Chapter 24: The Great Treasure of Brothers

  When I woke up, I had already arrived at the destination. At this time, the sky was completely dark, and I stretched my waist. Only then did I drag my somewhat tired body towards the direction of my old home.

  Looking at the familiar streets, familiar houses, and familiar scenery, it feels like I've been away for many years. I didn't expect that after two years of not coming back, nothing has changed here. Because it's still early August, students are still on summer vacation, and there are fewer people on the road, making it seem a bit deserted and quiet.

  Phoenix?

  I heard someone calling my name from behind, and I subconsciously turned around to take a look. That person saw it was me and ran over excitedly, patting my shoulder and saying: "Crazy Zuo, I didn't expect it to be you! Why didn't you give me a heads up before coming back, so I could go pick you up?"

  "Your phone is not reachable again, how am I supposed to contact you?" I punched him and said in a bad mood. This guy's name is Li Bao, nicknamed Big Treasure, my elementary school classmate as well as junior high and high school classmate, so our relationship is particularly good. Don't mention the nickname, anyway not many people call him that. Anyway, I used to go to his house often, but after moving to Sichuan, we rarely contacted each other. It's not that I didn't contact him, it's just that his phone stopped working half a month after I left.

  Dabao slapped his forehead, suddenly remembering, and scratched his head with embarrassment, saying: "I forgot, my phone was stolen at the time, so I didn't know your number. Hehe, good brother, it's been a long time since we met, do you want to go have a drink? I'll treat!" Dabao said with a pat on his chest.

  "En." I nodded and said somewhat helplessly, "I've been driving for a few days, I'm dead tired. I need to head back first, then I'll look for you later."

  Dabao looked at me and said in surprise: "Your house has been empty for so long, it must be covered with a layer of dust. Why don't we go back tomorrow? It's already so late. Let's go eat first and then play all night, how about that?"

  I was excited by what Da Bao said, but then I thought of some things I hadn't done and felt a big stone weighing on my heart. Even if we were to have fun, it wouldn't be enjoyable with that on my mind. So I'd better go back and check everything out first, then I can relax and spend a few days having fun with this good brother. I smiled and said: "Da Bao, there's something I need to take care of, or else I'll always be thinking about it and we won't have as much fun. So let me confirm things and then I'll come find you."

  "Alright, since that's the case I'll wait for you a bit. Here's my phone number." As he said this, Da Bao handed me a piece of paper with his new number on it, and then somewhat helplessly added: "You have to hurry up and take care of things, you don't know how bored I've been all alone this past year!"

  "Alright alright, very soon." I gave him a reassuring look, then shook the paper in my hand and said: "Wait for my call, I'm counting on you tonight!"

  "Alright!" He laughed very happily, just like before, still with the same childlike innocence. I smiled and bid him farewell. After this encounter, my mood improved instantly. Only in this place where I grew up can seeing a good brother from decades ago make me feel at ease.

  About ten or so minutes later, I arrived at the back door of my house. The gate was tightly closed, and I took out the key to unlock it. After opening the door, the inside was indeed a bit messy. Moonlight spilled into the courtyard, and I clearly saw that many weeds were growing inside. Helplessly, I let out a sigh and began turning on all the lights. In my dad's room, I carefully searched around but found almost no clues except for a few useless scraps of paper on the desk.

  I wasn't giving up, going back and forth, searching almost every possible place where a hidden room could be, but still couldn't find any clues. I leaned against the wall in despair, had my old man really destroyed all the clues?...

  After waiting for almost an hour, I walked out with a dejected look on my face. I thought to myself that I would find Big Treasure and take a bath together, then have dinner, and go to his place to crash for the night. After closing the big door, I was about to call Big Treasure when I saw his parents instead.

  "Uncle, Auntie." I waved at them in greeting.

  They turned their heads and looked at me. Da Bao's mother smiled at me and said: "Xiao Zhi is back, it's so late, where are you going?"

  Their smiles seemed a bit strange, more accurately, they were forced. I wonder if that little brat Dabao has gotten into some kind of trouble again? I thought to myself and nodded at her, saying: "I just got back today, Dabao invited me for dinner, so tonight I might go to your place to crash." Since I wasn't someone who had only slept over at his place once or twice, I said it half-jokingly.

  Unexpectedly, Dabao's mother immediately changed her face and asked seriously and suspiciously: "Have you seen Dabao?"

  "What's wrong?" I looked at them with some surprise. Although Da Bao sometimes stayed out all night, they didn't seem to be that worried.

  "It's impossible." Big Treasure's mother said with a somewhat disordered mind, sorrowfully saying: "Big Treasure... is already dead."

  "Auntie, don't joke around, I saw him today! Look, he even gave me his phone number." As I said that, I handed her the piece of paper with the phone number on it. She took it from my hand with a slight tremble, looked at it for a moment, and then stared at me in surprise, as if she wanted to say something but held back.

  And I'm also very nervous now, every parent would never joke about their child's life, so after she said that sentence, I already believed...

  "This number is indeed Da Bao's." His mother nodded, her eyes already reddening, and choked with sobs: "But that phone was the one I burned for him last year."

  I was so shocked that I couldn't say anything, his mom was still crying there, his dad looked at me and didn't say anything, but kept comforting Bao's mom. As I watched the two of them leave, I really didn't have the courage to ask how Bao died or when he died. My mind kept thinking about Bao calling me to eat an hour ago, and his appearance from last night, which didn't show any unusual signs at all.

  I pulled out my phone, thinking about that string of numbers in my head, not knowing whether to dial it or not. If it were before, I would have been so scared and at a loss for what to do when encountering such a thing, maybe even thinking I was hallucinating. But, unexpectedly, after coming out of the grave once, everything changed...

  After a while, I still dialed the phone according to my memory. After a few rings, Dabao's excited and urging voice came from the other end of the phone: "Fengdie, are you done with your business?"

  "Ah, done with work, where are you?" I asked calmly, unexpectedly.

  "I'll be waiting for you there, come as soon as possible." said Da Bao lightly.

  "Alright, I'm coming right away." I hung up the phone, and what he said must have been where we met at that time. Could it be that he was feeling lonely and empty, wanting me to go down and accompany him? Alas, I let out a deep sigh. Dumplings, ghosts, and all that - hadn't I already experienced them in the tomb? What's there to fear? Besides, Da Bao is my childhood friend, would he really want to harm me? If it were true, no big deal, I'd just burn some more paper money for him...