The Record of Unusual Creatures
chapter-391

Chapter 391: New Year

After Hao Ren and the four ascetics left “heaven”, they teleported back to the market in Southern Suburb instead of home; firstly, it was because new year was just around the corner, it was time to do some shopping—after all, it was the first new year his otherworldly tenants were having here; secondly, he wanted the four vajras oriented with local life, so at least they wouldn’t put up under the TV tower again…

During the time in Raven 12345’s place, the four vajras had received mind remodeling, and had no problem conversing in earth’s language now.

Streets in the normally-quiet Southern Suburb was becoming busy as locals who left to work in bigger cities were returning for Spring Festival. The atmosphere in town was festive as lanterns were seen all over shop fronts, and street stalls sprang up like mushrooms after the rain. Hao Ren explained to the four curious ascetics what China’s Spring Festival was all about as he led them through the streets.

Big Beardy was listening but his mind was somewhere else. He was still in a mental shock ever since he met Raven 12345; he didn’t know it was a ‘symbolic’ effect as a result of his belief in god, he was wondering if there was a problem in his faith in his Goddess. Listening to Hao Ren raving incessantly, he couldn’t help but say quietly. “I felt an indescribable pressure when I was talking to that foreign god earlier. As a devoted believer in Goddess, I shouldn’t have revered other gods. Could it be that the foreign god have some kind of psychic power?”

His tone of voice was still reverend whenever he mentioned about Raven 12345.

Hao Ren thought for a while; he hadn’t felt what Big Beardy was feeling. “Is it? I hadn’t felt it though I was standing next to you.”

Of course Hao Ren couldn’t feel it; the mental shock Big Beardy and his company was having was a result of their devout faith. Deep down in their hearts, they couldn’t help but recognise the divinity of Raven 12345. Hao Ren didn’t share the same faith and was immune; to him, Raven 12345 was just funny.

Luckily and in fact, Raven 12345 was exactly that. If not, Hao Ren would have been condemned to be struck by lightning for his contempt.

The grey robes of the four vajras were ragged and especially unsightly these few days. Hao Ren was used to them but he now couldn’t ignore them with all the curious eyeballs coming in their direction.

Just when Hao Ren was trying to trace the stares, an elderly woman, his neighbour, Madam Lee, suddenly appeared before him. The elderly woman, whose face almost wrinkled like the skin of a winter-kept apple, grabbed his hand. “Hey, kid, you’re doing charity, eh?”

Madam Lee was the most caustic person he had ever known before he met the MDT. He immediately got it as he waved frantically and explained. “No, no, no. They’re my friends. You know, bad things happened in their home town, so they just come over and stay a few days here…”

He didn’t dare to tell that they were his distant relatives—the four vajras didn’t look the slightest Chinese!

Madam Lee sized up Big Beardy and his company before she asked Hao Ren in a very concerned voice. “Are they from Ukraine?”

Hao Ren nodded his head stiffly. “Yup, there had been a terrible war… even mountains were levelled…”

Madam Lee was appalled. “Aww! That’s terrible. I heard the news from my grand son too… You should make a police report just for the record, in case they’re spies…”

The elderly woman was very cautious. Cold sweat trickled down Hao Ren’s back. He nodded his head frantically at the elderly women and said, “Thanks for the heads-up. I think I better not bother you anymore…” Before the elderly woman could ramble again, he quickly added. “By the way, they do understand Chinese!”

The elderly woman was stunned and quickly walked away. Hao Ren knew the news of the presence of foreigners in his house would spread like wild fire in no time—the elderly women was a blabber, and she had more than handful of children living around…

Big Beardy hadn’t a clue what Ukraine was. He came up and said Hao Ren, “Are we giving you trouble here?”

Hao Ren waved his hand. “No, that’s fine. When Wang Daquan first came, he hadn’t just scared the elderly lady out of her skin, two red army veterans had almost called the police and formed a neighbourhood watch…”

Judging from Y’zaks’s appearance, Big Beardy couldn’t help but nod his head in agreement. “That’s totally understandable.”

Hao Ren’s mouth twitched as he looked at the ragged robes of theirs. “You may not like it but I’ve to say it: Shall I get you guys some new clothes? The problem with you guys is your appearance are getting attention for the wrong reason, people are mistaking you as homeless.”

He said for the sake of saying, thinking that the four vajras wouldn’t be bothered as they were ascetics. But Big Beardy nodded happily and said, “Ya, that’s great! That’s great!.”

Hao Ren was surprised. “I thought you don’t mind draping in ragged sack? Wouldn’t new clothing conflict with your ascetic practices?”

Big Beardy was perplexed. “Why would it? A beautiful house supports one’s health, food satisfies one’s stomach, beauty softens one’s will, but what harm fine clothing could cause? It’s just a piece of fabric.”

Hao Ren couldn’t make sense of it; he had thought that fine clothing was a luxury. But as he pondered more about what Big Beardy had said, he was speechless: Big Beardy was right; fine clothing pleased the eyes, anything pleased the eyes was vain. So to them, luxury and enjoyment didn’t really exist, they were merely illusions!

Hao Ren was enlightened. He began to have a deeper understanding of the ascetic practices of the four vajras. But he was still curious. “Then why not you guys change your robes?”

Big Beardy looked down at his robe and shrugged. “Because we’ve no money. Even the robes were provided by the church.”

When comes to honesty, no one could beat the four ascetics! He thought.

He then brought the four vajras walking into a clothing store. He bought everyone of them a set of clothing at discounted prices—it was year-end sale.

Clothes make the man; the four vajras had transformed themselves. Big Beardy had chosen a Chinese-style cotton jacket, his Eurasian appearance made him looked like he was an international investor. The other three were no less stylish—they all had the kind of calm demeanor which they acquired from their years of ascetic training. Hao Ren was pleasantly surprised to discover that the young nun, who was always hidden in a hood, was a pretty woman!

After the New-Year shopping, they ambled back to his home. This time no one had come up and asked Hao Ren if he was just coming back from a feed-the-homeless programme. He stumbled upon Lily and Vivian as he reached home. The two maidens were standing right in front of the house as Vivian took her key out about to unlock the door. Hao Ren called out from afar. “Hey, Lily, Vivian! Back from shopping, eh?”

Lily turned and saw Hao Ren. She dropped everything and ran toward him. “Landlord! We’ve bought a lot of stuff for Spring Festival!”

Hao Ren’s brows pulled together a little as he walked her back to the house. “Oh ya… I’ve bought a lot of stuff too.”

“Must have spent a lot of money, eh?” The frugal vampire’s mouth twitched.

Hao Ren quickly played it down. “Oh, that’s OK. It’s Spring Festival. We’ve a lot more people this year. And you know what? I’ve got a bonus from Raven 12345!”

They got inside the house, and tipped their shopping bags. Table was full of groceries, the floor too. Hao Ren carefully took out a carton. He said, “Everybody comes closer. This is what Heracles had been dying for…Now I’ve got a carton full…”