Chapter 40 Treasure Island (9) Yin-Yang Sea, Golden Waterfall...
Uncle Lin tidied up the small cubicle next to the studio, cleaned it, and put in an unused iron bunk bed for Ah Kun to move in.
The kitten first helped Lin Bo make the bed with its paws, but to humans it was actually making a mess. After the sheets were made, it rolled around on the other person's new bed.
Ah Kun clicked his tongue and pulled the kitten off the bed: "Your fur is all stuck to it."
The bed was covered with a three-piece bedding set that smelled of laundry detergent. On the bedside table and the table next to it were ceramic vases and ornaments that Uncle Lin had made himself. Several cats in different poses sat in a row, adding a touch of liveliness.
He glanced at the neat and tidy room and was very satisfied.
This is much cleaner and tidier than Ah Kun's house!
Ah Kun looked down at the only set of clothes he was wearing, which were covered in dust and bloodstains from being beaten on the ground: "I need to go home and get some clothes."
“If you go back now, who knows if someone will be staking out your house.”
"But I can't just keep not changing my clothes forever."
"Wait a moment." Uncle Lin came out of the cubicle and returned a while later carrying a box. "Take a look at these and see if you can wear them."
Ah Kun pulled out a printed T-shirt with the tag still on: "I didn't expect you to be so fashionable."
"I bought it for my son."
"You have a son?" Ah Kun couldn't see any trace of a second person in this house. "Where is your son now?"
Uncle Lin's wrinkles appeared even deeper. He lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the T-shirt in Ah Kun's hand, as if he were looking at something through the clothes.
"Six years ago, he died while speeding."
Ah Kun's hand holding the clothes paused.
He instinctively opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but the words stuck in his throat. No one understood the bewilderment and pain of losing a loved one better than him.
Uncle Lin's face was expressionless, and he quickly suppressed any cracks in his expression. He pointed to the box and said, "I bought all of these for him. He hasn't even touched them. You can take them and wear them."
Chichi squatted by the bedside table, watching Uncle Lin silently leave the room: "I didn't expect Uncle Lin to have a deceased son. No wonder he was so disappointed in Ah Kun."
“Yes, he doesn’t even want to show the photos. It seems he’s heartbroken,” 1221 said.
Ah Kun was silent for a moment, as if he had made up his mind, and then called out to the other person's back, "Thank you... I will wear it."
Since Ah Kun moved into the small cubicle, this old workshop has quietly undergone changes.
Uncle Lin still didn't say anything nice, but his actions spoke volumes.
Seeing that Ah Kun was always getting into fights and getting injured, and that young people didn't like going to the hospital, he could only try different ways to make soup and cook dishes.
Today it's a pot of steaming medicinal pork rib soup, tomorrow it'll be a bowl of glistening, fragrant braised pork rice, and the portions are surprisingly generous.
"Eat more! You're as skinny as a monkey, how can you have the strength to work?"
Uncle Lin pushed the rice bowls, piled up like a mountain, in front of Ah Kun.
Ah Kun was initially a little awkward about such meticulous care, but he couldn't resist the delicious food and always ate it all up. As a result, Chi Chi, who came to freeload every day, visibly gained weight.
In order to burn off the excess calories, I started taking a walk every night.
"Are you just taking a walk?" 1221 couldn't help but ask. "This system is too lazy to even call you out on it."
"What's wrong? Does taking a walk on a familiar street not count as a walk?" the kitten said matter-of-factly.
Of course, the kitten would be even happier if it could catch a glimpse of the person it wanted to see during its walk.
She walked confidently toward Minsheng Street, turned into the old courtyard, where the other person would usually sit quietly most of the time.
Sometimes, even if you arrive at the yard late, you'll find it empty.
Strangely enough, she always managed to find the other person in some place by intuition.
He was always easily found by the kitten. Sometimes at Shuinandong, sometimes at the Jishan Seaview Pavilion, when he saw the kitten, he would quietly approach and jump onto the kitten's lap.
Most people would be startled by such a sudden attack, but the attacker was different.
When a fluffy little creature deliberately lands on your knee from the side or behind to scare you, the person won't even change their breathing rhythm.
There was no fright, no resistance; the arrival of the kitten was as natural as leaves rustling in the wind.
Although thinking this way is somewhat narcissistic, Chichi always felt that the other person had no other close creatures besides her, including their own kind.
She was the only allowed variable in that silent world.
The kitten likes to use those legs as the most comfortable and warm nest, curl up, and purr contentedly. The other person remains silent, but will let her stay by their side.
Chichi couldn't understand why she always wanted to get close to the other person. 1221 said he didn't like cats, but she never felt any rejection or disgust from him.
On the contrary, a familiar scent, indescribable in words, drew her in, making her want to fill the excessive silence with her own warmth.
The sea breeze carried a salty, damp scent, and stirred the soft fur on Chichi's body.
She felt a chill and unconsciously snuggled closer to the other person, curling herself up even tighter.
Before long, the kitten began to doze off. She always slept soundly in the other person's arms. Another gust of sea wind, even stronger than before, swept across the sea. The hand with distinct knuckles raised up to shield the kitten in the arms from the oncoming wind.
The kitten was sleeping soundly when it noticed that the whistling wind was quieter than before, and the temperature and humidity were just right for it.
Noticing a shadow on her face, she subconsciously leaned closer and rubbed her head against the hand that was near her.
The surroundings became completely quiet. 1221 saw the hand pause in mid-air before gently landing on the kitten's back with a force that wouldn't disturb it.
The palm has a constant, slightly cool temperature, and the thick fur conveys a strange sense of security.
The sleeping kitten seemed to sense something, purring contentedly and stretching out its soft, curled-up belly, like a white, yellow, and black glutinous rice ball, sprawling on the other's lap.
The human simply lowered their eyes slightly, their dark eyes, reflecting the twilight of the sea and sky or the city lights, falling on the little thing on their lap that automatically adjusted its position.
The two, a human and a cat, sat quietly by the sea, one sleeping and the other gazing at the sunset over the ocean.
There was no verbal communication, yet a wonderful tacit understanding flowed between them.
Chichi saw the Yin-Yang Sea next to the other party. Upon seeing the golden and blue sea surface, the kitten stood up, put its front paws on the armrest of the wheelchair, and looked curiously at the magical mixed-color sea below.
"1221, why is the seawater here yellow on one side and blue on the other?"
"This is a bay area, and it contains natural minerals that dissolve in water. When mineral water rich in copper ions mixes with seawater, it produces chemicals that absorb sediment, turning it yellowish-brown..."
At times like this, 1221 stops pretending to be dead and dutifully explains the scientific principles to the kitten.
When you get to Gullfoss, you can hear the roar of the water even before you get close. The air is filled with water vapor, and the rock walls are layered on top of each other. The mineral deposits on them have been deposited for many years and are tinged with gold, shimmering in the light.
At first, Chichi was a little scared by the loud sound of the water, but fortunately, the other person parked the wheelchair in a safe position where she could enjoy the panoramic view without being splashed by the water. Only then did the little cat put her bottom in the other person's arms and stick her head out to look at the waterfall.
The human's composure gradually influenced the kitten, making her relax and begin to appreciate the view of the water flowing over the golden rock walls.
Water droplets splashed everywhere, refracting into tiny rainbows halfway across the water.
Like a short trip without a destination or plan, the kitten is filled with anticipation every time it opens its eyes.
By the time Ah Kun's injuries had almost healed, Chi Chi had already explored all the interesting places around Jiufen. Unlike his previous explorations on his own, he now had a special, silent companion.
Although the person remained taciturn, he thoroughly enjoyed this sense of closeness.
On the other hand, Ah Kun and Uncle Lin are also gradually getting along as they spend time together.
Ah Kun learned to clean his shoes at the door before entering the house, and he also learned to clean up the dishes after meals and help Uncle Lin with some simple housework.
Uncle Lin also figured out the boy's stubborn temperament. He knew that the boy was not stubborn and would not listen to reason. So he scolded him less with a stern face and would occasionally give him pointers on how to draw some simple patterns.
"The lines here need to be smooth, otherwise it will look bulky when fired." Uncle Lin made corrections on the paper with a pencil.
"oh."
Ah Kun leaned closer to look, his eyes focused.
After his injuries had fully healed, Ah Kun officially began learning pottery throwing.
It's harder than kneading clay. The clay is like a stubborn, disobedient creature on the turntable, always twisting and turning in his hands, or simply collapsing into a lump.
"Relax your wrist, let it move, don't struggle against it." Uncle Lin watched from the side and couldn't help but raise his voice.
"I'm trying to relax, but it's working against me." Ah Kun was covered in sweat and his movements were becoming increasingly agitated.
"A calm mind leads to steady hands; if your mind is troubled, it's no wonder your hands can't be steady!"
Once the lump of clay had finally taken on a rough shape of a ceramic bowl, Uncle Lin would reshape it crookedly, or replace it with a new lump of clay for the other person to practice repeatedly, until the time it took to tame the clay was gradually shortened.
When I returned to the workshop to watch them make pottery, the boy was already able to make a fairly neat bowl shape on his own, and at first glance, I couldn't see any flaws.
"1221, he's made such great progress!"
Watching the clay rapidly take shape in the other person's hands, slowly transforming from a lump of hopeless mud into a work of art that could be fired, I was so amazed that I kept blinking.
"Looks like this kid has a knack for playing with mud," 1221 said. "We haven't been here long; most people wouldn't pick it up this quickly."
Although Uncle Lin also felt that he was making rapid progress, he was afraid that the other party would become arrogant, so he could still find a lot of things to correct each time.
Ah Kun stubbornly retorted, "I think it's great."
After getting over her anger, she realized that what the other person said made sense, so she silently noted down the flaws Lin Bo pointed out and continued to improve them next time.
From initially having only one water bowl, Ah Kun has now given all the bowls and plates he felt weren't perfect to the kitten, leaving five or six in the yard alone.
Looking at the endless supply of dishes, Chi Chi said to 1221, "From now on, you can choose any tableware you want."
This is the first time in her cat life that she has had so many food bowls and bowls, and there seems to be an endless stream of them.
"It's a child's heartfelt gift." 1221 also thought the quantity was considerable. "Although it's still not as nice as the one Uncle Lin gave you, it'll do. Otherwise, he'll grumble and be unhappy again."
Seeing that the kitten used the bowls he made for Lin Bo more often than Lin Bo, Ah Kun didn't show it on his face, but he was secretly proud.
I no longer find the daily pottery-throwing practice boring; on the contrary, I feel a great sense of accomplishment.
That evening, Chi Chi had just watched the other person practice making a slender ceramic bottle when a strong wind suddenly arose outside, and rain began to fall instantly.
"A typhoon is coming," Uncle Lin said, watching the weather forecast on TV.
"Did you hear me?" Ah Kun picked up the kitten that still wanted to go out and explore. "The typhoon is coming. Don't run around. Stay here and behave yourself."
Chichi obediently stood on the other's shoulder and watched the other knead the clay.
As night fell, the wind and rain lashed against the workshop's doors and windows, making a frightening sound, and the rain intensified.
Listening to the howling wind outside, Ah Kun remembered that the roof of the kiln in the yard was a bit old. A few days ago, Uncle Lin said he would repair it, but he was busy teaching him other shapes and had to postpone it.
With the wind and rain raging, Ah Kun keenly heard a crackling sound coming from the roof of the yard. Chi Chi, who had been dozing off, also heard the unusual noise and looked alertly towards the door.
"I'll go check the top of the kiln!"
The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became. Ah Kun grabbed a raincoat and was about to rush outside.
"Don't go out. It's not too late to look when the weather clears up," Uncle Lin advised.
"No, if the shed collapses, all the clay pieces waiting to be fired inside will be ruined." Ah Kun's tone was resolute. Before Uncle Lin could say anything more, he had already plunged into the wind and rain. "Don't come out, I'll take a look by myself!"
Uncle Lin was locked inside the house and lingered at the door for a long time.
The sounds of wind and rain outside mingled with the faint knocking. After a while, the door was suddenly pushed open. Ah Kun was soaked to the bone, looking like a drowned rat, but his face showed the ease of having completed his mission.
"I fixed the loose parts myself... Now the typhoon definitely won't knock it over."
Before he could finish speaking, he sneezed several times and rubbed his nose.
Uncle Lin smacked him on the back of the head: "Aren't you going to take a hot shower and change your clothes? Do you want to get sick?"
"I'm perfectly healthy, I haven't been sick in ages," Ah Kun said softly, before taking off his raincoat and going into the bathroom.
Unexpectedly, the man, who always prided himself on his robust health, developed a high fever that very night.
The boy's cheeks were burning red. Even though he was asleep, he felt dizzy and couldn't open his eyes. He was trapped in a deep nightmare.
In his hazy state, he heard voices calling him, as if he had returned to the rainy day when the news of the mining disaster came. His father's blurry face swayed before his eyes, and his mother's suppressed sobs lingered in his ears.
Ah Kun felt an unprecedented cold and fear, curled up, and unconsciously said.
"It's so cold."
Another blanket was draped over him, and a rough, warm hand touched his burning forehead.
Like grasping at a straw, Ah Kun squeezed it back tightly, resting his head on the hand, and mumbled incoherently, "Dad...don't go...Mom..."
"He seems to treat Uncle Lin like his father."
Watching this scene from the bedside, Chichi gently meowed and said to 1221.
“He may seem tough on the surface, but he has suffered tremendous psychological trauma, and his vulnerability was only exposed after he became ill,” 1221 said.
"What should we do? There's a typhoon outside, we can't go to the hospital," the kitten said worriedly.
"It's alright, it looks serious, but it'll be fine once the fever goes down," 1221 comforted Chichi.
The kitten had seen cases of persistent high fever before and was still shaken, so it took ordinary human colds and fevers very seriously.
"He's still quite healthy. He's taken his medicine, and Uncle Lin has helped him cool down with alcohol. His fever should break in a little while."
Uncle Lin sat on the edge of the bed, letting the other person hold his hand tightly. The hand that was usually used to playing with mud was now being used as a support.
He used his other hand to tuck the blanket around Ah Kun, sighed softly, and held the other's hand in return, staying by his side all night.
The next day, Ah Kun's high fever subsided and he regained consciousness. He felt extremely ashamed when he vaguely remembered the scene of him holding onto Uncle Lin's hand the night before.
Uncle Lin acted as if nothing had happened and continued to direct him to do his work as usual.
The batch of pottery that survived the typhoon night has been taken out of the kiln. Some pieces are good, some are bad. Of the several cups Ah-Kun made, two have developed tiny cracks, and one has a crooked mouth.
He picked up the cracked cup with some frustration; it was the one he had perfectly shaped.
Uncle Lin picked up another teacup he had made himself, which also had a natural crackle pattern, and said calmly, "They have to go through too much temperature difference, so it's normal for them to crack. Sometimes, repairing them and letting them exist in a new state can actually make them more interesting. They don't all have to be discarded as defective products."
Ah Kun watched as the crack transformed into a golden river under Uncle Lin's hands, lost in thought.
While the other person went to repair other pottery that could be repaired, he picked up his own pottery figurine and secretly put it into the kiln. However, during firing, he accidentally cracked a piece of the pottery figurine. Following Lin Bo's example, he carefully filled the small area with glaze.
"This ceramic figurine looks somewhat familiar."
After examining it carefully for a while, he suddenly remembered: "I think I saw Uncle Lin take it out and wipe it before."
"He made a new one; is it for Uncle Lin?"
The kitten and the transparent ball of light watched as the boy meticulously repaired the flawed clay figurine, repainting it to lifelike perfection.
Then he quietly placed the clay figurine in an inconspicuous corner of Uncle Lin's workbench.
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