Li Zhuiyuan raised his head and looked at the desk in front of him, the lamp, and the fifth volume of "Records of Strange Tales in the Martial World" that he had just flipped through a few pages.
Indeed, he had fallen asleep; but he knew this was not a dream.
He couldn't understand why, at the last moment, the old lady had chosen to "release" him.
He didn't want to use the word "save," because she was the one who had pulled him into this birthday feast in the first place.
Perhaps it was hard to label her with simple tags of "good" or "evil," just as she herself was a bizarre combination of human and cat corpses, a manifestation of complex contradictions.
Li Zhuiyuan closed his eyes and pressed his fingers against his temples, slowly rubbing them.
While studying in the capital, he always felt he was walking on a one-way street; no matter how dense the traffic or how crowded the people, he could just move along that road.
But once back home, he found that although the roads were narrow and often full of potholes, and there weren't many cars or people, the network of paths between the rice paddies often left him confused about which choice to make.
He could sense the changes in himself since returning home, especially in the days since meeting the Little Yellow Oriole.
He was observing more diligently, pondering more seriously, and being more cautious in his interactions with non-human beings... It wasn't easy because there was no room for error.
In short, he was growing increasingly unlike a mere ten-year-old child.
Being a child used to be so simple.
Suddenly, Li Zhuiyuan opened his eyes, displaying a look of shock.
Why did he have such a thought?
What did it mean to say it was simpler to be a child? He clearly was still a child!
He began to feel anxious and fearful, unconsciously hugging himself.
At that moment, a memory surfaced in his mind: as a child, he had once stealthily watched his mother as she stood in front of the mirror every morning after getting up.
His mother would take deep breaths in front of the mirror, again and again, as if trying to suppress something that threatened to break free.
Li Zhuiyuan stood up and walked to the wardrobe where the mirror was.
He looked at his reflection and suddenly felt a sense of strangeness.
He raised his hand to touch the mirror, to touch his own face within it.
He began to question what kind of person lay beneath this skin.
He dared not think further; he turned around and took deep breaths, repeatedly reminding himself that he was Li Zhuiyuan, ten years old this year, that his grandfather's name was Li Weihan, his grandmother's name was Cui Guiying, and that his great-grandfather was Li Sanjiang.
At last, he regained his composure, and a childlike innocence returned to his face.
Earlier, he had felt a kind of terror, one that was not at all less potent than when the cat-faced old lady had found him in the kitchen.
Because he had a vague feeling that if he had let that line of thought continue to spread... when he next looked into the mirror, he might reveal a deep loathing for himself.
Fortunately, he had stopped himself in time, just as his mother had taken a deep breath before displaying her gentle smile in the mirror again.
"Huh..."
Li Zhuiyuan shrugged, glancing at the time; it was three-thirty in the morning.
Had he slept or not?
He felt no signs of sleepiness, yet he did not feel tired; in fact, it felt better than when he had a normal night's sleep.
Was it because his consciousness had detached from his body, allowing his body to rest without any distractions?
Li Zhuiyuan pushed the door open and stepped outside. The cool night breeze wrapped around him, carrying with it a hint of the dew that was soon to fall with the dawn.
Downstairs, it was calm and quiet, or rather, it had never been noisy.
But now, he was hesitant to go down alone. The rational sense of safety could never outweigh the fear of the unknown.
At that moment, he noticed a flickering light coming from his great-grandfather's bedroom window. Although it didn’t follow the standard rhythm of distress signals, Li Zhuiyuan immediately pushed the bedroom door open and entered.
On the bed, Li Sanjiang lay in a pool of blood, his left hand grasping the lamp cord, tugging at it frantically.
His neck hurt terribly; he couldn't scream. He was afraid no one would see him, even more terrified that the lamp cord would break or the switch would pop up and cause him to lose contact.
Fortunately, he saw Li Zhuiyuan pushing the door open to come in.
"Little Lord Yuan..."
Before Li Sanjiang could weakly call out, he reached out his hand, only to see his great-grandson without hesitation running out the door.
Well, he understood this child was going to call for help, but he couldn't help feeling a bit empty inside that Little Lord Yuan hadn’t rushed to the bedside to ask questions in a flurry of concern.
The words of comfort that had almost reached his lips – "I'm fine, Little Lord Yuan, don’t cry" – were caught in his throat and swallowed back, leaving him a bit uncomfortable.
Li Zhuiyuan raced downstairs, brushing aside his fears about the first floor. The lights were off, but with the moonlight, he could see the eastern side of the area filled with paper figures.
Yes, the paper figures were still there. Li Zhuiyuan even spotted the Chubby Master propped against the wall.
Most of these paper figures were traditionally customized, but to cater to diverse market demands, some were specially made based on the family’s requirements.
For instance, if certain families were concerned that their loved ones below weren’t getting enough to eat, they would send down a cook.
Some elderly folks who had passed early worried that if they sent down a young maid, they might lose their own position when it was their time to go, so they ordered elderly figures that looked even older than themselves.
After heading to the courtyard, Li Zhuiyuan went straight to the east room and knocked on the door:
"Aunt Liu, Uncle Qin, open up! It’s me, Little Yuan! Great-grandfather is in trouble!"
The door opened.
Standing at the door was Uncle Qin. Li Zhuiyuan saw Aunt Liu behind him, sweeping the floor with a broom.
"Little Yuan, what’s wrong?" Uncle Qin asked.
"My great-grandfather is injured and bleeding a lot! He needs to go to the doctor!"
"I'll go! I can stop the bleeding and bandage!" Aunt Liu dropped the broom, grabbed a cloth bag from the cupboard, and rushed out the door, with Uncle Qin following.
Li Zhuiyuan glanced at the paper scraps collected in the dustpan and then turned to the departing figures of Uncle Qin and Aunt Liu.
Did they really not change clothes when they went to bed at night?
He quickly swept his gaze toward the east room; she should be awake by now.
However, Li Zhuiyuan chose not to knock at the east room door. Instead, he ran back, and as he passed the stack of paper figures on the first floor again, he approached the Chubby Master and reached out, touching it lightly.
With just a slight contact, the Chubby Master fell apart, collapsing into a pile on the ground.
This triggered a chain reaction, and in an instant, all the paper figures began to "collapse," reminiscent of a game of toppled blocks.
Quickly, the once-crowded eastern half of the first floor turned overwhelmingly spacious, now only covered with bits of paper and broken wooden sticks.
Li Zhuiyuan felt no fear and was not even surprised. He calmly stepped on the paper scraps, ignoring the crisp "pop" sound beneath his feet, and reached the stairs to ascend to the second floor.
Upon returning to the bedroom, he found Aunt Liu already tending to Great-grandfather’s wounds.
A faint herbal scent lingered in the air, reminiscent of a soothing remedy; it seemed she had already applied the medicine.
Uncle Qin had replaced the bloodstained bedding and mat with fresh ones, then got into position to lift Li Sanjiang, who had been treated for his wounds.
Seeing Aunt Liu busy putting away the cloth bag, Li Zhuiyuan stepped forward, asking, "Aunt Liu, how is my great-grandfather?"
"He bled quite a bit, and the injury isn’t light, but they're all external injuries. It’s been dealt with, so no need to go to the doctor. Just let him rest."
Li Zhuiyuan looked at Li Sanjiang lying on the bed, noticing that his great-grandfather's face had regained some color.
Aunt Liu also gazed at Li Sanjiang; she was quite surprised. Although the old man was very elderly, he was still bursting with vitality. He looked frail on the outside, but fundamentally he was extremely healthy.
Compared to other elderly folks of the same age, who could easily be sent off with a slight tumble, he had numerous wounds yet seemed untouched at the core.
"Little Yuan, if anything happens, call us again," Uncle Qin said to Li Zhuiyuan.
"Okay, thank you Uncle Qin and Aunt Liu."
Uncle Qin and Aunt Liu left, and Li Zhuiyuan picked up a teacup to pour some hot water, walking over to Li Sanjiang’s bedside.
Li Sanjiang was leaning against the pillow, his right arm dangling over his chest, and he took the cup from Li Zhuiyuan with his left hand, sipping slowly.
After finishing, Li Sanjiang sighed, “Little Lord Yuan, from today onwards, let’s pause the fortune-altering ritual."
"Okay, Great-Grandfather."
"Once I recover, we’ll continue."
"Yes." Li Zhuiyuan took the teacup back and set it aside. "Actually, it’s not necessary to continue the ritual, Great-Grandfather."
"You little brat, don’t talk nonsense."
"Alright, I won’t say anything."
Li Zhuiyuan took off his shoes and climbed onto the bed to sit beside Li Sanjiang, leaning against the headboard.
"Go to sleep, Little Lord Yuan, Great-Grandfather is fine."
“Aunt Liu didn’t ask how you got hurt?”
"I told her I fell."
Did they believe that?
Li Zhuiyuan had many questions he wanted to ask but didn’t know where to start, and it seemed Li Sanjiang wasn’t going to say more either.
After a while, Li Zhuiyuan finally spoke up, "Great-Grandfather, how should I learn?"
If his previous experience with the Little Yellow Oriole had been naïve and confused, then tonight he truly felt powerless.
Upon hearing this, Li Sanjiang thought the boy had finally woken up, deciding to study earnestly.
He felt a sense of pride; it seemed the fortune-altering array really was effective, as Little Lord Yuan seemed to be changing his ways!
That was great! As long as the child was willing to be diligent and study, then his own bloodshed was worth it.
However, Li Sanjiang himself had been rather reckless in his early days, and even though he had traversed Shanghai’s hustle and bustle, he had never really studied.
When he had learned to read, it was simply to glance at the gossip columns in the Shanghai newspapers.
Nevertheless, he still had some simple truths he could share.
“Little Yuan, don’t aim too high and be sure to solidify your foundation. Only then can you go further in the future.”
So, he still had to continue reading "Records of Strange Tales in the Martial World," right?
“I understand, Great-Grandfather.”
“Well, knowing is one thing, but you must act on it. Take steady steps, and only then will you achieve results. Don't be like your Great-Grandfather; when I was young, I was always distracted, and now I regret it.”
“Great-Grandfather, you were impressive too.”
Li Zhuiyuan glanced at Li Sanjiang, whose body was bandaged in several places, and he had a suspicion: could that zombie be related to his great-grandfather?
Firstly, it was his great-grandfather who was injured at home, and secondly, the areas where Great-Grandfather was heavily bandaged coincided with where the zombie was attacked by the old lady.
Perhaps, this was some kind of technique used by Great-Grandfather?
“Ha, your Great-Grandfather has many skills! So, you better study hard! In the future, you’re bound to outdo me!”
Li Sanjiang wasn’t talking about dark arts; what he prided himself on was his ability to manage life well. As for unsavory matters... he ignored them and moved on.
“Yeah, I know.”
Li Zhuiyuan believed that as long as he continued reading, he would grasp what kind of spell his great-grandfather had used today.
At this time, Li Sanjiang began to snore. He had bled and was tired, and soon fell asleep.
Li Zhuiyuan picked up a thin blanket from the side and gently covered his great-grandfather’s torso before closing his own eyes.
As if taking a short nap, Li Zhuiyuan woke up to find it was dawn.
He bypassed the still-sleeping Li Sanjiang and got out of bed to wash up.
While brushing his teeth, he habitually looked towards the east room.
Behind the east room, there sat a little girl, dressed in a red dress, with her feet on the threshold.
Beside her, Granny Liu was combing her hair.
Li Zhuiyuan smiled a bit; a little sunlight seemed to illuminate his heart as he carried his washbasin back into the room.
As he was leaving the patio, Qin Li’s head lifted to look over.
“Hmm?”
Liu Yumei put down the comb and asked, “Did Grandma hurt you?”
Qin Li looked straight ahead, not speaking.
Liu Yumei continued brushing her hair, grinning as she said, “You played for quite a while last night! Can you tell Grandma what fun things you did?”
Qin Li remained silent.
In the courtyard, Aunt Liu started setting up wooden stools, preparing breakfast.
After Li Zhuiyuan finished washing up, he walked down the stairs to find the first floor already cleaned and empty.
When he reached the yard, Aunt Liu smiled at him, “Little Yuan, breakfast is ready.”
“Okay, Aunt Liu.”
Li Zhuiyuan sat down at the wooden stool, where a bowl of white porridge and a salted duck egg awaited him.
“Why are you just staring off into space?” Aunt Liu left down a bowl of fish jelly.
“I’m still a bit groggy from sleep.”
“You young ones are fortunate to eat well and sleep well!” Aunt Liu laughed as she walked off.
Li Zhuiyuan quietly picked up his chopsticks. He remembered how the cat-faced old lady had summoned people at the closing banquet last night. The Chubby Master had gone upstairs, and several other paper figures had also run out to call for things in the east room.
His great-grandfather was injured and bleeding, yet they seemed to act as if nothing had happened.
Li Zhuiyuan picked up a piece of fish jelly and put it in his mouth. It melted instantly; mixed with fava beans and peppers, it was delicious and made a perfect pairing with the porridge.
At that moment, Yumei, holding Qin Li’s hand, arrived at the wooden stools. Qin Li sat down, and Liu Yumei squatted beside her, beginning the daily “prayer” before meals.
Today, she had her hair down, cascading over her shoulders, and her red dress looked both lively and dignified.
Li Zhuiyuan chuckled at the silly expression she had in his dreams last night.
Some people had a unique charm; they could be entirely unremarkable, never even needing to speak – just standing there would bring joy.
Just like when he accompanied his mother in the artifact storage house and saw that exquisite vase freshly unearthed.
As if she had heard his laughter, Qin Li turned her head, looking at Li Zhuiyuan, who was eating on the opposite side.
Even Liu Yumei, still deep in conversation, looked over with some confusion.
Li Zhuiyuan was slightly surprised; could the interaction in his dream last night extend into reality during the day?
He pointed towards the bowl of porridge in front of him and called out lightly, “Eat!”
Qin Li lowered her head, picking up her chopsticks and beginning to sort through the various salted vegetables and the cut duck egg, pairing them with the porridge to start her meal.
Liu Yumei’s eyes widened in disbelief; she looked like she had seen a ghost.
Qin Li was eating faster than Li Zhuiyuan. By the time he set down his chopsticks, Qin Li had already returned to sitting on the threshold.
Aunt Liu quickly appeared, snatching away Li Zhuiyuan's bowl and chopsticks before he could react.
“Thank you, Aunt Liu.”
“Next time, just leave your things here after eating. I’ll come collect them. You don’t want me losing my job, do you?”
“I understand, Aunt Liu.”
“Little Yuan! Come over and brew some tea for Grandma!” came Liu Yumei's call.
She was sitting in a bamboo chair, with a tea set on the small table beside her.
Li Zhuiyuan walked over. During this process, Qin Li, seated on the threshold, moved her gaze to follow him.
Seeing this, Liu Yumei raised her hand, indicating for Li Zhuiyuan to stop.
Li Zhuiyuan halted and also looked over at Qin Li, beginning to step back when he noticed Qin Li still following him.
Liu Yumei’s discerning gaze locked onto Li Zhuiyuan.
“Grandma, do you want tea?”
“Brew it.”
Li Zhuiyuan moved closer to prepare the tea.
Meanwhile, Liu Yumei's focus remained on her granddaughter, who was watching the interaction with interest; after all this time, she could finally see her granddaughter’s expression, even if it was brought about by this boy.
“Little Yuan...”
“Grandma...”
The two spoke simultaneously, pausing for a moment. Just as Liu Yumei planned to continue, Li Zhuiyuan spoke more rapidly:
“Grandma, why are you living here with Great-Grandfather?”
Liu Yumei laughed, “Just trying to make a living.”
“But you’re not lacking in life! You have plenty of money. This tea set and the jade ring you wanted to give me yesterday could buy a house in the capital!”
Li Zhuiyuan added, “But the antique market hasn’t peaked yet; waiting ten years to sell would be more profitable.”
The elderly collectors in their courtyard had been scouting for antiques in the alleys for over a decade, collecting items but never selling, stating that in prosperous times, the antiques should be preserved for a few years or passed down to future generations.
“Little Yuan, do you know about antiques?” Liu Yumei straightened up slightly, her expression turning serious. “Did Great-Grandfather teach you?”
In the antique trade, everything was about experience and perception. For a child as young as him, Liu Yumei was doubtful that he could discern it himself.
Li Zhuiyuan shook his head.
Setting aside the boastful displays of the elderly in the courtyard, he had merely followed his mother to various museums and institutions in the city and had seen many antiques, including many genuine treasures not displayed for the public.
“Little Yuan, Grandma stayed here because the air is good and the climate is beneficial for Ah Li’s health.”
“Oh, I see. Grandma, what were you going to ask earlier?”
Liu Yumei was surprised; did the child take her word so easily?
Then she asked, “Why is Ah Li looking at you?”
Li Zhuiyuan blushed, “Maybe because I’ve looked at her too much over the past few days, and she feels it’s unfair, so she’s returning the gaze?”
Liu Yumei: “...”
Indeed, the child didn’t believe her previous statement.
“Grandma, have some tea.”
“Mm.”
Both of them sipped their tea, and as the clear liquid shimmered in the light, their intentions flowed between them.
After finishing the tea, Li Zhuiyuan planned to read. He first went to the back bathroom, and on his way past the east room, he greeted Qin Li, who returned his gaze with a slight nod.
He barely entered their main house when he heard Great-Grandfather’s hoarse shout from the first floor:
“What’s going on? What’s going on? Where’s my paper?”
Li Zhuiyuan watched as Great-Grandfather stormed around, nearly bouncing off the ground in a fury.
Aunt Liu walked over, saying, “There was a little rain last night, and it came in here, ruining everything.”
Li Sanjiang furrowed his brows, “What?”
“Great-Grandfather, you can get out of bed?” Li Zhuiyuan was surprised.
“Of course! Your Great-Grandfather is fit as a fiddle! … No, right now, we’re talking about the paper!”
Li Zhuiyuan replied, “Aunt Liu said it came in with the rain.”
“This...?” Li Sanjiang opened his mouth, “This, this, this...”
Aunt Liu lamented, “Uncle, it’s fine. I can stay up and redo it; it won’t impact our deliveries.”
“This isn't just about deliveries! The materials...,” Li Sanjiang's frustration flared, realizing that the loss of the paper stung more than his own injuries.
He was wealthy; there were houses, tables, and everything, but he never saved. Life was easy-going, and suddenly losing a warehouse full of goods would tighten his purse strings.
“Little Yuan, go to Liu Xiezi’s to inquire about Niu Fu’s mother; ask if she’s calculated the date for the underworld birthday. If not, urge her to hurry!”
“Ah?” Li Zhuiyuan hesitated. Seeing that Aunt Liu had already left for the raw materials, he stepped before Li Sanjiang. “Great-Grandfather, even in your condition, you want to run around to celebrate Qingming?”
Li Sanjiang replied with conviction, “Isn’t it because of this that I have to go!”
“If you encounter any danger at Niu’s house...”
“Money is short; if I have this body, what use is it?”
Li Zhuiyuan felt at a loss for words.
“Little Yuan, this is the life I live. A carefree life is worth it; I don’t want to live hand-to-mouth. Now, be a good boy; go relay the message to Liu Xiezi. Also, know that I’m not going alone. I've invited a peer from the business. Haha, he's probably arriving tomorrow alongside his kid – very formidable.”
“Remember, don’t tell Liu Xiezi about my current state; she’s timid and might back out if she finds out!”
Li Zhuiyuan nodded, heading to Liu Jinxia's place.
Cuicui’s grandmother was sick and in the hospital, which was Cuicui's father's mother. Li Juxiang took Cuicui to the healthcare center, so she wasn't home.
By morning, Liu Jinxia had already set up a bridge game. When Li Zhuiyuan arrived, she was having a blast playing.
Upon hearing Li Zhuiyuan's message, Liu Jinxia shook off the ash from her cigarette and said, “The day after tomorrow, it’s set for the day after tomorrow! We’ll visit Niu Fu’s family in Shigang then.”
“Isn’t that a bit fast, Grandma Liu?”
“Fast? The sooner we handle things, the sooner we get paid. Ha ha ha! Besides, your great-grandfather is here; what’s there to worry about?”
If only she knew how Great-Grandfather was feeling right now, she wouldn’t think so.
After returning home, Li Zhuiyuan reported the date back to Li Sanjiang.
“Good, good, good!”
Li Sanjiang, lying on a rattan chair on the second floor patio, clapped his legs joyfully, reaching for a rope attached to the wall. At the end of the rope was a black wooden box nailed to the wall.
First came some crackling sounds, followed by the familiar voice of a storyteller.
Li Sanjiang closed his eyes, lit a cigarette, and listened intently to the stories, displaying a carefree demeanor even with his numerous injuries.
Sensing Li Zhuiyuan standing by his side, Li Sanjiang remarked:
“Little Yuan, this is the life I chose. Whatever job seems dangerous, I tackle it—why? Because such work is fulfilling and rewarding.
This is your Great-Grandfather's destiny.”
Li Zhuiyuan nodded. He took out the fifth volume of "Records of Strange Tales in the Martial World," sat in the southeast corner of the patio, and began to study.
As before, he raised his head to glance at the girl below with every page turn.
He noticed she was also looking up at him.
Very nice; the feeling of making eye contact was refreshing.
However, as he continued to glance down, Li Zhuiyuan noticed that whenever he looked down, there was always eye contact.
Even Granny Liu downstairs followed her granddaughter’s gaze upwards.
This made it so that whenever Li Zhuiyuan wanted to indulge in that refreshing feeling, he inadvertently had to see Granny Liu as well, which felt rather strange.
Thus, until he finished reading this volume, he did not look down again.
Back inside, he took out the sixth volume, and once seated, glanced down to find Granny Liu reading a newspaper in a neighboring chair, while Qin Li was still fixed on him, gazing upwards.
Was she really going to stay in that position forever?
This thought made Li Zhuiyuan feel a bit guilty, making it hard for him to concentrate on reading, leaving him slightly restless.
Downstairs, as Liu Yumei read the newspaper, she kept her peripheral vision on the patio, observing the child popping his head out repeatedly; the frequency became increasingly erratic, causing her to chuckle:
This is what men are like; they come and go freely, feeling at ease. But once they have responsibilities, they become restless.
However, soon Liu Yumei was astonished to put down her newspaper. She saw Li Zhuiyuan running down from upstairs, smiling at her as he passed by, then making a beeline toward her granddaughter.
“You...”
Before Liu Yumei could finish her sentence, she watched in shock as the boy bent down to hold her granddaughter's hand.
“Dangerous...”
Liu Yumei understood how her granddaughter would react when touched by outsiders. This boy might end up scratched and bleeding; even she, as a grandmother, dared not be overly affectionate.
In a moment of instinct, Liu Yumei stood up abruptly, and to her astonishment, she saw the boy holding Qin Li's hand as she also rose to her feet.
What... what was going on?
Earlier, when her granddaughter had stared at the boy, she had deliberately taken the opportunity to check for any dirt or items that might explain her granddaughter's gaze.
But this interaction exceeded Liu Yumei’s comprehension.
Li Zhuiyuan clasped Qin Li’s hand, feeling its warmth and softness.
"You can’t hold your neck up like that; it’ll be tiring. Come upstairs with me to read, alright?"
Qin Li looked at Li Zhuiyuan, but remained silent.
“By not speaking, I’ll take that as a yes.”
Li Zhuiyuan bent down, picking up the small stool Qin Li was sitting on, and pulling her along into the house.
Liu Yumei remained silent, and after her initial shock, tears of joy filled her eyes as she watched the two youths walk away hand in hand.
She covered her mouth with her hand, fearing that her tears would flow freely.
She even bit her hand lightly to ensure this wasn’t a dream.
“Bang!”
Inside, Aunt Liu, busy crafting paper figures, dropped a pot of paste she had, splattering it everywhere. Had Li Sanjiang not been on the second floor, he would’ve been extremely pained by the loss.
“Creak...”
Uncle Qin, who was assembling a paper house, accidentally ripped a beam apart.
They exchanged shocked glances, each wondering if they were hallucinating. Had Ah Li, hand in hand with an outsider, truly walked upstairs?
Quickly, they abandoned their tasks and rushed to the courtyard, not finding Liu Yumei. They then moved to the east room, discovering Liu Yumei standing at the ancestral tablets, joyfully weeping, saying:
“Did you all see? Did you see? My Ah Li, my Ah Li...”
...
Li Sanjiang listened to the storyteller on the radio, humming a little tune. He turned to grab his teacup and took a sip, only to see Li Zhuiyuan and Qin Li hand in hand walk out from upstairs.
“Pfft!”
Water sprayed from Li Sanjiang's mouth.
“Great-Grandfather, do you need me to refill your water?”
Seeing Li Zhuiyuan leading Qin Li towards himself, Li Sanjiang hurriedly waved his hand, saying:
“No, no, no, you take her away, stay away from me! No, you too...”
Li Zhuiyuan took Qin Li to the southeast corner, placing the stool down.
“Please sit.”
Qin Li obeyed and sat down.
Li Zhuiyuan sat back in his rattan chair, picked up his book, and as he flipped a page, he felt something was off and stood up, “Stand up for a second.”
Qin Li stood up, and Li Zhuiyuan moved her smaller stool aside, replacing it with a slightly taller one from yesterday, which Yingzi had brought. He placed it next to him.
“Sit now.”
Qin Li looked at the new stool but didn’t sit.
Li Zhuiyuan was puzzled but suddenly remembered something and quickly wiped down the stool with his sleeve.
“Okay, sit now. It’s clean.”
Qin Li then sat down.
Li Zhuiyuan placed the book on the wooden stool, no longer resting it while lying down.
The two were very close, their heads leaning against one another.
Qin Li’s gaze remained on him, and he could catch glimpses of her face while reading.
The strands of her hair were sometimes blown by the wind, brushing against his cheek; her scent lingered closely by his nose.
This feeling was special.
Reading and appreciating simultaneously,
Li Zhuiyuan felt he had found the highest efficiency in reading.
From afar, Li Sanjiang experienced a rollercoaster of emotions as he moved from fear to anxiety to concern to disbelief...
After watching for some time, and confirming the girl sitting quietly there, only observing him, created no threat, a look of admiration emerged in his eyes!
This Little Yuan, so different from when his mother was young.
Li Lan often received love letters during her school days but would send all of them directly to the principal’s desk.
Many boys ended up being called to their parents; the sounds of whips and slaps echoed from the principal’s office that day.
“Good, very good. It seems our Little Yuan has been wiser and craftier than his mother from a young age. Hehe.”
Li Sanjiang closed his eyes again, continuing to listen to the stories.
As noon approached, Li Zhuiyuan felt a pressing need to relieve himself, likely from drinking tea with Granny Liu earlier. He turned to Qin Li, asking:
“Do you need to go to the bathroom?”
Qin Li remained silent.
“Then you stay here; I’ll be right back.”
Qin Li didn’t react.
Li Zhuiyuan stood up, dashed downstairs, and made his way around to the back of the house. He found the vegetable patch behind the house normally marked for use, but as soon as he stood still, he heard footsteps from behind. When he turned, he found Qin Li had followed him.
“Uh...”
Li Zhuiyuan had no choice but to betray the teachings of Panzi and Leizi. He turned and lifted the curtain to step into the bathroom.
He stood still as the curtain lifted again; she walked in behind him.
Li Zhuiyuan quickly pulled her out, saying, "I came in here to relieve myself. It’s not convenient if you come in too; just wait here for me, okay?"
Qin Li didn’t respond.
Li Zhuiyuan went back behind the curtain, waited for a while, and since he hadn’t heard the curtain lift, he finally loosened his belt.
Beside the bathroom was a water vat. He scooped some water to wash his hands and stepped out to find Qin Li obediently standing in place this time.
“Do you need to go, too? If not, you might as well go now.”
Qin Li approached the bathroom, lifted the curtain, but her hand was grabbed. She stopped and turned to look at Li Zhuiyuan, doubt in her eyes.
This uncertainty was similar to that night at the dinner table when he had urged her to eat but had forbidden her from doing so.
Li Zhuiyuan was concerned she might struggle to use the toilet, given how Liu Yumei often took care of her...
In any case, he knew very little about Qin Li; he only knew... she was lovely.
He was ready to consult Liu Yumei for more information, but when he looked up, he saw Liu Yumei poking her head around the corner.
“Liu Grandma...”
“Our Ah Li can eat by herself, go to the bathroom alone, and wash herself. She’s just like any normal person.”
“Okay.” Li Zhuiyuan nodded and released his grip on her hand.
Qin Li entered the bathroom.
Li Zhuiyuan remained where he was, feeling Liu Yumei’s intense gaze sweep over him constantly.
“Little Yuan.”
“Liu Grandma.”
“Just spend time playing with our Ah Li.”
“Sure, Liu Grandma.”
From inside the bathroom came the sounds of washing hands, and shortly after, Qin Li emerged, hands outstretched before her.
Aunt Liu hurriedly reminded, “Wipe your hands!”
“Oh.”
Li Zhuiyuan stepped forward and took Qin Li’s hands, wiping them on his clothes.
“All done, nice and clean.”
Qin Li pulled her hands back.
As Li Zhuiyuan led her back upstairs, he picked up a clean towel along the way and draped it on his shoulder.
Upon returning to the northeastern corner of the patio, he took his seat to read. Once Qin Li sat down, her beautiful face came back into view for him.
Having finished the sixth volume, Li Zhuiyuan stretched, standing up and moving to an empty area, diligently performing the national middle school physical exercises.
Upon finishing, he took out the seventh volume, but just as he did, he heard Aunt Liu downstairs calling for lunch.
Li Zhuiyuan and Qin Li went down together.
Li Sanjiang sat separately from them this time, just as before. Qin Li was led away by Liu Yumei.
Once seated, Li Sanjiang pulled out a bottle of white alcohol.
“Great-Grandfather, you’re injured; you shouldn’t drink alcohol.”
“Bah! Your Great-Grandfather is practically halfway in the earth; every sip now is a profit!”
Ignoring his great grandson’s advice, Li Sanjiang poured himself a generous glass. Just as he took a sip, about to grab some food to chase it down, he saw Qin Li suddenly walk over.
Along with her were Liu Yumei and Aunt Liu.
“Sorry, we were ready to eat over there, but Ah Li ran off before we could start.”
“Come, Ah Li, let’s head back to eat first. After a good meal, you can play with Little Yuan.”
Qin Li stood her ground, watching Li Zhuiyuan.
As Liu Yumei attempted to draw her away, Li Zhuiyuan could see her eyelashes flutter and her body tremble slightly.
Liu Yumei let go of her hand, not daring to pull any harder.
Aside from having opinions about the Li Weihan family caring for four ungrateful wolves, Li Sanjiang wasn’t a stingy person. He waved his hand, saying, “Let her eat here; just add some chopsticks.”
“Thank you,” Liu Yumei quickly expressed gratitude. “Sorry for the inconvenience.”
Li Sanjiang waved his hand dismissively, “Not at all; it's great for the two kids to play together. It’s nice to have a companion to keep them from feeling lonely."
Aunt Liu brought over bowls, utensils, and a small stool.
Li Zhuiyuan grabbed the towel on his shoulder and helped Qin Li wipe down the stool. “Let’s sit down together to eat.”
Qin Li didn’t move.
“Ah Li, come sit down and eat.” Liu Yumei urged.
Still, Qin Li remained seated; however, she turned her body to face Li Sanjiang, though her eyes didn’t meet his gaze, implying plainly she didn’t want to have a meal with him.
Holding up the wine glass, Li Sanjiang scratched his head in confusion, asking:
"Then... do I move?"
Liu Yumei kept silent, feeling delighted that her granddaughter expressed some emotion without acting up.
Li Zhuiyuan also didn’t interject, silently wiping down the small stool one more time.
Li Sanjiang smacked his lips, “Heh, heh, heh. Fine then, Ting Hou, split the food for me, and I’ll go sit over there.”
“Alright, alright! Sorry for the trouble!” Liu Yumei responded immediately.
Aunt Liu quickly divided up the food, setting up a small table for Li Sanjiang in a separate spot.
Finally, Qin Li sat down.
With anticipation in her eyes, Liu Yumei said to Li Zhuiyuan, “Little Yuan, please help Ah Li eat.”
Earlier, it took her quite some time to coax the girl, but here, it seemed with just a word from this boy, her granddaughter had started eating.
“Hold on a second.” Li Zhuiyuan stood up, rushing to the kitchen.
Qin Li also attempted to rise but stopped when she saw Li Zhuiyuan returning, carrying four small dishes and a small bowl.
Li Zhuiyuan divided portions of food into the dishes and scooped soup into the bowl.
Qin Li’s eyes appeared to brighten a little.
Watching this scene, Liu Yumei felt curious.
“All set! Time to eat.”
Qin Li picked up her chopsticks and began to eat.
Taking one piece from each dish, eating a morsel of rice, she followed through the series of dishes, finishing each one off before taking a sip of soup, and then continued.
Liu Yumei was astonished to see her granddaughter eat so easefully, even displaying a hint of youthful delight.
“Is it really possible to do this?”
Li Zhuiyuan smiled slightly. The remaining dishes were all for him, and he began to eat too.
Thanks to sitting next to someone with a severe obsessive-compulsive disposition, he knew well how to interact with similar individuals.
Qin Li ate rapidly; by the end, she had polished off all dishes in her plate, washed down the last sip of soup, and cleaned out her rice bowl.
She set her chopsticks down.
Li Zhuiyuan picked up the towel, folded it, and gently wiped the corners of her mouth and hands. The towel was large enough to serve multiple functions.
After lunch, Li Zhuiyuan led Qin Li back to the patio to read.
This book, "Records of Strange Tales in the Martial World," he found himself reading faster and faster. By dusk, he had already reached the twelfth volume.
He felt he could speed up even more by tomorrow; in just a few days, he could finish the introductory encyclopedia and then venture down to the basement to search for treasure.
During this time, he would drink water while offering some to Qin Li; whenever he went to the toilet, he took her along too.
Not one to munch on snacks, he worried she might get hungry and opened a few bags to share with her.
After each snack, he wiped her hands, only for that towel to get dirtier as it was already shared between them.
Li Sanjiang muttered in annoyance, wondering why Yingzi hadn’t come to tutor him today.
Li Zhuiyuan thought that his sister was likely at home digesting the problems he helped her with yesterday.
However, Li Sanjiang believed it was because Yingzi found it too difficult to learn from Li Zhuiyuan and thus didn't want to come anymore.
At dinner, Li Sanjiang still had a table to himself.
This time, Liu Yumei had prepared the dishes beforehand for her granddaughter. When Qin Li sat down, however, she didn’t pick up her chopsticks.
Li Zhuiyuan adjusted the quantities in each of the dishes with his own chopsticks.
Finally, Qin Li picked up her chopsticks and began to eat.
“Ah Li, I neglected the portions; I didn’t control them properly,” Liu Yumei remarked.
Though in her heart, she thought, Hmph! Do I not remember how many bites you take? This girl is acting deliberately!
However, Liu Yumei felt no resentment, only joy, as these were all positive signs. She wouldn’t worry about her granddaughter throwing a tantrum; she would rather have her express emotions than close herself off and turn wooden like before, which would have been truly despairing.
Liu Yumei glanced over to see Li Sanjiang, who was drinking by himself, and then looked back at Li Zhuiyuan, contemplating:
After staying here for so long, has the fortune finally come through?
Once dinner was over, Li Zhuiyuan didn’t plan on reading again with the desk lamp tonight; he felt he had read quite enough already, was tiring, and wanted to take a bath before turning in.
Noticing that Qin Li still wanted to follow him, he said seriously:
“Ah Li, you should go wash up and sleep. I’m heading to bed. We can read together tomorrow, okay?”
Qin Li didn’t respond.
Li Zhuiyuan turned and walked towards the stairs but paused to look back, relieved to find she hadn’t followed him but was obediently heading to the east room with Liu Yumei. He let out a sigh of relief and went upstairs to take a bath.
After bathing, he thought to pull out that dirty towel to wash it properly, only to find that the towel he had been hanging on his shoulder was nowhere to be seen.
“Did it fall somewhere?”
...
In the east room, as Liu Yumei watched her granddaughter, freshly washed, lay down to sleep; she felt a deep satisfaction.
With a smile on her face, she stepped out from the inner bedroom to see the ancestral tablet offerings.
Today, she had a lot to say to Ah Li’s grandparents, great-grandparents, as well as her parents.
She had safeguarded her for so long, and now there was hope for rehabilitation. Surely, they all could be relieved now.
After all, Ah Li was the only surviving bloodline of both the Qin and Liu families today.
Once seated in front of the ancestral tablets, Liu Yumei prepared to start speaking when she suddenly noticed something was off about the six-tiered stand that housed the tablets.
Logically speaking, no one should have moved them; there were only a few people in the house, and neither Qin Li nor Liu Ting would dare touch this.
But what exactly seemed wrong?
Liu Yumei carefully examined the stand several times before noticing a dark spot under the light.
It was in the central position of the third tier, where Ah Li’s grandfather — her husband’s tablet — should have been, but it was gone!
In its place was...
A towel folded into a small square... a dirty towel.
(End of Chapter)