What Joy Is There in Life? (A Liangshan Fanfic)

Zhang Qishan motioned for him to open his palm, then placed the Two-Ring Bracelet in his hand and held it there for a moment.

“The Two-Ring Bracelet can open the secret room in the Crescent Hotel. Everything brought back from Gu Tongjing is at Wu Shan Ju. You know what to do.”

“Yes, I understand, sir.” Zhang Rishan's hand trembled as he closed it around the bracelet.

“You have to live well. If you ever meet a girl you like, give her the Two-Ring Bracelet. Consider it my wedding gift to her.” He smiled, and a tear rolled down the weather-beaten lines of his face. “Just... don't let her down.”

With every passing day, Zhang Qishan felt that his release was one day closer.

“The weather's been lovely this year. It still hasn't snowed.” Afraid he might feel cooped up, Zhang Rishan kept finding things to talk about.

“It'll... snow soon.”

The third day of the New Year was the liveliest time in town. Children playing in the alleys brought life to the bleak winter days.

Zhang Qishan passed away, and no one knew except Zhang Rishan.

On the day of the funeral, the first snowfall of the year came to Golmud. Zhang Rishan remembered that many years ago, around this time, he had accompanied the Buddha Lord and his wife to the temple to fulfill a vow. He remembered the Buddha Lord holding incense before the statue and making three wishes.

First, may peace reign throughout the land, with calm seas and clear rivers.

Second, may we look back on the years gone by, and may old friends stay by our side.

Third, may those who love each other grow old together.

Back then, Zhang Rishan understood the first two wishes, but no matter how hard he tried, he could never fathom the third.

Now, standing in the snow for a long time, Zhang Rishan finally understood what it meant to grow old together. But time could not be turned back, all his old friends were gone, and there was no one left to share a deep love with.

Time spares no one, yet it had forsaken him.