Story Reader / Main Story / 28 Polaris Bond / Story
To celebrate his eightieth birthday that's coming up in two days, Ma has made a reservation at The He's on North Twelfth Street.
The He's isn't an overly big restaurant. At most, it can fit only eight tables.
Ma is thinking about inviting some old friends from the Nighter and several old acquaintances who came back home over the years. In total, they could fill two tables, which would be quite lively.
There has to be alcohol, except it's too expensive, which is why Ma is thinking about buying some from the grain shop tomorrow. But he isn't going to make his friends drink while eating pickled vegetables, so he's going to have to ask He to make some good dishes to go with the alcohol.
Can't be too shabby. There's got to be a few cold dishes and a few hot ones...
Ma calculates the expenses for tomorrow while stirring the grub in his pocket, sitting on the stone stool at the courtyard gate and sipping tea that has long lost its color.
In three days, Ma would still be Ma, except he'll have turned eighty then.
However, with his granddaughter working and he himself having to take care of the chores at home, Ma looks all but like someone who's turning eighty in just a few days.
He's sturdy and is happy and happy to do these things. He just can't stand not doing anything and would rather spend time keeping the house spotless.
Mr. Ma, aren't you going to sit in the courtyard?
A woman in a white coat comes out of the door and nods at Ma.
No, I'm just soaking up the sun here. I'll go for a walk later.
Don't forget your medicine.
Yup, will get to it. Thank you.
The woman in the white coat says nothing more, smiling and walking out of the alley.
Ma likes Yu from the west wing very much. The child grew up on the Nighter, survived several terrible conflicts, and finally settled down to become a doctor at the South Port Medical Center.
Ma heard from his granddaughter that Yu was such a great doctor that even Babylonia was trying to recruit her as a doctor.
Babylonia... hmph.
Another reason Ma liked Yu was that she didn't decide to leave Kowloong for Babylonia. Of course, he only heard this from his granddaughter, but Ma doesn't care if this hearsay is true. Out of his heart, he has a profound respect for people willing to make such a decision.
Unlike the Gaos who lived in the main house, Yu's family of three relies on her job to make a living. Her husband, a frail young man with thick glasses, stays home reading and writing all day like a real scholar.
But seriously, how does one make a living writing poems and essays these days?
Their six-year-old girl is adorable and always running around the yard or to the door of the east wing asking Ma to play with her, or chasing butterflies and dragonflies with the knotweed he gave her.
Mr. Gao living in the main house wears glasses just like Mr. Hu, except Ma never sees Mr. Gao at home with his wife. They should be rich enough to have a kid or two, but Ma has never seen them with a kid.
Which is why Ma always urges his granddaughter to settle down or even just to start dating at least. He believes that it wouldn't be hard for her to find herself a proper man given his reputation.
Ma stops fiddling with the grub in his pocket, smoothes his unshaven beard, and starts daydreaming about holding a great-granddaughter or great-grandson.
But whenever Ma brings this up to his granddaughter, she always brushes him off with all sorts of excuses. Their conversations sometimes even turn into heated arguments when he presses too hard.
She's just being the teenager she is, I guess... The kid really reminds me of her dad, though... Argh.
Ma lets out a sigh and takes a big gulp of his now-tasteless tea, then quickly stands up from the stone stool.
The warm noon sun shines on his face, his deliberately grown beard almost covering the scar on the back of his neck. He stretches and walks into the alley.
It's been three years since the Nighter docked outside the port.
The river that once nurtured Old Kowloong City flows from the mountains in the northwest into Kowloong and branches out around an island in the city. One branch continues southeast into the sea, while the other flows out through the Hexabridge Gate in the old city's west.
Due to the bay's structure at the southeastern estuary being unsuitable for port construction and too far from trade routes, the western estuary became Kowloong's commercial hub.
The main axis of the Hexabridge Gate extended outward, dividing the entire Hexabridge Port into northern and southern districts.
The northern port district, closer to Kowloong's land transport routes, mainly handles local trade orders. There is, however, an exception—the Akdilek merchants who speak fluent Kowloong dialect, since the place is closer to their railway tracks.
They would haggle with northern port traders in fluent Kowloong dialect or even write in the ancient trade symbols used by Kowloong merchants centuries ago.
Despite their language and cultural differences, they have to adopt Kowloong's methods to secure their interests in this land.
If goods arrived at the northern port and needed to be shipped from the southern port, they would be sent via underground rapid transport tracks. These tracks, resembling old-era subways, are for transporting goods only.
One can always trust the administrators in Bixi uniforms with their goods after telling them what to do. The freight handlers would load the items into lined containers and, within minutes, all the cargo would be swiftly transferred to the southern port docks.
While the northern port, with its preserved rail transport, seems somewhat underdeveloped, the southern port is a vision of the future.
The entire southern port district is fully automated. Managed by Chiwen and Bixi, trade operates smoothly. People only needed to fill out orders on their terminals, and Kowloong would handle the rest, with all sorts of automated machines transporting the goods.
Shuttles and freight machines move through the complex overpasses and airways of the southern port, with massive containers traveling through the concrete jungle, eventually ending up on cargo ships bearing "Kowloong".
Even in this age of automation, these massive ocean freighters retain a tradition from the Golden Age—each ship is still led by a captain. Once at sea, the captain holds absolute authority and has to live and die with the ship.
One by one, the ocean routes weave an ever-beating heart, connecting Kowloong to the world of splendor.
These ocean freighters are now known by another name—the Nighter.
Of course, Ma remembers these things. At this moment, he is crossing a dusty stone road for an old friend's courtyard on North Twelfth Street.
Wooden poles support electrical wires over rows of houses, each with a different color—grayish-blue, light blue, brick red, and various mixed hues.
It's not because the people living here have different tastes, but because of all the building materials available in the northern port district years ago.
Beyond these colorful houses, the sunset shines on the towering Central Purification Filter on the main avenue. Next to this newly built filter is a massive, half-demolished cooling tower.
The cooling tower, like a dead giant turned to concrete, stands next to the slender new filter.
Thus, the dead giant and the new filter cast their shadows on the intricate paths of North Twelfth Street.
The alley where He lived is much like Ma's, except merchants come by all the time because of He's restaurant, bringing a bit of the old hustle and bustle.
When Ma pushes open the plywood gate and walks through, the noise around him instantly fades into the background.
Hey, there you are!
When He sees Ma walking in, he waves at him from under the tall paulownia tree he's sitting, still wearing an apron. Compared to the other elderly men sitting around, He seems more lively, which makes sense—because he is actually younger.
The other elderly men sitting around He move their stools to make space for Ma to join them.
What's up?
Where were we?
We were just talking about Boss Xu's son.
A tall, thin man sitting diagonally across from Ma picks up the conversation. He speaks slowly while peeling a sunflower seed.
Ma recognizes him. They are actually quite familiar with each other. On a certain level, they've been through a lot together.
Boss Xu's son? What happened?
He's dead.
Dead?
This is probably what they were talking about before Ma got here, but the other elderly men sigh all the same when they hear this.
Wait... what happened to him?
I saw him at the shop when I went to get rice a few days ago.
My wife said he went inside the rice de-husking machine for maintenance, and Boss Xu didn't know his son was in there.
And he turned on the switch... and you can probably imagine what happened next.
Wenche continues peeling his seeds calmly, as if life and death mean nothing to him.
Oh... poor young man.
Boss Xu is just a few years younger than you, right, He?
Hmm... I think I'm 61 this year? Baofang! Baofang?
He shouts across the yard.
Yes?
I'm 61 this year, right?
Yes, why?
Nothing, just checking!
Bad memory, huh?
I think he's just scared of his wife.
The man sitting next to Ma rolls his left eye unnaturally, then pats the side of his head, causing everyone to burst into laughter.
Master Si, why don't you get a new one? Or bring it to my place and let Yu fix it for you?
Nope, don't think I'll need that.
But seriously, you should probably...
I said no.
Tsk, hard like a rock, huh? Guess that's why he's still single now!
The rest of the group burst out laughing, but Master Si doesn't seem to care.
It's not like it isn't working or anything.
Hey! He!
A woman with a headscarf pops up from behind the plywood door on the other side of the yard as she waves a spatula toward He under the tree.
It's mealtime! Get going already!
Alright, alright, I'm coming.
He smacks his lips, puts the sunflower seeds back on the small table under the tree, and wipes his hands with his apron.
Alright, see y'all around...
In the afternoon the day after tomorrow, yeah?
Of course.
Oh, right, let's go over the dishes... You know what, we'll talk about that tomorrow!
He nods and smiles as he rushes through the door and takes the spatula from the woman's hand.
Told you he's scared of his wife!
There is no way He could run a restaurant this size on his own without Baofang.
Master Si, how's the thing coming along?
Wenche takes a sip of tea and tosses the seed shells onto the heap of junk on the table.
Master Si shakes his head and lets out a sigh.
You're talking about the dossier, right?
Yes.
I heard it went missing back then because of the war.
No biggie. I can live with that.
You can probably manage, but what about your kids?
Without saying anything, Master Si swallows a breath and stops drinking his tea.
That money is rightfully yours, though. Ain't no way you're gonna miss your share.
It's not like we're running short on food or anything, right?
Master Si waves his hand, unwilling to continue the conversation.
I've still got my son.
Hey...
Beep—Beep—Beep—
The faded terminal hanging on the paulownia tree suddenly lets out a few sharp beeps.
What's going on?
Beep—Beep—Beep—
Attention, attention... The Nighter Representative Committee hereby asks that all residents return home in an orderly manner and await further instructions...
Attention, attention... The Nighter Representative Committee hereby asks that all residents return home in an orderly manner and await further instructions...
All of a sudden, every single terminal in the residential area is broadcasting the same announcement on replay.
Bet something is happening.
Argh, but I just got here...
Ma stands up and stretches.
And you, Master Si?
I'm outta here, too.
Let's all head back home and talk tomorrow.
He? He—
Wenche shouts at the kitchen He has just gone into, his voice, though showing his age, sounds unusually clear over the repeated alarms.
Yup, heard that!
Says He without coming out of the kitchen.
Let's talk when this is over.
When Wenche stands up with Ma, he feels a sudden pang of lightheadedness.
Before he falls to the ground, though, a rough, age-spotted, firm hand that barely has any fingerprint left holds him by the shoulder.
Take your time there.
Thanks.
Wenche nods at Master Si, who escorts Wenche to the door alongside Ma.
Attention, attention... The Nighter Representative Committee hereby asks all residents...
Stay safe.
Yup.
Can you two make it back? There are people everywhere now.
No biggie. We're used to it.
Master Si nods at them. With it, Ma and Wenche step into the orderly crowd heading home under the guidance of the alarm.
An elderly worker with graying hair removes the wooden bar from the door. He hesitates for a moment before closing the heavy door and latching it with a click.
Master Si!
He runs out of the kitchen and joins Master Si at the gate.
Did Ma and Wenche head back already?
Yes.
Alright then... What about the kids? And Wang Sr.?
The kids are all here.
The children at the west wing door seem to have noticed Maser Si and scramble back into the room. Unable to contain their curiosity, however, they peek out from the door.
They've been running around all afternoon, but they're all here now.
Let Xianqi stay at the factory. If anything happens, the factory will take care of it.
Of course. Wang from the main house can come in through the restaurant when he's back here in a bit.
Says He as he takes the door latch from Master Li and puts it on the gate.
That thing isn't going to stop no one from coming in...
Well, let's just say it's for peace of mind, yeah?
Not the first time this is happening, though.
He scratches his head and runs back to the steaming kitchen.
Turning to walk toward his room in the west wing, Master Si says no more.
Hmm...
Alright kids, chop chop and go in.
Like an old bird urging its chicks back to the nest, He waves his arms.
Hey, don't be scared. Nothing is gonna happen, alright?
With his chicks all back to the nest, He feels at ease and quickly walks to the gate in the courtyard.
He!
Hey!
Come and close the door!
Huh??
Having just gone into the kitchen, He quickly pokes his head out again, but Master Si is now nowhere to be seen.
I'm heading to the factory.
Make sure the kids behave.
On his way back from North Twelfth Street to his large courtyard home, Ma saw Mr. Gao's family rushing home. Now, the couple seems to be having a discussion with Yu's family in the west wing.
Welcome home, sir.
Mr. Gao, who usually has little interaction with the Mas, quickly invites Ma in. Once inside, Ma can't help but notice how anxious everyone here looks.
What's everyone doing here?
The Nighter issued an emergency broadcast asking everyone to stay home. Said they had an important announcement to make.
Well, God only knows what's going on... but this is pretty common, no? I mean I was pretty sick a tired of all these emergency broadcasts back in the time when they did it every two or three days.
Did you hear about anything else?
The well-dressed woman standing next to Mr. Gao is his wife.
Me? No. Why, though?
People in the medical center were already talking before the Nighter's broadcast...
They were saying how Chaofeng and Pulao had negotiated these terms with Babylonia, and that we'd all be moving to the Clean Zone.
For real?
A friend of mine who does business with Norman Minerals told me the same thing. He said we'd all be safe from the Punishing because the place is "clean."
The factory would be safe, too, if it gets moved there...
Nonsense.
Ma shakes his head disdainfully.
We're finally back home after all these years out at the sea. Just who in their right mind is going to want to move again?
Might as well just take us straight to Babylonia, no? Makes me wonder why they aren't doing that.
I think it's probably just a rumor, too, if you ask me.
So... did you hear about anything else, Ma?
Says Mr. Gao with a knowing face, which Ma picks up. He knows exactly what Mr. Gao is getting at.
You mean Zhishi?
Yes. Information coming from Pulao Crew is usually reliable.
Well... honestly, that beats me.
Isn't it because Pulao hasn't been around these days? The rest of the Pulao Crew has been working nonstop and it's been half a month since they were last home.
Is that so...
Anyhow, none of this really matters now. We should all go home alrea...
Right then, a rapid knocking cuts Ma short.
Ugh, talk about bad timing...
Standing by the door, Mr. Hu removes the door latch. With it, a young girl comes rushing in, knocking Mr. Hu over.
Argh... Zhishi?
There's an emergency—
