The rain stopped, and a rainbow arched over the mountain behind the martyrs' cemetery. The Sun peeked out from behind the clouds, shining softly and making the small white flowers, which had just been rained on, sparkle.
As she left, Yu Meiren glanced back and saw that all the photos on the tombstones were shimmering in the sunlight.
Peng Jiahu took them to Mangdian because he had to rush back to Baoteng for a meeting, so he entrusted Shi Dazhuang and Yu Meiren to Chen Changshou, the director of the Mangdian Police Station. The events of three years ago still haunted him. Although the drug situation and public security were much better than they were back then, Shi Dazhuang and Yu Gang were no ordinary people. They were thorns in the side of those drug dealers back then, and many people had been sent to prison by them. If someone were to retaliate, it would be no laughing matter.
He repeatedly instructed, " Sanzi, I'm entrusting this man to you. If anything goes wrong, you'll have to smooth your face with a whetstone before you come back to see me!"
Director Chen's nickname was Sanzi. He used to be in the anti-drug squad and was considered one of Peng Jiahu's trusted lieutenants. Three years ago, when Mu Ka entered the country, Peng Jiahu brought eight team members to provide support, and Sanzi was one of them. Later, during a firefight with Mu Ka's gang, four of the eight team members died on the spot, and the two seriously injured later died in the hospital.
Sanzi was also injured, but luckily survived, though he was left with some aftereffects. Like Meng Yan back then, he can no longer work as a narcotics officer. Just then, the Mangdian Police Station was short-staffed after Meng Yan's death, so they transferred him over and he was promoted to director last year.
Sanzi said, " Captain Peng, don't worry. In the past few years, the massive crackdown on organized crime has wiped out all those gangs. Some are in jail, some are undergoing reform, and the rest are like rats crawling in their burrows. Who would dare to cause trouble now? Don't even think about messing with the police; try daring to act tough with ordinary people on the street!"
Peng Jiahu said, "We still need to be careful! We're not afraid of what's happening here, but we're worried about people coming from the other side of the Nangou River. This time, Teacher Qingmu won't be here to help us."
The Sanzi nodded solemnly and said, "We understand!"
After Peng Jiahu left, Chen Changshou asked Shi Dazhuang when he was going to Kuaziba so he could arrange a car. Shi Dazhuang saw that it was getting late and it would be dark by the time he went to Kuaziba, which would be troublesome for others, so he decided to stay overnight in Mangdian before leaving. Chen Changshou then accompanied Shi Dazhuang and Yu Meiren to the Mangdian Grand Hotel to book a room.
The original five-story building is gone, replaced by a twenty-story skyscraper, with the words " Mangdian Grand Hotel " shining brightly in the sunlight on the top.
The hotel entrance features Dali steps, and four massive pillars, each requiring two people to encircle, support the roof of the porch. Two imposing stone Lion stand on either side of the porch.
Outside the gate are flowerbeds and green spaces filled with flowers, and a smooth and wide cement street. Across the street are many vendors selling tourist souvenirs, and some children are playing on the street.
Standing at the hotel entrance, Shi Dazhuang was deeply moved, never expecting Mangdian to have changed so much. Director Chen said:
"In recent years, the government has vigorously developed tourism. Almost all the basins are now connected by roads, and a tourist distribution center has been established on the Nangou River. People on the other side can come over to do some trade with a simple procedure, and it is also very convenient for people on this side to go for tourism."
Shi Dazhuang paused for a moment, then said, " Masuba is not far past Nangou River. Aren't we worried about drug traffickers sneaking in like this?"
Chen Changshou laughed and said, "People's lives are getting better and better, so no one is thinking about growing marijuana and poppies anymore. Without the cover of the masses, it's not as easy for the Poison Scorpion to sneak in as before. Besides, Nangou River City is under the jurisdiction of the border defense, so they might not have the guts. Didn't the Madman in Masuba issue an order forbidding his men from bringing drugs here?"
Just as they were talking about Madman, Shi Dazhuang saw a filthy, beggar-like man walk by. He was shooed away by the hotel security guard at the entrance, muttering curses as he walked away.
Yu Meiren cried out, " Yeye beggar!"
The beggar turned around and chuckled. His face was the same color as his clumps of hair, except for the whites of his eyes, which appeared exceptionally white.
Shi Dazhuang's heart skipped a beat, remembering the Madman who had saved the Beauty three years ago, but upon closer inspection, he didn't seem to resemble him. Yu Meiren also realized she had mistaken him for someone else, smiled somewhat embarrassedly, took out the money she had received from Peng Jiahu for buying roast chicken from her pocket, and stuffed it all into the beggar's pocket.
The beggar happily accepted the money, chuckling as he ran off naked, followed by a group of children who chased after him, laughing and singing a nursery rhyme that no one knew who had made it up.
Yu Meiren felt a little sad and silently followed Shi Dazhuang and Chen Changshou into the hotel.
The hotel was very clean and well-equipped, a far cry from the shabby environment it had been three years ago. Shi Dazhuang hadn't even needed to use the mosquito repellent he'd prepared.
In the evening, Shi Dazhuang took Yu Meiren for a walk on the main street of Mangdian and bought some things for the villagers of Kuaziba.
Tobacco and Hemp Street is still called Tobacco and Hemp Street, but it no longer sells tobacco or candy. Instead, it has become a street full of tourist souvenirs. There are all kinds of shops selling things like hawthorn, red fragrant jade, goat milk fruit, lemon sprinkles, Lin stone, jade, gourd flute, Husa knife, etc. They are not categorized and are just open one by one. There are also signs for some guesthouses and small hotels. It is much more lively than it was three years ago.
Looking at the dazzling array of goods and Tushu, Yu Meiren's mood improved considerably.
"Uncle, are these really specialties of Mangdian?" she asked curiously.
Shi Dazhuang smiled and said, "Some are, some aren't, but overall they're all considered specialties of Southern Yunnan."
Yu Meiren happily wandered around the shops, picking up this to look at and that to ask questions. Sometimes she was proud of the many amazing things in her hometown, and sometimes she was saddened that she didn't even recognize the local specialties.
Shi Dazhuang saw that she liked it and offered to buy it for her, but she refused, thinking the things were too expensive. She said, "I'm from Mangdian, how can Mangdian person buy tourist souvenirs in Mangdian!"
After walking half a street, Shi Dazhuang saw a familiar shop. It was the shop where the old Medicine Granny used to sell medicine; now it was filled with rattan art pieces. A woman sat behind a small table inside, on which sat a computer. Seeing Shi Dazhuang peering out from the doorway, the woman called out to him:
"The unique rattan weaving from Mangdian is all handmade by local artisans. Small items are available to take home, and larger items have free shipping. Come and have a look!"
Seeing these rattan baskets, Shi Dazhuang recalled Grandpa Enkun had told him when he was a child. Back then, Kuaziba weren't grown in Kuaziba. The people in the village would take old rattan from the mountains and weave it into baskets, mats, and chairs, then carry them to Ruihekou to sell in exchange for oil and salt.
He walked into the shop, picked up an exquisite yet rustic rattan basket, looked at it closely, and knew that it was indeed made with traditional craftsmanship.
The curtain to the inner room was lifted, and a sturdy young man came out carrying a half-finished barnacle. He was stunned when he saw Shi Dazhuang, and the barnacle fell to the ground with a clatter. He exclaimed, "Uncle Shi!"
Shi Dazhuang turned his head to look, but before he could recognize the person, he heard Yu Meiren calling out, " Yusang!"