Lu Junyi took Lao Zhang's hand and said, "It's kind of you to still be thinking about the children, brother." He took the 20,000 yuan wrapped in a newspaper from Lin Chong and placed it next to Lao Zhang's pillow. "Just focus on getting better now. Don't worry about anything else. We've got you covered."
Old Zhang opened a corner of the newspaper, looked at it, and said, "I can't take the money. You don't have any income right now, do you?"
Lu Junyi: "We...have!"
Old Zhang grabbed Lu Junyi's arm: "You can't cause trouble for the country."
Lu Junyi: "..."
I quickly said, "I'm still here, aren't I?" Old Zhang was somewhat relieved.
Then Wu Yong and Lin Chong came to see Zhang. Zhang asked many detailed questions about leading troops in battle, which the two answered patiently.
After they left, I gestured for the next group to come in and visit. This time, it was Dong Ping, Zhang Qing, Dai Zong, Li Kui, and the remaining members of the Heavenly Gang. Old Zhang had just asked Yang Zhi a few questions about selling the knife when a man crouched down and crawled in through the window, saying, "If we go in order, I'll definitely get heatstroke if it's my turn."
Old Zhang looked at the man in surprise and immediately said, "Are you Shi Qian?" Old Zhang's ward was on the third floor.
Shi Qian squatted on the windowsill and waved to Old Zhang, saying, "Grandpa, I really can't stand the sun anymore."
Old Zhang asked me, "Are there still people down there?" I nodded.
"Come on up! What's the point of making people wait outside?" I had no choice but to wave the heroes up.
This caused quite a stir. Dozens of people swarmed in, all heading towards Old Zhang's bedside, shouting and calling out. The bandits were all enthusiastic and unrestrained, and they greatly admired Old Zhang, so they were exceptionally affectionate. Old Zhang couldn't hear what anyone was saying, nor could he recognize who was who; he just lay there smiling.
Just then, a man pushed through the crowd to Old Zhang's bedside and said in a trembling voice, "Old Du, is that you?"
Seeing that this man was older than himself, with sparse white hair and a rather carefree demeanor, Old Zhang couldn't help but ask in surprise, "My surname isn't Du. Who are you?"
"I am your brother Taibai, Lao Du!"
Old Zhang exclaimed in surprise, "You're Li Bai?"
Li Bai said sadly, "What's wrong with you? Don't you really recognize me? Back then, we traveled all over China together, and our poems filled the world. Although we rarely met, we were friends in our hearts."
Old Zhang, a Chinese language teacher, was well-versed in the anecdotes of historical figures. After pondering Li Bai's words for a while, he blurted out, "You're talking about Du Fu!"
Li Bai slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Aren't you just like Du Fu?!"
Chapter Thirty-Two: The Final Battle
Seeing that the two old men were getting along so well, the heroes all took their leave. Only the three of us remained in the ward. Li Bai grabbed Old Zhang's hand and asked, "Old Du, when did you arrive?"
Old Zhang said with a wry smile, "I'm really not Du Fu. My name is Zhang Wenshan. I was born in 1944 and grew up here. My home is No. 3, Lane 8, Shizi Road."
Li Bai shook Old Zhang's shoulder and said, "Then let me ask you, 'Where can I find the Prime Minister's ancestral hall?' What's the next line?"
Without hesitation, Old Zhang replied, "Outside Chengdu, the cypress trees stand tall."
Li Bai: "I will climb to the very top—"
Old Zhang: "Looking down from the top, all the mountains seem small—"
Li Bai then asked, "Behind the vermilion gates, the stench of wine and meat—"
I finally said slowly, "I know the line 'There are frozen bones on the road.' No need to ask. You and Du Fu are both great poets. Even the small advertisements you painted on other people's walls have become famous works in later generations. This doesn't prove anything. Principal Zhang may just look like Du Fu."
Li Bai said disappointedly, "You're really not Du Fu?"
Old Zhang was even more disappointed than him: "I almost wish I were."
Li Bai sighed, "I really don't know what happened to my brother in the end?"
I said, "Who told you not to read any serious books all day? Aren't all of that in books?"
Old Zhang said, "Du Fu's ending was not good; he lived a life of poverty. However, he was called the Sage of Poetry by later generations, and his influence was enormous."
Li Bai sighed again: "My younger brother is a bit stubborn, but he has been concerned about the country and its people all his life and has the world in his heart. He is much better than my complaining poems."
Old Zhang said, "Brother Taibai, don't say that. Actually, I've always been curious about how you were able to write so many grand poems."
Li Bai scoffed, "He's just bragging when he's drunk."
The two old men laughed heartily at each other. Li Bai said, "Whether you are him or not, we two old folks have reached the age where 'our white hair grows shorter from scratching, and we can hardly hold a hairpin's weight in. It's quite a coincidence. Hegel was right..."
I broke out in a cold sweat and said, "Brother Taibai, let's let Principal Zhang rest."
Li Bai waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away a fly: "You go ahead, I'll stay here."
I looked at Lao Zhang, and Lao Zhang said, "Then why don't you get lost?"
I had no choice but to walk alone. When I reached the door, Old Zhang suddenly called out to me, "Xiao Qiang!" I turned around and saw Old Zhang looking at me with grateful eyes. He said, "Thank you for telling me everything. I have one last request: I want to see the new school building, so you'd better hurry." I nodded and went out to meet up with the heroes.
The claim that Lao Zhang is Du Fu has raised some doubts in me. In less than a month, I've seen this twice. I haven't even figured out Zhang Bing's situation yet, and now there's this Du Fu. But this time my stance is very clear: Lao Zhang definitely can't be Du Fu. It's hard to imagine that the melancholic and subtle poet saint, like an old bachelor, would be so confident even with a terminal illness.
When I got to the lobby on the first floor, I saw that all the heroes were silent. I asked, "What's wrong?"
Song Qing came over and whispered to me, "The brothers are all feeling bad and are discussing tomorrow's competition."
Although Old Zhang didn't talk much to them, he mentioned tomorrow's match several times, and his deep concern for the children was obvious in his words. The bandits also felt that it would be inappropriate not to win this match.
Shi Qian said, "How about I make a trip tonight?"
The heroes all looked at Lu Junyi, who remained silent, clearly troubled. Finally, Lin Chong sighed and said, "Let's forget it. We'll do our best in tomorrow's competition and just try to have a clear conscience."
When I returned to the hotel that evening, I was startled to see two tall men and a girl walking ahead of me. Judging from their backs, I recognized them as Xiang Yu and Zhang Bing. They heard footsteps behind them and instinctively glanced back. I quickly turned away. Just then, I heard Xiang Yu call out from behind, "Xiao Qiang, don't hide!" I awkwardly turned back and saw Zhang Bing smiling at me, her gaze carrying a knowing glint. I gave her a few forced laughs: "You knew all along?"