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The Street Urchin

Yǐngzi ran through the narrow streets for dear life. In his haste to get away, he had brushed against the rough walls of shops and homes, causing his scabby skin to crack open and bleed. A gang of men chased close at his heels, throwing sticks, stones, and all kinds of choice words at him. He regretted nothing!

He was just a boy past ten years and he had already seen far more than many adults. He did not remember his parents. All he knew from hear-say was that they were poor refugees who had moved to the city during times of war. Unfortunately, they perished in an epidemic that broke out in the refugee camp. No one quite knew how their son, then merely a year old, survived the carnage or the disease. But he did, and he survived hardship on the streets which he called his home. No one took the boy under their roof, but there was always someone kind enough to throw him some food or old clothes they no longer needed.

By the time he was five years of age, he managed to convince the gang of beggars in his area to let him join them. He was adept at stealing things and getting away with it due to his innocent look and sweet words. When he turned seven, he had already won the honorary title of Yǐngzi húlí, or the Shadow Fox. It was a notable achievement to be given this title in the gang at such a young age. To gain it, one should steal a precious item from a noble person and get away with it. He had stolen the magistrate’s personal token after sneaking into the heavily guarded headquarters late at night through a dog hole.

This time though was different. It was not the magistrate’s men who were after him, but human traffickers. They often caught very young boys in the gang or unattended children, selling them to the highest bidders in distant villages and towns. This is where the black markets were located far from the eyes of the government. The children would be transported from there as soon as a bid was closed. Both boys and girls fetched a good price in brothels, or as slaves of the rich and powerful. Their lives would be spent in total misery as they were at the mercy of those they served. Most did not survive and the high death rates caused greater demand in such trafficking.

That morning, Yǐngzi had purchased a pot of the local bai jiu and was making his way through the streets, happily munching on some stale bun that someone had discarded. He spotted two men in a quiet lane grabbing a younger boy from his gang after having tempted him with some candy. He thought that it was the Huān gang from the more, affluent northern area of the city. They were known to kidnap children and break their limbs or disfigure them before using them to run all kinds of dangerous rackets. Almost always, the children got caught and punished while the adult leaders made their escape.

Yǐngzi swiftly threw the pot of wine with all the force his body could manage. He hit bullseye and caused one man to stumble and fall. He quickly ran forward and bit down hard on the other man’s hand, making him let go of the young boy who quickly fled into the open and made his escape through the market. Meanwhile, the two men were fuming because of this interruption that caused them monetary loss, and decided to grab Yǐngzi as their prize instead. They were no match for him though, because no one knew these streets as well as the Shadow Fox! After being led through thoroughfares and lanes, markets and abrupt corners, they lost track of him and gave up their chase. He stayed hidden in the muddy ditch below the main market which was famous for its stench from all the rotting offals that lazy butchers threw into it. When he was absolutely certain they were no longer after him, he slowly and cautiously got out of the ditch and made his way through the streets.

It did not help that he was now both dirty and stinking. His face and clothes were layered in mud and some hard to remove strings of fat that were clinging to his rough clothes. His open wounds were crusted in blood and dirt, and his hair was more dishevelled than usual. Seeing how everyone sneered at him and got out of his path, Yǐngzi thought it was a good idea to keep this impromptu disguise on for his own safety after the day’s risky adventure.

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He walked towards the bamboo forest that was just outside the city, and made his way towards a tranquil clearing where two old men were playing a game of wéiqí. One was wearing a shēnyī of deep blue over white. His greying hair was held up in a white jade crown. The other was wearing a simpler, brown bāoyībódài. His snow-white hair was firmly held in a bun and a bamboo dǒu lì was by his side. Yǐngzi simply called the first, Lǎo yù or Old Jade, and the second as Lǎo xuě or Old Snow.

‘It is safe to say that there will be no wine tonight,’ Lǎo yù commented without so much as lifting his eyes off the board.

‘Aye! Do not be such a pessimist, you old man!’ Lǎo xuě chided. ‘He said he will bring it, he will bring it.’

Just then, Yǐngzi came over, scratching his head sheepishly.

Lǎo xuě looked up while simultaneously waving before his nose as if that would help him rid the air of the stench. ‘You little stinky fox! I spoke too soon!’ he grunted below his breath.

‘Where is the money?’ Lǎo yù asked without looking at Yǐngzi.

‘Er… that… it is gone,’ Yǐngzi replied as he embarked on a dramatic retelling of his escape from the traffickers.

‘This brat! Can his story be trusted?’ Lǎo xuě asked Lǎo yù.

‘Do we have a choice? There is no money and there is no wine. Be content with water today,’ the latter continued, ‘As for you, young man, head down to the river and clean yourself. Change your clothes, fill our water gourds and come back.’

‘I don’t have clothes,’ Yǐngzi replied.

Lǎo yù nodded his head and sighed. ‘You will find a set of fresh clothes by the banks over there. A passer-by left us with it as he lost a game to me,’ he said.

Yǐngzi eagerly ran over and obediently got himself cleaned. The clothes were more suitable for a teenager, but he folded the sleeves and pants to make them work for him. They were warm enough for the night and did not have any stench on them. He was grateful for that.

He filled the gourds with water from the river before pausing and walking a little further downstream. The solitary pear tree growing along the banks was full of ripe, winter fruit. He gathered some and made his way back.

‘I am sorry about the wine, but here is some pear as compensation,’ he told his old friends. ‘Thank you for the clothes!’

‘At least you are a grateful fox!’ Lǎo xuě teased. ‘Take a look at this. What move shall I make?’ he asked Yǐngzi. The young boy pondered over the board for awhile before making his move. His elderly friends widened their eyes in amazement. Lǎo xuě remarked to Lǎo yù with a twinkle, ‘With one move, he has created two eyes and ruthlessly grabbed what is yours!’ Lǎo yù just nodded his head thoughtfully while stroking his long beard.

‘The city gates will close in a while. I better return and find a quiet place to sleep tonight,’ Yǐngzi said as he got up and began walking towards the city.

‘Boy, are you not afraid of ghosts?’ Lǎo xuě yelled as Yǐngzi walked into the distance. Yǐngzi, looked back briefly and yelled back, ‘No!’

Once he reached the city, he quickly checked his surroundings to ensure he was not being tailed by anyone suspicious. Then he picked up his walking pace and headed to the southern end of the city where the hill sloped down towards the river. The city’s graveyard was located here and it was the place everyone avoided especially once the sun began to set.

But Yǐngzi was not afraid. He found a quiet spot behind a tombstone and cleared the leaves off it. He took out a pear and cleaned it on his sleeve before relishing his simple dinner. He was still hungry, so he took out a band of cloth he found on his way back, and tied it tightly around his stomach. Then he tried to get as comfortable as possible, using his hand as a makeshift pillow. His mind wandered back to the day’s events and conversations.

‘Ghosts? Hmmm… it is not ghosts that concern me. It is the evil people in this world that I hate the most!’ he thought to himself as his eyes grew heavy with sleep. An owl hooted nearby and somewhere in the distance another owl answered its cry. The watchmen were making their rounds through the streets.

In a little bamboo hut in the outskirts, Lǎo xuě could barely contain his proud smile as he dusted his bed and prepared to sleep.

‘What do you think, old man? I have trained him well, have I not? The boy is a genius!’

Lǎo yù had already settled in his bed and had closed his eyes. ‘Sleep now. It is still too early to tell. The game has just begun,’ he said softly as Lǎo xuě extinguished the lamp beside his bed.