Chapter 36.2: One Night Back to Liberation

Runsheng grabbed Li Sanjiang’s shoulder with his left hand and lifted him smoothly with his right, causing the old man to flop over onto his back.

Liu Yumei asked, “Who taught you to carry him like that?”

“Ah, nobody. You get used to it after carrying enough corpses.”

“Next time, don’t do it like that—it’s unlucky.”

“Alright, got it.”

Liu Yumei waved her hand, brushing away the alcohol fumes and signaling Runsheng to hurry up and carry the old man off.

Runsheng dashed into the house and up the stairs in one breath.

Liu Yumei returned to her tea table and habitually picked up her cup between her index and ring fingers. As she raised it, the cup trembled slightly—but not a drop of tea spilled.

Liu Yumei was surprised.

“Filled again?”

…

“Xiaoyuan, open the door for me—your great-grandfather’s drunk.”

Li Zhuiyuan opened the screen door and helped Runsheng settle Li Sanjiang onto the bed. The old man’s face was flushed red, dead drunk and dead to the world.

Then Li Zhuiyuan stepped outside with Runsheng.

“What’s going on?”

Great-grandfather liked his drink, but not enough to start in the morning.

Runsheng scratched his head. “Xiaoyuan, your household registration was moved here to Granddad’s. And your school records too, I think.”

Li Zhuiyuan froze. That fast?

Last night on the phone, when Li Lan said she wanted to transfer his registration, he’d hinted he was staying with Li Sanjiang. Clearly, she’d picked up on it.

Of course she did—strange if she hadn’t. They both had minds sharp enough to understand each other without spelling it out.

But the speed—and even the academic transfer? It meant Li Lan’s upcoming project must be serious. She pulled strings at a level even the old professors couldn’t block.

“Xiaoyuan, I’m going to grab some baozi.”

“Mm, go ahead, Runsheng-ge.”

After Runsheng left, Li Zhuiyuan soaked a towel and returned to Li Sanjiang’s room.

The old man lay sprawled on the bed, left arm across his forehead, legs splayed.

Li Zhuiyuan wrung the towel and handed it over.

“Great-grandpa, wipe your face.”

Li Sanjiang didn’t move.

“Great-grandpa’s got good tolerance—if he were really out, he’d be snoring.”

“Cough… cough…” Li Sanjiang opened his eyes and looked at him. “Xiaoyuanhou, your great-grandpa made a mistake.”

“No, Great-grandpa took me in.”

“You’re still young, maybe you don’t know what a Beijing household registration means.”

“Great-grandpa, it’s not that important.”

“You’re just a kid—you’ll regret this when you grow up. Listen to me. Try to reach out to your Northern Grandpa. Get it moved back.”

“Great-grandpa, I’m a Li now.”

“Sigh. Just look at this mess your mom made. You might not care, but I do. I feel I’ve failed you. Your future… it’s ruined.”

“It’s okay, Great-grandpa. Worst case, I’ll just follow Mom’s path—get into a top university.”

“Oh right, school! I nearly forgot!”

Li Sanjiang sprang up, ran to the stool, and opened a bag stuffed with documents and the household booklet.

“I still need to pull strings for a school. How about Shinan Primary? Nah, let’s go bigger—Shigang.”

“Primary school…”

“I’m telling you, Xiaoyuanhou, you can play all you want during summer break, but once school starts, you have to focus.”

“Do you know anyone in the schools?”

“Even if I don’t, I’ll find someone. I heard schools have better and worse classes. We’ll pull some strings and get you in a good one.”

“Great-grandpa, what grade am I supposed to be in?”

“That Officer Tan was pretty nice last time.”

“Tan? Which Tan?”

“Captain Tan from the police station.”

“Only met him twice, not close. Plus, he’s not in education.”

“Shigang’s small. If he steps in, it’ll be easier. He even invited me to his house. I’ll bring my records and ask him.”

“Alright. I’ll go with you.”

“No need. If he can’t help, it’d be awkward for you. Let the kid do the talking.”

“Fine, fine. You ask him, I’ll look around too.”

Seeing him agree, Li Zhuiyuan felt relieved.

He didn’t want to leave, but being thrown into primary school was the last thing he wanted.

Captain Tan might not know him well, but he owed him a favor—should be willing to help him skip grades. Ideally, straight to senior year.

That way, he could take the college entrance exam in a year.

He could even join the winter national math competition for an automatic university placement.

But… which university?

Since Li Lan didn’t want to see him, he wouldn’t go where she was.

A name popped into his head: Haihe University.

It fit him perfectly now, in name and focus.

He grinned to himself: Liangliang-ge, looks like we’re going to be schoolmates after all.

As Great-grandpa wracked his brain for contacts, Li Zhuiyuan went back to his book.

He only put it down when Aunt Liu called them for lunch.

Seated on his small stool, he noticed the seat beside him was empty. No small plate for a girl.

Looking over, he saw Ah Li’s little table had been moved to the east room, where Liu Yumei was coaxing her to eat.

At last, Ah Li picked up her chopsticks.

Liu Yumei nodded, relieved. Her back ached when she stood. It used to take just one word from a boy for Ah Li to eat—now she had to spend ages persuading her.

A pang of urgency struck her. She was getting old. If she passed before Ah Li got better, who would take care of her?

Li Sanjiang joined them and, noticing Li Zhuiyuan sitting alone while the girl was in the other room, slammed his chopsticks down.

“What, just because our Xiaoyuanhou doesn’t have a Beijing registration anymore, you can’t even eat at the same table?”

Just then, Panzi and Leizi came running up, drenched in sweat.

“Great-grandpa, something’s wrong! Sihai’s fish pond turned red like blood. Everyone who went in got their skin burned off!”

“They want you to come check it out.”

“What?” Li Sanjiang sprang up. “Runsheng, let’s go!”

Li Zhuiyuan muttered under his breath: Groundshade Crimson Fiend?

Liu Yumei smoothed her hair, puzzled too. This area wasn’t supposed to have that.

Runsheng put down his bowl reluctantly and followed.

Li Zhuiyuan stayed behind. Until he was sure his luck-shifting problem was fixed, he wasn’t going near water.

Back upstairs, he resumed his book.

If it was the Groundshade Crimson Fiend, there shouldn’t be danger—only found in decoy pits.

Historically, valuables weren’t just buried in sacred mountains. Many chose rivers: tombs, temples, treasure.

With sediment shifts, riverbeds transformed quickly—hiding things well.

Groundshade Crimson Fiend was a classic fengshui trap. Once broken, its contents would flood out, harming intruders.

Mainly used in decoy pits to bait Water Monkeys.

This meant a main pit was likely nearby—though who knew what was buried.

He wasn’t interested. Anything with such a setup had to be a "living burial"—not people, but buildings that moved with water changes.

So even if you found a decoy pit, the main one might be anywhere now.

Sihai’s family was just unlucky—either they dug into a pit, or the pit moved under their pond.

If neither… then maybe a Water Monkey really took the bait.

The whole afternoon, he read. Great-grandpa and Runsheng didn’t return until dinner.

Over the meal, Li Sanjiang described what happened.

Two out-of-towners offered a high price to lease the pond for turtle farming. Though it wasn’t time yet, Sihai drained it early.

When he and his son entered to lay nets, they got burned. The two strangers helping also got hurt—skin eaten away like lime wash. All four were hospitalized but alive.

Villagers panicked. Li Sanjiang performed a ritual, and the red water vanished. People said he’d tamed an evil spirit.

He was quite pleased, stroking his chin and sipping his wine.

Li Zhuiyuan figured the trap had fully discharged, draining into the pit.

And those out-of-towners—so helpful. High price, and even helped clean?

After dinner, as he was about to practice stances, Runsheng stopped him mysteriously.

“Xiaoyuan, come with me.”

He led him to the tricycle and lifted a white plastic sheet.

Underneath was an old spade.

“Xiaoyuan, this looks like our Yellow River Spade, doesn’t it? But not as good.”

Li Zhuiyuan took it, testing the folding and mechanics. Same core design, but poorer craftsmanship.

Still, it was old—worn, mended, authentic.

“Runsheng-ge, you found this by the pond?”

“Yeah. Didn’t tell Granddad—I smelled corpse stink on it.”

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