Nie Jiuluo smoothly responded, “After your father’s accident, we quickly moved you to live with Yunyun. After the funeral, we dealt with your things at home.” She continued, “You might think that all the money from the family is in your uncle’s hands, but in reality, there wasn’t much left. The house sold for just over 100,000 yuan, which was worth less than what you might earn in a month or two now. Considering inflation, that’s quite a discrepancy.”
The aunt added, “There wasn’t much money left after covering funeral expenses. You lived with us for over a year, and there were costs for food, clothing, and maintaining your father’s grave. We covered all these expenses. I shouldn’t have to explain this, but I don’t want you to misunderstand us. I wanted to make things clear to avoid any resentment.”
Nie Jiuluo responded, “Oh, I see. In that case, it’s alright. I understand now.”
—
At the end of the family banquet, Nie Jiuluo declined Nie Dongyang’s offer to drive her back to the hotel. She preferred to take a walk and enjoy the fresh air, as she hadn’t been back for a long time.
She walked out of the Nie family’s upscale neighborhood and onto the pedestrian walkway, quickening her pace. The sound of her heels hitting the ground felt like a triumphant drumbeat.
Taking out the jade necklace, she put it on as if she were alone, savoring the sensation. The pendant was cool at first but quickly warmed up, feeling like a gentle kiss against her skin.
—
As she walked further, she noticed the surroundings seemed familiar. Ahead, she saw the entrance to a residential community full of high-rise buildings. It dawned on her that this was the same place she had visited yesterday, where Zhan Jing lived.
The timing was similar to the previous day, around the time he would be finishing work at the foot massage shop. She wondered if he would be startled to see her again.
She slowed her pace, feeling relaxed and curious. Sure enough, after a short while, Zhan Jing appeared from around the corner of the street. He seemed anxious and cautious, holding a packed dinner.
Nie Jiuluo called out, “Hey!”
As anticipated, upon seeing her, Zhan Jing was visibly terrified, thinking she might accuse him of troublemaking. He cowered against the community wall, clutching his takeaway as a shield, and pleaded, “No, girl, I’m sorry, I’m really not a pervert. I admit my mistake. Please don’t shout…”
Zhan Jing, with his cowardly demeanor, stirred a bit of pity in Nie Jiuluo. “What are you afraid of? I’m just passing by,” she said, trying to put him at ease.
Zhan Jing, however, seemed frozen in place, peeking out from behind his takeaway bag. The sight of her wearing the jade necklace caught his attention. The pendant, carved into the shape of a persimmon with a small peanut, was unusual and rare. His mind raced as he recognized its significance.
He blurted out, “Hey, hey.”
Nie Jiuluo, preparing to leave, paused and asked, “What’s the matter?”
Zhan Jing, swallowing nervously, pointed at her necklace with a trembling hand. “Do you know someone named Pei?”
This caught Nie Jiuluo off guard. She studied him for a moment before asking, “You mean Pei Ke?”
Zhan Jing’s muscles twitched with excitement. “Do you know her? Are you…”
“She’s my mom.”
Zhan Jing, suddenly wide-eyed, seemed to snap out of a trance. “No wonder it looks a bit alike. So, you’re Xixi?”
Nie Jiuluo’s real name was Nie Xi, but she had changed it to Nie Jiuluo as a new beginning, incorporating her birthdate. She asked, “Who are you?”
Zhan Jing responded, “Xixi, where’s your mother?”
Nie Jiuluo, sensing something odd about Zhan Jing, replied, “She’s been dead for a long time.”
She tried to walk away, but Zhan Jing rushed after her, pleading, “No, Xixi, your mother was locked up by your father. You have to save her!”
His claim was absurd. Nie Jiuluo was disgusted and frustrated, thinking him delusional. “How do you know?”
Zhan Jing paused, then said, “I’ve dreamed several times of her crying in a dungeon.”
Nie Jiuluo was incredulous. “You can’t trust dreams. Besides, my father has been dead for almost twenty years!”
Zhan Jing looked taken aback, then stammered, “It was your father who killed your mother!”
Nie Jiuluo was appalled. If Zhan Jing weren’t so pitiful, she might have lost her patience entirely. She muttered “neurosis” and turned to leave.
Zhan Jing, desperate, continued to chase her. “Your mother wanted a divorce, but your father refused. He said he’d take her on a trip, but then…”
He slipped and fell, scattering his takeaway across the pavement. As the food rolled towards Nie Jiuluo, she coldly nudged it away with her boot.
Zhan Jing remained on the ground, unable to get up quickly. He cried out, “Xiao Ke said she would come back soon. I went to ask your father for her, but he beat me up…”
His distress only deepened, and he began to cry. Nie Jiuluo, no longer interested, walked away, leaving him behind.
—
Back at the hotel, Nie Jiuluo was unsettled, not by Zhan Jing’s outlandish claims, but by the sudden disruption of her idealized image of her parents’ love. The thought of Zhan Jing, with his strange and timid manner, being connected to her mother was disheartening.
To distract herself, she picked up her phone to play some games. However, a new notification caught her eye. The message read:
Nie Er, before the eighth, Nanba monkey head.
The message hinted at a new task but was cryptic. “Nanba monkey head” was unclear, though it suggested a return to southern Shaanxi.
Nie Jiuluo had nearly a week until the eighth. She wondered what had happened and replied, “Telelink?”
—
Half an hour later, Jiang Baichuan responded, “I know what you want to ask. The video has been emailed to you.You’ll understand after watching it. I’ll call you in ten minutes.”
A video? Nie Jiuluo logged into her email, finding the message was sent anonymously and placed in the trash by the system.
Nie Jiuluo clicked play on the video. It was divided into two distinct sections. The first part showed a shaky camera, indicating that the person filming was running and panting, clearly in pursuit of someone. The scene came into focus, revealing Ma Hanzi, who was carrying a cane and humming a tune.
“I’m carrying the burden, you are riding a horse…”
The photographer, breathless and urgent, questioned Ma Hanzi, “Ma Hanzi, isn’t this a lame father’s crutches? Where did it come from?”
Ma Hanzi, seemingly unconcerned, replied, “It was thrown out of the car.”
The photographer demanded, “Hand it over, let me see it!”
Reluctantly, Ma Hanzi handed over the crutches. The camera zoomed in on them: old, ash wood, worn down by years of use, with sheepskin wrapped around the armpits. The handrails were smooth from frequent use.
The second part of the video was indoors. Ma Hanzi sat with a solemn and sincere expression, his hands placed upon his knees. He began confessing, “I went to intercept the invader’s car. As soon as the door opened, they threw down their crutches. And let me inform the village…”
The photographer cut in, “Inform the village about what?”
“On the 8th, the imperial army wants to talk to the 8th Road…”
The photographer, visibly frustrated, retorted, “You’ve messed up this scene! What are the original words? Not a word missing!”
Ma Hanzi, visibly annoyed, lowered his voice and said in a fierce tone, “Fool! Take the crutches and, if anyone asks, say ‘The eighth came to Nanba to lead the lame.’”
He then played the role again, this time with a blank expression, adding, “What monkey head? Monkey King?”
To end the video, Ma Hanzi humorously mimicked the sound of a departing car with “Woo woo…” and spread his hands, signaling that nothing was out of place.
Nie Jiuluo couldn’t suppress her laughter. The video explained Ma Hanzi’s rendition of a modified “Journey to the West”—a humorous nod to the phrase “monkey head.”
She recalled Ma Hanzi’s past: his father’s early death and his upbringing by his mother. A severe fever at seven, left untreated, caused lasting harm. Yet, Ma Hanzi rose to become Banya’s staunch guardian, noted for his fidelity and quirky ways.
The video underscored her need for involvement. The issues surrounding Ma Hanzi and the cryptic menace of the “Nanba monkey head” hinted at underlying complexities.
Nie Jiuluo pondered a renewed encounter with Yan Tuo. Their past clashes had been stalemates, with no clear victor. Her desire to settle their dispute stemmed not from a longing for combat, but rather to bring an end to their extended disagreement.
Contemplating her strategies, she felt a surge of excitement. The prospect of confronting Yan Tuo again and securing a definitive triumph invigorated her.