WOOY Chapter 11

From Liuyuan to Dunhuang[mfn]A real city. In the past it was located on the Silk Road- photo 1 at the end[/mfn], it’s 130 kilometers, a two-hour drive. The three of them formed a convoy.

Fei Tang led the way, and was very high-spirited. His car was the most eye-catching, drawing numerous glances along the way. During a stop at a gas station for a restroom break, he saw two young girls taking selfies in front of his car. When they saw the owner coming out, they felt embarrassed and giggled as they ran away.

Fei Tang shouted at their backs, “It’s okay, beauties! Do you want me to take a photo for you?”

Chang Dong maintained a central position and controlled the speed. He drove slowly, and the closer they got to Dunhuang, the more heavy-hearted he became.

Ye Liuxi took the rear as usual, occasionally rushing to the front in a burst of excitement. Whenever her car drove alongside Fei Tang’s, Fei Tang acted as if he’d taken a dose of adrenaline, revving up and zooming far ahead with a howl.

Then, Ye Liuxi’s car would inevitably slow down, like an old ox cart, and lag far behind.

After a few times, Chang Dong felt that Ye Liuxi was just teasing Fei Tang, and Fei Tang wasn’t quite up to her game.

As they neared the Dunhuang toll station, Chang Dong pulled over.

Ye Liuxi immediately followed and stopped, while Fei Tang’s car went far ahead before turning back.

Chang Dong got out of the car and handed a list of items to Fei Tang. “I’m not going into Dunhuang. I’ll bypass the city. You go in and buy the items according to my list and take care of these matters.'”

 

Dunhuang was the base for westward expeditions. Back then, when Chang Dong was here, both he and his car were the center of attention. Later, when the “Black Camellia” team was formed, at least a quarter of the members were local elites within their circles…

He didn’t want any trouble, and entering Dunhuang would inevitably be a problem.

Fei Tang took the list and stammered as he read: “GPS satellite positioning device, two satellite phones, heavy-duty fishing line… I mean, can you even fish in the desert? Life straws[mfn]this probably refers to a water filtration product[/mfn]… Straws are just straws, what do they have to do with life? Sand protection board[mfn]photo 1 below [/mfn]… Rent an aerial drone… Rescue registration. If helicopter prices exceed the budget, don’t choose it. Seriously, Dong Ge, can we even afford a helicopter to save us?”

Chang Dong had a headache, thinking Fei Tang probably wouldn’t manage.

He couldn’t help but look up at Ye Liuxi. Ye Liuxi’s face was expressionless. “Don’t look at me. Even though I’m capable, I have my specializations. I don’t know what life straws and sand protection boards are either.”

Chang Dong hesitated for a moment, then took back the list and signaled to get back on the road.

 

——

After entering the city, Chang Dong tried to avoid drawing attention: he chose a very secluded hotel, parked both his and Fei Tang’s cars, and used Ye Liuxi’s car to run errands and purchase equipment.

It was a good idea to bring Chang Dong along, as he was familiar with several second-hand equipment shops and could get quality goods for half the price. Occasionally, Ye Liuxi would follow him inside to observe. After he made a deal, she would check the price of new items on her phone, and each time she finished searching, she found Chang Dong to be even more eye-pleasing.

The second-hand shop was quite crowded, as it was autumn, the peak season for trips to Lop Nur. Earlier it was too hot, and later it would be too cold. The most dangerous season was June—both Peng Jiamu[mfn]a real person- I have included some details about him at the end [/mfn] and Yu Chunshun met their demise during that time.

In a shop selling car parts, Ye Liuxi noticed someone in the corner casually lifting their phone and taking a photo of Chang Dong’s side profile.

She calmly moved closer.

She heard the person talking to their companion.

“Is that Chang Dong?”

“Yes, it’s him.”

“Damn, how shameless. After such a big incident, I thought he had left the scene. Now that the storm has passed, he’s back to make money.”

“Such a person should be banned. Letting him lead a team again is a crime. Who’s the idiot that hired him? Are they looking for death?”

It’s one thing to insult Chang Dong, but why drag her into it?

Ye Liuxi said, “It’s me.”

The two were caught off guard, one of them dropped their phone in surprise, and Ye Liuxi swiftly caught it. She brought it up to see, but it was too late.

The photo had already been posted in a large WeChat group called “Northwest Adventure Home,” with over four hundred members. The group was exploding with activity, and comments were scrolling up rapidly.

“Seeing is believing! Is this Chang Dong?”

“Damn, I’d recognize him even if he turned to ashes! Is this in the ‘Wolf Walks the World’ store? I saw the sign on the wall.”

“Is that Chang Dong from the Black Camellia team? Wait, is he in a car parts shop, planning to lead an expedition? That’s a death sentence…”

Truly like a rat crossing the street, everyone wants to beat him. Ye Liuxi almost felt sorry for Chang Dong. She turned to the phone owner, “I’m not saying you shouldn’t look, but did you have to post it in the group? Why do you like to stir things up so much?”

Before finishing her words, she loosened her grip, and the phone fell straight to the ground, screen down.

The person said, “You…”

“What do you mean ‘you’? Your phone was already falling; should I have caught it? And what did you just say to me? Remember?”

The person, realizing they were in the wrong, thought back and acknowledged their words were indeed inappropriate. Their companion tried to mediate, saying, “Forget it, don’t argue with a woman…”

Holding back their anger, they picked up the phone to find the screen covered in cracks.

 

Ye Liuxi let out a cold laugh and walked back. Chang Dong was almost done, waiting to settle the bill. He frowned at her and asked, “What happened?”

“Making friends. Someone asked for my number.”

She walked to the store’s entrance and motioned for Fei Tang to come over. She said, “Go tell Chang Dong that when we eat later, he shouldn’t enter the restaurant. He should go back to his room and eat instant noodles. I think he’s going to get beaten up.”

Fei Tang hurried off to report to Chang Dong.

Ye Liuxi glanced sideways: after hearing the message, Chang Dong showed no expression. He took the change from the shop owner and neatly placed it back into his wallet, bill by bill.

 

——

At noon, Chang Dong went into the restaurant to eat.

It was a fairly large self-service fast food place. Customers carried trays and helped themselves to small portions of meat and vegetables. Rice and seaweed soup were free.

There were no other restaurants nearby, so Ye Liuxi also came in. While grabbing a tray, she pulled Fei Tang aside and nodded in Chang Dong’s direction. “What’s going on?”

Fei Tang was also puzzled. “I told him, Sister Yexi, I really did. I even emphasized it.”

He then tried to reassure her. “Don’t worry, Dong Ge can take a beating. It’s not his first time.”

He couldn’t resist the urge to recommend a video of Chang Dong getting beaten up to her.

He couldn’t help it; he had always enjoyed seeing others’ misfortune. His own happiness depended on others’ tragedies.

 

Ye Liuxi sneered, “Me, worried? He’s the guide. If he gets beaten and has to recover here, I’ll have to stay and feed myself for several more days. Isn’t that a waste of money?”

Fei Tang opened his mouth, unable to understand the logic: Whether Chang Dong recovered or not, wouldn’t she still have to eat?

Ye Liuxi left him behind and got her meal. In the crowded stream of diners, she met Chang Dong again.

On his tray were braised pork ribs, boiled dried tofu strips, bamboo shoots with pork, steamed egg custard, rice, and fish ball soup.

On her tray were bean sprouts, tofu, rice, and seaweed soup.

Chang Dong’s gaze swept over her tray. “Didn’t you make money yesterday? Why don’t you treat yourself to something good?”

Ye Liuxi replied, “I didn’t make enough. The one getting beaten up needs to eat more meat for nutrition, I don’t.”

They brushed past each other, and during the meal, she didn’t sit with them as usual, choosing a table two tables away.

Halfway through their meal, a group of burly men entered, each looking imposing. The leader, with a flushed face, said, “Where is he? He’s here, right?”

Ye Liuxi’s heart skipped a beat, and she bit her spoon, watching as the group stopped in front of Chang Dong and Fei Tang’s table.

The restaurant gradually grew quiet. Those seated near Chang Dong instinctively moved their chairs away. After a couple of seconds, Fei Tang, carrying his tray, nodded and bowed as he navigated through the group to join Ye Liuxi.

The leader of the group, genuinely angry, spoke with a trembling voice, “It’s really you, Chang Dong. Do you have no shame? My nephew was born without ever seeing his father. Do you think hiding and paying compensation is enough?”

 

The more he spoke, the angrier he became. He swung his hand, but Chang Dong turned his face slightly, avoiding the hit, though his hat brim got knocked askew.

He reached up to straighten his hat.

Fei Tang, nervous and dry-mouthed, said, “It’s over. Dong Ge is going to get beaten up. Sister Xi, are you… going to help him?”

Dong Ge would understand if he fled at the last moment. His small frame wasn’t built for fighting, and besides, this matter had nothing to do with him—interfering would be pointless.

But Ye Liuxi was different. That night in the car, seeing her one move, he knew he had met a tough character. If she intervened, the situation would definitely change.

Ye Liuxi said, “Haven’t I helped him? I told him to hide, but he didn’t listen. He needs a beating; it might make him more compliant.”

He had previously advised her to be mindful of the law, not to cause trouble for everyone, and not to delay the journey. Fine, now she was returning the favor in kind.

You don’t disrupt my plans. If you don’t hide, everything is self-inflicted. Even if you get your leg broken today, you must enter the Gobi tomorrow. If you don’t, I’ll break your other leg and provide you with crutches to maintain balance.

The situation on the other side was deteriorating. Another slap landed heavily on the table, causing it to tremble three times. The shop owner turned pale, wanting to intervene but not daring to. Ye Liuxi picked up a piece of tofu, just about to put it into her mouth—

 

Chang Dong suddenly called out to her, “Ye Liuxi!”

Ye Liuxi was so startled she dropped her tofu. “Huh?”

Chang Dong turned his head, looking at her through the gaps in the crowd. “Today, I don’t want to get beaten up or cause trouble. How much will it cost for you to help me settle this?”

Ye Liuxi didn’t hesitate, “Eight hundred!”

Chang Dong nodded, picked up his tray, and walked towards the seats a few rows back. The leader of the group realized what was happening and took a step forward to grab him—

Just then, Ye Liuxi kicked a long bench towards the man’s knees, causing him to hurriedly retract his leg in a panic. As he stumbled, Ye Liuxi moved in.

The man, trying to reason, said, “Miss, we’re only here for Chang Dong. You should stay out of this. It won’t be good if you get hurt.”

Ye Liuxi replied, “It’s fine. You can direct your blows at me. To be honest, Chang Dong anticipated your visit, and I was hired specifically for this…”

She lowered her voice, moving closer but ensuring everyone could hear, “I’m a three-time national martial arts champion. This place is too small. Let’s find a bigger space, and don’t come at me one by one—it’s a waste of time. Come at me all at once.”

With that, she grabbed the man’s shoulder and dragged him outside.

Fei Tang watched the group leave, feeling extremely lonely at the now-empty table. After a while, he sheepishly went over to sit with Chang Dong again.

……

 

——

By late afternoon, Fei Tang returned with the last batch of supplies: a carload of bottled mineral water. According to Chang Dong’s calculations, considering daily water usage, each person would need eight bottles a day, storing a ten-day supply required ten cases.

He pushed the door open and found Chang Dong carving leather with a push knife, the table covered in countless shavings. He had likely been sitting there all afternoon.

Fei Tang said, “Hey, Dong Ge, Sister Yexi is back. Did you see her?”

Chang Dong said, “Really.”

“She is cooking braised pork ribs. She has all the pots, pans, and stoves in her car. I just passed by, and the water was just boiling. It’ll take a while to stew… Finally, an improvement in our meals. Actually, cooking it ourselves is good—cleaner. Who knows what kind of gutter oil and shady ingredients those outside places use…”

Fei Tang grumbled as he headed to the restroom.

Chang Dong put down the carving knife, walked to the window, and opened it a crack.

 

It was almost dark. The trunk of her car was open, and a light was on, making it look like a small stall. The light illuminated a charcoal stove in the center, and the lid of the small pot on the stove occasionally lifted, releasing white steam that rose into the twilight tinted by the light.

Ye Liuxi, wrapped in an army-green cotton coat, sat on a small stool, intently watching the pot. From time to time, she lifted the lid, scooped some soup with a spoon, and tasted it to check the seasoning.

Many people who were lively in front of others were especially quiet when alone.

Chang Dong closed the window.

Tomorrow was the first day of the west-bound journey. Usually, on the first night when he led a team, they would stay at… Goosehead Sand Dune.

 

TL’s note: 

I found the following information here:

Peng Jiamu was a scientist that liked to explore the more exotic and interesting parts of nature. In 1980 he led an expedition to the Lop Nur lake, but the conditions were tough. One morning he left the group in search of water and never came back. There are many speculations about his death, but the author of this book is probably playing with the idea that there are supernatural causes. 

The other guy mentioned- Yu Chunshun- also disappeared there.

photo 1 -Dunhuang