Chapter Thirty-One: Old Liu

After finishing the delicious braised beef, Zhang Mingyang patted his belly in satisfaction and made his way toward his room. Just as he was about to open the door, he suddenly remembered that the morning's package was still outside, untouched.

He turned around, went to the mailbox, and retrieved the delivery, tearing it open as he walked back into his room. "Hmm, it's a bit tricky to open," he muttered. Removing the outer paper wrapping, he found a thin layer of aluminum inside, which seemed only cuttable with scissors.

Returning to his room, Zhang Mingyang took a pair of scissors from his drawer and carefully snipped away at the packaging. With a soft thud, a book dropped out. "Why is it a book?" he wondered aloud. Picking it up, he saw that it was "Resource Game," identical to the one he had seen in the archives earlier that day.

Opening the first page, a note slipped out. Zhang Mingyang picked it up and saw his grandfather's handwriting: "Mingyang, your neighbor Grandpa Liu knows you went to the capital for an important experiment, so he asked me to send you this book."

"Grandpa Liu?" Zhang Mingyang searched his memory for the name. Ah! He remembered now—Grandpa Liu from Shimen Village, their neighbor.

Grandpa Liu, whose name was Liu Mingqian, was a retired university teacher who had moved to Shimen Village when Zhang Mingyang was two, living just next door. Seeing the name brought back memories; he recalled that Grandpa Liu was rumored to have intermittent mental illness, sometimes speaking nonsense or muttering to the sky, saying things like, "Don't come looking for me." Because of this condition, Grandpa Liu had remained single. Though he was a good man, few visited his home. However, as a child, Zhang Mingyang loved going there, as Grandpa Liu would always tell him fascinating stories.

On his last visit to the village, Zhang Mingyang had wanted to see him but found the door locked and no one at home. Now, he wondered why Grandpa Liu had sent him such a book, especially one identical to the highly confidential one in the archives.

Thinking it over, Zhang Mingyang turned on his computer and searched for the book online, but there was nothing—no content, no publication records, no readers, perhaps it had never been issued. Was it an old book, no longer read? Yet the material was glossy and the cover pristine, not at all like an old book.

He couldn't explain it. Taking out the note, he saw on the cover of the first page three large characters: Liu Mingqian, as if to declare the book belonged to him.

Flipping through several pages, Zhang Mingyang found that the contents matched exactly with the one from the archives. "Well, since Grandpa sent it, I'll ask him about it," Zhang Mingyang decided, dialing his grandfather's number.

"Beep beep..."

"Hello, who is it? Dealer..." came the sound of people playing cards in the background.

"Grandpa, it's Mingyang."

"Ah! Mingyang!" Hearing his grandson's voice, the old man quickly handed his cards to someone else, stood up, and gave up his seat.

"Mingyang, how are things over there?"

Zhang Mingyang smiled, "I'm eating well, sleeping well, and not tired at all."

"That's good, that's good," his grandfather replied warmly.

"Grandpa, did you send me a package a few days ago?"

"Ah! Yes, I went back to the village recently to check the fields and happened to meet Grandpa Liu. He heard you were in the capital for a research project and asked me to send you this book."

"Oh," Zhang Mingyang confirmed it was indeed Grandpa Liu's book and asked, "Grandpa, did Grandpa Liu say anything else?"

"Anything else?" His grandfather thought for a moment. "Oh, he told me to let you know that you should read the book when you have time—there’s knowledge inside that will be useful to you."

Hearing this, Zhang Mingyang was puzzled. As an energy scientist, what use could this book be to him? It wasn’t a scientific magazine or academic paper.

"Grandpa, did Grandpa Liu say anything else?"

His grandfather thought again. "No, that's all he said. Grandpa Liu's health is not good lately, his illness has worsened. I wonder if he was unwell when he asked me to send the book."

"Grandpa Liu’s illness is acting up again? I remember he was much better these past few years."

His grandfather sighed, "Exactly. He was clearly improving in recent years, but for some reason, it’s gotten worse these last two years. When I went back last time, the villagers said he now has episodes almost every other day. That night, if your Grandpa Zhang and I hadn’t held him down, who knows what might have happened."

"Grandpa Liu is a good man, honest and kind, but good people rarely get good fortune. He was so plump when he first arrived, but now look how thin he’s become."

"Oh! Grandpa Liu used to be fat?"

"Yes," his grandfather replied, "When he came, he weighed over two hundred pounds, but after more than ten years of illness, he’s barely ninety pounds now. Too miserable to talk about."

Zhang Mingyang recalled the short, thin scholar-like Grandpa Liu from his childhood, surprised to learn he had once been overweight.

"Is there anything else, Mingyang?"

"No, Grandpa, just wanted to ask about the package. Spring is here, viruses and colds are common, so you and Grandma must pay attention to the weather."

His grandfather laughed, "My health is fine, and your grandma barely goes out, so she’s even better. Mostly, you need to take care of yourself over there, don’t overwork, and call your grandma when you have time. She’s been thinking about you these days."

"Mm, I know, Grandpa. You rest early too."

After hanging up, his grandfather chased away the replacement card player and sat down again.

"Old Zhang, who was it? So concerned."

His grandfather boasted, "Ah! Though I've been a farmer all my life, my children and grandchildren are outstanding. Our ancestors’ graves must be blessed—two scholars in the family. You all don’t have my fortune."

"Come on, Old Zhang, don’t get cocky. Win the game first. We’re at J and you’re only at 2."

"Exactly..."

A group of them jeered.

"Just watch how I win!"

...

After ending the call, Zhang Mingyang dialed his grandmother. They exchanged warm words, each urging the other to rest and take care.

After a while, his grandmother hung up.

Putting down the communicator, Zhang Mingyang glanced at the time—it was already eleven at night.

He took off his clothes and, without showering, climbed into bed, sinking into the warmth of the blankets. Staring at "Resource Game" in his hands, Zhang Mingyang’s right eyelid suddenly began to twitch.