Chapter 46 - 2#

Gu Chenzhou was very melancholy: “The beauty of childhood, when peeled open…”

“Sigh…” Wei Xiangjin also sighed, looking equally melancholy, “At that time, I actually wanted to swap dads with you. Later, when I saw girls of the same age playing house, I secretly thought it would be great if you were my bride. Then, when my dad opened his mouth to breathe fire, I would push you in front—”

The two laughed at the same time. Gu Chenzhou said: “Uncle Wei’s birthday is in a few days. You won’t be back in the team by then, right?”

“I’ll leave after celebrating my dad’s birthday.” Wei Xiangjin said.

Gu Chenzhou pointed to the back with a free hand: “The thing, I asked someone to collect an antique. It should be fine. You can give it to Uncle Wei then.”

Wei Xiangjin was not polite. He put down the seat, reached out and took the thing from the back of the car, and after opening it a few times, he exclaimed in surprise: “Oh!” He held the porcelain bowl in the box with some surprise and liking. He saw that the glaze of the bowl was like white jade, and the outer wall and inner side were painted with five brown bats in different forms, some with wings spread and some with wings folded, with their claws stretched forward, each holding a pink-orange longevity peach. The colors were light and elegant.

“Even a layman can see that this is beautiful.” Wei Xiangjin turned it over and over, very satisfied, “It’s much more beautiful than my dad’s original broken bowl! This looks like a work of art!”

Gu Chenzhou smiled: “My maternal grandfather’s family has channels, so it’s easier to collect… Uncle Wei’s bowl was found by himself, so of course he especially cherishes and likes it.”

“I know you’re not short of this, so I won’t be polite.” Wei Xiangjin put the bowl back in the box, picked it up and shook it, without any of the caution of an antique connoisseur.

“Except for women, what’s mine is yours.” Gu Chenzhou said cheerfully, and the car drove into Tianrui Garden.

Saying that they returned to Tianrui Garden, in fact, besides letting Wei Xiangjin put down his luggage, there was nothing else to do—it wasn’t the weekend. Except for Gu Chenzhou who hadn’t entered the system and seemed idle, both families had to go to work or school. The house was empty with no one in it.

The two returned to the Wei family’s villa. Gu Chenzhou watched Wei Xiangjin put down his luggage, and after waiting for the other to take a quick shower, he continued to drive towards Zhengde Garden.

This time it was just right. Both Old Master Wei and Old Master Gu were at home. Gu Chenzhou and Wei Xiangjin came in time and even caught the mung bean porridge for breakfast, just enough for one bowl each to pad their stomachs.

Then Gu Chenzhou and Wei Xiangjin stayed for a while, sitting in each of their homes for a while, and a morning passed. The two naturally stayed for lunch. After lunch, Wei Xiangjin played chess with his grandfather, while Gu Chenzhou went fishing with Old Master Gu for an afternoon. When it was almost five o’clock, the two returned to Tianrui Garden, just as those who went to work and school during the day came home.

The two went home separately for dinner. After dinner, they went out for a walk and met again. Wei Xiangjin was leading a big yellow dog that was restlessly twisting its neck, obviously a little excited and wanting to run on all fours. He said to Gu Chenzhou: “Let’s make an appointment with He Hailou tonight, I’ll meet him.”

Gu Chenzhou shook his head: “Eating from morning to midnight…” Despite saying so, he still took out his phone and called He Hailou.

As soon as He Hailou heard Gu Chenzhou speak, he didn’t ask much and agreed immediately, then set the time: “Nine o’clock tonight?”

Gu Chenzhou glanced at Wei Xiangjin.

Wei Xiangjin nodded at him.

“Okay.” Gu Chenzhou chatted with He Hailou for a few more sentences and then hung up the phone.

There wasn’t much time left until nine o’clock. After the walk, Gu Chenzhou went to Wei Xiangjin’s house. The two first played a strategy game, then Gu Chenzhou took out his violin and played a soothing and melodious piece, and it was about time.

The meeting place was still at National Beauty and Heavenly Fragrance—this was almost becoming the designated place for the third generation’s gatherings—Wei Xiangjin booked a Tingtao Pavilion and waited in the room fifteen minutes in advance.

At nine o’clock in the evening, He Hailou arrived at National Beauty and Heavenly Fragrance on time.

This dinner was very small, with only Gu Chenzhou, Wei Xiangjin, and He Hailou. In fact, normally, they should have invited some people close to Gu and Wei and some people close to He Hailou, but the situation was delicate now, so this was omitted for the sake of caution.

In three days, the wound on He Hailou’s head had not fully healed, but the white gauze wrapped around his entire head had been removed, leaving only a square piece of adhesive tape covering the wound.

Wei Xiangjin stood up to greet him: “Young Master He! It’s been a long time.”

“Young Master Wei.” He Hailou smiled faintly.

In the three years that Gu Chenzhou was away, Wei Xiangjin and He Hailou were in the same circle and inevitably met, but their relationship was very light, just a nod of acquaintance. In addition, Wei Xiangjin later joined the army, so they had no contact.

“I heard about what happened the day before yesterday,” Wei Xiangjin didn’t beat around the bush too much. After greeting him, he went straight to the point. He said seriously, “This table of wine is to thank Young Master He. Young Master He helping Xiaozhou is helping me. It’s not convenient now, but after this period, I will definitely set up a big table to thank Young Master He in public!”

Saying this, he poured himself a small cup of white wine, raised it to He Hailou and said: “Young Master He’s wound hasn’t healed yet, so don’t touch the wine—today is just a small thank you from me.” After speaking, he drank three cups in one breath without even pausing in between. After three cups, his face was already red, “Young Master He, please.”

Saying this, he turned the wine cup over, and there was not a drop left inside.

He Hailou’s lips drooped a little, and then he raised them back up nonchalantly without anyone noticing. He sat in the main seat with a smile, picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup of tea, raised it and said: “I’m taking advantage of Young Master Wei this time. Next time, we won’t go home until we’re drunk.”

Gu Chenzhou spoke at this time: “There will be many opportunities in the future.” As he spoke, his gaze slid towards He Hailou, just in time to meet He Hailou’s gaze.

At that moment, He Hailou gave Gu Chenzhou a pleasing and beautiful smile.

Gu Chenzhou also returned a faint smile to the other party.

At a dinner party, the host and guest had a very pleasant conversation, and both guided the atmosphere in a harmonious direction. This was not a meal time. Although Wei Xiangjin still ordered a table of dishes, perhaps because everyone was full and the dishes were too exquisite, after two hours of conversation, basically no one touched their chopsticks. When it was time to leave, the table of banquet was still well laid out.

He Hailou, Wei Xiangjin, and Gu Chenzhou parted at the entrance of National Beauty and Heavenly Fragrance. Wei Xiangjin was the only one who drank all night. He didn’t feel it inside, but when he came out and was suddenly blown by the cold wind, the alcohol immediately rushed to his head, making Wei Xiangjin groan: “I drank a little too much.”

Gu Chenzhou basically didn’t touch alcohol all night. He would have no problem passing a driver’s alcohol test. He reached out to support the other party: “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Wei Xiangjin said nonchalantly, “The drinking in the army is much worse than this.”

Gu Chenzhou nodded, went to get the car and drove Wei Xiangjin towards Tianrui Garden.

At eleven o’clock at night, there were not many vehicles on the suburban roads. Gu Chenzhou drove the car steadily forward, entered the city center and turned a few winding streets, then suddenly slowed down and asked Wei Xiangjin, who was resting with his eyes closed beside him: “Do you want some?”

“What?” Wei Xiangjin opened his eyes and asked in a daze, then saw an old man pushing a cart of roasted sweet potatoes along the street.

“Yes!” Wei Xiangjin was instantly energized and answered without hesitation.

Gu Chenzhou obediently drove the car to the side of the street, rolled down the window and asked the old man for two sweet potatoes.

Wei Xiangjin took out some loose change from his pocket and gave it to the other party. He happily switched hands to cool down the sweet potatoes while peeling them: “How long has it been since we ate this?”

“I think it’s been ten years. When we were kids, you took me out to eat this, and you were even beaten for it.” Gu Chenzhou parked the car on the side of the street, took one from Wei Xiangjin’s hand, and also began to peel it.

“That’s the number!” Wei Xiangjin took a bite, then glanced at Gu Chenzhou, “Young Master Gu, you were the one who instigated me to come out when we were kids. Then after eating and wiping your mouth clean, you pushed the responsibility onto me in a few words. My mom wiped your mouth with a handkerchief, and my dad slapped me.”

Gu Chenzhou coughed twice: “Cough cough, really?”

“As genuine as it gets, pure gold!” Wei Xiangjin said, “You’ve framed me so many times that you’ve forgotten what you’ve done, right?”

Gu Chenzhou: “…” I really can’t remember all of them.

The two complained to each other in the car for a while, and the topic turned back to He Hailou.

“What do you think of He Hailou?” Gu Chenzhou asked.

“Same as my previous impression,” Wei Xiangjin said, “I don’t like He Hailou very much. He plays too crazy and goes too far. But this time he helped you. No matter what the reason is, this is what I should express. You are my only brother. Helping you is helping me, and saving you is saving me. Anyway, those things he does that really cross the line are not in the country…”

Gu Chenzhou smiled playfully.

Wei Xiangjin didn’t notice for a moment, and he continued: “But you seemed quite familiar with him tonight. Are you on good terms?”

Gu Chenzhou said: “I’ve been to his house.”

“Hmm?”

“That night He Hailou was injured, he stayed in the hospital for one night and then went home. At home, he was scratched by a monkey…”

“A monkey?” Wei Xiangjin was stunned for a moment.

Gu Chenzhou ignored him and continued: “I went to get gauze, opened the drawer, and there was only one unopened bag of gauze inside. The bottom of the drawer was covered with a thin layer of dust, but the bag of gauze was clean.”

Wei Xiangjin’s expression changed slightly.

“He Hailou doesn’t live at home often.” Gu Chenzhou said calmly, “There’s no green onion or a can of rice at home, no commonly used medicines or band-aids, but there is an unopened bag of gauze and an unopened bottle of disinfectant.”

The smile on Wei Xiangjin’s face faded, and his expression became cold and hard.

Gu Chenzhou looked at the other party: “You’ve specifically studied this in the army, you can analyze it, right?”

“He knew he would be injured, so he prepared it specifically.” Wei Xiangjin said coldly.

“That’s right.” Gu Chenzhou crossed his fingers, “A roll of gauze and a bottle of medicine don’t mean much. Maybe it’s a coincidence, but from another perspective…” He still had a smile on his face, calm and indifferent, as perfect and composed as if it were painted on:

“He knew about this matter long ago, and he came over at a specific time!”