Chapter 55.3: The Man from the Happy Inn

Tan Wenbin and Zheng Haiyang walked out side by side. A father and son’s bond is deep—Zheng could immediately sense where his father had gone.

Tan Yunlong had spoken privately with Zheng, refraining from mentioning his mother’s situation. Instead, he laid out the stakes clearly: a dangerous person was targeting something belonging to Zheng's family. His grandparents knew but chose not to inform the police, which could endanger the household.

Zheng promptly promised to ask his grandparents the truth.

Then, he hesitated, lips pressed together. “Uncle, is my mom gone too?”

As a fellow sailor, Zheng’s father’s death had been confirmed, but his mother had vanished without a trace and hadn't even returned for the funeral. Deep down, Zheng had already expected the worst.

“That... you’ll need to ask your grandparents. Uncle doesn’t know.”

“Alright. I understand, Uncle.”

Tan Wenbin patted Zheng on the shoulder, pulling him gently outward like sharing a brotherly oath.

“Bro, see how my dad is standing with Brother Little Yuan? You’ve got to listen—maybe not to my dad, but definitely to Brother Little Yuan.

Ignore my dad and maybe you go to jail. Ignore Brother Yuan and you might end up sitting vigil.”

“Brother Bin, I get it. My grandparents are all I have left. I want my family to be okay. Besides... I do feel pretty guilty.”

“What’s wrong?”

“My dad’s gone, maybe my mom too. But I don’t feel that sad. I think I’m a terrible son.”

“Don’t overthink it. Your parents were away most of the year—you barely saw them. It’s natural to feel distant.”

“But they worked hard out there for me.”

“Look, man, you need to let it go. Don’t beat yourself up. The dead don’t come back. If your parents could see you, they wouldn’t want you crying yourself into a hole. They’d want you to live happy and healthy.

Eat well, study hard, get into a good university. You’ve still got your grandparents to care for.”

“Thanks, Brother Bin.”

Just then, Li Zhuiyuan walked up. “Brother Binbin, you got any talisman paper left?”

“Of course. That’s our authenticity badge.”

“Give some to Haiyang. Haiyang, I’ve already put some on your house. Check if they’ve changed color when you get back. Also put some at the bedroom doors for you and your grandparents.

Don’t tell anyone they’re from me.”

“I get it, Brother Yuan. I’ll say they’re peace charms.”

The next morning after study period, as Li Zhuiyuan and Tan Wenbin entered the classroom, Zheng Haiyang approached them quietly.

“I asked my grandparents last night. They told me—when my parents came home last time, they really did bring something back.”

Tan Wenbin asked quickly, “What kind of thing?”

“I can’t describe it well. Let me draw it.” Zheng flipped to a blank page in Tan’s notebook and began sketching.

Tan frowned. “What the hell is this thing?”

“I never saw it myself. Just based on their description.”

Li Zhuiyuan said calmly, “A ding.”

“Holy crap. A national treasure.”

Being high school seniors, they knew what a “ding” represented.

Li Zhuiyuan recalled Zheng’s mother once said it was her first time entering that place—but her husband’s wasn’t.

So, he’d brought it back the first time he went in.

“But my grandparents said it was small…”

“Not all dings are big. What color was it?”

“Dark green.”

“Then yeah, it could be an artifact.”

No wonder the grandparents hid the truth during Tan Yunlong’s second visit. Having lost their children, they now clung to that item even tighter.

“Did you bring it?” asked Tan Wenbin.

Zheng shook his head. “They hid it in the well in the yard. I tried to fish it out with Grandpa last night, but no luck.”

“Then tonight we’ll get Runsheng to do it—he’s a pro.”

Li Zhuiyuan asked, “Any change in the talismans?”

“Checked them last night and again this morning. No color change.”

Tan Wenbin exhaled. “Good. He hasn’t come.”

Li Zhuiyuan corrected him, “Not yet.”

“Will something happen to my family?” Zheng asked, worried.

“You’ve got cops stationed outside,” Li said.

“But they won’t stay long,” added Tan. “A couple days max—can’t push it since there’s no case filed.”

“Brother Yuan, Brother Bin, then I—”

“We’re going to your house tonight,” Li said calmly. “We’ll get that thing out of the well. Then you’ll be fine.”

Tan asked curiously, “And what then? That thing’s a hot potato.”

Li, laying his head down for a nap—he’d spent half the night sketching Little Oriole—muttered as he adjusted his arm-pillow:

“Hand it over to the state.”

Tan asked cautiously, “Isn’t it legal to keep artifacts found in international waters?”

Li, already eyes closed, retorted, “Then take it home yourself.”

“No no no!” Tan immediately shook his head, terrified. “Better give it to the state. All yours, state.”

At lunch, the trio went out to eat. Afterwards, Tan called Aunt Zhang’s shop to tell Runsheng not to bring Ah Li tonight—just the equipment.

Returning to the school gate, they saw Wu Xinhang leaving in his car. The driver focused on the road; Wu animatedly waved from the backseat, beaming as he rehearsed for a meeting.

Inside, a celebratory banner had already been hung:

“Congratulations to our classmate Li Zhuiyuan for winning First Place in the City Math Olympiad!”

Originally it had read “First Prize,” but that had been crossed out and replaced with “First Place.”

Because although many won “First Prize,” only one got a perfect score.

The banner had been pre-made. Principal Wu insisted on the change—no need to redo it now. It looked far more imposing this way!

In this high-stakes district, real achievements were rare. This win was a long-overdue celebration.

Li gave it a glance, then bowed his head and walked on.

Tan dashed back to class, shouting to the impoverished students:

“Quit standing there—get to work! Bind Volumes 2, 3, and 4 together and start selling! Discounts only for those with school aid. No bargaining!”

When Li returned, the classroom had turned into a bustling book fair. Heads crowded inside; even more packed the hallway outside.

The Olympiad announcement had ignited the campus market.

Buyers came from senior, junior, even middle school. Everyone wanted a copy.

To the younger students, the book would be useful eventually. More importantly, the winner would be off to college soon—better grab some good luck while he was still here.

Some kissed the talisman tucked inside, then carefully slid it back into place.

One book slipped near Li’s feet. He glanced at the cover:

“Zhuiyuan’s Secret Scroll.”

The frenzy didn’t die down until the afternoon bell rang.

Finally, the vice-principal and Teacher Sun Qing came to fetch Tan out. The crowd dispersed.

An hour later, Tan returned, beaming.

“Bro, selling workbooks just got easier. You write the problems, school prints and sells them for us.”

“What took you so long?”

“Duh, I had to negotiate our copyright split! Clear accounts between dear friends and all that!”

“Hmm?”

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