PCJ – Chapter 309 Yuanbao Moves into the Gardening Compound

Zhang Youlian returned home and casually said, “Jiaohua has been having nightmares lately; every time I see him, he’s drenched in sweat. I discussed it with Dad and thought about having Yuanbao stay with Jiaohua at night. Dad asked me to come back and see what you think.”

“That sounds fine. I should agree to this. Jiaohua is a sensible child and quite clever. However, I still have some reservations about last year’s incident, and I worry that having Yuanbao get too close to him could be detrimental for Yuanbao,” Hu Xiaoqing responded reluctantly.

“Isn’t the mute boy close to Jiaohua? I haven’t seen anything wrong with him. In fact, everyone says the mute has become more capable than before. Both Youping and I only have one child, so in the future, Jiaohua and Yuanbao will be like biological brothers. When we get old, those two brothers will be able to support each other. Our Yuanbao isn’t as smart as Jiaohua; he might need Jiaohua’s care in the future. But right now, a biological brother is less close than an outsider,” Zhang Youlian expressed his dissatisfaction with his wife’s attitude.

Zhang Youlian went to work at the gardening compound, where Zhang Jiaohua sent him a salary every month. It was more than the combined salaries of Zhang Wenrong and the others, claiming he was doing more work than all three of them combined. However, Zhang Youlian knew that this nephew was looking out for his uncle. With this income, Zhang Youlian’s family was doing much better than before, making everyone in the village envious. All of this was thanks to having a good nephew.

Hu Xiaoqing thought for a moment and was stunned. Unbeknownst to her, the good life of the entire family had fallen onto Zhang Jiaohua. She had been complaining about others while Zhang Youlian’s words made her less resolute. She didn’t voice her opinion.

Seeing his wife’s attitude softening, Zhang Youlian quickly seized the moment, saying, “Wife, I think we should let Yuanbao get closer to Jiaohua early on. If they remain distant now, how will Jiaohua take care of Yuanbao in the future?”

Hu Xiaoqing contemplated this. It was indeed as her husband said; Zhang Jiaohua, despite being younger, was quite capable. Yuanbao would likely never be as successful as Zhang Jiaohua in the future. As Zhang Youlian had said, Yuanbao might end up relying on Jiaohua’s support. Given this opportunity, why not let her son get closer to Jiaohua? They were brothers, a bond that no one could rival. Moreover, the Zhang Benrui family had never treated Zhang Jiaohua very well.

“Let’s do it as you say. Yuanbao should learn some skills from his brother. Yuanbao came home today and said he was learning basketball with Jiaohua this afternoon. I even scolded him for it. From now on, let Yuanbao follow Jiaohua,” Hu Xiaoqing quickly made her decision.

“That’s great! Now I can learn basketball with Jiaohua! Jiaohua even bought a basketball for the mute boy; I want Jiaohua to get that basketball back. He’s not part of our family; why should he buy him a basketball?” Zhang Yuanbao had been eavesdropping and jumped out excitedly when he heard Hu Xiaoqing agree.

That evening, Zhang Yuanbao went to the gardening compound with Zhang Youlian.

“Jiaohua, starting tonight, I’m going to sleep in the gardening compound with you,” Zhang Yuanbao said happily.

“You’re coming to sleep with me?” Zhang Jiaohua seemed a bit surprised.

“My parents are worried that you’ll be too lonely sleeping here, so I’m coming to keep you company. Jiaohua, if anything happens, your brother will help you. Also, since you’re the captain of the basketball team, can you make me the vice-captain?” Zhang Yuanbao asked.

“That needs to be approved by Teacher Xu. Your skills aren’t that great; how can you be the captain?” Zhang Jiaohua responded straightforwardly.

“Being a brother means you’re the captain, and I’m your older brother, so of course, I should be the vice-captain,” Zhang Yuanbao argued convincingly.

“Well, we’ll see if you can learn how to play basketball first,” Zhang Jiaohua replied, finding Zhang Yuanbao’s reasoning quite sound, leaving him speechless.

Worried that the two brothers would fight over blankets, another bed was set up in the room where Zhang Jiaohua slept. After all, when Zhang Wenrong and the others had stayed in the gardening compound, they had made several simple beds. Rural children were not so particular; just spreading some straw and putting a mattress on top made a bed.

“Yuanbao, from now on, you should go directly to the gardening compound after school with Jiaohua. If Jiaohua has anything to do, you help him. Your mother will come over early to prepare meals for you two. Be alert at night; if you see Jiaohua having nightmares, wake him up,” Zhang Youlian said, knowing that the last bit was probably unnecessary. Yuanbao was still in his growing stage and slept soundly, even thunder wouldn’t wake him up. How could he wake Jiaohua at night?

That night, Zhang Yuanbao was so excited he could hardly sleep. “Jiaohua, you need to teach me more tomorrow; I’m your brother!”

“Mm.” Zhang Jiaohua’s eyelids were drooping; he was quite sleepy. Once he hit the bed, he quickly fell asleep.

“I’m so smart, I’m sure I’ll learn basketball quickly, and you’ll let me be the vice-captain,” Zhang Yuanbao said excitedly, but there was no response from Zhang Jiaohua. “Jiaohua? Jiaohua? This guy has fallen asleep!”

Zhang Yuanbao had initially wanted to wake Zhang Jiaohua to clarify, but he yawned himself. It was already very late. His eyelids were heavy, and despite moving his feet, they soon drooped, and he fell asleep.

Zhang Jiaohua drifted into a deep slumber, and when he opened his eyes again, he found himself back in the body of Chengdao. Chengdao already had several wounds on him; although they were not life-threatening, the wounds throbbed with pain from time to time.

Chengdao had been deep in the cave for an unknown distance, but perhaps he had been led around in circles by the array. However, along the way, Chengdao felt he had been walking different paths because he hadn’t found any of his markings. The purpose of leaving those markings was not only to guide himself but also to let his master, the old Taoist priest, know that he had entered.

Chengdao knew that there would surely be more advanced spirits in this great tomb than the lizards and bats he had encountered before. Sure enough, he soon encountered several more dangerous spirits. It seemed that all living beings entering this cave would eventually be transformed into spirits. Chengdao wondered if he died here, would he also become a spirit like those beings. In that case, he would rather die here than become something neither human nor ghost.

“That last spirit was really powerful!” It looked like an ordinary wild dog but was even more vicious than a wolf. If it hadn’t been for the talisman the old Taoist priest had left him, he might have already been killed by this spirit. Yet, even so, Chengdao’s body was covered in bruises.

Chengdao tended to his wounds and managed to stand up, marking the cave wall. He continued forward, but not long after, he suddenly ran back to where he had marked earlier and immediately turned pale. The marking was gone! Chengdao could confirm this was indeed where he had marked before because he hadn’t gone far and had just returned along the same path, yet the marking had disappeared. Everything in the cave was changing at any moment.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed ahead, causing Chengdao’s heart to leap with joy as he hurriedly chased after them. The footsteps sounded like they were right ahead, but when Chengdao ran over, he found nothing. When the sound echoed again, it was already far away.

Chengdao quickened his pace, but each time the sound echoed, it maintained a certain distance from him. Chengdao pursued several times without encountering any danger, gradually allowing him to relax his vigilance.

“Chengdao, why are you following me?” The old Taoist priest and his party suddenly appeared before Chengdao, and the old priest looked displeased with Chengdao’s decision to follow.

Pan Yongxi and the others coldly stared at Chengdao, their expressions strange.

However, upon seeing the old Taoist priest, Chengdao was overjoyed. He paid no attention to the others.

“Master, I was worried about you, so I secretly followed you. Please don’t be angry,” Chengdao lowered his head, not daring to meet the old priest’s stern gaze.

“Forget it; since you’re here, let’s go together. It’s dangerous here, so be careful,” the old priest said kindly.

The old priest slowly approached Chengdao, a smile on his face.

Seeing the old priest smile, Chengdao finally felt relieved. However, the bell in his hand suddenly rang. The old priest had once said that this bell would ring to warn of powerful evil spirits.

Chengdao was stunned; the master was right beside him, how could there be evil spirits? Was the bell malfunctioning? Chengdao thought of the day when he had first obtained the bell, which was used to ward off evil spirits. The bell had not reacted even when Chengdao was in the great tomb, but now it was ringing continuously.

Suddenly, the old Taoist priest’s expression shifted, his brows furrowed. “Go! Don’t stay here!”

“Master?” Chengdao was confused.

“Let’s go!” The old Taoist priest shouted again, his voice stern. Chengdao hurriedly followed behind the old priest and ran away.

“Didn’t I tell you it’s dangerous here?” The old priest’s voice echoed in his ears, and Chengdao’s heart trembled.