A Quiet Departure

[A harmonious marriage; long life and peace.] Li Zhuiyuan recalled the fortune he had once read from Xue Liangliang's face. Every matter had many sides. As long as one shifted perspective often enough, a bright side could always be found. Take this marriage, for instance—it was indeed exceptionally smooth. Love at first sight, a lifetime bound in a single day. Even if they only met once every three years, paired with long life and peace, it could still be counted as compensation, couldn't it? "Xiao Yuan, come with me to see Zhao Hequan. Let's see how he's doing." "Brother Liangliang, can you get out of bed right now?" "I can." Xue Liangliang stepped out of bed, and immediately his legs began to shake. Li Zhuiyuan hurried to support him, keeping him from tumbling to the floor. Xue Liangliang looked a little embarrassed. "Brother Liangliang, you're just recovering from a serious illness. It's normal to feel weak." "Right, right, right." "Walk slowly. Lean on me." "All right, Xiao Yuan." The two left the ward, went down the stairs, and arrived outside Zhao Hequan's room. Zhao Hequan's parents had already rushed over from out of town and were listening to the doctor describe his condition. Both were dressed decently and formally; their family circumstances were clearly not poor. Upon hearing the doctor say that Zhao Hequan's condition had taken a sudden turn for the better and he was entirely out of mortal danger, the couple wept with joy. When the doctor went on to say that Zhao Hequan's body had suffered extensive ulceration and rot, forcing surgeons to excise several parts—including the removal of both balls down below— the two wailed even louder! [A rocky marriage; a solitary life to the end.] Li Zhuiyuan recited the phrase silently. It seemed he had been right once again. Still, he had originally thought the prediction would come to pass after Zhao Hequan went to America with his girlfriend. He hadn't expected it to happen so soon. Slipping past the two wailing elders, Xue Liangliang pushed open the door and walked inside with Li Zhuiyuan. By now, Zhao Hequan was awake, propped up against the head of the hospital bed. He looked utterly haggard and dejected. Li Zhuiyuan remembered that when he had first returned to the village to play with Pan Zi and Lei Zi, he had seen a dog lying listlessly on the courtyard flat. Back then, he had asked the older boys if the dog was sick. Pan Zi had answered, "Got cut yesterday. Hasn't bounced back yet." Yet even though both were clad in patient gowns, the moment Zhao Hequan laid eyes on Xue Liangliang, fighting spirit flared in his gaze. He instinctively assumed Xue Liangliang had come specifically to gloat over him! Li Zhuiyuan knew that wasn't true. Brother Liangliang had come only to verify whether the Lady Bais had all returned to their shrines below the shore. Examined closely, this must have been part of the bargaining terms—Brother Liangliang's "implicit bride price." In that sense, Xue Liangliang was actually Zhao Hequan's lifesaver. Zhao Hequan sneered, "Heh, don't laugh too soon. American medicine is advanced. Once I get to the States, they'll cure me!" Xue Liangliang nodded and offered comforting words: "Take heart. Even if they can't cure it, it won't matter. If they keep deconstructing collective concepts over there, someone like you will probably hold higher and higher status in America in the future." Hearing this, Zhao Hequan turned beet red. His entire body trembled, as though someone had stomped on balls that were no longer there, or as if phantom limb pain had struck him. "Heh, I'll definitely live a happier, more wonderful life than you! "I'm going to stay alive and well just to watch you make a fool of yourself. "Let me tell you something else: Lili already called me. She said no matter what happened to my body, she won't look down on me. Once we get to America, she'll marry me. When that time comes, I'll mail you photos of our wedding in a church!" "Congratulations." Xue Liangliang sighed. "I'm already married." "What did you say?" Zhao Hequan froze, then shouted, "Are you so desperate to spite me that you're throwing logic out the window and making up nonsense?" Just then, the door opened again. Luo Tingrui walked in. When a student suffered an accident during fieldwork, the university bore full responsibility. It had to cover medical expenses and fulfill compensation duties. Fortunately, the young man was out of mortal danger. "Zhao Hequan." "Director Luo!" Zhao Hequan immediately put on a smiling face for Engineer Luo. "Rest and recover properly. Strive to return to school and resume your studies as soon as possible." "Yes, Director Luo." "Liangliang, you just woke up. Why did you run out here? Be good and head back to your ward to rest. How can I feel at ease seeing you like this?" "I'm already fine, Director Luo." "Why are you still calling me Director? From now on, call me Uncle." "All right, Uncle Luo." A person couldn't fake things while unconscious. Luo Tingrui had already held Xue Liangliang in high regard, and after this ordeal, he was even fonder of the lad. He had already made up his mind to submit an application to join the Southwest reconstruction project, at which point he could take Xue Liangliang along under his wing, giving the boy an even higher starting platform from the outset. "All right, I'll step out first. Go back to your ward and rest early." With that, Luo Tingrui left to comfort Zhao Hequan's parents. By this point, Zhao Hequan was gnashing his teeth in fury. What tone had Director Luo used with him, and what tone had he used with Xue Liangliang? He had even told Xue Liangliang to call him Uncle! He understood now. No wonder Xue Liangliang claimed his marriage was settled—he was marrying into Director Luo's family! As a student of Haihe University, Zhao Hequan naturally knew that although Luo Tingrui was merely a department head at the school, he was an absolute titan in relevant domestic fields. Moreover, the higher-ups were currently encouraging university experts to enter officialdom; if Luo Tingrui were willing to leave academia, his standing outside would soar instantly. "Well, well, Xue Liangliang, I never saw it in you! No wonder you put on such a convincing act day in and day out—it was all to climb up the social ladder!" "I endured immense psychological pressure as well. I only did it because I had no choice." "You..." Li Zhuiyuan noticed that white steam was practically venting from Zhao Hequan's head. Just then, Zhao Hequan's mother entered while dabbing away tears. "Hequan, the Shanghai expert the university pulled strings to invite is almost here. Your father and I are heading to the entrance to meet him. Don't worry, your condition will be fine." "Mm..." Zhao Hequan nodded with a dark face. Once his mother left, Zhao Hequan sneered, "You see? That's how it is in this country. Whatever you do, you have to pull strings and trade favors. It's not like America, where none of that exists." Xue Liangliang looked puzzled. "What makes you think a country that still uses a recommendation letter system has no trading of favors?" "You... get out! Get out! Get out!" "Rest well and take care of your health." Supported by Li Zhuiyuan, Xue Liangliang walked out of the room. After shutting the door, Xue Liangliang said: "Let's not head back to the ward yet. I'll go buy you snacks and toys at the hospital entrance." "There's no need." "There is. Even though I don't know the exact details of what happened, I know that your coming here means you helped me immensely. Besides, I promised you this from the start. "Come on. An older brother buying some treats and toys for his younger brother—isn't that only natural? Unless you don't want to acknowledge me as your brother?" "All right, Brother." The two slowly descended the stairs. At the corner on the first floor, Zhao Hequan's parents stood talking. Because Xue Liangliang moved so slowly, they overheard a substantial part of the conversation. "With that thing gone from our son, can he really be cured?" "Even if cured, that thing is gone. We'd better hurry and make an effort to have another one. We can't let our family line end here." "I feel like I can still have another, but if we have a second child, what about our jobs...?" "We'll just submit an application and explain the situation. After all, the eldest is already crippled." "Mm, that's true." Xue Liangliang and Li Zhuiyuan didn't linger or greet them. They walked straight out of the inpatient building and went to the shop outside the hospital. "Go pick whatever you like. Grab whatever you want to eat, and take some of those toys too. Don't hold back with your brother." Li Zhuiyuan picked out a few snacks and stationery items just to go through the motions. "That's all you're taking?" "It's enough for me." "All right, then." Xue Liangliang paid the bill, then stuffed all the remaining money in his hand into Li Zhuiyuan's pocket. He patted it and said, "This is pocket money from your brother." "Thank you, Brother." When Li Zhuiyuan escorted Xue Liangliang back to the ward, he saw Uncle Qin waiting on a hallway bench. After bidding Xue Liangliang farewell, Li Zhuiyuan walked out of the hospital with Uncle Qin. "Go to sleep. I'll carry you." "All right, Uncle." Uncle Qin lifted Li Zhuiyuan onto his back. The boy was truly exhausted and drowsy, and he soon drifted off to sleep against the broad shoulders. He didn't know how much time had passed when he felt a gentle swaying and heard car horns blaring nearby. Li Zhuiyuan's first thought was: *Did Uncle Qin use that paper car trick again?* He opened his eyes in excitement, only to be met with disappointment. The vehicle was packed with people—this was the regular bus running from the city to Shigang Town. This wasn't a technique used by Uncle Qin; it was a ride paid for with bus tickets. Li Zhuiyuan longed to ask Uncle Qin for more details about the paper car from the night before, but in the end, he held back. The closer they drew to home, the less certain things could be discussed. Still, he remembered Uncle Qin saying last night that "she" had carried them over. So the paper car was merely something like entering a dream or a hypnotic state. In reality, had one of the Lady Bais carried him and Uncle Qin all the way from Siyuan Village into the city? Seen that way, it didn't seem so extraordinary after all—wasn't that just a different version of Brother Runsheng? "Not going to sleep a bit longer?" "No need, Uncle. It's strange, but somehow, just sleeping for this little while left me completely refreshed." "Road construction caused a traffic jam. It's already four in the afternoon." "Oh, no wonder." The bus came to a halt. Li Zhuiyuan and Uncle Qin stepped down and walked along the village path toward home. "Xiao Yuan, let me ask you something." "Go ahead, Uncle." "What do you think of that older friend's choice?" "He didn't know what was happening outside, so making that choice was normal. Understandable, I'd say." "That's not what I'm asking. Uncle wants to know: if it were you, would you be willing to marry in as a matrilocal son-in-law?" Li Zhuiyuan halted his steps. First, he glanced toward Great-Grandpa's house not far away, then turned to look up at Uncle Qin standing beside him. He didn't answer Uncle Qin's question. Instead, he asked, "Uncle, are you leaving?" Qin Li seemed caught off guard by the boy's question, a momentary flicker of astonishment crossing his face. "Why do you say that?" "A feeling." Qin Li smiled. He didn't press for an answer to his previous question, nor did he speak further. He quietly accompanied the boy all the way home. Qin Liang pulled her foot back from the door threshold, stood up, and cradled her little Go bowl as she approached Li Zhuiyuan. Li Zhuiyuan looked toward Liu Yumei, who was sitting on the courtyard flat sipping tea. Uncle Qin now stood behind her, speaking with his head lowered. Only after Liu Yumei nodded did Uncle Qin follow Auntie Liu back to the west room. "Xiao Yuan, your great-grandpa and Runsheng went out," Liu Yumei said. "Grandma Liu, did they get some work?" "Not that. Two batches of paper crafts were settled today, so your great-grandpa has money in his pocket. He had Runsheng pull him to Shigang Town to buy a television set." Li Zhuiyuan could only sigh inwardly. Great-Grandpa truly never saved money; he spent whatever was in his pocket. Still, he had no real expectations for a television. He had finished reading both *Detailed Exposition of Yin-Yang Physiognomy* and *Discourse on Fate Deduction*. Though he hadn't fully digested them—or rather, didn't dare fully digest them yet—at the very least, he could set those two books aside for now. Next, he needed to head back into the cellar to look for books. Although Great-Grandpa's earnest teachings still echoed in his ears, and he understood the importance of laying a solid foundation... he truly couldn't hold back any longer. He didn't want to be reduced to a useless bystander the next time he encountered something similar. Such an impatient pursuit of quick success was certainly wrong and deserved criticism. But who could blame him when he was still just a child? Well, one couldn't always be overly mature and rational. Doing this was also his way of keeping his illness under control. Li Zhuiyuan first went to the drawer to assemble his flashlight, then made his way down into the cellar. The difference was that this time, he brought Qin Liang along. "A-Li, come help me pick a chest." This time, Li Zhuiyuan no longer insisted on clearing out the very first chest before moving on. A-Li walked over to the chest in the middle. "This one?" Li Zhuiyuan signaled for A-Li to hold the flashlight, then put his strength into heaving the lid open. "A-Li, shine it over here for me." Li Zhuiyuan began searching through the contents. The books in this chest were all thick, extensive sets, very similar to *Jianghu Zhiguai Lu*, which he had read first. Each had at least twenty volumes, and all were arranged with great care. However, they were mostly foundational and conceptual works—and above all, manuals on health preservation. Li Zhuiyuan even spotted a copy of *Taixuan Dual Cultivation Scripture*. He drew out a volume and flipped through a few pages. There were illustrations accompanied by text, depicting various postures and movements. Before A-Li could lean her head over to read alongside him as she usually did, Li Zhuiyuan snapped the book shut. He furrowed his brows. These were not the books he was looking for. While he acknowledged that they might be very useful in the future, right now they were utterly useless. Li Zhuiyuan leaned deep into the chest, intending to haul out the two sets pressed at the very bottom. After considerable effort and breaking into a heavy sweat, he finally pulled them out. If these two were also health preservation texts, this chest could gather dust forever. Casting his gaze onto the cover, Li Zhuiyuan instantly perked up. *Zhengdao Fumo Lu: Part One*! Although the title sounded somewhat like the Hong Kong and Taiwan wuxia novels currently popular on the mainland, it was far better than the health preservation scriptures he had turned up earlier, and it filled him with great anticipation. Only, why was it just "Part One"? Li Zhuiyuan looked at the other set he had pulled out. On its cover was written *Zhengdao Fumo Lu: Part Two*. So these two sets, totaling over a hundred volumes, were actually a single work? But why split it into parts one and two? The books in the chests were essentially handwritten manuscripts, not published works where a second volume was printed only after the first sold well. Li Zhuiyuan drew the first volume from each of the two sets. He quickly flipped through to scan the layout. Detailed illustrations and text depicted various types of dead-flippers in diverse environments, along with items used to deal with them. Yet why did it feel so familiar? With that question in mind, Li Zhuiyuan opened the first volume of "Part Two" and flipped through the pages. It too was rich in illustrations and text, but every drawing featured air bubbles indicating an underwater setting. Furthermore, the use of tools was far sparser; the focus was placed heavily on close-quarters combat against dead-flippers. So Part One covered dry-land environments and methods for dealing with dead-flippers using various tools, while Part Two addressed underwater environments and direct combat. Still, the two didn't seem entirely mutually exclusive; it wasn't as if dry-land methods were completely useless underwater. The author had likely made the division for convenience of record, not as a rigid rule. Yet that pleasing handwriting and the familiar style of the illustrations... Li Zhuiyuan immediately pulled out the final volume of Part Two and turned to the last page. Sure enough, on the final line was written: "—Authored by Wei Zhengdao." Seeing that name, Li Zhuiyuan felt a surge of warmth. *Jianghu Zhiguai Lu* had served as his primer, but he truly hadn't expected Wei Zhengdao to have written a sequel. If the former provided concepts and definitions, then these two parts before him were the formulas. Li Zhuiyuan loved this sense of rigorous order. Looking around at the dozen or so chests, he wondered: were there more of Wei Zhengdao's books in here? A thought rose in Li Zhuiyuan's mind: if this man had truly begun with introductory primers and steadily written his way up to advanced levels... then could the phrase at the end of every entry in *Jianghu Zhiguai Lu*—"slain by the righteous path"—have been more than just a playful conceit? What if it meant literally... slain by Wei Zhengdao? Previously, Li Zhuiyuan had simply found the author amusing and regarded that idea as absurd. After all, how could one person in a single lifetime visit so many places, encounter so many dead-flippers, and destroy them all? Yet after witnessing Uncle Qin's methods with his own eyes last night, he realized it might not be impossible after all. Just as Great-Grandpa never believed he actually attended university lectures, people were inherently prone to making empirical errors in unfamiliar domains. "If I read all the books you wrote, would that make you my teacher?" If he wrote a diary in the future, what should he write at the end of an entry? *Such-and-such dead-flipper,* *slain by the successor of the righteous path?* ... Liu Yumei was nibbling on pastries and sipping tea when she saw Li Zhuiyuan carry an armful of books up the stairs, followed closely by her granddaughter, who was also carrying a stack. The two children carried the books to the second floor, placed them in the bedroom, then ran back down to haul another armful each up from the cellar, making several trips. Liu Yumei felt both helpless and amused. Ah, this was the precious granddaughter she had lovingly pampered from infancy. Still, this was good. As long as the girl wasn't left to sit behind the threshold in a daze, Liu Yumei wouldn't object even if the boy shouldered a hoe and took her out to till the fields. Once the books were moved, Li Zhuiyuan took out a towel, soaked and wrung it out, and first wiped A-Li's face and hands before folding the cloth to wipe his own sweat. Next, Li Zhuiyuan produced three cans of Jianlibao, opening one for A-Li and tucking one away for her collection. Then boy and girl sat together on the terrace, drinking their beverages as the evening breeze blew past. The girl's strands of hair occasionally drifted in the wind, brushing against his cheek with a gentle tickle. The boy glanced sideways from time to time at the girl's profile. Seated on the western side, she was framed perfectly against the warm orange sunset. "We're back!" Runsheng pushed the cart with Great-Grandpa sitting inside, cradling a yellow cardboard box in his arms. "Xiao Yuan-hou, your great-grandpa bought you a television!" "Coming, Great-Grandpa!" Li Zhuiyuan ran downstairs and hurried out to greet them, putting on an appearance of great joy and excitement. They unboxed it, plugged in the power cord, raised the two antennas on top, and turned the dial, catching CCTV, the Nantong local station, and the county station. The county station was broadcasting a new Qiong Yao drama. Small local television stations in this era aired whatever source material they could get their hands on, paying no heed to copyright issues; after all, only locals watched, and the reach was minimal. "How about it, Xiao Yuan-hou? Clear, isn't it?" Li Sanjiang stroked the top of the television, showing off to Li Zhuiyuan. "Mm, very clear." "Your great-grandpa bought the newest model! All right, Runsheng-hou, carry the television up to Xiao Yuan-hou's room." "No need, Great-Grandpa. Just leave it on the first floor so everyone can watch." "How could that do? It was bought for you, so how could it not go in your room?" "If it's there, I'll be obsessed with watching TV and it'll affect my studies." "Oh, all right, then. Leave it on the first floor." "Understood!" Runsheng carried the television inside with delight. He slept on a makeshift bed on the tables on the first floor every night, which meant he could watch television all night long. Auntie Liu called out, "Dinner's ready." Four small dining tables had already been set. Runsheng held a large joss stick in his hand, with a bundle of smaller incense sticks beside him, resembling a leek flanked by scallions. Ever since Xiao Yuan had opened the doors to a new world for him that day, he could no longer part with this way of eating. Only, before eating each incense stick, he had to light it first and then chew from the other end. Li Sanjiang took a sip of liquor and called to Uncle Qin, who sat eating with Liu Yumei and Liu Ting: "Li-hou, old Zhao's family over in Shijia Village is holding a funeral the day after tomorrow. I ran into them on the way back, and they booked sixteen banquet sets with me. Tomorrow afternoon, take the tables, benches, bowls, and plates over to them. "Oh, and Ting-hou, check our stock to see if we have enough paper crafts for a batch. If not, hurry and make up the difference so Li-hou can deliver them to the Zhaos during the funeral the day after tomorrow." Auntie Liu nodded. "I'll make up the paper crafts. There's plenty of time. But Ah Li..." "What about Li-hou?" Qin Li rose from the table, walked over to Li Sanjiang, and said, "Uncle Sanjiang, my eldest uncle back home is sick and probably won't make it. He has no children of his own, so I must go back to look after him." "When will you be back, then, Li-hou?" "I can't say for sure. At the very least, I must see the old man to his grave." "Then you'll be gone for quite a while." Li Sanjiang scratched the back of his head with the butt of his chopsticks. "Are you going back alone? What about Ting-hou?" "Uncle Sanjiang, I'm going back alone. A-Ting, my mother, and A-Li will remain here." "All right, then go." "Uncle Sanjiang, you don't have to wait for me to return. There's a lot of work around the house and you need able-bodied labor. You'd better hire someone else." "It's fine, it's fine, no need to hire anyone." Li Sanjiang pointed toward Runsheng, who sat in the corner munching incense and shoveling rice with grains sticking to his face. "We have Runsheng!" "Mm, you have me, no problem!" Far from refusing, Runsheng nodded vigorously. "Don't worry, your granduncle won't make you work for nothing. I'll pay you wages." "Granduncle, you're treating me like a stranger saying that. Living here with you, I get meat to eat, incense to chew, and now a television to watch. Working for you is only right." "Bullshit! Do you think I'm short of that little bit of wages? If your grandfather found out you were working for me for free, wouldn't he be sick with anger? "Besides, save up some wages here so that when you go back later, you can buy some rice, flour, grain, and oil for your granddad, so the old bastard doesn't starve to death." "My granddad has money! He earned quite a bit from the Niu family last time. With me gone, it's plenty for him to eat and drink for a long time." "Heh." Li Sanjiang snorted with disdain. "That old bastard has never had any luck gambling in his life, yet he still loves to play cards. Who knows how long that money will stay warm in his pocket." Then Li Sanjiang looked back at Qin Li. "Ah Li, when are you leaving?" "Tomorrow morning. I'll head to the station." "So soon? Are your things packed?" "A-Ting already packed them for me. It's not much, just a few changes of clothes." Li Sanjiang reached into his pocket, took out his money, and handed it to Qin Li: "Here. Most of it went to the television, but this is what's left. When you go back, you might need money to treat your uncle's illness, so take this with you. Oh, and don't forget to buy some Nantong specialties to take home, like Xiting crisp cakes and Baipu dried tea curd." "Uncle Sanjiang, I can't take your money. Please take it back." Li Sanjiang's face turned stern. "Brat, when I tell you to take it, you take it!" "I really can't. I can't take any more from you. My whole family is eating and drinking under your roof, and you've already paid me wages." "Those little wages of yours were me taking advantage of you. Take it when it's given. If you don't, I'm going to get angry." Liu Yumei spoke up then: "Take it. Remember your Uncle Sanjiang's kindness." Only then did Qin Li accept the money and bow solemnly to Li Sanjiang. Li Zhuiyuan ate quietly with his head down. He didn't believe for a second that Uncle Qin was returning home to look after an elder uncle. He had been to the east room and bowed before the spirit tablets on the altar; that setup clearly showed an entire family—no, an entire clan—wiped out. Uncle Qin was leaving solely because of what had happened last night. Li Zhuiyuan could sense that while staying at Great-Grandpa's house, they had been going to great lengths to avoid certain taboos. Uncle Qin's departure was also for safety's sake. *Sigh, the cost of propping up a useless bystander is truly high.* He stole a glance at Liu Yumei and found that she happened to be looking at him as well. Their gazes met briefly. A meaningful glint showed in Liu Yumei's eyes, accompanied by a faint smile. Li Zhuiyuan knew this was a silent warning. He could never again run back to beg the Qin family for help whenever he ran into trouble. If one left every time he asked, there wouldn't be enough feathers left on this duster for him to pluck. After dinner, Runsheng couldn't wait to turn on the television and flip through the channels. Li Sanjiang didn't go upstairs to lie down and listen to storytelling either. He sat there smoking his pipe. Soon, an energetic melody rang from the television. It was the county station, airing *Power King Leo*. Runsheng sat back down, grasped several incense sticks, lit them with a match, and chewed on them while watching intently, as if snacking on spicy gluten strips. Li Zhuiyuan was in no hurry to return to his room to read Wei Zhengdao's new manual. Instead, he fetched a small stool and sat beside A-Li to watch television. Li Sanjiang asked Runsheng with curiosity, "What's that fellow in the red leather suit?" "Granduncle, that's the Power King." "And that round flying thing?" "A Saucer Beast. A monster. A bad guy." "Oh, I see." Runsheng had often caught glimpses of television before, sometimes in the village, sometimes at an employer's house, and sometimes in shops, though it had always been in fragments. In this era, most children who had the chance to watch television rarely had the opportunity to finish such shows systematically. Inevitably, something would interrupt them, or the station would switch programs before a series finished airing. Although home VCRs existed now, the machines were expensive and videotapes were hard to circulate. This gave rise to video parlors everywhere, where people paid admission to crowd into a room and watch together, with theater owners playing racy adult films late at night. When the episode ended, a commercial for psoriasis ointment began. Runsheng kept staring earnestly at the screen, hoping another episode would air after the advertisement—though in all likelihood, that was it for the day. Once he grew more familiar with television, he would be able to recall the schedule for every channel even without a program guide. Along with reciting the lines from the commercials, of course. After waiting for a long time, Runsheng looked back at Li Zhuiyuan and asked, "Xiao Yuan, have you seen this before?" Li Zhuiyuan nodded. "How many episodes are there?" "Around forty or fifty." "Wow, that's amazing." Back when he lived in the family compound, Li Zhuiyuan had been invited by older boys to watch videotapes at their homes. They had collected complete sets of several series, though in their version it was called *Superman Leo*. Chinese translations in this period were still dominated by Hong Kong and Taiwan releases, which led to differences in translation conventions. Liu Yumei walked over and said, "A-Li should rest now." These words were directed at Li Zhuiyuan. "A-Li, go back to your room with your grandmother and rest. See you tomorrow morning." A-Li obediently stood up and followed Liu Yumei back inside. Li Zhuiyuan left the stool. As he climbed the stairs, he looked back through the paper crafts on the ground floor to see Brother Runsheng and Great-Grandpa still seated before the television, watching the advertisements with relish. Then he recalled Uncle Qin speeding through the night on a motorcycle with him on the back. The fierce collision of tradition and novelty, the grinding friction between the outdated and the modern—it was truly hard to imagine so many disparate things stacked together in the same era. Yet the people living in this era, himself included, were oblivious most of the time, even when the tempest raged right beside them. Perhaps only years later, when everything settled and one looked back, would one realize with astonishment what kind of bizarre, kaleidoscopic years they had lived through. "Xiao Yuan." Uncle Qin broke into Li Zhuiyuan's thoughts. He was standing at the landing of the second-floor stairs, as if he had been waiting for him. Li Zhuiyuan ran up. "Horse stance." "Yes." Li Zhuiyuan knew this was likely the final lesson. Following Uncle Qin's past instructions, Li Zhuiyuan sank into a horse stance and began his rhythmic breathing, quickly entering the proper state. Uncle Qin's hands moved steadily across Li Zhuiyuan's muscles and joints, carefully adjusting every point of exertion. After some time, Uncle Qin said, "Enough." Li Zhuiyuan stood up. He didn't feel tired; instead, his body felt light and relaxed. Lately, after long bouts of reading, he had gradually replaced calisthenics with the horse stance. "Practice diligently. Don't let it slip." "I will remember, Uncle Qin." "Mm." Uncle Qin walked down the stairs. Li Zhuiyuan felt a twinge of melancholy. Uncle Qin had so many skills, yet it seemed he had only learned how to hold a horse stance. Still, Wei Zhengdao's *Zhengdao Fumo Lu: Part Two* contained methods for fighting dead-flippers in close combat. He could practice that instead. Returning to his bedroom, he turned on the desk lamp. Li Zhuiyuan didn't rush to read Part Two; after all, he was still a child. Before training in close-quarters combat, he had better learn how to use implements first. He opened the first volume of Part One and began from chapter one. Setting aside all distracting thoughts, Li Zhuiyuan delved into studying the proper rearing of virgin black dogs. ... Waking the next morning, Li Zhuiyuan turned his head to see A-Li sitting on a chair. Today she wasn't wearing a dress, but a snug-fitting outfit of white and green. If she were given a sword, she could play a young swordswoman in a wuxia drama. A smile tugged at Li Zhuiyuan's lips. It seemed Grandma Liu had recently acquired a new taste, and A-Li had adopted a new style accordingly. "Good morning." He walked over to greet the girl. Li Zhuiyuan's gaze couldn't help but fall upon her belt, which gleamed with silver light and bore fine engravings. *Wait, could it be...?* Li Zhuiyuan reached out and ran his fingers over it. The girl didn't dodge or show annoyance, remaining quietly in place. Feeling the texture against his fingertips, Li Zhuiyuan couldn't help but marvel. The girl's belt was truly a soft sword! He couldn't help sighing at Grandma Liu's obsessive pursuit of perfection. Perhaps part of A-Li's obsessive tendencies was inherited from Liu Yumei. Seeing Li Zhuiyuan's interest in her belt, A-Li reached down, making as if to unfasten it and hand it to him. "No, no, no, don't take it off." Li Zhuiyuan quickly took her hand to stop her, praising, "It looks really nice." A-Li's eyelashes fluttered slightly, but this time it wasn't a sign of rage; it was an expression of joy. Li Zhuiyuan was pleasantly surprised to discover that this was the first time A-Li had used such a noticeable gesture to express an emotion other than violent fury. She was truly changing. At breakfast, Uncle Qin shouldered his pack, bid everyone farewell, and walked down the courtyard flat. Everyone's emotions were fairly steady, except for Li Sanjiang. He was probably the one most reluctant to see Qin Li go—not merely because he was losing a helper who took little pay and worked hard, but because after living together for so long, feelings had naturally formed. After the meal, Li Zhuiyuan approached Auntie Liu and produced a list along with a sum of money. "Auntie Liu, you're going to the town market to buy groceries today, right? Could you help me buy these things?" "Sure, that's easy enough." Auntie Liu took the list. After glancing over it, her eyes widened in shock, which then gave way to conventional bewilderment. "Xiao Yuan, what are you buying these things for?" "The school assigned a summer practical homework project. These are materials I need to complete it." It was a clumsy excuse, but it didn't matter, because all he needed was an excuse. "All right, I'll buy them all for you when I go." "Thank you, Auntie." Having Auntie Liu buy them put his mind at ease. There was no need to give detailed instructions, because in all likelihood, she was far more knowledgeable than he was. Throughout the morning, Li Zhuiyuan continued reading. The book was actually relatively simple; the difficulty lay in practical experimentation. Without considering hands-on practice, Part One was practically a handicraft textbook. At the same time, Li Zhuiyuan noticed that many of the items described were similar to things Great-Grandpa possessed. Whenever Great-Grandpa went to retrieve a corpse or sit the rites, he brought an assortment of items along. Yet upon close comparison, Li Zhuiyuan discovered that Great-Grandpa's implements were merely similar in appearance or shared identical names; in essence, they were not the same things at all. Li Zhuiyuan couldn't help but wonder: had Great-Grandpa relied on a set of counterfeits to fish corpses all this time? Still, the items here were truly difficult to procure. For some, he would need to draw blueprints based on the book's descriptions and then hire a carpenter and a blacksmith to forge them. The village had carpenters, but where could he find a blacksmith nowadays? He couldn't find the clanging smithies described in the book. Perhaps he could find a factory and ask a machinist to turn them out on a lathe? In the afternoon, Runsheng had to deliver tables, benches, bowls, and plates to the Zhao family. He didn't know the way, but Li Zhuiyuan knew where the Zhaos lived, so he went along with him. The Zhao home was on the east side of Shijia Bridge, not far from where Li Zhuiyuan had waited for the car the night before. Runsheng pushed the heavy handcart up onto the Zhaos' courtyard flat on his own and helped the family unload. The memorial hall had already been arranged. Li Zhuiyuan looked toward the center of the main room, where the deceased lay motionless on a bed. It was a young man, perhaps only seventeen or eighteen, not much older than Pan Zi and the others. Nearby, two old women stood close together, whispering: "Such a fine young lad, gone just like that." "They say he was returning from fooling around in town late at night, tripped into a field on the way, and was gone just like that." "What a tragedy. What did Zheng Datong say it was, a sudden heart attack?" "Such a pity, tsk, tsk. The Zhao family runs a small business and has plenty of money, but he was their only son." Just then, someone began applying makeup to the body, lifting the white sheet covering it. Li Zhuiyuan caught sight of the face: sunken eye sockets, slack brow, a smooth philtrum, a sharp and thin lower lip... In physiognomy, this was [a shallow pool of fortune, a cracked basin below]. This was considered the lowest of the low in fortunes, meaning that one's blessed destiny was intrinsically thin, and there was a leak continually draining it away. If such a person cherished their blessings, guarded their conduct, and kept a simple, clean heart, they could scrape together a peaceful life. But if they indulged to excess—wallowing in eating, drinking, and amusement—reaping their enjoyment too hard and too fast would easily drain them dry. Combined with what the two old women had said about the Zhaos being well-off, living a life far exceeding the average circumstances around him had worked against a person with such a countenance. After delivering the goods, Li Zhuiyuan and Runsheng headed home together. On the road ahead, they met Pan Zi and Lei Zi walking side by side. Water or gel had been slicked through their hair, combing it all straight back with a prominent part down the middle, gleaming slick and shiny in the sun. "Ha, Yuan Zi! We were just heading to your great-grandpa's house to find you. Who knew we'd run into you right here!" "Brother Pan Zi, Brother Lei Zi." Pan Zi stepped forward and took Li Zhuiyuan's hand. "Come on, Yuan Zi, your big brothers are taking you to the video parlor in town to watch a movie! This afternoon they're showing Brother Fat's *A Better Tomorrow*!" Beside him, Lei Zi mimed firing handguns with both hands, his shoulders pumping as he supplied sound effects: "Bang, bang, bang!" "Great, I want to go too!" Runsheng shouted. Li Zhuiyuan didn't want to go; he wanted to head back and continue reading. So he said, "I'll go home to get some money to treat you brothers to the movie, but I won't go myself. I still have homework to do." He had given all the pocket money he had this morning to Auntie Liu, and the rest was in his bedroom drawer. "Get out of here! How could we let you pay every time? We're your older brothers, we have pride too, all right? Before, we really didn't have pocket money, but that doesn't mean we just wanted to sponge off our little brother!" "That's right, that's right! The two of us have money now. We just spent all of yesterday hauling bricks at the kiln in the west village!" As they spoke, Pan Zi and Lei Zi pulled out loose change from their pockets, counted it together, and took a head count, including Runsheng. After tallying it up, Pan Zi grinned. "Just enough for four tickets, plus four bottles of soda!" Runsheng was overjoyed. "I'll push the cart back home first!" Seeing how enthusiastic they were, and knowing they had earned this money specifically from hauling bricks to treat their little brother, Li Zhuiyuan couldn't bring himself to refuse any longer and agreed to go along. Still, when they returned the cart, Li Zhuiyuan stopped by his bedroom to put some money in his pocket and let A-Li know before joining them on the way to town. Eventually, the four arrived outside a video parlor. It had a modest storefront, with only a simple wooden board hanging above the entrance: "Sister Mei's Video Parlor."