Corpse Retriever.

Chapter 407

Lin Shuyou had just finished reporting to Tan Wenbin that Xue Liangliang had woken up and had just hung up the phone when he turned around and saw Xue Liangliang coming out of Engineer Luo's room.

"Hey friend, do you have any money? Can you lend me some?"

"I have some here." Chen Lin opened her wallet, took out all the money inside, and handed it over.

Xue Liangliang took it without counting it, put it directly in his pocket, and nodded, saying, "Thanks. You can choose an apartment in this building, and I'll transfer the ownership to you."

Chen Lin: "I can't accept this. Even the worst loan sharks don't go this far."

Xue Liangliang: "This is to thank you for preparing the medicine and taking care of me and my teacher; it's for medical expenses."

Chen Lin: "Then we definitely can't accept it. If we do, it will create distance between us."

Xue Liangliang smiled.

Lin Shuyou: "Brother Liang, what are you going to do..."

Xue Liangliang: "I'll go to the store outside the neighborhood to buy a pair of shoes and socks, and a light jacket."

Lin Shuyou: "And then?"

Xue Liangliang: "Going to work."

Lin Shuyou: "Going to work?"

Xue Liangliang: "I've been out of contact for a few days. I've missed too much work and need to take care of it. By the way, Ayou, do you have a razor here? I'll shave in the taxi later."

Chen Lin: "Here's the razor, Liang Ge, shave here before you go out. Also, I already bought your new clothes, I'll get them for you now."

Xue Liangliang: "You're so thoughtful."

Since there was no need to go shopping for clothes, there was no need to rush out the door. Xue Liangliang went into the bathroom, lathered his face with foam, and started shaving.

Lin Shuyou stood at the bathroom door: "Brother Liang, do you want to rest a bit more?"

"No need, I slept really well."

Lin Shuyou didn't know what to say.

A person who has always been working overtime, after experiencing several days of escape and bizarre torment, can get up and go back to work after a good night's sleep.

After shaving and getting dressed, just before leaving the house, Xue Liangliang made a gesture as if answering a phone call:
"Remember to let me know when the teacher wakes up."

"Ok."

Xue Liangliang went downstairs, walked out of the residential area, and got into a taxi.

The teacher has been found. Although he is still unconscious, he believes that with Xiao Yuan and the others taking care of him, there will be no problem.

Next, I need to hand over all my work properly to eliminate the impact of my being out of contact, and then accept and respond to the concern and condolences from all parties.

Finally, due to the temporary suspension of the project and his recent health problems, he will likely be forced to take a leave of absence for a period of time.

That way, I can go back to Nantong.

Thinking of this, Xue Liangliang smiled.

When I was a child, I learned a text about Yu the Great passing by his home three times without entering. I didn't understand why he didn't just go in and take a look when he was already at his doorstep, since it wouldn't take up too much time.

Only after he actually got involved in the work and had many people under his command working hard to tackle one project after another did he understand the deeper meaning.

Everyone is working tirelessly, sacrificing rest and time with their families. At this time, if I were to secretly return to Nantong and jump into the river, even if I could escape everyone's sight, I wouldn't be able to get over the hurdle in my own heart.

But being forced to take a holiday like this means there's no psychological burden.

There's a crossroads ahead, and it's congested with cars.

The taxi driver honked the horn several times and cursed:

"There are so many more cars now, and traffic jams are always a complete mess."

Xue Liangliang pressed his head against the car window and said, "There's still a lot left."

Taxi driver: "Is this not enough?"

Xue Liangliang: "Yes, in the future, every household will be able to have a car."

The driver glanced at the passenger sitting in the back seat through the rearview mirror, a little puzzled. Judging from his clothes and appearance, he didn't seem like a fool.

Xue Liangliang closed his eyes. He had recently seen a letter of advice that Qian Xuesen had written to the higher authorities, suggesting that China's automobile industry should directly enter the new energy stage to avoid repeating the mistakes of relying on traditional fuel vehicle technology.

……

"Brother Xiaoyuan, Ayou just called and said that Brother Liang went to work."

"Oh."

"Brother Liang truly lives up to his name."

"Good health and abundant energy are the basic requirements for success."

As he spoke, Li Zhuiyuan looked down at his fair and delicate hands.

If he hadn't successfully revived his original body, he would most likely be in a wheelchair now because his body couldn't withstand the excessive mental strain.

“Brother Xiaoyuan, Yunyun told me last night that she had a dream in which we had two children, boys, who were very well-behaved, obedient and sensible, haha.”

Li Zhuiyuan knew that Tan Wenbin had sensed something; he was asking him for an answer, yet he dared not ask for it.

"Brother Bin, who can know what the future holds?"

"Yes, let nature take its course."

The two entered the teaching building.

"Brother Xiaoyuan, am I going back to class now?"

"Ah."

The two parted ways at the stairwell, surrounded by students carrying books into their classrooms.

Although he decided to return to Nantong, Li Zhuiyuan planned to go back with Liangliang to help the Bai family ladies move and arrange a new place to live.

I was thinking of personally persuading Liangliang to take some time off, but judging from his demeanor, he probably knows he's about to be given a vacation.

There's nothing else to do at school, so I might as well just go to class instead of doing anything productive.

Tan Wenbin needs to go back to class and teach a lesson to show his face as class monitor.

Li Zhuiyuan, just like before, picked up the school's timetable and chose the courses that interested him.

Since there's not much left to learn in his professional field, he's more inclined to pursue other areas.

I walked into the lecture hall and sat in the last row, where Professor Zhu's class was about to begin.

Professor Zhu entered the classroom before the bell rang.

His wife's passing made him look much thinner, but there was no gloom or despair on his face. He still faced the rest of his life with positivity and seriousness.

Li Zhuiyuan remembered Professor Zhu telling him that only by living well could he have stories to tell his wife in the afterlife.

Professor Zhu initially glanced around the classroom, then, as if he had noticed something, he adjusted his glasses and looked at the boy sitting in the last row.

When class began, Professor Zhu did not change his usual teaching habits, encouraging students to speak freely, ask questions, and even debate.

This is Li Zhuiyuan's second year taking Professor Zhu's ideological and political education class, and he can clearly feel that the pressure in the classroom is greater than last year.

In an era of great openness, a minority see the gap narrowing, while the vast majority are driven to despair by this gap.

This has made the traditionally casual lessons increasingly tense and contentious.

However, the same thing happened last year. Professor Zhu never takes attendance, but his classes attract more and more students, sometimes even exceeding the capacity.

While listening to the lecture, Li Zhuiyuan once again picked up "The Book Without Words".

The second page was still filled with black ink.

If nothing unexpected happens, it should be the "Evil Book" that is tormenting Ye Dui.

If something goes wrong, then the book being tortured might be the "evil book".

Logically, the interrogation in the book would last a long time, with Ye Dui revealing more and more clues, gradually leading him to the three "escapees".

As I said before, my bold guess from last night can still be reversed.

As Li Zhuiyuan closed the book, he remembered what Tan Wenbin had said to him before class.

The boy wondered if the two resentful babies couldn't bear the hardship of studying, so they appeared in his dream to beg their parents to take action and bring them into the world.
That's impossible. First, neither of them has the ability or conditions to send messages through dreams. Second, the two resentful children have completely released their pressure and found new joy in learning, thanks to Benben's weighted crawling.

However, through the connection between Luo Gong and Ye Dui, it cannot be ruled out that there might truly be such a predestined connection.

The reason why Tan Wenbin was able to form a bond with his two godsons was because Zhou Yunyun was cursed, which led to this line of events.

get out of class has ended.

Professor Zhu walked to the last row and sat down.

"Xiao Yuan, it's been so long! Is your internship tough?"

"It's not hard."

"Shall we have lunch at the teacher's house? I'll go buy groceries."

"it is good."

"What would you like to eat? I don't have classes during the third and fourth periods this morning."

"It will be all right."

"So, are you going to my house now, or continuing with class?"

"I'm going to find my other teacher."

"Okay, then I'll wait for you at home at noon."

Li Zhuiyuan packed his things, slung his schoolbag over his shoulder, and prepared to attend Professor Zhai's class in the third and fourth periods.

When I got to the classroom door, I saw another teacher standing on the podium, preparing to substitute for me.

Li Zhuiyuan didn't go inside; instead, he went to the old library, which was the base of Zhai Lao's project team.

Upon arrival, we found a large number of students there. Everyone cherished this opportunity and was diligently collecting and organizing materials.

The project team is very well organized, with a list of specific responsible persons, including Li Zhuiyuan's photo and name, which are listed quite high up.

However, he was the only one who didn't have a team under him.

Many senior students recognized Li Zhuiyuan and jokingly but seriously called this boy, who was much younger than them, "little senior brother".

Li Zhuiyuan asked a senior or junior student for advice.

The senior and junior students said that Professor Zhai was here this morning, and he had just left not long ago.

After thanking him, Li Zhuiyuan left.

He then went to the family quarters.

The door was still unlocked, and Li Zhuiyuan entered normally.

They searched from the first floor to the third floor, but the person was nowhere to be found. However, the note they had left on the dining table last night was missing.

This shows that Mr. Zhai was deliberately avoiding him.

This time, the boy didn't realize that his "master" was going to shave his beard again.

Because deliberately avoiding each other at this time has a better effect than meeting in person.

Tan Wenbin said that Yin Meng left half a wall of messages for Runsheng last night.

While Yin Meng's personal efforts certainly played a part, the Emperor's relaxation of authority also contributed to the success.

This in itself is another kind of hint.

Before leaving the family dormitory, Li Zhuiyuan left a new note.

During class time, the school is very quiet.

Occasionally, you'll see unkempt senior students, wearing slippers and shorts, hunching their shoulders in the chilly autumn wind as they head to the cafeteria to get their food early and head back to their dorms.

Arriving at Professor Zhu's house, I knocked on the door and went inside.

"Xiao Yuan, sit down quickly, there's another soup, it'll be ready soon."

Three dishes and one soup, a light and simple home-style meal.

After the meal, Professor Zhu refused Li Zhuiyuan's offer to help wash the dishes, so the boy took scissors and went to help trim the potted plants in Professor Zhu's yard.

These were all cultivated when Professor Zhu's late wife was still alive. They were well taken care of, well, just a bit hastily, like the old senior I just met.

After Professor Zhu finished his work and came out, he quietly watched the boy taking care of it, and then couldn't help but sigh:

"They've been wronged because they're in my hands."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Growing freely and unkempt is also a kind of beauty. In addition, you can get a greater sense of accomplishment after pruning."

Professor Zhu: "Xiao Yuan, if you had been admitted to this university a few years earlier, I don't know how happy she would have been."

After saying that, Professor Zhu patted his forehead. "How old was this kid when he got into this university a few years ago?"

Li Zhuiyuan smiled.

After leaving Professor Zhu's house, Li Zhuiyuan went to teach the first two classes in the afternoon.

As usual, I sit in the last row.

As a result, just before class started, the last row was full of people. The teacher was lecturing on the podium, while the students in the last two rows were sleeping. Sunlight streamed through the back window of the lecture hall and fell on them. It was as if one could hear the faint, crisp sound of youthful decadence.

After class, Li Zhuiyuan packed his things and went back to his dormitory.

As I passed by the store, I saw Runsheng moving goods inside, and Lu Yi, who had just been discharged from the hospital, sitting behind the counter and taking stock of the accounts.

Life is like a river; no matter how many stones you throw in or how much water you splash, in the end, it will continue to flow.

Tan Wenbin returned to the dormitory a little behind Li Zhuiyuan.

“Brother Xiaoyuan, I signed for and accepted your and Ayou’s scholarships on your behalf. The money was anonymously donated to the poverty relief program that Brother Liang set up at our school.”

"Ah."

In the dormitory, the two sat back to back at their respective desks and began to read.

At dusk, Tan Wenbin packed up his books and went out; he had organized a class dinner that evening.

Li Zhuiyuan did not go.

After nightfall, the shops closed.

Runsheng returned to his basement room, set up an altar, and burned paper money.

Last night, Yin Meng "said" a lot, but stopped just before she was about to mention herself.

He was quite looking forward to what Yin Meng would say to him tonight.

The yellow paper burned to ashes in the brazier.

A wisp of cold wind, much smaller than yesterday's, appeared, stirring up a little bit of ash, which gently patted against the wall.

"I was exhausted yesterday, and I have no writings today."

... Engineer Luo woke up.

Lin Shuyou informed everyone.

When Li Zhuiyuan arrived, he happened to run into Xue Liangliang, and the two went in together to visit their teacher.

When asked about what happened after his disappearance, Mr. Luo said he didn't remember anything.

This is a normal phenomenon after being possessed.

However, there is a certain probability that you might suddenly remember something.

Tan Wenbin looked out the window and said, "The people over there are here."

Li Zhuiyuan and Xue Liangliang left the house and went up to the rooftop.

Yu Shu arrived at the residential area with an ambulance and led a group of people upstairs. Engineer Luo was helped into the ambulance.

Tan Wenbin asked curiously, "Mr. Yu, are you so busy? It seems like you have to handle everything?"

Yu Shu: "Engineer Luo's identity and the events are special, and your identities are also special. It's not that I'm busy, but the things you encounter and see are extraordinary and require my intervention."

On the rooftop, Xue Liangliang said that he received a phone call from Bai Zhilan for the first time the night before last.

Li Zhuiyuan: "How does it feel?"

Xue Liangliang rubbed his ears: "My eardrum almost perforated."

Li Zhuiyuan: "This is all Binbin's fault."

Xue Liangliang: "Zhilan told me everything about Baijia Town. On behalf of both me and her, I thank you, Xiaoyuan."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Remove 'you' from my life."

Xue Liangliang: "Yes, it's too formal for us to say 'thank you' to each other."

Li Zhuiyuan: "She could have removed it too. What I did was not what she wanted."

Xue Liangliang: "Starting today, I'm on vacation. It's mandatory."

Li Zhuiyuan: "I'm waiting for you to go back to Nantong together."

Xue Liangliang: "Help me move?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Have you decided where to settle down? Jinling, near you?"

Xue Liangliang: "It was possible before, but now... my team training is over, and this project should be restarted. Even if it's not restarted for the time being, I will take the team out and not stay in one place."

Li Zhuiyuan: "So, it's still Nantong?"

Xue Liangliang: "Nantong is a great place."

Li Zhuiyuan: "I understand."

Xue Liangliang: "Could you arrange a place for me to stay in your village?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "It's not very convenient."

The old lady disliked the Bai family, and the Bai family matriarch was also genuinely afraid of the Dragon King's family.

Moreover, Bai Zhilan and her group have different social statuses than Xiong Shan and his wife, so forcing them to live in the same village would make neither side comfortable.

Xue Liangliang: "Then in the city center? I'll buy them an apartment."

Li Zhuiyuan: "I'll buy it. After all, it's in Nantong. My great-grandfather is planning to buy me a house in the city and put it in my name."

Xue Liangliang: "Thank you, Xiao Yuan."

Li Zhuiyuan: "She has four other people with her, so it's impossible for her to stay at home all day to rest during her pregnancy."

Xue Liangliang nodded: "Mainly because she told me that in the Bai family, it takes a long time for them to conceive."

Li Zhuiyuan remained noncommittal.

The Bai family's empress's pregnancy was indeed different from that of normal people, but the reason why Bai Zhilan's belly only started to show after so long was because of Liangliang's special condition.

Just like the two resentful infants didn't want Tan Wenbin to know they weren't reincarnated, Bai Zhilan also didn't want to bring pressure and guilt to Xue Liangliang.

Xue Liangliang: "Now that you're ashore, you should find something to do to pass the time. What do you think about opening a clothing store for her?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Good idea, let's open a funeral clothing shop."

Xue Liangliang was taken aback; that wasn't what he meant.

Li Zhuiyuan continued, "The rest of the goods can be obtained from my great-grandfather and distributed in the city."

Xue Liangliang: "Hmm..."

Li Zhuiyuan: "When are you leaving?"

Xue Liangliang: "I have three meetings this afternoon, and two teams' proposals need to be approved. I can leave tonight."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Then tomorrow morning."

Xue Liangliang: "Okay... fine."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Let's leave tonight, I miss my great-grandfather."

Xue Liangliang: "Okay!"

Li Zhuiyuan turned around, preparing to go downstairs.

Xue Liangliang followed and said, "Xiao Yuan, I plan to hold a ceremony, arrange a motorcade, and bring her ashore from the river in the form of a wedding, to make up for the regret of that year."

"Make up for regrets? Brother Liangliang, didn't you already have a wedding?"

"Yes, we did have sex, but last time it was her who married me."

……

After Xue Liangliang left, Li Zhuiyuan used his mobile phone to call Aunt Zhang's convenience store.

After the call connected and he said who he wanted to talk to, he hung up and waited ten minutes before dialing again.

The call was quickly connected, and Li Sanjiang's voice came from the other end.

"Hey, Little Marquis, what's up?"

"Grandpa, I want to buy a house in the city."

Which district? Jinling?

"Nantong".

"Oh, sure, sure, I can afford this now, no problem at all. When are you going to buy it?"

"Grandpa, I'll be back tonight."

"Then tomorrow, Grandpa will take the savings book and go to the city with you to look at houses, hehe."

The way Li Sanjiang said it made it sound like he was promising his great-grandson that he would take him to town to buy candy the next day.

In fact, Li Sanjiang's current savings are only enough to buy a house in Nantong, but he doesn't care. He has always believed that the purpose of earning money is to spend it. Before he was born, he spent as much as he earned, living a very carefree life.

"Grandpa, after we buy the house, I'd like to rent it to Brother Liangliang first."

"Liangliang? He lives in Nantong?"

“His girlfriend is from Nantong, and she lives there most of the time.”

"Liangliang is our own child too, let him stay, why should we ask for rent?"

As Li Sanjiang spoke, he gestured to Aunt Zhang to get him a pack of cigarettes. He opened it, took a bite, and lit it.

All the children who had stayed at his house were classified as his mules by Li Sanjiang.

Furthermore, Liangliang is considered Xiao Yuanhou's mentor, and now he's learning a craft from a master.

Li Sanjiang felt that if he treated Liangliang well, Xiao Yuanhou would continue to have someone to look after him at work.

Li Zhuiyuan: "I will still pay the rent."

Li Sanjiang: "Hey, no, the new house is for when you get married. You're getting married too early. A house will deteriorate if no one lives in it for a long time. It's good for them to live there first so you can get some life in it."

After finishing his phone call with his great-grandfather, Li Zhuiyuan returned to school.

Every day, there is a task to complete.

The boy went to the family building first, but neither he nor the note were there. The neighbor said that he saw Mr. Zhai watering flowers in the yard that morning.

Li Zhuiyuan went to the old library again. His seniors and juniors said that Professor Zhai had just left after receiving a phone call.

The boy returned to his dormitory satisfied.

……

Luo was placed in a sanatorium and underwent a series of examinations.

Most of the tests are familiar to ordinary people, but there are some that even Engineer Luo can't understand.

For example, when taking an X-ray, there was a row of Bagua mirrors placed next to the camera; among the medical staff wearing white coats, some were wearing Taoist robes.

After the inspection, Engineer Luo went to the room.

There is a small, private courtyard here, but it is very well maintained.

Engineer Luo sat in the courtyard, holding a thermos in his hands.

He had just asked the relevant personnel if his wife and daughter knew he had been found, and their reply reassured him: thanks to the secrecy surrounding the incident, his wife and daughter were unaware that they had been missing.

The first person to visit arrived much earlier than expected.

Engineer Luo got up, opened the door, and saw Old Zhai standing at the doorway carrying a fruit basket.

"Mr. Zhai, what's going on...?"

Old Zhai pointed to his heart: "They were afraid that I would run into problems because I was so busy, so they made an exception and told me that you were back. I took advantage of my age and couldn't help but want to come and see you."

"Mr. Zhai, I'm fine."

"Yes, I feel at ease now."

The two went into the courtyard and sat down. Old Zhai briefly talked about the various work situations after Engineer Luo's disappearance.

"Luckily Liangliang is here, otherwise, if you were gone, a lot of work would be paralyzed. I just want to help out, but I don't know where to start. I'm willing but unable to do anything."

Tingrui, you have a good student.

Engineer Luo: "No, I have two good students."

Mr. Zhai: "What are your plans after your recovery period ends?"

Engineer Luo: "I have already reported to my superiors, and they have given me a clear answer. No matter what happens, this project must be carried out. The more difficulties and obstacles we encounter, the more determined and confident we become."

Old Zhai nodded.

They chatted briefly for a while longer. As dusk fell, the lights in the courtyard were turned on, casting their shadows on top of each other.

Old Zhai: "Alright, I won't disturb your rest any longer, I'm leaving."

Engineer Luo got up to see him off, but as soon as he stood up, he covered his forehead and staggered.

"Tingrui, what's wrong?"

“It’s nothing, I’m fine, I just seem to have thought of something…” Luo Tingrui looked thoughtful. “It said it said something, it said it was going to go out and find him, it wanted him to come, it wanted him to die in his place.”

There seemed to be a problem with the electrical circuits in the sanatorium; the light in the courtyard flickered for a moment and then went out.

Under the moonlight, their shadows stretched faintly to one side.

Old Zhai: "Tingrui, I didn't hear you clearly just now, could you say it again?"

Engineer Luo: "Did I just say something? I... I don't remember."

……

into the night.

The dormitory lights were turned off, and the dormitory supervisor began locking the doors.

Everyone was already in their positions in the yellow pickup truck. Xue Liangliang came over carrying a bag and said apologetically:

"Sorry, I'm late."

After getting in the car, the pickup truck drove out of the school and headed towards Nantong.

In the latter half of the night, we drove into Nantong territory.

Just after crossing the boundary marker, Li Zhuiyuan took out the blank book and turned to the second page.

The pitch-black ink faded, looking like a light smear of charcoal, roughly revealing the outlines of two blurry figures.

One was standing, and the other was kneeling.

If we were to make a preconceived notion, the one standing would definitely be "The Evil Book," while the one kneeling would be Ye Dui enduring torture.

Without preconceived notions, it's impossible to distinguish between a man and a woman from these two blurry figures.

The car drove to the riverbank.

Everyone got off the car.

Xue Liangliang started taking off his clothes, and Ayou took the clothes and put them into a bag.

In the past, Xue Liangliang would fold his clothes neatly and weigh them down with a rock by the river.

No need tonight, everyone will bring the groom's attire for him to change into tomorrow.

A gentle breeze from the river brought a refreshing coolness.

Xue Liangliang, however, did not feel cold at all; on the contrary, he seemed very relaxed and at ease.

Perhaps the physical foundation that enables him to handle such heavy work today was developed here, day after day, regardless of the weather.

Tan Wenbin cleared his throat and began to speak in a broadcasting tone:

"Dear viewers, the next person to appear is Xue Liangliang, a well-known Chinese diver... This is the last time this veteran from Anhui will participate in this competition. We sincerely wish him a happy and fulfilling retirement without any regrets!"

Xue Liangliang looked at Tan Wenbin.

Tan Wenbin shrugged.

"Binbin".

"Hey, Liang, I was just trying to liven things up."

"You'll be the emcee tomorrow."

"It's my pleasure."

Xue Liangliang closed his eyes, adjusted his breathing, and when he opened them again, his eyes were filled with determination. He took a running start, used his momentum, and jumped, like a silver fish entering the water.

"Pfft!"

The water splashes were suppressed almost perfectly.

Xue Liangliang completed the last jump of his life!
-

Asking for a monthly ticket!
(End of this chapter)