Chapter 147: The Most Beautiful Color, Tiffany Blue

“Sister, tonight I am in Delingha, beneath the shroud of night.
Sister, tonight I have only the Gobi.
At the end of the grassland, my hands are empty.
In sorrow, I cannot even hold on to a single tear.
Sister, tonight I am in Delingha.
This is a desolate city in the rain.
Apart from those who pass through and those who live here,
Delingha... tonight
This is the only, the final, lyric.
This is the only, the final, grassland.
Return my stones to the stones.
Let victory belong to victory.
Tonight, the barley belongs only to itself.
Everything is growing.
Tonight, I have only the beautiful, empty Gobi.
Sister, tonight I care nothing for humanity. I only want you...”

With grief in his voice, Lin Shenlu recited to An Muxi the poem he had long held in his heart.

When the recitation ended, the two of them fell silent.

When a person’s vast and unrestrained emotions have nowhere to go, when they can only churn into a storm within the heart, such torment is better replaced by another state than allowed to remain in one’s life, kindling a raging fire and consuming a soul already as lonely as autumn. That state is emptiness.

Lin Shenlu sighed. “It is an act of self-awareness bordering on self-torture, allowing emptiness to occupy the body completely, then seep through every pore into the heart, until the soul and flesh attain perfect unity. At that moment, life and death are both harmonious. It is emotion reaching its utmost intensity in the course of existence—a declaration and affirmation of life toward death...”

...

“Everything is growing, including the black hole within Haizi’s heart. It keeps expanding and expanding. At first, it oppresses thought and emotion; in the end, it becomes complete collapse, even the collapse of the body itself.”

“Mr. Haizi, with only the faintest consciousness remaining, wandered helplessly through an illusion between life and death.”

“Sister is a title of infinite warmth. When Mr. Haizi called out for his sister from the depths of his heart, in Delingha that night, the only thing capable of shielding him from the boundless cold was merely the vague consciousness contained in that word...”

After Lin Shenlu finished speaking, An Muxi was deeply shaken as well.

“Tonight, let me take a good look around Delingha by myself... I want to visit the Haizi Poetry Exhibition Hall...” An Muxi spoke softly.

...

Before long, Lin Shenlu’s convoy arrived in the legendary little town.

Their first destination was a car wash.

Lin Shenlu had discovered that the vehicles were covered in a truly astonishing amount of salt—glittering crystals that were impossible not to fret over.

He Ku’er’s car was in somewhat better condition. Since its body was silver, the salt was hardly noticeable.

Xiao Naihe’s car behind them, however, had suffered far worse.

Its red body was coated in salt crystals.

After washing their cars, Lin Shenlu and the others went to find somewhere to stay.

In fact, Delingha had plenty of delicious food. That was one of the reasons Lin Shenlu had come here.

As the capital of Haixi Mongol, Delingha could be said to offer the most authentic local cuisine. All the favorite foods of the highland herders could be found here, each one a classic.

Whole roasted lamb, roasted barley flour, and milk tea were all inexpensive, filling, and delicious.

And in this land of milk production, there were also such specialties as dala, qula, and yogurt—milk-based delicacies that invited wholehearted indulgence.

“Listen, everyone,” Lin Shenlu said as he poured fermented mare’s milk from a copper pot. “Although the roast lamb is delicious, you must be careful not to eat too much when you’re having roasted meat and butter tea. Otherwise, you may feel unwell.”

One lamb was just right for the six of them.

Lin Shenlu was not driving that day either, so he could finally sample the local mare’s milk wine.

“Brother Lin, we hardly eat much to begin with. You’re the one who shouldn’t overeat. All that grease will do you no good!” Xiao Naihe and Si Kaka said, covering their mouths as they laughed.

“Then eat more roasted barley flour,” Lin Shenlu replied with a smile. “It’s the staple food here. The locals eat it at all three meals. It’s basically flour made from roasted barley, a kind of coarse grain, I suppose. It won’t make you gain weight—in fact, it can even help you lose weight!”

...

An Muxi sat nearby, drinking butter tea with great satisfaction, while He Ku’er wanted to find out what the mare’s milk wine tasted like.

“As for lodging, I should tell you all something,” Lin Shenlu said. “This city is developing quite well. There are three-, four-, and five-star hotels everywhere, so feel free to choose one. We’ll split up for tonight and meet again tomorrow. I’m going to the RV park!”

Lin Shenlu had been longing to visit the RV park for quite some time.

As a famous stopover along National Highway 315, Delingha had an RV park of its own.

It was built especially for travelers journeying by recreational vehicle.

A vast open area was set aside for parking RVs, and every kind of supply could be found nearby. Whether they needed water or electricity, everything was exceptionally convenient.

“But, Uncle...”

“But what? You and your Aunt An can find a place to stay. I’ll pay for the room!” Lin Shenlu said with a smile.

“But, Uncle, you’ve been drinking. You can’t drive to the RV park now...”

...

After dinner, Lin Shenlu lit a cigarette, and the group sat together to rest.

“When we set out tomorrow, we’ll get to experience the most beautiful U-shaped road in the world before arriving at East Taijinair Lake,” Lin Shenlu said.

“When we reach East Taijinair Lake, I may stay for a while. I need to paint a picture. I want to try... to see whether I can mix that particular shade of Tiffany blue.”

Lin Shenlu spoke with longing.

As a painter once upon a time, he felt an irresistible fascination with East Taijinair Lake.

If he could reproduce that otherworldly Tiffany blue, then the journey would truly be worthwhile.

East Taijinair Lake.

...

After dinner, everyone went to a hotel to check in.

Delingha did not have the sort of distinctive inns and guesthouses found elsewhere. It offered little beyond hotels of every kind.

The three Naihe sisters went to stay at an esports hotel.

Apparently, they intended to form a three-person squad and play battle royale games all night.

After much deliberation, Lin Shenlu chose a space-capsule hotel.

It would give him a rather unusual experience.

The space-capsule hotel was essentially much like a youth hostel, and the price was extremely cheap—just over one hundred yuan per person.

The accommodations looked as though they had been taken straight from a science-fiction film.

The white capsules shimmered with blue and violet lights.

The space was already cramped, and it was divided into an upper and lower level as well.

An Muxi and He Ku’er came along with him to check in.

The inside of the capsule was exceptionally small—so small that it contained nothing but a bed.

Still, it offered a taste of what staying aboard a spacecraft might feel like.

Lin Shenlu had chosen a four-person capsule room, which gave them at least a little more privacy.

Apart from the small sleeping quarters, there were communal areas available for use. At the very least, the three of them had a private bathroom.

After settling into the room, An Muxi quietly slipped away on her own.

As she had said, she wanted to visit the Haizi Poetry Exhibition Hall beside the Bayin River and experience that loneliness for herself.

With nothing else to do, He Ku’er went straight to the neighboring hotel to join the Naihe sisters for a gaming session.

That left Lin Shenlu alone with nothing to occupy him.

...

That afternoon, Lin Shenlu took several photographs in Delingha and posted them to his social feed.

He added the caption:

Sister, tonight I am in Delingha.

Before long, Lin Shenlu received five likes and several comments.