The Lost Tomb : The Southern Archives Mysteries

Chapter 47: Good Fortune In Changsha

The inland city of Changsha wasn't like Xiamen. It was humid, there was no breeze, and the smell of stinky tofu and spices from various stands filled the air. Something like oil fumes, fog, or firewood smoke floated up in the air.

There were peddlers, merchants with their mules, and ethnic minorities in western Hunan garb. Among the monks and beggars with unkempt hair, wealthy people sat on three-wheeled rickshaws. It was difficult to describe Changsha in one word.

After they got off the train at Changsha Station, they ate a bowl of spicy rice noodles. Zhang Haiyan had also eaten spicy food in Malacca, but it was never this spicy. As he tried to finish it all, his head ended up drenched in sweat

Changsha's bustling main street was hardly any different from the concession regions. The alleys were laid with bluestones and there were many overcrowded teahouses.

The sounds of Xiang Opera, Huagu Opera, and Tanci [1] were flooding into the streets. At that time, there were more than fifty theaters in Changsha with various operas performing around the clock. Lanterns were lit everywhere, showing an atmosphere full of joy and merriment that was unique to the Hunan people.

This environment was very different from the one Zhang Haiyan had grown up in, so he was feeling a sense of freedom and freshness. He felt that everything was so different, vibrant, and energetic.

Zhang Haiqi seemed to have been to Changsha before and was a bit emotional, as if she was revisiting an old place. Zhang Haiyan wondered if it had been half a century since she had last visited here.

The two of them finished their meal and took a walk to digest their food. Before they came here, they had sent telegrams warning that they were coming since they were worried that they would be mistaken for spies when they arrived.

The hotel they stayed at was called Good Fortune Hotel, which was one of the best in Changsha. Now that it was the off-season, there weren't any prostitutes coming and going, so it was very quiet.

While they walked along the streets, Zhang Haiyan and Zhang Haiqi discussed what to do when they met Zhang Qishan. Since he was a special figure, they had to achieve their goals while avoiding any possible changes.

"Mother, under this kind of situation, what mentality should we have in order to deal with it?" Zhang Haiyan asked. In fact, this question was actually very difficult to answer.

"If we make an analogy, it's like we're the poor relatives from the country who are coming to gain favor from our wealthy relatives," Zhang Haiqi said. It was rare that they were all surnamed Zhang, so they had to take advantage of it.

"So, we're going to kiss his ass." Zhang Haiyan lit a cigarette.

"No," Zhang Haiqi said. "You're going to kiss his ass."

"Should we take action first in case there are any problems?" Zhang Haiyan asked.

"Zhang Qishan has been merciful several times. I've already informed him that we're coming, so I don't think he'll change his behavior so suddenly," Zhang Haiqi said. "But we can only come to a conclusion after we meet him. Then we'll act as we see fit."

To their surprise, Zhang Qishan's lieutenant was already waiting for them at the hotel door when they arrived. As soon as they entered, they saw an officer in a military uniform looking at a horizontal calligraphy painting on the wall in the hotel lobby. He seemed to be contemplating something.

The way they do things is really efficient, Zhang Haiyan thought to himself.

As Zhang Haiqi and Zhang Haiyan walked towards him, servants came to take their coats. Then, the guards outside closed the doors and windows and started lighting the lamps in the room.