Solstice Secrets

It was two months later that things with the fund finally got on the right track.The name was chosen early in the morning of Lingdong Solstice, and it was called Shanshen Student Fund.Ling Dongzhi desperately wanted to use this name to find the scattered clansmen. If he was the only one left in the mountain god clan, he would be too lonely.

Ling Dongzhi doesn't want to be the last member of the mountain god tribe.

Even if he could marry a wife and have children like other men, it would be impossible for him to give birth to a child belonging to the mountain god family.Their number is too small, and the mysterious blood in their bones will be diluted from generation to generation. Perhaps only such development can meet the evolutionary requirements of human beings, but the fact is that this mysterious group will eventually disappear silently.

In March, Ling Dongzhi published his second album.The cover of the album is an award-winning work by Ling Dongzhi, which is determined by the publisher.The back cover was chosen by Ling Dongzhi himself. It is a landscape painting called "Hometown", which depicts a ruin.It is the small village where the Shanshen people once lived. There are two chestnut trees hugging each other at the foot of the slope, and a deserted tea garden.There are still traces of people living in the broken tiles.

The editor of the publishing house struggled with this painting for a long time.For commercial purposes, he naturally hoped that Ling Dongzhi could come up with some works that catered to the public's aesthetics.But this painting is filled with a mystical realistic style, and there is a magic that makes him unable to take his eyes off.It seems that he can clearly feel the sadness and nostalgia in Ling Dongzhi's heart as a painter through the picture.Such strong emotions, after watching for a long time, even make people have an urge to cry.

Ling Dongzhi didn't know how many people would see this album, let alone estimate whether it would be seen by the Mountain God Clan.If they continue to live as far away from human habitation as they have done before, then this hope will be very slim.

As far as the current conditions are concerned, there is only so much Ling Dongzhi can do.When Ling Dongzhi called his cousin, he explained this matter in detail, and everyone in the village was very happy.This is a great thing to accumulate merit. Although the fund was run by Ling Dongzhi and Zhang Luo, as his relatives, his aunt's family also received more respect in the village.

Ling Dongzhi finally entrusted the management of the fund to Cheng Anni.He doesn't understand financial management, but such a large amount of money cannot be entrusted to someone he doesn't trust at will.Cheng Anni had taken over related work when she was in the United States, and she also had some friends who were engaged in fund management work, so she happily accepted this commission.In order to determine the specific circumstances of the application for assistance, she also deliberately took a few staff members to fly to the Northwest.

Before she went out, Ling Dongzhi specially showed her the little stone ball hanging on her chest, and asked her to pay more attention to see if there was something similar.

Cheng Anni naturally agreed.

What Ling Dongzhi didn't expect was that this trip really allowed her to find something.

A week after Cheng Anni left, she called and asked to have a video call with them, and asked Zhuang Zhou to tell Ling Dongzhi that she had a surprise for him.

Ling Dongzhi was in the studio on the first floor, when he heard Zhuang Zhou's words, he quickly put down the paintbrush in his hand, and followed him to the study.On the computer screen, Cheng Anni was sitting cross-legged on the hotel bed, holding a three-inch-long...pocket rolling pin with a bright smile on her face, "Is it the same?"

Ling Dongzhi's chest was pounding, "Don't shake, don't shake, Aunt Annie, please come closer."

Cheng Anni lowered her head and pressed a few buttons, and sent a photo neatly.It can be seen that it is a photo taken by a mobile phone. The background is a beige hotel napkin. The thing is lying quietly on it. It is about three inches long and slightly thick at both ends. It is carved into the shape of a pomegranate bud with very neat lines, and slightly thinner in the middle. , very suitable for grippers.The stone is dark green as a whole, and the part penetrated by sunlight reveals a deep and charming green.

Ling Dongzhi involuntarily held his breath.

Cheng Anni shook the things in her hand, and said with a little regret: "The owner of the antique shop said that it was put on consignment by someone else, and he couldn't tell what it was made of. There should be another one. He already I managed to contact the seller. If it’s true, I’ll make a pair for you. Well, the store will also ask about the seller’s situation.”

Ling Dongzhi's voice couldn't help becoming a little hoarse, "Thank you, Aunt Annie."

"You're welcome." Cheng Anni carefully put the things into the box, and then held up some documents to show them, "We have already contacted several primary schools near Dayan Mountain, and the work has started slowly. What progress has been made? I'll let you know anytime."

After chatting briefly, Ling Dongzhi hung up the phone in a complicated mood.After experiencing what happened to the old man Langya in Qingshi Town, he didn't dare to let himself have too much hope.After all, things are dead, whoever gets them will own them, and what Ling Dongzhi is really looking for is not these dead things.

Zhuang Zhou comforted him, "These things have to be done slowly, there is no need to rush."

Ling Dongzhi rubbed his face, a trace of tiredness appeared in his eyes, "I know. I was too impatient."

Zhuang Zhou could understand Ling Dongzhi's feelings, but after all, it didn't happen to him. He couldn't understand Ling Dongzhi's anxiety.But he felt that Ling Dongzhi's state was not quite right, he was now like a child participating in a treasure hunting competition, eager to find the treasure chest that determines success or failure before other contestants.

Zhuang Zhou seemed to know exactly what was the reason for putting such a lot of pressure on him.

He knew that after returning from the northwest, Ling Dongzhi was preparing a new set of works.Zhuang Zhou has seen his drafts, and the "Hometown" selected as the back cover of the album is one of them.This group of works has only completed this one so far.What Ling Dongzhi is currently painting is "Mountain Temple".The background color has been painted on, and Zhuang Zhou can vaguely recognize that the perspective on the picture is overlooking the mountain temple from the hillside behind the temple. The abandoned vegetable garden behind the temple and the small shack built next to the vegetable garden are very clear. In the distance is the continuous branch of Lishan Mountain.Like "Hometown", the picture of "Mountain Temple" is also lingering with sadness, as if the painter is recalling the prosperous fireworks in the past through this dilapidated picture.

Zhuang Zhou knew that Ling Dongzhi didn't want to go back to a past time, what he did was more for the sake of the future of this group, which can be seen from the matter of the student fund.But the depressive and sad things that were revealed unconsciously in his emotions made him a little uneasy.

"When the school is out for summer vacation, I will go back to Dayan Mountain with you." Zhuang Zhou felt that if he returned to that place again, maybe Ling Dongzhi's restless emotions would be able to truly calm down.

Ling Dongzhi just shook his head, "Let's talk about it when the time comes."

In fact, he didn't have the confidence to face the ruins again. The story Langya told was too tragic, which made him unwilling to imagine the disaster that happened to him on the night of the winter solstice more than 20 years ago.

"If I can find my people..." Ling Dongzhi sighed.

If only I could find it.

Zhuang Zhou patted him on the back lightly, "It will be fine. Trust me, it will be fine."

The day He Qing came back happened to be Arbor Day. During the day, Ling Dongzhi followed the school students to dig a tree hole in the back mountain all day. When he returned home, his body was covered in dirt and his bones were sore.

Ling Dongzhi took a shower, changed his clothes, and sat lazily on the sofa with Xiao Hui in his arms, not wanting to move.Zhuang Zhou went out to do some errands during the day, and came back a bit late, so he packed the meals at the hotel outside.As soon as he entered the door, he saw Ling Dongzhi nestled on the sofa, dying of hunger and waiting to be fed. He was so angry and funny, he didn't care about making out with his dog son, so he carried his things into the kitchen first, intending to heat it up and have dinner quickly.

It was at this time that He Qing ran to ring the doorbell without any discernment.Of course it was Zhuang Zhou who opened the door.

Ling Dongzhi heard voices in the yard, but he was so tired that he didn't even bother to move his fingers, so he didn't think about getting up.Xiao Hui lay lazily on his belly, with his head still resting on his chest, sleeping deeper than Ling Dong Zhi.The stone was pressed under the neck by it, and it didn't feel panicked.

"Ah, you're really comfortable," He Qing's voice came from the door of the living room, with a teasing laugh, "You're being bullied so badly? Zhuang Er, you don't know how to be considerate!"

Ling Dongzhi looked at him and rolled his eyes.

With his hands full, Zhuang Zhou kicked him in the back, "What nonsense are you talking about? During the winter solstice, I brought my students to dig tree pits."

He Qing laughed, "Oh, oh, Arbor Day, I understand. Being a teacher is really interesting."

Ling Dongzhi didn't bother to talk to him, and felt that this person had become even more wretched after two months of absence.

He Qing sat down beside him, and raised his hand to shake Xiao Hui, who was sleeping unconsciously, "Why do you sleep so soundly? You don't even know that there are people around you." The other two kittens who were playing on the carpet saw him coming in. ran to the back of the kitchen.

Speaking of this, Ling Dongzhi also felt a little puzzled, "It seems to be able to sleep especially during this time. Let me see."

He Qing pinched Xiao Hui's small meaty paws, pulled and pulled his eyelids, then pinched his whole body up and down, and said with a smile: "I can't do an examination right now, but I seem to be stronger than before."

Ling Dongzhi looked at Xiao Hui who had fallen asleep on his chest, and asked him speechlessly, "Is this called being strong?"

He Qing's expression became a little more serious, "When a cat is old, its fur will be drier than when it was young. Look at this little guy. When he was sent to my clinic last time, his fur was a little loose. I think it is at least Eight or nine years old. Now pinching the flesh on its body, I feel that it is much firmer than before, and its hair is also oily. Let me say now, it is six or seven years old at most."

Ling Dongzhi was stunned for a moment, and then he was overjoyed, "Are you serious?!"

"Of course it's true." He Qing looked at him disdainfully, "Do I have to talk nonsense to you? By the way, how have you been taking care of it during this time?"

Ling Dongzhi thought for a while, "It followed us to the northwest, and went crazy in the mountains for a few days. It's only been half a month since it came back, and it only sleeps, and it's very clingy, it likes to sleep in my arms."

He Qing said with a smile: "That must be because the energy in your body has transferred to it."

Ling Dongzhi laughed twice, but the laughter stopped suddenly.

He Qing glanced at him inexplicably, "What's wrong?"

Ling Dongzhi's face was changing, as if he had thought of something, and he was a little unsure for a while, "I will take time to take it to your clinic tomorrow, can you give it a comprehensive check-up? Not only it, but also The other two cats were also checked together."

He Qing complained bitterly, "Handsome guy, I just came back from a long journey, can't you let me rest for two days?"

"It won't take long." Ling Dongzhi rolled his eyes at him, "I still have classes during the day, how about going there at night? It won't prevent you from sleeping in during the day."

He Qing looked at him, then at the old cat sleeping on his chest, and nodded reluctantly, "Then... okay."