Chapter Five: The One Everyone Has Been Waiting For
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It could be said that the training purpose in Plan Valley was, for the majority except a few like Zhuang Lin, simply to adapt to a different environment, change some simple speaking habits, and then continue being themselves. The majority of families in this era didn’t have complicated electrical appliances, barely even a television, so the sacrifices required were neither many nor complex.
In contrast, life’s pressures outside were not light at all; there were indeed people struggling hard just to make ends meet. But here, in Plan Valley, as Zhou Xianglin said, don’t call it acting—just treat it as life.
Once you integrate into life here, you’ll discover its beauty.
In just three short months, Zhuang Lin had fully blended in. Starting from the third month, the academy was no longer just a training venue, because children began attending classes.
Training children was the most challenging but also the most malleable.
Older children, who were more sensible, underwent training much like other actors.
Younger children required more care and fewer additional trainers present. At the academy, Zhuang Lin, as the tutor, needed to establish his authority; at home, family guidance was essential.
Though somewhat troublesome, once the children accepted their new identities, they naturally became the most genuine members here, bringing vitality to the valley.
Zhuang Lin was grateful that this era had no smartphones or tablets, no dazzling internet distractions.
Otherwise, if children had grown up playing with such devices, the imprint would be too deep.
Now, everything went smoothly.
A child’s lifestyle and speech habits subtly aligned with the environment through constant exposure.
Most of the younger children had arrived several batches before Zhuang Lin and had long since adapted; with months of academy instruction, learning became second nature.
Dealing with this group of children was effortless for Zhuang Lin, who already had experience.
Sometimes, children would greet him on the street; others would shy away instinctively.
Such natural reactions showed that Zhuang Lin’s tutor image had been established and that the children had truly integrated into life here—or in other words, were naturally in character.
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Of course, there were troubles too.
Although Zhuang Lin had a solid foundation, he had to strengthen his knowledge of classical seal script and other ancient commonly used characters within just over half a year. After all, as a tutor, he had to genuinely teach his students.
Fortunately, Zhuang Lin found his mind sharper, perhaps because of less pressure and the improved living environment here, allowing him to handle tasks with ease.
It was mid-December, the middle of the lunar winter month.
Though the valley’s climate was pleasant, temperatures had dropped.
The academy had closed doors and windows, and dozens of children gathered inside felt no chill—or simply ignored it.
While Zhuang Lin had his own teaching methods—embedding lessons in stories from antiquity and incorporating self-written ancient tales to make dry material engaging—the students still had to face exams.
Now was exam time.
Not an exaggerated test: students didn’t have to compose new works in the complex scripts learned; they only needed to copy a poem from the Book of Songs previously taught.
Some children wrote easily; others, younger and more mischievous, wore troubled expressions.
Zhuang Lin sat calmly behind the lectern, noticing the students’ subtle movements easily. Some glanced at him with fear, then furtively looked away.
“Snap!”
The ruler lightly tapped the table, and more than half the children trembled.
Though Zhuang Lin rarely used the ruler to punish, every child feared it.
“If you can’t write it, you can’t write it. In life, you must know when to adapt, but also when to sit upright and behave properly. Intelligence is not to be flaunted at times like this!”
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Zhuang Lin’s voice was not loud but carried strong resonance, calmly reaching every student’s ear.
His tone was far from fierce, even soft, yet it pressed heavily on the students’ hearts.
Outside the classroom window, Zhou Xianglin peeked through the crack, observing the children and hearing Zhuang Lin’s voice.
A faint smile appeared on Zhou Xianglin’s face. Indeed, Tutor Zhuang had more skill than many rigid teachers; the children were already immersed in their roles.
Of course, the immersion included Zhuang Lin himself.
Zhou Xianglin had gone out several times recently but stayed longer in the valley each return.
Honestly, as everything settled, Zhou Xianglin grew fond of this place and even wore simple ancient-style clothes when here.
Living here brought him inner peace and a profound sense of accomplishment.
This feeling came from the heart; no film or TV production he had worked on in decades could compare.
“Unfortunately, I can’t live here...” Zhou Xianglin sighed again. He was close friends with Liu Shihao; Liu Hongyu had known him since childhood, and he was far too famous, appearing on TV too often.
Fresh air, a suitable climate, a healthy yet varied diet through the seasons, friendly residents with genuine smiles, and other unexpected advantages...
The relaxed, natural environment lifted everyone’s spirits and greatly reduced illness.
The highly paid traditional Chinese medicine doctor on staff rarely had to intervene, let alone the emergency response team.
Inside the academy, Zhuang Lin glanced thoughtfully toward a window. His instincts were keen, even sharper after living here a while.
Someone was outside, and Zhuang Lin heard the sound of footsteps stamping for warmth.
But he paid it no mind. Like everyone here, he immersed himself in life and focused on his role.
Still, Zhuang Lin was momentarily distracted, both anticipating and imagining his first New Year here, and also thinking of the foolish son of the landlord.
To date, the entire plan was nearly complete.
If one demanded perfection, it wasn’t quite there—perhaps absolute perfection never exists, especially in a man-made ancient society.
Yet relative perfection existed. Zhuang Lin knew that regarding the knowledge base of the target patient Liu Hongyu, this place was convincingly authentic.
Hmm, are the people outside gone?
Lost in thought, Zhuang Lin instinctively glanced at the window again.
Outside the academy window, Zhou Xianglin and the director’s assistant had already left to inspect other details...
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Around the same time, about two thousand kilometers from the Plan Valley site, in a large city.
Liu Shihao awoke groggily in bed, rubbing his dry eyes and forehead. A night’s rest hadn’t eased the fatigue etched on his face.
“Ding, ding~”
He pressed the bedside bell twice; soon footsteps approached the door, and the maid entered.
“Mr. Liu, you’re awake!”
The maid greeted simply, making no mention of washing or breakfast—experience taught not to do anything extra in front of Liu Shihao.
He looked up at the maid.
“Hmm... have Xiao Liu come report... arrange breakfast...”
“Understood, Mr. Liu!”
The maid clapped her hands outside; a woman dressed similarly pushed in a meal cart, and the first maid quickly stepped out to make a call.
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About twenty minutes later, a middle-aged man arrived at Liu Shihao’s villa.
After sending away all unnecessary personnel, the man gave a detailed report to Liu Shihao.
“All buildings and facilities are completed, all crops are well planned. Major grain crops and economic crops like cotton and flax are thriving. Fruit orchards in both inner and outer gardens have fruited twice. Livestock and poultry are growing well. Residents are in good health. All external monitoring stations function properly. The old site of Muleng Primary School is now the main station in use...”
Listening patiently to the lengthy report, Liu Shihao couldn’t even eat his porridge. He looked up at the man.
“Very good, very good...”
Seeing his boss’s state, the man couldn’t help but suggest,
“Boss, conditions are mature enough now. No need to wait for spring after the New Year. We can send the young master to Hidden Immortal Valley now... Boss...”
The weak Liu Shihao suddenly stared at the man beside his bed, bloodshot eyes piercing. The rest of the man’s words caught in his throat.
“Remember! Even if I die tomorrow, follow the original plan! No mistakes allowed!”
Liu Shihao’s voice was low but gritted with determination. The man knew this was not anger but pain.
“Yes!”
The man replied and said no more.
As he left, he glanced at the porridge bowl on the meal cart by the bed—half untouched.
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Yes, Plan Valley did have an official name. Although designed to treat Liu Hongyu’s condition, the valley was called Hidden Immortal Valley.
Isn’t that ironic?
Not at all.
A parent knows their child best; other experts also debated the name based on the case.
Naming it to suit the patient’s preferences, with Liu Hongyu’s personality and condition, this secluded valley name was the best way to anchor him, convinced he had “returned to ancient times.”
There were no immortals in Hidden Immortal Valley—that was a subtle psychological cue to help Liu Hongyu ultimately break delusions and recognize reality.
Yes, and then allow Liu Hongyu to “return” from his journey.
In the end, he would awaken on a psychiatric hospital bed; all of this was just an incredibly vivid dream.
But it was so vivid that Liu Hongyu couldn’t forget or ignore the answers found within it. Upon waking, he rose from folly.
This was the ideal outcome scripted and what Liu Shihao desperately hoped for.
Of course, the name Hidden Immortal Valley was rarely mentioned by those currently living there; the children often forgot it altogether.
Mainly because none of the residents had reason to refer to the place by name; when gathering in the mountains, they simply said “going home.”
People in the valley spoke only of “inner valley,” “outer valley,” “outer garden,” “inner garden,” and directions—there was no grand regional naming concept.
This New Year was indeed lively, filled with fireworks and joy as people visited relatives and hosted guests.
For many, it was a meaningful celebration, especially for Zhuang Lin. For every valley resident, it carried the true spirit of the season, each savoring the process. This was no longer acting.
Yet, except for some children, everyone knew that after the New Year, the awaited main figure would arrive.
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PS: Thanks to the book friend “Almost Soon” for the generous guild leader reward. Much appreciated!