Two or Three Events in the Last Days 037
Chapter 37
Jing Lin had not connected the conversation to himself at all. After understanding what Zhou Feifei was implying, he answered frankly, “To me, it doesn’t really matter whether someone likes men or women. As long as two people are happy together, that’s enough.”
Delighted, Zhou Feifei asked again, “Then do you think other people’s negative opinions towards you all are important?”
“Whether they’re important depends on the individual,” Jing Lin replied. “When you live in society, if you don’t care, then they aren’t important. If you can’t bear them, then they become very important.” However, he couldn’t help wondering what she had meant by saying you all.
“What if it were you?” Zhou Feifei couldn’t resist asking, voicing the very question Yan Fei most wanted answered.
Although the question felt a little strange, Jing Lin still answered honestly. “If someone offers good advice, I’ll listen to it and think it over. As for negative opinions, they won’t really affect me.” After all, he had learned from a very young age not to live according to other people’s opinions.
Zhou Feifei and Yan Ruifeng both let out sighs of relief. They were not worried that their son would fail to win Jing Lin’s heart. What worried them was that Jing Lin might care too much about other people’s opinions and reject Yan Fei because of them. After all, rural communities tended to be more traditional, and very few people accepted same-sex relationships.
Outside, Yan Fei, who had been secretly eavesdropping, relaxed considerably as well. He quietly backed away, returned to the still-open bathroom door, and deliberately knocked on it to make it sound as though he had only just finished showering. There was another bathroom nearby, and Yan Lu happened to come out with her hair still wet. She watched her brother back up like a lunatic just to knock on a door before calmly walking out again as though nothing had happened.
After Yan Fei and Yan Lu finished eating, the group headed outside just as Zhao Zhiwen walked over. Seeing them emerge, he didn’t stop but simply waved as he continued toward them.
Quite a few aquatic weeds had sprouted in the fish pond. Zhao Zhiwen retrieved an iron rake from the small hut beside the pond and dragged a large clump of weeds ashore. The pond itself was eerily quiet. Even after scattering fish feed across the surface, there was no sign of fish scrambling or churning the water to get at it.
Two or Three Events in the Last Days (TELD) is translated by Betwixted Translations. The site you’re reading this chapter on stole our translation.
The boat they had previously moved beneath a tree by the lotus pond had never been brought back. Since a giant monster fish now lived in the lotus pond, none of them planned to go there anymore. Standing on the bank, Zhao Zhiwen cast a fishing net into the pond. After waiting for more than ten minutes, he began pulling it back. Halfway through, the water suddenly lurched violently, and the net was yanked backward with tremendous force. Fortunately, Zhao Zhiwen had prepared for this by tying a rope around his waist, with Yan Lu holding the other end. Just as Zhao Zhiwen was about to be dragged into the water, Yan Lu gave a powerful tug and pulled him safely back. A large section of the net emerged from the water, revealing several mullet fish, each as thick as a bucket.
“The mullet in here have grown this big too,” Zhao Zhiwen remarked as he struggled to haul in the net. Jing Lin and Yan Fei both hurried over to help. Le Le crouched safely at a distance, watching nervously. Duckie was even more curious than Le Le. Its still-short neck stretched as far as it could, and when it couldn’t see properly, it anxiously stomped back and forth on Croakie’s back.
Yan Fei looked closely and frowned. “Why does it seem like they’re all mullets?”
Still able to joke despite the situation, Zhao Zhiwen laughed.
“They’re probably descended from the same ancestor as that giant monster fish down there. They just weren’t lucky enough to mutate as much.”
Since mullets were carnivorous, there had never been many of them in the pond. They had originally been introduced simply to help regulate the population of other fish species. Once they finished hauling up the net, they counted five mutated mullet in total. Deprived of water, the enormous fish thrashed violently across the ground. Their muscular tails slapped loudly against the earth while their mouths repeatedly opened and closed from lack of oxygen, exposing rows of densely packed razor-sharp teeth.
Looking at those mouths full of teeth, they resembled sharks more than freshwater fish. With bodies that large, no one knew how many fish in the pond they had already devoured. Still, no matter how fierce they looked, once out of the water they were nothing more than fish on a chopping board.
After all five fish finally stopped moving, the four of them removed them from the net and set them aside before casting the net elsewhere. This time they caught no fish at all, but instead hauled up an enormous crab nearly as large as Le Le’s bathing tub.
A crab could survive out of water for quite some time. Even after being dragged ashore, this giant crab remained ferociously aggressive, waving its enormous pincers threateningly at everyone. It even managed to cut through several strands of the net and nearly escaped. No wonder there were so few fish left in the pond. Besides the mutated mullet, this giant crab had undoubtedly eaten plenty as well.
Before it could completely break free, Yan Lu grabbed the iron rake lying nearby and struck it with the back of the tool. Using only about twenty percent of her strength, she knocked the crab senseless. While it remained dazed, she drove the rake through one of its giant pincers, pinning it firmly to the ground. Then she circled behind it, staying outside the reach of its remaining pincer, grabbed that pincer with both hands, and with a sharp crack snapped it clean off.
Afterward, they removed several of its remaining legs as well. With both of its primary weapons gone, the crab was tied up securely using rope from the hut. Yan Lu carried the five netted mutated mullet herself, while Yan Fei and Zhao Zhiwen jointly carried the giant crab. Jing Lin picked up the rake and mainly focused on looking after Le Le and his little companions.
Le Le stared at the giant crab without taking his eyes off it. Yan Lu handed him the broken-off pincer to hold. It was rather heavy, but Le Le felt he could still manage it. Duckie also wanted to join the fun, insisting on standing proudly atop the giant claw. Le Le happily agreed, making his burden even heavier. It truly was a sweet burden.
Two or Three Events in the Last Days (TELD) is translated by Betwixted Translations. The site you’re reading this chapter on stole our translation.
When the group returned to the village road, they immediately became the center of attention. The enormous fish alone were something most villagers had only ever seen on television. But that gigantic crab? They joked that even television rarely showed anything like it—unless it was in a fantasy drama. Young and old alike followed Jing Lin’s group all the way back to Zhao Zhiwen’s house.
After Yan Lu dropped the mullet onto the ground, Zhao Zhiwen pried open one of their mouths for everyone to see.
“When you go home,” he warned, “be sure to tell your families, especially the children, not to go near the fish pond. I have no idea how many of these fish are in there. They probably can smell people. As soon as someone approaches the water, they’ll swim over. Once they drag someone into the pond, I don’t think anyone could save them.”
In the past, villagers often washed clothes at the fish pond. But as living conditions improved, every household had well water and washing machines, so nobody used the pond for laundry anymore. Most people simply washed everything at home.
Even so, merely mentioning it wasn’t enough. Later, Zhao Zhiwen planned to visit every household personally and put up warning signs around the pond. If he failed to do that and someone was injured, they would undoubtedly blame his family. But if he gave proper warning and people still refused to listen, then whatever happened afterward would no longer be his responsibility. After all, ears existed for a reason.
The five enormous mullets were far too much for the three families, including Zhao Zhiwen’s, to finish on their own. After spending considerable effort processing them, they kept two fish for themselves to share and chopped the remaining ones into roughly equal portions. While Zhao Zhiwen went door to door warning everyone about the pond, he also gave each household a piece of fish. Although mullet had relatively few bones, he still carefully reminded everyone to watch out for them while eating.
By the time they returned home, the courtyard was already bustling with activity. Yan Lu had carried a chopping board outside and was mincing fish paste, saying they would make fried fish balls later. In the kitchen, Yan Fei was tending the fire while Zhou Yu coated fish pieces in flour and beaten egg before dropping them into hot oil. Jing Lin worked nearby preparing the fish heads and other remaining parts. Under the eaves, Le Le crouched together with his little companions, whispering secrets among themselves.
“Where’s my dad?” Zhao Zhiwen asked.
Taking a moment from her work, Zhou Yu replied, “He went to invite your Uncle Yan and the others. They’re eating lunch here today. Bring me those two plates—I already wiped the water off them.”
Zhao Zhiwen handed the plates to his mother before immediately hurrying over to Yan Lu.
“Lu Lu, your hands must be tired. Take a break—I’ll do the chopping.”
Without hesitation, Yan Lu tossed him the cleaver. “Sure.”
She then turned and ran into the kitchen. “Aunt Yu, I’ll help tend the fire.”
Two or Three Events in the Last Days (TELD) is translated by Betwixted Translations. The site you’re reading this chapter on stole our translation.
Seeing her son being teased into making such a pitiful face, Zhou Yu couldn’t help laughing.
“It’s too hot by the stove. Let your brother handle it. Sit down and rest instead.”
So Yan Lu fetched a small stool and sat beside Zhao Zhiwen, happily watching him mince the fish.
She didn’t dislike Zhao Zhiwen at all. In fact, she rather liked him. She found his simple, slightly foolish demeanor especially amusing and always felt like teasing him.
Before long, Zhao Chenghuai returned together with Yan Ruifeng and Zhou Feifei. As soon as they stepped into the backyard, Yan Ruifeng laughed.
“Ah, it smells amazing! Sister-in-law, your cooking is incredible. Our family is shamelessly coming to freeload another meal!”
Zhou Yu smiled warmly. “Don’t say something so formal.”
Zhou Feifei joined in with a grin.
“Our family’s cooking is terrible. Otherwise, we’d contribute too. From now on, whenever we get something delicious, we’ll just bring it over and let Sister-in-law work her magic. As long as we get to enjoy a few bites, that’s enough.”
Zhou Yu laughed. “That sounds fine to me. If there’s delicious food, I don’t mind the extra work at all.”
The lunch was filled with laughter, and both hosts and guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
That afternoon, when Zhao Zhiwen heard Jing Lin would be learning hand-to-hand combat from Yan Fei, he immediately insisted on joining as well. Knowing Yan Lu also knew martial arts, he shamelessly suggested that since Yan Fei would teach Jing Lin, Yan Lu could teach him instead. One instructor for each student.
Only after seeing that Yan Lu had no objections did Yan Fei finally unclench the molars he had been grinding moments earlier.
With his cultivation technique providing a strong foundation, Jing Lin learned quickly, making Yan Fei’s teaching much easier. From then on, Jing Lin mainly needed repeated practice and real combat experience to improve his practical skills. To everyone’s surprise, Zhao Zhiwen also learned remarkably well. After watching an attack sequence demonstrated a few times, he could already remember it.
In short, both students were extremely satisfied with their lessons, and both instructors were equally pleased with the results.
When the lesson ended, Jing Lin said, “How about all of you learn the cultivation technique with me?”
This was the first time Jing Lin had ever suggested it himself. The benefits of the cultivation technique were obvious. He wanted everyone close to him to become stronger and had no intention of keeping such knowledge to himself.
“Would I be able to draw talismans and set up formations like you?” Zhao Zhiwen asked excitedly.
“You can’t.”
Jing Lin answered honestly. When they had been children, he had already let Zhao Zhiwen try. Back then, Zhao Zhiwen hadn’t even known what he was drawing. Later, Jing Lin had shown Zhao Zhiwen’s talisman to Grandpa Zhang, who shook his head and said the brushstrokes lacked any spiritual quality. Jing Lin had quietly given up after that, never telling Zhao Zhiwen the real reason. Zhao Zhiwen had remained unaware ever since.
“But the two of you can give it a try,” Jing Lin said to Yan Fei and Yan Lu.
After returning to Jing Lin’s house, he took out his talisman-drawing tools and placed them on the coffee table. Then he brought out all three books and let them examine them.
Although Jing Lin had been practicing the cultivation technique, he had never neglected his talisman training. Recently, he had begun practicing the most basic offensive formations. However, he still couldn’t complete them in one continuous flow, so the talismans he drew didn’t yet contain enough spiritual qi to sustain an entire formation.
Jing Lin explained to the Yan siblings, “The vegetable garden at my house is protected by a spirit gathering array. It’s the most basic formation for beginners. Start by drawing that one. If the talismans you draw contain spiritual quality in their brushstrokes, it means you can continue cultivating. If they don’t, then you won’t be able to.”
Words from the Translation Crew
Miiya: One of two for the week. Long chapters coming up. Sorry for splitting into parts.
Pinned note: Chapters 38-47 (except 45) are almost 3times in length.
Translator: Miiya
Editor: MushroomKnight73
Proofreader: Yume
Avid BL reader, editor, and translator with 1 story completed (CLWP) and 1 story in progress (TELD). Support this translation with a Ko-fi. Three Ko-fis will add an extra chapter from the stockpile to the next weekly release.
