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

The red candles burned brightly, their wax dripping down, filling the room with a warm and festive atmosphere.

A night of tenderness and affection washed away all the dust and grime that Qiao Yang had accumulated over the years of traveling around the country, as well as the sharp edge he had developed.

As dawn broke outside the window, a thin layer of fog enveloped the entire Southwest Village.

Qiao Yang slowly opened his eyes.

Before my eyes, all I could see was an impenetrable darkness.

But this did not prevent him from perceiving his surroundings at all—

He could hear the wind, footsteps, breathing, and heartbeats with perfect clarity. Coupled with his skills in divination, fortune telling, and astrology, which he honed to perfection in the darkness, he was truly exceptional.

But right now, he doesn't need to listen, calculate, or divine.

The even, gentle breathing beside him, the warmth of her body, and the faint, pleasant scent of her hair were enough to brighten his heart.

Su Yue had actually woken up a long time ago.

She didn't say a word, but lay quietly beside him, her gentle, watery eyes gazing at him without blinking.

The blush of newlywed blush still lingered on her face, like a newly blossoming peach blossom, gentle and touching. She never felt the slightest bit of disgust in her heart for marrying Qiao Yang, a blind man.

In her opinion, Qiao Yang was responsible, capable, kind-hearted, and upright, far better than some men who were all smiles but had dark hearts.

Qiao Yang turned his head and "looked" in her direction with perfect accuracy.

He gently reached out his hand, tentatively touching her slightly cool fingers, then firmly grasped them, feeling the delicate, warm touch in his palm.

"Yueyue."

His voice was low and hoarse from just waking up, but exceptionally solemn. He spoke each word slowly and deliberately, reiterating that lifelong promise:

"From now on, we will stand together through thick and thin, and move forward hand in hand!"

Su Yue felt a warmth in her heart, her eyes welled up slightly, and she nodded vigorously.

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He once single-handedly confronted a group of thugs and ruffians, and with just his words and his hands, he managed to win over the hearts of the local people.

He once defied fate and snatched a life back from a dead end;

He also walked alone at night and ventured into dangerous places, repeatedly brushing past dangers in the darkness.

But it was only at this moment that he truly understood what it meant to be at peace, what it meant to have a home, and what it meant to have someone to care about.

The phrase "to settle down and start a family" carries the weight of a thousand-pound boulder.

The two got up and washed up.

Outside the courtyard, lively voices could already be heard.

Master Liu Shang, along with his two companions An Tai and Li You, didn't want to disturb the newlyweds last night, so they all stayed at the village office in Southwest Village.

As soon as it was light, the group arrived at Qiao Yang's house, chatting and laughing with the neighbors as they waited for the newlyweds to leave.

As soon as Qiao Yang stepped out of the bridal chamber, he immediately recognized the location of the others.

"Big brother! Big sister-in-law! You're finally out!"

Li You was straightforward and had a loud voice. As soon as he heard the door open, he immediately grinned and laughed.

"The villagers are all waiting to see their new sister-in-law! Many people saw her yesterday, and they all say that Brother Qiao married a wife who's as beautiful as an angel!"

His words made the whole courtyard burst into laughter.

Su Yue lowered her eyes slightly, her cheeks flushed, but she was not intimidated at all.

She gently took Qiao Yang's arm and walked with him into the courtyard. She bowed gracefully to the villagers, her manners were proper, gentle and kind, and there was not a single fault with her.

"What a beautiful daughter-in-law!"

"Mr. Joe is truly blessed!"

"You can tell at a glance that your sister-in-law is a virtuous woman; Mr. Qiao is in for a good time from now on!"

The praise came one after another, making one's heart warm.

From the crowd, Master Liu Shang slowly stepped forward, a rare gentle smile on his face, but his tone remained serious as he earnestly instructed:

Qiao Yang.

Today you have started a family, and you are now the head of the household. The burden on your shoulders is heavier than ever before.

Remember this: though your eyes are blind, your heart must not be; though you make a living through divination, you must not lose your moral compass; though you roam the world, your kindness must not waver. Do not bully the weak, do not curry favor with the powerful, do not betray heaven and earth, and above all, do not betray those around you.

Qiao Yang straightened his expression, released Su Yue's hand, and bowed deeply to his master:

"Master, rest assured, I will remember it and never forget it for a moment."

Liu Shang nodded slightly and said no more.

At this moment, Wang An, who lives at the west end of the village, led his blind son into the courtyard.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he pressed the child's head down and whispered, "Gousheng, quickly kowtow to your master."

Qiao Yang quickly helped the child up and said with a smile, "Uncle, don't be like that. Sit down and we can talk about it."

Wang An said sincerely, "Watching you celebrate your wedding these past few days has made me feel much better. I used to think that this poor child had no hope, but I never imagined that you blind people could also get married and make a living. I want to entrust my child to you so that he can learn a trade from you."

Qiao Yang said gently, "Uncle, don't worry, I'll definitely take good care of this child. It's just that the name 'Gou Sheng' sounds too rough, so let's change it to 'Lai Fu,' which means he'll have plenty of good fortune in the future."

"If I don't teach him well enough, my master, Uncle Antai, and Brother Li You will lend a hand and teach him to tell stories and tell fortunes so that he can support himself and take good care of you in the future."

An Tai and Li You laughed and said, "Uncle, don't worry, you can't go wrong leaving this child in Qiao Yang's care."

Upon hearing this, Wang An's eyes welled up with tears.

After seeing Wang An and his son off, Su Yue, arm in arm with Qiao Yang, paid her respects to his parents, brother, and sister-in-law one by one.

The family was happy and harmonious, filled with laughter, all genuinely pleased that Qiao Yang had married such a wonderful wife.

After breakfast, Qiao Yang and Su Yue didn't dare to delay and hurriedly headed to the county town.

Su Yue's parents, Su Zhenfu and Liu Lianfeng, along with a group of relatives who had come all the way from Tianjin, were staying in a hotel in the county town.

Although Qiao Yang is blind, he speaks calmly, is polite, and knows how to behave appropriately. His words and actions are impeccable.

At noon, Qiao Yang booked a large and sumptuous banquet at the Tongpuju Restaurant in the county town.

Local specialties from Baodi, such as smoked chicken, small fish dumplings, meat-filled rolls, and braised crucian carp from the Chaobai River, are served one after another, their aromas irresistible.

The parents of both the bride and groom, along with relatives and friends who had traveled from afar, sat around a table in a lively and harmonious atmosphere.

Seeing their daughter's happy face and noticing Qiao Yang's steady and reliable demeanor, Su Zhenfu and Liu Lianfeng's last remaining concerns vanished. Their eyes were filled with satisfaction and approval as they looked at Qiao Yang.

For the next few days, Qiao Yang didn't go out to have his fortune told as usual, and instead stayed home with Su Yue.

She did everything: tending to the flowers and plants in the yard, tidying up the house, chopping wood, fetching water, and sweeping the courtyard.

He was originally a fortune teller who defied fate, but in front of the woman he loved, he was just an ordinary husband who only wanted to cherish this peaceful and stable life.

Su Yue saw it all and felt warm inside.

That evening, she gently leaned against Qiao Yang and whispered:

"Qiao Yang, you have your ambitions, your brothers, and your own path to walk. Your family will be taken care of by me, your brother and sister-in-law, and I will take good care of your parents. You can focus on your work outside and don't worry too much about home."

Qiao Yang felt a surge of warmth in his heart and held her hand tightly again.

A simple sentence, yet it carries more weight than a thousand pieces of gold.

He knew in his heart that he couldn't be confined to this small courtyard forever.

Doing things with a clear conscience to support one's family—this path has never truly been peaceful.

He, An Tai, and Li You had long ago agreed to travel together to more places, solve more problems, and earn a respectable future.

With his wife's words, Qiao Yang had no more worries and immediately decided to set off to meet up with his companions and continue on his journey.

But as soon as he arrived at his master's house, he learned some news—

To ensure he could enjoy his honeymoon in peace, An Tai and Li You set off early, their first stop being Zunhua County.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking and the thin fog had not yet dissipated.

Qiao Yang was dressed smartly, wearing a blue cloth hat, a light blue shirt underneath, and a bronze short shirt on top. He had a satchel slung over his shoulder, a simple bag on his back, and the horse pole that had been with him for many years tightly in his hand, ready to set off.

Su Yue stood at the door and whispered her instructions:

Be very careful on the road.

Qiao Yang turned around and smiled, his tone steady and confident:

"Don't worry. He'll pave the way through mountains and build bridges over rivers. There's nothing in this world that can stop your man. At most, he might run into some minor troubles, which will just be a good opportunity to stretch his muscles."

Su Yue nodded vigorously.

She believed Qiao Yang's words.

But at this moment, neither of them expected that the "little trouble" Qiao Yang had mentioned would come so quickly—

He hadn't even stepped out of the county border when he ran into them head-on.