Having personally experienced two Corpse incidents and just finished reading "Jianghu Chronicles," Li Zhiyuan had hoped to continue his studies on Corpse-related matters with vigor.
It felt like having finished the concepts, it was time to apply some formulas, and see if there was an opportunity to solve some problems using those formulas.
But taking out these two books felt like having only just scratched the surface of one course, and then starting two new ones.
He turned his head to look at the chest, hesitating whether to put these two sets of books back and try again, but then the words Grandmaster said to him that night came to mind:
"Little Yuanhou, don’t aim too high and disregard the foundation, start by learning the basics solidly."
Li Zhiyuan shook his head, decided, since they were already taken out, he might as well read them.
After reading, perhaps next time he could tell a Corpse’s fortune?
But this kind of self-consolation really didn’t hold up upon scrutiny.
Was it to examine the features of those preservatives-turned Corpses?
Or tell Little Huang Ying and the cat-faced old woman that their fate chart predicted a violent death?
With a complex and reluctant heart, Li Zhiyuan carried the two sets of books out of the basement and up to the second floor. Below, Liu Yumei’s voice could be heard:
"Xiao Yuan, come down and help Grandma make some tea."
Li Zhiyuan looked down. Under a light bulb at the door of the eastern room, Liu Yumei was sitting there with a set of tea instruments and a Go board next to her.
"Alright, Grandma Liu."
Li Zhiyuan acknowledged, put the books on his bedroom desk, wiped the dust off with a towel, and ran downstairs.
Even if Liu Yumei hadn’t called him, he would have found a time to talk to her alone about Uncle Qin teaching him martial arts training.
Especially after getting his hands on these two sets of books, his desire to practice martial arts became even more urgent. Since his textbooks were off-topic, he could only choose to catch up with additional lessons outside class.
"Grandma, the tea is ready."
After making the tea, Li Zhiyuan sat across Liu Yumei. He didn’t rush to speak his mind but waited for Liu Yumei to start, so he could make his requests seamlessly.
After all, who makes tea late at night just to drink before bed?
However, just as Liu Yumei was about to speak, the door of the eastern room was opened from inside, and Qin Li stood at the doorway in a white silk nightgown, shimmering under the light.
"Alii, you go back to your room and rest first, Grandma and Xiao Yuan have some things to discuss."
Liu Yumei could only give Li Zhiyuan a meaningful look.
Li Zhiyuan turned to Qin Li: "Alii, you go to sleep first, I will get up early tomorrow to read."
Qin Li turned around and closed the door.
Liu Yumei sighed. They were still children now, and it didn’t matter much, but if when they grew up, her daughter remained so close to this boy, listening to his words, then Liu Yumei would really have a headache.
However, currently, there’s a more pressing problem that needs timely resolution.
"Xiao Yuan, come to our house tomorrow to pay respects to our family’s spirit tablets."
"Just treat it as a visit for the sake of friendship."
It was like visiting a friend’s home and meeting their elderly, and if the elderly had become a family spirit tablet, it was also necessary to pay respects.
"Also, talk to Alii about clearing up those dirty towels and stinking duck eggs."
Li Zhiyuan suddenly remembered, no wonder he had been finding new towels to wash and hang every night, wondering where the dirty towels had gone. It turned out Alii had taken them.
But what was with the stinking duck egg?
Liu Yumei, somewhat embarrassed yet compelled to explain, continued, "Alii has a habit of taking things you give her back home. Maybe it’s something I told her or she thought so herself, thinking the spirit hall should display the most precious things, hence, Alii placed those dirty towels there.
The duck egg was probably from the breakfast you peeled for her; it’s spoiled now.
The items Alii placed, I dare not touch for fear she’d throw a tantrum, so only you can help me clean them up.
Moreover, teach her to not put other things on the spirit hall in the future."
Educating her own granddaughter and having to ask for help from others, Liu Yumei felt quite dejected.
Yet, she couldn’t just not mention it, otherwise, she would have to endure the smell of rotting eggs while talking to the spirit tablets every day.
It was manageable for her just to smell it during conversations, but the ancestors from both the Qin and Liu families had to be constantly subjected to it.
Furthermore, she was afraid if Alii continued to put new things on the spirit hall; lately, breakfast had been congee with fish heads, and she genuinely feared that one day, unaware, Alii might bring home a bowl of fish heads eaten by herself and Xiao Yuan to place in the main position of the spirit hall.
"I understand, Grandma Liu, I’ll come tomorrow to pay respects to the spirit tablets."
Li Zhiyuan did not ask why not go now? He knew that Grandma Liu didn’t want Alii to feel like she was being reported on.
"Mm, good," Liu Yumei nodded in relief. Her gaze fell on the Go board, "Take a look, do you chessboard?"
Li Zhiyuan examined the chessboard closely. It was an antique piece, and if sniffed closely, it still carried a scent of sandalwood.
Especially the chess pieces, grabbing a few in hand felt cool and smooth. Although uniformly polished, a closer inspection revealed minor differences, meaning these pieces weren’t from assembly line molds but were made using ancient methods.
"Grandma Liu, this is a fine item."
Li Zhiyuan had become somewhat immune to the high-quality items Liu Yumei occasionally brought out.
Even though the era marked by ’wealthy households’ was gradually receding, the capacity to display such extravagant ancestral heritage still made one marvel.