Chapter 63 Chushan
Since public transportation could not provide direct access and the composition of their group was complex, Qi Xiaopang simply rented a five-seater family van and planned to drive to Chushan by himself.
"This way, there's no need to check in the luggage for you, Brother Qing!"
Qing Bai said in a flat tone: "Thank you."
Fat Qi chuckled, rolled up his sleeves, and began loading his luggage into the car. As he did so, he muttered, "I checked, and if we leave now, we'll arrive around dark. We can grab a bite to eat at a service area along the way, and it won't delay us much. It's just that driving for so long can make you tired. Hey, I haven't driven such a long route since I got my license, so I'm a little nervous."
Ai Chan, who had returned to her normal self, replied, "It's okay. We can take turns."
"You're a monk, and you still have a driver's license?" As soon as he finished speaking, Fat Qi realized something was wrong. His perspective had narrowed again. He slapped his mouth and apologized, "Sorry, sorry, I don't mean to discriminate against monks. I'm just a little surprised... There's nothing to be surprised about. You passed the postgraduate entrance exam, so there's no reason you can't pass the driver's license test."
The cicada smiled and didn't mind.
Qing Bai, who had been watching for a while, said calmly, "What will happen to your chicken and dog if you leave?"
Even if they didn't stay longer at Chushan, including meals and rest, a round trip would take about a day and a night. Furthermore, the situation at Chushan was unclear, and it was unknown how long they would stay there. Locking the door and leaving enough food and water was certainly possible, but considering how Fat Qi treated the puppies and chickens like his own sons, he probably wouldn't want to leave them behind.
As expected, Qi Xiaopang's face fell, and he was already worried before he even left. "Meiqiu can go to the toilet on his own and recognize people and shake hands. He's not picky about food or barking. I bought a leash, so you can bring him with you. As for the chickens, I asked Uncle Li next door to help feed them, so they should be fine."
Besides being reluctant to part with it, it was also because Coal Ball was a black dog… Qi Xiaopang, who had seen many ghosts recently and was about to set off to provoke the "immortals", only hoped that the legend that black dogs could ward off evil spirits was true.
It's more than no problem, Qing Bai thought, it's really a waste of Uncle Li's decades of farming experience to just help feed the chickens.
However, although Qi Xiaopang's arrangements were considered appropriate, Qing Bai still wanted to push for it. After all, he had asked Jiunian before. If it were just the two of them, because of their identities (neither of them were human), they could go directly through the underworld passage, which would be safe and fast, and they could also enjoy the scenery of the underworld along the way...
However, Qi Xiaopang was too capable. He asked Uncle Li to rent a car and pack the luggage in one go. Qing Bai didn't even have the chance to raise any objections. If he raised any more objections now, it would seem that he was... too purposeful.
Qing Bai sighed silently, feeling that this was inappropriate.
Although Jiu Nian looked normal on the outside, his small figure squatting on the stool inexplicably revealed the look of a frustrated little cub. He frowned slightly, thought for a while, turned around, and took out a bamboo backpack that was wide at the top and narrow at the bottom from somewhere, and put a cotton pad inside.
Facing Shang Qingbai's puzzled gaze, Jiu Nian explained, "The coal briquettes can stay in the backpack after you get on the bus."
Qing Bai was in a complicated mood. Did Jiu Nian think that he minded riding in the same car with Meiqiu?
Well, a little… Coal Ball was older than him now, and curious about everything. She could spend half a day playing with a caterpillar she spotted while passing a group of ants. Every time she saw him, her eyes, like black grapes, sparkled, focused and following his movements. Qing Bai suspected that in Coal Ball's eyes, he was essentially a dog toy. If Qing Bai hadn't been constantly crouched on the seat or cuddled on Jiu Nian, never getting off the ground, he'd have been pounced on countless times. The car was cramped, and if Coal Ball got too excited, he'd probably just give in… and tearfully become a dog toy.
"Wouldn't this be too..."
Qing Bai didn't finish his words, because Jiu Nian had already bent down and aimed the mouth of the backpack at Coal Ball, who was spinning in circles on the ground chasing his tail. There was no calling, no intimidation, and no temptation of snacks. He just stared at it. To say that he was luring someone into a trap would be an exaggeration. It was probably the same as fishing with a straight hook. It was hard to tell whose IQ was being tested until the last second... Then the next second, Coal Ball jumped into the basket happily, blowing out his tongue and wagging his tail.
Meiqiu's action seemed to vindicate Jiu Nian, but Qing Bai could see clearly that the puppy was clearly going for Jiu Nian's long hair that was hanging down from her shoulders and shaking because she was bending over!
"Hey, that's a great idea! We save money on a space suitcase, and it's portable and breathable!" After unloading his luggage, Fat Qi turned around and saw Coal Ball 'voluntarily' jumping into the backpack. He happily took the backpack and put it on his back. "Cicada, you drive the first part of the ride. This is my Coal Ball's first time riding in a car, and I have to take care of him!"
Ai Chan nodded in agreement, and Qi Xiaopang put the backpack on his back and happily sat on the passenger seat, half hugging and half holding the dog. Both the man and the dog were very happy.
Jiu Nian also skillfully lifted the secretly angry Qing Bai from the stool and held him in his arms. One has to wear a seat belt when riding in a car, and Qing Bai's body is smaller than a rabbit, so he can't be safely seated in a child safety seat. In order to prevent him from being thrown out when the brakes are applied, he can only hold him in his arms.
The sun was shining outside the car window, and Qing Bai's mood improved a little. He drove to Chushan... It seemed not bad.
…
Qi Xiaopang and Ai Chan's strategy of taking turns driving allowed them to successfully drive the car to the foot of Chushan Mountain before it was completely dark.
"It turns out that Chushan is... so big and so high?" Qi Xiaopang held the sleeping Meiqiu in his arms and looked at the black mountains in front of him that were rolling and almost blending into the night, his tone of shock.
In the dim twilight, the profile of the cicada showed a sharpness like that of a stone carving. He looked up at the top of the mountain. In his memory, there was a bronze bell as tall as a person, which rang twice a day. He came back too late today and missed the evening bell.
"...Let's go. I've booked a room at the farmhouse in front." Ai Chan locked the car and turned onto the cement road next to it.
Chushan is a relatively undeveloped area. A temple stands on the mountain, and a few dozen homes are scattered at its base. The cement road, built largely according to the terrain and the houses, connects each home in a narrow, twisting pattern, like an electrical circuit or a spider web. Outsiders unfamiliar with the road conditions can easily get stuck on a narrow road that's just wide enough for one car; adding one more person can cause a traffic jam. Fortunately, there's plenty of open space here, so as long as you find the right spot and park for as long as you want, you won't get a ticket.
"Farmhouse?" Fat Qi caught up with Ai Chan, holding the coal briquettes. "There should be guest rooms in the temple, right?"
We're already at the foot of the mountain, so how can we resist going up? Although it's getting dark, we're all grown men, so we can charge forward with a flashlight.
Jiu Nian also brought Qing Bai along, neither of them speaking. Arriving at Ai Chan's territory, they naturally followed his instructions.
Ai Chan walked quietly for a while before saying, "There are monkeys in the mountains."
Qi Xiaopang: "I know, we are here——"
Jiu Nian suddenly raised his hand and tapped Qi Xiaopang's arm. Qi Xiaopang shut up in time and turned around, puzzled, when he heard a hoarse male voice coming from the deep dusk ahead: "Handsome boy, your friend is right. The monkeys in this mountain are very vicious. They rob several groups of tourists every day. They steal everything from snacks to backpacks and then climb up the trees. You can't chase them. At night, they also throw rocks at people entering the mountain. In the past few years, they have injured many people. If you want to go up the mountain, you'd better go early tomorrow."
Qi Xiaopang was so frightened by the sudden male voice that his legs went numb. He looked around, fearing that they had just gotten off the car and hadn't even had dinner yet and would fall into the crevice. Fortunately, the surroundings were the same as before, the mountains were the mountains, the roads were the roads, the friend in front was still bald, and the big guy next to him was still holding a cat...his brother Qing.
After confirming that everything was normal, Fat Qi let out an exaggerated sigh of relief and complained at the top of his voice, "Oh, big brother, you're so scary! Your sudden shout almost gave me a scare!"
In the dim light, the man fiddled with his hands for a few times. There was a short sound of electricity after a "pop", and then the eyes of several people lit up - the colorful words "Chushan Farmhouse" flashed almost crazily in the silent night.
"Why is the voltage so unstable today..." The middle-aged man standing under the farmhouse sign muttered casually while gazing up at the colorful lights. Then he turned and smiled brightly at the people who had stopped walking. "Hey handsome guys, are you here for dinner, a hotel, or both? Do you have a reservation? No problem, we have one room left today!"
The middle-aged man looked gentle and wore thick-bottomed glasses. He wore a short-sleeved striped polo shirt, leather shoes, and a bunch of keys hung on his belt. He only needed to tuck a book under his arm so that he could go directly to the stage to give a lecture. However, he was extremely enthusiastic and was about to come up to help them carry their suitcases.
Even the community elders like Qi Xiaopang were frightened by the enthusiasm and took two steps back to show respect. He covered his mouth and whispered to Ai Chan, "Zhiliao, is this the farm stay you booked?"
Before Ai Chan could reply, the middle-aged man spoke first, "Hey, it would be even better if you have a reservation. Handsome, tell me your phone number. After you confirm and pick up the key, we'll even send you drinks!"
"My last name is Zhou. You can call me Brother Zhou, Uncle Zhou, or Boss Zhou!"
Ai Chan nodded to Qi Xiaopang, indicating that this was the farm stay he had booked, and then she exchanged her phone number with the middle-aged man to get the key.
Qing Bai couldn't utter a word in public, so he could only press Jiu Nian's wrist to get him to follow Ai Chan Qi Xiao Pang's steps. Whether it was professional habit or just his dislike of interacting with living people, Qing Bai noticed that Jiu Nian either preferred to lag behind the crowd or stand silently in a corner or in the dark. His 'invisibility' was so perfect that even someone like Boss Zhou, who was so enthusiastic about soliciting customers, didn't notice there was another customer behind him.
Walking through the large double iron gate wrapped with small colored lights, you will see the flat and spacious front yard. There is a circle of unknown flowers and plants planted along the walls on both sides. The cement floor in the middle is clean. Two small buildings, one old and one new, are lit with warm lights in the night, which is cozy and quiet.
Ai Chan had already received the room key and complimentary drinks. Boss Zhou was escorting people to the guest room, a suitcase in each hand. Seeing Jiu Nian enter last, he was visibly stunned for a moment, but then he quickly reacted, smiled, and greeted, "Hey, handsome guy, are you cosplaying?"
The yard was silent, and two dogs barking could be heard faintly in the distance.
Boss Zhou also realized that he had said the wrong thing and quickly corrected himself: "Oh, oh, I get it! It's not cosplay! It's that... Hanfu enthusiast!"
Nine years: "..."
I didn't want to admit it, but I couldn't refute it, so I could only remain silent for nine years.
...I should go out in cat form. Qing Bai thought Jiu Nian must be thinking so right now.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
