love on the turquoise land

Chapter 81

There's nothing like sleeping in your own bed. Nie Jiuluo had a wonderfully restful sleep and when she opened her eyes, she still felt unsatisfied, thinking she should have slept a bit longer.
She got up to wash her face, and while wiping her face, she heard a noise outside. It was Aunt Lu coming up to collect the dishes from last night's meal.
Nie Jiuluo peeked out of the door, "Aunt Lu, what's for breakfast? How about making some small wontons for Yan Tuo to try your cooking?"
Her usual breakfast was plain porridge and side dishes, but Yan Tuo might not find that filling—Aunt Lu's chicken soup shrimp wontons were out of this world, far better than anything you could find in the shops. Plus, last night they had wontons too, so it'd be interesting to compare.
Aunt Lu took the dishes downstairs and casually said, "Taste my cooking? He's already left early this morning."
Who left early?
Nie Jiuluo was stunned on the spot.
Yan Tuo?
He left without saying goodbye? How dare he!
He really dared!
The guest room was quiet, almost without any trace of someone having stayed there. The quilt was folded neatly like a block of tofu—this definitely wasn't Aunt Lu's doing, as she followed a Western bed-making style.
On the table was a note
I've put the suitcase in the cabinet.
Put your head in there! Nie Jiuluo angrily crumpled the corner of the note, the paper rustling loudly.
Aunt Lu came in with a vacuum cleaner, lowering the volume as much as possible. "He folded that quilt really well—so sharp and precise. I asked him, and he said he learned it during military training. He was the best in his department and even got selected as a model example."
Is that so? Nie Jiuluo felt even more unhappy. Aunt Lu knew all this, and she didn't?
She muttered sulkily, "So rude."
Aunt Lu laughed, "He got up early and waited for a long time. You couldn't wake up yourself, so who's to blame? I was going to wake you up, but he said no, let her sleep, since you're still recovering and exhausted from the trip. He said it's better to leave early, so he wouldn't get stuck in traffic later."
Nie Jiuluo responded with a simple "oh," crumpling and flattening the note over and over, then rolled it up into a little ball. As she twisted the note, she leaned on her crutch and went out.
Rehabilitation was back on the schedule now. Her plan was to go downstairs three times a day and circle the yard three times on each occasion. The goal was to ditch the crutch in two weeks. As for her arm, it wasn't something she could fix on her own—more trips to private hospitals for medical rehabilitation would be needed.
The small courtyard was peaceful, with flowers and plants scattered around, offering a quiet tranquility. Lao Tang had designed the yard to showcase flowers for all four seasons. Now that it was winter, the daffodils, Christmas roses, tulips, and white plums were in full bloom.
Nie Jiuluo walked up to the white plum tree.
She liked either extremely tall trees or particularly tiny plants. Tiny plants were like miniature spirits, while tall ones seemed to have a soul equal to that of a human. Both represented vigorous life and commanded respect.
She reached up and gently touched one of the blossoms, feeling discontent at that moment.
Yet she was clearly back home, and everything should feel perfect.
Aunt Lu came out after finishing a round of cleaning. Seeing this, she suddenly remembered something. "Oh, by the way, Mr. Yan mentioned that the plum blossoms were blooming beautifully and asked if he could take a branch. I didn't let him."
Nie Jiuluo froze, then panicked, "Why didn't you let him?"
Aunt Lu replied in surprise, "Didn't you tell me before that no one is allowed to cut your flowers except you or Lao Tang? You can't stand it when people randomly snap or pull at them."
Nie Jiuluo recalled the incident. Once, when the TV station came to film an interview, a cameraman had picked a flower and tucked it behind his ear, thinking it was stylish. She had been really annoyed and had instructed Aunt Lu to stop any guests from picking flowers in the future.
She said, "Well, it depends on the person, doesn't it? Wasn't it him who saved me when I fell from the cave? After all the help he gave, what's wrong with letting him take a branch?"
Even if he wanted the whole tree, she'd let him dig it up and carry it away.
Hearing that, Aunt Lu suddenly realized, "Oh, you're right."
Then she tried to justify herself, "But Mr. Yan seems very easygoing; I don't think he'd mind."
Nie Jiuluo couldn't say more. She slowly moved around on her crutch, continuing her rehabilitation. When she reached the main gate, for some reason, she unlatched it and opened it halfway.
The sunlight was wonderful, filling the alley.
It was quiet outside.
Her phone weighed heavily in her pocket, dragging it down.
He didn't even say goodbye or send her a message.
Nie Jiuluo snorted and shut the gate.
There must've been something urgent, and she wasn't going to message him either.
Who wasn't busy, anyway?
***
Around noon, Yan Tuo's car pulled into a service area.
He was planning to grab a quick meal, but the food in the service area looked so unappetizing that he lost his appetite. He just bought some biscuits and drinks, deciding to eat in his car.
The midday sun was warm. Yan Tuo half-opened the car door, taking a bite of biscuit and a sip of drink. The service area was bustling, with buses occasionally pulling in, unloading dozens of passengers who scattered to find food, only to be called back by drivers yelling, "Get back on the bus!" soon after. The passengers scattered like streams flowing into the sea, quickly reuniting on the bus.
As he ate, Yan Tuo watched, feeling like an audience member watching the passengers as actors. So many people, so many places they came from and were heading to—each probably with countless stories.
Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed the edge of a plastic bag poking out from under the passenger seat.
What's that?
He bent down and grabbed the bag's handle, pulling it out.
He recognized it—it was the delivery Nie Jiuluo had bought midway through the trip. He remembered asking her about it, and she had said it was "professional."
She was so excited to be home that she forgot her belongings. Yan Tuo shook his head helplessly. It seemed like he would have to arrange for a courier to send it back to her.
He placed the tied plastic bag on the passenger seat and continued eating. While eating, curiosity got the best of him, and he couldn't help but glance at the bag again.
Her house was essentially her studio, filled with everything she needed, so what was so urgent that she had to buy something midway?
He put down his drink and snacks, curiously picking up the bag. It was a bit heavy but not too much.
Yan Tuo untied the bag. Inside was...
The first thing he pulled out was a car ornament. It wasn't the kind you could buy in stores—it was handmade. Four small figures made of clay were strung on a cord, clearly modeled after him, each capturing his essence perfectly: black T-shirt, black pants, and sandy boots, but in a cute childlike version. The first figure, holding the cord with one hand and shielding its eyes with the other as if scouting the way, had the words All Clear written on its back. The second figure, holding the cord with both hands and looking miserable, had Traffic Jam written on its back.
Yan Tuo couldn't help but chuckle when he saw the second one.
The third figure had a furious expression, mouth wide open as if shouting, with Move Aside written on its back. The last figure was seated in a meditative pose, with No Rush on its chest and Stay Calm on its back.
At the bottom hung a small ornament with auspicious cloud patterns, inscribed with Smooth Sailing on one side and Safe Travels on the other.
It was... brilliant.
Yan Tuo carefully placed the car ornament on the dashboard.
There was more inside the bag. Another handcrafted sculpture stood on a round base, clearly meant to be a display piece. It was still him, but in a childlike version with a ponytail on top of his head.
The first figure held a duck in its arms.
A duck...
Yan Tuo held it in his hands, feeling dazed for a moment.
The second figure had a flushed face and puffed cheeks, carrying a luggage bag on its back and dragging a suitcase.
This one was clearly teasing him about his luggage, and Yan Tuo smiled helplessly.
The third figure was wearing a black mask, sneaking around like a thief.
Could this be a reference to the time he followed someone late at night?
And the last one...
The last one made Yan Tuo laugh out loud—it depicted the moment the bed collapsed, with him in a state of panic, hands and feet flailing comically.
After laughing enough, he looked back in the bag and found a bottle of adhesive. It seemed she had thought of how he could attach the pieces. There was also a note, filled with words.
Yan Tuo picked it up to read:
"Each display piece is 200, the car ornament is 800. If you don't like them, please return them. If you do, please pay. If you appreciate them greatly, feel free to tip. Art has no price—it's not easy being a one-handed artist."
At the end was an Alipay account.
Well, she had him right where she wanted him.
Yan Tuo picked up his phone and transferred the money to Nie Jiuluo, noting each item in the payment. The transaction was complete.
He couldn't skip the tip, especially since he did "greatly appreciate" it. Initially, he typed 666, but as he was about to confirm the payment, he felt a sudden warmth.
A one-handed artist.
Last night, when she was writing the note, she needed his help to hold the paper steady. She created all of this with just one hand. Even if she was highly skilled and experienced, it wasn't easy.
So he added another 6, letting the one-handed artist earn a little more.
***
Meanwhile, Nie Jiuluo had just finished her second round of walking down the stairs that day. She was now lounging in a large canvas chair, basking in the sun, watching Aunt Lu peel bamboo shoots.
Aunt Lu had said she was going to make stir-fried bamboo shoots with pork that evening.
As she watched, her phone started buzzing—not just once, but continuously, one notification after another.
Nie Jiuluo picked it up and couldn't hide the growing smile on her face.
Aunt Lu, curious, asked, "What's going on?"
Nie Jiuluo raised her eyebrows, looking delighted, "I just made some money."
Aunt Lu replied, "Don't you always make money?"
Then, after a pause, she added, "Making money is fine at home, but don't smile like that outside. People will think you're too happy over a little money—not very artistic."
***
After completing the transfers, Yan Tuo hung up the car ornament and used the adhesive to attach each sculpture to the dashboard. The car was the same car, but now it no longer looked so plain.
He wanted to take a picture to send feedback to the artist, but his phone rang.
It was Lin Xirou.
Yan Tuo answered casually, "Aunt Lin."
Lin Xirou's soft voice came through as usual, "Xiao Tuo, how's the visit going?"
Yan Tuo smiled, "I visited one company in Zhengzhou, and I plan to visit another tonight. As for the others, I'll arrange for the mid-level managers to handle it, or send them some New Year gifts."
Lin Xirou also smiled, "As long as you show up at a couple of places, that's enough. Once things are settled, come back soon. As the boss, you should learn to take it easy and delegate tasks to others."
***
After hanging up, Lin Xirou clicked her mouse, and the paused video on her computer resumed playing.
It was surveillance footage, shot from an overhead angle, showing Yan Tuo standing at the entrance of a greenhouse, barely moving.
After a while, Lin Xirou paused the video again, staring at Yan Tuo on the screen.
Next to her, Xiong Hei cleared his throat, "Judging by the timing, that was shortly after Gouya woke up. We were inside talking to him."
Lin Xirou didn't say anything.
Xiong Hei added, "I called to check. He really is out visiting partners. The boss in Zhengzhou even told me Yan Tuo got drunk that night and had to call for a driver."
Lin Xirou made a small sound of acknowledgment, "What is Xiao Tuo trying to do?"
Xiong Hei thought for a moment, "Maybe he's just too curious about us?"
Lin Xirou shook her head, "Curiosity has its limits. This isn't curiosity."
Xiong Hei grew impatient, "Sister Lin, instead of guessing, why not just call him and ask?"
Lin Xirou replied, "No."
She turned off the video, her expression calm, "For now, let's pretend we don't know anything."
After a pause, she asked, "How's the situation at the well?"
He took out his phone and showed her the photos sent from the site. The tripod was set up, and the rented equipment was in place. Now, it was just a matter of seeing if there was anything in the well.
***
August 28, 1997/ Friday / Heavy Rain
This morning, I woke up from another nightmare. I dreamt of Li Shuangxiu clawing her way out from underground, her bloodshot eyes staring at me, and she was strangling me so hard I almost passed out.
When I finally opened my eyes, it was pouring outside, the sky was black, and the roof shook with constant thunder. Every time it rumbled, I trembled.
Little Tuo, not knowing better, kept pestering me about wanting to raise a duckling. How can I even think about buying him a duckling right now? I yelled at him a couple of times, and he cried, sobbing as he asked where Aunt Shuangxiu had gone.
I lost it. I grabbed him like a little chick and gave him a severe beating. Little Tuo cried so much that his voice went hoarse, and he huddled in the corner of the couch, sobbing. Xin Xin crawled over to him and, just like how I used to soothe her to sleep, gently patted his back while babbling, "Brother, don't cry."
These two children... seeing them broke my heart.
I killed someone.
Just ten days ago, I killed Li Shuangxiu.
I didn't mean to kill her. For months, we had lived under the same roof, not divorcing, not reconciling, pretending the other didn't exist. Min Juan told me I was doing the right thing, saying, "You have to be a thorn in their side, never let those two dogs have their way."
I was so naive. Anyone could have seen that this situation was bound to go wrong.
That day...
The breaking point was hearing Li Shuangxiu tell Little Tuo to call her "mom." After that, something snapped inside me, and I had a murderous urge.
That afternoon, Li Shuangxiu ran a bath. I saw her open the closet and take out my clothes. This shameless woman, using someone else's things like it was nothing - who did she think she was?
I followed her into the bathroom.
I don't remember what I said to her, only that we started arguing, and it got worse and worse. In the heat of the moment, I pushed her.
I really just pushed her a little, but she slipped and fell into the bathtub. What I didn't expect was that she'd pull the plugged-in power cord into the water with her.
It was terrifying. So terrifying. There was water on the floor, and I was scared... scared that I'd get electrocuted too, so I ran. I heard her scream, smelled something burning, but I didn't do anything.
Later, I turned off the power, put on rubber gloves, and opened the door. What I saw scared me so much I collapsed to the floor and couldn't get up for a long time.
She was floating in the water, half her face burned black. Can electrocution do that? How can someone burn in water?
I killed her.
Lin Xirou, you're done for. You're a murderer now.
I called Da Shan. No matter how much I hated him, when something went wrong, he was the first person I thought of.
When Da Shan came back, he was shocked too. He sat on the couch, smoking cigarette after cigarette. My eyes were swollen from crying, my head pounding. I said, "Da Shan, I'm going to turn myself in."
Da Shan wouldn't let me.
He put out his cigarette and told me to take Little Tuo and Xin Xin to bed, and said, "Leave it to me."
In a daze, I took the kids to the bedroom. I heard Da Shan moving around outside, heard water running, things being dragged. I heard him drive away and come back again.
By the time he got back, it was already late at night. The kids had fallen asleep, and I was shaking all over. I didn't even have the strength to open the door for him. He unlocked the door himself and told me that he had buried Li Shuangxiu.
He buried her far away.
He told me to forget about it.
But I should have turned myself in, right?
Lin Xirou, wake up. The net of heaven is vast and lets nothing escape. You can't run from this. If you turn yourself in, you might get leniency. It was manslaughter, not intentional.
The rain is so heavy today, and the thunder is so loud - it's trying to wake you up.
P.S.: Da Shan called. He said he'd be home late tonight. The rain is so heavy, and he needs to go check the burial site. If the body gets washed out, it would be a disaster.

- Excerpt from Lin Xirou's Diary

***
If you forget, the real Lin Xirou WAS Yan Tuo's mom.
I know it's been too long but I'm really sorry. My real life is so tangled up right now I can't find free time to do the translation. However, have you seen the trailers from the drama? That's the only thing that push me to do this in a bus, on my way to home😊
Chen Xingxu will nail it and Dilraba is a perfect cast for our Miss Nie. I still have doubts for the outfits though lols. Can't wait!