wine for wine

Upon returning to Longshan Pavilion, I briefly recounted the events that transpired in the Sunlight Station. I deliberately concealed the overly perilous parts, both to prevent unnecessary worry and because the shop had already consumed most of his energy. There was no need for him to expend more effort on my tangled mess.

I showed the photos to Lao He, pointing to the military officer inquired, "Do you recognize this person?"

Lao He examined it, furrowing his brow. "Seems vaguely familiar, like I might have seen him in my younger days. But it's been so long, it's a bit uncertain. I'll ask a few old friends to investigate."

After some casual conversation with Lao He, he inquired about my recent plans. I mentioned staying put for now, as there were matters to attend to. I asked about the shop, and he sighed, mentioning recent issues with the younger shopkeepers. The old fellows were still following the rules, but some newcomers seemed restless.

I inquired about the solution, and Lao He, puffing on his cigarette, replied there wasn't much to be done. We'll take it step by step. He had been in touch with some old pals recently, hoping to secure their support.

Back in the backyard, I called Zhao Gu to check on Xiao He. Zhao Gu chuckled, saying the lad had a good foundation, like a young calf, and nothing major was happening. He was just craving cigarettes and alcohol. If Zhao Gu hadn't kept a close eye, he might have run off by now. Another half-month, and he should be back.

After hanging up, I lit a cigarette, feeling a bit anxious. Without those young lads, Lao He would be shouldering the burden alone, and I was utterly useless in this regard.

Observing the time, not too late yet, I retrieved the fragment of the stone wall, took several high-resolution photos with my camera, and sent them via email to several master craftsmen at Qin Han Tang. I also gave them a call, and the craftsmen assured me they would inform me of any results promptly.

After the call, I transferred the photos from my phone to the computer. I scrutinized the ones from the train's front, but no useful clues emerged. Undeterred, I delved into the records of scrapped steam trains, a challenging task due to the lack of comprehensive information systems in those years. It was almost dawn when I finally stumbled upon a report, "In January 2016, the last batch of 6 steam trains retired from the Sandaoling Coal Mine in Hami, Xinjiang."

"Hami," "Sandaoling Coal Mine," "Steam Train," and "Retirement" were keywords that caught my attention. Instinctively, I sensed a connection.

Following this lead, I discovered that Sandaoling was the largest open-pit mine in China, situated on the northwest edge of the Hami Basin, within the folds of the Tianshan Mountains. Furthermore, Sandaoling was located deep within the Gobi Desert, standing on the vast ancient wilderness, marked as one of the Neolithic cultural sites in Xinjiang, exhibiting a profound history.

Crucially, the railway line from Sandaoling to external freight transportation passed through the location of the Sunlight Station, establishing a clearer relationship between the two.

Moreover, Sandaoling was not only the latest but also the largest area to use steam locomotives. Their garage was filled with retired locomotives, including military ones, and even some special trains used by Cixi in the past.

However, obtaining further information became challenging. Thinking it over, I sent messages to a few friends on WeChat, asking for their help inquiring about acquaintances in that area. I hoped to find the records of scrapped trains and, if possible, gain insights into the history of the Sunlight Station.

Having completed these tasks, I lay back on the bed. Glancing at the clock, it was nearly 1 a.m., and information from that side would only come after feedback. I began contemplating how to assist Lao He. Suddenly, a person flashed into my memory. I picked up my phone and sent her a message, inquiring about her whereabouts.

This person was my college classmate, a charismatic figure back in the school days, attracting admirers like bees to honey. Those who pursued her would queue from the duty room downstairs to the dormitory entrance. In her words, the four sisters in the dormitory owed everything to her.

Our acquaintance was somewhat coincidental. During a National Day holiday, with nothing to do, I saw on the school's BBS someone organizing an online game session. I joined the room and played until late. One of the participants, "Rising Panties," suggested going out for grilled skewers on the street behind the school. When we met, I realized it was her, accompanied by two dormitory sisters. She unilaterally declared that I played well and didn't harbor any intentions toward her beauty. Thus, I was allowed to join their team, becoming her lackey ever since.

Like all aspiring drifters in Beijing, her dream was to find a promising prospect and settle down in the bustling capital. Unfortunately, in recent years, those pursuing her were either lacking in capability or barely a few years younger than her father. During a conversation, she mentioned having encountered a few who caught her interest, but with her excellent upbringing and attractive appearance, she couldn't settle for just anyone. If the mortal realm failed to entice her, she would return to the heavens.

In the time it took to smoke two cigarettes, seeing no response from her, I felt puzzled. She was renowned in her circle as the Midnight Pixie, and at this time, she was likely reveling in the nightlife.

I attempted to call her, and amidst the loud background noise, presumably in a bar, she answered. I asked if she was busy, and her voice seemed somewhat flustered, as if engaged in a heated conversation with someone. Additionally, there was a distinct argument, and I faintly heard a male voice saying "Holland City." She hastily replied with, "We'll talk another day, Xiao Cao," and hung up.

Lying on the bed for a while, the atmosphere during the phone call felt off. Eventually, I got up, checked "Holland City" online, realizing it was a bar in the northern part of the city, not far from Han Jing's home. Considering the situation, I decided to put on my coat and head out.

At this time, the roads were not heavily congested, and I arrived within half an hour. Parking the car, I entered the bar. In Beijing, this time of night was lively in bars, filled with the clinking of glasses and various cheers. Red and green figures reveled fervently.

I noticed two guys standing near a booth by the entrance. Next to them was a stylish young man with blue hair, quite eye-catching, as he seemed to have come out multiple times. Inside the booth, a few people

 were seated, and one of the girls appeared familiar, resembling one of Han Jing's friends. Without drawing attention, I approached the bar, ordered a drink, and casually asked the bartender if he knew the girls in that booth.

The bartender smiled, continued pouring drinks, and said, "Here's some friendly advice; there are plenty of beautiful girls in the main hall."

I nodded, pretending interest, then turned my gaze toward the booth. Han Jing wasn't there, and the girls seemed uneasy, not enjoying the revelry. Sighing, it appeared that something had gone awry. Though I hesitated to intervene like an impetuous youth, there seemed to be no other option.

Holding my drink, I approached the booth. The big guy on the right extended his hand to stop me, but I pointed at the blue-haired guy and said with a smile, "I know him. Who am I to know him?" While speaking, I squeezed in.

The blue-haired guy looked up, tilted his head, examining me. The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk, "You're the one they brought?"

Understanding his implication, I squeezed into the booth and sat down, with the big guy on the right reluctantly withdrawing his hand. I pointed at the girls inside, saying, "No, no, I just know her."

The girl looked at me in surprise, her eyes filled with doubt and amazement. Then, a sudden realization crossed her face, "You're the... that one."

"Cao Nongsong," I supplemented. "Where's Han Jing?"

Before she could respond, the blue-haired guy, wearing an impatient expression, interjected, "They've been taken to see the big Buddha. It's none of your business; you can leave."

Observing a few guys with bruised faces and even the girls in the booth, it was evident that a conflict had occurred. Bar fights weren't uncommon, especially if one party called for reinforcements upon losing, while the other waited on-site. Considering the situation, Han Jing and her friends had likely kicked the hornet's nest this time.

Scratching my head, I wondered if I should call Lao He. However, it felt awkward to bother him with such troubles. Indecisive, my attention shifted to the guy's wrist, adorned with a bracelet. It seemed to be made of natural amber. In many cases, wild amber had a saying, "Ten pieces of wood, nine are hollow." Most of the amber tree hearts had cracks or were entirely hollow, making it challenging to find suitable material for making eye beads. Moreover, this guy's beads were evenly distributed, indicating a collection of high-quality ghost eye beads. He was undoubtedly an expert.

I casually flicked off the guy next to me who wanted to pull me up, and I grinned at the blue-haired young man, "Into beads, eh?"

He furrowed his brow, waiting for my explanation.

I yanked off the pendant tied with a red string from my wrist and handed it to him, "Take a look at mine."

He took it, examined it, and a strong interest flashed in his eyes. He asked, "A Blood Lotus, what's the meaning?"

"Knowledgeable," I seized the opportunity and leaned toward him, pointing, "I won't waste words on how good this is. I can see you're missing a pagoda on your bracelet. With Buddha, you'll have peace. Take it as my gift to you."

The blue-haired guy looked at me with surprise, and the incredulity in his eyes gradually turned into a smile.

"Don't you feel heartache?"

I pretended to grimace, "A lot."

"Interesting," he pursed his lips with his thumb, "To be honest, we have some rich kids on our side too. But they all know their place. These brothers, after a bit of booze, dare to spout nonsense full of excrement. I just wanted to see what kind of people their fathers are, bringing up kids like this."

He glanced at the guys sitting in the booth who had been silent all this time.

I shrugged, waiting for him to continue.

"Alright, this Bodhi bead is yours now. Not hiding it, I won't keep it for myself. Here's the deal, go with the flow. I'll give you the market price for the beads, and we're even. This matter between us, consider it settled tonight."

After saying this, the blue-haired guy left. The guy next to him handed me a business card, a small logistics manager I'd never heard of.

Seeing the blue-haired guy leave, the silent guys in the booth also breathed a sigh of relief. However, they didn't seem very receptive to my "territorial compensation," and even the girls wore expressions of disdain. But I didn't expect them to understand. Picking up some fruit from the tray on the table, I ate a few bites. Everyone seemed a bit awkward, and I stood up, saying to the girl, "Why don't we all disperse? Tell Han Jing to give me a call when she's free tomorrow. I need to discuss something with her."