Axolotl Translations

The two of them chatted along the way, arriving at Jiuru Village a little after 4 PM.

It had been years since Shangguan Yu last set foot here. His memory of the place was hazy at best, but now, seeing it again, he realized it had changed beyond recognition. If Zuo Zhou hadn’t been the one driving, he doubted he’d be able to find his way at all.

Leaning against the car window, Shangguan Yu watched the scenery rush past and couldn’t help but sigh. “It’s changed so much.”

Zuo Zhou nodded as he focused on driving. “Yeah, the government has been providing a lot of support these past few years. Plus, there have been many generous people donating money and resources. They’ve built new roads, and the housing conditions have improved a lot.”

Shangguan Yu listened, nodding thoughtfully as he kept his eyes on the view outside. He watched as Zuo Zhou drove into Jiuru Village and navigated the winding roads. After a few more minutes, the car finally pulled up in front of a house.

Letting out a deep breath, Zuo Zhou pulled the handbrake and grinned. “Safe arrival! Brother Yu, this is my home.”

Following Zuo Zhou’s gaze, Shangguan Yu looked outside. By the roadside, a modest, single-story farmhouse stood quietly.

Behind it, taller buildings—some two stories, some even three—had sprung up, making the little house seem all the more simple, almost fragile in comparison.

Yet, despite that, it was still in much better condition than the image Shangguan Yu had carried in his mind all these years.

“This… this is your home?”

Zuo Zhou knew exactly what had surprised Shangguan Yu, so he chuckled and explained, “Brother Yu, after you left that year, our house was renovated three times—twice with government support and once thanks to a donation from a private entrepreneur. That’s how it ended up looking like this.”

“Alright, let’s go inside. The changes inside are just as big.”

“Okay.”

With Zuo Zhou’s help, Shangguan Yu got out of the car and into his wheelchair. Then, Zuo Zhou pushed him forward, leading him into the courtyard.

The first thing that caught Shangguan Yu’s eye was how neat and well-maintained everything was. The small farmhouse courtyard was spotless, with a paved path running through the center. On either side, rectangular garden beds were filled with different kinds of vegetables, all growing healthily. At the back of the yard, there was a chicken coop, and from inside came the constant clucking and chirping of chickens.

This wasn’t just an improvement—it was an entirely new place compared to the broken, lifeless yard Shangguan Yu remembered.

As soon as they entered, Zuo Zhou called out, “Grandma! I’m home! Grandma!”

“Alright, alright, I’m coming…”

A warm voice answered from inside the house, and soon, an elderly woman stepped out.

She wore a faded blue apron over a simple floral cotton jacket, the kind grandmothers often wore. In her hands, she carried a large basin—she had probably been preparing food for the chickens.

She paused at the doorway, peering in their direction before hesitantly calling out, “Zuo Zhou?”

“Hey!” Zuo Zhou responded loudly and cheerfully as he pushed Shangguan Yu forward. “Grandma, this is Shangguan Yu, the older brother who’s been sponsoring my education. I’ve told you about him before.”

As they moved closer, Shangguan Yu noticed that Grandma Zuo’s eyes had a slightly cloudy appearance—her vision didn’t seem to be very clear.

Sure enough, she squinted at him for a long moment before finally breaking into a warm smile. “Ah, I remember now! Your ‘angel’ big brother.”

Shangguan Yu: “…Grandma, hello.”

“Yes, yes! Hello! Xiao Yu, come in, come in. My grandson told me you were coming, so I prepared lots of delicious food. Hurry inside!”

With a welcoming smile, Grandma Zuo stepped back and lifted the thick cotton curtain hanging over the door, waiting for them to enter.

At the entrance of Zuo Zhou’s house, there were two small steps—not an issue for an able-bodied person, but for Shangguan Yu, they were an insurmountable barrier.

“I got this.”

A warm, familiar voice sounded beside him.

The next second, Zuo Zhou firmly grasped both sides of the wheelchair’s armrests, lifting Shangguan Yu with ease. In one smooth motion, he placed him gently on the landing at the top of the steps.

“Let’s go, Brother Yu.” Zuo Zhou leaned slightly toward Shangguan Yu’s ear, his voice carrying a smile. “Time to head inside.”

The thick cotton curtain fell behind them, sealing out the cold. In an instant, the warmth of the house enveloped Shangguan Yu completely.

“Is it warm enough inside?” Grandma asked. “My grandson told me you were coming, so I made sure to keep the stove burning. There’s hot water too—would you like some?”

Being cared for so attentively by an elder left Shangguan Yu feeling both surprised and a little unaccustomed to the warmth. Just as he was about to express his gratitude, Zuo Zhou cut in.

“It’s warm, it’s warm! Everything’s perfect, Grandma. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of Brother Yu.”

“Oh, alright, alright.” Grandma chuckled, clearly trusting her well-behaved grandson’s words. “Then I’ll go feed the chickens first, and after that, I’ll start preparing dinner.”

“Okay, Grandma, go ahead.”

Shangguan Yu also thanked her before she left.

With Grandma gone, only the two of them remained in the house.

Zuo Zhou pushed Shangguan Yu into a spacious room adjacent to the living area, carefully settling him in before finally putting down the large bags he had been carrying. Then, he started unpacking.

“We’ll be staying in this room tonight,” Zuo Zhou said while efficiently organizing their things. “It’s close to the entrance, so I usually stay here. My grandma’s room is across the hall.”

Shangguan Yu didn’t want to sound difficult or ungrateful, but as Zuo Zhou spoke, he had already scanned the room—and spotted the issue.

There was only one bed. A double bed.

Noticing his prolonged silence, Zuo Zhou paused what he was doing and turned to face him. “What’s wrong?”

“…You only have one bed in this room.”

“Yeah, because I usually sleep alone.” Zuo Zhou grinned, his smile bright and carefree. “But it’s pretty big—over two meters wide. If we share, it shouldn’t feel cramped.”

Shangguan Yu was speechless. …That’s not the point!

“The blankets are thick in winter, so we won’t even touch each other. Besides, right now, I’m the only one who has feelings for you, Brother Yu. Even if my thoughts were impure or my body felt uncomfortable, that would be my problem alone. But I swear, I’d never disrespect you. So, if anyone’s going to have a hard time tonight, it’ll be me.”

Zuo Zhou continued earnestly, “That’s exactly why I figured you wouldn’t mind sharing a bed, right? If it weren’t so cold, I’d definitely sleep on the floor, but… if I do that now, I might wake up with a cold tomorrow.”

“Enough, stop talking.” Shangguan Yu sighed, rubbing his temple. “You don’t have to sleep on the floor. We’ll just… make do.”

Internally: Well, I’m already here. What else can I do? If I’d known earlier that Zuo Zhou only had one bed, maybe I’d have had second thoughts… But it’s winter, we’ll both be bundled up under thick blankets, and it’s not like he’s the kind of person who would try anything.

“Alright! I’ll get everything set up!” Zuo Zhou agreed cheerfully and got to work with enthusiasm.

Shangguan Yu tucked his hands into his pockets, quietly watching as Zuo Zhou busied himself. His gaze swept around the room. It was spacious yet simple—clean and tidy, just like its owner. Even though he had grown up in a home with limited resources, Zuo Zhou had still turned out to be such a bright, hardworking, and warm-hearted person.

Zuo Zhou finished setting up the bed and turned around, only to see Shangguan Yu sitting in his wheelchair, quietly looking around as if lost in thought. He couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Yu, what’s on your mind?”

“Oh, nothing.” Shangguan Yu came back to his senses. “If you’re done, let’s go to the kitchen and help prepare dinner. Grandma should rest a bit. Also, let her check the things we bought, especially the down jacket you picked out—see if it fits her.”

Zuo Zhou didn’t say a word, just nodded repeatedly, his lips curved into a bright smile. His eyes sparkled as he looked at Shangguan Yu, filled with a warmth even stronger than the fire in the stove.

Feeling slightly uncomfortable under that gaze, Shangguan Yu averted his eyes and maneuvered his wheelchair toward the living room.

“Bring the stuff and come over. Where’s the kitchen? Let’s take a look.”

Watching Shangguan Yu’s “flustered retreat,” Zuo Zhou couldn’t hold back his laughter. “Alright! I’m coming!”

Dinner was finally prepared with both Zuo Zhou and Grandma working together in the kitchen.

The kitchen, located on the east side of the courtyard, was spacious but a bit chilly. No matter what, Zuo Zhou refused to let Shangguan Yu stay in such a cold place, insisting that he go to the living room and watch TV instead. Even Grandma chimed in, telling him to stay inside where it was warm. With no other choice, Shangguan Yu obediently complied.

To welcome him, they prepared an incredibly hearty meal—three different meat dishes, including pork knuckle, braised pork belly, and stewed pig’s trotters.

“And this grain liquor,” Grandma said with a cheerful smile as she pushed an old-looking wine jar toward Zuo Zhou. “I brewed it myself. Open it up, grandson. It’s the New Year—we should celebrate with a drink.”

“Alright!” Zuo Zhou took the wine jar, cradling it in his arms as he examined it. A flash of surprise crossed his face. “Grandma, is this the one you sealed when I got into college?”

“Yes.” Grandma lovingly patted Zuo Zhou’s head. “When you were accepted into college, I was so happy that I used the best wheat to brew this jar of wine. Originally, I planned to open it when you graduated and got a job, so we could celebrate together. But today, with Xiao Yu visiting, it’s also a big occasion for our family. So let’s open it now.”

“Absolutely!” Zuo Zhou nodded enthusiastically. “Brother Yu coming over is the biggest blessing—this calls for a celebration!”

Before he even finished speaking, he had already yanked off the jar’s seal.

A rich aroma of liquor filled the air instantly, rushing into Shangguan Yu’s senses. The fragrance was bold and slightly spicy, making his head buzz just from the scent alone.

Zuo Zhou poured him half a cup and slid it in front of him with a grin. “Brother Yu, every family around here brews their own grain liquor. It’s smooth and not too strong in alcohol content, but don’t be fooled—the kick is pretty powerful. It can hit harder than some high-proof liquors, so take it slow.”

Then, as if sharing a secret, Zuo Zhou leaned in close to Shangguan Yu’s ear and whispered, “If you can’t finish it, just pass it to me.”

Shangguan Yu wasn’t a lightweight when it came to alcohol. As he looked at the seemingly ordinary half-cup of grain liquor, he didn’t take Zuo Zhou’s warning too seriously. Out of courtesy, he simply nodded in acknowledgment.

What caught him off guard was that after pouring his drink, Zuo Zhou went ahead and filled Grandma’s cup as well—except hers was a full pour, noticeably more than what he had given Shangguan Yu.

Shangguan Yu shot Zuo Zhou a dissatisfied glance. Seriously? Grandma is over seventy, and she gets a full cup while I only get half?

Zuo Zhou, sharp as ever, immediately noticed the look. Tilting his head with a knowing smile, he said, “Try it first. If you want more, I’ll pour you another, okay?”

That final “okay?” rolled off Zuo Zhou’s tongue with the same coaxing tone an adult would use on a stubborn child.

A faint heat crept up Shangguan Yu’s ears. He turned his face away, choosing to ignore the remark entirely.

Zuo Zhou, watching him, couldn’t help but stare at the sliver of bare skin peeking out between his hairline and collar. His throat suddenly felt dry. Almost instinctively, he ran the tip of his tongue over his lips.

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