Chapter 6

Gan Qing helped her with the luggage: "Don't hunch over, stand up and walk around a bit, otherwise your stomach will hurt later."

Yu Lanchuan: "Hmm, come up, I will open the door for you"

He then rummaged through and picked up the torn shirt again, intending to cut it up for use as a rag

No longer angry

The old man taught him back then, partly to entertain him and partly out of concern that sitting for too long would be detrimental to his health, encouraging him to get up and stretch his muscles. There was no expectation of teaching him anything remarkable, as Yu Lanchuan did not seem to possess a particularly patient nature. Moreover, the "Seven Techniques of the Cold River" did not quite resonate with him—"Pleasingly upright, calm and expansive"—these eight characters, including punctuation, had no connection to Yu at all. In any case, the great-uncle did not perceive this. Furthermore, the "Seven Techniques of the Cold River" did not quite resonate with him—"Pleasingly upright, calm and expansive"—these eight characters, including punctuation, had no connection to Yu at all. In any case, the great-uncle did not perceive this.

The owl roommate, feeling wronged, took a sip of the hot drink and said, "You are much better than my ex-boyfriend"

A week later, her owl roommate finally could not hold on any longer, leaving behind the coupons and plush dog she had saved up for Ganqing, and returned to her hometown

After getting off the plane, he took a taxi and told the driver: "Master, to No. 110, Rongxian Hutong."

Yulan Chuan spent his entire youth by the side of that old man. During those most rebellious years, he also hoped to grow into a man like him, with his head held high and his feet firmly on the ground, offering half a bowl of Erguotou to the ends of the earth, with sleeves billowing in the wind, able to handle any situation with ease

Last year, at the end of the year, the elderly Yu Huaide arrived in Sichuan. It is said that "young people should not enter Sichuan, and old people should not leave Shu." Upon his arrival, the old man took a liking to the place and decided to stay long-term. He joyfully spent half a year exploring Sichuan, wandering from east to west and savoring the local delicacies. After feeling that he had enjoyed enough and that the time was right, he found a picturesque mountain valley, took a few photos, stuffed his farewell letter and personal belongings into his camera bag, sat by a small stream, took off his shoes, and dipped his feet into the clear stream water. After resting for a while, he passed away suddenly. Three days later, a few tourists on a self-driving trip discovered him.

It may be to cater to Lord Lan's "Self-Examination Edict"—especially the last sentence—that his stomach let out a long and twisted groan.

After finishing two rounds of boxing, Yu Lanchuan felt as if he had lost two pounds. He opened the balcony window and leaned on the window sill to enjoy the breeze and cool off.

The long-time residents of the alley behind the mud pit preferred to avoid trouble, so no one spoke up

Before she could finish her sentence, the owl roommate let out a loud "Aow" and cried. Ganqing was startled by the noise and turned around in surprise to look at her

Hello, may I ask if this is Mr. Yu Lanchuan?

"It is my grandfather, what happened?"

Great-uncle is broad-minded and daring to take on responsibilities, spending his entire life being eager to help others. Whenever someone comes from afar seeking assistance, regardless of whether he knows them or not, he never finds it troublesome. If he were in Yanning now, he would dig three feet into the ground to uncover that group of scammers, to see whether they are inherently bad or have encountered some difficulties.

Why am I so unlucky... Why am I not allowed to stay... Why is my salary being deducted! Why is it raining! Why is my period here!

The owl roommate said: "No, it is my ex-boyfriend's ex-girlfriend"

It is said that the group of scammers has just arrived from out of town, possessing some martial arts skills, with the elderly lady being the most formidable. They have come to Yanning, employing some low-level tricks to swindle and deceive everywhere, specifically targeting young individuals who appear to be easy prey.

This set of boxing consists of seven forms, which are a variation of swordsmanship. His balcony is too small for practicing sword techniques. The swordsmanship was taught to Yu Lanchuan by his great-grandfather, known as "The Seven Secrets of the Cold River," which emphasizes "a vigorous and upright demeanor, calmness, and expansiveness," embodying the spirit of a gentleman

In the subway station, there is an echo that amplifies the three words "Aunt Flo" to a grandiose extent. Passengers returning late pass by sporadically; some glance at her, while others hurriedly walk by with their headphones on, indifferent.

He must first take the old man back home

Yu Lanchuan could not be bothered with him, always feeling that when she was his age, her mind was much more mature

Yu Lanchuan was taken aback, his chest inexplicably tightening—Yu Huaide was his great-granduncle

The owl roommate let out a hoot, lifted its two eyes from its knees, glanced at her, sniffled, and extended its little claws, slowly reaching out.

His mobile payment is linked to his bank card. Whenever he spends money, he receives a text message notifying him of the change in his account balance. Faced with the pop-up balance, Yu Lanchuan did not dare to look too long; he only glanced at it, and his heart felt as cold as his stomach.

No one expected that he actually practiced for fifteen years straight

Every year, July and August are peak seasons for renting houses, as a large number of recent graduates moving out of school need a place to stay. Additionally, many individuals like Gan Qing, who have been evicted, are also searching for affordable accommodations. Consequently, the market becomes particularly competitive, and rental prices soar. Sometimes, after searching online for a long time, one can only find a price that is acceptable, but when calling, the property is either already rented out or the landlord suddenly wants to raise the price

"Alright, stop crying now," Gan Qing said calmly. "Look, even though it's raining, we haven't gotten soaked. This heavy rain won't last long; by the time we get out of the subway, it should have stopped. What a stroke of bad luck! You have such a considerate friend who is willing to take us in at this late hour. Is he one of your former classmates?"

My roommate, the owl, said: "My ex-boyfriend is a scumbag"

For the following week, Ganqing slept on the floor at others' homes while searching for a place to live.

At that moment, a muffled thunder sounded in the distance, rolling over, followed by the rise of the wind. In less than a moment, the torrential rain, which could no longer be contained, fell suddenly without any warning

Gan Qing vaguely felt that this remark was a compliment to her, and being rendered speechless by the praise, she could only sigh and say, "Let's go quickly"

Granduncle used to often say, "Chinese martial arts are vast and profound, but unfortunately, not much has been passed down." There are many lost teachings within this, which Yu Lanchuan has never pondered over; he has always regarded the Seven Secrets Sword as a form of exercise. During times of restlessness or fatigue, regardless of whether it is the body or the mind that feels discomfort, after two rounds of practice, he sweats profusely and feels just right

There was a sudden pause over there, followed by an apology, and then the question was asked: "Excuse me, Mr. Yu Huaide, is this your relative?"

Gan Qing understood the route map and said: "We need to hurry, otherwise we might miss the last train during the transfer, you..."

As the takeout would take another half an hour, Yu Lanchuan opened the computer and prepared to get to work

When my great-uncle was around fifteen or sixteen years old, he experienced the invasion of China by the Japanese army. He joined a grassroots anti-Japanese organization and went to the battlefield, where he was injured by shrapnel from a shell. Since then, he lost his ability to have children, which is why he regards the descendants of his younger brother as his own. The old man is quite robust; every year he tells others that he is still young, only sixty-nine, and he has been "sixty" for several decades. To this day, there are still people who believe him

However, there is a distance of one hundred thousand light years between ideals and reality. Just look at those university students who struggle with advanced mathematics. How many of them said in their childhood that they wanted to become scientists when they grew up

However, on the other hand, not bringing a mobile phone during the retreat means that one cannot order takeout, which is also a problem

"Why must one show off?" Yu Lanchuan, with a serious expression, questioned himself in front of the mirror, "In front of a salted fish, even if you are handsome enough to shatter the universe, does it hold any value? Can it cover the cost of a dry cleaning? You really are just full and looking for trouble!"

Yu Lanchuan's adolescent delusions came and went like the wind; once cured, he embarked on the mainstream life of college entrance examinations, studying abroad, and career advancement. By the time he realized it, he had already been galloping down a path that was in stark contrast to his ideals for many years

The girl cried as suddenly as the storm outside, without any buffer, immediately wailing to the point of losing herself.

It is fundamentally unrealistic

Boss Meng added Yu Yan on WeChat and promised to report any clues to the police officers at any time in the future. This matter can only be left as it is for now

Furthermore, how could he possibly be like an old man

The owl roommate's cries, which had been fierce and clawing, gradually subsided. After a while, she sniffled and stood up awkwardly.

Gan Qing does not usually take the subway, as it is more expensive than the bus. Upon entering, she quickly studies the route map on the wall. Her owl roommate contacted a friend and took Gan Qing along to visit. The friend's home is relatively far, requiring them to cross a large part of the city, and they will need to transfer while taking the subway.

Yu Lanchuan gave Yu Yan a ride along the way. By the time they arrived home, it was already nearly 10 o'clock. The door to the little one's room was still closed, and it was unclear whether they had fallen asleep or were sulking.

Gan Qing: "... ..."

Once the owl roommate left, Gan Qing also felt embarrassed to continue staying at her "ex-girlfriend's" house

The owl roommate crouched down, holding her stomach, with a large bag for packing thrown at her feet. There was too much stuff, and the zipper had burst open slightly, revealing a plush dog caught from a claw machine. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of it and, in a fit of frustration, yanked the little dog out and threw it away, nearly tripping a passerby

Yu Lanchuan thought aimlessly, it was better in ancient times when heroes could easily retreat into seclusion, finding a remote corner of the mountains to hide away, where no one could find them

Gan Qing: "Shall I... get you... some hot water?"

Yu Lanchuan put down the phone in confusion, momentarily at a loss for words

She helplessly crossed her waist beside her, then walked to the vending machine, rummaged through some coins, bought a bottle of hot drink, patted her owl roommate on the head, and opened the bottle cap for her: "Here."

She closed the store early and went to the Tianyi Crawfish restaurant to help carry two boxes of beer. After wandering around aimlessly for a while, she hesitantly slipped into the kitchen: "Uncle Meng... last time you mentioned finding someone to take care of the old lady, have you found a suitable person?"

Uh... Mr., I hope you find solace in your grief

He glanced at his shirt in the dressing mirror, his heart aching like a knife. If it were just a few buttons that had fallen off, he could still manage to sew them back on, but there was a tear along the fabric's texture at the chest area, measuring the length of a finger. Given his own sewing skills, it was certainly beyond repair.

Gan Qing and her owl roommate rushed into the subway station at the last moment, narrowly avoiding being drenched like a wet chicken

Gan Qing: "... ... I can see it now."

Gan Qing hurriedly went to apologize, running over in her slippers, picked up the little dog, and had just placed it down when her owl roommate pulled it out again, once more tossing the unfortunate little dog outside: "Why can't I throw it! It's my thing, I can throw it!"

Of course, this does not save much money, but "frugality" itself can sometimes be likened to an anesthetic, which can slightly numb the pain of poverty on a psychological level

He stared blankly at the report he had to review overnight for a while, his mind racing like a stage play, unable to calm down. He then got up and changed into a loose-fitting tracksuit and went to the balcony to throw a few punches.

In recent years, social safety education has been quite effective, and everyone understands that life is more precious than money. So far, the victims have been quite cooperative; as soon as they sense something is amiss, they promptly accept their misfortune. Both parties exchange money for release, and the situation remains relatively calm, without any incidents of physical violence.

Boss Meng from the muddy alley knows his great-uncle, and out of respect for the elder, he shared a few honest words with them

Yu Lanchuan then remembered that he had not yet taken the time to have dinner, so he listlessly took off his tattered shirt, stuffed it into a garbage bag, and took out his phone to order takeout

Gan Qing: "... ..."

It may rain, as a hint of earthy scent gradually rises in the air, damp and moist

Ah, adolescence

He has been out for just a short while, and already there are more than ten unread messages in WeChat and his email. This world feels transparent, as if everyone is tied to a terminal without any strings attached, bombarded by various information twenty-four hours a day, never ceasing for a moment. Even in the absence of noise around him, it makes him feel that life is very chaotic

After all, the old man has a pension and does not have a mortgage.

Meanwhile, after handling the affairs of her great-uncle, Yu Lanchuan returned to Yanning with the old man's ashes

Live in a very divine manner, die in a very divine manner

At that moment, the phone rang. Yu Lanchuan thought it was the food delivery that had arrived and casually answered it

In his later years, he lived a very carefree life, using his pension to travel around in a dilapidated off-road vehicle. Wherever he found appealing, he would stay for a while. In recent years, his whereabouts became increasingly elusive, and none of his relatives or friends could locate him. Yu Lanchuan had not seen him for nearly two years.

The owl roommate was drenched in sweat, with long hair sticking to the face in tangled strands, panting in a state of shock.

When ideals are too distant, they will automatically collapse into fanciful daydreams