As spring arrived unnoticed, bidding farewell to winter's chill, I found my memory of time had vanished. Yesterday, by the hearth, I slept soundly until dawn. After breakfast, I moved the Grand Tutor's chair into the courtyard.
The peach blossoms were already eager, while the pear trees had yet to awaken. The small courtyard was verdant, the rivalry between peach and plum unlikely to manifest. I knew little of Old Master Wende; his disciples, when mentioning him, spoke only of his nurturing grace.
Yu Xiaoluo said that after Old Master Wende passed away in '90, he left this place to his only female disciple, Wang Ren. Wang Ren didn't reside in the courtyard but would return every few days to clean.
Time flowed like a song, years turning into fleeting clouds.
Back then, in this home, an elder who upheld rules and five peculiar disciples had made this place feel like a family. But after the "event" of '90, the familial bond was torn into bloody fragments.
After that day, none of Li Jiu, Cao Shi, or even Zhang Si and Zhu Guang returned, as if they held no lingering attachment to this place.
In '05, Wang Ren learned of Yu Xiaoluo's plan to buy a house. She too had reached an age where she needed care and could no longer make the journey to clean every few days. Thus, Wang Ren sold the siheyuan to Yu Xiaoluo at a reasonable price.
Yu Xiaoluo was also busy. She thought about renting out the siheyuan. But the rent was too high; after a few days with no inquiries, she pondered whether to subdivide the rental. Deciding against turning the elegant siheyuan into a communal dwelling for mere rent money, Yu Xiaoluo hired workers to clean it weekly, maintaining the clarity of Wende Xiaoyuan.
Yesterday, I slept on Old Master Wende's bed. For modern people, such Qing Dynasty furniture felt a bit stiff. I thought I wouldn't get used to it, but it was surprisingly warm, and I slept more soundly than ever.
Adjacent to the bedroom was a study, containing Old Master Wende's calligraphy. Seeing his handwriting was like seeing the man himself.
That year, that month, that day…
Poetry could accompany wine, and swords could be gifted.
Reading his script allowed one to understand the old master's detachment from fame and fortune. According to the sentiment in his words, most people pursued wealth and status, unable to be indifferent. Even if they achieved this, they couldn't find joy in simple labor and a peaceful old age.
Old Master Wende thought his remaining years would wither away like the seasons, but unexpectedly, through a twist of fate, he accepted several unruly disciples. Navigating between them, he lived with ease and contentment.
From the old gentleman's perspective, these disciples who had stirred up so much trouble were still like innocent children. Thinking this, the old master's realm must have reached an extraordinary level.
For this reason, I rummaged through chests and cabinets, attempting to find a secret manual that could unravel all the world's mysteries, but returned disappointed.
Everything I needed was absent.
No profound wisdom of "all things under heaven are not mine, but are for my use," nor any legend of a soothsayer capable of predicting the future.
Finding nothing in the study, I moved the Grand Tutor's chair to the doorway and sat there, appreciating the spring scenery.
Yesterday, I walked around, observing the environment…
In the study, there was a small couch; this was Zhang Si's room, as he was responsible for Old Master Wende's daily life. The east wing was divided into two; Zhu Guang lived in the smaller room, while Li Jiu and Cao Shi shared the larger one, sleeping in bunk beds.
The west wing, spacious and bright, was reserved for the only female disciple, Wang Ren.
The kitchen and dining room were in the south gatehouse, with tea and wine available!
I found no enlightenment here. All I could do was space out.
Just then, the door creaked open, and a head peeked in, revealing a set of teeth that didn't look entirely healthy. "Tang Nan, I'm here!"
Class monitor Li Xiaodong!
Looking at this familiar face, I never imagined this guy's "honey trap" would nearly cost me my life.
"You have the nerve to show your face?"
Li Xiaodong grinned. "Brought a stack of beers as an apology."
"Do I lack a few bottles of beer?"
"Doesn't look like it. Speaking of which, you're living quite grandly. This courtyard is like the Empress Dowager's back garden. How much is the rent a month?"
Li Xiaodong still had that sharp-featured, shifty look, no different from when we were in school. He was always eager to pry. I firmly believed he hadn't escaped from Dongyang Psychiatric Hospital; there must be more to this place. So, I scrutinized his face, his eyes.
Noticing my intense gaze, Li Xiaodong surprisingly touched his face with one hand, formed a lotus gesture with the other, flicked his ankle, and said in a high-pitched voice, "Oh, you! Why are you looking at me like that!"
Was this the class monitor I knew? His behavior was like that of a stranger. In my understanding, Li Xiaodong wouldn't be so effeminate and fidgety. His gossip-loving soul hid beneath the surface, and his outward demeanor had a certain charm. What was this now that made me want to punch him?
"Class monitor, you really look like the neighbor's sweet girl next door, but she wears a sky-blue dress, while you're in jeans as thick as iron plates."
"Really?"
Is that so? Class monitor Li Xiaodong wasn't interested in pure, sweet neighbor girls anymore! This wasn't him. Back then, it was precisely this curious spirit that allowed him to know everything about the beautiful teachers and become my friend. Later, I found out he had gathered information on the campus beauty, the department beauty, the class beauty, and even the teacher beauty.
Yet, this bashful class monitor, who would be eager to know a beautiful woman's measurements, was now completely uninterested in the pure girl next door.
This was not normal!
It reminded me of the "schizophrenic" person Yu Xiaoluo mentioned yesterday.
"How about we climb this悬山 peak and look at the pretty girls?"
"No, it's been a while. We've been through so much. Right now, I just want to have a couple of drinks with you. Look, our Inner Mongolian beer!"
Breakfast had just passed; it wasn't time for drinking yet. These canned beers were indeed from Inner Mongolia.
Perhaps someone planned it.
But there was a problem with Class Monitor's approach. Firstly, it wasn't time for drinking. Secondly, to execute his plan, he had eradicated his own true nature.
I stared at the beer, appraising Li Xiaodong. He stared at me, his throat bobbing.
Was he nervous?
I smiled and agreed to his suggestion: "Then let's have a couple of drinks."
After speaking, I went to the large wooden table in the courtyard. Li Xiaodong also walked over and placed a dozen beers on the table.
"No snacks, just dry?"
Li Xiaodong smiled, took a bag of peanuts from his pocket, and said with a forced smile, "I prepared them."
"Very thoughtful. Cheers!"
Saying that, I sat down, picked up a beer, and pulled off the ring tab. I stole a glance at Li Xiaodong; there were faint beads of sweat on his forehead, and his tongue instinctively licked his lips. I smiled slightly and handed the opened beer to Li Xiaodong.
He didn't drink, clutching it tightly.
Was he planning to poison me like this?
I remained silent, opened another can of beer for myself, and casually asked Li Xiaodong, "Class monitor, I heard you were held by a pyramid scheme."
"Mm."
"Tell me about it. You're our class monitor. Getting tricked by such petty tricks, shouldn't you be able to write a thesis about it?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
Li Xiaodong seemed reluctant to discuss the matter, his gaze inadvertently fixed on the beer, as if all his thoughts were focused on how to get me to drink it.
"Let's have some peanuts first, then we'll drink."
Looking at Li Xiaodong's suggestion, I smiled, tore open the plastic bag of peanuts, and popped one into my mouth. Then, I coaxed him, asking, "Class monitor, drinking and chatting like this isn't your usual style, is it?"
"Isn't it?"
I sensed his tone turn cold and looked at him with a frown.
"Tang Nan, you're very smart. You know there's poison in the beer, so you handed me the first opened can."
I clutched my stomach, my body starting to tremble. "Li Xiaodong, you poisoned me. Where did you put the poison?"
Seeing my state, Li Xiaodong grew more triumphant. He raised the can I had given him earlier and slowly drank from it. "There's poison in the beer, right? This is Inner Mongolian beer, the packaging is a bit old, and you can't buy it here. I just came from the police station, and I brought this beer to poison you."
"I see it. I haven't had any to drink!"
"Right, you haven't drunk it. All I can tell you is, your guess is correct, I'm the one who poisoned it, but the poison isn't in the beer."
"Then the bag of peanuts is the poison?"
"Correct."
Li Xiaodong finished speaking, took the beer from my hand, and said seriously, "In two minutes, you'll be dead."
Luo Bo's investigation direction was correct. A person who loses their right brain gains stronger logical abilities in their left brain. Knowing I would suspect him of poisoning, he deliberately created the illusion of poisoning the beer, feigning nervousness and anticipation. These actions were all designed to trick me into eating the peanuts.
Even if I were poisoned in the end, he wouldn't have gloated or laughed; he would have been devoid of emotion, as cold as a Terminator robot.
I looked at Li Xiaodong's demeanor, retrieved the beer he had taken, and asked him seriously, "Since we're drinking and chatting, shouldn't it be my turn to drink?"
Seeing me casually drink the beer, Li Xiaodong's face was filled with confusion.
"Isn't this different from your script?"
"Yes!"
I placed the peanut I pretended to eat but had hidden in my left hand on the large table, and smiled at him, saying, "Do you understand now?"
"You didn't eat it!"
I nodded, pointed towards the door, and said, "Class monitor, look who's here?"
Li Xiaodong turned his head to look. I grabbed his hair and slammed him down onto the table. Bang, once, damn it, he didn't faint. Bang, bang, twice in a row, there was a bloodstain on his forehead, and he was still glaring at me. This wasn't like what happened on TV.
My original plan was to knock him out, but that seemed unrealistic. So, I decided to apprehend him and call 110. I released his hair, and he slumped limply under the table.
Suddenly!
Did he faint?
No, it looked like he was having a seizure, foaming at the mouth.
My initial plan with Yu Xiaoluo was to capture Li Xiaodong. But when she arrived, she helped me send him to the hospital. Li Xiaodong was in critical condition and was admitted to the ICU.