Translator: 549690339
At seven in the morning, someone from the island knocked on their door, saying they needed to register their information.
Bai Youwei, who was disturbed from her sleep, wore a face so gloomy it could rain.
With Shen MO shielding her, she somehow managed to not burst out angrily. But once the registration was done and the person left, she couldn’t take it anymore; she immediately returned to bed to catch up on sleep.
During this time, she vaguely heard Shen MO say to her, “Let’s go out for a bit. You stay inside by yourself, but don’t wander off.”
She thought she was dreaming, her mind still groggy from sleep, she murmured under her blanket, “Can I even leave? You’re overestimating my legs.”
She faintly heard him chuckle.
Then she heard his footsteps move away, the door was shut, lightly but distinctly, with a “click”.
Strangely, she felt very sleepy, but upon hearing this “click”, her mind gradually became clear.
She realized she could no longer sleep.
She checked the time on her phone, it was only seven-thirty.
Last night they sat on a boat, disembarking upon reaching the island, then they had to re-arrange their room at the resort, they only got sleep late at night, completely sleep-deprived!
But now, she was wide awake!
The sullen-faced Bai Youwei got up, took a moment, began washing up, changing her clothes… and then wheeled herself out.
The holiday hotel was situated by the mountains and the waters, the nearby surroundings were naturally beautiful, tranquil valleys, evergreen trees and a sight of green hills and clear waters as far as the eye could see.
Teacher Chang, dressed in a white shirt styled typical of a government official, was sitting in the hotel garden, chatting with someone.
The other person was wearing a linen shirt, crowned with a straw hat. Half his face was obscured by the eaves of the hat. It was only when Bai Youwei got closer, and heard his voice, that she realized it was Uncle Zhao, the man who invited them on the boat yesterday.
Upon seeing Bai Youwei come out, Teacher Chang smiled and said, “Weiwei, you’re up. Why didn’t you sleep a bit more? I just brought back breakfast, but it’s still hot right now. The air is good here, why don’t you go for a stroll while it cools, then you can eat.”
There was soy milk and buns on the stone bench, she didn’t know what they were filled with.
Bai Youwei responded absentmindedly with an “Oh,” she didn’t go far, just found a cool spot under a tree nearby.
The morning was peaceful, and there was a lively human touch to this tranquility. From time to time, people walked by through the garden—a group of young men carrying fishing nets, women with baskets laughing and chatting, and the aunties and uncles busily airing clothes and sheets.
A bit further away, just-baked buns were steaming in the restaurant kitchen. The white steam drifted far, carrying the sweet scent of the grains.
It was peculiar. Life was tense on the outside, yet it was so quiet and peaceful here, it almost felt unreal.
Chang Weicai was still chatting with Uncle Zhao.
Perhaps because they were of similar age, they seemed to enjoy the conversation.
Uncle Zhao spoke highly of Chang Weicai’s knowledge and culture; Chang Weicai praised Uncle Zhao for being ambitious.
Chang Weicai gave Uncle Zhao a thumbs-up and exclaimed, “I’ve been teaching all my life, confined to a single classroom. You’re different. You’re someone who embraces the wider world, which is why you’ve managed to organize the island’s basic necessities so well that everyone can live here peacefully. Your place is not much different from paradise indeed!”
Excited, he even recited a poem: “Path to Wuling is deep and secluded, Qin people live in the middle with their chickens and dogs. Who are the initial visitors? The source now flows with peach blossoms again!”
Uncle Zhao laughed heartily, saying, “It’s not that extraordinary, it’s just the result of everyone’s hard work. We did plant some corn in July, if the harvest is good in October, followed by a batch of wheat, we might actually be able to build a paradise.”
Teacher Chang laughed, “It’s within our reach.”
Bai Youwei squinted, lazily watching the two old men.
The sun gradually rose, and the shade from the tree shifted accordingly.
Bai Youwei’s wheelchair followed the shifting shade.
Around eleven, Shen MO and Tan Xiao finally returned. Seeing Bai Youwei lounging in the shade, they walked over.
“Don’t speak yet,” Bai Youwei smiled as she looked at them, “Let me guess….you didn’t see the transport ship, did you?”