Corpse Retriever

At first, the shopkeeper couple asked in Chongqing dialect what they wanted to eat. Tan Wenbin and Runsheng, walking ahead, didn’t understand a word.

Seeing they were out-of-towners, the shopkeeper slowed her speech and enunciated word by word. Though still in Chongqing dialect, she probably believed this was now very standard Mandarin.

Xue Liangliang walked over and smiled. “She’s asking how many liang you want. Ma’am, two bowls of three-liang wontons in clear broth, please.”

“Got it. And you guys?”

Tan Wenbin said, “Red broth wontons. Three jin.”

Runsheng added, “Chongqing noodles. Five jin.”

The shopkeeper was speechless.

But in the end, she still made it.

Tan Wenbin’s came in the biggest bowl the shop had, and Runsheng’s was served in a basin.

Touching the basin’s rim, Runsheng felt a warm familiarity—like being home.Li Zhuiyuan couldn’t finish his three-liang wontons, so Xue Liangliang scooped some into his own bowl.

Tan Wenbin and Runsheng were sweating as they ate. Runsheng even drank the broth dry.

Thankfully, it was after breakfast hours and the shop wasn’t busy. Otherwise, their meal would’ve drawn a crowd.

After eating, Xue Liangliang flagged a cab and took the group to a hotel at Guanyin Bridge—his new workplace’s partner hotel, essentially a guesthouse.

They’d arrived at night and gone straight to sleep, so now was their first real chance to take in the sights of Shan City.

It was a city full of charm—modern buildings and infrastructure mixed seamlessly with remnants of earlier eras. Its layered history and mountainous terrain gave Shan City a flavor all its own.

Li Zhuiyuan thought they didn’t even need to visit specific attractions. Just driving around the city was already a beautiful experience.

The new hotel was much more upscale. Xue Liangliang showed his documents and letter of introduction at check-in. He booked one room on the company’s dime, and another with his own money.

The rooms were on the eighth floor, accessible by elevator. It was Runsheng’s first time in one—such a big man, looking awkward and stiff inside.

Once inside, Xue Liangliang said he needed to check in at his new job and handle some paperwork. He’d take them sightseeing properly tomorrow. Tan Wenbin and Runsheng decided to wander around the hotel in the meantime.

Li Zhuiyuan called the number Liu Yumei had given him. A man answered, asked for his hotel address, and then told him to come downstairs—the car was already waiting.

That caught Li Zhuiyuan off guard. So fast?

He went to the hotel lobby and saw a sleek black car parked outside. A driver wearing white gloves stepped out and asked:

“Excuse me, are you Young Master Li Zhuiyuan?”

“My name is Li Zhuiyuan, but I’m no young master.”

“Please get in.”

The driver opened the door for him. As Li Zhuiyuan got in, he saw a woman with stylishly permed orange curls rushing over with a bag in hand, her high heels tapping rapidly on the ground.

“What’s with the rush? I thought we were leaving at dinner. Why the sudden urgency?”

Then she spotted the boy in the back seat and snapped:

“And who is he? Why is he in my car?”

The driver replied calmly, “Young Master Li is the master’s honored guest. Madam, the master instructed us to leave for Chun Garden now. If you’d rather not go, that’s also fine.”

“You…”

The woman was furious, but held it in.

The driver opened the passenger door. The woman pouted but eventually got in.

Only then did Li Zhuiyuan realize—the car had originally been meant for this woman. But his call had changed the plan.

Chun Garden was on a mountain, though Li Zhuiyuan had no idea which—Shan City was all mountains.

Once past the security booth, he saw the area was a private, high-end Chinese-style club, used only by the owner or to host VIPs—not open to the public.

After getting out, a dignified middle-aged woman came to lead the way.

The woman from the passenger seat got out first, nervously fixing her hair and collar, her earlier arrogance replaced by anxiety. She called out meekly:

“Sister-in-law.”

The woman ignored her. When she saw Li Zhuiyuan step down, she smiled and came over, gently taking his hand.

“Young Master Zhuiyuan, please come with me.”

Li Zhuiyuan nodded. He couldn’t be bothered to correct the title.

The other woman followed a few steps, only for the matron to turn back and glare at her.

“Ah, sister-in-law, I—I can’t go?” she asked, pointing at her face.

The matron shook her head, then turned back with a kind smile and led the boy forward.

The young woman stomped her foot in frustration.

They passed through covered walkways and a lotus pond, finally reaching a pavilion deep inside where Li Zhuiyuan saw familiar faces.

Liu Yumei sat on a stone bench. Beside her, a white-haired elder stood brewing tea.

In a corner of the pavilion sat a girl—someone he hadn’t seen in days—gazing at the lotus flowers.

And there, framed by the blossoms, was the person he had missed.

The girl walked over first. The matron, knowing her habits, released the boy’s hand and silently stepped back.

Li Zhuiyuan held Ah Li’s hand. She looked at him, frowned, and pouted.

Liu Yumei, who had been serene, glanced at the boy and immediately grew stern, raising her voice:

“You brat! You’ve been wrecking your body again. Still trying to go blind?!”

The white-haired elder sat down after steeping the tea, surprised to see the girl being so emotionally open and physically close to someone.

Splash!

Liu Yumei flung her fresh tea onto the floor.

The elder got the hint, stood up, bowed respectfully, and left the pavilion.

Liu Yumei glared again. “Speak. What trouble have you stirred up this time? Look at yourself—all drained and sickly. You’ve got Ah Li worried sick.”

Li Zhuiyuan replied, “We ran into some highway bandits in a village. Bad luck.”

“And?”

“We called the police.”

Liu Yumei frowned slightly. She knew the boy was omitting key details, but she didn’t press further. After all, she’d be returning to live at the Li Sanjiang household, and so would the boy. The chess game between them wasn’t over.

Li Zhuiyuan leaned in and whispered in Ah Li’s ear, “Those bandits tried to hurt us. That night, I took care of them all.”

The girl squeezed his hand and gave it a happy shake, dimples blooming.

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