.4

She wandered about for three days.

Shanghai new territory had a famous western restaurant called “Seventh Heaven”. The owner was French, it was said that, the black pepper steak and b.u.t.ter lobsters were the premier specialties in Shanghai, as well as a variety of old brands of french red wine. The wafting scents of b.u.t.ter and steak made the surrounding air around “Seventh Heaven” warm and fragrant.

Underneath the left steps of the restaurant, a small black shadow squatted, the blank gaze of a pair of eyes staring not too far away, two beggars were begging for money from pa.s.serbys. Only a tattered hat was held in their hands, upturned so the opening of the hat faced upwards, tugging on the sleeves of the people pa.s.sing by to beg for money. Occasionally, a copper coin or two would be tossed in, accompanied by a series of rolled eyes and humiliating scoldings. But they seemed to have grown accustomed to it, unmoving to the humiliation and scoldings, continuously repeating, “Sir, Madam, please do some charity…”

If she had a hat, Jin Xiu would also flip it over, but she didn’t have one.” The hunger caused her head to spin, three nights in a row she had spent in the bus station, the cold, filthiness and noise caused her to be unable to drift of into sleep. Jin Xiu already felt jaded, her mind blank, no energy to think how people with ambition shouldn’t rely on the charity of others’. Now she would even be willing to lift her hands to beg from others, it was just that wave after wave of dizziness made her limbs feel weak, even standing up took too much effort, where could she find the strength to go out and beg.

“Buy a salty meat bun! Preserved meat and rice!” The sound of selling drifted over, it was a pushcart, a pair of hawkers, seemingly a couple were pus.h.i.+ng the cart and calling out.

Jin Xiu lifted up her head in a daze, gazing at the wooden bucket and copper bowls on the pushcart, there was truly the enticing scent of preserved meat rice drifting towards her, inching its way into her.

“Two cents for a big bowl, comes with white rice drizzled with meat sauce!” The cries seemed particularly energetic, each sound piercing into Jin Xiu’s fragile state of mind, her legs seemed uncontrollable, Jin Xiu was dragged along by her pair of legs towards the pushcart.

“Young lady, hot piping preserved meat rice, would you like a bowl?” The hawker warmly tried to entice her, “it’s cheap!”

Jin Xiu stared at the meat and rice inside the pot, the fragrance permeating her senses, she uncontrollably nodded her head–she didn’t even had the energy to realise that she was nodding her head.

The overflowing bowl was placed in her hands, before the hawker had time to pa.s.s her the chopsticks, she had already buried her head it it, devouring the meal. The hawker felt that something was amiss and shouted,”Pay up, give it to me first!”

Jin Xiu raised her head, pleading,”I don’t have money, please take pity on me…”

Before she could complete her sentence, the hawker had already reached to grab the bowl from her hands, angrily scolding,”Scram if you don’t have money! We need to buy rice and meat to cook too!” Jin Xiu, unwilling to let go, turned and ran.

She didn’t run far before she was caught, suffering two stinging slaps on her face,”You dare to s.n.a.t.c.h? Think we are easily bullied?” That woman ran over to s.n.a.t.c.h the rice in her hands, Jin Xiu bore with the pain, instinctively retaliating, not knowing who she had hit, immediately after she cowered as blows rained upon her.

During this extreme humiliation, sadness and pain, Jin Xiu cried out,”Mum, save me! Ming Zhu, Yin Ming Zhu, please save me!” She was tugged around and her hair splayed on the floor, like a thunderstorm the punches and kicks that rained upon her had not a single ounce of pity. Jin Xiu rolled around om the ground pathetically, metallic scent of blood flowing into her mouth and nose. Nearby people gathered to watch, no one lending a hand to stop it.

“What are you doing!” A man raised his voice to stop them,”Continue hitting and she’ll lose her life!” Jin Xiu heard a buzzing sound in her ear, as though this sound was an echo in her ear. The surrounding commotion immediately quietened.

A pair of firm strong hands helped her up and upon seeing her face covered eitb blood, that person started to panic,”Hey, how are you? Are you okay?”

Jin Xiu tried her best to open her eyes to look but her temples were throbbing with pain, all her senses were in a mess, as though in a single moment the world had tossed her away.

“What happened?”

Seeing a flash of white behind her, s.h.i.+ Hao hurriedly put Jin Xiu down, turned and replied,”This lady beggar was beaten up, it seems as though she has fainted. Er Ye look…”

Zuo Zhen tossed a glance, brows slightly furrowed. “Wake her up, give her some money…”

s.h.i.+ Hao knew Zuo Zhen didn’t like to poke his head into matters, thinking about it, a lady who had fainted and was covered in blood, what could they do, couldn’t possibly take her along with them. He felt a bit awkward, explaining in a low voice,”It’s not that I want to meddle, just now I heard her calling Miss Ming Zhu’s name…”

Zuo Zhen who had already turned away, paused.

He thought back about how he b.u.mped into Ying Ding outside the Yin residence, and the lady who caused Ming Zhu to fling money all over the floor, wearing blue top, black skirt, with a lomg black plait. Her face with a hint of resemblance to Ming Zhu, he didn’t ask and Ming Zhu didn’t bring it up, but he could tell at a glance that Ming Zhu and her had a certain special relations.h.i.+p.

“Wait a moment.” Zuo Zhen walked near and carefully observed down and out, bloodied face Jin Xiu. There was no mistake, it was this lady. “Tang Hai.” He turned and ordered the person following closely behind. “Drive my car and send her to Lion Grove. Discuss with Ying Shao and give her a room, find a physician to check on her. Say it’s on my orders.”

Tang Hai is an innovative young person, though he was youthful, he had followed Zuo Zhen for 4 to 5 years, at this moment he couldn’t help but feel surprised. Someone who didn’t use to interfere, what was happening now, suddenly extending charity. Let this woman go to Lion Grove? The rooms there cost 50 dayang a night. s.h.i.+ Hao, who also seemed stunned, said to Tang Hai,”Hurry on, Er Ye can come along in my car.”