The next day, Lin Wan went to work full of energy. Lu Zheng was just about to cross over to ancient times when he received a call from his roommate Tong Muxuan.
“Yo, not busy any more? You actually have time to call me?” Lu Zheng asked with a laugh.
In modern times, Lu Zheng’s main contacts were his parents and Lin Wan. He rarely kept in touch with classmates or friends from society.
Of course, this rare did not mean none at all. After all, his three roommates were all in Haicheng. They gathered from time to time. But with everyone’s schedules varying, they mostly chatted online. Offline meetups were spaced out. The last one was in April.
Then there were Liu Zhenming, Du Lin, Zhao Wenyu, and others. Ever since the full-contact fighting event, he had become a celebrity in their club. They pulled him into a group chat. Though they did not meet often, they chatted now and then. It was not awkward.
“The team has been rushing a project. We have added overtime for two months straight to meet the Mid-Autumn launch. Now we are finally done,” Tong Muxuan said.
“What, want to go out and play? Call Zhao Si and Lei Zi?” Lu Zheng laughed.
“One thing is that. The other is that I am marrying Mengmeng. We will have one ceremony back home on National Day. Another in Haicheng at the end of September,” Tong Muxuan said. “The Haicheng one will be small. Just inviting close colleagues and classmates. If you have time, come and join in?”
“Of course I have time!”
Lu Zheng said right away, “Did not expect you and Su Mengmeng to be getting married so soon. Not planning to play a few more years first?”
“You have the wrong idea, comrade,” Tong Muxuan accused immediately. “Does getting married mean we cannot keep playing? Does your so-called play a few more years mean something else? Watch out, I will tell Officer Lin in the group.”
The murder mystery game group was still active. Besides Su Mengmeng’s daily lovey-dovey posts with Tong Muxuan, Lu Zheng also knew Luo Yun had changed boyfriends twice.
“Go ahead. Lin Wan is no longer a criminal police anyway. She cannot control me,” Lu Zheng said righteously.
“You are something!” Tong Muxuan said. “Alright, I notified you by phone. I will send the time and place to the group later. Bring Lin Wan. I will not notify her separately. Mengmeng will tell Huang Xiumin and Luo Yun on her own.”
“Got it.” Lu Zheng nodded. “Then, shall we meet up this weekend?”
“I will ask in the group.” Tong Muxuan said.
After hanging up, Tong Muxuan asked in the group. Zhao Wei, who worked at another big factory, and Lei Zhiyun, who went straight to PhD after masters and now seemed to be at some information research institute, both said no problem.
They all had their own things usually. And they kept in touch online. So, no urgent need for offline meets. But with Tong Muxuan’s wedding coming, there would be no chance to talk properly then. Of course, they needed to gather early. Congratulate and tease him in private.
But there were still three days until the weekend. It was a bit far off. Lu Zheng chatted idly with the three roommates in the group, then they tacitly stopped. Each went off to their own business.
…
Crossing to ancient times, he had just pushed open the door when he heard laughter from the alley outside.
He glanced at the sky. It was almost noon. Ao Qian and Liu Qingquan had finished their morning lessons. Now they were out playing.
“Uncle Li!”
“Young master!” Uncle Li heard the call and trotted to the backyard.
“Any matters these past few days?”
“Nothing. All is well. Just that Miss Li keeps asking about you. Says the ten-day break is almost here. What to play this time.”
Lu Zheng’s eyebrow twitched. He felt a bit speechless.
Last time, he organised a sports day. Mainly because he had seen a public account about a university sports meet just before crossing over. On a whim, he held one. It also served to welcome Ao Qian and help her get familiar with everyone and integrate into Tonglin County.
How could there be a big event every ten days?
One had to know, on usual ten-day breaks, it was just going to the peach grove to play mahjong or chess. Eat some barbecue or hotpot, that was all.
“Brother-in-law is back!”
“Brother-in-law, the ten-day break is the day after tomorrow. What are we playing? I need to prepare too!”
Ao Qian’s current identity was Liu Qingyao’s distant cousin. So, hearing Liu Qingquan call Lu Zheng brother-in-law, she followed suit.
Lu Zheng patted his forehead. “What do you all want to play?”
Liu Qingquan shook her head. Ao Qian’s eyes shone brightly. “Hold another sports day?”
“How can we have sports days all the time? Too many and it loses the fun,” Lu Zheng shook his head.
Ao Qian did not give up. Her eyes sparkled. She continued, “Then a draughts tournament? Gomoku tournament? Or shuttlecock kicking contest?”
Lu Zheng, “…”
He had just been thinking whether to bring Werewolf from modern times. After all, it was a classic game with enduring popularity for many years.
But looking at Liu Qingquan, then at Ao Qian, it felt not quite right.
So hard. He really wanted to bring a portable projector over and show them a movie!
While thinking, Lu Zheng said, “How about a talent show contest?”
“What is that?”
“Everyone performs one act. Singing, dancing, instruments, painting, sword dancing, recitation, all fine. Then everyone votes. Finally, decide first, second, third place. Rewards…”
“Reward cake!” Ao Qian raised her hand.
“Reward cake!” Lu Zheng agreed.
…
Ten-day break, Peach Blossom Grove.
Not just Ao Qian. Even Peach Blossom Fairy and the women from Wuxiu Village found the last sports day interesting after joining.
And hearing this time it was talent performances with voting, they felt a tiny bit of competitive spirit.
“Talents are solo performances. Longest time not over one incense stick. Over that, disqualified. Also, each person only has five votes. Be sure to pick your favourites.”
Lu Zheng said. He patted the gourd and took out a stack of paper. These were tables he made in modern times, printed, and brought back.
“Come, come. One each. Then, each can put five ticks on them. Put into the ballot box later. I will count the votes at the end. Guarantee fair and just.”
Liu Qingyao took the table. She rubbed the rare paper, then focused on the table.
One column was everyone’s names. Another empty column for ticks.
“This is printed? No printing house in the county. Did you specially go to Yizhou, Lu Lang?” Liu Qingyao said. “Actually, just twenty or thirty sheets. Copy them by hand and done.”
“This is more convenient.” Lu Zheng laughed.
“Alright!”
Lu Zheng clapped his hands. Seeing everyone look over, “Talent contest starts now. Whoever wants to go first, come on up.”
Just playing among themselves, Lu Zheng did not set an order. They could discuss among themselves.
The field went quiet for a moment. Everyone looked at each other, giggling secretly. But no one spoke. None went first.
“Since sisters are all modest, I will throw a brick to attract jade.” Hua Yixing stood up.
“Sister Hua, mighty!”
“Sister Hua, great!”
“Sister Hua’s performance must be good!”
“Master, I am here to watch you!”
A voice suddenly cut in. Everyone turned. They saw a whirlwind sweep in, landing in the peach grove. Revealing two figures.
It was Hu Zhou and Gao Junyu.
