Chapter 33.2: What Did I Do?

As they spoke, Li Zhuiyuan saw Ah Li coming up the stairs. Today, she wore a traditional court lady's dress, appearing both dignified and adorable.

Li Sanjiang, drying his head and smacking his lips, said, “Can’t lie, Little Yuanhou, that girl’s a real looker. I used to think calling someone a ‘natural beauty’ was just flattery—until I saw this girl.”

Li Zhuiyuan nodded. “Ah Li really is beautiful.”

In the past, elders took great joy in playing matchmaker whenever boys and girls were seen together.

But Li Sanjiang only shook his head and sighed. “If only she weren’t sick.”

He still remembered the moment she lashed out after he gave her some candy.

“Taigong, Ah Li isn’t sick.”

“Fine, she’s not. You’re the sick one, okay?”

“Mm.”

Li Zhuiyuan knew it was true—his condition had just flared up that morning.

“Oh right, Taigong, Brother Runsheng is heading back to Xiting to visit Grandpa Shan today. I want to go with him.”

“Go on, then. Oh, wait—I’ll grab some money from my room so you can buy something to bring along.”

“Taigong, you’re really kind to Grandpa Shan.”

“I just don’t want that mountain bumpkin to starve after gambling away all his money.”

Li Sanjiang went to fetch some cash, then headed downstairs, shouting, “Tinghou, make breakfast a bit early today—I’m starving!”

Li Zhuiyuan looked at the money in his hand, added his remaining pocket change, and smiled. He had enough capital now.

Ah Li glanced at him, then at the money in his hands. Her lashes fluttered slightly.

Out in the courtyard, Liu Yumei was making tea.

Li Sanjiang stretched as he descended and said with a sigh, “Yo, looks like it’s going to be a bright, sunny day.”

Liu Yumei responded, “Not going out to stretch your legs today?”

“What’s the point? With weather like this, the best thing to do is lie on a rattan chair, bask in the sun, and doze off.”

She smiled and said no more, lifting the teacup with her right ring and index fingers.

As she raised it, the cup suddenly trembled, splashing tea everywhere.

Ignoring the burn on her reddened fingertips, Liu Yumei stared in disbelief at the half-empty cup.

“How did so much spill all at once?”

Sure, the moon waxes and wanes, tides rise and fall—but usually there's a pattern. Such a drastic fluctuation was unheard of.

What on earth had just happened?

At that moment, Li Zhuiyuan and Qin Li came downstairs.

Liu Yumei naturally turned her gaze to the boy, studying his face. Meanwhile, her hidden left hand began a subtle tapping motion with her fingertips.

To amuse the girl, Li Zhuiyuan made a silly face at Ah Li.

Liu Yumei stopped her hand movement—the boy’s physiognomy had changed.

Li Zhuiyuan turned to Liu Yumei and greeted her politely. “Good morning, Granny Liu.”

“Morning, Little Yuan.”

He headed to the kitchen to help Aunt Liu serve porridge and pickles.

Spotting some freshly made incense drying in the northwest corner of the courtyard, he asked, “Aunt Liu, could you help me make some shorter incense sticks?”

“Of course. How short?”

“About the length of a cigarette.”

“But incense that short will burn out in no time.”

“That’s fine. Just enough for one smoke.”

“Alright, I’ll make some for you.”

“Thanks, Aunt Liu.”

After breakfast, Li Zhuiyuan and Runsheng set off.

Runsheng was thrilled to be going home, singing as he pedaled.

He sang a lot of songs, but only knew the catchiest lines from each, so to Li Zhuiyuan in the backseat, it sounded like a medley.

Xiting Town wasn’t far. Even with the singing, Runsheng pedaled fast, and they soon reached his house.

Compared to other village homes, this one was especially rundown.

Runsheng called out several times after entering, but got no response. He came back out and said, “Little Yuan, Grandpa isn’t home—probably out playing cards. But we’ve still got rice and flour at home, so we won’t starve, hehe.”

“Then let’s go find Grandpa Shan.”

“Come on, I’ll take you.”

The village had several “halls,” usually set up in private homes. Small ones had three or four tables; bigger ones, over a dozen.

By local rule, players had to pay for tea, and if you won big, the owner got a share of your winnings.

Besides tea, sunflower seeds, and peanuts, hall owners also helped round up players—which made or broke their business.

It was summer—not peak season. That came around New Year.

That’s when all the migrant workers returned home.

Many scrimped all year, then blew their hard-earned money on fancy clothes, expensive cigarettes, and gambling marathons.

More often than not, they got cleaned out.

Each village had a few regular loafers who gambled year-round. For them, New Year’s was the harvest—time to win enough to live on for the next year.

The returning workers, out of practice and naïve, got crushed. Some lost everything in days, went into debt, or worse—skulked back to the city before the holiday even ended.

These were the stories Runsheng shared on the way, trying to talk Li Zhuiyuan out of gambling.

Li Zhuiyuan found Runsheng oddly endearing. Naive at heart, but surprisingly observant. And when he fought—downright formidable.

“Brother Runsheng, you know Grandpa Shan always loses. Why don’t you stop him?”

“He’s my grandpa. I gotta do what he says. Just like you’re my little brother—I gotta do what you say.”

“You’re the big brother.”

“My grandpa says I’m slow. This life, I only listen to two kinds of people.”

“Which two?”

“One is him. He says he’s slow too, but at least he won’t harm me, even if he drags me into hardship.

“The other is smart people. They might harm me, but only after I’ve had a taste of good days.”

They found Grandpa Shan at a small hall on the west side of the village, playing cards. Only one table was going, a four-player game of Landlord.

When they walked in, Grandpa Shan had just put down his cards and was paying up.

“Yo, Runshenghou is back!”

“Runshenghou, long time no see!”

“Your grandpa was just talking about you!”

The other players clearly knew him well.

Grandpa Shan stood up, patted Runsheng’s arm, and laughed. “Good—eating well at Li Sanjiang’s, eh? Look at you, more solid than ever.”

He looked like a man proud his cattle were well-fed by the neighbors.

“Grandpa, Little Yuan’s here too.”

“Grandpa Shan.”

“Mmhmm, Little Yuanhou.” He reached for his money on the table, hesitated, and said, “It’s bad luck to touch money while gambling. Tonight, I’ll buy you some hot food.”

“Sure thing, Grandpa Shan.”

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