Chapter 21 – Dead Body
Novel Title: 一屋暗灯 (Ephemeral Light)
Author：麦香鸡呢 (McChicken)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 宋谨 (Song Jin -MC), 宋星阑 (Song Xinglan -ML)
*Please read at Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*
֍֍֍
After making sure Song Xinglan had taken his medicine, Song Jin told him to tidy up the pile of items he had dumped out from his luggage. As Song Xinglan was haphazardly sorting through his things, he kept an eye on Song Jin’s movements. When he noticed Song Jin was about to leave, he rushed out of the small room and asked, “Ge, where- where are you going?”
“To the fields,” Song Jin replied.
He had a small plot of land where he grew some green onions, ginger, garlic, and vegetables. He would regularly go there to loosen the soil, weed, and pick some fresh vegetables to eat.
“Can- can I go too?” Song Xinglan pointed to himself. His eyes were full of anticipation. “Take- take me with you, okay?”
Song Jin glanced at him and said coldly, “Suit yourself.”
Song Xinglan excitedly grabbed the hoe from Song Jin’s hand. He ran to open the courtyard gate and turned back to smile at Song Jin, “Ge, let’s- let’s go!”
Song Jin picked up a bucket and a dipper. He walked past Song Xinglan and left the courtyard.
The vegetable field wasn’t far from the house, situated on a small hill, just a five-minute walk away. Along the way, Song Xinglan curiously observed the beautiful villas and asked, “Ge, why- why are other people’s houses so big. And so beautiful?”
Song Jin, walking ahead of him, said, “Live here if you want. Or get lost.”
Song Xinglan immediately quickened his pace to walk alongside Song Jin. Looking at his profile, he said earnestly, “I’ll live- live with you. Anywhere is- is fine.”
Song Jin had no interest in responding to him.
When they arrived at the vegetable field, Song Jin went to the nearby small ditch to scoop water. Song Xinglan, holding the hoe, stood aside and asked, “Ge, what- what should I do?”
“Loosen the soil around the vegetables, just lightly,” Song Jin said without looking up as he scooped water.
“Okay,” Song Xinglan replied.
By the time Song Jin had filled half a bucket of water and straightened up, Song Xinglan had already overturned half of the carrot field.
He probably really didn’t understand what ‘loosen the soil lightly’ meant, as each strike of the hoe unearthed three carrots. If Song Jin had discovered this any later, the entire vegetable field might have been harvested today.
“Stop it!” Song Jin shouted at him coldly.
Song Xinglan immediately stopped and looked at him with some panic, asking, “Is- is it wrong?”
Song Jin didn’t have time for chit-chat. He walked over, took the hoe from Song Xinglan’s hand, and started loosening the soil himself. Song Xinglan stood awkwardly to the side. He wanted to apologise. But seeing that Song Jin seemed angry, he kept his mouth shut.
After watching for a minute, Song Xinglan suddenly said, “Ge, I understand now.”
Song Jin ignored him. So Song Xinglan said again, “Really… I really know how to do it now.”
“This thing is- is very heavy. Let- let me help you, Ge.”
“Let me help you, Ge.”
Song Jin straightened up and looked at him. To shut him up, he handed the hoe back to him and said, “You can eat all the carrots you dug up.”
Song Xinglan held onto the hoe and nodded vigorously, “Yes- yes, I’ll eat them.”
Song Jin picked up the bucket and bent down to water the vegetable field he had just loosened. He glanced to the side and saw that Song Xinglan had indeed learned. He was carefully hoeing the soil. Seeing such a tall person meticulously bending over to hoe the ground looked quite comical. But to Song Jin, it was more incredible than funny.
He knew very well what kind of person Song Xinglan used to be—pampered, capricious, ruthless, and selfish. The most painful and hateful experiences of Song Jin’s life were all thanks to him. While he had never wished for Song Xinglan’s death, he certainly never wanted to see him again.
But here they were, meeting again in this way, with Song Xinglan like this.
Even if Song Jin could now see Song Xinglan as a completely new person, facing that familiar face, he simply couldn’t remain calm and treat him kindly. He dared not imagine what would happen if one day Song Xinglan regained his memory. What would become of them?
A nightmare replayed? If so, then better not make up now.
However, the current Song Xinglan before him was in a daze with no memory. Even if Song Jin hardened his heart to punish or blame him, it would be meaningless. It wasn’t that Song Jin was particularly forgiving, but there was a sense of futility, like playing a lute to a cow. Song Xinglan wouldn’t understand the root of everything. He knew nothing, remembered nothing, and understood nothing.
The two didn’t speak again. Song Xinglan was absorbed in hoeing the ground while Song Jin watered various areas, pulled up some garlic and green onions for cooking, and picked some green peppers and cabbages. He put everything into the bucket. It was almost eleven o’clock. It was time to go back and cook.
Song Xinglan hadn’t finished loosening the soil yet. When he saw Song Jin carrying the bucket to leave, he wiped his sweat and said, “Ge, I’ll- I’ll stay here and finish the work. Then- then you go back.”
His face was a bit red, sweat beading on his nose, and his eyes were bright, like a little wolf running out of the mountains.
Song Jin asked him, “Do you remember the way back?”
Song Xinglan nodded, “I remember!”
So Song Jin said no more and turned to leave.
Back home, he cooked rice and washed vegetables. Song Jin was busy in the kitchen. By the time he finished cooking several dishes, he turned to see that the sky outside had darkened, likely indicating it was about to rain.
But Song Xinglan hadn’t returned yet. Song Jin figured that enough time had passed for Song Xinglan to have hoed the entire neighbouring field.
Perhaps he really had gone to randomly hoe someone else’s vegetable field. Song Jin sighed, grabbed an umbrella, and prepared to go out and bring him back.
As soon as he stepped out of the courtyard, a villager ran up, looking a bit panicked, and said, “Xiao Song, I think there’s a dead person in your vegetable field. I was just about to go up the hill when I suddenly saw it. The dead body was just lying there. I didn’t dare get close to look.”
Song Jin was stunned, “A dead person?”
“Yes, wearing a black shirt. He was lying in the field, not moving at all!”
Song Xinglan was dead?
Song Jin was in a daze for a while. He then instinctively started walking out. The villager followed him, noticing how pale Song Jin’s face had become, and asked, “Is it a guest at your house? Should we call some people to go over together? Just lying there like that, maybe they’ve fainted. It’s quite frightening.”
It was as if Song Jin had just come to his senses. He nodded, “Could you help me go to the health centre to call a doctor?”
“Sure, sure. I’ll go call for you. Be careful by yourself!”
Song Jin only took two minutes to reach the field, though it was a five-minute walk. When he looked up, he could indeed see Song Xinglan lying in the vegetable field.
Without thinking much, Song Jin ran along the field ridge and saw Song Xinglan lying on his side, with his upper body resting on the ridge, revealing his tall profile.
“Song Xinglan?” Song Jin called out to him. His voice was trembling.
He squatted down, unsure of what to do. He didn’t know if Song Xinglan had passed out from the injury on his head or if he had inexplicably died. Song Jin’s mind was in turmoil. Song Xinglan had only arrived yesterday, full of joy at finding his brother, and now he was lying motionless in the field.
Song Jin didn’t dare to push him or turn him over. All he could do was call out to him in confusion, “Song Xinglan?!”
Suddenly, Song Xinglan’s body shook. He groggily opened his eyes.
He turned to look at Song Jin, “Ge? Why- why did you come to find me?”
Song Jin’s heart, which had been in his throat, finally settled a bit. He asked, “Are you feeling unwell?”
Song Xinglan looked puzzled and then shook his head, “No. I’m not feeling unwell.”
“Then why were you lying here?”
Song Xinglan thought for a moment and said, “I- I fell asleep.”
Song Jin: “…”
He stood up, feeling a headache, and massaged his temples.
Song Xinglan stood up and picked up the hoe from the ground. He said, “Ge, I’ve finished everything. Let’s go back.”
He then asked, “Why are there so many people down there?”
The group of villagers and two doctors at the foot of the hill watched as Song Xinglan stood up. They stood still from a distance, staring at the two of them in astonishment.
Song Jin took some time to explain to everyone, saying that Song Xinglan was his younger brother, who had just arrived yesterday and had a brain injury that caused some problems. He got tired and didn’t know the way back home, so he lay down in the field and fell asleep, causing trouble for everyone.
The doctor advised earnestly, “If he has a brain injury, he should rest more and not do heavy work. It’s not good for him.”
Song Jin closed his eyes silently for a moment. He then nodded.
Song Xinglan followed behind Song Jin as they walked back home. Song Jin heard someone say, “What a fine young man. How did he become so foolish?”
“It’s a pity, so young.”
This was how outsiders who were unaware of Song Xinglan’s situation saw him, pitying him and lamenting his fate.
Song Jin glanced back at Song Xinglan. Song Xinglan was still holding the hoe, probably aware that he had caused trouble. His eyes avoided Song Jin’s for a few seconds. But eventually, he tentatively smiled at Song Jin, trying to please him.
***
During lunch, Song Xinglan ate a lot. He remembered what Song Jin had said. He finished the plate of carrots completely, leaving nothing behind.
After finishing his meal, Song Jin went to wash the dishes. Song Xinglan stood by, and Grapefruit suddenly ran over. Song Xinglan squatted down and reached out his hand towards Grapefruit. But then remembered that Song Jin had said not to touch the kitten. So, his hand paused in midair and he turned his head to ask, “Ge, can I touch the kitten?”
Song Jin said, “No.”
Grapefruit, which had been about to approach Song Xinglan, also stopped in its tracks. After a second, it raised its paw and high-fived Song Xinglan before running to Song Jin’s feet.
As Grapefruit followed Song Jin into the kitchen, it looked back at Song Xinglan and meowed.
Song Xinglan squatted on the ground, hugging his knees and smiling foolishly at Grapefruit.
֍֍֍
*Translator’s Note: Honest to God, this chapter is so funny.🤣 -K
Next update: -Daily-
֍֍֍
