"I'm just an ordinary person. When I get tired of this industry, I'll do what you all do, find a wife, and live a normal life in a bustling city."
After saying this, he stretched out his hand: "Are there any items that Old Master Zhao has ever touched? Who has touched them?"
Ying Yan handed over a bag of silver dollars, nodded with his chin, and said, "These were given to Yu'er by her own grandfather. It should only be the old man, the old lady, Yu'er, and me. Try them."
Qi Banxian hummed in agreement, took out a wind-dispelling device from his backpack, poured out the silver coins, leaving only the cloth bag, held the talisman in his hand, and chanted a spell.
Suddenly he paused and threw the talisman away.
The talisman caught fire as soon as it touched the cloth bag, and soon turned into a pile of ashes, which scattered into two groups and danced wildly and rapidly on the sealing plate, sometimes to the south and sometimes to the north. After about half an hour, it finally stopped in one place.
"How is it?" Ying Yan couldn't help but ask.
Qi Banxian looked at the ashes that had returned to a swirling mass and said uncertainly, "The wind array indicates that the person is in Kyoto, or even nearby!"
As he spoke, he explained in detail that the ashes actually contained the aura of living people, tracing the movement patterns of those people on the wind vane. "You see, the ashes have all reformed, which means that the person who touched the bag was not far away."
Ying Yan nodded. Indeed, if Old Master Zhao were alive, with his abilities and knowledge, he would certainly be an outstanding person, unless he encountered some difficulties.
He suddenly thought of the Zhao family who had recently returned to Beijing, and wondered if Zhao Sangen was related to this Zhao family.
"I'm afraid this is all I can do to help you." Qi Banxian said with a hint of regret as he packed his things.
“It’s already pretty good. This is my territory. As long as I’m sure the person is nearby, I’ll find them even if I have to dig three feet into the ground,” Ying Yan said with a smile, patting his shoulder.
In recent years, Ying Yan has decided to go into business, so apart from essential matters, he can be said to be oblivious to the outside world. His knowledge of the squabbles and quarrels in the compound is limited to gossip from the old lady.
He found the old lady and asked, "Grandma, I heard that the Zhao family from the East Compound moved back from the south a few days ago?"
The old lady was picking vegetables when she glanced at him. "Yes, everyone's been talking about the Zhao family all the time lately. What's up?"
"Could you tell me about it? It'll put my mind at ease. After all, the South Campus and East Campus aren't far apart. If we bump into each other when exchanging gifts or favors, it would be so awkward if we didn't know anything about each other."
The old lady smiled and said, "You've come to the right person!"
“The Zhao family is quite powerful. The old man used to be in charge of the southern troops, he was this one,” he said, making a peace sign. “Now the old man has retired and is living in Kyoto with his children and grandchildren.”
"When he heard that we had started a university for senior citizens, he also signed up to join the calligraphy and painting society. He was good at fighting, and he also had a particularly deep cultural foundation."
"I heard he married three times, but all three wives had bad luck and couldn't stay with him to enjoy his old age. Now, many people are openly and secretly looking for a new wife for the old man. Tsk tsk, they all just think the Zhao family is doing well. They're old and have one leg in their coffin, yet they still want their stepmother to enjoy life!"
The old lady found it funny at this point. "In Bao'er's words, it's so cringeworthy that I can't bear to look at it. These old ladies, in their forties, fifties, sixties, and seventies, wear red and green all the time, looking like old witches, and they fawn over everyone they see."
"The old man was so scared that he ran away and hid in the group of old men, refusing to come out no matter what."
Ying Yan listened to the old lady's rambling, his forehead veins bulging. Did he have time to sit here and listen to an old man's love life?
He called out helplessly, "Grandma..."
"Oh, right, let's talk about the Zhao family, not those shameless old hags," the old lady chuckled awkwardly. She was used to her granddaughter gossiping, and she would just say whatever came to mind.
"The old man was one of the group who traveled all over the country with the leaders..."
The old lady's account was rather vague.
Ying Yan thought it made sense. No matter who he sought out, Old Master Zhao wouldn't reveal any confidential information. It seemed he should find an opportunity to pay him a visit.
However, since Old Master Zhao is not in serious health, he should have looked for his granddaughter whom he entrusted to others long ago. Since he hasn't, the chances that Old Master Zhao is Zhao Sangen are slim.
Ke Meiyu didn't take it to heart. In later generations, when children were abducted or lost, some parents would search for more than ten years without success. Fortunately, with the help of advanced networks and facial recognition systems, they were finally found.
Moreover, at present, she feels that the chances of learning about her own background are slim.
In spring, people become more active, and the university for seniors is invited to participate in performances, exhibitions, lectures, and so on in many places.
Ke Meiyu also spends two days a week at the senior university to review all the affairs, so as not to cause major problems in the operation of the university due to the negligence of a small part.
Besides these, she also needs to check the accounts, since the accounts are the best indicator of problems.
As long as the accounts are correct, there shouldn't be any major issues in other aspects.
"Comrade Ke, our school has been running for more than half a year, and many units have started spring recruitment. Should we also recruit a few staff members to inject some vitality?" Director Xing from the personnel office asked with a smile.
Ke Meiyu looked up at him, closed the ledger halfway, and leaned back in her chair. "Tell me your thoughts."
Director Xing's eyes lit up, sensing that there was a way: "Our school has a fixed area, and we were already full last year. Although other cultural centers are also transforming into universities for the elderly, very few have truly succeeded."
"Moreover, we are the first one in the country, so many people have asked us if we are still recruiting?"
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