The sky in Qiu Shan City gradually became dark, and the lights in hundreds of shops and thousands of homes were lit up one after another. During the period from dusk to curfew, the city seemed to have a more earthly atmosphere than during the day. There are tourists holding snacks on the street, vagabonds wandering around various brothels and restaurants, buyers and sellers, just coming to see the private scene, sweating like rain, and shoulder to shoulder. The sound of drinking orders, the noise, the cheerful laughter, everything is crowded in this ancient city, and it becomes even more lively under the light of oil lamps and hanging lanterns.
At the easternmost end of the city, there is an old stage that has been erected for a long time. The rich and beautiful hollow carvings painted on the thick wooden beams and the spacious and flat solid wood countertop are enough to prove its great origin. I heard from the old people in Qiu Shan City that a wealthy man of unknown age donated it to that place.
However, except for the troupes who sing here during festivals and festivals, not many people usually come to visit this old stage. In addition, it is far away from the center of the city and the government does not have strict jurisdiction. As time went by, many gangsters would come here on weekday evenings to drink and talk, pretending to be brothers.
Among them was a man named Liu Jinlong, who was in his thirties, tall and round, and had several younger brothers, so he was respectfully called Brother Long by the gangsters around him. His side face was cut off with a knife due to a fight in his early years, leaving a very thick scar, which made his already ugly face look even more sinister, and thus earned him the awe of many people.
That night, Liu Jinlong drank soju with his younger brothers as usual. He collected the copper coins he got today and planned to buy two more sharp knives to intimidate other gangsters and expand his sphere of influence.
Just when Liu Jinlong was about to collect the money and bury it in the soil, he heard a strange sound of "da" and "da" coming from far to near in the alley behind him, which was particularly dark due to the dark sky. Passed over.
"Don't talk yet! - Listen, is there any strange noise in the alley?" The boys closed their mouths and listened for a while - yes!
"What should I do, Brother Long, is there something wrong..." The young man called San'er said to Liu Jinlong in a panic, "How about we leave first and come back here tomorrow."
Liu Jinlong was also a little scared, but he couldn't just run away, right? In that case, he would lose face as the boss. Besides, I still can't tell what it is. "If it's just a wooden stake jumping around, what will it do?"
So everyone sat tremblingly or squatted by the stage, listening to the "da" and "da" sounds that kept approaching in the deep alley.