Chapter 61: The Sky Bridge (Pleading for Bookmarks)

  Zhen Niang left her hometown and traveled all the way to Beiping. Although she sometimes forced a smile in front of Niu Niu and others, her mood was actually very stifled. When they arrived at Tianqiao, Niu Niu was excited all along, and Huang Li also chatted with her from time to time. Moreover, there were many new and interesting things to eat, drink, and play at Tianqiao. Gradually, Zhen Niang's mood improved as she looked around.

  The Tianqiao area is home to various folk artists, including those with unique skills. The most impressive ones are summarized and collectively known as the "Eight Eccentrics of Tianqiao". From the late Qing dynasty to the end of the Republic of China, the specific meaning of the Eight Eccentrics of Tianqiao also differed across different eras, with a total of three generations of Tianqiao Eight Eccentrics. Now, the first and second generation of Tianqiao Eight Eccentrics have disappeared from public view, replaced by the third and final generation.

  As they walked and watched, Huang Li and others really saw the performances of several people with more distinctive features in the Eight Freaks. Among them, Yun Lai Fei's stunts made Niu Niu amazed, one of which was to stick her tongue out and slap it on the bridge of her nose; another was to pinch her ears and stuff them into her ear holes, after a minute or two, she said "come out", and her ears could open from the ear holes. Niu Niu was not only surprised but also imitated, one moment she stretched her tongue hard, straight to her nose, and the next moment she played with her ears, making Huang Li and Zhen Niang laugh and exchange glances.

  The big soldier Huang, who was surrounded by a large crowd, was tall and had a big face, nose, mouth, and voice. He also had a thick beard. He was from Shandong Province and had once served as a soldier under the warlord Zhang Xun. After retiring, he went to Tianqiao to scold people on the street and sell his own medicinal sugar. He would curse at warlords, corrupt officials, greedy and lustful people, which made ordinary people feel relieved. Every day, people surrounded him so tightly that it was hard to get through, so his medicinal sugar business was very good. However, because of his coarse performance, Zhen Niang frowned, and Huang Li also didn't want the children to learn bad things, so they just took a quick glance and walked away.

  There's a saying that goes: "Heavenly Bridge Style - all talk and no practice", but the one-legged cripple, Duizi Dingzhuan, is an exception. This one-legged man, whose leg was cut off below the knee, is all practice and no talk. He kneels there with his upper body bare, eyes cast down, hands clasped together, and on top of his head he balances a huge brick weighing over 100 kilograms, in the shape of a pagoda, about two meters high. On the ground in front of him is a piece of paper that reads: "Cripple wants money, relies on heaven for food, kind people show compassion, kung fu is hard to practice."

  Zhen Niang wasn't very interested in this somewhat frightening kung fu, but Huang Li couldn't help but praise it. Especially when Guai Zi was taking down the bricks one by one, he saw a fist-sized deep pit on top of Guai Zi's head and immediately threw down 50 cents.

  When they arrived at the venue where the magic show was being performed, Niu Niu's feet stopped moving and she was completely absorbed in the performance of this fifty-year-old old man.

  An old man performing magic tricks sat on a small stool, with a blue cloth spread out behind him. As he performed, he muttered to himself and the crowd watching couldn't help but burst into laughter from time to time. Especially the children, who laughed the hardest, often doubling over in delight.

  Niang Niang laughed loudly, her silvery and tender laughter standing out particularly in the midst of the changing magic scene.

  "Mom, uncle, did you see how that fish tank was made?" Niu Niu turned her head to look at Huang Li and Zhen Niang, with a childlike smile, asking: "I just blinked my eyes, didn't see clearly."

  "Hehe, you silly child, if I let you see clearly, then the trick would be exposed, and who would still give money?!" Zhen Niang smiled and lovingly stroked her little head.

  Huang Li smiled and nodded, Zhen Niang's smile came from the heart, going out for a stroll indeed had a soothing effect on her mood, especially when seeing her beloved daughter happy.

  In the street performer's circle, there are always many onlookers but few donors. The old man held his fists and kept saying clichés to beg for money from all directions. When he saw that it was ineffective, he made a vow, saying that if he could just get two cents, he would perform an even more impressive trick.

  Huang Li saw Niuniu watching with great interest, and Zhen Niang didn't seem to want to leave either. So she took out two mao of spare change from her pocket and tossed it into the arena.

  "Hey, you're really enthusiastic, thank you, thank you so much!" The old man clasped his fists together and thanked Huang Li repeatedly.

  Then the old man began to perform again. Every time the magic became particularly interesting, Niu Niu would turn back and smile at Huang Li and Zhen Niang, or ask a few naive questions.

  After Huang Li threw money into the arena three times, Zhen Niang looked at him with inquiring eyes, seemingly discussing with her eyes whether to leave or continue watching.

  Huang Li smiled and nodded slightly, meaning: Don't ask me, we're all here to have fun with the kids. Whether to leave or keep watching, you should ask her.

  Zhen Niang smiled helplessly, bowed her head and discussed with Niu Niu for a while, before pulling the reluctant Niu Niu away from the magic show.

  "Come on, let's go take a look at the vendor stalls." Huang Li saw that Niu Niu was somewhat unhappy, so he said something to pique the kids' interest, "There are delicious things there, and fun things too."

  Niu Niu finally became a little happier again, holding her mother's hand and chatting with her.

  Turning the street corner, there were two blind teenagers singing and playing a drum, one plucking strings, the other singing, regardless of whether anyone was listening, they sang "The Young Widow Goes to the Grave" with their necks stretched out. A little girl, even younger than them, also blind in both eyes, held a small basket in front of her begging for money. These three blind children, claiming to be performing, were actually begging for food.

  Zhen Niang walked past them, her footsteps slowing involuntarily. She had already passed by, yet stopped in her tracks and turned around to gaze at these three pitiful children with a mixture of sadness and compassion.

  "Poor thing, sir! Poor thing, madam!"

  "Poor thing, uncle, sir!"

  The blind girl's murmuring beggar voice, like the moans of a dying patient, floated into Zhen Niang's ears, evoking a sympathetic pang in this kind-hearted woman who thought herself unlucky. My life is bitter, but theirs is even more so - to be blind from such a young age, how will they spend the rest of their lives?

  Huang Li beckoned to a newsboy shouting slogans, bought a newspaper and turned back to see Zhen Niang staring blankly at Xiao Xiangzi. He couldn't help but smile wryly, then pulled out a two-dollar bill from his pocket and stuffed it into Zhen Niang's hand, "You go give it to them!"

  Zhen Niang hesitated for a moment, took the money, and handed Yaoyao over to Huang Li. She walked up to the three blind children and instead of throwing the money into their small basket, she directly stuffed it into the hand of the blind girl, bending down to say a few words.

  The blind girl, with her keen sense of hearing as a blind person, knew that the one putting money into her hand was a young woman. She kept bowing and thanking her: "Thank you, big sister, thank you, big sister."

  Zhen Niang was just acting out of sympathy for the girl, seeing how pitiful the three children were. She didn't expect this sensible blind girl to be so grateful to her. Looking at the blind girl's sincere expression of gratitude, she couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat and her eyes became slightly moist. She hastily turned away, almost running back to Huang Li's side.