Chapter 15: Corpse Moth

Chapter 15: Corpse Moth

Zhang Qishan meditated in the car. When he had first arrived in Changsha, he visited various leaders. Er Yuehong's father had just died, and the two of them had met and drank in front of a coffin. After that, the Zhang family established itself in Changsha, with the Hong familys indispensable help.

The Hong family had also contributed the most when the revolutionary government revolted and started incorporating Changshas local armed forces. Er Yuehong wasnt someone who couldnt distinguish between right and wrong, so he must have kept quiet today because it had something to do with his family.

Zhang Qishan couldn't help but think of Er Yuehong back in the old days. At that time, neither of them had any serious family obligations. They could play a game of chess for three days and three nights, and no one would bother them. But those days were long gone.

At this time, Changsha City looked cold and desolate since many shop lights were out along the street. But there were many stalls that had coal lanterns hanging up, displaying mostly warm food such as spicy rice noodles, Dutch noodles, sweet wine, and eggs. There were even snacks such as beef sangza, tofu triangles, brain rolls, and sesame oil pig blood soup (1). When Zhang Qishan first joined the army in his early years, he was also an acting adjutant for the first three months. When he got off work late at night, he would stop and eat some of this roadside cuisine.

Lieutenant was watching him carefully and asked, "Fo Ye, do you want me to bring some back?"

Zhang Qishan shook his head, waved for the car to stop, and lowered the window.

The car stopped in front of a stall, whose owner he was familiar with. After looking in the window and seeing that it was Fo Ye wearing the military uniform, the surprised stall owner suddenly laughed: "Oh, hey, Fo Ye. Long time no see. The cat got the fish today (theres no fermented bean curd today), so will it be the usual?"

Zhang Qishan nodded and pulled off his gloves. The stall owner's daughter soon brought over a bowl of steaming beef sangza and put it in the car. He hadnt seen her for several yearsthe girl was already twelve or thirteen by now but they werent strangers either. She leaned on the car window and asked him, "Fo Ye, Fo Ye, did you beat the Japanese?"

Zhang Qishan nodded, handed over the money, and then reached out and touched the little girl's head. The little girl asked, "Will the Japanese really come? My dad said Changsha cant hold, so we're going northwest. Come with us."

The stall owner was very embarrassed, but Zhang Qishan couldnt help but laugh: "Little Sprout, follow your daddy. I should also follow, but I have to beat the Japanese first. Be good and don't cause any trouble. When Im done, Ill go northwest to find your stall."

"But the corpse moth isnt immediately fatal. If thats all it is, Er Ye wouldnt be so alarmed." Zhang Qishan looked at Qi Tiezui. If it was a mere corpse moth, then he shouldnt let him take credit for it.

Qi Tiezui threw back his Taoist hat. "Fo Ye, most of the dead bodies on this train appear to have died from moth disease. One person, however, did not. Come with me. The key to this ghost train is on this person."

They passed by several corpses and walked to the center of the morgue, where another corpse was draped in a white cloth. From the outline, it was the only corpse that was facing up. Qi Tiezui took a deep breath, bowed to the body, and then said: "Ive been in this business for so many years, and have yet to see such an incredible sight."

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TN Notes:

(1) Uh, yeah. Im not great at translating food lol. I couldnt figure out the dutch noodle things. Im like 99% sure its not supposed to be dutch noodles, but its made up of some kind of powder, sesame oil, salt, MSG, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, fermented bean curd, radish rice, peanuts, dried chili powder, and sesame paste if that gives you an idea. Sangza is deep-fried noodle cake. The brain rolls arent actually brain (think they just look like it). The stuffing is made of semi-leavened noodles wrapped in pork fat and white sugar and steamed. Has a mellow, sweet taste and a soft texture. The sesame oil pig blood soup is also called longzhi pig blood. Its got pig blood (shocker), dry minced peppers, winter vegetables, chopped green onion, sesame oil, and some pepper. Shouldnt be eaten with soybeans apparently.

(2) Three Corpses or Three Bugs is a Daoist physiological belief that demonic creatures live inside the human body, and seek to hasten their hosts death. These 3 supernatural parasites allegedly enter the body at birth, and reside in the three "energy centers" of the head, chest, and abdomen. After their human host dies, they are freed from the body and become malevolent ghosts. More info here

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Random thought of the day: Do you all ever get out of the shower and look at the hair mural you've created on the wall and wonder how you're not bald? No? Just me? Maybe that's how the hair monsters in these books get created lol

Anyways, I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow after work, so I may or may not have time to post whenever I get home. Also looks like we've reached the end of Xingiu's hard work, so you poor suckers are stuck with me again if you preferred reading their version lol. Until next time~~~