Chapter 27 – Life's Mountain Roads Are Always Twisting
The two stops along the way probably saved his life.
This system really has its limits. If I get carsick, doesn't that mean I'm unhealthy in some way? Why didn't it optimize that too?
If there were a rating system, I'd give it a one-star just for this.
Hey! Say something!
On the bus, Chen Xing weakly tried talking to the system in his mind—but still got no response.
Huaping finally came into view. It was already 2 PM.
Song Shulan hadn't been wrong. As soon as he stepped off the bus, he saw several motorcycles lined up, waiting for passengers. But Chen Xing was too worn out to go looking for a ride immediately. He wanted to find something to eat in town first—he felt like he was about to collapse.
This county town wasn't much different from his hometown's, though it seemed smaller and definitely less crowded than places in Sichuan.
Following the road from the station downhill, he noticed about a third of the shops were closed. Judging from the thick layer of dust on the shutters, some hadn't opened in ages. It looked like business was hard to sustain here.
But the air was remarkably fresh.
The bus station was in the southern part of town. Chen Xing followed the main road into the center. On both sides of the street, the line of trees was unbroken. Every tree was healthy and tall—at any intersection, you could look down and see towering shade trees in both directions.
It was the first time Chen Xing had seen a city take greenery so seriously.
Each tree stood at least two to three stories tall. Some electrical wires even ran right through the canopies. Because the trees grew so close to the buildings, people living on the second or third floor could probably touch the branches from their windows. Living here felt like living in a purpose-built health resort—how could the air not be good?
Though those wires weaving through the trees did look a bit dangerous.
Small animals probably got electrocuted more often than not.
Spotting a breakfast shop that was still open, Chen Xing walked in and asked, "Boss, do you still have any congee?"
"Some kinds, some are gone. What do you want?"
"Vegetable congee, and a boiled egg."
He wasn't feeling hungry in the usual sense—just empty. He didn't want anything greasy, just something warm and mild to fill his stomach.
The boss looked to be around fifty, with a limp, but the shop was very clean—one of the main reasons Chen Xing chose it.
"Boss, not many people around here, huh?"
"Well, everyone's gone off to make money. Where you from, handsome?"
The boss brought over a bowl of congee. Chen Xing stood to take it, then sat down slowly. The congee wasn't hot anymore—just warm. But whatever, at this hour, having congee at all was good enough. No point being picky.
"I'm from Sichuan."
"My daughter's working in Chengdu. Don't be fooled by how empty it is here—come New Year or holidays, everyone comes back. Business is booming then. That's the only time you really make money."
Chen Xing nodded.
That was true. Probably a common issue in many small southwestern towns. Still, back home, the economy was better, and people weren't leaving in such large numbers.
The meal cost only one yuan and fifty cents.
After scanning to pay with WeChat, Chen Xing asked, "Boss, do you know where Chunman Shuizhai is?"
"Chunman Shuizhai? I've heard of it, but never been. I think it's quite a hike?"
"All right, thanks."
Chen Xing figured maybe this was just an isolated case—maybe the old man didn't get out much and had never visited. Or maybe Chunman Shuizhai was just too remote and rarely traveled to, so most people didn't know much about it.
That theory was confirmed by the drivers outside.
They had heard of the village and knew roughly where it was—but none wanted to go.
Chen Xing spent a long time before finally finding a driver willing to take him. But they couldn't agree on the price. The driver asked for 100 yuan—twice what Song Shulan had told him.
It wasn't about the 50 yuan. Chen Xing just didn't want to get ripped off.
"My friend lives there. She said it's only 50. Why are you asking for 100?"
"Your friend?"
The driver gave Chen Xing a once-over but couldn't figure much out. He said:
"That village is way out in the mountains—the road's terrible. I'm not lying to you. You'll have a hard time finding someone to take you. Fifty? That probably only works if someone's already heading there from town and brings your friend back as a favor."
That did sound plausible.
Chen Xing thought for a moment. Song Shulan was only seventeen, probably had little travel experience. She likely got rides from people she knew.
He spent over ten minutes bargaining before the driver finally agreed to take him for 80 yuan.
Once Chen Xing got in, the driver said, "Don't worry, handsome. This price is totally fair. Once we get there, you can ask around. My sister Wang Rong lives there—been married into the village for years. She runs a small shop near the entrance…"
With the thick local accent and wind rushing in through the window, Chen Xing could barely hear him.
Soon after leaving town, the car turned onto a rural road.
Chen Xing opened the emergency dial for 110, then turned off the screen and held onto his phone the whole time.
Aunt Su's advice was clear—safety first.
Before long, they took another turn, leaving the rural road and entering an even narrower mountain path—unpaved, unreinforced, not even laid with gravel. On roads like this, once it rains, you're completely cut off—no one in or out.
Yunnan's southern climate is like spring all year round, but they do have wet and dry seasons. And during the wet season, it pours relentlessly.
The driver kept chatting the whole way.
"If it hadn't been dry and sunny these past few days, I wouldn't have dared bring you here. Just look at this road—does it look driveable? That village you're going to—they don't want to fix the road. Government offered to pay most of it, just needed them to pitch in a bit, but even that they refused. Nothing you can do."
The road was awful. It took over two and a half hours to get there.
By then, Chen Xing's hair had completely dried out. He touched it—it felt like straw.
Was there really scenery here that the system would recognize?
Chen Xing had his doubts. But he had already come this far—no way he'd turn back now.
The car stopped beside a river.
The road ended here. Another path lay on the far side of the river, but there was no bridge—only two narrow concrete beams spanning the banks, like giant white logs, spaced two or three meters apart. It looked like there had been a bridge once, but it had collapsed.
The driver told Chen Xing to get out. Then he said, "I'm not going any farther. Just cross on those beams. Follow the road on the other side for about half an hour and you'll be there."
"You're not taking me all the way for 80 yuan?"
"Come on, kid, it's fine for people to walk across—but if the car falls, then what? Look how wide that is—just go on foot."
With that, he turned the car around. Before leaving, he added, "If you're too scared to cross, I'll take you back. That'll be another 80."
(End of Chapter)