Striving for Science C30 pt2

Thinking about going to Dao Nian's place for a delicious meal that night, Shen Chang'an's work enthusiasm was high all afternoon. As soon as it was time to leave work, he couldn't wait to go.

"Wait a minute, everyone." Du Zhonghai stopped Shen Chang'an, who was about to slip out the door. "Tomorrow, our Yuelao* Temple will be holding a fair, and there will be a lot of people. You four young men, work hard tomorrow and go to the scene to maintain order."

TN: god of matchmaking

After saying this, Du Zhonghai glanced at Shen Chang'an and the others: "It just so happens that the four of you haven't found partners yet. Tomorrow, find some free time to go pay your respects. Maybe you'll find someone."

"Director, we're the Civil Service Department, we can't be superstitious." Chen Panpan said, "Usually, the Yuelao Temple fair isn't held until December. Why is it so early this year?"

"Maybe it's because Double Eleven* has become so ingrained in people's minds, many elders hope their children will find a good partner before Double Eleven, to improve their chances of getting married?" Du Zhonghai chuckled, holding his teacup. "It's better to do it early. If you wait until December, wouldn't it be even colder when you go on patrol?

TN: Singles' Day (November 11), originally a day of activities for single people, but now also the world's biggest annual retail sales day

"Don't worry, Director Du, I'll be there on time tomorrow." Shen Chang'an threw this sentence out and turned to run downstairs.

It was rare to see Shen Chang'an so eager to leave work. Du Zhonghai waved to the others, "Everyone, go home. We'll have to work hard tomorrow, so get up early."

On the way, he met an old man pushing a cart selling roasted chestnuts. Shen Chang'an bought a bag and, using his coat to cover it, drove back to Dao Nian's apartment building in a flash.

"Dao Nian." Shen Chang'an strode into the apartment, placing the coat in Dao Nian's hands. "Hurry, hurry, eat them while they're hot."

Unfolding the coat, looking at the chestnuts packed in a paper bag, Dao Nian held his hand out to Shen Chang'an: "My hand hurts."

"Why is your thumb still red?" Shen Chang'an took Dao Nian's hand and examined it carefully. There were no wounds, no thorns stuck in the flesh. How come it hadn't healed after all these days?

He peeled a roasted chestnut and put it in Dao Nian's mouth. "Hurry up and eat it. It won't taste as good when it gets cold."

In the corner, the fox yao bent over, mopping the floor, and thought bitterly, "The cunning human, using this method to curry favor with my Lord. It's just some roasted chestnuts, what's so special about them?"

"Huh?" Shen Chang'an noticed a bird perch in the corner, with a parrot standing on it. Its chest had a cluster of red feathers, making it look very beautiful. "How come there's a parrot here?"

"Someone gave it to me. If you like it, keep it. If not, send it back." Dao Nian pointed to the chestnuts, signaling Shen Chang'an to continue peeling them.

Shen Chang'an didn't notice his actions. He got up, walked over to the parrot, and asked Liu Mao, who was standing not far away, "Does this parrot have a name?"

Liu Mao smiled and said, "Mr. Shen, why don't you give it a name?"

"Fei Ying, Fei Ying." The parrot flapped its wings and spoke its name.

"So you can talk!" Shen Chang'an had heard stories about talking parrots since he was a child, but he had never seen one alive and able to speak. Now that he finally had, he was amazed. "That's a beautiful name."

"Thank you for the compliment." The parrot bent one wing, as if bowing.

"Dao Nian, this parrot is so smart." Shen Chang'an took some birdseed from Liu Mao and put it in the parrot's food dish.

"Thank you, thank you." The parrot hopped around on its perch, performing a "dance" before finally lowering its head to eat the food Chang'an offered.

The fox yao who was mopping the floor sneered. "Truly worthy of the feather-brained bird race, to grovel so before a human. What a disgrace to the yao race!"

Uncle Zhao poked his head out of the kitchen and called, "Hu Ming, come in and wash the dishes."

The fox yao: "..."

As the face of the younger generation of fox spirits, why had he fallen to the level of washing dishes and mopping floors?

"Till the noon sun shines bright, little sheep and little pig."

"Sweat drips onto the soil beneath the rice plants." Shen Chang'an burst into laughter, amused by the silly and adorable parrot. Turning to Dao Nian, who was frowning, he said, "Dao Nian, this parrot is so funny."

"Even if it's fun, you still need to eat." Dao Nian looked at his empty bowl. Humans really didn't appreciate what they had. He'd just received the key Shen Chang'an gave him, and now his status was lower than a parrot.

Seeing Dao Nian with drooping eyelids, looking unhappy, Shen Chang'an quickly picked out fish meat and deboned it for him: "You've never seen a talking parrot before, don't be angry with me. Come, eat some fish."

Dao Nian still didn't speak. Humans were always greedy, even when they were being cute, it was useless.

"Want some shrimp?" Shen Chang'an winked at him, "I'll peel them for you."

"Yes." Oh well, he was young and playful, let him be.

After dinner, Shen Chang'an didn't want to see Dao Nian continue to sulk, so he didn't tease the parrot anymore. He watched TV with him for a while, but remembering he had to wake up early tomorrow, he went to bed early.

He thought he wouldn't be able to sleep lying in bed so early, but beautiful singing drifted in from somewhere, and he drifted off unconsciously to the sound.

Hu Ming lay sprawled on the grass outside, exhausted, his true form revealed. He'd been here for hours, mopping the floor, washing vegetables, washing dishes, even lulling someone to sleep. Yet, his master hadn't even glanced at him. This was simply an insult to his dignity as a fox spirit.

***

The next morning, Shen Chang'an was so sleepy his eyes could barely open. Liu Mao drove him to the outside of the Yuelao Temple. Wrapping his coat tighter around himself, he stumbled out of the car, half-awake. He heard someone calling him and was about to respond when Liu Mao suddenly patted him on the shoulder. "Mr. Shen, I'll come pick you up tonight."

"Oh, okay." Shen Chang'an nodded. "Thanks for your trouble, Brother Liu."

Since last night, his address for Liu Mao had changed from the polite "Mr. Liu" to the more familiar "Brother Liu."

He turned his head and looked around. Aside from a few vendors who had already started setting up their stalls, no one seemed to be calling for him. After a while, Ding Yang and the others finally arrived. Seeing that Shen Chang'an was already there so early, they exclaimed, "Chang'an, it's getting colder these days. How did you get up so early?"

"I was bundled up and sent over by someone." Shen Chang'an yawned. "It's not even dawn yet, surely no one would be here to join the fun?"

"Young people just haven't seen enough of the world." Ding Yang pointed at the Yuelao Temple in front of them. "Come on, I'll take you to see something."

The four of them arrived at the Yuelao Temple, only to find that there were already quite a few people inside. Middle-aged men and women held incense sticks, kneeling and bowing before the statue of Yuelao, the entire temple shrouded in a hazy mist.

"These are all people seeking good matches for their children," Ding Yang coughed, choked by the incense smoke. "They think the earlier they come to burn incense, the easier their wishes will be granted. Some people came to burn incense after midnight last night."

Chen Panpan walked through the door, "I'm going to pay my respects too. Do you guys want to come?"

She didn't buy any incense or candles. She stood outside the hall and bowed several times towards the statue of Yuelao.

"Panpan, do you still believe in this?" Ding Yang pulled Shen Chang'an and Xu Ze inside, "Come on, let's all pay our respects."

"Whether you believe or not, it's harmless to pay respects to the gods." Chen Panpan stepped aside, making room for the three of them, "It's a temple fair today, we're just immersing ourselves in the lives of the people."

Shen Chang'an stood still, looking up at the slightly smiling Yuelao deity. He didn't know if it was because he woke up too early and wasn't fully awake, but he inexplicably felt that the deity's smile suddenly had a hint of fear and panic.

As if... as if it was afraid of him bowing down.