Chapter 009: An Octogenarian Friend

In this life, we speak not of what comes in the next.

After watching Li Xuan’s parents depart, my grandfather emerged from the back room with Principal Liu in tow.

“Boss Jiang, Li Xuan and that ghost infant… they won’t come after me again, will they?” Principal Liu was genuinely terrified. He continued, “If it’s not settled yet, then tonight… tonight I won’t leave!”

My grandfather burst into hearty laughter. “Ah, Principal Liu, don’t worry—when Jiang Huai takes charge, one of him is worth two.”

Seeing Principal Liu was still uneasy, my grandfather swore a fierce oath. “Principal Liu, if you see that ghost infant and Li Xuan again, I’ll refund you double tomorrow!”

With words like these, Principal Liu had no room to protest. Glancing at his soiled clothes, he decided to head home immediately. But before he left, he looked at me and said, “Jiang Huai, come back to school tomorrow for classes. As for the misunderstanding, I’ll issue a notice to clear your name.”

“I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions so quickly. I should have done a proper investigation.”

Of all the things Principal Liu had ever said, this was the one that felt most comforting to me.

I grinned. “Thank you, Principal Liu. I appreciate you clearing my name, but I won’t be coming back.”

My grandfather didn’t seem surprised at all when he heard me say this. He merely smiled, eyes narrowed, and watched me as if very pleased by my choice.

Seeing Principal Liu’s confusion, I explained, “I’m better suited to being here. There’s no need to try and change my mind.”

Principal Liu regarded me with a complicated expression. After a moment’s thought, I added, “Remember to drink ginger tea for a week after you get home, and use mugwort boiled water for your baths for a week as well—to ward off bad luck.”

Principal Liu nodded, “Jiang Huai, if you ever need my help with anything, you can come to me at any time.”

I’d probably only need Principal Liu’s help again when my own child starts school.

I handed him an umbrella. “Principal Liu, you are a good teacher, and a good principal.”

To admit one’s mistakes and change is among the greatest of virtues—though the words are simple, few people manage to live up to them. Most choose to persist in their errors to the end.

As I watched Principal Liu walk away, I turned to find my grandfather’s face dark and stormy!

Instinctively, I took a step back and ventured, “Grandpa? What’s the matter?”

Smack!

“Ow!”

I never expected my grandfather to leap up and smack me right on the forehead.

“Where’s my hemp rope?” he demanded, gesticulating furiously. “The things in your backpack are all soaked, that’s fine—but what about my piece of hemp rope? Do you know how much effort I put into making that?”

I was doomed.

Frozen by his question, I said nothing, stiff as a board.

Seeing me like this, my grandfather gave me a kick from behind and issued a dire ultimatum.

Within half a year, I had to make him a new hemp rope exactly like the old one—or he’d cut off all ties with me!

What could I do? I could only agree—I certainly didn’t want to be a child without a grandfather.

Originally, I was supposed to accompany my grandfather the next day to preside over Li Xuan’s memorial, but when I woke up in the morning, my ears were inflamed and leaking yellow fluid with a foul smell.

That’s when I remembered my eardrum had been ruptured last night and water had gotten in. Helpless, I could only ask Grandpa for leave and go to the hospital first.

By the time both my ears had been treated and I hurried from the hospital to the funeral, the ceremony was already drawing to a close.

I straightened my clothes, went to Li Xuan’s tombstone, and bowed three times.

Looking at the warm smile in the portrait on the tombstone, I couldn’t help but sigh—if only she were alive, she could have been my girlfriend. But alas, she was gone.

After burning incense, I stood next to Grandpa and suddenly thought of my father. He really had predicted it—I was here offering incense to Li Xuan.

I tugged at Grandpa’s sleeve. “Grandpa, I meant to ask last night—how did Li Xuan’s parents know to wait at the shop?”

Grandpa shot me a sidelong glance and snorted, “Do I need to report everything I do to you? You’d better think about how to make me a new hemp rope!”

Fine, if he didn’t want to answer, I wouldn’t press. But honestly, I had no idea how to make that rope.

Truly, I doubt I could be as shameless as my grandfather.

My safest bet now seemed to be finding a girlfriend as soon as possible.

Once the memorial ended and Li Xuan was laid to rest, I rode my little electric scooter through the city streets, Grandpa on the back.

The first half of the trip felt dashing; the second half, I was pushing the scooter under Grandpa’s scolding all the way back to the shop.

Grandpa got angry just looking at me. “Didn’t I tell you to charge it last night before bed? Where did you plug it in?”

I was at a loss. Weren’t these scooters supposed to keep going even when the battery was low? Mine certainly hadn’t made it far.

Back at the shop, as I was parking and charging up, I heard Grandpa suddenly talking excitedly to someone, not sure who.

“You’re still alive! How many years has it been! Come in, come in, have a seat!”

An old friend of Grandpa’s? But ever since I could remember, aside from the neighbors, Grandpa never seemed to have friends.

Entering the room and setting down the keys, I saw an old man sitting stiffly on the sofa, dressed in an old-style army green jacket and cap, cloth shoes on his feet.

He looked to be over eighty. As he turned at the sound of my entrance, I was immediately struck by the empty left eye socket in his face.

Even missing an eye, even aged and frail, his gaze remained piercingly sharp.

The old man pointed his cracked, calloused hand at me. “Little Jiang? This is?”

“My grandson, Jiang Huai. Doesn’t listen at all—just yesterday he ruined my treasure! I’m still furious!” Grandpa made no attempt to hide anything and beckoned me over. “What are you standing there for, brat? Come greet your Grandpa Gu.”

“Hello, Grandpa Gu…”

Grandpa Gu smiled warmly and fished two White Rabbit milk candies from his pocket, pressing them into my hand. “Good kid, I don’t have much to give—have some candy.”

“Aren’t you going to thank Grandpa Gu?” Grandpa shot me a glare.

Grandpa Gu patted my grandfather. “Why get so worked up over a kid? It’s just a rope! If you made one before, you can make another—you’ve got the thick skin for it.”

Grandpa Gu looked at Grandpa, seemingly recalling old times. “Back then, there was never any peace in the latrine, remember? The first time you nearly got shot—how shameless you were.”

“Heh heh, Old Gu, what are you talking about…”

Suddenly Grandpa turned to me and waved me away. “Go on, go on—grownups are talking, what are you eavesdropping for? Go back to your room.”

Though I turned to leave, I deliberately slowed my steps to eavesdrop.

“Old Gu, all these years without a word from you, why have you suddenly turned up?”

Grandpa Gu didn’t answer right away. After a long pause, he finally spoke. “Little Jiang, those things you used to use… do they still work?”