Chapter 34

On Sunday morning, the first rays of sunlight had not yet pierced the last deep blue of the night.

Wen Heng lay exhausted in bed, his eyelids too heavy to lift—he had stayed up late last night on his rooftop to capture a rare nebula trajectory and was now fast asleep.

"Bang, bang, bang."

The windowpane was tapped lightly.

Wen Heng frowned and pulled the blanket over his head.

"Wen Heng, wake up." A low, familiar voice came from outside the window, a voice that made him want to punch someone.

It is Jiang Ci.

Wen Heng rolled over in frustration, deciding to play dead.

"Are we going to Xie Qingyan's house?" The voice outside the window continued, its tone unreadable, but these words were like a precise key, "clicking" open Wen Heng's confused nerves.

Xie Qingyan.

The name seemed to possess some kind of strange, stimulating effect. Wen Heng opened his eyes almost instantly, all traces of sleepiness vanishing. The boy with bright eyes in the old bookstore, possessing an astonishing intuition for ancient books and astronomy; the classmate Jiang Ci unusually kindly helped; Xie Qingyan, whose background was ordinary yet seemed to conceal endless mysteries.

Should we visit his home? See the environment in which he grew up?

Curiosity immediately overcame all drowsiness.

"Wait," he replied in a hoarse voice, then threw back the covers and got out of bed.

While washing up and getting dressed, Wen Heng splashed cold water on his face to wake himself up completely, and looked through the mirror at Jiang Ci, who was leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed and looking impatient.

"How exactly did you two meet?" Wen Heng squeezed toothpaste onto his toothbrush and asked vaguely, "Just because you're deskmates? I've never seen you care this much about your previous deskmates." He used the word "care," and his eyes behind his glasses were filled with inquiry.

Jiang Ci's gaze shifted to the brightening sky outside the window, his tone as calm as if he were simply stating the weather: "He wanted to learn, so I was just helping him out."

"Just a casual gesture?" Wen Heng finished rinsing his mouth, wiped it, and mercilessly exposed him. "Casual gesture means borrowing my junior high notes? Casual gesture means climbing through my window early on a weekend morning to wake me up to go to his house? Young Master Jiang, isn't your standard for 'casual gesture' a bit too subjective?"

Jiang Ci's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, a hint of unease flashing across his face as if he'd been caught out, quickly replaced by his usual coldness. "Why are you talking so much? Hurry up, stop dawdling."

Wen Heng shrugged, knowing he wouldn't get any more information, and quickened his pace.

The two hailed a taxi in the dim morning light. After giving the address, Wen Heng looked out the window at the rapidly receding, gradually awakening city streets and asked, "Going so early? The Xie family might not be up yet."

"You'll see when we get there." Jiang Ci said succinctly, his gaze fixed ahead, as if he could already see that familiar little courtyard.

The car stopped at the entrance of a small alley in the old town. Jiang Ci, familiar with the place, led Wen Heng to the two-story self-built house with a small courtyard. They knocked on the door, and Xie's mother, looking tired but still warm, opened it.

"Jiang Ci? Oh my, and this classmate is..." Xie's mother was somewhat surprised, but even more delighted. It seemed her son had really made some good friends.

"Hello, Auntie, I'm Wen Heng." Wen Heng introduced himself politely.

"Come in, come in!" Mother Xie quickly stepped aside and invited the two into the house. The room was simply furnished but clean. Father Xie was leaning back in a recliner in the inner room, his leg still in a cast. He smiled and greeted them when he saw them come in.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, I learned that Xie Qingyan had gone to help in the vegetable garden early in the morning and was probably selling vegetables at the nearby market now.

Jiang Ci was not surprised at all, as if he had expected it. He declined the hot water that Xie's mother offered and said directly, "Auntie, let's go to the market to find him." After saying that, he grabbed Wen Heng, who was still a little out of sorts, and rushed out the door.

The old market was filled with the unique freshness and chaotic atmosphere of early morning. The earthy smell of various vegetables, the fishy smell, and the smoky smell of breakfast stalls mingled together, accompanied by a bustling atmosphere.

The two pushed through the crowded streets and spotted the familiar figure behind a refrigerated truck that was unloading vegetables.

Xie Qingyan is checking the vegetable delivery order and counting the quantity of each bag of vegetables.

His movements were practiced, his expression earnest, fine beads of sweat glistening on his forehead, his sleeves rolled up to reveal his slender yet well-defined forearms. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the market's roof, making him appear to glow, yet he blended seamlessly into the vibrant, everyday life of the market.

When Wen Heng saw Xie Qingyan like this for the first time, he was momentarily stunned. This was completely different from the image of the quiet, learned young man he remembered, who moved with ease among ancient books and the starry sky, yet they strangely blended together to form a more complete picture.

After checking the goods and collecting the money, Xie Qingyan straightened up, wiped his sweat, and was about to turn around and go to the breakfast stall next to him when he caught a glimpse of two people standing quietly behind him.

He paused, his eyes widening in disbelief: "Jiang Ci? Wen Heng? You... how did you get here?" After the initial surprise came undisguised joy, but a hint of barely perceptible embarrassment also flashed in his eyes.

"I came to see you." Jiang Ci stepped forward. "Finished with your work? Let's go have breakfast."

The three arrived at a bustling breakfast stall at the market entrance. Steaming hot soy milk, fried dough sticks, and steamed buns were served, and the aroma of the food dispelled the slight chill of the morning.

Xie Qingyan added an extra spoonful of sugar to Jiang Ci's soy milk before looking at the two of them and asking again, "Why did you two suddenly come here? Is...is there something you need?"

Jiang Ci took a sip of sweet soy milk, put down the bowl, and looked calmly at Xie Qingyan, revealing the real reason he had bothered Wen Heng to come so early in the morning:

“Your dad’s foot won’t be fully recovered anytime soon, and your aunt can’t manage on her own. You can’t help sell vegetables like this every day; it will interfere with your studies, and it’s not a long-term solution.”

He paused, then pointed to Wen Heng, who was sipping soy milk and clearly still digesting the situation.

“The Wen family has some businesses involved in high-end catering and organic food supply. My idea is to persuade your family to take over their existing vegetable gardens, or contract some nearby land, for small-scale, standardized, and organic farming. The vegetables grown will be purchased by restaurants or supply chains under the Wen family. The price can be higher than the market price, but the quality and stable supply are required. In this way, your uncle and aunt will not have to work from dawn till dusk, and their income will be more stable.”

His words were clear and logical, with a thorough analysis of the pros and cons. He considered the Xie family's actual difficulties, offered concrete solutions, and even enhanced the value of the Xie family's labor.

Wen Heng nearly choked on his soy milk. He looked up at Jiang Ci, his eyes behind his glasses filled with silent accusations: "When did you even learn business planning?" and "When did I agree to be this middleman?"

Xie Qingyan was also stunned. He hadn't expected Jiang Ci to have thought of this, and so thoroughly. Moved, his first reaction was to shake his head: "This... how can this be? This would be forced buying and selling, we can't do that."

“It’s not a forced sale,” Jiang Ci said confidently. “It’s a stable supply of organic agricultural products. The Wen family already has this need, so this is just another reliable and high-quality supplier for them. I’ve eaten your vegetables, and the quality is fine.” He then turned the conversation back to Wen Heng, “Right, Wen Heng?”

Wen Heng looked into Jiang Ci's eyes, which seemed to say, "You dare say no and try it," then glanced at Xie Qingyan's clear eyes, which held a mixture of worry and determination. He sighed inwardly. He adjusted his glasses, abandoning his usual rational analytical mode:

“The model Jiang Ci mentioned is theoretically feasible. High-end catering does indeed have a stable demand for ingredients of specific quality. However,” he changed the subject, looking at Xie Qingyan with a sincere tone, “I really can’t agree to this immediately. I need to understand more specific details, such as the size of the land, the soil and water quality, the varieties that can be grown, and the estimated yield, before I can make a preliminary judgment on whether it is worthwhile to propose this to my father. This is not a trivial matter; it involves business cooperation and requires evaluation.”

His answer was rigorous and objective, neither making sweeping promises nor outright refusing, giving both sides a way out and room for maneuver.

Jiang Ci seemed fairly satisfied with the answer. He knew Wen Heng's personality; getting to this point meant they were already halfway there. He looked at Xie Qingyan: "We can discuss the specific details later. But I think the direction is acceptable."

Xie Qingyan felt a warmth in his heart seeing Jiang Ci's dedication to planning for his family. Looking at Wen Heng's serious and rational attitude, he knew this was no joke. He pondered for a moment, then nodded solemnly: "Thank you. I need to discuss this carefully with my parents. If... if it really works, we will definitely do our best to grow the best vegetables and live up to your trust."

After breakfast, the three returned to the Xie family home. Upon hearing Jiang Ci's suggestion, Xie's mother was both touched and at a loss, repeatedly saying, "We can't accept this," and "It's too much trouble for Wen." Xie's father, meanwhile, pondered, a new hope igniting in his eyes.

In Xie Qingyan's small but tidy room, Wen Heng felt as if he were touring a minimalist laboratory, his gaze sweeping over the only old bookshelf, a desk, and a bed. His curiosity reached its peak.

Here, there are almost no "leisure books" beyond the scope of high school students, let alone profound ancient books and astronomical materials. So, where did Xie Qingyan get his astonishingly vast amount of knowledge?

He couldn't help but ask the question, his gaze sharp as he looked at Xie Qingyan: "Student Xie, I'm really curious. Given your family background and the collection of books here, how did you accumulate so much knowledge about ancient book versions, astrology and calendar systems, and even many obscure historical details? It's simply illogical."

The question was direct, even somewhat offensive, but Wen Heng's eyes were filled with pure curiosity and inquiry.

Xie Qingyan's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. He lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes concealing the fleeting emotion that crossed them.

Jiang Ci, standing to the side, heard the question and his lips curled up almost imperceptibly. It was a very subtle smile, tinged with a hint of secret pride. See, this secret that had perplexed Wen Heng and baffled all the teachers and classmates was known only to him. This realization, like a spark, melted away the bitterness that had welled up in his heart from Wen Heng and Xie Qingyan's discussion of ancient texts.

"I just like to go to the library to read books in my spare time. I read a wide variety of books, and that helps me remember things better." Xie Qingyan finally gave a vague, all-purpose answer, her tone still gentle, but clearly unwilling to elaborate.

Wen Heng noticed his evasiveness, and although his doubts deepened, his good upbringing prevented him from pressing the matter further. He simply buried the mystery deeper in his heart.

Jiang Ci then steered the conversation back to the "vegetable-growing project," half-forcing Wen Heng to give a preliminary indication on the spot. Forced into a corner, Wen Heng had no choice but to say, "Alright, alright, I'll go back and mention it to my dad. Whether it works out or not depends on the evaluation. Am I okay with my agreement?"

As Xie Qingyan watched Jiang Ci and Wen Heng interact in this familiar way, with a hint of playful teasing yet mutual trust, a very subtle emotion suddenly swept through her heart.

I'm a little envious.

Even... a bit of inexplicable jealousy.

Jiang Ci seemed more relaxed and like a teenager his age in front of Wen Heng. They would tease each other and have a tacit understanding of "forcing you to comply." As for himself and Jiang Ci, although there was a deeper understanding and reliance between them, there always seemed to be something between them. It was Jiang Ci's careful protection and his own hidden worries about his transmigrator identity.

When will he be able to joke with Jiang Ci as freely and equally as Wen Heng, and participate in all of his past and present?

The thought flashed through his mind, but it left a faint mark on his heart.

At noon, Xie's mother spared no effort in preparing a sumptuous meal. Braised pork, steamed fish, home-style tofu, stir-fried vegetables... Although all were home-style dishes, the portions were generous, showing her sincere care. The small table, crammed with five people, was filled with an unprecedented liveliness and warmth. Xie's parents kept putting food on Jiang Ci and Wen Heng's plates, repeatedly expressing their gratitude. Jiang Ci didn't say much, but ate attentively. Wen Heng responded politely, his manners impeccable.

After dinner, Xie's mother urged the three young people to go out for a walk instead of staying cooped up at home.

The three of them strolled along the small river behind the residential area. The riverbank was somewhat desolate in early winter, and the water flowed slowly. Wen Heng picked up a flat stone, turned to the side, and with a flick of his wrist, the stone bounced four or five times on the surface of the water before sinking.

"Not bad," Jiang Ci commented, then casually tossed out a piece, which only bounced twice.

Wen Heng wiped his hands and suddenly asked a completely unrelated question: "Jiang Ci, after the college entrance examination, are you planning to go abroad directly? I remember you said that once you go abroad, you won't have to stay in that cage anymore."

This question was like a pebble thrown into Xie Qingyan's heart, which had just begun to calm down.

Go abroad?

Another distant country?

Xie Qingyan abruptly turned his head to look at Jiang Ci. His heart felt like it was being clenched by an invisible hand, and the subtle envy and jealousy he had felt moments before were instantly replaced by a greater panic. He stared intently at Jiang Ci's profile, holding his breath, waiting for his answer.

The wind by the river suddenly seemed to turn cold.