Chapter 219: “Night of the Mountain Hag”

Chapter 219: "The Mountain Hag's Terrifying Night"

West Wu Prefecture was not as large as Changping Prefecture, but it still boasted two or three theaters and playhouses within the city. Tang Jin Shuang and her men openly visited each one, and three days later, a play titled "The Mountain Hag's Terrifying Night" began circulating in West Wu Prefecture.

"The Mountain Hag's Terrifying Night" differed from the romantic dramas that were most popular at the time; it opened with creepy background music.

The protagonist, Dani Mei, was an ordinary child from a mountain village, playing happily with her younger sister in the village. Her family was about to go on a long trip and warned them never to open the door to strangers, as there were mountain hags in the hills who disguised themselves as old women to trick children into going with them and then eat them.

The sisters promised their parents, but soon forgot about it. After a while, a young man who called himself Brother Tan arrived, carrying a large bamboo basket, and lightly knocked on Dani Mei’s family’s courtyard gate.

The actor, in a shrill voice, sang in a weird tone on stage.

"Little girls, open the door, I want to come in and have some water~"

"Little girls, don't be afraid, after I drink I'll be on my way~"

When Dani Mei and her sister heard Brother Tan's words, they peered through the crack in the door and saw that the man didn't resemble the mountain hag their parents had described, so they opened the gate and let him in.

Dani Mei's younger sister kindly scooped up some water for Brother Tan, but accidentally knocked the ladle, spilling water everywhere, including the large bamboo basket on his back, and red water started dripping from it.

Dani Mei asked, "Hey! Why is there red water dripping from under the basket? Do you see that?"

The actor playing Brother Tan was flustered at first, but then his voice suddenly dropped an octave, "That red cloth I bought, it bleeds color when wet!"

After he finished singing, the lights on stage dimmed, and Brother Tan’s eyes turned colder.

Dani Mei sensed something was wrong and quickly pulled her sister out, saying they were going to gather firewood to cook him a meal.

Brother Tan then stood at the door, still carrying the dripping basket with red water, staring at the sisters.

Dani Mei and her sister did gather firewood and came back to cook a meal. Under Brother Tan's watchful eye, they prepared food and even brought out their father's homemade glutinous rice wine for him to drink. Brother Tan didn't take off the basket while eating, and after drinking the wine, he got groggy and passed out.

Dani Mei wanted to quickly pull her sister away, but her sister was too curious about what was in Brother Tan's basket. She broke free from Dani Mei and lifted the lid off the basket—and inside was the legendary mountain hag!

The mountain hag had an old, wrinkled face. Her eyes were red, and long hair covered her entire body. The moment the younger sister lifted the basket, the hag grabbed her by the throat.

Then Brother Tan woke up. He stuffed the younger sister into the basket, carried it on his back, and red water began dripping from the basket again.

Seeing Brother Tan awake, Dani Mei had no choice but to abandon her sister and flee alone. But the usually lively mountain village was now eerily empty. In front of every household stood a large bamboo basket, the red water seeping out and dyeing the ground in front of everyone's doors a vivid red.

Dani Mei used a long pole to lift the lid of one basket, and a hairy hag crawled out immediately.

Everyone in the village had turned into mountain hags. Dani Mei could only run outside the village, into a place she had never set foot in. But after going out, she discovered that Brother Tan was actually the owner of a cloth shop!

The shop's workers pulled carts of red cloth from the village and sold them to people from the town. Dani Mei touched the cloth sold in the shop, which was as bright red as blood; on one piece, her sister's likeness was embroidered so lifelike...

This drama lacked the emotional twists of traditional operas, but the plot was full of ups and downs, sucking the audience into this captivating horror world. Only after leaving the theater and seeing the sunlight did the goosebumps finally go away.

The performance was so vivid and novel that it really got people's adrenaline pumping. After only three days, it became a hit across the city thanks to its unique script and the actors' brilliant performances.

Whenever a theater scheduled "The Mountain Hag's Terrifying Night" that day, they were guaranteed a packed house, every show sold out.

People who saw it spread the word everywhere, and every street and alley was buzzing with talk. It had already become the hottest opera of the time.

Where there was talk, there was speculation. How coincidental is it that the villain Brother Tan in the opera ran a cloth shop, while their own Master Tan in the city also owned a cloth shop?

Some people knew Tan Wo from earlier and knew he had come from the Zhuang tribe. No one was swayed by the opera into believing anything malicious, but with so many coincidences, it was hard not to gossip.

The Tan family was about to go crazy. Their mess with the Zhuang tribe wasn't settled yet, and now they had been humiliated in such a manner.

Xiao Qin Shi was the most impatient. That very day, she sent people to smash up two theaters. While they smashed, Meng Wan had people rebuild them. Since the old lady Zeng's birthday at the beginning of the year, anyone could see the bad blood between the Zeng, Song, and Tan families.

The Tan family had faced one setback after another since the Zhuang tribe broke free from their control. Meanwhile, outside the city, Meng Wan's Zhen Guan Workshop was thriving. In the days after the New Year, the workshop had stocked up a batch of finished canned goods, stored in the coolest and most ventilated warehouse. After boiling and high-heat sterilization, even without additives, these orange preserves could last six months to a year.

Since profiting from his sugar workshop, Meng Wan had begun to connect with numerous sugar merchants, and now had a broad network. For example, he could find buyers for the canned goods he had produced earlier, but he just didn't sell them.

Not only did he not sell them, but he also gave them away as New Year gifts. Half of Xiao Qin Shi's share was taken back to her maiden home. The other noble ladies finally figured out what Meng Wan's workshop was actually making.

"Good heavens, how is this container even clearer than the finest jade?"

"You don't know about this? This is colored glass, a rarity only found in the capital Shengjing."

"Is it really that precious? Meng Fulang uses it as a container for food?"

"If he didn't make it, we wouldn't have seen it! Don't even mention it—these orange sweets are sweet but not cloying. My mother-in-law loves them."

"Who isn't? My child finished our few jars and has been asking for more these past days."

"I heard they can last up to six months. One day I'll ask Meng Fulang if he sells them, and I’ll send two carts back to my parents."

"Exactly, the Zhen Guan Workshop has been built for so long, why hasn't it gone on sale? Is it only for the capital?"

Meng Wan's original intention in giving canned goods as New Year gifts was not for publicity, but unexpectedly, it achieved a publicity effect.

The outskirts—West Wu Zhen Guan Workshop.

The huge wooden sign of West Wu Zhen Guan Workshop could clearly be seen in its heavy outline even on the darkest night.

At the workshop entrance, two night-shift workers were drinking tea and chatting in the gatehouse, occasionally glancing at the tightly shut door. They felt a strong sense of belonging to the workshop and were proud to be workers there.

"Manager Tang said that starting tomorrow night, we won't need to keep night watch anymore."

"Even without night watch, it's fine—we're a bunch of strong male workers inside. What's there to fear? Who would dare come?"

"Better to be safe. There are many people outside speaking ill of the Master, and it's possible some unscrupulous person might try something dirty."

"Xiao Yu, you really are more knowledgeable than us older folks."

The young worker named Xiao Yu scratched his head and said to his companion, "Not really, my father at home told me all this. Brother Zhao, you rest first. I'll go make a round inside the workshop."

Brother Zhao warned him, "It's dark inside, remember to take a lantern. I'll take the next shift."

Every night the workshop arranged for patrols. Previously, there were five or six people on rotation; after the New Year, it had been reduced to two, and starting tomorrow, there wouldn't be even one person keeping watch.

Tonight, Xiao Yu and Brother Zhao had already made two rounds. They thought this round would be just a casual stroll, but unexpectedly, they spotted a suspicious figure sneaking into the warehouse.

The hand holding the lantern trembled slightly; in the next instant, Xiao Yu reacted quickly and chased after him. But as soon as he took a step, a slender hand grabbed him. "Shh, keep your voice down."

Xiao Yu relaxed his struggle, incredulous. "Manager Tang?"

Tang Jin Shuang pulled him into the darkness and replied in a whisper, "It's me."

Xiao Yu quickly pointed toward the warehouse, about to speak loudly, when Tang Jin Shuang covered his mouth.

"You foolish boy, I told you to be quiet."

The touch on his lips was cool and delicate. Xiao Yu had never been this close to a woman before in his life. He blushed furiously, even the back of his neck turning red.

When Tang Jin Shuang released her hand, he stammered after a moment, "Man... Manager Tang, I... I saw someone..." Tang Jin Shuang's eyes were fixed on the warehouse door, and she seemed to mutter to herself, "They're here so early?"

He turned and casually brushed Xiao Yu off with a dismissive reply, "Alright, I understand. Go back to sleep, and pretend you didn't see anything tonight."

Xiao Yu kept looking back as he left, and after a while, a low chuckle came from the rooftop—Xue Sheng. "He hit the pillar twice."

Tang Jinshuang's mind was on the person in the warehouse; she couldn't care less about pillars. "When are we going in to get him?"

Xue Sheng gauged the time. "Let's wait a bit longer."

Tang Jinshuang frowned slightly. "What a waste of our canned goods."

Xue Sheng's plain face wore a chilling expression. "The master said nothing ventured, nothing gained. The Qin family will repay our losses tenfold."

Neither was talkative; after a few words, they waited in silence until they heard another sound from the warehouse entrance.

Xue Sheng leaped down from the rooftop to apprehend the intruder, while Tang Jinshuang shouted at the top of her lungs, "Help! Thieves in the workshop!!!"

Xiao Yu, already restless after returning, immediately called a few strong young men and rushed to the warehouse. Xue Sheng had the culprit pinned down, and the workshop workers surrounded him, the area in front of the warehouse lit up with torches.

The next morning, Meng Wan sat up in bed, wrapped in his blanket. Song Tingzhou, returning from his morning martial arts practice, handed him clothes that had been drying near the stove. "Why are you up so early?"

Since arriving in Lingnan, unless there was something to do, Meng Wan always slept in.

"It's too cold. Even under the covers, it's not warm—damp and chilly. I'd rather get up and have some hot food." Meng Wan was still half-asleep, his eyes barely open.

Xiwu only had this cold spell for a little over a month, but it was truly unbearable. The wind crept in everywhere, and no matter how thickly he dressed, the chill cut through him. His constitution wasn't as strong as Song Tingzhou's—he feared heat in summer and cold in winter, curling into a pitiful ball.

Song Tingzhou leaned down, lifted his chin, and kissed him, then helped him dress one garment at a time.

After washing his face with warm water, Meng Wan perked up. As soon as he opened the door, rain blew in and wet the hem of his clothes. "No wonder it's so cold—it's raining again, without a sound."

Song Tingzhou stood behind him, holding an umbrella. "It wasn't raining when I went out to exercise; it must have just started raining."

They walked hand in hand to Chang Jinhua's room for breakfast.

"Dad, hold me!" A Yan stood by the door watching the rain. The boy had a bit of an artistic streak and loved watching the rain. When he saw Meng Wan, he clung to him, wanting to be carried.

Meng Wan picked up the chubby little one and went inside. Chu Ci was already waiting there. Huang Ye, seeing everyone was present, called for the meal to be served.

The Song family's breakfast was simple in one sense but not in another—it was the sheer quantity. After the New Year, Chu Ci had grown taller, nearly surpassing Meng Wan. A growing boy eats you out of house and home, and though his appetite wasn't as extreme as Song Tingzhou's, it still exceeded that of an average adult.

Huang Ye brought out a large basin of cabbage, pork, and mushroom buns, their aroma wafting through the air—clearly Chang Jinhua's handiwork. The Song family preferred wheat-based foods. Even Meng Wan ate two buns bigger than his fists, half a bowl of rice porridge, and a boiled egg.

Just as he reached for another bun, he noticed everyone staring at him with their chopsticks frozen in midair.

"What's wrong? Why are you all looking at me? Eat up!" Meng Wan looked baffled.

Chang Jinhua swallowed her food. "Wan Geer, have you been gaining weight lately?"

Meng Wan touched his chin and turned to Song Tingzhou beside him. "Have I gained weight?"

Song Tingzhou saw his rosy lips, white teeth, and delicate, picturesque features. He found everything about him endearing, every inch to his liking, and couldn't tell if he'd gained or lost.

"You haven't."

"My husband says I haven't. Mom, pass me another bun."

After eating, Meng Wan walked Song Tingzhou to the yamen as a way to digest. This was a new routine ever since Song Tingzhou had asked him to pick him up from work last time, and Meng Wan did it whenever he had free time.

"Master, someone tried to poison the Zhen Guan Workshop last night and was caught by workers on patrol!" Tang Jinshuang arrived at the yamen entrance with a large crowd.

Meng Wan looked at the captured person in slight surprise, then, after a moment's pause, shouted in outrage, "Everything from the Zhen Guan Workshop is meant for people to eat! Who could be so malicious!"

Xue Sheng pushed back the person's disheveled hair, revealing a familiar face—it was Clerk Chen's elder sister.

Song Tingzhou, who had not yet entered the yamen, scowled. "Take them inside."

The yamen runners took custody of the prisoner from Xue Sheng, and several Zhen Guan Workshop workers followed as witnesses.

Meng Wan lingered behind to speak with Tang Jinshuang. "I thought it would take longer. They couldn't wait, huh?"

Tang Jinshuang whispered, "A young laborer almost caught the culprit red-handed. Lucky that Xue Sheng and I have been keeping watch at the workshop these days."

Meng Wan was unsurprised by this outcome, as if he had foreseen it. "This is just a pawn. The real show is still to come."

Clerk Chen's sister, Chen Xiu, readily confessed to the poisoning.

Of course, even if she denied it, it wouldn't have made a difference—she was caught red-handed.