Beginning with the Ubume Bird - Chapter 120

Chapter 120: Chapter 19: Winter Daylight

Li Yan was sitting in this famous place, Lugou Bridge.

The sun fiercely sprayed down, and black smoke billowed from the top of the green train engine.

Li Yan sat beside the railway tracks, eyeing the distant huge smokestack, with a bottle of Beibingyang soda in his palm, sipping it with relish.

He used to love this drink when he was a kid, but then it disappeared, which was a real pity.

Liang Ye was right next to him, holding an empty bottle.

He stood straight, with weeds growing at his feet.

Liang Ye’s parents’ whereabouts had been found.

Not bad—the old couple was alive, but it wasn’t great either.

Liang Ye’s family had a younger sister, who didn’t get into university, but attended a technical school, which was decent at that time.

Mrs. Liang had a thrombosis and couldn’t get out of bed, while Mr. Liang, nearly sixty, had been laid off and was shoveling coal in the boiler room at the train station, earning eighty-two yuan a month.

When Li Yan went to see them, he said he was a friend of Liang Ye and even helped with half a morning’s work.

It was very real, realistically so downtrodden.

Liang Ye rubbed his hands: “Our family used to live in Cannon Bureau. That place was the public security bureau at the time, those good-for-nothings acting all pompous, but when they actually got to the front of Cannon Bureau, they all chickened out.”

“Brother,” he looked at Li Yan, “were you mischievous when you were a kid?”

Li Yan, poker-faced, replied, “Not mischievous, I was well-behaved.”

Liang Ye gazed at the distant smokestack and spoke, “I was mischievous as a kid. Sometimes, when I caused trouble and got caught by my mom, she’d beat me with a feather duster. In the middle of the night, I’d climb on top of the smokestack.”

“My dad worked at the distillery, and I rarely saw him. It was then that I often got into fights with others, riding a bicycle, armed with iron strips, wooden sticks, bricks, pedaling forward as fast as I could.”

“Later, I formed a band. It took two years to start earning anything, and because of that, I had many rows with my family.”

“I still remember the first time I performed at Happy Park, the money I earned I spent on an expensive scarf for my mom. I know that wasn’t filial piety, it was a matter of pride. I wanted to show them that I was doing well, but after buying that scarf, for two months I had no money for food, I nearly starved to death.”

He chuckled with a trace of tears in his eyes, and for a while, he choked up.

“Actually, I don’t regret being in a band, really.”

As the train passed by, Li Yan counted the cars, remaining silent.

Liang Ye lifted his head, emotions settling down: “Brother, I can tell you’re no ordinary person. I have just one request before you leave, leave some living expenses for the old folks. If you want my pathetic life, I’ll give it to you too.”

Li Yan clenched the Copper Coin against his chest and looked Liang Ye in the eye. Seeming to listen to something, he then said, “Buddy, want to live?”

…

“Really?”

“If Lady Dan says it’s possible, then it’s almost certain. But if it doesn’t work out, don’t blame me.”

“Brother, no more words needed, no more words needed.”

Liang Ye’s voice was excited on the Walkman.

“Enough, save some battery.”

Li Yan pressed the stop button, then asked Lady Dan sitting across the table, “What needs to be done?”

This was a small eatery whose name was unremarkable, located in Nanluogu Alley.

The chef used to be The Master at Nan Laishun, and his culinary skills were authentic.

Li Yan and Lady Dan each ordered a plate of honey twists.

Also known as ‘sugar ears’, they were date syrup in color, fried until translucent and crisp, soft and delicious.

Lady Dan propped her chin in her hand, her smile blooming like a flower, captivating several school-aged boys with bags slung over their shoulders gawking at the entrance.

“You little rascals, what are you staring at?”

The female owner, with a voice thicker than her waist, roared, and the boys scattered with giggles and laughs.

Lady Dan laughed along, unbothered.

It was only after hearing Li Yan’s question that she composed herself: “Similar to the method I used to liberate Nanako, but now, I can no longer achieve what I did back then.”

“So, I need to help you regain your former strength first.”

Li Yan immediately followed up, “What do I need to do?”

Lady Dan caressed her chest with her palm, not looking well.

“I need many souls like the one from the executioner last night, at least four or five more.”

Li Yan nodded in agreement, “Sure, I’ll try my best.”

“Can I ask you a question, Li Yan?”

“Why don’t I just leave some small change and bluff my way through?”

“It’s not that. I think this is indeed the choice you would make,” said Lady Dan, blinking, “General.”

Li Yan felt at ease and grinned, “On this matter, you’re definitely more feminine than Yu Shu.”

No sooner had Li Yan finished his sentence than he saw Lady Dan’s eyelids droop, and he quickly corrected himself.

“Oh, sorry.”

Lady Dan didn’t say anything, quietly finishing off more than half of the remaining honey-dipped fried dough twists, then she replied, “It’s okay.”

After that, she used her chopsticks to scrape the bits of honeyed sugar on the plate together and put them into her mouth.

Li Yan sniffed and pushed his untouched portion towards Lady Dan.

Lady Dan looked up.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

…

Uncle Qin was a gatekeeper…

His wife had died early, and his son was out of town…

Although the old man was of age, his body was still remarkably strong…

So he thought the new guy, Xiao Li, had a real attitude problem!

I’m an old man in my dozens of years, practically with one foot in the grave. Haven’t I been diligently doing my job, trying to contribute to the realization of the country’s Four Modernizations? And you, a young man in your twenties, are ditching your first night shift?

“I’m saying, Xiao Li, this won’t do. If Director Liu comes for an inspection, there will be trouble, and I’ll get reprimanded too.”

Uncle Qin, holding his teacup, indirectly chided Li Yan with his words.

Li Yan, just having woken up, responded with a playful smile:

“Look at you talking. You’ve been here for so many years, Director Liu just came a few years ago; does he even dare to criticize you? I’ll pay attention next time.”

Qin laughed, wagging his finger at Li Yan.

“All nonsense. If I had that kind of influence, do you think I’d still be here guarding the door?”

In fact, Uncle Qin didn’t think it was a big deal.

Xiao Li was sweet-talking and knew how to handle things. In the few days since he arrived, no one had to tell him to carry water or buy meals, even if he was a bit slippery during shifts.

These days security isn’t great, schools are crowded and full of watchful eyes, especially a teachers’ college with many female students,

there are fights over jealousy, girls flirting with local hooligans,

and a strong young man like Li Yan intervening would certainly be more effective than an old man like Qin.

Besides, this afternoon at the school gate, Li Yan had taken down a motorcyclist trying to snatch a purse with just a move of his arm, earning praise from the school leaders by name. The girls in the dorm were talking about the new young security guard who knew martial arts, so he had a bit of a moment to shine, however big or small.

So, unless Li Yan was caught red-handed, tattling wouldn’t work.

Moreover, Uncle Qin himself couldn’t do night shifts at his age, and driving away Li Yan wouldn’t make either of them happy.

The old and the young bantered for over twenty minutes, and the topic drifted off.

“I’m saying, Dayan, New Year’s is in two days. Aren’t you going home for a visit?”

Li Yan, watching TV, gulped down the instant noodles in his mouth.

“Nah, my mom keeps pushing me to get married. It annoys me to no end.”

Li Yan complained, his expression exasperated. Anyone looking at him would see nothing more than a spirited young man from the countryside.

“Find someone here then, like a college girl. I’m telling you, don’t look at…”

The sound in the duty room faded as the old and the young continued their banter.

Suddenly, the night fell.