Red Light

Sunshine and Open Eyes

Yiling walked down the street in the morning sunshine and smiled. The day was beautiful if a little cool.

There was an odd desperation in his enjoyment of the small things. As if they would be taken from him with the same ferocity as everything else had been. They had to be enjoyed before they too were just a thing of the past.

He shook his head. 'No dark thoughts today. I have the day off, the sun is shining and the BBQ bun is divine. Three lovely things have already happened today!'  He held on tightly to those kind of thoughts. It kept him from drowning in all the misery.

Taking another bite of bun, he pushed open the door to the laundromat. He smiled at the old man who operated it. "Good day, Uncle."

"Good day, Yiling! How are you?" The man's toothless smile made his eyes shine.

"Very good, Uncle. The weather is very fine today." He pushed forward exact change for two tokens.

"The sunshine is nice, isn't it? Just the dryers again?"

"Yes, Uncle." Yiling bowed slightly thrilling the old uncle. He took the two tokens to the row of dryers. Two side-by-side? It was definitely his lucky day!

He happily shoveled the sheets in and put a token into each machine. When he was sure they were working, he placed his tub on the counter and walked back up to the front.

"I will be back in a few moments. Do you need anything from the grocery store, Uncle?", Yiling politely asked.

The old man nodded. "Yes, a little soup and rice. And two small pieces of chocolate. Eating chocolate brings luck* and who doesn't need more luck?" He smiled his toothless smile again while carefully counting out a few small bills. He patted Yiling's hand and gave them to him.

"Thank you for saving an old man a few steps." Again the pat and a small squeeze.

"It is my pleasure, Uncle." That radiant smile lit up Yiling's face. "I will be back in a few moments."

It never took long for Yiling to grocery shop. It was all basics. Enough to keep you fed. Sometimes enough to satisfy even but never enough to keep you healthy. A balanced diet was impossible for him and the majority of the community. Fresh fruits and vegetables, much less meat, were just too expensive. Processed foods were cheaper and at least you weren't hungry.

He picked out two small chocolates and ordered soup with rice as requested. He paid for them separately so he could return the Uncle's change.

Every yuan counted in this world unless you were on the top of the pile. A pimp. A drug dealer. A trafficker. They created the most misery and wallowed in the benefits.

Yiling sent up a small prayer that Karma was paying attention.

He walked back to the laundromat with his modest bag of groceries for the week and Uncle's soup and chocolate.  He pushed the door open with his shoulder to make sure he didn't spill the soup.

"Here you go! Soup with rice and two chocolates. You will have a fine lunch today." Yiling discretely laid the change down at the edge of the bag.

The old man fished around in the bag and then handed the young man before him a chocolate. He smiled. "You should have a lucky day too, nephew."

With a slight bow, Yiling accepted the chocolate. "Thank you. May I save it for a day I especially need luck, Uncle?"

"Of course. It is your chocolate and your luck." The old man smiled. Not many were willing to talk to him like Yiling did and he appreciated it. Despite people walking in and out all day, he was lonely. Most of those he cared about and who had cared about him had passed long since.

Once he had worked doing the same thing as Yiling. He had been handsome then and sought after. But it is hard on the body year after year after year. Slowly, as his body and face aged, his customers had chosen younger men until there were no customers. He had taken every yuan he could saved or borrow then bought the laundromat.

He didn't have much but the room in the back was warm and dry. He had a small television so the nights weren't so empty, so silent. With a comfortable bed he had bought second hand, he was content. It could have been so much worse.

As the old uncle ate his soup, gumming at the rice, he told Yiling stories of his heyday. Stories of his friends who were gone and moments of laughter. It didn't matter that Yiling had heard the tales many times. He smiled and laughed, congratulated and commiserated. Everyone needed to be heard.

When his dryers were done, he neatly folded the sheets and placed them in the now dry tub along with his groceries.

"I will see you next week, Uncle! Stay warm and rest well." Yiling said in farewell.

"I will. You too, nephew. Don't forget to eat your chocolate when you need some luck!" The old man waved at Yiling as he walked away.

Returning to his seat behind the counter, he noticed the laundromat, despite the people and noise of the machines, seemed empty.
~~~

After dropping off Yu Bin at a small apartment complex and wishing him good night, Lan Wangji headed home. He had a great deal to think about.

He began to wonder if he was guilty of wilful ignorance. Turning a blind eye* allowed great injustices to take place. Had he been doing exactly that his whole life?

The past two days had revealed a world he didn't know. He had scratched the surface previously but no more than that. Ignorance was not something he could tolerate in himself. The situation would have to be resolved.

He folded the now clean, bleach smelling clothes as he mulled over the problem. He paused and looked at the clothes. Beggars clothes did not reek of bleach. He took all of the clothing, hung up everything on hangars and took it to the garden. Not really seeing a good place for them, he made do by hanging them from the back of deck chairs and around the table. If they dragged on the ground, so much the better.

If he was going to find Mo Xuanyu's killer and help Yiling, it was time to open his eyes.

~♡~♡~♡~
For NebulusCharlie who taught me chocolate does indeed bring luck. ❤

'Turning a blind eye' means ignoring a known problem.

I have to admit, I am grateful and overwhelmed by all of your support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Be well, be kind and be you!

❤🍫🫖❤