Shanghai Embroidery Lady

Chapter 94
Ye Zijin stood up abruptly, called Second Young Master, and was about to walk over immediately.The man was unkempt, disheveled and dressed in rags. When he saw Ye Zijin, he ran out like a plague god.Ye Zijin also chased after him, but Zhao Jinnian ran too fast, and disappeared in a small alley after a while.

Xiaoyue and Xiaowu also helped to find someone. The three of them searched for a long time but failed, so they had to give up.

Xiaoyue was a little skeptical: "Is that beggar just now the second young master of the Zhao family? How could he become like that..."

Ye Zijin nodded with certainty, "It must be him, I won't admit it wrong."

Xiao Wu shook his head and sighed: "Thinking that the second young master Zhao was also a good-looking talent back then, it's really pitiful how he has become a drunkard now."

Ye Zijin was both regretful and worried, Zhao Jinnian was now homeless, and looked no different from a beggar on the street, thinking of the easy-going, gentle and refined second young master in the past, she felt a sense of loss in the world.

Early the next morning, Ye Zijin found Xiao Xia, re-described Zhao Jinnian's current clothes and appearance, and begged Xiao Xia to help again.Seeing that she was really in a hurry, Xiao Xia had no choice but to lead a patrol to search for people who looked like beggars. Ye Zijin also followed Xiao Xia's men to find someone.

After searching all morning, I found quite a few beggars living on the street, but Zhao Jinnian was not among them.Xiao Xia yawned and said with a tired face: "Sister Zijin, since he deliberately hides from acquaintances, I think he won't be able to find them for a while, why don't you go back to Shen Ji first, I have a situation here I'll let you know later."

Ye Zijin nodded apologetically, and felt sorry for delaying Xiao Xia's business, so she had to thank her and go back first.While walking on the road, she kept wondering where Zhao Jinnian would be. Ye Zijin suddenly thought of the tavern yesterday. Since he got drunk everywhere, the most likely place to go was a restaurant.Ye Zijin decided to start from the tavern near the Hunan restaurant. She searched one after another, but unfortunately, she didn't see Zhao Jinnian.

Walking down the street with heavy steps, looking at the bustling bustling scene, Ye Zijin felt empty in her heart.She didn't know why she was so persistent in looking for Zhao Jinnian, as if she felt that if she couldn't find him, he would continue to be so decadent.Ye Zijin couldn't bear to see him like that, after all, he still had some friendship from the past, and Zhao Jinnian was kind to her for saving her. Now when he was in the most difficult time, Ye Zijin felt that he should help him.

At this time, a thin and yellow beggar came to beg with a broken bowl, Ye Zijin took out a piece of ocean and put it in without thinking.The beggar looked at the silver coin with bright eyes, hurriedly put the piece of ocean in his arms, and thanked him repeatedly.Ye Zijin nodded slightly, and walked straight to the tavern across the street, thinking in her heart that if Zhao Jinnian could meet a few kind-hearted people to give alms when begging, at least she would be able to eat a steamed bun.

Before Ye Zijin stepped into the tavern, a stench came over his face, and then a man was pushed out suddenly, his face was blue and blue, and one cheek was already a little swollen.

The waiter spit and cursed loudly: "Yeah, you little boy, you're such a loser, you deserve it for smashing your face!"

Ye Zijin grabbed the arm of the person who was thrown out, and whispered, "Second Young Master, I am Ye Zijin..."

Zhao Jinnian's eyes were full of panic and fear. Before Ye Zijin could finish speaking, he had already fled away desperately from Ye Zijin's hand.

This time no matter what he said, Zhao Jinnian could not escape again, and Ye Zijin also tried his best to chase after him.When people on the road saw a woman chasing a beggar, they felt a little puzzled, and looked a little funny.

When crossing the street, Zhao Jinnian didn't care whether there was a car or not, and desperately just went into the alley across the street. Ye Zijin turned pale with fright, Zhao Jinnian was almost hit by a car just now!Fortunately, the driver braked in time, otherwise he would have been knocked into the air.Seeing that she was about to lose her again, Ye Zijin anxiously followed her across the street.

Suddenly the body was pulled back by a strong force, Ye Zijin stumbled and leaned against a person's chest.Then there was a piercing sound of sudden braking, the sound was as sharp as if it was about to tear the eardrums.The cars behind also stopped, and the driver poked his head out and cursed, "You don't have eyes when you walk, you're courting death!"

But when they saw the man beside Ye Zijin, their expressions changed immediately, they shut their mouths quickly, and drove away quickly.

Ye Zijin asked about a faint smell of leather and tobacco, she was startled, and raised her head to meet Meng Haoxiang's stern gaze.

"Are you desperate? Didn't you see a car coming?" Meng Haoxiang's stern face showed a hint of anger.

"I... I didn't pay attention..." Ye Zijin lowered her head and said softly.

"How can you pay attention to the cars on the road? I'm afraid you only have the second young master you are looking for in your eyes?" Meng Haoxiang glanced at her disdainfully, suppressing the anger accumulated these days in his heart.After so many days, she never came to him. He secretly sent someone to check on her situation, and his subordinates reported her daily whereabouts, which was no different from the past.Meng Haoxiang couldn't hold back several times and wanted to go to Ye Zijin, but seeing her being so indifferent every day, he felt even more angry.

Just now Meng Haoxiang was passing by here in the car and saw Ye Zijin running along the street in a panic, thinking something happened to her, so he hurriedly got out of the car and followed, only to find that she was chasing a person in front.The back of that person looked familiar. When he recognized Zhao Jinnian, his heart sank. He wanted to stop caring about Ye Zijin, but when he saw that Ye Zijin was in danger, he couldn't help rushing over to hold her.

Ye Zijin knew that the explanation would only get darker and darker, so he simply said: "I am looking for the second young master, he was injured and now he is homeless."

"So you just pity him?" Meng Haoxiang put his heart on his chest, a mocking smile floated from the corner of his eyes.

Ye Zijin didn't deny it, but said expressionlessly: "Second Young Master once saved me, he is in trouble now, don't care about it, please don't misunderstand."

Meng Haoxiang pulled his lips, and said in a dry voice: "You really are a person who knows how to repay you, but it's a pity that others may not want your kindness. As for the misunderstanding, I think you misunderstood it. As I said, the relationship between you and Zhao Jinnian It has nothing to do with me. Don't think how important you are in the eyes of others, maybe that Zhao Jinnian thinks so too."

When Meng Haoxiang heard Ye Zijin call Zhao Jinnian one by one just now, he was really unhappy, and seeing her now as cold as ice, his anger surged upwards.Thinking of how worried and nervous she was when she saw Zhao Jinnian just now, she didn't even bother to explain when she saw him.

Ye Zijin's face was a little pale, and she felt a twinge of pain in her heart after hearing Meng Haoxiang's words. Indeed, in the eyes of some people, she was not that important, just a dispensable role that could be replaced at any time.Ye Zijin concealed the gloom in his eyes, and calmly said: "Boss Xie Meng reminds me that I know myself and know who I am. Boss Meng, you are too worried."

Meng Haoxiang stared at Ye Zijin, the chill in his eyes increased a bit, he paused, and said: "In that case, I have nothing to say."

Looking at the back of Meng Haoxiang going away, Ye Zijin took a deep breath, she didn't know why it happened like this, she originally wanted to talk to him, but she was so stimulated by Meng Haoxiang's words that she couldn't breathe, her mood was very confused.After all, it is impossible to talk calmly, and Ye Zijin doesn't have the courage to go to Meng Haoxiang right now.She bit her lower lip, walked straight to the alley across the road, no matter what, she found Zhao Jinnian first.

Back in Shenji, Xiaoyue saw that her expression was not very good, so she hurriedly asked what happened.Ye Zijin just smiled lightly and didn't say much.

Xiaoyue pointed to the backyard and said: "Miss Qiangwei has been here for a while, and she is still waiting for you in the backyard..."

Chi Mae?She came to find herself?Ye Zijin was a little surprised, and hurried to the backyard.

I saw a woman standing in front of the flower stand, wearing an electric blue water-stained sleeveless cheongsam, and wearing a small gauze hat slanted to shade the sun, which seemed to have a combination of Chinese and Western flavors.

"Zhimei, you're here." Ye Zijin stepped forward and called her hesitantly.

Zhao Zhimei turned her head to look at her, nodded slightly, then walked to the bamboo chair in the courtyard and sat down, asking, "Any news about my second brother?"

Ye Zijin sat across from her, poured a cup of tea for her, and said, "I went looking for him today, and I happened to meet him in front of a tavern, but he ran away when he saw me, and I couldn't catch up. He didn't came to see you?"

Zhao Zhimei took the teacup and gently put it to her mouth, shook her head and said, "No, I'm also looking for him everywhere."

"Maybe he doesn't want to see us, the second wife's death should have hit him hard..." Ye Zijin was worried in his heart, Zhao Jinnian was likely to be injured or killed because of drinking on credit.

Zhao Zhimei sighed, and said, "Second brother, why is he so confused? Aunt Fang died to protect him."

Ye Zijin saw that Zhao Zhimei's face looked sad, and asked tentatively: "Zhimei, what happened in the years when you left Shanghai? I remember you said that you and your mother went back to your hometown in Suzhou."

Zhao Zhimei's hand holding the teacup froze in mid-air, and there seemed to be resentment in her eyes.She took a look at Ye Zijin and wrote lightly: "Nothing happened, I just couldn't get used to the hard life, so I came back. You should look down on people like me, who are willing to be Paramount's showgirl for money and pleasure. "

Ye Zijin heard her speak very seriously, and secretly felt a little distressed.Back then, Zhao Zhimei was a pure and kind lady, but now on this delicate face, the eyebrows are slender and slender, the lips are as delicate as roses, and her frowns and smiles are a little more beautiful.

"Zhimei, I didn't look down on you like this. It's because of this that you refused to admit your past identity?" Ye Zijin said bitterly.

Zhao Zhimei turned her face away, looked at the pots of rose flowers at the foot of the wall, and smiled helplessly, "You can support yourself with your craftsmanship, but I don't know anything, and I can't bear much hardship, so I can only sing .I don’t even look down on myself like this, how dare I ask others to look me in the eye. To put it nicely, I’m a beautiful girl, but to put it badly, I’m a singing girl.”

Seeing the infinite sadness flashing in her eyes, Ye Zijin was filled with emotion, how could she see herself so humble. "Zhimei, I don't think it's shameful to be a singing girl. I rely on my own ability to eat, which is better than being a vine that clings to a big tree to survive. If I cared about my dignity, I would have starved to death on the street. Back then I I am also a peddler outside the singing and dancing hall, as long as I can do things that can make money, I will do it even if I am despised and looked down upon by others. I will not underestimate those who live on their own, why should you belittle yourself. "

Zhao Zhimei couldn't believe it. When she met her back then, she was already Shen Ji's apprentice. Zhao Zhimei didn't know Ye Zijin's past. It turned out that she had also suffered so much indifference and grievance.When she first entered Paramount, she thought of the stage name Qiangwei, and she kept the Qiangwei handkerchief, but she didn't dare to go to Ye Zijin, for fear that the current self would shame the old friendship. Things are different.

"Zhimei, I know you really love to sing. There's nothing shameful about being a singer. You're already a star, so why be afraid of other people's opinions." Ye Zijin smiled.

"Thank you, Zijin..." The corners of Zhao Zhimei's eyes were slightly moist, she took off her lace gloves and wiped them, and said slowly, "One year after I returned to Suzhou with my mother, my mother remarried, she married A man was a child, and that man was a snob. He insisted on marrying me to a powerful local gentry. That man was over sixty years old, and my mother couldn't stop them, so I fled to Shanghai , and later became a singer due to livelihood..."

"You are stupid, why didn't you come to see me, and you pretended not to know me when we met later, I was so mad." Ye Zijin blamed and complained, feeling a little pity in her heart, thinking that she must have suffered a lot when she escaped back.

Zhao Zhimei blushed, "At that time, I didn't want to be a burden, I couldn't do anything. After I entered Paramount, I was worried that you would look down on me, so..."

The two haven't seen each other for many years, and they talked until the evening before giving up.Time seemed like yesterday, she was still that little tailor shop apprentice, she was still that carefree young lady.It's just that night fell, and Zhao Zhimei had to go back to the feasting Paramount, and stand on the gorgeous stage to sing.The two bid farewell to each other and discussed looking for Zhao Jinnian together tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)