Street Stories: A True Account of a Group of Blind Men in the Underworld

As Wu Hushi left Qiao Yang's house, her fat face was so gloomy it looked like it could drip water.

Instead of returning to her own courtyard, she turned and rushed straight to the home of village chief Wu Chao.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, she squatted down, slapped her thighs with both hands, and began to wail and scream at the top of her lungs, her voice as shrill as a broken gong:

"Village chief! You have to keep an eye on Qiao Yang! That kid learned all sorts of crooked tricks outside, and now he comes back to swindle money!"

What can a blind man possibly calculate? If he keeps causing trouble, he'll ruin the atmosphere of our village!

Village chief Wu Chao is stocky, with dark skin and wrinkles etched on his face from years of exposure to the elements.

He frowned deeply, took a deep drag on his pipe, and slowly exhaled smoke from his nostrils.

"Qiao Yang is just doing legitimate consultations; he didn't steal or rob anyone. People voluntarily seek him out, so why should I interfere?"

"Why can't we do something about it?"

Wu Hushi suddenly stood up, put her hands on her hips, straightened her neck, and roared like a tantrum, "He's a blind man, and he can't live a peaceful life. He's always pretending to be a shaman! I bet he's gone astray this time in Tianjin!"

Wu Chao looked puzzled: "How did going to Tianjin turn you into a bad person?"

Wu Hu's eyes darted around, and she lowered her voice:

"Look at his new clothes and all that money in his hand. Who knows if he got it by cheating?"

If the higher-ups find out, our whole village will be doomed!

Wu Chao waved his hand impatiently:

"He's able to make money because he's capable; it's none of our business."

"And there's more!"

Wu Hu quickly added insult to injury, "Even Confucius said that Qiao Yang wants to build a golden house and marry a beautiful woman. Isn't that obviously restless? How can a blind man be so picky about his wife?"

The village chief sighed, his head aching from her antics:

"What nonsense are you spouting? It's his business if he's able to marry a beautiful wife, what's it to you?"

Just then, Qiao Kai happened to pass by the door. Upon hearing this, he immediately exploded, strode forward, pointed at Wu Hushi, and roared:

"Wu Hu! Stop spouting nonsense! Qiao Yang is truly capable; countless people beg for his services! You're just jealous because he's doing so well!"

Wu Hu jumped three feet high, her finger almost poking Qiao Kai's face:

"Why am I being so sour? I'm doing this for the good of the village! He's blind, and he wants to marry a beautiful wife? I think he's a toad lusting after a swan!"

"Watch your mouth!"

Qiao Kai's face flushed red with anger, and the veins on his neck bulged. "Qiao Yang is a hundred times better than your stupid son!"

The two were arguing heatedly right in front of the village chief's house, their faces red and necks thick with anger, spittle flying everywhere.

Wu Chao, listening in the main room, felt his head spinning. He slammed his hand on the table with a loud "bang!"

"Stop arguing!"

He looked at Wu Hushi, his eyes filled with a frightening intensity, his voice cold and hard:

"I know what's going on with Qiao Yang. As long as he doesn't break the law or cheat anyone, no one can deliberately make things difficult for him."

If you continue to spread rumors and cause trouble, ruining his marriage, don't blame me for being ruthless!

Wu Hu was so angry at the scolding that she choked, her fat body trembled, and her arrogance instantly diminished by half. She dared not throw a tantrum anymore, but she was filled with hatred and her triangular eyes were filled with malice.

You, Qiao Yang, even the village chief is protecting you! We'll see about that!

I've already ruined two of your marriages, and I'm going to keep doing it! I'll see if you're capable, but I, your mother, am the one who knows what's going on!

The incident that Ms. Wu Hu mentioned occurred last winter and this spring.

First, a matchmaker from Dongzhuang introduced Qiao Yang to a girl from their village. The girl was pretty and hardworking, and the matchmaker even led her to Qiao Yang's house for a preliminary meeting.

Qiao Yang felt a slight stirring in his heart at that moment.

He doesn't ask for his partner to be particularly beautiful, only that she be gentle and down-to-earth.

But to his utter surprise, Wu Hu saw the girl from afar and immediately hatched a wicked plan. The next day, she took half a basket of eggs and ran to the matchmaker's house in Dongzhuang, insisting that she marry the girl to her son.

Unfortunately, the girl saw that Wu Sheng was dull-witted and spoke incoherently, so she shook her head on the spot and did not agree.

Later, Qiao Yang's aunt asked a matchmaker in the village to introduce Qiao Yang to a girl from a low-lying area.

The girl had delicate features and a gentle nature, but she had a slight leg problem and walked with a limp.

She visited Qiao Yang and his family in Southwest Village, and upon hearing that Qiao Yang could make money, she was satisfied and immediately nodded to the matchmaker.

During those few days, Qiao Yang felt a rare sense of anticipation.

If it really works out, my mother will have an easier time with a woman in the family, and I won't be all alone.

Unexpectedly, after leaving the village, the girl ran into Wu Hushi.

Wanting to learn more about the situation, she politely inquired about the Qiao family from Wu Hushi.

When Wu Hushi saw that the girl was genuinely willing, she immediately perked up, plastering a fake smile on her face, but her words were full of daggers:

"Girl, don't go with that blind boy. He may be able to earn some money, but his father is a notorious miser with a terrible temper. He'll take every penny he earns, and you won't get a single cent."

And his sister-in-law, she's a shrew. Do you think you'll have a good life after marrying her?

Upon hearing this, the girl's face turned pale, and she turned to the matchmaker and said:

"I disagree with this marriage."

Qiao Yang was completely unaware of all this. Yet, he felt a strange sense of frustration and resentment.

Why is it that even though he is law-abiding and earns his living through his own abilities, he is subjected to all sorts of difficulties in even being eligible for a marriage?

Only Wang Xiuming, the mother, heard some rumors from the matchmaker. She was both angry and anxious, and secretly wiped away tears several times.

At dusk, Qiao Yang's father, Qiao Zezhong, and his brother, Qiao Lei, returned home from the county town one after the other.

Wang Xiuming is kind-faced and quick-witted, while her sister-in-law Han Ying is capable, sweet-talking, and warm-hearted. They had already prepared dinner.

Upon seeing the father and son enter the house, they immediately served them a steaming hot meal.

Qiao Yang said softly, "Mom, please take out the snacks I brought back."

That was what Su Yue bought for him before he boarded the long-distance bus—authentic Goubuli steamed buns and Erduoyan fried cakes from Tianjin.

The family sat around the table, taking a bite of a thin-skinned, generously filled steamed bun and a bite of a crispy, fragrant fried cake, chatting and laughing, all praising the authentic Tianjin cuisine.

As Qiao Yang listened to his family's laughter, a slight smile appeared on his lips, but a figure quietly crossed his mind—Su Yue.

His heart would race uncontrollably at the mere thought of that name.

He appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was in turmoil.

His time in Tianjin was the brightest and warmest period of his life.

She held his hand, helped him, trusted him, and understood him.

The phrase "No one can stop me from doing what I've decided" was like a fire, burning his entire heart.

After the meal, Qiao Yang pushed a small cloth bag in front of Qiao Zezhong.

Upon opening it, I found three gleaming silver dollars and a thick stack of banknotes.

"Dad, this is what I earned in Tianjin. Apart from the money I used to treat my master's illness, the rest is all here. Please keep it."

Qiao Zezhong held the money, his hands trembling slightly.

Han Ying smiled broadly, praising repeatedly:

"His uncle is really capable! That much money is equivalent to several small business owners!"

Her eyes darted around, and she said excitedly:

"I have a younger sister who's the head of the household, two years younger than you. She's honest and kind, and I'd like to introduce her to you. We'll give her a generous dowry, and it'll definitely work out!"

"Aren't there always bad guys causing trouble in the village? This time it's my own sister; I don't think she can get away with anything!"

Upon hearing this, Qiao Yang's heart sank.

He understood that his sister-in-law meant well.

But now, he no longer looks down on anyone else.

It's not being picky, it's not being arrogant, it's just that someone is already in my heart.

He didn't have much attachment to those marriages that Wu Hushi had ruined.

But when Su Yue appeared, he realized:

It turns out that what he wanted was never just any woman to settle down with, but someone who could enter his heart and illuminate his dark world.

Qiao Yang quickly shook his head, his tone calm yet firm:

"Sister-in-law, please don't tell me that I don't want to find someone right now."

Han Ying was taken aback, finding it all quite novel:

"You're so old, why don't you want to settle down?"

Qiao Yang was silent for a moment, then said calmly:

"I've had my fortune told, and it says that the direction your house faces is unlucky. The best direction would be south. Let's wait a bit longer."

These words are for my family, but also for myself.

South.

Tianjin is just to the south.

Su Yue is located to the south.

The person he was waiting for was the one who came from the south and illuminated his life.

In the stillness of the night, Qiao Yang lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), the image of Su Yue always clearly appearing in his mind.

That night, under the streetlights, she gently took his hand, and those unwavering words echoed in her ears again and again:

"No one can stop me from making up my mind."

Qiao Yang closed his eyes, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He was blind, penniless, and powerless, possessing only the skills of fortune telling and storytelling, and lived in the countryside.

Su Yue is young and beautiful, and comes from a good family. By all accounts, the two of them are not on the same path.

What makes him so special that a city girl cares about him so much?

Are they worthy?

He asked himself this question more than once.

But the more I thought about it, the more intensely that burning desire in my heart became, and I couldn't suppress it at all.

He was not reconciled.

I am unwilling to be looked down upon by others my whole life.

I'm not willing to accept that I don't even have the right to like someone.

Even more unwilling was that his life would be ruined by the likes of Wu Hushi, leaving him to grow old alone.

He clenched his fist gently in the darkness.

just wait.

Waiting for her to come.

As long as she doesn't give up, he will do everything in his power to give her a proper status and a home.

In the days that followed, Su Yue's image remained vivid in Qiao Yang's mind.

He knew that Su Yue would eventually send word, but persuading her family would be an impossible task. All he could do was wait patiently.

Finally, it was noon on the fourth day.

Two steady footsteps echoed outside the gate of Qiao Yang's courtyard.

Qiao Yang's ears twitched, and he suddenly sat up.

coming.

who is it?

Was it someone she sent, or...?