Chapter 592: Eternal Life
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
As he reached the shop entrance, Zhang Zian saw a dark shadow flash by the door from the inside, as if Richard flew away in a panic as soon as it saw him.
After entering the store, he took a quick glance at Lu Yiyun. She had a weird look on her face. She had shifty eyes and her head was bowed low, like she was trying to hide something.
He had too many things to think about, and didn't have the time to deal with her weird behavior. Maybe she was trying to decide whether or not to go back home for the Spring Festival.
Once inside, he fed the roasted meat to the hungry elfins, who were on the verge of an outrage.
Fina and Snowy Lionet couldn't wait any longer and immediately feasted on their meal. These two had barely moved all day, but somehow still had a huge appetite.
Old Time Tea's table manners were much more civilized. It took of its bamboo hat, wiped its paws with the wet wipes that Zhang Zian had gotten out, and slowly started eating.
Richard also fluttered its wings and asked for food. Zhang Zian fed it nuts and chopped vegetables. It babbled on about Billy as it ate. It looked like even food couldn't stop it from talking.
He took out his phone so he could talk to Sun Xiaomeng about keeping the cats in the diner. Old Time Tea swallowed a mouthful of roasted meat and asked, "Zian, did you buy anything for the festival? The prices will go up on everything the closer it gets to the Spring Festival."
"There's nothing I need to buy. It's better to buy fresh vegetables anyways, as needed. It's okay if it costs a little bit more." He smiled.
"Don't you need firecrackers and fireworks? I always feel like the festival spirit in Binhai City is disappointing. It's never festive here." Old Time Tea sadly spoke as it looked through the glass door.
This was the first Spring Festival the elfins had in the pet shop, including Old Time Tea. It was expected that the other elfins were less interested in the traditional Chinese New Year. But for Old Time Tea, who had a strong sense of tradition, it felt like it was missing out on the traditional festival experience.
Zhang Zian had also celebrated festive New Years in his childhood. But as fireworks were gradually becoming banned in major cities, and as people had a growing variety of entertainment activities in their lives, the traditional Spring Festival was getting less popular. Old Time Tea was not the only one that sensed the fading festivity levels. Zhang Zian and many others felt the same way.
But there was nothing they could do about it. This was the price of passing time and advancement.
Zhang Zian explained why firecrackers were banned, which was mostly because of the effects on air quality and injuries caused by fireworks.
Old Time Tea grunted "Oh", and expressed its understanding while stroking its beard. Sorrow was written all over its face. It murmured, "Another year ended with the sound of firecrackers, and the spring breeze is bringing warmth to the air."
After the Spring Festival, Old Time Tea will have gained another year to its age. It was probably expressing its sentiments on its youth, which was gone forever.
Zhang Zian didn't want it to stay sad, and smiled. "It's okay, Old Time Tea. The firecrackers are only banned in the city. We can still head to the suburbs during the Spring Festival. They haven't banned firecrackers over there."
Old Time Tea smiled too. "It doesn't matter. I'm just contemplating. Zian, go on ahead with your business. Pi isn't doing so well, so you should spend more time with it."
As it finished talking, it continued on with its dinner and TV.
Zhang Zian wanted to say something to comfort Old Time Tea, but couldn't manage to utter a word each time he opened his mouth. He knew that life and death would eventually happen to everybody. However, were the elfins bound by same things, as creatures born with the Strength of Faith?
He took another glance at Fina and Snowy Lionet, who were still devouring the roasted meat. Snowy Lionet noticed his gaze, and stared at him fiercely while tilting its head, pieces of meat sticking to its nose.
Fina and Snowy Lionet were still in their prime years. But one day, they would age as well, just like Old Time Tea.
He went upstairs, and saw that the lights were off in the living room. Pi's face was reflected on the monitor screen. It had put on the clip-on glasses again, and was typing slowly. It was either in a bad mood, or having trouble writing the story.
"Pi, why don't you turn the lights on? It's bad for your eyes to use the computer in the dark."
He turned the lights on and drew open the curtains.
The titleless book was open, placed by the computer. A page fluttered in the breeze as Zhang Zian drew open the curtains, making him think of a line of a poem from the past: The breeze knew no words. But why did it make the pages turn?
In front of the book, he was the breeze that knew no words.
"Eek." Pi scratched its head as if it suddenly realized something. It appeared to have forgotten about its surroundings, as it was too focused.
"Pi, get up and take a break. You can continue writing after getting some rest." Zhang Zian pointed at the basket hammock.
Pi nodded, as Zhang Zian took it ito the hammock.
Although it wasn't the first time that he'd held it, Zhang Zian felt that it was too light, like a baby, small and fragile.
"Eek?"
Pi made a gesture to ask where he had went just now.
"I went to Sun Xiaomeng's pet clinic. You know it. Then I talked a bit with a math professor," replied Zhang Zian. Pi had never met Sun Xiaomeng before. But since it knew everything about the past, it knew everything about Sun Xiaomeng.
Pi blinked, as if it was interested in the word math.
Zhang Zian picked up the untitled book. He wasn't wearing the glasses, and the pages were blank. He casually flipped through it, and switched to a more relaxed topic. "Let me ask you a question."
"Eek?" Pi tilted its head in confusion.
"This is a book about life, the universe, and everything else." Zhang Zian handed the book to it, then asked half jokingly, "Since it's about life, why did it never talk about how to extend one's life, or how to have an eternal life? You may not know this, but I'm afraid to die. So many emperors in ancient China have sought after the elixir of life, but why have none of them found it yet?"
Pi picked up the book, flipped the pages carefully, and then shook its head.
The answer was what Zhang Zian expected. There wasn't any proof of the elixir of life. If everybody could be immortal, the Earth's population would explode.
"How about elfins? Can elfins' lives be extended?" he asked casually.
Pi picked up the book again and flipped through it. This time it took a longer time. It scratched it head and frowned, as if it was encountering a difficult puzzle.
It didn't immediately deny the possibility, which gave Zhang Zian a little hope. If there wasn't any hope, he could only accept the fact that Old Time Tea was getting older. But now, with a slight chance, he cared about it even more, and was afraid of getting disappointed.
After another moment, Pi finally put the book down, and nodded yes with a serious expression.
"Oh? Really? An elfin's life can be extended?" Zhang Zian quickly got excited. "How do you extend it?"
Pi pointed at the laptop, asking for Zhang Zian to bring it over.
It typed, The time has not come yet. The future is still undetermined.
Zhang Zian thought about these words back and forth. Although the time hadn't come yet, it was definitely good to know that life could be extended. It was like the difference between zero and one.
"Extendable by how much? Two years? Three?" he asked again, trying not to be too hopeful.
Pi typed, Indefinitely.