In the eyes of many, homesickness is like a treasured old wine stored away, and it feels unworthy to even speak of nostalgia without raising a glass to it.
Yet sometimes, it resembles a fizzy drink.
When you pop the cap, a pop sounds, and emotions pour out along with the bubbles; a sip and the effervescence dances on your tongue.
It's like the students who hurry home at the start of a break, or the little ones sent to stay elsewhere, playing happily all day but crying for home come nightfall.
Among the children who left home, Tan Wenbin was the most human-like, and therefore his reactions were the most intense.
It was as if he could only confirm in his heart that he was truly back, only after stepping onto the familiar earth of his home, delivering a strong hug to Li Sanjiang, and hearing Old Li shout “Zhuangzhuang” at him again.
Only then could he let out a sigh of relief, realizing all the dangers and fears encountered along the way had finally come to an end.
This feeling, truth be told, could not be provided by one's own parents.
Li Sanjiang was fond of Zhuangzhuang, but above all, he loved his great-grandson the most. “Xiao Yuánhóu!” The familiar dialect was like the strongest catalyst.
In Li Zhuīyuán's eyes, a special light shone brightly.
Li Sanjiang bent down, intending to pick up the boy.
The first attempt was a failure, but with an earlier intake of breath during the second attempt, he finally succeeded.
It wasn't that the child was too heavy to carry, but rather that he was no longer as light as before.
Liu Yumei sat on a chair drinking tea.
As the weather turned cool, she had already donned a small jacket.
No longer looking majestic as she did in the mountain city, she resembled a delicate rural old lady.
“Aren’t you all hungry? Just wait, I’m going to make some noodles for you,” Aunt Liu chimed in.
Li Zhuīyuán got down from Li Sanjiang’s embrace and walked into the house, heading upstairs.
Li Sanjiang, holding a cigarette in his left hand and supporting his waist with his right, walked over to Liu Yumei, sighing, “The girl has grown quickly, at this rate, I might not be able to carry her soon.”
Liu Yumei took a sip of her tea, dismissively thinking this old fellow was just talking nonsense. “If you can carry such heavy things, how could you not carry a living person?”
The old man was simply excited about his great-grandson's return and was looking for a topic to poke at.
Not receiving a response, Li Sanjiang continued, “I’m old, truly. Time flies, and bam, here we are.”
“Then aren’t you going to prepare a coffin?” Liu Yumei shot back.
Li Sanjiang awkwardly flicked the ash from his cigarette. “Yes, I suppose I should think about it.”
“But you can’t just consider it; you need to act quickly. With the growing restrictions on burials, if you wait too long, you won't have any options, and they will just drag you off to be cremated.”
Li Sanjiang awkwardly smiled and waved his hand. “That makes sense, that makes sense.”
“Old Li, let me introduce you. This is Yin Meng, she’s from Chuan and Yu regions,” Tan Wenbin said as he introduced her.
Li Sanjiang's frown deepened as he listened to Tan Wenbin describe this newcomer, “What, she’ll be living here from now on?” However, when he heard Yin Meng only needed a place to eat and stay and didn’t require any pay, he felt relieved.
He not only agreed to let her stay but also assured her that he would pay her in the same way as Runsheng and Aunt Liu.
Li Sanjiang's business required help, and he needed regular workers.
What he feared most was an uninvited guest in his home.
Liu Yumei spotted a shovel head peeking out from Yin Meng’s luggage and waved her over. “Girl, come here and chat.”
Yin Meng walked over with a smile. “Want some tea?”
“Sure.”
Yin Meng took a handful of tea leaves and placed them in the pot, pouring hot water on top.
Liu Yumei suddenly regretted not asking Xiao Yuan to prepare tea first before sending him upstairs.
“Where are you from?” Liu Yumei inquired.
“Fuling.”
“Where in Fuling?”
“Fengdu.”
“Oh, the Fengdu with the Yin family?" Liu Yumei asked, continuing her questions without missing a beat, “Is it near the docks?”
“Yes, my family runs a coffin shop in the county seat.”
“Ghost street?”
“Grandma, have you been to our place?”
Liu Yumei shook her head. “I've never been.”
Ordinary people who usually linger at the docks, like the corpse collectors from before, wouldn't have gained her attention.
However, she knew of the Yin family.
They were quite famous in the past, but that reputation had long faded.
“What brought you here?”
“My grandfather passed, and I had no relatives left there, so I came here with Xiao Yuan...” She hesitated slightly. “...with Xiao Yuan.”
“You can stay in the west room with Ting.”
“Okay, I’m quite skilled and can work.”
“Don't talk like that with me; I'm not the host here.”
“Then you came here out of necessity, just like me?”
“Something like that.”
“Noodles are ready; come eat!” Aunt Liu called from the kitchen.
Liu Yumei raised her chin. “Let’s go eat some noodles.”
“Sure thing.”
After Yin Meng left, Liu Yumei fell into deep thought.
Aunt Liu sat down beside her and asked quietly, “What’s wrong?”
“Just feeling sentimental.”
“Is it because of the Yin girl?”
“Yes and no. I’ve been pondering what truly constitutes family legacy. Is it the surname, or is it something tangible, or perhaps a certain belief?”
“How did you start thinking about these things?”
“Since I returned from the mountain city, they’ve been swirling around in my mind.”
Aunt Liu giggled, knowing the old lady was trying to talk herself down from her musings.
“Ting, what are you laughing at?”
“I’m laughing at how twisted you are.”
“Have some manners; don’t speak like that.”
“Okay, okay, I’ll stop.” Aunt Liu playfully smacked her own face a few times.
Liu Yumei chuckled, waving her hand dismissively. “Get out, stop trying to show off in front of me, go back to your work.”
“Alright.”
Aunt Liu stood up and, passing by the three young men who were eating noodles, cheerfully said, “Take your time eating; there’s more in the pot, and I’ll fry you a few more eggs.”
She entered the kitchen, lifting the pot lid, humming as she poured oil into the pan.
Old lady, let’s see how far you can twist things around.
Just thinking of the day that the noble matron would have to step down from her high pedestal, discussing which of her children would take which surname made Liu Yumei smile in anticipation.
As the weather grew cooler, the gauzy doors were already taken down.
Li Zhuīyuán pushed the door open to find A Li standing inside.
Earlier, when he didn't see anyone by the threshold, he had known the girl was already in his room.
On the table, several completed drawings lay scattered.
The drawing papers framed the threshold, and at their foot, the threshold itself was depicted, filled with spine-chilling and dreadful elements.
Li Zhuīyuán appreciated each piece, the eeriness making him more pleased with each glance.
This meant that A Li was beginning to confront the horrors she had long avoided.
Her illness had taken a significant step toward recovery.
“Hmm, why is there still one pressed beneath?”
Li Zhuīyuán lifted the drawing beneath, revealing its true appearance.
The angle depicted was from below, with a boy sitting by the second-floor balcony, engrossed in an ancient text.
A Li had even drawn herself!
“Why didn't you draw yourself in it?”
A Li pulled this one aside, uncovering another, which displayed the boy reading in profile while sitting in a wicker chair.
Next, there were two more.
One depicted the boy standing in the yard at night, a shadow wearing a black qipao with long hair behind him.
The final one portrayed the scene before Ding Lao Er’s mourning hall, with Ding Lao Er kneeling while the boy presented a formal bow.
The girl's eyes were filled with her own reflections.
Ordinary balconies don’t sway, but she was alive, so the girl’s gaze followed the living.
Raising her right palm, the previous burn had faded thanks to Aunt Liu's ointment, yet the memory of the lesson still lingered.
The girl's health was improving, but if she were to encounter problems again, it could very well lead to her own collapse.
Despite this, the boy didn't feel it as a burden of responsibility, but more like a counterweight as he walked through a storm.
Holding the girl's hand, he sat back in the wicker chair on the second-floor balcony, and they naturally began playing Weiqi together.
At the same time, Li Zhuīyuán started to recount amusing tales of his life after leaving the mountain city.
Gradually, his stories began to focus on Yin Changsheng, with the boy expressing confidence that he would return to Fengdu when he grew up to see that Fengdu Emperor, regardless of whether he was an immortal or a corpse.
The girl rested her chin in her hand, smiling; the boy's hopes mirrored her own.
If he found the future interesting, she too would hold anticipations for what was to come.
“Who’s that little girl? My goodness, she’s beautiful.”
Though many childhood beauties faded after growing up, Yin Meng felt that the girl upstairs surely wouldn’t.
She had such an error tolerance in her current state, and appearance could change, but character is hard to alter.
Runsheng said, “A Li, her surname is Qin. But don’t get too close; she doesn’t like strangers.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
They finished their meals and sat down on the yard to start assembling paper figures.
Since Yin Meng could already make small coffins, this was much easier for her.
She even cheerfully asked the smoking Li Sanjiang, “Old Li, why not consider opening another coffin shop? I can make them.”
Li Sanjiang flicked away the ash of his cigarette. “No way. That trade is not sustainable here. Rabbit tails don’t stay long.”
After a pause, he added, “But custom jobs could work.”
Yin Meng boldly declared, “Sure, I’ll make one for you to keep on hand.”
Li Sanjiang clapped his hands. “Good, let’s do that.”
Just then, Aunt Liu walked by, and Li Sanjiang called her over, asking, “Should we custom-make one for your mother-in-law too?”
“Make one? For a coffin?”
“Right! Buy your own materials and have someone from our family make it. It’ll be cheaper.”
“No, our family doesn’t do burials.”
Yin Meng suddenly looked up, glancing at Aunt Liu.
Aunt Liu continued, “We’re following the trend of the times, planning for cremation.”
Yin Meng lowered her head, continuing her task.
“Well then, I’ll think about whom else to make one for. How about for Shanhou?”
Runsheng looked at Li Sanjiang with excitement.
“No way, Shanhou can’t even afford food; how’s he going to pay for a custom coffin?”
“Mister, just deduct it from my wages.”
“Hey, I’m just teasing you. Even if he has no money, we can still give him a coffin. He’s an orphan without parents, no ancestral grave. We can bury him with me later, just next door. I’ll occasionally chat with him when I’m bored.”
Runsheng, what do you think?” Runsheng fell silent. His grandfather had often cursed Li Sanjiang behind his back.
He used to say that all those years accompanying Li Sanjiang to work had him toiling away while the old man took all the credit. His grandfather always claimed that meeting Li Sanjiang was the biggest mistake of his life and vowed to avoid this old man in the next life.
If they ended up buried next to each other, Runsheng truly feared his grandfather might just rise from his grave in anger.
“Runsheng! I’m talking to you!”
Even under Li Sanjiang’s urging, Runsheng didn’t dare to nonchalantly respond with a“Okay.” Because although Li Sanjiang was much older than his grandfather, he believed that his grandfather would likely pass away before Li Sanjiang did. If he agreed to this now, what if something happened to his grandfather later?
There would be no way to change what happened then. At that moment, Tan Wenbin walked out of the back restroom, tying his waist belt as he spoke. “Old Li, what’s so special about your ancestral grave?
If you ask me, you ought to select a new fabled spot.
It'll bless the descendants! As for Shanhou, unless he’s seeking us out, he shouldn't think of sharing our blessings in the future.”
“Exactly, we can’t let Shanhou take advantage of this.”
Li Sanjiang stood up, beckoning Zhuangzhuang.
“Come, Zhuangzhuang, accompany me for a stroll in the village and see whose grave looks best.”
“Absolutely, this is a big deal; I need to give you some good advice.”
“Before checking out the graves, we need to stop by Liu Xiezi’s house first.”
“We must go, get her to custom-make one.”
“Liu grandma has money.”
The two of them walked side by side down to the yard, chatting and laughing. Yin Meng nudged Runsheng with her arm, asking,“Isn’t that Binbin? Why are you calling him Zhuangzhuang?”
Runsheng replied,“He’s my sworn brother.”
“Should I also get one?”
“Then you’d better do a good job with the coffins and not slack off.”
“Does Old Li like kids who are diligent and down-to-earth?”
Runsheng hesitated, recalling how Li Sanjiang usually referred to him.
“He likes mules.”...
And so the days passed, one after another. Li Zhuīyuán had once suspected, but now he could say with certainty that the individual buried beneath the peach trees belonged to the big-bearded man, who had changed the feng shui of this village—and even the whole town.
In the beginning, those passing away were like hidden leeks, shooting up one after another, leaving everyone bewildered; now, it was better, having gone several months without hearing any news about such cases, leading to a curious longing.
This situation was likely to persist for several more years, until that individual completely faded away, and the nearby deaths could once again flourish into life. Yet, although death had been temporarily lost from the scene, Li Zhuīyuán’s life was now quite fulfilling. He stopped going to school, yet his days were like a carefully planned timetable.
The first thing every morning was to admire A Li’s outfit of the day. Then they would play a few rounds of Weiqi before going to breakfast. During most of the day, Li Zhuīyuán spent his time reading.
He had deciphered one-third of the books from the Qi family ancestors, purposefully maintaining a steady pace, solving only a portion with his surplus energy. He had also finished reading the Yin family genealogy; it was truly fascinating. It not only contained various studies and validations of Yin Changsheng's life but also many personal travel logs.
Even as a singular surname, it, passed down since the Eastern Han, resembled multiple experiences and stories of every corpse collector. This ordinary yet legitimate perspective of the corpse collectors greatly aided Li Zhuīyuán today, while Wei Zhengdao’s work, while accurate, often felt lofty and lacked grounding.
The bamboo slips had been restored, but Xue Liangliang mentioned he would bring them personally, so they weren't in his hands just yet. In between studying, Li Zhuīyuán played a game with A Li, enjoyed a bit of the breeze, and indulged in some private games meant just for the two of them.
Now, Li Zhuīyuán could calmly stand in the“threshold perspective”of A Li, viewing his surroundings. He no longer deliberately delayed time nor faced severe side effects, merely experiencing a slight dizziness. Old Yin Fuhai once mentioned he should be“robust,”and after this focused training period, he expected to have grown stronger.
Moreover, A Li’s special training was only just beginning; he still stood at the threshold. To take another step forward, all he needed was to cross it. But that was too dangerous.
Li Zhuīyuán didn’t dare; he wasn’t ready to play with premature demise. Yin Meng had seamlessly integrated into local life, skilled at making paper people and coffins. She often accompanied Runsheng to deliver tables and dishes for funerals.
Her relationship with Runsheng was excellent. Because Binbin had to go to school every day, he didn’t eat breakfast at home, rushing off to early classes. However, he didn’t attend evening classes either; otherwise, although he lived there, his presence would feel absent.
In the evenings, he followed Yin Meng to practice martial arts, sitting in a horse stance. Though family skills were not meant to be spread, family secrets were left solely to her, didn’t that make it a personal decision?
Sometimes Runsheng would join in too, as they all began walking the Yin family path of corpse collectors, at least offering a more legitimate avenue. This was also rooted in historical reasons.
The earlier Yin family methods were undoubtedly high-end and challenging, but the Yin family’s early decline and long-standing tradition led generations to refine things—simplifying and lowering the difficulty, gradually passing on the foundational skills. The Qin family’s techniques retained their high standards, not meant for casual practitioners and requiring specialized guidance. Only Li Zhuīyuán continued to practice the breathing techniques.
There was no other way; after Uncle Qin’s passing, he hadn’t appeared again, effectively severing all ties. Every night, after Yin Meng taught her session, Runsheng would teach whatever skills he’d“collected”from Li Zhuīyuán’s lessons. The Yin family focused on laying that foundation, while Wei Zhengdao sought to raise the upper limits.
Initially, the three practiced on the second-floor balcony, but after Li Sanjiang chastised them for the noise disrupting his sleep, they moved to the fields to train. The effectiveness of quality study materials paired with excellent talent proved undeniable. Yin Meng grew increasingly nimble in her moves, delivering techniques effortlessly.
Runsheng was even more impressive now; each punch and kick produced a piercing sound. Previously, he could only rely on instinct to deal with corpses, pouncing and gnashing like a beast. Now, he could approach with more composure, like a wild animal donning a suit and tie—definitely more intimidating.
Tan Wenbin, practicing alongside them, couldn’t help but feel envious of their progress. His companions were visibly improving, yet he only achieved modest physical fitness. Each night, the trio practiced techniques.
They’d let Tan Wenbin choose one, and the selected pair would swiftly take him down, followed by two of them sparring. The only time Tan Wenbin regained some confidence was when Xiao Yuan taught them the Yin family’s walking techniques, allowing him to learn the fastest.
Though Xiao Yuan forbade finishing the last step of the technique, Tan Wenbin had already grasped the prior steps, while Runsheng and Yin Meng struggled to catch up. Yet, even so, Tan Wenbin noticed something amiss: whenever he slept at night or napped in class, he frequently experienced strange pressure.
After confiding in Xiao Yuan, he was told that it was a side effect and he’d have to pause practice for a few days after experiencing such pressure. This side effect was beyond Li Zhuīyuán’s control; it might as well be part of the technique.
However, during the teaching process, Li Zhuīyuán noticed that those with sharper minds seemed to master the walking technique more easily. Every now and then, Tan Wenbin would seek out Li Zhuīyuán for his customized question sets before delivering another set to the school. The“Zhuīyuán Secrets”were selling quite well in Nantong, with sales extending beyond the city limits.
Each month brought in a considerable share of profits. Tan Wenbin had already drafted a new plan for Li Zhuīyuán. Starting next semester, instead of crafting individual subjects’ question sets, they would produce complete examination papers.
Because it was during the critical sprint of the second semester for the third-year students, their demand for holistic papers surged. Whole papers could distinguish levels of difficulty, with basic papers boosting confidence, simulated papers equating to normal exam difficulty, and enhancement papers specifically to challenge students.
Originally, Tan Wenbin intended to suggest that Li Zhuīyuán include fluff questions on the complete exams, recommending a paper with a few high-quality questions and the rest being miscellaneous queries, allowing teachers to select which questions to assign to students. This would reduce the workload of creating questions while also increasing sales.
But, after some thought, Tan Wenbin decided to abandon that idea; it was still a time to build the brand's reputation and authenticity, rather than just aim for this year’s profits. Once the brand was established, there was always the option of selling the“Zhuīyuán Secrets”label later, which would be more profitable.
Tan Wenbin remained busy, juggling studies and training, and his appetite continued to grow. Yet he hadn’t gained weight; rather, he’d lost a bit.
“Xiao Yuan, finals are approaching; are you going to take part?”
“Yeah, I need to take the exams.”
“Then should I go with you tomorrow morning?”
“No need; I’ll go in the afternoon.”
“But we have Chinese and Math in the morning.”
“No problem, I’ll join for the exams afterward.”
As snow fell that evening, Tan Wenbin braved the winds and snow on his bicycle to school the next day. At noon, right after Li Zhuīyuán finished lunch, he saw Principal Wu drive the school car and pull up by the fields. After entering the car, Principal Wu cheerfully pointed to the other side of the car seat.
“Xiao Yuan, there are snacks and drinks inside.”
“I’ve already eaten, Grandpa Principal.”
“Just wait, I’ll take some home for you.”
Principal Wu exited the car, bringing a bag full of snacks to Li Sanjiang’s house. Afterward, he turned the ignition back on. Once at the school, he entered the principal's office, where group leaders of each subject were already waiting.
Li Zhuīyuán sat down to begin on the final exam paper. Though two subjects had already been tested that morning, no one doubted the boy's capability to cheat. While writing his Chinese essay, Li Zhuīyuán pointed to the tape recorder on the principal’s desk.
“Play the English listening exercise.”
“Right now?”
Principal Wu quickly urged,“If I tell you to play it, play it! You’re the teacher, not him!”
“Oh, ok.”
Principal Wu might have misphrased it, but no one laughed. With the tape inserted, the listening started:“Excuse me...
The price for the shirt is £9.15. So you choose option [B] and mark it on the answer sheet…” After finishing his essay, Li Zhuīyuán began the physics questions. By the time he completed the physics paper, the English listening had long ended, allowing him to grab the English exam.
“I need to play one more…”
Li Zhuīyuán quickly answered the listening questions. The teachers wisely fell silent. In truth, after learning the twelve techniques of the Yin family, Li Zhuīyuán found that his capacity for multi-tasking had further strengthened.
Having completed the exam, he had already secured full scores in many subjects. Principal Wu was all smiles, approaching to help the boy massage his sore wrist.
“Xiao Yuan, the national competition is about to begin; do you have any concerns?”
“I can participate.”
“Good, good.”
At that moment, the head of the math group, Teacher Yan, added with a smile,“Let’s head over early so Xiao Yuan can enjoy his time in the capital.” Wu Xinhui shot Yan a glare.
“Are you out of your mind? Xiao Yuan has grown up in the capital.”
“Oh right,”Teacher Yan slapped his forehead.
“How could I forget?”
“Principal, are we taking the train?”
“Train? That’s tiring! We’re flying!”
Wu Xinhui and several teachers escorted Li Zhuīyuán out of the office, all the way to the school gate. At that moment, the exams had just concluded, and seniors were stretching and leaving the exam hall. Though they were not in the same testing building, Class Monitor Zhou Yunyun coincidentally ran into Tan Wenbin outside the exam room.
“How’d it go?”
Zhou Yunyun offered a big white rabbit candy. Tan Wenbin accepted it, then reached into his pocket, pulling out a chocolate wrapper, half of which he had eaten during the exam. Zhou Yunyun did not complain and naturally reached out to take it.
She watched as Tan Wenbin popped the remaining half of the chocolate into his mouth.
“Oh, I’m so hungry.”
Zhou Yunyun retracted her outstretched hand and started adjusting her hair. Tan Wenbin noticed the boy swarmed by teachers and leaders at the school gate. He didn’t wave his arms excitedly but smiled, turning back toward the classroom.
Once he settled into his seat, Tan Wenbin placed the coffin-shaped pencil case on his desk. Earlier, he had brought the coffin with him into the exam room. Zhou Yunyun took the seat at Li Zhuīyuán’s desk and opened her pencil case to pull out a slip of paper.
“Shall we compare answers?”
Tan Wenbin shook his head.
“No need.”
“Worried it’ll affect your next exam?”
“No, I think I did well.”
“Could you at least use a different pencil case?”
“No.”Tan Wenbin turned to Zhou Yunyun.
“If you don’t like it, why ask for one? You wouldn’t even use it.”
Zhou Yunyun was speechless; she did take one and he’d gifted her one, but it was tucked away at the back of her drawer and not on display. One reason was that it seemed slightly repulsing, and another was that they hadn’t established any relationship; using a coffin pencil case felt odd.
If they truly established something, she wouldn’t hesitate to use it. Mainly, Zhou Yunyun had noticed her growing fondness for this big boy. Previously, she appreciated his carefree attitude as a diligent student, but as time passed, he excelled in his studies, and somehow his whole demeanor shifted.
He still appeared lazy and unrefined outwardly, but there was a newfound depth in his brows that drew her in. Previously, there was mutual admiration while both maintained a respectful distance, but now Zhou Yunyun was being more proactive. She’d hinted at solidifying their relationship multiple times, but the boy remained unfazed.
Even Zhou Yunyun herself didn’t quite grasp what had changed in her. But in an odd way, it made sense. Being high schoolers, or even university students, they still had that naiveté, as though traversing an ivory tower.
Yet Tan Wenbin had faced life-and-death situations several times. Although he hadn’t changed much in looks or age, his mindset had greatly shifted, leading to his peers sensing a disparity with him. With this background, he was even less likely to pick up on Zhou Yunyun’s hints, focusing on studies instead of letting any relationship distract her.
Most importantly, he was busy day and night, tackling daily tasks. There was no time for romance.
Early love?
It couldn’t compare with dodging death. Though it had been a while since they had seen any deaths, he wasn’t anxious. This preparation was all aimed at meeting greater challenges ahead.
Principal Wu drove Li Zhuīyuán back home, and as he arrived at his yard, he heard someone calling for him from the second floor. Looking up, it was Xue Liangliang.
“Xiao Yuan!”
“Liangliang-ge.”
Xue Liangliang had just showered and was now dressed in clean clothes. Li Zhuīyuán thought if not for heading to the river, he might have even spritzed some perfume and styled his hair. “Xiao Yuan, I’ve placed the restored bamboo slips on your desk.
I apologize for the delay; I just felt uneasy sending something so important with someone else, you know?” Li Zhuīyuán wasn’t convinced. He believed Liangliang insisted on coming personally to deliver the bamboo slips as an excuse to visit Nantong again.
Then, relying on the excuse of being here, he’d find a way to dive into the river.
“Liangliang-ge, staying the night?”
“No, I need to leave.”
“Are you heading to another city tonight?”
“Not exactly…”
Li Zhuīyuán observed him closely. Sighing, Xue Liangliang rose to confess,“I really have no choice; since I’m already here, I might as well.”
“Uh-huh.”
Whoever had once fought desperately for extended visits to the river must be regretting not having outlined the frequency of these trips. Now, it was a matter of seizing any chance to come to Nantong, only to rush for the river on each occasion.
“Oh, by the way, Xiao Yuan, remember when you told me on the phone last time that there are great secrets buried within Fengdu Ghost City? Do you plan to return there again?”
“Yeah, but that will have to wait until I’m older, Liangliang-ge.
Would you like to join?”
“Of course!
Just make sure to call me when you do.
However, you must grow up quickly.
And it’s best not to delay too much afterward; otherwise…”
“What will happen otherwise?”
Liangliang shrugged.
“Otherwise, the ghost city might get submerged.”
“Oh, I understand now.”
“Remember…”
“I will, Liangliang-ge.
I’ll keep it a secret.”
“Alright then, I’m off.”
After Liangliang left, Li Zhuīyuán returned to his room and began examining the bamboo slips. The capacity of the bamboo leaves dictated the limited amount of text, and thus, the inscriptions were few, recording not events or techniques but locations instead. There were a total of nine sites, from which Li Zhuīyuán could only identify three.
The writing dated back to the Spring and Autumn period, and the person who transcribed it might have done so even earlier, meaning the terminology used couldn’t align with modern references. Some of these places still sparked significant debate in the academic world, made all the more complex by geological changes over time.
The confirmed locations were: the mysterious seabed where the masked man and Zheng Haiyang’s parents had been, Fengdu Ghost City, and the final one, likely in the present-day plateau region near Linzhi.
Li Zhuīyuán noted down the content from the bamboo slip, as he was about to head to the capital; he could ask his grandparents in their mansion for further analysis on the location.
In addition to the bamboo slips, Xue Liangliang had also brought an array of professional books along with various design plans and blueprints that could fill a sack. Li Zhuīyuán felt touched, recognizing how Liangliang had thoughtfully prepared these for him during his own urgent trip, making it all the more valuable.
Since he was just flying to the capital for an examination and coming back shortly, Li Sanjiang wasn't too worried. If he hadn’t known that Xiao Yuan was coming from the capital, he would have likely suggested the school limit round-trip tickets to extend student travels, for some expense-free exploration.
Under the company of Wu Xinhui and Teacher Yan, Li Zhuīyuán arrived in the capital and checked into the hotel designated by the competition group. The next morning, he woke up early, though the examination wouldn’t start until the afternoon. Concerned, Wu Xinhui asked,“Xiao Yuan, are you feeling nervous?”
Li Zhuīyuán shook his head, pulling out a breakfast voucher.
“It’s time for breakfast.”
In the dining hall, many teacher-student pairings filled the place, including some members from the competition group. The hotel had thoughtfully prepared authentic Beijing-style douzhi, and many of the outsiders went to grab some to taste.
As Li Zhuīyuán sipped his warm milk, he watched Principal Wu and Teacher Yan lift their bowls, seeing them eagerly take a sip before ultimately spitting it out. Even so, they didn’t hastily conclude about the flavor but instead doubted themselves on the technique of drinking.
They both took another sip, swallowing this time, but their faces twisted at how pungent the aftertaste was. Principal Wu couldn’t help but ask,“Xiao Yuan, is this douzhi genuinely authentic?” Li Zhuīyuán nodded.
“Yes, it’s real.”
“Really? Xiao Yuan, do you want to give it a try?”
Li Zhuīyuán waved his hand.
“No need; from your expressions, I can tell it’s authentic.”
“Seriously, what’s appealing about this?”
Teacher Yan struggled to comprehend.
“I’d rather change careers to teach Chinese than drink this every morning.”
Li Zhuīyuán replied,“In truth, local folks don’t drink much of this either.” Wu Xinhui then asked,“So how does it keep selling?” Li Zhuīyuán answered,“They sell it to tourists.”
Wu Xinhui and Teacher Yan were momentarily speechless. At that moment, an elderly person roundly surrounded by the three of them passed through, all adorned with competition group badges. Noticing the boy, the elder frowned slightly before approaching.
“Xiao Yuan?”
Li Zhuīyuán stood up, looking at the elder.
“Professor Zhu.”
“You’re back in the capital, but what are you doing here?”
“I came to take part in a competition.”
“What competition?”
Li Zhuīyuán gestured towards the competition badge on the elder’s chest. Professor Zhu seemed to understand, and a rush of air felt constricted in his throat until he finally managed to exclaim,“Nonsense!” Principal Wu and Teacher Yan also stood up, inquiring about the elder's identity and handing out their business cards.
Professor Zhu waved them off, taking a seat beside Li Zhuīyuán, saying,“What on earth have you been up to for the last six months?”
“School.”
“Learning in high school?”
“Yep.”
Learning how to collect corpses. Professor Zhu closed his eyes, suppressing his anger. The old professor’s presence drew considerable attention, and as more people passed by, they took special notice.
Notable figures gathered around, while Wu Xinhui and Teacher Yan silently excused themselves to another table. Only those who had previously taught Li Zhuīyuán were left—a trio of professors and a few seniors. Once they learned Li Zhuīyuán was there for the exams, one of the seniors called out while laughing,“Then why bother with the exams?
Just give him the award!” The seniors weren’t there to test but to participate in the competition group. Professor Zhu finally calmed down, suggesting,“Why not skip the exam and let the competition group give you an honorary award instead?”
Li Zhuīyuán glanced at Principal Wu and Teacher Yan, who both nodded.
“No, I want to take the exam.”
Just as Professor Zhu opened his mouth for a retort, the two other professors restrained him, saying,“This is a one-time thing, just this once!” Li Zhuīyuán nodded.
“Alright.”
After that, the professors began encouraging the boy to return to school, and once they learned he had been accepted by Haihe University, everyone wore baffled expressions. In the end, only after Li Zhuīyuán modified Liangliang's“My Future is in Southwest China”pitch did they finally stop trying to convince him.
The afternoon exam went smoothly, and after completing it, Li Zhuīyuán asked Wu Xinhui and Teacher Yan to take him by taxi back to the family courtyard. As he entered, the first thing he heard was the cheerful voices of the elders.
“Ah! Xiao Yuan, where have you been for the past six months?”
“Isn’t that Xiao Yuan? Ha! It’s been so long! You’ve grown taller!”
Li Zhuīyuán had once been like a guest among the elders, developing strong bonds with them, many of whom regarded him with the affection reserved for their own grandchildren. However, another piece of news soon spread from the elders' lips.
“Xiao Yuan, did you come back with your mother?”
“Of course! I saw his mother returning early this morning.”
Li Lan, has she returned? Li Zhuīyuán handed the notes he'd compiled from the bamboo slips to a retired history professor named Zhang and left his current contact information. There were scholars well-versed in classical Chinese and geography in the family courtyard; he believed that Grandpa Zhang would rally friends amid this.
Having fulfilled the purpose of his visit, Li Zhuīyuán asked Wu Xinhui to take him away, wishing to avoid seeing Li Lan, believing she didn’t want to see him either. But the boy was mistaken.
Just as he stepped out of Grandpa Zhang's house, he spotted Li Lan, donned in a brown windbreaker, standing there, surrounded by several affectionate-looking elderly residents. Li Lan gently brushed her hair aside with a warm smile on her face. As she bent down to the boy, her arms spread wide open.
“Son, come to Mama! Mama has missed you.”
(End of Chapter)