Getting out of bed, I walked to the balcony and looked down.
Aunt Liu was standing under the phoenix tree, wearing a flower-patterned blouse and long blue pants, her wooden sandals complementing her style.
Her hair fell gently over her shoulders.
Compared to when she was at Grandpa's house, she appeared much more lively, resembling a newlywed college teacher.
Li Zhuyuan waved at her.
Aunt Liu smiled, gesturing for him to tidy up before coming down.
Li Zhuyuan went to wash up first, then left a note for Tan Wenbin on the desk before stepping out of the dormitory building.
“Little Yuan, it looks like you've grown taller again.”
“Aunt Liu, you look younger too.”
“Hehe, let's go. Your Grandma Liu is waiting for you to have breakfast together.”
Li Zhuyuan followed Aunt Liu out the north gate, walked down the road for a while, and then turned into a residential area of villas.
Though they called it a villa area, it wasn't very large, and the houses didn't all follow the same design.
Some of them even had signs outside that indicated the identity of the previous owners.
“This is it,” Aunt Liu said, pushing open the gate.
Inside stood a three-story western-style house that wasn't tall but was quite spacious.
The yard had clearly just been renovated with a fresh layout.
Once inside the yard and looking up, he spotted A Li sitting on the second-floor balcony, dressed in a white dress.
The moment he saw the girl, Li Zhuyuan felt all his tension melt away.
He began to reflect on whether he had been too indifferent toward Run Sheng, Yin Meng, and the people around him.
Beautiful things make one unconsciously cherish life, and while there are countless wonderful existences in this world, few truly resonate with someone like a young boy.
The girl noticed him as well and stood up, resting her hands on the white railing.
She didn't wave her hands, stomp her feet, or even speak.
But the smile on her lips was clearly visible even from the ground below.
Aunt Liu stood aside, glancing up and down, finding that when these two kids were together, it created a pleasing sight.
Of course, where there are those who admire, there are always those who find it hard to endure.
The sliding door of the side house on the ground floor opened, revealing Liu Yumei, with her eyelids slightly drooping. “Hey, are you trying to starve this old lady?”
Aunt Liu quickly averted her gaze, fearing she might burst into laughter.
“Grandma Liu.”
“Ah, coming!”
Liu Yumei's previously gloomy aura noticeably softened as Li Zhuyuan walked toward her.
Living together made the bond seem insignificant, but after a separation, the fond memories often resurfaced.
Having spent a year together, they could roughly say that this young man had grown up under her watchful eyes.
In the dining room was a small round table.
Liu Yumei sat at the head, while A Li came downstairs to sit next to Li Zhuyuan.
Liu Yumei asked, “Are you adapting well to school?”
“It's going well, pretty good.”
“You look a bit haggard. Did you not rest well last night?”
“Yeah, a bit.”
“What were you staying up for? Sneaking off to start a fire?”
“Of course, I set quite a large fire.”
Aunt Liu brought over a few small dishes first.
Li Zhuyuan took a salted duck egg, and A Li did too.
They both tapped the hollow side of the eggs against the table before carefully peeling one side and naturally swapped them.
From the kitchen, Aunt Liu called out, “Do you want vinegar? I have sweet garlic too.”
“No need, there's some already on the table,” Liu Yumei replied.
A basket of soup dumplings, a basket of shao mai, and a plate of fried dumplings were served on the table, all personally made by Aunt Liu.
Then, they were each given a bowl of plain noodles.
The broth was clear and enticing, with nicely arranged noodles in the bowl.
Those who don't enjoy this might find it bland or even undercooked.
But those who love it cherished this light and chewy flavor, finding any additional toppings undesirable.
“Aunt Liu, thank you for your hard work.”
“It's not hard at all. Without Run Sheng and Zhuang Zhuang around, cooking has become easier.”
Liu Yumei asked, “What do you usually eat?”
“The school hasn’t opened yet, so the cafeteria is mostly closed. I just eat outside.”
“Feeling indulgent? Just come here whenever. It’s just a matter of adding a pair of chopsticks.”
“Sure, thank you, Grandma.”
“If Run Sheng and the others come over, let me know in advance so I can make a big pot,” Aunt Liu reminded.
“Okay, I will.”
After finishing breakfast, Liu Yumei stood up and headed to the door. “You and A Li can play for a bit. I need to go take a walk. Come down later; I have something to discuss with you.”
“Okay, Grandma.”
Li Zhuyuan and A Li went upstairs.
A Li's room was spacious, equipped with a writing desk and an art table.
Several paintings hung on the walls, depicting the main house at Grandpa's, the yard, the east and west wings, and the rice field view from their home.
It was clear that the girl didn’t particularly like it here; she preferred her original life.
She didn't need such a tall house, nor such a big room.
After getting up and grooming, she could come to the boy's room, waiting to be the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes.
In the details of her paintings, there were small tables pieced together from wooden stools for meals, the terrace on the second floor, and the rattan chairs that Uncle Qin had crafted by hand.
Li Zhuyuan paused before the paintings, reminiscing at that moment about his own memories.
“A Li, do you want to go back?”
The girl nodded slightly.
At the door, Aunt Liu entered with a fruit platter, stopping in her tracks.
Since moving, A Li had been gloomy.
Originally, Liu Yumei had thought of waiting a bit longer before bringing Li Zhuyuan home, but she was worried about her granddaughter’s health regressing.
Li Zhuyuan pointed at the paintings on the wall and said, “Because we left, those past images and memories seem even more beautiful now.”
A Li held the boy's hand, and when she looked back at her paintings, her eyes sparkled with newfound energy.
Aunt Liu smiled silently, lightly knocking on the door as she brought in the fruit platter.
She pointed up, “You can go to the rooftop.”
Li Zhuyuan carried the fruit platter with A Li to the rooftop.
It had also been remodeled, adorned with two identical rattan chairs under a sunshade.
They each lay down and began a game of chess, still starting three games simultaneously.
While playing, Li Zhuyuan shared tales about what he experienced after coming to school.
Every time he reached a critical point in the story, A Li’s fingers would subtly tighten, signifying her engagement and that she was listening earnestly.
When he finished, Li Zhuyuan felt a bit dry in his throat.
He turned to eat some fruit.
He speared a piece and offered it to the girl, but she shook her head, her eyes blinking.
Li Zhuyuan understood and set the fork down, lying back again with his eyes closed.
What most people call “going into each other’s hearts” often feels like an exaggerated description, but for them, it felt like the most straightforward reality.
Opening his eyes, Li Zhuyuan felt the scorching wind and the cool sunlight.
Raising his head, the sun and its surrounding halo emitted a faint, pale glow.
Before him, the fields and the nearby streams revealed bizarre creatures toiling and playing.
Yet these beings, while engrossed in their tasks, all seemed to steal glances at them with a mix of mockery and amusement.
It was as if everything here was absurdly crafted specifically for him.
Turning back, he saw the house and the doorstep behind him.
A Li, having left home, crossed that threshold, immersing herself in the “terrifying wilderness” surrounding them.
When he blinked open his eyes again to return to reality, his face was already beaded with sweat.
He intentionally held his position a little longer, wanting to experience the feeling of A Li with her eyes closed.
The girl used her sleeve to wipe the boy's sweat, her eyes full of laughter.
“Our A Li is really strong.”
The sense of happiness can be heightened through comparison, and pain can be lessened.
Their companionship allowed them to draw confidence and strength from one another.
They lay there for a while longer, calming their minds and settling the dizziness before Li Zhuyuan accompanied A Li back to her room, then went downstairs himself.
“Your Grandma Liu hasn’t come back yet. Over there is the study; you can wait for her there.”
“Okay, Aunt Liu.”
Li Zhuyuan pushed open the study door and stepped inside.
There was no traditional writing desk; just a tea table with a stack of books and envelopes underneath, with a bed in the back.
Taking a seat on the stool opposite the table, his eyes naturally fell upon the top book — “Liu Family’s Qi Observation Technique.”
He reached out to flip through, noticing the clear and tidy handwriting.
It was a common edition, not worth reading.
Li Zhuyuan decided to brew a pot of tea first.
Just as he finished, Liu Yumei walked in and settled into the bed, leaning back against a soft pillow.
Her gaze glanced at “Liu Family’s Qi Observation Technique,” noticing the pages had been turned.
A hint of pride flickered in her eyes.
“Grandma, tea.”
“Mm.”
“Grandma, hasn’t Uncle Qin come to Jinling with you?”
“He’s busy, got a lot on his plate. He’ll return once he’s done.”
“Oh.”
“What books have you been reading lately?”
“Some scriptures.”
Recently, the only serious book he was focused on was the “Ksitigarbha Sutra.” Last night, the freedom he had in his dreams was largely thanks to this book.
“Have you come across any interesting books?”
Liu Yumei took a sip of tea.
If the boy wished to borrow, she would conveniently offer him “Liu Family’s Qi Observation Technique.”
Previewing it, learning gradually, and asking her when he didn’t understand would be more efficient.
“There is one interesting book. It’s so fascinating that I fear ‘misplacing my ambitions’ and haven’t dared to look at it for now.”
That book with a white cover and black background seemed to ‘wink’ at him.
“That's fine, books are meant to be read. The book that ends up in front of you is all karma.”
Liu Yumei chuckled internally, appreciating the boy's understanding of the value of books.
“I feel it’s still too early. I want to wait until I grow a bit more, more confident, before I have the courage to read it.”
Just like that copper coin buried in the graveyard of Shigang Town, he would eventually return to dig it up and confront it.
“Books are there to help you grow. It doesn’t matter when you read them. If you are too scared to face them, it would be quite disappointing.”
The more the boy deferred, the more it pleased Liu Yumei.
“Grandma, do you really think so?”
“Of course. If you don’t read it, you won’t understand it. Perhaps reading it now gives you one feeling, and when you’re older and more mature, it’ll give you another feeling. Giving up now just to chase the future is a losing deal.”
“Mm.” Li Zhuyuan nodded.
Deep down, he was curious about that book, but scared to follow the same path as Mao Chang'an and his son.
Although he was confident, everyone who opened that book surely thought they were the special one.
“Don’t be afraid you’ll laugh at me, but I’m actually a little scared.”
“There’s an old saying: ‘A newborn calf fears nothing.’ What’s there to be afraid of? Meeting is fate; people and books share that fate. If you don’t flip through it, how will you know whether it’s specially prepared for you?”
“Understood, I get it.”
“Mm.”
Liu Yumei set her teacup down, waiting for a while, but the boy didn’t bring up borrowing the book.
She wasn’t anxious; she thought he might just be polite, waiting until the conversation was over to formally bring it up.
“Run Sheng and the others have arrived at school after you. What are your plans?”
“No concrete plans; just take it step by step.”
Li Zhuyuan wasn’t being pessimistic.
After all, starting at a new school had brought plenty of excitement.
“You can walk one step at a time, but you should at least have a goal. As the saying goes: the turtle looks for the bottom of the pond, the dragon crosses rivers, it really depends on your own ambition.”
“Crossing rivers?”
Yin Fu Hai had told him, “After all these years, the Liu family finally has someone crossing rivers again.”
“A metaphor for lofty aspirations.”
“Grandma Liu, I want to know what it originally referred to?”
“What did it originally refer to? From the riverbank to the river’s end, the people and affairs encountered should be dealt with accordingly; what can be smoothed over should be smoothed over, and what must be handled must be handled. For new doors and new households, you need to earn your reputation through crossing rivers; For the ancestral estate, you must stabilize your footing through crossing rivers. The river nurtures people; people are easier to become dragons than snakes.”
“So Uncle Qin back then…”
Now that they were no longer at Grandpa’s house, some topics were easier to discuss, but Li Zhuyuan sensed that Liu Yumei still spoke with some caution, perhaps because A Li’s health had not fully recovered, yet she hadn’t spoken up, potentially leading them back to Grandpa's house one day to “repay their debts.”
“A Li naturally crossed the rivers back in the day, but he didn’t finish; he almost met misfortune. It’s my fault; I was too impatient at that time.”
A hint of remembrance shimmered in Liu Yumei’s eyes.
“What happened?”
“Hmm, it was an old, trivial matter; let’s not discuss it.” Liu Yumei sidestepped the topic, “What about you? What are you thinking of doing in the future?”
“Grandma, how do you specifically cross rivers?”
“Haha.” Liu Yumei chuckled, “Asking how to cross rivers is just like asking where the rivers and lakes are. There’s no precise explanation. If you’re determined to cross, isn’t this path you tread just the river?”
Li Zhuyuan fell silent.
“Did Grandma speak too profoundly?”
“I understood.”
“Oh?”
“Once you enter this door, if you don’t want to stop, you’ll continue to walk.”
When you want to face difficulties, while searching for them, the issues will come looking for you too.
This reminded him of the “cleaning ball” he mentioned to Tan Wenbin on the truck to Jinling.
But this felt somewhat idealistic.
Li Zhuyuan couldn’t help but look up at the roof, recalling how he and Mao Chang’an had tricked the Heavenly Dao; it seemed the Heavenly Dao had a bit of idealism too.
Moreover, the Yin family lineage also recorded ancestors’ travels but didn’t use the term “crossing rivers,” which might be a specific term for clan families like the Qin and Liu, much like ordinary people couldn't refer to visiting tourist sites as “visiting.”
The ancestral travelogues of the Yin family always shared a feature; no matter how full of ambition they were at the start, they all faced some setback before returning to Fengdu.
In fact, many travelogues abruptly ended, indicating some couldn’t even return home.
For instance, the four yin ancestors who carried the bed for the snake woman in the underground palace.
Therefore, settling in was actually much the same as hiding away, arriving at a docking station to live peacefully, not truly about dividing territories, but rather yielding to fate.
Li Zhuyuan poured Liu Yumei another cup of tea, stood up, and offered it to her, asking, “Grandma, the past is the past, and the present is the present. Can the circumstances really be the same?”
“When the foreign ships sailed on the river, they came in on the amethyst ship. Now that they haven’t arrived, do you mean the foreigners no longer wish to come?”
“Are you suggesting that the surface has changed, but the fundamental contradictions still exist?”
“Let me put it another way; it sounds awkward to me.”
“The scenery on both sides of the river has improved, but the undercurrents beneath the surface are still just the same as a hundred years ago?”
“Hahaha.” Liu Yumei laughed, pointing at the boy, “Now I see why A Li likes to be around you. I heard from your grandpa that your grandparents spoiled your mother, and I imagine you inherited this knack for words from her.”
Li Zhuyuan: “...”
“No matter how many dams are built on the river, and however calm the surface appears, the silt at the riverbed can still easily bury a person. That river is still not easy to cross. However, for you, it’s still too early; just focus on studying and growing up.”
As she spoke, Liu Yumei glanced at “Liu Family’s Qi Observation Technique,” prominently displayed.
Li Zhuyuan lowered his head as well; he felt that if he enjoyed the fun of “fishing for trouble” with Run Sheng, Bin Bin, and Yin Meng, he might already be on the path of crossing rivers.
If Uncle Qin failed to cross successfully and became so formidable, what would happen if he succeeded?
Books were already reaching a bottleneck, and to further advance, he could only actively grasp the gifts of fate.
“Are you having lunch here? I’ll have A Ting make something.”
“No, I think I’ll head back to the school first. I’ll come visit A Li again tomorrow.”
“Alright then.”
Li Zhuyuan stood up, saying, “Thank you for your guidance.”
Liu Yumei nodded, seeing him off.
Then Li Zhuyuan left the study and walked out.
Liu Yumei looked at the book on the tea table in puzzled thought, wondering if that brat forgot something.
Aunt Liu pushed the door open and walked in.
“Did that brat leave?”
“Yeah, he’s gone. Oh, this book is still here. Are you too harsh on him?”
“I’ve truly never been so gentle with any outsider in my life. Afraid this boy would feel embarrassed to bring it up, I even encouraged him.”
“Then your attitude wasn’t clear enough; kids are shy. It’s hard for them to broach such topics.”
“Not clear enough?” Liu Yumei picked up “Liu Family’s Qi Observation Technique” and said, “I nearly offered him the book with both hands, begging him to read and then guide me!”
“That shouldn’t be; this kid’s clever. Did he really miss your hints this time?”
“Forget it; let him be.”
“Are you really willing to let it go? I heard all your laughter outside just now.”
“How far is it from here to his school?”
“Not far; just walk a bit after exiting the school gate.”
“Isn't the school wall right ahead? If we open a door, won’t it be closer?”
“I’ll coordinate that.”
“I’ve seen there are houses in that school, right?”
“But those houses are small; they’re for retired teachers and professors. I’m afraid you wouldn’t find it comfortable to stay.”
“Ha, I’ve lived in the small east room; wouldn’t I get accustomed to this? Go arrange it; have one family vacate a house. If it really doesn't work out, we can simply swap residences. Living in the school will make it easier.”
“But you just said you didn’t need him.”
“That was for his sake; sigh, I just saw him arrive, and A Li stood up to look at him. My heart ached.”
“Alright, alright, we’ll do as you say. But we’ll not swap houses; the school’s houses don’t have basements to accommodate so many of A Li’s things.”
“Just go take care of it; I’ll head upstairs to lie down for a while. That brat didn’t even borrow the book.”
Just as Liu Yumei stepped out of the study, A Li walked out from the room across.
That room was specially designed for setting up the offering table, complete with a brand-new set of plaques made from premium thunder wood.
Ordinary thunder wood isn’t hard to find, but specific tree types with particular appearances and dated growth conditions are virtually priceless.
At that moment, A Li stepped out of the room, cradling four plaques in her arms.
Instead of rushing upstairs, A Li looked at her grandma.
Great, that boy’s arrival meant his granddaughter had to serve him now.
Liu Yumei opened her mouth but still waved her hand: “Be good, hurry and take them up. A Ting, A Ting, go bring A Li’s toolbox up for her.”
...
When Li Zhuyuan returned to school, it was nearly noon.
He initially wanted to check if Tan Wenbin was awake yet, but just as he passed the front of a discount store, he spotted Run Sheng.
Run Sheng was still in that white tank top, the bandage visible at his shoulder.
“Little Yuan.”
Run Sheng jogged toward him, his arm movements still not very coordinated.
Li Zhuyuan stood still, watching Run Sheng approach.
He kept trying not to perform in this “intimate” relationship web, hoping to offer some emotional feedback.
The benefit of this approach was that it might motivate self-improvement, but the downside was… it could easily hurt feelings.
After all, even among normal, healthy people, two friends trying to be “honest” can easily fracture their friendship or even foster grudges.
“How’s the injury?”
“Not much better, but I can get out of bed now. Recently, there’s been nothing to do, so I’m discharged. Lying around all day feels off, heh heh.”
He hadn’t been discharged yesterday because he wanted to avoid making it seem like he was eager to join the activities.
He didn’t want to pressure the team, nor did he want to be seen as a burden.
Li Zhuyuan spread his arms and stepped forward.
But halfway through, it only turned into a single pat on Run Sheng’s hand.
Then, he turned and walked back toward the dormitory.
“Hehe.” Run Sheng looked down at the spot where Little Yuan had just patted him and headed towards the store.
Standing on the steps of the store, Yin Meng had witnessed the entire scene and quietly remarked, “Looks like our Little Yuan is still upset with you.”
“No, Little Yuan is warm-hearted.”
...
The following days, Li Zhuyuan's life was quite routine.
Fishing for trouble resembled fishing; a fisherman’s joy lies in stealing moments of tranquility amidst their busy schedule.
For Tan Wenbin, he entered a pre-study mode for college courses, staying up nightly to study until late.
Li Zhuyuan would wake up in the morning and go to Liu Yumei’s place for breakfast, then spend half the day with A Li.
At noon, he would eat lunch at Run Sheng’s shop and bring back a portion for Bin Bin, who would wake up later in the afternoon.
This was not originally part of the plan, but since Bin Bin usually woke up hungry in the afternoon, he would habitually stop by Room Lu Yi to grab a red sausage.
He later heard that dumplings were also added to the mix.
Room Lu Yi was fairly average in terms of living standards; otherwise, he wouldn’t have stayed at school for part-time help during the summer break.
To prevent Bin Bin from bothering them, Li Zhuyuan had to bring him lunch.
Mainly because last time, after Lu Yi got possessed, he damaged the dorm room door.
When he wasn’t around, no one could lock it, so Bin Bin could freely enter to partake in the offerings.
The repairman wouldn’t start full-time until the school officially reopened, and during the break, he would only come periodically to deal with concentrated issues.
While they could have reported repairs to the dormitory lady, she had seemingly disappeared.
Lu Yi checked with the logistics and maintenance office and learned from the on-duty people that the newly appointed logistics director in charge of that work had also gone missing.
Run Sheng had also reported the case regarding Sun Hongxia’s disappearance; though they all understood the situation, the proper procedures still had to be followed.
Freshmen were supposed to undergo military training, and the reporting date was already ahead of schedule.
However, while the freshmen in other classes were being organized to receive their training uniforms, Li Zhuyuan and Tan Wenbin's class, as well as two adjacent classes, remained completely quiet because they had just started school… their counselor had gone missing!
Recently, police cars had been increasingly frequent around the school.
It was no small matter for five people to suddenly go missing at a university.
Moreover, a slight investigation would lead back to a case from seven years ago, thus drawing significant attention.
That evening, while everyone was boiling hot pot in the store, Xue Liangliang, who had gone on a business trip to the mountain city with Luo Gong, called the store directly, asking, “What have you pulled?”
The police investigation call had reached Xue Liangliang, after all, he was the store owner, and Sun Hongxia was his employee, so he quickly deciphered the reason behind the sensational campus disappearance case.
Tan Wenbin answered the phone, replying, “We’re fishing for fresh tripe and layered tripe, it’s really nice; do you want to come back for a taste?”
Xue Liangliang understood the hint and said he would wait until he returned.
He also mentioned that after Luo Gong learned about this, he felt quite helpless; after all, he had specifically arranged that meal for Little Yuan to ensure a smooth school life, only to have three specific responsible parties go missing.
That meant upon returning to Jinling, they would have to set another table.
After Tan Wenbin hung up, Yin Meng asked, “Will our phones be monitored here?”
“No, I just don’t want to talk too much with Liang Ge; I might overcook my tripe.”
Tan Wenbin took a seat, grabbing chopsticks to fish for food.
At that moment, a few people entered the store from outside.
Run Sheng looked up and told Tan Wenbin, who was still focused on fishing for food, “The police are here; it's your dad.”
Tan Wenbin didn’t lift his head and replied, “You're talking nonsense; my dad is just a small-town police chief. If he could suddenly get promoted to the provincial capital, it would only mean our family tomb is on fire!”
Li Zhuyuan shifted slightly, creating more distance from Tan Wenbin.
Yin Meng and Run Sheng also moved their bowls a bit away.
Tan Wenbin, puzzled, said, “You guys eat; it’s going to get overcooked. Hehe, if you don’t eat, I’ll have Zhuang Zhuang finish it all!”
“Bang!”
Bin Bin was sent flying.
(End of chapter)