I wasn´t able to hang on anymore. Today, I haven´t eaten anything. Just poured myself a big bottle of red wine. I only wanted to find a bed and lie straight down like a corpse. However, it was still working hours. So I lay down in the lobby and wrapped myself in a suit, that was s.n.a.t.c.hed with a difficulty. The outcome was mama-san once again menacingly kicked the door and came in. Seeing me becoming a pile of mud and covered by smell of alcohol, she had no other option but to leave while swearing.
„Useless thing. Did Laoniang spend money to invite you to sleep here? I have already told you. If you don´t have the ability then don´t eat this bowl of meal[1]. Doing a miss is profiting but not everyone can make this money. Let me tell you, the customers here aren´t eating vegetarian food[2]. You can consider tonight´s boss Shen as polite. If it was someone else, do you think it could be solved by a bottle of wine? They would have already stripped you and eaten you cleanly. Your mouth is still so stubborn, you are adamant, huh. Pei[3]. You unable to tell good from bad´s thing. Next time don´t think that Laoniang will clean up your mess for you.“
Mama-san left. It was quiet and peaceful again. Covering my tummy with my hands, I continued to sleep. I didn´t want to worry about what to do and how to get through tomorrow for the time being.
Actually, I was not afraid that mama-san would fire me. After that fellow Ai Dong came here, he began flattering me right away. He said that just by relying on my fooling people´s baby face and with my coquettish smile that could melt one´s heart´s charm I was still able to pa.s.s for top three of the most beautiful miss. Finally, after exaggerated flatters, he said, „Senior sister apprentice, If you don´t fight, I guarantee with your good look and figure you would be a courtesan material in ancient times.“
And I, using my iron fists, proved him that in ancient times I wasn´t only courtesan material but also material for martial champion[4].
But thinking about it now, my face and fists are all for naught. This time, I´m afraid I´m going to capsize.
In fact, after receiving this mission, I have already guessed what he has got up his sleeve. He has hardly ever dispatched over elites of every department. It goes without saying what this case´s level of importance is.
This mission has already aroused the attention of those highest from above. They wanted us to find out in the shortest time possible the one behind the scene. But in such a big city, with bits and pieces of clues, wanting to ferret out someone hidden extremely deep is easier said than done.
I sensed that even veteran Lao Tan was also unable to clearly understand the situation.
His career, however, doesn´t allow him to let this little accident happen. He has no other choice – he must find breach.
And this place of nightly music I am staying in is precisely the crucial breach.
Two weeks ago, an Interpol agent, who secretly followed trail of southeast Asia´s biggest underworld organisation – Haishen group, contacted this city´s police station. They (the Haishen group) have spent lots of money to buy watermark to counterfeit money from Long Ge[5]. According to information from informant, this watermark of Long Ge possesses currently the most advanced counterfeiting technology. Deceiving effect of counterfeited money has surpa.s.sed any other falsified money in the past. Even the most advanced technology for distinguishing these money would hardly discover it. Not to mention mere human eyes.
You can envision once these counterfeited money drifted into domestic market, how nasty impact it would cause to social circulation and stability. That gang of criminals of Haishen group, who think of nothing else but personal gain, want to absolutely get hold of the Long Ge´s watermark to earn a fortune.
It seems that Long Ge has several sets of watermark versions that were going to be tested. They arranged transaction for the next month in this city. Due to this becoming Haishen group´s deepest secret, even the informant doesn´t know the concrete time and place. The only precise information is that the key person Long Ge is just hiding at some corner of A city, waiting for an opportunity to act. Waiting for a perilous situation to set off.
Superiors gave us only three words: Ferret him out.
How difficult.
But Lao Tan still found inside the scattered informations the prime focus. There are three notable and well-known „Long Ge“ in our city, yet all have more or less some criminal background. In order to keep a close watch over their every move, for to be on guard in advance, a.s.signing people to spy on them became inevitable. And the man I have to get close to is precisely one of the three suspects – Deng Long.
The father of Deng Long was in the eighties a famous crime lord. Later, while fighting in the street, his right shoulder was chopped by someone. He then stroke upon an idea of withdrawing. Around the late eighties and early nineties he began separating himself from the underworld. He started doing not-legal-nor-illegal nightclub business. Nowadays, Deng Long, who took over his father´s business, is highly regarded and c.o.c.ky, known as „Long Shao[6]“ and enjoying the empire his parents’ generation conquered. Practically half of A city´s entertainment places are related to Deng family.
Although on the surface Deng family´s entertaintment industry business is doing particularly well but Lao Tan is still suspecting Deng Long is secretly doing illegal business. The business deal of Haishen group and Long Ge reached over 100 million, after all.
And the rich never mind being richer.
Hence Deng Long became one of the targets.
I understand that Lao Tan is staking all on one throw. He is now in the electing leader period. He is impatiently needing an opportunity for an accomplishment. Otherwise even the death won´t make him send me to get close to Deng Long.
To outsiders, though the troubles I attracted were not small but relying on my face, agility level and experiences, it´s sensible that I could become the most suitable person for this undercover mission.
In fact, Lao Tan´s heart is like a mirror. He knew, that I was the most unsuitable one.
Because I had a personal grudge against Deng Long.
Honestly, Deng Long is also quite wronged. I have never in my life got acquainted with him. In my former 24 years, we had practically never crossed each other. It´s reasonable to say that other than him having some money, good appearance and that he easily made people feel unbalanced in mind I had no reason to hate him.
But who told him to have a father called Deng Xingguang.
His father, Deng Xingguang, this gang leader with hands bathed in blood, who 25 years ago took the lead to fight and provoke a dispute. The final 20 people´s street fighting incident rose to 200 people of both involved parties´ street bloodbathing incident. And my father, Fang Kai, as a young policeman who went there to provide a.s.sistance, was stabbed through carotid artery by a knife during chaos. Blood everywhere, his heart stopped beating before he was able to go to surgery.
That day, the „8.13“ street fighting incident, that caused a sensation in whole city ended with 3 people dead and several hundred people injured. The police sacrificed one person – and that person was my father.
That year, he, full of smiles , graduated from police academy. Young and full of ideals, he got married with my mum and they created a small home. Two people, snuggled up to each other, laughing silly. But Heaven likes to play with people. His whole life forever stopped at that young and inexperienced smile of his 25 years, making people reminiscing.
As for me, as a tiny embryo, that day I was hiding in mum´s womb absorbing nutritions, peacefully growing up. And even at the moment when my dad closed his eyes, he still didn´t know my existence.
My mum said she has originally already lighted the candles and prepared the food on that day, waiting for my dad to return home to tell him this happy news.
But what has ultimately awaited her was, however, an ear-piercing ringtone and a soulless body covered with white cloth.
And the owner of this body seven hours ago was still kissing my mum´s forehead, laughing like a still not grown up child.
After that, every seventeenth of August, my mum would always pull out telephone wire, refusing answering all incoming calls.
The seventeenth of August´s ringtone, to my mum, is just like a nightmare.
I, Fang Liangliang, a yi fu nu [7]who was given birth to without a father, born and grown up with pity of countless people. I have once imagined, if my dad was alive, what would I say to him – will I weep bitter tears or hold my knee and stare. But whenever I imagine, there is forever only how he collapsed on the pool of blood, desolate scene of his clothes soaked wet by blood. Thinking about life being pulled out little by little from his young body, I would be sad, angry and also powerless.
My dad was innocent but he died. And those guilty people are still alive. Living well. Whenever I thought about it, I would feel that life was so unfair. I was honored to be daughter of a martyr.
But I believe their good days are coming to an end.
Because of this belief, in the end, I have chosen the same life path my dad has originally chosen. Our two´s, father and daughter´s, life perhaps embarked on some kind of cycle. However, I hope my life was a little bigger than my dad´s but from the bottom of my heart I hope I wouldn´t end up like him.
I was wearing that suit while going home. Ai Dong sneakily sent me back. I just saw the bed, the next moment I right away threw yourself into it like a corpse. When waking up the next day, it was very late. At noon the sun was very active, it was another cheerful sunny day.
The headache after hangover followed. I got up with disheveled appearance only to find out I didn´t remove the make up at all. I was frightened by blended colours of woman inside the mirror. I cried out in fear, removed in a flurry the spoiled make up.
While doing a facial mask I called Ai Dong. He answered the phone, „Senior sister apprentice, you got out of bed?“
„Well, Dongzi, next time while sending me home, don´t hurry back, remove my make up in pa.s.sing .“
„Removing make up? Aiyo my good senior sister apprentice, isn´t it equal to pulling out teeth out of the lion´s mouth? The danger ratio is too big. I still want to live another two years.“
„Oh, are you implying that I am a tigress?“
„Heihei, luckily senior sister apprentice you have the appearance of little white rabbit.“
I was silent.
„Senior sister apprentice?“
Remaining silent.
„ Are you listening, senior sister apprentice?“
„Ah, I am thinking about certain matter.“
„Ah? About what matter?“
„To eat you steamed or roasted.“
„Ah? As expected, senior sister apprentice is a carnivore. Ha. To me it´s better roasting. Roasting in small fire. Tasty.“
I sighed. This fellow was very talkative. Prided himself for looking ren mo ren yang[8]. Usually he was even less serious than me. He liked to take a walk and luxury brands. He is typical modern yue guag zu[9].
I think that compared to Ai Dong I was more suited to be a man.
I was also reluctant to continue to bicker with him, sternly said, „Dongzi, things are becoming unfavorable.“
Dongzi over there also threw away his petty tone, said, „Senior sister apprentice, let me guess what you want to say. I have also just found Deng guy is not into female charms. This is simply a bad news. What do you think, should we tell it to boss?“
I hesitated for a moment, „Let it be for now, let’s think about a way.“ I changed to a little more comfortable position, „Haven´t you heard what old chap said? You have to find a way even if you don´t have one. Otherwise return with your head.“
Dongzi over there was silent, choking.
I was also silently frowning.
Dongzi probably in order to ease our gloomy atmosphere, again, annoyingly opened his mouth, „Hey hey, who is senior sister apprentice. I believe that Deng guy would certainly be able to penetrate through senior sister apprentice´s outward appearance of a lovely young girl and see your manly heart. Senior sister apprentice you still can perfectly complete your mission.“
I spit on him. How could I not know that he was beating around the bush scolding me. I was also not angry and said, „Dongzi, don´t count on your senior sister apprentice. Your senior sister apprentice is merely a legend. Deng Long is not into female charms, however, fortunately you, Dongzi, could be into man charms. If senior sister apprentice fail, isn´t there still, you, Dongzi?“
That end´s noisy voice disappeared. This fellow was frightened, „…..it´s unlikely, right, senior sister apprentice, you have a large heart, you…..“
„Don´t Dongzi, senior sister apprentice is just a small person.“
„Senior sister apprentice I was wrong, won´t it do?“
„Do you admit the mistake?“
„I admit the mistake.“
„Where did you make the mistake?“
„I was not respecting the aged.“
„(grunting)“
„Oh, no, no. I was not cherishing the young.“
„It´s better.“
Today I was resting. Finally don´t have to go to that hole that was piled up with money. I intended to properly take a rest nurturing my stomach, which was ravaged by the alcohol.
[1] Bowl of meal is in chinese a slang meaning job
[2] Eating vegetarian food (chi su 吃素) – means easy to mess with
[3] Bah!
[4]武状元(wu zhuan yuan) – was in ancient times top scorer in the martial palace examination
[5] Ge (哥) means brother
[6]Shao(少) means something like young master
[7] I don´t know how to translate 遗腹女 (yi fu nu) to English but it refers to a daughter who was born to a married pregnant woman after death of her husband.
[8] referring to person´s appearance in positive sense or to a person´s maner and att.i.tude which is not accord with his ident.i.ty
[9] referring to people who spent out each month´s earned money. These people are generally young generation, who don´t care about money but like to chase fashion, they love to dress up and buying pretty clothes.