The memories of coming down from the mountain are already a bit hazy.
I only remember Wang Yang carrying me on his back, stopping and starting along the way, completely weak and with a high fever.
When I woke up in the county hospital, I felt like my body was no longer my own, completely devoid of strength, with an IV drip still in my hand.
Each time I woke up, I would drift back to sleep within ten minutes, drowsy and disoriented.
After two days of this, I slowly began to recover.
During that time, Wang Yang stayed by my side, looking after me in the hospital. It's good that the kid has some conscience.
Wang Yang handed me a peeled apple and poured me a glass of hot water. "Based on your current condition, you should be able to be discharged in another two days."
I took the apple and took a bite. The tart and sweet flesh filled my mouth. After swallowing the pulp, I asked, "What about Zhou Yongxiang and the others?"
"Da Jun came to the hospital yesterday. You were still asleep then. He asked me to tell you that they will wait for you to be discharged at Shuishu Village and then return to Guangling together." Wang Yang said.
"Wait for me to be discharged?" This surprised me. "Do they need my help with anything else?"
Wang Yang replied, "Probably. But don't think about it too much now. Just focus on recovering from your injuries first."
I touched my slightly itchy waist. Although it was still wrapped in bandages, I felt that it was no longer a major problem.
I asked Wang Yang how we had gotten down from the mountain that day.
He told me that after dawn, I had started to develop a high fever. Seeing that the situation was not good, he carried me on his back and hurried back to the village.
After arriving at Shuishu Village, he drove me to the county hospital overnight.
According to the doctor, my condition at the time was already very critical. If there had been any further delay, I might not have survived.
After hearing Wang Yang's account, I felt a lingering sense of unease.
"Old Zhou is also very concerned about your condition, saying he wants to ensure your safety no matter what," Wang Yang said with a smile. "If you hadn't woken up then, he was planning to send you to the city hospital."
I finished the apple, wiped my hands, and said, "It's good that he at least has some conscience."
"Whether he has a conscience or not, I don't know, but he definitely needs something from you."
"He needs something from me?"
"Yes, otherwise he wouldn't have sent Da Jun to deliver a message, asking you to go directly to Shuishu Village to find him once you've recovered."
A sense of doubt lingered in my mind. What did Zhou Yongxiang need my help with, or rather, how could I possibly help him?
The next morning, I completed the discharge procedures, and we returned to Shuishu Village that same morning.
With the experience in the underground palace, Li Zha Si's relationship with us had also become closer.
At his home, I met Zhou Yongxiang. I noticed that he looked even more aged than he had a few days ago.
Upon meeting him, I directly asked Zhou Yongxiang if there was anything he needed my help with.
He took out a small, square bronze box that was locked. The lock was very peculiar, making it impossible to figure out how to open it.
"Shopkeeper Xiang, you must help me this time," Zhou Yongxiang said to me in a tone that was almost pleading.
Looking at his demeanor, I smiled wryly and replied, "Old Zhou, it's not that I don't want to help you, but I don't know how to open this box either."
"Don't you know a master locksmith?" Zhou Yongxiang said. "Old Bai told me that you invited someone to Guangling back then to help Wu Tingxiu open a lock."
Hearing this, I was taken aback. Was he referring to Yang Hanxue?
"Help me contact that person. As long as this lock can be opened, I will agree to any conditions," Zhou Yongxiang said with a determined expression.
"Uh, Old Zhou, this matter..."
Before I could finish, he interrupted me. "What I promised you before still stands. When we return to Guangling, I will give you all my collected items."
I was startled and didn't quite grasp what he meant. I quickly said, "That's not what I meant. I meant that helping you open the lock is no problem, but it might have to wait for a while, as I need to go out of town."
Now that the year-end has passed, I have my own matters to attend to.
I must personally go to the Greater Khingan Range to inquire about my father's affairs with that "Old Chen."
My father's matters are the priority. As for other things, I truly don't wish to stir up any more trouble.
"Shopkeeper Xiang." Zhou Yongxiang held my hand, his eyes filled with a hint of pleading. "You must help me. I don't have much time left."
"Not much time?" I asked, puzzled.
He hesitated, looked around, and gave Da Jun a meaningful glance, as if he had something to say to me privately.
After some thought, I also asked Wang Yang to step outside.
When only Zhou Yongxiang and I were left in the room, he finally told me the truth.
Honestly, I had considered many possibilities for his motives, with the most likely one being that the old man wanted to prolong his life or achieve immortality.
After all, why would he go to such great lengths, sparing no expense, for what?
At his age, money might not be that important anymore. So why would he care so much about the bone flute and the rubbings on Li Zha Si's photo?
The only plausible explanation was that he had heard some rumors from somewhere that might help him increase his lifespan.
People who reach a certain age tend to have such unrealistic thoughts, wishing to live a few more days, and fearing death.
But I never expected that his true motive was not this...
When he explained the entire situation, my heart felt as if a floodgate had opened, leaving me with an indescribable feeling.
I developed an even greater sense of sympathy for this old man.
Zhou Yongxiang came from a poor family. With many siblings, he was sold by his parents to a pawnshop to do odd jobs at a very young age.
He began living in the pawnshop in his teens. During that turbulent period, he often went hungry, let alone received any wages.
Only after becoming an apprentice did his life start to improve.
To make a name for himself, he worked diligently. Not only did he teach himself to read, but he also studied history and began to try his hand at appraising antiques and jade.
Gradually, as he gained some reputation, his status in the pawnshop also rose.
However, fate played a cruel trick on him. In his eighteenth year, the hot-blooded Zhou Yongxiang fell in love with someone he shouldn't have.
The pawnshop owner's daughter was in her prime, and she and Zhou Yongxiang were drawn to each other. Before long, they became involved.
Although Zhou Yongxiang was no longer the child laborer who had been sold into servitude, his social status was still not high enough to become the pawnbroker's son-in-law.
Thus, a classic story of lovers being torn apart unfolded. What was unexpected was that Zhou Yongxiang had gotten the pawnbroker's daughter pregnant.
When the pawnbroker learned of this, he flew into a rage and did something completely unforeseen...