Chapter 4 Chapter Four

Ke Baisha, looking around in the apartment, turned around and looked east and west. Very nice antique furniture.she says. I didn't speak up.After a while she added: If it's to your liking, she walked out of the French windows, looked out from the balcony, came back to look at the furniture, and said: I don't like it.Why don't you like it?I asked. She said: Use your brains, God, there was a time when I was 275 pounds, and every time I was out with rich people, at formal dinners, someone gave me a Louis XV chair, those four thin legs , can't support half of my butt, and the back of the chair is not much bigger than a cough lozenge.

Are you sitting?I asked. Sit a ghost!I always wish they had thought of it beforehand, but no hostess has a brain.They brought everyone into the dining room, and I stood there watching where they had assigned me to sit.The servant standing behind me looked at me, then at the chair.Only then did the hostess realize that she had to be able to sit down before eating.One hostess told me afterwards that she didn't know what to do.If I ask the maid to change the chair for me alone, I am afraid that I will be embarrassed. I told the hostess that if I sat down, that beautiful thing would not be able to bear my weight, push the gold mountain, and crush her precious treasures. In addition to being embarrassed, I would make a fool of myself. I hate that kind of thing.

We wandered around the apartment again, and Baisha chose a studio-style couch, tried it hard, finally sat down, opened the leather bag, took out a cigarette and said: I think we have nothing to gain here. No. I have no comment. She rubbed a match vigorously, lit a cigarette, and said challengingly: What do you think? I said: She used to live here. So what? When she lived here, the name she used was Ge Yina. so what? I said: We know where she lives, we know what alias she uses.When she lived here, it was the rainy season in New Orleans, there was no kitchen, and she had to eat out.When it's raining, she won't run very far. There are only two or three restaurants within two blocks. We will know more after we run around.

Baisha looked at her watch.I got up, walked to the door, and walked out. Go down the sounding stairs, come to the inner courtyard, and then there is a long corridor.I turned right and passed another inner courtyard.When I came to Royal Street, I walked to the corner of the street and saw a sign, Bourbon House, and I walked in. This is a restaurant in a standard legal person area, not a restaurant that rips off tourists and sells savage heads.And it's cheap, the food is good, and it's a place for regulars. As soon as I walked in I knew I was in the right place.Anyone who lives in this part of the corporate district must be a regular visitor here.

I walked through the door that led to the bar and into the dining room with seating, two pinball machines and a jukebox. What do you want?said the man behind the counter. A cup of black coffee, and some coins to play pinball.I put a note on the counter. He poured me coffee and gave me a handful of coins. Three people gathered around a pinball machine and were having a blast.From what they said, it was clear that they were regulars, and the jukebox started to play.A female voice said: Please pay attention, the next song is provided by the owner of this restaurant, thank you.And the music came to the Negro song "On the Swann River."

I took out all the photos of Miss Fang that Mr. Hai had given me from my pocket.Just as I took my first sip of coffee, I let out a sickening exclamation. What's up?The man behind the counter said: What's wrong with the coffee? The coffee is good.I said: There is something wrong with these photos. He looked at me puzzled, but sympathetic. I said: The photo studio gave me a wrong bag, and I don't know where mine went. There were only two of us around the counter.The man leaned over from behind the counter, and I waved the photo casually so he could see it. I said: I have to be unlucky, they made a mistake, they must have given my photo to someone else, and they will never get it back.

Maybe it's just a mistake in the order of the two, you took the girl's and the girl took yours. That didn't work either, I couldn't find the girl anyway. He said, hi, I've seen this girl!I think for a while, she used to come here to eat.Hold on, I'll ask someone. He walked up to a black waiter and gave him a picture.He asked: Who is this girl? The waiter took the picture, held it up to the light, and said almost immediately, "Yeah, I don't know what her last name is."Two or three years ago, she always ate here, but now she doesn't come. Out of town?I asked.

No, I don't think so, I saw her on the street a month ago.She just doesn't come here anymore, that's all. I said: There is another hope. The photo studio may know her. This volume is hers, and she may have sent it herself. Tell you where I saw her, the black waiter said, a month ago, someone was with her in Master Jia's bar. man?I asked. yes. You don't know that man? do not know.He was a tall man with big hands and a suitcase. how old? Maybe fifty, maybe fifty-five, I don't remember exactly.Haven't seen it before, just remember the girl, just remember that she doesn't come here anymore.I wait on her every time she comes.

Can you think about that man again, what are the characteristics? The waiter thought for a while and said: Yes. What? Looks like there's something old in the mouth.He said. Not wanting to ask any more questions, I paid for my coffee, walked over to watch the guys play pinball, hung around for a while, and left the restaurant. I came to Master Jia's bar.There were not many customers at this time, so I climbed on a high stool and ordered a glass of gin and seven-up. The bartender gave me my drink, walked away to attend to other customers, and came back again. What photo is this?I asked him, showing him a photo.

? I said: The photo is on the high stool next to it, with the back facing up.I thought it was a scrap of paper and nearly crumpled it, but it turned out to be a photo. He looked carefully at the person in this photo and frowned. I said: She must have fallen here, she must have fallen on this high stool a few minutes ago. He was thinking, shaking his head vigorously.Said: No, she was not here a few minutes ago, but I know her.Strange how her picture is here, she would have been here quite a while ago, I guarantee she hasn't been here today. know her?I asked. He said: I will know her when I see her, but I don't know her last name.

I put the photo in my pocket.He looked at me hesitantly, as if he was studying whether it was legal for me to do so, and finally walked away. I drank the drink, walked out of the bar, stood on the corner, and reassessed. I count myself as a young lady with hair done, manicures, laundry, and dry cleaning. In the middle of the opposite street, there is a beauty salon.I held the doorknob, with a look of hesitation, as if I should go in or not.A friendly, well-meaning lady opened the door from the inside. What's up?she asked. I said: I want to ask about a girl who is one of your customers.After finishing speaking, he showed her the clearest half-length photo of Fang Ludai. She recognized immediately who it was in the photograph.She said: "She hasn't been here for two years.She was indeed a regular with us for a while, as if from Boston or Detroit, which is the big northern city anyway.I think she was looking for something to do when she first came, but she didn't pay much attention afterwards. Maybe she found something to do later. No, she didn't do anything.She is not always here on holiday, and she is always working during the day.I often see her come out for breakfast at eleven o'clock, and sometimes she doesn't come out until after noon. Are you still in this city? I'm afraid she is no longer in this city, otherwise she would come here.I'm friends with her and she likes to chat with me Hi!Who are you to her, why do you inquire about her? I said: Oh my!She's a good girl, she means a lot to me and I shouldn't Oh, she smiled, I wish I could help you, but I can't, there are other guests in there.In case we see her again, do you want to say something? I shook my head and said: As long as she is here, I will find her myself.He smiled at her and added: That might be better. also good.she says. I stopped and went to a laundromat.This is a half-home and half-business store, with a counter in the front room.I took out the photo directly and asked: Excuse me, do you know her? The woman who manages the store looked at the photo and said: Yes, she used to wash a lot of things.That's Miss Ge, isn't it? Yes, do you know where she is now? No, don't know I mean don't know where she lives. Is she still in this city? Yes, I saw her in the street, that's me, I think it was six weeks ago.I don't go downtown very much, and this store has me stuck, no one manages it for me, and I can't leave it. Which street met her. Canal Street, that's show me, it's five thirty in the afternoon.Maybe she doesn't recognize me.I have the best way of identifying people. I can recognize a customer who has only been here once. She was walking on the street that time and she was smiling. Many people saw me on the street. I can’t remember where I met them, because they always saw me. It's behind the counter.I'm different, I know everyone.However, I will never strike up a conversation without them calling me first. I bid her farewell and went back to the apartment.Kebaisha was reclining in a chair, smoking a cigarette, and on the small table beside the chair was a glass of Scotch and soda. How are you doing?she asked. Not very successful. Like finding a needle in a haystack, isn't it?Bai Sha said, Tang Nuo, I still have grades.Omg I found the best restaurant in the world. where? Right here on the street. You eat one meal a day, haven’t you already eaten it?I didn't know you were hungry.When I came back, I also wanted to ask you if you want to eat something. No, don't eat now.I have found that it is not good to let myself be too hungry, and I have to eat something from time to time to kill my hunger. I nodded and waited. Dreamy satisfaction, from Baisha's face, green pepper beef rice.She said, almost licking her lips.This thing won't get fat. real? Not a meal, but better than a meal. Is it enough?I asked, do you want to go out with me and eat something casually. Lay Donno!Don't keep mentioning food in front of me.Today's ration is enough for the day, and tonight I'll just drink tea and maybe two slices of toast. I said: Then I will go out to eat alone and continue working. What do you want me to do? There is nothing to do for you at the moment. Baisha said: I really can't see what I'm doing here. I can't see it either. She said: That lawyer insisted that I come.She said that if I find her, it will be much more convenient for me to talk to her than you.He has money to spend, and if we don't take it, it's useless. That's right. Baisha said: It would be even better if we got the bonus. It is true. Is there hope?she asked. It's too early to say, and in that case, I'm leaving. I went back to Royal Street and walked towards the canal along the pavement, which had only been paved a few years ago.Use large, flat stones, bury them in the soil, and fix them with cement.It is said that for the sake of art, some stones have sunk a little, and some surfaces have been inclined, which is not convenient for people who walk on foot. As we approached Canal Street, an idea popped into my head.I walked into a phone booth and started calling every vocational cram school in town. Not long after, a cram school gave me all the information. They didn't know Ge Yina.But there was a Miss Fang who had received a training session with them and was an outstanding student, so she was introduced to work by them first.Now working in a bank, she is the manager's secretary and I got the address too. It's that simple. The bank manager is very polite.I told him I wanted to see his secretary in order to close a property case.She said that his secretary was away on business and would be back in a few minutes. Fang Ludai, exactly like her photo, is about twenty-six years old, but she doesn't look like twenty-two years old.Easy to laugh, bright and intelligent eyes, soft and melodious voice.Is the gentleman looking for me?She asked: The manager said you were looking for me for a pen property. Yes, I said, I'm a private eye.I am looking for a man who is related to a family named Hai. From the look in her eyes, I knew this was the wrong way. I said again: That man has a relative, I don't know his name.But I know you know him, but I don't know his relationship with the surname Hai. What is this man's last name, don't you know? I said: I don't know. She said: My range of activities is not wide, and it is impossible to know too many people. I said: This man is tall, with a high forehead, a little messy eyebrows, thin hands, long fingers, and long arms. He should be fifty-five years old. She frowned, thinking hard. I looked at her carefully and said: I don't know if it's because he's used to it or if his dentures don't fit.when he laughs, I saw the change of expression on her face. Oh, she said and laughed. Do you know who I'm talking about? How did you come to me? I said: I heard he was in New Orleans, and someone said he would come to see you on business. But you don't know his name? have no idea. His name is Wang Yaqi, he is from Chicago, and he does insurance business. Do you have his Chicago address? Not by my side, I have his address at home. oh!I showed her my disappointed expression. I can look at it tonight and tell you tomorrow. That's fine, Miss Fang, have you known him for a long time? She said: No, he came to New Orleans three or four weeks ago, only for two days.A friend of mine sent me a letter asking me to take him on a tour.So I took him to see the features here, you know, restaurants, bars, anyway, what tourists look at. Legal person area? certainly. I said: People who live here are used to seeing it and it is boring, but for those who come here for the first time, it is still very interesting. She hummed without a direct answer. I said: I am really anxious to contact this Mr. Wang. I believe he is related to the person I am looking for. I asked if it is possible that I will get the address tonight. That must be after I get off work and get home. Do you have a phone? No, there is only one phone booth in the whole apartment.Calling in is unlikely, I can call out. I looked at my watch carefully.Aim to bring her back to reality, she is a working girl, and the meeting now takes up the bank's time, which is very useful, I saw her move uncomfortably, and hoped that the meeting would end immediately. I said: I'm really sorry for delaying you again and again. I wonder if your apartment is close to here? Not near, quite far, down St. Charles Avenue. I suddenly said: You get off work, I will call a taxi and wait here.You can get in the car and go home and give me the address.It's about the same as taking the bus home without wasting your time.at the same time Well, she said, I'm leaving get off work at five. Banks are already closed at five o'clock? Yes. Where can I pick you up then? I'll meet you right in front of the bank. I said: Miss Fang, thank you, I am really grateful. I took my hat, walked out of the bank, went to the hotel, put a Do Not Disturb sign outside the door, told the switchboard to wake me up at 4:30, climbed into bed, and begged for a two-hour sleep.