Chapter Eight: Grandfather Sets Out on a Long Journey

Fridays always boasted plenty of captivating programs, but it didn’t matter—Ning Bao remained here, keeping watch for the readers, as the new chapter arrived...

He Zhixing asked the two girls if they had finished scratching their lottery tickets. Both girls shook their heads and said they hadn’t won anything. Only then did He Zhixing slowly take out the few tickets he’d drawn, handing two each to the girls and keeping the ticket with the twenty-thousand prize for himself. Ling’er and Yan’er quickly scratched their tickets and, to their surprise, one of the random tickets turned out to be a small winner—five yuan.

He Zhixing finally scratched his own ticket—the one with the twenty-thousand prize. It was just as people say: the best things always come out last, like a beauty shyly unveiling her face after countless calls.

Zhang Yan was the first to notice, grabbing his arm and covering her gaping mouth with her other hand, her face filled with astonishment. Her sister, Zhang Ling, saw her sister’s stunned expression and leaned in, discovering the ticket that had just won twenty thousand. She pounced on He Zhixing, jumping with joy.

Their parents soon noticed the commotion. “Ling’er, Yan’er, did your brother He win again?”

The girls could only nod, too excited for words.

“Let’s see.”

He Zhixing handed the ticket to the girls’ parents, who were also astonished by the big win. What incredible luck this young man had! To win such a prize—fortune truly favored him.

Their parents immediately helped by taking the ticket to claim the prize. Because of the large amount, it couldn’t be redeemed on the spot but had to be processed at the bank. When those nearby heard someone had won big, the whole crowd erupted in cheers, momentarily drowning out even the county leader’s speech on the stage. The news of He Zhixing’s windfall spread quickly among all present.

They followed the staff to the bank to process the prize money. Afterward, they didn’t bother staying for the rest of the performance. Ling’er’s father drove them personally back to the village. Twenty thousand in cash was a considerable sum in the late nineties. He could have deposited it, but without his ID or household registration, He Zhixing had to take the cash home.

Arriving home, he found his grandfather to get the household registration book, took out a thousand yuan to give to Ling’er’s father, and then asked him to drive them to the credit union to handle the deposit. At first, Ling’er’s father refused to accept the money, but in the end, unable to resist the old man’s insistence, he finally relented. Both families shared in the happiness.

After returning, the two girls came to play with him again. “Brother, you’re amazing! You’re our role model!”

He chuckled, “Oh? Am I really that great? You’re making me sound like a flower—aren’t you afraid I’ll get so spoiled and arrogant that I’ll trick you two silly girls out of everything?”

“You dare!” “We’re not afraid!” The two girls flanked him, one knocking his head and the other pinching his waist, while He Zhixing cried out theatrically in mock pain.

“Come, I promised to carve a little wooden figurine for Ling’er yesterday. I’ll do it now,” he said. Ling’er cheered happily, “Okay!”

The two girls watched as he carved, stroke by stroke. Woodcarving was also a kind of practice, as the eccentric old man had once told him. The process cultivated the mind and nurtured character, while also training strength, perseverance, and dexterity.

*****

Ever since winning the twenty-thousand prize, He Zhixing spent his days at home. His life followed a simple routine: helping his grandfather with carpentry, practicing the breathing techniques the eccentric old man had taught him, and either visiting the county bookstore or gathering herbs in the mountains.

At first, his grandfather was reluctant to practice with him, saying he was too old for much improvement. But He Zhixing persuaded him, arguing that it could at least improve his health, and that the benefits of self-cultivation were no children’s game. Besides, he was still young and hoped his grandfather would live many more decades. His grandfather’s health had not been good before, but after benefiting from the millennia-old stalactite—using it to transform both his and his grandfather’s bodies—his grandfather no longer tired so quickly. Experiencing these benefits, he finally agreed to learn the breathing exercises.

The year 1997 was a fruitful one for the county government. With the winds of reform and opening blowing in, the city was changing rapidly, and good news arrived: Lexian Town was officially upgraded to a county-level city. He Zhixing was growing taller and stronger—at sixteen, he was already over 1.7 meters, with a strikingly fit build, truly a handsome young man.

His healthy, wheat-colored complexion and sharply defined features, along with his spirited eyes, made him something of a local celebrity in the village—a carver and artist. Each year, many local families asked him to write their Spring Festival couplets. His painting and calligraphy skills had grown increasingly refined, and even Ling’er and Yan’er’s father owned several of his works.

To further hone his craft, he often visited Gufuyan during its development, watching the master monk-sculptors invited from Nanhua Monastery carve the twin-headed Buddha and the great Buddha at the summit. He gladly helped the masters, hoping to be accepted as their apprentice. He also visited the Danxia Scenic Area in the neighboring county, leaving his footprints in temples and among the region’s strange stones.

One day after lunch, his grandfather received a visit from a family in the city, inviting him to make furniture and giving him their address. Waiting until after four o’clock for He Zhixing to return, but not seeing him, his grandfather finally left alone. He Zhixing had gone to the mountains to gather herbs. His grandfather left a note with the address, instructing him to come to the city after returning.

About twenty minutes later, He Zhixing returned, saw the note, locked up, and hurried after his grandfather, confident his youthful pace would let him catch up once he reached the city.

But disaster was quietly approaching his grandfather. Would He Zhixing catch up in time? At this moment, he was hurrying along the road to the city.

The latest chapter, updated at the fastest pace, refreshingly crisp…