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墨書 Inktalez
Shen Tong and Ruan Xiaoshuang stood in front of a slightly dilapidated courtyard that still retained some of its former grandeur. The gray bricks and tiles were worn, and the wooden carvings on the doorframe had faded over time.
This was the sixth household they had visited. The previous one belonged to Old Zhang, a friend of Shen Tong's grandmother who ran a flower business. Although she had heard of Yulan Embroidery Studio, she was not familiar with its past. Fortunately, she provided a lead that made their visit worthwhile—there was an Old Li in the southern old street who had been a famous hairdresser thirty years ago. She used to be close friends with the owner of Yulan Embroidery Studio.
This reminded Shen Tong that she recognized Old Li as well. Ten years ago, Old Li's daughter-in-law, eight months pregnant, had taken a rest under the Old Banyan Tree outside the alley and, for some unknown reason, encountered an evil spirit. She was in unbearable pain, and it seemed the child would not survive. It was Shen Tong's grandmother who stepped in and performed an exorcism overnight, ensuring the safety of both mother and child.
Shen Tong knocked on the doorbell, and after a while, footsteps approached slowly. The door opened a crack, revealing a face lined with wrinkles. The old woman's cloudy eyes scrutinized the two young girls outside.
Soon, her eyes brightened. "Oh! Isn’t this Tong girl? Come in! Come in!" Old Li opened the door, leaning on her cane as she ushered them inside.
It was clear that Old Li was quite pleased with Shen Tong's unexpected visit. She chattered happily as she led them into the main room. "My dear Tong girl, it’s been so many years since you last visited your old lady! Ever since your grandmother passed away, you haven’t come by! What brings you here today?"
Shen Tong and Xiaoshuang followed Old Li into the living room, which was simply furnished but clean and tidy. After settling them down, the old woman busied herself with joy—first bringing out some treasured tea and then hurriedly going to boil water.
Shen Tong and Xiaoshuang exchanged helpless smiles and quickly divided tasks to assist Old Li. After some effort, they finally sat down together.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Shen Tong quickly got to the point. "Grandma, to be honest, we came today to inquire about the history of Yulan Embroidery Studio."
Upon hearing "Yulan Embroidery Studio," Old Li was so startled that she spilled her tea. "Tong girl, that’s something from thirty years ago! Why are you asking about that?"
Shen Tong hurriedly explained, "It’s like this, Grandma. I’ve been helping out at the Police Station lately. Things have been unstable in the city; several murders have occurred that may be related to Yulan Embroidery Studio. We want to learn about its past; perhaps we can find clues to solve these cases."
Old Li tightly grasped her teacup, hesitating in silence as her eyes drifted to an old embroidery hanging on the wall of the living room—a depiction of blooming magnolias with delicate stitches that seemed lifelike.
After a long silence, she finally spoke. "The owner of that embroidery studio was named Chen Yuehua; she was my sister when we were young and one of the best embroiderers in town."
Then Old Li's eyes glistened with tears as she gently shook her head. "She had a daughter named Xiang Lan who was very beautiful and learned her mother's excellent skills. The shoe designs she embroidered were fresh and unique; many young ladies from wealthy families sought her out for embroidered shoes."
"Later on, when Xiang Lan was sixteen, she became engaged to a young man from the Zhou family who ran a ticket office in town. The Zhou family provided a bride price, and both families were quite happy about it. Yuehua even specifically asked me to style Xiang Lan's hair on her wedding day."
As Old Li spoke, he became lost in memories, his voice choked with emotion. "But later, that young master Zhou fell for another girl outside and wanted to break off the engagement."
"Is that why the mother and daughter..." Xiaoshuang pressed on.
"No..." Old Li wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes. "It wasn't like that. The two of them were driven to death. The Zhou family was powerful and insisted on breaking the engagement but refused to return the dowry they had already sent. Yuehua was unwilling, so the Zhou family colluded with other wealthy and influential families in the city to bully them. The embroidery shop lost all its business, and these people spread rumors, claiming that Yuehua and Xiang Lan were shameless women, saying that the items from Yulan Embroidery Studio were problematic and would bring misfortune."
A mist of tears filled Old Li's eyes. "Eventually, Yuehua and her mother were pushed into a corner; even going out meant being pointed at and insulted. In the end... Xiang Lan couldn't take it anymore. She put on the bridal shoes her mother had prepared for her and hanged herself..."
"What about Chen Yuehua?" Shen Tong's heart tightened.
"After her daughter died, Yuehua was deeply affected. In front of her daughter's coffin, she took poison... and died." Old Li's voice trembled as she struggled to continue. "Two lives... just like that... wasted..."
Shen Tong grasped Old Li's hand gently and asked softly, "Grandma, were there others in the embroidery shop when they passed away?"
"There were..." Old Li took the handkerchief Xiaoshuang offered and wiped her tears. "At that time, Yuehua had a younger sister, a few years younger than her; I can't remember her name... Her skills were also exceptional. After her sister and niece died, she went mad, crying and laughing all day in the embroidery shop. Later, no one knew where she went..."
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