area51novel Chapter 373: All of This Is Related to His Writing
Chapter 373: All of This Is Related to His Writing
After the novel was published, it caused quite a stir and was praised as the most realistic work describing the life in old Beijing.
On a sunny spring morning, under the old locust tree in the yard, Su Ming sat on a quaint bamboo chair, holding a yellowed notebook, writing something attentively. He was in a good mood because he finished the first draft of a novel last night and felt that he had finally found the source of inspiration.
Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps interrupted his thoughts. Su Ming looked up and saw Xiao Gang running around quickly in the corner of the yard, his face full of curiosity and excitement. Su Ming thought, it seems that the little guy has caught something interesting again.
"Uncle, uncle, look!" Xiao Gang shouted as he ran, waving an old book in his hand. He ran to Su Ming and handed it to him excitedly.
Su Ming took the book, which was covered with dust and had a yellowed cover. The title was "Legends in the Hutongs", which should be a book that records the stories of the old Beijing Hutongs. Su Ming flipped through the pages and was deeply attracted.
"Xiaogang, where did you find this book?" Su Ming asked. He really wanted to know the origin of the book.
Xiao Gang scratched his head, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I found it under the locust tree! It was very windy last night, so it might have been blown here. The book looks very old, but the content should be quite interesting!"
Su Ming smiled. He thought that the book Xiaogang picked up might be a treasure. He decided to put the book away and study it carefully when he returned home in the evening. He put the book on the small stool beside him and turned his attention back to the notebook in his hand.
After a while, there was a hurried knock at the door. Su Ming put down his notebook, went to open the door, and saw a middle-aged lady in exquisite clothes standing at the door. She frowned, obviously there was something important.
"Excuse me, are you Mr. Su?" the middle-aged lady asked in a hurried and nervous voice.
"Yes, it's me. What can I do for you?" Su Ming asked politely. He felt that the lady looked familiar, but he couldn't tell where he had seen her before.
"My name is Xiaoxia, and I live nearby. There is something I must tell you, it's very important!" Xiaoxia said, looking at Su Ming nervously.
Su Ming frowned slightly when he heard the name. He remembered the name, and it seemed to be a neighbor in the community, but they didn't communicate much. He quickly let her into the yard and took her to sit under the locust tree.
"Xiaoxia, what's the matter?" Su Ming asked, looking at her expression uneasily.
Xiaoxia took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Mr. Su, I have to tell you that someone has been collecting information and evidence about you. They seem to be seeking justice for someone named Xu Damao, but I don't know the details. You have to be careful, someone may be watching you or tracking your whereabouts."
Su Ming felt nervous when he heard this. He remembered that some strangers had appeared near him recently, but he didn't pay much attention to them at the time. But now, after hearing what Xiaoxia said, he felt a hint of danger.
“Thank you for telling me the news, Xiaoxia. I will pay attention to it. Do you know who these people are? Why are they looking for me?” Su Ming tried to understand the situation better.
Xiaoxia shook her head, with a hint of worry and helplessness in her eyes. "I don't know either. They are all wearing ordinary clothes and don't look like police officers or officials. But their attitude is very serious. I think you'd better be careful."
Su Ming was silent for a while, and various possibilities flashed through his mind. He didn't know why someone would look for him and collect information about him. Was it because of his writing? Or because of his recent behavior?
Suddenly, there was another sound in the yard. Su Ming and Xiaoxia looked up and saw Xiaogang's mother, Lihua, approaching anxiously.
"Xiaogang is missing! I searched the entire yard but couldn't find him!" Lihua's voice was filled with anxiety and worry.
Su Ming and Xiaoxia looked at each other, they both knew that they had to act urgently. The courtyard was suddenly filled with tension and anxiety, everyone was looking for Xiaogang, hoping that he would return safely.
Quietly, Su Ming and Xiaoxia walked hand in hand along the winding path of the old alley. The spring breeze fluttered their faces and fluttered their sleeves, but it could not dispel Xiaoxia's worries. This encounter between her and Su Ming was like an encounter from an unknown whirlpool.
"Mr. Su, I know it may be a little sudden for me to talk to you about these things." Xiaoxia finally couldn't help but speak, breaking the silence.
"It's okay, Xiaoxia. What you said is very important, and I'm very grateful that you told me." Su Ming responded. He tried to remain calm, but his heart was difficult to calm down.
"I didn't know at first what your relationship was with these people, but this morning, I accidentally overheard their conversation and found out that they were looking for some information about you." Xiaoxia's voice was a little uneasiness, she looked forward, a hint of worry in her eyes.
Su Ming pondered for a moment, then asked, "What exactly are they looking for me for? Do you know anything about Xu Damao?"
Xiaoxia smiled bitterly. "Mr. Su, I am an ordinary resident of the community and I don't know much about these things. But judging from their tone and attitude, it seems that they are not friendly to you. It may be for some kind of benefit or personal hatred."
"Personal hatred?" Su Ming's heart moved, and he suddenly thought of some things in the past few months. Although he usually gets along well with others, there are always some people who don't like his existence. Perhaps, all this is related to his writing.
"You're right, Xiaoxia. I will handle this matter carefully." Su Ming said solemnly, but he felt confused and uneasy deep in his heart.
The two of them continued walking forward until they reached the end of the alley. There was an old temple, with a few simple red pillars in front of the door. The door lintel was decorated with flying dragons and phoenixes, full of traces of time. Su Ming looked at the temple and suddenly had an idea.
"Xiaoxia, have you heard that there is a wizard in the temple? Or, can someone help us find out the truth?" Su Ming suddenly asked. He felt that perhaps this ancient temple could bring a glimmer of hope.
Xiaoxia thought about it and shook her head. "This temple is not a place I usually come to. I don't know much about it. But if you think there is hope, we can go in and take a look."
The two decided to walk into the temple, which was dimly lit by candlelight and the ancient smell of incense filled the air.