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墨書 Inktalez
Puzzles are like a chain reaction; every time a clue is discovered, another mystery seems to emerge right after.
The Water Lily Diagram, mercury poisoning, a medicine bottle, and old songs—these things appear unrelated, yet they seem intricately connected. However, the truth remains distant and elusive.
Yusheng couldn't bear to see Yuejiang looking so haggard. After Yuejiang chose a burial site for Father, Yusheng suggested, "Why don't we visit my hometown? It's a rural area north of Huai Cheng, almost cut off from the world. It hasn't changed much in decades, with a network of waterways and lush green mountains. If you’re willing to take a walk there, I believe it will lift your spirits."
Yuejiang accepted Yusheng's suggestion. The two first took a train northward, then switched to a bus to reach a remote town. After walking for two hours, they finally arrived at Yusheng's hometown.
At first, Yuejiang only knew that Yusheng came from the countryside, but he was surprised by the scene before him—isolated, backward, and quite impoverished.
However, the scenery was beautiful; the distant mountains and nearby waters resembled a traditional landscape painting, reminiscent of Lin Nan's charm.
Yusheng pointed to a puddle and said, "I’ve always felt a special connection with my teacher. The first time I visited your home and saw that Water Pond outside the window, it felt like I had returned to my hometown."
"Did you know? This used to be a pond where my father grew some Water Lilies. When I was young, my brother and I often ran to the pond to catch fish. After Father passed away, the pond gradually fell into disrepair."
"Oh? Your father liked Water Lilies too? Those flowers aren’t native here; how did he get the seeds?"
"The elders in the village say my father was once a Sent-down youth. He came here and never left. My mother died during childbirth, and later Father fell ill and lost his mind."
"He was only thirty-one when he died. My brother and I were just five then; it was our maternal grandparents who raised us. My brother got into police academy first, which strained our family finances. When I got into art school, I didn’t dare hope to attend; I planned to come to Huai Cheng to work while studying painting. But unexpectedly, my teacher accepted me and even waived my tuition fees. I've always regarded my teacher as a father figure; I believe no one else could treat me as well as he does."
Yusheng's difficult childhood experiences with Shao Chong struck Yuejiang deeply. Just as he was about to give Yusheng a comforting hug to reassure him that he wasn’t alone, he suddenly felt as if he had been jolted awake. He looked up sharply and said urgently, "Wait! Yusheng, think back to what you found in those newspapers you showed me—my father was also a Sent-down youth! And I remember it was right here!"
Yusheng suddenly realized and exclaimed, "Are you saying that the teacher knows my father?!"
"That's very likely," Yuejiang replied thoughtfully. "Otherwise, I really can't figure out why Dad would hold you in such high regard. If it were just because of your talent, that would be a bit too much."
As Yuejiang pondered, he continued, "During the lecture at the beginning of the university semester, you had just applied for a tuition deferment. After class, Dad was still sitting at the podium and casually mentioned that Du Yusheng from the oil painting class should come to his office after class. From that moment on, your circumstances took a turn for the better, like seeing light after being lost in the woods."
"I see! Perhaps the water lilies Dad planted in the pond by the villa were brought over from here," Yusheng mused.
The two fell into silence. This was merely a possibility, yet they could not delve deeper due to the passing of their fathers.
Yuejiang sighed and said, "The only person who might know the complete truth now is probably my mother. Don't forget, she was one of the sent-down youth who came here back then. They knew each other before going to the countryside as sent-down youth and spent two years in this remote place before returning to Huai Cheng and getting married."
As dusk approached, the sunset in the mountains offered a unique beauty. The pond reflected shimmering waves, but this beauty was fleeting; in an instant, it changed form, requiring keen eyes to catch those subtle shifts.
Yusheng wanted to break the silence and thought for a moment before saying, "Yuejiang, do you remember what the teacher mentioned during my first lesson about the essence of Impressionism?"
"Of course I remember. A painter must understand this world primarily from the perspective of 'light' and 'color.' Light is the mother of color; without light, there can be no color. Any concrete object or image in this world merely serves as a medium to convey light and color; its inherent meaning is secondary," Yuejiang said. Suddenly, as if awakened by his own words, he widened his eyes and looked at Yusheng with realization. "Are you suggesting—"
"Exactly! That's why the teacher only painted in the studio. Capturing anything on-site always carries a sense of power and authenticity that can never be replicated later. It’s about replacing creation with practice, using materials instead of subjects, embracing chance over necessity, and capturing moments instead of eternity..."
"Yes! Every pattern Dad painted was actually a true reflection of something he saw at that moment."
"In other words," Yusheng gasped, "every stroke painted by the teacher is a genuine objective representation aimed at restoring the light and color of that instant as faithfully as possible. And that extra painting..." He inhaled sharply. "We overlooked a detail."
Yuejiang suddenly realized the gravity of the situation and urged, "Quick, call Shao Chong! Aunt Li is lying! Dad's vision is impaired due to cataracts; he can't see anything at night! There's no way she could have seen him painting when she went to deliver water!"
On the other end of the line, Shao Chong replied with a hint of regret, "It's too late. Aunt Li left the villa shortly after you all left, taking some of Uncle Lin's works with her. The police are already conducting a full manhunt for her."
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