章 134: Hot Springs & Night Market (2)

"Oh, it's Jingliu. It's been some time, young lady," the older woman said, her voice warm and familiar.

The small booth, a humble setup amidst the bustling fairground, attracted patrons with its simple allure: a chance to shoot at targets with pellet guns for the cost of 5 CNY. Yasushi approached with a curious gaze. As a former Englishman, his experience with firearms was nonexistent; in his homeland, such items were not readily accessible. He examined the imitation gun, its weight unfamiliar in his hand, and took aim.

His first shot veered slightly off target, narrowly missing. The second shot struck the target but failed to dislodge it, and the third, though closer, merely nudged it. "Hmm," he murmured, his brow furrowing in concentration. He placed another 5 CNY on the counter, much to the amusement of those around him, who regarded the game with skeptical smiles.

"Is he your boyfriend?" the lady inquired, glancing at Jingliu. She nodded, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. "He's persistent, that's for sure," she added, a light chuckle escaping her.

Yasushi, his determination undeterred, flicked his arm upward and let the pellet fly. To everyone's astonishment, not only did the pellet strike true, but it also sent the entire pyramid of cans crashing down. The resounding clatter of metal echoed around them. He repeated the motion twice more, each shot expertly dismantling the remaining stacks. With a satisfied grin, he turned to the elderly lady and then to Jingliu.

"Pick whatever you like," he offered, his smile broadening as he saw Jingliu's cheeks flush with surprise. She nodded, her eyes scanning the assortment of prizes before settling on a small duck plushie. She picked it up, and Yasushi turned back to the old lady. "That's fine, right?" he inquired.

The lady's eyes twinkled with amusement as she nodded in agreement. "It's perfectly fair, young man. Though I have to admit, I didn't expect that trick to work. No one's ever tried it before," she said, her laughter bubbling up, infectious and hearty.

As Jingliu and Yasushi walked away, they noticed a crowd gathering around the booth. Curious onlookers attempted Yasushi's unconventional technique, only to fail repeatedly. Yasushi, recalling that he had seen the method in a movie, had been surprised when it actually succeeded. He had used it on a whim.

"Thank you, but did you know that would work?" Jingliu asked, her gaze fixed on Yasushi while she hugged the plushie close, her face partially hidden against its soft fabric.

Yasushi's laughter rumbled as he shook his head. "Nope, it was just luck. I'm surprised it worked even the second and third times," he admitted, his voice tinged with amusement. Jingliu responded with a soft chuckle, clearly entertained by his candidness.

The pair wandered toward a cluster of food stalls, their path taking them through a snaking line. As they waited, the sounds of lively chatter and sizzling grills filled the air. Suddenly, a burst of excitement caught their attention — a test of strength game, where participants wielded a heavy mallet to strike a pad.

The setup was familiar from many fairs: a robust metal column stood upright with a bell perched at its summit. Contestants took their turns, swinging the mallet with varying degrees of force. The objective was to generate enough impact to propel a weight up the column and ring the bell. The height the weight reached was a measure of their strength, skill, and technique, while cheers and encouragement from the crowd added to the atmosphere. The game promised not just the thrill of competition but also enticing prizes for those who performed admirably.

"Huh, I didn't expect to see this here," Yasushi remarked, his gaze fixed on the test of strength game. "This Night Market feels more like a carnival than anything else. Though it's missing the bigger rides and attractions."

"Yeah, it's changed quite a bit over the past few years," Jingliu said, her tone thoughtful. "It used to be just food stalls and vendors selling various goods. Now they've added things like this, probably to draw in a younger crowd. That's why it feels more like a fair now."

Yasushi nodded, contemplating the shift. As they inched closer in line, Jingliu turned to him with a playful glint in her eye. "How about we give it a go? I haven't tried this in a year."

Yasushi glanced at the game, noting the cluster of spectators around it. "Well, if you're up for it, I'm game. There's no real line right now, but there are quite a few people watching anyone who steps up."

Jingliu's eyes sparkled with amusement as she nudged him with her elbow. "Is Yasushi feeling a bit nervous and worried about looking silly?" she teased, sticking out her tongue playfully.

Yasushi rolled his eyes and gave Jingliu's nose a gentle pinch. "No, I'm not nervous. But fine, let's give it a shot. First, though, let's grab something to eat," he said, and they proceeded to do just that. They spent the next five minutes navigating the line for food and drinks, eventually emerging with their hands full.

With their snacks in hand, they settled on a nearby spot to observe the test of strength. Several participants had taken their turn, their efforts generating a variety of results. Some came tantalizingly close to ringing the bell but fell short. The crowd, buzzing with excitement, watched intently as more people stepped up, only to falter and leave without the coveted prize.

Then, a particularly tall and muscular man, who had been boasting loudly to his friends earlier, approached with a swagger. His confidence was palpable as he took hold of the mallet. He positioned himself in front of the pad, his posture rigid with determination. With a powerful swing, he brought the mallet crashing down onto the pad, shouting as he did. The impact was forceful, propelling the weight up the column with remarkable speed. The bell rang out with a resounding clang, and the crowd erupted in cheers, their applause echoing across the fairground.

"We've got our first winner of the evening," Yasushi remarked, continuing to munch on his food with an amused glance at the scene.

"Mmm. He really made a show of it," Jingliu replied, her voice tinged with amusement. "He's still showing off, and he's even turned down the prize in favor of a free food ticket around the Night Market."

The muscular man eventually accepted the food ticket, offering a nod of thanks to the game's operator. He didn't leave, though. Instead, he lingered near the booth, a self-satisfied smirk on his face as he watched others take their turns and fail to match his performance.

After a while, Jingliu and Yasushi decided to take their turn. Jingliu was the first to step up after waiting for her moment. As she approached the booth, Yasushi called out, "Good luck." Several people turned their heads at the sound of his voice, a few whispers and curious glances directed toward Jingliu.

She turned and flashed Yasushi a confident smile before turning back to the game. With practiced ease, she picked up the mallet, her grip firm and assured.

Jingliu fixed her gaze on the pad, the calm in her eyes contrasting sharply with the intensity of her next move. She raised the mallet above her head in a clean arc, then brought it down with a sharp, precise strike. The force with which she hit the pad sent the weight skyrocketing, crashing into the bell with a resounding clang that reverberated through the air.

For a moment, the surrounding area fell into a hushed silence, awed by Jingliu's display of strength and composure. Yasushi, breaking the quiet, began clapping enthusiastically. His voice carried over the stunned crowd, "Good job!"

Jingliu walked over to the owner, who was visibly taken aback by her performance but nonetheless handed over the prize. The crowd's attention, previously riveted on the scene, shifted to a crescendo of cheers. Even the burly, boastful man, who had earlier been the center of attention, applauded, clearly taken by Jingliu's remarkable feat.

Jingliu returned to Yasushi, her cheeks flushed as she leaned in and murmured, "I don't like all this attention. It feels a bit too much."

Yasushi's grin widened at her discomfort. "Well, it was your idea," he said, amusement clear in his voice. Jingliu pouted playfully and tapped him on the chest, causing him to burst into laughter.

Shaking his head, Yasushi made his way to the booth and grasped the mallet. He tested its heft, raising and lowering it to gauge its weight. His thoughts lingered on the challenge ahead; surpassing Jingliu's performance seemed an arduous task. Still, he resolved to give it his all, curious to see how he would fare against her impressive display.

As the crowd's murmur faded, Yasushi lifted the mallet high above his head. With a determined breath, he swung down with all his might, the mallet crashing onto the pad with a forceful impact.

For a moment, time seemed to slow, allowing everyone to process what had just transpired. The weight shot upward with unprecedented speed, surpassing even Jingliu's impressive strike. It soared so high that it detached from the bell, which was flung into the sky with the exaggerated grace of an animated spectacle. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd, their eyes wide with a mix of horror and amazement.

The pad lay in ruins, a deep dent marring its surface, and the mallet bore the marks of its heavy use. Yasushi stepped aside, instinctively as the crowd recoiled. The bell and the weight came crashing down with a resounding thud, a sound that amplified the growing silence. All eyes were locked on Yasushi, their expressions a blend of astonishment and apprehension.

"Hmm, I guess I may have overdone it a bit," Yasushi murmured, his voice low but clear. He turned to the owner, who stood with his mouth agape in disbelief. "How much will it cost to repair or replace this? I'll cover the expenses."

Yasushi shook his head, a faint smile playing at his lips as he approached the stunned owner. He pulled out a slip of paper and scrawled his phone number on it, then handed it over. "Give me a call when you're ready to discuss this. If you'd prefer, I can get you a replacement."

The owner accepted the paper, still too shocked to respond. Yasushi took a step back, leaving the prize behind, and turned to rejoin Jingliu. Together, they began to leave the scene, the crowd's curious gazes following their departure.

"Did I go a bit overboard?" Yasushi asked, his grin widening as he glanced at Jingliu.

"You definitely did that on purpose," Jingliu replied, shaking her head with a bemused expression.

"Who can say?" Yasushi responded with a playful shrug as they continued on their way. The night was winding down, but there were still a few more places they intended to visit.