Crimson Leaves: Chapter Fifteen — Perception

The young man apologized hurriedly, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

The other party, emboldened by his advantage, grabbed him by the collar. "Do you think a simple apology is enough?!"

The commotion quickly drew the attention of passersby, who stopped to watch. Niu Er stood on the edge of the crowd, craning his neck. Seeing Niu Er from the corner of his eye, the young man became even more flustered and helpless, turning his face away while continuing to offer frantic apologies. The man cursed a few more times before angrily releasing his collar. Not daring to linger, the young man fled the scene in a disheveled state.

Seeing no more excitement to be had, Niu Er followed the dispersing crowd. He seemed to have a clear destination in mind, walking at a brisk pace. Fang Wei followed him unhurriedly. After walking for the time it takes to brew a pot of tea, Niu Er finally stopped. He looked up at the plaque of the Wanhua Pavilion, laughed out loud, and bounded up the steps. Inside, the sounds of singing and laughter grew louder. A heavily made-up madam greeted him with a beaming smile, "It's been a long time since your last visit." She took Niu Er’s arm and led him inside.

Fang Wei waited outside for the duration of a stick of incense, but when Niu Er did not reappear, he hesitated for a moment, gritted his teeth, and stepped up to the entrance. The madam appeared once more. "It's been a long time since your last visit," she said—apparently a standard greeting.

"We have a new girl, Yanhong. She is skilled in the zither, the pipa, and is well-versed in music and poetry. Why not let her sing a song for you?" The madam used her silver tongue to pitch persuasively. Fang Wei pulled his official badge from his robes and flashed it before her eyes. "Stick to your own business and don't make trouble."

The madam was experienced and had dealt with many officials; she quickly said, "I understand, sir." Not daring to pester him further, she bowed and departed. Women dressed in colorful finery moved to and fro, and the scent of rouge filled the pavilion, yet Fang Wei seemed oblivious to it all. He quietly lingered near a doorway, desperately trying to catch a glimpse of Niu Er, but the Wanhua Pavilion had dozens of rooms and was crowded with people, making it difficult to find someone in such a short time.

Noticing that there were more buildings hidden behind the rockery and winding streams in the backyard, he was just about to head that way when a figure came stumbling out from a diagonal path. Fang Wei reacted quickly and caught the person, only to be hit with a wave of heavy alcohol fumes. A woman followed behind to steady the man, saying, "Sir, you've had too much to drink." As the man lifted his head, Fang Wei realized it was none other than Niu Er!

It was too late for Fang Wei to hide. Niu Er widened his eyes and stammered, "You... who are you...?"

Over there, Wu Haichao was terrified of losing his target. He used all his strength to sprint around the corner. After chasing for several dozen yards, he finally spotted the two men ahead. He put his hands on his hips, took two heavy breaths, and felt a bit more at ease. Li Fu was not tall, and in the crowd, only his head was visible, bobbing like a small boat on the sea. The young man following him still chose a close position, with only three or four people separating them.

Wu Haichao had been strictly trained by Dong Xinwu and felt confident handling two ordinary men who had no experience in such pursuits. He kept himself parallel to the young man, positioned slightly behind Li Fu, using only his peripheral vision to monitor Li Fu’s movements. The young man kept his eyes fixed entirely on Li Fu, ignoring the threat posed by those beside him. Because of his nervousness, his lips were pressed white.

Wu Haichao had nearly ruled out this man as a suspect in his mind; someone with such poor psychological stability would find it difficult to succeed, regardless of their intentions. Tang Haiqiu was involved in "flower work"—a trade detested not only by the authorities but also deeply scorned by the underworld. Even men from upright, prestigious sects were required to wear charms to guard against lust, and major gangs regarded the molestation of women as an unforgivable crime.

Therefore, "flower work" required boldness and meticulousness; the partners chosen were bound to possess the same qualities. Otherwise, if their cover was blown, they would face punishment from both the criminal and upright worlds simultaneously.

Li Fu ahead suddenly changed direction, walking straight toward a tooth-cleaning shop by the road. The young man behind him was immediately thrown into a panic, unsure whether to follow him inside or wait where he was. Wu Haichao walked to a fruit stand in front of the shop and crouched down. "Old man, did you grow these peaches yourself?"

The old man opened his toothless mouth and grinned. "Young man, you know your stuff. I picked these from my own trees this morning, the dew hasn't even dried yet."

Wu Haichao picked one from the basket. "If they're sweet, I'll buy a few more."

The old man was confident. "Taste it, sir. If it's not sweet, I'll give you the whole basket for free." Wu Haichao rubbed the fuzz on the peach with his palm, listening intently to the activity inside the shop.

Li Fu was pacing at the counter. The shopkeeper approached, "What can I get for you, sir?"

Li Fu pulled a note from his robes and handed it over. "Toothbrushes, tooth powder—get me the best of everything on this list." The shopkeeper realized he had a big spender. He held the list for a moment, scanned it, and spread it out on the counter. "Please wait a moment." He signaled to his clerk, and the two began gathering the items from the shelves. Li Fu tapped his fingers on the counter, and in his boredom, he leaned his body against it and turned to look at the street.

He collided head-on with the young man’s prying gaze. After a brief moment of eye contact, the young man hurried past the shop entrance. Li Fu’s gaze followed the young man's retreating back.

"Sir, it's all ready for you." The shopkeeper's eager voice sounded from behind. Li Fu turned back, and all the items had been packed into a cloth bundle. Li Fu grabbed the bundle, pulled some small silver from his robes to settle the bill, and walked out. It was nearly noon, and the aroma from the eateries drifted through the streets. Li Fu sniffed the air, but instead of returning the way he came, he continued forward. In the alley behind him, the young man poked his head out, watched Li Fu move away, and then sheepishly emerged.

He scratched his head, weighed his options, and decided to follow. Wu Haichao stood up, spat out the peach pit, and looked at the old man’s expectant gaze. "Not sweet."

The old man was incensed. "You're talking nonsense!" He looked at the pit in Wu Haichao's hand. "You ate one of my peaches, pay up, or I'll start shouting!"

Wu Haichao wasn't having it. He gave a cold, mocking laugh. "You shout, and I'll shout too. The peach wasn't sweet to begin with."

The old man was furious at this rascal, but he feared that making a scene would ruin his business, so he had to accept his misfortune. He spat on the ground and shouted, "Get out, get out!"

At the Penglai Teahouse, the tea server greeted them eagerly, "Please, come in, sir."

Li Fu nodded and followed the server inside. Passing through the main hall, the view suddenly opened up: lush bamboo groves and winding streams created a unique atmosphere. In the secluded areas, exquisite private booths were tucked away along the water. The server led him to a booth against the wall. "The usual?"

Li Fu replied, "I'm hungry from walking. Prepare some tea and snacks as well."

The server nodded and pulled the door shut behind him. Li Fu leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest. After a moment, the server pushed the door open, placed the tea and snacks on the table, and was about to use the hot water to brew the tea when Li Fu opened his eyes. "Go on, I'll do it myself."

The server placed the kettle on the table, bowed, and retreated, closing the door behind him. Li Fu stood up, quickly took off his outer robe and hung it on the back of the chair, then hurried to the door. He quietly opened a sliver of the door and looked out.