Eighteen Pieces (Please Vote!)

The entire floor flew out of the building. Zhang Laifu saw it clearly: the floors above and below were gone, but the windows of the neighboring rooms on either side remained.

A whole floor was flying through the sky?

How was that possible?

The floor banked sharply to the right, nearly knocking Zhang Laifu off his feet. Once he steadied himself, he caught a glimpse of the distant building through the window.

The building was still where it had been. One floor was missing, but its overall structure seemed unaffected.

No wonder Zhang Laifu had counted thirty-two floors, while Old Yu and Old Zheng had both said there were thirty-one.

They hadn't been talking nonsense. They had counted earlier too, when another floor had flown away.

"What on earth is going on?" Zhang Laifu turned to Old Song. "Why is a floor flying through the sky—"

Before he could finish, the room lurched, and Zhang Laifu fell.

"Laifu, get back to your place." Old Song helped him up and guided him back to the bed. Then he said earnestly, "Laifu, you've acted before. You weren't a professional, but you must have seen basic special effects.

"When actors shoot a scene in a car, do you think they actually film inside one? They put up a green screen on set and shoot inside a mock-up. Isn't the scenery outside the windows all special effects? What's so surprising about that?"

Zhang Laifu pointed outside. "You're saying this is a special effect?"

"Of course! What, did you think it was real?" Old Song shook his head, as if lamenting Zhang Laifu's ignorance.

Zhang Laifu kept shaking his head. "Those effects are added in postproduction. I'm seeing this with my own eyes."

"What you see with your own eyes isn't real either!" Old Song pointed outside. "It's all electronic screens out there. Effects made this way look more convincing, and they help the actors get into character.

"You should get into character too. Hurry up and lie down to sleep..."

As he spoke, everything beyond the floor-to-ceiling window went black.

Old Song continued, "That's the visual effect of the train passing through a tunnel."

Chuff! Chuff!

The sound of venting steam came through loud and clear.

"That's the sound effect of the train accelerating."

Clatter!

The room lurched again.

Old Song explained, "That's a motion effect... Cough, cough!"

A cloud of smoke drifted into the room, setting Old Song coughing.

Zhang Laifu asked, "And what kind of effect is the smoke?"

"That's, cough, the smell effect of a moving train. Honestly, with this much smoke, aren't they worried about setting off the smoke alarm?"

There was a smoke alarm in the room, too.

Zhang Laifu considered this seriously. "What good is a smell effect? Can the audience smell it?"

"Didn't you see me coughing?" Old Song shut the floor-to-ceiling window. "It helps the actors get into character."

The window was closed, but the wind seeping through its cracks was still cold.

Zhang Laifu pulled the blanket tighter around himself and looked at Old Song. "I suppose the wind is a touch effect?"

"Right. It's all effects. Everything's meant to make the performance better." Old Song lay down on his bed too, facing the window.

Old Song was a peculiar man. He was like a ball of cotton.

He always felt so approachable. Even though the man had kidnapped Zhang Laifu, Zhang Laifu couldn't bring himself to be afraid of him.

Zhang Laifu gripped his phone. He had typed more than a dozen messages, but none had gone through without a signal.

If his messages couldn't get out, could he?

Old Zheng was in the outer room, and Old Song was in the inner one.

He was inside a flying floor, and he had no idea how it worked.

Getting out on his own would be too difficult. He needed to find a way to call for help.

A landscape painting on the wall suddenly lit up, giving Zhang Laifu a fright.

"That's a television," Old Song said. "Don't worry."

"That's a television?"

It was remarkably well hidden.

His phone had no signal, so why did the television have one? Maybe there was another signal source here.

"It's our company's closed-circuit television." Old Song seemed able to tell what Zhang Laifu was thinking.

The painted landscape vanished. A beautiful young woman appeared on the screen, dressed in a railway uniform. With a warm smile, she said:

"Dear passengers, welcome aboard Train 1168. Passengers who have boarded, please do not walk about or leave your carriage without permission.

"The onboard attendants are responsible only for cleaning and announcing stops. They will not disturb you at other times. We wish you a pleasant journey."

The beautiful woman smiled and disappeared.

The ink-brush landscape swiftly reappeared.

Zhang Laifu turned to Old Song. "Was that an attendant? This is a train? A train made from an entire floor?"

"What train?" Old Song said. "You're still inside our company's building. That television program was a work notice for us. It means filming is about to start, so everyone needs to get into character right away."

Zhang Laifu looked around. "Where are the cameras?"

Old Song shook his head. "Our company leads the industry. We're nothing like those amateur outfits, and we don't use their outdated equipment.

"There are lots of hidden cameras in this carriage. They can film from every angle, giving the editors plenty of footage to work with later.

"You don't need to worry about the cameras. Just stay in character."

As his words faded, the sound of a pipa came from outside the window.

Zhang Laifu knew nothing about pipa music, but the melody was so beautiful it made his ears tingle and his body feel weightless. He drifted off.

"Dear passengers, we will soon arrive at Hundred-Forged River Station. Passengers getting off, please gather your belongings and prepare to disembark."

Zhang Laifu opened his eyes groggily. He had slept all the way until evening.

The painting on the wall was still lit, and he could still see the attendant's smiling face.

But was hers the only face there? Where had Old Song gone?

Zhang Laifu sat up and found that Old Song was no longer in the room.

The curtains were drawn, and lights kept streaking past outside the window.

Judging by how often the lights flashed by, the train was slowing down.

Zhang Laifu went to the window and waited a moment. The attendant in the painting made another announcement: "We have arrived at Hundred-Forged River Station."

They had reached the station!

Was this station another pile of trains?

Zhang Laifu opened the window, intending to check how high up the train was. If it was below the fifth floor, he would jump.

Whoosh!

A wave of heat struck him. Zhang Laifu shut the window.

He touched his face and wiped a smear of black ash from his eyebrow.

A good deal of his hair had been singed too. Zhang Laifu had never expected it to be so hot outside.

The window wasn't a promising exit. He would have to use the door.

He pushed open the wooden door and looked into the outer room. Old Yu and Old Zheng were fast asleep, snoring away.

Zhang Laifu slipped soundlessly out of the outer room and into the corridor.

Several people were in the corridor, carrying luggage toward the safety door.

That had to be the proper way off. If he followed them...

"Laifu, where are you going?" Old Yu stood behind him, smiling.

"To the toilet," Zhang Laifu answered calmly.

"I'll come with you." Old Yu led Zhang Laifu to the end of the corridor. Zhang Laifu glanced around and spotted a ladder fixed to the wall.

"What's that for?" Zhang Laifu pointed to the ladder.

Old Yu glanced at it. "It's a ladder. What's so strange about it? It goes upstairs."

"Upstairs?" Zhang Laifu didn't understand. If one floor was flying through the sky, what could be above it?

"What are you thinking about?" Old Yu urged him on. "Do you really think this is a train? You're still in our company's building. This is our set!"

Zhang Laifu looked up the ladder. There was light above it.

Old Yu tugged at him. "Stop looking around. Upstairs is another set. Don't interrupt their filming."

Zhang Laifu kept glancing about. People were boarding and getting off; perhaps he would have a chance to meet an attendant.

"The attendant's here," Old Yu said suddenly.

"Here?" Zhang Laifu fought to hide his excitement and looked around calmly for the attendant.

Before boarding, Zhang Laifu had tried to speak with the uniformed staff, but these people had stopped him.

Those uniformed people must have been station staff. If Old Yu and the others feared them, they must fear the onboard attendants too.

Old Yu had said the attendant was here. Where was she?

A tile on the toilet wall suddenly lit up, and the attendant appeared.

The uniformed woman appeared on the screen in the wall. Smiling, she said in a sweet voice, "Dear passengers, welcome aboard Train 1168. Passengers who have boarded, please do not walk about or leave your carriage without permission.

"The onboard attendants are responsible only for cleaning and announcing stops. They will not disturb you at other times. We wish you a pleasant journey."

Old Yu pointed at the wall. "See? That's the cue that filming's about to start again. Hurry back to the room."

The image vanished. The gray-white tile looked just as it always had, without a trace of the screen.

Zhang Laifu touched the tile. "How did our company build this place?" he asked Old Yu.

Old Yu smiled. "Would you believe me if I said it grew out of a bowl?"

"A bowl? It grew?" Zhang Laifu suspected Old Yu was spinning a tale too. "I studied civil engineering. I have a university education, so why can't I understand what you're saying? What do you mean, it grew out of a bowl? How could a building grow?"

"That's science," Old Yu said dismissively. "The science of all things growing and changing."

"What do you mean by that?"

Old Yu wasn't like Old Song. He had no patience for explanations. "If you need to piss, hurry up. If you don't, go back to bed. Didn't I tell you filming has started?"

Zhang Laifu went into a toilet stall. When he came out, the ladder leading upstairs had vanished.

Old Yu urged him again. "Done pissing? Then let's go."

Zhang Laifu followed Old Yu back to the room. Old Zheng handed him a boxed meal.

"Hungry, Laifu? Have something to eat. The train meals are pretty good."

Zhang Laifu froze. "Why is the film crew eating train meals?"

"It's a prop. Just eat."

Zhang Laifu really was hungry. The train meal was plentiful, with both meat and vegetables. He was about to dig in when Old Yu said, "I heard you open the window earlier. You need to be careful on set. Last time, a new actor about your age came to the company and immediately tried a scene where he jumped off the train. He got sucked underneath and crushed into eighteen pieces."

Zhang Laifu started. "Exactly eighteen pieces?"

Old Yu smiled. "I counted. I'm good at reckoning things, and I count especially fast. I counted the building right, and I counted the corpse right too. Eighteen pieces."

Zhang Laifu lowered his head and ate without another word.

Old Yu and Old Zheng returned to the outer room and lay down on their respective beds. Old Zheng sighed softly. "Even after coming all this way, that Fool still won't behave."

Old Yu blew out a mouthful of smoke. "If Second Master hadn't stopped me, I'd have broken his legs!"

"How would he walk with broken legs? Were you planning to carry him back?" Old Zheng pointed at the ceiling. "Did Second Master go upstairs?"

Old Yu nodded. "Just now."

"Did that Fool see Second Master go up?"

Old Yu didn't seem concerned. "So what if he did? He wouldn't understand it anyway! It's not the Fool I'm worried about. It's Second Master."

Old Zheng smiled. "Second Master must know what he's doing. Didn't we come to Outer Province this time to open a Bowl for Head Boss?"

"Open a Bowl?" Old Yu laughed. "You're trying to fool even me, you bastard? If all he wanted was to open a Bowl for Head Boss, would Second Master go to all this trouble?"

Old Zheng lowered his voice. "I heard Second Master mainly came to buy himself a good Bowl."

Old Yu shook his head slightly. "I doubt he came just to buy a Bowl. Second Master took a huge risk coming here. He's here to do something big."

Old Zheng paused. "Isn't buying a Bowl a big deal?"

Old Yu dropped his voice to a whisper. "There's something bigger than buying a Bowl. I heard an important man under Governor Wu is boarding at Hundred-Forged River tonight. Second Master might be after him."

"Governor Wu!" Old Zheng shuddered. "If Head Boss finds out..."

Old Yu looked at Old Zheng, warning him not to continue. "Head Boss must never find out. Otherwise, none of us will survive."

The more Old Zheng thought about it, the more frightened he became. "We'd better not dwell on things that aren't our business. Keeping an eye on that Fool is more important."

"Why watch him? What could an idiot like him possibly do?"

"What if he tries to jump off the train again?"

Old Yu sneered. "Let him jump! This is Hundred-Forged River. Who'd dare go out the window? He'd burn to death the moment he jumped!"

Old Zheng still wasn't reassured. "If he really does burn to death, what will we tell Second Master?"

"Don't worry. He hasn't got the nerve. Even if he opens the window, he won't dare go out. I could watch him perfectly well with half an eye..." Old Yu sniffed, sensing that something smelled wrong.

"Where's that fire..."

Old Zheng looked toward the green-painted door. "The inner room! Smoke's coming from the inner room!"

Old Yu kicked the door open. Song Yongchang's bundle was on fire, flames rolling over it and thick smoke billowing up to the ceiling.

Old Yu's face went white. Old Zheng rushed in and beat out the fire with a piece of clothing.

Old Yu's face darkened. He fixed Zhang Laifu with an icy glare. "Did you start this fire?"

Zhang Laifu shook his head and hurried to explain. "I wasn't trying to start a fire. I wanted to test the effects outside the window. I wanted to know how hot it was out there."

Old Yu looked at Old Song's luggage. Nearly half of it had burned. "You used his luggage to test the temperature?"

"What luggage? It's a prop. You need to stay in character!"

"You think you can use a prop however you like?"

Zhang Laifu looked astonished. "If I don't test it with a prop, what am I supposed to use? Myself? Have you no regard for safety?"

He was telling the truth. He wanted to jump off the train, but he cared about his safety. He had tested the temperature with Old Song's luggage first, and the result was clear: he couldn't jump.

"Now you're the one in danger. Do you know why they call me Yu Qiasuan?" Old Yu rolled up his sleeves. "Let me reckon whether bloodshed is in your future."

Old Zheng stepped forward to stop him. "Don't rush. Wait for Second Master to come back and decide what to do..."

"No need to wait for Second Master. This brat needs a beating!"

Old Yu walked toward Zhang Laifu. Zhang Laifu watched him calmly.

He was not afraid, because the smoke alarm in the carriage had gone off.

Zhang Laifu had burned Old Song's luggage for this very moment!

Old Yu had just reached him when someone knocked on the outer door.

"Who is it?" Old Zheng asked.

An elderly voice came from the doorway. "Train attendant. Open up!"

The train attendant was here!

Zhang Laifu smiled!

After all that effort and all that risk, he had finally brought the train attendant here!

Old Yu and Old Zheng went into the outer room and shut the door to the inner room. "Come in!"

The attendant was an old woman carrying a trash bag. She asked them, "The smoke alarm went off. What happened?"

Old Yu said nothing. Old Zheng smiled. "We felt stuffy, so we opened the window. A little soot blew in."

The old woman did not get angry. She merely nagged them a little. "Is this your first time on a train? You can't open the windows once we reach the Hundred-Forged River."

Old Zheng nodded repeatedly. "We'll remember next time."

The old woman asked, "Any trash you need cleared away?"

Old Zheng had just handed her the used meal containers when Zhang Laifu opened the door and came out of the inner room.

He was excited now. He had something to say!

This old woman clearly was not the fighting type. He could not be too direct, or Old Zheng and Old Yu might lash out like cornered dogs.

But at her age, she probably would not understand if he was too subtle.

He had to strike the right balance.

Zhang Laifu had prepared thoroughly. If he struck the right balance, he was sure he could be saved.

His goal now was to leave the room with the old woman.

While Zhang Laifu weighed his words, the old woman looked at him, then at Old Zheng and Old Yu.

Sensing the tension in the room, she realized these people might have something to hide.

With a kindly smile, she asked another question. "Any bodies you need cleared away?"

Zhang Laifu stared at the attendant. For a long time, he said nothing.

Thinking he might have reservations, the attendant briefly explained the service. "Our disposal process is absolutely reliable. We buy back all major organs at the going rate."

Old Zheng and Old Yu both looked at Zhang Laifu.

When no one spoke, the attendant added, "There was a young lady next door. We just disposed of her, and the payment for her organs has already come through."

The young lady next door...

Meng Xuanxuan?

Old Yu deliberately asked the attendant, "Why was that young lady disposed of?"

The attendant sounded rather regretful. "They were all in the same carriage. I don't know how they ended up fighting, but it was awful. By the time we got there, her body had been torn into eighteen pieces."

Old Zheng smiled. "You can dispose of a body in eighteen pieces?"

The attendant gave an easy smile. "Eighteen pieces are no trouble. We can clean up worse than that. It just means some valuable parts can't be recovered. Here, see for yourselves."

She dragged the trash bag from behind her over to them, opened it, and showed them its contents. "All the major organs have been taken. This is what's left."

All three craned their necks to look.

It really was Meng Xuanxuan.

Old Yu turned to Zhang Laifu. "Count them. Eighteen pieces, sure enough!"

Zhang Laifu nodded repeatedly. "Old Yu, you count fast. Not a single piece missing!"

The attendant closed the bag. "So, do you have a body to dispose of or not?"

Old Yu asked Zhang Laifu, "You've still got plenty of valuable parts. Want us to dispose of you?"

"I have a little trash. Sorry for the trouble." Zhang Laifu handed the old woman a meal container, then turned and went back into the inner room.

Train attendants and station attendants did not seem to be quite the same.

Old Zheng smiled at the attendant. "We don't have any bodies here at the moment."

The attendant left. Old Yu looked at the green-painted door. "Shouldn't we teach him a lesson? Who knows what stunt he'll pull next!"

"You think that scrawny body of his could take it?" Old Zheng pointed at the ceiling. "Second Master is handling important business right now. We mustn't cause him trouble."

Old Song reached the train's second floor and passed through two carriages. Outside the third, he saw two guards.

He stepped forward, removed his felt hat, held it against his chest, and bowed to them.

"Sorry for the trouble, gentlemen. Please announce that Song Yongchang requests an audience with Regimental Commander Wang."

One guard entered the carriage. Before long, he came back out and invited Song Yongchang inside.

A Regimental Commander led a regiment, a rank roughly equivalent to a colonel.

This Regimental Commander Wang was named Wang Jixuan. He served under Wu Jingyao, the newly appointed governor of southern Wansheng Province, and was meticulous about rules and courtesy. The moment Song Yongchang saw the two guards tonight, he had felt they were different from other men's guards.

This carriage was Train 1168's luxury suite, complete with a sitting room, bedroom, wine cellar, and tea room.

Regimental Commander Wang stood tall. Round-framed glasses sat on his full cheeks, and his thick black hair was neatly combed back. If not for his military uniform, he would have looked like a schoolteacher.

After changing the tea leaves and adding fresh water, Regimental Commander Wang invited Song Yongchang to sit at the tea table.

"Second Master Song, what a coincidence. I'd barely boarded the train before running into you."

Song Yongchang told him the truth. "Regimental Commander Wang, it wasn't a coincidence. It took a great deal of trouble to catch this train of yours."

Regimental Commander Wang feigned surprise. "You were in such a hurry to find me?"

Song Yongchang did not beat around the bush. "There are two pressing matters I need your help with: my wish to pledge allegiance, and my desire for a treasure."

Regimental Commander Wang thought for a moment, then nodded slightly. "Mr. Song, I know you wish to pledge allegiance. I'll report it to Governor Wu, but I can't decide what arrangements the governor will make.

"As for this desire for a treasure you mentioned, what do you mean?"

The water boiled, and Regimental Commander Wang brewed the first pot of tea.

The first brew was not for drinking. It was used to rinse the leaves and cups.

As Wang rinsed the tea, Song Yongchang said, "Regimental Commander, I heard you went to Outer Province this time to buy something fine for Governor Wu."

The cups were already clean, but at those words, Regimental Commander Wang left them soaking in the tea a little longer. "Who told you that? Do you know the penalty for prying into important military affairs?"

Song Yongchang apologized again and again. "Please don't be angry, Regimental Commander. I sincerely want this treasure."

"You want the treasure?" Regimental Commander Wang suddenly laughed. "Do you want me to ask Governor Wu whether he'll let you have it?"

Those words sent a chill down the spine, but Song Yongchang knew where he stood.

If Regimental Commander Wang truly wanted to turn on him, he would have summoned his men already.

Song Yongchang smiled broadly. "Regimental Commander, I heard you brought back more than one treasure from Outer Province."

At that, Regimental Commander Wang raised his head and looked at him. "How do you know everything? Don't you think you know too much?"

He tapped the tabletop lightly with his tea tongs. This time, it seemed he really was about to call someone.

Song Yongchang hurried to explain. "Regimental Commander, I mean no harm! I heard you had to spend a great deal on this, so I came to ask about it."

Regimental Commander Wang traced a circle around the teacup with his tongs.

Ding.

It was a pleasing sound.

Regimental Commander Wang was in a good mood.

He set down the tongs, lifted the teapot, brewed the second pot, and poured a cup for Song Yongchang.

That cup of tea put Song Yongchang much more at ease. He slowly settled back into his chair, picked it up, and drained it.

Regimental Commander Wang raised his own cup and took a sip. "I came to Outer Province this time to buy a bowl for the governor. The seller there didn't play by the rules. We'd agreed on a price, but when it came time to do business, he changed his mind.

"I thought he meant to raise the price on the spot. Only later did I learn he wanted to bundle his goods. He had two Bowls. If I bought the large one, I had to take the small one too. He wouldn't sell unless I bought both.

"You know how it is. Whatever the governor wants, I must bring back, no matter the cost. So I had no choice but to put up my own money and buy the small Bowl as well."

At that, Regimental Commander Wang poured Song Yongchang another cup.

This cup carried considerable weight.

Song Yongchang picked it up. "That unscrupulous merchant was detestable. Regimental Commander Wang, you disregarded personal gain and loss, with loyalty in your heart and courage in your bones. I truly admire you."

"You flatter me, Brother Song. I merely did my duty. Everything I've achieved, I owe to Governor Wu's support. Naturally, I must give my all in his service."

"I've always kept my sleeves clean. That extra little Bowl cost me fifty thousand Silver Dollars and emptied my pockets."

"When I bring them back, if the governor wants both Bowls, I may recover some of my money. If he only wants one, I'll have to swallow the loss myself."

As he spoke, Regimental Commander Wang took out a white top hat.

The Top Hat was exquisitely made from top-grade rabbit felt, its fibers fine, smooth, and lustrous. Its crown was high and its curves rounded; its brim was pressed firm, and a band of dark grosgrain ribbon encircled it, stitched with fine, even seams. At a glance, it was nearly a masterpiece.

On closer inspection, however, several flaws appeared.

One section of the brim had not been pressed quite flush, and the stitching on the inner sweatband was uneven. The craftsman had rushed to finish it and had not tidied it afterward. It was the work of a master hatmaker, but signs of haste showed everywhere. It certainly was not worth fifty thousand Silver Dollars, though it was worth twenty thousand. It was still a fine piece.

This was the bowl—the small bowl Regimental Commander Wang had bought as an extra!

"I couldn't let you bear that loss!" Song Yongchang took a check from inside his coat. "Please sell me the small Bowl."

Regimental Commander Wang glanced at the amount and pushed the check back. "I paid fifty thousand for that bowl. What do you mean by offering a hundred thousand?"

Song Yongchang pushed the check toward him again. "This bowl is worth the price. You got it for fifty thousand because of your reputation. Anyone else might not have brought it back even for two hundred thousand.

"Getting it from you for a hundred thousand is already a favor to me. In the end, I'm the one coming out ahead."

"You're being too polite. I can't make money off you." Regimental Commander Wang tried to push the check away again.

Song Yongchang stopped him. "Fifty thousand covers your cost. The other fifty thousand is for another matter in which I need your help.

"I sincerely want to serve Governor Wu, but I have no way in. I'll need you to put in a good word for me, Regimental Commander."

The kettle lid rattled. The water had boiled.

Regimental Commander Wang brewed the third pot of tea. "Old Song, we'll certainly be serving Governor Wu together from now on. You really mustn't be so formal."

The deal was done.

Song Yongchang was so excited he was practically steaming, just like the kettle.

Regimental Commander Wang accepted the check and handed him the hat. "Brother Song, since you're willing to leave the darkness for the light, Governor Wu certainly won't shut you out. But we'll have to consider carefully what position you enter in."

"Regimental Commander, I'm not particular about rank. I'd be perfectly content just to serve Governor Wu!"

Wang Biaotong studied him for a moment. "Brother Song, given your standing and ability, even making you an Acting Battalion Commander would waste your talents. You should at least be a Regimental Commander, like me."

Song Yongchang waved his hands repeatedly. "You're too kind. How could I stand as your equal? Finding a post under you would be a blessing earned over several lifetimes."

Regimental Commander Wang waved a hand. "I've said we're on the same side. Why are you still being so formal?

"Let me put it plainly. Governor Wu hates bandits more than anything. If you want to meet him, you can't go empty-handed. You'll need to bring a grand gift."

Song Yongchang nodded repeatedly. "I'll remember that. I'll be sure to deliver the gift."

Regimental Commander Wang picked up his cup and blew on the scalding tea. "How do you plan to deliver it?"

The question left Song Yongchang at a loss for words.

He could hardly announce his plan to turn against his own side as though it were some noble cause.

Regimental Commander Wang drank his tea, then went on. "I heard Lin Shaocong, the Lin family's third son, has gone missing. Do you think Hunlong Stronghold might have had something to do with it?"

"Surely not!" Song Yongchang shook his head at once. "I hadn't even heard about that."

Regimental Commander Wang smiled. "You hadn't heard? Then let's speak hypothetically. Suppose Hunlong Stronghold did it. Do you think the Lin family would go to war with them over it?"

"I still don't think so. The Lin family's third son is a fool. His family has no regard for him." Song Yongchang picked up the teapot and refilled Wang's cup. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Regimental Commander Wang sighed. "However little regard they have for him, he's still a Lin. In the end, their reputation is at stake.

The Lin Family has held Heishakou for years. Marshal Shen personally appointed them to administer it. They have men, money, and status.

"If they really fought Hunlong Stronghold, which side do you think would be more likely to win?"

Song Yongchang slid the cup toward him. "I still think... they won't fight."

Regimental Commander Wang accepted it and looked at him. "I'm only speaking hypothetically. If they did fight, who do you think would profit?"

He held the tea in his hand, his eyes fixed on Song Yongchang.

Song Yongchang knew he could hide it no longer. He stood and answered respectfully, "If that day comes, I'll have to rely on your support, Regimental Commander."

"No need to be so formal. Suppressing bandits is a soldier's duty, and we're on the same side!

"The five marshals of Wansheng Province have picked the bones clean after eating their fill. How much is left for the twenty-eight governors? Governor Wu is hoping for talented men like you!" Regimental Commander Wang pulled Song Yongchang back into his seat, and they continued drinking tea.

Back in their room, Zheng the Pipa hastened to explain. "Second Master, I don't know what got into that Fool. He burned your luggage."

Song Yongchang looked at the luggage on the floor and sternly reprimanded Zhang Laifu. "Laifu, a professional actor must have standards. Take care of the props!"

He did not care!

He did not care at all!

Song Yongchang truly did not care, because he had all the important things on him.

After sending Old Yu and Old Zheng away, Old Song looked at Zhang Laifu. "Laifu, time for bed. Get into character at once."

"All right." Zhang Laifu lay on the bed and wrapped himself in the quilt, thinking through his next move.

If he could not turn to the train attendant, what else could he do?

Bang! Ding, ding, ding!

Rhythmic tapping sounded beside his ear. Zhang Laifu thought Old Song was drawing, but then he saw his quilt rapidly swell.

Pop!

The quilt burst.

Strands of cotton from inside it crawled over Zhang Laifu's body.

Zhang Laifu tried to get up. After several attempts, he found he could not bend his waist or legs. He could not sit up.

He tried to prop himself up with his arms, but the moment he moved them, fine strands of cotton cut into his flesh, drawing blood.

In agony, Zhang Laifu tried to shout, but it felt as though something had been stuffed down his throat. He could not make a sound.

Old Song stood beside the bed and looked down at him. "Laifu, twenty thousand a month for a job this good. Don't you want it?

"I admire you. I'd meant to let you act in comfort, but you have no respect for the rules.

"From now on, if you have no lines, don't speak. If you have no part in the scene, don't move. Do you understand what an actor's standards are now?"

P.S. Three chapters are done, so Salad is asking you, dear readers, for monthly votes. I have the best readers in the world, and I must give you the best work I can.