第六十七回 对席快清谈流连竟日 凭栏惊妙舞摇曳多姿 (Chapter Sixty-Seven: Day-Long Conversations and Enchanting Dances)

As Yang Xingyuan and the Fu brothers were chatting on the train, it arrived at Changxindian. On the platform, bright flashlight beams shone everywhere. The passengers surged down like a tide. Fu Jiaju asked, "What's the reason for this?" Yang Xingyuan replied, "This is the Beijing-Hankou night train from Hankou to Beijing. It changes locomotives at Changxindian." They were just discussing this when they heard a series of thuds. People on the platform scrambled to climb onto the train. In no time, the train was packed. Yang Xingyuan said, "There's no need to stay here. Let's talk when we reach Fengtai."

As they spoke, the train started moving. In less than twenty minutes, it stopped at Fengtai. The four disembarked, exited the station, hired rickshaws, and headed straight for Tianqiao.

Upon arriving at Tianqiao, since Yang Xingyuan was unfamiliar with the place, he let Fu Jiaju lead the way. Fu Jiaju led them around two corners, and they saw a row of reed-mat sheds. Faint lights glimmered from within. At the entrance stood two men with hats tilted, cigarettes dangling from their mouths, pacing back and forth incessantly. Fu Jiaju knew they had arrived. He stood at the entrance and peered inside. He saw many tables, all filled with people. Fu Jiaju tossed his head and said, "Let's go in." Yang Xingyuan followed behind and entered the shed.

A man in a black cloth robe came forward with a smile. Fu Jiaju quickly nodded to him. The man said, "You've come. Would you like a seat?" Fu Jiaju asked, "Is there any space left?" The man said, "Follow me." With that, he led the four of them to a table and they sat down. Yang Xingyuan looked and saw a singing girl sitting by the table. She was about eighteen or nineteen years old. She had a snow-white round face and hair as black as lacquer, meticulously groomed without a single strand out of place. She wore a clean blue-striped print on white cloth jacket. In front of her was a small drum on a stand. She was holding a pair of drumsticks, beating the drum with a thumping sound. After finishing, she smiled, curtsied to those present, and said, "Which gentleman would like to request a song?" Some agreed, some did not. The girl stood by the table, waiting. Fu Jiaju smiled and said to Yang Xingyuan, "Mr. Yang, what do you think of this?" Yang Xingyuan laughed and said, "I haven't heard this tune in a long time. But since we're here, we might as well make ourselves comfortable and go with fate." Upon hearing this, Fu Jiaju smiled and said to the girl, "Hey! Come over and sing a song for us." The girl heard this, smiled, walked over, and said, "What song would you like, sir?" Fu Jiaju said, "Sing whatever you like." The girl then beat the drum for a while and sang a piece from "Ma'anshan". After singing, she curtsied to Fu Jiaju, who tossed two jiao notes onto the table. The girl thanked him and went away.

Yang Xingyuan said, "The girl is quite good, but it's a pity this place is really unsuitable." Fu Jiaju said, "Who says it isn't? But we don't come often. An occasional visit or two shouldn't hurt."

As they spoke, another man in a black cloth robe led a girl over. The girl wore a blue cloth jacket and a black skirt. Though she had applied some rouge and powder, it couldn't hide her haggard appearance. She walked over and curtsied to Fu Jiaju. Fu Jiaju smiled and said, "No need to sing. Just sit down." The girl heard this and sat down next to Fu Jiaju. Fu Jiaju asked, "What is your surname?" The girl said, "Wang." Fu Jiaju asked, "What's your name?" The girl said, "Gui Fang." Fu Jiaju asked, "Where do you live?" Gui Fang said, "Just near Tianqiao." Fu Jiaju asked, "Who else is in your family?" Gui Fang said, "I have an old mother." Fu Jiaju asked, "Does your mother let you do this business?" Gui Fang said, "There's no other way, sir. You don't understand. People like us, if we don't do this, what will we eat?" Upon hearing this, Fu Jiaju was filled with infinite sympathy. Seeing that Fu Jiaju was dressed very richly, Gui Fang tried hard to ingratiate herself, pouring tea, offering cigarettes, and attending to him meticulously.

Yang Xingyuan sat to the side, observing Gui Fang coolly. Although she had fallen into the demimonde, she still had some dignity, seeming better than those who were overly made-up and flashy.

After a while, Gui Fang said to Fu Jiaju, "Sir, aren't you leaving today?" Fu Jiaju smiled and said, "What if I don't leave?" Gui Fang lowered her head and smiled, "Then what more is there to say?" Fu Jiaju said to Yang Xingyuan, "Mr. Yang, what do you think?" Yang Xingyuan said, "I don't have the qualifications for that." Fu Jiaju then said to Fu Jiajun, "Third Brother, how about you?" Fu Jiajun laughed and said, "I don't have the courage either." Fu Jiaji laughed and said, "Elder Brother, what about you? Do you want me to decide for you?" Fu Jiaju said, "Don't be ridiculous." Seeing that Fu Jiaju had no intention of staying the night, Gui Fang couldn't help but feel disappointed. After sitting for a while, Gui Fang said, "Sir, it's getting late. Where else are you going?" Fu Jiaju said, "We're about to leave." Gui Fang said, "If you leave, will you come back tomorrow?" Fu Jiaju said, "We'll see about tomorrow." With that, he took out two yuan from his pocket, handed it to Gui Fang, and said, "Take this." Gui Fang took the money, thanked him, and asked, "Sir, where do you live?" Fu Jiaju said, "I live in the city." Gui Fang said, "Where in the city? I'd like to pay my respects when I have time." Fu Jiaju vaguely agreed, then left the reed-mat shed with Yang Xingyuan and the others.