The splendor of the Red Chamber, the power that reigns supreme.

Chapter 61 A Desolate World
They shouted, "Don't break it!" and "This is Uncle's beloved possession!" but their hands were faster than anyone else's! "Mine! This abacus is the one my older brother used to teach me how to do business!"

The burly man grabbed the abacus, but his sharp-tongued nephew held onto the other end tightly: "Bullshit! This abacus should belong to me!"

The gold-plated silver water jug ​​was particularly eye-catching, attracting the attention of two or three people at the same time. Several hands flailing wildly in the air, nearly colliding with each other, while foul language was uttered, revealing their true colors.

"Put it down! Those are the things my husband left behind in this silk shop! Leave them to me... leave them to me as a keepsake!" Madam Yu collapsed to the ground, her heart breaking at the sight of her deceased husband's belongings being looted. She burst into tears, her voice as mournful as a cuckoo's cry of blood.

But who would listen to her? The abacus was fought over by several rough hands, and with a "crack," one of the abacus bars was snapped in two!
The water jug ​​also clattered to the ground during the shoving. Fortunately, it was made of silver and did not break, but someone quickly picked it up and snatched it into their arms.

Only that inconspicuous old cloth ruler lay forlornly among the feet of people, like a worn-out shoe, kicked and trampled by everyone, covered with mud and dust footprints.

Yu was heartbroken. Seeing that the abacus and silver pot were beyond saving, she could only look sadly at the measuring tape, which was the old item that her husband had used to measure the cloth. She struggled, disregarding her dignity, and crawled over to pick it up.

"Get out of the way! You're in my way!" In the chaos, someone's hard-soled boot stomped hard on the back of her outstretched hand! Yu cried out in pain as her hand immediately turned bruised and purple.

Someone else, preoccupied with grabbing, swept a thick leg across her shoulder, nearly knocking her over. The ruler rolled in the mud and grime just inches away, yet it felt like an insurmountable chasm separated them!

Yu sat slumped in the dust, her hair disheveled, her tearful eyes gazing sadly and resolutely at the few yamen runners and officials standing by with the seals affixed.

But those officials, at this moment, were like clay or wooden statues of judges and demons in a temple! Some had their hands in their pockets, eyes downcast, seemingly in deep meditation; others tilted their heads, picking their yellow teeth, only concerned with watching the commotion.

Even worse, some people simply turned their backs and pointed at the shadows of the locust trees in the yard, as if they hadn't seen the filthy scene of looting and trampling before them.

Ximen Qing coldly observed this farce and had already tied his horse to the side.

He gently played with the gold-flecked fan in his palm, parted the crowd, and strolled inside with an air of nonchalance.

The Zhang family members, who had been fighting like wolves and tigers, were instantly frozen in place upon seeing Master Ximen arrive!
They hurriedly forced in obsequious smiles, bowing like shrimp, and parted to make way for each other, hastily hiding the items they had just snatched into their sleeves: "Oh my! Master Ximen!" "Master, may you be well!" "We greet you, Master!" Their voices were sickeningly sweet.

Ximen Qing didn't even bother to lift his eyelids, merely letting out a grunt from his nose as a tacit agreement. His gaze was like a knife, first sweeping over the trembling, tear-streaked, bruised-on-the-back Yu Shi on the ground, then coldly glancing at the few bailiffs who were feigning deafness and muteness. With a flick of his wrist, he deftly put away the gold-flecked fan with a soft "snap."

He then gave the constables a wink.

Those yamen runners were as if they had been poked in the buttocks with a red-hot iron rod, instantly transforming from clay puppets into living Yama!
Just moments ago he was listless, but now he was like a wolf, drawing his heavy, black fire-and-water staff from his waist and slamming it down on the ground several times, raising dust as he shouted angrily:
"Hey! Where did you filthy scoundrels come from?! How dare you cause trouble in broad daylight, on the main street? You've disturbed Master Ximen and offended the neighbors! How many heads do you have?!" "Get out of here right now! If you dare to bare your teeth and utter another half-fart, we'll lock you up immediately, drag you to the yamen jail, break your legs, and let you taste the whip of discipline!"

"Get out! All of you, get the hell out of here!"

Sticks were being brandished and shouts were deafening.

How could these people dare to utter another word? They all bowed and scraped like stray dogs, and quickly ran away with their heads in their hands.

Just as he was about to leave, Master Ximen gave him another look.

The constables immediately understood and jumped up and down, shouting: "Hey! You bastards, how dare you steal in broad daylight in front of us?! Do you want to taste the feeling of having your ribs broken by these fire and water clubs?!" "You damned thieves! Quickly put down the stolen goods and return them as they were! Are you waiting for us to take action and skin you alive?!"

Those who had managed to grab the items could only leave behind the cracked abacus and water jug ​​with long faces.

A few unwilling "beloved relatives" turned back and spat a few mouthfuls of phlegm at Madam Yu, swearing viciously with foul language: "You old hag! Just you wait! If you don't hand over the money, hiding in the mansion won't do you any good. Sooner or later, you'll die a horrible death!" Then, cursing and swearing, they left in a swarm.

Still shaken, Yu wiped the spittle from her face with her sleeve and rubbed her bruised hand. As the crowd dispersed, ignoring the pain, she lunged at the old, mud-covered cloth ruler that had been kicked into a corner, clutching it tightly to her chest as if it were her last refuge. Her body curled up, trembling silently.

The image of Zhang the landlord bowing his head in submission before him, enduring insults, ear-pulling, and slaps flashed through his mind. If that old scoundrel were still alive, he would never have allowed him to suffer such heart-wrenching humiliation!

Even if he were a demon crawling out of the deepest hell, he was still a guardian deity protecting his family from wind and rain. Thinking of this, he felt a surge of anger and longed to die with that old man. Two lines of tears, like beads from a broken string, rolled down his cheeks.

The two maids who had been stunned by the shock finally snapped out of their daze and rushed forward to support the swaying body. Madam Yu felt as if all her bones had melted, and she was as limp as a pile of mud. Only with the maids' desperate support could she barely keep her feet on her feet.

She squinted, her tearful eyes fixed on Ximen Qing, who was whispering to the constables. Her lips moved several times, her throat bobbing as if a thousand curses were stuck there, but ultimately, it was as if an invisible hand was choking her, and she couldn't utter a single word.

In those tearful eyes, resentment hissed like a snake's tongue, fear seeped into the bone like ice, and sorrow swept away like autumn leaves by the wind, mixed with a curse that tore flesh apart, and perhaps even a trace of gratitude that even she herself couldn't explain. All these emotions were tangled together, and no one could possibly discern them clearly.

She bent down shakily, her withered hands trembling, and picked up the abacus with its broken frame and the half-empty teapot from the ground. She gritted her teeth, said nothing more, and was half-supported and half-carried away by the little maid.

(End of this chapter)