On thе wау bасk, Brother Lоng frоwned deеply, lооking рrеосcupiеd. Bayunye delibеrаtelу spоkе lightlу, "Аh, I don't sее аnуthing unusuаl abоut those phоtоs. Thеy're just a fеw plaсes theу visitеd bеfоrе, рrоbably just tuсkеd in therе саsuallу."
"I thought wе might disсover sоmеthing spеcial this time," Вrother Long сhuсklеd drylу.
Hippо sаid, "Вrothеr Lоng is аlrеаdу rolling in wеаlth, yеt he still wаnts to dig for gоld like mе?"
Вrоther Lоng сlеаred his throat аwkwardly. "After all, I сlaim to havе travelеd the wоrld, but whеn Mаster Ba showed me those three photos and asked where each was, apart from Pearl Peak, I couldn't even begin to explain the other two. Isn't that embarrassing?"
"Haven't you also boasted about having friends all over the world?" Bayunye poked the fat on his waist, testing him. "Didn't you ask them?"
"Didn't I already help you ask my old comrades? From the far north to Qiqihar, to the far south in Sansha... everyone said they didn't know." Brother Long kept one hand on the steering wheel and used the other to push her hand away. "If even I can't recognize the places, how many others would? This time was just a coincidence, haha, fate."
Bayunye was taken aback for a moment before asking Hippo, "What about you? Did you really try to help me find out?"
Hippo chuckled. "Me... uh... I had a falling out with a few former partners, otherwise I would've definitely helped you ask around. How about I find someone else to ask?"
"Tsk, hindsight is 20/20," Brother Long mocked.
A weight lifted from Bayunye's heart. Brother Long had many friends, and if he had asked others on her behalf, the information might have leaked from someone else's hands. It likely wasn't his intention to do so.
It didn't matter. Without the "coded letters" left by Rao Qinghui before his death, it didn't matter how many people had seen her photos.
"By the way, Diao Zhuo's father..." Bayunye thought for a long time and still felt she shouldn't hide it from the two of them.
Brother Long stiffened his shoulders, thinking, They finally talked about it.
After hearing Bayunye out, Hippo was very surprised. "His father and your sister... were they involved?"
"He's not too sure, or maybe he doesn't quite believe it."
"Before his father and grandfather passed away, did they leave behind any photos, letters, or anything like your eldest sister did?" Hippo pressed.
"His father died on the spot, leaving only some research materials. His grandfather, Professor Rao, was paralyzed in bed for years after the car accident, unable to move or speak, so of course he couldn't leave anything behind." Bayunye kept tight-lipped about Rao Qinghui's last words, only dropping a smokescreen—"However, Diao Zhuo has been going through their research diaries, hoping to find something. Sigh, it's not like their diaries would record the exact date of a car accident..."
Brother Long remained silent, while Hippo rubbed the tip of his nose, looking somewhat disappointed.
"Thank you both," Bayunye leaned forward, patting their shoulders on either side. "This trip was purely a waste of time for you."
"Not a waste, look—" Hippo pointed to his video platform account. The short video he had posted less than five minutes ago had already surpassed ten thousand views. Previously, his videos only got one or two thousand views. Many netizens, mostly female, commented asking where he had filmed it.
"Give up on your dream of becoming an internet celebrity," Bayunye said helplessly."I'm about to blow up, don't get jealous later," Hippo said smugly.
They returned to Alxa, where the other volunteers involved in the search and rescue had already left one after another. After checking the vehicles, the Inner Mongolia branch of Beidou Rescue sent a car to take several people to Yinchuan Hedong Airport. The flight had a layover in Xi'an, so Bayunye stayed with Diao Zhuo in Xi'an for a few days, while Brother Long and Hippo went to Lhasa.
The majestic ancient imperial capital of Xi'an showcased the profound cultural heritage of the Guanzhong sacred land everywhere. Whether it was the layout of the streets or the architectural style, everything exuded a sense of historical weight. This was the birthplace of the first feudal dynasty in Chinese history and the cradle of the glorious Tang civilization that influenced the world. It once embraced all cultures, with envoys from countless nations paying tribute here. Renowned literati and poets of the ages composed magnificent poems that later generations could hardly match. Of course, it had also suffered from war and the incompetence of rulers, with cities destroyed and famine rampant, witnessing unimaginable human tragedies. Chang'an encompassed countless wars and chaos, love and hatred throughout history. Even though it was no longer the capital of China, the name "Chang'an" remained the eternal aspiration of the Chinese people.
In the Shaanxi Provincial Museum, Bayunye carefully examined the national treasures behind the glass display cases, her eyes filled with a mix of innocence and curiosity. From time to time, she asked profound and mysterious questions, such as—why do those court lady figurines look exactly like one of my clients? Do you hold the chamber pot or squat over it to pee?
Diao Zhuo occasionally explained a few things to her but was often left speechless by some of her sudden questions. He found her increasingly mischievous and adorable.
Xi'an in October wasn't cold. Diao Zhuo wore a simple tracksuit, and his tall, strong physique made him pleasing to the eye. Bayunye wore a short black leather jacket, looking sharp and stylish. Her jeans and hiking boots accentuated her height and long legs, and with her somewhat exotic appearance, she attracted quite a few glances. Coincidentally, an international modeling competition was being held in Xi'an during those days, and some people even approached them to ask if they were contestants.
"Models..." Bayunye stroked her chin. "They make good money, right?"
"Not sure," he replied, seemingly uninterested in the topic of money. "Thinking of switching careers?"
"Do you think I could do it?" She spun around in place.
"No," the straightforward man answered decisively.
"Is it because I'm not tall enough or my weight..."
"I don't like models."
What a logical reason. Bayunye shrugged helplessly and said narcissistically, "You don't like models, but you like a female driver instead."
He didn't answer, continuing to lead her forward. This woman's taste was simple and straightforward. She dismissed priceless treasures like Tang tri-colored glazed pottery and secret-colored porcelain with a simple "I don't appreciate them," but her eyes lit up at gold-made pots, bowls, and utensils, looking like a money-grubber who wished she could eat from a golden bowl.
"Look at that gold bowl! So round!"
"Look at those gold earrings! They must be expensive!"
"Look at those gold lumps! I wish they were all mine!"
Diao Zhuo finally understood her taste and preferences. He cooperatively took her to a gold artifact exhibition area, gesturing with his chin toward the row of pure gold antiques behind him, teasing her, "Pick whatever you like."
She ran over like a madwoman and browsed around, then suddenly hugged him from behind. "After looking around, I realized only you—I can take with me."
"Am I that cheap?"
"This is called high cost-effectiveness.""Compared to Xi'an, I prefer the name 'Chang'an.' How should I put it? It carries a sense of national prosperity, stability, and enduring peace. Don't we Chinese just love peaceful, secure lives?" After visiting the Shaanxi History Museum, Bayunye stretched lazily on a bench near the exit. "It's been so long since I've been a tourist, let alone had a free tour guide. It feels like you covered a decade's worth of history lessons this morning."
"Have you been to Xi'an before?" Diao Zhuo pulled her up.
"Of course." Bayunye pointed a thumb over her shoulder, self-deprecatingly. "But places like this, for cultured folks... I've never actually been inside. Where to next?"
"I remember you saying you could eat eight roujiamo in one meal." Diao Zhuo led her outside. "I want to see that."
"Eight?" Bayunye played dumb. "I thought I said two."
"Eight."
"I finally make it to Xi'an, and you're taking me to eat roujiamo." Bayunye feigned disdain.
"Vegetable-stuffed buns are fine too," he said, cracking a rare smile.
"No."
"Potato-stuffed buns."
"...Is there anything you people don't stuff into buns?"
"No."
"..."
The ultimate straight man declared with certainty, "If you wanted a full Manchu-Han imperial feast, I'd treat you. But you said eight roujiamo in one meal, and you have to prove it."
Bayunye felt a chill just hearing it. When she'd casually boasted, she never imagined she'd actually come to Xi'an. She'd guided tourists from Shaanxi before, and one burly guy, 185 cm tall and 185 kg, said four roujiamo was his limit. Eight... just the thought made her feel full.
She began to play the delicate card. "Does Xi'an have any mini roujiamo, bite-sized ones suitable for petite girls like me? Meow?"
"Yes."
"Then let's..."
Diao Zhuo sneered. "You're here for the first time in ages. No way am I taking you for the mini version."
"Uh... meow?"
"Don't even try."
Bayunye pointed at him angrily, her true colors showing. "Now you're immune to this trick?!"
Diao Zhuo wrapped an arm around her, like he would a close buddy. "Master Ba chickening out?"
"I don't believe you'd have the heart to stuff me to death." Bayunye threw an arm back around him. "Let's go!"
The two walked arm-in-arm, their steps completely uncoordinated, until Diao Zhuo couldn't take it anymore and pulled her hand down. They continued side by side.
A moment later, Diao Zhuo received a message. He glanced at it when he had a chance. "Coordinates for Gama Mountain—40°42′N, 86°34′E."
Bayunye facepalmed. "Just hearing it makes me dizzy."
"Landmark coordinates can vary slightly depending on the measurer's position. For Guniang Lake, if I measure from the north, south, east, and west, the seconds differ." Diao Zhuo explained as they walked. "I think we should ignore the minutes and seconds and focus on the more stable degrees in the coordinates. So, Gama Mountain is at 40°N, and Guniang Lake is at 41°N."
"So YN, N, M refer to... that string of numbers, XX40417?"
"Exactly."
Bayunye was still completely lost. "40417... I have no idea what these numbers mean. Or maybe we were wrong from the start?"
Diao Zhuo fell silent. "We need to figure out which year it is. Otherwise, guessing blindly based on the last few numbers won't give us any useful information."Bayunye wasn't the type to obsess over details. With a casual wave of her hand, she said breezily, "If we really can't figure it out, then forget it. As long as we both believe they weren't reckless people, that's enough!"
"As one of the parties involved, my grandfather understood the situation better than anyone else at the time. If all he wanted to do before passing away was to tell others 'my son-in-law wasn't having an affair,' he could have just shaken his head or left a simple 'NO.' Why did he leave letters that, once linked to Teacher Ba's photo, could correspond to a series of numbers? I think this was a final message they felt compelled to leave—one that conveyed something far more important than clearing up an affair."
"After my older sister passed away, I was fixated on the idea that she couldn't have been the other woman, but I never considered that the accident might have had other hidden circumstances." Bayunye nodded. "Maybe things like emotional deception or fights were all fabricated, and the real cause of the accident lies in these numbers!"
"Since we've already guessed the last few digits, we can't give up on the year behind the Pearl Peak photo. We have to find a way to uncover it."
Just under two bus stops away from the Provincial Museum was a Ziwulu Roujiamo shop. It was mealtime, and the place was bustling, filled with the lively shouts of Shaanxi dialect. When they reached the entrance, Bayunye was about to walk in, but Diao Zhuo stopped in his tracks. He had only been teasing her earlier—he wasn’t actually that petty.
Seeing the navigation on his phone, which showed a place that looked upscale even in the pictures, Bayunye shook her head. "Not going."
"Blame me?"
"Private kitchens are everywhere—no need to come all the way to Xi’an to scam you out of one. Street food—that’s a city’s DNA. Those fancy restaurants are like pretty skirts, exciting only for a moment when lifted, but boring after a while."
"Bayunye, you’re such a damn rogue."
Crude as the words were, they held truth. Bayunye was straightforward, with an air of worldly boldness. "I’m really craving your local roujiamo. Tonight, take me for paomo and shuipen yangrou. Honestly, that thing you cooked in Qiangtang... I didn’t have the heart to say it at the time—what the hell was that?"
Diao Zhuo snorted coldly. "Didn’t see you eat any less of it."
"Obviously, did I have any other choice?" Bayunye shot him a glare and pulled him into the shop.
Holding a bowl of saozi noodles and a warm, crispy roujiamo, Bayunye was thoroughly satisfied. Due to her profession, she often couldn’t eat on time, and being alone, she was too lazy to cook, which had left her with a sensitive stomach and a small appetite.
"What’s the plan next?" Diao Zhuo asked.
"After November, deep Tibet tourism enters the off-season. We’ll switch to other routes, like the Western Sichuan loop. But with fewer customers, sometimes we can’t gather enough cars, so everyone splits up." Bayunye slurped her noodles unpretentiously, savoring every bite. "This year, we’ll wrap up these last two or three months. From late December to February next year, everyone heads back to their hometowns. As for me, I usually stay in Lijiang, helping Brother Long look after his newly opened inn and learning how to run one. Lijiang never has an off-season, haha."
"Not going back to Yunnan for Spring Festival?""You mean the place in Pu'er?" Bayunye gave a bitter smile, pondered for a moment, and then said, "After the old director passed away, the orphanage was relocated and rebuilt by the government. With charitable donations from society and government support, the conditions are much better than in our time, and the children can receive better care and treatment. Sigh! Actually, the location of our old orphanage was quite good. With some renovation, it could have been turned into a homestay, but it wasn't private property... Still, seeing the original site abandoned, I can't bear it. I heard the land will be requisitioned later to build something else—maybe a park or real estate. Anyway, I can't do much about it, but at least I can give it a thorough cleaning before the Spring Festival."
Diao Zhuo reached out, his thumb brushing the corner of Bayunye's mouth, wiping away a few crispy crumbs.
"What about you?" Bayunye asked. "You guys work day and night and are hardly ever home, but your vacations are long."
"A few buddies are organizing a self-drive trip to Qinghai. I couldn't find any record of climbing Pearl Peak in my expedition journal, so I want to go there again..."
She immediately looked up, half-jokingly trying to drum up business. "Need a guide?"
"I'll be their guide." Diao Zhuo flicked her nose with his finger.
She looked at him intently. "Be careful."
"Don't worry."
"Why would I worry about you?" She laughed. After a moment, she put down her chopsticks. "After finishing the western Sichuan trip, I was thinking..."
"I'll go with you."
"You're not even asking where I'm going, and you'll come with me?" Bayunye raised an eyebrow. "What if I'm going to a women's bathhouse?"
"I'd be more than happy to."
Bayunye snorted. "Who wouldn't be happy about such an obvious freebie?"
Customers began trickling into the restaurant, waiting for tables. Diao Zhuo stood up. "Which women's bathhouse are you going to after finishing the western Sichuan trip?"
Bayunye wiped her mouth and tossed the tissue backward, landing it perfectly in the trash can. "One of my clients is on their honeymoon and hired a car for the Qinghai-Tibet route. Maybe we'll run into each other somewhere in Qinghai? After reaching Lhasa, I'll see if there are any independent travelers heading to Sheep Lake or the Everest base camp. If there are, I'll take a few trips. If not, I'll head back to Pu'er. What about you? When do you start work?"
"Mid-November."
"Until when?"
"Usually, we wrap up temporarily before the Spring Festival."
"Perfect. Come with me to Pu'er for a big cleanup. I could use someone strong and hardworking."
Diao Zhuo tacitly agreed. Bayunye's hand mischievously climbed onto his shoulder again. Even though it was a bit of a struggle to wrap her arm around him, she seemed to enjoy it. "Old buddy, looks like you're just like me, constantly on the move across half of China."
"Life is all about the hustle." Diao Zhuo pointed ahead. "Turn the corner, and we'll reach Daci'en Temple. Can you still walk?"
Bayunye rolled her eyes. "I can't."
"Didn't you claim you could ride a bike around Chongqing for fun?" Knowing full well she was lying with her eyes wide open, Diao Zhuo played along and half-squatted. "I'll carry you."
She didn't hesitate, leaping onto his back. "I want to see what it's like being carried by you. Xiao Ai shouldn't be the only one enjoying this perk."
Diao Zhuo effortlessly lifted her and walked a few steps before asking, "Master Ba, isn't it a bit late for you to be jealous now?"
Bayunye ignored the question, steadied herself on his shoulders, and shouted, "Giddy up!"
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