Winter Returns

Chapter 177 The Smiling Fox (Part 2)

"Of course, it's in my mom's office."

"So it wasn't something you made up to test them." Lu Qinglian sighed softly. "I overestimated you, Zhang Shutong. I take back what I just said."

“I didn’t reveal any extra information to her, not even that you were a temple keeper.” Zhang Shutong felt wronged.

"So what do you think of that altar?" Lu Qinglian didn't answer his question, but instead glanced at the entrance to the tunnel.

“Let’s bring the statue over first,” Zhang Shutong said, cutting off the small talk. “I think those pits look like they were made for the statue, so let’s put it in and see how it goes, which will also help verify some of our guesses.”

He further explained:
"Think about it, the old house was already locked, and there was a layer of ivy blocking the outside. If it hadn't rained that day, none of us would have noticed it. The other end was also completely blocked. We can't just do it for a rock carving."
"What I mean is, the legend of the fox isn't completely 'covered up.' Anyone who's willing to try can find out about it. So why go to all the trouble of hiding the fox's existence? What's the point?"

Zhang Shutong pondered:
"So I think it shouldn't be as simple as covering up a legend, whether it's true or not. Rather, that place has another purpose, although we can't see it yet... What do you think?"

Zhang Shutong knew that she had little curiosity, but this matter was related to the Green Snake Temple.

“The clues are right in front of us.” As expected, Lu Qinglian never hesitated.

Zhang Shutong nodded.

In fact, it's not just the Green Snake Temple, but also the owner of that basement. It's very likely that the other party blocked the fox altar. In other words, is there any connection between the fox and the clay figure?
There are more and more loose threads.

“Let’s go and examine that statue first.” Zhang Shutong pointed to his phone. “I’ll ask my mom if her office is locked.”

While the three of them were underground, there was one thing he wasn't lying about: his mother's office was indeed quite far from here, especially by bicycle, which would probably take an hour round trip.

He was thinking about how to take a shortcut when the call was answered:

"Isn't it here yet? Should I put the last dish in the pan or not?" The noise of the range hood was in the background, and my mother's tone was like vegetable oil about to boil. "I've called you several times. Where are you now?"

"Right away, right away," Zhang Shutong covered the microphone, "Mom, the fox you showed me this morning..."

"What fox? Zhang Shutong, if you don't come back, I'll fire you like a fox!"

The phone went dead with a beep.

"Go straight there?" Lu Qinglian was closing the iron gate on the ground.

"Let's go home and have dinner first," Zhang Shutong sighed. "Well... my mom thinks I'm too career-oriented."

He thought to himself that Xiao Lu wasn't much different.

A dozen minutes later, in the gentle night breeze, Zhang Shutong turned into the gate of the residential area.

The two worked together quite well. He pedaled the bike while Lu Qinglian followed behind with a flashlight. Soon, the lights of the dormitory building came into view.

Zhang Shutong parked the car, intending to introduce her to Lu Qinglian, but then remembered that Lu Qinglian had already been here once.

He opened the door, and the aroma of food wafted out.

The words "frantic and disorganized" don't seem to exist in my mom's dictionary.

The scene I had imagined—her rushing out of the kitchen, wiping oil on her apron—did not happen. Instead, I saw her leisurely peeling an apple on the sofa as soon as I entered.

"Hello, Auntie," Lu Qinglian said politely. "Thank you for your help."

"No problem at all. Are you cold today? Come in." Mom smiled and stood up. "There's only one dish left, we'll be eating soon. Please have a seat, Zhang Shutong—"

She went to the kitchen with a drawn-out voice, and Zhang Shutong understood what she meant, so he bent down to find slippers.

"Change it yourself." To avoid suspicion, Zhang Shutong simply walked to the sofa.

He picked up the kettle and shook it. It was filled with warm water, which his mother had prepared in advance. She thought that after the two of them had been out all day, warm water would be more thirst-quenching than a cup of boiling tea.

While pouring the water, he discovered that this was the second female classmate of Ruoping to visit his home.

Ruoping and her mother have a good relationship. The two of them chatter away whenever they meet, and they have endless things to talk about. In contrast, Lu Qinglian just sits quietly on the sofa with her cup in her hand.

He was even calmer than I was.

The living room light was newly installed, but it wasn't very bright; it emitted a warm yellow glow that barely filled the small room.

It was already dark outside. Zhang Shutong turned his head and could see the reflections of the two of them in the glass.

"Watching TV?" Zhang Shutong asked.

"No need," Lu Qinglian shook her head.

"Eat an apple?"

"Thank you."

Zhang Shutong then realized that the apple wasn't peeled properly. They used a fruit knife to peel it, which was a very difficult skill, and not everyone had that kind of technique.

Zhang Shutong tried his best.

The apple peel broke.

Zhang Shutong cut it again.

It broke again.

Soon the apple was pitted and dented, like it had been chewed by a dog.

Zhang Shutong glanced at Lu Qinglian.

"Give it to me," she said, somewhat helplessly.

Zhang Shutong watched as she lowered her eyes, the apple spinning in her hand, and soon a beautiful apple peel was finished.

Zhang Shutong watched as she changed her posture, raised her knife, and a small piece of apple landed on the plate.

Lu Qinglian pushed the plate forward, her meaning clear. Zhang Shutong thanked her with mixed feelings, picked up an apple, and put it in his mouth.

It was juicy and quite delicious.

Zhang Shutong knew she loved apples, so he pushed the plate back. But Lu Qinglian stopped holding the knife, glanced at him, and then, with a snap, took a bite of the apple.

"...I originally intended for you to eat it yourself."

“Yes, that’s what I meant too.” She chewed slowly.

"Lu Qinglian, have you ever heard of the word 'scheming'?"

"what?"

"That means someone may appear innocent and naive, without any guile, but in reality, they are full of malice," Zhang Shutong kindly explained to her.

“Zhang Shutong,” the cunning woman put down the apple, “I bet your aunt will ask you what you did today.”

She tilted her head, looking puzzled.

What did you do at noon and in the evening?

"Try it." Zhang Shutong peeled an orange.

She narrowed her eyes, indicating that she was fairly satisfied.
"Later."

Zhang Shutong thought wearily that it seemed like she had more and more leverage over him.

Just then, another phone rang. It was Qingyi calling. Qingyi said with a bitter face that Ruoping was probably still angry. He had just called her, but she didn't answer. Zhang Shutong was also a little worried. Just as they were about to discuss something, the kitchen door was suddenly opened with a bang.

This is often the signal that it's time to eat.

His mother asked him to help serve the dishes.

Zhang Shutong had no choice but to apologize first. He had just entered the kitchen when his mother pulled him aside and whispered:

"Where's the apple?"

"have eaten."

"That's good." Mom said with a look of relief, as if to say, "My son has finally grown up." "I was going to cut it up for you, but I thought I'd leave it for you to show off. What was Qinglian's reaction?"

Zhang Shutong was suddenly speechless. He thought to himself, "So that's how it can be." It was indeed a performance, but the problem was how Lu Qinglian performed in front of his son.

Zhang Shutong silently accepted the plate of food, deciding to speak as little as possible later.

The real headache will come at the dinner table.

Sure enough, the three of them sat down shortly afterward.

"Hmm...you two seem a little reserved?" Mom looked them over.

At the rectangular dining table, Mom sat alone on one side, while I and Lu Qinglian sat on the other.

"It's alright," Zhang Shutong explained. "We're usually like this; we rarely talk."

He looked at Lu Qinglian, and Lu Qinglian nodded slightly.

"I thought you two had a lot in common," Mom said, feigning surprise.

"No." Two voices rang out simultaneously.

"See? See?" Mom burst out laughing.

"Auntie, it's because he likes to mimic my speech."

"Don't imitate other people's way of speaking in the future," Mom chimed in.

Zhang Shutong was momentarily speechless. Just then, his mother picked up her wine glass, her eyes crinkling as she called out:
"Come on, cheers!"

Zhang Shutong clinked his wine glass. Right now, everyone was drinking Huiyuan juice, but soon it would all be under hawthorn trees. Many things change without us even realizing it.

Today's meal consisted of four dishes and a soup: goji berry and old chicken soup, winter melon stewed with pork ribs, stir-fried green peppers with shredded pork, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and a king oyster mushroom dish. It was quite a feast. Zhang Shutong had been eating the first three dishes since childhood. Her mother's cooking skills were such that she could only occasionally excel when she was in her comfort zone, but once she stepped out of it, she would go straight to the bottom.

Zhang Shutong was referring to the king oyster mushroom dish. He actually wanted his mom to stir-fry the king oyster mushroom slices, just a simple stir-fry, but for some reason she not only diced them but also added soy sauce, so Xiao Lu couldn't even tell what it was.

She picked up a piece of chopsticks and paused for a moment with them between her small lips.

Zhang Shutong wasn't going to expose his mother's past. He wanted to eat in silence, but his mother wouldn't stop talking:
"Qinglian, how's your foot?"

"He's almost fully recovered."

"Do you need me to pick you up from school these next few days?" Mom wasn't just being polite; she was genuinely concerned. "I've talked to Tong...Shutong several times. Has he told you?"

Zhang Shutong did say that, but Lu Qinglian said it was unnecessary.

She declined again, so her mother stopped asking.

Zhang Shutong had expected that once the atmosphere was right, his mother would say something like, "Qinglian, thank you for saving Shutong last time..." but for some reason, his mother didn't say anything. She just kept putting food into Lu Qinglian's plate, while frantically giving him meaningful glances. Zhang Shutong couldn't understand what she meant at all, so he had no choice but to ask, "..."
"Is it tasty?"

"delicious."

"What would you like to eat next time, Auntie? Please make it."

“I…” Lu Qinglian shook her head.

"Is there something you don't like about it?" Mom asked worriedly.

“It’s delicious.” Lu Qinglian had no choice but to repeat herself.

"Will you come again next time?" Mom blinked pitifully.

Lu Qinglian turned her head, and Zhang Shutong knew he couldn't pretend to be dead anymore:

"Mom, let's see how it goes; she's quite busy."

"Okay, it's settled then, next week." Mom insisted.

Zhang Shutong thought to himself, "You're probably not old enough to have auditory hallucinations yet."

It seems like the dinner arrangement was settled, and then Mom asked again if the two of you were still in the same class.
Zhang Shutong said they are now deskmates.

"Has Shutong ever caused you any trouble?" Mom asked, cupping her face in her hands.

Lu Qinglian didn't answer immediately. This woman actually raised her chin and thought about it seriously.

Zhang Shutong poured her some juice.

"No, Zhang Shutong studies very hard."

"Oh, that's good. I was worried he'd go crazy with fun." Mom started giving him meaningful glances again.

"But he would always talk to me during class."

Upon hearing this, Mom's face paled—this time, she was genuinely shocked, not feigning it. She exclaimed in surprise:

"Really? You actually initiated a conversation with him?"

"Discussing and learning."

Mom looked at Lu Qinglian again.

“Basically, yes,” Lu Qinglian added calmly, “but it would be best to pay attention to his sleep quality and mental health issues.”

"Have you been having trouble sleeping lately? Are you under a lot of stress?" Mom was even more worried.

"No," Zhang Shutong quickly denied, having already finished his meal in a few bites. For the first time, he felt restless. "I'm done eating..."

Mom raised her eyebrows:

"We haven't finished eating yet, why are you running away?"

Zhang Shutong really wanted to say that Lu Qinglian had actually finished eating.

This was the first time he had ever seen Lu Qinglian eat so much. Usually, she would only eat a small box of rice, and even at gatherings, she would only have a small bite. Anyway, no one forced her to eat.

But today, my mom kept piling food onto her plate, saying that it's a crucial time for her to grow, so she should eat more, especially girls, otherwise it will harm her health...

She even prepared a special pair of serving chopsticks for picking up food. Lu Qinglian was also a capable person who never talked nonsense. So every time her mother picked up food, she would put it in her mouth. Zhang Shutong had already finished eating, but the rice in her bowl hadn't been touched much. The bones on the table were almost piled up like a small mountain.

This was also the first time Zhang Shutong had seen Lu Qinglian with such a helpless expression. Every time she was about to speak, a piece of pork rib would be put into her bowl; just as she was about to refuse, a chicken leg would be fed to her; and just as she was about to put down her chopsticks, a spoonful of scrambled eggs with tomatoes would be placed on top of her rice.

Even her pink lips were shiny with oil.

Zhang Shutong admired his mother immensely. This seemed like a way to get Lu Qinglian to talk less, and he planned to try it next time.

When the girl first looked at him, Zhang Shutong suppressed a laugh.

The second time, Zhang Shutong thoughtfully refilled her juice.

The third time:
"Would you like another bowl of rice? Don't be shy."

“Auntie,” Lu Qinglian finally spoke, slowly saying, “Actually, Zhang Shutong ran into someone today…”

"You seem full? Then don't eat anymore, it's easy to get indigestion at night. Mom, you can have a bite too."

"Alright, alright, then you two go out and get some exercise tonight, don't overeat." Mom put down her chopsticks regretfully, then asked curiously, "What happened? Who did he run into today?"

First of all--

Zhang Shutong couldn't possibly help her finish the leftovers in her bowl.

Who knew Lu Qinglian would say:

"fox."

"fox?"

Both mother and son were taken aback.

"We saw a rock face carved with a fox today, which is why we were a little late. Sorry to keep you waiting, Auntie," Lu Qinglian said, wiping her mouth. She then took out her flip phone and awkwardly opened the photo album. It turned out she had taken some pictures while she was down there.
"He told me you've seen this fox. Could you take us to see it?"

(End of this chapter)