Tan Junzi wondered if there was a law of frequency: once you heard about something, it would start happening constantly in your life.
For instance, here she was at the hospital visiting Qianniu. Qianniu’s left arm was in a cast—a fracture—occurring just two weeks after she’d heard about Luo Zihan breaking his own arm while stealing persimmons. Curiously, Qianniu’s injury was somewhat connected to Officer Chen. In fact, Officer Chen had just left the ward before Junzi arrived.
There happened to be a vendor selling dried persimmons downstairs. The ones the school had distributed recently had triggered a craving in her, so she had bought a box to bring up for Qianniu.
At the moment, Qianniu was munching on a dried persimmon while recounting her heroic deeds. Just listening to the description was enough to make Junzi’s heart skip a beat.
"Wasn't he whistling in the girls' restroom? He even cornered Xiao Liu in there. She’s only in the fourth grade; she was scared out of her wits. When I went in, 'Floral Padded Jacket' was already climbing over the stall door. If I’d been a step later... I don’t even want to think about it."
"It was actually terrifying. You know that hallway behind our martial arts hall—it’s eerie, and the passage is always cluttered with junk. I usually don't even dare go to the bathroom there alone. But in that situation, I’m the Senior Sister! My blood rushed to my head, and I dragged that pervert right out of the stall. At first, I actually had the upper hand..."
"Then what happened to your arm?" Junzi gently touched Qianniu’s cast, not daring to apply any pressure.
"Well, you know my martial arts are strong, but Floral Padded Jacket is an adult and he’s powerful. I was holding him by his collar, but he slipped out of that jacket like a loach. He grabbed a stool from the hallway and swung it at me. I could have kicked it, but I have an old injury on my leg and didn't want to take it head-on, so I instinctively blocked with my left arm..."
"It’s a tragedy. I just hope this arm is fully healed by the end of July, otherwise I’ll have to wait until next year for the Taiji Sword competition... Even if it heals, I probably won't be at my usual level... Such bad luck..."
Qianniu sat propped up in the hospital bed, still lamenting the competition. Her arm was fixed and immobile, but her face was full of defiance. She took a spiteful bite of the persimmon. "Where did you buy these? They’re actually pretty good."
"Just downstairs... Forget about the competition for now. They say it takes a hundred days for bones and tendons to mend. Just focus on recovering; you have to take the long view." Junzi quickly tried to talk her out of her reckless thoughts.
Even now, hearing the name "Floral Padded Jacket" made Junzi’s heart tremble. She never expected that madman to sneak in through the back door of the martial arts hall. However, this time he had picked the wrong target. First, he was thrashed by Qianniu (though she was injured in the process), and then he was pinned to the ground by Fat Master and Tall Master, who arrived shortly after and engaged in a lengthy bout of "legitimate self-defense."
Supposedly, Fat Master had charged in carrying a sword. While Tall Master held the man down, Fat Master used the hilt to whack Floral Padded Jacket’s backside several times. Those swords weren't the flimsy pieces of tin used by old ladies in the park; they were solid, professional competition blades. With Fat Master’s strength, it was unlikely Floral Padded Jacket would be getting out of his own hospital bed anytime soon.
Officer Chen had just mentioned that this man had been harassing the community for a long time. He had now been sent to a hospital for forced isolation. Although his mental illness protected him from immediate criminal responsibility, the hospital isolation would ensure he wouldn't be coming out for a very long time.
Junzi then asked Qianniu to describe in detail how the Masters had taught him a lesson. Hearing it once wasn't enough; Junzi made her recount it several times—how they swung, how much force they used, what the Masters shouted, how the pervert wailed, and how the younger disciples cheered...
Junzi felt that Qianniu was incredibly brave. In a way, she felt her grandfather and Qianniu were the same kind of people.
In Junzi’s eyes, Tan Zhengqi couldn't be considered a typical elderly man.
He never believed the health fads on TV or in the newspapers. He drank when he wanted, smoked when he wanted, and ate more meat than Chang Ying. Logically, it shouldn't be possible; he was over seventy, so how could he out-eat a growing teenager? Yet, Tan Zhengqi was the kind of hardcore grandpa who needed braised pork or pig’s ears with his steamed buns for breakfast.
Though he didn't follow the usual path, Tan Zhengqi lived up to his name—he was a man of upright integrity.
One thing that left a deep impression on Junzi was her grandfather’s love for white liquor. He was willing to spend money on the good stuff. Once, he accidentally bought a counterfeit bottle. From then on, every time he finished a bottle, he would smash the neck, wrap it in three layers of newspaper and bubble wrap, secure it with tape, and only then throw it in the trash.
He taught Junzi that breaking the bottle neck was to prevent unscrupulous vendors from picking up intact empties to fill with fake liquor and scam people. Wrapping it so thoroughly was to prevent sanitation workers from cutting their hands when clearing the bins.
Not only that, but Tan Zhengqi was never afraid of trouble. If he encountered a vendor selling fake cigarettes or alcohol, he would immediately call the Consumer Association. Though he was just an ordinary citizen, he possessed a spirit of fighting "dark forces" to the bitter end. He didn't go looking for trouble, but he wasn't afraid of it either; he was filled with a sense of justice.
"Oh, right, Junzi, are you busy Sunday afternoon? Since my arm is in a cast, I don't have to train. Usually, you come to find me, but this week I can come to you." Qianniu picked up another persimmon and asked while eating.
Junzi looked at the Walkman sitting on Qianniu’s bedside table. It was quite old. She picked it up and stuck one earbud in to see what Qianniu usually listened to. "Sunday afternoon... let me think. Oh right, Yuan Guo said she wanted to take me to get my ears pierced... Hey, where do you press 'start' on this thing?" She pressed the button for a while, but the player didn't react.
Qianniu clicked her tongue and took the Walkman back. "Press right here, but the button isn't very sensitive. You have to press down hard." She helped her start it.
The ending theme of *The Eloquent Ji Xiaolan* was just finishing in the earbuds. Junzi let out a surprised "Oh!" and then the song *Hero Who Does He Belong To* began.
Qianniu put in the other earbud. After the song finished, Junzi took hers out excitedly. "I love this song too! *Taiji Master*—have you seen it? This is the opening theme!"
That was a show she had watched religiously with her grandfather. She’d seen it as a child; the final shot of the opening, with Yang Yuqian in his flowing white robes practicing Taiji on the Great Wall, was a classic. It had instantly captured the hearts of both Junzi and Tan Zhengqi.
Qianniu nodded and pressed the eject button. With a *clack*, the player opened, and she showed the cassette to Junzi.
The cover read: *15 Classic TV Theme Songs*.
Junzi carefully looked through the list of fifteen songs and then gripped the cassette, lightly tapping Qianniu’s cast. "Heavens! Our taste in music is exactly the same! These are all my favorites too~"
Qianniu grinned. "It’s great. I was actually planning to use *Hero Who Does He Belong To* as my background music for the Taiji Sword competition... I love Yang Yuqian too. Wu Jing is so handsome! If I get the chance, I want to go to the Great Wall and perform a set of Taiji myself~"
Junzi stood up and mimicked the movements. "I want to go too! Let's go together when the time comes!"
***
On Sunday afternoon, Yuan Guo, Junzi, and Qianniu—with her left arm in a sling—sat on a swaying bus.
Yuan Guo had made the appointment to get their ears pierced a long time ago. When Junzi told her Qianniu was coming along, Yuan Guo had been stunned for a moment before saying, "Sure."
The bus drove like a "Crazy Mouse" carnival ride. At a middle stop, an elderly woman boarded, carrying a blue cloth bag filled with long sticks of incense. As the bus lurched forward, the woman lost her balance. Junzi lunged forward to steady her and gave up her seat.
Seeing Junzi standing, Yuan Guo and Qianniu stood up as well. The three girls didn't mind standing; in the swaying cabin, they began chattering about the Gaokao and the Zhongkao. Tongcheng No. 1 High School had swept the city’s top scorers in both the arts and sciences last year; they wondered who would take the crown this year.
The old woman listened for a while before turning to join the conversation. "Are you girls taking the Gaokao this year? You’re in the same year as my grandson. You should go to Tiahua Temple to burn incense. It’s very popular for praying for academic success and smooth exams. That’s where I’m headed."
"It’s very effective," the woman added. "Take this bus to the second-to-last stop. It’s right there. We can go together."
Yuan Guo thought about it and said, "In that case, there’s no time like the present. Why don't we go burn incense? The ear piercing doesn't matter."
The three of them got off at the same stop as the old woman. She even gave each of them three sticks of incense. "Buying incense at the temple is much more expensive. Take these and go pray to Manjusri Bodhisattva. Speak to the Bodhisattva sincerely, and ask for help with your exams."
Tiahua Temple was a grand place, filled with ancient, towering trees. The main hall enshrined Sakyamuni Buddha, and behind it were three side halls. Manjusri Bodhisattva, whom they sought, was in one of them.
Manjusri was clearly a popular deity. With the Gaokao approaching, the three kneeling cushions were constantly occupied. People had to wait in line just to kowtow; it was a wonder the Bodhisattva didn't get exhausted.
When it was their turn, the three girls piously whispered their wishes, kowtowed three times with resounding thuds, and offered their incense.
After coming out, Junzi said, "I just told the Bodhisattva that I hope he blesses us with smooth exams. Not just the exams, but that everyone gets into the major they like."
At that time, some provinces still followed the policy of submitting university preferences before taking the exams. Tongcheng was one of them. After the first mock exam, their teacher, Li Wei, had one-on-one meetings with everyone. Junzi and Chang Ying had agreed that they didn't necessarily have to go to the same university, but it was best to be in the same city.
Junzi had applied for a very popular major: Mathematical Finance. With her scores, getting into XX University of Finance and Economics shouldn't be a problem. As for why she chose it, she had seen a post online saying it was a good fit for girls and made it easy to find a job. Chang Ying had applied to XX Jiaotong University, with Mechanical Engineering as his first choice. His mock scores were high, but Li Wei suggested he play it safe, so he chose a major with a high enrollment quota.
The two universities were in the same city, a five-hour train ride from Tongcheng—not too far, making it easy to buy tickets home for holidays.
Yuan Guo stepped over the temple threshold. "You should just pray for yourself. Why pray for everyone? The Bodhisattva can't manage that much. Anyway, I prayed that I don't get my period on the day of the exam. If I do, I’m doomed."
Qianniu turned to look at them. "I didn't pray for my studies. My grades are just okay; if I pass, I pass, if I don't, I don't."
Junzi asked, "Then what did you pray for?"
Qianniu tapped her cast and said nothing.
***
One month before the Gaokao, Chang Ying had just ducked into the water room with Junzi’s thermos to fill it when Qin Ke followed him in. Qin Ke hooked an arm around Chang Ying’s neck and dragged him to a corner of the stairwell, where Zhang Da was already waiting.
Seeing Qin Ke and Zhang Da standing together with their hands in their pockets and serious expressions, Chang Ying felt a flash of doubt. *Are they finally going to beat me up?*
"I need to tell you something," Qin Ke began.
"Go ahead."
"Ask Li Wei for three days off and come out of town with us," Qin Ke said.
"What happened?" Chang Ying had a vague feeling it involved Qin Hai and Tan Shuixian, but Zhang Da’s presence was puzzling.
"My father is dead. Pufferfish poisoning at a dinner party," Zhang Da said suddenly.
"Qin Hai and Tan Shuixian were at the same dinner," Qin Ke added.
"Are they dead too?" Chang Ying was shocked.
"No. My father is fading; it’s likely a matter of a day or two. Tan Shuixian is still in a coma," Qin Ke finished briefly. He studied Chang Ying, but the boy remained expressionless. He couldn't tell if it was an act or if he was truly that calm.
"What do you need me to do?" Chang Ying asked.
"My father has a massive estate. The lawyers contacted me saying a portion is for me, and there’s a lot to hand over. There’s too much to do. I can't keep an eye on Tan Shuixian, so I need you to watch for any movement at her hospital. If she wakes up, I’m afraid she’ll... return to Tongcheng. You have to keep her steady. The terms are open—see what she wants. If she wants money, I have it. If she wants the company, I’ll give it. I never planned on taking my father’s company anyway." Qin Ke looked Chang Ying in the eye.
Chang Ying paused, then looked at Zhang Da. "You know too?" He was asking about Junzi’s mother.
Zhang Da avoided his gaze, merely nodding as he patted Chang Ying’s shoulder. "Qin Ke gave me the gist of it. Don't worry, I’ll keep the secret."
And so, on a Tuesday in May, with less than thirty days until the Gaokao, the three teenagers boarded a train out of town.
At such a critical time, the three of them taking leave together was unusual. When Chang Ying told Junzi, she couldn't help but be curious. "What exactly happened?" But Chang Ying didn't say much, only that it was family business for Qin Ke. Junzi couldn't see any clues from Chang Ying’s behavior; he was too composed.
"Come stay at my place for the next few days. My brother is away, and I’m scared to be home alone," Yuan Guo said to Junzi after school.
Junzi looked up at Yuan Guo while packing her bag. "Do you think your brother, Zhang Da, and Chang Ying are hiding something from us?"
Yuan Guo gave a forced smile, then helped zip her backpack and pulled her up. "What are you overthinking for? If my brother had a problem, I’d know. Don't ask so many questions, okay? Come on, I’ll take you to my uncle’s noodle shop for dinner~"
***
For the next few nights, Yuan Guo took Junzi to Old Yuan’s Noodle Shop.
It was Junzi’s first time meeting Yuan Guo’s uncle. She greeted him politely, but Old Yuan’s expression was somewhat unfriendly. Yuan Guo smoothed things over. "Just call him Old Yuan. Don't call him 'Uncle'; he’s not used to it."
"Does your uncle dislike me?" Junzi whispered to Yuan Guo inside the shop.
"...No, he’s just like that. He’s used to being a local thug; it’s a professional habit. He looks at everyone down his nose." Yuan Guo swung her legs, unbothered.
At dinner time, the shop was filled with strange-looking people coming and going. Everyone who entered would give Junzi a once-over. It made her feel very uncomfortable.
"Hey, uncles! Stop staring at my friend! How are we supposed to eat?" Yuan Guo shouted as she stood up, snapping her chopsticks apart.
The others in the shop looked away.
Yuan Guo sat back down and scooped a large spoonful of chili into Junzi’s bowl, stirring it for her. "Just eat. Ignore them. This shop doesn't get much business; the people who come are all my uncle’s old brothers. They’ve probably never seen a schoolgirl eating here before. Except for me, of course."
"Oh." Junzi took a bite of the noodles and was immediately silenced by the spice.
On the third night the boys were away, Junzi was at Yuan Guo’s desk organizing essay materials. Yuan Guo sat on the edge of the bed with a small basin of hot water, soaking her feet. A kettle of freshly boiled water sat beside her.
Every so often, Yuan Guo would add a little more hot water. Looking at Junzi’s focused back, she suddenly spoke. "Junzi, actually, when I asked you to go get your ears pierced, it was a lie."
"Huh?" Junzi turned around, pen in her mouth. "What do you mean?"
"I didn't expect you to bring Qianniu, so I was too embarrassed to say it. I actually wanted to drag you to the hospital with me that day." Yuan Guo added more hot water to the basin.
"What’s wrong?" Junzi put down her pen at the mention of the hospital.
"I told you before, my period isn't normal. I don't know if it’s because... but anyway, my health has always been poor." She didn't specify how, but Yuan Guo tucked her hands under her thighs, watching her feet turn bright red from the heat.
"Before I met you guys, I didn't think having poor health was a problem. I probably didn't expect to live very long anyway. I just wanted to be happy day by day. My own pleasure was all that mattered."
"It sounds childish, but I used to change boyfriends constantly. I dated jerks, and I dated good guys. I dated people I liked, and people I didn't... I don't know why I did it. Maybe I just wanted some sense of control over my life. My life was a mess, but seeing others heartbroken and hysterical over me gave me a secret sense of satisfaction."
"That lasted through most of middle school, until I met Liu Kan, and then you guys."
"Slowly, I realized I was just trying to use other people’s voids to fill my own. But in reality, that only made my own void larger and my life worse."
"Liu Kan... he’s not great at studying, he’s not the smartest, and his looks are just okay—nothing compared to my brother... but for some reason, when I’m with him, I feel full. I feel a sense of stability. So I told myself: Yuan Guo, look at you. You’re young, but you’ve had so many relationships. You’ve seen good people and bad. You’ve done good things and bad. Since you had the guts to trash your own life and waste your time, why don't you have the guts to make your life better? The latter takes more courage, but I want to try."
"I’ve said a lot, and the future is uncertain, but right now I want to be responsible for myself, and for Liu Kan," Yuan Guo said.
Junzi walked over and crouched down, looking up at her. She had to crouch because Yuan Guo kept her head lowered.
"That’s wonderful," Junzi said with total sincerity. Yuan Guo smiled when she heard that.
"So I want to see a doctor and get my body back in order. I used to be completely unafraid of death. I could go three days without eating and only drink soda. I’m only eighteen, but I feel like I have the body of an old woman. I didn't care before, but now I care immensely. I want to get better." Yuan Guo lifted the kettle and found it empty. She shoved it toward Junzi. "Stop looking at me! Quick, go get more hot water! I’m going to be healthy! I’m soaking my feet!"
At one in the morning, Junzi woke up thirsty. She went to the living room for water, but she didn't quite know how to use Yuan Guo’s kettle. As she was fumbling in the dark kitchen, she heard the lock turn. The front door opened, and Junzi turned to see a travel-worn Qin Ke entering.
Both were startled to see each other in such a setting. Qin Ke looked down at Junzi’s bare feet. His house didn't have extra slippers, and her feet looked pale and smooth against the floor.
"I thought you said you were coming back tomorrow? How did the family business go?" Junzi was in her pajamas. Though she was fully covered, she felt a bit self-conscious standing before him.
"It went okay," Qin Ke replied briefly. He dropped his backpack and walked into the kitchen, kicking his slippers toward Junzi, but she kicked them back.
Qin Ke didn't insist. "Why aren't the lights on?" He leaned over to turn on the small light on the range hood.
As he approached, Junzi stepped aside. Qin Ke noticed the movement but didn't comment.
"Are you hungry? I’m making a bowl of noodles. Do you want some?" Qin Ke filled a pot with water and turned on the gas stove.
"..." Junzi realized she actually was hungry. She’d been eating at Old Yuan’s the last few days, and being watched by a bunch of "uncles" in floral shirts and gold chains had made her too nervous to eat much. Her stomach gave a timely growl.
"I’ll crack two eggs then," Qin Ke said with a smile.
It was just simple dried noodles with drops of sesame oil and soy sauce, served steaming hot. Junzi and Qin Ke ate facing each other in silence. Qin Ke didn't look at her, and she kept her face buried in her bowl.
She suddenly remembered the low-scoring essay Luo Zihan had written: *Late-night noodles with a soft-boiled egg.*
As she was dazing out, she heard a *crunch*. She slowly pulled a piece of eggshell from her mouth. She held it up to look at it, and Qin Ke pulled the trash can over. "Throw it here. Sorry, I’ve never been very good at cracking eggs."
When she finished, Junzi sat there not knowing what to say. Qin Ke looked up at her. "Once you’re done, pack your things and head down. Chang Ying is waiting for you downstairs."
"What?" Junzi jumped up from her seat. "Why didn't you say so earlier?"
In the dim light of the kitchen, Qin Ke’s eyes slowly rose, looking at her intensely through the gloom. "I did it on purpose."
The boy’s tone was flat, tinged with a bit of a smile. "I just wanted to make him wait a little longer."
"You... I’m leaving then. Tell Yuan Guo when she wakes up." Junzi didn't bother with him further. She ran to pack, not even waiting to change her clothes, rushing out in her pajamas. Qin Ke watched her feet padding around the house as she frantically stuffed things into her bag, terrified of making the boy downstairs wait a second longer. As the door closed, Qin Ke reached for his cigarette pack and pulled one out, placing it between his lips.
With her hair messy and her bag in hand, Junzi leaped down the stairs two at a time. Rounding the corner of the first floor, she saw Chang Ying in the moonlight. Dressed in black, he was leaning against the building door, wearing his baseball cap, with his luggage at his feet.
"Chang Ying!" Junzi practically charged at him. Chang Ying caught her in his arms, like catching a bird flying toward him.
"What took so long?" Chang Ying took off his cap and placed it on her head, covering her bird’s nest of hair.
Junzi felt a bit sheepish. "He didn't tell me you were down here. He even made me a bowl of noodles."
Chang Ying thought about it and guessed Qin Ke’s intention—he just wanted to make him wait. A corner of his mouth quirked up. "Was it good?"
"It was okay," Junzi said shyly.
"Food always tastes better at someone else's house. You don't usually like noodles that much at home." Chang Ying wordlessly took her bag, and the two began to walk.
"Don't worry about that. You three were so mysterious. Is everything handled?" Junzi turned the cap around so the brim was at the back.
Chang Ying just gave a hum of affirmation, saying no more. He looked down at the girl, his gaze tender. "I missed you."
"Then let's go home!" Junzi hopped up to throw an arm around his shoulder, practically hanging off him. Chang Ying carried both their bags in one hand while using the other to steady her waist, afraid she might fall.
The night in Tongcheng was silent. As the two walked, the moonlight followed them all the way.
***
