Chapter 133: Life

The second semester of my sophomore year in high school was shrouded in gloom.

However, this year's proficiency examinations had to be held as scheduled. The testing site was located at Shuijia Lake in Chengguan Town, Changfeng County. Because the strict inspection protocols related to the SARS outbreak were still in effect, everyone had to have their temperature checked before being allowed into the exam hall. For tests as elementary as these, Zhang Tan generally handed in his paper after thirty minutes.

He could have passed them with his eyes closed.

Moreover, his grades in class were not bad at all. Once he cast aside the subjects that dragged him down—physics and chemistry—he could maintain above-average scores in every mock exam. At the end of the previous semester, he had taken tests for Chinese, math, and English; aside from a "good" in math, he had achieved "excellent" in both Chinese and English. This time was no exception, as he earned "excellent" in all three subjects: politics, history, and geography.

This dismal second semester passed under the shadow of the pandemic. With the progress of epidemic prevention and control, by the time summer vacation arrived, the danger had largely subsided, and various activities across the country were able to resume. Zhang Tan’s new book, *The Return of the Condor Heroes*, which had been delayed for half a year, was finally set for publication.

...

Zhang Tan had been working on *The Return of the Condor Heroes* since the beginning of the year, having finished *The Legend of the Condor Heroes* before the Spring Festival. However, the SARS outbreak had disrupted the publishing schedule. Domestic book sales had plummeted, and the Anhui Literature and Art Publishing House, with whom he was collaborating, had postponed the release.

Yet, Zhang Tan’s writing had not been delayed. On the contrary, unable to go out and have fun, he became even more immersed in his work. From February 2003 until the start of summer break in July, he managed to complete the one-million-character manuscript for *The Return of the Condor Heroes*. Averaging two hundred thousand characters a month, this was a prolific output even by the standards of the future web-novel era.

After Zhang Tan delivered the one-million-character manuscript, the deputy director of the publishing house responsible for receiving it nearly popped his eyes out in shock. "You wrote a million characters in such a short time?"

Zhang Tan was puzzled. "Is there a problem?"

"Your speed is terrifying! Other authors struggle to write five hundred thousand characters in a year, even with all their dilly-dallying."

"I wouldn't say that. Some veteran martial arts novelists can easily churn out one or two million characters a year."

"But the quality of this manuscript... I spent half a day reading the opening chapters, and the quality is incredibly high, not a bit inferior to *The Legend of the Condor Heroes*. That is truly remarkable," the deputy director exclaimed. "Little Zhang, you are a genius!"

"You're too kind, you're too kind."

After delivering *The Return of the Condor Heroes*, Zhang Tan decided to properly relax during the summer break. Most of his royalties had been settled, and with a net worth now exceeding three million, he felt it was time to enjoy his wealth. Besides, his family’s financial situation was improving, and his mother, Tan Mingxia, no longer fixated on his earnings as she once had. She simply urged him to save his money and not spend it recklessly, without forcibly confiscating it.

But Zhang Tan couldn't just leave it sitting there. Money was something you couldn't take with you when you were born or when you died—wasn't it meant to be spent while you were alive?

"I want to buy a villa."

Back at his hometown for the summer, Zhang Tan declared this to his parents, who had closed their internet cafe and were busy renovating their house.

Since the family had money, they needed to make their storefront look good. Taking advantage of the government-mandated shutdown of internet cafes during the SARS period, Zhang Quanshun and his wife had torn down their two original bungalows and hired a construction crew to rebuild. This time, they were building a rural mansion: three stories high, with a large garage and a backyard.

Once the mansion was finished, it served as a foundation for them in Gangji Town. Whenever people saw this imposing, luxurious house, they knew the Zhang family had struck it rich.

Tan Mingxia, who was busy calculating the amount of cement needed, rolled her eyes at Zhang Tan. "Are you crazy? Buying a villa? What would you do with a villa?"

Zhang Tan had it all planned out. "Live in it! Right next to our school is the Yuanyi Golf Course. They have detached villas; one unit only costs two million-plus. The money I earned last year is just enough to buy one. I can even get a golf club membership and play a round of golf whenever I have nothing to do."

Tan Mingxia interrupted him bluntly. "Forget it."

Zhang Tan wasn't discouraged. He smiled and said, "Mom, tell me, why do I earn so much money? I've just delivered my new book, *The Return of the Condor Heroes*, to the publisher. If all goes well, that's another few million in royalties, and that's just what I’ve made in half a year. I still have three previous books: *The Four Great Constables: Shocking Guandong*, *The Four Great Constables Meet in the Capital*, and *The Legend of the Condor Heroes*. Future royalties from reprints will guarantee I never have to worry about food or drink. Why can't I have some aspirations?"

"You're still young..."

"But I'm earning money."

Tan Mingxia continued to shake her head. "You have the college entrance exam next year. Didn't you say you were confident about getting into the Beijing Film Academy? Once you're in Beijing, how are you going to live in a villa in Hefei?"

"You guys can live in it! I'll graduate sooner or later, and the only reason I want to go to the Film Academy is to study directing. Maybe I'll finish my studies in half a year and come back to start making films directly."

"Don't be so high-minded. Even if you start making films, you'll be running around everywhere. You'd just be buying a villa to let it gather dust."

"Buying a villa is a sound investment anyway; it's bound to appreciate in value. After buying the villa, the remaining money can be used to pay for a few other properties I've scouted out. In the future, just by collecting rent, our family will be able to live a comfortable life." Zhang Tan continued to search for reasons.

But in the end, Tan Mingxia did not agree to let Zhang Tan buy the villa, and she offered a profound critique of the hedonism he championed.

"You're still young."
"You still have to study."
"Our relatives haven't even started living the good life yet."
"A villa is too conspicuous."
"Save your money to build a career later."
"Buying several apartments in Hefei is more profitable than a villa."
"Wait until you're dating someone to start enjoying yourself."
"Young people should go out and strive."
"Don't think about retiring so early."
"Your father and I aren't used to living in villas."

A barrage of logic hit him. What else could Zhang Tan say?

He could only sigh at the heavens: "Villa, golf, it's so hard to say I love you. My dreams of strolling along sand dunes and boating on Shuangfeng Lake will have to be postponed... But, if I can't fish at Shuangfeng Lake, I can fish elsewhere. Well, I'll go fishing at the Dafangying Reservoir in a few days."

...

The Dafangying Reservoir was located on the Sili River, a tributary of Hefei's mother river, the Nanfei River. It spanned across Gangji Town and Dayang Town and was originally built for flood control before becoming a water supply reservoir for Hefei. It was only in these past two years that people could still fish there; in a few years, fishing would be prohibited, as it was the city's drinking water source.

Zhang Tan liked fishing.

Fishing could cultivate one's character and help calm his impulsive personality. Although he had lived to thirty in his past life, his growth had been stunted by his environment, leaving him somewhat fickle and petty. Now that he had been reborn and become a public figure, he naturally wanted to cultivate himself, to appear more refined and cultured—firmly taking the path of a man of letters.

The sun was high in the sky. Facing the rippling waters of the large lake while hiding under his own sun umbrella was the perfect setting to contemplate life.

"What do I want to do?"
"What can I do?"

As Pavel Korchagin famously said, we must live our lives to the fullest, for even a sudden illness or accident could end it. If every life that comes into this world is lived in a daze for a few decades, it would be too boring—just like Zhang Tan’s previous life.

When he was alive, there were few who cared for him; when he died, perhaps only his parents and sister would think of him.

When he was first reborn, Zhang Tan thought only of enjoying this hard-won new life—eating well, dressing well, sleeping well, having fun, and changing the living conditions of his loved ones to lead an ordinary but not mediocre life. However, now that his material needs were met, his spiritual pursuits stood out all the more.

"The world is so vast."
"Why should I be content with such a small corner?"
"When a wild goose flies past, it leaves a cry... or rather, a person should leave a name behind."
"Why can't I burn with passion at least once?"
"Martial arts made me famous."
"But that is not enough."
"I want more people to know me, to know who Zhang Tan is!"

*Ring, ring.*

The cell phone's ringtone interrupted Zhang Tan's profound contemplation of life.

It was Li Yan calling: "Zhang Tan, where are you?"

"At the Dafangying Reservoir."

"Why did you run off there? Let me tell you some good news: the Anhui Writers Association just contacted me, wanting to invite you to join."