The summer break quickly arrived, but Zhu Siqi had no intention of going home. His beloved computer was here, and it had cost him tens of thousands of yuan. He couldn't bear the thought of leaving it unattended for two months. Besides, there wasn't much for him to do at home. He had already talked to his parents over the phone. His mother missed him, but as long as he was doing what he loved, they supported him.
His father, Zhu Kun, asked if he had enough money or if he needed more sent over. Zhu Siqi assured them that he had earned some money and could cover his tuition and living expenses on his own, so they needn't worry.
However, Zhu Siqi found himself in a bit of a lull. He had successfully infiltrated the U.S. server he had been targeting, but there had been a close call when the password attempts were locked after three consecutive failures. To bypass this, he used several compromised machines to rotate through the attempts, with each machine trying only twice per day. It took nearly a week to crack the password. In the end, he didn't intend to cause any damage; he was simply using these servers to practice and improve his skills. Yet, now that he had reached a point where there were few new challenges, he lost interest in hacking for the sake of it. Instead, he focused on keeping his skills sharp by staying updated with the latest information in the field.
These days, Zhu Siqi spent his time at Nanjing University's library reading. His routine was simple: evenings spent on his computer, and days dedicated to studying and exploring the city. Nanchang, where he lived, had its fair share of famous landmarks and scenic spots. He often visited places like the famous Tengwang Pavilion and the nearby Jingdong Water Park.
Zhu Siqi had also developed an interest in food. Whenever it was mealtime, he wandered through the streets, searching for crowded restaurants. In Nanchang, food was a big deal, and there were eateries tucked away in every corner. At peak times, it was hard to even find a seat, and sometimes he had to wait in line. He always tried the most unique dish at each place, and if he liked it, he would return. He made it a point to avoid ordering the same dish twice.
One of his recent favorites was a small street stall where he had tried a dish called lì hóu chǎo là ròu (藜蒿炒腊肉), a stir-fried dish with wild li hao (藜蒿) and cured pork. It had a delicate, refreshing fragrance, and the texture was both crisp and tender. Li hao was a wild plant from Poyang Lake, and it was a seasonal delicacy loved by the locals in Nanchang. The dish was simple to make: cut the tender stems into small pieces, stir-fry with cured pork and some green onions, add stock, and finish with a drizzle of sesame oil. The cured pork turned golden, and the li hao remained a vibrant green. It was Zhu Siqi's perfect match for his taste buds.
One day, after his visit to the library, Zhu Siqi decided to check out a place he had heard about—Yunnan-style "crossing-the-bridge noodles" (guò qiáo mǐ xiàn) on Erqi Road. He was curious to see if it lived up to its reputation. Upon trying it, he was not disappointed. The noodles were both spicy and fragrant, with a satisfying texture.
Later, he wandered to People's Square, which wasn't far from where he was. He had passed through the square many times but had never stopped to really take a look. As he got out of the taxi, he saw the imposing Ba Yi Nanchang Uprising Memorial Tower in the distance. Located at the southern end of the square, the tower was built in 1977 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Nanchang Uprising. It stood 455 meters tall and was adorned with inscriptions and sculptures that told the story of the uprising. The square was crowded with families taking leisurely walks, with children and elderly people scattered across the space.
Although the tower itself was the focal point, Zhu Siqi wasn't particularly interested in historical monuments. Instead, he wandered into a nearby shopping mall. The mall was bustling with people, and the sheer variety of goods on display left him feeling overwhelmed. He didn't intend to buy anything but found himself browsing, curious about what the stores had to offer.
As he made his way to the men's clothing section, he remembered the suit he had bought previously. Though it looked good on him, he regretted the impulsive purchase. He wasn't the type to waste money. He hadn't bought new clothes since returning home, so he thought he might look around to see if anything caught his eye. However, he wasn't keen on buying a suit, as it wasn't something he would wear casually. He moved to the casual wear section instead.
As he was examining a T-shirt, he suddenly heard a familiar voice calling his name.
"Zhu Siqi, why didn't you go home?" Turning around, he saw Zhang Mengqin with a young man beside her. The man was about 1.8 meters tall, had a square jaw, and was dressed in military uniform. His epaulettes indicated he was a second lieutenant in the army. Zhang Mengqin had her arm linked with his, and they seemed to have a close relationship.
"Oh, Teacher Zhang. I didn't go home because there's nothing much there, and I'm enjoying myself here," Zhu Siqi replied casually.
Zhang Mengqin frowned slightly. "You should have gone back. The clothes here are expensive. You're not making money yet, and your parents work hard. You need to be careful with your spending."
"I'm just looking around. I'm not buying anything," Zhu Siqi replied, knowing that a small T-shirt was nothing compared to the tens of thousands of yuan he had spent on his computer equipment. However, he didn't want to make it obvious, so he quickly lost interest in buying any clothes.
"If you really need clothes, I can recommend a place—Hongcheng Market. It's a big wholesale market with good prices and quality," Zhang Mengqin said kindly, seeing that Zhu Siqi had taken her advice to heart.
"Thanks, Teacher Zhang. I'll check it out sometime," Zhu Siqi responded, smiling. He didn't want to take up more of her time. "I'll leave you to it. It was nice seeing you."
"Don't worry about it. Let me introduce you," Zhang Mengqin said as she pulled the young man's arm. "This is my brother, Zhang Zhenhua. Zhenhua, this is my student, Zhu Siqi."
"Hello," Zhu Siqi smiled and nodded at the military man.
"Hello," Zhang Zhenhua replied, his voice strong, with a resonance that suggested a deep internal energy. Zhu Siqi was intrigued and used his perception to check further. He was surprised to discover that Zhang Zhenhua had mastered the Yijin Jing (易筋经) and had reached the third level of internal energy. Was he a lay disciple of Shaolin? Zhu Siqi wondered which sect he belonged to but kept his thoughts to himself.
After a moment, Zhang Mengqin said, "Zhu Siqi, you haven't visited us in a while. Grandpa still talks about you. Why don't you come to our place for dinner tonight?"
Zhu Siqi saw this as a good opportunity to learn more about Zhang Zhenhua's internal skills, so he agreed.
As the evening approached, Zhang Mengqin asked Zhu Siqi to accompany them, as she needed to finish shopping with her brother before heading home. Zhu Siqi reluctantly agreed, though he wasn't fond of shopping trips with women. But since Zhang Mengqin had insisted, he followed along.
As they strolled through the store, Zhu Siqi couldn't help but think of a phrase he had once read: Never go shopping with women, especially when they're buying clothes. He quickly realized how true it was. Zhang Mengqin spent hours trying on clothes, making her brother try them on, then rejecting them. Zhu Siqi and Zhang Zhenhua exchanged a few exasperated glances, both realizing that their time was being wasted.
Three hours later, they finally left the mall. Both Zhang Zhenhua and Zhu Siqi now shared a condition: Shopping with women syndrome. The next time someone asked them to go shopping, they instinctively recoiled in fear.
At Zhang Mengqin's home, Grandpa Zhang was delighted to see Zhu Siqi. "Come, sit here by Grandpa! It's been a while since I've seen you."
"Grandpa, how's your health been lately?" Zhu Siqi asked as he sat beside him.
"I'm feeling much better now. My stomach's doing well, and my blood pressure's down. My heart's in much better condition," Grandpa Zhang said, his face glowing with health.
"That's great. Has the medicine run out? If it has, let me know, and I'll prepare some more for you," Zhu Siqi offered.
"There's still some left, but when it runs out, I'll ask you to help me prepare more. I really don't know how to thank you. I feel like I could live to be a hundred now!" Grandpa Zhang laughed heartily.
Zhu Siqi smiled, feeling satisfied with his help. "Just let Teacher Zhang know when you're ready, and I'll make sure to help."
Grandpa Zhang patted him on the shoulder. "You don't need to be so formal. Since you call me Grandpa, just call Teacher Zhang 'sister' when you're