I didn't wake Tong Liu. I got up, grabbed my toiletries, and went out. When I came back after washing up, Tong Liu was already sitting on the bed smoking.

He glanced at me, and I nodded to him. Although neither of us spoke, we both tacitly realized that Xu Huihui had indeed been sent away.

"I have to go clock in for work now. If you don't have anything else to do, you can rest a little longer. Just tell anyone you meet on your way out that you're bringing me breakfast." I said softly as I cleaned up the bottles in the room.

"No, I'm going back too. I'll see if there's anything else I need to do and finish it quickly so I can go back to find Hu Ergou this afternoon." After saying that, Tong Liu took his hammer and headlamp and went out.

Fortunately, it's still early, and no one has come to the courier station yet. Otherwise, seeing Tong Liu's outfit, they would definitely mistake him for a thief who was so engrossed in his work that he forgot to go home.

After tidying up the house, I headed towards the courier station. With Xu Huihui, this burden on my mind, gone, I felt much more relaxed.

After I clocked in, I went to the sorting room. Hu Ergou's truck hadn't arrived yet, so I found a place to sit down, took out a cigarette, lit it, and started smoking with a contented look on my face, quietly enjoying this brief moment of peace.

"Changming, I didn't expect you to be even further than me." I heard footsteps behind me, followed by Zhong Lingui's voice.

"Good morning, Brother Zhong." I took out a cigarette and handed it to Zhong Lingui, smiling.

Zhong Lingui still didn't look well today, which obviously meant that his son's matter hadn't been resolved yet. However, I didn't plan to ask. It's enough to say something like that once; if I did, it would probably annoy people.

Zhong Lingui took the cigarette, lit it, and slowly sat down beside me. After taking a few puffs, he remained silent for a while and then said softly, "Changming, perhaps you are right. Some things are better believed than not."

I glanced at Zhong Lingui curiously, but didn't say anything. I knew that once he started talking, he would continue.

“The doctors can’t find anything wrong with my son, and their treatment suggestions are completely useless. I’ve thought it through. I’ll have your sister-in-law take him to the Grand Temple today to see a shaman,” Zhong Lingui said slowly, exhaling a puff of smoke.

"Give it a try, it might be a good idea." I didn't expect Zhong Lingui to talk to me about this, so I offered a word of comfort.

"Hmm." Zhong Lingui gave a soft hum, then fell silent and continued smoking.

I didn't say anything more, took out a cigarette, lit it, and continued smoking.

Suddenly, smoke filled the air around us. Just then, Zhang Guangyin's truck drove in. He got out of the driver's seat, glanced at the two of us, said nothing, and walked towards his office.

I stood up, stretched, and started my workday.

After loading the package onto the truck, I started making deliveries. On the way, I saw a small shop, so I got off and bought a pack of Hongzhenlong liquor, and also bought two bottles of Beijing Erguotou for my fifth grandfather.

My fifth grandfather loved this kind of wine the most, and he could drink a lot. Of all the people I've ever met who drank, I think my fifth grandfather was the most capable. These two bottles of wine were just enough for him for half a meal.

The shopkeeper was an old woman. When I saw her, I suddenly remembered that I had bought paper money last night and still owed her 10 yuan. So I took a detour to the Dahuang Temple.

I'm only delivering this line today, and I still have plenty of time. I'll go pay for it now that I remember.

When I arrived at the old lady's shop, she was dozing in a recliner.

"Grandma," I called softly.

The old lady seemed to be sleeping soundly, and did not open her eyes.

"Grandma, I've come to return your money," I called out again, raising my voice slightly.

The old lady slowly woke up, glanced at me, and smiled, "Hehe, young man, you've come!"

"Here you go." I handed her the 10 yuan in my hand and said, "Grandma, I have to go now."

The old woman took the money, glanced at me, and said, "Young man, I see a sinister aura about you. Is there something evil on you?"

I was taken aback for a moment when I heard that, and then laughed and said, "Grandma is joking. I didn't bring anything evil with me."

After saying that, I rode away on my electric bike. I thought the old lady was just trying to get me to buy something from her shop, but I wasn't buying it. People who run these kinds of shops always use the same excuses.

I had already walked quite a distance when I could still hear the old woman's voice coming from behind me, "Young man, don't go any further, this old woman wants to give you some pointers..."

I shook my head and ignored her. Xu Huihui had already been sent away by Hu Ergou, so what else could I possibly do?

It was already 1:30 PM when I finished delivering the packages.

When I got home, I saw my fifth grandfather eating, so I took two bottles of wine and went inside.

"Changming, I just finished cooking. Come and sit down to eat," my fifth grandfather said with a smile when he saw me.

"Yes, this is some wine I brought for you on my way here." I placed the wine in front of my fifth grandfather.

Grandpa Wu smiled broadly and said, "Haha, you're the one who understands me best."

I got a bowl of rice and sat down opposite my fifth grandfather. The dishes on the table were simple: a bowl of braised pork belly, a plate of green vegetables, and a bowl of pork offal soup.

It's said that people who love to drink are good cooks, and in my opinion, that's absolutely true. My fifth grandfather is an amazing cook; he can prepare pork in more than a dozen ways. But no matter how you cook it, it's still pork, and you get tired of it after a while. So I didn't touch the meat bowl at all, but instead became very interested in the vegetables in front of me.

"Fifth Grandfather, how did you and my grandfather meet?" I asked while eating, feeling bored.

Fifth Grandfather opened a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), took a gulp, and slowly said, "It was on the battlefield that your grandfather saved my life."

"My grandfather was a soldier?" I asked, feigning curiosity.

"No, I'm the one who's in the army," said Fifth Grandfather.

"That's strange. If my grandfather didn't join the army, why did he go to the battlefield?" I asked, very curious.

"Let's eat," Fifth Grandfather said simply, changing the subject.

I thought that things on the battlefield shouldn't be talked about casually, so I asked as a second choice, "Fifth Grandfather, then tell me about my grandfather's past."

What I meant was simple: I wanted my fifth grandfather to tell me what he could say.

Fifth Grandfather took a sip of wine, glanced at me, took another sip, looked at the bottle, and perhaps out of consideration for the Erguotou, slowly said, "I lived with your grandfather for a while. He seemed to be searching for something, or hiding from something. The reason I came to live here is because I owe him a favor, which I haven't repaid yet."

I carefully considered what my great-uncle had said. What exactly was my grandfather looking for?

What are they hiding from now?

Could it be related to his death?

It felt as if I had unveiled the past of my grandfather, but I didn't get any substantial information.

"And then what happened?" I continued to ask.

"Alright, you've eaten your fill, go do your work." Fifth Grandpa said, tidied up the dishes, and left with his half-empty bottle of Erguotou.