Chapter 32

After lunch, Lu Yancheng and Song Si went out to buy a Go board and some Go books.

Several minutes after they left the hospital room, He Yunzhen stood up. “I’m going to find out if there’s a 20-year-old surnamed Du on the national team.”

Lu Yuanzheng nodded.

He wanted to know the answer too!

Because he still couldn’t bring himself to believe that someone could die and be reborn.

He really wanted to see whether something was wrong with him—or if his son and Old Chen had just lost their minds.

He Yunzhen first made a few phone calls to sisters and friends she knew, pulling several strings, and finally managed to get the number for the national Go training team.

Her heart was pounding when she made the call. “Hello, is this the national Go training team?”

“Comrade, may I ask who you are?”

He Yunzhen quickly mentioned the name of a connection she had gone through several layers to reach. “Here’s the thing: there’s a young person in my family who’s very interested in Go and wants to learn. I was wondering if you have a young man surnamed Du, 20 years old, who might be able to teach my child?”

The person on the other end was clearly stunned and replied rather tactfully, “Comrade, if the child is just beginning to learn Go, a small local Go club will do. The basics are quite simple, and not all children are necessarily suited for this.”

This was outrageous! Calling the national training team to find a beginner’s Go tutor? That was like using a priceless blade to chop vegetables!

He Yunzhen insisted, “But do you have someone like that on the team?”

“We really don’t.”

Afraid the person had made a mistake, she clarified, “I mean the young Du who played against Kato Masao in the China-Japan Go Challenge.”

Now the other side was even more confused. “Comrade, the China-Japan Go Challenge doesn’t start until the day after tomorrow. If you’re interested, it’ll be on TV—you can watch it.”

He Yunzhen froze.

The match isn’t until the day after tomorrow?

“Thank you.”

She hung up the phone, but her thoughts were in turmoil.

No. Impossible! Song Si couldn’t be someone who was reborn!

She must have read about it somewhere. That had to be it!

Yes, definitely!

Besides, the person on the phone said there wasn’t any 20-year-old surnamed Du on the team.

She returned to the hospital and told Lu Yuanzheng what she had found out.

Lu Yuanzheng was momentarily stunned.

If Song Si’s inner thoughts weren’t real, then how did she know about the China-Japan Go Challenge happening in a few days? She didn’t know they could hear her thoughts, did she?

But if her thoughts were real… then the training team had confirmed that there wasn’t a 20-year-old surnamed Du!

“Let’s wait a few days and see.”

He Yunzhen nodded. “Have Yancheng and Si come back yet?”

“Not yet,” Lu Yuanzheng replied.

He glanced at the time. The two had been gone for quite a few hours now.

Just as He Yunzhen was about to say something, the hospital room door suddenly opened.

Song Si and Lu Yancheng came in, carrying a bunch of things. One bag was for Grandma Lu, and the other…

Lu Yuanzheng and He Yunzhen took a closer look—yep, it was a Go board and Go books!

Song Si really knew how to play Go?

He remembered that Song Dalong and Li Li had never mentioned this before, and considering their background, it was unlikely they could’ve afforded Go lessons.

This was…

Lu Yuanzheng couldn’t help but ask, “Si, do you know how to play Go?”

“A little,” Song Si replied.

“Where did you learn?” he asked.

Song Si hesitated. “Someone at the zhiqing outpost knew how to play. I watched them a lot and gradually picked it up.”

Lu Yuanzheng nodded. “Shall we play a game?”

Song Si was a bit surprised. “Dad, you know how to play too?”

“A little,” he said quietly.

Song Si noticed Grandma was still asleep, but the bowl of noodles she had packed for her was gone.

Lu Yuanzheng quickly explained to the two of them, “Your grandma woke up and ate the noodles but fell asleep again before you came back. She’s only been asleep a little while.”

Lu Yancheng looked relieved. “Good.”

Song Si also nodded. “Dad, shall we play a round?”

She took the new Go board and placed it on an empty hospital bed.

Lu Yuanzheng sat down by the bed, and Song Si sat across from him.

He Yunzhen stood behind Lu Yuanzheng, and Lu Yancheng moved beside Song Si—both of them now watching the game.

They decided who would go first—Lu Yuanzheng took black and started; Song Si took white.

After just ten or so moves, Song Si frowned.

[He doesn’t seem very good… should I go easy on him?]

Lu Yuanzheng: “!!!”

He really wanted to say “don’t bother,” but held it in.

He Yunzhen, who didn’t understand Go at all, could tell from Song Si’s thoughts that she must be quite skilled.

Still lost in thought, she heard another line from Song Si—

[Forget it. I should respect my elders—and the spirit of Go.]

And so, in less than twenty minutes, not a single black piece remained on the board.

He Yunzhen was stunned. “Lao Lu… did you lose?”

Lu Yuanzheng: “……”

Wasn’t it obvious?

His skills were average, sure, but he had won a championship in the workplace Go tournament!

In his whole life, this was the first time he’d been completely wiped off the board!

He took a deep breath and looked at Song Si. “Si, let’s play another.”

The second game ended even faster than the first, and once again, not a single black piece remained.

Song Si looked at his expression. “Dad, maybe we should stop? I might have a bit of a talent for Go?”

Lu Yuanzheng took a deep breath. “One more game!”

Three games, three total losses. All pieces wiped out.

He could no longer stay calm.

This is what she calls “a bit” of talent?

She might not know the exact extent, but this wasn’t ordinary talent—that was for sure!

Song Si glanced nervously at his face.

[This old man’s face looks terrible. Could he have heart disease? What if he has a heart attack? I should’ve let him keep a few pieces.]

Lu Yuanzheng: “!!!”

He didn’t have heart disease!

No need to let him keep anything!

And now he remembered what she had said earlier in her thoughts. So “respecting one’s elders” meant wiping me off the board completely?

This is how she respects her father-in-law?

Lu Yancheng spoke up at the right moment. “Dad, are you okay?”

Lu Yuanzheng’s face darkened. “What do you think?”

He handed his father a Go problem book. “I think you might need to practice these.”

Lu Yuanzheng: “Get out!”

He stood up. “I’m going out for a smoke.”

He Yunzhen looked pale as she glanced at Song Si.

Could she… really be reborn?

“I’ll go check on your dad.”

She followed him out.

Song Si looked timidly at Lu Yancheng. “Sorry, I…”

[What do I do? This is kind of addictive! Crushing noobs feels so good!]

Lu Yancheng’s dark eyes fixed on her face for several seconds before he said, word by word, “It’s okay.”

Not far outside the room, Lu Yuanzheng leaned against the wall, gritting his teeth.

What?

Addicted?

Crushing noobs feels good?

He Yunzhen, worried he might really have a heart attack, said, “Lao Lu, are you okay?”

Lu Yuanzheng took a deep breath and growled, “Yunzhen, come with me. I’m going to buy some Go books too!!!”