Chapter One: Stormy Weather

  Du Bin's academic performance was average. Although he was admitted to a normal school, his grades were not good. He didn't study regularly, often didn't listen in class, and relied on cramming for exams. With some help from classmates, he could still score around 70 or 80 points.

  Du Bin's family was average, his parents were ordinary small civil servants. His monthly living expenses were 1,200 yuan, and he could occasionally go to a restaurant with friends or buy a new outfit, but buying a camera would take several months, and he often had to grit his teeth to buy a pair of shoes he liked.

  Du Bin's appearance is ordinary, not handsome, his figure is not fat, but also has no muscles and lines.

  Du Bin's emotional life was ordinary. During his four years in college, he often met the girl of his dreams, but always missed the opportunity to grasp her hand. In the blink of an eye, she would be snatched away by someone else, leaving him heartbroken and complaining, only to start searching for a new her again.

  In short, Du Bin is nothing special, just like one of the tens of millions of ordinary people around him.

  The greatest gain in the four years of university is that Du Bin met Zeng Quan and Zhang Guotai, two iron buddies with similar tastes. Although the three were not in the same department, they were roommates in the same dormitory. They flirted together, drank together, skipped classes together, and were almost inseparable.

  Time flies, and before they knew it, they were already in their senior year. The day of graduation was approaching, and the three friends were feeling anxious and uncertain. To relieve the unspoken thoughts in their minds about graduating, they decided to ditch class together and head to Zhongchuan Grand Canyon, known as a paradise on earth, to relax and unwind.

  Zhongkui Grand Canyon ranks ninth among the top ten canyons in China. The terrain at the top of the canyon is gentle, with valleys and gorges crisscrossing, strange peaks standing upright, ancient trees reaching for the sky, majestic yet precipitous, precipitous yet scenic, and scenic yet elegant, forming a cleverly crafted landscape painting gallery, making it an ideal destination for adventure tourism.

  Du Bin, Zeng Quan and Zhang Guotai entered the canyon smoothly all the way. Before dark, they set up their tents by a magnificent waterfall, then arranged food on a large stone beside the pool, of course, accompanied by some wine, feeling quite comfortable.

  Du Bin took a sip of wine and suddenly had an idea: "Quan Zi, Guo Tai, if each of us could fulfill one wish, what kind of life would you want to live?"

  Zeng Quan glanced at Du Bin: "Are you out of your mind? You're actually asking such a childish question?"

  "I'm just saying what if!" Du Bin said persistently.

  "My requirements are not high, as long as I have a satisfactory job, with an above-average salary, and every day is very happy, and every holiday can go to the place I yearn for, that's enough!"

  "And you, Guotai?" Du Bin looked at Zhang Guotai again.

  Zhang Guotai didn't change his usual arrogant tone: "Damn it, I don't ask for anything else, just hope to have a lot of money! When I have the money, I'll go buy luxury cars. Want to buy Mercedes? Buy Mercedes! Want to buy BMW? Buy BMW! Buy two at once, drive one in front and tow one behind!"

  Du Bin gave him a cold glance: "With your nouveau riche mentality, you'll never make any real money in this lifetime."

  "Binzi, tell me about yourself? What kind of life have you thought about?"

  "Me!" Du Bin's eyes took on a wistful expression: "I don't want to do anything, I just hope to eat, drink and have fun, best of all would be to go to the brothel every day to listen to music and drink wine."

  Zeng Quan listened to Du Bin's strange idea and was stunned: "Binzi, you're too talented! You can even think of such a creative wish! This kind of aristocratic wish of yours might only be possible if you were to travel back to the Tang Dynasty!"

  Zeng Quan said that Du Bin's idea is not wrong, it comes from his yearning for the Tang Dynasty. Du Bin likes Tang poetry, and he can vaguely feel the open and free atmosphere in it, especially the courtesan culture. In his opinion, the women in the courtesans are all talented and knowledgeable, of course, not referring to their promiscuity, but rather their mastery of poetry, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. The courtesans of the Tang Dynasty were similar to the hostesses of today's society, but the charm of the latter is really not worth praising! Of course, it can't be said that Du Bin is an old hand, as if he was familiar with it. As a poor university student, his interest in finding a mistress is not too high, but it's easy for him to get such information.

  "What a pity, it's just a dream after all, and it will never come true."

  Zhang Guotai saw Du Bin inexplicably feeling sad, and hastily comforted him: "Don't be disheartened, Binzi, your wishes are much easier to fulfill than mine. Who knows, one day you might accidentally travel back to the Tang Dynasty, while I'm still a poor guy!"

  Du Bin's heart was slightly warm, just about to open his mouth, but saw a flash of lightning in the sky, and suddenly it started raining.

  The three of them quickly gathered their belongings and entered their respective tents to avoid the rain. Zeng Quan's tent was pitched by the edge of a pond, so Du Bin ran into Zeng Quan's tent to take shelter from the rain.

  Not long after entering the tent, a loud noise suddenly came, followed by strong winds and heavy rains. The tent was blown to the east and west by the strong wind. Du Bin and Zeng Quan felt a terrible threat in the tent, which was a psychological horror of life and death hanging by a thread. They were anxious to get out, but couldn't find the zipper on the tent. In their anxiety, they tore open the tent with a few quick tears, didn't even have time to put on their shoes, and scrambled out.

  The wind was too strong, blowing them both unsteadily, and they could hardly stand.

  Just then, a mountain flood suddenly arrived, and the floodwater falling from the top of the waterfall over 200 meters high made the surrounding waters suffer from strong winds and heavy rains instantly.

  A huge wave came over, throwing Du Bin and Zeng Quan into a recess in the rock. Originally, Zeng Quan and Du Bin were holding hands, but this huge wave suddenly separated the two people. In the midst of life and death, Zeng Quan grasped a gap in the rock, and Zhang Guotai, who had already come out of the tent, pulled Zeng Quan up with one hand. But Du Bin was nowhere to be seen.

  Zhang Guotai and Zeng Quan clung to the rock, tightly huddled together, on this stormy and rainy night. Zhang Guotai and Zeng Quan helplessly gazed at the tree shadows in the darkness, comforting and encouraging each other, waiting for the arrival of dawn.

  The rain is gradually getting smaller...

  ……

  Tang Zhongzong Jinglong second year March third day, Lu state Shucheng county.

  March 3 is also known as "Shangsi Festival". Since ancient times, there has been a saying that "February 2, dragon raises its head; March 3, Shennong's birthday". Folk activities such as praying for children, wearing willow branches, outing and singing gatherings are held, and it is also called "Daughter's Day". However, in the Jianghuai and Jiangnan regions, every year on the third day of the third lunar month is called "Ghost Festival", where ghosts are said to appear among humans. Therefore, every household sticks talismans at their doorsteps to drive away ghosts.

  In a courtyard at the entrance of Zhaozhuang Village in Jingfengli, Shucheng County, a hint of sadness is faintly visible, and the hostess, Yuan, is secretly wiping away tears.

  Yuan's family moved to Zhaozhuang last year, and no one has seen her husband. It is said that he passed away early on, but no one knows when or why Yuan's husband died.

  Yuan's family, although a widow, was also beautiful and dignified. When she first moved in, there were always people coming to her door to propose marriage, but Yuan never budged, determined to remain chaste for her late husband, causing others to cast sideways glances. After a long time, the people of Zhao Village also got used to it and stopped proposing marriage.

  The Zhao family has been farming for generations, and the villagers are simple and honest. Although Yuan's family is struggling to make ends meet with only one son, everyone respects Yuan as a person and respectfully calls her Mrs. Li, and there has never been any gossip or rumors in front of the widow's door.

  At a time when the spring light is bright and beautiful, why would there be such a dismal scene in the Yuan family? Is it true that ghosts are lurking about? No, it's because a great disaster has occurred.

  In the Yuans' household, apart from Madam Yuan and her son, there were also a male servant named Pei Yue and a female servant named Biyu. The four of them had always been dependent on each other for survival, and their daily life was generally calm, but heaven has unpredictable winds and clouds. Now, the Yuans' only son, Li Tao, who had almost drowned in the water, still hadn't woken up after being rescued, and had already lain in bed unconscious for two days.