Braut mit Geisteraugen 2

Kapitel 35

The thin director seemed to understand: "Oh--and travel too..."

Xu Haibing reached out and covered his mouth, silencing the last two words he was about to say, and stated bluntly, "We're here with a letter of introduction to Donghu Prison to find out where Teacher Zhang's father is. What are you thinking?!"

The thin director pried his hands off: "If you suffocate me, the prison will automatically accept you without needing a referral letter." He took a sip of water and breathed a sigh of relief.

Just then, the fat security guard came in from outside. The thin director saw him and said, "Perfect timing! Come, come, I'll give you a task: take them both to Donghu Prison."

The chubby security guard's eyes widened: "Huh?!"

The thin director explained, "I'm worried about them going to the prison alone, a man and a woman. Having you accompany them on behalf of the school's security department provides support and also shows that the school is taking this matter seriously."

The chubby security guard, with a mournful face, said, "To be honest, I've actually wanted to go to prison for a long time. Oh no, I'm just curious and want to see what it's like inside, but I can't today, sir. I'm here to ask for leave—my great-grandfather passed away."

"When?" Zhang Wen stood up in astonishment upon hearing this.

"It's very early this morning. I just got a call from home telling me to come back."

Zhang Wen grabbed the fat security guard and walked out, and Xu Haibing quickly followed.

The thin director, bewildered, shouted, "Letter of introduction! Are you not going to issue the letter of introduction or not?"

QQ Lost - Part 6

QQ Lost in 51

Pushing open the courtyard gate with white plaques, the courtyard of my great-grandfather's house was already full of his descendants dressed in mourning clothes.

The chubby security guard walked into the room, sobbing. As soon as he entered the main room, he knelt down and kowtowed three times to his great-grandfather's body. Xu Haibing and Zhang Wen followed suit and bowed three times as well.

Just as the chubby security guard was about to get up, the second uncle who was keeping vigil pressed him down: "Kneel four times, three for the human and four for the ghost." The chubby security guard kowtowed again, and Xu Haibing and Zhang Wen quickly followed suit with a bow.

The chubby security guard was about to get up when he realized something was wrong. He then declared, "Great-grandfather has become a ghost? He should have become an immortal! I have to kowtow again. Humans kowtow three times, ghosts four times, immortals five times." With that, he kowtowed again with a thud. Xu Haibing and Zhang Wen had no choice but to kowtow once more.

The chubby security guard finally stood up. Just as Zhang Wen was about to say something to him, his second uncle came over and reminded him, "Go and cry a couple of times."

"Waaah--my dear great-grandfather, how could you leave us so suddenly? I didn't even have a chance to show you my filial piety. I'm so sorry..." The fat security guard threw himself beside his great-grandfather's body and burst into tears.

Xu Haibing and Zhang Wen took the opportunity to go forward and pay their respects to their great-grandfather. They saw that their great-grandfather looked just like he was asleep, with a gratified and peaceful smile on his face.

Zhang Wen appeared anxious and nudged Xu Haibing. Xu Haibing understood and patted the chubby security guard, saying, "Please accept my condolences. Please accept my condolences. It's a happy occasion for your great-grandfather. A few cries are enough to show your grief."

The chubby security guard blew his nose, unsure where to wipe it: "I... how can this be considered an expression of gratitude? I'm so sorry to him. I've stolen so many things from his house since I was a child—peach shortbread, fried dough twists, osmanthus cakes, peanuts, even the rock candy he used to soothe his cough at night. Otherwise, would I be so fat? I... the more I think about it, the sadder I get..."

Xu Haibing comforted him, saying, "It's too late to be sad now; he won't even know anymore..."

"I'm not just sad about this, I'm also sad that I can't get back to my old figure, and I'm afraid I'll be a bachelor for the rest of my life..." The fat security guard said, turning around to cry again. Xu Haibing grabbed him and gestured with his lips.

The chubby security guard was completely bewildered. Zhang Wen made a gesture of cracking a horsewhip at him, and he finally understood. He then led the two men through the curtain into the inner room.

Inside the room, several children were rummaging through their great-grandfather's fruit box, taking out pastries to eat.

The fat security guard shouted, "Get out of here, all of you! Well, your old man's body is barely cold, and instead of turning your grief into strength to do good, you take the opportunity to rob people. You can't bear to die! You can't bear to live!" The children ignored him and retreated with their fruit boxes.

The chubby security guard grabbed a child, snatched two pastries from the box the child was holding, and put them in his own mouth. He then grabbed a handful of peanuts from the box another child was holding and gave them to Xu Haibing.

Xu Haibing pushed it away and asked, "Where did you put it?"

The chubby security guard stuffed a handful of peanuts into his mouth, chewing with bulging cheeks as he opened an old-fashioned cupboard.

The cupboard was empty, with nothing inside!

"That's strange! My great-grandfather told me to put it here myself that day." The chubby security guard searched the whole room again, and finally shrugged helplessly.

"What are you doing?! Making such a commotion?" Uncle Er asked, lifting the curtain as he came in from the outer room.

"There's been no movement?" the chubby security guard asked innocently.

"There's been no commotion. If there's been any more noise, your old man might have been woken up. Let me tell you, Third Son, your old man was perfectly clear-headed before he died. He clearly explained who would inherit the house, who would inherit the pots and pans, and who would inherit those dozen or so silver dollars. He left with everything perfectly in mind. Don't expect to get anything out of him. What's owed to you will be given to you after your old man passes away." Second Uncle spoke with absolute certainty.

"Second Uncle, you're underestimating your nephew, aren't you?" The chubby security guard patted his large belly. "With my magnanimity, why would I care about a few silver dollars? What I'm looking for isn't just any ordinary thing; it's that ancestral horsewhip that my great-grandfather treasured like a precious gem. Didn't he mention it before he passed away?"

Uncle Er recalled, "Huh? I didn't mention that. This morning I brought him breakfast and he seemed to be in great spirits. He said he could now go to see his ancestors in peace, and asked me to call all his children and grandchildren over. He finished making arrangements for his affairs, said he should rest now, and then passed away."

Xu Haibing glanced at Zhang Wen, who, clinging to a sliver of hope, pressed, "Then, did anyone come looking for him yesterday?"

Uncle Er thought for a moment, then said with a crooked mouth, "Yesterday? No, nothing happened yesterday. I live right next door to this courtyard. I can hear anyone coming over the wall."

Zhang Wen was greatly disappointed and walked out of the house on his own. Xu Haibing followed him out.

The chubby security guard grabbed the old man, revealing a greedy expression: "Hey, how many silver dollars will I get from my great-grandfather's collection?"

A mournful suona horn sounded, and the invited musicians began to play music in the newly erected mourning shed in the courtyard.

With an icy expression, Zhang Wen strode out of the courtyard and returned along the village road.

Xu Haibing quickly followed, trying to comfort her: "Don't worry too much. Intuition is just intuition, and reality is reality, and reality is often ruthless..."

Zhang Wen kept his head down as he walked.

"...How could it be such a coincidence? His great-grandfather handed over the rope and then ascended to heaven. This might happen in novels or movies..."

Zhang Wen suddenly stopped, and Xu Haibing instinctively shut up.

Zhang Wen turned to look over there--

The chubby security guard was running over with the second uncle, shouting as he came!

"...I remember now, yesterday Sanzi's second aunt went to her cousin's house in the west of the village for a wedding banquet. She ate too much and got an upset stomach. When the rooster crowed for the first time, she got up to go to the outhouse. When she came back to the room, she mumbled something about crying in the neighbor's yard, saying it sounded like someone had come to the old man's house. I was half asleep and thought she was still drunk and talking nonsense, so I just cursed at her a couple of times without taking it to heart..." The second uncle specially came to provide these few words, whether they were useful or not.

Zhang Wen's icy expression melted!

A strong autumn wind swirled up, carrying dust, withered leaves, and the mournful sound of a suona horn as it rose into the air...

QQ Lost (52)

Autumn is deepening.

At this time, the new campus of Lianhe University did not feel much of the desolation of autumn; instead, the enthusiasm of spring was surging everywhere—the self-nomination and public election for the student union's transitional chairman was in full swing.

--The loudspeakers broadcast self-praising speeches from nominees, each brimming with confidence; --The bulletin boards display self-promotion materials from nominees boasting about their strong qualifications; --Even key entrances and exits, including restaurants and restrooms, are occupied by groups of students, either hired or invited, who shove colorful, flattering pledges into your hands.

Looking at the lively scene he had stirred up, the skinny director secretly grinned smugly, revealing his mouthful of cavities.

QQ Lost, Chapter 53 (1)

Thousands of lights are on.

In Xu Haibing's restaurant, a five-pronged lotus lamp warmly illuminates a table laden with delicious dishes.

Xu Haibing was setting the table, and Zhang Wen, who was standing nearby, offered to help, but Xu Haibing refused, saying, "You sit down."

Xu's mother brought in a large bowl of steaming eight-treasure sweet rice. When she saw Zhang Wen trying to take it, she repeatedly said no, no.

Zhang Wen felt bad and said, "Auntie, don't bother."

"There's nothing to do. It's the weekend, and Bingzi's sister and her family usually come over for a family gathering, but they had something come up and couldn't make it today. That's perfect, there are no strangers around, so don't be shy and eat as much as you like. I noticed you didn't look too well when you came last time; you need to take good care of yourself. 'Nourish yourself in autumn and winter to be strong as a tiger in spring,' and now is the best time to nourish yourself, as the body can easily absorb all kinds of nutrients." Xu's mother took off her apron, her concern evident in her words.

Xu Haibing joked, "Don't listen to my mom about anything else, but you must listen to her about health and wellness. My mom was a well-known health care doctor in Lianjiang back in the day, and she was also very beautiful. Otherwise, how could my dad—the youngest naval commander in the country at the time—have fallen for her?"

Mother Xu scolded playfully, "Don't make fun of me, okay?"

Zhang Wen sincerely said, "Auntie still has as much charm as she did back then."

"Sigh, I'm getting old and faded, almost like an old hag. Please have a seat, I'll go wash my hands." Mrs. Xu walked out of the dining room.

Xu Haibing asked Zhang Wen to sit down and offered to pour her a glass of red wine, but Zhang Wen declined. Xu Haibing then poured her a fruit juice instead.

Zhang Wen reminded him, "Please have less, I can't drink that much."

"Don't worry anymore. If it really was your parents who took that whip that day, wouldn't that be good news? As long as they're alive, they'll find it sooner or later," Xu Haibing comforted him.

Zhang Wen nodded slightly, seemingly lost in thought.

Xu's mother came in and sat down opposite Zhang Wen with a smile. Xu Haibing suggested to her, "Let's have a three-person table: Teacher Zhang can have a soft drink, you can have wine, and I can have beer."

To his surprise, Xu's mother readily objected: "Why are you drinking beer? Show some manly spirit and drink baijiu! I'm in a good mood today, so I'll have a couple of drinks with you."

Xu Haibing was somewhat surprised: "Okay, I'll go get the liquor." He had just stood up when the lights suddenly went out, and a commotion could be heard outside.

Mrs. Xu complained, "Ugh, another power outage! We've been trying to upgrade the power supply all summer, but it hasn't done anything. Bingzi, could you grab two candles from under the coffee table in the living room?"

Xu Haibing agreed and went out in the dark.

Xu's mother and Zhang Wen sat silently facing each other in the dark restaurant.

Xu's mother stared intently at Zhang Wen's face in the darkness.

Zhang Wen seemed to sense two beams of cold light shooting towards him from the other side, and a trace of panic flashed across his face.

Xu Haibing came in carrying two candles in one hand and a bottle of Langjiu liquor in the other. He put down the bottle, handed the candles to Zhang Wen, and lit them one by one with a match.

Zhang Wen kept glancing at Xu's mother out of the corner of his eye, noticing her strange expression.

The two candles standing on the dining table burned dimly, flickering...

Xu Haibing poured baijiu (Chinese liquor) into his mother's glass: "Is that enough?"

Xu's mother sat there blankly, without reacting.

Zhang Wen became increasingly uneasy.

Xu Haibing, oblivious, raised her voice: "If you don't tell me, I've filled it up!"

The wine in the bottle gurgled and filled the glass.

Mother Xu finally snapped out of her daze: "Alright, alright." She forced a smile at Zhang Wen: "Well, what a coincidence, there was a power outage last time too, and we lit candles..."

Xu Haibing was pouring himself a drink when he casually corrected her, "Last time? Teacher Zhang came last time in the morning!"

Xu's mother tried to cover it up: "Look at me, I'm drunk even without drinking. Come on, welcome." She raised her glass and gestured to Zhang Wen, who quickly bowed and clinked glasses with her.

Xu Haibing clinked glasses with Zhang Wen, then took a sip of his drink, put down his glass, and, while picking up some food, said, "You wouldn't believe me, but right after graduation, I was sent to a rural town for training as a selected graduate, right? The top two officials there were both heavy drinkers—one nicknamed 'Liu the Undying,' and the other 'Wang the Undrunk.' But both of them were afraid of running into Huang Quangui, the head of the finance office…" He picked up his mother's glass, "This big glass, he drank it down in one gulp, it was really…"

He suddenly realized that the cup in his hand was empty, and turned to his mother in astonishment!

Xu's mother was clearly drunk. She stood up unsteadily and insisted that Xu Haibing change Zhang Wen's liquor: "...Quick, listen to your mother, pour her some..."

Xu Haibing was bewildered by her mother's sudden change: "What's wrong with you? Why have you suddenly become like this?! Tell me! Did something happen to you?! Huh?"

Xu's mother shook him off, snatched the wine bottle to pour wine for Zhang Wen, and knocked over a candle in the process.

Zhang Wen hurriedly reached out to help, but was burned by the flames and couldn't help but cry out in surprise.

Xu's mother insisted on taking Zhang Wen's cup, emptying the drink inside, and pouring in wine.

A cup containing half a jin of baijiu (Chinese liquor) was placed heavily in front of Zhang Wen.

Zhang Wen nervously looked up. Xu's mother was staring at her with almost piercing eyes, her voice sharp and stern: "Drink!"