Chapter 83

He got out of bed, walked to the balcony, and looked down.

Aunt Liu was standing under a phoenix tree, dressed in a light floral top, blue trousers, and wooden sandals, her long hair draped over her shoulders. Compared to her appearance at Great-Grandfather's house, she looked much more vibrant, like a young female university teacher who had only recently married.

Li Zhuiyuan waved to her.

Aunt Liu smiled and gestured in front of her, indicating that the boy should get ready before coming down.

Li Zhuiyuan first went to wash up, then left a note for Tan Wenbin on his desk before finally leaving the dormitory building.

"Xiao Yuan, you seem to have grown taller again."

"Aunt Liu, you look younger too."

"Heh heh, come on, your Grandma Liu is waiting for you to join her for breakfast."

Li Zhuiyuan followed Aunt Liu out of the North Gate, walked a short distance along the road, and then turned into a villa district. Although called a villa district, it wasn't very large, and the villas and Western-style houses within weren't built to a uniform standard. Some houses even had plaques at their entrances, detailing the identities of their previous owners.

"This is it."

Aunt Liu pushed open the courtyard gate. Inside was a three-story Western-style house, not tall but quite sprawling. The courtyard had clearly been recently renovated and re-landscaped.

Entering the courtyard, he looked up and saw A-Li sitting on the second-floor balcony, dressed in a white dress. The moment he saw the girl, Li Zhuiyuan felt his entire body relax. He even began to reflect on whether he had been too indifferent to Run Sheng and Yin Meng, and to the people and things around him. Beautiful things can make people spontaneously fall in love with life. There are countless beautiful things in this world, but few could truly make the boy empathize.

The girl also spotted the boy. She stood up, her hands resting on the white railing. She didn't wave, didn't stomp her feet, and didn't even speak, but the curve of her lips was clearly visible even from downstairs. Aunt Liu stood to the side, looking up at them and then at the boy. These two children were always a pleasing sight when they were together.

Of course, for every person who enjoyed the sight, there was another who felt uncomfortable.

The screen door of the ground-floor side room was pushed open, and Liu Yumei stood there, her eyelids slightly drooped: "Hey, are you trying to starve this old lady to death?"

Aunt Liu quickly averted her gaze, afraid she might laugh out loud.

"Grandma Liu."

"Ah, you're here."

Grandma Liu's subdued aura noticeably softened as the boy walked towards her. When they lived together, the feeling wasn't obvious, but after they truly separated, she often missed him. Having spent a year together, seeing him almost every day, she could now almost say that she had watched the boy grow up.

There was a small round table in the dining room. Grandma Liu sat at the head of the table, while A-Li came downstairs and sat with Li Zhuiyuan.

Grandma Liu asked, "Are you adapting to school?"

Li Zhuiyuan replied, "Yes, I'm adapting well. Everything's fine."

"You look a bit worn out. Didn't you rest well last night?"

"Hmm, a little."

"What were you doing up all night instead of sleeping? Secretly setting fires?"

"Exactly, I set a very big fire."

Aunt Liu first brought up the side dishes.

Li Zhuiyuan took a salted duck egg, and A-Li took one too. They both tapped the hollow end of their eggs against the table, then carefully peeled open one end before naturally exchanging them with each other.

From the kitchen, Aunt Liu called out, "Do you want vinegar? And there's sweet garlic too."

Grandma Liu said, "No need, it's already on the table."

A steamer basket of soup dumplings, a steamer basket of siu mai, and a plate of hot dumplings were placed on the table, all handmade by Aunt Liu. Next came a bowl of Yangchun noodles for each person. The clear broth was inviting, and the noodles in the bowls were perfectly arranged. Those who didn't like it might find the taste bland or the noodles undercooked. But those who loved it were fond of its refreshing simplicity and chewy texture, believing any topping would spoil its beauty.

"Aunt Liu, thank you for your hard work."

"It's no trouble. Without Run Sheng and Zhuang Zhuang, cooking is simpler."

Grandma Liu asked, "What do you usually eat?"

"School hasn't started yet, so the cafeteria is mostly closed. I usually eat off-campus."

"If you crave something, just come here and let Aunt Liu cook for you. It's just a matter of adding another set of dishes."

"Okay, thank you, Grandma."

"If Run Sheng and the others want to come, you'll have to let us know in advance so I can use a bigger pot," Aunt Liu reminded him.

"Yes, I will."

After breakfast, Grandma Liu stood up and walked towards the door. "You and A-Li hang out for a bit. I'm going for a walk. Come down later; I have something to discuss with you."

"Okay, Grandma."

Li Zhuiyuan and A-Li went upstairs.

A-Li's room was spacious, furnished with both a writing desk and a drawing table. Several paintings hung on the walls, depicting Great-Grandfather's main house, courtyard, East and West wings, and the village scenery with rice fields visible from their home. Clearly, the girl didn't like it here; she preferred her old life. The building didn't need to be so tall, nor the rooms so big. She preferred waking up, getting ready, and then going to the boy's room, waiting for him to see her the moment he woke up. The details in the paintings included a small table made from wooden stools for meals, the second-floor terrace, and the pair of rattan chairs handmade by Uncle Qin.

Li Zhuiyuan paused before the paintings. At this moment, he too felt a pang of nostalgia.

"A-Li, do you want to go back?"

The girl nodded.

At the doorway, Aunt Liu, who was bringing in a fruit plate, paused. Ever since moving, A-Li had been unhappy. Grandma Liu had originally planned to let her be for a while longer before inviting Xiao Yuan over, but she ultimately feared her granddaughter's condition might regress.

Li Zhuiyuan pointed to the paintings on the wall and said, "It's because we've come out that these past scenes and memories seem even more beautiful."

A-Li actively took the boy's hand. When she looked up at her own paintings on the wall again, her eyes sparkled with renewed vibrancy.

Aunt Liu smiled silently, then gently knocked on the door. She carried the fruit plate in and pointed upwards: "You can go to the top floor."

Li Zhuiyuan carried the fruit plate, and he and A-Li went up to the rooftop. This area had also been transformed; under a parasol, two identical rattan chairs were set up. They both lay down in their chairs and started playing chess, still playing three games simultaneously.

While playing chess, Li Zhuiyuan recounted what he had experienced since coming to school. Whenever he reached a crucial point, A-Li's fingers would subtly clench, as if she were trying to respond and show she was listening attentively.

After he finished speaking, Li Zhuiyuan felt a bit parched and turned to eat some fruit. He forked a piece and offered it to the girl, but she shook her head and blinked her eyes. Li Zhuiyuan understood. He put down the fork, lay back down, and closed his eyes. What ordinary people called 'entering each other's minds' was often just an exaggerated literary description, but for them, it was the most straightforward reality.

Opening his eyes, Li Zhuiyuan felt the scorching wind and the icy sunlight. He looked up; the sun in the sky and its surrounding halo emitted a ghastly white light. In the fields and by the stream before him were terrifying presences, some working, others playing. But even as they went about their business, they all deliberately stole glances his way, their eyes filled with mockery and amusement. It was as if everything here was an absurd and bizarre scene tailor-made just for him. Turning back, he saw the house and the threshold behind him. A-Li, who had left home, had also stepped outside that threshold, placing herself in this 'terrifying wilderness' environment.

When he opened his eyes again and returned to reality, the boy's face was covered in cold sweat. He had deliberately endured it a bit longer, wanting to experience what A-Li felt after closing her eyes. The girl used her cuff to wipe the sweat from the boy's face, her eyes smiling.

"Our A-Li is truly strong."

Happiness could be amplified through contrast, and pain could be diminished. Their companionship meant drawing confidence and strength from each other.

After lying there for a while longer, calming his mind and settling the discomfort of dizziness, Li Zhuiyuan first escorted A-Li back to her room, then went downstairs himself.

"Your Grandma Liu isn't back yet. Look, that's the study; you can wait for her there."

"Okay, Aunt Liu."

Li Zhuiyuan pushed open the study door and went in. Instead of a traditional desk, there was a tea table with a stack of books on it, and envelopes underneath. Behind it was a daybed. Sitting down on a stool opposite the tea table, Li Zhuiyuan's gaze instinctively fell upon the top book: 'Liu's Art of Qi Observation.' He reached out and flipped through it, finding the handwriting clear and neat. 'Hmm, this is just the regular version, no need to read it,' he thought.

Li Zhuiyuan simply brewed a pot of tea first. Just as the tea was ready, Grandma Liu walked in, sat on the daybed, and leaned back against a soft pillow. Her gaze swept over 'Liu's Art of Qi Observation.' Noticing that the pages had been turned, a hint of satisfaction appeared in her eyes.

"Grandma, have some tea."

"Mmm."

"Grandma, did Uncle Qin not come to Jinling with you?"

"He's busy, with a lot to do. He'll be back when he's finished."

"Oh."

"What books have you been reading lately?"

"Some scriptures." What he was seriously reading recently was the 'Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra.' His ability to freely manipulate memory scenes last night was also thanks to this book.

"Haven't you come across any interesting books?" Grandma Liu took a sip of tea. If the boy asked to borrow a book, she would seize the opportunity to lend him 'Liu's Art of Qi Observation.' He could read it in advance, learn gradually, and ask her about anything he didn't understand, which would make the learning process more efficient.

"There is one interesting book, but because it's too interesting, I'm afraid it might make me 'lose my ambition,' so I haven't dared to read it yet." That white-covered book with a black background even seemed to wink at people.

"That's fine. Books are written to be read, after all. Any book that appears before you is a matter of destiny." Grandma Liu chuckled inwardly. This child, he certainly knew how to distinguish a good book.

"I don't think it's the right time yet. I want to grow a bit more and be more confident before I muster the courage to read it." Just like the copper coin buried in the graveyard in Shigang Town, he would eventually go back, dig it up, and face it.

"Books are meant to help you grow. It doesn't matter when you read them. If you don't even dare to face it, wouldn't that be too pathetic?" The more the boy demurred, the more satisfied Grandma Liu felt.

"Grandma, do you really think so?"

"Of course. If you don't read it, you won't understand it. Perhaps reading it now will give you one feeling, and reading it again when you're older and more mature will give you another. Giving up the present solely for the future is not worth it."

"Mm-hmm," Li Zhuiyuan nodded. Deep down, he was genuinely curious about that book, but he was also afraid of following the old path of Mao Chang'an and his son. Although he was very confident, wasn't every person who opened that book full of confidence, thinking they were the special one?

"If you don't mind me saying, I'm actually a little scared inside."

"As the saying goes, a newborn calf isn't afraid of a tiger. What is there to be afraid of? Encounters are fate, and people and books also share a destiny. If you don't even flip through it, how will you know if it was specially prepared for you?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Mm-hmm." Grandma Liu put down her teacup and waited for a while, but the boy didn't mention borrowing the book. She wasn't in a hurry, assuming the boy was simply being polite and waiting until their conversation concluded, just before getting up to leave, to formally make the request.

"Run Sheng and the others have all come to school with you. What are your plans?"

"No specific plans, just taking it one step at a time." Li Zhuiyuan wasn't speaking dispiritedly or negatively. Since arriving at school, big events had already occurred, and life hadn't lacked excitement since leaving his hometown.

"You can walk your path one step at a time, but you still need a goal. As the old saying goes, a turtle seeks the pond bottom, but a dragon must traverse rivers. It depends on your own ambition."

"Traverse rivers?" Yin Fuhai had once said to him, "After all these years, someone from the Liu family is finally traversing rivers again."

"It's a metaphor for great ambition."

"Grandma Liu, what did it originally refer to?"

"What did it originally refer to? From the source to the mouth of the river, the people and things you encounter along the way – flatten what needs to be flattened, and deal with what needs to be dealt with. New families and households must traverse rivers to establish their standing; old family residences must traverse rivers to maintain their prestige. River water nourishes people, and people are more likely to transform into dragons than pythons."

"Then Uncle Qin, back then..." Now that he wasn't at Great-Grandfather's house, some things could be discussed more freely. However, Li Zhuiyuan noticed that Grandma Liu still spoke with some reservations, likely because A-Li's condition hadn't fully recovered, and she hadn't yet spoken; perhaps they'd have to return to Great-Grandfather's place one day to 'fulfill a vow.'

"Ah Li [Uncle Qin] naturally traversed rivers back then, but he didn't complete it and almost failed. That's my fault; I was too impatient at the time." A hint of reminiscence appeared in Grandma Liu's eyes.

"Did something happen?"

"Hmm, it's old news, no need to mention it." Grandma Liu changed the subject. "What are you thinking of doing in the future, young man?"

"Grandma, how exactly does one traverse rivers?"

"Heh heh," Grandma Liu chuckled. "That question is like asking where the 'jianghu' is; there's no precise definition. If your heart wills you to traverse, isn't the ground beneath your feet the river?"

Li Zhuiyuan fell silent.

"Did Grandma speak too profoundly?"

"No, I understood."

"Oh?"

"Once you enter this path, if you don't want to stop, you'll keep walking." When you want to 'salvage the dead,' while you're looking for trouble, trouble will also 'grow legs' and come looking for you. This was very much like the 'cleaning ball' he had mentioned to Tan Wenbin on the truck when they came to Jinling. But this also seemed a bit idealistic.

Li Zhuiyuan couldn't help but look up at the ceiling, recalling how he and Mao Chang'an had fooled the Heavenly Dao. It seemed the Heavenly Dao was also a bit idealistic. Additionally, the Yin family's genealogy also recorded their ancestors' travels, but they didn't use the term 'traverse rivers.' Perhaps it was an exclusive term for families like Qin and Liu, just as ordinary people visiting a scenic spot wouldn't use the formal term 'gracing with one's presence.' A common characteristic in the Yin family ancestors' travelogues was that no matter how spirited they were at the start, they all eventually returned to their hometown of Fengdu after encountering some setback. And quite a few of these travelogues stopped abruptly mid-way, suggesting those individuals never even made it back home. For example, the four Yin family ancestors who carried the snake woman's bed in the underground palace. So, to 'plug in,' was it actually similar to living in seclusion? To settle down at a certain 'dock' was not really about delineating spheres of influence, but more like bowing to fate.

Li Zhuiyuan refilled Grandma Liu's teacup, stood up to offer it to her, and asked, "Grandma, the past is the past, and now is now. Can circumstances still be the same?"

"In the past, the foreign ship HMS Amethyst sailed up the river. Now they haven't come. Does that mean the foreigners don't want to come anymore?"

"Are you suggesting that on the surface, things are different, but the fundamental conflicts still persist?"

"Try another explanation; that one sounds a bit awkward to me."

"The scenery on both banks of the river has become more beautiful, but the undercurrents beneath the surface are still the same as a century ago?"

"Hahahaha," Grandma Liu chuckled, pointing at the boy. "Now I understand why A-Li likes spending time with you. I heard your Great-Grandfather say that your grandparents doted on your mother immensely. I suppose your eloquent tongue comes from her."

Li Zhuiyuan was speechless.

"No matter how many dams are built on the river, and no matter how calm the surface appears, the silt at the bottom can still easily bury a person alive. This river is still not easy to traverse. However, these matters are still too early for you. For now, just focus on your studies and growing up." As she spoke, Grandma Liu lowered her gaze and glanced at 'Liu's Art of Qi Observation,' which was still prominently displayed.

Li Zhuiyuan also lowered his head. He thought that if he were to take Run Sheng, Binbin, and Yin Meng and find joy in 'salvaging the dead,' then he might already be on the path of 'traversing rivers.' Uncle Qin, who didn't succeed in traversing back then, still became so powerful. What if he himself succeeded? He had reached a bottleneck in his studies. To continue progressing and improving, he would have to actively accept the gifts of destiny.

"Will you stay for lunch? I'll have A-Ting [Aunt Liu] prepare it."

"No, I'll go back to school first. I'll come see A-Li again tomorrow."

"Alright then."

Li Zhuiyuan stood up. "Thank you for your guidance."

Grandma Liu nodded, a gesture of seeing him off. Then, Li Zhuiyuan walked out of the study. He was gone.

Grandma Liu looked confusedly at the book on the tea table. Had that rascal forgotten something?

Aunt Liu pushed open the door and came in.

"The rascal left?"

"Yes, he's gone. Huh, why is this book still here? Were you too strict?"

"In my entire life, I've never been so kind and benevolent to an outsider. I was afraid the boy would be too embarrassed to ask, so I even comforted and encouraged him."

"Then your attitude wasn't obvious enough. The boy is thin-skinned and felt awkward asking."

"Not obvious enough?" Grandma Liu picked up 'Liu's Art of Qi Observation.' "I was practically about to respectfully present the book to him, beg him to read it, and then ask him to guide me!"

"That shouldn't be the case. The boy is very clever. Could he really have been careless this time and not understood what you meant?"

"Never mind, let him be."

"Are you really willing to let go? I just heard your laughter from outside."

"How far is it from here to his school?"

"Not far. It's just a short walk after leaving the school gate."

"Isn't that the school wall diagonally in front? If we open a gate there, wouldn't it be even closer?"

"I'll coordinate the arrangements."

"Don't they also have houses within the school?"

"Those houses are quite small. They're for retired teachers and professors. I'm afraid you wouldn't be used to living there."

"Hah, I've lived in the small East room before, so I wouldn't be used to this? Go arrange for a household to vacate a house. If that doesn't work, we can simply swap houses. Living on campus would be closer."

"You just said you didn't want him anymore."

"Was I doing that for him? Oh, I just saw that as soon as he arrived, our A-Li stood up and watched him. It pains my heart."

"Alright, alright, we'll do as you say. But we won't swap this house. The houses on campus don't have basements big enough for all of A-Li's things."

"Go on and handle it. I'm going upstairs to lie down for a bit. That rascal, he actually didn't borrow the book."

As Grandma Liu stepped out of the study, she saw A-Li coming out of the room opposite. That room was specifically for setting up an altar. A brand new set of memorial tablets, crafted from superior quality lightning-struck wood, was kept there. Ordinary lightning-struck wood wasn't hard to find, but specific tree species, specific appearances, or even those cultivated over specific eras were simply priceless and unavailable. And at that moment, A-Li emerged from the room, carrying four memorial tablets in her arms.

A-Li didn't rush upstairs but looked at her grandma instead. Well, with that boy here, her own granddaughter was ready to be his assistant. Grandma Liu opened her mouth but then waved her hand:

"Sweetie, quickly take them upstairs. A-Ting, A-Ting, quickly go get A-Li's toolbox for her and take it upstairs."

It was almost noon when Li Zhuiyuan returned to school. He had intended to go to the dormitory building to see if Tan Wenbin was awake, but as he passed the discount store, he saw Run Sheng. Run Sheng was still wearing his white vest, and a bandage was visible where his shoulder was exposed.

"Xiao Yuan."

Run Sheng jogged over, his arm swing still not very coordinated. Li Zhuiyuan stood still, watching Run Sheng approach. He had constantly been trying not to 'perform' in intimate relationships, hoping his true self could offer some emotional feedback. The benefit of doing this was the possibility of self-improvement, but the drawback was... it was quite easy to hurt others. After all, even for normal, healthy individuals, being 'completely honest' with a friend could easily lead to a broken friendship or even enmity.

"How's the injury?"

"It's not fully healed, but I can get out of bed. Anyway, I don't have anything to do these days, so I was discharged. Lying in bed all day makes my body feel uncomfortable, heh heh." He hadn't been discharged yesterday because he was afraid his immediate discharge would make everyone think he was eager to participate in their activities. He didn't want to put pressure on the team, much less become a burden.

Li Zhuiyuan opened his arms and stepped forward, but halfway through the gesture, it changed into just one hand giving Run Sheng's hand a pat. Then, he turned and walked back to the dormitory.

"Heh heh heh." Run Sheng looked down at the back of his hand, which Xiao Yuan had just patted, and then walked into the store.

Yin Meng, who was standing on the steps at the store entrance, witnessed the entire scene. She whispered, "It seems our Xiao Yuan is still angry with you."

"No, Xiao Yuan is very warm."

Over the next few days, Li Zhuiyuan's life became very routine. 'Salvaging the dead' was much like fishing; the angler's joy lay in stealing a moment of leisure from their busy life to enjoy a brief tranquility. As for Tan Wenbin, he entered a pre-study mode for his university courses, studying until late into the night every day.

After waking up in the morning, Li Zhuiyuan would go to Grandma Liu's for breakfast, then spend half a day with A-Li. At noon, he would have lunch at Run Sheng's store, and afterward, he would pack a portion to bring back for Binbin, who would only wake up in the afternoon. Originally, this step wasn't part of his routine, but when Binbin woke up hungry in the afternoon, he would habitually walk into Lu Yi's dorm room on his way to wash up and grab a red sausage to eat. Later, it was said that dumplings were also left out. Lu Yi came from an ordinary family; otherwise, he wouldn't have stayed at school for a part-time job during the summer. To prevent Binbin from continuing to impose on him, Li Zhuiyuan had to bring him food. Mainly, after Lu Yi was possessed last time, he broke his dorm room door. It couldn't be locked when he wasn't there, so Binbin could open it every time and 'enjoy the offerings.'

The repairman wouldn't be on full-time until the official start of school; during the holidays, he would only come periodically to handle a batch of issues. One could report the damage to the dorm supervisor, and the lock might be repaired in a couple of days. The problem was, the dorm supervisor for this building had gone missing. Lu Yi had inquired at the logistics and maintenance office, and the person on duty said that the newly appointed logistics director responsible for that area had also gone missing. Run Sheng had also reported the disappearance of Sun Hongxia. Although they knew full well what was going on, the proper procedures still had to be followed.

New students were due for military training, and their registration dates were naturally earlier. But while new students from other classes were organized to collect their training uniforms, there was no movement for Li Zhuiyuan and Tan Wenbin's class, or the two adjacent classes. This was because, right at the start of school... their counselor had gone missing!

Recently, police cars had been appearing frequently on campus. Five people suddenly disappearing from the university was already a significant matter. Moreover, a brief investigation clearly linked the disappearances to a case from seven years ago, naturally drawing significant attention.

That evening, while everyone was eating hotpot in the store, Xue Liangliang, who was on a business trip to Mountain City with Engineer Luo, specifically called the store and directly asked: "What exactly have you guys 'salvaged' again?"

The police investigation calls had already reached Xue Liangliang. After all, he was the store owner, and Sun Hongxia was his employee. He immediately saw through the reason behind the sensational disappearances on campus.

Tan Wenbin answered the phone and replied: "We're 'salvaging' fresh tripe and thousand-layer tripe. It's fantastic. Do you want to come back and have some?"

Xue Liangliang understood the hint and said he would wait until he returned. He also said that Engineer Luo was quite helpless after learning about this, as the last banquet had been specifically arranged to settle Xiao Yuan's school life, yet the three key people they had greeted had simply disappeared. This meant that upon returning to Jinling, they would have to host another banquet.

After Tan Wenbin hung up, Yin Meng asked, "Are our phones being tapped too?"

"No, I just didn't want to waste more words with Brother Liang, for fear of overcooking my tripe." Tan Wenbin sat down and began picking up food with his chopsticks.

Just then, several people approached the store entrance from outside. Run Sheng looked up, then said to Tan Wenbin, who was still focused on picking up food: "The police are here. It's your dad."

Tan Wenbin said without lifting his head: "Bullshit! My dad's just a small captain at a rural police station. The only way he could get promoted all the way to the provincial capital in one go is if our ancestral grave was smoking!"

Li Zhuiyuan shifted his position, moving a little further from Tan Wenbin. Yin Meng and Run Sheng also held their bowls and leaned to the side.

Tan Wenbin asked, confused, "Why aren't you eating? It's going to get overcooked! Heh heh, if you don't eat, I, Zhuang Zhuang, will finish it all!"

"Bang!"

Binbin was kicked flying.