Cangmang Asks the Way 1: Guardian of the Lamp

As they stepped out of Nanjing University's gates, the hustle and bustle of the city filled their ears once more. Just as Cang Lifeng was about to find the bus stop in the direction of the construction site, Lin Wei gently tugged at his arm.

"Wait." She looked Cang Lifeng up and down, his dark blue overalls, which were clean but obviously faded from washing and had worn cuffs. She frowned slightly, then smiled, her expression decisive and unwavering. "Let's go, we won't go back yet."

"Where to?" Cang Lifeng was taken aback.

"Buy clothes." Lin Wei said matter-of-factly, pulling him toward the commercial street outside the school gate. "Starting next week, you'll be an auditor at Nanjing University. You can't keep wearing this work uniform to class every day, can you? When you're listening to a lecture, you should dress presentably. It's a sign of respect for knowledge and for yourself."

Cang Lifeng felt rooted to the spot, his face flushed slightly, and he hurriedly waved his hands, "No need, no need! I... I'm fine as long as I'm clean. Going to class is to learn something, not to compete on who dresses better." He thought to himself, how much would a decent set of clothes cost? Enough for the construction site brothers to improve their meals for several days.

"Cleanliness is the foundation, and propriety is the attitude." Lin Wei didn't loosen her grip, though not with much force, but with a firm attitude. "Grandpa Shen treats you like his own child. You represent not only yourself, but also the spirit of your great-grandfather's lineage. Listen to me, just buy two sets of clothes to change into; they're not expensive."

As they spoke, Lin Wei had already dragged him to the entrance of a brand-name clothing store that looked bright and clean, with fashionable posters hanging on the walls. Cang Lifeng caught a glimpse of his work clothes, which clashed terribly with the store's style, reflected in the glass door, and then saw the numbers faintly visible on the clothing tags inside. His scalp tingled, and he cleverly used his feet to stay rooted to the spot, almost causing Lin Wei to stumble.

"Reporter Lin, Lin Wei!" he pleaded in a low voice, "This place...it really won't do! Shall we look somewhere else?"

Seeing his expression of dread, as if facing a formidable enemy, Lin Wei finally couldn't help but burst out laughing and let go of his hand: "Alright, alright, I won't force you. Let's go to the street next door; there are a few affordable shops there."

Cang Lifeng finally breathed a sigh of relief and followed behind her, looking like a duck that had been herded onto a shelf but managed to escape by sheer luck.

Reaching another, slightly chaotic street, Cang Lifeng stepped into an ordinary men's clothing store specializing in middle-aged menswear, finally feeling more at ease. He began to actively browse, with a clear goal—focusing on the shelves that looked the most unassuming and had the smallest price tags. His fingers traced the shirts and trousers, his mind quickly calculating the prices.

"How about this one?" He picked up a gray polyester shirt, old-fashioned in style but thick.

"It's too heavy, like work clothes." Lin Wei shook her head and casually picked up a light blue cotton striped shirt from the other side. "Try this one, the material is comfortable and it looks good."

Cang Lifeng glanced at the price, which was more than double that of the gray one, and immediately shook his head: "It doesn't need to be that good, as long as it's wearable."

"Buying clothes isn't just about 'being able to wear them'." Lin Wei shoved the shirt into his hands without further ado and went to pick out some pants.

Ultimately, with Cang Lifeng's insistence and Lin Wei's "guidance," two outfits were chosen: one was a light blue striped shirt paired with dark casual pants picked by Lin Wei, and the other was a pure white T-shirt paired with khaki pants that Cang Lifeng himself picked out, which was much cheaper.

"This is it," Cang Lifeng said to the shopkeeper, pointing to the outfit he had chosen. "Please wrap it up."

"One set isn't enough for changing clothes," Lin Wei immediately objected. "We need two sets. We can't wear the same thing to class every day."

"I... I can wash it at night and it will be dry by daytime," Cang Lifeng argued, his voice growing softer and softer. "Besides... I might not have enough money." He didn't bring much money with him when he went out. After buying pastries and tea, his remaining budget was only enough for a cheap set of clothes.

Lin Wei had already anticipated this and immediately replied, "How much is short? I'll cover it for you first. You can pay me back later... well, when your construction company opens and makes a lot of money." She deliberately used the distant term "construction company," her eyes gleaming with a mischievous yet encouraging light.

"How can that be!" Cang Lifeng's face turned even redder, and he firmly disagreed.

The two started arguing quietly in the store, one insisting on paying upfront, the other resolutely refusing. The owner watched with amusement, not urging them on.

In the end, Cang Lifeng couldn't resist Lin Wei's insistence and reasoning ("Dressing appropriately shows respect for the teacher and the classroom," and "Investing in yourself is also investing in your future"), and relented. He insisted on paying for one set himself, but agreed to let Lin Wei "lend" him the money to buy another set (the one with the light blue shirt), and solemnly said, "I will definitely pay this money back, at bank interest rates."

Lin Wei smiled and agreed, but in her heart she thought that she would probably never receive the interest.

After buying clothes, it was already noon. Lin Wei, under the pretext of "celebrating your becoming an auditor at Nanjing University," insisted on dragging Cang Lifeng to a clean little noodle shop near the school for lunch. Over a simple bowl of beef noodles, the two chatted as they ate. Lin Wei listened to him talk about his experiences at the construction site and suddenly asked, "Lifeng, from the 'big accountant' of protecting cultural relics to the 'small accountant' of calculating workers' livelihoods, do you think your great-grandfather's path has changed for you? Or is it that the core hasn't changed, only the battlefield has?" She asked naturally, but her eyes held the inquisitiveness typical of a reporter.

Cang Lifeng paused for a moment, thought carefully, and said, "I think... nothing has changed. My great-grandfather risked his life to protect the roots of civilization and prevent it from dying out. What I want to do now is use my skills and brains to protect the livelihood and dignity of a group of people and prevent it from collapsing. It's all about 'protecting,' both about ensuring that the good things can be passed down properly." He spoke simply, but Lin Wei was deeply moved and quickly jotted something down in her notebook.

Afterwards, Lin Wei inquired about the shooting incident in Xiqiao Village. Cang Lifeng spoke with pride, gesturing as he described how Ming Tianci had dodged three bullets. Lin Wei gasped repeatedly, insisting that Cang Lifeng introduce her to his younger brother, a man of both literary and martial talents, next time.

Cang Lifeng smiled and mentioned that Cang Tianci would be coming to Nancheng for a competition next month. Lin Wei carefully noted down the date, saying she definitely wanted to go see this "little hero" in person.

After lunch, the two walked to the bus stop. The afternoon sun was lazy and warm.

"Starting next week, Tuesday and Thursday evenings, don't forget," Lin Wei instructed.

"I'll never forget it." Cang Lifeng nodded emphatically, carrying the bag of new clothes.

"Remember to change before class," Lin Wei said, pointing to the bag with a smile.

"...Okay." Cang Lifeng replied somewhat embarrassedly.

The bus slowly pulled into the station.

"I'm going back," Cang Lifeng said.

"Okay, be careful on the road." Lin Wei waved to him from under the bus stop sign.

Cang Lifeng got into the car and found a window seat. As the car started moving, he saw through the glass that Lin Wei was still standing in the same spot, her figure clear yet soft in the spring sunshine, until she disappeared from sight around the corner.

He withdrew his gaze, looked down at the clothing bag on his lap, and then touched the note and booklet Shen Moyuan had given him in his arms. His heart was filled with a full and reassuring emotion. There was the weight of a heavy responsibility on his shoulders, the brightness of a promising future, and a trace of... the reluctance and warmth that had quietly welled up in his heart when they parted just now.

The bus carried him towards the dusty yet vibrant construction site. Lin Wei, after watching the bus disappear, turned and walked briskly towards the newspaper office, preparing to gather new material for her next report on "The Backbone of the City and New Dreams." The spring breeze, blowing through the streets and alleys, seemed to carry a faint sense of laughter and hope.