RSDH CH79

Huist Bilingual School’s summer practice counted for credits. Before the end of first grade, the school held a half-day open house, introducing over a hundred intermediary agencies to let students choose their summer camps independently.

That night at the dinner table, Duan Xingye couldn’t wait to announce: “I want to go to Greece!”

Kan Dashan opened the brochure, saw the theme at the top, and read: “Greece 15 Days, Literary Exclusive Tour…”

He beamed with joy instantly, a sense of relief welling up in his heart that he had a successor: “Good, good, good! Greece is the birthplace of Western literature, with many myths and legends handed down. It seems Xingxing is interested in literature. Then study hard in this summer camp, and describe it in detail to Grandpa when you come back.”

“No.” Xing-chan pointed at the project details list, propped his chin with a small hand, and tilted his head. “Meals are royal sets, accommodation is five-star hotels, small cars available upon going out. After choosing and choosing, only this summer camp is the most comfortable. What’s the point of studying during vacation?”

“……”

Kan Dashan looked at the big characters “Literary Exclusive Tour” above again.

Turns out Xing-chan wasn’t interested in “Literature,” but in “Exclusive.”

The total cost was 150,000, which was astronomical in the 2000s.

But it was nothing to the Kan family. As long as Xing-chan was happy, they could send him to even more expensive summer camps.

Kan Dashan asked: “What about Duzhou? Where are you planning to go?”

Hearing this, Cheng Duzhou dawdled and took out a red flyer folded in half from his pocket.

It read “Dayin Temple Zen Cultivation Summer Camp.”

“What is this?” Xing-chan leaned over.

Kan Dashan understood at a glance and laughed: “Interesting, interesting. Going up the mountain to experience being a little monk.”

Duan Xingye: “Do you have to shave your head?”

Cheng Duzhou: “No need to shave head.”

“What’s fun about this?” Duan Xingye said proudly, “Why not go to Greece with me.”

Cheng Duzhou hesitated to speak, but scanning around, a table of adults were all looking at him, so he lowered his eyelashes quietly: “This summer camp will teach the Three Character Classic, meditation, improve concentration, and enlighten wisdom. I think it’s very meaningful. Moreover, I like the environment in the mountains. Not only can I observe plants, but I can also feed little squirrels. Getting close to nature is also very fun.”

“Good!” Kan Dashan clapped his hands and praised, “Indeed meaningful; even I want to go after hearing it!”

Duan Xingye frowned, gave Cheng Duzhou a deep look of suspicion, stopped talking, and sullenly lowered his head to eat.

Little squirrels…

Cheng Duzhou can feed little squirrels…

Where to find little squirrels in Greece…

While eating, the adults were discussing sending Xing-chan to Greece for a study tour.

Duan Xingye finished his meal quickly, put down his bowl and chopsticks, stood up, and announced impatiently: “I want to go to the mountains!”

“???”

Amidst the bewildered gazes of everyone, Duan Xingye turned and ran upstairs.

Returning to the bedroom, Xing-chan called Jiang Siqi immediately: “I’m not going to Greece with you guys anymore.”

Jiang Siqi roared: “Why!”

Duan Xingye said: “I’m going to the mountains to be a little monk.”

Jiang Siqi was shocked, touching his head full of thick hair: “I won’t accompany you!”

Xing-chan waved his hand: “Don’t need your company; I’m going with Cheng Duzhou.”

Jiang Siqi realized Duan Xingye chose Cheng Duzhou every time, so he shouted angrily: “I knew it!”

Hanging up the phone, Jiang Siqi hugged his mother and wailed loudly.

He understood from a young age that a friendship of three was too crowded.

Sleeping at night, Xing-chan hugged his pillow to find Cheng Duzhou.

Only then did Cheng Duzhou find a chance to say: “It’s better for you to go to Greece.”

Duan Xingye frowned, unhappy: “Why!”

Cheng Duzhou spread his hands: “Going up the mountain means getting up at four every day, sweeping leaves during the day, no air conditioning where we sleep, and washing clothes by ourselves. It’s very troublesome.”

Said so many good things about the mountains during dinner, now persuading him not to go. Cheng Duzhou just didn’t want to play with him!

“Liar!” Xing-chan pushed the pillow over, humming and whining. “Then why are you going?”

A trace of shyness appeared on Cheng Duzhou’s handsome face. He got up, felt for the book beside the desk, pulled out the red flyer tucked inside, and unfolded it.

The flyer was folded in half; the adults only saw half of it during dinner.

“Look.”

Duan Xingye was curious: “Look at what?”

Cheng Duzhou pointed to the total on the price list on the other half of the page and said: “Only 499.”

“……”

“Includes food, accommodation, and travel expenses.”

“…………”

During the half-day open house at school, Cheng Duzhou chose the most unpopular booth with the cheapest price tag.

The monk setting up the stall didn’t know the truth. Seeing the only little benefactor coming to consult him, he couldn’t stop praising: “You and I have fate; possessing roots of wisdom at such a young age.”

During dinner, with many adults present, Cheng Duzhou was embarrassed to tell the truth, so he made up a bunch of reasons, never intending to fool Duan Xingye.

Now knowing the truth, Duan Xingye couldn’t go back either; he had broken Jiang Siqi’s heart.

However, Xing-chan still cared about Cheng Duzhou persuading him to go to Greece, seemingly unhappy about being together in the summer camp.

He turned over, facing Cheng Duzhou, and said arrogantly: “I’m going to the mountains with you; are you happy?”

Cheng Duzhou nodded without thinking: “Mn.”

Xing-chan was happy too. His milky cute little face was full of pride, and his small body arched in the quilt.

Cheng Duzhou calculated carefully: “Signing up as a pair gets another 50 off.”

“……”

Duan Xingye looked at him for two seconds: “Hmph!”

He quickly got up hugging the pillow and returned to his room.

Cheng Duzhou looked blank.

Summer vacation officially began. Two days later, the children had to pack up and go up the mountain, starting a half-month cultivation journey.

The parents were most worried about Xing-chan, stuffing his suitcase full.

The delicate child was living alone outside for the first time without nannies around. The adults exhorted him thousands of times worriedly.

Xing-chan didn’t take it to heart at first, occupied by the excitement of feeding little squirrels. But the night before leaving, thinking about bathing himself, washing clothes, and having no meat for half a month, he suddenly became uneasy.

Duan Xingye turned over skillfully, face to face with Cheng Duzhou, getting very close: “Cheng Duzhou, will you treat me well?”

Cheng Duzhou smelled a milky sweet scent, like White Rabbit candy, or white peach fruit candy. Liked it very much.

“Will.”

Duan Xingye wrinkled his delicate little nose, suddenly becoming domineering: “You must treat me well. If you ignore me after going up the mountain, I’ll be irreconcilable with you!”

Anyway, he went up the mountain to experience life because of Cheng Duzhou.

“Okay.” Cheng Duzhou promised, “What the auntie can do, I can do.”

Xing-chan was finally satisfied and lay flat.

Cheng Duzhou thought for a moment and said: “If you go, I am very happy.”

Duan Xingye turned his head to look at him. His big black eyes were hard to conceal their brightness even at night.

Cheng Duzhou’s self-care ability was stronger than Duan Xingye’s, but as a child, being away from home would instinctively produce fear, let alone for half a month.

But with Duan Xingye accompanying him, it was different. He became less afraid and probably wouldn’t miss home too much.

“Maybe not possible now…” Cheng Duzhou lowered his head and said, “When I grow up and have my own job, I’ll accompany you to Greece.”

Xing-chan didn’t understand the relationship between work and Greece, but knew Cheng Duzhou would accompany him to a summer camp in the future. So he extended five small fingers, shoving them in front of Cheng Duzhou.

Cheng Duzhou also extended a hand, clenched into a fist.

Rock Paper Scissors, Cheng Duzhou would never beat Duan Xingye.

Two children let out crisp laughter, playing and fighting, hiding under the quilt, inside a small world built with innocence.

On the morning the children left, Kan Dashan felt a bit empty inside.

Accustomed to Xing-chan’s noisy golden voice, the sudden silence in the small building was very unaccustomed.

Before long, he received a call from the class teacher: “Duan Xingye’s grandfather? Hello, I’m calling to understand briefly and register. Wanted to ask what Duan Xingye’s summer camp project is? Cheng Duzhou lives with you, right? Do you know the summer camp he signed up for?”

“Hello Teacher,” Kan Dashan said. “The two of them went up the mountain to knock on wooden fish.”

Class teacher: “……”

When departing, Xing-chan promised his grandfather he would be brave, but on the second day up the mountain, he cried.

Dayin Temple was located in the mountains, shaded by trees, a natural air-conditioned room. Not only was it not hot, but it was even cold without a quilt at night.

But many trees meant many mosquitoes and insects too.

For safety, the monks in the temple wouldn’t light mosquito coils in the children’s rooms, but use electric mosquito repellents.

Duan Xingye and Cheng Duzhou slept in one room with a mosquito net. Staying overnight alone outside for the first time, no one noticed, and two mosquitoes got into the net while sleeping.

Children sleep soundly. Waking up the next morning, they discovered bumps on their small arms. Not scratching meant no itching, but the red swelling on fine skin and tender flesh was visually pitiful. Especially Xing-chan, skin snow-white and tender as a baby; even mosquito bites were translucent.

Cheng Duzhou fetched water for Duan Xingye to wash his face.

Xing-chan was groggy, scratched one eyelid, looked down at the copper basin, and suddenly stopped.

He looked at the reflection for a moment, hummed, and burst into tears.

Cheng Duzhou stepped forward nervously: “What’s wrong?”

He saw Duan Xingye’s left eyelid bitten by a mosquito, also red and swollen.

Xing-chan kept shedding tears, opening his iron lungs: “Ugly to death—!”

Cheng Duzhou: “……”

Cried himself ugly.

Actually not ugly at all.

As a child with an angel face, mere mosquito bites didn’t hinder Xing-chan’s cuteness at all.

Just that his idol baggage was too heavy, with high requirements for image, so he couldn’t accept it first.

Cheng Duzhou carefully applied anti-itch herbal ointment to Duan Xingye’s arm. Because it was irritating, he didn’t apply it to the eyelid.

Then the two children changed into the monk robes uniformly issued by the temple—white lining, black outer shirt, and small soft cloth shoes that made no sound on the ground.

The two “little novices” holding hands on the way to breakfast were like cartoon characters, melting everyone’s hearts.

In the following days, they were seen by pilgrims going up the mountain and once became the temple’s mascots.

The mosquito issue was easy to solve. Cheng Duzhou would spray floral water extensively before bed and check the inside of the mosquito net.

In two days, the mosquito bite on Xing-chan’s eyelid disappeared.

But the sleepiness during morning classes was truly unsolvable for Xing-chan.

When not in school, Duan Xingye would stay in bed until nine.

But in the temple, the rule was getting up at four, eating at four-thirty, and gathering in the front hall at five for morning classes. It simply killed Xing-chan.

The summer camp wouldn’t arrange profound Buddhist teachings for children, only letting them recite the Three Character Classic.

Sun rising in the east, sky just bright, inside the hall with residual night chill, a dozen children mumbled indistinct words, mixing together into a hypnotic soup with extreme effect.

Duan Xingye sat cross-legged in the last row, unable to hold on anymore. His head drooped down, slowly circled half a round, and rested on Cheng Duzhou’s shoulder next door.

Cheng Duzhou peeked ahead quietly; fortunately, the abbot supervising the morning class wasn’t looking over.

But Duan Xingye didn’t find it comfortable enough. Irritably scratching his neck, he arched downward and lay on Cheng Duzhou’s lap.

Cheng Duzhou looked down, seeing him sleeping sweetly in broad daylight.

“……”

When the abbot paced to the last row during morning class, several times, Xing-chan leaned on Cheng Duzhou’s shoulder.

Several other times, he curled up sideways, head resting on Cheng Duzhou’s lap. Wrapped in the black monk robe into a small ball, like a black sesame dumpling with cream filling.

Even more times, he simply hid behind Cheng Duzhou, using two cattail hassocks as a bed.

Anyway, not once was Xing-chan not sleeping.

After reminding twice, encountering it again, the abbot shook his head and walked away.

Their temple’s mascot had a bit of rebellion in him.

Besides classes, meditation, and helping the temple with tasks within their ability, children had a long time in the afternoon for self-study.

By the wooden table, Cheng Duzhou buried his head writing homework, completing it on time and in quantity every day.

Duan Xingye also brought homework, all in his schoolbag. It was quite heavy carrying up the mountain, just never opened once after going up.

He either drew or did crafts.

The sunlight in the summer mountain forest was clear as water, shining through the wooden window. Accompanied by insects chirping and birds singing outside, all children in the study room did their own things without noise, which could be called quiet years.

Except for a child nearby, sobbing very quietly and wiping his eyes.

Only Cheng Duzhou and Duan Xingye from Huist participated in the Zen cultivation summer camp; the remaining children were from other different schools.

Xing-chan didn’t know the child next to him but knew he missed home again, because the child also missed home yesterday and was called out by adults to be comforted.

Duan Xingye adapted well in this aspect. Cheng Duzhou was someone he knew, carrying the scent of home. Being together every day, he was taken care of by Cheng Duzhou in all aspects. Thus, the emotion of missing home was diluted. Instead, becoming accustomed to life in the mountains day by day, he became more and more carefree.

Adults weren’t present now. Duan Xingye lay on his arms, scooted over a bit along the table, and pushed a freshly folded paper crane in front of the little boy with red eyes.

The little boy glanced at him, thinking the paper crane was for him, face turning a bit red.

Everyone here knew Xing-chan’s name, all attracted by his angel-like cute appearance and cheerful temperament. But no child was as confident as Jiang Siqi, so they were too shy to initiate conversation.

Duan Xingye said: “Stop crying.”

Hearing this, the little boy felt warmer inside and even felt a trace of comfort.

“Crying is useless,” Xing-chan said. “Still have to be locked up for fifteen days before being let down the mountain. Your parents can’t save you anyway.”

“……”

Fifteen days…

Parents…

Reminded, the little boy’s mouth trembled. His already bad mood fell to the bottom, and the emotional conflict exploded instantly, crying out with a “wah”.

Chaos in the study room.

Xing-chan didn’t understand, scooting back as if nothing happened, dragging the paper crane away along the way.

He originally wanted to ask if the kid wanted to fold paper together; seemed the kid didn’t want to.

Cheng Duzhou glanced at Duan Xingye, shaking his head like an old abbot.

As a childhood sweetheart growing up together, he was used to Xing-chan’s little devil style.

When sweeping leaves, they had the chance to find squirrels on the century-old banyan tree in the center of the courtyard.

Xing-chan opened cream soda crackers, crushed them, and put them under the tree. After a while, a little squirrel would scamper down like a wisp of smoke, hold the cracker with small curved claws, and nibble as if no one was around.

Xing-chan always squatted there watching with relish.

One day, with a gust of wind, two fluttering butterflies flew low into the courtyard.

Duan Xingye immediately grabbed Cheng Duzhou’s monk robe sleeve: “Look! Fa fu die (Butterflies)!”

Cheng Duzhou just glanced mid-air, then looked at Duan Xingye.

Xing-chan spoke Mandarin outside home, but when forgetting himself in joy, he would mix up “h” and “f”, influenced somewhat by dialect.

At this time, a butterfly floated down, landing gently on Duan Xingye’s finger.

As if mistaking the tender skin emitting sweet fragrance for a flower petal.

Xing-chan’s hand remained motionless. His big black eyes curved, bright and shining, his smiling face carrying heartfelt childish beauty.

Cheng Duzhou asked Duan Xingye: “Do you think it’s fun here?”

Duan Xingye nodded without concealment: “Fun!”

Children have a natural closeness to nature. Beautiful butterflies and cute squirrels can soothe their souls.

Cheng Duzhou always worried Duan Xingye would want to go home halfway up the mountain, blaming him for choosing a not-fun summer camp, regretting not going to Greece with Jiang Siqi. But such a situation didn’t happen, finally relieved now.

Duan Xingye looked up, full of interest: “How about we stay until school starts before going back!”

Cheng Duzhou: “……”

You really don’t miss home at all.

As the saying goes, happy times are always so short; fifteen days passed in a flash.

Before leaving, the summer camp issued certificates of completion to everyone properly.

Finally, everyone went to the main hall to pay respects to Buddha. Since it didn’t involve faith, it was just a formality to show respect to this place.

After fifteen days of training and getting along, they lost the chatter they came with. Unknowingly, their dispositions settled down. While queuing, it was very quiet, ending the process methodically.

On the way down the mountain, Duan Xingye asked: “Why did you bow twice at the end?”

Cheng Duzhou said: “I made two wishes.”

Duan Xingye thought, Could make wishes too? He didn’t make a single one; huge loss by comparison.

He asked: “What wishes did you make?”

Cheng Duzhou wouldn’t say.

Duan Xingye was relentless, swinging Cheng Duzhou’s hand, pestering him to tell.

Cheng Duzhou had to say: “Hoping Mom comes home sooner.”

Duan Xingye nodded, grabbed Cheng Duzhou’s hand, and walked forward with big strides: “Don’t worry, Buddha can definitely hear.”

Cheng Duzhou gave a mn, his mood brightening with Duan Xingye’s tone.

Duan Xingye asked: “What about the second wish?”

Cheng Duzhou suddenly said: “Look there.”

“What?”

“Little squirrel.”

“Really!”

Dayin Temple was in the city, so the two arrived home very quickly.

Although Xing-chan played happily on the mountain, really returning home and seeing relatives, thoughts of missing them surged out like a torrent river. He plunged into the parent’s embrace, acting coquettishly slippery, his snow-white delicate cheeks receiving several kisses.

Also, Duan Xingye returning home this time, Kan Dashan pleasantly discovered the child changed a lot.

Obviously didn’t stay in bed in the morning, spoke softly, no longer rolled on the floor at a disagreement. Every time after eating, not a single grain of rice was left in the bowl.

One day, Kan Dashan was sitting on the sofa flipping through a script. Duan Xingye hopped into the room, happened to see him, sat next to him, and said sweetly: “Grandpa, let me massage your legs.”

Kan Dashan burst into old tears instantly.

Xing-chan seemed to grow up suddenly after returning from the summer camp.

“No need, no need.” How could Kan Dashan bear to let him massage legs, both moved and doting. “Grandpa accepts your filial piety; Grandpa is very well now.”

Xing-chan’s dark eyes rolled, withdrew his hand, agreeing easily: “Okay Grandpa, when you sit in a wheelchair someday, I’ll help you massage.”

“……”

Doesn’t have to be a wheelchair.

However, after another week like this, the summer camp’s magic disappeared, and the child reverted to his original form.

Entering the room this morning, Kan Dashan saw Xing-chan lying in the corridor pedaling an air bicycle, dry-howling without tears, throwing a waking-up tantrum, aunties unable to pull him up.

Kan Dashan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Xing-chan was held in the family’s palms since childhood. Becoming too sensible made Kan Dashan unaccustomed instead; releasing nature was better.

So the small building returned to its former liveliness.

Only three days before the end of summer vacation did Xing-chan remember to unzip his schoolbag, then discover the plan of one book of Happy Summer Vacation per day wouldn’t work, let alone so many extra weekly journals and practice reports.

Couldn’t finish, simply couldn’t finish.

The night before school registration, at eleven o’clock, Duan Xingye finally couldn’t bear the pressure, collapsed and cried loudly, becoming a member of the rush work for unfinished buildings.

Wearing pajamas, he cried while writing furiously, his voice extremely penetrating: “What to do! What do I do—”

Cheng Duzhou also wore pajamas. His own homework was finished last month. Now helping him write without sleeping, he had a headache from the noise: “Stop crying, save some energy.”

Xing-chan sobbed: “I have plenty of energy; I just don’t have time—”

“……”

Cheng Duzhou really wanted to say starting a week earlier wouldn’t have led to this, but knew it was too late to say anything now. Pursing his lips, he wrote flyingly.

At 2 AM, Cheng Duzhou stopped writing, breathing a sigh of relief.

Couldn’t finish, simply couldn’t finish.

The two quickly packed stationery and climbed into bed.

Duan Xingye couldn’t open his eyes from sleepiness, falling asleep immediately.

Then continued struggling the next morning.

Xing-chan lay on the back seat of the car, the anxiety and pain inside even stronger than last night, cries becoming shrill and loud.

So when Cheng Xian drove past whizzing, people in adjacent cars were startled, thinking an ambulance just passed by screaming.

On the first day of school, in the afternoon, Duan Xingye was called to the office by the class teacher because a spot check found his summer vacation homework incomplete, pages missing by half.

This was actually Xing-chan’s little scheme—couldn’t finish, tore it all.

“Teacher, you might not believe it.” Duan Xingye looked tenacious. “My dog tore the homework.”

“……”

The class teacher looked at him.

Duan Xingye’s gaze was firm.

The teacher asked: “Any evidence?”

Xing-chan was righteous: “Yes.”

A minute later, Cheng Duzhou stood beside Duan Xingye, naturally perjuring for him.

The class teacher looked at the two children, almost laughing from anger: “Bring the dog tomorrow.”

Duan Xingye pursed his lips, fingers twisted together behind his back.

Creating a dog out of nothing; where to find a dog.

Cheng Duzhou sighed, lowered his eyes, and held up a palm vertically: “Amitabha, the dog has been released by me.”

Class teacher: “……”

You released a house dog???

Monks don’t tell lies. Two “little novices” broke the precept and received corresponding punishment that day, each writing a 1500-word self-reflection.

During the couple’s last two days in Yu City, the sky rained intermittently.

At this moment, the rain stopped. Distant mountains were ultramarine, misty.

After offering a bouquet of flowers, Duan Xingye walked to the side of the path to wait.

Cheng Duzhou was not far away, talking to Cheng Xian.

Cheng Xian was tall, but no longer as vigorous and powerful as when he was young. Facing the tombstone, his back view evoked the word “vicissitudes.”

Maybe only on this day would he give such an impression.

Duan Xingye put his hands in his coat pockets, looking elsewhere.

Autumn, the grass was yellowing, but tidied very cleanly.

He had been to this cemetery several times before, accompanying Cheng Duzhou, but this was the first time after marriage.

Duan Xingye didn’t have a deep impression of Cheng Duzhou’s mother, but looking at Cheng Duzhou’s state, he could still guess the woman’s personality—even if her body was withering, her heart was still abundant and powerful, having given her family unwavering love. So even if she was absent from Cheng Duzhou’s growth, Cheng Duzhou still believed he was loved, possessing a stable secure attachment style.

Duan Xingye thought of himself again, lowered his head, hair brushing his eyelids, a bit itchy.

He was a bottomless pit in intimate relationships, relying entirely on Cheng Duzhou’s continuous giving. Miraculously, he wasn’t worried Cheng Duzhou would stop supplying one day.

Just then, Cheng Duzhou came over and said: “Let’s go.”

Duan Xingye glanced in Cheng Xian’s direction.

Cheng Duzhou explained: “He wants to stay until evening.”

So the two walked down the mountain together.

The bluestone steps were still damp. Cheng Duzhou held Duan Xingye’s arm to prevent him from slipping.

Duan Xingye suddenly said: “A summer camp in elementary school, we spent it on the mountain, remember?”

Cheng Duzhou recalled slightly and asked: “What about it?”

Duan Xingye looked at him: “What was the second wish?”

A long, long time ago, Cheng Duzhou muddled through.

Cheng Duzhou paused: “Your memory is really good.”

Duan Xingye nudged him with his elbow: “Don’t change the subject.”

Cheng Duzhou held back a smile and said, “Let me think.”

“You clearly remember!” Duan Xingye didn’t indulge him, trying to pull his arm out of his hold.

“Remembered.” Cheng Duzhou hurriedly steadied the person and said, “Wished to go to Greece with you soon.”

Duan Xingye pursed his lips, speechless for a moment: “What’s embarrassing about saying this kind of thing?”

“My praying to Buddha isn’t entirely metaphysical; I also treat it as a goal.” Cheng Duzhou said, “Definitely embarrassed to say before achieving it.”

Then he achieved it.

They went to the Aegean Sea in Greece together, visited Santorini. Although different from the innocent summer camp agreement in childhood, Cheng Duzhou completed all the goals he set for himself.

Duan Xingye glanced at him, pulled out his arm, changed to grabbing Cheng Duzhou’s hand to interlock fingers, and walked down the mountain together.

The air in the mountains after rain was the freshest. Duan Xingye took a deep breath.

He thought that a long, long time ago, Buddha must have lovingly stroked that child’s head with his hand.