The sky collapsed, and in the blink of an eye, I found myself transported to Nanluoguxiang.

It was evening.

"Knock knock!"

A knock on the door woke Li Kaixin from her dream.

"Kaixin, get up and eat!" Wu Tian and Qian Dazhuang's voices rang out from outside the door.

"They're here!"

Li Kaixin sat up, rubbed her face, and called out towards the door.

She nimbly rolled out of bed, rummaged through her luggage for an aluminum lunchbox, opened the door, and saw Wu Tian and Qian Dazhuang waiting at the door with their own lunchboxes.

The three of them walked together toward the grain depot's canteen.

In the north, dusk falls early, and the wind lashes your face like tiny knives.

The canteen was the largest of the row of bungalows, brightly lit and filled with the unique aromas of food and people.

As soon as he entered, Li Kaixin, with his sharp eyes, spotted Master Chen and Director Zhou from the grain station sitting together at a small square table against the wall, seemingly talking in hushed tones.

Li Kaixin immediately stopped, gestured to Wu Tian and Qian Dazhuang, and quickly walked over, respectfully calling out, "Master! Director Zhou!"

Master Chen looked up at him, nodded, and that was his way of greeting him.

Director Zhou responded with a smile, "Oh, young comrade, you're here too? Hurry up and get your food; we have potato stew with vermicelli today, or it'll be gone!"

"Thank you, Director Zhou!" Li Kaixin replied before turning around to join the queue.

The line for food wasn't long, and it was soon Li Kaixin and his friends' turn.

As Director Zhou had predicted, the meal consisted of a staple food of mixed rice and beans, a side dish of a large spoonful of potato stew with vermicelli that was almost entirely devoid of oil, and a small piece of dark, pickled vegetable.

The three of them found an empty table and sat down. Qian Dazhuang shoveled a big mouthful of rice into his mouth.

He said excitedly, his words muffled and unclear, "This is the first time in my life I've ever stayed in a guesthouse! And I even have a private room!"

Wu Tian nodded, a hint of curiosity on his face.

"Me too. Although it's small, at least I don't have to sleep outdoors anymore, and I can get a good night's sleep."

As they talked, the topic quickly shifted from their accommodation to their experiences over the past few days.

Qian Dazhuang described the bumpy experience with lingering fear.

Wu Tian rubbed his still sore lower back and complained that his bones felt like they were falling apart.

While eating, Li Kaixin listened to their complaints and deliberately showed off, saying, "I don't feel anything. My mentor has been taking good care of me. He's let me drive almost every day these past few days and even let me catch up on sleep in the car."

These words immediately drew a envious yet slightly sour look from Wu Tian.

She glanced around, lowered her voice, and said resentfully, "Kaixin, you have no idea what my master is like... sigh!!"

"The first night I was on duty, and the next day when I got on the bus I was so sleepy I dozed off. He saw me and gave me a good scolding!"

She got angrier and angrier as she talked, and stopped eating. Then she muttered under her breath.

"Kaixin, Dazhuang, do you know how I've been these past few days? I've been here for over a week, and I don't even recognize a few car parts, let alone a steering wheel! All I do is wipe the car, hand him tools, and do whatever he wants. He hasn't taught me anything useful."

Qian Dazhuang, standing next to him, chuckled and scratched the back of his head, saying in a muffled voice, "My master also let me catch up on sleep. On the way, he even told me how to watch the road and how to judge problems by listening to the engine sound."

After hearing Qian Dazhuang's words, Wu Tian became even more depressed.

He hung his head, silently rummaging through the food in his lunchbox, as if the food had a grudge against him.

Just then, Chef Chen, who had finished eating at the other table, called out to them, "Kaixin, come over here for a second."

Li Kaixin quickly replied, "Yes, Master!"

Li Kaixin gave Wu Tian and Qian Dazhuang an apologetic look, then happily trotted over with his lunchbox in hand.

Master Chen looked at him, his voice low but clear.

"Director Zhou and I are going to Pigeon City tonight. Do you want to come? You'd like to see it for yourself."

Li Kaixin was secretly delighted, but feigned some concern, asking, "Master, is it alright to go to Pigeon Market?"

Before Master Chen could answer, Director Zhou, who was standing next to him, explained with a smile, "Don't worry, Xiao Li. The pigeon market here has similar rules to your old Beijing."

"As long as you don't go to sell large quantities of grain or industrial coupons, or other scarce items, but just buy some mountain produce or odds and ends, the officials won't investigate unless the people complain."

"To be honest, quite a few high-ranking officials secretly go there when they want to eat some wild game or get something unusual. It's fine!"

Hearing Director Zhou's suggestive words, Li Kaixin immediately felt reassured and nodded quickly, "Okay, Master, Director Zhou, I'll go with you two to see for myself!"

"Okay, then wait for me tonight." Master Chen nodded.

As night deepened, the corridors of the guesthouse fell silent.

Li Kaixin was in his room, fully clothed and pretending to sleep. After some time, he heard two very faint, rhythmic knocks on the door.

Li Kaixin immediately rolled out of bed and gently opened the door.

Outside the door, Master Chen and Director Zhou were already waiting. Both of them were wearing dark cotton-padded coats and cotton hats that covered most of their faces.

"Keep your voice down, let's go," Master Chen said succinctly.

The three of them slipped out of the guesthouse without making a sound.

Director Zhou was clearly very familiar with the terrain, leading the way and deliberately choosing to go through backlit corners and alleys.

Master Chen and Li Kaixin followed closely behind.

As they walked, Master Chen whispered the rules to Li Kaixin: "When we get there, we have to split up. It's an old rule to avoid drawing attention. You do your thing and buy what you want."

"After you're done, wait for me under the old locust tree at the east end of the entrance to Pigeon City. Don't wander off."

As he spoke, he pulled out a hood made of old cloth that only revealed the eyes from his pocket and handed it to Li Kaixin, "Put this on."

Li Kaixin took it and neatly put it on her head, immediately feeling that her breath was filled with the fabric and her own scent.

Master Chen asked again, "Do you have enough money on you? If not, I can give you some first."

Li Kaixin felt a warm glow in her heart and quickly shook her head, her voice a little muffled through the hood: "Master, that's enough, I've taken it."

Director Zhou, who was listening at the front, turned around and smiled at Master Chen, saying, "Old Chen, your apprentice is really sensible and clever; he even knows to prepare money."

Master Chen seemed to smile in the darkness, but didn't reply. He just patted Li Kaixin on the shoulder.

Upon arriving at the entrance to Pigeon City, in a sheltered alley, there were only two or three masked guards.

Master Chen stopped and gave Li Kaixin one last instruction: "Remember, we'll go our separate ways and wait under the locust tree."

His gaze swept over Li Kaixin's face, which was covered by a hood, and he added another sentence.

"Be smart, don't cause trouble."

Li Kaixin said in a low voice, "Understood, Master."

Director Zhou took the lead and merged into the crowd ahead. Master Chen patted Li Kaixin's arm and also turned to walk in another direction.

Li Kaixin took a deep breath, pulled the cloth covering her head, and stepped forward.

The guard merely glanced at Li Kaixin lazily, without saying a word or stopping him.