Last night, there was a heavy snowfall, and in the morning the entire teorological Bureau family compound was blanketed in white.
An elderly colleague was enthusiastically taking photos of the snowy scene downstairs, while children were having fun building snown, having snowball fights, and setting off firecrackers in the snow.
Han Yu was clearing the snow off the balcony, and couldn't help but think of his father-in-law.
When his father-in-law was ho, he always reminded them about potential climate changes, whether they should wear more layers or bring an umbrella when going out. Without his father-in-law since he moved to Xichuan, neither he nor his wife rembered to pay attention to climate changes, and the snowfall felt quite unexpected.
"San'er, shall we go buy so firecrackers too?"
"We won't be eating at ho tonight, so let's not buy them."
"Should we bring sothing when we go to Director Zhu's house?"
"No need, they don't lack anything, and bringing stuff might just clutter their place. Besides, it's not like we're outsiders."
Perhaps due to the influence of those close by, Han Xiangning also developed the habit of saving where possible and chuckled, "Alright, let's not bring anything."
Before taking Han Han to Xichuan, her father-in-law and mother-in-law bought spring couplets, reminding them that while firecrackers might not be necessary for the New Year, spring couplets certainly were. Han Yu tidied up the balcony and started putting up the couplets.
Han Xiangning helped out, holding the paste and asked, "Shall we go to the Spring Breeze Inn to see Xu Chenhui later?"
Thinking about Xu Chenhui, the unreliable old classmate, always gave Han Yu a headache. While putting up the couplets, he said with a bitter smile, "Tang Wentai called yesterday afternoon saying he invited Master Wu to talk to Xu Chenhui, but not only did Xu not listen, he tried persuading Master Wu to practice that so-called Great thod. Master Wu, deeming him hopeless, got up and left in anger, unwilling to deal with him further."
"What did Tang Wentai say?"
"Tang Wentai doesn't want to intervene anymore either. He took his wife and children back to his hotown for the New Year, and it's not an excuse; he genuinely went ho for the holidays."
"What about Fan Yihua?"
"If Tang Wentai isn't dealing with it, Fan Yihua definitely won't."
Curious, Han Xiangning asked, "Has Xu Chenhui gone out to 'teach' these past few days?"
Han Yu finished putting up the couplets and jumped down from the chair, replying, "With this cold weather and everyone busy with New Year preparations, you hardly see anyone in the city parks. Even if he wants to teach, nobody is there to learn. Tang Wentai said he's been staying at the inn practicing, hardly going out."
"Seems like he's truly beyond saving!"
"Yeah, becoming neither fully human nor fully ghost, I really don't know what to say about him."
"You don't plan to intervene anymore?"
"He's chosen his own path; can he bla anyone for ending up like this? Not that I have the ability to help even if I wanted to. Besides, we weren't that close in school; if anything, he owes and hasn't repaid the money he borrowed!"
A loan from more than a decade ago, just over seven bucks, was quite a sum for a student back then.
The student rembered it keenly. Han Xiangning could understand. She was planning on advising him not to dwell on it, but Han Yu walked through the living room into the kitchen, muttered while washing his hands, "I'll go to the inn later, have a talk with him, and make it clear the city doesn't welco Qi Gong Masters. If he persists in his delusion, don't bla for acting on behalf of the school and cleaning house!"
"You plan to give him an ultimatum?"
"I will make things clear; even if we have to send him to a shelter, at least we'll be upfront about it. We've done our due diligence, and what happens next is up to him."
Today is New Year's Eve; this matter needs resolution. Otherwise, it will be a burden on our minds and ruin the festivities.
Han Xiangning felt her schoolmate's actions weren't inappropriate, hurriedly put on the down jacket bought at their wedding, planning to go along with him.
Tomorrow they will visit Si Gang for New Year's greetings.
Si Gang is far from the city center, and on New Year's Day public transportation is limited. Rarely, Han Yu used a governnt-provided car, driving with the Special Task Force's Santana allocated by Customs, taking the schoolmate quickly to the inn.
As the two approached the door, preparing to knock, they noticed the door was ajar.
Pushing the door open, they were startled.
Xu Chenhui, wearing an old coat given by Tang Wentai, was sitting cross-legged on the bed practicing.
He sat like a monk ditating, with peculiar hand gestures sowhat resembling an orchid fingers pose, yet not quite. In any case, he looked solemn and very focused on practicing.
Han Yu sighed and asked, "Chenhui, did you have breakfast?"
"Salted Fish, Xiang Ning, you've co." Xu Chenhui slowly opened his eyes, "Finishing practice," put on slippers and got off the bed, his movents fluid, looking very strange even bizarre.
"Did you eat anything?"
"I'm not hungry, take a seat."
"No, let's just say a few things and go."
Han Yu didn't want to beat around the bush, directly saying, "Chenhui, Binjiang is different from other places. Two years ago, there were incidents involving Qi Gong practitioners, so the City Committee and Municipal Governnt are relatively strict about this. Practices like Tai Chi or radio gymnastics for health purposes are fine, but people practicing like yours are not welcod."
Xu Chenhui paused, adjusting his glasses, and asked, "You an practicing is illegal?"
"Qi Gong itself isn't illegal, but according to the National Council's opinion on reform of shelter and relocation work, people like you without legal docuntation, fixed residences, or stable inco must obtain a temporary residence permit within three days or will be considered illegally residing and sent back to their registered address."
"Salted Fish, you regard as a vagabond and want to send to a shelter?"
"I regard you as a classmate, that's why I'm telling you these things. What Master Wu and Wen Tao needed to say, they've already told you. As long as you can pull yourself together, we are willing to help you start afresh."
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