Corpse Retriever.

Chapter 385

The hand gripping the doorknob froze.

Li Zhuiyuan has a very good memory.

When Li Lan uttered this rhyme, the boy's mind immediately returned to that twilight year:
The school bell rang, and all the students had already left the classroom.

He and Tan Wenbin stood at the classroom door, and Tan Wenbin called out to Zheng Haiyang, who was still slumped over his desk, to walk together.

Seeing that Zheng Haiyang still didn't move, Tan Wenbin stepped forward and patted his back, making a "splattering" sound.

next moment,
Zheng Haiyang suddenly raised his head, his face pale and his body oozing water, and shouted out the words that Li Lan had just said.

Li Zhuiyuan removed his hand from the doorknob, slowly turned around, and looked at Li Lan again.

She remained calm, without any hysteria, maintaining the elegance she always displayed in front of others.

The gentle smile at the corner of her mouth seemed to convey a sense of certainty, certainty that her son would react after hearing these words.

Li Zhuiyuan had no intention of acting like an ordinary person in front of Li Lan. First of all, pretense might not fool the "veteran actor" in front of him, who was also his mentor on his acting journey.

Secondly, Li Zhuiyuan was unaware of what Li Lan actually knew; her professional background remained shrouded in mystery.

Even if we take a step back and say that he knocked on the door directly without contacting the front desk, it already shows that he is not ordinary.

Therefore, Li Zhuiyuan decided to cut to the chase and asked directly:
"You went to that seabed."

Li Lan sat down again on the sofa chair and made a second cup of coffee.

Li Zhuiyuan disliked this "guided" mode; he was more suited to the role of the "guide." Even when Zhao Yi was with him, he couldn't avoid falling into his inferior position.

But Li Lan is an exception.

She was the "guide" that teenagers disliked the most, yet she was also the one who "guided" teenagers the most.

Li Zhuiyuan walked over and sat down in the chair opposite Li Lan.

Li Lan: "Your chair is a bit high, do you want to switch with Mom?"

Li Zhuiyuan shook his head.

Li Lan: "Would you like some sugar?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "No need."

Li Lan pointed to the freshly brewed coffee: "Try it."

Li Zhuiyuan picked up his cup and took a sip.

Li Lan: "How does it taste?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "So-so."

Li Lan: "Mom thinks so too. It was a gift from someone else, and that person must have been deceived. Next time, next time Mom will grind it by hand herself..."

Li Lan paused.
He continued, smiling:
"Mom will personally grind soybeans for you to drink."

She has truly changed.

From the moment Li Zhuiyuan received the phone call at Aunt Zhang's convenience store to the moment they met in the hotel room, he didn't pretend or put on an act; he was just being himself. Logically speaking, this should have been the biggest stimulus for her.

But she really didn't react at all, she was perfectly normal, just like a mother who knows she has wronged someone in the past and now wants to make amends.

Li Zhuiyuan put the coffee cup back on the coffee table and looked out the window.

Li Lan: "That's right, I've already been to that sea."

Li Zhuiyuan shifted his gaze back.

Li Lan: "Do you want to know what Mom saw there?"

Li Zhuiyuan tilted his head slightly and said, "Conditions."

Many children complain that their parents don't understand them and that there's a generation gap. Many parents are distressed that their children are unwilling to open up to them. But these problems simply don't exist between mother and child.

After all, they were close friends who had once torn each other apart.

Telephone, guest rooms, rhymes; baiting, reading the float, lifting the rod.

Li Lan sighed softly and raised her hand to tidy the hair behind her ear.

"It's not a condition, nor a requirement, but a request."

Li Zhuiyuan lowered his gaze, staring at the unpalatable cup of coffee.

The boy suddenly missed the old Li Lan.

Li Lan: "In the past, it was my fault. I didn't fulfill my role as a mother, Xiao Yuan..."

Li Zhuiyuan: "I no longer need my mother."

Li Lan nodded, a wry smile on her face.

Li Zhuiyuan: "I didn't know before whether I really needed the so-called mother-son relationship, but I really didn't want to let go. But now, I'm sure I don't need it."

I think your attitude and habits towards your grandparents are something I should learn from.

I will support you in a way that exceeds the average standards of national law and social morality.

So, I don't care whether your condition has become more severe or whether you've truly recovered as you say.

I hope there will be no more irrelevant and meaningless interactions.

“Twenty-four hours.” Li Lan sniffed, wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, and continued, “Xiao Yuan, I know you can do it, even if it’s just acting. You stay with your mother and act as mother and son for twenty-four hours.”

Li Zhuiyuan: "The result."

“I will tell you what I saw on the seabed, and…” Li Lan pointed to her face, “Is the person sitting in front of you now your real biological mother?”

Li Zhuiyuan didn't rush to answer; instead, he started adding sugar to the coffee cup, piece by piece.

Li Lan: "Xiao Yuan, of course you can try to check my current condition in other ways, if you feel confident enough to succeed."

Runsheng was right outside the room.

Li Zhuiyuan only needed to call out, and Runsheng could come in.

The teenager could forcibly examine Li Lan.

But Li Lan is right; he cannot guarantee that he will be fully confident if Li Lan does not cooperate.

Furthermore, no matter how much Li Zhuiyuan "hated" Li Lan in the past, he never thought of taking revenge through violence. Just as Li Lan "hated" him to the extreme, she never caused him any physical harm.

Regardless of filial piety or ethics, if I still need to resort to abnormal means when facing Li Lan, it precisely proves that I have lost, and lost completely.

The boy picked up his coffee again and drank it all in one gulp.

Adding a lot of sugar made this already bad coffee taste even worse.

"make a deal."

……

Li Lan opened her suitcase; the contents were quite simple.

A change of clothes, a stack of document bags in different colors, and a finely crafted pocket watch.

Li Lan: "Mom forgot, she didn't bring any suitable clothes."

Li Zhuiyuan: "You haven't forgotten, you were deliberately setting the stage, setting the stage for me to go shopping with you at the mall, setting the stage for that pocket watch that your father gave you back then."

Li Lan: "Isn't it normal for a woman to open her wardrobe and say that she doesn't have many clothes to wear, thus implying that her husband or son should accompany her shopping for clothes?"
On a whim, someone might take out a keepsake from their past relationship to show their son and reminisce about their youth. Isn't that normal?

Li Zhuiyuan: "Isn't it normal to have a rebellious son in the family?"

Li Lan covered her mouth and laughed, saying, "Hehe, other people are only going through their rebellious phase at seventeen or eighteen, how old are you?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "I'm a sophomore."

Li Lan took out the pocket watch, placed it in her palm, and opened it.

The pocket watch was still ticking, and embedded in the back cover was not a photograph, but a specimen of a ginkgo leaf.

"Tell me, isn't your dad silly? He said that the first time he saw me, I happened to be walking under a ginkgo tree, and he picked a ginkgo leaf, kept it, and gave it to me as a gift later."

"Foolish. He doesn't know that when you walk past him, your pace, posture, angle, and the way you interact with the sunlight are all calculated."

When I was very young, my father once took me to the ginkgo tree on the school campus and carefully described to his son, whom he thought was too young to understand, his first meeting with his wife.

What he didn't know was that his son, based on his description, had the image in his mind and concluded that... this walking posture was unreasonable and very tiring.

Li Lan pointed to the mirror in the guest room: "Son, you're being heartless. Look at yourself in the mirror. If your mother hadn't carefully selected you back then, you wouldn't look like this now. You've been good-looking since birth, and you've only gotten better as you've grown up."

It's often said that you can tell a little girl is a beauty even at a young age, and the same goes for boys.

"With your looks, you're sure to be liked by everyone at first glance, so you can't take advantage of them and then stand up straight and criticize your mother."

Have you gone to see him?

"Snapped!"

Li Lan closed the pocket watch in her hand.

"You promised your mother you would cooperate with the performance."

"As a child from a divorced family, would it be jarring to ask your mother about your father?"

"I don't know where he is now."

"I do not believe."

“You could know before, but you can’t now. Even your grandparents don’t know where their youngest son is now.”

Every special unit has its own confidentiality regulations. The confidentiality level of your father's current location is even higher than the investigation into the Ji'an civil defense project that your mentor just started.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Let's move on to the next match."

Li Lan: "Mom didn't bring any clothes. Son, come with Mom to the mall to buy some clothes?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Okay."

Li Lan stood up, tidied her hair and clothes in front of the mirror, then walked to the door and opened it.

Runsheng knelt on one knee at the door, his palm still pressing down on the shadow that ordinary people couldn't see.

When the door opened, Runsheng's Adam's apple bobbed as he looked at the woman standing in front of him. He knew who Xiaoyuan was there to see, and he had even witnessed Xiaoyuan's self-harming behavior by the ditch after receiving a phone call from this woman at the convenience store that night.

Therefore, Runsheng didn't know how to address the woman in front of him, or even whether he should address her at all.

If there is an offering table with yellow paper in front of him and it is still dark, he will burn the paper and ask Yinmeng for guidance.

Although Yinmeng... probably can't offer any advice.

Li Lan smiled at Runsheng and said, "I'm going out for a walk with my son now. Would you like to come along?"

Runsheng turned his head to look at Li Zhuiyuan, who was standing behind Li Lan.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Brother Runsheng brought me here, and he's going back now."

The boy doesn't like acting now, and even if he has to act right now, he doesn't want a specific audience.

Runsheng shook his head and said, "I want to go back to farming."

He noticed that the person he was pressing down on with his palm also shook their head.

"Let's go then, son."

Li Lan wanted to take her son's hand.

But then he saw Li Zhuiyuan with his hands in his pockets.

Li Lan then helped her son straighten his collar:

“He’s handsome, my son is a little heartthrob.”

The mother and son left side by side, and when their figures disappeared around the corner of the elevator entrance, Runsheng let go of his hand.

A middle-aged man with a thin face appeared.

Li Lan's words just now cleared up the misunderstanding.

Runsheng: "I'm sorry."

Man: "My skills are inferior."

Runsheng: "Indeed."

man:"……"

The elevator descended to the ground floor, and Li Lan led Li Zhuiyuan to the entrance of the grand hotel, where two taxis were parked. Li Lan and Li Zhuiyuan got in.

Li Lan: "Master, to the department store."

Just as the car started, Yu Shu, carrying a fishing rod and an empty bucket, happened to pass by.

He saw Li Lan sitting in the back seat of the taxi.

Li Lan nodded slightly to him.

Yu Shu bowed his head in greeting.

When she looked up and saw the boy sitting next to Li Lan through the window of the taxi that was driving away.

Yu Shu frowned. This child looked familiar. Then, he remembered.

"It's him?"

The child's face hasn't changed, but why does it give the impression that he has changed a lot?

Yu Shu subconsciously pinched his fingers.

Think about it, think about it,

His body swayed, and two streams of blood flowed from his nose.

A man who had also been fishing by the moat passed by and, seeing his condition, quickly went to help him up and comfort him.
"Brother, it's not that serious. Even if you didn't catch any fish, you don't need to get this angry."

……

The department store is located on South Street, a favorite shopping spot for Nantong residents.

Because, apart from this place, there's nowhere else for people in Nantong to go.

People nowadays aren't used to recognizing brands; they only recognize shopping malls.

Any product you buy can automatically be elevated in status by mentioning that it was purchased at a department store.

It was packed with people on the weekend.

You have to queue to take the escalator.

And there are many children who keep riding the escalator back and forth here.

In the shopping mall, there were only escalators going up, not coming down.

After all, you went up there to buy things, and you've already made your purchases when you came down, so you don't need to be waited on anymore.

These children first rode the escalator up, then ran down the stairs, and came back to ride it again. Each of them had sweat on their faces.

However, when Li Zhuiyuan and Li Lan stood on the escalator, the children who were laughing and playing in front of them turned around and looked at Li Lan, and then they all quieted down.

Li Lan bent down and whispered in Li Zhuiyuan's ear, "Mom, am I that scary?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "It's probably because they really have mothers."

Li Lan: "You used to act so well, what happened today?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "I'm playing a son who was abandoned by his mother in the countryside and ignored for two years."

Li Lan: "I regularly provide you with living expenses, tuition fees, and seasonal clothing."

Li Zhuiyuan:
"Left-behind children who receive nothing often miss their mothers more and have more beautiful fantasies about them."

Children with abundant material resources tend to be more demanding, craving their mother's company, insatiable, and always wanting more.

Li Lan: "Should I praise your dedication? The character sketches are quite good."

Li Zhuiyuan: "In addition, Secretary Xu is really unqualified in this regard."

I stopped asking for the living expenses you gave me a long time ago. I also didn't take the seasonal clothes; my grandparents altered them to avoid wasting them and gave them to Shitou and Huzi.

As for tuition, I don't need to pay tuition when I go to university. Even without scholarships, I receive a stipend from the school every year.

Li Lan: "Xiao Xu was able to be my secretary only because she can speak Nantong dialect; she is indeed a bit slow."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Mm."

Li Lan: "However, you shouldn't care about these things. Whether you take them or not is irrelevant to you, and you're too lazy to bother with it. So why did you refuse them all?"

Li Zhuiyuan did not answer.

It was his great-grandfather who helped him refuse. His great-grandfather said, "If you don't take the money your mother gives you, you'll have the confidence to give her attitude in front of her later."

Grandpa is right.

Although it was acting, it was precisely because he hadn't used Li Lan's money in the past two years that Li Zhuiyuan was able to portray a character with "backbone".

Seeing that her son did not answer, Li Lan asked again, "My son is really amazing. He not only didn't need the family to spend a penny on his college education, but he also made a living from it."

Li Zhuiyuan: "He wants money from his family."

Li Lan: "Oh?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "My grandfather will give me money."

Li Lan: "Where are the flowers?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Competition fee".

In the grandfather's eyes, a child's academic performance was never the top priority.

They also have to dress better than others, eat better than others, and use better things than others.

Grandpa once said that both children and adults are vain, but children's vanity is much cheaper, so satisfying children's vanity is the most worthwhile thing to do.

Li Lan: "Grandpa Sanjiang is indeed different from the others in the village."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Grandpa's impression of you was just so-so."

Li Lan: "Yes, because he saw through my indifference to people and things. He once made a veiled insult in front of your grandfather, saying that I was a stone that could never be warmed up."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Grandpa's judgment of people is truly accurate."

Li Lan: "Didn't he misjudge you? Because you're a better actress than I was at that age."

Li Zhuiyuan: "You and I are different."

Li Lan: "How is it different?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "In my eyes, you are the same as Secretary Xu is in your eyes."

Li Lan: "When a son thinks that his mother is not as good as him, it sounds like a source of pride to his mother that he has surpassed her."

You keep taking the escalator, going up one floor, then turning to the opposite side, and then continuing to go up.

The higher the floor, the fewer people there are; the upper floors sell home appliances and high-end clothing.

Li Lan: "Actually, the fortune teller in the village also noticed my problem. I've always known that she doesn't like me. But her daughter has no friends other than me, so she can only put up with it."

Besides, now, Grandpa Sanjiang, you shouldn't be too embarrassed to say I'm a rock that can't be warmed, right?

Li Zhuiyuan nodded: "Because of the contrast with my four uncles."

In the village, Li Lan was simply a model of filial piety.

It wasn't just Yingzi; in fact, many girls in the surrounding villages were able to continue their education with their parents' support, precisely because of Li Lan's exemplary example.

Li Lan: "If I were your grandfather, I wouldn't have tightened my belt to help my four older brothers get married."

My four older brothers are actually all decent people, but none of them are assertive or have a temper. Keeping them around as the youngest sons will make your grandparents' lives more comfortable.

Li Zhuiyuan: "They're starting to feel comfortable now."

Li Lan: "This is thanks to social development and improved material conditions. If you let his grandchildren and sons be like they were back then, having to scheme and calculate for such small things, do you think they would still be so filial?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Mom, you're out of character."

Li Lan: "Son, Mom is teaching you."

We've reached the top floor.

The clothes for sale here are not hung as densely as on the lower shelves; there is a lot of space between each item, making it more spacious and suitable for people to walk around and browse. However, it is surprisingly quiet here.

Some people will come specifically to take a look, even if they can't afford it, just to broaden their horizons; but the vast majority of people will deliberately avoid areas they can't afford.

The salespeople here are dressed more formally. Standing there, scanning the customers' eyes and expressions, they resemble the aunties from the old state-run stores, as if they have been summoned by spirit mediums.

However, Li Lan's charisma was undeniable, and when she appeared, the salespeople immediately approached her enthusiastically to introduce her to the company.

Next, Li Lan went through the normal process of a woman buying clothes.

She kept trying on clothes without getting tired, and every time she changed into a new outfit, she would look in the mirror and ask her male companion for his opinion.

Li Zhuiyuan plays the role of a normal son, behaving perfunctorily and impatiently, sitting on a soft stool, only needing to repeat himself over and over again:
"Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful..."

However, Li Lan didn't just try them out without buying them; she ordered many sets, and even the drinks Li Zhuiyuan was drinking went from plain boiled water to soda to milk.

Finally, Li Zhuiyuan was also given a can of Jianlibao.

As she paid the bill, Li Lan looked at Li Zhuiyuan happily:
"Okay, now it's time to buy clothes for my son. He's good-looking and a natural clothes hanger. It's a pleasure to help you choose clothes."

"I have clothes to wear."

"Shouldn't normal children be excited and eager to get new clothes?"

"It's from your generation."

"Hello, ma'am, this is the invoice receipt."

“Okay, son, help Mom double-check.” Li Lan said proudly to the salesperson, “My son is very good at math, and he can calculate accurately and quickly.”

The surrounding salespeople immediately offered their compliments and echoed their sentiments.

Praise the child for being smart; praise the child for being sure to get into university.

Li Zhuiyuan finished calculating the bill, handed it back to the counter, and said:

"There was a mistake; the amount was understated."

Li Lan looked at Li Zhuiyuan helplessly: "Mom just praised you for being smart."

Li Zhuiyuan responded, "Good children should be honest and trustworthy."

Li Lan took out her wallet, ready to pay the bill.

Her wallet was very new, so she probably didn't use it much, but it was stuffed with a very thick wad of cash.

For ordinary families, funeral expenses are high, but the family members usually don't have that much money in their pockets. After paying the bill, Li Lan took out a wad of cash and handed it to Li Zhuiyuan: "Here, this is your allowance from Mom."

Li Zhuiyuan: "You embezzled public funds?"

Li Lan: "Do you think it would be difficult for you to make money? For example, your senior brother makes money very easily for him."

Li Zhuiyuan knew that Li Lan was referring to Xue Liangliang.

Li Lan: "Take it, otherwise it will really break the scene and give us away."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Give it to me to buy clothes."

Li Lan: "Okay."

After the mother and son finished paying, they were about to head to the children's clothing section when Li Zhuiyuan stopped and looked towards the direction from which the escalator was coming up in the distance.

He saw an acquaintance, Pan Zi.

Panzi wasn't wearing work clothes today, but a white shirt with buttons on the cuffs and collar, and a pair of ill-fitting leather shoes.

Beside Panzi was a girl of similar age wearing a yellow floral dress, a blue hair clip, and her lipstick was not applied evenly.

Without Li Zhuiyuan's introduction, Li Lan said directly:
"My nephew."

What was he doing when you last saw him?

"He was nursing in his mother's arms."

The main reason is that Pan Zi and his father, who is also Li Lan's brother, looked too much alike when they were young.

Panzi Factory is closed today. The young girl next to him is his coworker's sister. She is very young and works in a state-owned textile factory in Xingren Town.

The two were introduced to each other; they had met once before, and this was their second time. They were still in the blind date stage and had not yet established a romantic relationship.

Originally, the girl didn't want to come to this floor, because she knew the clothes there were expensive.

But the more the girl acted this way, the more Panzi's wild and domineering nature was aroused.

He insisted on bringing the girl up to see, saying that he was there and she shouldn't be afraid.

He had pooled his wages and subsidies with Lei Zi to buy a refrigerator for his grandparents, but before leaving this time, Pan Zi borrowed a sum of money from his coworkers, equivalent to a month's salary.

Money gives a man courage!
But as soon as he got to this floor, after simply glancing at the price tags on a few women's clothes, Panzi's courage was instantly shattered.

He had expected it to be expensive, but he never imagined it would be this expensive.

The girl tugged at Panzi's sleeve and said sweetly, "Let's go downstairs. I'm hungry and want some fried skewers."

Li Lan: "Son, what's my nephew's name again?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Li Pan".

Li Lan: "An unpleasant name."

Panzi's "Pan" is his mother's surname, and it also represents a small concession made by his father after a dispute with his father-in-law.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Isn't it in your background check?"

Li Lan: "Yes, but I'm too lazy to look."

Perhaps in Li Lan's eyes, looking at Xue Liangliang's resume is much more interesting than looking at her nephews' resumes.

Li Lan: "You two have a good relationship, right? You're standing still, waiting for him to see you."

Li Zhuiyuan remained silent.

On the other end, Panzi chickened out.

Instead of continuing to stroll around with the girl, he planned to go down the stairs and get some fried skewers.

His back was slightly hunched, like a defeated general, his spirit and energy drained away.

Li Lan raised her hand and shouted in that direction:

"Lord Pan, Little Lord Pan!"

Pan Zi stopped and looked back in confusion.

He didn't know Li Lan, but he saw Li Zhuiyuan standing next to her.

“Young Master Yuan!” Pan Zi greeted Li Zhuiyuan, and at the same time introduced him to the girl beside him, “This is my younger brother. He is studying at university in Jinling. He was the top scorer in the college entrance examination. He’s a child prodigy.”

"Really? Wow, that's amazing!"

Pan Zi led the girl up to her; he didn't recognize Li Lan.

To avoid the awkwardness of Pan Zi asking who the woman next to him was, Li Zhuiyuan spoke first:

"Brother Pan, I'm here with my mom to buy clothes."

"Oh, really, your mother..."

Pan Zi then realized that Xiao Yuanhou's mother was actually his legendary aunt.
From as far back as he can remember, he grew up eating all sorts of nutritional supplements that his aunt sent to his grandparents. His aunt held a very special position in the Li family. To put it bluntly, it was only because his aunt was still alive that they would have to put a shrine for her on the altar.

Panzi called out timidly, "Little Aunt?"

"Wow, you've grown up. If Xiao Yuan hadn't reminded me, I almost wouldn't have recognized you."

As she spoke, Li Lan reached out and patted Panzi's head.

Li Zhuiyuan carefully observed the movement.

There was no reluctance or stiffness in the head-patting gesture, and after it was done, there was no restrained extreme disgust.

"Auntie, you're back! Why didn't Grandpa and Grandma tell me?"

"I deliberately kept it from them, wanting to give them a surprise."

"Haha, great! Grandpa and Grandma will be so happy to see you."

"Who is this person next to me?"

"Oh, her name is Xiaoyan."

"Hello, Auntie."

Huang Xiaoyan's family lived in Xingren Town. All her family members were employees of a state-owned factory, and their family conditions were much better than Pan Zi's.

Li Lan: "You brought your boyfriend to buy clothes? Here, let me pick out a few for you as a gift."

Huang Xiaoyan was unwilling, feeling that it was inappropriate to ask someone's elders to spend money on her before they had even established a relationship.

But Li Lan only said one sentence and gave one look, and she didn't dare to refute, so she could only stand aside with her head down.

Li Lan tried on the first piece of clothing and asked the salesperson to wrap it up so she could pay for it later.

When Li Lan tried on the second dress, she said she wanted it and they could get married later.

Huang Xiaoyan noticed a large pile of high-end packaging bags at Li Zhuiyuan's feet, realizing that this "little sister-in-law" was truly wealthy and could afford such things.

Gradually, her heart stirred, and she began to float away, starting to enjoy this intoxicating feeling.

It would be difficult for any normal person to withstand such an impact. Given the current wage levels for workers, the clothes here are considered luxury items.

Pan Zi stood beside Li Zhuiyuan, feeling both proud and apprehensive.

Li Lan: "Lord Pan, come here, what do you think of Xiao Yan's outfit?"

Pan Zi walked over and joined them.

At this time, men accompany women shopping and trying on clothes with more tireless enthusiasm than women themselves.

When Huang Xiaoyan finally checked out the bill, she was so shocked by the amount on the invoice that her mouth dropped open.

Once she came to her senses, she immediately said, "Too many! I bought too many! Return a few, return a few!"

Li Lan paid the bill directly.

After the money and goods were settled, Huang Xiaoyan was so anxious that tears welled up in her eyes, and she was somewhat at a loss.

Li Lan: "Little Pan Hou, please treat your aunt to some fried skewers."

Panzi nodded vigorously, carrying two full bags of packaging in both hands.

The fried skewers sold at the entrance of the department store seem to have been imbued with "magical energy," and they're a bit pricey.

Li Lan commented, "It's not as good as the fried skewers in Shigang Town."

Li Zhuiyuan, unusually, didn't rebel and echoed, "Mm."

Li Lan: "Do you eat there often?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "I often went there when I was in high school in Shigang."

Li Lan: "Often? How long did you attend high school?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Two months, I guess."

Li Lan: "It's alright, it takes longer than your university years. By the way, your national scholarship will be coming soon."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Oh."

Li Lan: "Shouldn't you say that you'll treat your mom to fried skewers after you get your scholarship?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "The money won't arrive within a day."

Li Lan smiled and shook her head, then used a bamboo skewer to put a piece of fried tofu coated in sauce into her mouth, saying:
“Juxiang used to love eating this tofu because it was cheap and plentiful. She would push all the meat skewers she ordered to me.”

Li Zhuiyuan: "Who paid for it?"

Li Lan: "She treated us to meals. She had a lot of pocket money. At that time, her mother was already telling fortunes. The family's financial situation had improved. Whenever I called her, she would ride her bicycle and take me to town."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Is that why you became friends with her?"

Li Lan gave the remaining tofu from her plate to Li Zhuiyuan.

Li Zhuiyuan stopped skewering the food and stared at the "leftovers".

Li Lan pulled out a tissue, wiped her mouth, and whispered a reminder: "Even the most rebellious child at this age can't resist the temptation of fried skewers, right?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "I'm already stuffed."

Pan Zi: "Give it to me, Xiao Yuan, don't waste it."

After handing his plate to Pan Zi, Li Zhuiyuan also took out a piece of paper and wiped his mouth.

Li Lan: "Who could refuse a friend who has money in their pocket, craves companionship, and is always there when needed?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Aunt Juxiang still thinks about you."

Li Lan: "You see, she didn't lose out, right?"

After finishing the fried skewers, Panzi rushed out to pay the bill, but Huang Xiaoyan tried to pay with him, and the two even got into an argument. In the end, Huang Xiaoyan raised her voice and scolded Panzi.

Pan Zi paused for a moment, then stopped arguing.

Li Lan offered to help them hail a taxi and take them home.

Huang Xiaoyan shook her head vigorously, saying that she and Pan Zi had come by bus and would take the bus back together later, which would be very convenient.

When saying goodbye, Huang Xiaoyan blushed and walked up to Li Lan to express her gratitude again, inviting Li Lan to her home for a meal.

Li Lan smiled and agreed, saying that there would be a chance in the future.

After the two of them left, Li Lan asked:
"Xiao Yuan, what kind of person is Pan Hou?"

"You've already pushed them into a fire pit, and now you remember to ask if it's hot inside?"

"You pushed me, Mom was just being polite."

"Your role now is my mother, and also her aunt."

"What kind of daughter has four older brothers and still sends money and gifts to her parents every month? Does she even care about her own family?"

"You're already divorced."

"Thanks for reminding me."

"Shall we go back to the hotel or visit the sights?"

"Wearing so many clothes while sightseeing?"

"Someone is following you; you can just wave them over."

"I've lived in Nantong much longer than you. Do you think I wouldn't know what attractions there are to visit?"

I grew up in Langshan, and you're still in your generation. I think that even thirty years from now, Langshan will still be the iconic landmark of Nantong.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Mm."

Li Lan: "It's rare that my son and I agree on something."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Then let's go back to the hotel."

Li Lan: "I haven't bought you any clothes yet."

Li Zhuiyuan: "I'm tired."

Li Lan pointed to the first floor of the department store: "The first floor sells toys, there are Ultraman toys and all kinds of toy guns, Mom will buy you some to celebrate."

Li Zhuiyuan hailed a taxi.

Li Lan smiled and sat down with him.

The taxi stopped in front of the hotel, and the mother and son got out.

Yu Shu sat by the flowerbed next to him, with two wads of paper stuffed in his nostrils.

Li Lan didn't look at him again and walked straight inside.

Li Zhuiyuan didn't look at him, not on purpose, but because he was carrying too many bags of clothes.

As they entered the elevator, Li Lan praised them:

"My son is in great physical condition. Have you considered sending him to a sports school to train in kung fu?"

Li Zhuiyuan did not respond.

Li Lan: "If you don't want to go to a sports school, Mom knows some traditional martial arts masters."

Li Zhuiyuan remained silent.

We arrived at the floor.

As we passed through the corridor, the door to the room that was open was still open, but the array master inside, who was drinking tea, was standing ramrod straight without a teacup in his hand.

As Li Lan passed by, he lowered his head in shame.

A thin man stood in the doorway of room 909.

Runsheng has already gone back.

He would never disobey Xiao Yuan, even though he knew it was dangerous to leave Xiao Yuan with her biological mother.

After entering the room and closing the door, Li Zhuiyuan placed the clothes on the floor. Li Lan showed no interest in the newly purchased clothes, as if they had already fulfilled 99% of their value when they were bought.

Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Li Lan began to speak:

"I need to rest for a bit before heading back to the village."

Li Zhuiyuan: "The living conditions in the village are much worse than here."

Li Lan: "Pan Hou already knows I've returned to Nantong. Tell me, how heartbroken will your grandparents be if I don't go back to the village to see them?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "What is your real purpose in returning to the village?"

Li Lan: "I want to see where my son has lived for the past two years. Even if you don't care, I have this need. I want to try to find some of the missing pieces of my role as a mother."

Li Zhuiyuan: "I'll arrange for someone to pick me up."

Li Lan: "Yes, I'll listen to my son."

Li Zhuiyuan picked up the phone in the guest room and dialed Tan Wenbin's mobile phone.

Li Lan got up, leaned against the wall, and looked at her son who was on the phone.

"Hello, this is Tan Wenbin."

"Brother Binbin."

"Brother Xiaoyuan."

"Could you drive to the Nantong Grand Hotel and pick up my mom and me to go home?"

"understand!"

The phone hangs up.

Li Lan: "Young people these days all like to call each other 'brother,' they've really embraced the retro vibe."

Li Zhuiyuan: "You should rest for a bit, the car will be here soon."

Li Lan: "Is there a special purpose in having him pick you up?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "If you need to make a phone call in the future, you can just call my cell phone. Aunt Zhang has a loud voice, and I don't like being called 'My mom is looking for me' to my face."

Li Lan: "I know your mobile phone number, but if I call your mobile phone, will you answer and then hang up immediately, or will Aunt Zhang's alarm clock be louder?"

Li Zhuiyuan sat down by the floor-to-ceiling window.

Li Lan opened the door and gestured to the person standing outside to get her something. A moment later, the item was brought over. Li Lan closed the door, walked to the French windows, and placed a Go set on the coffee table between the two of them.

"Since we're just killing time anyway, let's play a game of chess with Mom. You go first."

Li Zhuiyuan picked up a chess piece and placed it down.

Li Lan: "Judging from his movements and posture, it seems my son has been playing Go quite a bit these past two years."

The game ended, and Mom won.

Li Lan asked curiously, "That's strange. You've played a lot of Go, but you haven't reached the level you should be at. Are you deliberately trying to lose to the person you play Go with?"
Or is it that winning or losing is meaningless to you, and you simply enjoy and appreciate the feeling of sitting and playing Go with him?

Li Zhuiyuan: "Trying to win everything is exhausting and meaningless."

Li Lan: "A little girl? Will Mom be able to see her when we go back to the village? Why didn't you tell me sooner? I should have bought her a gift at the department store beforehand."

The phone rang, and Li Zhuiyuan went to answer it.

"Brother Xiao Yuan, I've arrived. I'm downstairs at the Grand Hotel."

"Okay, Binbin, we'll be right down. There are a lot of people and cars at the entrance, so please be careful."

Li Lan stood up and said, "Let's go home."

The mother and son took the elevator downstairs.

In the elevator.

Li Lan: "Son, Mom forgot her wallet. It's inconvenient to go back without money. Could you please go back to your room and get it for me? I'll wait for you in the car. By the way, what kind of car is it?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "A small yellow pickup truck."

Li Lan: "Okay."

After arriving on the first floor, Li Lan came out, and Li Zhuiyuan gestured to the elevator operator to press the button for the ninth floor again.

Tan Wenbin sat in the car, facing the hotel entrance.

When he saw a woman come out, he immediately recognized her as Xiao Yuan's mother.

The reason is simple: this woman's temperament is just too distinctive.

Tan Wenbin got off the car first.

Li Lan walked over and introduced herself, "Hello, I'm Xiao Yuan's mother. Thank you for coming all this way to pick us up."

Tan Wenbin: "It's nothing, Auntie, please don't be so polite. Where's Xiaoyuan?"

Li Lan: "He helped me go back to my room to get my wallet that I left behind. He'll be right down. Let's wait in the car."

"Okay, Auntie, let me open the door for you. Be careful not to bump your head."

Li Lan sat in the second row.

Tan Wenbin also got into the driver's seat.

The atmosphere inside the car was somewhat oppressive and awkward.

This is extremely rare for Tan Wenbin; there are even awkward silences when he is present.

It was Li Lan who broke the deadlock and spoke first:
"Son, do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend yet?"

"I've got it, Auntie."

"A college classmate?"

"We both went to university in Nanjing, but she and I were high school classmates."

"It's nice to be young."

"Auntie, you are very young too, really."

“I’m getting old. Look, Xiao Yuan is so grown up now. He’s not like he was when he was young, and he doesn’t like to hear those so-called vows of eternal love anymore.”

"well enough."

Did you swear an oath?

"As for her? I think vows sometimes don't mean much. Relationships need to be maintained by both parties in their daily lives."

"So, did you actually send it or not?"

"Let me think about it..."

"Or did you send so many that you forgot?"

"It seems like I've only ever made promises..."

"Then you really don't remember, but it definitely does."

At that moment, Tan Wenbin noticed that the head of his seat was being tapped.

At first, Tan Wenbin thought it was Li Lan, who was sitting in the back, patting his seat, or perhaps his aunt had something to say.

Tan Wenbin habitually glanced at the rearview mirror first, only to find Li Lan sitting with her back against the second row of seats, elegantly crossing her legs, arms crossed, and a meaningful smile on her lips.

The thumping on my head seat continued, but I couldn't see anything in the rearview mirror.

Tan Wenbin simply turned around and looked back.

next moment,
He saw a creature perched on the head of his chair, its four thick claws pawing at it, its long neck detached from its shell, and its head constantly reaching closer to him…

Big turtle!
(End of this chapter)