Killer and Healer Novel (English Translation)

Prologue

'The wind was blowing snowflakes like flowers, and the moonlight reflects on the ice crystals like a broken mirror'

*

Jingcheng, 8th day of the 12th lunar month, Laba Festival

This year, Jingcheng was extremely cold. There were several heavy snowfalls during the winter, and on the 8th day oft he 12th lunar month, it got even colder. At this time, the sky was getting dark. The north wind was blowing snowflakes, which made people's faces hurt. The icy ground people steppen on was reflecting the pale moonlight - it was like 'The wind was blowing snowflakes like flowers, and the moonlight reflects on the ice crystals like a broken mirror'.(*)

Anchasi Street was probably the most prosperous street in Jingcheng. But at that time, no Pedestrians could be seen on the street, and all the shops were closed. Only some laughter came out of the cracked windows, and some smoke was floating out of chimneys. Every family was celebrating the holiday. The warm light shined from the paper window(1), which made the street outside seem even more cold and desolate.

A figure came around the corner in a hurry. With the moonlight, one can see he was a Teenager. His hair was disheveled, the cotton-padded jacket he wore was torn, and his trousers were full of patches. On one foot, he was wearing a dirty cotton sock, and on the other, he was wearing a straw shoe. He was around 12 or 13 years old, with a dirty face and wounds all over his body. It wasn't clear whether these wounds were due to the cold or from being beaten.

This beggar-like teenager was holding his arms tightly and was huddling his neck as he walked along the street. He didn't dare walk slowly as the ragged cotton-jacket couldn't resist the north wind. But he couldn't run faster because he hasn't found any food to eat today, so he didn't have any strenght left.

Wealthy people lived on this lane. They hired workers to spread gravel and cinder on the pavement to prevent people from stumbling, as opposed tot he back lane, which was icy and difficult to walk due to the snow. But as soon as the teenager ran a few steps, the sole of his straw shoe was punctured by a large cinder. He hissed, picked up his foot to take a look at his sole. The sole of his shoe had been worn out, revealing the bare soles of his feet tot he cold. The teenager cursed and limped tot he side of a street to sit down. He happened to sit outside the largest pawnshop in this street. The Shopkeeper inside who set up a banquet was drinking wine with the master and other people and probably hired a singer to sing some songs.

A gentle female voice was singing with the pípá(2), <When i love him, i love the first moon, when i like to see the plum tip moon when i think of him, i say a few Xijiangyue, i hope that when i look forward to the moon...>(3)

The teenager didn't understand the song but was drawn by the faint aroma of wine and meat. He leaned over and looked in through the cracks of the door, but refused to open his mouth and beg like a beggar. Instead, he just looked at it.

Inside, toasting and playing festival games were lively. How can anyone think of a child outside who was starving and freezing from the cold? The teenager looked at it for a long time and said nothing. Suddenly, he kicked the door, turned around, and ran. He ran a few steps and stopped when he saw nobody was following him. At this time, the cold wind grew stronger, snow clusterung on people's necks. Unable to stand the cold, he rubbed his hands and slipped down the wall.

Suddenly, he smelled a fragrance of medicine. The Teenager raised his head slightly and suprisingly found himself sitting outside of a Hospital. He could read the three gold characters "Cun Ren Tang"(4) on the blackboard; the sign looked a little faded. Even though the shop was closed, the light was on, and a warm orange light passed through the window and reflected on the snow. Someone was talking inside.