Tan Wenbin bent down and hoisted Zheng Haiyang onto his back in a few deft motions.
This showed clearly that between burying his head in practice problems, he had not neglected the professional fundamentals he was studying under Runsheng.
This standard sequence of movements was specifically designed for carrying a corpse.
Sprinting downstairs, he reached the infirmary, only to find the door locked. The school nurse had gone to eat.
In truth, even if the door had been unlocked and the nurse present, it would hardly have helped. The infirmary’s only real purpose was taking students' temperatures, signing hall passes, or dispensing cold remedies like Qingkailing or Banlangen; students who needed IV drips were sent straight to the township health clinic down the street.
Li Zhuiyuan reminded him, “Brother Runsheng’s tricycle is outside.”
Tan Wenbin immediately carried the boy toward the school gates. The clinic sat along the same straight street as the school, very close by; calling teachers and finding a car right now was nowhere near as fast as using Runsheng’s tricycle.
Ah Li climbed down from the cart, walked to Li Zhuiyuan’s side, and took his hand.
At the entrance, once Tan Wenbin set Zheng Haiyang into the cart, Runsheng pedaled off toward the clinic without delay.
Li Zhuiyuan and Ah Li walked slowly to avoid the crowd. By the time they reached the clinic entrance, Runsheng was already stepping out.
“Ah Li, head back with Brother Runsheng first. I have some business to take care of tonight.”
Ah Li nodded.
“Brother Runsheng, after you drop Ah Li off at home, bring our gear over.”
“Right on!”
“Did you pick that up from TV?”
“Just thought it had more punch.”
“Ah Li, there are books and test papers in my schoolbag. You can browse through them first.”
Ah Li climbed onto the cart and cradled the boy’s schoolbag in her arms.
Once they left, Li Zhuiyuan walked into the clinic. Just as he inquired about the room number, a patter of running footsteps approached from behind. It was their homeroom teacher, Sun Qing, hurrying over with two other teachers.
A student had seen Tan Wenbin carrying someone out the school gates and reported it to the faculty.
Meanwhile, Zheng Haiyang, who had looked so terrifyingly ill back in the classroom, was visibly improving. He lay on a bed with an IV drip while Tan Wenbin tipped a large enamel mug, feeding him water in greedy gulps.
Sun Qing first spoke briefly with the doctor. Learning that his life was in no danger, she breathed a sigh of relief, then stepped inside. Glancing at the mug, she asked, “Is that tap water?”
Tan Wenbin nodded. “He’s parched.”
Boiling water was freely available at the clinic, but warm water was hard to come by. Zheng Haiyang kept clamoring to drink, so Tan Wenbin had simply gone to the tap to fetch some.
“More... I want more water.”
“Can’t you wait a bit?” Tan Wenbin asked. “You’ve drunk so much already.”
“Brother Bin, I’m really dying of thirst.”
“Fine, I’ll get you another cup.”
After downing two more mugfuls, color finally returned to Zheng Haiyang’s face. He was no longer deathly pale, though he looked somewhat bloated.
Sun Qing asked, “Have Zheng Haiyang’s parents been notified?”
Hearing this, Zheng Haiyang immediately wore an expression of resistance and dread.
“I haven’t—” Tan Wenbin began.
“They’ve been notified,” Li Zhuiyuan broke in. “His grandparents should be on their way right now.”
“That’s good, then.” Sun Qing turned to Tan Wenbin again. “I checked with the doctor. Zheng Haiyang is out of danger. Head back to school now—you have an exam tonight.”
Tan Wenbin muttered, “How could an exam be more important than a friend?”
“Tan Wenbin, you return to school right this instant!”
A young homeroom teacher had to keep a stern face at all times; without strict discipline, students would never take her seriously.
Tan Wenbin rose with obvious reluctance, looking altogether unwilling to leave.
“Tan Wenbin, no matter what, you cannot give up on yourself. Your parents still have high hopes for you.”
“Yes, Teacher.”
It wasn't that Tan Wenbin refused to take the exam. Rather, he still remembered the frantic words Zheng Haiyang had babbled in his stupor and that terrifying state he had been in.
He knew that if he went back for the exam, he would likely miss something important again.
Hadn’t he been studying so hard precisely for this?
“Brother Binbin, go back and take the test,” Li Zhuiyuan said. “You can visit him again once it's over.”
“I…”
Hearing those words, Tan Wenbin was practically certain that by the time he finished his test, whatever was going to happen would already be long over.
“Teacher Sun, you should head back and attend to your duties as well,” Li Zhuiyuan said. “An adult from my family is arriving shortly. I’ll keep Zheng Haiyang company until his grandparents arrive, then I’ll head home.”
“Xiaoyuan, can you manage?”
“I can. My family will be here soon, and if anything happens, I’ll call the school.”
Li Zhuiyuan proceeded to recite, from memory, the phone numbers for the principal’s office, the teachers' office where Sun Qing sat, and the school security gatehouse.
Sun Qing nodded. She still had exam proctoring and paper grading duties tonight. Seeing that the student was no longer in critical condition, she had no reason to linger.
“Tan Wenbin, come with me.”
“Alright, Teacher.” Tan Wenbin slumped his shoulders and followed his teacher out.
As the door swung shut, he cast a pleading look at Li Zhuiyuan, but Li Zhuiyuan turned his back.
Only the two of them remained in the ward.
Zheng Haiyang smiled and said, “Brother Xiaoyuan, I’m fine now. You can head home too.”
He knew that Li Zhuiyuan never attended evening self-study.
“I didn’t actually notify your grandparents.”
“Ah, really? That’s good, then. Their health isn't great, and I was afraid of worrying them.”
“Were you unconscious earlier—in the classroom, I mean?”
“Well… I suddenly felt terribly sleepy, so I laid my head down. When I woke up, Brother Bin was carrying me on his back through the clinic. My throat was burning, and I desperately wanted water. After drinking some, I felt like nothing was wrong anymore.”
“Did you see anything in between? Have any dreams?”
Zheng Haiyang shook his head. “None.”
“Think carefully. See if you can remember anything at all.”
Zheng Haiyang racked his brain, then shook his head once more. “It feels like a total blackout. I really don’t remember.”
“Alright. Get some rest, then.”
Li Zhuiyuan pulled up a chair and sat beside the bed.
From the look of things, Zheng Haiyang truly had returned to normal, so walking the yin path right now would probably yield nothing.
More importantly, Runsheng had not yet arrived, and Li Zhuiyuan had grown far more cautious about walking the yin path.
“Brother Xiaoyuan, after I passed out, did I react strangely? Did I say anything?”
*A softshell turtle lies buried in the brine; whoever digs him up, his family pays in kind!*
Li Zhuiyuan replied, “It’s quite normal to babble in your sleep.”
“Brother Xiaoyuan, my heart still feels uneasy. I keep worrying about my parents out at sea…”
These days, sailors earned high wages and handsome bonuses, but high returns went hand in hand with high risks.
“What use is there in fretting over it right now? They’re so far away. Taking good care of yourself is what your parents would want to see most.”
“You’re right, Brother. I’ve noticed you really are different from the rest of us. You have this… presence, like an elder.”
Li Zhuiyuan closed his eyes. He did not care for that description.
“Don’t say that in front of me again.”
“Oh, okay, I understand. I’ll remember.”
Runsheng arrived, carrying a set of implements on his back.
“Xiaoyuan, how is he?”
“Seems fine for now.”
Li Zhuiyuan pulled out the black canvas, shook it open, stepped to the head of the bed, and draped it over Zheng Haiyang’s face.
Though bewildered, Zheng Haiyang did not refuse, nor did he even ask what this was for.
The black canvas showed no reaction whatsoever.
This proved that Zheng Haiyang carried no unclean entity on him.
Li Zhuiyuan then drew a talisman he had drawn himself and pressed it against Zheng Haiyang’s forehead.
It did not change color.
Evidently, there really was no problem.
“Brother Xiaoyuan, this is…”
The cloth had seemed odd enough, but any normal person would feel a sudden chill watching someone slap a yellow paper talisman onto their forehead.
“A local custom. Same effect as calling back someone's soul with a needle.”
“Oh, I see.” Zheng Haiyang breathed easy again.
Li Zhuiyuan sat back down, turning the worst-case scenario over in his mind.
If something had happened to Zheng Haiyang’s parents, it was possible for close kin to feel a psychic premonition. But if that premonition manifested through such violent possession, it was far too terrifying.
What kind of thing could curse an entire lineage, reaching across the open ocean to strike down blood relatives?
Tan Wenbin hurried over as soon as his exam ended. The moment he burst through the door, he blurted out, “Did I miss anything?”
Runsheng shook his head. “Nothing.”
Tan Wenbin didn't believe him and turned to Li Zhuiyuan. “Brother Xiaoyuan?”
Li Zhuiyuan shook his head as well.
Finally, Tan Wenbin confirmed it with Zheng Haiyang. Only then did he exhale, saying with lingering dread, “Thank goodness. Nothing happened.”
Moved, Zheng Haiyang said, “Brother Bin, I’m sorry for making you worry.”
“Uh…” Feeling a twinge of guilt, Tan Wenbin averted his eyes and patted the boy’s arm. “We’re buddies. It’s what friends do.”
That night, Sun Qing dropped by once more to confirm he was well.
When she asked after Zheng Haiyang’s grandparents, Li Zhuiyuan told her they had gone home to cook a meal and bring it over.
Seeing so many people keeping watch in the room, Sun Qing suspected nothing and departed.
Zheng Haiyang wished to be discharged. To prove he was fully recovered, he even hopped out of bed and jumped up and down a few times.
Tan Wenbin went to handle the discharge paperwork. Not long after leaving, he called Li Zhuiyuan outside.
“What is it, Brother Binbin?”
“I just saw Zheng Haiyang’s grandparents downstairs. They were checking out too, refusing the doctor’s advice to stay overnight for observation. They said they were afraid their grandson wouldn't see them at home and would panic.
“Brother Xiaoyuan, this whole thing is way too eerie. The whole family took ill at once. Doesn’t that mean Haiyang’s parents…”
“That isn't our place to say.”
“Right, true enough. So should I keep finishing Haiyang’s paperwork?”
“Yes. Let Brother Runsheng take him home.”
That night, Li Zhuiyuan rode home on the rack of Tan Wenbin’s bicycle. When Runsheng returned later, he described briefly how Zheng Haiyang and his grandparents had each been completely oblivious to the other having been at the clinic.
The next day, Zheng Haiyang returned to class looking completely normal.
The results of the monthly exams were gradually announced. Since the previous afternoon, teachers had been grading papers between proctoring sessions. The real chore was tallying scores, but that could be handed down to younger grades to let underclassmen help calculate totals.
During Sun Qing’s Chinese literature class, she began handing out test papers, calling out each name and score before the student stepped up to collect their work.
Chinese was a curious subject. Curiously, even if a student missed two straight months of class, their score might not be any worse than before.
At the same time, it was remarkably difficult to improve rapidly through straightforward effort. Barring rare flukes, students’ scores tended to fluctuate stably within their respective score tiers.
Tan Wenbin looked delighted when he received his paper. He had broken the curse and jumped a whole tier.
His Chinese score had previously hovered near the bottom of the class, but now he had reached the middle tier. In the Classical Chinese reading section, he had gotten every single question right.
This was entirely thanks to Wei Zhengdao.
He had been reading *Jianghu Zhiguai Lu*, albeit at a tortoise's pace.
When Li Zhuiyuan read it, he had taken great pleasure in the elegant calligraphy, breezing through several volumes a day with ease.
Tan Wenbin, however, had to chew through it page by painstaking page. The text was crammed with rare, archaic characters and vocabulary he had never seen before, forcing him to keep a dictionary open, constantly looking up annotations and taking notes.
Finally, Sun Qing announced Li Zhuiyuan’s score. The moment the numbers left her lips, the entire classroom gasped in unison: he was only a few marks shy of a perfect score.
This was high school Chinese, not primary school. Certain parts of the exam inevitably lost points, such as the essay, where losing only a few points marked it as an exemplary piece.
Reaching this score practically proved he had answered every single objective question without a single error.
Sun Qing smiled and said, “Truth be told, our grading committee debated this for quite a while. Giving a perfect score didn't feel appropriate, but finding anywhere to deduct points was just as difficult. Though Student Li Zhuiyuan didn't get a full hundred, his answers were flawless, and his handwriting is exceptionally beautiful.”
“Alright, let us begin reviewing the questions on the paper.”
Instead of handing the paper back to Li Zhuiyuan, Sun Qing used it directly to teach the class.
Tan Wenbin slid his own paper toward the center of the desk, indicating they could share.
The moment he did, Tan Wenbin felt it was entirely redundant.
Besides, letting Xiaoyuan look at his paper gave him an overwhelming sense of embarrassment.
“Brother, how did you pull that off?”
“Just apply the formula.” Li Zhuiyuan tapped the reading comprehension section. “You don't need to care what the original author meant; you only need to deduce what the test-maker is looking for.”
After all, even if original authors took the reading comprehension tests on their own essays, the majority would fail to earn full marks.
Tan Wenbin scratched his head. “I think I kind of get it now. It feels completely different from how I used to think.”
“You have to learn how to take an exam.”
While Li Zhuiyuan and Tan Wenbin whispered together, Sun Qing stood right in front of them, yet she offered no reprimand.
Soon, however, Tan Wenbin noticed Xiaoyuan’s expression turn grim.
The teacher had taken Li Zhuiyuan’s composition and was reading it aloud to the whole class as a model essay.
Listening to it, had he not noticed Brother Xiaoyuan’s sour expression, Tan Wenbin would have genuinely sighed in admiration: *Your mother is wonderful.*
Even so, he couldn't help asking, “Brother, how do you write essays like that?”
“A neat structure, an ornate opening and closing, rigorous paragraph divisions in between, and clean penmanship.”
“That’s it? What about emotional expression?”
“If a grader spends ten whole seconds reading your essay, they’re practically a model of dedication.”
“Holy shit!”
Sun Qing frowned and shot him a glare.
Tan Wenbin quickly waved his hands and bowed his head in apology, then leaned right back toward Li Zhuiyuan, saying excitedly, “Brother, I feel like I’ve seen the light!”
When the bell rang, classmates began gathering around their desk.
Previously, everyone had only heard rumors of the child prodigy; today, they had witnessed it with their own eyes.
Tan Wenbin spread his arms, motioning for everyone to back off. “Scatter, all of you! Don’t crowd Brother Xiaoyuan and steal his fresh air!”
His established persona as the class ruffian proved remarkably effective at dispersing the crowd.
The next period was mathematics. Teacher Yan entered, announced scores, and distributed papers right away. Li Zhuiyuan: full marks.
The class turned to stare in awe once more.
This math exam had actually been quite challenging. Moreover, twelfth grade had only begun a month ago, and older material had not yet been reviewed, leaving many students unable to recall past concepts.
Teacher Yan said, “Tan Wenbin, you did well this time. Keep up the good work.”
Tan Wenbin grinned from ear to ear. He had actually scored in the upper-middle range in math.
For an ordinary mid-tier student, that would have meant nothing more than having a good day. But for a bottom-tier student, it was nothing short of tearing down the Berlin Wall.
When it came to STEM subjects, poor students usually weren't struggling with whether a problem was difficult or whether they knew the solution; they couldn't even understand what the question was asking. Even if you wanted to scribble something down, you had no idea where to begin.
“I knew it,” Tan Wenbin muttered. “Those questions looked familiar. Tsk, tsk, they really gave me a beating, but at least they spared my life.”
Over the subsequent periods, more test papers were handed back.
When English class arrived, the students, already grown numb to high marks, gasped in surprise once again upon hearing the score.
Teacher Su smiled and explained, “Due to special circumstances, Student Li Zhuiyuan did not complete the listening section. All his other sections received full marks. Furthermore, the overall grade rankings are out: Student Li Zhuiyuan has taken first place in the entire school by an overwhelming margin.
“Now then, let us review the test paper.”
Li Zhuiyuan quietly brought out Wei Zhengdao’s writings.
An environment where a foreign language was spoken seemed particularly conducive to reading; it functioned like suitable background music.
During the break after the third afternoon period, Li Zhuiyuan headed to the restroom, and Tan Wenbin tagged along.
“Haha, Brother, I’m sleeping at my house tonight!”
Now that the results were out, his overall rank placed him comfortably in the upper-middle tier of the grade.
“Alright, Brother Binbin.”
Tan Wenbin pinched his throat and sang in an operatic trill, “To return home rich and honored, yet walk by night in silk robes—what a waste, oh what a waste~”
He had already laid his plans: when he got home, he would first put on a weeping face to bait his mother into comforting him.
Then, just before his father unbuckled his leather belt to beat him, he would whip out the test papers and report card and slam them right into Tan Yunlong’s face!
Wait, no.
Should he take a lash from the belt first to deepen his father’s guilt?
Either way, his allowance had to go up!
Returning to his seat, Li Zhuiyuan rested his head on his arms to nap.
When he went home tonight, he still had to practice painting and study the dwarf’s gear; he couldn't expend all his energy on book learning.
Class monitor Zhou Yunyun walked over to their desk and looked at Tan Wenbin.
Tan Wenbin had his arms pillowed behind his head, leaning back in his chair and daydreaming delightfully.
Zhou Yunyun stepped out into the doorway and waited a moment, but nobody followed.
She had no choice but to walk back and stare at Tan Wenbin again.
Only then did Tan Wenbin notice her. “What is it?”
“Come outside for a second.”
Since Brother Xiaoyuan was asleep, Tan Wenbin, seated on the inside, braced one hand against the desk and vaulted cleanly over it.
The moment they stepped out, several classmates began whispering among themselves.
Outside, the two stood leaning against the corridor wall as passing students cast curious glances their way.
Zhou Yunyun said with visible awkwardness, “I’d like to ask a favor.”
“A favor? Easy enough. Come on, give your lord a smile and I’ll help you out.”
Zhou Yunyun’s chest heaved with irritation, yet she found it increasingly funny, the corners of her mouth curling despite herself.
“Spit it out, what’s up?”
“It’s this. These practice problems… could you ask Student Li Zhuiyuan to solve them for me?”
Zhou Yunyun handed over a notebook. Tan Wenbin took it and flipped through: there weren't many questions, just seven—four in math and three in physics.
“These problem types are all in the notebooks Brother Xiaoyuan gave me, and his are way more complex.”
“How many does he have?”
“A ton of volumes. Math, physics, chemistry, he has them all.”
“Could you… lend them to me?”
The better a student was, the more clearly they understood the immense value of targeted problem drills, especially in an era when study aids and reference materials were so scarce.
Most importantly, Tan Wenbin’s sudden leap in scores was living proof of how extraordinarily valuable those problems were.
Tan Wenbin furrowed his brows.
“Is… is that not okay?” Zhou Yunyun asked nervously. As class monitor, she was used to keeping a cool, stern face; she rarely showed such vulnerability.
“I’ll have to ask Brother Xiaoyuan. But he probably won't mind. I can lend them to you, but you have to promise me one thing…”
“What thing?” Zhou Yunyun drew a deep breath, looking as though she were steeling herself for a momentous decision, her gaze resolute.
Her reaction threw Tan Wenbin completely off.
“Uh, nothing crazy. You can only look at them yourself. You’re not allowed to lend them to anyone else or make copies.”
“Of course I can do that. Anything else?”
“Nope, that’s all.”
“Oh. Alright, I promise.” There was a faint trace of disappointment in Zhou Yunyun’s voice.
No matter how dedicated young men and women were to their studies, it was natural to entertain romantic notions at this age.
Someone like Tan Wenbin—outgoing, expressive, and full of bravado—naturally caught the eye.
Moreover, he was good-looking, possessing the roguish charm of an actor from a Hong Kong or Taiwanese movie, and his family circumstances were among the best in town.
As for his poor academic record, that hardly weighed against him; after all, boys who were both top students and handsome generally existed only in cheap romance novellas.
In reality, most top-performing male students were somewhat hard to look at.
Unfortunately, under his father’s iron-fisted discipline, the wildest things Tan Wenbin had ever done—aside from getting into brawls to defend classmates—were sneaking money from his mother to buy a handheld Tetris game.
He had all the makings of a ladies' man, but lacked the slightest inclination for it.
Besides, without realizing it, he had already been led astray by a certain boy. In his eyes now, puppy love was utterly flavorless; after all, how could girls ever be as fascinating as dead-flippers?
“I’ll sort out the problems and bring them to you tomorrow.”
“Okay, thank you.”
The two walked back into the classroom together.
The classroom immediately erupted in a chorus of teasing: “Ooooh~”
Her cheeks flushing slightly, Zhou Yunyun hurried back to her seat, picked up her pen, and buried herself in homework.
Tan Wenbin cast a haughty glare across the room, pointing at the sleeping Li Zhuiyuan to shush everyone.
Then, vaulting over the desk with one hand, he hopped back into his seat.
How much could pocket money from home ever amount to? He knew full well that Brother Xiaoyuan spent heaps of cash crafting those implements. Having just been struck by inspiration, an ingenious idea formed in his head, complete with a sales pitch:
*Want to see your exam scores skyrocket like mine?
Want to get your hands on the child prodigy’s exclusive study secrets?
Want to leap straight to heaven and change your destiny?
Then come buy my practice problem booklets!*
During the next period, Li Zhuiyuan continued to nap.
Tan Wenbin drifted off into a rare bout of daydreaming, pulling out a blank sheet of paper to draft a plan. How much should he charge per booklet? Should he sell a full set or release them in batches?
Batches made more sense, since Brother Xiaoyuan would keep writing problems for him anyway.
He wouldn't charge the needy students in class; he'd just give them copies.
He could even offer them a cut to help sell them to other classes.
Hmm, could they sell to other schools too?
That seemed tough for now, but down the line, who knew?
Tan Wenbin glanced at the sleeping Li Zhuiyuan and cheered him on internally:
*Brother, keep it up! Win a prize in the Math Olympiad and put our brand on the map!*
…
That night, Tan Wenbin did not return to Zhuangzhuang’s house.
Yet the next day at school, Li Zhuiyuan noticed that Tan Wenbin was constantly away from his seat during breaks, huddling with groups of students in the corners as if holding clandestine meetings.
During class, Tan Wenbin kept passing notes, evidently working out further arrangements.
After school, Tan Wenbin followed him back to Li Sanjiang’s home. Inside the workshop, he laid out his entire plan to Li Zhuiyuan.
“Can we make money from this?”
“Of course! I did market research. Everyone in our class wants to buy one—even those fixtures sitting in the very back row said they want in!”
“Alright, then.”
“You agree, Brother Xiaoyuan?”
“Mm.”
Li Zhuiyuan picked up a barbed whip lying on the table.
This weapon appeared in *Zhengdao Fumo Lu*, where it was called the Demon-Subduing Whip.
Li Zhuiyuan strongly suspected Wei Zhengdao had coined the name entirely on a whim.
However, for one, the materials were exorbitant, many of them impossible to find in regular markets. For another, Wei Zhengdao’s instructions were far too brief.
Perhaps in Wei Zhengdao’s eyes, anyone reading his manual would already belong to an established sect.
With items like the Yellow River shovel, Li Zhuiyuan could reverse-engineer the blueprints from the illustrations. But he couldn't do that with the Demon-Subduing Whip, because the drawing was just a pitch-black whip.
Fortunately, by taking apart the dwarf’s gear, he had deciphered the manufacturing process. It could be made.
It was essentially the black canvas in whip form, greatly increasing its utility. He and Runsheng could each carry one—and once Binbin earned some money, they could craft another for him too.
“Brother Binbin, do you have start-up capital? For photocopying costs, I mean.”
“I do!” Tan Wenbin produced a black plastic bag stuffed with change. “I already collected the first batch of preorder deposits. Didn’t you see?”
“I saw.”
“Wait, hold on, Brother—you didn't think I was shaking people down for protection money, did you?!”
Early the next morning, without waiting for Li Zhuiyuan or even eating breakfast, Tan Wenbin rushed out on his bicycle to the print shop outside the school gates. After haggling vigorously with the owner, he settled on a printing rate.
Once the first batch was bound into booklets, he returned to school just as morning self-study ended, so he wasn't technically truant.
Entering the classroom, he didn't hand them out right away. Instead, he stowed the booklets by his feet, and while the teacher wasn't looking, he opened a booklet and slipped a paper talisman inside.
Li Zhuiyuan recognized the talisman—he had drawn it himself.
Apart from its detection property, it served no practical purpose. Thinking his drawing was simply clumsy at first, he had drawn dozens of them for practice.
“Brother, when you write questions for me from now on, make sure to pace yourself. You don't have to cover everything at once. Produce them topic by topic, or tiered by difficulty—beginner, intermediate, advanced—and mix them up.
“You know how it is: once these get sold, people will definitely start hand-copying them or sneaking off to make photocopies. We have to increase the release frequency of our booklets to maintain a steady revenue stream.”
“Then why did you tuck the talisman inside…”
“This is a peace talisman hand-drawn by you, guaranteeing victory on every test. It’s an exclusive perk only for those who buy our genuine booklets through official channels.”
“Brother Binbin, you’ve thought this through thoroughly.”
“Naturally! I can't let your hard work go to waste.”
The booklets for their own class sold out almost instantly. By the afternoon, Tan Wenbin had sold off the batch allocated for another class as well; he didn't sell them in person, instead letting classmates hawk them on his behalf.
At dismissal that evening, he wheeled his bicycle back to the print shop to restock. Handing the booklets over to his student “distributors,” he followed Li Zhuiyuan home.
The first volume sold remarkably well. Although Tan Wenbin had enough material from Li Zhuiyuan’s past notes to produce four or five more volumes, he held off on releasing the second, intending to let the market digest the first run first.
The teachers soon learned of it too. Because the first volume was math, Tan Wenbin had gifted a copy to every math teacher in the twelfth-grade teaching group.
When Li Zhuiyuan visited the school office to rest, Principal Wu took the initiative to bring up scholarships, repeatedly blaming himself for the administration’s oversight in failing to look after the boy’s family circumstances.
Before long, however, their quiet academic life was disrupted.
During English class, their homeroom teacher, Sun Qing, appeared in the doorway and called Zheng Haiyang out.
Sitting near the door, Li Zhuiyuan could clearly see the conversation between teacher and student.
Sun Qing placed a hand on Zheng Haiyang’s shoulder. A moment later, the boy burst into bitter sobs.
Li Zhuiyuan quietly lowered his head. What was destined to come had arrived at last.
Zheng Haiyang’s father had suffered an accident at sea; not even his remains could be recovered.
The incident had happened early on, right around the time Zheng Haiyang took ill, but communication had suffered a delay.
Even without a body, a funeral had to be held. Zheng Haiyang’s grandparents were crushed by the news, lacking the strength to manage affairs. Zheng Haiyang had matured in an instant, yet he had no experience organizing a funeral. In the end, Tan Wenbin asked Li Sanjiang to step in and take charge.
The funeral fell on the weekend.
Li Zhuiyuan arrived at the mourning grounds and saw two elderly people sitting before the spirit altar, their grief-stricken faces completely numb.
Under Li Sanjiang’s guidance, Zheng Haiyang carried out the ritual steps one by one. Li Sanjiang repeatedly greeted the mourning guests: “The filial son is young; please forgive any oversights.”
“Where is his mother?” Li Zhuiyuan asked.
Tan Wenbin scratched his head. “His mom is fine, but she couldn't make it back in time for the funeral.”
Li Zhuiyuan asked curiously, “It’s a cenotaph ceremony—since when is there an issue of ‘making it in time’?”
“Old Master Li asked the same thing, but his grandparents said there was no need to wait and insisted on holding it right away.”
“Did his mother actually come back or not?”
Tan Wenbin shrugged. “If she came back, why wouldn't she attend her husband’s funeral?”
Tan Yunlong showed up as well. He had the day off, the station had no pressing matters, and Zheng Haiyang had dined at his home before, so he came to see if he could lend a hand.
As it turned out, not only was there nothing for him to help with, but when he went to pay his condolence gift, the recorder informed him: Tan Yunlong had already paid.
Even the pack of cigarettes handed out to condolence-givers had already been claimed.
After the midday feast, Tan Yunlong called Tan Wenbin outside.
“Where did you get that money?”
“I’ve been helping Xiaoyuan sell practice booklets lately. Earned quite a bit.”
“I sent you to school so you could—” Tan Yunlong was about to raise his voice, but seeing his son shrink his neck, his tone softened. “Is Xiaoyuan short on cash?”
“Xiaoyuan likes playing with models and doing craftwork. That stuff costs a lot.”
“I see. Then help him out more, but don't let it interfere with his studies or his rest.”
“I won't.”
“And keep your own grades up.”
“Just keeping them up won't cut it—I need to keep climbing! I’m going to get into Haihe University with Xiaoyuan!”
“Your maternal grandfather wants you to take the police academy exam.”
“Dad…”
“I told him that even without the police academy, you can still become an officer down the line.”
“You really know how to talk Grandpa around, Dad.”
“Heh.”
Tan Wenbin fished the pack of cigarettes from his pocket and slipped it into his father’s jacket.
“Go back to your classmate. Keep him company.”
“Got it.”
Once Tan Wenbin left, Tan Yunlong walked toward Li Zhuiyuan, who was standing in the distance.
“Xiaoyuan, thank you for looking after Binbin. Uncle owes you one.”
“It’s Brother Binbin who’s been taking care of me.”
“Haha. Well, if you ever need anything, just come to me. Uncle will definitely—”
“Uncle Tan, did Zheng Haiyang’s mother really not come back?”
Tan Yunlong swallowed. “Who told you that? His grandparents?”
“You just told me, Uncle.”
Tan Yunlong lit a cigarette and whispered, “She did come back. His grandparents met her.”
“What happened to her?”
“She lost her mind. She’s currently at the Mount Jiuhua psychiatric hospital.
“His grandparents were afraid the boy couldn't handle such a devastating blow all at once, so they decided to keep it from him for now.”
“They can't hide it for long. The college entrance exams are still far off.”
“Respect the elders’ wishes.”
“Uncle Tan, I want to see Zheng Haiyang’s mother. Can you arrange it?”
“Tell Uncle: why?”
“Curiosity.”
“You could have made up a better excuse—like saying you’re close friends with Zheng Haiyang and wanting to do this out of concern for him.”
“Zheng Haiyang is close with Brother Binbin. My relationship with my classmates is rather ordinary.”
Tan Yunlong exhaled a ring of smoke, shaking his head helplessly. “A prodigy’s brain really is wired differently from regular folk.”
“Uncle Tan, is that a yes?”
“I’ll arrange it. When do you want to go?”
“Is this afternoon possible?”
“No, you have to apply in advance for that place.”
“Tomorrow, then.”
“Tomorrow is Monday. You have school.”
“I don't have to go.”
“Fine. Wait at home tomorrow, and I’ll come pick you up.”
“Thank you, Uncle.”
The following morning, Li Zhuiyuan stayed in his room, painting alongside Ah Li.
After scarfing down his congee, Tan Wenbin asked Runsheng in confusion, “Why hasn't Xiaoyuan come down yet? We’re going to be late.”
“Xiaoyuan said he’s tired and won't be going to school today. Ask for a leave of absence on his behalf.”
“Oh, alright.”
Tan Wenbin pedaled off on his bicycle.
Half an hour later, a small pickup truck pulled up on the village road out front.
Li Zhuiyuan and Runsheng stepped outside, opened the truck door, and climbed in.
The cab reeked of seafood; Tan Yunlong must have borrowed the vehicle from someone.
“Sorry about the smell. Bear with it,” Tan Yunlong said, turning the truck around.
Just as he aligned the wheels, a bicycle swerved in front of the hood. The rider flicked his bangs and tilted his chin up, radiating the pure, unadorned cockiness of youth.
“Aha! I knew it—you guys were trying to sneak off for fun behind my back! Didn’t expect me to see through your little scheme, did you?!”
After propping up his bike, Tan Wenbin swaggered toward the pickup, coolly drawing a cigarette. He was just about to pop it into his mouth when he caught sight of Tan Yunlong behind the wheel.
“Dad…”
Who could have guessed that the person driving this truck—with rows of blue plastic barrels lashed to the bed—was his own father?
Tan Wenbin promptly slid the cigarette into Tan Yunlong’s mouth.
Then he produced a matchbox and, with a crisp scrape, struck a flame to light his father’s smoke.
“Dad, you know me—I was just worried Xiaoyuan wouldn't be safe without me around. Since you’re here with him, I have nothing to worry about.”
“Get lost.”
“Right away!”
Tan Wenbin spun around and picked up his bicycle, but instead of pedaling off, he looked back repeatedly with pleading eyes.
Li Zhuiyuan spoke up. “Uncle Tan, this is Brother Binbin’s motivation to study.”
Tan Yunlong rested his hand outside the window, tapped the horn twice, and yelled, “Get in!”
“Awesome! Wait for me—I’ll stash the bike at home!”
Tan Wenbin sprinted back in no time, yanked the door open, and squeezed inside.
Runsheng asked, “Did you ask for Xiaoyuan’s leave?”
Tan Wenbin nodded. “Did it already. Called from Aunt Zhang’s shop.”
Then Tan Wenbin complained, “Dad, really, what kind of truck did you borrow? It stinks to high heaven in here.”
“I’ll wait for you to earn money and buy me a proper car.”
“No problem at all! We’re father and son, aren't we?”
“Heh.”
Tan Yunlong put the truck in gear. An hour later, they arrived at the gates of the psychiatric hospital.
The location was remote yet notorious; local children chanted rhymes about it, and when people cursed someone for losing their mind, they would say, “I’ll come visit you at Mount Jiuhua tomorrow.”
Security at the gatehouse was tight, followed by two more checkpoints inside. Finally, the four were escorted to a row of corridor benches outside the visitation room.
The guiding doctor said, “Zhang Ying'ai has visitors right now. Please wait a moment.”
Tan Wenbin asked curiously, “Could it be Zheng Haiyang’s grandparents bringing him to visit?”
Curious, Tan Wenbin crept up to the door. A pane of glass sat in the middle to allow observation from outside.
“Huh, it’s not Zheng Haiyang and his family. It’s a man and a woman—strangers.”
Li Zhuiyuan walked over as well and looked through the glass.
Because the long visitation table was arranged lengthwise, he could clearly see the profile of the woman sitting on the near side.
Li Zhuiyuan recognized her: Auntie Xu, Li Lan’s secretary.
The last time Li Lan had called home, it was Auntie Xu, a fellow Nantong native, who had chatted with his grandparents.
Why was she here?
Li Lan had mentioned on the phone that she was heading out on a very dangerous assignment. Had Li Lan returned yet?
Sitting opposite Auntie Xu and the man was Zheng Haiyang’s mother, Zhang Ying'ai.
Zhang Ying'ai wore a tight restraint jacket that bound her arms firmly against her torso, an indication that she remained highly aggressive.
Yet at the moment, her conversation appeared completely lucid.
That was, until Auntie Xu laid photograph after photograph before her. Zhang Ying'ai’s expression abruptly warped. She grew frantic, her eyes welling red, her body shuddering.
The man beside Auntie Xu tugged at her arm, clearly urging her to stop. But Auntie Xu seemed to have reached the crux of the matter, poised on the verge of an answer, and pressed on with her questions.
Then, Zhang Ying'ai began to shriek. Her scream was so shrill and piercing that it sounded barely human, carrying clearly through the glass to Li Zhuiyuan and the others outside.
“When it awakens, we will all die—every last one of us, ahahaha!”
Chapter 52