Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

  The taxi driver saw the strange expression on Zhang Xian’s face and thought that they had arrived at the wrong place. He asked, “What happened? Is this not your destination?”


  Zhang Zian nodded stiffly, took out his wallet and paid the fare. “Sir, can you tell me when the library was refurbished? I remember that the library didn’t look like this before, right?”


  The driver gave the change to Zhang Zian and replied, “I heard that the new leader of the city has demolished the old library, and this is the new one that was built at the end of last year.”


  Zhang Zian took the change, said thanks to the driver and got out of the car. After the taxi drove away, he observed this newly completed library in detail.

  The flat and wide library of the post-modern architectural design style seemed like a collapsed bookshelf on the ground. Its window panes in diverse sizes looked like books that had been turned open. The open gate was as though it was inviting visitors to enter the ocean of books and swim in it.

  Outside the library was a small fountain plaza with a circle of benches for people to rest in the square. Several pigeons were jumping in the square and pecking at the bread crumbs and other food that people were feeding to them. Although it was winter, the water columns of the fountain still pushed to the sky, and a few common goldfish were leisurely swimming in the pool.

  The environment was refreshing and helped relax the tension in people.

  But Zhang Zian did not have time to appreciate the scenery. He took out his cell phone and looked at it. The library was indeed located within the range of the light circle. Perhaps it was his illusion, but he had a vague feeling that the light circle was dimmer than before, like a fire of life that was gradually going out.

  He had observed the street from the taxi. There were basically only two major structures on this street; one was the Dongfeng Park and the other was the library. However, both places were very large, and it would take a long time for him to search Dongfeng Park alone thoroughly. Hence, he could only choose to go to one place. He hoped that the elfin was indeed in the library as the game had suggested.

  He held his phone as he walked around the peripheral wall of the library and confirmed that the elfin was not outside, and that he came to the entrance of the library.

  The entrance to the library was made up of a pair of tall, auto-sensing glass doors that also looked like an open book. There were brass metal plaques hanging on both sides of the doors which were engraved with two sentences like couplets in black and bold characters. “Diligence is the path through the mountain of books,” and “Industriousness is the boat across the endless sea of study.”


  From time to time, some people walked in and out of the library, ranging from teenagers to the white-haired elderly. Some people were holding new books that exuded the fragrance of ink, while others were empty-handed but seemed very satisfied. Some newcomers like Zhang Zian looked in awe at this mountain of books.

  The library seemed to be surrounded by a mysterious power that made everyone tread lightly for fear of disturbing the serenity of it.

  “Manager Zhang?”


  While Zhang Zian hesitated, a familiar voice came from behind.

  Zhang Zian looked back. Standing behind him was a gentle, middle-aged man. Since his mind was occupied by how to find the elfin, he froze for a moment before he realized who this person was.

  “Teacher Meng?”


  The middle-aged man was Meng Li, who had bought a Cocker Spaniel from Zhang Xian. He was a teacher at Binhai University, but Zhang Zian was not sure what discipline Meng Li had taught.

  Meng Li was wearing a long black woolen coat that almost touched his knees. Inside the wool coat was a shirt and a cashmere vest. There were two thick books under his armpit. He gently approached Zhang Zian and asked, “Manager Zhang, what a coincidence to run into you here. Are you also borrowing books?”


  It felt nice for Zhang Zian to encounter an acquaintance. Though he was not here to borrow books, he cheekily admitted, “Yes, as the saying goes, books are the ladder of human progress. It’s never too late for me to learn even if I am just a pet shop owner.”


  Meng Li did not know that Zhang Zian was talking nonsense, so he said pleasantly, “Manager Zhang, don’t look down on yourself like that. It’s hard for anyone to reach the top-level of one specific industry. In the era of knowledge explosion, we, especially as teachers, must learn constantly, otherwise we will fall behind the times soon.”


  Zhang Zian nodded absentmindedly, and his eyes fell on the books under the arm of Meng Li. He asked, “Teacher Meng, are you here to return books personally? Why not ask your graduate students to help you?”


  If Zhang Zian remembered correctly, Meng Li liked to make his graduate students do chores for him, such as walking his dog.

  “The borrowing time of these two books is about to expire soon. I will return the books first and then borrow other books and will read in the library for a while. Manager Zhang, do you feel the same way as I do, that reading in the library reminds you of the days at school? Because you don’t have to think of anything else, just immerse yourself in the ocean of knowledge.” Meng Li handed the books under his arm to Zhang Zian.

  Zhang Zian did not understand and was not interested in the spiritual world of the scholar. But when Meng Li handed over the book, he glanced at it out of courtesy.

  “D … d …d …dio…” He stared intently at the title of the book, stumbled for a long time like a jammed old-fashioned cassette recorder, but still couldn’t spell that word completely.

  This book was written in English entirely. It was preserved very well and almost seemed like a new one. There was a bar code labeled by the library on the side of the book. The title of this book was very long, and Zhang Zian couldn’t understand over half of the words in the title. Beneath this book, there was another thicker English book with a longer title.

  “Oh, this is the Approximation of the Diophantus on the Linear Algebraic Groups, a subject that I am interested in recently.” Meng Li could not bear to hear Zhang Zian’s stutter anymore, and he rescued Zhang Zian from embarrassment.

  Scratching his head, Zhang Zian defended himself. “In fact, I have been studying genetic engineering recently, and my English level has slightly declined. I will pick up learning English if I have time.”


  “Oh, Manager Zhang is interested in genetic engineering?” Meng Li found his words dubious.

  Zhang Zian nodded solemnly, “Yes. Mainly focusing on modern genetics.”


  The study of the pedigree of Abyssinian cats should be included in the realm of modern genetics, right?

  Meng Li was a devoted and serious scholar and had no idea that Zhang Zian was hoodwinking him. Meng Li started to believe the words of Zhang Zian and praised him. “Manager Zhang, you are so diligent. No wonder you come to the library on the morning of the New Year’s Day.”


  “Oh, you are very diligent yourself.” The bubble of his hard-working image would certainly have exploded if the conversation continued, so Zhang Zian quickly changed the topic. “By the way, how’s the eyes of your Cocker Spaniel?”


  Zhang Zian had forgotten whether the dog he sold to Meng Li was a British Cocker Spaniel or an American Cocker Spaniel. But regardless of their breeds, Cocker Spaniels had potential health hazards with their eyes. British Cocker Spaniels were prone to suffer from progressive retinal atrophy, while American Cocker Spaniels were prone to suffer from hereditary cataracts.

  Meng Li replied with a smile, “Thanks for asking. Its eyes are fine for the moment and there is no sign of illness. I have always been taking it to undertake regular physical examinations. Even if I don’t have time, I will let my graduate students take it there.”


  How omnipotent your graduate students are! Zhang Zian pouted and said to himself. Are they graduate students or your housekeepers?

  “That’s great to hear… I used to go to other libraries, and this is my first time here…what should I pay attention to?” Zhang Zian pointed to the entrance to the library behind him.

  “It’s similar to other libraries. If you are here for the first time, you should go to the service desk to apply for a library card. Let’s go, I will lead you there… I need to return my books anyway.” Meng Li said enthusiastically.

  “Thank you for taking out your precious time to help me! Let’s go in, it’s quite cold outside.” said Zhang Zian.

  As if remembering something, Meng Li pointed to Zhang Zian’s cell phone and said, “In principle, phones are not allowed in the reading room. If you must use it, you should keep it in silent mode, or the staff might ask you to leave.”


  Zhang Zian said, “Well, it is impossible for me not to use my cell phone, I will mute it now.”


  He set his phone to silent mode, and entered the library after Meng Li.