EIP 61

This winter felt unusually long, with endless snowfalls. Even though there were only a few days left before the New Year, the whole city seemed caught in a subtle tension. Whether in newspapers, on the radio, among the high-ranking officials or the common people, everyone knew that war was approaching. Thankfully, it had not reached their side yet, only drawing closer. No one knew when the sound of gunfire might finally arrive.

Most people hoped the war would end elsewhere, sparing their city. But such hopes did not extend to military families. Their hearts were filled with fear as they prayed constantly for the safety of their husbands or sons, burning incense and seeking divine protection. The closer the departure drew, the more reluctant they became to let go.

While Zhou Yan was still recovering, Zhou Jun, along with his elder brother’s assistant Xiao Fu, was primarily responsible for managing the family’s businesses. Xiao Fu, though generally quiet, always offered advice that hit the mark. At first, Zhou Jun was not entirely familiar with the work, but his ability to adapt and learn exceeded everyone’s expectations. When Xiao Fu reported back to the eldest master of the Zhou family that evening, he mentioned this in passing.

Zhou Yan leaned against the headboard, idly toying with a hand warmer. When he heard his subordinate’s subtle praise of Zhou Jun, he nodded with a slight smile, one he had never shown in front of his younger brother. He said Zhou Jun had always been sharp and never lost to anyone even back in school.

Xiao Fu was a bit surprised. He had assumed that, while the brothers did not have a bad relationship, they were far from close. He thought Zhou Yan had only involved Zhou Jun in the business out of necessity and would take back control once his health improved. But Zhou Yan’s attitude seemed unexpectedly supportive, even welcoming Zhou Jun’s involvement in the family’s affairs.

Zhou Yan’s smile did not last long before a flash of pain crossed his face. He began to sweat from the intense discomfort and quickly asked Xiao Fu to fetch some opium. Only after taking a deep inhale was he able to suppress the piercing pain. No one in the Zhou family knew how long Zhou Yan had been enduring this ailment. Only Xiao Fu was aware.

Rather than smoking opium simply to conduct business with foreigners, Zhou Yan used it to suppress the unbearable pain that plagued him. As for what exactly ailed him or why each flare-up caused such intense suffering, even Xiao Fu did not know. Zhou Yan regularly visited the hospital and took his prescribed medications, so Xiao Fu refrained from asking too many questions.

After inhaling the opium, Zhou Yan quickly grew weary. He spoke softly and told Xiao Fu to teach Second Young Master whatever he needed to know. When he got better, Zhou Jun would have to work alongside them. Xiao Fu asked quietly whether he meant Zhou Jun would help shoulder some of the responsibilities. Zhou Yan closed his eyes and shook his head. He said Zhou Jun would take over all the business he currently handled.

Xiao Fu looking up at Zhou Yan in surprise, somewhat disapproving. He had been a street orphan adopted by Zhou Yan’s mother, who, in her kindness, had raised him, provided for his education, and supported him until he was well-educated. His loyalty to Zhou Yan was unshakable.

Xiao Fu was anxious but held back his words. Zhou Yan saw through his concerns and said that he knew the state of his health. In the past, since Zhou Jun had not shown any interest, he could only endure and cling on with difficulty. He even thought that when he could no longer hold on, he would just pass on the business. But now things had changed.

Zhou Yan’s eyes suddenly brightened, as if a new strength had filled him. As long as there was still a Zhou family member who could help shoulder the burden, that was enough. The Zhou family’s business could not end in his hands. It absolutely could not.

At this moment, the Zhou family’s cook was stoking the fire, preparing a hangover soup for the Second Young Master. Recently, besides managing accounts and inspecting shops, Zhou Jun had been spending his nights socializing with managers and clients. And socializing, for men, meant endless rounds of drinking and carousing with women. Zhou Jun would often drink to a certain point, then slip away to the restroom to throw up, keeping himself just sober enough to go on. After a week of this, he was visibly thinner from all the drinking.

After the cook prepared the hangover soup, she called over a maid to take it to the Second Young Master’s room. The maid carefully carried the soup in, and saw Zhou Jun sitting by the windowsill with the window open, looking as though he might fall out at any moment. The sight startled her so much that she nearly lost her grip on the bowl. However, Zhou Jun seemed oblivious to the maid’s alarm. He gazed dreamily out the window and murmured a question about whether there would be a moon that night.

The maid was still debating whether to call for someone to help pull the Second Young Master away from the window when she saw his body sway. Before she could let out a cry, Zhou Jun had already slipped down from the windowsill and softly landed on the carpet. He gave her a faint smile and said what belonged to him would never return.

The maid had no idea what he was talking about, so she placed the soup down and hurriedly ran out to get help. As the sound of her footsteps faded away, Zhou Jun slumped onto the floor. He mumbled a melody under his breath, but it was disjointed, like a broken dance tune or a cassette tape that jammed and stopped abruptly with no continuation.

A few days later, he met with a client. The client invited him to a dinner and theater show in the evening, suggesting he bring a female companion. In the past, Zhou Jun would have quickly decided on someone, but now, as he picked up the phone, he found himself hesitating. It was a rare kind of hesitation, not from having too many choices but from a lingering emptiness.

He had not contacted any of those ladies in a long time, leading a lifestyle so restrained it was as if he had entered a state of monastic clarity. Miss Yang had gone abroad, and Miss Wen, tired of his unpredictable moods, had sent him a lengthy breakup letter. Zhou Jun did not reply, completely breaking her heart, and she had not called since. Now, if he were to reach out again, he would likely receive some cold words in return.

Zhou Jun sat on the sofa with his legs stretched out and let out a deep sigh. He considered hiring a professional companion from the social scene. Some women, fallen from high society, still worked in those circles, and he knew their services often came at a high price. For his business image, a female companion was essential. He had no intention of pursuing a real relationship, so a woman like that would suffice.

Acting on this thought, Zhou Jun asked a friend to arrange a meeting for him. At eight o’clock that evening, he headed out to pick up the lady. Driving to the designated place, he was greeted by a woman in an apricot-colored cheongsam. Her beauty was strikingly classical, with every movement exuding grace, a type Zhou Jun would have once found highly appealing.

Her voice was also very pleasant to hear. She told Zhou Jun to call her Wan Jun and mentioned her surname was Xin. Zhou Jun rested his hand on the steering wheel, his fingers gently tapping the side of Wan Jun’s seat. Wan Jun turned to look at him, and Zhou Jun smiled. He told her to buckle her seatbelt because although he was very confident in his driving skills, she was too beautiful, and he was afraid he might not stay focused enough.

Wan Jun responded in a way that was neither too coy nor overly bashful for a young lady. Zhou Jun was very satisfied with her response and decided on the spot to continue bringing Wan Jun with him. After having dinner with the client, the client suggested going to the Pear Garden for a show. Zhou Jun, holding a glass of wine, took a sip and then said he had heard that a new young female lead had joined, and her singing was extraordinary. He suggested that it might be nice to go there instead.

The client, his face flushed from drinking, smiled at Zhou Jun and said he may not have known this, but in the past, when Zhou Jun’s elder brother went to see a show, he never went anywhere else, only to the Pear Garden. He chuckled, made a gesture with his hand, and winked at Zhou Jun meaningfully. That place had its own pleasures.

Zhou Jun’s expression remained unchanged, but his heart sank a little.

The gesture was a reference to smoking opium, and it seemed that the Pear Garden offered this kind of entertainment. Zhou Jun could only remain calm and adapt to the situation, accompanying the client there. When it was time to pay the bill, he made a call to Xiao Fu. He instructed him to come over, explaining that since his older brother had business dealings with Mu Liqing, he too could consider working with Mu Liqing. As for how to proceed with the collaboration, it would need to go through his older brother’s connections.

Sure enough, when they arrived at the Pear Garden, they did not go to the front desk to watch the show. Instead, Mr. Chen spoke briefly with the Pear Garden’s owner, and soon, a young girl came to guide them. He handed Xin Wan Jun some money and called over a waiter to arrange a taxi for her. Then, he followed Mr. Chen down a long corridor and into a courtyard.

The courtyard led to a vast room with rows of long benches pressed tightly together. The air was thick with smoke, and the room was filled with people, both seated and reclining. There were men and women, some dressed in simple clothes, others in jewels and fine attire. Mr. Chen led Zhou Jun through this crowded space, eventually arriving at a smaller, private area. There, the crowd was sparse, and beaded curtains hung and swayed gently, creating a secluded atmosphere.

Mr. Chen found a spot to sit and waved to Zhou Jun with a smile, inviting him to sit. Then, he turned to the girl who had guided them in and instructed her to bring Young Master Zhou a Paradise of Pleasure and put it on his tab.