Chapter 43.3: Paper and Skin

Tan Wenbin walked to the dam and crouched down. His trembling hand fished out a cigarette and stuck it in his mouth, but after striking the match several times, he still couldn't get a spark.

He had just been joking—of course he hadn't really called his dad to come pick him up. So what if he didn’t see a Dead Sinker this time? There would always be another chance.

It felt like craving spicy food even though it burned going down—painful, unbearable, but impossible to resist.

“Chak!”

The match finally lit, and Tan Wenbin quickly bent his head to catch the flame.

A loud rumble approached—the sound of a police tricycle pulling up on the dam.

With the cigarette dangling from his lips, Tan Wenbin looked up and met Tan Yunlong’s eyes.

“Plop.”

The cigarette dropped to the ground.

Tan Yunlong got off the police bike, strode over, and delivered a fatherly kick.

“Bang!”

Tan Wenbin went flying, tumbling several times across the flat concrete.

“I left you here so you could smoke? Looks like you’ve forgotten all the rules!”

Tan Wenbin shot back, “Dad, aren't you using a public vehicle for personal errands?”

“Hmph.” Tan Yunlong began unbuckling his belt.

“What now, what now?” Li Sanjiang stepped out, grabbing Tan Yunlong’s arm. “Don’t always lay hands on the boy. What if you break him?”

“Grandpa, this guy was just crouching here smoking!”

“Ah, I gave him the cigarette. Just teasing him. The kid doesn’t even know how to smoke. If you’re gonna hit someone, hit me.”

“Grandpa, you can’t keep shielding him like this. Spoil him too much, and he’ll never learn.”

“I spoil my Little Yuanhou because I want to. I think he’s doing great.”

“That’s not the same.”

“Kids are kids—what’s different?”

“I dream there was a difference.”

“Come, sit. Stay for dinner tonight.”

“No thanks, Grandpa. I’m here on official business. There was a car crash involving a play troupe. Happened around noon in Pingchao Town—crashed through the bridge railing and fell into the river.”

“Which troupe?”

“The one that performed in Siyuan Village yesterday.”

“Oh, them. How are they?”

“All dead.”

“Damn... how’d that happen?”

“Seems like just an accident, but too many died. I’m here to do routine questioning. Nothing odd during the performance yesterday? Fights, arguments, any tension?”

“No, nothing like that. They performed well. Probably didn’t sleep a wink all night, just exhausted.”

“Mm. This group’s from out of province. They’re not locals.”

“Probably couldn’t find enough work back home, came looking here. What a shame.”

“All right then. That’s all. Grandpa, sorry Binbin’s been a handful.”

“No trouble. The boy’s great. He even helps me out. Honestly, he’s a good kid—I can tell.”

“Just doesn’t do well in school. Always playing, never studying.”

“All kids are like that. My Little Yuanhou’s the same—loves to play, no head for books.”

Tan Yunlong: “…”

“Grandpa, do you even know how your Little Yuan’s grades are?”

“Isn’t that thanks to your help? If not, I’d still be worried about whether he’d even have a school to attend.”

“Little Yuan didn’t tell you?”

“He did. Said you took care of everything.”

“It’s my duty. It’s nine years of compulsory education—no way a kid should miss school.”

Since the old man didn’t know, Tan Yunlong didn’t bother explaining further.

“Still, stay for dinner.”

“No, no, I’ll be off.”

After saying goodbye, Tan Yunlong got back on his trike and left.

Only after his dad was gone did Tan Wenbin crawl up and brush the dust off his clothes.

Li Sanjiang pulled out a cigarette and offered it. “Still daring to smoke?”

“Why wouldn’t I!”

“Whack!”

Li Sanjiang smacked him on the head with a knuckle.

Holding his head, Tan Wenbin complained, “Grandpa, what was that for?”

“Don’t resent your dad. He’s doing it for your sake. When you grow up, he’ll be the one handing you cigarettes.”

“Ha…” Tan Wenbin imagined the scene, a smile tugging at his lips. “That’d be great.”

“You fool. When that day comes, you won’t be smiling.”

…

Li Zhuiyuan wasn’t in a rush to read the book. Instead, he sat in the room playing chess with Ah Li.

Round after round, and he lost every time. But the boy enjoyed it—it helped soothe his anxious mind.

He knew he had a bad habit of overthinking. But around the girl, he could be quiet.

Aunt Liu came up, knocked on the door. Li Zhuiyuan went out and took a bag from her. It was filled with money.

“Thanks, Aunt Liu.”

“Come down for dinner.”

“Okay.”

Because Aunt Liu had gone to the bank, dinner was simple—noodles with two types of toppings—but still delicious.

“Hey, Zhuangzhuang, no appetite tonight?”

“Ate too much at lunch.”

“I thought your dad kicked your stomach out of order.”

“Not quite. His aim’s pretty accurate.”

“Zhuangzhuang, you’re gonna be a cop too, right?”

“No way.”

“Why not? Being a cop’s great.”

“My grandpa said it’s fine being a cop—as long as it doesn’t have ‘People’s’ in front. With those two characters, the job’s heavier, harder.”

“He’s a wise man.”

“Uh, you mean my grandpa?”

“He’s your grandpa too.”

Tan Wenbin turned to Li Zhuiyuan. “Little Yuan, what university are you aiming for?”

“Haihe University.”

“Nice, I’ll apply there too. We can start school together.”

“Thwack!”

Li Sanjiang knocked him on the head with the end of his chopsticks.

“What kind of crap are you spouting? You starting school with our Little Yuanhou? You’d need to repeat how many years!”

Li Zhuiyuan noticed Ah Li’s noodle-eating had become more relaxed, no longer trying to make each bite the same length.

When she finished, he asked, “Want more?”

Ah Li shook her head.

Li Zhuiyuan picked up a napkin. She leaned forward on her own.

After wiping her mouth and hands, he folded the cloth and wiped himself too.

Seeing her stare at the napkin, the boy deliberately tucked it into his pocket.

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