Although Zhao Wusheng had served in the Yong River Navy for many years, he had spent most of that time stationed in the north and had never had the chance to visit the southern seas. He had only heard of South Ferry Island; this was his first time setting foot on it. He explained to Hu Xiaotian, "My lord, South Ferry Island is said to be the most prosperous place in the southeastern seas. Taverns, gambling houses, brothels-it has everything. Small as a sparrow, but with all five organs intact."
They had barely stepped onto the pier when a crowd of heavily made-up prostitutes surged toward them, calling out in sugary voices, "Sir, you're here..."
Hu Xiaotian laughed. "Brother Wusheng, you seem to be a regular here."
Xia Changming nodded. "Looks that way to me!"
"I've only heard about it. This is my first visit..." Before Zhao Wusheng could finish, a woman caught his arm. "Sir, have you forgotten me?"
Zhao Wusheng did not know whether to laugh or cry. The three of them finally extricated themselves from the women's clutches, and he explained, "Life aboard ship is dull. Even when sailors earn money, they have nowhere to spend it, so these islands where they stop for supplies become places for them to empty their purses. Eating, drinking, whoring, gambling-it's practically one seamless industry here. South Ferry Island has become the greatest gold-extinguishing den in the southeastern seas."
"And you still say you've never been here?" Xia Changming said. "There's plainly a Gold-Extinguishing Den right over there!"
The other two looked in the direction he pointed. Sure enough, a magnificent building stood ahead to their right. Its sign bore gold lettering on a red background, and the words "Gold-Extinguishing Den" glittered dazzlingly in the sunlight.
Zhao Wusheng could not help