Mingmei Yip - The Nine Fold Heaven

I didn’t respond to his sarcasm, but said, “The Mercedes is already outside as my big thank you. But I have something even more exciting for you.”

“What?”

“A magic show.”

“I don’t have time for this nonsense, just give me the seal, take that living corpse, and run for your life before I change my mind.”

“It’s magic, Big Brother Wang. Everyone needs magic in their life, especially on their birthdays. I’m giving you a bonus in exchange for Master Lung. Besides, this magic show will bring you endless blessings and good luck.”

All gangsters are superstitious and never refuse anything they are told is lucky.

He cast me a suspicious look. “Ha, what about if it’s not magic, but a trick?”

“But I’m not the magician, so how can I do the trick?”

He thought for a while, then, “All right, then let my men search the magician first.”

“But you can’t do that—”

“Why not?”

“Because they may wreck the props, then there’ll be no magic!”

Before he could respond, I added. “Trust me, Big Brother Wang. We will all be right next to you so you can kill us anytime if you think I am deceiving you. Also, please announce to your guests about the show. I’m sure you’ll gain much face by having this very special entertainment. Now I’ll call the magician.”

I took his silence as agreement.

At least for the moment, after so many years of obeying his instructions, he was now following mine. I went to make the magical phone call.

Now the magician made his grand entrance wearing full regalia—tuxedo, tall hat, white gloves. Or rather, I should say “her” entrance because it was my friend Shadow dressed as a man. With the add-on mustache and long hair concealed under her top hat, she looked handsome and confident as a real man. First, Shadow went to bow respectfully to Big Brother Wang, then set up her props on the restaurant’s stage.

Without asking for permission, I quickly stepped up to the amplifier and announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, most of you have never seen me before. I am Big Brother Wang’s sister-in-law’s sister and am just back from the US, where I have been studying at Harvard. To show my admiration for Big Brother Wang’s accomplishments and to celebrate this important birthday, tonight I’ve brought him two very special gifts.”

A round of applause burst in the hall. I was relieved that no one seemed to have recognized me as the Heavenly Songbird Camilla. Fortunately for me, people are easily fooled by what they’re told to believe.

I went on. “I’ve invited a magician to give a wonderful, auspicious performance. I’ve also brought a car—a brand-new Mercedes salon car, which is parked right outside our restaurant. You can all go to admire it after the banquet.”

Quiet chatter could now be heard from the hall. I guessed people were wondering how a young woman they had never heard of had the money for such an expensive gift. They might even think the car had been paid by Wang, with me hired as part of the gift.

I spoke again, displaying a sweet smile. “Ladies and gentlemen, I won’t take up too much of your time. Now I’ll let our magician take over, and I hope you’ll all enjoy this special treat.”

I made a gesture toward Shadow and noticed that a few women’s eyes widened at the sight of my tall and handsome friend, even those of Wang’s youngest concubine.

When the applause died down, Shadow took a heavy object covered with a black drape from her bag and placed it on the table in front of her. She lifted the cloth to reveal a huge silvery carp swimming inside a big bowl.

In a deep voice, she proclaimed, “I bring this fish to wish great abundance to Big Brother Wang—may his wealth spill over more every year.”

Fish symbolize having more than enough because the word yu sounds just like the word for “have more.”

After we had a few moments to appreciate the sparkling fish, Shadow went on. “All right, I think my little darling needs a nap before she’s ready to entertain you again.”

People burst into laughter as the magician draped the black cloth back over the bowl.

Now a hush came over the audience, all eager for the magic.

Shadow smiled broadly. “Ladies and gentlemen, now I’d like to present this to Big Brother Wang for his special banquet!”

She pulled off the cloth. To everyone’s surprise, the fish was no longer swimming inside the bowl, but lying on a big plate, cooked.

This time the applause sounded like thunder.

“ Wah, how did he do that?”

“Where’s the bowl?”

“Is that fish real?!”

“It must be. See? There’s steam coming out!”

Shadow carefully took the plate, walked to our table, and placed the dish down with the fish head facing Big Brother Wang—to show respect for his head status.

Wang looked stunned, entertained, and pleased at the same time. He nodded and said, “Good. Thank you for your magic.”

I said to the magician, “Sir, you’ve done your job to entertain Big Brother Wang, now you can leave.”

Shadow made a deep bow to my boss. “Big Brother Wang, please excuse me. I hope I can provide more entertainment to you in the future.”

Wang smiled happily to the handsome man. “Please sit down and enjoy our food and wine.”

“Big Brother Wang, I am sorry, but I have another engagement. I hope to be at your service in the future.”

“Of course. What’s your name?”

Shadow handed him a card that had been printed a few days ago, bearing Shadow’s latest fake name, Ed Yuan.

After Shadow’s departure, I turned to my boss. “Please, Big Brother Wang, taste the good-luck fish for bringing abundance to your household.”

He cast me an evil smile. “How do I know it’s not poisoned? Why don’t you go ahead first?”

“No problem,” I said.

I signaled Jinying with a nod and we both plunged our chopsticks into the fish and ate with gusto.

Probably seeing that we did not hesitate and were still very much alive, Lung picked up his chopsticks and began to propel chunks of fish into his mouth..

“Ha, this is the first time I’ve eaten a magic fish. Interesting. How did he do this?”

Just then Jinying, who had been quiet the whole time, said to Wang, “Big Brother Wang, I believe my father has just soiled his pants, I need to take him to the bathroom right away before it…”

Wang cast a disgusted look at his once formidable, now pitiful, rival. “Ha! I bet your father never thought he’d end up in this miserable, revolting state, eh?” He waved his calloused hand. “Go quickly.” Then he asked a bodyguard to accompany the duo.

When Lung was accompanied by his son to the exit leading to the bathroom, I saw that he was paralyzed from the waist down and had been sitting on a wheelchair. Wang must have tortured him severely or starved him for months. Since he had been silent all evening, I suspected his rival had also drugged him. Wang motioned us to resume eating.

Then he said to me, with barely suppressed anger, “So, where’s my seal?”

I pointed to the fish. “That’s why I arranged the magic show, it’s inside the fish’s head. So you’ll be the head enjoying all your power and abundance.”

He immediately plunged his chopsticks and poked around. The head was now a complete mess, but the seal was nowhere to be found.

If stares could kill, then I’d be already dead from his angry, evil one.

He spoke in a heated whisper. “But there’s no seal inside the fish head!”

I could see that the women were casting questioning glances in our direction, no doubt dying to know what had been going on. But none would risk having their lips cut off to ask.