Chapter 54 - 54 51 Embroidered Shoes

Words : 1535 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

54: Chapter 51 Embroidered Shoes 54: Chapter 51 Embroidered Shoes Yuan Buyu was cleaning the stove, contemplating why Zhou Xuan’s spiritual abilities were progressing so rapidly. “The faster the progress, the stronger the spiritual power becomes, and the more severe the painful side effects will be. But looking at how vibrant he appeared just now… maybe…” Suddenly, Yuan Buyu thought of something, the broom stopped in its tracks, and after a long daze, she muttered to herself: “As a sister… I really do love my brother!” … Red Lantern Alley. The name of the alley gives rise to ambiguous imaginings—hanging little red lanterns at night, one by one, beautiful women in cheongsams standing in the alley, waving seductively at passing customers with a hook of their fingers: “My lord, come play for a while…” If you’re imagining that, you’re on the right track. The name of this alley has been changed; it was formerly known as Pitiao Alley. Only now, the glamorous scenes are gone, replaced by eateries and taverns. Zhou Xuan drove Manager Yu to the middle of the alley, stopped the car, and urged, “Eldest Senior Brother, wake up! We’re in the alley now, which way should we go?” “Huh? Is it time to eat?” Manager Yu had been sleeping soundly and suddenly woke up, his brain still not fully booted up. “All you do is sleep and eat? Are you even more indulgent than I am?” Zhou Xuan tapped on the car window glass, saying, “Wake up, tell me, which house in the alley does that ‘tooth’ man live in?” A ‘tooth’ man, vulgarly called an intermediary, more nicely referred to as a manager. Finally, Manager Yu properly booted up, took a look around the buildings and store facades, confirmed his bearings, and pointed forward, saying: “Keep driving forward, there’s an old man sunbathing at the doorway; stop there, and that’s it.” Zhou Xuan started the car, teasing Manager Yu, “Eldest Senior Brother, you brought me here to go to work, is it to teach me business or because I can drive?” “If I can ride in the car, I’m also enjoying your blessings. If I were to sit in a rickshaw, my back definitely wouldn’t survive…” After stopping the car, Manager Yu went to the trunk to fetch the gifts for the visit, transforming his demeanor completely; gone was the wretched look of a sickly middle-aged man, replaced by a regal stride and an instantly improved aura. Manager Yu didn’t rush to visit, but stood at the doorway instructing Zhou Xuan, “The ‘tooth’ man inside this house is called Feng Xigui, known as the ‘Tooth Master’ of Ping Shui Prefecture. He pulls strings for dignitaries and noblemen; remember to be courteous when meeting him…” After a warm business-savvy explanation, Manager Yu cautiously knocked on the door with a copper ring. Tap~ tap~ tap~ After three knocks, the door opened, and out walked a well-groomed, dapper middle-aged man in a black long coat with an excellent guise and demeanor. “Boss Feng, it’s been over two months since we last met, and you look even better than before,” Manager Yu greeted. “Manager Yu flatters me; you called my home this morning, and I didn’t dare go out—tea has been brewed, waiting for your arrival… Come in and let’s talk. Oh, and who might this imposing young man be?” Feng Xigui pointed at Zhou Xuan and asked. A tooth man’s appeal is always bright, and every one of them has a sharp eye. Manager Yu found the opportunity and quickly introduced, “This is Zhou Xuan, the Young Master of Zhou Family’s Troupe…” “In that case, please come in!” Feng Xigui bowed slightly, gesturing for them to enter. Zhou Xuan stood still. The smile remained on Feng Xigui’s face, but internally, he began to calculate—by inviting him in and receiving no response, was this young master trying to put on airs at my place? “Boss Feng, you’ve been overly sorrowful recently; you should visit a pharmacy and get some medicine to alleviate melancholy…” “Huh?” Feng Xigui’s gaze on Zhou Xuan changed; indeed, he had been troubled with worry for the last half-year, related to his eldest daughter and young son. But Boss Feng had never discussed such matters with outsiders, nor had he mentioned it to Manager Yu, so where did Zhou Xuan learn about it? Manager Yu, not recalling that Zhou Xuan was capable of face reading and thinking he had misspoken, hastened to apologize to Feng Xigui, but was stopped by the latter stepping forward. CEO Feng spoke solemnly to Zhou Xuan, “Young Master boasts impressive insight. However, my worries are just familial affairs; no need for concern… Please come inside.” The three entered the inner room. The room was exquisitely furnished, with a redwood Eight Immortals table bearing a white plum vase. seaʀᴄh thё NôvelFire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The elegant form and smooth lines of the vase were pleasing to the eye. The rest of the room’s decor was equally refined, revealing Feng Xigui as a man of delicate taste. Feng Xigui loved to smoke. When the senior brother visited this “tooth fairy” to foster rapport, although he didn’t smoke, he gave it a try nonetheless. The two chatted about trivial matters, mostly discussing the recent poor economic situation and the need for mutual support. Zhou Xuan found the conversation dull and his eyes wandered outside involuntarily, looking at the trees in the courtyard, thinking it was good to relax his eyes with more greenery. He had only glanced a few times when suddenly, a little boy about five or six years old stumbled in, hurrying to grab Feng Xigui’s hand. “Daddy, sister has come back… you should go greet her… she’s back.” “Luo Er, be good. Daddy is talking business with a guest. Go play in the yard, we’ve got a new cricket, and it sings so nicely…” “No, sister is back, you should go greet her… will you go greet her?” “Go and play somewhere else!” Feng Xigui seemed unable to contain his anger. With guests present, he could hardly maintain his composure and stood up, roaring into the yard: “Yun Ma, Yun Ma… take Luo Er away, I’m discussing things here.” A flustered old woman in a short jacket hurried into the room while scolding, “Aiyo, my little Mr. Luo, in just the time it took me to wash vegetables, you’ve come in and disturbed the master…” Without a word, Yun Ma forcefully embraced the boy and strode outside. After a vigorous struggle, the little boy sank his teeth into Yun Ma’s arm. “Ouch.” Yun Ma was old and not very strong. Holding a squirming child was already a struggle. She couldn’t hold on after being fiercely bitten. The little boy broke free, ran to Feng Xigui, and clutched his father’s pant leg, wailing loudly: “Wah… wah… go greet sister… go greet her… wah…” The cry, as desperate as a baby’s, could provoke anyone to anger. Especially since Feng Xigui was already furious. He grabbed the boy’s ear viciously, scolding, “You babble about your sister every day! I’ve told you many times, your sister can’t come back, do you hear me? She can’t come back!” The little boy grimaced in pain, but instead of protecting his ears, he stubbornly pulled out a pair of embroidered shoes from his pocket, presenting them to Feng Xigui: “Look… these are sister’s shoes, she’s in the outer courtyard, too afraid to come in, she wants you to go greet her!” “Greet your mother’s fist!” Feng Xigui glanced at the boy’s empty hands and finally lost it. He slapped his son’s face, knocking the little boy to the ground. The little boy could see the embroidered shoes his father couldn’t, which also tumbled onto the floor. Looking at the bright red handprint on his son’s face, Feng Xigui gave himself a hard slap, his expression one of disappointment and self-reproach. He squatted down, sighing for a long minute. Then he held his son in his arms, his voice thick with sorrow that seemed ready to spill tears, and said, “Luo Wawa, your father also misses your sister very much, as does your mother. She’s been like a madwoman searching for her these past six months, turning over Ping Shui Prefecture then moving to Guangyuan Prefecture, and now she’s gone to Mingjiang Prefecture. Whenever there’s news about your sister, she hops on a train and goes there… …But your sister can’t come back. Maybe she is… dead.” When he spoke the word “dead,” Feng Xigui’s teeth trembled. Over the past six months, he had asked fortune tellers to predict several times. Each prediction was an extremely ominous sign, an omen of great misfortune with no chance of survival! “His sister truly has come back…” Zhou Xuan squatted next to the embroidered shoes. The pair of embroidered shoes, with black soles, black trims, and delicate pink hues, adorned with a peony flower. Drip. A drop of blood, fell inexplicably upon the peony…

Chapter 54 - 54 51 Embroidered Shoes

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