Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Farewell

Ji Huan asked calmly for the name and address of the hospital where his sister was currently staying. He wished to inquire further about her condition, but the caller was reluctant to provide more information and soon terminated the call.

With that task completed, the fear he had suppressed deep within him surged up like a tumultuous sea.

Without casting a glance at the classroom, Ji Huan walked out of the academic building in a daze. His face was grave, his lips tightly pressed together. As the cold wind struck against his face, his body chilled, but his eyes gradually regained their composure.

A leisurely stroll transformed into a light jog, which eventually turned into a brisk run.

He rushed to his part-time job after school every day - a local auto repair shop.

"Hand over my salary from last month," he demanded straightforwardly upon entering the auto repair shop, addressing the owner directly.

"Hey! It's only the beginning of the month, and we agreed to get paid halfway through!" A grease-stained man emerged from under the car, addressing Ji Huan with dissatisfaction.

Ji Huan didn't speak, merely gazing at him with a cold expression.

He was tall, standing half a head above the car repair shop owner who was over 1.7 meters, and though still in his growth spurt, he was lean. However, the owner knew well the concealed strength beneath this seemingly frail frame! The first encounter with him was a scene where he was surrounded by a group of local delinquents. Even in the smallest towns, there were always a few bad apples, and Badu Town was no exception. The repair shop owner had braced himself to witness the youth's beating, but the situation swiftly shifted. The young man moved with lightning speed, and astonishingly, single-handedly brought down the four thugs!

Later, as the young man searched around town for odd jobs, other establishments turned him away due to his age. It was only I who, recalling the fierce determination he displayed in that fight, considered how my shop often attracted unruly troublemakers and decided to hire him on that basis.

As it turned out, he was right. Though young, the boy named Ji Huan worked with a efficiency that surpassed two regular workers. Moreover, he was incredibly skilled in combat. The local thugs who used to come by to collect protection money were all driven away after several attempts. Eventually, they stopped coming altogether. The amount of protection money they had previously extorted was more than what the garage owner paid Ji Huan in wages. Privately, the auto repair shop owner boasted to his wife about his "wise decision" more than once.

Despite his fighting prowess, the young man was remarkably unassuming and diligent at the auto repair shop. He obediently did as he was told, never complaining about the toughest tasks or seeking a pay raise. On the rare occasions when the shop owner scolded him, he refrained from retorting. Over time, the owner gradually forgot the fierce image of the youth in combat.

Yet now, the youth looked at him as if he were regarding those ruffians and hoodlums...

Swallowing hard, the garage owner wanted to say something more, but under the cold gaze of the young man, he found that he couldn't utter a single word. In fact, he realized that his legs were trembling slightly.

"I'm not yet eighteen," the icy youth suddenly spoke up, "you're employing child labor."

"Fudge! What the hell kind of kid are you——" Muttering under his breath, the auto repair shop owner dared not look directly into the other's eyes. He waved his hand dismissively, avoiding the situation as he said, "Go to the back and find Aunt Wang to settle your bill."

Aunt Wang was the accountant and financial manager of the auto repair shop, a typical husband-and-wife business operation for such a small establishment.

Lowering his head, his hair obscured his eyes, Ji Huan once again became the quiet and reserved youth of old, stepping over the owner of the repair shop, he walked straight into the inner room.

A plump woman was inside, watching television while munching on sunflower seeds. Her laughter rang out from time to time, somewhat too boisterous for the setting.

Upon seeing Ji Huan enter, she hastily turned down the volume and faced him with a smile. "Ji Huan, you're here?"

Nodding, Ji Huan bluntly said, "Auntie Wang, I need my salary from last month."

"Oh? It's not due yet... but it's fine, I'll give it to you." Auntie Wang was a rather astute woman. Glancing at the calendar on the wall and then at Ji Huan, who had his head lowered, she seemed to imagine something. Immediately, she took out a tattered notebook from her drawer, checked Ji Huan's working hours from last month, and swiftly calculated his earnings before handing him the money.

Ji Huan counted the cash meticulously. After a moment, he looked up. "There's an extra three hundred."

"That's overtime pay. Didn't I call you in to help during the national holiday last month?" Auntie Wang smiled. "Just take it."

"Okay." Carefully putting the money in his pocket, Ji Huan gazed at the woman for a while. Then, he suddenly bowed to her.

"What's this about? Alright, I know you, kid. You wouldn't ask for your salary early without a reason. Do you need the money for something? Go take care of it." Auntie Wang waved him off.

Ji Huan nodded and then hurried away.

He rushed to the train station to check the fare for a ticket to the city where his sister lived. After calculating his current savings, he minimized his expenses as much as possible. He went to the town's grain store to buy a large bag of rice, then to the butcher's to get a slice of pork belly. After some thought, he also purchased some eggs before boarding the bus up the mountain with his numerous bags. Fortunately, his strength allowed him to carry all these items.

"Little Hua, are you stocking up for the New Year's festivities early? Why did you buy rice when we still have some at home?" The old man was startled by the sight that greeted him.

"I've changed my mind. I'm going to take the university entrance exam," Ji Huan said, not minding his grandfather's slip of tongue that revealed his childhood nickname. He first placed the fragile eggs on the table, then unshouldered the heaviest rice sack, and finally put the pork in the freezer compartment of the fridge.

Hearing this, the old man instantly forgot about the items: "Finally, you've come to your senses. How can you not go to university? I heard that city kids these days have to study all the way up to... graduate school!"

"Yes, Sister called me. She wants me to attend a tutoring class during the winter break, and I agreed," Ji Huan replied, using the excuse he had thought of on the way.

"Little Hei called you? I was wondering why that child hasn't called this month!"

"Sister said she tried calling you but couldn't get through," Ji Huan said casually. His sister had indeed often called their grandfather before, but the old man would miss her calls because he was usually working outside.

Ji Huan wasn't worried about being caught in a lie; his grandfather wouldn't check call logs.

"I'll leave tomorrow. I just bought my train ticket to the station, and there's still one available for tomorrow," Ji Huan continued.

"...Alright. When you get there, make sure to visit your sister and focus on your studies," Grandfather seemed no different than usual, which put Ji Huan's mind at ease.

Until he confirmed the situation with his sister, he wouldn't share any news with Grandfather. The old man's health wasn't robust enough to withstand sudden shocks of joy or sorrow.

For dinner, they typically had porridge cooked by Grandpa, pickles made by Ji Huan, and steamed buns purchased from the village. Ji Huan had bought over twenty buns, which he froze in the fridge, enough to last Grandpa for twenty days.

That evening, Ji Huan even went down the mountain to fetch a new can of cooking gas.

After considering all that still needed preparation, he fell into a worried slumber.

Unbeknownst to him, his grandpa entered his room after he fell asleep.

Sitting by Ji Huan's bedside in the darkness, the old man remained there for a long while before gently touching his grandson's forehead.

Despite going to bed late, Ji Huan woke up on time the next day. Grandpa was even earlier, and the small luggage Ji Huan had packed the previous night seemed fuller – it appeared that Grandpa had added more items.

Out of habit, Ji Huan checked the contents of the bag. Upon noticing a thick envelope filled with cash, he took it out.

"I have enough money for our trip," Ji Huan said, squatting on the floor as he offered the envelope to the elder.

"That's not for you; it's for Little Hei. When you get there, buy her a fancy dress, something expensive and pretty," the old man waved his hand dismissively.

Ji Huan then put the money back but didn't place it in the luggage. Instead, he kept it close to his body.

Though he was an unworldly country boy who had never ventured beyond his small town, Ji Huan had come across many such news stories. He knew that when traveling, especially by train, one must keep one's valuables close.

With a not-too-large suitcase in hand, Ji Huan bade farewell to his grandfather.

After he left, the old man stood under the towering tree in the courtyard for a long, long time. Gently, he stroked the trunk. After a while, he fetched an axe from indoors.

"Sigh... I'll need... new timber..." With a sigh, the elder raised the axe towards the only tree remaining in the yard.