Run Sheng swallowed several tis in succession, hungry.
Xiao Yuan said these were dead fish. Was he implying that if he felt hungry, he could eat the fish?
Run Sheng went down to the river.
He ignored the dismbered body parts and the midget, and didn’t bother with the mother and daughter. His target was only one—Zhou Yong.
He dragged Zhou Yong over, whose head was only partly still connected to his neck, and seed like it would break off and fall away at any mont.
Goods spoiled in the town market wouldn’t sell, so the solution was to eat them yourself.
Run Sheng lowered his head and bit down.
Then, he opened his mouth, pushed Zhou Yong away, climbed up the bank, knelt on the ground, and began to dry heave.
Disgusting.
He wondered why it was like this.
Soon, he realized the reason; following Xiao Yuan’s instructions, he had altered the Feng Shui layout of this place, causing the Evil Qi surrounding Zhou Yong to boil away completely.
Run Sheng got up and went back into the river.
This ti he wasn’t looking for sothing to eat, but instead felt around the midget’s body, finding a thorny rope with a peculiar material, along with several damp talisman papers and so odds and ends.
He then searched through the clothed pieces of the corpse, but found nothing but a wet pack of cigarettes and so money.
After collecting everything, Run Sheng left the place.
The village store was about to close; the door was half shut when Run Sheng, yelling as he ran over, picked up the phone to start dialing.
...
Tan Wenbin had slept the whole day. When he woke up, he found that what had deflated faster than his swollen face was his stomach.
He was very hungry. Aunt Liu cooked noodles for him that evening, serving him a full basin.
When taking the first bite, he was sowhat uneasy, specifically glancing at the "green onions" Run Sheng had prepared for himself in the corner.
After successfully swallowing the first mouthful, he was completely relieved and began to enjoy his al heartily.
He cleaned out the basin of noodles, even feeling sowhat unfulfilled.
He was surprised at himself. When did he start eating so much?
"Do you want more?" Aunt Liu asked. "Should I make you another bowl?"
"No, no need. I’ll burst my stomach if I eat any more." He was already unable to sit still, stood up, belly protruding, and started strolling on the dam, "By the way, where is Xiao Yuan? Isn’t he coming down for dinner?"
"Xiao Yuan is still sleeping."
"Still sleeping?"
"Mhm, afraid he’s going to sleep for a long ti. Whether he’ll wake up tomorrow is uncertain."
"Oh my, he needs to sleep that long? Right, he really is exhausted."
Just then, Aunt Zhang’s voice ca from the path across the rice field.
Aunt Zhang’s voice had always been distinct and penetrating, usually starting with several long cries of "ayy-ayy," which would make the nearby villagers prick up their ears. Only after this would Aunt Zhang call out the specific na of the household receiving a phone call.
The villagers who heard the shout would quickly run up to their own courtyard, responding towards Aunt Zhang’s direction with their own "ayy-ayy," followed by "I’m coming—I’m coming."
In the plains, where no mountains are seen, one could still sing mountain folk songs.
This ti, Aunt Zhang was calling out "Zhuangzhuang."
Liu Yui asked with so confusion: "Did she get the na wrong?"
anwhile, Tan Wenbin hurriedly ran down the dam.
Aunt Liu brought over a dish of appetizers and set it in front of Liu Yui, saying with a smile, "Zhuangzhuang is the new na Uncle Sanjiang gave this boy."
"Oh." Liu Yui nodded. "He’s a good kid."
"Well-raised, upright at heart."
"How is Xiao Yuan now?"
"His eyes will be out of commission for a month; I think he anticipated it long ago. He’s quite accepting of it and even said it just ans he won’t miss the start of the school term."
"This kid always knows his limits, even in his madness."
"Indeed, he’s a relief to mind as a son, certainly a blessing for his parents."
"If you plan to give birth and then leave the child without raising him yourself, for sure it’s a blessing. You can even wait for him to grow up and then pick the ripe peaches."
"Is Alii still with him?"
"Yeah, absolutely. One minute she’s washing a towel, the next she’s spoon-feeding water. Later, make so soup, rember to cool it to the right temperature, and bring it to Alii to feed him.
This damn boy, went crazy and blinded himself, and he even managed to help Alii heal her condition."
Liu Yui had a smile on her lips as she spoke.
Aunt Liu also chid in: "These two kids, they truly are fated. Just looking at Xiao Yuan like this, Alii must be heartbroken."
"Not at all, Alii’s very happy. You didn’t see it; she even showed off her dimples smiling today."
"I don’t understand anymore."
"We are getting older; the young have their ways of ssing around."
"Do I need to go and ask around?"
Hearing this, Liu Yui paused with her chopsticks in hand.
Aunt Liu explained: "I’m just worried the boy hasn’t finished the job properly, might have left sothing unfinished."
Liu Yui picked up the vinegar and said: "If he hasn’t spoken up, we’ll pretend we don’t know, don’t ask."
"Understood."
At this mont, a figure erged on the second-floor balcony, towel in hand, going to wash it in the water tank.
"I’ve never enjoyed such treatnt."
Liu Yui put back the vinegar she had just picked up; the noodles were sour enough already.
...
Tan Wenbin took Run Sheng’s call and learned of the developnts.
Honestly, he was taken aback too. No wonder Xiao Yuan had insisted on finishing the work last night at all costs; surely enough, the fish bit the bait the next day.
The trouble was, there were too many fish—difficult to deal with. He’d have to call his dad.
Still, before calling his own father, Tan Wenbin hesitated. Knowing his dad’s habits, if he saw it was his own son calling, if busy, he’d probably skip it; even if not busy, he’d likely delay returning the call.
So, the ssage he sent was: Uncle Tan, this is Xiao Yuan, please call back.
User Comments
0 comments from readers