Chapter Nine: Transformation

Now that his physical strength had improved and his power increased, Li Yancheng guessed it might be related to his soul transplant—either way, it was a good thing.

"What did you eat? I’ve consumed millennium-old Tianshan snow lotus, millennium ginseng, and ten-thousand-year He Shou Wu."

“Ah?” Jin Zhihai stared at his childhood friend in astonishment, hardly believing it.

“Really? Eating those can boost your strength? Do you still have some left?”

“Pfft… you fool, I was just joking. I’ve been idle in the countryside these past two months, so I’ve been consistently exercising.”

“Uh…”

“Giggling… honk honk honk…”

Jin Wenning, watching her brother’s goofy expression, burst out laughing with a sound like a goose’s honk. She laughed so hard she couldn’t stand, squatting down and clutching her belly.

With all this, how could Jin Zhihai not realize he’d been played? He raised his hand and punched Li Yancheng’s chest.

“You’ve only been in the countryside two months, and you’ve even changed your personality.”

Before, Li Yancheng wasn’t exactly taciturn to the point of silence, but he was certainly a man of few words. Even with Jin Zhihai, his closest childhood friend, he wasn’t particularly talkative—let alone joking so seriously.

This sudden change is what made Jin Zhihai believe him earlier.

Rubbing his chest where he’d been punched, Li Yancheng smiled faintly. “After all I’ve been through since last year, some change is only natural.”

Jin Zhihai looked at his friend with concern. “Da Cheng, what’s done is done. Don’t overthink it. At least grandpa passed away with a smile last year. You don’t want him worrying about you from the other side, do you?”

“Don’t worry, brother, I’m really fine. I just finalized the divorce paperwork. I feel so relieved now.”

Seeing the sincerity in his expression, Jin Zhihai breathed a silent sigh of relief and dropped the subject. He walked over and lightly rapped the head of his sister, who was still squatting and unable to stand.

“A grown girl like you, look at yourself! Everyone’s laughing at you. Get up, let’s go. Big brother Da Cheng still needs to catch a bus later.”

“Brother, help me up. My stomach hurts; I can’t stand.”

“Nope, get up yourself.” Jin Zhihai wasn’t about to coddle his sister. He turned and continued walking.

“Da Cheng…”

“Hey… speak properly!”

When the little girl’s high-pitched voice rang out, Li Yancheng felt every hair on his body stand on end. He quickly helped her up.

“Hehe, Da Cheng is still the best.”

“Know you’re good, so speak properly. Who taught you that?”

“Ha ha, my sister-in-law.”

!!!

“Jin Wenning, you silly girl, why do you blurt everything out?”

The little sister had just spilled a bit of couple’s private banter to others, so Jin Zhihai smacked her head again.

“Ow… ow… ow.”

“That’s what you get for talking nonsense.”

Li Yancheng looked on with a hint of envy at these siblings. He liked this kind of family atmosphere—the playful teasing and laughter among brothers and sisters brought such joy.

At that moment, he felt a pang of homesickness. He missed the old folks, his elder siblings, and his son. He wondered how much pain his sudden departure might cause them.

Sigh…

“Yo, Zhihai, Da Cheng, Ningning, where are you three headed? Da Cheng, when did you get back?”

“Hello, Uncle Duan.”

“Hello, Uncle Duan.”

“Hello, Uncle Duan! I just got back today. I stopped by your office earlier but didn’t see you.”

“Ah, meetings and study sessions every day—never-ending.”

The one who called out to them was Duan Xin’an, deputy director of the Meishan Street Office, whose home was next door to Li Yancheng’s at No. 21 Courtyard.

After a quick complaint, Director Duan changed the subject and looked at Li Yancheng.

“By the way, Da Cheng, are you still going to the countryside?”

“Yeah, we’re going over for a meal. After that, I have to leave—I need to catch the three o’clock bus. Uncle Duan, why don’t you join us at the restaurant on the street corner?”

Li Yancheng raised his arm and pointed eastward.

“I’m not going, no thanks. You guys go ahead.” Old Comrade Duan was too polite to mooch off the younger generation’s meal.

Just as they were about to leave, he stopped.

“Da Cheng, I heard you’re serving as a medical worker in Mulin Town, Yishun County?”

“Uh… yes, Mulin Town.”

“Do you know Tangzhishan Village? Is it far from town?”

Old Duan’s eyes brightened with hope.

“I know Tangzhishan Village. It’s about five or six li from town—not far. Why do you ask, Uncle Duan?”

Hearing it was only five or six li away, a smile immediately spread across Old Duan’s face.

“My third child, Xiao Juan, is serving in Tangzhishan Village.”

At this, Old Duan sheepishly smiled. “Da Cheng, could I trouble you to bring her some things?”

“Xiao Juan is serving in Tangzhishan Village?” Li Yancheng was surprised. He hadn’t known this and had no memory of it.

Actually, if it weren’t for certain concerns, Old Duan wouldn’t have let his daughter be sent to the countryside at all.

In these times, as deputy director of a street office, arranging a job for a child was usually not a problem—even if the job wasn’t ideal, at least it was steady. And for junior or senior high graduates, having a job meant they didn’t have to be sent down to the countryside.

Xiao Juan was his third child, with two older brothers above her.

The older two were well settled. When it came to the youngest daughter, Old Duan had already coordinated with the East City District Supply and Marketing Cooperative to have her work as a temporary laborer.

But last year, the situation was tense; many were watching closely. The cooperative’s leaders feared being reported, so as the deadline neared, they rejected Old Duan’s request.

Old Duan understood the situation and dared not approach other units for fear of being reported.

Still, he delayed his daughter’s countryside assignment as long as possible—from last year until almost summer this year. When he had no choice, he sent her ahead, hoping to find a solution.

Most of her classmates had been sent to other provinces, but she was assigned to a county under the capital city. If she could come home, she could at least return the same day and suffer less hardship.

With the year’s end approaching, Old Duan wanted Li Yancheng to deliver some ration tickets to his daughter. They didn’t know if she could come home for the New Year and worried she might go hungry out there. He had considered going himself but feared being seen by outsiders and causing trouble.

Now that a familiar person was nearby, it was convenient.

After agreeing, Old Duan hurried off to fetch the ration tickets. Li Yancheng and the siblings headed to the restaurant at the street corner.

Upon entering, Jin Zhihai immediately ordered three meat dishes: twice-cooked pork, tender pork loin, and stir-fried liver tips.

Little Ningning ordered sweet and sour pork.

Since they already had four meat dishes, Li Yancheng didn’t dare order more—the portions were generous, and leftovers would be unpleasant.