Li Ye had heard that there was a deity whose satisfaction rating among believers was as high as one hundred percent.
It could hold back the darkness, drive away fear, and dispel the cold.
It could leave evil spirits that frightened children crying at their wits' end, and make Sadako crawling out of the television unable to sink her teeth in.
It was the great God of the Bedding.
In winter, when the temperature dropped to minus seventeen or eighteen degrees, curling up beneath warm blankets was simply the finest blessing a deity could bestow upon mankind.
Especially when one had a small heated kang all to oneself.
Li Ye had a small heated kang in the inner room of the Second Grain Store's little warehouse.
Ever since his after-school study room had opened, he spent five extra minutes lazing in its embrace every day.
But today, someone had disrupted those five warm minutes.
"Brother, brother, the school announced that everyone has to go hear Lu Jingyao's experience-sharing report today. Are you going?"
Li Ye irritably rolled over and asked resentfully, "What do you think? Should I go or not?"
Li Dayong said somewhat awkwardly, "I think if you don't go, won't that make it seem like you're afraid of her? Those people will start making up gossip about you again."
"Then why are you asking? Let's go!"
Li Ye was not afraid of Lu Jingyao at all! He got up, dressed, threw on his heavy coat, and headed out.
"Brother, your hat! Your gloves!"
Li Dayong shouted after him, but Li Ye, still grumpy from being woken up, had already gone outside.
The moment he stepped out, Li Ye regretted it. Today's weather was truly awful!
The ground was frozen solid, dark clouds filled the sky, and the north