Chapter Fifteen: Cursed Child
Name: Mingdu
Gender: Male
Age: over sixty
Occupation: Master Chef and Owner of White Pavilion
Address: No. 44, Bomei Ji Xi Kou Jie
"Zhang Yinggui, you old fox!" San Qianlin cursed in her heart, striding forward with quick steps. The snow-white hem of her green skirt swayed rhythmically along the curve of her slender legs, attracting passersby to stare. Although she had long passed the age of thirty, her well-maintained appearance made her look no more than twenty-five or six. Moreover, compared to women of that age, San Qianlin, who was over thirty, seemed to possess an extra dose of elegance and poise, even when she was in a state of utmost anger. Her beautiful eyes, filled with resentment and grievance, still accentuated her stunning beauty.
I knew people's hearts were thinner than paper, but I didn't expect this layer of paper to be even more fragile than a cicada's wing!
Ten years ago, when I was at the height of my fame, many wealthy and influential people fawned over me, lavishing me with gifts and attention. I was everywhere - in movies, TV dramas, advertisements - and everyone knew my name, Sang Qianlin. Even those self-proclaimed high-society types would go out of their way to praise me, hoping to win my favor. But I was foolish, retiring from the spotlight at a young age and marrying into wealth, thinking that would be enough. Who knew I'd end up with a husband who did nothing but waste money on vices, and after his death, our family's fortune was all but gone? He spent every day indulging in his habits, relying on me to bail him out with the little savings I had left. If I hadn't cut ties early, I fear I would have become a laughingstock, a phoenix turned into a wild bird, and died from shame.
After the divorce and division of property, Sang Qianlin suddenly realized that she only had over a million left. This amount of money would be enough for an ordinary family to live comfortably for a while, and if they were frugal, they could even make ends meet by living off the interest in the bank. However, as a wealthy lady who was used to spending lavishly after ten years of marriage, Sang Qianlin's daily expenses alone were tens of thousands of yuan. She would only eat the finest delicacies, such as ginseng, bird's nest, abalone, and matsutake mushrooms, and nothing less would satisfy her. In her early years before she became famous, Sang Qianlin had indeed suffered a lot, waking up early and sleeping late, eating only two meals a day, and even enjoying leftover cold rice. However, after becoming a celebrity, she was pampered and spoiled, and her tastes had become refined to the point where she could no longer go back to her simple past. Therefore, after much thought, Sang Qianlin decided that her only option was to return to the entertainment industry.
Although it's inevitable to curry favor when visiting someone, before going, Sang Qianlin had already prepared for the worst case scenario of "wearing a warm face but encountering a cold butt". However, the reality was so harsh that even she, who was used to the fame and fortune scene, felt quite disheartened. The group of people who used to flatter her with "Sang sister this" and "Sang sister that" had all disappeared without a trace, not answering phone calls, pretending not to be at home when visited, and those who were easily caught up with either had an attitude of being busy and wanting to leave or were absent-minded and perfunctory. In the end, they didn't even give her a definite answer.
Here is the translation:
The Zhang Yinggui who attended the meeting this morning was the boss of Tianying Group, a new force in the entertainment industry. He is now prosperous and successful, but ten years ago he failed in business and was so poor that he couldn't even afford to eat a bun. If it weren't for Sang Qianlin's help, he would have probably starved to death on the streets. How could he have achieved his current glory? Because of this past connection, she was confident that this opportunity would be at least 70% secure. But who would have thought that although Zhang Yinggui was polite over the phone, he repeatedly put her off with empty promises three times in a row, making Sang Qianlin so angry that she vowed to never bother him again.
However, as her purse grew thinner and thinner, she had no choice but to swallow her pride and wait at his door. When Zhang Yinggui finally saw her, he handed her a movie script, with famous screenwriters and directors attached to the project. The cinematography and styling were also top-notch, but the role he offered her was just a superfluous supporting character, appearing only twice throughout the film for a total of three minutes and twenty seconds, playing a courtesan who dies young. In other words, this was just a minor role with a few more close-ups than an extra would get.
Sang Qianlin had been in the entertainment industry for many years, but she had never suffered such humiliation before. She wanted to explode in anger, but Zhang Yinggui spoke first.
"You also know that such a role is far beneath Sister Sang's stature, but my family's circumstances are difficult and we can't afford to produce a big production for several years. I'm afraid it would be disrespectful to offer her only small-scale productions. Now, just as we finally have a decent project, the lead role was already cast half a year ago. Originally, changing the script to accommodate Sister Sang wouldn't be a big deal, but unfortunately, the director has taken a liking to that actress. You know how it is when you're a small boss - all glory on the surface, but behind the scenes, it's all struggles and hardships. I'm truly ashamed to have failed to repay Sister Sang's kindness from years ago..."
The most talkative one spoke with grandiose words, sighing and wiping away tears, almost to the point of beating his chest and stomping his feet in lamentation. Even Sang Qianlin began to suspect that Zhang Yinggui would have become a star long ago if he hadn't been so stubborn. The result of the conversation was that Sang Qianlin reluctantly accepted this play with a thousand thanks. From being a legendary figure in his heyday to falling to such a state today, it's clear how treacherous the world is!
Sang Qianlin let out a long sigh and stopped thinking, only to remember to look around. It was better not to look, but now that she did, she became confused - when had she walked into this bustling market?! In front of her was a narrow stone path no more than a few meters wide, with shops lining both sides, crowded with people, and buildings that were all ancient and elegant, with flying eaves and carved brackets. At first glance, it seemed as if she had entered the set of some martial arts drama; looking again at those merchants, weren't they dressed strangely, behaving abnormally? Even those who wore normal clothes seemed to have something strange about them in their expressions. This market was truly bizarre!
Sang Qianlin's curiosity was piqued, so she put aside her worries and strolled along leisurely. On the left-hand side was a music store, filled with Western and Chinese instruments arranged neatly on shelves. The owner seemed like a refined gentleman, every gesture and movement exuding elegance, his old-fashioned suit making him look as if he had stepped out of the 1930s. Looking to the right, a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl in a light blue long gown was crafting intricate wrist ornaments, the wooden tray filled with an assortment of accessories that were simple yet eye-catching, each one a treasure Sang Qianlin had never seen before. Further along was a small courtyard with a four-panel door, inside which was planted a large patch of jasmine, its white double-petaled flowers unfolding in the warm sunlight, quite unusual...
Sang Qianlin gazed at the delicate flower, and suddenly a thought flashed through her mind. If, of course only if, there was a medicine in this world that could restore one's youth, wouldn't it make her comeback easier? Just as she thought so, the wind around her ears suddenly changed direction, and the scenery around her seemed to blur for an instant. When she looked again, the courtyard had disappeared, replaced by a pharmacy with a black bottom and golden signboard. Inside the brown carved door, behind a half-person-high counter, a lovely girl with braided hair was smiling and beckoning her over.
Here is the translation:
San Qianlin was taken aback for a moment, then smiled at the other person. Her mind turned again, thinking that beauty and youth were essential in the entertainment industry, but to truly succeed, aside from one's own abilities, it probably relied on relationships and tactics. Just as she thought this, there was a loud rumbling sound, and when she looked again, the door of the pharmacy had already closed tightly, and the 11 or 12-year-old girl had also disappeared. San Qianlin felt increasingly strange and curious. She walked forward, just about to knock on the closed door, when she heard a loud but aged voice behind her.
"Please sit down and rest for a while, madam. The thing you want is not something that can be done immediately."
Sang Qianlin turned around and was startled. Unbeknownst to her, the pastry shop behind her had transformed into a funeral home, with a bespectacled old man intently arranging bamboo sticks under an oil lamp in the dark interior. It seemed to be preparing for a funeral or a spirit vigil. The rows of paper money, gold foil, and wooden coffins filled the entire shop. Although separated by a narrow alleyway, a chill wind suddenly swept over, causing Sang Qianlin to shiver. She didn't even dare to button up her coat tightly, and turned around to leave immediately.
"Madam, since you've ordered the goods, how can you go back on your word and make an empty purchase?" The old man didn't even look up at her, but instead took out a piece of white paper to start sketching, and also laid out high-quality ink and a small brush, seemingly preparing to paint a portrait.
Sang Qianlin abruptly stopped in her tracks, puzzled and angry as she said: "When did I ever order something from your family and then not want it? Don't spout nonsense in broad daylight and bring bad luck to others."
The old man seemed to smile, dipped a brush with the color of peach blossoms and carefully painted the lips and teeth of the paper person: "Madam is not seeking something from me, otherwise you wouldn't have come here. Besides, that couple has already taken a liking to madam, if I hadn't received your order and started working on this thing, I'm afraid someone would have snatched away the business."
Sang Qianlin was even more bewildered, and while her heart was racing with anxiety, she also became slightly interested. She carefully stepped down from the medicine shop's stairs and approached the door of the mortuary equipment shop, peeking inside. Facing her was a silver signboard with the words "Bai Ge" written on it. On either side of the entrance hung lanterns with white paper shades that were in stark contrast to the dimness within, leaving one perplexed.
"Has the lady ever heard of the two words 'curse' and 'bind'?" The old man said calmly, his wrist rising and falling, a pair of eyes like black wood appeared on the paper person's face, shining like stars, as if alive.
Sang Qianlin was startled in her heart, and honestly replied: "I've heard some deceitful words that use curses to control people, but I suspected they were just rumors circulating among the common folk, and didn't take them as true. Sir, what do you mean by...?"
The old man finished drawing his last stroke, put down the object in his hand, raised his head and unexpectedly revealed a pair of clear eyes.
"The incantation, using the mouth as a symbol, with the aid of the instrument, infusing it with thought, thus forming a secret language; its power may not be able to change the heavens and earth, or alter the course of history, but only adjust the future, and easily change one's fate, yet can achieve seven or eight parts. It seems that madam had this intention, so before people arrive, thoughts precede them, and I, an old man, have taken the original material to create this object for madam's request. Now that it is complete, please madam accept it."
The old man handed the paper figure, which was only about half the size of a palm, to Sang Qianlin's hand and began to clean up his brushes and papers. As soon as Sang Qianlin touched the warm white paper, he looked down at the paper figure and was shocked. The eyebrows and eyes didn't seem out of place at first glance, but upon closer inspection, they were an exact likeness of himself. After a few more glances, it was like comparing a portrait to the real person, even capturing his demeanor and spirit with incredible accuracy.
"If the lady has any wishes in the future, she can tell this cursed child, and as long as her words are sincere and her intentions are clear, everything will change for the better. All her wishes that are destined to be fulfilled will come true, and whatever she thinks of will become reality, bringing good fortune." The old man said, stretching out his hand to move the red wooden door panel, as if he wanted to close the shop.
"May all your wishes come true... May everything go in your favor..." Sang Qianlin stared blankly at the paper doll in her hand, and a surge of wild joy suddenly welled up in her heart, and her previous fear was gone without knowing where it went.
"It is," the old man stopped his actions and said in a deep voice, "but this person can only fulfill the lady's wishes that are within her fate, and cannot exceed them. For every wish fulfilled, it takes one or two years of the lady's life, and her eyebrows and eyes become slightly duller; if she pays with a great wish, then seven or eight years of her life will be gone, and when her eyebrows and eyes are completely dull, and all five senses are lost, that is when the lady's life will be exhausted. Therefore, I hope the lady will think thrice before acting, and it is not advisable to rely on this cursed child in everything, lest she die unjustly. The old man has spoken his piece, please, milady."
Sang Qianlin had not yet bid farewell, but felt a rustling sound in her ear, and when she looked again, she was already at the station near her home. At this time, she only felt a chill in her heart, and her trust in the paper man in her hand increased even more. She wrapped the silk scarf around her neck like a treasure and took it back home. From then on, her journey was smooth sailing, shocking the world with its unusualness.
The film's female lead suddenly fell ill, and the backup replacements were also inexplicably injured. The director, who had planned to give up, reluctantly gave Sang Qianlin a chance to audition at her request. Who would have thought that after one try, she couldn't let go? Sang Qianlin's appearance and acting skills perfectly matched the character of the strong-willed woman born in a brothel. She was immediately cast as the female lead, playing the role from 15 to over 80 years old until her character was murdered. Sang Qianlin performed flawlessly throughout, earning high praise from the screenwriter and director. After the film's release, it won numerous awards, and Sang Qianlin was catapulted back to the pinnacle of the entertainment industry, regaining her former glory.
Some small newspapers questioned San Qianlin's comeback and her seemingly effortless success, citing rumors about actresses who had competed with her for roles being injured or ill, paparazzi who had been tracking her getting into unexplained car accidents, and even her ex-husband who had mysteriously drowned in a river after trying to extort money from her. A Taoist priest was quoted as saying that San Qianlin must have used dark magic to eliminate obstacles, calling her actions sinister. However, all these rumors were just baseless gossip with no evidence or witnesses, and people dismissed them as the result of jealousy and envy. In fact, many people rallied around San Qianlin, saying she was blessed by heaven and destined for wealth and glory.
That evening, Sang Qianlin was about to attend a film awards ceremony. After dressing up, she couldn't help but take a glance at the white paper doll on her bedside table. Half a year ago, the doll's facial features had already faded and were difficult to discern, and three months ago it had suddenly disappeared, frightening her so much that she didn't dare go out for half a month, thinking that her life was about to end. However, over the past three months, not only had she not fallen ill or encountered any disasters, but her career had continued to soar, and even the CEO of a multinational corporation had expressed his admiration for her, spreading rumors that he would marry no one else. Everything seemed to be going in the direction of wealth and glory, with no sign of the disaster predicted by the old man. Moreover, after consulting a master who specialized in fortune-telling for people in the entertainment industry, she was told that she, Sang Qianlin, had accumulated virtue from her ancestors and was destined for great good fortune, having already passed through one calamity, and from now on would have a smooth and peaceful life, living safely until the age of 99. Only then did she put her mind at ease. However, every time she saw the paper doll with its flat face and no facial features staring at her, a chill ran down her spine, and she couldn't help but stuff the cursed object that had accompanied her for many years into a box, covering it with other things before finally putting her mind at rest. Having done all this, just as the driver had the car ready, Sang Qianlin adjusted her clothes and left elegantly.
The news of Sang Qianlin's death was splashed across the newspapers and magazines on the second day. All kinds of publications carried large photos of the accident scene, accompanied by sensational reports that were nearly 10,000 words long. According to reports, Sang Qianlin had left her mansion half an hour early the previous night to attend a party at a location an hour's drive away. However, when the party started, she failed to arrive, and the organizers thought she was just making a show of herself, so they didn't pay much attention to it. But as the party went on for more than half an hour without her appearing, they became anxious and called her phone, but no matter how many times they called, Sang Qianlin's phone remained unanswered. They then called her mansion to ask about her whereabouts, and the servant said that she had left early, which made them even more anxious. They reported it to the police and asked for help in searching for her. After a night of searching, at dawn, they finally found her overturned luxury car on a slope not far from her home. The driver and two assistants were only slightly injured, but Sang Qianlin was already dead at the scene. Further investigation raised even more suspicions: the slope where the accident occurred was in a remote area away from the direction of the party venue, and Sang Qianlin should not have been there; the electronic eye that recorded the scene did not capture any vehicles passing by except for Sang Qianlin's car; and most surprisingly, the police did not find any signs of collision on the road surface. As for Sang Qianlin's driver, he had been driving for wealthy people for decades, was highly skilled, and had a good reputation. After the accident, he was not found to have exceeded the blood alcohol limit, and the vehicle was in optimal safety condition. In short, everything seemed like an eerie story, triggering a heated debate that would involve millions of people in the days to come.
Mingduo got up, casually throwing the newspaper into a nearby basket, and went to dismantle the wooden board at the door. It was almost evening, and it was time to open for business.
Do you have a wish to fulfill? Come to Bomei Market, the largest market in the world, selling incredible and magical goods. As long as you think of it, there is no wish that cannot be fulfilled, any wish can be...
