SES Chapter 41 V2

He gave Uncle Zheng detailed instructions. There wasn’t time to install conveyor belts or anything, but he did set up infrared sensors and reinforced the doors and windows. He even taught Uncle Zheng how to monitor the cameras and send him footage if needed.

He handed over a phone number and said, if Ping Ting’s condition turned bad, he must call a doctor to administer the injection.

So much had happened, and while Uncle Zheng didn’t know everything, he had a pretty good idea. He looked pained and finally said, “Luo Xiaodao, I’m counting on you.”

Those few words carried weight. They weren’t family, but Uncle Zheng spoke on behalf of Luo Wenmiao and Ping Ting. He was placing his trust in Luo Ren.

“I’ll do my best,” Luo Ren replied.

By dusk, he was ready. He drove to the agreed location. 13 and Mu Dai were both there, but only 13 had luggage.

Luo Ren had a feeling.

Sure enough, when 13 got in the car, Mu Dai stayed put. Luo Ren, knowing she couldn’t say it herself, smiled and gave her an out: “I figured Uncle Zhang wouldn’t allow it. You’d better keep yourself busy these next couple of days.”

Feeling embarrassed for backing out after making a big deal about going, Mu Dai mumbled, “If anything comes up, call me.”

“To come break in and unlock the door?”

Mu Dai didn’t laugh. Instead, she reminded 13, “Behave on the road. Don’t pull any stunts. Don’t lie again.”

13 scoffed. “What, did you eat something weird? Talking like an old lady—just like my mom…”

He seemed about to keep complaining, then suddenly shut up.

Luo Ren glanced at him without reacting. Before driving off, he said to Mu Dai, “I’ll bring you back a pearl necklace.”

Mu Dai nodded, then added, “Nothing too expensive, just something to wear for fun. If it’s too pricey, I won’t be able to pay you back.”

Even after driving for a while, Luo Ren was still thinking about that—how it was the first time Mu Dai had spoken so seriously about whether something was expensive.

In the rearview mirror, 13 was sprawled out across the seat, bored. “Got a smoke?”

Luo Ren rarely smoked himself, but always kept some on hand for others. He tossed one to 13 and casually asked, “That ritual thing—why did you break it?”

13 lit the cigarette with a click, took a long drag into the wind, then exhaled, saying, “Because when my dad died—oh right, I never told you, huh—huh-when he died, the old clan leader saw it happen. Didn’t save him.”

He’d overheard it the day they were preparing his mother’s funeral.

He’d lost both parents in a month. In their village, the ancestral hall only opened for special occasions—weddings, funerals, and festivals. He’d entered it twice in just a few weeks.

It was a quiet night, a full moon. The villagers were all gathered in the courtyard. His mother’s body lay on a bamboo bed, covered with a white cloth, just a few strands of her hair peeking out.

People gossiped in small groups:

“How does a boat just flip like that…”

“No wonder they say women shouldn’t go out to sea. Maybe the sea dragon overturned it…”

Sea dragons again. Generations had spoken of them, like anyone had seen one.

Another voice: “The pearls have been getting smaller and fewer for years. What if the village can’t produce anymore…”

It wasn’t their family. Two lives meant nothing compared to a few pearls.

13 had crouched beside the bamboo bed, ears buzzing from the chatter. All the moving mouths seemed ugly, annoying. He got up, hands over his ears, and ducked into the inner hall where the ancestral tablets were kept.

Inside, it was darker—quieter.

But murmurs still filtered in. After a while, footsteps approached. The heavy wooden doors creaked open.

The old clan leader cleared his throat. “Let’s discuss what to do about Jiang Zhao. Kid still needs to eat and go to school—that’s money. My idea? We take turns feeding him. Everyone chips in some cash.”

Others chimed in, agreeing.

Then the clan leader turned to someone else: “What about you, Jiang Liu? You’ve been quiet.”

Jiang Liu—famous village miser—finally spoke up. “I’m willing to contribute. But… I don’t feel right. You let the kid’s dad die and now keep his son around?”

The clan leader snapped, “Bullshit! He fell in by himself!”

Jiang Liu backed down, voice lower. “Yeah, yeah… but when he was struggling in the water… we all saw…”

Someone tried to smooth things over. “It’s not like saving him would’ve worked. And besides…”

His voice dropped to a whisper. “It wasn’t for nothing. We got control of the sea.”

13’s mind went blank.

It took him a long time to piece it together: his father had a seizure in the water and struggled. The others saw it, could have helped, but with one glance, a silent agreement had been made. Whether for selfish gain or fear of the rival village, they hesitated, and the moment was lost.

Two villages had been fighting for sea rights. If someone from Five Pearl Village died, the rival would take the blame and lose face. In the end, Five Pearl Village claimed the sea as its own.

The clan leader said passionately, “It wasn’t a pointless death. He died for the village. We’ll take care of Jiang Zhao—that way, old Jiang can rest in peace.”

…

The talk ended abruptly when someone banged on the ancestral hall doors, shouting excitedly: “Clan Leader! The old clams are sunning under the moon! There’s a whole patch of them on the beach!”

…

Legend had it that pearls were born in the deep sea, and on full-moon nights, the clams would open to bask in the moonlight, absorbing its essence to form pearls.

Five Pearl Village called this phenomenon “Old Clams Sunning Under the Moon.”

But in recent years, clams had become rare—this scene was increasingly uncommon. Few elders had seen it lately, let alone ten clams at once.

As everyone rushed outside, the once-crowded ancestral hall suddenly felt like a dead city.

13 emerged from behind the yellow curtain and stumbled into the empty courtyard. In the rush, someone had pulled the white cloth off his mother. Her face was half-revealed, lips slack, but the expression looked more and more like a twisted smile.

Standing alone in the deserted courtyard, 13 suddenly lifted his head and yelled:

“Fxxx your goddamn moonbathing clams!”