Chapter 50.3: Rainlight

"Just trying to make a living, you know? There's only so much stuff in my belly—I can't just pour it all out at once. Besides, this place ain't exactly teeming with folks who can sit through multiple shows a day. Anyone that free probably doesn’t have a cent to spare."

Li Zhuiyuan asked curiously, "Master Yu, where are you from?"

"Kid, you mean my hometown?"

"Yeah."

"Hard to say, really. My folks died young, and I've been drifting along the Yangtze since I was little—starting from Mountain City, through Jingchu, all the way to the river mouth. Been making loops like that year-round.

So if you ask me, my hometown? It's probably the river itself."

Li Zhuiyuan smiled—it was an amusing answer, but it also tugged at something grim inside him. He’d heard almost the exact same words from Liu Yumei.

"It's still early, so how about another spooky story?"

"Yes, yes!" Runsheng clapped enthusiastically.

"I love these," Tan Wenbin said, balling his fists in excitement.

Yu Shu began his tale.

But Li Zhuiyuan felt something was off as soon as it started. Set during the late Ming and early Qing, the story followed a scholar en route to the capital for his exams. His boat capsized, and he was rescued by a woman named Bai. He became enamored with her and called her Bai Family Matron.

Before Yu Shu could continue, Li Zhuiyuan covered his eyes and hissed, "Runsheng, Binbin, my eyes hurt. Can we go back so I can take my medicine?"

If it had been anything else, those two wouldn’t have budged. But since it involved Zhuiyuan’s eyes, they didn’t dare delay. They said goodbye to Yu Shu and rushed him home on a tricycle.

On the way back, faced with their worried questions, Li Zhuiyuan confessed.

"My eyes aren’t really hurting. I just suspect that guy’s identity."

The moment he mentioned the Bai Family Matron, it was only a matter of time before the term "Dead Sinker" came up. That would have changed Runsheng and Tan Wenbin’s expressions instantly, tipping off the storyteller.

That was why Li Zhuiyuan faked the eye pain—to exit early.

After hearing the whole thing, Runsheng sighed, "Looks like we ran into a fellow practitioner."

Tan Wenbin stared blankly for a moment. "Are people in our line of work always this... talented?"

"You’ve got your talents too. You make paper effigies," Runsheng replied.

Tan Wenbin rolled his eyes. "Gee, thanks."

Though surprised, neither of them was scared. One, they hadn't experienced the Bai Family Matron firsthand. Two, they didn’t know Liu Yumei’s true nature.

The former was tied to Liangliang’s privacy; the latter was a Qin-Liu family secret—not something Zhuiyuan could spill.

Back home, they found that Great-Grandpa wasn’t around, though someone had made and eaten instant noodles—he must’ve gone out.

The three returned to their routines: Zhuiyuan to his “reading,” Runsheng watched TV, and Binbin worked on exercises.

At lunch, Great-Grandpa was still absent, so Runsheng cooked porridge.

By dinner, he still hadn’t returned, and it was porridge again.

Porridge was fine, but going from lavish to plain was hard. Without Aunt Liu calling out meal times, even Zhuiyuan felt his body clock was out of sync.

While spooning porridge that evening, Tan Wenbin muttered, "Funny, it was Great-Grandpa who suggested porridge, and now he’s probably out feasting."

No one was worried, though. Li Sanjiang often stayed out for meals and drinks.

On that quiet summer night, Runsheng and Tan Wenbin were glued to their show, Chen Zhen.

Li Zhuiyuan sat beside them, doing his bedtime eye exercises. As he massaged his temples and traced his eye sockets, the sound of cars and motorcycles came from the village road.

Like he’d been electrocuted, Tan Wenbin flipped off the couch and into his seat at the study table, clicked on his desk lamp, and struck a deep-thinking pose over his homework.

Runsheng turned and asked, "What’s up with you?"

Zhuiyuan guessed, "Binbin, is your dad back?"

"Yup!"

He could recognize his father’s motorcycle engine from a mile away. As a kid, he’d hear that sound and instantly turn off the TV to pretend he was doing homework.

But they waited... and waited. No motorcycle came closer. No one walked up the slope.

"Your dad ditch you?" Runsheng joked.

"Your dad ditched you."

"My dad really did ditch me."

"Cheater."

After a pause, Tan Wenbin muttered, "Sorry."

Runsheng chuckled. "Heh heh heh."

Tan Wenbin stood. "He’s not here for me. Zhuiyuan, Runsheng—want to go check it out? Could be another case in the village."

Runsheng shook his head. "Nope. Commercial break says the good part’s coming."

"I’ll go with you, Binbin."

"Sweet. Let’s go, Zhuiyuan."

Hand in hand, they headed out. At Aunt Zhang’s shop, they asked where the car and motorcycle had gone.

She was munching on sunflower seeds. Glancing northwest, she said, "Headed toward Big Beard’s old place."

On the way there, Tan Wenbin asked nervously, "Zhuiyuan, why do you think my dad’s going there? You think... something’s been found out?"

"No idea," Zhuiyuan replied.

If something had blown up, it would probably be the identity of the Water Monkey that died.

Several police cars and motorcycles were parked outside Big Beard’s house. Officers were flashing their torches around.

Not that they’d find much now. The fishpond was filled in, and trees had been planted all over the land.

"Hey, Zhuiyuan, I see Great-Grandpa! He’s up on the slope."

"He okay?"

"Yeah. No cuffs or anything. He’s just smoking."

"Binbin? Is that you?"

"It’s me, Uncle Zhao."

"What are you doing here?"

"I’m staying with relatives."

"Alright. I’ll go get your dad."

"Uncle Zhao, please tell him Zhuiyuan came with me."

"Sure."

Soon, Tan Yunlong walked over.

"Dad!" Tan Wenbin waved cheerfully.

"Step aside." Ignoring his son, Tan Yunlong went straight to Zhuiyuan and whispered, "Someone from the higher-ups came today. This morning, our precinct picked up your Great-Grandpa. Had lunch with him. Spent the afternoon touring a few places—Xiting Town, Shigang. All spots he’s retrieved corpses from."

"Uncle, who were they?"

"No idea, but they weren’t from Criminal Investigations."

"Is Great-Grandpa in trouble?"

"No, they just wanted some intel. Treated him like a guide, asked about past events. This house and the land around it—they’re all in his name, right?"

"Yeah."

"Don’t worry. It’s nothing serious. They’re almost done."

"Thanks, Uncle."

"Don’t mention it. This isn’t a case. No confidentiality rules apply."

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