Runsheng swallowed several times, feeling the gnawing hunger in his belly. Little Yuan had mentioned the dead fish – was it a hint that if he was hungry, he could eat fish? Without a second thought, Runsheng waded into the river.
Ignoring the scattered body parts and the dwarf, disregarding the mother and daughter, his focus was singular – Zhou Yong. He dragged Zhou Yong closer, noting that only a small part of his head was still attached to his neck, ready to snap off at any moment. Things that had spoiled in the market were unsellable, and the only solution was to consume them himself.
He lowered his head and bit down. After a moment, he pushed Zhou Yong away and crawled back onto the shore, kneeling down and starting to retch. It was truly disgusting. Puzzled by his reaction, he soon recalled the reason: according to Little Yuan’s directions, he had altered the feng shui of this place, causing all the malevolent energy from Zhou Yong’s body to boil over uncontrollably.
Regaining his composure, Runsheng returned to the river. This time, he was not searching for food but instead feeling around the dwarf’s corpse, where he found a thorny rope made from a special material, several damp talismans, and various small bits and pieces.
Next, he searched through the clothing of the scattered remains but found nothing more than wet cigarettes and some coins. After gathering his findings, Runsheng left the area.
At the village shop, just as it was preparing to close for the night, with the door already half shut, Runsheng called out while running towards it and began dialing a number on the phone.
…
Tan Wenbin had slept the whole day. Upon waking up, he realized that, although his face had swollen less quickly than his stomach, he was still very hungry. That evening, Aunt Liu had made noodles, filling a basin to the brim for him.
As he took the first bite, he felt a bit apprehensive, glancing toward the corner where Runsheng had prepared a batch of “scallions.” After swallowing the first mouthful successfully, he finally relaxed and began to relish the meal. He polished off the entire basin of noodles and even felt a bit regretful that it was already gone.
He was surprised at how much he had eaten. “Do you want more?” Aunt Liu asked. “Shall I cook you another serving?”
“No, no, that’s enough. If I eat any more, I might burst!” He was starting to feel restless, standing up with his belly sticking out and pacing around the courtyard. “By the way, where’s Little Yuan? Isn’t he coming for dinner?”
“Little Yuan is still asleep.”
“Asleep still?”
“Yeah, he probably needs a lot of sleep; who knows if he’ll wake up tomorrow.”
“Oh my, if he’s sleeping that long, no wonder. He must be utterly exhausted.”
At that moment, Aunt Zhang’s voice echoed across the rice fields. Her voice had a distinctive quality, ringing out several “Hey~ Hey~” calls that got the nearby villagers’ ears perked up, after which they would respond with “I’m coming~ I’m coming~” when she named a specific family.
Aunt Liu explained, “It’s for Zhuang Zhuang.”
Liu Yumei furrowed her brows in confusion. “Is she calling the wrong name?”
Tan Wenbin hopped down the courtyard’s edge in a hurry.
“Zhuang Zhuang is a new name given by Uncle Sanjiang to this child.”
“Oh,” Liu Yumei nodded. “This child is quite nice.”
“Good upbringing, and a naturally upright character.”
“How’s Little Yuan doing?”
“His eyes will be out of commission for about a month. I think he’s already aware of his situation and is rather accepting. He even mentioned that at least he wouldn’t miss the start of school.”
“That boy does everything with moderation, even going crazy.”
“Indeed, he’s a relief to deal with. Being his parents is a blessing.”
“If you plan to just abandon him and not raise him, you’ll still be blessed; you could wait until he’s grown to pick peaches.”
“Is Ah Li still keeping him company?”
“Of course, she’s been there, taking care of him and feeding him. You should make some soup for her to serve him, remember to let it cool down first."
“Such a naughty boy, getting himself blind from a fit of craziness, and still manages to help Ah Li with her illness.”
Liu Yumei smiled as she spoke.
Aunt Liu chimed in, “Those two really have a special bond; but seeing Little Yuan that way, I fear Ah Li might feel heartbroken.”
“Not really, Ah Li is very happy! You should have seen her; she was all smiles today.”
“That's hard to comprehend.”
“We're getting old; the youngsters have their own ways of enjoying life.”
“Should I go and inquire further?”
At this, Liu Yumei hesitated with her chopsticks.
Aunt Liu clarified, “I’m just worried this child didn’t handle things properly, and let something slip by.”
Liu Yumei lifted the vinegar and said, “Since he hasn’t spoken up, we’ll act clueless and avoid asking too much.”
“Understood.”
Just then, a figure emerged from the second-floor balcony, holding a towel, heading towards the water tank.
“I never got to enjoy such treatment.”
Liu Yumei reluctantly put down her vinegar, realizing the soup was already tangy enough.
…
Tan Wenbin answered Runsheng's call and learned about the situation developments. To be honest, he was quite shocked. No wonder Little Yuan was so intent on getting everything done last night. It seemed that the fish had indeed taken the bait by morning.
However, there were just too many fish to deal with, which meant he needed to call his father. Before reaching out to his dad, Tan Wenbin hesitated a bit. Knowing how his dad usually operated, if he saw it was his son calling while he was busy, he might overlook it, and even if he wasn’t busy, he likely wouldn’t hasten to return the call.
So, he decided to send a message: Uncle Tan, it’s Little Yuan, please call back.
Once he hung up the phone, lighting up a cigarette and striking a match, the phone rang again.
“Damn it!”
Tan Wenbin shoved the cigarette back and answered the call.
On the line came his father’s warm and gentle voice: “Little Yuan, what’s the matter? Don’t worry, just tell Uncle, and I’ll help you out.”
“Dad.”
“Rascal.”
Tan Wenbin: “…”
He felt that the only thing holding their father-son relationship together was bloodline. If it hadn’t been for seeing his father’s youthful photos, which looked exactly like him, he might have started to wonder if he was adopted, or if his parents had even gone through some emotional turmoil like those sad dramas on television.
“Dad, let me tell you, I was playing cards in Xiting Town.”
There was silence on the other end.
“Do you want to come and catch me?”
Silence lingered again.
“Dad, you come to Shinan to pick me up, and then we can go to Xiting together to catch me gambling.”
“Did Little Yuan tell you to say that?”
“Uh, yeah.”
“Click…” The call on the other end was abruptly cut off.
Tan Wenbin fished out some money, paid for the phone call, and grabbed a piece of bubble gum.
Before long, he saw a motorcycle coming down the road.
Tan Wenbin waved and walked over.
The motorcycle halted sideways, kicking up a cloud of dust in his face.
“Spit, spit, spit!”
“Get on.”
“Oh, okay.”
As soon as he hopped on, the bike sped off, and Tan Wenbin had to cling tightly to his father’s waist.
“Dad, slow down a bit. If something happens to us, wouldn't that just free up my mom?”
After saying that, Tan Wenbin regretted the comment, wondering why he dared to tease his own father like that.
Most likely, after the experience from yesterday, having been dragged by Little Yuan to experience life, even the scariest father couldn't compare to the pile of dead bodies.
To his surprise, his dad didn’t seem angry. Through the motorcycle’s rearview mirror, Tan Wenbin caught a glimpse of his dad’s smile, as if he found it amusing.
As they entered Xiting Town, Tan Wenbin pointed the way, leading his father into a village, where he got off first and entered a gambling den. Runsheng had mentioned that his grandfather liked to lose money in this very place.
Once inside, Tan Yunlong kicked over the gambling table, sending his son tumbling out without the need to show any identification. The gamblers inside all feigned ignorance, too frightened to defy him.
Some people naturally emanated an aura of authority.
After smashing up the gambling den, the father and son left, and Tan Wenbin led his father to Zhou Yong's house, where Runsheng was also standing.
“Dad, we’ve already been inside. Should we go in again to check for fingerprints since you are the expert?”
“You’ve already been inside?”
“Uh, yeah, we went in last night.”
“You’ve already been inside.”
“Yes, indeed, we went in. We tidied up a bit but it’s definitely not clean…”
Tan Yunlong thought to himself that if Little Yuan were here, they wouldn’t have had this back-and-forth nonsense.
He turned to Runsheng. “Where to next?”
Runsheng answered, “By the river.”
Tan Wenbin thought deeply for a long moment before finally understanding. Given that his dad said they’d been inside, then they had indeed been inside. Whatever traces they left would simply be normal.
Besides, since they had already been inside, there was no need to go back in again.
The three of them arrived at the riverbank.
Runsheng set up a net in the water; the body hadn’t drifted away and remained there.
Even Tan Yunlong, who had encountered many crime scenes, frowned deeply at this sight, revealing his astonishment: “What exactly did you do?”
…
Li Zhuanyuan stirred awake.
He opened his eyes and instinctively turned his head to glance at the doorway, but he couldn’t see the girl’s figure.
That was because he was now blind.
Soon, he felt a warm small hand holding his.
“Ah Li, how long did I sleep?”
Three fingers were raised.
Three days? Now that was quite a long time.
“Has grandfather returned?”
His hand was shaken gently.
“And Runsheng and Binbin?”
His hand was shook once more.
“I want to take a shower.”
With that, Li Zhuanyuan leaned his face close to the girl, inhaling her scent.
Liu Yumei always made sure Ah Li’s clothes were scented with different fragrances. The scent now was faint.
It proved that the girl had been sitting at his bedside the whole time.
“Ah Li, you should go take a shower too, then sleep afterwards.”
Ah Li extended a hand to help him get out of bed, but Li Zhuanyuan waved his hand, “It’s okay, I can manage. At home, it doesn’t matter if I can see or not.”
Ah Li stood up and left.
Li Zhuanyuan sat by the bed for a moment, then got up. At first, he struggled with his blindness but now he felt accustomed to it. He even started worrying about how to adapt if he regained his sight.
In his mind, he pictured the layout of his room, calculating each step he took, extending his hand to push open the door, then turning right, passing by his grandfather’s room, continuing to turn right.
Finally, he reached the bathroom door and walked in.
Clean clothes were neatly folded on the rack just outside the bathroom door. Although pouring hot water and mixing it with cool water into the water bucket was somewhat challenging, he completed it with careful effort.
After showering and changing clothes, going outside to feel the wind, Li Zhuanyuan felt as though he had come back to life.
Reaching the door of his room, he settled down at the rattan chair.
Downstairs, Liu Yumei was grooming the hair of her freshly bathed granddaughter. She witnessed the boy calmly walking back and sitting down.
The rattan chair sat precariously at the edge of the terrace. She wanted to remind him to be careful, but held her tongue.
The granddaughter wanted to get up, but Liu Yumei gently pressed her down and said, “Ah Li, even if he can’t see, we still need to be pretty in front of him, right?”
Ah Li sat back down again.
Unable to see the scenery or read, Li Zhuanyuan began daydreaming.
Fortunately, it wasn’t long before he felt the girl sitting beside him.
Taking a sniff, he caught the fragrance of osmanthus; this scent should match her bright yellow dress.
“Ah Li, let’s play chess.”
The girl squeezed his hand tightly.
Li Zhuanyuan raised his hand, outlining a square in the air, pointing to a spot in the middle.
The girl followed suit, pointing at another spot with his hand.
Together, they began to play Go against the empty space in front of them.
As they played, the sound of a tricycle echoed from downstairs; grandfather was back.
Aunt Liu asked, “Where are Binbin and Runsheng? Why aren’t they back with you?”
“They’re helping with the investigation at the police station. They recovered five bodies; it’s quite a gold mine.”
Li Sanjiang stepped upstairs; he meant to shower first and see how Little Yuan was doing.
Li Zhuanyuan didn’t try to avoid his grandfather, given they all lived under the same roof, and there was no way to hide his situation from him.
Seeing his grandson’s eyes covered with cloth, Li Sanjiang was startled, rushing over and hugging the boy tightly without heeding Ah Li, who stood nearby.
Li Zhuanyuan kept holding onto Ah Li’s hand, ensuring she didn’t act on impulse.
However, he noticed that the girl seemed to be less repelled by other people’s closeness than before.
Aunt Liu quickly approached, explaining to Li Sanjiang that Little Yuan had an eye ailment but was already applying medicine and would be fully recovered within a month without any aftereffects.
Yet, Li Sanjiang angrily cursed: “What nonsense! How could a child’s blindness be a small matter? Why didn’t你 tell me sooner?”
After scolding, he picked the boy up and rushed downstairs, heading to the village clinic.
Doctor Zheng, after examining, just shook his head.
Li Sanjiang jumped onto the tricycle, carrying Li Zhuanyuan to the hospital.
After a long day of checking, the doctors found nothing and couldn’t identify the root cause of his eyesight issue.
Li Sanjiang promptly had the boy discharged and took a bus to a city hospital, spending another day on examinations that still yielded no answers.
While trying to calm Li Sanjiang, Li Zhuanyuan kept insisting that his eyesight would recover soon.
He initially thought that by coming this far, his grandfather would finally relent.
However, to his surprise, his grandfather insisted on taking him from Nantong to Shanghai.
It was also Li Zhuanyuan’s first time on a ferry and his first visit to the most prosperous city on the continent.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t see anything; most of the time he could only hear the roar of the engine and the honking of horns around him.
Li Sanjiang had visited Shanghai before, but that was all before the founding of the country. Now, he was no different than an ordinary peasant entering the city.
However, Li Sanjiang was not shy or reticent; he would actively ask people for directions, and he was always precise with his inquiries.
Along the way, an elderly man leading a blind yet adorable boy was such a classic and pitiful pairing.
Therefore, the motorcycle driver refused to collect fare, the owner of the small guesthouse returned the room fee secretly, and the Shaanxi owner of the breakfast store even offered breakfast for free.
Even when the grandfather and grandson sat on the staircase of the hospital, waiting for the doctors in the afternoon, they happily met an old professor coming down from upstairs.
The old professor allowed them to queue jump and called over several other departments for consultations.
They ultimately reached the conclusion that the boy’s issues were related to his nervous system affecting his sight; he needed quiet rest and didn’t need to tax his mind.
He comforted Li Sanjiang, saying the boy could gradually regain his sight in a month or two and would eventually return to normalcy.
Such nervous system conditions were a worldwide conundrum, and there were no surgical interventions available in hospitals, so they only prescribed some medication.
The old professor even left behind a private contact number, advising that if the boy’s sight hadn’t improved in two months, they should seek him directly.
Li Sanjiang expressed his immense gratitude to the doctor. After leading Li Zhuanyuan out of the hospital, once they walked into the adjacent alley, Li Sanjiang broke down in tears, hugging the boy tightly.
“Little Yuan, it’s all the fault of this old man. I’m useless; I can’t take you abroad for treatment!”
All the pent-up frustration burst forth at that moment, with Li Sanjiang kneeling on the ground, crying like a child.
Hearing that sound, Li Zhuanyuan wanted to cry too, but after searching within himself, he found nothing of the sort.
He could cry, but he didn’t want to enact a performance.
Holding his grandfather’s head against him and pressing his face close, he began to hate himself for feeling this way.
From then on, Li Sanjiang finally abandoned the pursuit of medical treatment and began the journey back home with Li Zhuanyuan.
On the long bus ride back, Li Sanjiang was seen scribbling in a notebook.
“Little Yuan, once your eyes are healed, we’ll take a trip back to Shanghai. We must bring some gifts to thank everyone who helped us.”
He wrote down the contact information for each person who had helped them, recording it all in his notebook.
Before heading to Shanghai, Li Zhuanyuan attempted to dissuade his grandfather from this notion, claiming their family couldn’t afford to go see a doctor in Shanghai.
Yet, Li Sanjiang patted the savings book in his pocket, stating there was enough money. Ding Dalin's land payment had already been given to the village, but the tree-planting funds had only paid a down payment.
This startled Li Zhuanyuan. He knew the person buried under the fish pond had not completely pacified yet. If the peach trees weren’t planted soon enough, they might have to dig up the soil again for an explanation.
However, Li Sanjiang added that this money was only for emergencies; he would mortgage the house to cover the costs of planting the peach trees when they returned.
Fortunately, because everything went smoothly and there was no hospital stay in Shanghai, the expenses for transport and lodging barely added up to much.
Li Sanjiang mumbled, “But those yellow steamed buns, I really couldn’t get used to.”
Prior to entering the hospital around noon, the grandfather and grandson had each grabbed a bowl of noodles just outside.
While Li Sanjiang complained about the exorbitant prices in Shanghai, he didn’t forget to add extra meat to Li Zhuanyuan’s serving.
Those yellow steamed buns were a gift from the owner of the breakfast store next to the guesthouse, not meant to be sold but made for his own family.
Both of them had a tough time adjusting to this coarse millet flour; after having buns and soy milk, they saved the yellow steamed buns for later. While sitting on the stairway at the hospital with nothing to do, Li Sanjiang pulled out the yellow bun and took a bite before feeding it to Li Zhuanyuan.
This became more like a snack to avoid waste.
However, this scene appeared incredibly tragic in the old professor’s gaze.
Later, it was learned that the old professor hailed from northern Shaanxi.
…
The town bus halted at the village entrance, and Li Sanjiang held Li Zhuanyuan’s hand as they got off.
The grandfather and grandson sighed in relief; they had finally returned home.
Li Zhuanyuan hadn’t exactly anticipated that his first “trip” with his grandfather would leave him blind the entire time.
Nonetheless, he did his best to do what he could without tiring Li Sanjiang.
But since he couldn’t see, he realized that every time Li Sanjiang watched him trying to adjust to life as a blind person, the man’s eyes would glisten with tears, growing sadder with every glance.
The more understanding Little Yuan acted, the deeper Li Sanjiang’s guilt became.
He felt he hadn’t taken good care of the child; he had just changed Little Yuan’s household registration to his name, and now the child had suffered such an ailment. He began to suspect that he was some sort of misfortune-bringer.
“Grandfather, it’s okay. Didn’t the doctor say my eyesight will get better soon? Then I’ll properly be able to go to school.”
Hearing the words “go to school,” Li Sanjiang paused, and his tears flowed anew.
Yet, he tried hard to suppress his emotions, aiming to cry without sobbing, making sure that the child wouldn’t notice.
“Mm, my Little Yuan’s eyes will definitely heal; he will surely be able to go to school, ha ha.”
On the pursuit of medical help, whenever Li Zhuanyuan asserted that he would be better soon, Li Sanjiang would reprimand him, scolding that a child who didn’t understand the gravity of eyesight was taking it too lightly as a matter.
But upon returning from seeking treatment, each time Li Zhuanyuan said something similar, Li Sanjiang would echo him, and he too would repeatedly affirm those statements.
Back at the home village, along the pathways, there were fragrant fields.
Upon arriving home, they entered the courtyard.
Li Zhuanyuan’s hands were soon held by another pair of small hands.
This time, he realized the trembling coming from those hands, for Li Sanjiang was nearby, close enough.
Clearly, the girl’s aversion to Li Sanjiang had spiked dramatically.
Li Zhuanyuan spoke up, “Ah Li, you have to understand, Grandfather brought me to see the doctor.”
The girl’s hands ceased trembling. She had absorbed that and was suppressing it.
Li Zhuanyuan smiled, somewhat regretful that he couldn’t see Ah Li’s expression right now. Yet he was glad he had many memories since Ah Li always wore different dresses each day.
In the next moment, the girl wrapped her arms around his neck.
Li Zhuanyuan gently patted her head; right now, everyone was watching this scene, and it felt quite embarrassing to say such things.
The girl swayed slightly, seemingly dissatisfied that the ceremony had not yet been completed.
Oh well, since he couldn’t see, what was there to feel embarrassed about?
“Whatever Ah Li wants, just let me know. I’ve got money, plenty of it!”
The girl looked satisfied, moving back slightly then gently touching Li Zhuanyuan’s eyes.
To everyone around, this scene must be extraordinarily warm—allowing someone blind to touch their own eyes. In the thought of a normal person, it indeed implied: I am your eyes.
“No, no, not that…”
But Li Zhuanyuan felt uneasy, understanding that what Ah Li meant could be a game they used to play, like ‘walk in the shadows.’
He had become blind due to the overexertion, but he couldn't dare attempt any such activities before his eyesight returned. Otherwise, it was highly likely he would be blind for good.
Seeing Li Zhuanyuan refuse made the girl hold his hand, drawing a square in the air, indicating to play chess.
“Let’s wait a bit, Ah Li. I’d like to shower and eat first, we can play in the afternoon.”
Moreover, he hadn’t had the chance to learn from Runsheng and Tan Wenbin about the follow-up developments since his grandfather forcefully took him to see a doctor right after returning.
“Come on, Little Yuan, I’ll take you upstairs to shower.” Tan Wenbin extended his hand, guiding Li Zhuanyuan up.
“Binbin, why are you still here?”
“Little Yuan, what kind of question is that? If I weren’t here, where would I be?”
“I thought you went home.”
“This place is short-staffed. While you were gone, I stayed back to help with making paper offerings and deliveries. Just so you know, I’m getting pretty good at making paper—Aunt Liu praised my paper figures.”
“Binbin, you’re impressive!”
“Hey, Aunt Liu said your eyes are just fine, right?”
“Yeah, it's no problem, no need to worry. So, what’s the follow-up on that matter?”
“Oh, that night, Runsheng called me, then I called my dad. He went to the site where they found five bodies in the river. Along with Zhou Yong’s family, there were also that father and son we met at Cui Cui’s birthday party—the ones who were upside down.”
“It’s them?”
Li Zhuanyuan felt an aversion toward that dwarf trying to look younger.
Honestly, if they had been the dead ones, he would’ve long since started dealing with them himself, leaving no potential for future troubles; sadly, they were human.
From everything he’d experienced coming back home, dead bodies were truly less frightening than people.
“Yeah, the tall guy was dismembered, must’ve been done by Zhou Yong. The dwarf also died, apparently bitten to death by the mother and daughter pair.”
“What did the police say?”
“They discovered a lot of bones in the dwarf’s yard, arranged in special poses; there was also a lot of weird stuff inside the house. Plus, the dwarf and his son’s real father-son relationship was found out as well. They are now believed to follow some strange teachings and were the ones who killed Zhou Yong’s family before doing a ritual by the river, ultimately sacrificing themselves.”
“Your dad worked hard.”
“Isn’t this the truth?”
“Yeah, definitely.”
“By the way, Runsheng gathered some things and wrapped them up. They’re in the workshop; do you want to take a look?”
“What can I see right now?”
“Pfft… uh, sorry, bro, I couldn’t help it.”
“Binbin, can you help me run some water? I need a shower first.”
“Bro, I’ll help scrub your back!”
“No need, I’m not used to it.”
“Okay, I’ll just mix the water for you and wait outside the door.”
Once he finished showering and stepped out, the weariness from the journey finally faded.
Tan Wenbin eagerly asked, “So, Little Yuan, about that promise you made me…”
“Did Runsheng teach you how to use those tools?”
“Huh? No, he just taught me how to make paper!”
“Let Runsheng teach you how to use those tools first, and then I’ll try to teach you some other things, which are a bit harder.”
“Ha ha, no matter how difficult— isn’t doing exam papers harder?” Suddenly, Tan Wenbin realized something, “Bro, I let it slip! Stop there, please don’t say any further!”
“Binbin, start with the basics; I’ll just let you use my tools.”
“Really? Little Yuan, that’s wonderful!” He’d been eyeing that set of tools for a long time. Runsheng’s were too big and heavy, but Little Yuan's were just the right size for him to use.
Li Zhuanyuan planned to lend Tan Wenbin his set of tools temporarily, as his current condition made them somewhat strenuous to operate. Besides, he had now mastered the content of the book and possessed powerful methods for directly confronting dead bodies.
As for lacking tools nearby?
That was not a problem, since he wouldn’t dare face dead bodies alone without Runsheng and Tan Wenbin.
The boy returned to his most familiar rattan chair, where Ah Li had already been waiting. He extended his hand, and Ah Li offered hers in return.
The two began to play chess against the air.
Being used to playing quick games, to outsiders, it looked as if two children were holding hands and constantly pointing at thin air.
Back downstairs, Tan Wenbin questioned, “What are they doing? It’s not even dark yet, and they’ve begun counting stars?”
Runsheng glanced up and retorted, “Playing chess.”
Tan Wenbin responded with annoyance, “Are you trying to treat me like I’m an idiot?”
Runsheng didn’t bother explaining.
“Little Yuan just said you’d teach me how to use those objects.”
“Hmm, sure.”
“So, when will you teach me?”
“First, let’s finish this batch of paper offerings; those people are anxious.”
“Why do they need so many all at once?”
“All three families of the Niu family ordered.”
“Do all of them have to conduct three funerals together?”
“It’s because all three families have passed away—three siblings.”
“How poignant to depart together in death; such deep sibling bonds.”
Hearing this, Runsheng couldn’t help but smile.
Tan Wenbin instantly sensed something amiss, asking, “Did I miss something again?”
“Work first, we’ll talk about it later when I teach you to use those items at night.”
“Okay!”
To welcome the grandfather and grandson back, Aunt Liu prepared a lavish dinner.
Once Li Zhuanyuan sat down, Tan Wenbin leaned closer, “Little Yuan, let me serve you some dishes!”
Ah Li looked over with indifferent eyes.
Tan Wenbin recoiled quickly, retreating back to his own seat. He had always sensed that the girl was not to be trifled with; having witnessed dead bodies recently should have made him braver, but he felt increasingly uneasy around her.
Li Zhuanyuan picked up his chopsticks. During his trip with his grandfather for medical help, he had managed to learn how to eat blind: simply by familiarizing himself with the position and type of dishes beforehand and being sharper in sensitivity while using the chopsticks.
However, as he picked up his bowl, he felt dishes being served onto it.
After gulping down a few mouthfuls, he realized food was being added again—Ah Li was serving him.
“Hehe, hehe.”
Li Sanjiang sipped some liquor, gazing at this scene with a foolish smile on his face.
Even when turning to look at Liu Yumei sitting at the small round table from a distance, he lowered his head, showing a rare expression of servility.
Previously, having taken land and property, he would certainly have walked with pride. Now, with his grandson blind and unsure if he’d recover, facing this shrewd old woman, he would have to humble himself.
No matter how good the circumstances, they didn’t compare to a disability, especially blindness, which completely stripped one of the ability to work hard.
According to the village customs, someone with poor eyesight would likely only find someone with similar limitations for marriage in the future.
Sigh, although this girl had a slightly strange temperament and didn’t speak much, at least her eyes were normal.
Moreover, she was truly beautiful; such a pity that his precious Little Yuan couldn’t see.
Li Zhuanyuan remained focused on eating, completely unaware that his grandfather was worrying over his future marriage prospects.
Not only that, but Li Sanjiang was ready after dinner to take gifts and visit Liu Jinxia, aiming to pave the way for his grandson’s future employment.
After the meal, once he set down his chopsticks, Li Zhuanyuan sat there while the girl picked up a cloth to carefully wipe his mouth.
This time, without waiting for him to convince her to go back to sleep, the girl took the initiative and pulled him upstairs. Only after he entered his room did she leave.
Li Sanjiang prepared some egg cakes, soft cakes, and candies, ready to head out to Liu Xiezi’s home. Before leaving, he glanced at Liu Yumei, who was still slowly enjoying her food, and actively bowed his head.
“Wow, your appetite looks good today. That’s great; it means your health is good.”
After speaking, he left.
Aunt Liu wondered while serving Liu Yumei soup, “What’s wrong with Uncle Sanjiang? He seems a bit odd today.”
Liu Yumei snorted, spitting out a fishbone, cursing, “That old man is worried his grandson can’t find a wife.”
“Ha ha ha.” Aunt Liu covered her mouth, unable to stop herself from laughing.
Liu Yumei initially wore a stern face but eventually joined in the laughter.
“Don’t say, Uncle Sanjiang really is interesting.”
At that moment, Ah Li came down the stairs, walking into the east room.
Liu Yumei took a sip of yellow wine, feeling delighted, “Our Ah Li is truly improving day by day.”
…
Night fell, and Li Zhuanyuan sat in front of his desk, turning on the desk lamp.
Then, he promptly turned it off again.
Opening up a notebook, he picked up a pen. He had promised to teach Tan Wenbin, and so he certainly would.
Though he couldn’t see, it did not affect his ability to write.
Having once read Yingzi’s high school textbook and grading Tan Wenbin’s exam sheets, Li Zhuanyuan compiled a notebook full of math problems based on high school knowledge points and exam topics.
After crafting the questions, he stretched his back and rubbed his slightly sore shoulders.
This notebook was meant for Tan Wenbin to receive tomorrow.
Li Zhuanyuan deliberately didn’t try to make it difficult for him because based on his experiences with recovering bodies, mathematical application was a fundamental skill.
Understanding how to use the tools required knowledge of physics.
Making the materials required knowledge of chemistry.
Even the subjects he’d read from those books and that Tan Wenbin wished to comprehend would require a strong grasp of language.
Runsheng was exceptionally gifted – a talent that couldn’t be envied.
Li Zhuanyuan and Binbin could only take the common route of the average student.
However, if Tan Wenbin succeeded in mastering those subjects, it would also resolve his college entrance exam concerns, fulfilling Li Yunlong’s promise in the process.
“Meow… meow… meow…”
The sound of a cat echoed from outside.
It was a bit distant, not yet at the yard, but ever since Li Zhuanyuan lost his sight, his hearing had improved considerably.
He recognized who had arrived; he instinctively picked up a pen, prepared to tap it against the cup beside him, but thankfully stopped himself.
Getting up, Li Zhuanyuan walked slowly down the stairs. In the first floor’s two round tables, Runsheng and Tan Wenbin were sound asleep.
Li Zhuanyuan exited the yard and went to the edge of the field, squatting down and extending his hand.
Before long, he felt the soft touch in his palm—a black cat, purposefully rubbing against him.
Li Zhuanyuan simply sat on the ground; the black cat jumped into his arms. He supported it with one hand while using the other to gently stroke its fur.
Unlike their past interactions, it felt warm at this moment.
“Have all died?”
“Meow…”
“That’s good; you can finally be free.”
“Meow…”
The black cat began gently pawing at his face.
“My eyes are having a bit of trouble, and it will be a while before they’re better. I can’t walk in the shadows right now, so let’s part ways like this.”
“Meow…”
“If you’re reborn as a cat in the next life, find yourself a good owner.”
“Meow?”
“Oh, I’m sorry; you already have the best owner in the world.”
The black cat’s form began to dissolve; the resentment within it had vanished, so what decomposed wasn’t black fog, but splendid sparkles instead.
Under the moonlight,
The boy sat on the edge of the field, cradling a bundle of stars in his arms.
(End of this chapter.)