Chapter 45: Grandpa Shan's Fall

"What? My grandpa broke his leg!"

Runsheng froze. He'd been picked up by Grandpa Shan at the riverside. Though the two often lived from hand to mouth, they endured the hunger together—so their bond ran deep and true.

Tan Wenbin's eyebrows jumped with excitement. He nearly pirouetted on one leg like a ballerina—he finally had a chance to see a Dead Sinker!

Li Zhuiyuan, meanwhile, felt a pang of guilt. He did the math—this probably happened after he’d gone to Xiting Town to play cards and win some money. Grandpa Shan had taken half of his winnings.

Sigh, dirty money really is cursed.

"What are you standing there for!" Li Sanjiang shouted at Runsheng. "Get the gear ready—we're heading out!"

"Oh, right." Runsheng rushed inside to grab the tools. This trip wasn't just about checking in on his grandpa—there was work to do too.

"Uncle Li, I'm coming too—take me with you!"

Tan Wenbin nearly clung to Li Sanjiang like a koala, desperate not to be left behind again.

"Alright, alright, you're coming."

Li Sanjiang agreed immediately. The caller had said the Dead Sinker was drifting in a certain river stretch—several villagers had spotted it, but when they gathered folks to retrieve it, the thing vanished again.

This kind of Dead Sinker wasn’t exactly dangerous, but it sure was a pain to find. More hands couldn’t hurt.

"Great-grandpa."

"What is it, Little Yuanhou?"

"I want to check on Grandpa Shan."

"As you should. Come along."

Runsheng pedaled the tricycle like a madman, desperate to see his grandpa.

The three sitting in the back gripped the sides awkwardly—because the middle of the cart was packed with gear.

Li Sanjiang’s tools, Li Zhuiyuan’s gear, and Runsheng’s own equipment—he’d loaded everything.

"Hey, Runshenghou, why the heck did you bring so much? We're retrieving a Dead Sinker, not building your grandpa a house."

Runsheng didn’t answer. He was riding too fast—the wind whooshed too loudly to hear complaints.

Li Sanjiang gave up on scolding him and pulled out his Bagua Compass, solemnly calibrating it.

Li Zhuiyuan took out his purple compass too—it’d be needed for finding the Dead Sinker. His great-grandpa’s model was useless for that—fit only for finding penguins in the South Pole.

When they arrived outside Grandpa Shan’s house, they could see him through a collapsed section of the wall—sitting in the yard with a plastered foot propped on a stool, peeling and eating a sweet potato. His dentures lay beside him.

Li Sanjiang got off first, voice ringing out even before he reached the yard.

"Shanpao, your teeth might be bad, but that’s no excuse to eat only slop!"

Grandpa Shan dropped his sweet potato, cheeks flushing red. The old bastard clearly knew word had gotten out about him falling into a cesspit. Flustered, he grabbed his cane to hobble inside and shut the door.

But he moved too quickly, lost his balance, and fell flat.

Footsteps approached fast.

Cursing, Grandpa Shan slammed his fist against the ground, biting his lip in frustration.

Li Sanjiang helped him up, dusted him off, and sat him down.

"Why the hell are you here?" Grandpa Shan grumbled.

Ignoring the snarl, Li Sanjiang grinned. "Shanpao, when something happens, you’ve got to let me know. We’ve been through a lot together—don’t just vanish. I’d be lonely."

The sincerity in his voice softened Grandpa Shan's scowl.

"Sanjianghou..."

"But seriously, dying in a cesspit? If someone hadn’t found you early, you’d have marinated overnight. I’d be gagging through your funeral, dressing you in burial robes with that stink still clinging!"

Grandpa Shan: "..."

Li Sanjiang lit a cigarette, sticking another in Grandpa Shan’s mouth. Then he shouted:

"Zhuangzhuang!"

"Coming!"

Tan Wenbin struck a match and lit both their smokes.

"Shanpao, come stay at my place till you heal up."

"No need. It’s just a broken leg—I can eat and drink on my own."

"Then how about letting Runsheng take care of you?"

Grandpa Shan hesitated, then shook his head. "No, he’s doing fine at your place—eats well, sleeps well, looks stronger. Why drag him back into this mess?"

It sounded touching, but Li Sanjiang waved it off.

"Runshenghou, go check the rice jar and oil jug."

Runsheng ran in, then dashed back out, stunned.

"Grandpa, you really sold all the rice and oil I bought you last time?"

That stuff had to be scraped out and sold piecemeal—just how broke was he?

Grandpa Shan blew a smoke ring, trying to hide his shame.

"I don’t know what came over me. Kept getting good hands but kept losing. Each loss showed me hope again—felt like I was cursed."

"So you kept Runsheng away 'cause if he came home, you wouldn’t even have sweet potatoes left, huh?"

Grandpa Shan turned his face aside, silent.

"You old Shanpao—you're a grandpa! Even if you can’t leave anything to your grandson, don’t ruin him! When Runshenghou wants to marry someday, what girl would say yes after seeing this dump?"

"Now look at me—I’ve saved up plenty for Little Yuanhou. He’ll have his pick of brides in the countryside if not the city!"

Grandpa Shan zeroed in: "What, Little Yuanhou can’t go back to Beijing?"

Li Sanjiang's face darkened. He took a deep drag.

"You screwed up? Lost the kid’s Beijing residency?"

"Shut up!"

"Fine, I’ll shut up. Unless you want a full lecture on why residency matters."

Li Zhuiyuan stepped forward. "Grandpa Shan, your leg’s not too bad, right?"

"Not too bad, just needs some rest." Grandpa Shan waved him off.

He hadn’t realized earlier that the kid losing money was Li Zhuiyuan, not Runsheng. Runsheng had only run the errand, while the real capital came from Little Yuanhou. Yet Grandpa Shan had taken half. And lost it all. What a disgrace.

"Runshenghou," he said, looking at the boy, "listen to Little Yuanhou from now on."

No money to repay? Then pay with loyalty.

Runsheng nodded. "I understand, Grandpa."

“Are they here? Are they here?” came the village chief’s voice from outside. He’d made the call earlier.

Grandpa Shan looked confused. "What’s going on?"

Li Sanjiang snapped, "If that Dead Sinker hadn’t turned up here, we wouldn’t even know you broke your leg."

"Then get to it—go finish the job."

"Mm."

Just as Li Sanjiang stood up, his great-grandson spoke.

"Great-grandpa, stay here and keep Grandpa Shan company. Runsheng-ge can handle it."

Grandpa Shan looked uneasy. "Is Runsheng steady enough?"

Li Zhuiyuan smiled. "He wasn’t before. But he is now, after learning from my great-grandpa. Just watch."

Grandpa Shan snorted. "You little Yuanhou."

Li Sanjiang chuckled, patting his knee.

"Alright then. Runshenghou, you go find that Dead Sinker. If anything comes up, come get me right away."