Chapter 6: Startling Dream

After drying his hair, Han Wei called out a few times to Xiao Heizi, but no one responded

"Yan Sheng, wake up, what is wrong with you?" Han Wei supported Yan Sheng's head, pressing his thumb against the philtrum on Yan Sheng's lip.

Han Wei felt resentful, thinking that this Mao Sange truly believed that money could make the devil push the mill. He had not seen that the disciple Yan Sheng had already fainted, yet he still refused to let Wei Yunhan go.

It must be that I took too long in the shower, and Little Black couldn't wait to go to sleep, so he went to the window to close it by himself

Han Wei let out an exaggerated cry of "Oh no!" and then said, "Brother, Wei'er is not a fly; there's no need to use so much force."

"Yan Sheng has tattoos and is also involved with Xiao Hu?" Mao Xingbang exclaimed, echoing the question that Han Wei was puzzled about.

Thanks to Commander Hu's mediation, a simple note allowed my father to bring him back. The person was indeed brought back, but it seemed as if he had lost his three souls and six spirits. Yan Sheng's gaze was vacant, avoiding others, with a peach blossom design depicted on his back. There were already several peach blossom tattoos on his shoulder blades, and although less than one-tenth of the entire design was inked, it was outlined with extreme clarity. Later, I heard that the old gentleman in the commander’s family was the commander’s adoptive father, a eunuch from the former Qing palace, who had a remarkable skill in tattooing. He enjoyed inking treasured calligraphy and paintings onto the skin of those with smooth skin. Yan Sheng recounted that he had watched a child with a landscape tattoo on his back die painfully right before his eyes, which made him particularly anxious and flustered whenever he heard about tattoos. This incident happened a long time ago; it was my fault for not being attentive, which frightened him.

This remains unknown; it is said that the leader has been promoted.

After sending off Yan Sheng, Mao Xingbang repeatedly complained that Wei Yunhan was too harsh, causing his junior apprentice to faint from the beating

Han Wei noticed that his elder brother kept his eyes closed during the journey and did not dare to disturb him. Upon returning home, his mind was filled with thoughts of the tattoo on Yan Sheng's back. Even while taking a shower, he intentionally looked at his own back in the three mirrored walls of the bathroom, fearing that the tattoo might suddenly appear on his own back.

Han Chen was just about to fall asleep, sitting on the edge of the bed, pouring a few calming pills from a bottle into his hand, preparing to take them

"Last time in Beiping, Ziqing mentioned this legend and also said that Yansheng, due to misfortune, gained a good master like Boss Wei, fearing that his future would be limitless. " After Han Chen finished speaking, he paused and asked again: "But where is that eunuch with a tattoo obsession now?"

"Yes, yes, it's my fault, my fault." Han Chen tapped his own head with a folding fan, saying, "How could I forget this story? Now that you mention it, I do remember it."

Suddenly, a blinding flash of lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the night, followed closely by a thunderclap that startled Han Wei, causing him to take two steps back and freeze in place

"No... no... it's just... just afraid of thunder, and I want to sleep with you, brother." Han Wei mumbled under the blanket, but was surprised inside. Did his brother notice that he was hiding his exam results? After thinking it over carefully, he concluded that it shouldn't be the case; perhaps his brother was just trying to extract a confession. Thus, he gathered his confidence and said: "Brother, the questions you asked Yan Sheng today, do you suspect that the old man who harmed Yan Sheng is related to the tattooed female corpse we discovered?"

Once again, a flash of lightning streaked across the sky. Without waiting for the thunder to roll, Han Wei, covering his ears, dashed out of the bedroom like a madman, barefoot, and rushed into his elder brother's room

Han Chen reached into the quilt, touched Han Wei's cool and smooth body, and asked, "Wei'er, have you gotten into some trouble again and kept it from your elder brother?"

Han Chen was also left in a state of both laughter and tears by his younger brother. After a moment's pause, he said to him: "Weier, tomorrow your elder brother will accompany Mao Sange to negotiate with the representatives of the Red Bandits. I will be away for a few days. You should stay at home to study and practice the piano. There is no need for you to go to the team, and you need not involve yourself in the case of the female corpse."

Mao Xingbang asked, "What riddle are you two discussing? I can't understand it at all"

That night, when Han Chen got up to use the restroom, he heard rustling sounds outside the door. He opened the door and turned on the light, only to find his younger brother sitting by the door wrapped in a blanket.

Wei Yunhan shook his head and said: "If it doesn't hurt or itch and doesn't affect eating and drinking, who in a poor family would care about that? Having that 'injury' is also good, as it serves as a warning for him to strive and become successful. Commander Hu introduced a foreign doctor, who said there are doctors in England who can remove tattoos, but the cost is quite high. Commander Hu wanted to lend Yansheng money to help him go abroad and resolve this mental burden, but my father did not agree. My father's intention was that if Yansheng became successful in the future and earned enough money to sing 'Red Corner', he could save up to go abroad for treatment; if he did not amount to anything, then removing the shame from his back would be meaningless."

Han Wei suddenly recalled his elder brother's admonition before leaving, and hurriedly explained: "Han Wei remembers his brother's instructions; Han Wei did not ask anything and just joked with Boss Wei about the tattoo, and he fainted."

Yan Sheng woke up, letting out a long breath, the sigh seeming to surge from the depths of his lungs like a long chant. He raised his eyes to look at his senior brother Wei Yunhan, and apologetically said: "Second Senior Brother, Yan Sheng is useless; I felt a bit dizzy from the pressure in my heart, but it is better now"

Han Chen, in a moment of helplessness, picked up his younger brother Han Wei and walked outside. He could not allow his wife to witness such a farce, after all, his younger brother was thirteen years old and was no longer the two-year-old child who used to sleep beside his ex-wife Xianru.

Han Chen laughed and scolded, saying: "If you really tattoo a fly, my brother wouldn't even bother to hit you; he would just peel your skin off. If you don't believe it, give it a try"

The first time I discovered that my younger brother had developed this habit was shortly after he married his second wife, Yu Ning. At that time, my younger brother was thirteen years old. On a stormy night filled with thunder and lightning, he burst into the bedroom he shared with Yu Ning, clutching a large red tiger-head pillow, his face pale. Without a word, he jumped onto the bed, pulled back the covers, and squeezed himself between him and Yu Ning, shivering. The awkwardness of that moment is still vivid in my memory.

Han Chen did not place excessive blame on his younger brother

Wei Yunhan recounted: "This story is quite lengthy. Yan Sheng switched to the Dexin Society midway. He learned opera from a Luo family troupe in Northeast China since childhood, where his master was very strict, so Yan Sheng's foundation in the art is quite solid. That year, my father led the Dexin Society to Fengtian to perform and needed to find a few children to play minor roles. By chance, he discovered Yan Sheng, who was clever and had a good foundation. My father discussed with Master Luo about taking Yan Sheng under his wing, but Master Luo demanded an exorbitant price. You may not know that in the world of the pear garden, the rules dictate that when a child learns opera, the parents must sign a seven-year contract with the master. During these seven years, any misfortune, illness, or death is no longer the family's concern; even if the master were to beat the child to death, the parents would have to accept their misfortune. Master Luo did not agree, and the matter of changing masters had to be abandoned. Just then, Yan Sheng got into trouble. Master Luo took Yan Sheng to the home of a Colonel Tong from the Fengtian army to perform at a gathering, but they offended the elderly patriarch of the Tong family and were arrested. Master Luo was so frightened that he lost his composure and hastily claimed that Yan Sheng had already switched to the Dexin Society and had nothing to do with him, transferring the contract to the Dexin Society."

Mao Xingbang asked, "How was Yan Sheng saved?"

The younger brother tightly embraced him, curled up beside him, and cried, saying: "Brother, it's thundering, the good child is scared"

Although Han Wei was not happy, his clever eyes turned, and he secretly smiled, thinking that since his elder brother had left, no one would care even if he went to heaven or earth.

Wei Yunhan stood up to serve tea to everyone and said: "It is common for actors in the troupe to be reprimanded; the children of Dexin Society have all experienced it. Yan Sheng fainted, and it is all my fault for speaking carelessly; I should not have mentioned tattoos, fearing it would evoke the demons in Yan Sheng's heart. The moment he hears the word 'tattoo,' he falls ill. Just a couple of days ago, he saw a newspaper featuring the tattooed female corpse, which frightened him so much that he lost his senses and sleepwalked in the middle of the night"

Han Chen couldn't help but chuckle, and he patted Han Wei, who was under the blanket, saying: "Hey, hey, Young Master Yang, Commander Yang, what a little ambition you have. You're almost sixteen, and you're still afraid of thunder"

Han Chen's eyes immediately became moist. Silently, he picked up his younger brother and carried him back to his bedroom. The difference this time was that he held his younger brother close as he fell asleep. Now, many years have passed, yet this habit of his younger brother has not changed at all. Perhaps this kid is taking the opportunity to act spoiled and seek affection, a tactic his younger brother often employs, especially when he is trying to confess his major mistakes to avoid severe consequences.

Han Chen then asked Wei Yunhan seriously: "Have you not yet found a suitable method to remove the tattoo on Yan Sheng's back?"

Stop for a moment, Han Wei asked: "Brother, tomorrow are we going to negotiate with the Red Bandits with Mao San Ge to redeem Commander Wang? In 'The Lost Street Pavilion', Zhuge Liang even wept as he executed Ma Su. Why is Premier He still spending money to redeem him, and why does Big Brother have to go personally to negotiate? How embarrassing is that?"

"Have you forgotten the rules again?" the elder brother retorted, without looking at him. Han Wei knew that his elder brother had always forbidden him from bringing friends or classmates home, in order to uphold the prestigious status of the young master of the Yang family.

Han Wei felt every hair on his body stand on end, pondering how a female corpse with a plum blossom tattoo could be connected to these stories. His elder brother intended to inquire about the unknown tattoos on Boss Xiao Wei's body, wondering if they were also related to the plum blossom tattoo espionage case.

Wife Yuning gazed at his enigmatic smile, which was difficult to describe, as if to say: "It is indeed rare for this younger brother to find himself lying in the middle of his brother and sister-in-law's bed."

"When everyone is as delicate and useless as you are." Big Brother Hancheng pushed him aside, picked up Xiaoyan horizontally, and kicked open the bathroom door to exit, while scolding the flustered Hanwei behind him, "What did you ask him?"

Han Chen tucked his younger brother in and took a sip of water to swallow the medicine, saying: "What were you and Yan Sheng discussing when I went into the washroom? How did he faint?"

He was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, and with a stern face, he called out his younger brother's nickname to reprimand him: "Good boy, stop messing around and go back to your room"

An unexpected situation occurred, and Wei Yunhan stood up to take his leave. Just then, He Lili returned from the military department after picking up some documents. Upon seeing Wei Yunhan about to leave, she insisted loudly, "Little Boss Wei, why do you have to leave just as I arrive? It seems my timing is unfortunate."

As soon as the door opened, the younger brother Han Wei darted in like a mouse. Without waiting for him to speak, he quickly jumped onto the bed, burrowed under the covers beside him, pulled the blanket over his head, and from beneath the blanket and books, he made a muffled sound: "Brother, Wei'er wants to sleep with you. It's thundering!"

Brother, Xiao Yansheng doesn't seem like a bad person. Just look at him, so delicate and with such a tragic background, having been sold to a theater troupe by his parents since childhood. Wei'er regrets scaring him into fainting that day. Brother, can Wei'er bring Xiao Yansheng home to play? Last time at the bamboo building while having tea, he heard that our family has many stone rubbings, and his eyes lit up with excitement.

Mao Xingbang hurriedly intervened, saying: "How about I send Boss Xiaoyan back to the theater with a car? Xiao Wei, you are a rare guest and must stay with us a little longer"

Han Wei indeed remained silent, with even breaths coming through, pretending to be asleep

It is just a discussion about tattoos; how would I know that he is so easily frightened? I only said to tattoo a large green fly on his back, so disgusting that even if the elder brother raised the whip, he wouldn't be able to strike it down, and Yan Sheng would faint.

Everyone was left speechless, and He Lili said in a heated tone: "Such beasts should be executed!"

Seeing his elder brother lost in thought, Han Wei suddenly had a flash of inspiration. Could it be that his elder brother suspected a connection between the plum blossom tattoo on the female corpse and Yan Sheng's fate

Wei Yunhan said: "During my last visit to Fengtian, for the first three days of the cannon play, that old gentleman was seated in the middle of the front row. Upon seeing the situation, I did not dare to let Yan Sheng take the stage."

Mao Xingbang rebutted: "There are already many things that should be done, so you don't need to add to the chaos."

Gently stroking the cold, pale, jade-like cheek of Yan Sheng, Han Wei, with tears of frustration welling up in his eyes, complained that Boss Xiao Wei had been too harsh, causing Yan Sheng to faint.

Yet that face remained as pale as paper

"The greatest hero of the Sui and Tang dynasties, Li Yuanba, is still afraid of thunder," Han Wei said, curling up in the blanket.

On the way home, spring thunder rolled across the sky, and the light drizzle gradually intensified into a heavy downpour, creating a remarkable scene for this early spring.

Are you still with the Northeast Army? Han Chen asked

Han Chen lifted the blanket and slapped him, saying: "Still pretending!"

Han Chen's anger flared up, and he was about to confront Han Wei. Suddenly, with a timid gaze, Han Wei said: "Elder brother, the little one is scared. On the day father left, the sky thundered and lightning flashed like this, elder brother"