Before the Journey

"You really quit?" "Heh, I never truly picked up the habit anyway." "If you never picked it up, don't start. It's bad for your health. As for me, it got tied up with my work; even when I want to quit, I can't." "Yeah." "If you feel upset or frustrated down the road, find another way to blow off steam." "Right now, I actually find studying pretty relaxing." "Make sure you strike a balance between work and rest." "I know. I've also been making sure to exercise and train my physical skills." "Then how about trading a few moves with your dad sometime?" "Some other day won't do. We'd have to wait for some other year." "So you only dare make a move once your dad is old and decrepit?" "It's not as simple as just waiting until you're old." "Don't tell me you have to wait until I'm dead?" *Dad, you'd have to die and then stiffen upright first.* Naturally, Tan Wenbin didn't dare say such words to his own father. "How could that be? Your son wouldn't ever dare raise a hand against you, Dad." "Xiao Yuan won another award, right?" "Yeah, first prize in the provincial Math Olympiad. Dad, even you heard about it?" "How could I not? Your middle school specially rented a few vehicles, strapped giant loudspeakers to the roofs, and drove all over town broadcasting the news." "Dad, Xiao Yuan is heading to Shancheng for a trip in a few days." "He doesn't need to attend classes anymore, does he?" "It's pretty much the same whether he attends or not. Most days, when he picks up a pen, it's not to do his own homework—it's to draft practice problems for me." "Heh, then you've really struck gold." Tan Yunlong couldn't help recalling that day in town when he received the report about the video parlor. The image of the boy in the distance, catching his eye the moment he stepped out of the police cruiser, surfaced in his mind. And after that, the scene of the boy walking into the police station on his own initiative and pushing open his office door. Back then, he had simply found the kid interesting. Thinking about it now, if he had been a little more rigid and severe, his own son wouldn't have had this kind of good fortune today. "I want to go with Xiao Yuan to Shancheng too." "Shancheng is a fun place. The hotpot there is delicious, nothing like the hotpot your mom makes at home using those 'Shancheng Hotpot' soup bases. You can try the real thing once you're there." People in Nantong also ate hotpot in the winter. The local shops were flooded with all sorts of brands labeled "Shancheng Hotpot" base, and many locals took it for granted that this was the renowned Shancheng hotpot, whereas a real native of Shancheng would look at it with nothing but utter bewilderment. "Wait, Dad, the way you're talking... does that mean you agree to let me go?" "Didn't you just say you wanted to go?" "Aren't you worried it'll affect my studies?" "Son, the truth is, as long as you don't break the law or commit crimes, life actually has a very high tolerance for error. "Some things that seem monumental right now won't amount to much of anything when you look back years later." "Dad, you're really different today. If this were in the past, you'd already be chewing me out for being irresponsible." "You really were irresponsible back then. All I can say is, sensible kids generally don't do poorly in school, but being sensible isn't just about getting good grades. "Both your mom and I have stable work units, and we won't need to rely on you to support us in our old age anyway. You don't have any burdens weighing you down, so go ahead and do what you want to do." "I won't let it hurt my studies. I'll bring my books and homework along. To be honest, sitting in the classroom right now doesn't feel nearly as productive as studying alongside Xiao Yuan." "Just maintain your own sense of proportion." "I'll get into Haihe University to join Xiao Yuan. Dad, did you know? People from that university are coming to our school tomorrow. Xiao Yuan is going to be admitted early." Silence lingered on the balcony for a moment. "Dad, why'd you go quiet?" "I was imagining how I'd feel if my son were the one getting early admission." "And how would that feel?" "I'd be so happy I'd forget how to speak." "Hahahahaha!" Tan Wenbin nudged his father with an elbow. "Where's the fun in that? It's much more suspenseful to wait for the acceptance letter after the gaokao!" "So your mother and I are supposed to thank you for that?" "Dad, let me tell you something. I think our class monitor has a thing for me." "I suggest her mother take her to the municipal hospital to get her eyes checked." "Dad, what kind of father says that about his own son? Your son isn't half bad, you know!" "Zhou Yunyun, isn't it?" "Whoa, you even know her name?" "Thanks to you, I've had to visit your homeroom teacher's office plenty of times. She often comes by to drop off homework and test papers." "So what do you think of her?" "Is this the sort of thing you discuss with your old man? If you want to talk about it, go talk to your mother." "No way. My mom would definitely scold me for not keeping my mind on my studies. She wouldn't want to hear a word of it." Tan Yunlong's eyes shifted toward the area behind the balcony door. After father and son had stepped onto the balcony, the noises in the kitchen had stopped, replaced shortly after by faint, rustling sounds of someone creeping over with a hunched back. As a veteran police officer, he naturally knew his wife was standing right behind the balcony door, ears perked up to catch every syllable. *Son, your mother isn't unwilling to hear about this at all—she loves hearing about it more than anything.* "So what do you think of her then?" "She's pretty great. Quite pretty, too. I used to think she was a bit feisty, but when a feisty girl suddenly acts gentle, it's really hard to resist, hehe." As Tan Wenbin spoke, he couldn't help breaking into a grin. "Are you two already dating?" Tan Wenbin shook his head, his smile slowly fading. "I'm not in that frame of mind yet. I still feel like a kid. I'm still in school, don't have a job, and don't know where I'll end up or what I'll be doing. Plus, this is senior year, such a critical time. If I really started dating her, wouldn't that just be holding her back? "Dad, do you think I'm being a bit of a coward?" "It's very normal. It shows my son has matured and understands what responsibility means." Tan Yunlong patted his son's arm. "Only once you have a clear future of your own can you offer a future to a girl." "Dad, I'm going to go work on practice problems." "Go on, then." Tan Wenbin left the balcony and headed back to his room. Tan Yunlong quietly lit another cigarette. Children yearn to grow up quickly, while parents look forward to the day their kids become adults. Yet when that day truly arrived, both sides felt a sudden, disorienting loss of footing. His wife stood up from behind the sofa, walked over, and glared at him with exasperation. "What is it?" Tan Yunlong felt somewhat self-conscious under her stare. "'Only once you have a clear future of your own can you offer a future to a girl.' My memory's gotten a bit hazy. Care to jog it for me? Who was it that climbed over my family's courtyard wall to see me back when we were in school and nearly had his legs broken by my father?" Tan Yunlong took a deep pull on his cigarette, the ember glowing brightly. After blowing a smoke ring into the distance, he chuckled. "Why don't you think about who it was that tipped me off you were coming home for the night when you were supposed to be boarding at school?" *** The banner celebrating the provincial Math Olympiad victory had already been hung up, though the earlier municipal competition banner remained alongside it. At the same time, as if for the sake of symmetry, the provincial banner had undergone the exact same alteration as before: "First Prize" had been blotted out and replaced with "First Place." The blotched correction wasn't concealed in the slightest; on the contrary, it seemed designed to make sure nobody could miss it. What brought Principal Wu even greater satisfaction was that Li Zhuiyuan wasn't the only one who won an award—two other students had taken third prize this time. Such was the pulling power of a lead horse. As soon as Li Zhuiyuan arrived at the classroom, Sun Qing escorted him straight to the principal's office. Several school administrators were smoking outside the office. When they saw Xiao Yuan approach, they promptly stubbed out their cigarettes and filed inside. The admissions representative from Haihe University had not arrived yet, but that didn't stop them from planning out Xiao Yuan's terms in advance. Talking over one another, everyone brought out their sharpest bargaining skills, drafting up a "demands list" for Li Zhuiyuan. As for Li Zhuiyuan, the party concerned, he simply sat on the sofa as though none of this had anything to do with him. Wu Xinhan walked over holding a teacup and set the tea before Li Zhuiyuan. Li Zhuiyuan looked up at Wu Xinhan and said, "Thank you for all your hard work, Principal Grandpas." "Ah, forget about it." Wu Xinhan waved a dismissive hand, gesturing toward the group still busily listing conditions over there. "What hard work? They're having the time of their lives." Even if one had never eaten pork, one had certainly seen pigs run. These men were all seasoned veterans of the education circuit, naturally familiar with how the rules and leverage operated. For ordinary students, the gaokao meant filling out preference forms, taking the exam, and waiting for the results, weeping tears of joy upon receiving an acceptance letter. Yet for a select tier of students, entering university was a matter of holding out for the highest bidder, depending on how much sincerity the school demonstrated. Given the academic standards of their province, anyone capable of taking first place in the provincial Math Olympiad was practically guaranteed a podium finish at the national competition at the end of the year. Furthermore, the fervor over the Math Olympiad was currently cresting alongside a craze for child prodigies. In short, with so many factors stacking up, they would feel they had cheated themselves if they didn't fleece the other side thoroughly. Wu Xinhan asked with a beam, "Xiao Yuan, even though you've already made your choice, this old man still has to ask: are you truly not considering any other universities?" "No, I'm not." Wu Xinhan nodded, then pointed toward the debating crowd and shouted, "Fleece them! Milk them for all they're worth!" Just then, Teacher Yan entered the office, accompanied by a young man wearing glasses. Li Zhuiyuan took note of this young man mainly because, beneath the lenses of his glasses, a tiny flame of excitement seemed to be dancing in his eyes. Teacher Yan walked over and made the introduction with a smile: "Xiao Yuan, someone here wants to talk and interview you about the Math Olympiad. Have a chat with him. Although he works at Jinling Normal College, he's also a native of Nantong." "All right." Li Zhuiyuan stood up and looked at the man. Beneath a youthful, slightly shy exterior, a deeper layer of excitement grew increasingly distinct as the distance between them closed. "Hello, Teacher. My name is Li Zhuiyuan. How should I address you?" "Ge Jun." The visitor sat down, produced test papers and exam problems, and began discussing them with Li Zhuiyuan. Very quickly, Li Zhuiyuan grasped the man's perspective: he stood strictly from the angle of an exam creator. Whether he had reached that status yet or not, he would most likely become one of those figures Li Zhuiyuan often "glimpsed" while solving test papers—the kind lurking behind the numerical symbols with a sinister, mocking grin. Within human nature lay a streak of cruel malice; otherwise, the gladiatorial arenas of ancient Rome and underground fight clubs would never have flourished. For an exam creator, watching examinees wail, struggle, and curse inside the cage one had designed provided a thrill akin to that of an abuser. Coincidentally, while other students tackled competition problems strictly from the perspective of a "victim," Li Zhuiyuan, having designed practice problems for Tan Wenbin, could now empathize far more with the "abuser." In short, during the time before Haihe University's representative arrived, the two had a thoroughly engaging and delightful conversation. Li Zhuiyuan shared an approach akin to the revenge scheme he had once proposed to the black cat. This provided the teacher with immense inspiration, leading him to view the boy as a kindred spirit. When their exchange concluded and he learned that representatives from Haihe University would arrive shortly, he was even more delighted. Hearing that Li Zhuiyuan would attend university in Jinling, he remarked that he would definitely have to come visit often for further discussions. The fire that had already been smoldering was stoked with several more logs by the boy. Li Zhuiyuan suspected that, on some future day, this blaze might swell to monstrous proportions, becoming a terrifying inferno that would scorch several generations of students. The guardhouse sent word: the vehicle from Haihe University had pulled up to the school gates. Leaving behind a business card and giving Li Zhuiyuan a firm handshake, Ge Jun finally departed, clearly wishing he could stay longer. From the moment he closed the principal's office door behind him, a brand-new gate of hell had begun to swing slowly open in the depths of his mind. Wu Xinhan raised a hand. "Everyone, take your positions." The school administrators scattered to find their seats. Some crossed their legs, some sipped their tea, others cleared their throats. Meanwhile, business cards, admissions brochures, and posters with contact information for other universities had been deliberately arranged in prominent view. The door opened once more. The man leading the way inside was Luo Tingrui. The moment his presence filled the room, his aura completely subdued the entire office. The administrators who had just been rubbing their hands together in anticipation found all their momentum utterly neutralized. Even Principal Wu could only lift his teacup for a tactical sip. At the end of the day, the education sphere belonged to the ivory tower. Although Luo Tingrui's official employment remained tied to the university, he had long ceased to operate solely within those bounds. A man capable of commanding, deploying, and planning an engineering project involving ten thousand laborers would have held the rank of a commanding general in ancient times. Luo Tingrui handed out his business cards, introduced himself, and finally engaged in a warm conversation with Li Zhuiyuan. He remembered this child, but back then, he could never have guessed that the boy possessed such staggering academic talent. The clamor of a wet market failed to materialize; everyone remained exceptionally refined and courteous. Even so, the school administrators presented the list of conditions they had hashed out. Luo Tingrui glanced over it and set it down, saying directly: "Very well. On behalf of our university, I agree." In an instant, the hearts of all the administrators, led by Principal Wu, sank in unison: *Damn it, we asked for too little!* Immediately, everyone turned their eyes toward Li Zhuiyuan on the sofa, their faces clouding with guilt and apology, feeling as though they had let the child down. Wu Xinhan swallowed a mouthful of tea leaves in grief, the bitterness in his heart far outstripping the taste in his mouth: *That's what comes of lacking experience!* Though the formal paperwork had yet to be processed, Luo Tingrui extended his hand toward Li Zhuiyuan on his own initiative. "Student Li Zhuiyuan, welcome to Haihe University." Li Zhuiyuan stood up and shook his hand. With that, the matter was settled. From this moment onward, Li Zhuiyuan and Xue Liangliang were already alumni. "Liangliang told me you want to visit Shancheng as well?" "Yes." "Then come along with us. Consider it an early accumulation of future work experience. Starting with practical work often makes the theory easier to grasp." "Thank you, Dean." "Call me Teacher." "All right, Teacher Luo." Once those words were spoken, the administrators in the office felt much better. They were all shrewd men; from Luo Tingrui's business card and self-introduction, they could naturally discern his stature within the university—no, within the entire industry. For a freshman or sophomore to enter a laboratory and participate in research under a professor was already a rare achievement, yet Xiao Yuan hadn't even enrolled, and he was already being invited on a field project by his mentor. Given the mainland's vast population and the state's drive to promote education, there would never be a shortage of talent, or even geniuses. But no matter how formidable a genius was, without a platform to support them, their future development often lagged behind second-tier talents. Once Luo Tingrui departed, Li Zhuiyuan returned to his classroom. It was during the break between classes. Tan Wenbin was explaining a problem to Zhou Yunyun, and the female class monitor was sitting at his desk. Li Zhuiyuan halted his steps instead of walking inside, leaning against the corridor railing to look at the view below. Down in the flower beds, workers were planting ginkgo trees. "Do you like them?" the voice of his homeroom teacher, Sun Qing, came from behind. "Yes, I do." Someone inside called out that the teacher had arrived. Tan Wenbin hesitated. Zhou Yunyun urged him, "You haven't finished explaining it yet. Keep going." In matters like this, girls were far bolder than boys. Tan Wenbin smiled, nodded, and continued his explanation; he had heard Xiao Yuan break down this problem before, after all. Sun Qing stood side by side with Li Zhuiyuan. "Principal Wu heard from many people at the testing sites that you like to go look at ginkgo trees after turning in your papers, so he had them planted." "Though I might rarely see them in the future." The boy had never intended to attend school daily, and today he had accepted Luo Tingrui's invitation to do field work early. Sun Qing smiled. "They can be for us to look at too, can't they?" Li Zhuiyuan looked toward Sun Qing. Sun Qing continued, "A lot of the time, what we strive for and take joy in isn't tangible material wealth, but adding a fond memory to our lives that's worth looking back on." Truly worthy of a Chinese literature teacher. Sun Qing reached out and stroked Li Zhuiyuan's head. Walking into the classroom, she saw Zhou Yunyun and Tan Wenbin seated together in the front row, heads close as they discussed the problem. Zhou Yunyun looked up and offered her homeroom teacher a smile. Tan Wenbin looked at Sun Qing as well and gave a little salute. Sun Qing said nothing. She walked to the podium and began organizing the exam papers for the next lesson. As she tidied them, the corners of the young teacher's lips curved upward. She looked up again, surveying the whole classroom. Her arrival had quieted the room, but those doing homework kept doing homework, those eating snacks kept eating snacks, and plenty of students continued chatting with smiles while watching the teacher's eyes out of the corners of their own. Sun Qing couldn't help a quiet sigh of emotion. Perhaps these children didn't know it yet, but the sunlight pouring through the windows onto the blackboard and walls would one day become a treasured memory deep in their hearts. A memory with a color just like... Sun Qing unfolded a test paper. Tucked inside was a yellowing ginkgo leaf she had picked up when passing by the flower beds earlier. *** "So, Brother Liangliang, you've been in Nantong this whole time?" "Yeah." "By the river?" "I rented a room in a small guesthouse near the river. I take walks along the bank at night and head back to sleep during the day." Tan Wenbin turned his head curiously, joining the conversation between Li Zhuiyuan and Xue Liangliang. "Looks like college life really is just like our teachers say—once you get into university, you're free and easy." Xue Liangliang said, "Actually, aside from a lucky few who do exceptionally well and a few who just coast along entirely, the vast majority in the middle have plenty to deal with. It's not easy at all." Li Zhuiyuan asked, "Brother Liangliang, after staying by the river for so many days, did you fail to see her the whole time?" Xue Liangliang continued addressing Tan Wenbin: "That's why you need to plan early. It's best to settle on your career path in advance." Li Zhuiyuan: "Or do you see her every day?" Xue Liangliang: "I hear you're applying to Haihe University too. Keep it up. Once you're admitted, you can help me manage my shops and studio on campus." Li Zhuiyuan: "Looks like you really want to end up in the local chronicles, Brother Liangliang." "That's enough, Xiao Yuan! I'm doing this for the stability of your hometown, you know. It hasn't been easy for me!" Li Zhuiyuan didn't press the matter further, shifting his attention to the television, which was broadcasting the Nantong local news. Now it was Xue Liangliang who grew restless. He reached over, grabbed Li Zhuiyuan's shoulder, and gave it a gentle shake. "Can't you at least give me an 'uh-huh'?" In truth, if Brother Liangliang hadn't reached a peaceful settlement that night, Uncle Qin might have torn through the entirety of Baijia Town. Still, this arrangement wasn't bad. With his status as a son-in-law of the Bai family, Brother Liangliang would be able to speak to that level of power wherever he worked on water conservancy across the country. If he ever ran into something insurmountable, the worst that could happen was paying a visit as their son-in-law. Brother Binbin was no longer enough to handle the truly heavy situations, but fortunately, he still had Brother Liangliang to lean on. Li Zhuiyuan genuinely felt that while Great-Grandpa might lack professional competence when it came to retrieving corpses, the directions he provided were always top-notch. "Huh?" Runsheng let out a puzzled sound, glancing at the television and then back at Xue Liangliang. The screen was showing footage of a rescue. A woman had attempted to jump into the river to take her own life, only to be saved by a brave young man. After the rescue, when reporters went up to ask for his name and work unit, the young man had declined to leave a name, walking away with an aloof air that left the camera only the view of his back. Xue Liangliang frowned. "Has Nantong Television really run out of news to film? She had no intention of killing herself in the first place." Tan Wenbin asked curiously, "How so?" "She was just standing at the edge of the river, with the water barely covering her ankles. I went over and asked her. She didn't dare die, saying she wouldn't be foolish enough to throw her life away over that man." "And then?" "Then I stepped into the water." "Huh?" "She got spooked by me, slipped, and was almost swept away by the current. I had to turn back around and haul her back up onto the bank." "Then why did she say you rescued her..." "She was probably too embarrassed to admit the truth." Runsheng remarked, "Aren't you worried your other half will misunderstand?" Xue Liangliang: "..." Li Zhuiyuan hadn't brought up Xue Liangliang's business; Xue Liangliang had simply opened up the topic on his own after arriving. Next, Tan Wenbin voiced his request: he wanted to come along to Shancheng as well. Then, fearing Li Zhuiyuan might misunderstand, he pointed to the suitcase he had brought from home, explaining that he would carry his books and problem sets with him and wouldn't neglect his studies. Xue Liangliang agreed immediately. Bringing one was no different from bringing two. And so, both Runsheng and Tan Wenbin would travel to Shancheng together. "Xiao Yuan, come here a moment." "Coming, Grandma Liu." Li Zhuiyuan walked over to Liu Yumei. Liu Yumei was sipping tea while Ah Li took a bath inside the room. "You're heading to Shancheng, aren't you? When do you leave?" "In a couple of days." "How long will you be gone?" "Not long. I'll be back soon." "No rush. Enjoy yourself, don't hurry." Liu Yumei produced a slip of paper with a phone number written on it. "Once you reach Shancheng, call this number." "Grandma, this is..." "What a coincidence. An old friend passed away, so I'm taking Ah Li to Shancheng for a visit as well. Quite a few old friends have left us over the years." "Are you coming with us?" "That won't do." Liu Yumei shook her head. "You're taking the train, right?" "Yes, that's right." "These old bones of mine can't take that kind of torment. Besides, it wouldn't be good for Ah Li to be in crowded places. Go on ahead, and once you get there, call Grandma and Ah Li." "All right, Grandma." After Li Zhuiyuan stepped out, Liu Yumei walked into the inner room. Ah Li was sitting inside the wooden bathing tub. A warm, tender smile appeared on Liu Yumei's face. "Come, let Grandma find which of those old fogies in Shancheng passed away recently." Liu Yumei opened a drawer and retrieved a thick stack of envelopes, all containing obituaries. Gathering the ones sent from Shancheng, she picked out one from someone who had reported to King Yanluo a little over a month ago. Flicking the envelope with her finger, Liu Yumei smiled. "All right, I'll do you the honor." Even though the person had been dead for a month, paying condolences was still appropriate. Customs, after all, adapted to the livelihoods and lifestyles of the people practicing them. For veterans of the rivers and lakes, a single boat voyage could easily take over a month or even half a year. When someone died, rushing over to catch their final breath was impossible; making it in time for the thirty-fifth day was difficult enough. By the old rules, condolence candles were kept lit for a full year after a death, in case visitors from distant families arrived to pay their respects. In the past, Liu Yumei would have tossed such obituaries aside without a second thought. Even if she hadn't stayed here to seek treatment for Ah Li, she wouldn't have bothered to attend. Accepting the notice was already honoring the other party; sending a telegram or passing along a message was considered a grace, simply because of her generation and standing. Ah Li finished her bath. "Come, Grandma will dress our Ah Li up pretty." Once groomed, the door opened and Ah Li stepped outside. Li Zhuiyuan stood up, excused himself from his companions, and went upstairs with Ah Li to draw. Auntie Liu entered the east room carrying a box. When she opened it, sets of new clothes for Ah Li lay inside. In lean years, craftsmen never starved. No matter how the young people outside chased after perms, Western styles, or long bangs that covered their eyes, to the older generation it was nothing more than childish antics. Tailor shops with heritage continued to prosper, never lacking business; after all, ordinary folk couldn't afford their craft anyway. "It was still more convenient back in the day. The clothes for every season across the entire household were made by our own family shops. Seasoned needleworkers were truly a joy—a few words of guidance and they understood exactly what was needed. Not like now, where I have to draft the patterns and designs myself every single time." Auntie Liu smiled. "Isn't that part of your enjoyment, though?" "Heh." "Besides, if you wanted to maintain a household like that again, it's not as though you couldn't afford it." Liu Yumei turned her gaze toward the rows of memorial tablets on the offering table, letting out a sigh. "It isn't a matter of whether we can afford it. It's that there aren't that many people left to wear the clothes." "My clumsy tongue spoke out of turn." "It's fine. Sort through the clothes and check the stitching to see if anything needs altering." "Then this one... doesn't seem to be for Ah Li?" Auntie Liu pulled out a garment and shook it out. It was embroidered with a flying-fish pattern, its palette subdued yet bearing a stately dignity. "That's for Xiao Yuan." "What a blessed boy, to have you custom-design clothes for him. I can tell you put a lot of thought into altering it." "He's an honorary disciple of the Liu family that I reserved in advance, after all. Providing a set of clothes is nothing out of the ordinary." "Listen to you, always saying the opposite of what's in your heart." "I really don't have other motives. Even if we took in a matrilocal husband, we couldn't take in a dragon who crosses the river. Although our family has declined, a wrecked ship still has three jin of nails. We can't let our family name be cast aside for nothing." "Forgive my clumsy tongue again, don't take offense, but you don't get the final say in this matter. It depends on Ah Li. Aren't those two children childhood sweethearts?" "If being childhood sweethearts meant ending up together, I wouldn't have married Ah Li's grandfather." Saying this, Liu Yumei suddenly remembered her own childhood sweetheart. That young man had never forgotten her, even bringing lavish gifts to her birthday banquet as the eldest daughter of the Liu family, clearly intending to propose. That very night, Ah Li's grandfather had thrown a black sack over his head, tied him up, and tossed him into the cesspool of a brothel. She only learned about it after marriage, when the old bastard let it slip while drunk. The old fellow had declared with domineering swagger: *Since that bastard wanted to eat shit, I let him have his fill.* And how had she reacted back then? Far from being angry over what had happened to her childhood sweetheart, she had stood beside him, giggling uncontrollably. Liu Yumei waved a hand. "Take the clothes to that boy and have him try them on." "Right away." Auntie Liu noticed the sudden dip in Liu Yumei's mood, took the clothes, and quietly closed the door behind her. Liu Yumei stepped slowly over to the altar and picked up the newest tablet belonging to her husband. "You old bastard... you shouldn't have treated me so well back then. You've trapped this old woman in memories for the rest of her life, unable to find her way out." *** Tomorrow was the day of departure. After lunch, Li Sanjiang called Li Zhuiyuan into his room. He took a blue cloth bundle from a drawer, opened it, and revealed a stack of brand-new banknotes. "As the old saying goes: be frugal at home, but rich on the road. When you travel far, you must carry enough money." "Great-Grandpa, Brother Liangliang said he's covering everything. He has plenty of money." "How can that be the same? When you spend someone else's money, you have to watch their moods." "I have money of my own, too." The *Zhuiyuan Secret Papers* had been selling very well at school, and after his provincial competition results came out, other schools in the city had begun placing bulk orders. "Your money is your money. That's still different." "Thank you, Great-Grandpa." Li Zhuiyuan accepted the money. "Stay safe out there and be careful with everything. The world may be peaceful now, but the roads aren't always so." "Yes. Brother Runsheng and Brother Binbin are coming with me, so there's nothing to fear." "Runsheng is reliable enough. As for Zhuangzhuang, forget it—unless he sneaks his dad's service weapon out." "Great-Grandpa..." "Haha, just a joke. How could anyone do that? Your grandparents are coming over for dinner later." "Yes, I know." After leaving his great-grandfather's room, Li Zhuiyuan handed the money over to Tan Wenbin, along with his share of the earnings from the practice problem sets. He wasn't used to carrying cash himself and found it much better to have someone manage it for him. Tan Wenbin sighed repeatedly. "Brother Xiao Yuan, aren't you afraid I'll run off with all this money?" Up on the second-floor terrace, Cuicui was playing gomoku with Ah Li. By now, Ah Li had become receptive to a few familiar people; at the very least, she could maintain self-restraint when they were close. Cuicui waved and called out, "Brother Yuanhou, Sister Ah Li is too good at chess! I can't beat her at all!" "Of course she is. Even I can't beat Ah Li." Li Zhuiyuan went into his room, and Ah Li rose, following him inside. Knowing he would be away from home for a while, Li Zhuiyuan rolled up the paintings that had been hanging on the wall. As he worked, Ah Li watched his every move from the side. Once he had gathered all the scrolls, he said: "Come on, let's put them in your collection chest." The girl's eyes lit up instantly. In the east room, Ah Li had already begun filling her third collection chest; the first was packed entirely with cans of Jianlibao. Just as they finished setting everything inside, Li Sanjiang's voice drifted in from outside: "Little Yuanhou, come take pictures!" "Coming!" Stepping out of the east room, he saw that the photographer from the town photo studio had been invited over by Great-Grandpa. Li Weihan and Cui Guiying had changed into respectable new clothes, having clearly been informed about the photos well in advance. At the moment, the photographer was taking individual portraits of them. His instructions were meticulous, yet the elders showed not the slightest hint of impatience, adjusting their postures repeatedly as directed. The elderly placed immense value on such photographs, as one might very well serve as their funeral portrait. Moreover, pictures taken on one's deathbed often looked grim; everyone hoped to capture their own vitality while still hale and hearty. Auntie Liu reminded him, "Xiao Yuan, go change into the clothes Grandma Liu gave you, and we'll take one together." "All right." Li Zhuiyuan didn't refuse. He ran back to his room and put on the outfit. The style was very similar to what Ah Li often wore, and the fabric was delicate and comfortable. The only drawback was that it was rather troublesome to put on, with numerous fastenings that needed securing. By the time he came downstairs, he found everyone waiting for him. Li Zhuiyuan was the centerpiece of the shoot. First, he took a photo with Li Sanjiang, then one with Li Weihan and Cui Guiying, and finally Li Sanjiang joined in so the three elders and the boy could share a frame. The next phase belonged to the young people. Li Zhuiyuan and Ah Li stood close together, while Runsheng, Tan Wenbin, and Xue Liangliang kept a slight distance from Ah Li as they joined the frame. Cuicui watched the excitement happily from the side. Li Zhuiyuan waved to her. "Cuicui, come join us!" Cuicui beamed even brighter. Though shy, she offered no resistance and scurried over immediately. And so, a group photo belonging to the young people was produced. Liu Yumei, having changed into a fresh outfit, walked out and said, "Come, take one of us as well." She sat in her usual tea-drinking chair, Auntie Liu stood behind her, and Ah Li stood to her front-left. The photographer said to Li Zhuiyuan, "There's still an empty spot there, go on over!" To his eyes, the style of clothing worn by Liu Yumei and the girl matched the boy's perfectly. Li Zhuiyuan hesitated. After all, this was their family portrait; joining in uninvited felt improper. Liu Yumei nodded to him, motioning for him to come over. Only then did Li Zhuiyuan approach. He and Ah Li stood to the left and right in front of Liu Yumei, who rested a hand on each of their shoulders. Her posture was stately, her demeanor graceful, and within her eyes lay a faint, completely unforced arrogance. The photographer's hands were trembling. After pressing the shutter, he let out a long breath and wiped cold sweat from his forehead, marveling at how strange it was—he hadn't felt this nervous even when photographing the town leaders. Once the photo was done, Li Zhuiyuan prepared to take Ah Li's hand and step aside. Yet although Ah Li held his hand, she didn't budge. Liu Yumei saw through her granddaughter's intention and smiled. "Come, let the two of you take one together." She and Auntie Liu stepped out of the frame. The photographer directed: "Come, closer, a little closer. Lean your heads closer together. Yes, yes, just like that, perfect! What a handsome pair of kids. In all my years, aside from New Year paintings, this is the first time I've seen a real golden boy and jade maiden, hehe." Li Zhuiyuan and Ah Li stood pressed against each other. "Get ready, here it comes: three, two, one!" *Click!* The instant the shutter snapped, the girl tilted her head, leaning it gently against the boy's shoulder.