After the group of people left, Chu Huai no longer rushed to go out. Instead, he scanned and browsed around the dormitory.
Wei Hu, his roommate, watched him from behind, wanting to speak several times but then stopping himself.
Chu Huai lifted the curtain, revealing the calendar hanging on the wall. Chu Huai’s gaze paused for a moment.
Chu Huai took down the calendar. It was very small, about fifteen centimeters in length and width, and extremely thin when held in his hand, with a thickness of only four or five sheets of paper and no weight.
Wei Hu saw that Chu Huai’s expression was different and asked: “What’s wrong?”
“Come here,” Chu Huai beckoned to him, saying: “This calendar only has twenty days per page, and there are only…”
Chu Huai counted: “Only five pages in total.”
Wei Hu said: “Isn’t that exactly one hundred days?”
“Yes,” Chu Huai frowned slightly. “But you see, on each page, the first ten days are marked in blue, and the last ten days are marked in red.”
Chu Huai handed the calendar to Wei Hu and fell into thought. “What do you think this represents?”
Wei Hu didn’t say anything, apparently without an answer.
Chu Huai continued: “The first day, the eleventh day, the twenty-first day, and so on. The tax collection dates are all circled, which we overlooked.”
Wei Hu counted and understood what he meant, surprised: “There are only nine circles in total for one hundred days, and we only need to pay taxes nine times. The tenth time is on the one hundred and first day…”
Chu Huai had already told him fifty percent of the information before. According to the calendar algorithm, they only need to pay 45% during these 100 days, not 50%…
Chu Huai’s face became solemn. “So there must be an extra method for us to sell our memories.”
Wei Hu nodded.
Chu Huai remembered what the woman had said before leaving and had a sudden realization.
“I remember, the mating party seems to be on the eleventh day, which is in the red letter dates?”
Chu Huai was not clear about what the blue and red represented, but he believed he would find out on the eleventh day.
The climate was extremely cold, there was no air conditioning in the dormitory, and the broken glass window let in the cold wind. Chu Huai tightened his jacket zipper.
Due to his health condition, Chu Huai has always been afraid of the cold. He didn’t realize it when the situation was urgent before, but now that it’s temporarily over, he sighed inwardly that this temperature could really take half his life.
Chu Huai poured a cup of hot water and walked to the window.
Wei Hu stood there, staring at Chu Huai, hesitating.
After taking a sip of water, Chu Huai waited for a moment, then turned his back to him and said calmly: “What do you want to say?”
Wei Hu was startled, his eyes in disbelief.
Chu Huai put down the water cup, didn’t look back at him, just pointed to the glass window in front of him, with a plain expression: “I can see it.”
Chu Huai had noticed that something was wrong with Wei Hu for a long time. He had seen him hesitate before, so he stayed a little longer to wait for him to speak.
Wei Hu never expected Chu Huai to be so keen, and still have the leisure to pay attention to his demeanor in that situation.
He felt embarrassed, but gritted his teeth and said: “When that woman said we can forget the unpleasant memories of the past, didn’t you… feel anything?”
Wei Hu regretted asking as soon as he finished. He felt that he was completely talking nonsense, and he could even guess Chu Huai’s answer, he was tempted, but reason told him not to do it.
Chu Huai shook his head and turned to look at him.
Wei Hu met his sharp gaze, his eyes dodged, and he smiled awkwardly at him.
Chu Huai suddenly understood that Wei Hu had something he desperately wanted to forget.
After a moment’s hesitation, Chu Huai said word by word: “Memory is an objective thing for me. I don’t suffer in reminiscence, so correspondingly, I don’t need to forget. It has no power to harm me now.”
Wei Hu was struck, standing still in place. After a long time, he smiled bitterly and said: “How could one not reminisce?”
Chu Huai stood up, and patted his shoulder slightly to comfort him.
Wei Hu had no desire to confide, and Chu Huai was not interested in prying into others’ wounds.
Chu Huai said: “I’m going downstairs to take a walk.”
Chu Huai had asked the woman before, as long as they paid taxes, they would have absolute freedom of action in the next ten days and would not be restricted.
Wei Hu watched him leave blankly, feeling as if there really was someone who could completely live in the present, not bound by the past or anxious about the future.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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Standing in place, Chu Huai began to doubt.
Was this the entirety of the Memory City?
He had noticed that there were 44 rooms on each floor of the dormitory building, and since there were four floors, a single building could accommodate a maximum of 400 people.
Roughly estimating, the population of Memory City would not exceed 10,000 people.
Or perhaps there was another world beyond the barrier?
The layout inside the barrier resembled that of the capital of the Han Dynasty, with an East and West Market.
Chu Huai found out that the East Market was only open on odd days, while the West Market was only open on even days.
The central tax collection building separated the two markets, with the dormitory buildings to the west.
It seemed like they would have to visit the West Market tomorrow.
The next night.
The West Market in front of them was somewhat like a ghost market from a fantasy novel, with dark and eerie alleyways and gusts of cold wind. Despite this, there was a constant stream of people, and it was so crowded that they were almost rubbing shoulders.
Chu Huai wrapped his coat tightly around himself and walked with Wei Hu on the street.
Looking around, all he could see were people dressed in gray.
Wei Hu was taken aback. “So everyone wears the same clothes, but what about food and drink…?”
Chu Huai nodded helplessly. “I feel like I’m in prison.”
Wei Hu agreed.
Chu Huai paused before saying: “Actually, that’s not quite right. I feel more like a chicken, being fed and exercised at regular intervals, eating small stones to aid digestion, and then being locked back in the cage.”
The market was only open for two hours, so their time outside was limited.
Chu Huai lazily smiled and said: “What if they are fed so fat and stupid? If they don’t want to eat chicken, why raise chickens? It’s a waste of feed and manpower.”
Wei Hu heard this and asked in confusion: “But those chickens are alive and well, and they never eat chicken…”.
Chu Huai turned his head and looked at him. “Because when the chicken is alive, it lays eggs.”
Wei Hu was startled for a moment, hesitated for a while, and then smiled shyly: “You’re talking about hens, but what about us… roosters?”
Chu Huai’s face stiffened, regretting choosing such a metaphor, but also feeling that Wei Hu’s thinking was odd. He could only answer with a straight face: “Because roosters can mate with hens and then hatch chicks.”
Wei Hu asked: “Then what is an egg?”
Chu Huai shrugged: “What is money?”
Wei Hu quickly responded: “Memory is money.”
They paid taxes with memory, so memory was equivalent to money.
Chu Huai spread his hands: “Then eggs are memories. As long as the chicken is alive, fed, and well taken care of, it can continuously lay eggs. Otherwise, do you think we would have no money and could still buy things on the street? We use eggs to exchange.”
Wei Hu felt ashamed of his foolishness, and after a moment of silence, he apologized: “But we are not roosters, how can we lay eggs… and mate…”
Chu Huai angrily retorted: “That was a metaphor!”
After shouting, Chu Huai suddenly froze and stood still without saying a word.
Wei Hu thought he had angered him, and was about to apologize when Chu Huai suddenly looked up with an unpleasant expression: “Do you think the mating party is for hens to mate and hatch chicks?”
Wei Hu felt like he had fallen into an icehouse.
The narrow street was lined with shabby stalls, some of which were empty, and others were crowded with people.
Chu Huai gave Wei Hu a glance, then suddenly grabbed a young and handsome guy in front of a stall and casually asked: “Brother, we’re new here and want to ask, what is the mating party for? We’re a little nervous and afraid of being laughed at.”
The young man was enthusiastic and well-intentioned, and looked eager: “You don’t need to prepare anything, just go. It’s really the most wonderful thing in the world. Unfortunately, I’m not old enough yet, so I can’t go. Otherwise… sigh.”
Chu Huai asked: “Age?”
The young man replied: “Yes, you have to be one hundred days old to go.”
Chu Huai’s face immediately turned ugly: “One hundred days?”
The young man did not realize the change in Chu Huai’s expression and was still immersed in his story.
“Yes, I am a second-generation memory holder. You, new immigrants, have to go through some hardships, but it’s not in vain for the next generation. We get used to it slowly.”
Chu Huai had already regained his composure and probed: “So, you are… a memory descendant?”
The young man was quite proud.
“Yes. Like you new immigrants, we had to endure some hardships, but for the next generation, the hardship is not in vain. We get used to it slowly.”
Chu Huai lowered his eyelids.
He had been wondering before why there were over ten thousand people in the Memory City, and they couldn’t all be residents. Now he finally understood. People could reproduce.
Memory descendants only needed… 100 days from birth to adulthood, so the reproductive cycle might be… 20 days.
After finishing the conversation, Chu Huai dragged Wei Hu away with a shocked expression on his face, laughing and asking: “How long does it take for a chicken to hatch a chick?”
Wei Hu stuttered: “T-t-twenty days?”
Chu Huai laughed again, deliberately scaring him, pointing to the crowded crowd and the numb faces, speaking slowly: “Do you think they’re really… human?”
Humans can’t reproduce every twenty days and mature in one hundred days.
As they chatted, they had already reached the busiest booth, where a banner hung overhead: Spring Dreams.
The vendor shouted: “We sell spring dreams! From thirty-year-old seductive women to eighteen-year-old innocent beauties, we can make any dream you can imagine come true, with the most delicate details, including appearance, body size, moans… Whatever you want, we can deliver!”
“We have energetic little wolves, gentle little milk dogs, domineering and gentle old men… we have it all.”
The vendor looked up and coincidentally locked eyes with the tall Chu Huai. He pointed at him and grinned at the crowd: “We also have this type, but it’s more expensive.”
The crowd turned to look at the dumbfounded Chu Huai and were all amazed.
His drab clothing and the drab sky seemed to be the backdrop to his handsome, white, and gentle face, which exuded a touch of loneliness, making him particularly eye-catching and irresistible.
Chu Huai: “…”
The young girls blushed.
Chu Huai also blushed and lowered his head.
The vendor continued with his advertising: “Do you have someone you desire but can’t have? Someone who won’t even look at you no matter how hard you try? Someone you can’t catch up to no matter how much you give?”
“Here, all your dreams can come true. He will be overflowing with love for you, tender and considerate, he will become your best lover.”
The seller said with a hint of flirtation: “Buy once, effective forever. Just imagine, you’ll have it every night.”
The people around showed an understanding and longing look.
It was not until now that Chu Huai understood what the old man’s roommate was all about. He must have purchased a spring dream companion from here.
The seller said, ‘It’s really not expensive, as low as 5%, with additional requirements for extra fees, capped at 15%.’
The crowd was still hesitating when a deep and pleasant voice came from behind, ‘I want one.’
Chu Huai recognized the familiar voice and his body stiffened. He immediately turned around and met the gaze of the tall and handsome man at the back of the crowd.
The seller was too busy with business to notice and asked: “What kind do you want, sir?”
Jin Tianyi walked through the crowd and sneered: “I want one that looks exactly like him.”
The eyes of the crowd followed his finger and fell on Chu Huai at the front. After a moment, someone coughed softly, understanding what was going on.
They could only think about it in their hearts. They didn’t expect someone to be so bold as to say it out loud.
He looks so handsome, but unfortunately, he likes men. What a pity.
Chu Huai widened his eyes.
The seller said: “No problem, no problem!” and was ready to get to work.
Chu Huai became anxious and blurted out: “Wait!”
He didn’t want Jin Tianyi to sell his memories.
The seller was unhappy: “Brother, what someone does is their own freedom. We can understand if you don’t feel comfortable being forced, but let me tell you the truth. With your looks, you don’t know how many times you have been forced before, and one more time won’t make much difference. So please be generous and don’t hold up our business.”
Chu Huai’s ears turned red. He gritted his teeth and said: “Enough.”
Jin Tianyi chuckled softly. He didn’t need to be forced.
Jin Tianyi pretended to hesitate: “It’s not necessary to do it.”
Chu Huai looked up at him.
“It’s just that I admire this little brother but cannot have him, so I came up with this idea.”
Jin Tianyi smiled. “If he is willing to go with me, I don’t need a spring dream companion anymore.”
There was a commotion in the crowd, followed by friendly teasing.
Wei Hu was used to Chu Huai’s calm demeanor and didn’t expect him to blush and feel embarrassed. He found it new and amusing.
Chu Huai seemed to be staring at the ground, burying his head and not moving, his mind elsewhere.
Admire him?
He spoke so affectedly. How could he shamelessly say it in public like this?
Chu Huai’s fingers trembled, and he hesitated to curse. He was at a loss for words and couldn’t even utter a single word.
Jin Tianyi walked over and asked up close: “Little brother, think about it?”
“Is your face so thin?”
“Just nod if you agree,” Jin Tianyi smiled: “and from now on, I’ll be yours.”
Jin Tianyi waited quietly.
With so many eyes watching, Wei Hu thought that Chu Huai was on the verge of exploding after being teased like this. He had already prepared comforting words to calm Chu Huai’s emotions, but after a long time, he saw Chu Huai nod almost imperceptibly.
Wei Hu was stunned, as if he had been struck by lightning. Was this really the same Chu Huai who had coldly and sharply questioned him yesterday?
Jin Tianyi smiled, and his beautifully profound eyes were full of joy and tenderness.
Chu Huai looked at him with a proud smile, and for no reason, he thought of a peacock that liked to show off its feathers. He angrily pulled him and walked out.
Why can’t we talk in private?
Jin Tianyi approached and exclaimed: “You’re smiling.”
Chu Huai was suddenly startled and angrily asked: “Which eye of yours saw me smile?”
“I was wrong.” Jin Tianyi boldly touched his hair and stroked it.
Chu Huai snorted coldly.
Wei Hu also came out and Chu Huai immediately bounced away.
Wei Hu teased: “Who is this?”
Chu Huai replied: “I don’t know him.”
Jin Tianyi said: “He’s my husband.”
In unison.
Chu Huai was embarrassed for a moment and immediately said: “Don’t listen to his nonsense.”
Wei Hu looked at him sarcastically.
“Either be normal or get lost.” Chu Huai took a deep breath and warned him.
Jin Tianyi nodded obediently.
The three of them started shopping.
“How did you find me?”
“I heard someone say that an old person died in a dormitory building, and they happened to mention that there was a new guy who wouldn’t listen named Chu Huai.”
“I went to your dorm to find you but found you weren’t there. I thought you wouldn’t have gone anywhere else, so I decided to take a chance and find you.”
As they talked, Chu Huai suddenly realized that Wei Hu was gone.
Oh, Chu Huai is really cute kitty
Thank you for your translation 💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝
2nd gen residents |ω･;)