Chapter Thirty-Eight

  During the winter vacation, Yu Cai went to his relatives' home for a few days and then stayed at home working hard on his manuscript. He finally finished it on the ninth evening of the Lunar New Year and got up early the next day to meet with Qi Shu Fan.

  After getting off the station, Yu Zai directly took a taxi to Qi Shu Fan's house, sent over the manuscript, and also sent over the animation made during the winter vacation, making everyone at Bo Publishing House laugh.

  Yu Cai arrived at 7 o'clock, after sending out the manuscript, just in time to have breakfast. After finishing breakfast, He Jia and Xia Jia's four people also arrived. The same team drove to this time's destination, Beijing, the capital city.

  Because of the long distance, Qi Shi had never had the opportunity to go. Yu Cai used to study in a university in the south and was familiar with several cities there, but had hardly been to any northern cities. So He Qi suggested going to Beijing, and after hearing that Qi Shu Fan said it was feasible, they both agreed enthusiastically.

  As it was during the Spring Festival travel season, there were many cars on the road. Qi Shu Fan didn't feel at ease with several high school students driving, so Yu Cai and a few others had no choice but to stay put.

  Xia Yun is even more silent this time, only smiling obediently when seeing people, and has also restrained herself a lot when talking to He Qi. He Qi secretly passed her a note saying that she's becoming less fun, now even Yu Cai is better than her.

  Yu Cai Te disdainfully retorted with a sentence, "That's what happens when people grow up."

  He Qi immediately retorted, "And what about you? At the beginning, I saw that you were always so stiff and serious, but now you're actually more fun than before. Have you grown younger?"

  Depressed and angry, she clutched the paper note and kicked the car door in frustration.

  Qishu Fan laughed and said, "What are you saying to He Qi, still avoiding people?"

  He Mu had been curious about what her son was talking to Yu Cai about and asked hurriedly.

  Yu Cai immediately ignored He Qi's murderous gaze and handed the note to He Mu, who laughed for half a day after reading it. She then passed the note to Xia Mu, who became enraged and threw a pastry at him. He Qi dodged it but cried out in pain, causing a commotion in the train car.

  Yu Cai found the paper strip that Zhou You had walked around in a circle and unfolded it for Qi Shu Fan to see. Qi Shu Fan's mouth was curved with a smile, "He Qishi said it right, you're much better now than when you first started being so stiff."

  He Qi heard it and immediately helped, Yu Cai gave a disdainful glance, "What's rigid, I'm just being reserved!"

  "What's with the pretentiousness? I think it's just a show, just like Xia Yunyun now, looking at her is so annoying!"

  Xia Yunyun immediately threw a pack of fries over, He Qi let it pass and picked it up, opened it and ate, Xia Yunyun was even more annoyed, glared at him fiercely, turned around and asked Qi Xizhi, "Qi Xizhi, do you want to eat something?"

  Qǐ shì zhī yáo tóu, xià yùn yún yòu wèn yù cǎi, yù cǎi wèn yǒu méi yǒu niú nǎi, xià yùn yún dì le yī hé guò qù, hé qí wèn yǒu méi yǒu kě lè, lì jí bèi xià yùn yún bǐ shì huí qù.

  All the way chattering and laughing, it was already 7 o'clock in the evening when they arrived in Beijing. After a simple dinner, He Qi suggested strolling around the city of Beijing. Xia Yunyun immediately responded, and Xia Mu and He Mu couldn't bear to dampen their enthusiasm, so they agreed too.

  Yu Cai saw that Kai had been driving for a whole day and couldn't bear it, so he spoke up, "You guys go ahead, I'm not going, I've been sitting in the car all day and I'm really tired."

  "Hey, Yucai, Xia Yunyun isn't tired, why are you?"

  "You think I want to be tired? Anyway, there are so many of you, it doesn't matter if I'm not here. Whatever, I'm going back to sleep. You guys have fun, and don't forget to bring me a share if you find something good."

  Yu Cai stayed behind, and He Mu and Xia Mu considerately thought that since Ji Shu Fan had been driving for a whole day, Yu Cai alone in the hotel was also not at ease. At night, they no longer asked him to drive, and the group took a taxi to go sightseeing.

  Yu Cai returned to her room, turned the air conditioner to its highest temperature, and waited for the room to warm up before taking a bath. After bathing, she didn't feel like sleeping either, having spent almost the entire day sleeping except for occasional conversations. She then turned on the TV and lay in bed reading a Beijing scenic spot guidebook she had brought along.

  After taking a bath and just about to sleep, suddenly remembered that last time Yu Cai had a cold half because of the wind, and the other half was because the air conditioner temperature was set too high at night, so he went next door to knock on the door and instructed Yu Cai to pay attention not to set the air conditioner temperature too high.

  Yu Cai Gang opened the door and a wave of hot air rushed towards him. Qi Shu Fan frowned, "The air conditioner temperature is too high, turn it down a bit."

  Yu Cai made a ghostly face, letting him in. Ji Shu Fan adjusted the temperature to 18 degrees and saw Yu Cai's TV was on with books spread out on the bed. "You said you were tired, why aren't you sleeping?"

  "I'm looking at the traffic map, so I won't take a wrong route and waste time."

  "Did you buy it on purpose?"

  "Uh, I booked it online before leaving last year, and Jiexi helped me pick it up."

  "You're quite fond of meddling."

  "That can't be helped, after a long time as a teacher you'll become like an old mother."

  Qishu Fan laughed and said, "Where do you want to go tomorrow?"

  Yu Zai pulled him over, pulled him down to sit, and started talking excitedly, while holding a pen to draw out the key points and route directions. The two of them talked it through, and basically confirmed their itinerary for the next few days.

  Jiang Yucai finished speaking and stood up to help Qi Shu Fan pour water, only then did she realize it was already past 9 o'clock. She regretfully said, "I forgot you needed to sleep, and I've kept you talking for so long."

  Qishu Fan laughed and said, "How can it be that tiring? I once went three days and nights without sleep."

  Yu Cai thought for a moment, "I think you as a public servant seem to be overdoing it, I have an uncle who is also a civil servant, he's very laid-back, working from 8am to 5pm with double days off".

  "Just wait until he sits in my seat and he'll know."

  Yu Cai pouted, "I just can't understand what you men mean by ambition. If I were given the greatest benefits in the world, I wouldn't want to be like a spinning top, constantly turning without stop, it's exhausting and frustrating."

  Qishu Fan shrugged his shoulders, "I don't want to either, but now it's hard to get off the tiger's back".

  Yu Cai rolled her eyes again and said, "That sounds good, but if he really resigned or something, I wouldn't believe anyone could stop him."

  "Looks like you're doing well. Want me to accompany you for a walk?"

  "Dear Mr. Gongpu, please take care of yourself first, it's so late, you really should go to sleep now."

  There's nothing else I can do, so I'll just say a few words and go to sleep.

  Yu Cai continued to look at the travel guide in her hand, where many historical allusions she did not know.

  When Mrs. He returned, Yu Cai was reading with great interest. Mrs. He saw the situation and asked, "What are you reading?"

  "Some cultural relics and historical buildings in Beijing have a long history, so that tomorrow when you see things, you will know something."

  "It's just like hiring a tour guide."

  "Hmm, I'm not too fond of listening to tour guides. Every time I hear them halfway through, my mind starts to wander. Anyway, since there's nothing else to do now, let's just consider it a form of entertainment."

  "What's wrong with you? Aren't you tired? Why don't you go to sleep?"

  Yu Cai smiled and said, "It's really strange. I'm clearly very tired, but as soon as I lie down on the bed, I couldn't sleep. I'll just take a look around."

  He Mu understood and pointed at the grapes on the ground, "Help me send some of these to He Zhi and the others to eat."

  Yu Cai found a glass plate on the table and washed the grapes before sending them to the next room.

  This time it is unknown whether it was to promote father-son feelings or because the capital's prices are too high, Qi Shu Fan and they lived in a three-person room.

  Yu Cai knocked on the door, which was opened by Qi Shi. As it happened, Qi Shi was taking a bath and Yu Cai had been awakened by their noise. He was sitting up in bed smoking, and when he saw Yu Cai come in, he reflexively stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.

  Yu Cai couldn't help but laugh when she saw him like that, and handed the dates to Qi Shi Zhi, "Aunt He told you and He Qi to eat some before sleeping".

  While praying, Fang seemed to feel embarrassed about his own actions and whispered, "Xiao Cai, why haven't you gone to sleep yet?"

  Yu Cai's smile still lingered at the corner of her mouth. "Just thinking about climbing the Great Wall tomorrow, I'm so excited that I couldn't sleep!"

  Qishu coughed and said sternly, "If you can't sleep, just rest your eyes. Otherwise, you won't have the energy to climb tomorrow."

  "I'm exhausted, isn't it because of you? Don't worry, carrying a 10-year-old girl up the Great Wall only requires a bit of brute strength, and has nothing to do with having healthy lungs."

  Qishu Fan immediately turned sour and said, "Xiao Cai, let it go, you still have to give me some face".

  Yu Cai Su stood up with a serious face, "Dear uncle, I didn't mean to offend you. You know, sometimes it's just a way of life. Should we enjoy ourselves in time or live a life of self-restraint and politeness? When we're old, will we regret not having fun when we were young, not being crazy? In my hometown, there was an old lady who got diabetes but still insisted on drinking a bowl of brown sugar water every day, just like she did when she was young. Her family tried to stop her, but she said even if drinking sugar water would only let her live for one more year, and not drinking it could let her live for ten years, she wouldn't give up her hobby. Dear uncle, sometimes what we lack is the courage to give up everything for what our heart loves."

  "Give up everything? Does Xiao Cai have it?"

  Yu Cai shrugged, "I've always thought I was timid and even a bit obsessive-compulsive, without the courage or audacity to give up everything. After all, sometimes what's in my heart is far more than just a bowl of red sugar water."

  "Xiao Cai——" Ji Shu's eyes were complex, "This is not something a child should say, at this time you should have the passion to sacrifice your life for your ideals."

  Yu Cai shrugged, "I'm really afraid of pain, let alone shedding blood and sacrificing my life. Even getting vaccinated makes me want to run away - uh, dear uncle, I hope you're also a timid person who fears pain. Sometimes having fear is absolutely a good thing." After finishing speaking, she nodded towards Qi Shi Zhi, "Qi Shi Zhi, I'm leaving. You'll let He Qi eat some later, his mom specifically asked me to bring it over."

  Is Qibook afraid of the door that has been gently closed by Yuexi? What is she referring to, is it smoking, or her exhausted body from overwork, or...