DGNTT Chapter 59

“Moving… moving bricks?” Wu Chun asked in astonishment.

 

“Yes,” Xu Shiyao responded, pointing in a certain direction. “It’s right there.”

 

From Xu Shiyao’s point of view, his grandfather was wearing the clothes he had on before he passed, with a towel around his neck. It seemed as though he was stacking bricks and then moving them to another spot.

 

Throughout the whole process, his face remained expressionless, like a machine repeating the same task over and over.

 

Stacking bricks, moving bricks, piling them up, wiping sweat.

 

That was the entire process, repeated countless times.

 

Wu Chun anxiously looked in the direction Xu Shiyao was pointing. He wiped his eyes again, but all he could see was the scattered pile of bricks.

 

“Why can’t I see him?” Wu Chun asked urgently.

 

Besides Xu Shiyao, Wu Chun had seen the soul of another deceased person before, so he had the hope of being able to see his grandfather too. But now, it was as if reality was deliberately opposing him.

 

“Xu Shiyao, I still can’t see my grandfather.” Wu Chun tugged at Xu Shiyao’s sleeve, his voice beginning to quiver with sobs.

 

Wu Chun really wanted to see his grandfather.

 

The separation had come so suddenly, and Wu Chun still had so many things he hadn’t had the chance to say.

 

Even this morning when he left the house, Wu Chun had just made an excuse to step out. He hadn’t even had the chance to say goodbye to his grandfather.

 

Wu Chun’s voice, which started with anxiety and unease, gradually turned into soft sobs of longing.

 

“Xu Shiyao, I really want to see my grandfather.”

 

Xu Shiyao’s heart ached as he looked at the busy figure, unable to interfere with what was happening. He began to think of a solution.

 

Though technically, Xu Shiyao and Wu Chun’s grandfather were now in the same world, Xu Shiyao was a special case. His understanding of this world had come gradually over the past few years.

 

But tonight, some of that understanding began to shift.

 

Before this, Xu Shiyao had thought that when people died, their souls would return home as their first act. But now, that didn’t seem to be the case.

 

Grandfather seemed to have stayed in this place all along.

 

It was unclear what kind of attachment moving bricks had for him that made him prioritize it over returning home.

 

Xu Shiyao felt the need to ask Wu Chun, but before he could speak, he felt a force pulling him back.

 

Only then did Xu Shiyao realize — his time was up.

 

It was time to go back down the mountain.

 

Although it wouldn’t take long for him to return, for Wu Chun, every second of being alone would be agonizing.

 

Xu Shiyao was reluctant, but there was nothing he could do. 

 

In a hurry, he could only say to Wu Chun, “Wait for me, I’ll be right back,” and then he vanished into the night.

 

Wu Chun was left alone.

 

Stunned, he stood there for a long time before he realized what had happened.

 

The night was already cool, and Wu Chun was only wearing a short-sleeved shirt. The wind made the hairs on his arms stand up, and a new, unfamiliar fear crept in.

 

Wu Chun used to long for the night. Night was the time when he would meet Xu Shiyao, and his fear of the darkness had long been washed away by their undeniable affection.

 

Wu Chun slowly crouched on the ground, hugging himself tightly.

 

His mind was foggy, and he mumbled, alternating between calling out for “Grandfather” and “Xu Shiyao.”

 

He was waiting for Xu Shiyao to return.

 

When Xu Shiyao finally came back, he saw Wu Chun in this state. He quickly rushed over and pulled him into his arms.

 

“I’m here,” Xu Shiyao comforted.

 

The person in his arms was still trembling slightly. Even though his mind wasn’t clear, Xu Shiyao could see that his gaze had never strayed from the direction he had pointed out earlier.

 

“Wu Chun,” Xu Shiyao called softly.

 

Wu Chun didn’t reply, but he shifted slightly.

 

Xu Shiyao understood; that was his response.

 

“Did you ever talk to your grandfather about moving bricks while he was alive?”

 

“Moving bricks…”

 

Wu Chun searched his memory for anything related to those words. It seemed like he had never mentioned them, but then…

 

“I remember.”

 

A particular memory came into focus in Wu Chun’s mind.

 

It was last night when his grandfather had brought it up several times.

 

Last night, Wu Chun had chatted happily with his grandfather about the future, about the village’s construction, and about paving roads in front of each house.

 

His grandfather had joked, “I’m getting old, I can’t help with much, but I can still move a few bricks.”

 

Wu Chun had laughed and replied, “Grandfather, you just relax at home and enjoy yourself.”

 

He hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but now, looking back, even though his grandfather hadn’t directly mentioned those words again, almost everything else he said afterward was somehow connected to them.

 

In simple terms, his grandfather wanted to help him.

 

In his grandfather’s eyes, moving bricks and doing small chores was the best way he could contribute at that point.

 

Wu Chun recalled their last conversation, when his grandfather had squeezed his arm and said, with a tone full of concern, “You must be exhausted, Chun Chun. You’ve lost so much weight in just a few days. If only I could help you more.”

 

“Grandfather is moving bricks,” Wu Chun mumbled, as if asking Xu Shiyao, but also as if talking to himself.

 

“Yes, he’s moving bricks,” Xu Shiyao replied softly.

 

“Xu Shiyao,” Wu Chun suddenly tugged at his shirt. “Can you talk to my grandfather?”

 

Looking at Wu Chun’s tear-filled eyes, Xu Shiyao hesitated, then stood up. “I’ll give it a try.”

 

He walked in the direction of Wu Chun’s grandfather.

 

But the old man seemed completely unaware.

 

“Grandfather,” Xu Shiyao called gently. There was no response. Undeterred, he called several more times. On the last attempt, he added, “Wu Chun has something to say to you.”

 

The old man’s movements slowed. He turned his head, his eyes vacant, his lips moving slightly as if muttering something.

 

Xu Shiyao stepped closer, barely making out the words.

 

“Moving bricks, building roads, helping Chun Chun lighten the load.”

 

Xu Shiyao felt a pang in his heart. He finally understood. He had thought people would return home because home was their greatest attachment after death. But for Wu Chun’s grandfather, his desire to help his grandson was stronger.

 

That’s why he was here.

 

For the elderly, their greatest strength lies in doing the smallest things with all their heart.

 

“Did my grandfather say anything?” Wu Chun asked as he came closer.

 

Xu Shiyao told him what he had heard.

 

After hearing it, Wu Chun stood still for a long time.

 

“Why can’t I see him?” Wu Chun asked, full of confusion.

 

Since he had already been given this unique ability, why not let him see one more person?

 

“Wu Chun,” Xu Shiyao didn’t know how to console him, so he simply pulled him into his arms. “He’s always thinking of you.”

 

Thinking of me…

 

Wu Chun let out a long sigh. He remembered the promises he hadn’t fulfilled, and his heart ached again.

 

He recalled his grandfather’s playful words: “You must build the widest road, all the way to my door.”

 

“Can my grandfather hear you?” Wu Chun asked.

 

“What do you want to say?”

 

“Tell him I’ll definitely build the widest road, straight to his door.”

 

Xu Shiyao relayed the message word for word.

 

“Did he hear it?” Wu Chun asked.

 

It took Xu Shiyao a while to respond.

 

“He smiled.”

 

“He smiled?” Wu Chun asked.

 

“Yes, he smiled,” Xu Shiyao replied softly.

 

Wu Chun looked up. At that moment, the clouds parted, and moonlight poured down.

 

Under the moonlight, Wu Chun seemed to see the figure of his grandfather moving bricks.

 

He raised his right hand slightly, but just before it dropped, Xu Shiyao caught it in his own.

 

“I’ll only be sad for one more day,” Wu Chun whispered.

 

“And after tomorrow?” Xu Shiyao asked.

 

Wu Chun hesitated, looking at the figure that seemed so unreal, blurring the line between reality and illusion. Then, a faint smile appeared on his face.

 

“After tomorrow, I’ll do all the things I haven’t finished yet.”