"What? My grandpa broke his leg!"
Run Sheng was completely stunned. He was picked up by Mr. Shan by the riverside; although the grandfather and grandson duo often experienced alternating cycles of hunger and satiety, they endured the hunger together. As a result, their bond was sincere and deep.
Tan Wenbin’s eyebrows twitched excitedly. He wished he could do a few ballet turns on one foot right there, thrilled that he finally had the chance to see a corpse!
Li Zhiyuan felt a twinge of guilt. According to the timing, it was just about when he went to Xiting Town to gamble and win money, and at that ti, Mr. Shan had taken half of his earnings.
Sigh, indeed, dirty money really doesn’t spend well.
"What are you dawdling for!" Li Sanjiang shouted at Run Sheng, "Hurry up and get your gear ready to set off!"
"Oh, okay." Run Sheng imdiately went inside to grab his things. This ti, it wasn’t just to see his grandpa; he also had work to do.
"Mr. Li, I want to go too. Take with you."
Tan Wenbin seed eager to latch onto Li Sanjiang, fearful of being left behind again.
"Okay, okay, I’ll take you."
Li Sanjiang agreed right away because the phone call said that the corpse was floating and sinking in a stretch of the river. Several villagers had seen it, but when people actually gathered to search, it could not be found.
Such a corpse posed no danger; it was just laborious to search for. Having an extra pair of helping hands was appropriate.
"Grandmaster."
"What is it, Little Yuanhou?"
"I want to visit Mr. Shan."
"Of course, let’s go together."
Run Sheng, eager to see his grandpa, pedaled his tricycle at high speed.
The three sitting at the back all clutched the edge of the vehicle uncomfortably.
Because the middle area of the vehicle was occupied by three bundles of belongings.
Li Sanjiang’s gear, Li Zhiyuan’s gear, and Run Sheng’s own gear; Run Sheng had loaded them all up.
"I say, Marquis Runsheng, why did you bring so much stuff? We’re going to retrieve a corpse, not building you a family mansion."
Run Sheng didn’t respond; he was cycling too fast, the wind whooshing, and he couldn’t hear the complaints from behind.
Li Sanjiang couldn’t be bothered to speak further, and he took out his own Compass, beginning to calibrate it seriously.
Li Zhiyuan took out a purple Compass from his bag and also started to calibrate; since they were going to find a corpse, they would certainly need it.
As for the one in their Grandmaster’s hand, it was only good for taking everyone to the Antarctic to find penguins.
Upon arriving outside Mr. Shan’s house, from a half-collapsed fence, they could see Mr. Shan sitting by himself in the courtyard. His leg set in a cast, resting on a side bench, he was peeling and eating a sweet potato, his dentures placed beside him.
Li Sanjiang got out of the tricycle, his voice arriving before he did.
"Shan Pao, even if your teeth aren’t in good shape, you can’t just drink gruel!"
The sweet potato in Mr. Shan’s hand dropped to the ground. Knowing that the old fellow learned about his falling into the cesspit, his face flushed red with embarrassnt, he hurriedly grabbed a walking stick trying to get up and rush back into the house to close the door.
But in his haste, he lost his balance and ended up falling to the ground.
Footsteps were already approaching from behind.
Mr. Shan, infuriated, pounded the ground with his fist, biting his lip fiercely!
Li Sanjiang reached out to help him up and let him sit down, then dusted off the dirt from his body.
Mr. Shan said, grumpy, "Who asked you to co!"
Li Sanjiang ignored his verbal rebuke, smiling, "Shan Pao, when sothing happens, we still need to inform each other. After all, we’ve been old buddies for so many years. Honestly speaking, don’t leave without saying anything—I’d feel lonely."
His words conveyed sincere sentint, softening the expression on Mr. Shan’s face a bit:
"Sanjianghou..."
"Even if you want to die, you can’t die in a cesspit. It’s lucky that you were discovered early. If you had soaked for a whole night, I would have to hold my nose to change your burial clothes during the funeral rites, how disgusting!"
Mr. Shan: "..."
Li Sanjiang pulled out two cigarettes, put one in his own mouth, stuck the other in Mr. Shan’s mouth, and then with a glance, called out:
"Zhuangzhuang."
"Coming!"
Tan Wenbin took out a box of matches, struck a fire, and lit the cigarettes for Li Sanjiang and Mr. Shan in turn.
"Shan Pao, co stay at my place. You can co back after your leg is healed."
"No need, it’s just a broken leg; I can feed and drink by myself, it’s not in the way."
"What about having Run Sheng co back to look after you?"
Mr. Shan hesitated for a mont, then shook his head, "No need, Run Sheng is doing well at your place, eating well, sleeping well, and he’s grown stronger. If the kid has a good life, why should I hold him back?"
His words sounded touching, but Li Sanjiang waved his hand and said, "Marquis Runsheng, go inside and see if the rice and oil jars are gone."
Run Sheng ran into the house, quickly ca back out, and exclaid, "Grandpa, did you really sell the rice, flour, and oil I bought you last ti?"
That stuff had to be scraped out of the jars to be sold bit by bit. Just how desperate must one be to do such a thing?
Mr. Shan exhaled smoke rings, hoping to use them to shield his embarrassed face:
"I don’t know what was going on those days, I just kept getting big hands and kept losing. The more I lost, the more hope it seed to offer, it was absolutely bewitched."
"Heh, so you don’t want Run Sheng to co back because if he did, you might not even have enough sweet potatoes to eat, right?"
Mr. Shan turned his face away, saying nothing.
"I tell you, you old Shan Pao, you’re at least a grandfather. Not to ntion leaving sothing for your grandson, but don’t squander everything away. When Run Shenghou is ready to court soone in a few years, which girl would agree with such a rundown house?
Now, look at . How have I been saving for my Xiao Yuanhou? In the countryside here within a radius of ten miles, couldn’t my Xiao Yuanhou pick any girl he wants?"
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