The shop owner wondered where this old man had come from. He looked unfamiliar and spoke so arrogantly; he must be someone not to be trifled with. So he tentatively asked, "What would you like to eat? If you're willing to pay a little extra, I'll make it for you fresh!"
Tang Yutao pulled out a banknote and slammed it on the greasy table: "Do you have any chives?! Do you have any yams or okra?! Do you have any oysters or shrimp?! Give me whatever aphrodisiacs you want!"
The shopkeeper was delighted. He scurried over, picked up the money, stuffed it into his pocket, and said obsequiously, "I have no idea what you're talking about. I do have chives and eggs, though. I'll go make you a plate now. You can have some tea and sit and wait."
Tang Yutao plopped down and added, "One serving isn't enough! Stir-fry all the chives in your shop! I'll take them all!"
A dozen minutes later, the owner respectfully brought a large bowl of steaming hot scrambled eggs with chives to Tang Yutao. There were no takeout containers; the food was simply packed in a disposable plastic bag. Tang Yutao pulled two pairs of chopsticks from the holder on the table, put them in his pocket, and got up to leave. The owner called him back mysteriously, saying, "Let me tell you, this chives are slow to work. I have a secret Yi ethnic recipe that will guarantee you a good night's sleep after just one packet!"
While Tang Yutao was waiting, his anger subsided considerably. Hearing this, he said with a wry smile, "No need, thank you, my kidneys are perfectly fine..."
The restaurant owner wouldn't give up and kept urging him to buy two bags to try. Tang Yutao fled the restaurant as if he were running away, ran back to the hotel downstairs, thought for a moment, and then threw the bag of vegetables into the trash can on the side of the road.
Chen Yunqi! Why should I care about you! Just die from exhaustion!
With his stomach growling and having been out in the cold wind for half a day, Tang Yutao bought several cups of instant noodles at the hotel reception and went back to his room. He didn't know where Li Hui was, but in a fit of pique, he didn't look for him, ate the noodles, washed up, and went to sleep.
The next morning, when Chen Yunqi brought San San out, Tang Yutao was already dressed and waiting at the door.
Chen Yunqi bought a pancake from a breakfast stall at the hotel entrance, rolled it up, handed it to San San, lit a cigarette, and asked Tang Yutao, "Where's Li Hui? Why hasn't he come out yet?"
Tang Yutao said irritably, "Let's go! Let's go back!"
Chen Yunqi exclaimed in confusion, "Huh?" Just as he was about to ask another question, he saw Li Hui walking towards him from afar, his face oily and his eyes dark from just staying up all night.
"Where did you go?" Chen Yunqi handed him a cigarette as he approached. Li Hui took it, lit it, took a few puffs, and without even glancing at Tang Yutao, who was rolling his eyes at him, replied casually, "Internet cafe."
Chen Yunqi reached out and brushed the crumbs from San San's mouth, smiling as he said, "I admire you, you have so much energy."
Li Hui glanced at him and San San, and said indifferently, "You flatter me, I have no energy like you."
San San didn't understand what he was saying, but Chen Yunqi did. He didn't argue, and instead called to Tang Yutao, "Let's go, let's find a place to ask around..."
“I’ve already inquired,” Li Hui interrupted him before he could finish. “I’ve checked. There’s a long-distance bus from Jiaoyuan to Xiayedi that passes through Daqiao Town. Daqiao Town is very close to Heihai Township. Someone online provided a travel guide saying that you can hitch a ride on a local timber transport vehicle in Daqiao Town to Heihai Township. Once you get to Heihai Township, there’s no more transportation. If you’re lucky, you might meet a local driving an oxcart or horse-drawn cart who can give you a ride. Otherwise, you’ll have to walk to the village.”
Chen Yunqi was very grateful for the effort he had put into finding the route. Seeing that he had finished his cigarette, he handed him the pancake and said, "Thank you, eat it while it's hot."
“No need for thanks, we’re all family,” Tang Yutao finally spoke up. He threw the bottle of mineral water in his hand at Li Hui and said coldly, “Don’t choke. I don’t want to give you CPR, it’s disgusting.”
Chapter 49: The Extra Chapter That Fell on Qixi Festival
The main east-west thoroughfares in City S are particularly congested during Friday evening rush hour.
The streetlights were just coming on along the road. The brake lights of the car in front of him were still on, so Chen Yunqi simply shifted gears and pulled the handbrake. He wanted to roll down the window and light a cigarette, but he hesitated because there was a girl sitting in the passenger seat. He just stared blankly at the golden-edged clouds on the horizon through the car window.
The girl sitting in the passenger seat is named Lynn. She went to the same university as Chen Yunqi but in a different year, so she is his classmate and junior. She returned to China and joined the company half a year ago and is now an analyst under Chen Yunqi.
The central control screen displayed Amber's "Late Summer" playing in the car. Lynn sat upright in the passenger seat, stealing glances at the young leader beside her. One elbow rested on the window frame, a fist pressed against his temple, while the other hand tapped lightly on the steering wheel, a hint of anxiety lurking between his brows. The setting sun shone through the window, casting a soft-focus effect on his handsome profile, making him appear exceptionally gentle.
This taciturn but highly capable Vice President Chen is not only the top candidate for the next VP, but also the talk of the town among all the female colleagues in the bank. Chen Yunqi is highly skilled, humble, and low-key. More importantly, he is tall, handsome, and comes from a good family. This sought-after young talent is practically every woman's ideal romantic partner.
Most of the women working in investment banking are returnees from overseas, and influenced by Western culture, they are all incredibly proactive and enthusiastic. Many female colleagues have openly expressed their affection for him, but whether it's because he's so good at keeping things secret or because he's genuinely abstinent, in his four years with the company, he has never been involved in any scandals with any female colleagues. Outside of work, he rarely participates in recreational activities organized by his colleagues. Over time, some people, unable to achieve what he desired, started to say things like, "The IBD's Vice President Chen is rigid, dull, and uninteresting; he wouldn't be a good lover."
Lynn was one of the few people who had ridden in Chen Yunqi's car. She looked around and found that his white Macan was as plain as he was, inside and out—no cushions, no fragrances, no decorations, not even the most common phone holder. The only decoration was a felt doll hanging on the rearview mirror, a white sheep.
The tiny sheep plush toy, barely the size of half a palm, swayed gently back and forth as the car started and stopped. Lynn never expected that the refined and composed Chen Yunqi would like such a cute little accessory, and what she didn't expect even more was that Chen Yunqi actually had a very artistic hobby in private—painting.
Lynn's sister opened an art studio in a shopping mall in the city center. This kind of studio located in a commercial area is no longer a traditional art studio. People who come to paint do not need to have any painting experience. They can improvise or choose a picture they like and complete it step by step under the guidance of the staff. It can cultivate their mind and relieve stress, and it is very popular among young people.
During a dinner party, Lynn recommended her sister's new shop to her colleagues. After hearing this, Chen Yunqi privately asked her for the studio's address. Lynn, wanting to curry favor with her boss, inquired about his arrival time and then repeatedly told her sister that she should not only offer him a discount but also, ideally, not charge him at all, provide him with afternoon tea, and arrange for the best teacher to instruct him.
To her surprise, Chen Yunqi, the financial whiz, actually possessed a very solid foundation in painting, requiring no teacher's guidance whatsoever. He sat in front of the easel in the far corner, painting with complete focus for the entire afternoon. His handsome appearance and gentle demeanor attracted passersby to stop and admire him frequently. Even Lynn's sister couldn't resist secretly taking a picture of him from a distance, praising him highly.
On Friday, after a long day of intense work, Chen Yunqi was on his way to pick up a painting that had dried and been framed. He ran into Lynn, who was also going to the art studio to see her sister, and invited her to ride with him.
The traffic finally began to move slowly. Chen Yunqi raised his hand to check his watch, his brows furrowed, and he suddenly turned the steering wheel, squeezing out of the straight lane and driving into the auxiliary road toward the highway entrance.
Once on the highway, Lynn watched him methodically use his turn signals, change lanes, and overtake other vehicles, all while maintaining the maximum speed limit. She couldn't help but ask, "Boss, are you in a hurry?"
"Yes, I have an appointment," Chen Yunqi replied calmly, without looking to the side.
"Oh! Is she... your girlfriend?" Lynn couldn't resist her curiosity and asked tentatively, wanting to take this rare opportunity to inquire about Vice President Chen's private life on behalf of herself and all the female colleagues in the company.
Chen Yunqi smiled and said, "Mm."
Lynn appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly she gasped. He was definitely taken! While feeling a pang of regret, she also thought that with all his qualities, there was really no reason for him to still be single at this age. She couldn't wait until Monday at work and secretly decided that as soon as she got home, she would announce the news in the WeChat group, so those little vixens would give up their ideas as soon as possible.
Since she knew she had no chance anyway, Lynn generously praised her, saying, "You're so thoughtful! That painting was for her, wasn't it? It's so romantic! Being your girlfriend must be wonderful!"
Chen Yunqi said somewhat shyly, "No, in our line of work we're almost always on call 24/7. When we get busy, we neglect him. He often complains that I have no sense of time and always make him wait."
His tone carried a subtle hint of doting affection and pride. Aside from necessary work-related conversations, Chen Yunqi rarely spoke so much on his own initiative. Lynn instantly felt a pang of envy for her lover, wondering what kind of person could make this usually taciturn man radiate happiness the moment he mentioned her.
After navigating most of the city to retrieve the painting, and then navigating even more to get home, Chen Yunqi had long missed dinner. He parked his car, carried the painting upstairs, and also carried a small bouquet of vibrant roses.
The room was quiet, and the orange light made those returning home late feel warm and at ease.
San San was asleep on her side on the sofa, with her laptop still in standby mode on the coffee table. Chen Yunqi sat down on the sofa, gently closed the laptop, turned his head and stared at the sleeping San San, unable to look away for a long time.
Over the past few years, San San has grown up. Both physically and mentally, he is no longer the thin, frail, shy, and weak boy he once was. Chen Yunqi has taken good care of him. The mountain boy who couldn't adapt to city life and was completely helpless and embarrassed even when faced with a flush toilet can now complete his homework independently on a computer.
And Chen Yunqi himself is no different. The once melancholy and gloomy young man is now a rising star in the independent investment banking industry in China, highly sought after.
It felt like a lifetime ago. Thinking of this, Chen Yunqi couldn't help but lean down and kiss the corner of San San's mouth.
San San was woken up by a kiss. As soon as she opened her eyes, she met Chen Yunqi's gentle gaze. He said groggily, "You're back. Why are you so late again?"
"Missing me?"
"In no mood."
"Are you missing me?"
"No, I didn't."
"Do you miss me, baby?"
"Um…"
Even after being together for so long, Chen Yunqi still can't get enough of San San's contradictory and easily teased nature.
San San rubbed her eyes, sat up and asked, "Are you hungry? I steamed some egg custard, I don't know if it's cold yet."
After saying that, he got up to get it. Chen Yunqi pressed him down to sit down, went to the kitchen himself, lifted the lid of the steamer, took out a small bowl of steamed egg custard that had turned into a cake-like consistency, and sat back down on the sofa.
San San watched him devour the steamed egg custard in no time and tentatively asked, "Was it good?"
"It's delicious, especially delicious," Chen Yunqi replied without hesitation, smacking his lips.
"But remember to add some water next time."
Upon hearing this, San San knew it must have been poorly done. He pouted and said, "There won't be a next time. Cooking is too difficult."
"Okay, then I won't make it. I'll cook it for you."
"You? You can't even tell the difference between scallions and chives." San San scoffed at Chen Yunqi's boastful claim made without a second thought.
Chen Yunqi laughed and hugged him, nuzzling his ear with the tip of his nose, and said, "Then what are we going to do? Go hungry together?"
San San shrank her neck, feeling itchy, and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Hmm... then I'll learn it."
Chen Yunqi's hand was already inside San San's shirt, stroking his smooth back as he asked, "What's that package on the table?"
"Third Aunt sent walnuts and cured meat again," San San said, feeling extremely comfortable from being touched, and squinted her eyes as she asked, "What's that thing by the door?"
When he asked, Chen Yunqi remembered that he still had a gift for San San, so he withdrew his hand, got up, picked up the drawing board, handed it to San San and said, "This is a gift for you. Open it and take a look."
After a crisp sound, the wrapping paper was completely torn open, revealing a softly colored and textured oil painting.
On the canvas, under the golden sunset, white clouds swirl around the mountains, and in front of a bright blue wooden door stands a yellow figure, clearly a young man in yellow leading a horse.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, skyscrapers stand tall with neon lights flashing, and the crisscrossing roads continue to flow even late into the night. Time seems to stand still at this moment; the air around us seems to freeze. The toothbrushes lying side by side in the bathroom, the pairs of water glasses on the dining table, and the matching shirts in different sizes in the wardrobe all quietly listen to the two people's soft breathing.
San San stared at the painting, mesmerized. His mind seemed to go blank for a moment, his heart pounding. After a long while, he looked up at Chen Yunqi in disbelief, his eyes red-rimmed, and murmured, "This is…"
Chen Yunqi, standing before her, had already picked up the roses hidden behind his back, his eyes overflowing with tender love.
"This is how I first saw you. Do you like it? Happy Qixi Festival."
No matter where we are, no matter how time changes, my love for you remains the same.
A note from the author:
--- Everyone feels sorry for San San and hopes Teacher Chen can give him a warm home, so here's a sweet bonus chapter for Qixi Festival. I haven't been feeling well these past few days, so I'm resting and saving up chapters. I'll resume updates as soon as possible. I've applied for a ranking, please give me some starfish!
Chapter Fifty Strange Tales
Thanks to San San's language advantage, the group was fortunate enough to hitch a ride on a timber truck in Daqiao Town. The truck cab couldn't fit everyone, and Chen Yunqi wanted to squeeze in with San San, but since the truck driver was right next to them, he settled San San down and climbed into the back of the truck with Tang Yutao. They rode against a load of timber, enduring the cold wind and bumping along the way to Heihai Township.
Piles of timber surrounded them, and Chen Yunqi dared not smoke. His face was numb with cold when he got off the truck. The truck took them to the side of the country road and sped away in a cloud of dust. The men jumped off, stretched their aching limbs, and straightened their crumpled clothes. San San stood on tiptoe and warmed her palms against Chen Yunqi's cheek. Chen Yunqi, considerate of his aching arms, bent down and looked around, asking, "Shall we go over there?"
It was already afternoon, and there were hardly any people on the path. Apart from a few dilapidated shacks, there was nothing else by the roadside, making it look even more desolate than Qinghe Town. Tang Yutao and Li Hui didn't use smartphones, so Chen Yunqi opened his navigation app and tried searching for Age Yizi Village, but it showed that no such place could be found.
"We still need to ask for directions. I guess we'll lose signal if we go any further," Chen Yunqi put away his phone, looked around, and said to San San, "Baby, I'm sorry to bother you again."
Tang Yutao, who was listening from the side, got goosebumps. He was about to say, "When did you start talking to me so gently?" when Chen Yunqi, whose facial nerves had returned to normal, turned around, put away his smile, and said to him and Li Hui expressionlessly, "Let's go."
The surroundings were so desolate that Li Hui suspected the truck driver hadn't taken them to the center of Hei Hai Township as promised, simply because it was too much trouble. They crawled into the low shacks one by one before finally finding someone in the last one.
Upon seeing several unfamiliar faces barge in, especially the tall, imposing Chen Yunqi in brightly colored clothes, the man smoking a pipe inside the shed immediately stood up and glared at them warily. San San quickly stepped forward and spoke to him in Yi language, at which point he lowered his guard slightly, his eyes darting back and forth between the men, his expression still one of suspicion.
To avoid attracting attention, they agreed before setting off that they would claim to be photographers on a field trip, with San San serving as their hired translator and guide. Li Hui specifically brought his point-and-shoot camera, which would be more than enough to fool the farmers in the remote countryside, as long as they didn't encounter any professionals.
After finally figuring out their purpose, the man pointed outside for a long time with some doubt, then nodded to him three times to thank him, and took his leave of the shed.
Once everyone had emerged and gathered by the roadside, San San translated the man's words to them. According to him, if you follow the path south, passing through farmland and woods, you will see a stone tablet. Then, walk forty minutes towards Baigu Mountain, and you will reach Agoyiz Village.
Tang Yutao looked up at the sky and asked blankly, "Where is south?"
Chen Yunqi overestimated Tang Yutao. Tang Yutao's life experience and worldly wisdom were not even half as good as his crooked ways of dealing with men and women.
As night fell, after leaving Heihai Township and passing through vast cornfields, they entered the desolate wilderness. The road was entirely made of dirt tracks on hillsides, with wild grass and withered trees growing all around. The four of them walked along the narrow path with flashlights, and every now and then they could hear the mournful and eerie cries of birds coming from the deep mountains.
Chen Yunqi held San San's hand tightly as they walked ahead. He regretted not staying overnight in Hei Hai Township and leaving at dawn, but they hadn't seen any inns along the way. His expression was grave as he hurried along, constantly taking out his phone to use a compass to check his direction, cautiously watching his surroundings, wishing he could see and hear everything, fearing they might encounter another wild animal attack in these mountains.
The group remained silent and hurried on their way, finally seeing the stone tablet just before nightfall.
A huge stone tablet stood abruptly by the roadside. Only when they approached and shone a flashlight on it did they see lines of tiny Yi script painted in red on the tablet.
The Yi script originated in a very ancient era, dating back more than 3,000 years. Apart from a few archaeologists and linguists who conduct specialized research, even centenarians in Yi villages may not be able to recognize many of its characters.