Chapter 7: A man named Hungshu Ping
It had been a pain in the ass to get this damned noodle cart into the garage, mostly because my landlord didn´t deem it necessary to get his old crates out of there. Of course I simply had thrown them into the street, which lead to steetkids having rummaging through the crates content at once. My landlord, who was named Toru the thin had been furious about this but a short look into his eyes had silenced him for good. The guy was a coward and, what was more important – he depended upon my money because more than half his house was not rented out. Getting the raw materials for my business hadn´t been a big challenge at all, mostly because I was not that far away from the harbor district – and hence the industrial market. For the first few weeks I nevertheless had to limit myself to cooking dumplings and making pastes. I would not use bought soy sauce or, spice oils and making them simply took its time. Sokka had been away for almost a week, it was a strange feeling to not have her around when I returned from work.
Even though I had not regained the speed I held in my prime I had already cashed in my fixed costs. For practice I was not setting the cart up near the headquarters, I knew pretty well how small the patience of hungry cops was. But today I guessed I would risk it, you had to start sometimes and today was a good day, because my competitors most likely would ball up in front of the probending arena – there were some rather important matches set as far as I knew. So I swung myself on the bicycle that powered my cart and started driving into the center of town. I already had prepared an advertising board that promised thirty percent off for cops. Actually I had calculated my prices slightly higher than the average noodle cart, but nevertheless the cops would save around two shim´s per meal. I was wondering if any of my old colleagues were still serving in the force, which I highly doubted. Cops were paid rather well, furthermore almost nobody got through the physical tests after hitting the gods damned half century mark. These examinations were held about every five years, actually there was no way around it until you made it to Inspector, which mostly went along with getting a comfy desk-job.
Exceptions of course were the individual and organized crime division, where almost everyone was an Inspector. It was early in the morning; the sun just had started setting as I made my way through the bumpy streets of the commercial district. Some other street kitchen owners were also preparing for the day, and the bakers were finishing their work, smoking pipes in front of their shops. Otherwise the streets were dead, not even the shift workers of future industries rushing towards the factories close to the harbor districts. Finally, I arrived in front of the police headquarters, which still had the same brown brick facades I knew. At the moment just a lone officer was seen outside, smoking a cigarillo. These small brown sticks were quite fashionable, an invention of the united forces. These things were better for shipping around than packages of loose tobacco. I halted my cart close to a colleague, the guy was brewing teas. "Mornin pal – what´s up?" I greeted. The man, who was most likely in his early twenties looked at me with squinted eyes. "You´re new to the business huh?" he responded warily eyeing my set-up. He smiled as he found out I wasn´t selling any drinks. "New in republic but not new to the business." I replied smiling and went over to his cart. "Lee´s the name." I introduced myself with a short bow. The man chuckled.
" Lao Shin, you´re a Countrybumpkin – eh? Just between the two of us bud, just old geezers do the bowing crap nowadays!" he muttered with a low voice and slapped my shoulder. I grinned. "If you say so man." I responded humored. "So, who´s in the noodle business around here`?" I asked the young man. "You mean flameo instant? There always is a wagon around here, just today they need everything they have for the probending arena – shitty corps always ruining our businesses." He grumbled. "Eh man, as if I would do instant noodles – a man has his pride!" I responded disgusted, flameo noodles as disgusting as noodles can get! The guy chuckled. "I know that – these fuckers and their tea-bags are totally ruining the business!" he muttered, adding some curses I couldn´t understand. "Then, let´s start business." I responded and started firing up the coal oven installed in my cart. I placed the already prepared dough and a small selection of meat dominated fillings on top of my cart, I also added the steamer for steaming buns and dumplings. I definitely would make buns around noon – cops destroyed these things along with olong. "The guys here still like meaty food?" I asked Lao, who was preparing the olong extract. "Off course man, who doesn´t?" he responded laughing. "You´re also from Ba Sing Se, cause your accent really sounds familiar." He questioned me. The kid seemed to have good ears.
"Yes, even if it´s quite some time since I was there." I answered truthfully. It took some time until the steamer was hot enough for work. "Mornin officer – feel the need for some dumplings?" I asked the officer who still was standing in front of the main entrance. "Eh – sounds not that bad." The man responded. "What cha got?" he responded while walking down the stairs, he looked really tired, bags under the eyes and all. He was a young man, maybe as old as Lao. "I´ve got beef, beef extra spicy, chickenpick, some pastes, chili – leechy nut for example." I blabbered onto the young man. "Just give me something to fill man stomach man." He grumbled blinking, his eyes were a dark amber. "Coming, since you´re the first customer today the tea´s going on me officer – oops Inspector." I stated wondering. This guy was an inspector at his age, as the small golden Kite on his shoulder pieces stated. "Quite well informed for a civilian Mr." he responded while Lao graciously prepared an olong tea. I quickly rolled gut the dough squares, spooned the fillings in and rolled the dumplings, a bit of rice starch and down into the hot steamer." The cop was drinking the almost boiling olong – he simply had to be a firebender, otherwise the man would be screaming in pain.
"Yes, actually I wore that badge during the Yakone campaign – well I never made it upwards from officer." I responded smiling. The big and bulky young man stared at me in disbelief. Surely he could not imagine that a small guy like me could run around in a bulky metal armor. "You´re a bender?" he asked while I handed him the dumplings in a paper bag. "Not a firebender like you Inspector – is this going to be an interrogation?" I responded with a humored frown. "Actually I wonder what you´re doing here after an all nighter." I stated calmly. "I´m looking that destroyed?" he responded. "Definitely." I chuckled. "That´s nine shim three copper." I responded. The young man dragged out his purse and counted the money in my palm. I sorted it into the iron box. I noticed a snakelike, angry, red scar on his right hand. "Actually it´s two all nighters, but I´ve got some really hard nuts to crack – it´s just too much info I gathered to make sense of it." He sighed. "But the Chief is not willing to assign somebody to a taskforce – too much smuggling activities this time of the year." He responded grumbling.
Actually my fingers were itching to dig myself into this case, as a consultant it should be possible. But Again I did not even know the Ispector, so why should he trust some random noodle guy with his cases? "Who´s the Chief currently?" I asked interested. The young man eyed me incredulously and even Lao let out a yelp. "The fuck man – where the hell were you living!" Lao cried shocked. "In Lau An." I dryly responded. "Ah, the village with the big iron mines in progress." The cop responded. "Exactly." I stated snorting. Why the hell did this guy know where Lau An was, the little thing was not THAT famous. "Fuckwads really dragged me over the table – but hey, never fuck with triads." I responded. "What?" the officer seemed quiet astonished about this fact. "Triads? I thought that´s a wing project of Asami´s." he responded furrowing his brown. "Damn – I´ve really dug into work too much. Overworked idiot I was – should have been there months ago." He sighed. "Yeah, why would she need somebody at her back Mako… Just her dad was killed, her company almost destroyed and she got all this shit about sodomy processes." He muttered in Nihongo, definitely worked up. It was VERY bad Nihongo.
"You´re talking about Asami Sato pal? You know this woman?" I responded. "Yes, I – well just say I´ve got some relationships to fix. You really don´t know who I am do you?" he asked. I nodded, I had no idea who this guy was. "What – that´s Chouw Mako pal – the hero of our police force if you want to brag." Lao cried. "Former probending Champion, Ex boyfriend of the freaking Avatar – the guy who brought down the gods damned platinum Monster from Kuvira´s imperial army." He yelled, his voice almost toppling. Inspector Chouw was flushing. "No need for the praise Lao – this job is what I´m good at." He smiled a wry smile. In nodded impressed, quite the feats this young man had achieved – definitely more than I had in his age. But life wasn´t about feats and honors, right? "And so you´re the guy investigating the Lead Bit cases." I responded. "Yes – I still don´t know who leaked it to the republic times yesterday but I have suspicions." His face became stern, fury glowing in his eyes. I had the feeling I didn´t want to see a mad Inspector Chouw. I wondered if this guy also did the job to protect, I took a gulp of water.
"You don´t seem impressed at all Mr. you´re used to high society?" Mako responded. I smirked "You can shit on that kid – but won´t anybody answer my question who of the old guard of pre Yakone times is still on the bat?" I questioned. The Inspector chuckled "Right – I can just take guesses about that. There might be Captain Hungshu." I blinked startled and just blurted "THE FUCK – this goof made it to CAPTAIN? Ping fucking Hungshu?" I actually thought that Ping would never leave the officer badge because of his drinking habits and the hilarious behavior he loved to display in public. "Yes – you know him?" he asked. "Aye – was his partner, we started in the force together." I responded. "You´re as old as the Captian?" he asked frowning. "Actually I guess I am older than Ping." I bickered. "He still is a rather strange man – but he is a good Captain." Inspector Chouw responded. I nodded, there was some kind of admiration in the young man's voice. "He´s something -in his strange ways – never met a man that had my back more." I smirked "Actually I am afraid he destroys my noodle cart when he finds out I´m back in town." I stated feeling a twinge of uneasiness.
"What´s about Izumi Hakawa?" I asked Inspector Chouw. "Left the police force years ago – won the golden fan and, just disappeared after marrying her trainer." He responded. I smiled at that, it seemed Izumi had been lucky – she really had deserved a good husband. "Also there are professor Saikhan and Chief Bei Fong." I dropped my face at that. Lin was still working in the policeforce? Why on earth? Didn´t she have to do enough to help her husband expand the air nation – or something along the lines? "Everything ok Mr.?" the Inspector asked while Lao was serving tea for two other cops. "Eh Chouw – get us some dumplings, we´re starving, flameo cart isn´t here today." They yelled in an almost pleading tone. "Al right gents." The inspector responded adding in a bickering voice. "These lazy asses can´t even pay their own food – well just don´t play corners against the Cap. Everybody should KNOW that he always wins!" He mumbled annoyed. "Two times beef extra spicy with – bamaly sap." He sighed and again handed me the money. While I was busy preparing the orders. "Yes – perfectly fine. But actually Lin Bei Fong started her career after the Yakone incident - one year later actually." I responded. "That prick Saikhan teaching in the academy – really can imagine that." I responded, I still disliked the guy, even after roughly thirty years.
"How does she even manage that along with a family? Or has Chief become a title without any real meaning." I trailed off. This time it was Ispector Chouw who stood there wide-eyed. "Erm…family? Man in what world are you living, if there is somebody who´s job incarnate - it´s Lin Bei Fong. That woman works even more than ME!" he blurted. No family? The cogs ticked into place. This little fucker named Tenzin! Oh- I would totally rustle his jimmies, to dump the woman that would do anything for him…even going so far as taking airbending lessons and dressing herself in orange - ORANGE! I muttered some rather unpleasant things under my breath. "You seem disturbed Mr. – you know Chief Bei Fong?" he asked wondering. "Yes, I do." I sighed. "Second biggest blockhead I got to know." I responded shaking my head. Why did she do this to herself? She never was enthusiastic about the job in the policeforce, for heaven's sake, she graduated last in her class. And her mother sure as hell would be proud if her daughter finally did what SHE wanted, but telling Lin that was as successful as lecturing a brickwall about philosophy.
And why the hell was she still single - little Linny had been a shiner, despite the scars in her face. Was she STILL whimpering after my little brother? The more I thought about this, the more my fury turned cold, actually I was smiling serene. I simply would challenge Master Tenzin to a duel, by the ninety nine hells, I would weep the floor with his sorry ass! Nobody hurt lil Linny that bad without getting problems with me. Being the big brother she would have needed twenty years ago – that was my job now. "The dumplings are done Inspector Chouw. Thank you very much. To your health officers." I waved at the other guys. "So long, I guess I´ll return tomorrow." Inspector Chouw responded and headed off to his colleagues. Since there was shift change a lot of customers arrived and I had my hands full, the guys obviously liked my dumplings. It was interesting to see how many women wore the badge today. It was almost a quarter of the force, and most of them definitely worked on the bat, not on the pen.
Some other carts had arrived, selling kebaps, fried dove feet and other street food. One guy actually sold bento boxes! It was early evening as I spotted a grizzled figure in a scratched iron armor. It was still pings broad, plain face. He wore the same silly mustache, just that it had turned gray over the years. Also he still was a notorious flirt it seemed. The guy was bantering playfully with a young colleague that could have been his daughter. Nothing disturbed me more than the fact that this girl actually looked at him with a seductive smile! Heavens just imagining old Ping and that young woman going at it – OOOGIEEE! I had to protect my precious noodle cart – so I just handed out the dumplings asked Lao to keep an eye on my earnings and marched towards ping. " Yo, Mr. Hungshu, still chasing skirts at that age?" I snarked, while as smile settled on my face, I actually was happy to meet Ping again. Ping stiffened up as he heard my voice. The young woman turned into my direction. "And who are you?" she asked with a crooked eyebrow, she seemed slightly annoyed. Ping turned his head. "Who…." His eyes went wide as he fixed me. There was a short silence, I actually was feeling a lump in my throat. What should you say to your best pal after you hid yourself for twenty years?
"Lee – Is…You friggin asshole! Leaving without a goodbye party – for twenny frggin years." he blurted with a rough voice and hurled himself at me. I was squeezed into cold metal so hard I could not even breath. "GHAAA." I let out a muffled cry as Ping started cursing me in his hometown dialect, while obviously sniffling like the little boy he was at heart. He then started to wrangle my hair between his ironclad hands, I started weeping – because it hurt like HELL- I told myself! "You lil fucker will joing me´n the boys for a good ol sake evening ya lil shit! Tiger´s Den an all-out - you shitty runaway!" Ping rambled somewhere between being annoyed and happy. He finally let me go, I just clasped my had. "You motherfucking fucktard Pin, my whole body is squashed. Gods damn it I´ve got a noodle cart to run!" I rambled and walked off to the cart again, while Ping just seemed to see the slight trails tears had left, he again went at it. "Oh my brother in arms- I see you manly tears. That means so much to me Lee – I-Ill forgvee." And there he went sobbing again. I just shook my head – and such a guy was Captain! Nevertheless, the young woman was patting his back, that vile old geezer!
I went back to business, or I tried to because there were no customers. Interesting was that also a lot of older people attended my cart and told it was great that I was supporting the police force. I actually had to hide a greedy smile at their comments. I was about to close my stall in the evening, the ingredients for dumplings were all used up, the only things remaining were some scraps of salted fish paste, Spring onions and steamed buns with sugared ginger. The ginger buns were selling bad, I guessed I would take them out of the menu soon. Pin actually did show up after his shift had ended. He a a plaster on his swollen nose. "So you got yourself into a barfight or what?" I greeted him. "Bar fight- pah – I was fulfilling my heroic duty to bring justice, Lee. I was fighting off three terra triad enforcers. Bam bam, spike, dodge." Ping was engulfed in the moment, moving around as if he was fighting his opponents again. The young officer from noon still was hanging out with Ping, she giggled. "Ping you´re acting hilarious." I stated dryly. "Aww come on, you´re still the same old spoilsport aren´t cha… Mr. tigh ass Copper." He griped. "I´m no copper any more Ping, but yes I still am tight assed. Ingwer Bun?" I asked offering him the leftovers of my day. "Well, you could offer ME a steamed bun, too." Lao complained, while stepping from one feet onto the other. He obviously was waiting for someone. "Help yourself man." I responded flatly and handed him the basket with the buns. Ping already had devoured the bun.
"Taschtesch gweat." He mumbled reaching out for another one. I chuckled. His pseudo-girlfriend, or whatever she was also effectively nibbled through a bun. I started eating my own cooking as Ping dipped the bun into fish paste – I was mortified. This was nothing short of food violation! "Ping, what are you doing?" the young woman asked smiling. "That ma sweety is the secret of my ever lasting youth!" he stated triumphantly. I just let out a gargling sound that led to everybody laughing at Ping. "Eh man, Yumi would totally love this – and you would even kiss her after eating it! So what´s the deal?" Ping rambled at me. I smiled sadly, fools and children always speak the truth, right? "I would Ping…heavens I would." I responded, of course I could not fool my old partner. "Eh what´s up with her? She dumped you or what Lee?" he asked concerned. "Sort of – well…" I cleared my throat. What should I hop around the steaming cat for? "I´m a widower for thirteen years now." I responded shrugging. "W-What! But she´s been in her prime man. Always healthy n hot like a fireflake!" Ping exclaimed disbelieving. He never had come close to Yumi, but he had accepted that he had to endure her if he wanted to spend buddy time with me. "Until we got Sokka – afterwards she just was a shadow of her former self man." I stated starting to get melancholic. Damn, get a grip on yourself Bei Gao, I scolded myself. "My condolences Mr. Lee." His younger colleague responded, firmly shaking my hand. She also stared intently a Ping. "Ugh…eh yeah. Im really sorry Man." He trailed off.
"Y know I´ve no idea how that must hurt cause – never married n such stuff." He babbled hastily. Ping was working himself up into a fit, I guessed. "But you´ve got a kid eh – damn I´m really jealous. Your son´s popular with the ladies?" he asked smirking. "Actually I hope my DAUGHTER is not too popular with the ladies – you know grandkids n such." I responded dryly. Lao spit out his tea. "You named you daughter Sokka Lee – the fuck are you crazy!" he rambled. "The kid´s branded for life! Everyone knows that´s a man´s name!" he added griping. "NOPE!" I exclaimed loudly "In Inuktikut Sokka is genderless my friends, because the only names that are bound to genders are Tanroq or Unalaq. The q is the ending for "he" while "ya" is the ending for "her"." I responded with a risen index finder. "Holy fuck Lee – you´re speaking this wet´s chitchat?" Ping was plainly disturbed. "Sorts of – different from you I screwed my job for a woman and traveled the world – so I learned things that might come in handy." I stated. Interestingly that was the first time I told anyone why I did not return to my old job. I had noticed soon that Yumi and I were drifting apart- mostly because I spent much more time with my colleagues than with her.
And Adachi Yumi was a girl that wanted her attention, she simply could not deal with being alone, she told me in the streets of Miyako that the reason for our almost breakup hadn´t been solely based on the fact that I kept a secret from her, she also had felt as if she was of no importance to me anymore. And that had been the reason why we traveled the world for two years and started working alongside. "Hey Lao, you´re ready man?" a deep voice growled in our direction. "Ah Nanook man – there you are. Why the hell you´re so late bud?" he asked the bulky man. "N evening guys." He replied. "Had to escort a Lady back home – stupid chick drunk herself silly." The man rumbled. "Awww how sweet." Lao chuckled, the way he looked at Nanook definitely was not just friendly. I actually felt a bit queasy. "So come on shorty – let´s get the hell home." The big guy grinned. "Yeah Lee, so I´m off with my pal." He cleared his throat and waved. The two men wandered away Nanook laying one heavy hand on the tea makers shoulder, he let go shortly afterwards. I guess it had be hard to keep your whole relationship hidden because you had too. I rubbed my nose. "Erm so, what is you name even?" I asked Pings acquaintance.
" Call me Horishima." She responded. I nodded to that. "Aww Hori, so formal – I get we´ve got to hit a bar to loosen you up." Ping chuckled devious. The young woman waved her finger. "No, no Ping, you go and catch up with your friend. I haven´t the luxury to work when I want, I´m not a Captain yet. See you tomorrow." She winked towards him and disappeared gracefully. I chuckled and shook my head. "What? She´s one hell of a girl right? Always so elegant and classy." Ping sighed dreamily. I chuckled at that, so the masculine bastion called Hungshu Ping had finally fallen? I somehow doubted that. "So come on Lee – let´s get a drink." He stated, while I was packing up my cart. "I suppose I´ll deliver a disappointing performance Ping." I responded chuckling. I doubted I would be able to handle more than a small pot of hot sake. "Eh- why that buddy, you could pack quite the drink for being such a lightweight!" he exclaimed walking next to me. "I didn´t drink a sip since Yumi died Ping." I stated calmly. "Didn´t want to risk ending on the bottle – I had a little kid to raise man." I responded. Ping was silent, after a while he answered. "Y know Lee – if I had somebody relying on me for real - I guess I´d skip the drinking n partying." He sounded saddened. "Getting all touchy feely Hungshu?" I quipped. "Bastard." He grumbled.
The silence between us was comfortable, Ping was making it really easy for me, but otherwise – he never had been a guy who "needed" a friends support. Ping was more the kind of guy that supported others, just like me. "So, how old´s this kid of yours?" he asked. "Too young for you Ping!" I snapped back. He chuckled "Yes, father mooselion." Even I had to laugh at that. "She´s nineteen. I guess you´d recognize her as my daughter at once." I stated proudly. "Geez…another spitfire. The gals of today always think they´ve got to be manlier than men, I don´t get that Lee. A real women doesn´t need to huff her chest, she stares guys down with this." He stated snipping his fingers. "What´s so bad about being a wifey, I mean most men aren´t bastards who beat their women and treat them like slaves. Raising kid´s also is an important job." He shook his head. "Ping – have you downed some rootbeers already?" I asked him, while we were nearing the iron lily. He snorted. "Not even I am drinking on the job – Lee. Tsk I´m a Captain now!" he responded. I chuckled at that. As we finally entered the cozy bar it was almost empty. "Evening Ma." Ping announced his presence. The old woman, who was snoring in an armchair located in the corner of the bar jerked awake.
"Hungshu you dork – stop scaring an old woman witless." She rambled and rose from the chair groaning. "And who´s that guy, doesn´t even wear a badge." She responded in my direction. "That´s Lee the infamous." He smirked. Lee the infamous, what kind of silly nickname was that. "THAT Lee?" she asked raising an eyebrow. "I guess." I sighed my head hanging. "Good boys, since it´s late I´ll leave the bar to you." She responded and simply left the room in the slow pace of an old woman. "What´s wrong with that woman, isn´t that her bar?" I asked disturbed. "That's Mama Wu for you shorty. The iron lily is our living room – if some fuckers harassed Ma half the metalbender corps would be on that guy's sorry ass." Ping stated grinning. "And the whole of individual crime, meaning my boys n girls." He stated smirking. Ping went behind the bar and poured us two mugs of rootbeer, his mugs was twice the size of mine. "Horis Cherry blossom. I guess you´ll like it." He responded. I took a swig, indeed the beer was rather sweet, bitterness of a usual ale paired with a whiff of cherrys.
It was a rather good beer. "Yeah." I responded. It was strange to drink beer again. "To you Ping Hungshu." I responded sminking. "Go fuck yourself Lee." Her responded, while the mugs clanked. We spent the rest of the evening talking about old times, I just returned home when the morning dawn started to light up republic city. Nevertheless, I just slept a few hours and was up at midday. I had fillings and dough to prepare, even though I was rather tired. Who´s able to drink also is able to work, after all!
Authors note: And that was the first reunion. I simply love Ping but actually now we have Lee interested in the lead bit cases, which is the most important point of the chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.