ATLAS TRANSLATES

The weather in Xiangcheng wasn’t cold, and Chen Ju had his sleeves rolled up. Very down-to-earth.

Ning Xiao and Tang Ming were both respectful to Chen Ju, going in to praise his fish.

Only Jian Zhe stood before the steps, looking at the elderly man squatting beside Chen Ju with great hesitation, even disbelief, somewhat afraid to enter.

“Young student,” Shen Qing saw Jian Zhe holding a bag in one hand and a backpack in the other, and smiled: “Aren’t you coming in?”

“Ah…” Jian Zhe came back to his senses.

He had never met that elderly relative at home, but his father and grandfather would mention the elder at every meal, saying he was the pride of the Jian family.

You could say all the younger generation had seen the official photos from Jianjing Music Academy.

Jian Zhe didn’t have face blindness, but that serious scholarly face in the official photo—

Now casually squatting in the courtyard by the arranged fish, wearing handmade cloth shoes with yellow mud spots on them.

Compared to the lofty image of the Dean of Jianjing Music Academy, it was too disconnected.

Even though the faces looked the same, Jian Zhe didn’t dare to recognize him for a moment.

As for Jian Zhongyou, he didn’t know any of the Jian family members, only feeling that this young man had been looking at him for too long, but didn’t take it to heart.

“Xiaohan likes fish head hotpot the most.” Shen Qing said to Bai Lian who had returned.

Bai Lian put down her backpack and explained to Shen Qing: “She went to see Grandpa Tao. The TV station is interviewing Grandpa Tao today, she went to help him prepare his appearance.”

After Grandpa Tao’s puppet show became popular, many big V bloggers were riding this wave of popularity.

Even the TV station was moved to give Grandpa Tao a special interview.

Speaking of this, Bai Lian suddenly remembered and paused beside Jian Zhongyou: “There’s a traditional town here, with a street full of small vendors, and there’s an old-style martial arts school, sugar figurines, paintings, puppet shows… Do you want to go see it later?”

She remembered Jian Zhongyou was here for tourism.

“Alright,” Jian Zhongyou wasn’t really here for tourism, but since he was here already, “I’ll take a look.”

The two were talking there.

Jiang Fuli held the grapes Bai Lian had given him, methodically peeling them while telling Chen Ju beside him: “I won’t go to the meeting. You need to seize this wave of traffic. During the meeting, have the Tourism Bureau pay attention.”

Chen Ju rolled down his sleeves and nodded, “We’ve already added many vendors and encouraged more businesses to go there. Supporting facilities have also been increased accordingly.”

“Maintaining East City’s security and guiding tourists is the priority,” Jiang Fuli finished peeling and went to give them to Bai Lian who was talking with Jian Zhongyou, then came back, “Raise the influence of traditional crafts, try to find more craftsmen like Grandpa Tao, let one success lead to another. Add some traditional craft interactions, get more young people involved. Drawing traffic heat is also essential. Don’t worry about initial funding.”

Chen Ju wasn’t sensitive to these things, but he remembered everything Jiang Fuli said, “The patrol squad has all gone to East City. With the large flow of people, we’re currently developing West City’s tourism line.”

Before returning to Jianjing, Chen Ju patrolled East City every day.

The entire Xiangcheng and Tourism Bureau were full of energy, not even taking New Year holidays.

With the large flow of people, East City’s small vendors hadn’t raised prices. Even Grandpa Tao continued giving free performances to children.

The South Station was being built urgently, the North Station’s train station had also been renovated, and tourist routes had been opened, with starting point from the train station via Ring Road straight to East City Tourism Town, striving to build East City into a traditional featured tourist area.

The initial promotion going so smoothly was partly thanks to Jiang Fuli’s pushing. Most of his funds were used on promotion.

The people of the entire Xiangcheng city also maintained their human touch. Most guesthouses were opened by locals, basically only charging for meals. In their words—

They never thought anyone would specifically come to see Xiangcheng, because even locals wanted to escape, so they were especially warm to tourists.

** At the dining table.

A large bowl of soup was brought to the table. Shen Qing specially ladled a bowl each for Ning Xiao and Tang Ming.

“Thank you.” Both were very polite.

Bai Lian glanced at that large bowl of soup, avoiding it and ladled herself some fish soup.

Jiang Fuli didn’t drink any soup, only eating a bit of fish head.

As for Chen Ju, he looked at Ning Xiao and Tang Ming, wanting to speak but stopping himself.

Jian Zhe, sitting beside Tang Ming, didn’t dare look at Jian Zhongyou on the left or Jiang Fuli on the right, could only keep his head down while eating.

After eating, Chen Ju quickly helped Ji Shaojun wash dishes.

Ji Heng’s courtyard was very lively. Only at nine did everyone leave. Back in her room, Bai Lian wiped her hair while holding her phone, opening Baidu to search—

“The Reborn Dragon Proud Heaven”

She wore loose white pajamas, lazily sitting by the window, all her hair pulled to the left side, left hand pressing the towel against her hair ends, right hand scrolling the screen reading about Dragon Proud Heaven.

Scanning quickly.

So reincarnation was real? Bai Lian read a few chapters. Since it didn’t write how Dragon Proud Heaven was reborn, she scrolled past, preparing to listen to some English when Jian Zhe’s message popped up at the top of her phone.

Bai Lian clicked to look: [That elderly gentleman at your home, he looks like one of my elders]

Bai Lian: [?]

Jian Zhe: [The one I told you about before, who learned guzheng as a child. Does this elderly Mr. Jian know guzheng?]

Seeing this, Bai Lian sat up straight, leisurely clicked open Dean Jian’s profile picture, first took a screenshot, then replied—

[He didn’t go home for New Year]

Dean Jian was chatting with Ji Heng and saw the reply ten minutes later: [Just don’t let him know about me]

After reading the reply, Bai Lian then told Jian Zhe: [It’s him]

On the other end of the phone, Jian Zhe, who had already gotten in a taxi, suddenly wanted to stand up, his head hitting the car roof hard.

The driver looked in the rearview mirror, frightened as he stepped on the brake: “Young man, do you need to go to the hospital?”

“No need, no need.” Jian Zhe spoke stiffly. Although he had suspected this was his family’s elder from the first moment he saw Jian Zhongyou.

But getting confirmation from Bai Lian’s mouth, Jian Zhe still couldn’t help being shocked.

The Jian family people would do anything to see Jian Zhongyou, even spending large sums every year to bribe people around him.

For example this time, when Jian Zhe saw yesterday that his father and others couldn’t reach him, he thought it was another wrong lead, but unexpectedly Jian Zhongyou had really come to Xiangcheng.

And he was at Bai Lian’s home?! How did he know Bai Lian?

** The next day.

Jian Zhe came to study with Bai Lian and others with panda eyes.

Lu Xiaohan was startled when she came with unfinished holiday homework.

“Hi.” Jian Zhe greeted Lu Xiaohan.

The two had met at the Calligraphers Association. At that time Lu Xiaohan was quite distant with Jian Zhe, but today seeing Jian Zhe studying with Bai Lian and others, she became a bit more familiar.

“Let me copy your holiday homework, I haven’t done many difficult problems.” Lu Xiaohan quietly asked Tang Ming for holiday homework.

The extension problems were too hard.

She didn’t dare ask Ning Xiao – even though Study God Ning’s cold demeanor was much better than Jiang Fuli’s, if not for Bai Lian, Lu Xiaohan wouldn’t dare talk to him.

Tang Ming took out his holiday homework to give her.

Jian Zhe looked at Bai Lian and Jiang Fuli in shock – they’re not going to stop this?

Why couldn’t he secretly check his phone?

At two in the afternoon, Lu Xiaohan finished copying homework and reviewing the wrong problems Bai Lian had given her. She packed her bag and quietly said goodbye to Bai Lian, “Sister Lian, I’m going to find Grandpa Jian.”

She was also online friends with Dean Jian and knew he was going to East City tourist area, so Lu Xiaohan wanted to be Dean Jian’s tour guide.

East City.

Dean Jian arrived first, wearing a grey shirt and holding a palm fan given by Ji Heng.

Just as he got off the tourist bus, a volunteer came up, “Grandpa, are you touring alone? Would you like some water?”

He opened a bottle of mineral water and handed it to Dean Jian.

On the sixth day of the New Year, people kept coming to East City. Seeing Dean Jian alone and quite elderly, the volunteer specially found a young person to be responsible for his safety. Before Lu Xiaohan arrived, Dean Jian was taken to watch puppet shows.

There was also a stage for audience performances nearby.

Dean Jian was given a sugar painting by the volunteer, who also took him to see the stage prepared for amateurs beside it. Besides puppets and masks, there was also an erhu placed next to the stage.

A seven or eight year old child went up to perform face-changing.

Dean Jian was infected by this enthusiasm and, in a moment of impulse, sat down and took the erhu from beside him.

He might not be expert at other instruments, but he could play them all.

“Grandpa, play ‘Moon Reflected in Er-Quan’!” A crowd of people below applauded.

No one here knew him, yet they applauded and cheered for him below, not for grading or performance, but for shared joy.

Dean Jian sat on the stool, his right hand relaxed holding the bow, middle and ring fingers casually inserted between the bow stick and hair. Most people present were young, and sad music wasn’t suitable during New Year.

What do young people like—

Dean Jian suddenly thought of something, then casually crossed his leg, half-closed his eyes, his right hand pulled the string, middle and ring fingers lightly pressing, and lively, passionate sounds floated from the stage.

Like a playful wave rippling into a calm lake, performing a piece.

An erhu resounded to the clouds.

Setting the entire East City ablaze.

The young people’s eyes lit up – isn’t this “Sexy Love”?! Their traditional instrument erhu could actually play this?!

Almost no experts were present, they just knew this erhu had great flavor, a playful yet flirtatious feeling that really didn’t match this serious elderly gentleman.

At once, the stage that hadn’t drawn many spectators was surrounded by crowds following the erhu sound.

Countless people recorded videos, surrounding the stage until water couldn’t flow through.

When Lu Xiaohan arrived, Dean Jian was asking her for help. She barely managed to pull Dean Jian out of the crowd and handed him the milk tea Bai Lian had sent for him.

The two secretly squatted behind a huge blue garbage bin drinking milk tea.

“Grandpa Jian, you actually know young people’s songs?” Lu Xiaohan took a sip of milk tea. She had heard half of “Sexy Love”.

She was amazed.

She had always thought Dean Jian was a serious person, not daring to overstep when talking to him online. Today she discovered he had an interesting soul.

“It wasn’t me,” Dean Jian’s new world door had been opened by Bai Lian. Holding the milk tea, he squatted properly, “Your back row classmate played it first on guzheng, she’s better than me.”

That kind of proper yet improper flavor, Dean Jian felt Bai Lian played it more accurately.

These classical instruments don’t always have to play classic pieces. Let more people know that even just an erhu can play anything from ancient to modern, Chinese to foreign.

“Sister Lian?” Lu Xiaohan’s eyes rolled.

Bai Lian only practiced music at home. Besides that one time at the school celebration, Lu Xiaohan hadn’t heard her play again.

But it made sense – with her style, she’d grasp that refined hooligan feeling just right.

** Seven in the evening.

Bai Lian and Jiang Fuli came to East City to find Lu Xiaohan and Dean Jian.

The tourist route was on the newly built Xiangshan Avenue, connecting with Xiangbei was the popular tourist street Wutong Road. The entire Wutong Road was paved with bluestone slabs, intersected in the middle by the similarly bluestone-paved Ping’an Road.

The Calligraphers Association martial arts school was at the intersection of Xiangshan Avenue and Wutong Road, and the mall on Xiangshan Avenue was about to open.

Lu Xiaohan and Dean Jian were at a street stall on Ping’an Road, sitting at a low table waiting for snacks.

Wutong Road was five meters wide, while Ping’an Road was narrower, so there were fewer people than on Wutong Road.

Today Bai Lian wore a tea-white linen long dress, her hair lazily half-tied up, black hair falling to her shoulders. Behind her were thousands of lights, her whole person blending into the street’s atmosphere.

Jiang Fuli beside her was a bit out of place with the crowd. He wore a white shirt buttoned to the collar, his delicate features having some of their coldness diminished by the lights, calmly following behind Bai Lian through the layers of people.

Lu Xiaohan hadn’t expected someone like Jiang Fuli would eat street food with them, so she asked the shop owner to add another portion.

“Finished touring in the afternoon?” With only one stool left, Bai Lian sat down to talk with the two.

Jiang Fuli just stood behind her waiting for them.

“Too many people,” Lu Xiaohan told Bai Lian about how Dean Jian almost couldn’t get out, “Didn’t finish touring, haven’t seen the martial arts school either.”

While talking she was thinking about how to per(tempt)suade Bai Lian to record a video.

Help, she really wanted to see Bai Lian play those songs on guzheng.

Dean Jian was very satisfied with today’s experiences. The night lights reflected in his eyes, “This place is very nice.”

“Why not stay here tonight and experience the local customs?” The shop owner brought two portions of chicken strips and thoughtfully gave four skewers. Bai Lian used a skewer to pick up a small piece and handed it to Jiang Fuli behind her.

“I thought about it, but the guesthouses here are full.” Dean Jian was quite worried.

Bai Lian also leisurely ate a piece, “Mind staying at the Calligraphers Association?”

** Eight in the evening.

At Xiangcheng Mansion, Jian Zhonghai and others had just finished dinner. They still hadn’t found any news of Jian Zhongyou today.

Ren Qian hesitated, “I checked the hotels and Dean Jian hasn’t checked in. Are you sure he’s in Xiangcheng?”

Jian Zhonghai held his teacup, frowning deeply, only asking Jian Rong sitting on the sofa: “He still hasn’t replied to you?”

Ren Qian also looked over. Jian Rong opened his phone, still showing the conversation with Jian Zhongyou.

Jian Rong: [Great Uncle, hello, I’m Jian Rong, Jian Zhonghai’s grandson]

Jian Zhongyou: [Are you learning guzheng?]

Jian Rong: [I haven’t learned]

Jian Zhongyou: [.]

Jian Rong: [Are you in Xiangcheng?]

After that there was no reply.

Jian Rong stared at this “.”, not understanding what his great uncle meant, “He didn’t reply to me.”

Jian Zhe had just finished studying in the afternoon when his father called him back. He sat with Jian Rong listening to Jian Zhonghai talk.

When Ren Qian and Jian Zhonghai looked over, he couldn’t help but lower his head and open a novel on his phone to read.

A message came from Bai Lian—

[No one at the Calligraphers Association?]