ATLAS TRANSLATES

“Going to see Granny Wang on the next street.” Bai Lian opened the courtyard door, turning slightly to glance at Ren Qian.

Next street’s Granny Wang?

Ren Wanxuan gripped her phone and looked at Ren Qian, “Grandfather, I’m discussing something with my senior.”

Ren Qian didn’t insist that Ren Wanxuan go with Bai Lian.

Ji Heng picked up his pipe from the table and stood up. He knew Ren Wanxuan didn’t like him smoking, so he went back to his room.

After everyone left, Ren Wanxuan looked around to make sure no one was there, then lowered her voice: “Jian Rong seemed to say that an important elder from the Jian family is coming to Xiangcheng. They want to find an opportunity to request a meeting with that elder.”

Ren Qian sat up straight upon hearing this, “An elder that even the Jian family needs to request to meet?”

How mysterious?

Who could it be?

He and Ren Jiawei looked at each other in bewilderment.

**

In a courtyard on the street next to Qingshui Street.

An elderly person’s coughs came one after another. Ning Xiao was patting the elder’s back, his expression very troubled.

There was a knock at the door.

He watched Granny Wang finish her water before going to open it.

He had thought it would be a neighbor, but unexpectedly it was Bai Lian. He was very surprised: “Sister Lian?”

Bai Lian hadn’t expected him to open the door either.

They stared at each other until Granny Wang’s weak voice came from inside, “Who is it?”

“My classmate.” Ning Xiao opened the door to let Bai Lian in.

Granny Wang struggled to sit up. Her eyesight wasn’t good, but through the window she could vaguely see Bai Lian’s face. She was somewhat delighted: “Ah Lian.”

Bai Lian entered familiarly.

First she looked at the three memorial tablets in the main hall, which had fresh fruit offerings.

Then she went to check on Granny Wang. Seeing her trying to sit up, she quickly supported her, naturally placing her fingers on her pulse.

“Be careful.” Bai Lian lowered her eyes, her heart sinking slightly.

“Cough cough… so you two are classmates.” Granny Wang’s cloudy, dim eyes showed some light, her withered face seeming to gain some vitality: “Does he often do homework with you all?”

“Yes.” Bai Lian rubbed her back until her coughing stopped, “With another classmate, we went to Jiangjing for tutoring before the New Year.”

“Good, good…” Granny Wang was somewhat excited, “Then I can rest assured.”

She was very weak and hadn’t been able to sleep for two days due to coughing. With Bai Lian patting her back, she fell asleep within five minutes.

“I’ll teach you a massage technique later.” Bai Lian tucked her in before closing the door to talk with Ning Xiao.

Seeing his grandmother fall asleep in less than five minutes under Bai Lian’s care, Ning Xiao knew this massage must be effective.

He was just surprised that Bai Lian knew this?

After teaching Ning Xiao, Bai Lian remembered about Little Wang’s matter: “Where’s your grandmother’s phone?”

Ning Xiao finally found the old-style phone in a corner.

It was out of battery.

After understanding the situation, Bai Lian replied to Little Wang—

[Her phone was out of battery. Spend more time with her when you can.]

Wang: [Thank you]

**

The next day.

Tuesday, the fourth day of the New Year, Bai Lian and Jiang Fuli went to the prison early.

To visit Zhang.

“Sister Lian,” Zhang Shize still wore handcuffs, and immediately greeted them upon entering, “Brother Jiang, Happy New Year.”

Then he had an expression like he was about to cry.

“Got beaten up again?” Jiang Fuli stood behind Bai Lian, arms crossed, his posture very lazy, his shallow narrow eyes occasionally sweeping over Zhang, looking quite disdainful.

Zhang Shize: “…Not exactly.”

Fights were common, but he wasn’t crying because he got beaten. It was because Chi Yundai had visited in the morning.

“He made me memorize legal terms!” Zhang Shize looked at Bai Lian and Jiang Fuli, complaining about Chi Yundai’s evil deeds.

Bai Lian hadn’t figured out what legal terms were.

Jiang Fuli glanced at Zhang Shize and asked very sincerely: “That stuff needs memorizing?”

Isn’t it something you can remember just by looking at it once?

Zhang Shize’s crying stopped abruptly. He looked up at Jiang Fuli blankly: “…”

He wanted to cry even more.

In half a month, Zhang Shize had made quite a bit of progress. In math, he had reached second year of high school level, with English showing the most improvement.

While doing handicrafts in prison, he not only strived to be first but could also memorize vocabulary while being first.

“He gets complained about every few days,” the prison staff whispered to Bai Lian while escorting her and Jiang Fuli out, “Because he always recites vocabulary loudly while queuing for the bathroom, disturbing others using the bathroom next door.”

He didn’t dare speak to Jiang Fuli.

The two left the prison gates.

Bai Lian sat in the passenger seat, looking down to fasten her seatbelt.

“Where are you going?” Jiang Fuli’s fingers rested on the steering wheel, tapping casually.

“Calligraphers Association.” Bai Lian fastened her seatbelt, then leaned back against the seat, lazily turning on the car’s Bluetooth to play her daily English reading.

Jian Zhe hadn’t left, and Chou Xuezheng was also at the association.

She was going to give them New Year greetings.

Jiang Fuli started the car, “Alright, it’s on the way.”

The car quickly arrived at the Calligraphers Association. Jiang Fuli parked at the entrance and let Bai Lian out. His arm rested on the steering wheel as he said unhurriedly: “I’ll be free tomorrow.”

Jiang Fuli had just returned for the New Year, with lots of work waiting for him at the lab.

After today’s group meeting, he could rest for a few days.

Bai Lian closed the car door and gave him an “OK” gesture, “Then I’ll be at the library on time tomorrow.”

She waited there watching him drive away.

After the car slowly disappeared at the intersection, she walked into the association.

**

Several elderly people had already arrived early at the association.

Because of the New Year, red lanterns were hung inside the association, making it very lively. When Bai Lian entered, two children were already sitting in the courtyard practicing calligraphy. Seeing Bai Lian, Jian Zhe smiled and gave her New Year greetings.

The two children also knew Bai Lian. With Jiang Fuli not around, they were especially cheerful in giving Bai Lian New Year greetings.

Bai Lian always had candy in both pockets. She took some out for the two children while telling Jian Zhe: “Going to the library near First Middle School tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Jian Zhe was surprised.

Bai Lian tilted her head slightly, raising an eyebrow: “If you’re busy you don’t have to come, there’s no rush.”

The graduate school exam was still early.

“I don’t have anything particular,” Jian Zhe thought for a moment, “I’ll come find you at the library tomorrow.”

Bai Lian went to look at the two children’s writing, “Alright, bring your graduate exam books.”

The association’s courtyard wasn’t small, about ten meters in length and width. On the left were more than ten small tables, with four large trees planted on both sides. The front was the main gate, with buildings on the other three sides. Directly opposite the gate was the meeting hall.

By now the sun had slowly risen, shining through the tree gaps onto the white paper under the children’s hands.

“Graduate exam books?” Jian Zhe was somewhat confused.

A melodious phone ringtone interrupted Jian Zhe’s thoughts. He took out his phone and answered, “Dad?”

“Jian Zhe, what exactly are you trying to do?” Father Jian lowered his voice, “I already told you your grandfather is coming to Xiangcheng today.”

“The association has students today.” Jian Zhe replied.

On the phone, Father Jian seemed somewhat exasperated, “You really plan to put down roots in Xiangcheng? What exactly attracts you about that place? Do you know Jian Rong wants to take the Jiang Art exam? Your grandfather is finding connections in Jiangjing for him!”

Jian Zhe thought about his improved calligraphy: “I think it’s great here, do you want to come?”

The other party hung up in anger.

Jian Zhe looked at the busy signal on his phone and shrugged. He was being very serious, but no one believed him.

**

At the Ren family house.

Ren Qian came downstairs wearing formal clothes, talking on the phone, his expression severe: “Still no news about Mr. Chen? Don’t know when he’s coming back? Alright.”

He hung up the phone, frowning deeply.

The driver waited respectfully downstairs. He sat on the sofa, picked up his teacup, took a small sip while looking down, then asked him, “Have the people been picked up?”

“Yes, the Jian family is at the mansion now.” The driver nodded, having just picked them up.

Beside them, Ren Jiawei was surprised, “The Jian family from North City?”

Ren Qian finally showed a slight smile, “Yes, thanks to Wanxuan, her information was very timely. Just don’t know… who this important person is that the Jian family is waiting for.”

It couldn’t be Mr. Chen, right?

“I’ll wait with the Jian family tomorrow.” Ren Qian tapped the table.

“Sir,” beside him, his assistant reminded Ren Qian, “You mentioned yesterday that the Ji family invited you for dinner tomorrow.”

Ren Qian waved his hand, “Tell them we’re busy.”

He valued Xu En, not the actual Ji family.

Moreover…

Tomorrow there were more important matters.

**

The next day.

At seven-thirty in the morning, Bai Lian had just opened the courtyard gate with her backpack when she saw Director Chen’s raised hand.

Seeing Bai Lian, his eyes lit up. First he gave New Year greetings.

Then he took out a white bag and handed it to Bai Lian, explaining: “Miss Bai, this is the notebook Xu Wenyao asked me to give you.”

After giving it to Bai Lian, Director Chen walked past her: “Uncle, Happy New Year!”

He had brought many things back from Jiangjing, big and small packages.

Bai Lian looked down. Through the semi-transparent bag, she could vaguely see the black physics notebook inside.

“…”

Incredible.

Even this could follow her here.

At the Xiangcheng Library, Jian Zhe had arrived early. He sat in his seat, watching the two academic experts across from him constantly solving problems he couldn’t understand, feeling like he was sitting on pins and needles.

Bai Lian had already told Tang Ming to take Jian Zhe upstairs to save seats.

Only when a white figure appeared at the stairs did Jian Zhe finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Bai Lian put her backpack next to Jian Zhe and gently pulled out a chair to sit down.

“Sister,” Jian Zhe lowered his voice, asking Bai Lian: “Am I here to study?”

The two sat at the edge of the long table, next to the window. Bai Lian opened her backpack and took out question banks and classical literature books.

“Sister Lian,” Tang Ming across from them said in horror, “Are you switching to liberal arts?”

“No,” Bai Lian shook her head, then looked at Jian Zhe, “I checked, besides objective questions, the subjective questions are about extracting points from classical texts to write essays.”

She tilted her head slightly, her tone lazy, her black pupils reflecting the rising sun.

The occasional glimmers in her eyes were like a white tiger ready to pounce.

Heart-stirring.

Jian Zhe had never seen such an aura from Bai Lian. He was somewhat dazed: “Right.”

“Want to apply to Jiang Art?” Bai Lian took the classical text with one hand while propping her chin with the other, asking with narrowed eyes.

“…Yes,” Jian Zhe said softly, “But…”

Who wouldn’t want to get into Jiang Art? But it wasn’t something you could get into just because you wanted to. Even Jian Rong was looking for connections.

“Wanting to is enough,” Bai Lian opened the classical literature book, her fingertips pressing the pages flat. Facing the sunlight, she smiled softly, “Then you can be considered my junior.”

Jian Zhe seemed to understand something, “You… aren’t you studying science?”

Arts and sciences were different. Bai Lian hadn’t learned how to teach literary interpretation, but she remembered everything her teacher had taught her – how to impart knowledge, teach skills, and resolve doubts. Now everyone seemed to have fixed thinking – she was good at science, born to study science.

Bai Lian raised her eyebrows. She spoke slowly, her tone showing rare pride and disdain, “Now, yes, I study science.”

But her enlightening teacher—

Was Liang Zewen.