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nTranslator: Legge Editor: Legge

nThree years later.

nIt was the second morning of the Lunar New Year.

nAnother Lunar New Year was here again. At a military airbase in Sanya 1 , a military aircraft had just arrived. The aircraft slowly landed on the runway and came to a stop. When the cargo hatch was opened, the first group of people to come out were some military personnel. Behind them, a man around the age of 30 walked out, squinting. As the sun was shining too brightly, he used his hand to block the glare above his forehead while his other hand took out a pair of sunglasses. Then, he put it on with a reminiscing smile on his face.

nBlue skies.

nWhite clouds.

nAnd freedom.

nIt has been more than three years, but this bro is finally back!

nZhang Ye smiled and said, “I’ll be going then.”

nOne of the soldiers asked, “Fellow Zhang, do you really not need us to send you off?”

nZhang Ye curled his lips. “There’s no need.”

nAnother soldier said, “But the world has seen such great changes in these past few years.”

nZhang Ye waved it off. “No way, I’ve been dealing with you all for three years already. Even if you’re not sick of me, I’m sick of you guys. Now that I’m finally out, please stay as far away from me as you can.”

nThe few of them gave wry smiles.

nThen Zhang Ye smoothed his clothes and strode forward.

nBehind him, the voice of a young soldier rang out.

n“Attention!”

n“Salute!”

nShuffle.

nShuffle.

nShuffle.

nThe military personnel stood at attention and respectfully saluted Zhang Ye as he walked off into the distance. Even when he was 50 meters away from them, they still did not put down their hands. This wasn’t some perfunctory farewell they were giving him, but one that was done with the deepest of respect. This was because every one of them knew what Fellow Zhang had done for them, China, and the citizens over the past three years plus.

nOutside the military airbase.

nThis was a suburb situated quite far from the city.

nZhang Ye kept walking straight along the road. After 20 minutes, there was still no sight of any cars, let alone a cab. Finally, when a tourist bus passed by, Zhang Ye quickly put out his hand and hailed it. The bus drove past him and then came to a sudden stop about a 100 meters away.

nZhang Ye ran over and caught up. “Driver, can I get a ride please?”

nThe driver said, “Call for one with your cell phone.”

nZhang Ye said, “Hai, my cell phone is dead.”

nThe driver said, “You won’t be able to get a ride here. There are too few vehicles passing by this place. I have to send these people somewhere, so I suggest that you wait for another vehicle instead.”

nAt the back of the bus were over a dozen young boys and girls who looked like they weren’t even 20 yet.

nChen Qiqi asked, “Where are you headed?”

nZhang Ye smiled and said, “I’m going to Yalong Bay 2 .”

nChen Niannian, who was beside her, said, “Eh, we’re going to Yalong Bay too. It’s on the way.”

nZhang Ye was pleased to hear that. “That’s great then.”

nHuo Yan blinked and said, “Are you a Beijinger?”

nZhang Ye smiled and said, “You guys are from Beijing too?”

nHuo Yan said, “Yeah, we are.”

nThus, Chen Qiqi said, “Driver, let him come on board with us.”

nThe driver naturally did not object to that. This bus was rented by them, after all.

nAnd so, Zhang Ye boarded the bus. He said to the teenagers, “Thanks, guys, I won’t take the ride for free. Let me share a part of the cost with you.” He then took out a 100-yuan bill from his wallet.

nThe teenagers were stunned when they saw it.

nZhang Ye was startled for a moment too. What? Do you think it’s not enough?

nIn the end, Chen Qiqi said something that dumbfounded Zhang Ye. She looked at the 100-yuan bill in Zhang Ye’s hand and said, “Big Bro, isn’t this bill a little old?”

nZhang Ye shook the bill in his hand. “Ah? This isn’t that old. It still looks quite new, doesn’t it?”

nChen Niannian also said in a speechless manner, “This version of the RMB has stopped circulating since three years ago. The banks recalled them, and we’ve been using the new version for a long time. If you pay others with this money, I doubt that they’d even accept it. Why are you still keeping it around? Unless you want it as an antique? Are you a collector?”

nAh?

nThe currency version has changed?

nDamn, why didn’t anyone tell me?

nZhang Ye could only put the money away in embarrassment. “Looks like I’m getting a free ride then.”

nChen Qiqi said, “It’s alright, this bus was rented by Teacher Tian anyway. We didn’t spend a cent on it. So did you come to Sanya on vacation?”

nZhang Ye smiled and said, “You can say so. My parents, wife, and kid are vacationing in Sanya. I came here to look for them. What about you guys? Is it a group tour?”

nHuo Yan said, “It’s our Qiyuan’s vacation trip.”

nZhang Ye was taken aback. “Qiyuan?”

nChen Qiqi declared proudly, “It’s the China Qiyuan.”

nZhang Ye looked at them in surprise. “You’re professional players?”

nHuo Yan laughed and said, “Of course. I’m a Xiangqi 3 player while Qiqi and Niannian are both Go players.”

nProfessional Go players?

nThese female twins?

nZhang Ye had never heard of their names before. “Is Xiang Rong still the world number one in the Go world?”

nEveryone was at a loss for words again.

nHuo Yan asked, “Master Xiang?”

nChen Niannian said, “What old history are you basing that off of?”

nChen Qiqi replied, “Master Xiang retired two years ago.”

nZhang Ye said, “Huh?”

nChen Qiqi said, “The best in Go is Teacher Tian.”

nZhang Ye asked, “Teacher Tian? Who’s that?”

nChen Qiqi said, “Teacher Tian Weiwei of course!”

nZhang Ye was startled to hear that. “Little Tian?”

nOf course he knew who Tian Weiwei was. Back then, he had been hailed as the successor of Xiang Rong and was the hope of the Chinese Go world. The only problem was that Tian Weiwei’s skill level at that time had not matured yet, so he was unable to perform consistently in his games. Who could have thought that in just a few years’ time, Little Tian, who used to be a crybaby, would reach the top?

nChen Qiqi said, “What Little Tian? You’re addressing him as though you know him.”

nZhang Ye laughed. “And why can’t I know him?”

nChen Niannian didn’t believe him. “You can play Go too?”

nZhang Ye smiled and said, “A little.”

nChen Qiqi clasped her hands in glee and said, “That’s great! Let’s play a game right now. My sister and I were worried about how we had nothing to do on the bus with Yalong Bay still so far away from here.”

nSince Zhang Ye had nothing to do either, he said, “Sure thing, what are your ranks?”

nChen Niannian bragged, “I’m a 5-dan and my older sis is a 4-dan.”

nChen Qiqi rolled her eyes. “Go to hell. Why do you keep bringing that up.”

n“Sis, mind your language. You’re a professional Go player, so you have to have manners.” Chen Niannian giggled.

nChen Qiqi harrumphed, “Don’t be so proud yet. I just didn’t perform to my potential last year. I’ll definitely get to 5-dan this year.” She then took out a travel Go set complete with magnetic stones so that the bumpy road wouldn’t be a problem. After setting it up, she even said to Huo Yan, “Put on some music, put on some music. I’m about to start a killing spree!”

nEveryone gave her a look of contempt.

n“Qiqi, that’s enough.”

n“Pfft, a killing spree?”

n“Please remember that you’re a professional Go player.”

n“Oh you, always looking for a chance to bully amateurs.”

nHuo Yan took out his cell phone and played some music.

nSince he would be meeting his family again soon, Zhang Ye was in a great mood. He hummed to the music and remarked, “This song is not bad. Who sings it?”

nEveryone looked at him like he was a fool.

nHuo Yan said, “That’s Guan Zhaohua.”

nZhang Ye nodded and said, “Is he a newcomer?”

nChen Qiqi was floored. “A newcomer?”

nChen Niannian was disgusted. “Uncle, that’s a domestic Heavenly King you’re talking about!”

nZhang Ye froze. “Ah? A Heavenly King?”

nChen Qiqi facepalmed and said, “Don’t you watch television?”

nZhang Ye said, “Not really.”

nChen Qiqi said, “You don’t watch the Spring Festival Gala either?”

nZhang Ye said, “I’ve been too busy in these past two years, so no.”

nChen Qiqi sighed and said, “Then you’re really a hermit. You don’t even know who Guan Zhaohua is? That’s my idol, alright? He’s my Prince Charming, the hottest hunk around right now. My God, how could anyone in China or Asia not know who Guan Zhaohua is? Uncle, you’ve really changed my perception of things.”

nZhang Ye wondered, “When did this person become a Heavenly King?”

nA professional Xiangqi player gave up and said, “Could your impression of the entertainment circle’s Heavenly Kings and Queens have stopped at the time of Zhang Yuanqi and Zhang Ye?”

nZhang Ye said, “Yeah.”

nHuo Yan said, “That’s such old news. If you didn’t mention Zhang Ye or Zhang Yuanqi’s names, I would have forgotten about them. The world’s entertainment circle is moving too rapidly these days, and eras are changing almost every half a year, so don’t mention what can happen in two years. Or three years. All that is too far away to predict.”

nChen Qiqi called out to him, “Come, come, let’s start playing.”

nEveryone had been “amazed” by this young man who boarded the bus halfway through the journey.

nUsing out of circulation RMB notes?

nTalking about celebrities who had faded in time?

nWhich remote mountains did this person just come out from? Why does he not know anything at all?

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