On the afternoon of the third day after Li Lanxiang spoke with Wei Zijin on the phone.
Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin appeared again on that familiar yet unfamiliar Commercial Street near Jiang University.
Bugbug Internet Cafe was still bustling.
A crowd of elderly men and women braved the cold to line up outside Li Laifu's shop.
Those coming out carried eggs in their hands, beaming.
Two young people were handing out flyers. Seeing Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin approaching hand in hand, they passed them by and handed one to an elderly woman walking behind them. "Free blood sugar and blood pressure checks! Answer one question correctly and get two jin of eggs for free."
The windows of Anyang Snacks were still gleaming. Warm yellow light shone through the glass, making it feel as though it must be as warm as spring inside.
After Wei Zijin bought two boxes of cut fruit, they headed in the opposite direction.
They weren't eating at Hongbin Little Tower today. Wang Xiaoliang pushed open the door to Old Sichuan.
It was five thirty, not quite dinnertime yet, and the dining room was more than half empty.
He stepped aside to let Wei Zijin enter first, then pulled the door shut behind them.
"Xiaoliang!"
Sister Hong leaned halfway out from behind the counter, her voice rising straight to full volume. "Oh my goodness, what brings you here! I thought you'd never come to our Old Sichuan again."
Wang Xiaoliang smiled at Sister Hong. "How could that be? We'll be coming often from now on. I, the Mountain Hawk, am back."
Sister Hong pulled a tissue from her apron pocket to wipe her hands, talking without pause. "I told them you were a regular here, but they said I was bragging! Isn't that infuriating..."
"Whether