Chapter 6

Suddenly, Zhang Da was touched from behind, and he shuddered violently, turning his head to see that it was Old Han leaning forward and looking at him. He couldn't help but exhale, and then spat out the apple he had been eating, which had grown larger due to his fright. He said to Old Han, "I knew it was you. No one else is as ghostly as you!"

Old Han's face stiffened for a moment, and he propped himself up, moving to sit beside Zhang Da. He said, "Who did you say was going to have bad luck? Doctor Xiao Su? I don't think so! Xiao Su might be a bit simple, but he seems to have good luck."

Zhang Da's eyes lit up, and he said, "You understand this too? I haven't heard you mention it in years. Didn't you used to teach philosophy? But this time you're right. That kid does have good luck. Isn't the guy treating God going to have bad luck? He'll probably be the second patient to be tricked to death after I was admitted. Once that guy is gone, Doctor Su will have a chance to shine!"

Old Han was taken aback and squinted his eyes. "Doctor Chen? Now that you mention it, there is something odd. We've had a few troublesome patients recently, and one of them even committed suicide. If something happens to him, it's quite possible."

Zhang Da nodded proudly, feeling quite pleased that his reasoning was acknowledged. Old Han didn't dwell on it and quickly changed the subject, putting Doctor Chen's matter out of his mind.

"Do you know? While you were out, another new patient was admitted. He's like a brother to God, this time it's a writer who claims we're all characters in his book! Everything is predetermined," Old Han said, laughing as if he had found something amusing, his face blooming like a chrysanthemum.

Zhang Da was taken aback and asked curiously, "A writer? From Qidian? Is it Tomato or Potato? I've always said these novel writers are crazier than us. They should all be locked up for treatment."

Old Han laughed and said, "You've been sneaking the doctor's computer to go online again? How can you compare them? They know it's fake and deliberately make it up. We take it seriously. If you look among the readers, you might find a few who are sick, but not many among the writers. As for the one who came today, I don't know where he's from. If you're interested, you might as well go and see. But he also has suicidal tendencies and has been taken to the third floor!"

Zhang Da waved his hand and said, "Not interested. I'm going to find Old Bangzi for a class!" As he spoke, he threw the apple core, which he had almost finished, behind him and got up to leave.

Old Han hurriedly followed, grabbing Zhang Da and said, "Why do you always look for Old Bangzi? If you want to learn something, come to me! I'm a university professor, what use is finding Old Bangzi? He has Asperger's syndrome. How can he communicate with you?"

Zhang Da laughed and said, "What kind of person am I? I'm just like Fan Jin after he passed the imperial exam, suffering a great shock and isolating myself. If he doesn't talk to me, does he talk to himself? The things he mutters are quite interesting."

Old Han reluctantly nodded and said, "That makes some sense. Old Bangzi used to run an antique shop and was cheated out of a lot of money, which was a great shock. What are you learning from him?"

Zhang Da said, "Antique appraisal! Old Bangzi is quite knowledgeable about ancient books and manuscripts."

Old Han laughed and said, "You know this? You're really sick, your delusions are quite accurate. But even if you can learn, what use is it? Staying here, even if you really learn antique appraisal, there won't be any antiques for you to appraise. A 1998 surgery knife or a 2002 medical record?"

Zhang Da sneered and sang as he walked, "How can sparrows understand the aspirations of swans? The cicada and the dove laugh at the great Peng. One day, I will rise with the wind, and with a gourd at my waist, I will roam the world."

An old doctor passing by was taken aback, hearing Zhang Da's song. He scratched his head and said, "The 'Free and Unfettered Excursion'? 'Zhuangzi'? Who brought this book to Zhang Da? I'll have to investigate this properly. No wonder he keeps saying he's a reincarnation of a celestial master. It must be from reading these books!"

Zhang Da, unaware that he was being watched, entered the activity room next door and found a neurotic old man in the corner, muttering incomprehensibly to a wall. Zhang Da sat down beside him and listened intently for the entire afternoon. They didn't interfere with each other, one spoke and the other listened, a typical scene in a psychiatric hospital.

When the attendants brought dinner and counted the heads, Zhang Da got up, stretched his stiff body, and said to the old man who was still muttering, "Goodbye, teacher!"

He then picked up his meal and found a place to eat, under the curious gaze of the attendants. After eating, he followed the other patients, who were still on medication, to get their medicine, led by the attendants and doctors. Zhang Da sat in a chair, watching the news, and said to Old Han, who had joined him, "The dinner today was really bad. The meatballs were all flour, no meat at all!"

Old Han watched the TV without responding. Zhang Da didn't mind and started to chime in with the news, saying, "Mm, ah! Yes, that's right."

Old Han, somewhat confused, was drawn to Zhang Da's attention. His head, which had been stiffly facing the TV, turned to stare at Zhang Da, who was animatedly talking. After a while, he asked, "Are you going crazy? I haven't heard of you having a speech disorder."

Zhang Da was taken aback and turned his head. "Don't be silly, I'm practicing!"

"Practicing?" Old Han was taken aback and said, "Does your Celestial Master Dao have this kind of practice? The 'Heng Ha' two qi?"

"Celestial Master Dao? Who?" Zhang Da looked puzzled. "I'm practicing as a comic foil. When I get out, I'll have a skill to make a living, finding a place to perform and earn a living."

Old Han looked at Zhang Da with a strange expression and cautiously asked, "You're just practicing as a comic foil? Who will be your comic lead when you get out? I haven't heard that Zhang Hongmin is retiring." He pointed to the host on TV and asked Zhang Da seriously.

Old Han, being a psychiatric patient, had a unique focus. Practicing as a comic foil to the news seemed quite normal to him.

Zhang Da was taken aback, his face twisted as he muttered a few patients' names, then shook his head in negation. He then fell silent, deep in thought. Old Han, on the other hand, looked quite pleased, humming Shaoxing opera while watching TV. After a long time, Zhang Da poked Old Han, who turned his head and asked, "What is it?"

Zhang Da asked somewhat awkwardly, "You said the new patient today is in which room? I want to find him to help me write a resignation letter for Zhang Hongmin."

Old Han was shocked and stared at Zhang Da for a long time without speaking. The news ended with "Thank you for watching!" and many patients who had taken their medicine entered. Old Han finally said, "I didn't have time to find out today. I'll ask tonight."

Zhang Da muttered, "Today is April 17, 2014. This should be resolved before May Day." As he turned his head, he noticed that Old Han had disappeared again.

Su Jinjin was walking towards him and said, "What are you talking to yourself about? I'm on night shift today, so you better behave. This is a critical training period."

Zhang Da rolled his eyes and said, "If there's a problem, you'll just be transferred to a better place with good luck!"

Zhang Da turned and walked away, leaving Su Jinjin with a conflicted expression.